Mizzou football: 3 ways Tigers can upset Georgia, no matter who plays QB for the Dawgs
The Missouri Tigers were off last weekend, but this weekend, they’ll play host to the Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have been riddled by injuries in recent weeks and have an uncertain quarterback situation, but this is still a very talented squad.
Georgia has won 6 consecutive matchups with the Tigers. First-year Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz recently snapped the school’s 5-year losing streak to Kentucky. If he can snap the Dawgs’ winning streak, it’ll be even more impressive.
The Bulldogs are fresh off a loss to Florida, though, so this game won’t be easy, even in the friendly confines of Faurot Field. So, what do the Tigers need to do to pull off the upset?
Here’s a look at 3 keys to the game for Mizzou:
1. Keep limiting Georgia’s big plays
Georgia has been without star WR George Pickens for a couple of weeks and that could continue this weekend. Without him, the Dawgs don’t have many deep threats. In fact, they rank 11th in the SEC with 209.3 yards passing per game. They also rank No. 8 in the SEC in 20+ yard passing plays, with only 17 on the season.
Add in the fact that starting QB Stetson Bennett IV has an injury he’s dealing with and the situation is muddled. D’Wan Mathis hasn’t been effective in his limited action, and we haven’t seen JT Daniels yet.
None of those options should worry the Mizzou defense at this point. Still, the Dawgs will have to take a few shots downfield to win on Saturday. If Mizzou can stop them from scoring any huge touchdowns, forcing the Dawgs to instead methodically grind their way down the field, it’ll bode well for the Tigers.
Meanwhile, Mizzou will need to take a few deep shots of their own and connect on a couple. This Georgia defense is banged up, but it’s still one of the best in the SEC.
2. Get off the field on 3rd downs
The Missouri defense has been incredible on 3rd downs this season. For all the attention Georgia’s defense gets, the Tigers actually have the best success rate on 3rd down. The Mizzou defense has allowed opponents to convert only 35.6% of their attempts.
Georgia’s defense, for comparison’s sake, is No. 3 in the SEC, allowing opponents to convert 37.1% of 3rd-down tries.
This is a strength vs. strength battle, and that will be an important one. Since Georgia’s offense will rely heavily on the ground game, time of possession will skew toward whichever team picks up more first downs.
Fortunately, Nick Bolton, Martez Manuel and the Mizzou defense have shown it is up to the task this season. We’ll see if they can stop Zamir White, James Cook and the Georgia ground attack.
3. No Georgia defensive/special teams touchdowns
The Bulldogs have scored 4 times on defense this year — a safety, 2 interception returns and a fumble return. Considering how much the Georgia offense has struggled recently, it will be of the utmost importance to avoid letting the Dawgs score on a momentum-changing play like that.
An important part of that will be to keep the ball away from the cornerbacks. Georgia has a pair of potential first-round picks in Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell. Stokes just brought an interception back for a touchdown against Florida. It didn’t affect the Gators too much, as they pulled away in the second half, but the Mizzou offense isn’t nearly as explosive as the Gators’.
Making the Dawgs earn everything they get is the key to success. Thus, look for Drinkwitz to use elements of his game plan from the Kentucky win. I expect a lot of work for RB Larry Rountree III. And, I’d like to see Tyler Badie get more involved in the passing game. He needs the ball in space. And, as mentioned above, Stokes and Campbell are more than capable of taking away Mizzou’s outside receiving threats.
Plus, those guys are reliable. You aren’t going to see them put the ball on the ground too often. Ball control will be the name of the game on Saturday. Whichever team wins the field position and turnover battles should be in a great position to win the game.
Clearly everything has to go right for the Tigers to compete with GA including the things Adam mentioned. Get out ahead by a couple of scores will do wonders as well. The team who has to come back in this game will be at a big disadvantage and I would hate to be in a position where we have to comeback being down a few scores with their defense able to go for broke with pressure and feast off mistakes.
I posted this on another article regarding this game: Noon kick on the road. UGA is physically beaten up and must be emotionally down after the Florida loss essentially ended their season. Dawgs have no one who can pass the ball with any consistency. This has all the makings of a Mizzou win.
Yeah, as bad of a time as it was for us to play TN when they were rolling and Drink was going with Robinson at QB, this is about as good of a time to play GA because of things you mentioned. That doesn’t mean the game will go in Mizzou’s favor of course, but it at least feels like it should be a competitive game going into it.
More exuses already, just go ahead and admit Kirby probably want have the guys prepared and if we have a good qb on the roster Kirby is to stupid to recognize it.
Who is this “we” you speak of?
Or did you forget to switch troll accounts?
I said this has the makings of a Mizzou win. If you want to think that is because Mizzou is better than UGA and not because of the reasons I laid out, have at it.
Gotta love internet comments sections, where it’s often written that someone is “to stupid”.
Class of 98, Yep and “to Stupid” should be “too Stupid”. You need to keep an eye on what you type.
