Mizzou and KU - Real Deal in 2008

Since the college football season ended, I’ve been saying that Mizzou will falter while we find that KU will take a downhill slide to mediocre-ville. Wishful thinking, really. Once I looked at the situation surrounding these programs, I see no reason that the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks will not have 9+ win seasons and significant bowl games.

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The Kansas Jayhawks will be able to rely on their running game and a young quarterback on the rise. People talk about Chase for Heisman but Reesing is a serious darkhorse contender. Now Clint Bowen, the excellent safties coach, has moved into the solo defensive coordinator position. This was the guy that helped Talib mold his game. Will that success translate to the rest of the defense? 9 starters and 10 backups returning should make the transition a little easier. Mangino won the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award. This guy is the type of coach that knows how to develop the talent available to him.

As for the Missouri Tigers, what else needs to be said other than congratulations to the Anderson & Hester College Football Computer National Champions! Chase, Chase, and Maclin (sounds like a law firm) return with a taste of what it’s like to be 60 minutes from playing in a National Championship game. Only Oklahoma stood in their way. With last year’s 25th toughest schedule in the country, they won’t have the same competition this year. Unfortunately, every game will have more pressure than in 2007. In 2007, there was very little stress on the team until closer to the end of the season. I think their schedule is a little easier, likely between 30-40 in the country.

What will help them is 16 retuning starters - 10 on defense. There will be huge holes to be filled in Martin Rucker, who will probably be the first or second TE to go in the draft. Expect Andrew Jones of Smithville to see playing time as a true freshman, they’re going to want someone to take his place soon. Temple’s appeal for a fifth year was denied by Big 12, and his appeal to the NCAA is not looking good. With a few younger 3-4 star running backs on their roster, I don’t expect a huge problem. The Tigers also have 8 years in a row of the same coaching staff in place… UNHEARD of in todays world.

Who will have the best record between these two? It may very well come down to the big KU v. MU game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City next year.