Mizzou Game Discussion/Prediction Thread

[jpfalcon09]

Mizzou is #25 in the AP poll so that will mark 2 OOC games against ranked opponents this season.

I'm trying to be optimistic about the game, but I think Missouri wins by 2-3 scores. This is going to be a tough road game in a hostile environment, and Mizzou is coming off a big win. They play Furman after BG, so the idea of overlooking an opponent probably won't be an issue, and it's the first home game of the year as well. I'm just hoping BG stays competitive and doesn't get blown out.

[ZouDave]

Jeff,

I am driving over to Columbia from KC Saturday morning with some friends. I noticed there will be some changes regarding tailgating around the stadium. Can you recommend a public access lot we can head to near the stadium where we can drink some beers and maybe grill without upsetting anyone or being overly heckled by drunken frat boys?

Hey Dayons_Den,

I'm a Mizzou season-ticket holder and I'll be making the same drive as you on Saturday. Be careful on I-70; those truckers don't tend to look when they change lanes! But it's a very easy drive, with almost no scenery, just make sure not to miss the "adult" store near Boonville that advertises things like Movies, Magazines, Live Girls, Games, Toys and Shoes. I've never actually been inside the place, but the specific mentioning of shoes is hilarious to me.

Anyway, to answer your question, there's not a lot of great public parking places to suit your needs. The best place to park, imo, is the Maryland Parking Garage which is within site of the stadium basically at the corner of Stadium Drive and Maryland Avenue. Just follow Stadium all the way into town, go past Faurot Field, and you'll see a big parking garage on your left just as you pass the stadium. That's the one. Last year it was $15 to park there, no assigned spaces, and it's an easy walk to the game. The problem is, you can't grill in the garage (even on the roof). Someone grilled on the roof back in 2006 and didn't extinguish their coals properly, a car ended up parking on top of the coals and caught fire and it was just a mess. You can drink all you want in there, but no grilling.

If you are going to be grilling, I would say arrive to town as early as you can and just park on the shoulder of Stadium Blvd and do it there. There will be HUNDREDS of fans doing exactly the same thing. Stadium Blvd is a pretty long road and quite hilly so it's not the best walk to the stadium, but it's not bad. At least it's a straight shot so you can't get lost no matter how drunk you might be!

I think you guys will be fine as far as our fans go. Mizzou fans are generally pretty nice as long as you're not from kansas or Nebraska. We freaking hate those people, but everyone else gets treated with respect. Definitely a partying, fun-loving fan base so if you play your cards right you could probably just get yourself invited to join a Mizzou tailgate and eat for free.

Good luck on Saturday, save travels to and from the game and I hope you have a great time!


ZD

[1987alum]

We're going to learn a lot about our cornerbacks and pass rush.

Whether that's good or bad remains to be seen.

[hammb]

We're going to learn a lot about our cornerbacks and pass rush.

Whether that's good or bad remains to be seen.

I'm somewhat afraid, because our secondary was NOT good against Troy. The pass rush made up for it by not allowing the QB time to find his options, but the options were there all game long. Let's hope the pass rush is for real for the entire season, because I'm afraid we're going to need it.

Mizzou is a good team, definitely better than Troy. It'll be a real good litmus test to see just how good we can be. A win Saturday and I'm going to start getting VERY excited (and also potentially pricing lobster...)

[VDub26Falcon]

I think the Falcons DEFNITELY have a good chance of pulling an "upset" in this game. Our offense was clicking on all cylinders last Thursday and we got an extra couple of days to rest up and prepare for Misery. The one thing I will say is that we HAVE to find a way to balance the offense a little more. I'm thinking 65% passing, 35% rushing. If we start swinging the pendulum too far to the passing side of things, we're going to be in a bit of trouble, and I think Clawson knows this. That being said, I think this game will be really, really tight the whole way. The team that wins will win by a field goal or less.

BG - 34
Misery - 31

[LowryFalcon]

You are right about Missouri being improved from 2001 and 2002, but I don't see Urban Meyer on the sidelines or Josh Harris at QB so it is hard for me to see Bowling Green being improved from our previous two meetings. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for Sheehan and Clawson was really good at Richmond so I think your program is headed back in the right direction. I see a Bowling Green team that is improved from the last couple of seasons but is not any better than the 2002 version whereas Missouri is significantly better from that time in my opinion.[/quote]

Your right to say we don't have Josh Harris and Urban Meyer anymore but a point to make is that this is a whole new coaching scheme that in my opinion is very much improved from passed seasons. If Barnes would have made a few more grabs that he should have been able to make it might have even been a higher scoring game on BG's side. Right now Missouri has shown they can beat a Illinois team that looked horrible out there against the Tigers. Whats to say if Illinois came to the Doyt that Bowling Green wouldn't have murdered them. I think the whole Big Ten in general doesn't have to much to offer this year. Don't get me wrong I know Missouri has got some great talent but I think they are also a team that we could possibly beat. An example would be last year at Pittsburgh. They were ranked #25 and we beat them with a team that went 6-6 last season with a horrible defense in my opinion. I think this game between Bowling Green and Missouri will me a lot closer than the Missouri Illinois game, and I know the Falcons have a shot to win it too.

