College Football

[Wayne SW/MO]

That's just cyber bullying, Wayner. And you promised you wouldn't.

I disagree. KU hasn't put any effort into reviatlizing their program since the fat man left. I think they are making a better effort now, but they still don't seem dedicated to it. You can't call the truth bullying.

Now if I said the BB team wore skirts, well?

[stlfisher]

Mizzou looked like a team with a bunch of new guys to me. They weren't exactly dominating in some of the early games last year either. I think the offense is going to take some time, and Mauk needs to learn to be more patient, but I think they will come around.

Defense was fine IMO. One big running play against a very very good running back. The rest of the time we shut him down. Secondary is young, but very talented. The OL and DL have the potential to be great IMO.

I am not panicky yet, but I am looking for a much sharper game against Toledo.

Baggett still frustrates me....that guy is going to cost us a game again I fear.

[ozark trout fisher]

I missed it while floating the Jacks Fork, but after watching a replay of the MU @Toledo game, my Tigers really looked a lot better this week. They were only favored by 3-5 points but put an absolute shellacking on. Maty Mauk is already a star and this is only his second game as a non-replacement starter for Mizzou. Markus Golden and Shane Ray look like they will keep our defensive line as intimidating as ever. All in all, I was very impressed in their performance in a road game that could easily have been a loss if they hadn't come out ready to go.

They've got another tough one next week against UCF, though, so they can't afford a letdown. That said, this Mizzou team doesn't appear (at least right now) to have taken a big step back from last year. I expect a couple more losses, but it doesn't feel like a big tumble is in the cards. If they can beat UCF and Indiana in the next two weeks, they will basically have a postseason berth locked up heading into SEC play (with Vandy, UK and Arkansas coming to Faurot.) That said, neither team will be a cupcake.

[ness]

Well, over here in the Free State, we had a couple wins. KSU over Iowa State was a great game, with the 'cats trailing deep into the 4th quarter. QB Jake Waters just willed them back into it. The defense stepped up and held them to zud in the second half, after looking pretty hapless in the first half. A leetle controversy on a call in the first half -- officials didn't call for a replay of a very close catch by KSU. That'll give ISU something to blame the loss on, but the Big 12 official ruling is 'inconclusive' on the replay, which it was.

Over in Lawrence, the hawks squeaked by Southeast Missouri State 34-28. My son called me at the half and said he was leaving the game because it was a 'blowout' with KU up 24-0. Hoping the boy learned a little something there. Like -- don't even go to begin with

[Wayne SW/MO]

I know some get excited over games that lack substance, but if a team knows they have no threat you aren't seeing anything.

OU steamrolled Tulsa, mostly with a game plan that was a perfectly executed complicated high school plan.

.

[stlfisher]

Yep, these early games don't do much for the established teams...just a watered down playbook and execution is all most teams really need.

MU looked fine...a lot like last year in these early games...maybe even better IMO. Does not mean much for the rest of the year, but looking fine so far.

The BIG is just a bad conference this year and Vanderbilt looks like an 0-8 team in conference play.

What the heck was Pat Haden thinking arguing with officials on the sideline of the USC/Standard game? The head coach looks like someone who needs to call mommy when a call doesn't go his way. That was just weird and should never happen.

[ozark trout fisher]

Toledo is a good enough IMO that they serve as a decent measuring stick. Not your usual cupcake game.

They have 18 returning starters from a pretty good team including a great offensive line. Missouri was only favored by a field goal and many thought they'd get taken out altogether. Certainly they are better than one SEC team in Vanderbilt, and possibly 2 or 3.

It doesn't mean Missouri suddenly moves way up the pecking order in the east, but we know the offense can function with our current personel and that our d-line can get the job done against a very good, veteran OL. That's something.

The Big Ten is in fact terrible. Penn State's sanctions just got lifted, and they look like about the only team in that league with any hope at all of making the playoff this year. Even that's a major longshot.

[Quillback]

I thought Michigan State played well against Oregon. But at this point, they (State) will just about have to run the table in their remaining games to make the playoff.

[ozark trout fisher]

Well, Mizzou is better than anyone thought.....38-10 over the team that won the Fiesta Bowl last year????????

I know UCF lost Blake Bortles, but if you take what's happened this year as a whole Mizzou looks like a danged impressive team. Looking like the favorite to challenge UGA for the east, if anyone has any hope of doing that.

[Wayne SW/MO]

UCF might or might not be strong this year, but they recruit quality and they are well coached