Hawk Talk...Nebraska Week Pregame

A look at news and notes about Jayhawks and upcoming opponents...

The Good Guys...

• Daymond Patterson continues to adapt to his new responsibilities.
• KU Notebook
• A look back at last years incredible game against NU. 
• KU Prepares for a new look Husker team.
• Jeff Spikes learning from last years All American Kansas tackle.
• Tyler Lawrence and brother Blake will be on opposite sidelines this weekend.
• Jacob Branstetter shows off tackling skills.
• Kansas' offensive line is beginning to gel.
• Game Preview.

The Bad Guys...

• Huskers doing their best to block out last year.
• Some concerns this week over Coach Pelini's temper.
• Husker view of five keys to beating Kansas.

My thoughts...Coach Mangino has this team coming off its strongest performances of the year.  The Kansas State game saw an offensive line dominate from the outset and help to put up some huge numbers on the ground.  Defensively Kansas had by far it's most effective scheme of the year disrupting Josh Freeman and the Kansas State offense and forcing turnovers. 

This weekend the Jayhawks head to Lincoln and play a tougher opponent overall and certainly will be in a far more hostile environment.  There is a lot of history on the line and pressure for both sides.  If Kansas comes out again establishes a ground game and a balanced offensive attack I don't expect the Huskers will be able to stop them consitently.  If they can do this and again exceed expectations defensively look for Kansas to come out of Lincoln with the win.

The most important thing the Jayhawks can do is come out strong like they did last week and keep the Husker faithful out of the game.  While both teams will be playing strength against weakness the whole game I think Kansas' strengths are more of a mismatch for the Huskers weaknesses than vice versa. 

Final Score:  Kansas 37  Nebraska 31

Also here is your friendly reminder to join fellow Hawks in the open thread if you don't already have plans...I will be sporting blue in a sea of red as I per tradition will be watching the game at a Husker bar with a friend.  It's his home game so I have to go to his turf...sucks.

Full list of supplemental notes...and highlights after the jump...

A Kansas Win Would...

• Give KU at least seven wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1960 (7-2-1) and 1961 (7-3-1).  KU was 12-1 a year ago.

• Give KU back-to-back wins against Nebraska for the first time since 1967-68.

• Give KU three wins in the last four years against NU, the best four-game stretch against the Huskers since winning five straight from 1957-61.

• Stop a 19-game losing streak in Lincoln since the last victory there in 1968 (won 23-13).

A Kansas Loss Would...

• Be less good than a win.

Things To Look For Against Nebraska...

• QB Todd Reesing (6,328) needs 83 passing yards to pass Frank Seurer (6,410) for the KU career passing yardage record.

• Reesing (225) needs just three completions to pass Mike Norseth (227) for second on the KU season completions list.  Reesing set the school record last year with 276.

• WR Kerry Meier (66) needs five receptions to pass Richard Estell (70 in 1985) for the single-season receptions record.

• Meier has caught at least two passes in 17 straight games.

• WR Dezmon Briscoe (97) needs three receptions and WR Kerry Meier (93) needs seven catches for 100 in their careers.  Eleven Jayhawks have recorded at least 100 receptions in their careers.

KU Notable...

• RB Jake Sharp is one of two players in the Big 12 averaging 100 rushing yards in conference play as he has averaged 112.2 yards in five league games to join Kendall Hunter of Oklahoma State, who has averaged 120.4 yards per game.

• LB James Holt's 11 tackles for loss this year make him one of just two linebackers in the Big 12 with double-digit tackles for loss this year (Sean Weatherspoon of Missouri has 13) as well as one of six players in the league to accomplish that feat.

• Kansas has 12 interceptions this season to rank second in the Big 12 (Texas Tech has picked off 15).  Eight different Jayhawks have pickoffs, led by Darrell Stuckey's three.