LINCOLN — The playing field never seemed this level the last two times Nebraska played Missouri.

Be it for bad timing, slow starts or a difference in talent. Or any combination of the three.

But NU center Jacob Hickman is sure not to concede one element when dissecting Husker-Tiger games since Missouri moved atop the Big 12 North for 2007 and 2008.

“No, it wasn't intimidation,'' Hickman said Monday, emphatically shaking his head. “We didn't play good football those days and they did. That's sometimes how it works.''

The fact that intimidation — by Missouri — is mentioned goes with a rare time in Big Eight/Big 12 history where an explanation is needed for how the Tigers have taken an upper hand in the series. Although all four Tiger wins since 2003 have been lopsided, the last two have included Mizzou going in as an obvious favorite — and pretty much having the Huskers on the canvas before the first quarter was over.

It sure looks different heading into a Thursday night game at Faurot Field that will be televised by ESPN. Almost even, judging by performances through four games, public perception and what the oddsmakers are saying.

“Definitely I think it's more of an even game,'' NU offensive tackle Mike Smith said. “They beat the heck out of us the last two years. We feel that we were a lot better teams than we showed against them. But I think now, this time around, we'll be able to show that.''

In 2008, Nebraska was still finding itself in Bo Pelini's first season while Missouri was 4-0, ranked No. 4 and playing about as well as it would all season.

In 2007, Mizzou was 4-0, ranked No. 17 and headed for its first Big 12 North title as NU was about to be exposed and start the spiral that would lead to major changes.

“It's one of those things where I don't know if the confidence was quite at that level that it is now,'' said Hickman, who already has started three NU-MU games. “Now it's where we feel a lot better about it and we kind of feel like we definitely should win this game if we play our ball.

“There's no one on our schedule that we can't beat if we play the right way. And I think that's something that I don't know if everybody believed to that extent in previous years.”

Pelini said he would like to think Nebraska is further along than where it was for a 52-17 loss to Missouri last year in Lincoln. The Huskers played better in a loss the following week at Texas Tech, then won six of their last seven games.

Defensively they weren't playing well and a changed game plan didn't work. Offensively they were in the process of figuring out what they would do the rest of the season.

“I'm not going to get into all the different things, but I thought that was a learning experience in a lot of different ways,'' Pelini said. “And in the end it benefited us in some ways, long term-wise.''

The biggest lesson the past two seasons might have to do with not spotting the Tigers a running start.

They scored on their third and 11th plays in 2008 and led 31-7 by late in the second quarter. They also scored on their first two possessions in 2007 and led 14-0 before Nebraska ran its fourth play from scrimmage.

Each time Nebraska was left to scramble offensively and abandon some of its hopes of running the football — a formula Smith said the Huskers think they know how to change.

“Just come out and be a lot more physical than they are and kind of just punch in the mouth,'' he said. “That basically shuts up anything. If you can get there and you can be the more physical team, you've got a real good chance of winning.''

Pelini could play the revenge card if Nos. 21 and 22 Nebraska (3-1) is looking for any extra edge against Nos. 24 and 18 Missouri. But the second-year head coach, at least publicly, has made it clear he doesn't want his team thinking of it that way.

“It's about playing to your standards and having a pride about how you take the field and how you try to execute and the type of football you want to play,'' Pelini said. “Regardless of who your opponent is.

“To me, it really doesn't matter what happened last year. This is a different point in time, different scenario, different players. It's not really an issue to me. We got out-executed last year. We got beat. And what happened last year isn't going to have any correlation on what happens this year, unless we let it.''

Those who spoke Monday made it clear that their focus is on a game they can win and not others previously lost.

“We'll see how well we match up this year,'' I-back Roy Helu said. “It's a totally different ballgame.''

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

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