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Missouri makes a statement against Memphis, but there are still questions to answer

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Here are today’s Mizzou Links.

By Sam Snelling
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NCAA Football: Memphis at Missouri Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

When you’re favored by 10 points, and win by 32 points, it’s a good day

Drew Lock and his team have often been in the line of fire, drawing ire from fans and internet commenters for their inability to defeat anyone with a pulse.

Saturday changed the narrative, if only slightly, because while the Tigers were stomping on Memphis for Homecoming, Purdue was out kicking the crap out of Ohio State.

NCAA Football: Memphis at Missouri Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
  • For clarity: Memphis came in at #27 in S&P+ overall and had nearly knocked off UCF last week. The Tigers (of Memphis) had struggled on the road to date but came in with an elite offense (#8 in S&P+) with a defense showing some signs of improvement week over week. And Mizzou decimated them.
  • Meanwhile: Just a few short weeks ago Mizzou won on the road in West Lafayette beating Purdue 40-37. Last night the Boilermakers completed their season makeover by curb stomping the second ranked Ohio State Buckeyes by the final score of 49-20.

Maybe Mizzou had woken up the Boilermakers who didn’t win a game until the next week, but since they’ve beaten two ranked teams and blown out Illinois and Nebraska. So it’s safe to say Purdue has found it’s pulse and the road win four weeks ago is going to end up looking like Missouri defeated a team with more than just a pulse.

Now they’ve whipped Memphis as well. Aside from a weird ugly stretch after going up 21-0, and some pretty awful penalties which just seemed to pile up, Mizzou was completely dominant. 646 yards of offense, 373 in the air and 273 on the ground, plus four passing touchdowns from Drew Lock including three to Albert Okwuegbunam. The offense found it’s groove again while the defense continued to do it’s bend but don’t break thing forcing two turnovers and only 6 of 16 in third downs.

This game was important because it got Missouri off its slide. But it also set them up nicely for the next few games including a tilt next weekend against highly ranked Kentucky.

Your game day links:

I don’t know what this means about how Missouri is. You watch them and they still reflect a flawed football team. They struggle in pass coverage and are just ok against the run. The offense is prone to blank spells and Memphis’ defense certainly isn’t going to be confused for the Steel Curtain. The question to be answered is if Mizzou can perform against a defense with a pulse now that they’ve beaten a team with a pulse.

Kentucky certainly looks vulnerable right now as they needed every last yard on the ground to over take Vanderbilt at home. It’s a chance to get a statement win for Barry Odom, Drew Lock and the program. Kentucky was #14 this past week and will probably stay around there this week. Beat UK at home to move to 5-3 with three very winnable games left on the schedule and a vulnerable Florida team on the road and you’re right back in business. It starts next week.

Yesterday at Rock M

Tweets to think about:

Actual sacks!

Mizzou is a defensive football team again?

Someone tell Pete to stop it.

More:

5-star 2020 wing Josh Christopher took a visit this weekend and certainly looks pretty good in black and gold.

Josh Christopher is such an important recruit Cuonzo Martin had to break out the Balenciagas! #Baller

A mostly quiet day in the SEC but Bama continues to destroy all comers:

  • #1 Alabama 58, Tennessee 21
  • #5 LSU 19, Mississippi State 3
  • #14 Kentucky 14, Vanderbilt 7
  • Arkansas 23, Tulsa 0
  • Auburn 31, Ole Miss 16

And I’m not sure what to say about this:

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