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Here’s everything you need to know about Missouri’s road opener against Toledo today at the Glass Bowl.
When: Today
Where: Toledo, Ohio
Game Time: Noon ET
TV: ESPN
Current Line: Missouri (-3.5)
Game Buzz: The Tigers played inconsistent football against South Dakota State and needed a Marcus Murphy kickoff return for a touchdown to extend the lead back to double digits in the second half. Still, many fans are perplexed that Missouri is only a 3.5-point favorite, even on the road, against a MAC opponent. This game won’t give us the complete picture of the team’s season, but what’s now a fuzzy image will begin to come into focus pending the result in Ohio.
SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH PREVIEWS
- Pinkel, Mauk downplay Toledo ties
- Focus for Mizzou: shut down Alabama transfer QB Phillip Ely
- Gary Pinkel channeling Jon Gruden regarding Toledo
- Mizzou plans to feed Hansbrough the ball
- Mizzou DE Marcus Loud out of Pinkel’s good graces?
- Gary Pinkel urges patience with Mauk, passing game
NO. 24 MISSOURI TIGERS
Players To Watch:
- QB Maty Mauk
- RB Russell Hansbrough
- RB/WR/KR Marcus Murphy
- DE Shane Ray
- DE Markus Golden
- CB Aarion Penton
Keys For Missouri:
- Stall Toledo’s passing game. The Tigers won’t be able to rely on a fierce pass rush against Toledo, which gives up about a half-sack per game thanks to a strong offensive line and a spread offense predicated on getting rid of the ball quickly. That means the cornerbacks have to do a better job of offering tighter coverage near the line of scrimmage and making plays on the football. Toledo wants to keep the ball out of Missouri’s hands with long, sustained drives and a high completion percentage, much like South Dakota State did last Saturday, but a few quick incompletions could make that plan backfire.
- Lean on the running game. Maty Mauk threw for three touchdowns and zero interceptions against South Dakota State. It wasn’t a bad performance, but combined with what now has to be described as a drop-off in talent at receiver, the passing game may take weeks to peak. Right now, Missouri’s run blocking, along with Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy, is the strength of the team.
- Win the turnover battle. Missouri’s streak of forcing at least one turnover in 45 consecutive games is well-publicized. But I don’t think we’ve done enough to connect the dots between that stat and the Tigers’ success since the beginning of last season. This game could be close, but if Missouri has a positive turnover margin, Toledo’s chances at an upset shrink considerably.
Glaring weakness to watch: Secondary — see above.
Most interesting part of the game: Whether or not Missouri can cover the spread.
Team buzz: Missouri is healthy entering this game minus backup running back Morgan Steward. UCF is no slouch next week, but the Tigers can expect to finish the non-conference schedule at 4-0 with a win Saturday.
TOLEDO ROCKETS
Players To Watch:
- QB Phillip Ely
- RB Kareem Hunt
- WR Alonzo Russell
- C Greg Mancz
- LB Junior Sylvestre
- DT Treyvon Hester
Keys For Toledo:
- Take away the Missouri pass rush. It’s part of the team’s DNA to get rid of the ball fast. Phillip Ely’s pre-snap reads must be on point and he can’t hold onto the football. Otherwise the Tigers have a big advantage with those defensive ends.
- Force the Tigers to play from behind. As mentioned previously, Missouri’s biggest advantage may be running the ball. Mauk is capable of beating Toledo, but forcing the Tigers to abandon balance and hoping to induce some mistakes from the Mizzou passing game may be the best hope.
- Contain Marcus Murphy. Last week’s Missouri game would’ve taken a different feel without Murphy’s touchdown. More than any other Tigers player, Murphy is capable of scoring any time, and as a kick returner, receiver or running back. A huge Murphy play could doom Toledo.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