Lefty, I think 98 was making that exact point about Rick’s comment and not actually committing the error himself. Also, why do you keep reaching so hard to talk trash? You seem to really like to inject yourself in conversations for no other ostensible purpose than to troll.
Mizzou’s oline is a mess with two starters out. That’s the key for the game. UGA is so talented up front I hope Coach Drink dials up a lot of quick release pass plays.
I really don’t think the dawgs will be down I think they will be mad as hell. We didn’t beat them with Drew Lock and a better defense.
Mizzou’s a psycho girlfriend: Capable of fantastic sex or chasing you around the apartment with a knife and sleeping with your best friend. I do not know which team I will see Saturday if the game gets played.
Score 21 points and thats not hard to do on that overrated defense
Georgia may have more talent but they are limited on the sidelines so this game is a toss up
have to disagree with you rick. The uga D isnt over-rated but they are injury riddled right now and, with the lack of a QB, that leaves the door open for an upset. Mizzou must be prepared for a big heavy does of white most of the day. If mizzou could find a way to get up by a couple scores and force uga to throw they have a very legit shot. But I wouldnt count on that. Uga hasnt been in this position in a while, pretty much out of the east race and sec race already. That can do things to a teams psyche. That is often times what separates good coaches from not so good. Will be interesting to see how fired up and motivated they are. Should be a fun game.
They may have some injuries against Florida but they didn’t against Alabama. Im definitely not say Mizzou is Alabama on offense im just saying a good offense exposes that great defense everyone tries to proclaim Georgia has and it gets old . It just shows Kirby has no clue how to coach defense or offense. He can recruit and that’s it
hmm sounds like pruitt, muschamp… A pattern forming here.
Kirby is a very good defensive coach
“hmm sounds like pruitt, muschamp… A pattern forming here.”
Other than the perennial trips to NY6 bowls, right?
Class of 98, Georgia couldn’t beat South Carolina last year. Sounds like going to be a similar situation in this game against Missouri.
Mizzou is playing the Dawgs at a great time…they should have a “hangover” after the Florida game. So if the Mizzou defense can limit or maybe shut down Georgia’s running game Mizzou can win. Georgia has a lot of questions right now on offense…like QB/QB/QB/*Where is JT Daniels ?
This is a first quarter game in my opinion. The offense has to have success early for us to win this one. If we can create our own confidence, then I think both units for the Tigers can excel. But it starts with the offense.
I’m really concerned about our O-Line. There’s some serious depth issues there and the rest of the offense pretty much feeds off of winning that battle, or at least holding our own up front. It was not good against FLA.
Florida had 3 weeks to prepared for Missouri and they healed up and boom everything was clicking! That was a different Florida team before the COVID-19.
Mizzou has to be able to score.
Drink needs to take the training wheels off Bazelak and let the kid throw some balls down the field. We can’t be a one dimensional run-heavy team against UGA. I think our defense can keep them to 3 scores, so 28 might win it for us.
If Drink calls his best offensive game plan & the Mizzou defense can limit the Dawgs run game…You can win this one. Georgia is mentally down and with no apparent SEC caliber quarterback…and their #1 receiver is not happy with his # of touches, they are vulnerable. So this week’s pick for me is Go Mizzou !
UGA’s #1 WR isn’t happy? What’s your source on that?
There is a lot of emotion involved in football and I think the advantage there belongs to Missouri. This could be a very interesting game.
It seems to be in vogue to pick Mizzou. Let me tell yall a little secret!! UGA is gonna win big , no matter who plays QB. Take that to the bank.
Hopefully they can beat UGA. We have all seen UGA play after they have nothing to play for. When will the dawg lovers admit Kirby is Richt 2.0. As Spurrier said before-what happens to all those star players when they get there? You will fire Kirby soon! #THWG!
UGA has the players to beat just about anyone in the country. Just because they lost to UF doesn’t mean Smart won’t have them ready to play against Mizzou. The dawgs have so much talent that they will really have to play bad and Mizzou will need to be near perfect for them to win this game.
Uga doesn’t have a decent QB and that’s clearly the most important position on the field. Their motivation is also most likely down. Missouri definitely has a shot during this crazy year.
Georgia is going to steamroll Missouri. It isn’t going to be close and Zamir White may have the biggest day of his career.
Is Georgia going to steamroll Missouri like Missouri steamerolled Florida in seasons 2017 and 2018. After 10 games, Big 8/12 Missouri is 5 wins and 5 losses against SEC Florida….HOW ABOUT THAT SEC!!!
Hey Mike, how is Sun Belt MSU doing this season?
Georgia doesn’t have the offense to steamroll anybody
M-I-Z!
Z-O-U!
Missouri, click your heels three times and say:
There’s no place like the Big XII
There’s no place like the Big XII
There’s no place like the Big XII
Mike5675 pick your nose three times and say:
Mississippi doesn’t have a flag
Mississippi doesn’t have a flag
Mississippi doesn’t have a flag
LOL! That literally made me laugh out loud man.