How's Mizzou's OOC?
June 5th 2010 05:49
Regardless of what a lot of people are thinking, the Missouri Tigers are not derelict by any means. This season they return 16 starters and QB Blaine Gabbert, who in '09 threw for more than 3500 yards and 24 TDs. With that kind of experience they could make a splash in the Big 12 North once again, but let's take a look at their OOC as the next part of this in-depth series.
We start it all out with the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Interesting series between these two teams, played at a neutral site in St. Louis between the Tigers and the Fighting Illini. Illinois has stood as the first opponent on Mizzou's schedule for the last 3 seasons, and here they stand again.
This will also be the last contracted game between these two rivals until further extension.
In all five meetings between the two since the series was moved to St. Louis in 2002, Missouri has always left the victor. The point totals from the last three years come out to 129-85 in favor of Missouri.
The Illini scrounged together a 3-9 season last year and in 2010 will lose 16 starters as well as their QB in "Juice" Williams, who declared for the NFL Draft.
The Crusader's Call: Mizzou owns this Big 10 team. I'm just gonna flat-out say it. They will take every single game in this series and go up 1-0.
Not bad, not bad. What's next? Oi, McNeese State.
As mentioned in a previous edition of this series, the McNeese State Cowboys were on the same skill level in the Southland Conference in '09 as the Stephen. F. Austin Lumberjacks.
Meaning they're going to get killed in Columbia for Mizzou's home opener. Usually I would chalk this game up to my cardinal "your first one's free" rule but the Tigers already start out the season against a pretty bottom-rung team in the Big 10. I would've taken this time to have an early marquee match-up with an OOC opponent ranked in the 20s or something, but this is not my show to run.
The Crusader's Call: Either way, Mizzou crushes these Cowboys and imrpoves to 2-0.
Come on, come on, come on, what's next? OH COME ON!! SAN DIEGO STATE?!
Mizzou is 2-0 over the Aztecs but this is the first time they've played each other since 1980. SDSU went 2-6 in the Mountain West Conference in '09 and coming into this year the Tigers have won 17 straight regular season OOC games. Their last OOC loss was in 2005.
Probly 'cuz they schedule these creampuffs. The Aztecs haven't won a road game vs. a current BCS conference school since they beat the Kansas Jayhawks in 1999.
The Crusader's Call: Not much more to say. Mizzou up 3-0.
Now let's take a look at the last one.Okie doke, Miami.....Ohio.
The only interesting thing about this match-up is that Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel used to coach at Toledo from 1991 to 2000. He went 3-3-1 facing Miami, OH 7 times. But he's a better coach at a better school now, and the Tigers have gone 12-1 prior to their first Big 12 game of the season. The Redhawks are 1-4 against the Big 12.
The Crusader's Call: Need I really say more? Mizzou goes undefeated in OOC play after this one.
Alright, Tigers, there's no real quality to these teams, so I'm sorry, but as much as I may believe you're back on the rise in 2010, you still get a big, fat 2 OUT OF FIVE STARS.
Thoughts?
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