Scouting Report: Missouri
Oklahoma seemingly made it through the gauntlet of their schedule. The Sooners have won back-to-back road games against ranked opponents, including last Saturday’s 23-21 win at No. 4 Alabama.
With the win, the Sooners have a clear path to the College Football Playoff. But the question is — can the Sooners handle success?
It starts this weekend, as the Sooners host Missouri (7-3, 3-3 SEC) in Norman. The Tigers have slipped a bit in conference play without their starting quarterback, but they did snag a convincing win over Mississippi State last weekend.
The Sooners are 9.5-point betting favorites to win, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy. The Tigers have been competitive in every game, particularly when they’re healthy. Plus, the Sooners fell to Missouri last season in Columbia.
Here’s a look at what the Sooners will face this weekend:
Game Info
When: 11 a.m. CT
Where: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
Missouri Overview
Scoring offense: 34.9 points per game (22nd nationally)
Scoring defense: 19.9 points per game (25th)
Total offense: 450.4 yards per game (21st)
Total defense: 277.5 yards per game (10th)
Rushing offense: 241.7 yards per game (6th)
Rushing defense: 107.6 yards per game (19th)
Passing offense: 208.7 yards per game (91st)
Passing defense: 169.9 yards per game (15th)
Key Players
— QB Beau Pribula
1,685 yards, 69.6% completion, 11 TD, 7 INT, 220 rushing yards, 5 TD
— QB Matt Zollers
402 yards, 53% completion, 4 TD, 1 INT
— RB Admad Hardy
197 carries, 1,346 yards, 15 TD, 6.8 yards per carry
— WR Kevin Coleman Jr.
56 receptions, 600 yards, 1 TD
— LB Josiah Trotter
61 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 1 sack
— DE Zion Young
32 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks
— DE Damon Wilson II
17 tackles, 7 TFL, 7 sacks
Scouting Report
— Who is playing quarterback?
Pribula suffered a nasty ankle sprain in the Tigers’ loss to Vanderbilt, which has kept him out the last two weeks. In his absence, it’s been Zollers playing quarterback. With the true freshman, the Tigers lost 38-17 to Texas A&M before a bounce-back 49-27 win over Mississippi State last weekend.
However, there is early optimism that Pribula could return this weekend. If so, that’s a huge boost to Missouri’s offense. His dual-threat ability gives the offense a boost and makes them tougher to defend.
— Sooners have to limit Hardy
Hardy might be the toughest running back the Sooners face all season. He leads the entire country in yards per game (134) and ranks third in rushing touchdowns (15) while averaging a hyper-efficient 6.8 yards per carry. He also leads the country in rushes of 20-plus yards with 14. He’s both explosive and efficient between the tackles, averaging over 4.7 yards after contact.
Fortunately for the Sooners, they rank third in rushing defense (82.2 yards per game) and are surrendering just 2.48 yards per carry. They’ve been great all season at stopping opposing running games. If the Sooners can slow down Hardy just a little, that bodes well for their ability to win.
— Find ways to attack Missouri’s defense
At first glance, the Tigers seem incredibly solid across the board. They rank in the top 25 in scoring, total, rushing and passing defense. Missouri ranks 10th in plays of 10-plus yards allowed (93).
But a closer look shows that there are ways to attack their defense. The Tigers allowed just 183 passing yards combined against Massachusetts, Louisiana and Central Arkansas. South Carolina rushed for -9 yards. Take out those games, and Missouri’s stats look a little less elite.
Now, that doesn’t mean Missouri’s defense isn’t solid. But the Sooners should have ways to attack, particularly on the ground. Missouri has allowed at least 125 rushing yards in four SEC games, including 243 against Texas A&M.
The Sooners haven’t exactly lit up the stat sheet offensively, particularly through the air. But they have to be more productive than they were against Alabama, when they finished with a season-low 212 yards.
Not a subscriber? Join OUInsider now and get your first week for just $1. No, this deal is NOT too good to be true! Take advantage today and get the market’s best Oklahoma football and recruiting intel!
Click HERE to subscribe today!