Friday night games don't seem to have the same luster as their Thursday night counterparts, but tonight's match-up is a good one. And if you listen to
Chase Daniel, you can tell just how much he still loves his Tigers.
Missouri sits just on the outside of the AP top 25 (while at #21 in the Coaches Poll) and needs a big win to impress the pollsters. Everyone assumed there would be a major drop off this season with the loss of Daniel to the NFL, but so far that hasn't happened. The Tigers embarrassed Illinois on opening weekend 37-9. Mizzou had to simply survive in week two against Bowling Green down 20-6 just before the 4th quarter started but scoring the final three touchdowns of the game for the 27-20 win. Last weekends win over Furman was merely a tuneup for tonight. Sophomore QB Blaine Gabbert looks like a star - much like he was in High School - with a 68% completion percentage and an 8/0 TD/INT ratio. Gabbert can also move in the pocket with a pair of rushing touchdowns already on the season. Derrick Washington gets most of the carries in the running game but boasts only a 4.3 YPC average on the young season. He will have to bring that up if he wants to succeed at this level like he did last year when he went for over 1,000 yards. Twelve different Tigers have caught passes this season with the most going to seniors Jared Perry and Danario Alexander.
On the other end of the spectrum we have Nevada. Nevada was thought to be a potential BCS Buster type squad in the preseason. They had a very tough schedule, but it appeared all the talent in the world. But early in the season, that has not panned out. Some were picking an opening weekend upset against Notre Dame on the road, but the Domers blasted the Wolfpack 35-0. After a week to regroup, the Pack had to travel to Colorado State where the Rams were in control all game 35-20. Really the game was 35-14 but senior QB Colin Kaepernick thew his first TD of the season as time expired for the meaningless score. For the Wolfpack's sake, lets just hope that has given him confidence. Kaepernick came into this season in that discussion of "Best Quarterback You've Never Heard Of" and maybe it went to his head a little bit. He does have a 63% completion percentage, but has a miserable 1-4 TD/INT ratio. On the ground, Junior Vai Taua has put up some descent numbers with 209 yards through two games and a pair of touchdowns.
The Odds: The game is being played in Nevada which is good for the Wolfpack. And it is Gabbert's first road start, also good for the Wolfpack. This is a very tough game to pick. I think Missouri will win out, but I don't like the 7 points Vegas is giving to Nevada. I'm gonna go with my gut and pick the Tigers to cover on the road, but I still think it's going to take something late in the game for Missouri to put this one away. Maybe a 2 point lead with 4 minutes to play with a touchdown sealing the win 29-20.
On the other end of the spectrum we have Nevada. Nevada was thought to be a potential BCS Buster type squad in the preseason. They had a very tough schedule, but it appeared all the talent in the world. But early in the season, that has not panned out. Some were picking an opening weekend upset against Notre Dame on the road, but the Domers blasted the Wolfpack 35-0. After a week to regroup, the Pack had to travel to Colorado State where the Rams were in control all game 35-20. Really the game was 35-14 but senior QB Colin Kaepernick thew his first TD of the season as time expired for the meaningless score. For the Wolfpack's sake, lets just hope that has given him confidence. Kaepernick came into this season in that discussion of "Best Quarterback You've Never Heard Of" and maybe it went to his head a little bit. He does have a 63% completion percentage, but has a miserable 1-4 TD/INT ratio. On the ground, Junior Vai Taua has put up some descent numbers with 209 yards through two games and a pair of touchdowns.
The Odds: The game is being played in Nevada which is good for the Wolfpack. And it is Gabbert's first road start, also good for the Wolfpack. This is a very tough game to pick. I think Missouri will win out, but I don't like the 7 points Vegas is giving to Nevada. I'm gonna go with my gut and pick the Tigers to cover on the road, but I still think it's going to take something late in the game for Missouri to put this one away. Maybe a 2 point lead with 4 minutes to play with a touchdown sealing the win 29-20.
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