Keys to the Game: Kansas State Edition

Well, the Cornhuskers face off with K-State on National Television come roughly 6 hours.  Winner takes the Big XII North, no strings attached.  Here's Nebraska's keys to the game:

Nebraska needs to:

*Keep running wild with Roy Helu, Jr.

Helu, Jr. has done a fabulous job the last two weeks to take the pressure off the quarterback to make big plays.  He has 100+ yards in both the victories vs. Oklahoma and Kansas.  He needs to carry the ball 20+ times for 100+ yards and at least a score to open the playbook up a bit

*Get KSU off the field on offense

I would be willing to bet that KSU's game plan is to hold onto the ball and clock as long as possible.  It's a smart strategy, the Husker offense has struggled and if you could limit the amount of opportunities they have, they'll score little.  The D needs to get some early stops and the O needs to prove it can move the football.

*Get an early interception

This will continue to KSU to rely on Daniel Thomas to run the ball on a stingy run defense.  If Grant Gregory doesn't have the confidence to go linearly with the ball, Nebraska can stop the one-sided offense of KSU.

Nebraska needs to control...

*KSU offense

Set the tone early.  Don't let the KSU pocket move to the outside.  Kansas did a great job of moving Todd Reesing out of the pocket.  Ndamukong Suh only had two tackles and the whole Nebraska D only registered one sack.  Look for Pelini (both of them) to have answers to this strategy.

*The KSU defensive line

The Husker O-Line finally came back to life last week.  Hopefully, they can keep it up.  If so, it'd be nice to get two 100 yard rushers and 3 rushing TDs.  Or at least enough of a rushing attack that it sets up play action dumps to Mike McNeill or bombs to Niles Paul.

*Their play within the red zone

The Cornhuskers have struggled in the red zone this season.  Against Oklahoma it could've cost them the game.  If the Huskers get into the red zone, they need to score EVERY time.  And they need touchdowns, not field goals.

Predictions

*Kansas State will out-clock the Huskers

Hopefully the time difference won't be significant, but I think the Wildcats will have more time of possession than the Huskers.  I'd be okay with being wrong with this prediction.

*Niles Paul will get increased touches/opportunities

Paul is, by far, the most explosive weapon the Huskers have.  Helu, Jr. is close, but when Paul gets into the open, he is close to unstoppable (barring he doesn't fumble without getting hit).  Look for Paul to get increased touches, balls thrown deep, reverses, screens, punt/kick returns.

*Nebraska 27, KSU 13

A little closer than the score, but Nebraska won't have to win it in the 4th quarter.  It'll 13-7 at halftime, and the Huskers will grind the 3rd quarter out and make the lead insurmountable.

Good Luck Cornhuskers, bring us the North Title!