Missouri Offense vs. Oregon State Defense
Missouri likes to spread it out offensively, featuring a lot of one-back sets with RB Tony Temple in the backfield. QB Chase Daniel spends a good deal of time working out of the shotgun with either three receivers and one tight end, or two receivers and two tight ends in the game. Temple shows good quickness and averages 5.2 yards per carry. Daniel also can be a threat when he tucks the ball and runs. However, the Tigers are far more effective throwing than they are running the ball. Daniel is only a sophomore and he still makes some inexperienced mistakes, as witnessed in his 10 interceptions this season. Overall, though, Daniel has proven to be a playmaking quarterback and an ideal fit within coach Gary Pinkel's scheme. Daniel displays adequate arm strength and above average accuracy as a passer. He has formed a good rapport with WR William Franklin, who leads the team with 48 catches for 829 yards with six touchdowns. Daniel also is blessed with two excellent pass-catching tight ends to throw to in Chase Coffman and Martin Rucker, who have combined for 86 receptions and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Oregon State vs. Missouri
When: Dec. 29, 2 p.m. ET (CBS)
Where: El Paso, Texas
The good news for Oregon State is that it matches up well on the defensive side of the ball. For starters, the unit ranks fourth nationally with 44 sacks on the season and much of its pressure comes from the front four, which means defensive coordinator Mark Banker shouldn't be forced to sell out on the blitz too often in order to get heat on Daniel. The Beavers have a deep defensive line rotation, which allows them to keep pass-rush specialist Dorian Smith fresh throughout the course of a game. Smith, who leads the team with 8? sacks, should play a big role on this side of the ball. Secondly, the Beavers are blessed with playmakers in coverage along their defensive back seven. The team, as a whole, has notched an impressive 17 interceptions on the season, eight of which have come from SS Sabby Piscitelli and SLB Derrick Doggett. With Doggett and Piscitelli both working on the strong side it should allow the Beavers to hold up frequently in man-to-man coverage versus the two-tight sets when Rucker and Coffman are on the field at the same time.
Oregon State Offense vs. Missouri Defense
The Beavers got off to a slow start offensively but they've scored 30-plus points in five of their last six outings. The unit is at its best when balanced, which means it's important to establish the rushing attack early on. Oregon State's offensive line is big, physical and experienced, which has made things easy on junior RB Yvenson Bernard, who has rushed for 1,210 yards and 12 touchdowns on 273 carries this season. Bernard is not a huge home-run threat, but 5-foot-9, 205-pound back is quick, decisive and powerful. The Beavers are typically more effective throwing the ball but don't be surprised if they emphasize the run more than usual versus a Missouri run defense that ranks 61st nationally and tends to wear down quickly. The Tigers are undersized up front and they miss the presence of senior DE Brian Smith, who did a great job of disrupting plays in the backfield before suffering a season-ending hip injury. It will take an excellent effort from MLB Dedrick Harrington and WLB Marcus Bacon for the Tigers to keep Bernard under the 100-yard mark in this game.
As much as the Tigers miss Smith in the running game, they miss him even more on passing downs, as he still leads the defense with 7? sacks despite missing the last three games of the regular season. In Smith's place, Missouri needs DE Xzavie Jackson (seven sacks) and NT Lorenzo Williams (5 sacks) to turn up the heat on senior QB Matt Moore in order to avoid sending linebackers and safeties on the blitz too frequently.
Perhaps the biggest reason for Oregon State's offensive turnaround this season is the improved efficiency of Moore, who has thrown 14 touchdowns compared to only six interceptions. That's after Moore threw 19 interceptions as a junior in 2005. If Moore has balance from the running attack and time in the pocket to make his reads, the Tigers could be in for a long afternoon. Moore does a fine job of spreading the ball around to his different receivers but junior WR Sammie Stroughter is Moore's go-to-guy with 1,206 yards and four touchdowns on 66 receptions.
