Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez (3) carries the ball against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Missouri and Nebraska, who have combined to represent the North in the Big 12 Championship game for the past four years, will square off this Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., with a likely trip to Arlington, Texas, on the line.
I say likely because Kansas, Colorado and Iowa State aren’t winning the North this season. Kansas State is still in the conversation, but does anyone really think the Wildcats will win the North? Not happening.

That sets up Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. clash in Lincoln between Missouri (7-0 overall, 3-0 Big 12) and Nebraska (6-1, 2-1), with the winner having the upper hand for a trip to the Big 12 title game on Dec. 4 in Arlington.

What’s particularly intriguing about this matchup is while both teams know how to put up points, they do it in completely different ways. The Cornhuskers and Tigers are in the top 25 in the country in scoring (NU 10th, 38.86 points per game; MU 24th, 34.71).

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez (3) carries the ball against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Nebraska, reverting back to the days of old, likes to pound the ball on the ground with its three-headed monster of quarterback Taylor Martinez, slasher Roy Helu Jr., and smashmouth back Rex Burkhead. The Huskers have scored 35 touchdowns this season; 21 of them (60 percent) have been on the ground. Nebraska ranks fifth in the country in rushing offense with 290 rushing yards per game.

Missouri, sticking to the new-school success of the spread offense, likes to use the entire field and throw it all over the place with quarterback Blaine Gabbert. The Tigers rank 16th in the country in passing offense with 286 yards through the air per game.

Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert drops back to pass against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 in College Station, Texas. Missouri won 30-9. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Which unit will have its way on Saturday? See my pick above in the latest episode of Conference ChatterTV.

Could depend on which defense plays better. And it should be a fascinating game to watch from a defensive perspective as well. Missouri and Nebraska — statistically, in terms of points allowed — are the top two defenses in the Big 12.

Should Missouri have a chance at an undefeated regular season — after Saturday, MU has games at Texas Tech, home to Kansas State, at Iowa State and against Kansas in Kansas City, Mo. — it will be mostly because of the improvement of the defense. In coach Gary Pinkel’s 10 years, he hasn’t a defense like this 2010 edition.

Pinkel showed flashes of above-average defenses in 2004 and 2006, when the Tigers gave up 19.5 points per game both of those years. He’s never had a top 10 defense in the country, though, much less a top 5 unit like he has this year. Missouri is only surrendering 13.14 points per game. That’s fifth in the country.

Nebraska’s defense — 17th in the country with 17.86 points allowed per game — is also solid. The Huskers, however, have given up an uncharacteristic 61 points in their last two games.

So let the predictions begin. Who are you taking on Saturday?

As always, discuss.