Here are some quick thoughts on Missouri’s 33-17 win against Minnesota in the Citrus Bowl.

What it means: Just like last season, the Tigers shook off an SEC championship loss to win a well-executed January bowl wins. Missouri may not be a national championship type program at this point, but it is once again a legitimate Top 10 team and has won 23 games the last two years. This iteration of the Tigers always beats decent or mediocre teams (with one glaring exception). It’s not always pretty, but Missouri knows how to win.

What I liked: The always-entertaining Maty Mauk blew off a few early interceptions and some vintage “what was he thinking” plays to add balance to the offense in a dominating second half. The Tigers running game clobbered Minnesota all game. David Cobb, probably a Top 10 running back in the country, had a quiet game. Markus Golden and Shane Ray closed their college careers with a fantastic performance. The onside kick to open the second half was, as Bill Raftery says, “onions.” Harold Brantley converted yet another fake punt as well.

What I didn’t like: The aforementioned Mauk brain farts stunk. I felt like the team got a little too cute on the fake field goal in the second half. At one point Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner completed 14 consecutive passes. That wasn’t supposed to happen against Missouri’s pass rush, and Leidner is a bigger threat as a runner. Marcus Murphy dazzled with a huge punt return for a touchdown, but the Tigers committed not one, not two but three penalties on the play.

Who’s the man: Evan Boehm. Missouri’s inconsistent offensive line play contributed to a down year by coach Gary Pinkel. But against the Golden Gophers, Boehm and company mauled the interior of the defensive line. The Tigers ran for 337 yards, including a 78-yard Russell Hansbrough touchdown that put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Hansbrough had a huge alley up the middle on the run thanks to Missouri’s interior line.

Key play: Leading 14-13 early in the third quarter, Minnesota was set to get the ball back when punt returner Marcus Jones fumbled. Tyler Hunt, a former walk-on running back, pounced on it at the Golden Gophers 34-yard line. It set up Maty Mauk’s 18-yard go-ahead touchdown run.

What’s next: Missouri once again must replace its top three receivers, two starting defensive ends likely to get drafted in the NFL, arguably the team’s best running back and the starting left tackle. The Tigers also have replaced long-time defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, who accepted a head coaching job. Will Missouri get more respect nationally after back-to-back SEC East titles? Can the Tigers put together another 10-win season? Will Maty Mauk finally become an All-SEC type of quarterback?