Texas Bowl: Navy Midshipmen vs. Missouri Tigers | Preview & Predictions

December 31, 2009 | 3:30 PM EST, Houston, TX, on ESPN

Texas Bowl

Navy Midshipmen(9-4) vs Missouri Tigers (8-4)

Opening Line: Missouri -9 (current Mizzou -6.5)

Game Preview: It seems that dominant running teams always wind up playing their mirror opposites – See Air force vs. Houston.  This is another case pitting the nation’s number 4 rushing attack against the most prolific pass catch combination in the country.  This is also a contest of David vs Goliath wherein the Navy will try and outscheme a Missouri team that has challenged for Big 2 supremacy the last few years.  Navy never quits but it they can win this one it will be their most impressive win of the season.  Don’t put it past them…they almost beat Ohio State in week 1.

Navy Preview: Navy is one of the teams you just have to root for.  Sure they are one of the service academies but how can you not root for a team that eschews ego the way they do.  Teams know what is coming and they dare the opponent to stop them.  It is not surprising that they have wrung up another strong bowl season but what is surpirising is how they have fared against the better teams on their schedule; nearly beating OSU, beating and Wake Forest.  They will not quit and the nation will get to see how much fun Ricky Dobbs can be.  He only accounted for 29 TDs this year.

Missouri Preview: The Tigers aerial attack was supposed to fade minus Chase Daniel , Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman.  They simply reloaded leaning on Blaine Gabbert and Danario Alexander.  Alexander is hardly a Maclin clone he is 6’4″ and uses his big body to get open and bust tackles in the secondary.  Navy has nobody in their secondary who can phsyically matchup with him so look for a lot of jump balls.  On defense this will be an interesting challenge for LB Sean Witherspoon who is trying to improve his draft stock.  Scouts will be looking to see how he reacts to the Navy attack.

Game Prediction: No matter how much success they have running the ball I think Navy is going to have trouble punching it in against the Tigers and their passing offense is going to be too much to handle.  All in all the Tigers are going to be a tough order for the Middies…but they wont quit.

Score Prediction:

Missouri Tigers – 38

Navy Midshipmen – 21

Pick: I have been surprised to see this spread drop, perhaps the oddsmakers see something I don’t (it wouldn’t be the first time).  At less than a TD you have to like Mizzou.  Their offense can be pretty explosive if Gabbert is given time.