Citrus Bowl preview: Mizzou vs. Minnesota
When/where: Noon Thursday at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
TV/radio: ABC; KMBZ (980 AM)
The series: Missouri leads 4-3-1
The line: Missouri by 4 1/2
MISSOURI (10-3, 7-1 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 |
Oct. 25 | Vanderbilt | W, 24-14 |
Nov. 1 | Kentucky | W, 20-10 |
Nov. 15 | at Texas A&M | W, 34-27 |
Nov. 22 | at Tennessee | W, 29-21 |
Nov. 28 | Arkansas | W, 21-14 |
Dec. 6 | vs. Alabama | L, 42-13 |
MINNESOTA (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 28 | Eastern Illinois | W, 42-20 |
Sept. 6 | Middle Tennessee | W, 35-24 |
Sept. 13 | at TCU | L, 30-7 |
Sept. 20 | San Jose State | W, 24-7 |
Sept. 27 | at Michigan | W, 30-14 |
Oct. 11 | Northwestern | W, 24-17 |
Oct. 18 | Purdue | W, 39-38 |
Oct. 25 | at Illinois | L, 28-24 |
Nov. 8 | Iowa | W, 51-14 |
Nov. 15 | Ohio State | L, 31-24 |
Nov. 22 | at Nebraska | W, 28-24 |
Nov. 29 | at Wisconsin | L, 34-24 |
What’s at stake
Missouri has tied the program record for wins in consecutive seasons with 22. The Tigers also won 22 games in 2007-08, but these seniors want the record for themselves. MU also can win a third consecutive bowl game for the first time since 1973-79 and win January bowl games in consecutive seasons for the first time.
Cheers if ...
Missouri’s defense controls the line of scrimmage and contains Minnesota senior running back David Cobb, who is clearly the engine for the offense. The Golden Gophers are a throwback in the sense they’ve rushed for for more yards (2,928) than they’ve passed for (1,577) this season, so bottling up Cobb is key.
Jeers if ...
Missouri’s offense is sluggish and turnover-prone. The Tigers have endured some struggles on offense, but with more than three weeks to prepare, there aren’t any excuses for breakdowns in execution. Quarterback Maty Mauk should aim to use the Citrus Bowl as a springboard to bigger, better things in 2015.
Three things about Minnesota
1 Cobb broke former Patriots and Broncos running back Laurence Maroney’s single-season rushing record, racking up 1,545 yards and 13 touchdowns in 293 carries this season. He has topped 180 yards four times, including twice in Big Ten play, and is tied for eighth nationally with 47 runs longer than 10 yards.
2 The Golden Gophers’ defense has held 20 of its last 25 opponents below their season scoring average. Senior Damien Wilson, who is tied for third in the Big Ten with 111 tackles, is the first Minnesota linebacker to reach the century mark for tackles since Lee Campbell in 2009.
3 Minnesota hasn’t played in a New Year’s Day bowl game since 1962.
Key matchup
Minnesota coach Jerry Kill vs. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel: Bowl games are an endurance test of sorts for coaches. There are so many distractions, beginning with finals and carrying through the holidays, that is can be tough to muster the requisite focus from players. Kill and Pinkel pride themselves on running a tight ship, and we’ll soon find out which one did so better.
MISSOURI OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 21 | Bud Sasser | 6-2 | 220 | Sr. |
WR | 84 | Gavin Otte | 5-10 | 200 | 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. |
RB | 6 | Marcus Murphy | 5-9 | 190 | Sr. |
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 | 25 | Donavin Newsom | 6-2 | 230 | So. |
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. |
MINNESOTA OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 1 | K.J. Maye | 5-10 | 195 | Jr. |
TE | 88 | Maxx Williams | 6-4 | 250 | So. |
LT | 65 | Josh Campion | 6-5 | 317 | Jr. |
LG | 52 | Zac Epping | 6-2 | 318 | Sr. |
C | 58 | Tommy Olson | 6-4 | 306 | Sr. |
RG | 73 | Joe Bjorklund | 6-5 | 305 | Jr. |
RT | 79 | Josh Pirsig | 6-9 | 320 | So. |
TE | 83 | Drew Goodger | 6-5 | 269 | Sr. |
WR | 4 | Donovahn Jones | 6-3 | 200 | So. |
QB | 7 | Mitch Leidner | 6-4 | 237 | So. |
RB | 27 | David Cobb | 5-11 | 229 | Sr. |
K | 18 | Ryan Santoso | 6-6 | 245 | Fr. |
MINNESOTA DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 55 | Theiren Cockran | 6-6 | 255 | Jr. |
DT | 46 | Cameron Botticelli | 6-5 | 290 | Sr. |
NG | 96 | Steven Richardson | 6-0 | 291 | Fr. |
DE | 98 | Michael Amaefula | 6-2 | 249 | Sr. |
LB | 26 | De’Vondre Campbell | 6-5 | 241 | Jr. |
LB | 5 | Damien Wilson | 6-2 | 240 | Sr. |
LB | 50 | Jack Lynn | 6-3 | 238 | So. |
CB | 31 | Eric Murray | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. |
S | 2 | Cedric Thompson | 6-0 | 208 | Sr. |
S | 7 | Damarius Travis | 6-2 | 211 | Jr. |
CB | 3 | Derrick Wells | 6-0 | 201 | Sr. |
P | 37 | Peter Mortell | 6-2 | 192 | Jr. |
Tod Palmer’s pick: Missouri, 28-20
Missouri is more balanced on offense between the run and pass. The Tigers also have a stout run defense, making run-heavy Minnesota a good matchup in that respect. If MU, which commits the 15th most penalties per game in the country, avoids blunders, it should have a great chance to win.
| Tod Palmer, tpalmer@kcstar.com
This story was originally published December 31, 2014 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Citrus Bowl preview: Mizzou vs. Minnesota."