BOULDER — As with most football games, Colorado and Nebraska coaches and players don’t know what to expect today at Folsom Field. But they know what they had better be prepared for.
Can you say shootout?
“Anymore, it seems like you have to score a lot of points to win in this league,” CU senior running back Hugh Charles said.
Football scores in the Big 12 Conference are beginning to resemble basketball scores. Kansas 76, Nebraska 39. Nebraska 73, Kansas State 31. Oklahoma State 49, Texas Tech 45. Texas 59, Texas Tech 43. Missouri 49, Kansas State 32.
In the four conference games played last weekend, the winning team averaged 43.3 points.
“This isn’t a good time to be a fan or a coach of defensive football,” Texas coach Mack Brown said.
Four Big 12 teams rank among the nation’s top 10 in scoring. Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas Tech each averages more than 40 points per game. KU, MU, Tech and Oklahoma State rate among the top 10 nationally in total offense.
Scoring is up 16 percent in the Big 12 — just from a year ago. Total yardage shows a 14.9 percent gain.
Fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight. The Big 12 looks more like the Pac-10 every day, it seems.
“If you look around our league, it seems like everybody has a really good quarterback now,” CU junior safety Ryan Walters said. “You just have to prepare by watching a lot of film and then go out and do the best you can. You just try to minimize.”
Unless the playing surface is slick or there’s a flurry of turnovers, the classic 21-17 football score looks like something from back in the day.
Spread offenses. Isolation packages. Athletic quarterbacks who can run. Big receivers who can fly. Running backs who can catch. Tight ends who outrun safeties. Speed, speed and more speed.
Some video games couldn’t keep up with what is happening on the field.
“Offensive football has really taken a jump,” CU offensive line coach Jeff Grimes said. “A lot of teams are going no-huddle and getting in more plays, spreading the field, those sorts of things.”
The old Big Eight was about power football. The new Big 12 is about getting quick athletes in space. Nebraska’s top receiver is an I-back. Marlon Lucky has 67 catches.
“Everybody’s offense gets their best players in the right places,” Walters said. “That’s tough to deal with.”
It also puts pressure on an opposing offense to keep pace on the scoreboard. Nebraska (5-6, 2-5 Big 12) ranks 37th nationally in scoring (31.8), yet the Huskers need a victory today to gain bowl eligibility.
In addition to seeking bowl eligibility, Colorado (5-6, 3-4) needs a victory today to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since a six-year stretch from 1979-84.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
COLORADO (5-6, 3-4 Big 12)
Player to watch:
RB Hugh Charles
It’s no coincidence some of Charles’ best games this season have come in CU’s most impressive wins: Miami of Ohio (123 yards rushing), Oklahoma (110), Baylor (109) and Texas Tech (121). Among games that went the other way, Charles managed just 55 yards against Missouri and was held to 39 yards in the loss to Kansas. He’s that important to the offense.
Key for the Buffaloes:
Beware of any loaded cigars
In last year’s 37-14 Nebraska victory in Lincoln, the Huskers tried to surprise Colorado with trick plays, including a fake punt, fake field goal and two attempted passes by the I-back. “Nebraska is probably the best team we play in regard to trick plays,” CU safety Ryan Walters said. “We have to stay in our keys and not get fooled.”
NEBRASKA (5-6, 2-5)
Player to watch:
QB Joe Ganz
Nebraska fans wonder why Ganz wasn’t the starter all season. After watching film of Ganz throwing for 915 yards and 11 touchdowns in the past two games, Colorado defensive coaches and players must wonder that, too. He will face a CU secondary that has yielded big plays during recent games and might be without its top player, senior cornerback Terrence Wheatley (foot injury).
Key for the Cornhuskers:
Wear down the Buffs
Colorado played like a tired, worn-out team against Missouri and in the second half against Iowa State, stringing together far too many three-and-outs on offense and failing to come up with stops on defense. This isn’t a vintage Nebraska team by any means, but the Huskers do have more depth than CU at most positions.
This ain’t your dad’s Big 12
A look at the offensive explosion in the Big 12 this season:
ALL BIG 12 TEAMS
2006 2007
Games 154 135
Points per game 27.93 33.24
Total yards 57597 59305
Yards per game 384.73 439.30
TOP FIVE BIG 12 OFFENSES
2006 2007
Yards per game 419.15 503.79
Points per game 33.32 41.98
Seven up to go bowling
In addition to its membership in the Bowl Championship Series, the Big 12 has agreements with at least seven other bowl games for this year:
Bowl Date Opponent
Holiday Dec. 27 Pac-10
Texas Dec. 28 Conf. USA
Alamo Dec. 29 Big Ten
Independence Dec. 30 SEC
Sun Dec. 31 Pac-10
Insight Dec. 31 Big Ten
Cotton Jan. 1 SEC
Gator Jan. 1 ACC
Note: The Gator Bowl will pick between a Big 12 or Big East team to play an ACC team. If the Gator Bowl does not select a Big 12 team the Sun Bowl will select a Big 12 team.