Special Teams
Missouri is only decent on special teams. PK Jeff Wolfert is the star of the unit, as he has connected on 14 of his 16 field goal attempts, including a long of 54 yards. PT Adam Crossett has not been as successful, as he has averaged only 39.5 yards per attempt this season. To his credit, though, Crossett has shown good directional skills by landing 12 of 40 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Missouri's return units have been less than impressive, as the team ranks 72nd nationally on put returns and 112th on kickoff returns.
In all reality, Oregon State owns a distinct advantage on special teams in this game. PK Alexis Serna is an experienced veteran who has connected on 21 of 28 field goal attempts this season, including a long of 58 yards. PT Kyle Loomis has been adequate with his 41.1-yard average per attempt. The return teams are the strength of the unit, as the Beavers rank seventh nationally in punt returns and 28th nationally in kickoff returns. Stroughter averages 15.4 yards per punt return with three touchdowns on the season, while Gerard Lawson leads the kickoff return unit with an average of 27.8 yards per attempt, including a 100-yard return for a score.
Matchups
? Missouri QB Chase Daniel vs. Oregon State DS Sabby Piscitelli
? Missouri LOT Tyler Luellen vs. Oregon State RDE Dorian Smith
? Oregon State WR Sammie Stroughter vs. Missouri CB Darnell Terrell
Scouts' Edge
This is a classic case of two teams headed in opposite directions. Missouri started the season fast, winning its first six games, but cooled off with a 2-4 finish down the stretch. Oregon State, on the other hand, got off to a slow start but it enters the bowl game having won seven of its last eight contests.
Daniel is an emerging playmaker and he is blessed with a strong supporting cast in the passing game. However, the inexperienced signal caller has turned the ball over too many times in losing efforts this season, which does not bode well against an Oregon State defense that leads the Pac-10 with 31 takeaways on the season. Furthermore, the Tigers' inconsistent rushing attack will give the Beavers an advantage on that side of the ball. Moore should put up solid numbers via the air, particularly to playmaking receiver Stroughter, and Bernard will exploit an undersized Missouri defensive front on the ground. In the end, Oregon State will hand coach Mike Riley his first 10-win season by limiting mistakes on offense, forcing turnovers on defense, and playing more efficiently on special teams.
Prediction: Beavers 31, Tigers 24
Missouri likes to spread it out offensively, featuring a lot of one-back sets with RB Tony Temple in the backfield. QB Chase Daniel spends a good deal of time working out of the shotgun with either three receivers and one tight end, or two receivers and two tight ends in the game. Temple shows good quickness and averages 5.2 yards per carry. Daniel also can be a threat when he tucks the ball and runs. However, the Tigers are far more effective throwing than they are running the ball. Daniel is only a sophomore and he still makes some inexperienced mistakes, as witnessed in his 10 interceptions this season. Overall, though, Daniel has proven to be a playmaking quarterback and an ideal fit within coach Gary Pinkel's scheme. Daniel displays adequate arm strength and above average accuracy as a passer. He has formed a good rapport with WR William Franklin, who leads the team with 48 catches for 829 yards with six touchdowns. Daniel also is blessed with two excellent pass-catching tight ends to throw to in Chase Coffman and Martin Rucker, who have combined for 86 receptions and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Oregon State vs. Missouri
When: Dec. 29, 2 p.m. ET (CBS)
Where: El Paso, Texas
The good news for Oregon State is that it matches up well on the defensive side of the ball. For starters, the unit ranks fourth nationally with 44 sacks on the season and much of its pressure comes from the front four, which means defensive coordinator Mark Banker shouldn't be forced to sell out on the blitz too often in order to get heat on Daniel. The Beavers have a deep defensive line rotation, which allows them to keep pass-rush specialist Dorian Smith fresh throughout the course of a game. Smith, who leads the team with 8? sacks, should play a big role on this side of the ball. Secondly, the Beavers are blessed with playmakers in coverage along their defensive back seven. The team, as a whole, has notched an impressive 17 interceptions on the season, eight of which have come from SS Sabby Piscitelli and SLB Derrick Doggett. With Doggett and Piscitelli both working on the strong side it should allow the Beavers to hold up frequently in man-to-man coverage versus the two-tight sets when Rucker and Coffman are on the field at the same time.
