Larry Ness' 20* Big 12 Game of the Month (88% Best Bet run)-Thu
My 20* Big 12 Game of the Month is on Missouri at 9:00 ET. The 21st-ranked Cornhuskers visit the 24th-ranked Tigers on Thursday in the Big 12 opener for both schools. Both teams are coming off a bye week and the winner is likely the favorite to win the Big 12 North (Kansas may argue). Missouri is 4-0 but the combined record of Missouri's four opponents is 6-12, with FCS Furman accounting for three of those victories against its Southern Conference foes. As for Nebraska, one would think the Cornhuskers are lobbying for entrance into the Sun Belt, with three games so far vs SBC schools Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette. Nebraska won those three games by the combined scores of 142-12 but Nebraska's loss came at then-No. 13 Virginia Tech (now No. 5) on September 19, when the Hokies scored with 21 seconds left for a 16-15 win. However, one can't ignore that the 'Huskers were unable to get into the end zone at Blacksburg (Henery kicked five FGs). QB Zach Lee has put up solid numbers so far but note that he was just 11-of-30 (36.7 percent) for 136 yards vs the Hokies with two INTs. Against three SBC foes, he's 57-of-75 (76.0 percent) with seven TDs and only one INT. Helu (464 YR / 6.4 YPC / 5 TDs) leads the way on the ground, as the Huskers average 183.8 YPG (5.7 YPC) with 10 TDs. Nebraska ranks first in scoring defense (7.0 PPG) and the 28 points allowed is the fewest yielded by the Huskers through four games since 1990 (has forced seven turnovers and recorded 10 sacks). The key though is that Nebraska has yet to see an offense like Missouri's. Chase Daniel had a TD-to-INT ratio of 100-39 over the last three years, topped 4,300 yards passing in each of his last two and last season completed 72.9 percent of his passes. With do-everything WR Maclin (102 catches / 13 TDs) and TE Coffman (90 catches / 10 TDS) both also gone, the Tigers offense was supposed be in a rebuilding mode. Sophomore QB Blaine Gabbert threw just 13 passes last year but has wasted very little time getting acclimated. He's completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 1,161 yards in four games with 11 TDs and not a single INT in 131 attempts. Senior WRs Alexander (29 catches / 4 TDs) and Perry (25 catches / 5 TDs) have been better than expected and when RB Washington "finds his groove" (he ran for 1,036 yards / 5.9 YPC / 17 TDs in 2008), the Missouri offense will REALLY be scary. Of course, the argument can be made that the Tigers have yet to face a defense like Nebraska but please note that in Bo Pelini's first year as the Huskers' head coach last season, the defense allowed an average of 28.5 PPG. These schools opened Big 12 play last year as well, with Missouri winning 52-17 at Nebraska (led 52-10 in the third quarter before "calling off the dogs") in what was the most lopsided defeat at Memorial Stadium since 1955 for the Cornhuskers. In fact, Missouri has outscored Nebraska the last two years 93-23 while outgaining them 1,068 to 666 in yards. So why are the Huskers favored here? Got me! Big 12 Game of the Month 20* Missouri.