Friday Husker Pick’em – Missouri

PR’s Tom O’Connor believes Missouri fans will have reason to celebrate following Saturday’s game in Lincoln.

We’ve got a fill-in panelist this week as Kyle Ringenberg, M.D., had to take the week off.

Public Relations’ Tom O’Connor will step in for Dr. Ringenberg and go head to head with our other usuals, Jeffrey Hill, M.D., and Lisa Runco and Chad Kelsay, in picking Saturday’s Nebraska-Missouri game.

Last week, the undefeated Tigers won one of the biggest games in their program’s history, 36-27 triumph over then No. 1 Oklahoma. NU beat Oklahoma State 51-41 last Saturday. Our panelists, all correctly called for NU wins, which means they, like the Huskers, stand at 6-1 on the season.

Below our panelists talk Huskers and Tigers.

Hey Cyclone fans! Regardless of what happens in Lincoln on Saturday between NU and Mizzou, next week the Huskers will try to avenge their strange 2009 home loss to Iowa State. But based on what happened in Austin last weekend (ISU took out Texas 28-21), perhaps Cyclone Coach Paul Rhodes has a little magic brewing in Ames. We know there are Cyclone fans out there among the UNMC community. We want to hear from you this week. Send your thoughts on next week’s game to today@unmc.edu and we’ll use them in next week’s Husker Pick’em piece.

O’Connor says, “I have big shoes to fill pinch hitting for Dr. Ringenberg. Oh well, here goes nothing. I don’t have a good feeling about this game. The Huskers have been terrible at home in their last two games, and I think this trend will continue. Blaine Gabbert looked great against Oklahoma and the Missouri defense seems to be much improved. I look for a close game with the Tigers prevailing. Sorry, Husker fans, I’m from Iowa, so my world doesn’t end when the Huskers lose.” Missouri 21, NU 17

Dr. Hill says, “This is the game to decide the Big 12 North Championship. Our defense is better than their offense. The teams are equal on all other fronts, in my opinion.” NU 28, Missouri 24

Team Runco/Kelsay says, “For us to be successful, we need to dominate both lines of scrimmage. We do think we’re getting better up front on both sides of the ball, but this is also one of Missouri’s strengths. We are confident our defense will come out very aggressive, as they have something to prove after a performance in Stillwater (Okla.) that did not live up to their standards. If Taylor Martinez and company get going quickly then we believe we could see a great day out of the offense. We believe Nebraska kicker Alex Henery will be the difference in the game.” NU 27, Missouri 24