KU Game Day: KU vs Minnesota - Insight Bowl

UM wideout Eric Decker in action / credit: BohPhoto (flickr cc)

Ready For Decker?

Series: 3-3
Time: Wednesday, December 31, 5:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Sun Devil Stadium
Location: Tempe, AZ
TV: NFL Network, WDAF 4
Line: KU (-9)

Bowl Records
KU 5-6
UM 5-7

History 
1893 UM 12, KU 6
1896 UM 12, KU 0 (in KC)
1966 KU 16, UM 14
1971 UM 38, KU 20
1972 KU 34, UM 28
1973 KU 34, UM 19

The Scene
All kinds of crazy story lines as KU heads into this bowl match-up. First off, KU is playing in back-to-back bowl games for the first time ever. That won't seem quite as cool if they get upset by a Minnesota team that finished the season with a 55-0 home loss to Iowa. Also, you have Justin Thornton and John Larson out for the game and Jake Sharp recovering from the flu. Did he infect anyone else? Hopefully, he's been hanging out with the Gophers. And finally, what do you think of the Big 12 so far? OSU did not represent the "best division in college football" so well last night, so the mighty Spread 12 is now 1-1 this bowl season thanks to an overtime "skin o' th teeth" win by the Tigers. The Jayhawks are under some serious pressure to not let this snowball start running down the wrong side of the hill. Believe me the Big 10 would love to take a bite out of the Big 12 this year.

The Key
I'm going to have to throw out a few things for this game. Usually, I like to go with pass rush, but I'm thinking the Gophers are going to try to run on us despite the fact that they are a spread team. Can the Jayhawks still play physical football? If they do shut down the UM run game, that brings up key #2. Are we going to get good coverage out of Kendrick Harper and Chris Harris? Obviously, there will be a point when UM will go to leading offensive threat -- wideout Eric Decker. We'll need a good performance by the secondary to keep him in check and that makes for a good opportunity for redemption for both Harper and Harris. On the offensive side of the ball, David Lawrence mentioned this morning that the Gophers play the 3-4. Based on the KSU game, we should like that. If Jake Sharp, doesn't look full speed tonight, it wouldn't be a bad time for Jocques Crawford to have a big game. I fully expect Todd Reesing and his crew to be "on" this evening.

The Motivation
All kinds of motivation. Really, this kicks off the 2009 season and the Jayhawks want to get that rolling now. A division title is realistic, but it won't seem so if the Hawks can't handle a Big 10 middleweight. Another item to consider for KU is the Mangino Era record against non-conference BCS teams (2-4). With Duke on the slate next September, the opportunity to even that record starts tonight.

"I’m kind of disappointed that they’re a spread offense. like to spread out the ball. It’s stuff that we’ve seen all year, nothing too surprising"
--James Holt

Link to Photo | BohPhoto Flickr CC

Game Preview: KU @ Nebraska

Jake Sharp Tore It Up Against KSU / credit: annependleton.com

Can Jake Sharp Run Wild Again?

Series: NU 88-23-2
Time: Saturday, Nov. 8 - 1:30 p.m. (CT)
Venue: Memorial Stadium (81,067)
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: Pay-Per-View (Details)
Line: NU (-1.5)

Recent History (NU 8-2)
1998 NU 41, KU 0
1999 NU 24, KU 17
2000 NU 56, KU 17
2001 NU 51, KU 7
2002 NU 45, KU 7
2003 NU 24, KU 3
2004 NU 14, KU 8
2005 KU 40, NU 15
2006 NU 39, KU 31
2007 KU 76, NU 39

Rock Chalk Roundtable 6 -- Nebraska Week

Hawk Digest Preseason Nebraska Preview

The Scene
It's a strange feeling to be more focused on the North title chase rather than 1968. History is interesting, but what's going on right now seems a little more significant. The Jayhawks are in the mix and Nebraska needs some help, but they're still in it as well, so it'll be a playoff atmosphere up in Lincoln.

The Key
There are really two things that KU has to do here:

1) Mount a pass rush

2) Set the running game free

I guess another way of saying that is we really have to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, which is no revelation. You know the drill though, KU has to get pressure on the opponent QB to be effective at pass defense. On the other side, defenses really struggle when the Jayhawks come at them with a balanced attack.

The Motivation
Other than a division title and a potential shot at a re-match with Tech, this one goes a long way toward establishing KU as a solid #2 in the North pecking order. The Jayhawks are 10-3 in the North since 2006 with the only losses coming to Mizzou and Nebraska. Taking two in-a-row against the Huskers says quite a bit. The other thing is I think fans are anxious for Mark Mangino to extend the Northern Fighting Mangino Road Tour Experience to Lincoln, Nebraska. Where it's been:

2004 -- Columbia, MO / 31-14
2006 -- Ames, IA / 41-10
2007 -- Manhattan, KS / 30-24
2007 -- Boulder, CO / 19-14
2008 -- Ames, IA / 35-33

“It’s going to be tough. They’re still Nebraska, and we’re going to be in Lincoln and it’s definitely a tough place to play. We’re going to have to have another great week of preparation and hopefully take care of business on Saturday.”

--Jake Sharp on Nebraska

Game Day Preview: KU vs Louisiana Tech

Photo: www.annependleton.com

Series: Tied 1-1
Time: 6:00 p.m.
TV: FSN
Line: KU (-20.5)

Most Recent Meetings
2005 KU 34, LA Tech 14
1987 LA Tech 16, KU 11

The Rundown
After holding Florida International to just 2.5 yards per rush last week, the KU defensive line will step up from Sun Belt talent to WAC level talent when they take on Louisiana Tech tomorrow night. Throw in the fact that your talking about a WAC team that just knocked off SEC middleweight Mississippi State 22-14 last week and you like this matchup as a measuring stick for the d-line. Sure, most KU fans are focused solely on that offensive right tackle position and whether or not Jeremiah Hatch can help get the running game on track. That's a legitimate concern as well, but after last year, I have faith that Ed Warriner and John Reagan will get that worked out. So, that get us back to the d-line. If we want to play with the high-flying offenses of the Big 12, we need to improve over last year (minus James McClinton). Another solid game by the front line on defense will give us a peak into how far the Jayhawks can go in 2008.

The Key
From what I've heard, I guess the key is stopping Louisiana Tech's version of Daymond Patterson -- Phillip Livas. He wears #6 and is listed at 5-7/170 on the Tech website, but everyone has been raving about him all week. Evidently, Georgia Tech transfer QB Taylor Bennett can whip it around the field. That'll be a nice challenge for the secondary, though the word is the LA Tech wideouts actually struggled last week. RB Patrick Johnson is both a good runner and receiver.

The Bullets

• KU has been ranked 11 straight weeks in the AP poll. The longest streak ever for KU football
• KU has a 10-game home winning streak rolling right now
• Last week's 40-point performance was KU's lowest home output since the 39-20 victory over KSU in 2006 
• KU is 12-2 in the last 14 games played as an AP ranked team 
• Should Daymond Patterson be looking for Charles Gordon's freshman receptions record of 57? 
• All indications are that Jeremiah Hatch will start at right tackle 
• Kicker Jacob Branstetter has been cleared to play by the NCAA 
• The KC Star lists Johnathan Wilson, Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe as the starters at wideout. We'll see. 

"Phillip Livas is a one-man highlight show. You'll enjoy seeing him play. He had a big game last year against LSU and was a game-changer against MSU last Saturday."
--Jimmy Watson, Shreveport Times from KJ-IBT