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Who will be Missouri football’s defensive MVP in 2024 season? Here are three candidates

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1 year ago

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Who will be Missouri football’s defensive MVP in 2024 season? Here are three candidates


The defense looks a little different in Columbia from this time last year.

Missouri football enters the 2024 season with a realistic opportunity to make the expanded College Football Playoff. BetMGM has the over/under for the Tigers’ win total next season at 9.5. If Eli Drinkwitz’s team can hit double-digit regular-season wins for the second year running, they’d be firmly in the conversation for a berth to the 12-team playoff.

With a schedule that seemingly sets up favorably, MU has some questions to answer, mostly based on the unfamiliarity on one side of the ball.

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More: Who will be Missouri football’s toughest opponent on 2024 schedule? Ranking all 12

Mizzou lost five starting members of its 11-2, Cotton Bowl-winning defense to the NFL Draft. Five more players, combining starters or key reserves, were either picked up as undrafted free agents or exhausted their collegiate eligibility.

Corey Batoon was hired as the MU’s next defensive coordinator, replacing Blake Baker, who left Columbia for the same role at LSU. Missouri is expected to run the same 4-2-5 base formation, providing an element of consistency, but the finer details of Batoon’s scheme haven’t been battle-tested in black and gold.

So, who will lead the defense in 2024?

Here are three candidates — two returners, one newcomer — who could be the Tigers’ Defensive MVP in the 2024 season:

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Johnny Walker Jr., defensive end

The Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP has the floor.

Walker had a breakout 2023 season, staying the course behind past starters for three seasons before taking his opportunity when it was presented last fall. He finished the campaign with 43.5 total tackles, 9.5 of which were for loss and five for sacks. He forced three fumbles, led the team with nine QB hurries and was a force as MU held Ohio State to 3 points for a New Year’s Six Bowl win.

Walker shapes up to be Missouri’s premier pass rusher under Batoon. With quarterbacks like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold, Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman and Auburn’s Payton Thorne on the schedule in what look likely to be swing games, that’s going to be an essential role in MU’s CFP chase.

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Mizzou lost that player in Darius Robinson, who was a first-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in April. The standard now turns to Walker.

“Something that (Walker) communicated to me when I met with him one-on-one when I first got here was the fact that he looked up to (Robinson) when he was here,” new Missouri defensive ends coach Brian Early said in March. “I think D-Rob was the alpha in this room, and that person is gone and someone else has to move into that role. 

“So, those standards that have been set here and upheld by players in the past like D-Rob — it’s Johnny’s turn now.”

More: Ranking opposing quarterbacks on Missouri football’s 2024 schedule

Daylan Carnell, star safety

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In a secondary that looks a little different from last season, Carnell is a welcome constant.

The star safety has improved each of the past two seasons, first carving out a role alongside starter Martez Manuel in 2022, when he registered three interceptions on the season, and then earning the starting job in 2023. Carnell finished last season with 51 total tackles, eight for loss and three sacks. He forced two fumbles and was second on the MU roster with eight pass breakups. 

Mizzou lost both of its starting cornerbacks to the NFL. The Tigers return Joseph Charleston with plenty of experience at safety, where he’ll partner up with promising sophomore Marvin Burks Jr., who replaces Indianapolis Colts-bound JC Carlies.

More: Recruiting snapshot: Eight Class of 2025 recruits who will visit Missouri football this month

Carnell is a steady hand in the hybrid safety/linebacker role that seems to fit his strengths so well. He hurried Ohio State’s quarterbacks a game-leading three times in the Cotton Bowl. Few MU fans will soon forget his pick-six against Tennessee that put the result beyond any doubt.

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Another good season as the Tigers’ starter, and Carnell is likely to start picking up some serious draft chatter.

Toriano Pride Jr., cornerback

You could have picked any number of the nine new transfers to the Missouri defense as the newcomer who could have the most immediate impact. Defensive ends Zion Young and Darris Smith, defensive tackle Chris McClellan and linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. all figure to immediately jump into important roles.

More: How Toriano Pride has made case to start in Missouri football’s secondary

But Pride, a Clemson transfer and East St. Louis product, might be the cog Missouri needs to hit the ground running most.

One: Because the experience around him in the cornerbacks room is somewhat thin. 

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Returner and Cotton Bowl starter Drey Norwood has put together a spring camp that earned plenty of plaudits from the MU coaching staff. Marcus Clarke is back for his third season in Columbia but has spent all of the past two campaigns as a backup. Behind them, there’s a promising group of underclassmen but scant in-game reps.

With Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Kris Abrams-Draine off to the league with Detroit and Denver, respectively, there’s a lot of production to fill. Pride played 26 times for Clemson over two seasons, registering nine pass breakups, an interception and 30 solo tackles.

Two: Missouri needs Pride to impress quickly because it comes up against some top-of-the-line receivers.

From Oklahoma returner Nic Anderson to Auburn freshman Cam Coleman to Mississippi State newcomer Kelly Akharaiyi to Alabama transfer Germie Bernard, Mizzou won’t get much of a breather once the SEC slate kicks in.

Pride is almost certainly going to pair with Norwood in the starting lineup. If he hits the ground running, that’ll answer a big — perhaps the biggest — question facing the Missouri defense.

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Missouri

Missouri judge loses job over too many Elvis references

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9 hours ago

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November 21, 2025

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Missouri judge loses job over too many Elvis references


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bet365 Missouri bonus code NYPBET: Pre-register and grab $365 bonus value for Chiefs playoff push

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1 day ago

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November 20, 2025

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bet365 Missouri bonus code NYPBET: Pre-register and grab 5 bonus value for Chiefs playoff push


Missouri sports betting won’t go live until Dec. 1, but users can pre-register at bet365 Sportsbook starting on Monday, Nov. 17.

