First Look: Missouri
Here's an early look at Purdue's opponent, the Missouri Tigers.
Time: 4 p.m. ET Saturday
Location: Faurot (pronounced Fa-roo) Field
Surface: Artificial (field turf)
Capacity: 71,168
Series notes: Purdue has won six of eight games all-time against Mizzou, but has only played in Columbia once, a 14-7 Missouri win in 1953. The last meeting between the schools was at the 1980 Liberty Bowl, a 28-25 Boilermaker victory. Missouri is 8-8-2 in home games against Big Ten teams since 1970 but is looking for its first home win over a Big Ten foe since 1993 (0-2 since).
TV: SEC Network
Early line: Missouri -7
Is Purdue catching Missouri at a good time ... or not?
The Tigers defense was improved in Week 2, despite a 31-13 home loss to SEC opponent South Carolina, but Coach Barry Odom still fired defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross after the defeat. The Tigers had given up 492 yards and 43 points in the season-opener against Missouri State, and it didn't help the Missouri State was shut out Saturday by North Dakota.
Purdue fans might remember Cross, who was hired for about a week under Coach Danny Hope before Cross bolted for Wisconsin. Odom is known as a defensive coach, but results have been problematic after his 5-9 start at the school.
Missouri's offense puts up big numbers
The Tigers like to play at a frantic pace offensively, posting lots of yardage and sometimes lots of points (72 in the season-opener against Missouri State). Drew Lock, who threw for 521 yards and an SEC record seven touchdowns in Week 1, looked rather average against a Gamecocks' defense that is supposed to be only so-so.
Lock, who has struggled with completion percentage during his brief career, threw two interceptions while completing 14 of his 32 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown. Like Purdue early in the game against Ohio, the Tigers' receivers had several drops. The Tigers rushed the ball for 178 yards, but were one 1 of 3 in the redzone.
Special Teams woes
Missouri struggled in special teams against South Carolina, missing a field goal, allowing a kickoff to be returned for a touchdown, muffing a punt and having penalty on a punt.
Jeff Brohm on Missouri
"It will be a great test for us. I think we played a very good football team the first game. We played a very good MAC opponent the second game. Now we're going to face a team that's in the SEC, used to playing good competition every week. They have good athletes.
"... I think any time you go on the road, it's always a challenge. This team does have good athletes. They can score points. They can challenge our defense. We kind of understand that. We've got to make sure we're doing our part to put them in a great position, but then they've got to go out and play their tails off, execute, try to do the small things.
"On offense, we need to get better at not turning the ball over. That was the main emphasis. We did. We also found a way to run the football, become a little more balanced, which is always going to help.
"It's going to be a tough football game. As you know, our schedule from here on out every week is going to be a test and a challenge. We just got to worry about the next opponent, trying to find a way to improve every week, see if that can be good enough."
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