GAME NOTES: The Nebraska Cornhuskers' streak of 35 straight postseason trips will be on the line this Friday when they play host to the hated Colorado Buffaloes in a Big 12 Conference tussle from Tom Osborne Field. The Buffaloes come into this game well rested having been on a bye last weekend and feeling extremely confident after their thrilling 38-31 win against Kansas State on November 13th. The victory ensured that coach Gary Barnett's squad would be bowl eligible this season and keeps their outside hopes for a Big 12 North Division title alive. Although the Buffs are just 3-4 in conference action this season, the North Division is extremely watered down this season and a win this Friday could allow them to make the improbable trip to the Big 12 Championship game on December 4th. As for the Huskers, they are also one of the three teams (Iowa State included) still in a position to win the North Division crown this season. However, their conference record (3-4) takes somewhat of a backseat to their overall record, which currently sits at just 5-5 following a 30-3 loss to second-ranked Oklahoma on November 13th. Coach Bill Callahan needs his Huskers to come away with a victory this Friday or else they will have finished the regular season with their first losing record since 1962 and will end a 35-year old streak that has seen Nebraska participate in a bowl game. In terms of the all-time series between these two rival schools, the Huskers hold a commanding 44-16-2 advantage. Nebraska is also an impressive 23-7 when the game is played in Lincoln and posted a 31-22 victory in last year's meeting from Boulder.

The Buffaloes needed a miracle not to go into overtime against Kansas State two weekends ago and amazingly they got it. Colorado was tied 31-31 with the Wildcats and with less than 30 seconds left in regulation, an extra period seemed eminent. Instead, Ron Monteilh found himself wide open for a 64-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left in regulation that would give the Buffs their thrilling seven-point win. Quarterback Joel Klatt threw that winning touchdown pass and finished the game with 184 passing yards and two touchdown passes, while also rushing for another score. Bobby Purify posted another impressive rushing performance for Colorado, running for 155 yards and two touchdowns on just 24 carries (6.5 ypc). Monteilh hauled in a team-high four receptions for 106 yards, which gives him 25 catches for 298 yards this season. The go-ahead touchdown that was caught by Monteilh, was his first of the year.

Normally when a team gives up 160 rushing yards in a contest, it has not performed well and allowed the opposing team to control the tempo of the game. However, that wasn't the case for the Buffaloes against Kansas State, which is one of the best rushing teams in the Big 12. Colorado surrendered 372 total yards of offense to the Wildcats, but it held them to 6-of-14 on their third-down attempts and just 10 points through the first three quarters of action. That being said, the Buffaloes did have a fourth quarter meltdown and allowed K-State to get right back in the game, surrendering 21 points in the final period of play. Brian Iwuh led the Buffs on defense once again, finishing with 10.5 tackles and a broken up pass. Brandon Dabdoub had the team's lone quarterback sack of the game, while Tom Hubbard had six tackles, a TFL and an interception. The picked off pass was Hubbard's first of the year and just the eighth on the season for Colorado, which is giving up just under 249 ypg through the air.

The Buffaloes may be extremely porous against the pass this season, but that won't mean much this weekend if Joe Dailey can't get this Nebraska passing offense out of its current rut. The Huskers were supposed to be implementing a version of the West Coast offense with coach Callahan at the helm that would revitalize this offense, but instead it has been one of the worst in the Big 12 this season. Joe Dailey has completed just 48.6 percent of his passes for 1,719 yards (171.9 ypg), 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Dailey struggled under center once again in the team's 27-point loss to Oklahoma two weeks ago, as he threw for just 73 yards and an interception on 8-of-12 passing. Cory Ross paced the team in the defeat, rushing for 130 yards on 30 carries (4.3 ypc). Although Nebraska is still averaging 25.5 ppg and 187.2 ypg on the ground, the inconsistency of Dailey and the passing attack is the main reason that this squad is not bowl eligible already.

The Cornhuskers have played well on defense for most of this season, but they had one of their worst showings in the loss to Oklahoma. Although Nebraska stopped Sooner freshman tailback Adrian Peterson from recording his 10th straight 100-yard rushing performance (67 yards) and held Oklahoma to just 98 rushing yards, it allowed Jason White and the Sooners to throw for 413 yards and gain 19 of their 24 first downs through the air. Oklahoma also managed to convert 6-of-12 third-down chances and put points on the board four of the six times they were inside the Huskers' 20-yard line. Barrett Ruud finished with another strong performance, posting a team-high 14 tackles and two TFLs. Ruud is one of the leading tacklers in the nation with 134 stops and he currently ranks among the leaders in the Big 12 with his 17 TFLs. The talented linebacker also is tied for second on Nebraska with three quarterback sacks and is one of four Huskers with a forced fumble to his credit this year.

This is a must win for Nebraska, which is lucky to get a Colorado pass defense in its final regular season game of 2004. The Huskers and Dailey have been erratic to say the least this season, but they should be able to take advantage of the Buffaloes this Friday and once again become bowl eligible.

Predicted Outcome

Nebraska 34, Colorado 20