Mizzou Game Discussion/Prediction Thread

[mutiger91]

The fact that Pinkel was on the hot seat in 2005 has a lot more to do with the impatience of fans combined with Gary's inability at the time to conduct a press conference that made him come across as likable. Pinkel knew most of the fans were wrong, but telling it how it is doesn't win you a lot of friends, especially when you are losing games.

Pinkel is a great coach, but there are different kinds of great coaches. I look at Pinkel as an engineer. Don James gave him a blueprint. He goes out and acquires materials that he sees fit and will modify the plan as conditions change. Pinkel has done a good job of stydying what others have done (both offensively and defensively) and adapting his plans accordingly. Pinkel isn't so much an innovator as one who adopts, assimilates and perfects. Pinkel takes risks, but with known odds and a predictable payback.

Contrast that to someone like Urban Meyer who is a true early adopter of the spread offense. He's also a guy who seemed to have a magic touch wherever he went. Meyer was willing to risk more by doing something uncommon with an understanding that it was likely to pay dividends for him. He was right. He has also show flexibility to adapt and has outperformed one-trick ponies like Mike Leach.

At the core, both are very good football coaches. The difference is in how they go about improving their programs. To me, both are innovative, but they look for value in different places.

What makes Clawson a great coach? How has he achieved his success?

[The Niz]

Very high on yourselves aren't you?

From what you all seem to be saying, there is not one single position that BG matches up size and talent wise with MO.

Pittsburgh was bigger and better at every position last year too. They were also ranked no. 25. Very coincidental.

I'll bet there was a lot of talk like this the last two times we squared off wasn't there? BG is a nobody MAC team with inferior coaches, talent and size, no way could a BCS conference school like the tiggers ever lose to them. Take a look back at our record, then give schools like Purdue, Northwestern, and Pittsburgh a call and see how they feel about coaching, size, and talent.

Prediction: BG 35 Mo 24

[Falconfreak90]

Just tee it up...all this back and forth about stats and biased opinions doesn't mean squat. Why the majority of BCS team fans always think they are superior is beyond me...especially considering BG's success against the BCS leagues over the last decade. We'll play anyone, anywhere, anytime.

BG will be ready...bank on that. I'm sure MU will be ready since Pinkel has lost to BG more times than he's won. He hates BG.... Pinkel is a good coach, not a GREAT coach.

BEAT MIZZOU

[mutiger]

Why can't Bowling Green fans realize they have no chance in this game? This isn't 2001 when Missouri had a couple of good players and nothing after that....this team is loaded. Missouri will BOMB Bowling Green. It will not be close.

[Falconfreak90]

Why can't Bowling Green fans realize they have no chance in this game? This isn't 2001 when Missouri had a couple of good players and nothing after that....this team is loaded. Missouri will BOMB Bowling Green. It will not be close.

Man, you sound like an Ohio State fan thru and thru.

ANY game can be won or lost. Loaded? Phil Steele said you were in for a losing season and he's usually pretty accurate.

Do you like crow? You may have to aquire the taste very soon.

[TG1996]

Why can't Bowling Green fans realize they have no chance in this game? This isn't 2001 when Missouri had a couple of good players and nothing after that....this team is loaded. Missouri will BOMB Bowling Green. It will not be close.

You may be right. You may be crazy.
Hell, if you're right, you might still be crazy.

[bocomo]

Very high on yourselves aren't you?

From what you all seem to be saying, there is not one single position that BG matches up size and talent wise with MO.

Pittsburgh was bigger and better at every position last year too. They were also ranked no. 25. Very coincidental.

I'll bet there was a lot of talk like this the last two times we squared off wasn't there? BG is a nobody MAC team with inferior coaches, talent and size, no way could a BCS conference school like the tiggers ever lose to them. Take a look back at our record, then give schools like Purdue, Northwestern, and Pittsburgh a call and see how they feel about coaching, size, and talent.

Prediction: BG 35 Mo 24

Well we weren't very good in 2001 and 2002 so people weren't saying things like that back then. I must say beating Troy, which you all were an underdog to at home mind you, has really emboldened everyone. Really interesting phenomenon.

[reid_82]

Very high on yourselves aren't you?

From what you all seem to be saying, there is not one single position that BG matches up size and talent wise with MO.

