[sees the Black Friday game coming up]

[whispering] all blacks, all blacks, all blacks…

[tweet goes up, sees Chad Bailey walking toward the mannequin]

[loudly] All blacks! All blacks! All blacks!

[the cover is torn off revealing…]

[shouting, pounding fists on table] ALL BLACKS! ALL BLACKS! ALL BLACKS!

You like to see it. I don’t know that that is my favourite iteration of the scripted helmet, however the look is so clear that I’ll nonetheless take it over regardless of the hell occurred final week.

I considered going with one thing pork flavored… possibly a type of bacon cup shooters that I’ll see Instagram barbecue cooks do repeatedly. However that looks like a bit a lot on the day after thanksgiving. So we’re going with the black theme.

I’ve by no means used activated charcoal in a drink to show it black earlier than, however it appears a lot preferable to utilizing meals coloring like some web sites counsel. Meals coloring tastes horrid for those who get it in too huge of portions, and I can’t think about ingesting one thing with that taste. So as a substitute, I’m utilizing this recipe for the Black Widow Cocktail from Aimee Mars which feels like a heavenly little afternoon beverage that maintains the spirit of the day. You all the time love one thing with somewhat Creme de Cassis.

2 ounces Vodka

3 ounces Cream de Cassis

1 ounce Kahlua

½ teaspoon Activated Charcoal (non-obligatory, however c’mon)

Advertisement

1 ounce Ginger Beer

2 Blackberries

Pour the vodka, cream de cassis, activated charcoal, and Kahlua right into a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake vigorously and pressure right into a martini glass.

Splash the highest of the cocktail with the ginger beer and garnish with blackberries.

Oh, we all know Arkansas a lot properly at this level. We all know their coaches. We all know their gamers. We all know their silly pig brand and the horrible chant they do. If my faculty instructed me to “name the hogs,” I’d eat a field of nails.

Regardless, we must always nonetheless know somewhat bit extra about their soccer workforce earlier than we dive into the sport on Friday. It’ll be a strength-on-strength and weakness-on-weakness matchup, which ought to make for a fairly full of life little encounter.

On protection, Barry Odom’s boys are a-struggling. It’s the worst Odom protection since he arrived in Fayetteville, partially attributable to some damage and suspension points. And whereas they’re not nice at stopping the cross (other than huge performs, whew!), they’re particularly not nice at stopping the run. Do you assume that makes Eli Drinkwitz joyful, Nate?

As soon as once more Eli Drinkwitz can enter his offensive assembly with an enormous silly smile on his face as he can encourage Bush Hamdan to name 40 runs and never fear in regards to the outcomes. Arkansas’ dashing protection at the moment ranks one hundred and fifth within the nation, permitting a 47% success charge on the bottom, at the very least 4-yards per carry 50% of the time, and one of many worst frequencies of permitting huge performs to runners. Cody Schrader higher eat his Wheaties this week and improve his stretching routine as a result of he’s going to get utilized a ton, and possibly to good impact.

Cody Schrader subject day incoming?

Arkansas is a lot higher on offense, rating 18th total. That’s barely higher than the place Mizzou sits on the defensive rankings, so it’ll be crucial for the Tigers to gradual the sport down on offense. When the protection is on the sector nevertheless, they’ll have to do create chaos and generate some turnovers out of mentioned chaos.

If Missouri’s havoc charge is under 19% they get blown out (see: Kansas State, Tennessee). Ending over 20% doesn’t assure a win however, contemplating that solely two losses which were by multiple rating each coincided with a havoc charge properly under 19%, it’s pertinent to maintain the havoc excessive. The one workforce Missouri has crushed that ranks higher than eightieth in SP+ is South Carolina they usually gained that comfortably due to a 42% havoc charge. The same efficiency can be wanted right here.

Mizzou getting the sport at dwelling ought to assist issues. The group might not be as huge as we’ve been seeing all season, however Missouri folks can get rowdy irrespective of the numbers. I’m itching to purchase these tickets to Shreveport boys, let’s lock ‘em in!

