Missouri

3 matchups that could define Alabama football vs Missouri Saturday

Published

2 months ago

October 25, 2024

3 matchups that could define Alabama football vs Missouri Saturday

Kalen DeBoer is impressed with what Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz has built. It’s a much different Tigers team than Alabama football is used to seeing.

It’s a Missouri team that has won 17 of its last 20 games, a Missouri team that has appeared in the Top 15 of the last 20 US LBM Coaches Polls.

“Just a resilient group, won some close games,” DeBoer said of Missouri. “So we’ve got another great task at hand as they’re all going to always be in the SEC. Our guys are looking forward to the challenge.”

Alabama kicks off against Missouri at 2:30 p.m. CT at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide-Tigers game will be broadcast on ABC.

Here are three matchups to watch in Saturday’s Homecoming game between Alabama vs. Missouri.

Familiarity between Alabama football coordinators and Missouri coordinators

The upcoming chess match between Alabama vs. Missouri’s coordinators Saturday afternoon carries a bit of extra weight.

Missouri defensive coordinator Corey Batoon was Kane Wommack’s defensive coordinator at South Alabama from 2021-23, and worked under Kane’s father Dave Wommack at Ole Miss from 2012-16.

“I think the way that they play, I think the effort, the toughness, the physicality, the disruption of the football, I think those are the things that you see aside from maybe some similarities schematically because I think great coaches like the ones we’re going against this week, they just adjust to who they have and what their players do best,” Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said. “And so year to year that may look different. But I think the style of play and how they play, those are things that show up with coach Wommack and coach Batoon.”

Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore was DeBoer’s pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Fresno State. In Moore, Wommack said he expects an explosive game plan on the outside with “a lot of different things and pictures that they’re going to show you.”

“A lot of those schemes and tendancies are similar to ours,” Alabama co-defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said. “But it’s kind of fun to go against a version of our own.”

Alabama pass rush vs Missouri QB Drew Pyne

Drew Pyne was not comfortable against Auburn.

The Missouri quarterback, who moved into the starting role against Auburn when Brady Cook was sidelined with an injury, was limited to 78 passing yards and completed 10 of 21 pass attempts.

Pyne is expected to be thrust into his first start of the season against Alabama. And the Crimson Tide must continue to make Pyne uncomfortable, mixing traditional three- and four-man pass rushes with blitzes to disrupt Pyne’s timing and Missouri’s ability to move the ball downfield.

That’s not all on Alabama’s pass rush, a unit that averages more than two sacks per game. It was not all on Auburn either, a unit that recorded one sack against Pyne last week, but five sacks and six tackles-for-loss overall.

Consistent discomfort is a key for Alabama against Pyne, whether through pressure or shifting pictures in the defensive backfield, enough for the second-string quarterback to hold onto the football.

Alabama cornerbacks vs Missouri WR Luther Burden

Maurice Linguist knows Missouri will find a way to get Luther Burden the football Saturday, no matter who the Tigers’ quarterback is.

“I think he’s going to end up being a high draft pick,” Linguist said of Burden, who he described as a weapon everywhere from the outside, both slot positions and in the backfield with the “speed on the GPS and on film” to get over the top and create separation.

The deep ball is something Alabama defensive backs have been susceptible to, something Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava continuously tested the Crimson Tide with.

Burden and the Missouri offense will likely follow suit, giving Domani Jackson, Jaylen Mbakwe and whichever Alabama cornerback is assigned to him their toughest task yet.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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Illinois vs. Missouri Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Sunday, December 22

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Illinois vs. Missouri Prediction, Odds and Key Players for Sunday, December 22

Illinois and Missouri meet in a semi-neutral floor meeting on Sunday with each team looking for a strong non-conference victory.

The Tigers are enjoying a bounceback campaign this season that already features a win against Kansas. Can the team score another victory against a team with Final Four aspirations in Illinois? The Fighting Illini have thrived on the defensive end, but are still searching for consistency on offense around star freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis. Can the team find it against Missouri?

Here’s our betting preview.

Spread

Moneyline

Total: 154.5 (Over -108/Under -112)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Illinois

Kasparas Jakucionis: The 6’6” point guard has thrived to start his college career, averaging 16 points, six rebounds and nearly six assists per game. Jakucionis is a deft three-point shooter as well, hitting 42% of his threes for the perimeter oriented Fighting Illini offense.

Missouri

Mark Mitchell: The Duke transfer has thrived in the new setting, averaging 13 points with five rebounds per game while also providing strong defense as an interior presence with more than a block per game to go with a steal.

Missouri’s heavy ball pressure defense will be a test for Jakucionis, who does have a near-27% turnover rate, but overall this Illinois offense rates out as a strong unit at protecting the ball, ranking top 60 in turnover rate.