And good news, if you do pre-register, you can use bet365 promo code NYPBET to get $365 in bonus bets after you bet $5.

Missourians can apply the promo code to bet on any sport, including futures bets on the Kansas City Chiefs as they head down the stretch.

Pre-register in Missouri with bet365 bonus code NYPBET

Missouri sports betting app newcomers can use the bet365 promo code NYPBET at registration to access the launch offer when betting goes live on Dec. 1. 

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Local bettors won’t have to wait long for a marquee matchup, with the Chiefs hosting the Texans on “Sunday Night Football” on Dec. 7 at Arrowhead.

To redeem the promotion, new bet365 customers must be physically located within Missouri at the time they sign up.

  1. Select your bonus offer: Bet $5, get $365 in bonus bets, win or lose!
  2. Choose your state.
  3. Hit the “Join Now” button.
  4. Fill out your login details.
  5. When prompted, enter the promo code NYPBET
  6. Choose your preferred welcome offer.
  7. Make a minimum deposit of $10.

What our Post expert thinks about Chiefs futures

Kansas City’s reign over the AFC West is slipping, with a 5-5 start and a three-game gap behind Denver signaling how far the Chiefs have drifted from their decade of dominance. 

Their problems aren’t tied to one glaring flaw; instead, they’ve slid into the middle of the pack across key areas like run defense, rushing production and scoring efficiency.

A sputtering offense and uneven results against top-tier opponents have left them fighting just to stay in the postseason picture. 

It’s no surprise they’re sitting at 11/1 to win the Super Bowl — a number that reflects a team searching for answers more than one chasing a title.

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GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+ only. Must be physically located in MO. T&Cs Apply. In App Only.

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.



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No. 22 Missouri looks to disrupt No. 8 Oklahoma’s momentum in Week 13 clash

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2 days ago

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November 19, 2025

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No. 22 Missouri looks to disrupt No. 8 Oklahoma’s momentum in Week 13 clash


Missouri heads to Norman on Saturday for a pivotal late-season matchup that carries real weight for both programs. Oklahoma enters the weekend as a touchdown favorite at home, backed by a 70% win probability in Dimers’ simulations, and the Sooners will try to lean on their defense to control the tempo in a game projected to stay low scoring. Missouri, meanwhile, comes in as a live underdog with a 55% chance to cover, and the Tigers have shown enough resilience this season to make this a far more competitive meeting than the odds might suggest.

With a projected final of 26–19 in favor of Oklahoma, the analytics point toward a tight, defense-driven contest—one where field position, turnovers, and red-zone execution could swing everything. Both teams remain firmly in the postseason conversation entering Week 13, and with the total sitting at just 42.5, every possession at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium may feel magnified.

Missouri vs. Oklahoma betting preview

Explore the interactive widget below to discover the current spread, total, and moneyline betting odds and probabilities for the Missouri-Oklahoma matchup at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

This prediction and best bet for Saturday’s college football matchup between Missouri and Oklahoma is from Dimers.com, a leader in sports betting predictions.

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Check out all the important details on today’s game, as well as the best odds sourced from the top sportsbooks in the country.

Game details

Key information on the Missouri vs. Oklahoma matchup, including where the game is and what time it kicks off.

  • Teams: Missouri vs. Oklahoma
  • Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
  • Kickoff: 12 p.m. EST
  • Location: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • NCAAF rankings: Updated AP Top 25
  • College football news: Check the latest updates from the official NCAA football news site

Odds

Odds for the key markets in the Missouri-Oklahoma college football matchup.

  • Spread: Missouri +7.5 (-112), Oklahoma -7.5 (-105)
  • Moneyline: Missouri +240, Oklahoma -290
  • Total: Over/Under 42.5 (-110/-110)

The odds and lines featured in this article are the best available from selected sports betting sites at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Promos

New users in Missouri can look forward to these offers from DraftKings, Bet365, BetMGM, and FanDuel all going live December 1st.

Expert prediction: Missouri vs. Oklahoma

Utilizing advanced data analysis and machine learning, the experts at Dimers have executed 10,000 simulations of Saturday’s Missouri vs. Oklahoma matchup.

According to Dimers’ renowned predictive analytics model, Oklahoma is more likely to beat Missouri at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. This prediction is based on the model giving Oklahoma a 70% chance of winning the game.

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Furthermore, Dimers predicts that Missouri (+7.5) has a 55% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 42.5 points has a 60% chance of staying under.

These predictions and probabilities are correct at the time of publication but are subject to potential changes.

Missouri vs. Oklahoma best bet

Our top pick for the Missouri vs. Oklahoma game on Saturday is to bet on Under 42.5 points (-110).

This betting advice is formulated through detailed modeling and valuable wagering intelligence, designed to bring you the best possible plays.

Score prediction for Missouri vs. Oklahoma

Dimers’ predicted final score for the Missouri vs. Oklahoma game on Saturday has Oklahoma winning 26-19.

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This expert prediction is based on each team’s average score following 10,000 game simulations, offering a glimpse into the potential outcome.

College football Week 13: Missouri vs. Oklahoma

Get ready for Saturday’s college football game between Missouri and Oklahoma at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, which is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. EST. We emphasize that all of the college football predictions and college football best bets in this preview are based on 10,000 data-driven simulations of the Missouri vs. Oklahoma matchup, and they are accurate at the time of publication to help you make better decisions when placing bets at online sportsbooks.

Please remember to gamble responsibly and seek trustworthy sources for accurate and up-to-date information when making online betting choices.

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