rjt's Week 13 Plays
Sides: 29-30-4, +2.57
Totals: 12-8-1, +2.68
ML: 3-5, -.75
YTD: 44-43-5, +4.5
2* Missouri ML +120: Kansas is a great story and they deserve credit for winning (and covering) every game thus far, but Missouri’s the best team in the Big 12. A lot is made of Kansas’ defense being the difference in this game, but the Jayhawks’ defense being the strength of the team is a huge misconception. Kansas’ impressive, but ultimately misleading, defensive statistics can largely be attributed to a joke of a non-conference schedule consisting of C. Michigan, SE Louisiana, Toledo and Florida Int’l, and a conference schedule that was conveniently missing Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech this season. The three capable offenses Kansas faced – K-State, Nebraska and Okie State – moved the ball with relative ease. Nebraska put up 39 points and nearly 500 total yards, many of which came in the first half when the game was still reasonably competitive, in QB Joe Ganz’s first career start in place of Sam Keller, while Okie State’s offense had similar success against Kansas, and the damage would have been even more profound had WR Adalius Bowman not left the game late in the first half. Conversely, a Mizzou defense that has improved dramatically seemingly gets no credit for being the only squad to shut down Mike Leach’s Tech offense. Mizzou’s defense has improved to the point that, while it’s not the strength of the team, it’s certainly not the weakness it’s been in years past.
While Kansas was struggling to beat Colorado (a game the Buffs could’ve easily won if not for several Cody Hawkins mistakes) and failing to put away a one-dimensional Texas A&M squad, Missouri was playing a healthy Oklahoma almost even in Norman, destroying Colorado in Boulder and dismantling Texas Tech and its high-powered offense like no other team. Kansas QB Todd Reesing leads a very good Jayhawk offense, but one that fails to match Chase Daniel and the Tigers’ offense built around Maclin, Rucker, Temple and Coffman, among others.
Again, Kansas is a great story and Mangino should be commended for turning the program around, but the Cinderella story ends this weekend, as Mizzou is the far superior team.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by mark wahlberg
