Muscle Match Becomes Big 12 Mismatch

For 71 consecutive years, there’s been Nebraska-Oklahoma.

After Saturday’s game in Lincoln, Neb., the series takes a two-year break, courtesy of Big 12 Conference schedule-makers.

“There have been a lot of consecutive Nebraska-Oklahoma games and over the last 35 years or so, and in most cases, they have been very significant games,” Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne said. “From that standpoint, it is sad to see it end.”

The end may not be soon enough for the Sooners (3-5), who enter the game against No. 1 Nebraska (7-0) as 37-point underdogs and without 1,000-yard rusher DeMond Parker.

Nebraska has won the last six meetings, including last year’s 73-21 rout - the worst loss in the 103-year history of Oklahoma football. Before the Huskers began their domination, the teams battled almost annually for the Big Eight title and berth in the Orange Bowl.

For the Huskers, Scott Frost directs the nation’s top-ranked offense (501.7 yards per game), while Ahman Green, with 993 yards and 13 touchdowns, paces the top-rated running game (398.7 yards per game).

Led by end Grant Wistrom and a solid set of linebackers, the defense allows just 66 yards rushing and 14.1 points per game.

The Sooners, meanwhile, counter with youth - two freshmen are expected to fill in for Parker (1,123 yards), who missed most of the last week’s game against Kansas State with bruised stomach muscles.

Look for Seth Littrell and J.T. Thatcher in the Sooners backfield. The two have a total of 16 carries for 39 yards.

While Nebraska-Oklahoma seems like a mismatch, the Florida-Georgia game at Jacksonville, Fla., could turn competitive.

Although the Gators (6-1, 4-1 SEC) have won the last seven meetings - the last three by a combined score of 151-38 - the Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1) have plenty to play for this time. The loser drops out of first place in the SEC East.

Doug Johnson returns from a one-game suspension to quarterback the No. 6 Gators. For No. 14 Georgia, Mike Bobo is the SEC’s top-rated passer with 1,556 yards and 12 TDs.

The picks:

Oklahoma (plus 37) at No. 1 Nebraska: Huskers dominate what used to be an important game… . NEBRASKA 57-10.

No. 2 Penn State (minus 16-1/2) at Northwestern: Run, Curtis, run… . PENN STATE 41-14.

North Carolina State (plus 29) at No. 3 Florida State: Travis Minor looks like the answer to Seminoles’ running woes… . FSU 51-14.

Minnesota (plus 25-1/2) at No. 4 Michigan: Warmup for next week’s game at Penn State…. MICHIGAN 35-8.

No. 5 North Carolina (minus 9) at Georgia Tech (today): Tar Heels ripe for upset… . GEORGIA TECH 24-21.

No. 6 Florida (minus 19-1/2) vs. No. 14 Georgia (at Jacksonville, Fla.): Doug Johnson returns at QB for Gators… . FLORIDA 45-21.

Southern California (plus 18) at No. 7 Washington: Huskies RB Rashaan Shehee runs over Trojans… . WASHINGTON 38-13.

South Carolina (plus 21) at No. 8 Tennessee: Vols QB Peyton Manning updates his Heisman resume… . TENNESSEE 45-21.

No. 9 Ohio State (minus 6) at No. 21 Michigan State: Bucks QB Joe Germaine comes through with TD passes… . OHIO STATE 28-21.

No. 10 Washington State (plus 3-1/2) at No. 20 Arizona State: No faith in unbeaten Cougars? … ARIZONA STATE 38-34.

Mississippi State (plus 17) at No. 11 Auburn: Now that Heisman folks have Dameyune Craig’s bio, Tigers QB must produce… . AUBURN 35-14.

No. 12 UCLA (minus 6) at Stanford: Bruins have too much firepower for Cardinal… . UCLA 41-31.

No. 13 Kansas State (minus 5-1/2) at Texas Tech: Can Spike Dykes’ Red Raiders pull off another upset? … TEXAS TECH 24-20.

No. 18 Purdue (plus 10) at No. 15 Iowa: Hawkeyes average 44.9 points, Boilermakers 35.9… . IOWA 42-35.

No. 16 LSU (minus 6) at Kentucky: We still like Wildcats QB Tim Couch… . KENTUCKY 35-31.

No. 17 West Virginia (plus 10) at Syracuse: Orangemen have outscored Mountaineers 52-7 in last two meetings… . SYRACUSE 31-23.

No. 19 Oklahoma State (plus 8-1/2) at No. 25 Texas A&M: Aggies have lost two straight, Cowboys coming off first loss … OKLAHOMA STATE 28-27.

Miami, Ohio (plus 1) at No. 22 Toledo: Rockets looking to go 8-0… . MIAMI, OHIO 29-24.

Alabama-Birmingham (plus 25) at No. 23 Virginia Tech: Hokies prepared for huge underdog this time around… . VIRGINIA TECH 35-7.

No. 24 Southern Mississippi (minus 4-1/2) at Cincinnati: Golden Eagles want to stick around Top 25 next week, too… . SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 31-21.

Last week: 13-4 (straight); 10-6-1 (spread). Season: 126-33 (straight); 81-72-2 (spread).