More photos » by Jack Dempsey - AP

Wondering what the hell happened in Boulder? So is the Hawk.

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Before the 2009 season started, there were a lot of people who thought that Colorado would be a dark horse in the Big 12 North. Husker Mike had them pegged, as did Bill C at Rock M Nation. Me? I was one that thought they'd have a decent season. You're probably wondering what I was thinking. I don't blame you.

Entering the season, there were two things that stood out that gave me hope that Colorado wouldn't fall apart this season (more on that comment in a bit) - the exorbitant number of injuries the Buffaloes suffered last season and my faith in Colorado coach Dan Hawkins.

Hawkins entered the 2009 season with a 13-24 record over his first three years. It's turned into 16-32 as we head into the game this week, an abysmal failure particularly when compared to the 53-11 record and four WAC championships he racked up during the five years he was at Boise State. If he'd have been half the coach he was at Boise State, he'd still be kicking some butt, and that's where I went wrong. I figured that there was no way that Colorado would finish another season below .500. Yet here they are, guaranteed a losing season for the second consecutive year.

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The folks over at RalphieReport.com took offense last spring when I described Colorado's new offensive scheme as "Square Peg Meets Round Hole."  I suggested that Colorado didn't have the running backs or the quarterbacks to run a pro-style offense, and that the "Hawk Watch would be on".

Score one for the guy who "didn't know what the hell he was talking about."

In any event, we all know how Colorado's new offense turned out.  Failure.  I suggested that Colorado's new offense wouldn't work if the Buffs expected to throw the ball "35 to 40" times a game.  Through 11 games:  39 pass attempts a game.  Last in the Big XII in passing efficiency.

Colorado's offense did improve a little bit by burning the redshirt of Tyler Hansen, who helped lead the Buffs to upsets of Kansas and Texas A&M.  Colorado's struggles haven't been helped by a defense that ranks in the bottom half of the Big XII in nearly every defensive category.

RalphieReport has an interesting comparison between Hansen and Cody Hawkins, and while Hansen does rate higher statisticially, you have to be surprised by the 31 sacks Hansen has taken since taking over at midseason. Statistically, this looks like a Thanksgiving day feast for Ndamukong Suh and company.

The "X" factor in this game is the emotion that might accompany a potential final game for Dan Hawkins.  Will the Buffs rally around  Hawkins like the 2003 Huskers did for Frank Solich?  Or will the Buffs fold like the 2005 Buffs?

Here's the rest of our preseason preview:

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Official Release: 

 DALLAS (FWAA) - Idaho guard Mike Iupati, Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh have been named finalists for the 64th Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football by the Football Writers Association of America.

The winner of the Outland Trophy will be announced on the evening of Dec. 10 during "The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show" at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The show, hosted by ESPN's Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, airs from 7-9 p.m. ET on ESPN. 

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More photos » by Nati Harnik - AP

Roy Helu Jr. is tackled by Kansas State's Ulla Pomele. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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A thing of beauty it was not, but a win is a win... and five of them are enough to claim the Big XII North championship trophy (or bedpan, as the Omaha World-Herald's Tom Shatel called it).  And in a one-game conference championship game, it doesn't matter what your resume says.  Just ask Texas in 1996, Texas A&M in 1998, Colorado in 2001, Kansas State in 2003, or Oklahoma in 2007; they all knocked teams out of the BCS title game in upsets that range from shocking (1996, 2003) to almost expected (2001 and 2007).  So it doesn't matter how you get there, it just matters what you do when you get there.

That being said, there's still the need to grade yesterday's performance and prepare for Colorado on a short week.  The Huskers have plenty of things to continue to work on; needless to say, I'm going to grade this performance harder than the Journal-Star's Brian Rosenthal.

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More photos » by DAVE WEAVER - AP

Yehaaaa!!!!! One Goal Realized!!!!!!!!!

