6B
GAMEDAY
THE UNIVERSITY BABY KANSAN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2006
KU KICKOFF
ATAGLANCE
Kansas enters Saturday's game at Missouri on a season-high three-game winning streak. After losing its first four Big 12 games, Kansas has now won three in a row to become bowl eligible. The Border Showdown Series against Missouri has become one-sided during the past few years. Since losing his first meeting with the Tigers, coach Mark Mangino has now won three in a row against Missouri. A victory Saturday would guarantee the Jayhawks a bowl game for the second straight season. A loss and Kansas will have to hope to be picked up as an at-large team.
5 QUICK FACTS
112 yards needed for Jon Cornish to break KU's single-season rush record.
3 — straight victories against Missouri.
10 turnovers forced by the Kansas defense in the past two games.
116 all-time meetings between the Jayhawks and Tigers.
2 Kansas' place in the North Division with a victory.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior running back Jon Cornish. The Big 12's leading rusher needs just more than
Cornish
100 yards to break Kansas' single-season rushing record. Cornish rushed for 201 yards during Saturday's victory against
Kansas State. He currently ranks third on the school's all-time list, behind June Henley and Tony Sands. Considering the Tigers give up more than 135 yards per game, expect Cornish to easily break the record.
QUESTION MARK
KERRY MEIER — While Kansas' quarterback managed the game against Kansas State just fine, but turnovers in the red zone continued to plague the offense. Meier had two interceptions against Kansas State, including one in the end zone. The problem with the interceptions is Meier continues to stare down his receivers. The passes were telegraphed, making it easy for a corner or safety to read Meier's eyes.
TAMETIGERS Missouri looks to snap losing streak
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI 11:00 a.m., Saturday, Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, ABC
Kansas
Offense
Despite two interceptions, Kansas rode Saturday on the back of running back Jon Cornish, who finished with a career-high 201 yards against K-State. Running Cornish allowed Mangino to control the clock and set up the play action pass for quarterback Kerry Meier. With Meier struggling for accuracy, it might be best to let him run the football more. The fake handoff play to Cornish is usually good for at least six yards. The same game plan should work against the Tigers. If Kansas can run the football and control the clock, the Jayhawks can clinch a tie for second in the North.
Missouri
Offense
Sophomore quarterback Chase Daniel and Junior running back Tony Temple provide the one-two punch for the Missouri offense. Daniel passed for 310 yards against Iowa State last week - the second time he's passed for more than 300 yards this season. Temple averages about 73 yards per game, good for fourth-most in the Big 12 Conference. As a team, Missouri is sixth in the conference in total offense, right in front of Kansas.
Gary Pinkel finally seems to have found a quarterback who flourishes in his systern, and that makes him more dangerous to Kansas than he ever was with Brad Smith leading his offense. Missouri has had success against quality opponents this season and will be prepared to face Kansas.
How quickly things have changed for the Kansas football team. Just a month ago after another fourth-quarter collapse at Baylor, the team's season appeared to be finished. But now with three straight victories, the Jayhawks have qualified for back-to-back bowl games for the first time in program history. With coach Mark Mangino's recent success in the Border Showdown, Kansas should have as much momentum as it has had all season heading into Columbia Saturday. While the season has been disappointing because of the number of blown victories, a victory Saturday would make this Mangino's most successful season.
Momentum
Momentum
Missouri calls Saturday's match a blackout game everyone who's attending the game for the Tigers is encouraged to deck themselves from head to toe in black. That being said, the Tigers are sorely lacking in momentum. They've lost four of their past five games and have a history of falling to the Jayhawks. Missouri lost a heartbreaker to Iowa State last week, which may be a source of inspiration for the Tigers. Failing that, this team will practically crawl into the game, rather than march into it with pride in its accomplishments this season.
