It’s the game that most Mizzou fans circle on their calendar before the season starts, and it’s finally here – Mizzou vs. Kansas, the nation’s 2nd-most played rivalry and one of the most hotly-contested rivalries in all of sport.
This year’s edition will take place Saturday afternoon in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. ABC Sports will be televising the game to a regional audience.
Mizzou enters the game winners of two straight, and three of its last four games, and is coming off a 34-24 home win over much-improved Iowa State. The Tigers were challenged all day long by the Cyclones, and trailed at halftime by a 17-10 margin. But Mizzou used an explosive second-half offense, and a stifling defensive effort in the fourth quarter to post the win. At 7-4 overall, the Tigers are looking to improve their bowl resume, and a win Saturday over the Jayhawks would give them an impressive eight wins in what most outsiders considered to be a rebuilding season. At 3-4 in Big 12 Conference play, Saturday’s game is important for the Tigers in the league standings, as well, as a win would move the two-time defending Big 12 North Division champions into 2nd place for the season.
Kansas comes into Saturday’s contest looking to break a six-game losing streak that has derailed what was a 5-0 start to the season. The Jayhawks are led by their talented trio of offensive talents in QB Todd Reesing (ranked 11th in the NCAA in total offense at 293.55 ypg), WR Dezmon Briscoe (5th in the NCAA in receiving yards at 109.50 ypg) and WR Kerry Meier (3rd in the NCAA in receptions at 8.36 rpg).
Mizzou and Kansas have played five common opponents, with the Tigers going 3-2 against the five foes, while Kansas has gone 1-4 against the same pool. Both teams had home wins over Iowa State (MU: 34-24; KU: 41-36), and both lost home games to Nebraska (MU: 27-12; KU: 31-17) and both lost to Texas (MU: 41-7 at home; KU: 51-20 on the road). The difference in the comparable opponent comparison comes down to different results the teams have posted against Colorado and Kansas State. Mizzou defeated both teams (winning 36-17 at CU and 38-12 at K-State) while KU dropped both games on the road (34-30 at CU and 17-10 at K-State).
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