Huskers either make you confident or queasy

Let me ask a question.

How are you feeling about Nebraska football?

Where's the confidence level at?

Many, many more questions loom as the co-Big 12 North leading Huskers prepare to face off with the team it is tied with in Missouri.

The outcome of this must-win game will swing the direction of Nebraska's season in one of two directions.

Option One:

Hello Kansas City.

If the Huskers can pull out the victory on their home field, then they will win the Big 12 North title and travel to K.C. for the Big 12 championship game.

OK, so after watching the Nebraska defense give up 147 yards rushing and 124 yards passing to Kansas State quarterback Allen Webb, a backup who had just seen four plays against Oklahoma the week prior, winning the Big 12 North (or winning at all for that matter) may not seem probable.

But, it is possible, even though Husker Nation has been feasting on empty possibilities for the last three years.

With a win, Nebraska will have the inside track on the North title . . . for two weeks.

After a victory at Iowa State, Nebraska will be beaten brutally by Oklahoma, and that's why they need help to reach the title game.

Because the Wildcats hold the tie-breaker over Nebraska, Kansas State has to lose another conference game this season.

Fortunately for the Huskers, K-State will lose, either this weekend to Texas Tech, or the next week to Missouri.

Then, Nebraska will have to defeat Colorado in its final regular season game.

The benefit of scheduling, which has been an overwhelming one for the Huskers, has Colorado traveling to Lincoln. And with a North title at stake, the Huskers will take care of business, not easily though.

Simply enough, the Huskers will turn the momentum from a Missouri win into a North title.

Option Two:

Hello 1961.

Yes, if the Huskers lose to Missouri, then the Nebraska program will endure its first losing season since 1961, finishing at 5-6.

Unless the Blackshirts can mysteriously appear after its sudden disappearance, this route is looking like the likeliest, especially after missing 33 tackles against K-State.

Just wandering, has anyone spotted the Blackshirts since the Kansas game?

Speculation has it that they took off for Mexico to vacation for the remainder of the season.

The suspension of Missouri's Damien Nash, the Tiger's leading rusher, definitely aids Nebraska's cause some.

But, we all know how backups can come to form as all stars against Nebraska. Besides, the lack of Nash's services will only add to Tiger quarterback Brad Smith's stat line.

Nothing Nebraska has done this year hints that it can end positively.

The offense it exhibited against K-State was based on two big plays against a below average Wildcat defense.

Take away Joe Dailey's two big passes and the Nebraska offense totaled 104 yards. That doesn't exactly scream "scoring drive" potential.

A loss to Missouri will demoralize an already emotionally drained Nebraska team and all of its followers.

After an assumed win against Iowa State and loss to Oklahoma, Nebraska will be playing for the 43-year old record against Colorado.

I hate to say it, but if the Huskers let the season come down to playing for its record, for its pride and for Nebraska football lore against Colorado, then a win will be very tough to come by.

Really, it all comes down to whether Nebraska would rather get embarrassed by Oklahoma once or twice this season.

But is anyone keeping track anymore?

Email your football feedback to Tyler at bieck11@hotmail.com