Texas @ Missouri preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 24, 2009 ) Texas 41, Missouri 7

THE STORY: After dropping back-to-back games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, No. 20 Texas responded in blowout fashion with home wins over Kansas and Texas Tech. Next up for the Longhorns is a trip to Missouri, a team they’ve beaten in 15 of the last 16 meetings. The Tigers’ only recent win over Texas came in 1997, and since then they’ve dropped six straight by an average of 25 points, including a 41-7 home loss in 2009. Missouri — fresh off a 42-39 loss at Baylor — has been an up-and-down team in 2011. At no point have the Tigers had a record more than one game above or below .500.

TV: FX. Line: Texas -1.5

ABOUT TEXAS (6-2, 3-2 Big 12): Without a true star quarterback, coach Mack Brown has dialed up the rushing attack in recent weeks, and it’s working. For the first time since 1977, Texas ran for more than 400 yards in back-to-back weeks, including 439 in a 52-20 win over Texas Tech last weekend. The Longhorns can give the ball to any number of star tailbacks. With freshman standout Malcolm Brown out with turf toe against the Red Raiders, fellow freshman Joe Bergeron picked up the slack, rumbling for 191 yards and three touchdowns.

ABOUT MISSOURI (4-5, 2-4 Big 12): With games remaining against Texas, Texas Tech and Kansas, the Tigers need two more wins to reach a seventh straight bowl game. Coach Gary Pinkel has been criticized lately for his halftime adjustments because Mizzou has been shut out in the third quarter in the last three games and six times this season. In the loss at Baylor, the Tigers were outscored 15-0 to fall behind 28-14 before storming back late to make it close. Missouri ranks 10th in the country in total offense, but the defense has been torched in recent games and has fallen all the way to 89th nationally.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Under Brown, Texas is 3-0 in Columbia, winning by at least 19 points each time.

2. It’s still unclear whether Malcolm Brown, who averages 90.7 rushing yards, will be available against the Tigers.

3. Mizzou tailback Henry Josey leads the Big 12 with 1,149 rushing and has six 100-yard games in 2011.

PREDICTION: Texas 24, Missouri 20 -- The Longhorns’ potent ground game will eventually wear out the Tigers’ struggling defense.