Oklahoma State @ Missouri preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 17, 2009 ) Missouri 17, Oklahoma State 33

THE STORY: Oklahoma State, armed with its highest-ever BCS ranking, continues its push for its first Big 12 championship – and perhaps a national title – with another road game.

The Cowboys wouldn’t have it any other way. Sixth-ranked Oklahoma State will try to boost its BCS title hopes by extending its road winning streak to nine games against Big 12 rival Missouri on Saturday.

One of 10 unbeaten FBS teams, Oklahoma State is ranked fourth in the initial BCS rankings, which were released on Sunday. The Cowboys boast the second-longest road winning streak in the nation following a 38-26 win over Texas.

Missouri has won 10 straight at home, but Oklahoma State ended the Tigers’ last 10-game home winning streak in 2008.

Missouri leads the all-time series 28-22, but has lost three of the last four meetings. The Cowboys are 8-2 against Missouri when ranked.

TV: FX LINE: Oklahoma State -6.5

ABOUT MISSOURI (3-3, 1-3 Big 12): Missouri, which has yet to win consecutive games, had zero accepted penalties in last week’s 52-17 win over Iowa State. The Tigers entered that game as the Big 12’s most penalized team with more than eight per contest. Sophomore Henry Josey, the Big 12’s leading rusher (119.5 ypg), had 129 yards and a touchdown.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (6-0, 3-0 Big 12): Oklahoma State’s prolific offense (49.2 ppg, 2nd in the FBS) has garnered all the headlines, yet the beleaguered defense (100th in the FBS – 426.7 ypg) was the story last week. The Cowboys, who punted a season-high six times, allowed a season-low 370 yards and forced five turnovers.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oklahoma State RB Jeremy Smith has a rushing touchdown in 10 straight games.

2, A win would help Oklahoma State to its second-ever 4-0 conference start and first since 1940.

3. Missouri is one of eight FBS teams to rank in the top 30 in total offense (13th – 496.2 ypg) and defense (29th- 337.8 ypg).

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 41, Missouri 31 – Missouri gave Oklahoma a scare, so it could pull off the upset. However, only Virginia Tech (11) has a longer road winning streak than Oklahoma State.