Oklahoma @ Missouri preview

Oklahoma at Missouri

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2008 ) Missouri 21, Oklahoma 62

Oklahoma sits atop the BCS rankings heading into Saturday’s prime-time clash at No. 16 Missouri. But there are a lot of pundits who don’t believe the Sooners belong there.

Oklahoma is No. 3 in the Coaches’ Poll and a very small favorite against the unbeaten Tigers.

Missouri (6-0, 2-0 Big 12) also could use some respect. The Tigers are the lowest-ranked undefeated team in the USA Today Coaches Poll despite owning one of the top defenses in the nation and a pro-prospect quarterback in Blaine Gabbert.

Missouri is allowing only 19.8 points per game. The Tigers shut out Colorado two weeks ago and kept Texas A&M’s high-powered offense out of the end zone until the fourth quarter of last week’s convincing 30-9 win in College Station.

Gabbert, a 6-5, 235-pound pocket passer, is completing 66 of his passes with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s got a dynamic receiving corps at his disposal, with T.J. Moe and Michael Egnew each averaging more than eight receptions per game.

The Sooners (6-0, 2-0) counter with a balanced offensive attack and an opportunistic defense. Quarterback Landry Jones is coming of a dazzling 30-for-34, 335-yard, three-touchdown performance in last week’s 52-0 shellacking of Iowa State.

Running back DeMarco Murray is averaging two touchdowns per game and wide receiver Ryan Broyles leads the nation with 10.3 receptions per game.

It looks like Missouri will get possibly its best defensive player back to face the Sooners’ offense, which is averaging 36 points per game. All-Big 12 defensive end Aldon Smith practiced this week and is expected to play after missing the last three games with a cracked right fibula.

The Tigers need all the help they can get against the Sooners, who are 7-0 against Missouri under coach Bob Stoops and 20-1 all-time. The team’s last two meetings came in the 2008 and 2009 Big 12 Championship games. Oklahoma won both by a combined score of 100-38.

The Sooners, who will be without special teams standout and reserve linebacker Ronnell Lewis (knee), haven’t played their best football on the road. They struggled to put away Cincinnati on Sept. 25 and have lost their last two conference away games in 2009.

Jones, in particular, has had issues away from Norman. For his career, the sophomore quarterback has thrown 10 touchdowns with 11 interceptions on the road, compared to 30 touchdowns and six interceptions at home.

Oklahoma also will be without starting receiver Dejuan Miller, who will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

Missouri is 38-17 at Memorial Stadium under coach Gary Pinkel.