Mizzou Links, 9-7-10

For what it's worth: BTBS picks went 23-13-2 the first week...a solid 63.2% winning percentage.  Locks and my Safe Picks didn't do much of anything, of course, but all in all, not bad.

Illinois Wrap-Up Links

• The Trib (Dave Matter): Tigers Meet the Press

  ▹ Asked about the discrepancy in passes to runs in Saturday's game - the Tigers threw 48 times and ran 29 times - Pinkel said the coaching staff discussed that Monday morning and that they "need to be cautious" in throwing the ball that many times. Offensive coordinator David Yost later reiterated that the staff does not evaluate bubble screen passes as part of the team's passing attempts. With Blaine Gabbert completing all six of his bubble screen throws, the staff actually considered Gabbert 28 of 42, rather than the 34 of 48 that the official box score reads.

  ▹ Finally, Pinkel said he has been in touch with Wyoming Coach Dave Christensen, whose program was dealt a tragedy Monday when freshman linebacker Ruben Narcisse was killed in a car accident that also injured three Wyoming players. Pinkel was hoping to get his former longtime offensive coordinator in touch with the staff at Connecticut. Randy Edsall's program managed to win eight games last year while mourning the fatal stabbing of starting cornerback Jasper Howard.

• MUtigers.com: Monday Media Day Quotes

  On Blaine Gabbert's play against Illinois:
  "I thought he started a bit slow and missed a few throws early, but you're not going to be perfect back there. The most disappointing thing in the first half was that sack he took at the end but he'll learn from that. I thought he competed well. He threw for 71 percent completion (rate) and I thought he did a lot of good things and made a couple big plays. He's just got the ability, like an Elway-type guy, arm wise. And the thing right now is he's just so much more accurate than he was when he first got here and that's because of his footwork and balance work with Coach Yost. I'm really pleased with him and the sky is the limit for him."

  On linebacker depth and the possibility of freshman Darvin Ruise playing:
  "Right now we don't plan on playing him but we're going to get him ready to play the best we can. With the suspension (Will Ebner), with Donovan Bonner (injured) and now with Luke (injured), three of our top six linebackers are out. But you face those things. Donovan we're not going to get back but the other two we will. That's the good news. But preparing Darvin now for the possibility of playing is significant, so we're going to do that and see how it goes as we do with a lot of young players."

• KBIA Sports Extra: VIDEO: First Half Highlights
• KBIA Sports Extra: VIDEO: Second Half Highlights
• KBIA Sports Extra: VIDEO: View from the field after Missouri's 23-13 win
• KBIA Sports Extra: Did Missouri make halftime adjustments against Illinois?
• PowerMizzou: Audio: Pinkel talks win, looks ahead
• PowerMizzou: Video: Mizzou Media Day
• PowerMizzou: Like father, unlike son: Week one survival
• Chicago Tribune: Ron Zook happy with patchwork secondary
  

Other Mizzou Football Links

• MUtigers.com: McNeese State OFFICIAL RELEASE!!!!!

  GACHKAR, GOODEN, LAMBERT ALSO HAD BIG DAYS FOR TIGER DEFENSE
     Naturally, when a defense pitches a 2nd-half shutout, there’s more than one star on the day, and that was definitely the case for Missouri last Saturday against Illinois.
     Senior SLB Andrew Gachkar had an impactful day, as he tallied 7 tackles in all, but he made his presence felt big-time in the first quarter when he came in to sandwich Illini QB Nathan Scheelhaase on a keeper that popped the ball free near midfield, a fumble that the Tigers jumped on to end the drive. Later in the game, Gachkar broke up a pair of passes, including one on 3rd down when Illinois was backed up inside its own 10-yardline.
     Sophomore WLB Zaviar Gooden made his first career start Saturday against Illinois, and he responded by notching a career-best 8 tackles, including being credited with a half-tackle for loss. His run stuffing in the 2nd half was key to Mizzou holding Illinois in check on the ground, as he had four stops of Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure after halftime, and all four of the rushes by Leshoure went only for 2 yards (twice) or 1 yard (twice).
     Senior MLB Luke Lambert had to leave the game late in the 4th quarter with a hamstring injury that will sideline him this week against McNeese State, but before he left the field last week, he racked up 8 tackles and was also credited with a half-tackle for loss and a QB pressure.

• KC Star (Campus Corner): Ebner, Brinkley Likely Will Sit Another Week at Mizzou
• KC Star: Devion Moore gaining ground at the tailback position
• Post-Dispatch: More is expected of Blaine Gabbert
• Post-Dispatch: Carl Gettis benefits from new attitude
• Post-Dispatch: Mizzou's next challenge is not to let up
• KBIA Sports Extra: Attrition at linebacker creates opportunity for Wilson, Ruise
• The Missourian: Freshman finds linebacker a better fit on Missouri football team
• KBIA Sports Extra: The future of Missouri's football scheduling
  

A boatload of Big 12 links (plus Volleyball and Soccer) after the jump.

