No. 16 Missouri and No. 25 Minnesota will kick off from Orlando, Florida in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. Here is what to watch for in the matchup.
**1. Minnesota running back David Cobb will be showcased**
Unfortunately for Cobb, his record season in the Big Ten Conference flew under the radar because of 2000+ yard seasons from Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon and Indiana’s Tevin Coleman. Cobb finished the season 13th in the nation in rushing, fourth in the Big Ten. He’s been a workhorse on the ground for the Gophers and finished with seven games with at least 25 carries. At 230 pounds, he is a powerful rusher. However, he can be held in check. Texas Christian, a comparable defense to Mizzou’s, held Cobb to 15 carries for 41 yards. With Mizzou’s strong pass rush, expect Cobb to be involved heavily in the offense.
**2. Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner hit or miss**
Leidner has struggled behind center all season. He has a low completion percentage (49.0) and is turnover-prone. He has thrown for over 200 yards just once this season, which bodes well for Mizzou’s strong pass rush. Against AP Top 25 teams, Leidner’s numbers drop even further. His completion percentage falls to a mere 37.0 percent and he is yet to throw a touchdown pass. Beware, though, as Leidner does have the dual-threat ability. In each of Minnesota’s last six games, he has recorded double-digit rushing attempts, including a career game against Nebraska (22 attempts, 111 yards, 2 TD).
**3. How much will Minnesota use tight end Maxx Williams**
Unlike the Tigers, the Gophers heavily feature the tight end position in their passing game. Williams leads the team in all main receiving categories. He also is the top-ranked tight end in the Big Ten. Williams has 29 receptions for 471 yards and seven touchdowns this season. No other Gopher receiver has more than two touchdowns. His best performance this year came against Iowa when he found the end zone three times. If Mizzou’s linebackers can drop back in coverage and shut Williams down, the Tigers will force the Gophers to become one-dimensional.
**4. Can Mizzou’s offense limit turnovers?**
Minnesota is a top-50 defense and rightfully so, as the Gophers are opportunistic and force turnovers consistently. The Gophers rank fifth in the Big Ten in interceptions (13) and second in fumble recoveries (15). Missouri sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk and his offense seem to have slipped out of its funk and has limited turnovers. Since his debacle against Florida, Mauk has thrown just two interceptions to nine touchdowns. If the Tigers turn it over no more than twice, they’ll be in good shape.
**5. Can Mizzou’s defense avoid distractions?**
The spotlight of playing in a New Year’s Day bowl game is pressure enough. However, Mizzou’s defense will be playing with more distractions. Longtime defensive coordinator Dave Steckel announced that he will be leaving after this season to become the head coach at Missouri State. Although he will coach in this bowl game, it will be his last with Mizzou. Perhaps the defense will rally around its coach or perhaps it will pose a distraction. Also, for players who might be thinking of entering the draft before their college careers are up, specifically Shane Ray, it might pose a distraction as well. Ray is projected as a top-ten pick and could be playing his final game in a Mizzou uniform. He has not officially announced his plans, but many people believe he will leave one year early.
