Monday, April 7, 2008

Preview Opponent...Missouri Tigers



Last season the Missouri Tigers were a Big 12 championship game win away from playing for the national title. They didn't win, losing to #9 Oklahoma 38-17. Entering that game the Tigers boasted the #1 ranking in the country.

They would go on to romp over Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. The Cotton Bowl, for those who do not remember or can't keep things straight, is not a BCS Bowl game. So to sum up the last three weeks of Missouri's season: Defeat the #2 team in the country. Earn the #1 ranking. Lose to the #9 team in the country. Drop to #6 and get passed up by the team you beat (Kansas) that was #2 when you beat them, and the #7, 9, 10, and 13 teams and play in a crappy non-BCS game.

And that's just the success that the team had. I didn't even talk about the success of individual players. Although the Tiger's had some pretty big time players all over the field (like big time tight end Martin Rucker) the one everyone knows is Heisman Finalist; QB Chase Daniel. Daniel threw for 4,300 yards and 33 TD's vs 11 INT's for a passer rating of 147.88

But guess what kiddies?

Our QB Colin Kaepernick threw for a better TD:INT ration 6:1 vs. Chase's wimpy 3:1 ratio. And he threw for a better passer rating at 150.77 Advantage Pack.

We also have a RB, Lippencott, returning who ran for 1,400 yards. Missouri's returning leading rusher is a WR who amassed 375 yards. Advantage Pack.

At the WR, it's a wash I'll say as Marko Mitchell had slightly more yards than Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin (the leading rusher) who had one more TD on the year. A wash.

At TE they don't return theirs and we don't return ours. Again, a wash.

On the line, we return 4 and they return 3. So that's another advantage for the Wolf Pack.

That's three advantages to the Wolf Pack and a couple of toss-ups. No advantages for the Tigers.

On defense they return more than we do, so I'll give them an advantage there. They gave up an average of 25 points per game. We gave up 32.

Looks like we could catch a Tiger sleeping and unload some points on the campus in Columbia.

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