Saturday evening was a lot enjoyable. Comfy win on senior evening, a bunch of younger guys received to play… good vibes throughout. In a recreation that principally ran on auto-pilot, what stood out to you essentially the most?

Parker Gillam, Beat Author: Brady Prepare dinner’s continued enchancment. Yeah, yeah, it was New Mexico State, however Prepare dinner has strung collectively a few strong weeks of play now. He appears to be like way more comfy inside the offense and has been in a position to constantly discover playmakers downfield as of late. His legs have confirmed to the X-Issue for this offense at instances, and he might want to carry it at the very least 10 instances for the Tigers to beat Arkansas for my part.

Sammy Stava, Employees Author: The underclassmen received to see some enjoying time, although it was solely a drive for Sam Horn. I favored seeing Ryan Hoerstkamp get his first landing of his profession. Luther Burden did Luther Burden issues — and a Daylan Carnell decide six was enjoyable. As Parker mentioned, Prepare dinner is getting higher — 5 TD passes and 0 INTs his final two video games.

General, it was a recreation the place they wanted to win comfortably, they usually did.

Dan Keegan, Soccer Contributor: Luther Burden’s second landing made me gasp. Not the one the place he eschewed his fastidiously crafted blocking and ran round everybody. No, the one the place he took the little shovel cross across the left finish, appeared hemmed in, after which appeared to teleport into the tip zone about ten yards away. What?

Followers on each side of the Battle Line Rivalry prefer to fake that the sport doesn’t imply something… and but Razorback followers can’t stand Eli Drinkwitz, Barry Odom hopped to Arky and took some recruits with him after getting canned and Missouri followers discover each alternative to focus on the “kansas” in Arkansas. Is that this an actual rivalry at this level, is it getting there or do you continue to assume that is simply one other recreation?

Parker Gillam: It’s a rivalry purely off the geography and personnel similarities these colleges have. They recruit the identical areas and have followers stationed in every state, making it an enormous recreation for area recognition if something. The old-Southwest ties additionally play an element.

So, sure, it’s a rivalry recreation. It it hate-fueled and extremely intense between the faculties themselves? No. However, this recreation all the time tends to hold lots of necessary and is usually tightly-contested. That classifies as a rivalry recreation in my e-book.

Sammy Stava: Yeah, I believe you possibly can name this a rivalry recreation by now. Clearly, it’s not up there with Ohio State-Michigan and Alabama-Auburn — however there’s some intriguing storylines to this 12 months’s recreation with Barry Odom returning to Columbia. On the finish of the common season, this normally finally ends up which means one thing for each groups.

It’s received a reputation and a trophy concerned which can be performed on Black Friday. That’s ok for me.

Dan Keegan: It’s a rivalry. There’s sufficient recruiting and geographic overlap. As a result of we’re peer packages enjoying within the final week of the season, the sport normally has some type of postseason stakes. However I’ll say that I don’t personally carry a lot hatred for Arkansas. Sam Pittman is a pleasure, and his groups are enjoyable to look at. I actually favored some Arkansas groups (the McFadden groups, the Ryan Mallet groups) earlier than we joined God’s Personal Convention. I’ve developed rather more animosity to a pair of SEC East packages at a far larger charge than towards Arkansas. However it’s completely a rivalry.

Friday’s recreation represents Mizzou’s final shot at securing bowl eligibility exterior of APR shenanigans. And whereas Arkansas did put the boots on Ole Miss, they’ve principally been simply OK this season. Will your view of Mizzou’s season hinge on whether or not or not they will win the Battle Line recreation and seize a reliable bowl berth?

Parker Gillam: I’ve already received my opinion of how Mizzou’s soccer program goes ahead. With the Drinkwitz and Baker extensions, this administration is all-in on them. Drinkwitz will get his alternative to develop his current nice recruits, and I’ve already seen sufficient indicators this season to know that this program is trending in a constructive course. So no, this recreation won’t change that.

What it should change, although, is whether or not or not this season is taken into account a disappointment. I had the Tigers pegged at 6-6 within the preseason, and regardless of how a lot they’ve struggled at instances this season, they nonetheless have a shot at getting there. Beating your rival within the closing recreation of the season to clinch a bowl-berth can be enormous for offseason momentum and persevering with to develop a few of the youth on this roster. A win right here can completely flip the fan perspective of the 2022 Missouri Tigers.

