With the college football season just a few days away, we still plan to wrap up our Top 25 previews. Sorry for the technical difficulties over the past week. Up next is Missouri, written by Jubanator...

Suggested Team Slogan: "Thank God Oklahoma Isn't On Our Schedule"

What We Learned In 2007: Missouri has an amazing offense led by their Heisman finalist, 2nd Team All American, and Big 12 Offense Player of the Year, Quarterback Chase Daniel. Daniel threw for 4,170 yards and 33 touchdowns. We also learned that Jeremy Maclin is a very dangerous weapon. Maclin accounted for 2,776 all-purpose yards, which is an NCAA Division I single-season freshman record, and was the 5th most ever by any player in a season in Division I history.

Another thing that we learned is that Missouri can beat any team...except Oklahoma.

Expectation in 2008: 2008 brings even more optomism than 2007 had. Missouri has Chase Daniel & Jeremy Maclin back and ready to try and duplicate last years success on offense. Missouri fans see this as the year that they can become Big 12 Champions. A very favorable schedule which includes no regular season game against Oklahoma, which is a team that Missouri just can't seem to beat.

Missouri has a very real chance to go unbeaten and meet up with Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game, but this year the game is in Kansas City, which would give Missouri a huge home field advantage.

What Could Hold Them Back: The big thing that could hold them back is the defense. Missouri's offense is as good as anyone's in the country but the defense is still a work in progress. While Missouri led the Big 12 in total defense and sacks in league play, they also were in their fair share of shoot outs last season. However, the defense does return 10 starters so it should be an improved unit.

Also replacing two offensive linemen and breaking in new running backs could slow Missouri down early in the year until those players get more experience, but if the defense shows up, this is a team with very few weaknesses.

Big Men On Campus:  Obviously Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin are the two stars on offense as pointed out earlier, but Safety William Moore is the stud on the defensive side of the ball for the Tigers.

Last year Moore was tied for the NCAA lead for Interceptions with 8 and this season he is on the Nagurski Preseason and Lott Trophy Preseason Watch List's.

Cheerleader Grade:



This was all I could find online of the Missouri cheerleaders and I am not even sure if this is this years squad. However, there are some very attractive girls in this bunch.  B


EA NCAA 09 Football Simulation: 13-1. Big 12 North Champions but a 38-33 loss to, of course, Oklahoma in the title game. This year though, Missouri was given a BCS bid. They won the Fiesta Bowl 41-16 over an undefeated Southern Miss and finished the season ranked number 2.

All American 1st Team: TE Chase Coffman
All American 2nd Team: WR Jeremy Maclin, OLB Van Alexander
Freshman All American: HB Ryan Evans
All Big 12 1st Team: WR Jeremy Maclin, TE Chase Coffman, DE Tommy Chavis, DE Stryker Sulak, OLB Van Alexander, FS Hardy Ricks, K Jeff Wolfert
All Big 12 2nd Team: RT Colin Brown, MLB Brock Christopher, FS William Moore

(Chase Daniel was left off the All Big 12 teams because Sam Bradford & Graham Harrell were 1st & 2nd team All Americans. Daniel also finished third behind those two in the Maxwell Award. Tough luck booger.)

QB Chase Daniel: 236-323 for 3272 yards, 28 td's and 4 int's. 602 rushing yards and 12 td's
TE Chase Coffman: Mackey Award Winner, 68 catches for 1020 yards and 11 td's
WR Jeremy Maclin: 98 catches for 1235 yards and 15 td's
OLB Van Alexander: 64 tackles, 20 TFL, 7 sacks and 3 interceptions
HB Ryan Evans: 127 carries for 678 yards and 7 td's
DE Tommy Chavis: 62 tackles, 22 TFL and 9 sacks
DE Stryker Sulak: 51 tackles, 21 TFL and 8 sacks
FS Hardy Ricks: 41 tackles, 8 TFL, 1 interception and 1 TD
K Jeff Wolfert: 17-20 with a long of 50 yards.
MLB Brock Christopher: 65 tackles, 14 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 TD
FS William Moore: 28 tackles, 3 TFL, and 6 interceptions

Schedule and Predictions

Aug. 30, 2008	Illinois	Win
Sept. 6, 2008	SE Missouri St.	Win
Sept. 13, 2008	Nevada	Win
Sept. 20, 2008	Buffalo	Win
Oct. 4, 2008	at Nebraska	Win
Oct. 11, 2008	OK State	Win
Oct. 18, 2008	at Texas	Win
Oct. 25, 2008	Colorado	Win
Nov. 1, 2008	at Baylor	Win
Nov. 8, 2008	Kansas State	Win
Nov. 15, 2008	at Iowa State	Win
Nov. 29, 2008	Kansas	Win

12-0 (8-0 Big 12) - I see Missouri going through the season undefeated behind their powerful offense and much improved defense. They will then meet Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship...and lose by a touchdown. Missouri won't have to worry because this year they do go to a BCS bowl, the Orange Bowl. So 12-1 and an Orange Bowl bid.