[JH5]

He's only a freshman and while he looked good, you can't expect 3 touchdowns and 0 picks every week. And it's not like Illinois got a ton of pressure on him either.. he had time in the pocket and when he didn't he could just scramble.....

Just to be clear, Gabbert is neither a RSfreshman or a freshman. He's a sophomore and got some playing time last year as a true freshman. He closed out several games in relief of Daniel.

Oh, and we don't expect 3-TD's and 0-INT's every week. We expect 5TD's and 0-INT's.

I stand corrected.. I thought I remember reading somewhere that he was redshirted last year. Oh well, good call.

Anyways, he'll be playing against primarily first team guys this year and it is his first year as a starter so he is due to have some rough patches. I wish him luck for the whole season and hope he has a good one.. just not on Saturday

[jeffinsgf]

I stand corrected.. I thought I remember reading somewhere that he was redshirted last year. Oh well, good call....

That was the original plan, but HCGP took the red shirt off a few weeks into the season to give him some game experience.

[jpfalcon09]

Missouri is an 18.5 point favorite as of today. Pretty intriguing line.

[ZouDave]

Missouri is an 18.5 point favorite as of today. Pretty intriguing line.

Wow, really? That does seem a little high. I'm not remotely surprised that we're favored, but by 2.5 scores?

Honestly, if Mizzou wins this game by 17 you could count me VERY pleased. I expect that line will come down a bit before Saturday.

Have you seen an O/U number for the game?

[cw08]

I think it's realistic to hope they beat the spread and take the rest as a bonus. That's a damn good team, on the road, and like their guy said, there's going to be 70,000. It's not the half-empty Hines Field or the Metrodome.

[Falcon137]

I think it's realistic to hope they beat the spread and take the rest as a bonus. That's a damn good team, on the road, and like their guy said, there's going to be 70,000. It's not the half-empty Hines Field or the Metrodome.

Good for Missouri that they are expecting 70,000, but, BG is not going to lay over and die because of it. The seniors on this team have been to Ohio Stadium, East Lansing, Boston College and Laramie, Wyoming. This will not be BG's first OOC game in a big environment.

Missouri may win by 2-3 scores, but this team will not be in awe of Missouri or their crowd.

[MarkL]

Right now Missouri has shown they can beat a Illinois team that looked horrible out there against the Tigers. Whats to say if Illinois came to the Doyt that Bowling Green wouldn't have murdered them. I think the whole Big Ten in general doesn't have to much to offer this year.

Keep in mind Illinois has the whole our-coach-is-Ron-Zook factor. I'm not surprised at all that the Illini got embarrassed. Mizzou beat up badly on a team coached by a guy who has proven he can't consistently coach and was down their top playmaker on offense. Now in comes a BG team with a proven head coach and a loaded offense against a retooling Mizzou defense. I could see a shootout in this one. Could come down to who has more oxygen left over in the fourth quarter.

[always a falcon]

I think it's realistic to hope they beat the spread and take the rest as a bonus. That's a damn good team, on the road, and like their guy said, there's going to be 70,000. It's not the half-empty Hines Field or the Metrodome.

Good for Missouri that they are expecting 70,000, but, BG is not going to lay over and die because of it. The seniors on this team have been to Ohio Stadium, East Lansing, Boston College and Laramie, Wyoming. This will not be BG's first OOC game in a big environment.

Missouri may win by 2-3 scores, but this team will not be in awe of Missouri or their crowd.

Don't forget the Smurf Turf.

[cw08]

I think it's realistic to hope they beat the spread and take the rest as a bonus. That's a damn good team, on the road, and like their guy said, there's going to be 70,000. It's not the half-empty Hines Field or the Metrodome.

Good for Missouri that they are expecting 70,000, but, BG is not going to lay over and die because of it. The seniors on this team have been to Ohio Stadium, East Lansing, Boston College and Laramie, Wyoming. This will not be BG's first OOC game in a big environment.

Missouri may win by 2-3 scores, but this team will not be in awe of Missouri or their crowd.

I never said they'd roll over and die. I just think it'd be ignorant not to think it'd be a factor. And Laramie, Wyoming? No need to reach, OSU, BC and MSU are enough of an example.