Woodling: Huskers will fold at Tech
While the eyes of Kansas — if you bought a ticket — and the ears of the Sunflower State — if you listen on the radio — will be trained Saturday on Memorial Stadium, I also will be wondering what’s happening in Lubbock, Texas.
Nebraska and Texas Tech, the Jayhawks’ last two opponents, will be tangling in the West Texas dust belt in a televised game (TBS) that could be more exciting than that other overhyped contest earlier in the day in Dallas.
Texas Tech, you recall, rallied from a 30-5 deficit just before halftime to stun the Jayhawks, 31-30, two weeks ago. Then Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., the Huskers rallied to trip Kansas, 14-8.
Based on what I saw the last two Saturdays, Texas Tech deserves to be a touchdown favorite, but you never know what will happen in a clash of polar opposites. Texas Tech’s aerial system is without peer, but Nebraska’s pass defense may be the best in the Big 12 Conference.
After the Jayhawks’ lost in Lincoln, KU’s wide receivers roundly were criticized for dropping passes. True, some were flat-out drops, but it’s also a fact Nebraska’s defensive backs were all over KU’s would-be pass catchers, if not causing drops then phantomly forcing bobbles with their footsteps.
Nebraska’s Fabian Washington and the Bullocks brothers — Josh and Daniel — are among the best secondary performers in the league. At the same time, I wasn’t impressed that much by Nebraska’s pass rush. If the Cornhuskers don’t pressure Tech’s Sonny Cumbie, they’ll be wishing they had brought barrage balloons.
Meanwhile, Nebraska’s offense may even be worse than it was last year when Jamaal Lord was the Huskers’ signal-caller. Lord couldn’t pass a lick, but at least he could run. Joe Dailey, the new Nebraska QB, is no runner, but he does throw interceptions — lots of them a league-high 11 in four games.
Texas Tech’s record is a so-so 3-2, but I’m convinced the Red Raiders are a Top-25 team. With four of their last six games at home, the Raiders will have ample opportunity to prove it … starting with Nebraska.
If you disagree and think the Huskers will give the Big 12 North’s sagging prestige a much-needed spike, all you have to do is go to KUsports.com, follow the prompts and enter the Wanna Whack Woodling? contest.
