The Huskers open Big 12 Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 4 with a big one, as they host defending North Division champion Missouri at Memorial Stadium.
Here is a Husker Tickets look at the Missouri Tigers:
Schedule
08/30 -- Illinois (at St. Louis)
09/06 -- Southeast Missouri State
09/13 -- Nevada
09/20 -- Buffalo
10/04 -- at Nebraska
10/11 -- Oklahoma State
10/18 -- at Texas
10/25 -- Colorado
11/01 -- at Baylor
11/08 -- Kansas State
11/15 -- at Iowa State
11/29 -- Kansas (at Kansas City)
From the hunter to the hunted
One year ago at this time, nobody in their right mind was picking Missouri to win the Big 12 North. In fact, nobody even had them listed in the various preseason rankings that came out before the start of the 2007 season.
The Tigers put everybody on notice, though, with a fantastic season last year that led to them winning their first North Division crown. They capped a brilliant 12-2 season with a win in the Cotton Bowl and head into 2008 as one of the teams to watch, not only in the Big 12 but in the race for a national title.
Daniel able to put up Heisman-worthy numbers
One of the big changes made by coach Gary Pinkel was to have quarterback Chase Daniel beat people more with his arm than his legs. Daniel responded with an amazing campaign, throwing for over 4,300 yards and 33 touchdowns on his way to the runner-up to Florida's Tim Tebow in the race for the Heisman Trophy. Daniel is back along with his top playmaker, Jeremy Maclin, who averaged over 13 yards a catch last year and was a threat on kick returns as well in recording 16 all-purpose touchdowns.
The Tigers are also solid on defense, led by linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and free safety William Moore. For all the ink the offense got, the defense did more than its share in shutting down opposing offenses. They came up big in wins over Texas Tech and Kansas and closed out with a super effort in a 38-7 win over Arkansas and Heisman candidate Darren McFadden.
Road games will determine Tigers' fate
Missouri certainly has the tools to put themselves in the discussion for the national title in 2008, and their schedule works out fairly well in their favor. They have two key road tests (Nebraska and Texas) and will close the regular season with their annual shootout with Kansas in Kansas City, and those games will go a long way toward determining Missouri's fate in 2008. They surprised everybody in 2007, but few will be surprised to see the Tigers in the hunt for a national title by season's end.
Projected Starting Lineup
Offense
LT Dain Wise (6-5, 305, Jr.)
LG Ryan Madison (6-5, 305, Sr.)
C Tim Barnes (6-4, 305, So.)
RG Kurtis Gregory (6-5, 305, Jr.)
RT Colin Brown (6-8, 325, Sr.)
TE Chase Coffman (6-6, 245, Sr.)
WR Danario Alexander (6-5, 210, Jr.)
WR Tommy Saunders (6-0, 210, Jr.)
WR Jeremy Maclin (6-1, 200, So.)
QB Chase Daniel (6-0, 225, Sr.)
RB Jimmy Jackson (5-9, 200, Sr.)
Defense
DE Tommy Chavis (6-2, 255, Sr.)
DT Evander Hood (6-4, 295, Sr.)
DT Jaron Baston (6-1, 300, Jr.)
DE Stryker Sulak (6-5, 250, Sr.)
LB Van Alexander (6-0, 235, Sr.)
LB Brock Christopher (6-2, 235, Sr.)
LB Sean Weatherspoon (6-1, 235, Jr.)
CB Castine Bridges (6-2, 210, Sr.)
CB Carl Gettis (5-11, 200, Sr.)
FS William Moore (6-1, 230, Sr.)
SS Justin Garrett (6-2, 200,Sr.)
Specialists
PK Jeff Wolfert (6-2, 185, Sr.)
P Jake Harry (6-1, 190, Jr.)
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