We Just Need To Play The Hand Right

Unless you're stuck under a boulder somewhere on a deserted island, you by now know that Mizzou is No. 1 in the nation in Bowl Championship Series.

We can beat Oklahoma. Let me repeat that: We can beat Oklahoma.

If Mizzou avenges its only loss of the season against Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, the Tigers will play for the national title and BCS trophy. That was unthinkable at the beginning of this season.

Expectations were for Mizzou to win the Big 12 North, but we weren't even ranked to start the season. Nebraska was.

When we cupcaked the Huskers 41-6, I knew then that we could play with anybody in the country. Nebraska gets the best recruits/athletes. As good as any thriving DI program. And we held them to six points. Six.

I knew then, our Tigers could play with any team in the nation. We lost to an extremely talented Oklahoma team (we had a chance to win, but a sure interception slipped through Pig Brown's hands in the fourth quarter while Mizzou led 24-23. I can assure you that we would have gained momentum with that pick).

We lost. But we haven't lost since in six-straight must-win games (If we lost one KU would be playing the Big 12 title game). And yes, we DOMINATED Kansas. The score was 28-7 heading into the fourth quarter, and we shut things down and tried to milk clock.

Now, we have another shot at the Sooners, and a win gives us a shot at the national title.

Can we do it? I'm 50-50 on this one. We have the best offense in the nation. But this game is going to play out just like the Mizzou-KU game.

If Mizzou wants to win, Tony Temple, Jimmy Jackson, Derrick Washington and the Offensive line must get off on the Oklahoma defense the way we did KU. Without Temple, Mizzou managed just 57 yards on 30 carries the first go-round against Oklahoma.

That must improve to at least 30 for 120. OU will be without top defensive end Auston English (broken ankle), which will help Mizzou.

The Mizzou defensive line and linebackers must play above their heads and slow Allen Patrick and Chris Brown (make him look like the dancer/singer) and control the line of scrimmage. That combo combined for 111 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns in the win over Mizzou.
If Mizzou can do this, there's only one other thing that matters. Mizzou will get its points. We must stop Oklahoma on third down. The Sooners were 10 of 14 on third down the first go-round and the Tigers defensive must improve on that.

We must pressure Sam Bradford and rattle him more than we did in October. Send five or six on third downs. Get our hands up in his passing lanes.

If Mizzou can do these things and don't have stupid turnovers (three of the four last time were unforced errors on Mizzou's part), we will win this game. Our passing game will be there. It's too efficient to be stopped. We've consistently proved that in every game this season.

But it all must come together. We have Kings in the pocket, and promising flop. Now we just need to play the hand like we're Johnny Chan against Eric Seidel 1988.