Missouri-Vanderbilt college football preview
When/where: 3 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Columbia
TV/radio: SEC Network; KMBZ (980 AM)
The series: Missouri leads 3-2-1
The line: Missouri by 22 1/2
MISSOURI (5-2, 2-1 SEC)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 30 | South Dakota State | W, 38-18 |
Sept. 6 | at Toledo | W, 49-24 |
Sept. 13 | Central Florida | W, 38-10 |
Sept. 20 | Indiana | L, 31-27 |
Sept. 27 | at South Carolina | W, 21-20 |
Oct. 11 | Georgia | L, 34-0 |
Oct. 18 | at Florida | W, 42-13 |
Saturday | Vanderbilt | 3 p.m. |
Nov. 1 | Kentucky | 3 p.m. |
Nov. 15 | at Texas A&M | TBA |
Nov. 22 | at Tennessee | TBA |
Nov. 28 | Arkansas | 1:30 p.m. |
VANDERBILT (2-5, 0-4 SEC)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 28 | Temple | L, 37-7 |
Sept. 6 | Mississippi | L, 41-3 |
Sept. 13 | Massachusetts | W, 34-31 |
Sept. 20 | South Carolina | L, 48-34 |
Sept. 27 | at Kentucky | L, 17-7 |
Oct. 4 | at Georgia | L, 44-17 |
Oct. 11 | Charleston Southern | W, 21-20 |
Saturday | at Missouri | 3 p.m. |
Nov. 1 | Old Dominion | 6 p.m. |
Nov. 8 | Florida | TBA |
Nov. 22 | at Mississippi State | TBA |
Nov. 29 | Tennessee | TBA |
What’s at stake
Bowl eligibility. Missouri has a chance to ensure a postseason bowl with a victory against Vanderbilt. It would mark the ninth time in the last 10 seasons the Tigers were bowl eligible. A win also helps coach Gary Pinkel’s bunch keep pace in the SEC East race.
Cheers if …
The offense gets cranked up. Missouri has totaled fewer than 300 yards of total offense each of the last three weeks, a first on Pinkel’s watch. Missouri managed only 119 yards at Florida but cruised thanks to defense and special teams. The last time the Tigers won with fewer than 120 yards was 1963 at Iowa State.
Jeers if …
Missouri allows Vanderbilt to hang around, gain confidence and have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. That’s essentially what happened against Indiana. The Tigers own an eight-game winning streak in road games, but are only 4-3 in their last seven at home.
Three things about Vanderbilt
1. Beware of Vanderbilt sophomore cornerback Darrius Sims in the return game. Sims returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against South Carolina and is second in the SEC in kickoff-return average (30.8), behind only Missouri’s Marcus Murphy.
2. Vanderbilt has used four quarterbacks this season. Redshirt freshman Johnny McCrary is expected to start against Missouri. He is 10 of 19 for 169 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions this season.
3. Vanderbilt is a young team, very young. The Commodores have played 31 true freshmen or redshirt freshmen, which is the most in the nation this season. Only Tennessee (22), LSU (17) and North Carolina State (13) have played more true freshmen than Vanderbilt’s 12.
Key matchup
Vanderbilt’s offensive line vs. Missouri’s front seven: If the Commodores are going to have any chance, they have to play well up front. Fortunately, for first-year coach Derek Mason, he has an experienced offensive line. Joe Townsend, Jake Bernstein, Spencer Pulley, Andrew Jelks and Andrew Bridges own 117 career starts, third most in the SEC.
MISSOURI OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 21 | Bud Sasser | 6-2 | 220 | Sr. |
WR | 88 | Jimmie Hunt | 6-0 | 205 | Sr. |
LT | 65 | Mitch Morse | 6-6 | 305 | Sr. |
LG | 63 | Brad McNulty | 6-4 | 305 | Jr. |
C | 77 | Evan Boehm | 6-3 | 320 | Jr. |
RG | 60 | Connor McGovern | 6-4 | 300 | Jr. |
RT | 62 | Taylor Chappell | 6-5 | 300 | Jr. |
TE | 80 | Sean Culkin | 6-6 | 245 | So. |
WR | 8 | Darius White | 6-3 | 205 | Sr. |
QB | 7 | Maty Mauk | 6-0 | 195 | So. |
TB | 32 | Russell Hansbrough | 5-9 | 190 | Jr. |
K | 99 | Andrew Baggett | 6-1 | 215 | Jr. |
MISSOURI DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 33 | Markus Golden | 6-3 | 260 | Sr. |
DT | 96 | Lucas Vincent | 6-2 | 300 | Sr. |
NG | 90 | Harold Brantley | 6-3 | 290 | So. |
DE | 56 | Shane Ray | 6-3 | 245 | Jr. |
LB | 10 | Kentrell Brothers | 6-1 | 240 | Jr. |
LB | 30 | Michael Scherer | 6-3 | 230 | So. |
LB | 40 | Clarence Green | 6-0 | 225 | Jr. |
CB | 7 | Kenya Dennis | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. |
SS | 9 | Braylon Webb | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. |
FS | 21 | Ian Simon | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. |
CB | 11 | Aarion Penton | 5-10 | 185 | So. |
P | 92 | Christian Brinser | 6-2 | 195 | Sr. |
VANDERBILT OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 19 | C.J. Duncan | 5-11 | 195 | Fr. |
WR | 86 | Latevius Rayford | 6-1 | 192 | So. |
LT | 50 | Andrew Jelks | 6-6 | 305 | So. |
LG | 53 | Jake Bernstein | 6-3 | 305 | Jr. |
C | 57 | Joe Townsend | 6-4 | 312 | Sr. |
RG | 77 | Spencer Pulley | 6-4 | 300 | Jr. |
RT | 74 | Will Holden | 6-7 | 310 | So. |
TE | 81 | Steven Scheu | 6-5 | 250 | Jr. |
QB | 2 | Johnny McCrary | 6-4 | 230 | Fr. |
RB | 26 | Ralph Webb | 5-10 | 196 | Fr. |
FB | 42 | Kellen Williams | 6-1 | 230 | Sr. |
K | 17 | Tommy Openshaw | 6-2 | 185 | Fr. |
VANDERBILT DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DT | 69 | Adam Butler | 6-5 | 305 | So. |
NT | 53 | Vince Taylor | 6-2 | 312 | Sr. |
DT | 74 | Jay Woods | 6-3 | 288 | Fr. |
OLB | 92 | Kyle Woestmann | 6-3 | 250 | Sr. |
ILB | 35 | Darreon Herring | 6-1 | 232 | Jr. |
ILB | 52 | Nigel Bowden | 6-1 | 245 | Fr. |
OLB | 55 | Caleb Azubike | 6-4 | 255 | Jr. |
CB | 3 | Taurean Ferguson | 5-9 | 185 | Fr. |
SS | 27 | Jahmel McIntosh | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. |
FS | 32 | Andrew Williamson | 6-1 | 208 | Jr. |
CB | 5 | Torren McGaster | 6-0 | 192 | Fr. |
P | 16 | Colby Cooke | 6-3 | 200 | So. |
Tod Palmer’s pick: Missouri 31-10
If ever there was a week for Missouri’s offense to get healthy and build confidence in conference play, this is it. Vanderbilt ranks at or near the bottom of the SEC in every major defensive category. The Commodores’ scuffling offense meets a Missouri defense coming into its own. It should add up to a blowout Homecoming win.
To reach Tod Palmer, call 816-234-4389 or send email to tpalmer@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @todpalmer.
This story was originally published October 23, 2014 at 7:45 PM with the headline "Missouri-Vanderbilt college football preview."