Southeastern Louisiana @ Missouri preview
Faurot Field
Missouri's first season in the Southeastern Conference will provide plenty of challenges, but the Tigers begin their campaign with a decidedly less strenuous test, hosting FCS school Southeastern Louisiana. The Tigers are 11-0 all-time against FCS schools. Missouri will hope to put away the Lions early so it can rest its starters, as its first SEC contest looms next week - a home game with No. 6 Georgia.
The Tigers are led by junior QB James Franklin, who made a speedy recovery from offseason shoulder surgery and had a solid summer. Franklin finished 2011 ranked 15th in the nation in total offense with 3,846 yards and accounted for 36 touchdowns (21 passing, 15 rushing). The Lions hope new coach Ron Roberts, who was hired from NCAA Division II power Delta State, can return them to the top of the Southland Conference after a disappointing 3-8 campaign a year ago.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, PPV, ESPN3.com. LINE: None
ABOUT MISSOURI (2011 record: 8-5, 5-4 Big 12): The Tigers ranked 12th in the nation with 475.5 total yards per game a year ago, and they return many of the skill position players who made that possible. Franklin leads the way, along with top receiver T.J. Moe. Missouri did lose leading rusher Henry Josey to a devastating knee injury last season, and he will miss the entire 2012 season, but the Tigers have experienced runners in Kendial Lawrence and Marcus Murphy ready to step in. Freshman sensation Dorial Green-Beckham should make an immediate impact at wideout. The defense returns seven starters.
ABOUT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (2011: 3-8, 1-6 Southland): The Lions have eight starters back on offense, including leading rushers Sam Fairley (396 yards, 3 TDs in 2011) and Zeke Jones (292 yards, 7 TDs) and QB Brian Young (2,855 passing yards, 15 TDs, 15 INTs in 2011). Nine starters return on defense in hopes of improving a unit that allowed 441 yards per game last season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Moe ranks eighth in Missouri history with 148 receptions and needs just three to tie Kenny Holly for sixth all-time. He needs six receiving yards to match Holly (1,708) for 10th on the school list, and he needs two touchdown catches to move into the school's top 10.
2. Missouri is 77-39-5 all-time in season openers and has won 10 straight and 14 of 15. The Tigers' last season-opening loss was a 20-13 setback against Bowling Green in 2001.
3. The Lions are 0-15 against FBS opponents since restarting the football program in 2003.
PREDICTION: Missouri 48, Southeastern Louisiana 13.