Pittsburgh was bigger and better at every position last year too. They were also ranked no. 25. Very coincidental.

I'll bet there was a lot of talk like this the last two times we squared off wasn't there? BG is a nobody MAC team with inferior coaches, talent and size, no way could a BCS conference school like the tiggers ever lose to them. Take a look back at our record, then give schools like Purdue, Northwestern, and Pittsburgh a call and see how they feel about coaching, size, and talent.

Prediction: BG 35 Mo 24

Actually, there wasn't any talk like this the last time these two teams met. In 2001, Missouri had ONE scholarship cornerback on the roster. In 2002, the Tigers had TWO players who would crack the two-deep on this squad.

Point to Pitt last year all you want. Terrible coach in a terrible conference (less deserving of a BCS bid than MWC or WAC, in my opinion), with one-man shows on offense (McCoy) and defense (the mlb). It also wasn't a team with strong foundations on the OL. 2003 (Purdue) is an awful long time ago (and you are without any coaches or players from that squad, right?). When was the Northwestern upset?

As for the rest of that... I'm confident Missouri is bigger, stronger and faster across the board. I don't know how the matchups go at all positions, but there are some I really like.

Your tiny DL (biggest starter, 283 pounds, average weight, 259) versus a huge, experienced and skilled offensive line.

Your small secondary versus a starting trio of receivers who go 6'1, 6-5 and 6-4 (not to mention a pair of 6-5/6-6 TEs).

Your LBs versus a backfield that includes a big, strong, fast QB and a good stable of RBs.

Missouri's LBs, featuring an All-American, versus your backfield.

I'd be happy to hear BG's take on the position-by-position matchups. Anyone got something there?

Missouri has a measureables edge pretty much across the board. That's not enough to guarantee victory (by any means), but pair that with a coaching staff that excels at making sure the team is focused and ready to play each opponent, and I'm confident the "letdown" factor won't be an issue.

I'm not saying there's no chance, and I'm not saying teams outside BCS conferences aren't any good. I'm just a fan making a prediction.

I DO find it funny that most BG fans are predicting they will hold the Tigers to their lowest point total at Faurot Field since Oklahoma in 2006 while also predicting they will score more points there than any team since 2005 (that list includes 2006 Big 12 champs Oklahoma, 2007's Texas Tech squad, last year's oSu squad, among others).

[reid_82]

And Phil Steele?

Phil Steele also predicted kansas State would finish second in the North. Wonder how he feels about that after week 1.

By the way, as we're talking about Steele, he predicted a 45-17 Missouri win on Saturday.

[cw08]

Most people say that between Weeks 1 and 2 is the worst time to evaluate a team. That appears to be the case on this thread.

[mackelroy]

What reid_82 did is actually lay out a fact-based take on the game, albeit from a Missouri perspective. What it boils down to is that Missouri has the advantage at pretty much every key position, and Missouri's personnel on the whole is more advanced that BGSUs. Those statements aren't borne of arrogance.

Meanwhile, you are predicting a victory based on, as best I can tell, hope. That's cool. It might turn out your way.

The bottom line is that we play in two days. Nobody can escape that, and therefore prediction threads are ultimately meaningless. The merely fill our desire to speak definitively about the heretofore undefined. Definition is coming, though. As a Missouri fan, I'm definitely looking forward to it.

[LowryFalcon]

I love the fact that you missouri fans seem so confident in your school to just beat the tar out of the falcons. As fans thats what you say but I have read and researched a lot in this game and thats not the attitude i get from the players and coaches of missouri. According to mutigers.com in pinkel's press conference he stated "We’re playing Bowling Green this weekend. They had a really good first win, new coaching staff. I think they played really well. Defensively they flew around. Sheehan at Quarterback was very impressed with him, he made a lot of good throws, did a lot of good things. What we’re going to do is just try and focus this week on becoming a better football team. Every player has things they can do as coaches we have to recognize that and help them get better. All I want to do is play our best game. A comment about The Zou, I’ll be real disappointed if 70,000 people aren’t there in gold. We’ve got great fans; hopefully we can fill it up for this game.” obviously he knows how big of a game this is gonna be if hes calling for so much fan support against a MAC conference team. LB Sean Weatherspoon On Coach Pinkel’s statement that Tuesday and Wednesday would be their hardest practices;
“It doesn’t mean too much, just because every Tuesday and Wednesday are really tough practices during season. I think he’s just really making the emphasis to get everyone’s mind right. Bowling Green is the type of team that can come in and destroy all the good things that we have going. Coach [Pinkel] is just letting everyone know that. We’re always going out there hard, but he just might make it a little more physical this week.” and well obviously weatherspoon know how bowling green can get things done. The only people I see that think this game is gonna be a blow out is MU fans that obviously dont do their research. Bowling Green is gonna give MU a good game and could very well win this game. Not only do falcon fans know this but MU as a team knows this. Were not just a crappy little mid major team.
Go Falcons
BGSU 31
MU 21

