South Carolina is really the only test left for Mizzou in the SEC East. If the Gamecocks cant slow down the Tigers, Mizzou has a pretty great chance to capture their first SEC East title, and they'd deserve it too with the season they're having. But what will happen when these two teams face off without their usual starters?
When Mizzou has the ball:
James Franklin had been playing lights out, completing 67.7% of his passes for over 8 yards per attempt with 14 TDs and just 3 Ints. However, his injury at the end of the Georgia game has left the Tigers with Maty Mauk as their starter. The first time starter last week was able to complete 50% of his passes for a TD and an Int for 8.2 yards per attempt. The Tigers also only went three and out on two of their 14 drives, against a very competent Florida defense. Mauk of course has two excellent receivers to throw to, L'Damian Washington and Dorial Green-Beckham have combined for 62 receptions, 26 of them for more than 15 yards. They also have one of the more unheralded running back tandems in the league, in Henry Josey and Russell Hansbrough. Josey has converted 75% of his third down carries and has 16% of his runs for 10 yards or more, but has not been nearly as effective in the maroon zone, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry there. They can owe a lot of the credit to an offensive lien that has allowed just 38 tackles in the backfield.
The face of course of the Gamecocks defense is Jadeveon Clowney, who has one of the most closely inspected seasons in recent memory. The extra attention really hasn't helped the freakishly athletic defensive end, who has 19 tackles so far this season. His sack number is a little low at six games in with just two, but he does have six more QB hurries and a third of his tackles are for loss. The man who has benefited the most from the extra attention on Clowney has been DT Kelcy Quarles, who has a team high five sacks with seven tackles for loss with two QB hurries. Jimmy Legree might be the best player in the defensive secondary, who has a team high 32 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss to go with two ints and two more passes defended. The defense will need to tighten up against the run though, since theyre allowing 4.04 yards per carry.
When South Carolina has the ball:
Dylan Thompson has played the back up role for each of his years in Columbia, but will now his second chance to start this season. In his previous start he had some struggles against UCF, completing just 46.9% and tossing a pick; but he was able to average better than eight yards per attempt. He will need to be more efficient though if South Carolina is to continue their offensive output, which has been pretty darn good at 43 yards per drive. This will likely mean that the team will lean even more on Mike Davis, the outstanding sophomore back. Davis has 23 runs of more than 10 yards, and in the maroon zone has averaged over five yards per carry with eight TDs. Damiere Byrd will also continue to provide a deep threat with his 20.2 yards per reception average.
The Missouri defense though has been one of the toughest in the league, allowing just 3.2 yards per carry to opposing runners. Its been through a consistent effort to make plays in the backfield, totaling 54 tackles for loss this season. Michael Sam has been the leader of that suddenly scary front seven, with 13 tackles for loss with nine sacks and 27 total stops. Andrew Wilson leads the team with 50 tackles, with a pair of passes defended and two QB hurries to go with two tackles for loss. EJ Gaines has three ints to lead the team, and has 34 tackles with a pass defended. The team has been able to bait opposing passers into turnovers, but have been vulnerable to opposing passers. Theyre completing 62.4% of their passes and have converted 43.8% of their passes on third and six or less.
What's our take:
The Tigers right now are at a crossroads for the season and possibly the program. A win here cements their status as SEC contenders and helps revamp a program that had been very down last year. South Carolina needs a win to keep the hope alive in a suddenly open SEC East. Mizzou though at home right now is the slightly better bet, take the Tigers -3
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