TwelfthAG
10-11-2006, 11:18 AM
Big 12 Game of the Week
Missouri (6-0) at Texas A&M (5-1) 3:30 PM EST ABC Saturday October 14th
Why to Watch: Missouri took a huge step towards national respectability with an impressive 38-21 win at Texas Tech last week, and now it can firmly establish itself as a legitimate threat to win the Big 12 title with a victory in College Station. Slowly creeping up the rankings, Mizzou still isn't quite getting much in the way of overall attention with many still adopting a wait-and-see attitude for a team that has only one win over a likely bowl team. A&M overcame a heartbreaking loss to the Red Raiders to beat Kansas 21-18 with a Jorvorskie Lane touchdown run in the final minute, and it can now show that it's the real deal with what would be, by far, its most impressive win yet. The Aggies are still in the Big 12 title chase, but they can't afford a home loss with Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas still to go, while the Tigers get a home date with Oklahoma in a few weeks to go along with a road trip to Nebraska.
Why Missouri Might Win: Can A&M handle a decent running game? Pass defense was a problem last year, but that appears to have been rectified somewhat, while the run defense was surprisingly soft against Army and allowed 128 yards to KU's Jon Cornish last week. By far, Missouri has the most balanced offense the Aggies have faced yet with a line that's great at protecting QB Chase Daniel and better at blowing open holes for the running game. When in doubt, Mizzou can simply pound the ball, however ...
Why Texas A&M Might Win: ... what's going to happen when someone bangs the running game on the Tigers? Colorado, Ohio, and Ole Miss have great backs and offenses geared around running the ball, but they're not actually doing it with any effectiveness. Texas A&M is going to beat on the Tiger front four with a line that's playing well, and a big back in Lane that should be able to control the clock. Missouri's defense relies on big plays generated on consistent pressure into the backfield, but the A&M line's also doing a great job in pass protection. As long as A&M doesn't lose the turnover battle, it should be able to keep Mizzou from exploding.
Who to Watch: Lane is getting all the attention because he's leading the nation with 13 touchdown runs, but he's not being used as a workhorse with only one game this year with more than 12 carries. Top recruit Mike Goodson has been getting around eight carries a game averaging over six yards per pop and is overdue to start getting more work. With Courtney Lewis banged up, expect Goodson to be used more and more as the Aggie version of Reggie Bush getting the bal as a receiver as well as a runner. If he can do a better job of protecting the ball, he could be the offense's X factor as the year goes on.
What Will Happen: Texas A&M will play well, but Missouri will once again be way too rock-solid on both sides of the ball and way too effective defensively. The Tigers really are that good.
CFN Prediction: Missouri 30 ... Texas A&M 21 ... Line: Missouri -1.5
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 The Class) ... 4
http://cfn.scout.com/2/576173.html
Missouri (6-0) at Texas A&M (5-1) 3:30 PM EST ABC Saturday October 14th
Why to Watch: Missouri took a huge step towards national respectability with an impressive 38-21 win at Texas Tech last week, and now it can firmly establish itself as a legitimate threat to win the Big 12 title with a victory in College Station. Slowly creeping up the rankings, Mizzou still isn't quite getting much in the way of overall attention with many still adopting a wait-and-see attitude for a team that has only one win over a likely bowl team. A&M overcame a heartbreaking loss to the Red Raiders to beat Kansas 21-18 with a Jorvorskie Lane touchdown run in the final minute, and it can now show that it's the real deal with what would be, by far, its most impressive win yet. The Aggies are still in the Big 12 title chase, but they can't afford a home loss with Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas still to go, while the Tigers get a home date with Oklahoma in a few weeks to go along with a road trip to Nebraska.
Why Missouri Might Win: Can A&M handle a decent running game? Pass defense was a problem last year, but that appears to have been rectified somewhat, while the run defense was surprisingly soft against Army and allowed 128 yards to KU's Jon Cornish last week. By far, Missouri has the most balanced offense the Aggies have faced yet with a line that's great at protecting QB Chase Daniel and better at blowing open holes for the running game. When in doubt, Mizzou can simply pound the ball, however ...
Why Texas A&M Might Win: ... what's going to happen when someone bangs the running game on the Tigers? Colorado, Ohio, and Ole Miss have great backs and offenses geared around running the ball, but they're not actually doing it with any effectiveness. Texas A&M is going to beat on the Tiger front four with a line that's playing well, and a big back in Lane that should be able to control the clock. Missouri's defense relies on big plays generated on consistent pressure into the backfield, but the A&M line's also doing a great job in pass protection. As long as A&M doesn't lose the turnover battle, it should be able to keep Mizzou from exploding.
Who to Watch: Lane is getting all the attention because he's leading the nation with 13 touchdown runs, but he's not being used as a workhorse with only one game this year with more than 12 carries. Top recruit Mike Goodson has been getting around eight carries a game averaging over six yards per pop and is overdue to start getting more work. With Courtney Lewis banged up, expect Goodson to be used more and more as the Aggie version of Reggie Bush getting the bal as a receiver as well as a runner. If he can do a better job of protecting the ball, he could be the offense's X factor as the year goes on.
What Will Happen: Texas A&M will play well, but Missouri will once again be way too rock-solid on both sides of the ball and way too effective defensively. The Tigers really are that good.
CFN Prediction: Missouri 30 ... Texas A&M 21 ... Line: Missouri -1.5
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 The Class) ... 4
http://cfn.scout.com/2/576173.html