OU at Nebraska: Breaking down the matchups
Quarterbacks
Landry Jones is proving to be the best young QB in the league.
I’m not sure even Bo Pelini knows yet who will start for him come Saturday between Cody Green and Zac Lee.
Edge: OU
Running backs
When healthy, DeMarco Murray is an elite back.
When healthy, so is Roy Helu Jr. Both are looking healthier this week.
Edge: Even
Wide receivers
Dejuan Miller appears primed to take over as Ryan Broyles’ wingman.
Niles Paul is the only Husker with more than 16 catches.
Edge: OU
Tight ends
The Sooners are using Eric Mensik more and more.
The Huskers play a ton of tight ends, led by Mike McNeill.
Edge: Nebraska
Offensive line
The Sooners appear to be slowly getting better up front.
The Huskers appear to be slowly getting worse up front.
Edge: OU
Defensive line
Led by GK McCoy, OU has arguably the best defensive front in all of college football.
Led by Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska has arguably the best defensive front in all of college football.
Edge: Even
Linebackers
The Sooners are talented and seasoned.
The Huskers are talented, but still young.
Edge: OU
Defensive backs
Led by their corners, OU’s DBs have been strong.
But Nebraska has put together one of the pass defenses in the nation.
Edge: Nebraska
Special teams
NU’s Alex Henery is one of the best kickers in the nation.
OU just benched Jimmy Stevens for inexperienced freshman Tress Way.
Edge: Nebraska
Prediction: OU 24, Nebraska 9
Nebraska’s defense will give the Sooners problems. But the Huskers’ struggling offense won’t be able to score enough points to pull the upset.
-JT
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Comments
Pretty good prediction. If NU scores more than 10 points, there will have to be some ‘gifts’ involved. In other words, NU will hve to win the turnover margin substantially, and also win in the special teams area. Should be a better game this year though, considering NU’s improvementin defense. If NU wins, it’ll sort of be like 1978 (except with worse records for both teams) with NU a decided underdog. Cody Green will definetly be the wild card. Look for Green to be a top flight Big 12QB in the next 3 years. Zac Lee should wind up being a decent backup next year, given his knowlwedge of the offense, but limited abilities as compared to Green’s tremendous upside.
I disagree with your prediction. I’m not gonna make one, I am a die hard husker fan and unable to separate that from my predictions. But regardless of who wins, it will not be by alot.
One other thing I disagree with is your assesment of the quarterbacks. Landry Jones, on paper, would be the obvious choice. But if you think about it, Jones is going to be pressured like nothing he has seen this year, as will Green (I am pretty sure Green will get the start) since both teams offensive lines are weak and the opposing D-lines are probably the top two in the nation. Taking this into consideration, Jones is FAR less of a mobile quarterback than Green, and as we have seen Green is at his best in bootleg and on the run situations. Therefore, I give the quarterback advantage to Nebraska, because the quarterback that can be mobile in this game will be the most productive.