re: Mizzou vs. South Carolina Prediction Thread

38-21 Cocks

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Texas A&M: 52
East Carolina: 23
Georgia: 35
Vanderbilt: 34

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144 / 4 = 36 PPG Allowed

I would say Missouri has a great chance to score at least 30.

If Mizzou can hold SC to the low 30's or less they've got a great chance to win.

USC's biggest issues this season as everyone knows has been defense and special teams, but IMO there have been noticeable improvements as each week progresses. Versus Vanderbilt, the 2 KO TD returns ruined what was going to be a decisive win, if not a route for USC. It's the 2nd game vs Vandy in a row that USC jumped out dominantly, only to see Vandy find ways to stay close and threaten at the end.

Last week, in Vandy's final possession with 3 minutes left to play, backup QB Wade Freebeck hit on 4 consecutive passes of 70 yds to score a surprise TD with USC in prevent, and close the score to a 14-pt deficit, 48-34. Prior to that final drive, USC's defense had held Vandy to 309 yds and 13 points. Those kind of woulda, shoulda, couldas matter little in the final outcome, but it showed at least USC's defense could contain an offense that should be contained. They couldn't do anything about the STs play, but that final Vandy score ruined a solid defensive effort for USC...

Now on to Missouri: Mizzou is 3-1 versus what can only be called a fairly weak 4 opponents thus far. UCF is a shell of it's former BCS Bowl self this year. Mizzou played all but Toledo at home, but mostly have middling offensive and defensive stats thus far, at best.

USC of course isn't much better, and in fact it's defensive stats are mostly worse than Mizzou's. But here's my point: USC has played 3 top 25-30 offenses in it's 4 games thus far, in TAMU, ECU, and UGA. TAMU and ECU almost have nationally top-5 passing offenses (TAMU is 4th, ECU 6th). UGA's strength thus far has been it's rushing O, ranked 13th.

Missouri's offense hasn't been near that good thus far, playing a weak schedule mostly at home. Also, while again USC's own offensive stats have been middling (it's passing O is a decent 36th, and it's scoring O is 44th), Mizzou's defensive stats are close to that level as well, while TAMU's and UGA's own defensive stats have been much better.

So IMO this contest won't be as formidable a test like TAMU, ECU, and UGA was, and our young defense has only gotten more experienced since those games. And with ESPN GameDay being at Williams-Brice, I expect our home crowd to again be a CFB standard-bearer in atmosphere intimidation for any visiting team: the last time Missouri visited W-B, the game was kicked off at 3:30 - I expect those memories won't match up to the night-time crowd we'll have this Saturday....

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UCF is a shell of it's former BCS Bowl self this year.

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Lol

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I do not like it when everyone picks us to win

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Mizzou 38

SC 31

41-27 SC

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I would say Missouri has a great chance to score at least 30.

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Our offense has a tendency of stalling out and while not an SC defense of last year, I'd still bet their defense is the best one we've faced so far.

You know what would be poetic justice?

Mizzou comes back from a 17-0 deficit in 4th qtr and ties for overtime, winning in 2nd OT when SC kicker misses.

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You know what would be poetic justice?

Mizzou comes back from a 17-0 deficit in 4th qtr and ties for overtime, winning in 2nd OT when SC kicker misses.

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There is no peace, no justice in Missouri.

Pressure is on SCAR, after the MIZZOU loss to IU at home it appears the perception of MIZZOU is a mid to lower level SEC team and SCAR does not want to get punked at home by MIZZOU, I think SCAR wins but this game is really intriguing because both teams seem quite average at times. The shuffle on the MIZZOU Oline due to the Gatti injury is a concern, if both teams come to play this game should be really entertaining.