Missouri Tigers
SEC
After last year's rough introduction to the SEC, nobody expected this of this Missouri team. This year's squad rivals the Chase Daniel-led 2007 squad which was one game away from playing for a national title. Missouri came into the SEC title game, possibly the biggest game in school history, but were unable to overcome a tough Auburn team. James Franklin has looked like a senior, three-year starting quarterback and has gotten terrific contributions from his running backs and wide receivers. Unlike last season, the Tigers have been relatively healthy and even when not, the players that have stepped in have played extremely well. Franklin missed parts of five games, but redshirt freshman Maty Mauk stepped in and played like a veteran, leading Missouri to a 4-1 record in those games, with the only blemish being a double overtime loss to South Carolina.
2013 Record: 11-2, 7-1
Coach: Gary Pinkel
Coach Bowl Record: 5-4
Big Wins: 10/12 at Georgia (41-26), 11/30 Texas A&M (28-21)
Bad Losses: 10/26 South Carolina (24-27 OT), 12/7 vs. Auburn (42-59)
Strengths:
The combination of a top notch defense and offense is what has led the Tigers to their successful season. Averaging 490 yards a game, the Missouri offense is 17th in the nation. The combination of Henry Josey, Marcus Murphy, Russell Hansbrough, Franklin and Mauk have led to the team, averaging 237 rushing yards a game, 18th in the nation. Franklin and Mauk have had a group of wide receivers they've been able to trust and have spread the ball around. The team's top three wide outs are Dorial Green-Beckham, L'Damian Washington and Marcus Lucas. Each has over 500 yards receiving and Green-Beckham has 12 touchdowns and Washington has 10 touchdowns. The defense has been top notch as well. The Tigers boast a 42-game streak of forcing a turnover, tops in the nation and have forced 27 this season. The defensive line has been key for the Tigers. The team allows 119 rushing yards a game, 14th in the country. The line is also sixth in the nation in sacks per game with three, and ninth in tackles for loss with eight per contest. The team is also giving up 19 points per contest, which like the scoring offense of 39 points a game, is 14th nationally.
Weaknesses:
One area the team has struggled in is in defending the passing game. The squad is allowing 266 passing yards per game, which is 110th of 123 teams. Missouri has struggled to stop the screen pass to the running back. South Carolina burned the defense on numerous occasions in Missouri's only loss by running the play and the Tigers didn't seem to have an answer for it. An area Missouri has usually been strong in, special teams, has been disappointing as well. Marcus Murphy was predicted to be a potential All-American as a kick and punt returner but struggled this year, averaging only five-and-a-half yards per return. Andrew Baggett has had his up and downs as kicker, converting 14-of-21 kicks, but unfortunately two of those missed kicks were in the South Carolina game, including a 24-yard kick that would have sent the game into triple overtime.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Henry Josey, RB, 1,074 yards
Passing: James Franklin, QB, 2,255 yards
Receiving: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR 830 yards
Tackles: Andrew Wilson, LB, 98
Sacks: Michael Sam, DE, 10.5
Interceptions: E.J. Gaines, CB, 4
2013 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 236.9 (18th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Passing Offense: 252.6 (42, 5)
Total Offense: 489.5 (17, 4)
Scoring Offense: 38.8 (14, 2)
Rushing Defense: 119.1 (14, 2)
Pass Defense: 266.3 (110, 14)
Total Defense: 385.4 (52, 9)
Scoring Defense: 19.4 (14, 2)
Turnover Margin: 1.3 (5, 1)
Sacks: 3.08 (6, 1)
Sacks Allowed: 1.83 (53, 8)
Recent Bowl Appearances:
2011 Independence Bowl North Carolina (41-24)
2010 Insight Bowl Iowa (24-27)
2009 Texas Bowl Navy (13-35)
2008 Alamo Bowl Northwestern (30-23)
2007 Cotton Bowl Arkansas (38-7)
*all team stats through 11/30
