Matchup: No. 9 Mizzou vs. No. 8 Colorado State

by Vahe Gregorian

NO. 9 MISSOURI

Record • 23-10

How it got here • At-large bid out of SEC

Signature wins • VCU, Illinois, Florida, Bucknell

Players to watch • Senior forward Alex Oriakhi, 6-foot-9, has emerged as a double-double machine and made 34 of 40 field goals in the last six games. Entering his quiet SEC tournament, senior forward Laurence Bowers had recaptured his form from before missing five games with a knee injury, averaging 22.3 points in the previous three games...


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Matchup: No. 9 Mizzou vs. No. 8 Colorado State : Sports

Strauss: Mizzou's big win looks personal

Photo by Chris Lee

BY JOE STRAUSS

COLUMBIA, Mo. • Previously smoldering, Missouri ignited Tuesday night. On a Senior Night intended for warmth, the Tigers and their aggrieved faithful torched whatever remnants remained of the bridge connecting the program to its former coach, Mike Anderson.

There was an uncomfortable handshake between coaches afterward and no polite applause for a familiar name.

Frank Haith, Anderson’s successor, paced, cajoled and at times ranted like a man possessed or, worse, slighted.
 

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Strauss: Mizzou's big win looks personal : Sports

Mizzou-Syracuse: 5 things to watch and 1 prediction

by Vahe Gregorian  

Five things to watch when Mizzou (5-5) plays host to Syracuse (5-5) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field on ESPNU:

*REPLACING RICHARDSON: Mizzou star defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson is suspended for the game because of academic issues, and that won't help against a Syracuse offense averaging 36.5 points in its last four outings. In a game crucial to MU's bowl hopes and thus the complexion of the season, Richardson will leave a void because he skipped multiple classes then failed to fulfill assigned punishments to make up for it. It's uncertain how MU's lineup will change: Sophomore Lucas Vincent is listed behind Richardson on the depth chart, but senior Jimmy Burge, listed No. 2 at nose guard, is more experienced. Whatever MU does, there will be a major drop-off without Richardson, whose rising leadership status will be missed – and suffer a blow – for his folly.

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Mizzou-Syracuse: 5 things to watch and 1 prediction : Stltoday

Franklin throws for career-best 4 TDs

By Vahe Gregorian

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. • A week after throwing four interceptions in a 14-7 loss at Florida in his first start in a month, Mizzou junior quarterback James Franklin hurled a career-high four touchdown passes in MU’s four-overtime 51-48 win Saturday at Tennessee.

That matched Franklin’s previous total this season, in which he missed two entire games and most of two others with injuries.

“Everybody wants to discard that and say, ‘Well, he’s been through a lot, but you should be perfect now,’ ” MU coach Gary Pinkel said.
 
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Franklin throws for career-best 4 TDs : Stltoday

Mizzou's next opponent bottoms out

By Stu Durando

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley could have praised the opponent after the Vols were torched for 48 points and 721 yards Saturday. But there was no way to avoid the reality of the situation. 

This was Troy that shredded the Tennessee defense, not any number of Southeastern Conference opponents that you might have expected to post those numbers. 

So, Dooley did the only thing he could and accepted the ugly truth while breathing a sigh of relief after a 55-48 win. 

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Mizzou's next opponent bottoms out : Stltoday

Photos: Mizzou vs Kentucky

Photo by Chris Lee

Photo by Chris Lee

Photo by Jeff Roberson

Photo by Jeff Roberson

Photo by Jeff Roberson

Photo by L.G. Patterson

Photo by L.G. Patterson

Photo by L.G. Patterson

Photo by L.G. Patterson

Photo by L.G. Patterson

Mizzou wins first SEC game 33-10

By STU DURANDO

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Kendial Lawrence ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns and the Mizzou defense stifled Kentucky over the final three quarters to give the Tigers their first Southeastern Conference win today, 33-10.

Mizzou scored the game's final 23 points starting with a 2-yard touchdown run by Lawrence with 1:32 left in the second quarter. He previously scored on a 5-yard run.

Corbin Berkstresser gave way to James Franklin at quarterback in the second half and the two combined to complete 16 of 27 passes for 87 yards.


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Mizzou wins first SEC game 33-10 : Stltoday

KMOV: What did Mizzou do during the bye-week?