[mackelroy]

I love the fact that you missouri fans seem so confident in your school to just beat the tar out of the falcons. As fans thats what you say but I have read and researched a lot in this game and thats not the attitude i get from the players and coaches of missouri. According to mutigers.com in pinkel's press conference he stated "We’re playing Bowling Green this weekend. They had a really good first win, new coaching staff. I think they played really well. Defensively they flew around. Sheehan at Quarterback was very impressed with him, he made a lot of good throws, did a lot of good things. What we’re going to do is just try and focus this week on becoming a better football team. Every player has things they can do as coaches we have to recognize that and help them get better. All I want to do is play our best game. A comment about The Zou, I’ll be real disappointed if 70,000 people aren’t there in gold. We’ve got great fans; hopefully we can fill it up for this game.” obviously he knows how big of a game this is gonna be if hes calling for so much fan support against a MAC conference team. LB Sean Weatherspoon On Coach Pinkel’s statement that Tuesday and Wednesday would be their hardest practices;
“It doesn’t mean too much, just because every Tuesday and Wednesday are really tough practices during season. I think he’s just really making the emphasis to get everyone’s mind right. Bowling Green is the type of team that can come in and destroy all the good things that we have going. Coach [Pinkel] is just letting everyone know that. We’re always going out there hard, but he just might make it a little more physical this week.” and well obviously weatherspoon know how bowling green can get things done. The only people I see that think this game is gonna be a blow out is MU fans that obviously dont do their research. Bowling Green is gonna give MU a good game and could very well win this game. Not only do falcon fans know this but MU as a team knows this. Were not just a crappy little mid major team.
Go Falcons
BGSU 31
MU 21

Dude. Pinkel and the players are going to say the same things about Furman. Don't use these quotes as proof of anything other than BG is this week's Mizzou opponent.

[reid_82]

Pinkel is doing his usual routine: Lots of coach speak. Same with Spoon. What are they supposed to say? As long as we come out focused and play hard, we'll beat them by three scores? Pinkel isn't that type of coach, and he doesn't run that type of program.

Pinkel knows the importance of keeping his team focused. He knows BG is a solid team that can bite a more talented but unmotivated squad. And for the record? He'll say the same things about Furman. I've seen and heard him same the same type of things about Ohio, Nevada, even Illinois State.

I won't guarantee a win, but I will guarantee this: Bowling Green WILL NOT hold Missouri to 21 points.

Again, where do BG fans like their matchups, unit-by-unit, against Missouri? Is the confidence based solely on expecting to be able to throw the ball against Missouri's secondary or what?

How is its defense going to hold Missouri to 21 points, as so many have predicted? How is its small defensive line going to handle Missouri's big and skilled offensive line (which goes 6-5, 300; 6-4, 300; 6-4, 305; 6-5, 305; 6-7, 315 across the line)?

I mean, I realize you guys beat Troy. But you all act like you beat the Trojans from Los Angeles, not the ones from Alabama...

[mutiger91]

obviously he knows how big of a game this is gonna be if hes calling for so much fan support against a MAC conference team.

1) Any coach with at least half a brain will take every edge he can get.
2) Pinkel's contract is very incentive-laden. It includes pay bonuses for reaching certain attendance averages.

BG is a good football team. Aside from perhaps one post here, I don't think Missouri fans have denied that. We do really like our team. We have spent a good portion of the last 2 years ranked in the top 10 and we did not see the dropoff in performance some feared when we lost Chase Daniel and many of his receiving weapons. Expectations are high for this season.