Missouri Football: Game-by-Game Predictions for 2011
Last season, the Missouri Tigers had another successful season, as they went 10-3, including an Insight Bowl appearance.
This year, MU looks to have a tougher schedule, as they will have to play Oklahoma on the road and Texas at home in conference.
Their non-conference schedule isn't much easier, as they will have to play a talented Arizona State team away from Columbia.
Here are my predictions for how Mizzou will fare in each game of their upcoming 2011 season.
Enjoy.
Game 1: vs. Miami(OH)
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The Redhawks will be a good first test for the Tigers this year, as they will definitely not be a cupcake for Missouri.
Last season, they were 10-4, including a 7-1 record in the MAC, lead by a two-QB system of sophomore Zac Dysert and freshman sophomore Austin Boucher.
Although Miami will put up a good fight against Mizzou, I don't see them coming out of a ruckus Memorial Stadium with a win.
Prediction: Missouri 34, Miami(OH) 17
Game 2: At Arizona State
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The Sun Devils were 6-6 last season and will provide Missouri with their first road test of 2011.
They will led by senior QB Steven Threet, who threw for over 2,500 yards and 18 TDs last season for ASU.
I think this will end up being one of the hardest games all season for Mizzou, and they will put up a good fight but come up just short in the end.
Prediction: Arizona State 31, Missouri 21
Game 3: vs. Western Illinois
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The Leathernecks went 8-5 last season and will likely give Missouri all they can handle in their third game of the '11 season.
However, WIU will be without all-everything QB Matt Barr and star wideout Lito Senatus, who both graduated this year.
They will still have junior RB Caulton Ray, who is a dangerous RB, as he rushed for over 1,000 yards and nine TDs in 13 games last season.
Prediction: Missouri 24, Western Illinois 10
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Game 4: At Oklahoma
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Last year, Gary Pinkel finally was able to get his first career win against Bob Stoops and the the Oklahoma Sooners.
Missouri was fortunate to have the home crowd behind them last season in their game against Columbia, and they will have the daunting task of beating OU in Norman in 2011.
If there is any year where Mizzou can beat Oklahoma on the road, it's this season, due to their nationally ranked scoring defense and they know what it's like to hand the Sooners a defeat after last season.
Prediction: Missouri 14, Oklahoma 13
Game 5: At Kansas State
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K-State nearly took down the Tigers last season in Columbia but ultimately came up short in an exciting 38-28 loss to Mizzou.
The Wildcats lost star RB Daniel Thomas to graduation, their rushing attack will likely take a big hit due to his absence.
I don't see Kansas State having enough firepower to keep up with the Tigers this year, even if the game is in Manhattan.
Prediction: Missouri 31, Kansas State 14
Game 6: vs. Iowa State
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Iowa State has struggled in football for years, and 2011 shouldn't be any different.
Missouri shutout the Cyclones in '10, and they didn't even have the added benefit of the Faurot Field crowd in that game, since it was played in Ames.
Junior Jerome Tiller will have to have the game of his life if ISU is going to have any chance of walking out of Columbia with a win this season.
Prediction: Missouri 21, Iowa State 7
Game 7: vs. Oklahoma State
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This game will be the toughest home game that Missouri will have all season.
The Cowboys went 11-2 last season, and they will have star QB Brandon Weeden and stud WR Justin Blackmon coming back this fall.
OSU has a good chance to have a field day through the air against what should be an inexperienced Missouri defensive backfield.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 35, Missouri 24
Game 8: At Texas A&M
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Missouri pummeled Mike Sherman's Aggies last season to the tune of a 30-9 score in College Station.
The Tigers defense harassed then-Aggies QB Jerrod Johnson all day, sacking him seven times for the afternoon.
I expect to see much of the same from the MU defense this season, as the Tigers will waltz out of Kyle Field with another victory.
Prediction: Missouri 24, Texas A&M 13
Game 9: At Baylor
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This game has upset written all over it.
The Bears, who will be led by junior dual-threat QB Robert Griffin III, defeated the Tigers in the last matchup back in 2009, when Griffin was a freshman.
Baylor football is on the rise, and I believe that they will make a statement in this game against Missouri.
Prediction: Baylor 31, Missouri 27
Game 10: vs. Texas
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The Texas Longhorns are always a tough team to beat, regardless of where you play them.
However, these aren't the same Longhorns, as they were just 5-7 a season ago.
After not playing Texas last season, Missouri will get to host the boys from the Lonestar state on Nov. 12th this season, and this should be the year that Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel gets his first win of UT.
Prediction: Missouri 24, Texas 17
Game 11: vs. Texas Tech
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Last season, the Red Raiders handed Mizzou a shocking 21-14 loss in Lubbock, to give the Tigers their second loss of the year.
This year, the advantage swings the Tigers way as the two teams will be playing in Missouri, and you can bet that the Tigers will be fired up to play Tech this fall.
With QBs Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield both graduated, Texas Tech will likely have an experienced QB manning their offense, which makes them a big underdog against what should be a very tough Missouri defense this year.
Prediction: Missouri 35, Texas Tech 14
Game 12: vs. Kansas
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KU football has been on the decline since their magical 2007 season when they won a BCS game and finished 12-1 for the year.
Head coach Turner Gill will be entering his second season at Kansas, and the Jayhawks are still under full-rebuilding mode.
Last season, Missouri thumped Kansas 35-7, and I don't see any reason why Gary Pinkel and the Tigers will have any problem with the Jayhawks in 2011.
Prediction: Missouri 38, Kansas 10
Conclusion
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Final Regular Season Record: 9-3
I see the Tigers playing well in '11, except in losses on the road at Arizona State, Baylor and at home against Oklahoma State.
Missouri will finish third in the Big 12 conference race and will get another invite to the Insight Bowl in December.
It will go down as another successful but not great season for the Gary Pinkel and the Tigers.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