Sammy Stava: That is what Mizzou is enjoying for at this level, and it might salvage an in any other case disappointing season. Even at .500, attending to reliable bowl eligibility three years in a row can be huge for a rebuilding program.

If it wasn’t for the bowl ban in 2019 and COVID cancellation in 2020, Mizzou would have a streak of 5 straight bowl appearances with an opportunity for a sixth. That’s not nothing.

A loss to Arkansas wouldn’t precisely make this a disastrous season as a result of this was a very robust schedule, however a step again in Eli Drinkwitz’s third season isn’t ultimate. General, discover a approach to get to (and win) a bowl recreation to complete over .500. That may be reliable progress.

Dan Keegan: No, as a result of the workforce’s three losses in winnable shut video games have already outlined the season. With 9-3 on the desk, the Tigers as a substitute snatched defeat from the jaws of victory towards Florida, Auburn, and Kentucky; to take action towards Arkansas can be par for the course in 2022.

However it should change how now we have to speak about this workforce within the offseason. These near the workforce can see the true progress Drinkwitz has made in expertise acquisition and in hiring. A break-through could possibly be imminent, and a bowl recreation (and possibly even win) would make that extra seen to these with a extra chicken’s eye view.

However a 5-7 end? We can be battling the sidewalk supporters and sycophants all summer time.

PICK ‘EM! Arkansas is the slightest of favorites in Columbia, and we all know this recreation will possible find yourself being shut. Can the Tigers sneak out their sixth win? In that case, who’s going to be the hero on Black Friday?

Parker Gillam: I’ve been recognized to select towards Mizzou pretty continuously this 12 months. Let’s change that. I’ve received Mizzou successful 27-24, however it’s going to take loads. KJ Jefferson appeared one hundred pc wholesome final week, and the duo of him and Rocket Sanders within the backfield is a nightmare to defend, even for Mizzou’s vaunted protection. Baker can show he earned that extension by scheming up a plan to comprise their explosive offense, as a result of they can’t afford to get right into a shootout.

On the opposite facet, it’s going to be right down to Brady Prepare dinner once more. The Razorbacks have struggled to defend the cross all season however are strong towards the run, which means that Prepare dinner must have one of many higher video games of his profession. If he can go for over 250 yards, no turnovers, and run the ball properly, then this recreation can be going within the win column.

Prepare dinner would be the MVP, and thus win again the Tiger fan base and enter the 2023 offseason as the favourite to win the QB job once more.

Sammy Stava: Mizzou is enjoying for a bowl recreation and Arkansas has already clinched that — which means Missouri has extra to play for. The Tigers are additionally at dwelling, the place they’re 4-2 with four-point losses to Georgia and Kentucky.

Whereas the Razorbacks did win convincingly in a formidable victory final week over Ole Miss, they’ve additionally misplaced to Texas A&M and Liberty. They’re clearly higher with KJ Jefferson at QB, however they’re additionally beatable.

Mizzou finds a approach to win. 24-20. Massive recreation from Brady Prepare dinner.

Dan Keegan: Missouri’s defensive position must be heroic. They should cease operating performs of their tracks, and never let the bruising runners Rocket Sanders and KJ Jefferson into Mizzou’s second and third ranges. The Tiger protection has not been nice towards cellular quarterbacks this season — now can be an excellent time for his or her finest effort in containing scrambles.

Javon Foster and Armand Membou should be wonderful towards Arkansas’s Drew Sanders. His midseason stoop is over, and Sanders has been again to terrorizing SEC quarterbacks in current weeks. He can’t be allowed to single-handedly put Missouri behind the sticks or power a Brady Prepare dinner turnover.

Missouri is a fairly constant outfit. However which Arkansas reveals up? The one which dismantled BYU and Ole Miss, or the one which struggled at dwelling with Liberty and Missouri State?

Let’s say it’s the latter and Missouri wins 19-13. 4 Thiccer Kicker subject objectives and a Luther Burden rating.