- Jonathan Kealing
MU KICKOFF
AT A GLANCE
What's the hallmark of a Gary Pinkel-coached team? Hot streak. Cold streak. Missouri is in the middle of an ice cold streak right now. After starting the season 6-0, Missouri has lost four of its past five games, standing at 7-4, begging to go to any bowl but the Independence Bowl. No one likes Shreveport and Missouri has been sentenced there twice in the past two years. Missouri will likely be steamed after losing to Iowa State on a blown holding call at the one-yard line. If Missouri wins on Saturday, it will be the Tigers' first victory against the Jayhawks since 2002.
5 QUICK FACTS
258. 3 - yards per game of total offense for QB Chase Daniel, good for a No. 7 overall national ranking.
35 - consecutive games Rimmington Award candidate Adam Spieker has started. He's expected to hit 36 on Saturday.
24 - turnovers Missouri has forced, which is equal to the number of turnovers Missouri has given up to its opponents.
11 - weeks Missouri was either ranked or receiving votes in the USA TODAY/Coaches poll
19 - teams nationally that played a tougher schedule than Missouri this year.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sophomore quarterback Chase Daniel. As the replacement for Brad Smith, Daniel has exceeded most of Missouri's expectations. He leads the Big 12
Daniel
Conference in total offense and is among the tops in the nation. Daniel has completed nearly two-thirds of his 345
passes and has thrown just 10 interceptions. He's also found the end zone 22 times through the air. Daniel has effectively stepped into the big shoes left behind by Brad Smith.
QUESTION MARK
THE KANSAS FACTOR — Gary Pinkel hasn't exactly had success against Kansas. In his first season as coach at Toledo, in 1991, Pinkel lost to Kansas 30-7. As Missouri's coach, Pinkel is 2-3 against Kansas. The game has huge postseason implications for both teams, but Missouri would also like to end Kansas' recent dominance in the Border Showdown.
BIG 12 GAMES OF INTEREST
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
Texas A&M (8-3, 4-3) at No.11 Texas (9-2, 6-1)
Friday, 11 a.m., ABC
The Texas Longhorns look to clinch the Big 12 South Division with a victory in Austin Saturday. Texas has won its past six meetings with the Aggies.
It was announced Monday that Texas quarterback Colt McCoy would start Friday after suffering a stinger against Kansas State two weeks ago. With McCoy in the lineup, the Longhorns were 8-1, with their only loss coming to No. 1 Ohio State. Having McCoy back in the lineup should help Texas against an A&M team that has lost two in a row.
Despite A&M's strong rushing offense, expect the Longhorns to roll at home. Texas has too many weapons on offense to expect A&M to keep up.
Colorado (2-9, 2-5) at No. 23 Nebraska (8-3, 5-2)
Friday, 2:30 p.m., ABC
After clinching the North Division two weeks ago, Nebraska looks for its highest victory total since the 2003 season. It would also be the highest victory total of the Bill Callahan era.
Nebraska should have no problem handling a Colorado team that has struggled to score all season. The Buffaloes rank dead last in scoring offense, averaging Just 16 points per game. In contrast, Nebraska has finally taken to Callahan's West Coast Offense.The'Huskers are scoring more than 33 points per game.
At home In Memorial Stadium, Nebraska should have the game wrapped up by halftime. This one should be nothing more than a tune up for the Big 12 Championship game next week.
No.13 Oklahoma at Oklahoma State Saturday, 1:30 p.m., FSN
Oklahoma has a chance to clinch the South Division with a victory and a Texas loss to Texas A&M. Kansas fans need an Oklahoma State loss to help the Jayhawks bowl chances. With a Cowboys loss and a Jayhawks victory, Kansas could sneak up to the Insight Bowl.
The Sooners have faired well without star running back Adrian Peterson. Oklahoma hasn't lost since a loss early last month to Texas in Dallas. Although Oklahoma State has pulled for a few upsets in the Bedlam Series, the Sooners have too much to play for.
U
With a chance at another division title on the line look for the Sooners to sneak out of Stillwater with a close victory. A 10th victory should put Oklahoma in a New Year's Day Bowl.
N
---