Alex Dunlap (season record 8-4)
It's been a month since we've seen Texas play football, so I've had to remind myself that the last time we saw the offense it was still the anemic mess it was we've seen all season. Missouri comes in as one of the hottest teams in college football with one of the best QBs. I don't know how the 2017 Texas offense is going to keep up.
Missouri 31 – Texas 17
Geoff Ketchum (season record 8-4)
Understand this ... I dearly want Texas to win. I suppose it's an unprofessional thing to say, but the reality of a long off-season awaits if Texas loses to fall to 6-7 for the year, with a two-game losing streak on the way out the door to boot. I'd love to see Texas play its most impressive game of the season and emerge from Wednesday night with pounds of positive vibes. The problem that I see is that Texas is entering yet another game in 2017 against one of the best quarterbacks in the country, yet this time it won't have Malik Jefferson, Holton Hill and DeShon Elliott to keep it close for the Texas quarterbacks. While it's possible that Todd Orlando can keep Missouri below its regular offensive numbers, even without his best three players, I'm not sure that he's going to be able to keep them well below the numbers this Missouri team has been producing as of late. The Tigers finished the season playing their best football, while running up numbers against poor to average teams. Guess what? Texas is a poor to average team.
Missouri 33 – Texas 20
Dustin McComas (season record 8-4)
A big factor in lower tier - sorry, but it’s true - bowl games is the want-to. I don’t see that being an advantage one way or another, though.
As for the matchups, Missouri’s strength is its offense and particularly its passing offense. But how does it perform after its offensive coordinator and offensive line coached moved on to UCF? Defensively, Missouri rates around teams like Texas Tech and Kansas, so you’d think Texas should be able to generate some points.
I’m picking Texas because I believe Todd Orlando will have a hungry group ready for Drew Lock and that challenge, and that will allow Texas to somehow generate enough points to leave Houston with a win. That being said, it’s very possible Lock and company pick on an undermanned Texas secondary in favorable field position if Texas can’t move the ball.
Texas 31 - Missouri 27
Anwar Richardson (season record 8-4)
I am thinking the same way you are right now. Texas struggled to win games before injuries, attrition and suspensions. Now Texas has to play without Connor Williams, Holton Hill, DeShon Elliott, Chris Warren III, Lil Jordan Humphrey, Toneil Carter and Garrett Gray. It is hard for me to figure out how Texas is going to win without those guys.
Unless Elijah Rodriguez becomes the second coming of Anthony Munoz, it is hard to see how this offensive line will be better. Obviously, that makes life tougher for quarterback Shane Bucehele and running back Daniel Young.
If Texas is going to pull off an upset, the Longhorns will need to score on special teams and/or defense. Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando's guys are good enough to keep the game close. It will be up to offensive coordinator Tim Beck to develop a game plan for a win.
Missouri 24 – Texas 17
Jason Suchomel (season record 8-4)
On paper, a shorthanded Texas team looks like it’s really going to have its hands full in this one. But something in my gut tells me the Longhorns find a way to keep this game very close and maybe even get the win.
But I just can’t make myself go there.
Ultimately, Missouri just looks like the better team that has been playing at a higher level over the last couple months. Texas turns in a really good effort but the Tigers get the win.
Missouri 34 – Texas 31
******
(season record 8-4)
It's been a month since we've seen Texas play football, so I've had to remind myself that the last time we saw the offense it was still the anemic mess it was we've seen all season. Missouri comes in as one of the hottest teams in college football with one of the best QBs. I don't know how the 2017 Texas offense is going to keep up.
Missouri 31 – Texas 17
Geoff Ketchum (season record 8-4)
Understand this ... I dearly want Texas to win. I suppose it's an unprofessional thing to say, but the reality of a long off-season awaits if Texas loses to fall to 6-7 for the year, with a two-game losing streak on the way out the door to boot. I'd love to see Texas play its most impressive game of the season and emerge from Wednesday night with pounds of positive vibes. The problem that I see is that Texas is entering yet another game in 2017 against one of the best quarterbacks in the country, yet this time it won't have Malik Jefferson, Holton Hill and DeShon Elliott to keep it close for the Texas quarterbacks. While it's possible that Todd Orlando can keep Missouri below its regular offensive numbers, even without his best three players, I'm not sure that he's going to be able to keep them well below the numbers this Missouri team has been producing as of late. The Tigers finished the season playing their best football, while running up numbers against poor to average teams. Guess what? Texas is a poor to average team.
Missouri 33 – Texas 20
Dustin McComas (season record 8-4)
A big factor in lower tier - sorry, but it’s true - bowl games is the want-to. I don’t see that being an advantage one way or another, though.
As for the matchups, Missouri’s strength is its offense and particularly its passing offense. But how does it perform after its offensive coordinator and offensive line coached moved on to UCF? Defensively, Missouri rates around teams like Texas Tech and Kansas, so you’d think Texas should be able to generate some points.
I’m picking Texas because I believe Todd Orlando will have a hungry group ready for Drew Lock and that challenge, and that will allow Texas to somehow generate enough points to leave Houston with a win. That being said, it’s very possible Lock and company pick on an undermanned Texas secondary in favorable field position if Texas can’t move the ball.
Texas 31 - Missouri 27
Anwar Richardson (season record 8-4)
I am thinking the same way you are right now. Texas struggled to win games before injuries, attrition and suspensions. Now Texas has to play without Connor Williams, Holton Hill, DeShon Elliott, Chris Warren III, Lil Jordan Humphrey, Toneil Carter and Garrett Gray. It is hard for me to figure out how Texas is going to win without those guys.
Unless Elijah Rodriguez becomes the second coming of Anthony Munoz, it is hard to see how this offensive line will be better. Obviously, that makes life tougher for quarterback Shane Bucehele and running back Daniel Young.
If Texas is going to pull off an upset, the Longhorns will need to score on special teams and/or defense. Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando's guys are good enough to keep the game close. It will be up to offensive coordinator Tim Beck to develop a game plan for a win.
Missouri 24 – Texas 17
Jason Suchomel (season record 8-4)
On paper, a shorthanded Texas team looks like it’s really going to have its hands full in this one. But something in my gut tells me the Longhorns find a way to keep this game very close and maybe even get the win.
But I just can’t make myself go there.
Ultimately, Missouri just looks like the better team that has been playing at a higher level over the last couple months. Texas turns in a really good effort but the Tigers get the win.
Missouri 34 – Texas 31
******
(season record 8-4)
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