Missouri vs. Oklahoma

[HB Pony Dad]

No. 20 Missouri vs. No. 2 Oklahoma

When: Sat., Dec. 6, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Kansas City, Mo.
Preview: Tigers hope to flip the script

Missouri offense vs. Oklahoma defense

Tigers QB Chase Daniel has thrown two interceptions in three of his past four games, including Missouri's 40-37 loss to Kansas last week. He is simply forcing the ball into coverage too often and it's critical that he do a better job this week of taking what the defense gives him. Oklahoma leads the nation in scoring offense (53.3 ppg) and has put up at least 61 points in each of its past four games, so Daniel can't give the Sooners any help by turning the ball over. With 15 interceptions on the season Oklahoma has the playmakers on defense to turn a poor decision into a costly turnover, and FS Lendy Holmes is a ball hawk with serviceable range.

Unfortunately for Daniel, getting the ball to the open man is a lot easier said than done against an Oklahoma pass rush that has been one of the most productive in the nation. Missouri OTs Elvis Fisher and Colin Brown in particular are going to have a difficult time holding up against the Sooners' defensive ends. Jeremy Beal has 8.5 sacks, Frank Alexander is relentless and Auston English could return this week from a knee injury that forced him to miss the past two games. Further complicating matters for Daniel, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables will throw a number of different looks at him in an effort to get him to hold the ball too long and/or misread the coverage. The good news for Daniel is that Sooners CBs Brian Jackson and Dominique Franks are going to have a difficult time slowing Tigers WRs Jeremy Maclin, Tommy Saunders and Jared Perry.

Maclin is one of the premier playmakers in the nation and he excels at creating after the catch. Look for him to run some screens and quick-hitting slants that allow Daniel to get the ball out of his hands quickly. In addition, TE Chase Coffman returned from a toe injury last week, and while he is clearly not at 100 percent his two touchdown catches against Kansas are a testament to his toughness. And even when banged up Coffman is athletic enough to get open working against Oklahoma SS Nick Harris.

Missouri ranks sixth in the Big 12 in rushing offense (165.1 ypg) but the Tigers trail only Oklahoma State in average yards per carry and RB Derrick Washington is perfect for their scheme. Missouri stretches defensive fronts with multiple-receiver sets and wide splits up along the line, making the defense more vulnerable to inside runs. At 225 pounds, Washington is a no-nonsense downhill runner who rarely goes down on first contact and is at his best pounding the ball between the tackles. In addition, Sooners MLB Austin Box will miss this game after injuring his knee against Oklahoma State. Junior college transfer Mike Balogun is expected to step in for Box, and Balogun has just six tackles on the year. However, an Oklahoma run defense that's giving up an average of 3.3 yards per carry has the depth and talent at defensive tackle to protect Balogun.

Adrian Taylor (6-foot-4, 295 pounds), Gerald McCoy (6-4, 295) and DeMarcus Granger (6-2, 302) are quick for their size, and their ability to get into the backfield should force Washington to bounce runs outside, where the Sooners have too much speed for him to be consistently successful. On the other hand, OLBs Keenan Clayton and Travis Lewis can't start to collapse inside if Balogun struggles early. Missouri runs speed sweeps with its receivers, including Maclin, and takes advantage of Daniel's mobility by running designed quarterback keepers.

Oklahoma offense vs. Missouri defense

Sooners QB Sam Bradford tore ligaments in his non-throwing hand against Oklahoma State last week and he's expected to undergo surgery after this week's game. While Bradford is expected to play the injury prevented him from taking snaps under center in the second half last week and it clearly hindered his ability to field the ball. He's expected to wear a soft cast so there's a good chance he will line up primarily in the shotgun and fumbles remain a concern. Perhaps more importantly, RBs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown won't get the downhill start they benefit from when lining up behind Bradford and that could affect their timing. Considering Missouri's run defense is giving up an average of just 3.4 yards per carry, that is reason for Oklahoma fans to be concerned.

Much like their Oklahoma counterparts, Missouri DT Ziggy Hood (6-4, 300) and NT Jaron Baston (6-1, 305) are very disruptive in the middle. At the second level, WLB Sean Weatherspoon and MLB Brock Christopher are sound tacklers who fly to the ball. However, Murray and Brown should continue to have success running behind 6-8, 337-pound LOT Phil Loadholt and 6-5, 335-pound LG Duke Robinson. In addition, the Tigers' front seven lacks ideal depth. With Murray and Brown sharing carries and the Sooners continuing to show a strong commitment to the ground game, they should be able to wear Missouri down over the course of the game.

Bradford's ability to hold on to the ball is going to be hindered by the hand injury, so look for Missouri's pass-rushers to try to rip it out of his hands when they get to him. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they likely won't get there often. Loadholt has struggled with explosive edge rushers at times but he's quick enough to prevent Missouri DE Stryker Sulak (8.5 sacks) from consistently turning the corner and he has the long arms to ride Sulak past the pocket. Besides, Loadholt and his mates shouldn't have to hold up for very long because WRs Juaquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson and Ryan Broyles give Oklahoma one of the best three-receiver sets in the country.

On the flip side, Castine Bridges is the Tigers' best cornerback, but he injured his knee last week and isn't expected to play. His replacement Tru Vaughns and starter Carl Gettis are going to have a difficult time matching up in his absence. Making matters far worse, Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham is coming off his best game of the year and the versatile playmaker can line up all over the field. Missouri defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus will try to protect his secondary and help his pass rush by varying the looks he throws at Bradford. However, Bradford does an outstanding job of reading defenses and getting the ball to the open man. He should be able to get rid of the ball quickly, making it much tougher for the Tigers' pass rush to get to him.

