Big 12 Championship Game: 10 Bold Predictions for Conference Title
The Big 12 Championship Game secured one of its participants on Friday, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers wrapped up the Big 12 North with their 45-17 win over Colorado.
Tomorrow's Bedlam game in Stillwater between No. 13 Oklahoma and No. 9 Oklahoma State will decide the Big 12 South winner, and the victor will take on Nebraska next week in Arlington.
For the sake of simplicity, let's say Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma tomorrow. For that matter, let's assume they will.
If so, then here are 10 bold predictions for the Big 12 Championship Game.
10. Justin Blackmon Will Have at Least 125 Yards Receiving and One Touchdown
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This barely counts as a bold prediction, to be sure. Blackmon has had at least 125 yards receiving and has caught at least one touchdown in every game he's played this season.
That includes a 157 yard, two touchdown performance against Nebraska on October 23rd.
He's a beast, and it's surprising that his name is not more prominent in Heisman talks.
9. Roy Helu, Jr. Will Rush For 100 Yards
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Since setting the school rushing record with 307 yards against Missouri, Roy Helu, Jr. has not rushed for 100 yards in any of Nebraska's four games.
He did come close against Iowa State with 99 yards on November 6th, but that's also the last game in which Helu had more than 20 carries.
The Cowboys run defense isn't horribly by any stretch of the imagination, but they are giving up an average of nearly 139 rushing yards per game. With the quarterback situation still something of a mystery from day to day, maybe Bo Pelini will remember that he has this guy at his disposal.
No disrespect to Rex Burkhead, by the way, who is a good runner in his own right.
8. Prince Amukamara Will Get His First Interception Of The Season
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After tallying five interceptions in 2009, Prince Amukamara doesn't have a single pick yet in 2010.
This tells us two things.
One, that quarterbacks aren't throwing it in his direction.
And two, he's due.
Brandon Weeden is a very good quarterback, and he's been particularly on fire in his last five games. Because of this, he probably won't be skittish about throwing it in Amukamara's direction.
Advantage Prince.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Kendall Hunter Won't Rush For 200 Yards Again
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Don't get me wrong, Kendall Hunter is a very talented running back, and one that doesn't get nearly as much credit as he deserves.
But he ran for 201 yards on 26 carries against a Nebraska defense that is not nearly that terrible against the run. They allow an average of 151.4 yards per game, true, but they've also allowed just 10 rushing touchdowns all season, second fewest in the Big 12 (Missouri has allowed nine).
Besides, Hunter averaged 7.7 yards per carry against the Cornhuskers, a rate eclipsed only by his ridiculous 12.2 average against Washington State.
It won't happen again.
6. Taylor Martinez Will Start
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Martinez was scratched from Friday's game against Colorado with a bad ankle and an injured toe on his left foot.
That makes it two games in the last four that Martinez has missed, and he's been battling injuries ever since he got knocked around and had to leave the game against Missori.
Green filled in admirably for Martinez against Colorado, completing 9 of 12 passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns, but you have to suspect that Bo Pelini will go with the guy who got them there.
5. But Martinez Won't Finish
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Because at this point there are very few reasons to believe he will.
4. Oklahoma State's Pass Defense Will Be Much Better
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When the Cowboys faced Martinez and the Cornhuskers the first time around this season, it was obvious that they were not worried about his arm.
He made them pay. The freshman passed for 323 yards and five touchdowns; he'd had just three touchdown passes in six games before then.
In four games since, the Cowboys have allowed exactly one touchdown pass. Much better.
True, Landry Jones will probably add to that total on Saturday, but it is apparent that the Pokes have drastically improved their pass defense in recent weeks. And it will probably be even better if they can indeed knock Martinez out of the game.
3. Rex Burkhead Will Get More Throwing Opportunities
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With Martinez out and backup quarterback Cody Green in the game against Colorado, Bo Pelini opened up the playbook.
As a result, former high school quarterback and current Cornhusker running back got a chance to throw the ball.
The result: two throws, two completions, 30 yards, and two touchdowns.
Now that Pelini knows what he has, you can expect him to go to the well again. Especially if Martinez does have to leave the game.
2. This Will Be The Highest Scoring Big 12 Championship Game Ever
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When the Cornhuskers and Cowboys met up in Stillwater earlier this year, they combined for 92 points and 1,035 yards.
Nebraska's defense is very good, as it ranks among the top 10 in the nation in terms of scoring and yards allowed. But it's become apparent over the weeks that Oklahoma State's offense simply cannot be stopped. They're third in scoring with 45.3 points per game, and first in yards per game with 552.
The highest scoring Big 12 Championship Game belongs to the 2008 matchup between Missouri and Oklahoma, with the Sooners winning 62-21.
That mark is going down.
1. Oklahoma State Will Win Their First Big 12 Championship
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The Pokes look like a team of destiny this season. Saturday's win over Oklahoma will give them their first 11-win regular season in school history, and their big three of Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmon, and Kendall Hunter might be as good as it gets in college football.
Besides which, Nebraska just hasn't played as well as the Pokes since the two teams went their separate ways in late October. Oklahoma State has dominated all four of its games, and the Cornhuskers could have easily lost two of theirs instead of just the one at Texas A&M.
So get ready, Cowboys fans. You're going to have something to celebrate.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