Oregon State Offense vs. Missouri Defense
The Beavers got off to a slow start offensively but they've scored 30-plus points in five of their last six outings. The unit is at its best when balanced, which means it's important to establish the rushing attack early on. Oregon State's offensive line is big, physical and experienced, which has made things easy on junior RB Yvenson Bernard, who has rushed for 1,210 yards and 12 touchdowns on 273 carries this season. Bernard is not a huge home-run threat, but 5-foot-9, 205-pound back is quick, decisive and powerful. The Beavers are typically more effective throwing the ball but don't be surprised if they emphasize the run more than usual versus a Missouri run defense that ranks 61st nationally and tends to wear down quickly. The Tigers are undersized up front and they miss the presence of senior DE Brian Smith, who did a great job of disrupting plays in the backfield before suffering a season-ending hip injury. It will take an excellent effort from MLB Dedrick Harrington and WLB Marcus Bacon for the Tigers to keep Bernard under the 100-yard mark in this game.
As much as the Tigers miss Smith in the running game, they miss him even more on passing downs, as he still leads the defense with 7? sacks despite missing the last three games of the regular season. In Smith's place, Missouri needs DE Xzavie Jackson (seven sacks) and NT Lorenzo Williams (5 sacks) to turn up the heat on senior QB Matt Moore in order to avoid sending linebackers and safeties on the blitz too frequently.
Perhaps the biggest reason for Oregon State's offensive turnaround this season is the improved efficiency of Moore, who has thrown 14 touchdowns compared to only six interceptions. That's after Moore threw 19 interceptions as a junior in 2005. If Moore has balance from the running attack and time in the pocket to make his reads, the Tigers could be in for a long afternoon. Moore does a fine job of spreading the ball around to his different receivers but junior WR Sammie Stroughter is Moore's go-to-guy with 1,206 yards and four touchdowns on 66 receptions.
Special Teams
Missouri is only decent on special teams. PK Jeff Wolfert is the star of the unit, as he has connected on 14 of his 16 field goal attempts, including a long of 54 yards. PT Adam Crossett has not been as successful, as he has averaged only 39.5 yards per attempt this season. To his credit, though, Crossett has shown good directional skills by landing 12 of 40 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Missouri's return units have been less than impressive, as the team ranks 72nd nationally on put returns and 112th on kickoff returns.
In all reality, Oregon State owns a distinct advantage on special teams in this game. PK Alexis Serna is an experienced veteran who has connected on 21 of 28 field goal attempts this season, including a long of 58 yards. PT Kyle Loomis has been adequate with his 41.1-yard average per attempt. The return teams are the strength of the unit, as the Beavers rank seventh nationally in punt returns and 28th nationally in kickoff returns. Stroughter averages 15.4 yards per punt return with three touchdowns on the season, while Gerard Lawson leads the kickoff return unit with an average of 27.8 yards per attempt, including a 100-yard return for a score.
Matchups
? Missouri QB Chase Daniel vs. Oregon State DS Sabby Piscitelli
? Missouri LOT Tyler Luellen vs. Oregon State RDE Dorian Smith
? Oregon State WR Sammie Stroughter vs. Missouri CB Darnell Terrell
Scouts' Edge
This is a classic case of two teams headed in opposite directions. Missouri started the season fast, winning its first six games, but cooled off with a 2-4 finish down the stretch. Oregon State, on the other hand, got off to a slow start but it enters the bowl game having won seven of its last eight contests.
Daniel is an emerging playmaker and he is blessed with a strong supporting cast in the passing game. However, the inexperienced signal caller has turned the ball over too many times in losing efforts this season, which does not bode well against an Oregon State defense that leads the Pac-10 with 31 takeaways on the season. Furthermore, the Tigers' inconsistent rushing attack will give the Beavers an advantage on that side of the ball. Moore should put up solid numbers via the air, particularly to playmaking receiver Stroughter, and Bernard will exploit an undersized Missouri defensive front on the ground. In the end, Oregon State will hand coach Mike Riley his first 10-win season by limiting mistakes on offense, forcing turnovers on defense, and playing more efficiently on special teams.
Prediction: Beavers 31, Tigers 24