Key individual matchup
Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford vs. Missouri FS William Moore

Moore has intercepted just one pass this year but he picked off eight last year, and it's important to remember that a foot injury sustained in the season opener has slowed him for much of the season. Missouri's mid-November bye week appears to have helped him mend and Moore is a ball hawk with above-average closing speed when he's healthy. As a result, Bradford can't get caught locking on to a receiver when throwing over the middle or downfield when Moore is lined up deep. However, Bradford will have the clear advantage if and when the Tigers line Moore up over the slot receiver, as they frequently do when they go to their nickel package. Though he has experience lining up at corner Moore doesn't show great burst coming out of his cuts and he takes too long to open his hips when forced to turn and run. He'll have a tough time matching up with Broyles and Bradford is smart enough to attack this matchup when he sees it. In addition, Bradford is such a consistent and accurate short-to-intermediate passer that it's unlikely he will give Moore a chance to make a play on the ball by throwing behind Broyles or leading him too much.

Special Teams

Missouri PK Jeff Wolfert has connected on 17 of his 22 field goal attempts, and though four of his five misses have come from 52 yards or longer Wolfert does have the range to connect on the occasional long-distance attempt. Wolfert also kicks off and 13 of his 93 kickoffs have ended in touchbacks. His inability to consistently boom the ball into the end zone is reason for concern because the Tigers have not covered kickoffs well and Oklahoma fields two dangerous kickoff return men. Murray, who is averaging 27.6 yards per return, and Iglesias, who is averaging 23.6 yards per return, both have the jets to go the distance when they get a seam.

Missouri P Jake Harry is averaging 41 yards per punt and he's placed five of his 20 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Wolfert has also punted six times this year and he's placed two of his six punts inside the 20. More importantly, the Tigers have done an excellent job of covering punts and it's key that they continue to do so. Broyles is averaging 10.2 yards per return and he returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown against Kansas State earlier this year.

Oklahoma PK Jimmy Stevens has connected on six of his nine field goal attempts but he's been inconsistent inside 40 yards and has missed five point-after attempts. Matt Moreland handles the kickoffs and is averaging 62.9 yards per kick with just 15 of his 106 kickoffs ending in touchbacks. The Sooners have surrendered four kickoff returns for touchdowns, including a 90-yarder to Oklahoma State last week, and Maclin has a 99-yard score to his credit this year and boasts rare top-end speed.

Oklahoma P Mike Knall is averaging just 36.6 yards per punt with only 16 of his 50 punts landing inside the 20. Don't be surprised to see him kick away from Maclin, because while the Sooners have done a far better job of covering punts than kickoffs, Maclin is a slippery open-field runner who does a nice job of recognizing and exploiting breakdowns in coverage.

Scouts' Edge

This sets up as a perfect trap game for the Sooners, who didn't know for sure that they would be in this game until the latest BCS rankings gave them the edge over Texas and Texas Tech in the Big 12 South. Now Oklahoma controls its own destiny and a trip to the BCS National Championship Game seems inevitable. After all, Missouri is coming off its third loss of the season while the Sooners' offense has looked unstoppable in recent weeks. But the last time Oklahoma lost the Big 12 championship game, in 2003, it was a heavy favorite against Kansas State and went on to lose that game 35-7. More importantly, Washington should have some success pounding the ball between the tackles, Daniel will find ways to extend drives whether it's with his feet or his arm, and the versatile Maclin could provide some fireworks as a return man, ball carrier and receiver. The Sooners have too many offensive weapons for Missouri to keep pace for four quarters, but look for the Tigers to put a scare into Oklahoma before all is said and done.

Prediction: Sooners 56, Tigers 45

[jkflamebo]

oklahoma wins by 25+, wont be close

[ponyfan84]

oklahoma wins by 25+, wont be close

I hope so. But it is OU, and the Big 12 title game has a history of upsets. I bet the final is 50-28. Mizzou will keep it close early but just like OK State, they're too much to handle and blow it open late. Barring any major injuries, OU should be fine.

[Stallion]

For the good of the conference the Championship Game needs to move permanently toward indoor Stadiums especially if they want to play at Nite. Everytime they play this game in the North at Arrowhead, the weather has lowered the quality of Play. It probably won't happen but they are in competition with the SEC Championship that always puts on a game unaffected by the elements.

[expony18]

For the good of the conference the Championship Game needs to move permanently toward indoor Stadiums especially if they want to play at Nite. Everytime they play this game in the North at Arrowhead, the weather has lowered the quality of Play. It probably won't happen but they are in competition with the SEC Championship that always puts on a game unaffected by the elements.

the game is coming to Jerry world... space heaters sold separately

[orguy]

Chase Daniel is a supreme whiner and wannabe. Cannot stand the guy.

Missouri offense will have problems scoring consistently and their D is weak.

I still remember that Kstate blowout over OU in Kansas City back in 03. Of course that K-state team was quite a bit better than this years tigers.

I am glad the game is being played outdoors. Its football. Rain or shine, cold or hot. Mental toughness is a key component of this game.

[D1Football]

Go Mizzou

[indianmustang]

go Mizzou go

[expony18]

GO MIZZOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pony Soup]

GO MIZZOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A+

[smupony94]

GO MIZZOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where do you want them to go? Outback Steakhouse for a Bloomin' Onion?

[kull]

who cares?

[expony18]

Mack Brown and Pony Soup. and all of the meth heads in oklahoma

[Pony Soup]

Mack Brown and Pony Soup. and all of the meth heads in oklahoma

And a few law students at Tulsa

[expony18]

i am so sick of going to bars and hearing a bunch of rednecks with methmouth yelling BOOOOOOOMER ..... SOOOOOOONER.... every saturday night