This is an 8* BLOWOUT on Missouri.

I think Missouri has enough significant advantages working in its favor to pull the trigger in the Citrus Bowl. Minnesota is playing in its first New Year's Day game in 53 years and I think will just be happy to be here today. Missouri though I believe has something to prove as the 16th ranked Tigers try for an unprecedented accomplishment for the program. No one gave Missouri much of a chance this summer, it was picked to finish fourth in the SEC East after losing 13 starters in the offseason, but the Tigers would prove the naysayers wrong by reeling off six straight victories to hold off Georgia, eventually succumbing 42-13 to No. 1 Alabama on December 6th. Missouri now has a chance to win at least 11 games in back-to-back seasons for the very first time: "Certainly, there's things we have to do to improve ... but I'm so very proud of my players, coaches and this football program. This is a great opportunity," said coach Gary Pinkel, who has a school-record 112 victories. "We got a chance to finish strong and we'll be playing a very good football team." Minnesota also did better than expected this year, it finished only behind Wisconsin in the division after a 34-24 road loss to the then No. 14 Badgers on November 29th. But the Golden Gophers would back their way into the postseason, dropping three of their final five. With a month off to prepare for Minnesota's ground game, I think the Tigers defensive unit comes to play today; note that Gophers' QB Mitch Leidner will be running for his life today, Missouri led the SEC with 42 sacks. At the start of the season, Tigers' QB Maty Mauk was a work in progress, but as the year wore on, he definitely got better, he heads to Orlando having thrown for a least 230 yards in four consecutive games; note that Mauck has nine TD's to just two INT's in his last six. I think the SEC wins the battle in the trenches and expect the Tigers defense to eventually get to the Gophers; play on MISSOURI.

AAA Sports