Big XII Championship Game – #22 Nebraska vs. #3 Texas
Saturday, December 5: 8:00 p.m.
Big XII Championship Odds: Texas -14
There is just one more roadblock on Texas’ quest to play for a National Championship against the winner of the SEC, and it comes Saturday, when they face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Arlington, Texas in the Big XII title game.
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The Longhorns have had a phenomenal year, and are getting things done on both sides of the ball. Colt McCoy is a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, and it’s easy to see why over his last few games. He has thrown for 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last three games.
Here are some NCAA football betting trends which may impact this game:
Nebraska: 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games
Nebraska: 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
Nebraska: The total has gone UNDER in 6 of their last 8 games
Texas: 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games
Texas: 1-3-1 ATS in their 5 games against Nebraska
Texas: The total has gone OVER in 4 of their last 5 games
He may have saved his best performance for his most recent, as he threw for 304 yards, rushed for another 175, and either passed or ran for five touchdowns total. His top receiving threat is also one of college football’s best at the position, Jordan Shipley. Shipley has 99 catches on the season, for 1292 yards. Not too shabby for the sixth year senior.
On the defensive side of the football, is where Texas doesn’t get nearly enough credit. They are ranked amongst the best in college football in every major category except for passing defense. Their run defense (62 yards per game) is tops in the nation.
Speaking of solid defenses, few are better than Nebraska’s. The Cornhuskers allow just a shade over 11 points per game, good for third in scoring defense in college football. They also allow just 291 yards, ranked No. 11 in the country.
As for their offense, while it hasn’t always been pretty in Lincoln, it has become effective these last few weeks. Zac Lee has once and for all claimed the starting quarterback spot, and has played phenomenally, completing roughly 65 percent of his passes in the last three games.
The biggest difference to this offense though, has been the re-emergence of Roy Helu Jr. who struggled with some injuries earlier in the year. Helu had three phenomenal games in a row before Colorado shut him down last weekend. However, Rex Burkehead stepped up and rushed for 100 yards on the afternoon, ensuring the Cornhuskers their spot in the championship.
This game is going to feature some good old fashioned, hard nosed football. For those of you who like high-scoring spread offenses, you might want to sit this one out, neither team will likely score much.
Because of it, I like Nebraska. While I don’t know that they’ll be able to score enough points to ultimately win this game, I do think that their defense will keep them in it, and allow them to cover the college football betting odds. Take the Cornhuskers getting two touchdowns in Arlington Saturday.
OUR Pick: Nebraska +14
