First Football Saturday Live Thread of 2014 - GO TIGERS!

First things first

Bill Connelly's Mizzou Tiger 2014 Season Preview

Rock M Roll Call: The 2014 Edition

What do you predict to be Mizzou's final Football record this year, both from your head and your black and gold heart?

Missouri returns an exciting sophomore quarterback, two-thirds of its three-headed running back, two wideouts who have combined for 1,000 yards in two seasons, 80 percent of the two-deep from an excellent offensive line, two of four excellent defensive ends, all of its defensive tackles, a former SEC Defensive Player of the Week at linebacker, a well-seasoned set of safeties, an experienced, powerful kicker, and a proven return man.

All of these things are true.

Missouri must replace a three-year starting quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher, one of the most prolific trios of receivers in college football, a second-round draft pick at offensive line, a consensus All-American at defensive end, a second-round draft pick at defensive end, its leading tackler, and both starting cornerbacks.

All of these things are also true.

2014 Missouri football: The Ifs list

Making predictions is impossible -- especially when you're talking about Missouri football of late -- but it's nice to lay out what needs to happen. And last year, just about everything that needed to happen, did.

Missouri depth chart: Tigers release two-deep for South Dakota State

Missouri's first depth chart of the season has been released. There are no surprise starters, but five true freshmen are listed and could receive playing time this year.

Grid View

• Shotgun Slot XH left, TE right, Z right, RB left
• 4 WR Pistol XY left, HZ right, QB is not underneath the Center, RB lined up behind QB
• Shotgun Spread XY left, HZ right, RB left
• Shotgun Spread XY left, HZ right, RB right
• 3-3-5 Defense 1 DT, 2 DE, 3 LB, 3 safeties, 2 CB
• 4-2-5 Defense 2 DT, 2 DE, 2 LB, 3 Safeties, 2 CB
• Trips Right w/ Slotback receiver XY left, HZ right + slotback/receiver/tight end (S position)
• Trips Right XY left, HZ right, RB wide right

South Dakota State at Missouri: Perusing the Jackrabbits' depth chart

Running back Zach Zenner and an active secondary could allow South Dakota State to stay close to Missouri for a while, but Mizzou's advantages in the trenches should allow the Tigers to pull ahead and win comfortably.

Recommended Reading

Rack M Nation: Southern Thighs

Southern thighs are all that is right about BBQ

Mizzou's 2014 Checklist - Adam Cribbs

Regardless, after finishing #5 in the final polls in 2013-14, Mizzou looks to have another solid season in 2014-15. But what do they need to do to have more than just a "solid" season and compete for the East again?

Anthrascience: Smashing SDSU - Jack Peglow

Hypothesis SDSU is certainly a good team. One that should challenge the best of the best in the FCS. Luckily, Missouri does not play in the FCS, which LEADS US TO OUR HYPOTHESIS: South Dakota State's combination of a few very talented players and a lack of experience should ensure that this game stays interesting for a total of 1.5 quarters.

They Supposed to Be SEC - Instant Reactions to opening night of SEC football - FullbackU

As for South Carolina, well Dylan Thompson just didn't look very good. Seemed to me that if you can hit him, you can rattle him, which we know going back to last year's game in Columbia. Everyone touted South Carolina's massive offensive line and great running back Mike Davis as a reason for Spurrier's chance to make a serious run this season - and maybe they still can, but I certainly didn't see much impact from either when they were down much of the game.

Pregamin' South Dakota State - Jack Peglow and Kurt Moore

Programming note:

Wondering who will be in next week's ~ T R U L Y S O C I A L ~ Pregamin' segment?

Well guess what, its you! Tweet us your predictions, useless stats, photoshops, trivia, shout-outs, and anything else that strikes your fancy, and we'll feature your #content in the post!

GAMEDAY:

Mizzou will be rocking all black (Duron Singleton pictured)

LINKS!

Blair Kerkhoff | Lousy SEC East first impressions could bode well for Mizzou | The Kansas City Star

The freak-out meter is running hot at South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Sure, it’s one game and plenty of season remains. But the Gamecocks and Commodores either needed more preseason prep time or they aren’t who we thought they were. We’ll know more in a couple of weeks. Either way, it may bode well for others with title aspirations in the SEC East. Georgia, Missouri and Florida just saw the division favorite smacked around on its home turf by the team projected to finish sixth in the West in the media poll released at SEC Media Days.

Tod Palmer | Recruits, redshirts and the first Mizzou Mailbag | The Kansas City Star

Missouri’s 2014 recruiting class is complete — or as complete as it’s going to be — after defensive end Walter Brady and safety Tavon Ross were cleared to enroll late this week. The Tigers have 26 true freshmen* on the roster.

Dave Morrison | PRE-GAME RUNDOWN: South Dakota State at Missouri - Columbia Daily Tribune | Columbia Missouri: Behind The Stripes

THE OPPONENT

No. 10 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (9-5, 5-3 FCS Missouri Valley last year)

Last time out: South Dakota State's 2013 season ended in the second round of the FCS playoffs with a 41-17 loss to eventual semifinalist Eastern Washington. The Eagles held All-World Everything running back Zach Zenner to 71 yards on 21 carries and ran for 287 yards of their own. The game was tied, 14-14, at the half, but Eastern Washington scored on three of their first four drives out of halftime, gaining 12.4 yards a play in the process.

Dave Matter | Four and Out: Tigers unleash Golden, Murphy : Sports

This is from the perspective of someone who’s been around the program, though not in the locker room, but If I were to single out the three Mizzou players of the Gary Pinkel era who were the most respected and most admired by their teammates for their play, their leadership and their attitude, the list starts with quarterback Brad Smith. I’m talking about the ultimate ambassadors for the program. Great players and dynamic personalities. Defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams comes in second. Then you’ve got linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Golden is coming close to joining their company. And that’s a huge statement for a guy who needed the junior college detour to reach Columbia and, until Saturday, has been a reserve player.

GRAPHICS!

Infographic series put together for @MizzouFootball. Expect more as 2014 gets rolling. Solid designin' by @FishFeer. pic.twitter.com/IUtDSEkSor

— Patrick Crawford (@p_crawf) August 30, 2014

SCHEDULES!

Grid View

Saturday Football Schedule

College football projections: Week 1 F/+ picks - Football Study Hall

If last year is any indication, the OLD picks will do better until there's enough data for the NEW picks to take over. In Week 1 in 2013, the NEW picks, which also project FCS-vs-FBS games, went 17-13 in those games and 20-25 in FBS-vs-FBS games. The OLD picks, meanwhile, went 30-15 in FBS-vs-FBS games. I don't expect 30-15 again, but I would expect the older, simpler arrangement to once again do better out of the chutes.

Future Mizzou opponents, UCF, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, and Toledo.

(Mizzou opponents bolded)

COUNTDOWN:

Time converter at worldtimebuddy.com

The average American male experiences 76 college football seasons in his lifetime. Make every one count. Make every one count.

— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) August 27, 2014