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Nebraska won the Big 12 North with a 17-3 win over Kansas State last night. It won't be considered pretty or stylish, but if you've come to love defense (and if you're a Huskers fan, you'd better love defense) it was another masterful performance by the Blackshirts.

Kansas State took their opening drive, marched down the field like they were on fire and being aided by yet another personal foul penalty on Larry Asante (at least he got it out of the way early this game). The Wildcats stalled at the 31 and Josh Cherry kicked a 44-yard field goal. With the way the Wildcats looked on their first drive, it was hard to imagine those were the only points they'd score.

The Huskers responded with a field goal of their own, moving down the field with a mixture between Roy Helu's rushing and Zac Lee's passing. On the next possession the Wildcats gained a first down and after two consecutive Thomas rushes, but their drive stalled after Eric Hagg nailed quarterback Grant Gregory with a 14-yard sack. Doerr punted, giving the Huskers great field position at their own 43.

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More photos » by Nati Harnik - AP

Now the woodshed I used to take Kansas State behind was down the street, take a left at the blue house and it's right beside the park. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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So it's late and I'm scrambling. But I have to say that I think Willie the Wildcat is the worse mascot in the Big 12. A close second would be that Jaundice Marlboro Man they have at Okie Lite, but that's another post.

It's a freaking guy with a giant head on. It's like someone activated the big head cheat in college football somewhere and only Willie was affected. His only talents are doing half-assed push-ups, some remedial spelling, and making horrible, horrible videos.

So what say you readers of the corn? Is Willie the worse? Who do you hate? And before all you Kitty fans (and Mike) try and tell me that Little Red is way worse let me say this. He's hilarious, and he can bounce on his head so there.

Corn Blight is busy throwing things at his TV whenever the I'm a PC; I'm a mac commercials come on. So his picks will be up later.

Well the favorites last week all covered, making it an easy week. I pulled the ND-Pitt game from the ATS since I never saw a spread, and since no one wanted either team to win anyway.

Since it's become a tradition we make our picks here again. Please feel free to add your thoughts and insights in the comments section.

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More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

And you may ask yourself How do I work this? And you may ask yourself Where is that large automobile? And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful house! And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful wife! And then you may say to yourself My God! What have I done?

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If you're looking for information on the Kansas State Wildcats, go no further than the site Bring on the Cats where TB is in charge. Mike came up with some reasonable football questions for him, while I asked him more existential questions about the state of things at Kansas State. 

Mike: When did you realize that Kansas State realistically could contend for a Big XII North title this season?

TB: After the Colorado game.  The results of the Texas Tech and Texas A&M games were too wild to really predict what was going on, and the win over Iowa State was so close that it wasn't particularly uplifting.  But after we shut down Colorado and won even without a very good offensive effort, moving the conference record to 3-1 on the same day Nebraska lost to Iowa State, Mizzou lost to Texas, and KU lost to whomever it was they were playing, it started to click that hey, maybe we actually do have a shot at this thing.

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More photos » by DAVE WEAVER - AP

Expect greatness to shine through Suh as he plays his last home game in front of Nebraska's sell-out crowd.

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- Strength vs Strength

Kansas State's primary offensive strength in their running game. They lead the nation in time of possession and they're accustomed to slugging it out, sustaining drives and maintaining ball possession.  25 of their 42 scoring drives this season have gone for over 50 yards, and 12 of those consisted of ten or more plays.

Running back Daniel Thomas is of the big bruiser variety, at 6'2", 227 pounds. He's complemented by Keithen Valentine who has more speed and moves than Thomas, but at 5'8" and 193 pounds, doesn't have his size. Bill Snyder will pound Thomas at the Husker defense repeatedly, hoping that something will break. Thomas has had five 100-yard games this season, his high of 185 yards coming against in-state rival Kansas when he averaged 7.71 yards per carry. Thomas is a receiving threat as well, with 21 receptions for 206 yards.

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