Photo by: Kyle Tons/ Missouri Football App

KMOV
by Kyle Tons/
Missouri Football App

COLUMBIA, Mo. (Missouri Football App) -- The Missouri Tigers football team had their scheduled bye-week recently, but there was still relaxation, recruiting and practices during that week.  Coming off a loss to #1-ranked Alabama, the Tigers are still not 100% healthy and the week off helped many ailing players.

Injured offensive lineman sophomore center Mitch Morse will return Saturday to play against Kentucky.  Morse missed the game against Alabama due to injury.  Starting quarterback junior James Franklin remains "doubtful" for Saturday's game.  Franklin suffered a MCL strain against Vanderbilt on October 6.

Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel said the bye-week was great for many reasons.

“I think we got a lot of things accomplished,” said Pinkel.  “One of those things is getting players away for a bit.  Coordinators stayed in Columbia and prepared for Kentucky while other assistant coaches were out doing recruiting visits.”

Mizzou has a 3-4 record overall and remains winless in the Southeastern Conference.  Many fans are hopeful that the first SEC victory will come on Saturday for Homecoming against the Kentucky Wildcats.  Kentucky is 1-7 overall and 0-5 in the SEC.  Both teams are experiencing injuries to their normal starting quarterbacks.

Leading up to the game, there’ll be the traditional Homecoming parade and many other festivities.  Mizzou and Kentucky kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Photos of the Game: Alabama vs Mizzou (10/13/12)

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

AP Photo/L.G. Patterson

AP Photo/L.G. Patterson

Mizzou-Alabama: 5 things to watch and 1 prediction

Photo by Chris Lee

BY STU DURANDO

1. STRENGTH VS. WEAKNESS
The last time we saw the Mizzou offense, quarterback Corbin Berkstresser was under a full-fledged assault on the final three plays against Vanderbilt with multiple pass rushers in his face. Mizzou’s injury-riddled offensive line now includes two freshmen, a former walk-on and gutsy-but-hobbled Elvis Fisher. Alabama’s defensive line has to be salivating. The Crimson Tide are No. 12 in the country in sacks with 3.2 per game and they have 13 players who have been involved in at least one this season. Expect them to take aim at Berkstresser early.

2. NOT SO SPECIAL
The errors this season by Mizzou’s special teams have been blatant enough to arguably cost the team wins. Last week a dropped snap on a punt led to a safety and botched extra point cost the team a total of three points, keeping the Tigers from attempting a field goal that could have tied or won the game in the closing minutes...

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Mizzou-Alabama: 5 things to watch and 1 prediction

SEC hopes turn sour for Mizzou after Big 12 move

UPI/Bill Greenblatt

by ALAN SCHER ZAGIER / Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- A season that began with the promise of sharing the stage with college football royalty is threatening to turn sour for Missouri as the Tigers confront the realities of life in the unforgiving SEC.

A 19-15 home loss to perennial conference also-ran Vanderbilt kept Missouri (3-3, 0-3) winless in league games in its first season in the Southeastern Conference after leaving... CLICK HERE for more

Injuries plague the Tigers…again

KMOV: by Kyle Tons/ Missouri Football App

COLUMBIA, Mo. (Missouri Football App) -- The Missouri Tigers looked forward to getting back offensive linemen Elvis Fisher and Jack Meiners from injury before last Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt.  The Tiger offensive line has been full of injuries ... CLICK HERE for more 

Final: Vanderbilt 19 Mizzou 15

Vanderbilt 19  Mizzou 15
Final

Vanderbilt 19 Mizzou 15

Vanderbilt 19  Mizzou 15
4th Quarter 7:20

TOUCHDOWN MIZZOU!

Vanderbilt 16  Mizzou 15

Mizzou mishandles the snap. No extra point

4th Quarter 12:11

Vanderbilt takes the lead

Vanderbilt 16  Mizzou 9
4th Quarter 13:32

End of 3rd Quarter

Vanderbilt 9  Mizzou 9
End of 3rd Quarter

Game tied at 9

Vanderbilt 9  Mizzou 9
3rd Quarter :35
21 Yard Field Goal 

At the Half: Vanderbilt 9 Mizzou 6

Vanderbilt 9  Mizzou 6 
HALFTIME

Touchdown Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt 9  Mizzou 6 
2nd Quarter 3:47