re: Helsinki is good

This game could go either way. I've learned over the years our games are always bizarre with the oddest things happening during them so who knows what the outcome will be. Wouldn't doubt if it comes down to who has the ball last.

Hard to get a read on how good Missouri is right now. They are an SEC opponent, of course, and it will be on their field. West Virginia was by far the Tiger’s best opponent in terms of expected talent depth that comes from being a Power 5 opponent, even though it’s in its initial season under the leadership of new Head Coach Neal Brown, formerly of Troy. WVU opened its season against FCS opponent James Madison, and though JMU is a highly–ranked FCS program for 2019, the Mountaineers barely beat them at home 20-13, and were held to only 34 net rushing yards on 24 carries (1.4 YPC average) and a total 294 offensive yards.

So WVU was held to only 30 rushing yds in 32 carries by Missouri, which is only slightly better than what a FCS opponent held them to. But was it Missouri’s rush defense, or was it WVU's anemic rush offense?

Against North Carolina State last Saturday – a Mountaineer 44-27 win at home – WVU rushed for 173 net yards in 28 carries (6.2 YPC) and 3 rushing TDs, so they are all over the place in just 3 games thus far.

Against Wyoming, the season-opener for Missouri that the Tigers would lose 37-31, the Cowboys were primarily a run team, and they gashed the Missouri run defense via 42 carries for 297 net yds (7.1 YPC), and 3 touchdowns. Two Cowboys rushed for 100+ yds in the game. Bryant had a strong passing game for the Tigers – 423 yds, 2 TDs and only 1 INT – but he threw 48 times, completing 31 of them.

Missouri gave up a 27-point 2nd Quarter, which had them trailing 27-17 at the Half, and then Wyoming scored the only points – a touchdown – in the 3rd Qtr., so the Tigers went into the 4th Qtr. Down 34-17. Bryant was off the leash with the passing game at that point, as Missouri had to try to score quickly all 2nd Half to catch up, but they failed. Missouri ended up with 537 total yards for the game, but only had 114 net rushing yds on 42 carries (2.7 YPC).

Against FCS SEMO, the Tigers only allowed 40 rushing yds and 94 total yds, but it was SEMO - kinda like “it was Charleston Southern”. SEMO was actually a pretty good FCS opponent in 2018...

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Wasn't he paid the full amount up front?

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I think it's evenly split at 7.5 million each year for 10 years.