If I’m a member of Missouri’s offense, I’m concerned with the defense coming to Columbia on Friday afternoon.

And if I’m a Missouri fan, I’m kicking myself that the Tigers have to win.

There are plenty of storylines around the first-ever Battle Line Rivalry. Arkansas is a surging, confident football team looking to end its regular season with three consecutive victories. Meanwhile, Gary Pinkel’s Missouri squad is in the midst of an impressive month of football in which the Tigers keep finding ways to win.

For the Razorbacks, momentum heading into a bowl game and 2015 is on the line. For Mizzou, there’s slightly more. Should the Tigers win, Missouri will lock up back-to-back SEC East titles and will earn its way back to Atlanta.

If the Tigers lose, Georgia will get the nod as East champ.

For a Missouri offense that has been inconsistent this season, Robb Smith’s defense presents a significant challenge.

Arkansas has put all the pieces together on defense at the perfect time. Tackling is improved, communication is much better and the Hogs’ playmakers are making plays.

The result? Back-to-back shutouts of top-2o opponents.

Missouri’s offensive line has been shored up some in recent weeks. But Maty Mauk’s protection went through a stretch during the middle of the season in which the lineup was shifted and the Tigers couldn’t block anyone. Arkansas presents a physical front seven that can give Mizzou problems up front.

The Razorbacks boast pass rushers on both the inside and outside of its defensive line, and have gotten much better production out of its linebacking corps.

When the offensive line doesn’t protect, Mauk bails and leaves the pocket quickly. Expect Smith to attack the Tigers’ offensive line with stunts, blitzes and other ways to create pressure and flush Mauk out.

Arkansas has forced seven turnovers in its last two games, a stat that bodes well for the Razorbacks against a gunslinger like Mauk.

Thought the sophomore has played well over the course of the last month, Mauk has shown a tendency to let it fly at times regardless of what the coverage gives him. Tevin Mitchel and Rohan Gaines anchor an Arkansas secondary that is beginning to play better after being considered the liability of the defense earlier this season.

That secondary has faced good quarterback/receiver tandems this season, and now face a receiving corps that has struggled at times this season.

Bud Sasser, Jimmie Hunt and Darius White are the three players Mauk most like to target. The three have combined for 1,548 receiving yards this season and 19 touchdowns. That’s average of 140.7 yards per game and just under two touchdowns. Depth is an issue for Mizzou at receiver.

This matchup is advantage Arkansas, if it comes in with the right attitude. This game carries implications for both teams.

Mauk only plays as well as those around him; that’s been the story all season for the Tigers. They give us offensive outbursts like that against Texas A&M, and then complete no-shows like that against Georgia.

Arkansas is playing its best football right now, specifically on defense. Smith has done a complete 180 with that unit in under a year, and has built arguably the second or third best defense in the SEC.

Missouri is playing a game on which its SEC East title hopes ride entirely.

After watching last week’s 30-0 shellacking of Ole Miss, Arkansas is the last team the Tigers want to face.

The Razorbacks are out to demolish Mizzou’s chances at getting back to Atlanta, and are more than capable of doing so.