Quote:Baylor linebacker Colin Allred has plenty to say about Saturday's matchup against Nebraska. But the word "upset" will not cross his lips, even if outsiders use it to describe a triumph the Bears deem inevitable.

"I expect to win. Our team expects to win," Allred said. "Nebraska has lost a lot of its mystique, in terms of intimidation. We're not in awe of them."

A Baylor victory, Allred said, "might be an upset to the sporting nation. But not to people who have been focusing on what's going on this year."

Somewhere in the distance, you can almost hear the cries of "blasphemy" echoing through the heartland. Nebraska, after all, is one of college football's blueblood programs. The Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-1 in Big 12) are on track to post their 43rd winning record in the past 44 years.

Baylor (4-1, 1-1) has not seen the sunny side of the .500 mark in any season since 1995.

But these are not the Bad News Bears of yesteryear, or even last season, who will greet Nebraska at 6 p.m. Saturday at Floyd Casey Stadium. Thanks to guys like Allred, who shares the team lead in sacks (3), Baylor ranks 15th nationally in total defense and 13th in scoring defense (15.2 points per game).

The Bears feel good enough about their ability as defenders that they're willing to take some playful jabs at their Nebraska counterparts. Asked about the Blackshirts, Baylor cornerback C.J. Wilson said: "Black shirts? Yeah. I've got a few of those."

After some chuckles, Wilson acknowledged that he was aware of the Blackshirt tradition among Nebraska defenders. But past glory, Wilson said, will not help this Nebraska team. Nor will past futility bother these Bears, whose days of surrendering 50-plus points -- as in last year's 59-27 loss to the Huskers -- are "long over" in Wilson's estimation.

"You don't ever want to give the past power. If you do, it'll overpower you," said Wilson, who prefers to focus on a present that shows the Baylor defense matching up against a hit-and-miss Nebraska offense that will be making its first road trip of the season. "This will be a pit-bull fight, and somebody's got to lose. We're not going to let that be us."

Baylor coach Guy Morriss has declared Saturday's contest the "most significant game" the Bears have played in his three seasons in Waco. He views it as a potential "springboard" to turning around the school's football fortunes for the long haul, not just this season.

To win, the burden of proof falls to a defense that finally is filled with experienced playmakers rather than youngsters learning on the job.

Allred, a fifth-year senior, relishes Saturday's opportunity to show how much things have changed since 2001, when Nebraska thrashed Baylor 48-7 in the Big Red's last trip to Waco.

"They were unbeatable at that point," said Allred, who suited up for that contest as a true freshman. "But they're not what they were then. We're not what we were then, either. We're mentally tough now. We're ready for this."

Ready enough, in the Bears' estimation, that they won't consider it an upset Saturday if they post another eye-catching victory in a turnaround season.

QUICK HITS

Staying focused: Texas offensive tackle Jonathan Scott said there will be no danger of a post-Oklahoma lull for the Longhorns, now that they've ended a five-game losing streak to their archrivals.

"All season, the main thing that's been instilled in us is, 'complacency kills,' " said Scott, who expects No. 2 Texas (5-0, 2-0 in Big 12) to be sufficiently motivated Saturday against No. 24 Colorado (4-1, 2-0). "We're on track to being one of the better teams in the nation, and we're not going to mess that up by overlooking anyone."

Pena's place: From all indications, backup quarterback Al Pena will be in charge of Oklahoma State's offense Saturday against Texas A&M, while starter Bobby Reid recuperates from a foot injury.

OSU coach Mike Gundy said he is comfortable that the sophomore, who completed 4 of 7 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in relief of Reid during last week's 38-31 loss to Missouri, is up to the challenge.

D'Juan Woods, the Cowboys' leading receiver, said players "have tremendous confidence in Al" because he has proved himself with solid practices this season.

Money player: Texas teammates consider Billy Pittman a "money player" because the receiver's best games have come against high-profile opponents Ohio State (five catches, 130 yards, TD) and Oklahoma (four catches, 100 yards, two TDs). But there is another reason for that designation, if you include Pittman's extended family.

Pittman's grandmother, Gwen Kelley, won the Texas state lottery in 2003. She took the cash option and collected $1.5 million, said her grandson, who was raised in Kelley's home in Cameron.

"The night she won, everybody else in the family was jumping up and down," Pittman said. "She wasn't. She couldn't believe it."

The only lifestyle change, said Pittman, is that his grandmother "bought the [property on the] rest of the block" surrounding her home to give her 10 children and grandchildren more room to roam when they visit.

Fourth-down Filani: Texas Tech is 2-of-2 on fourth-down conversions this season, both on completions to wide receiver Joel Filani. Asked about the perfect conversion rate, quarterback Cody Hodges said, "I play better when there is a lot at stake."

Hodges also likes throwing to Filani, who leads the Big 12 in touchdown receptions (7). Included is the game-winner from last week's 34-31 victory over Nebraska, which came -- naturally -- on fourth down.

Frustration factor: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said he is growing weary of perceptions that tailback Adrian Peterson, who is nursing an ankle ailment, is an overly frustrated player because he has shunned interviews since late September.

"I just don't feel it's very fair to single him out as if his frustration is different than anybody else's," Stoops said, reflecting on the team's 2-3 start. "It's frustrating for everybody in the offensive huddle, it's frustrating for the coaches, it's frustrating for the defense."