The Missouri Tigers (1-4 overall, 0-3 in Southeastern Conference play) head to Athens, Ga., where they will play Saturday evening at the #4/#5 ranked Georgia Bulldogs (6-0, 3-0). Kickoff from Sanford Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) on SEC Network.
- Mizzou is coming off a heartbreaking-yet-promising 40-34 defeat at Kentucky last Saturday, a game that saw the Tigers overcome a 13-0 deficit to eventually tie the game twice in the second half. Mizzou had the ball deep in UK territory with a chance to win in the final moments and break a three-game losing streak, but time wasn't on its side, and a pass to the endzone on the final play of the game went incomplete. Despite the loss, there were plenty of positive takeaways, including the resurgence of Mizzou's offense, which outgained Kentucky by a 568-to-486 margin, including 213 rushing yards against a Kentucky defense which came into the contest ranked #3 nationally against the run (allowing just 74.0 yards per game). Turnovers again proved costly for Mizzou, as the Tigers' two miscues (both fumbles), were converted into 14 points by Kentucky, while MU's one interception gained was not turned into points.
- Georgia is on quite a roll coming into Saturday's game. Not only have the Dawgs won all six contests so far, they have outscored their SEC opposition by a combined 117-17 in three league contests. Those games include a 31-3 home win over Mississippi State (Sept. 23), followed by road wins at Tennessee (41-0) and last week at Vanderbilt (45-14). Georgia's defense is clearly one of the nation's top units, as it ranks third nationally (first in the SEC) in total defense, allowing just 242.7 yards of offense per game – including fifth in the NCAA against the run (86.0 ypg) and 10th against the pass (156.7 ypg). UGA's offense is bolstered by a punishing ground attack that ranks 11th in the nation (second in the SEC), averaging 268.3 yards per game. The Bulldogs Junior LB out-rushed Vandy by a whopping 423-to-64 margin last Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
Mizzou Strong on the Ground
- Last week against Kentucky, Mizzou found its footing in the running game, hanging a season-high 213 yards on the Wildcats. Aside from being Mizzou's best rushing performance against an SEC team since Nov. 19, 2016, at Tennessee when it hung 420 yards on the Vols, it came against a Kentucky defense that had ranked fifth nationally in rush defense, allowing just 75.0 yards per game. It was the most rushing yards allowed by the 5-1 Wildcats this season. Mizzou has now rushed for 200+ yards 13 separate times against league foes since joining the SEC in 2012.
- Mizzou's ground game was a two-headed monster last week, led by senior RB Ish Witter who ran for a season-high 139 yards on 17 attempts (8.2 avg.). Sophomore RB Damarea Crockett was almost just as effective, totaling 74 yards on 12 carries (6.2) average.
- As a team, Mizzou averaged 6.5 yards per tote in the loss.
- Mizzou's ground game will be put to the test again this Saturday in Athens. The Bulldogs enter Saturday's contest ranked fifth nationally and second in the SEC, allowing just 86.0 rush yards per game. They limited Vanderbilt to just 64 yards last week while rushing for 423 of their own.
- This year, Georgia is out-rushing its opponents 1,610-516 or for those who prefer averages, 268.3-86.0. Over the last two games, against the SEC East's Vanderbilt and Tennessee, Georgia has out-rushed its opponents by a 717-126 mark.
A Dynamic Duo Rewriting History
- Saturday's game at Kentucky was memorable for both Mizzou junior QB Drew Lock and senior WR J'Mon Moore.
- Lock threw three TD passes, moving his career total to 40. The 40 TDs ties him with Blaine Gabbert for the fourth-most passing TDs in program history. He trails only Chase Daniel (101 from 2005-08), Brad Smith (56 from 2002-05) and James Franklin (51 from 2010-13).
- Moore hauled in a season-high seven catches for 86 yards. He now has 1,793 yards, ranking 10th in school history. He has caught a pass in 22 straight games.
Alma-Mater Showdown
- Saturday's matchup between Mizzou and Georgia will have a unique feel as the bench bosses of both programs are graduates of their respective institutions. Mizzou's Barry Odom graduated from Mizzou in 1999 after serving as a team captain and guiding Mizzou to a pair of bowl games in 1997 and 1998. Smart is a 1998 graduate of Georgia, earning First-Team All-SEC honors during his final season.
- Odom and Smart are two of just nine Power 5 programs to have an alum in the head coaching position. Below is a list:
- Paul Chryst (Wisconsin)
- Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern)
- Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State)
- Jim Harbaugh (Michigan)
- Cliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech)
- Barry Odom (Missouri)
- Mark Richt (Miami)
- David Shaw (Stanford)
- Kirby Smart (Georgia)
- Mizzou and Georgia will mark the third Power 5 game this year to pit such coaches against one another. Paul Chryst's Wisconsin team defeated Northwestern, 33-24, on Sept. 30. Mike Gundy's Pokes also topped Cliff Kingbury's Red Raiders, 41-34, the same week.
