Oklahoma State's high-powered offense is still favored by Vegas to win this Saturday in Columbia, but if you're a Missouri fan looking for a silver lining, the professionals seem to think this will be the closest contest the Cowboys have this season.
Short of their status as 4-point dogs at Texas A&M earlier this year (remember that? When the Aggies weren't a punchline that ended in "second half?"), the line of -6.5 will be slimmest margin for Oklahoma State all season. The Tigers haven't really played anyone at home so far (Miami-Ohio, Western Illinois, Iowa State), but they're still 3-0, and haven't allowed over more than 17 points in a single game in those three contests.
Since the Cowboys are averaging almost triple that a game, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel knows that the Tiger defense will have to find a way to slow things down:
"We've seen some offenses in this league over the years that have been very explosive. We have four or five offenses in this league right now that are really explosive so this is one of many we are going to see. This is just a glimpse. But certainly they are one of the best in the country. I think you are a competitor on defense. When you play great people, you have respect for them, but you just keep battling. You play one play at a time. That's kind of your approach. When you are playing good people, they are going to make some plays, and you have to make some plays, also."
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