Missouri looking for win at home
The no. 17 ranked Missouri Tigers, fresh off their second loss of the season, will be attempting to get back in contention of the Big 12 north division when they battle the no. 24 ranked Kansas State Wildcats at home on Saturday 13 November. The Wildcats
are coming into Missouri with a 6-3 record and still have an opportunity to win the conference.
Kansas State’s season so far
The Wildcats have been one of the pleasant surprises this season, starting out 4-0 before they ran into Nebraska and got torn to shreds, 48-13. Kansas State rebounded from that demoralizing loss by coming back against in-state rival, the Kansas Jayhawks,
and having an offensive outburst of 59 points.
The offence continued to roll the following week against the Baylor Bears, but they unfortunately could not score enough points, losing 47-42. They followed the loss to the Bears with another loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who were without their star
receiver, Justin Blackmon.
The Wildcats finally got back on track with last week’s victory against the Texas Longhorns, 39-14, and will need to continue their offensive push as the season comes down to stretch time.
Missouri’s previous games
The Tigers started the season like a dream, winning their first seven games, including one against the previously number one ranked Oklahoma Sooners. However, since their 7-0 start, Missouri has dropped their last two games, with the first one coming against
conference rival and previously no. 14 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers, 31-17. With that loss to Nebraska, the Tigers also relinquished first place in the extremely competitive conference and fell into second spot.
The Tigers suffered a tough loss last weekend to the unranked Texas Tech Red Raiders, 24-17. It was truly a game they should have won as the Red Raiders rank 106th in the country in total defence while the Tigers' offence is ranked 43rd
in the nation in points scored with 30.8 per game.
Keys to the Game
Missouri is going to have to expose the Wildcats for what they really are, a one dimensional offence. Kansas State ranks 103rd through the air, and quarterback Carson Coffman has only thrown for eight touchdowns and 1315 yards. However,
the Wildcat's rushing game ranks 22nd in the nation, averaging just over 200 yards a game.
If the Missouri defence can bring lots of pressure and stop the run early, Coffman will have to rely on his arm, which has not been anywhere close to great this season.
Missouri is a very well rounded offence, ranking 34th and 63rd respectively in both passing and rushing categories. If the Tigers use this to their advantage, they will have the Wildcats' defence, which is ranked 101st in
total defence, in fits all day long. A couple of trick plays to freeze the safeties and corners, play-action fakes, and strong runs to the outside will have Kansas State guessing the whole time. This is the Tigers biggest advantage, besides their 8th
ranked defence in points for, and they should use it accordingly.
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