Posted:
#1
The Missouri Tigers are coming off an AMAZING 2013. They shocked the SEC with a 12-2 record and finished in the TOP 5 of the nation. A lot of it had to due with good fortune but it is what it is. Now 2014 most likely will be a completely different story. They have to replace their 3 year starting QB, 1000 yard rusher, one of the best trios of wideouts in the nation, a 2nd round draft pick on the oline, an all american defensive end, a 2nd round draft pick at DE, its leading tackler and both starting corners. Uuummmmmmmm Houston we have a problem!!?? At QB Missouri returns a guy who got his feet wet when Franklin went down Maty Mauck. Mauck was decent in replacing Franklin. He connected on the big plays but was very inefficient with only about a 50% completion rate. Lets see what the kid can do this year. He'll have to do it without his stud wide outs from year ago however, and thats a tough task. What he does have however is a pretty experienced offensive line. Despite the losses of the vocal Copleland and Justin Britt to the oline of Missouri they should be just fine. Not great like last year but fine. On defense is where I see Missouri regressing mostly, their senior corners are replaced by two sophomores. Their top DE's in sacks Sam and Kony need to be replaced and their stud physical LB Wilson also graduated. This is not a team that has a whole lot of 4 star- 5star recruits able to fill in either.
Toledo is coming off year where they started off great but came up short of a bowl for the first time in 4 years due to two disappointing losses at the end of the season. This year however is very promising for the Rockets they have a lot of depth coming back and this team is primed to make a run at the MAC championship. Alabama transfer Philip Ely has gotten the nod at QB throwing the ball and he looked great in his opening game as Toledo QB going 24/34 for 337 yards and 4 tds against UNH. At running back Kareem Hunt is superb and at Wideout Alonzo Russell is the man. The offensive line is extremely solid and experienced for the Rockets. On defense Toledo had the number 1 pass rush in the country! They return 9 starters on that side of the ball and Toledo's defense has potentially a very solid unit.
Game prediction:
I believe this will be a down year for Mizzou especially on the road. The defense in my opinion was the unsung hero for this Tiger squad and they just have lost too much talent on that side of the ball to be even close to as good as a year ago. Against Toledo at the glass bowl I definitely see the Tigers having a very hard time. Toledo is a very deep and experienced team and when you travel with an inexperienced defense like Mizzou early in the season that spells trouble even against a MAC team. I like Toledo to pull out an upset W in this one therefore I will be taking the gift of the points.
TOLEDO +3.5
0
Love Toledo. But I am not gonna pull the trigger on this one. Good luck 
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