Texas vs Missouri Preview: A Tiger Huntin’ We Will Go

COLUMBIA – When a team finds its collective stride, the results can be dazzling to behold, the numbers simply unbelievable. Case in point: The Texas Longhorns running game. It is no secret that Longhorn boss, Mack Brown, has long lusted in his heart for a team that could play power football. To date however, it just had not happened. Things change. Sometimes wishes do come true. In two weeks versus the (admittedly) porous run defenses of Kansas and Texas Tech, the Longhorns ground attack has been brutally dazzling, punishing these two squads with back-to-back 400 yard rushing days. Perhaps my mind is not the steel trap it once was but I don’t believe that feat has been accomplished on the Forty Acres since the Tyler Rose – Earl Campbell – was running roughshod over everybody on the way to earning a little trophy with the name of Heisman. That was 1977, folks. I had hair then – and lots of it. On my head, no less! The Longhorns seem to have found their mojo, hit a collective stride. I say welcome back. Can they maintain this new-found mojo against a dangerously cornered Missouri Tiger squad? Yes, absolutely. Will they? Read on to find out.

Texas O vs Missouri D

When the Longhorns have the ball – of late, at least – things have become quite simple. I think this newfangled approach could be summed up thus:

“.We’re Texas. You know what we’re going to do. We are going to take the ball

and run it down your throat. And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”

Sort of a Billy Jack vs the Redneck paraphrasing going on, and if you don’t understand the reference, get it on Netflix. Billy Jack. But back to the game. The Longhorn attack has indeed simplified of late. Feed it to uber-frosh, Malcolm Brown (635 Yds/5 TDs), veteran Fozzy Whittaker (371 Yds/6 TDs) and the other uber wunderkind, Joe Bergeron (414 Yds/5 Tds). Watch the offense chew up clock, grind out yardage, punish the opposition into submission. Toss in a few deep balls to WR Mike Davis or D.J. Monroe. Score more points. Keep the pressure of having to make big plays off of QB David Ash’s shoulders. Simple. Try and stop us.

Texas D vs Missouri O

Ah, the plot thickens. The Tigers are a potent offensive machine. Led by explosive RB Henry Josey (1134 Yds/9 Tds/8.6 Yds per carry), the nation’s fifth- ranked runner, All-American TE Michael Egnew, the country’s best TE, and dangerously mobile, though erratic QB James Franklin, the Tigers have some bite. They average 500 Yds per game (10^th nationally), do it with a balanced attack that averages 246 on the ground and 254 via the air. And they score too, averaging a tad under 35 PPG. The Tigers will present a formidable challenge to a tough and improving Longhorn defense (15^th nationally). Expect to see a steady diet of Josey, interspersed with play action to Egnew, long balls to WR T.J. Moe (547 Yds/4 Tds), and frequent improvisational scrambling by Franklin. The Texas lineman, dormant this season until last week’s ferocious awakening against Tech, will have to play well again, and the whole defense will have to tackle well in open space.

Predicted Score

The Tigers are dangerous, and like most wounded, cornered felines, will be especially so to a banged up Texas team (Brown, Bergeron, Shipley). Mizzou needs to win two of three to become bowl-eligible; they will fight, spit, hiss and claw; the proverbial fur will fly. Expect, then, a tough, hard-hitting struggle that might not be decided until the fourth quarter. I think the Longhorns get up off of the canvas, land a late haymaker, crawl out of Faurot Field with a victory, escaping one set of felines for another set next week when the Kansas State Wildcats come calling.

Texas 27 Missouri 24 (Line: Texas -1.5)