With the Tigers aggressive defense, it is vulnerable to letting up second chances, bottom 30 in the country in defensive rebounding rate, which is impactful with the Illinois’ offense elite at generating offensive rebounds, top 30 in the nation.

Missouri’s defense is a bit of a boom-or-bust unit, and I also believe the offense is due to regress after starting the season posting a top three effective field goal percentage in the country at nearly 60% while posting a top three free throw rate.

Illinois’ defense has a ton of length and shuts off the perimeter for opponents, allowing a bottom 40 three-point rate while ranking top five in effective field goal percentage allowed.

This may be an up-and-down affair, but I like this matchup for Illinois to hand Missouri a well overdue loss.

PICK: Illinois -3.5

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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Patrol reports 8 individuals arrested in north Missouri from Dec. 19 to Dec. 21, 2024

Published

11 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Patrol reports 8 individuals arrested in north Missouri from Dec. 19 to Dec. 21, 2024

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Between December 19, 2024, and December 21, 2024, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported eight arrests in north Missouri. The charges ranged from driving while intoxicated (DWI) to vehicle theft and traffic violations. Below is a detailed account of each individual arrested during this period.

Rodney L. Crosby, 43, Council Bluffs, Iowa
On December 19, 2024, at 1:58 p.m., Rodney L. Crosby was arrested in Atchison County. Crosby was charged with vehicle theft under an Emmet County, Iowa, warrant. He was held at the Atchison County Sheriff’s Office with no bond.

Michael L. McMillan, 51, Kansas City, Missouri
On December 19, 2024, at 9:12 p.m., Michael L. McMillan was arrested in Andrew County. He faced charges for driving while intoxicated (DWI), a misdemeanor, speeding, and failing to properly affix a display plate. McMillan was held at the Andrew County Jail on a 12-hour hold.

Denny B. Wiley, 36, Stanberry, Missouri
On December 20, 2024, at 2:33 p.m., Denny B. Wiley was arrested in Gentry County. Wiley was charged with failing to display valid plates on a motor vehicle and misdemeanor DWI. He was held at the Gentry County Sheriff’s Office on a 12-hour hold.

Donita D. Shields, 48, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
On December 20, 2024, at 6:29 p.m., Donita D. Shields was arrested in Clinton County. She was charged with failure to appear (FTA) for a moving traffic violation under a Morgan County warrant. Shields was held at the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and was bondable.

Bryan J. Castellon Rivas, 22, Omaha, Nebraska
On December 20, 2024, at 10:54 p.m., Bryan J. Castellon Rivas was arrested in Holt County. His charges included exceeding the posted speed limit by 26 mph or more, operating a vehicle without a valid license (first offense), misdemeanor DWI (alcohol), and consuming alcohol while driving. He was held at the Holt County Sheriff’s Office on a 12-hour hold.

Curt J. Batt, 65, Sidney, Nebraska
On December 19, 2024, at 1:15 p.m., Curt J. Batt was arrested in Macon County. Batt was charged with excessive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .04 or higher while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). He was held at the Macon County Sheriff’s Department and later released.

George A. Garber, 62, Unionville, Missouri
On December 19, 2024, at 7:13 p.m., George A. Garber was arrested in Putnam County. He was charged with felony DWI (alcohol) as an aggravated offender. Garber was held at the Putnam County Jail and later released.

Jose I. Molina-Argueta, 40, Milan, Missouri
On December 21, 2024, at 12:03 a.m., Jose I. Molina-Argueta was arrested in Sullivan County. He faced a charge of DWI (alcohol) and was held at the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department before being released.

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Both Missouri River bridges now open at Rocheport, MoDOT announces

Published

19 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Both Missouri River bridges now open at Rocheport, MoDOT announces

Both east- and westbound Lance Cpl. Leon Deraps Interstate 70 Missouri River bridges now are open to traffic.

The Missouri Department of Transportation announced the full opening of both bridges Friday. A ribbon-cutting marking the occasion was held Dec. 10 on the eastbound bridge. Prior to the eastbound bridge opening, all traffic, regardless of travel direction, was on the westbound bridge.

The westbound bridge was constructed first, all traffic was shifted to it and then the prior metal girder bridge was demolished. The new eastbound bridge was built in same location as the old bridge. The dual-bridge construction was forward looking in preparation for I-70’s expansion to six lanes statewide.

While the eastbound bridge is open, final touches still are needed and all work should finish by the spring.

“These twin new bridges would not have been possible without the foresight, cooperation and contributions of our federal and state elected leaders as well as the local communities who recognized the long-term value of investing in a bridge that connects their region, the state and the nation,” said Dustin Boatwright, Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission chair at the ribbon-cutting. “This project is a testimony to what’s possible when we work together at all levels.”

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