The MizzouToday Show Vanderbilt preview: Mizzou enters second road matchup as underdogs
On the latest episode of The MizzouToday Show, Kyle McAreavy and Kenny Van Doren preview Missouri’s Week 9 matchup with Vanderbilt, discussing the keys to improving the run game and slowing Diego Pavia in the 2:30 p.m. Saturday contest on ESPN. The guys also reassess preseason predictions and dive into the Tigers’ “Something to Prove” mantra against the Commodores.
GameDay coming to Nashville
“It would sound ridiculous if you went back just two years ago and told someone GameDay is going to a top 15 matchup between Mizzou and Vanderbilt,” McAreavy said. “It’s wild how quickly college football changes.”
Matchups with Vandy
“This game has been pretty close the last couple of years,” Van Doren said. “Outside of my freshman year in 2019 when Missouri went on the road and lost in Nashville 21-14, since then Missouri is undefeated against Vanderbilt. … It’s been a pretty tight contest the last couple of years.”
Looking back to Auburn
“My column for Sunday was all about how, the similarities between that matchup and the 2022 matchup,” McAreavy said. “Just how much those games kind of mirrored each other. And the difference was this time Mizzou’s a team that finds ways to win instead of finding ways to lose.”
Drinkwitz’s focus this week
“Drinkwitz called out play calling a couple of times, which I thought was interesting,” McAreavy said. “I thought that really stood out. … The big thing, Vanderbilt is No. 12 in run defense and it’s strength on strength again like it was last week. Mizzou has to do a better job on offense of effective running the ball and that comes with more physical and aggressive play on the offensive line.”
Stopping Diego Pavia
“(Diego) Pavia is going to be the best improvisor Mizzou has played this year,” McAreavy said. “… Pavia is much better at just creating something out of nothing. … Mizzou is going to have to rely on that pass rush to get home without opening up big running lanes through over-pursuit. And they’re probably going to have to leave a spy in.”
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