Big 12 Friday, November 23rd

Nebraska (5-6) at Colorado (5-6)  12:00 PM ABC
Why to watch: It wasn't all that long ago that this matchup was determining Big 12 championships and having a major influence on the national title chase. Fast forward a few years and now it's a battle of teams and programs going in different directions, but each needing a positive ending to build on for 2007. Nebraska is 99% certain to make a coaching change at the end of the year, but the Bill Callahan era can be extended by an extra game with a win to build on the cathartic 73-31 win over Kansas State to stop a five-game losing streak. The passing game has been rolling well enough to overcome the mediocre defense, and now it'll be bombs away as the Huskers try to prove that they really weren't that horrible all along. The Buffs have put the horrendous 2006 year in the past with a decent bounceback season, but they've blown two good chances to get bowl eligible with a blowout loss to Missouri (acceptable) and a 31-28 loss at Iowa State two weeks ago (unacceptable). It's easy to forget that the program went to the Big 12 title game in 2004 and 2005, and a win this week would be a solid step back to that level. While Nebraska is about to tear everything down and start fresh, Colorado is rebuilding and could desperately use the extra practices and time a bowl game would provide.
Why Nebraska might win: To disrupt the Nebraska passing game, a defense has to generate consistent pressure. Colorado can't do that. The Buffs have a strong secondary, but they're not getting much of a break with opposing quarterbacks able spend five days to find second and third options. It took a full season, and Joe Ganz stepping in for an injured Sam Keller, but the air attack is finally rolling like it was supposed to from the start of the Callahan era. With 315 yards and three scores against Texas, 405 yards and four scores against Kansas, and 519 yards and seven touchdown passes against Kansas State, the Huskers are in a groove. If they're on target, Colorado doesn't have the firepower to keep up.
Why Colorado might win: The Buffs need to get the running game going early and control the clock to keep Ganz and the Husker offense off the field. While Hugh Charles hasn't been rolling lately, he shouldn't have much of a problem against a Nebraska run defense that hasn't even been close all year. Kansas State got down too quickly and couldn't establish its ground game, but before that, KU ran for 218 yards and five touchdowns while Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas all ran for well over 300 yards each in the previous three games against the Huskers. Colorado won't tear off three bills, but it should be able to crank out enough production to balance out anything Nebraska can do.
Who to watch: Is Ganz the real deal? He might not look the part of a prototypical chucker, but he's been the nation's hottest quarterback over a two game span with 915 yards and 11 touchdowns. He only completed half his passes in the loss to Kansas, and pitched four interceptions, but he rolled against Kansas State completing 30 of 40 throws for 510 yards and seven scores with no interceptions. He can even run a little bit. If he can put up huge numbers again, then he'll start to be considered the real deal, and if he pulls off the win, it might be interesting to see if there's a slight shift in the Dump Callahan movement.
What will happen: Nebraska hasn't been good on the road, but this isn't the same team that was beaten up by Kansas a few weeks ago. Tired of all the problems, the offense has started letting it fly knowing it has nothing to lose; it's all about attitude with this bunch. Colorado has something to lose, and it'll play tighter. That'll make all the difference.
CFN Prediction: Nebraska 41 ... Colorado 36 ... Line: Colorado -5.5
Must See Rating: (5 The inside of your eyelids after eating two pounds of turkey  - 1 The inside of a gym with every 120 calories equaling a mile on the treadmill) ...3

Texas (9-2) at Texas A&M (6-5)  3:30 PM ABC
Why to watch: All of a sudden, this Texas team that was an afterthought almost all season long, struggled to get by teams like Arkansas State, UCF and Nebraska, and appeared to still be in a malaise after blowing its seemingly sure-thing trip to the 2006 Big 12 title, has a shot to pull off a stunning reversal of fortune starting with a win over the Aggies. Last year, all Texas had to do was win one of its final two games to play for the Big 12 title, but Colt McCoy got hurt against Kansas State, wasn't right against Texas A&M, and Oklahoma slid in and won it. This year, Oklahoma supposedly had the Big 12 South title in the bag, but Sam Bradford suffered a concussion in the loss to Texas Tech leaving the door open for the Longhorns. If they can win on Friday, then the pressure will be on OU to beat Oklahoma State to win the South. Texas doesn't have a shot at an at-large BCS spot if it doesn't go on to play in the Big 12 title game, but with five straight wins after the OU loss is hot enough to make the other Big 12 bowls drool. Texas A&M is bowl eligible, but it could use the win to pull up out of its nosedive of a season. Head coach Dennis Franchione is basically a lame duck after losing four of his last five games and could use a second straight big win over Texas to slow down the firing process.
Why Texas might win: This is a bad matchup for A&M. Texas is vulnerable against strong passing teams but is fantastic against the run. Oklahoma State wanted to run the ball and only got 164 yards on 45 carries. Only two other teams, Oklahoma and UCF, were able to get more than 150 yards on the ground, and while A&M should be able to do that without a problem, it's not getting enough out of the passing game to pick up the slack. It's not like Stephen McGee and the offense isn't trying, doing a good job of moving the ball through the air against Missouri, but this is a running team that has to control things on the ground to win.
Why Texas A&M might win: If A&M can limit the explosions, it has a shot. Almost like in basketball, Texas is able to go on runs where it get hot for just enough of a burst to take over a game. Sometimes it happens in the fourth quarter and sometimes it happens out of the blue. To counteract that, A&M must power the ball. UCF's Kevin Smith, a big back, was effective against the Longhorn interior, and no one else has tried to pound it; Oklahoma State and Oklahoma simply ran their normal ground game. If the Aggie line can get a bit of a push for McGee, Jorvorskie Lane and Mike Goodson to run inside, it might have more success than it planned for.
Who to watch: McGee hasn't exactly become an A&M legend yet, but he can cozy up in the hearts of Aggie fans if he can engineer a second straight win over the Longhorns. Stepping in for Reggie McNeal two years ago, it was McGee, not Vince Young, who stole the show in the closer-than-the-final-score 40-29 loss with 108 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 95 yards and a touchdown in last year's win while throwing for an efficient 58 yards. Now he'll have to throw a bit as the Longhorns will be keying first on stopping him from running. For Colt McCoy, this is a chance at redemption. While he played hurt and gutted it out, he also hurt his team by throwing for 160 yards and three interceptions. Now he's fine, now he's throwing relatively well after a good game against Texas Tech, and now he has a shot to put last year's game to rest.
What will happen: If Oklahoma wants to play for the Big 12 title, it'll have to take care of business. Texas will slow down the Aggie running game and McGee won't be effective enough throwing the ball to pull off the upset. McCoy will be terrific.
CFN Prediction: Texas 34 ... Texas A&M 23 ... Line: Texas -5.5
Must See Rating: (5 The inside of your eyelids after eating two pounds of turkey  - 1 The inside of a gym with every 120 calories equaling a mile on the treadmill) ...4

Big 12 Week 13 Predictions, Part 2