Thursday, October 8 – #21 Huskers at #24 Tigers Preview

Kickoff from Farout Field is set for 9PM eastern time and the game can be seen on ESPN.

The Big 12 will be in the national spotlight on Thursday night with a North Division showdown from Columbia, Missouri as the Mizzou Tigers host the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

This Big 12 North Division matchup will be the conference opener for both teams and the winner will take firm control of the divisional race and have the inside track for the Big 12 Championship Game.

Nebraska is ranked #21st nationally and enters this game with a record of 3-1 straight up and 4-0 against the spread. The Huskers have gone under the total in 3 out of their 4 games.

Nebraska owned this head to head series from 1979 through 2002 as they went undefeated against the Tigers during that span. But Mizzou has turned the Tide against Nebraska with 4 wins in the last 6 matchups, with the Tigers getting the cash in all 4 of those wins. Mizzou has scored back to back blowout wins over Nebraska the past 2 seasons.

Last year in Lincoln the Tigers lit up the Huskers 52-17 as 10-point road favorites. In their last meeting at Farout Field in 2007 the Tigers blew out Nebraska 41-6 as 6.5-point chalks.

Nebraska enters this matchup with the number one defense in the nation for points allowed. The famed “Blackshirts” are back and will be needed against a Mizzou offense that is ranked in the top 10 for passing.

Missouri’s sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert leads the Big 12 in pass efficiency and has 11 touchdown passes with 0 interceptions. But Gabbert has not faced a defense as good as Nebraska’s nor faced the type of heat that the Blackshirts will bring Thursday night.

Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel has a lot of respect for the Huskers.

“A lot goes with that name in terms of history and tradition,” he said.

Pinkel said he is “very impressed” with the 2009 version of the Big Red.

“Very well-coached, very disciplined,” said Pinkel. “I think they’re playing very, very well. You look for weaknesses, and I don’t see any. I think they’re sound in every area.”

Nebraska running back Roy Helu is a man to keep an eye on as he has 469 yards and a 6.3 yards per carry average with 5 touchdowns.

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