Missouri Options

[Rocky]

I haven't seen them play.

They are 5-0, and winning by nice scores. Now I don't think they've been playing huge teams persay, but even then....hmmm.


Anybody got some insight about their team ? I can just look up stats myself, but I'm just wondering who are their playmakers, what are their strengths ?

[Jwilly]

Preview
Texas Tech vs. Missouri

Preview   


  GAME: Missouri at Texas Tech
TIME: 07:00 P.M. EST
VENUE: Clifford B. & Audrey Jones Stadium



Missouri is unbeaten through five games for the first time in 25 years, but many believe the team hasn't defeated anyone worthy.

The 23rd-ranked Tigers can start answering their critics when they visit Texas Tech on Saturday.

Back-to-back road games against the Red Raiders (4-1, 1-0 Big 12) and Texas A&M should prove whether Missouri (5-0, 1-0) can remain a contender for the conference title, or if its fast start was the product of weak opposition.

The Tigers' first five opponents have won just six of their 25 games while Texas Tech and Texas A&M are a combined 8-2.

"I think these guys will respond to any challenge that is put in front of them," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "You don't start handing out trophies after five games. We all know that. I know what these guys will do. They'll compete."

The Tigers started 5-0 in 1981, but finished 8-4. The last time Missouri began a season with six straight wins was 1973, but that team also stumbled to an 8-4 finish.

The Tigers are the only undefeated team in the Big 12 after beating winless Colorado 28-13 in their conference opener last Saturday, but gave up 373 yards to an offense that entered the game ranked 113th in the nation.

Missouri's defense - ranked first going in - dropped to second in the country behind LSU.

"Stopping the run; that was a big thing," Tigers linebacker Dedrick Harrington said. "That's something we really need to stop if we want to stop teams down the road."

For the Tigers, who are trying to go to bowl games in consecutive years for the first time since 1997-98, it doesn't matter who they play.

"That's for the fans and that's for everybody else to figure out," quarterback Chase Daniel said. "We don't really worry about that. We just want to go out there and play our 'A' game."

Daniel has brought his best effort in his first year as the starter. The sophomore threw for 253 yards and four touchdowns against the Buffaloes, and has 13 touchdown passes this season.

"Obviously he has worked very hard, he's a successful guy," Pinkel said. "He has a lot of the 'its,' the intangibles that are necessary to be a good quarterback."

Texas Tech, which was ranked for the first three weeks of the season, enters this game on a high note after pulling out a last-minute win over Texas A&M last Saturday in its conference opener.

The Red Raiders trailed 27-24 with 26 seconds remaining when Robert Johnson made an acrobatic, 37-yard touchdown catch to give Texas Tech a 31-27 victory.

Quarterback Graham Harrell was named the Big 12's offensive player of the week after completing 32 of 45 passes for 392 yards and four touchdowns - three to Johnson.

"That was what an offense wants, an opportunity to win the game," said Harrell, who leads the NCAA with 15 touchdown passes. "The last few plays, we got on the ball, got set, made the plays and won."

The Red Raiders just missed re-entering the Top 25 this week after receiving the most votes of any non-ranked team, and their high-powered offense should provide a stern test for the Missouri defense.

Texas Tech is ranked third in the country in passing with 347.6 yards per game while Missouri is 10th nationally in pass defense, allowing 143.2 yards a contest.

Daniel faces a similar situation as the Red Raiders are one spot ahead of Missouri, allowing 142.2 yards passing.

While both teams have strong defenses, the last two games in the series have been high-scoring affairs.

Missouri won 62-31 at home in 2003, one year after Texas Tech won 52-38 in Lubbock.

"It's going to be a real big shootout down there," Missouri receiver Will Franklin said. "Texas Tech has a good offense and we're looking forward to playing those guys."

so statistically, we are better. but for some reason, Mizzou is gonna win because they are 5-0 against mediocre teams. is tech mediocre?
and i guess they assume we suck at home. we havent lost at home since UT two years ago. lets think....