Big 12 Links

• North Dakota State 6, Kansas 3
  Rock Chalk Talk: North Dakota State Upset (?) Kansas
  Rock Chalk Talk: Kansas and Turner Gill Lose to North Dakota State in the Opener
  Topeka Capital-Journal: QB up for grabs at KU
  Topeka Capital-Journal: Yearning for Jake and the Fatman
  Topeka Capital-Journal: KU's playmakers have flashes
  Topeka Capital-Journal: KU grade card, notes
  KC Star (Upon Further Review): KU's Worst Loss in History?
• Oklahoma 31, Utah State 24
  Tulsa World: OU beats Utah State 31-24
  Daily Oklahoman: Sooners struggle against Utah State
  Daily Oklahoman: DeMarco Murray a bright spot in dismal performance
  Daily Oklahoman: OU's poor performance should leave Florida State licking its Tomahawk chops
  Blatant Homerism: OU in Review: Ridiculous and Sublime of Utah State
  Crimson & Cream Machine: Sooners' Offense Still Has a Lot of Work to be Done
  Crimson & Cream Machine: OU vs. Utah State Recap - Defense
  Dr. Saturday: Reorientation: Get used to the smell of burnt Sooner in the morning
• Oklahoma State 65, Washington State 17
  Daily Oklahoman: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State rout Washington State 65-17
  Daily Oklahoman: Kendall Hunter isn't Barry Sandersi, but he's close
  Daily Oklahoman: OSU by the numbers: Zero turnovers as pleasing as Hunter's barrage of yards
  Tulsa World: OSU cruises to 65-17 win over Washington State
  Tulsa World: Oklahoma State shows off a Heisman Hunter
  Cowboys Ride For Free: Oklahoma State vs Washington State Quick Recap
  Coug Center: RECAP: Washington State Whipped Again, 65-17 By Oklahoma State
• Kansas State 31, UCLA 22
  Bring On the Cats: Postgame Reaction: K-State vs UCLA
  KC Star: Daniel Thomas runs wild as Kansas State holds off UCLA 31-22
  KC Star: In the end, Coffman delivered the victory
  Topeka Capital-Journal: K-State defense clutch in win
  Topeka Capital-Journal: Coffman survives queasy opener
• Colorado 24, Colorado State 3
  The Ralphie Report: Colorado Defeats Colorado State
  The Ralphie Report: Upon Second Viewing: Colorado Vs. Colorado State
  The Ralphie Report: Film Study: CU Buffs vs CSU Rams - 4th & 1
  College Football Talk: Buffs could lose key DB to season-ending injury
  Denver Post: Hawkins most pleased with defense
• Texas Tech 35, SMU 27
  Dallas Morning News: Five impressions from Tech's victory against SMU
  Double-T Nation: Post Game Thoughts
  Double-T Nation: Good News/Bad News
  Dr. Saturday: Maybe the Air Raid lives on at Texas Tech, after all
• Texas 34, Rice 17
  Austin American-Statesman: Longhorns beat Rice to open season
  Austin American-Statesman: The bests and worsts of UT's season opener
  Austin American-Statesman: Horns aren't awe-inspiring against Owls
  Austin American-Statesman (Cedric Golden): Garrett Gilbert's debut is solid, if not thrilling
  Burnt Orange Nation: Postgame React: Texas 34, Rice 17
• Nebraska 49, Western Kentucky 10
  Lincoln Journal-Star: Taylor Martinez leads Huskers to 49-10 win over W. Ky
  Post-Dispatch: Haze clears for Nebraska at QB position
  Corn Nation: Report Card: Huskers 49, Western Kentucky 10
  Pre-Snap Read: I don't stand corrected -- yet
• Texas A&M 48, Stephen F. Austin 7
  Dallas Morning News: Aggies have no problem with SFA
  Houston Chronicle: Christine Michael carries A&M to 48-7 win over SFA
• Baylor 34, Sam Houston State 3
  Waco Tribune: Griffin shows the way as Baylor rules opener, 34-3
  Waco Tribune: Bears show off for full house
  Waco Tribune: Plenty of work left before Buffalo visits Floyd Casey
  Waco Tribune: Baylor fans do indeed rise up
• ESPN.com Blog: Ecstatic? Depressed? Not so fast, my friend
  

Mizzou Volleyball Links

• Mizzou 3, Eastern Washington 0
  MUtigers.com: Tigers Sweep EWU, Move to 4-0 in 2010
• Mizzou 3, Rice 0
  MUtigers.com: Volleyball Earns Fifth Straight Sweep
• Mizzou 3, Pepperdine 1
  MUtigers.com: Tigers Are Champs in Malibu
  KBIA Sports Extra: Volleyball moves to 6-0 behind monstrous weekend from Kreklow
• MUtigers.com: Volleyball Enjoys Early Success in 2010

Mizzou Soccer Links

• Mizzou 1, DePaul 1
  MUtigers.com: DePaul Plays to Tie Tigers
• Mizzou 1, Northwestern 1
  MUtigers.com: Tigers Play to Second Tie of the Weekend
  

Other

Since I've shared all the others in this FO Basics series, here's the latest: Scouting.  FO has a little rivalry going with another (unnamed) site that scoffs at stats in favor of scouting.  Here's what two of FO's best have to say.

And for those who have only just begun to think or talk about Boise State after last night's big comeback win, definitely check out Chris Brown's analysis of the BSU offense at Smart Football.