MISSOURI PASS OFFENSE VS TEXAS PASS DEFENSE – Through the last 2/3 of the season, Missouri has been one of the best passing teams in the country. Quarterback Drew Lock has an NFL arm and he has cut down on some of the bad throws he was making early in the season. The Mizzou receivers do still have trouble catching the ball a lot of times, but they don’t have any issues finding ways to get open. Emanuel Hall averages nearly 25 yards per reception and he flat out ran past everyone in the SEC. He’s as good of a deep threat as Texas will have faced all year. Lock has three touchdown passes in eight straight games. Missouri did lose its offensive coordinator and offensive line coach and they haven’t announced who is calling plays, so that could impact things. Texas will field a depleted secondary.
Edge – Missouri ***
MISSOURI RUN OFFENSE VS TEXAS RUN DEFENSE – Damarea Crockett had 1,000 yards last year as true freshman, but got hurt in the Georgia game and this year and Ish Witter stepped up in a way he never had previously. Witter has always been dependable, but he has really had a good run for the past couple months and comes into the game with 992 yards and 5 touchdowns. Larry Rountree, a true freshman, has been really good as well (629 yards). He likes contact and will try to run a defender over. Missouri really committed to the run down the stretch, which has set up their offense.
Edge – Missouri *
MISSOURI OFFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE – The first four weeks of season, the Mizzou offensive line was not very good at all, then it kind of turned into what everyone expected it to be. The line had all five starters coming back from last year but two of them got beat out by young players, so there is some talent and depth here. The Tigers gave up the fewest sacks and tackles for loss in the country, which is a statement about the offensive line but also the style of the offense. Paul Adams, at right tackle, has been really good.
Edge – Missouri *
MISSOURI PASS DEFENSE VS TEXAS PASS OFFENSE – This is one area in which the Tigers have been awful. It’s the worst element of the team, without question. Missouri lost both corners from last year. Sophomore Christian Holmes got hurt before the season and ended up redshirting. Demarkus Acy and Adam Sparks have gotten better. Sparks is a tiny guy, generously listed at 6-0, 175, so it’ll be interesting to see if Texas can take advantage of that with its bigger receivers. Missouri’s pass D gotten better, but teams have been able to run by the corners for deep plays. The safeties were a major problem last year and have been a problem again this year.
Edge – Texas **
MISSOURI RUN DEFENSE VS TEXAS RUN OFFENSE – The Tigers are hard to assess against the run. The numbers don’t look very good (163.5 ypg), but they have actually gotten better throughout the year. The run defense has given up a few big plays, but for the most part it has been pretty good against the run. The problem … the Tigers have been good on first and second down, but haven’t been able to get off the field on third downs.
Edge – Missouri *
MISSOURI DEFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE – Inside, Missouri is really good. A.J. Logan, a senior, was suspended for the first six games. When he came back, the Missouri defensive line got much better. He takes on blocks, lets defensive lineman Terry Beckner go make plays. The defensive ends are suspect. Marcell Frazier has been better the second half of the season, but there have been a lot of games where Missouri couldn’t get pressure off the edge. They’ve gotten better, but had only one direction to go.
Edge – Texas *
SPECIAL TEAMS – It’s a similar story here, but through the first third of the season, Missouri’s special teams were awful. Richaud Floyd has returned two punts for TDs. The Tigers’ unter is really good. Kicker Tucker McCann was awful last year but has become very reliable this year. Overall, Missouri has become solid on special teams.
Edge – Missouri *
