**Vs. Miami (OH)**
**When:** Sep. 3
**2010 record:** 10-4
**All-Time Series:** Missouri leads, 1-0
**Last meeting:** Missouri won, 51-13 (2010)
**What to watch for:** The first start of new quarterback James Franklin’s career will no doubt be the top headliner. How comfortable and seasoned will he be, and how will his skill set change the MU offense?
**X-Factor:** Missouri quarterback James Franklin will determine how competitive or uncompetitive this one is.
**Prediction:** This will be a comfortable, but not too comfortable start for Franklin and the Tigers. The biggest worry in this one will be getting Franklin ready for prime time the next week. **Missouri by 21.**
**At Arizona State**
**When: Sep. 9**
**2010 record:** 6-6
**All-Time Series:** N/A
**Last meeting:** N/A
**What to watch for:** Missouri returns 16 starters. Arizona State returns 14. Which squad’s experience will enable it to come out the sharpest in this primetime slugfest?
**X-Factor:** Franklin again. An unoriginal pick, but Franklin’s ability to exploit Arizona State’s porous secondary might determine everything.
**Prediction:** Arizona State has more to figure out, most of which is defending Michael Egnew, T.J. Moe, Wes Kemp and Jerrell Jackson. It won’t happen by week two. **Missouri by 10.**
**Vs. Western Illinois**
**When:** Sep. 17
**2010 record:** 8-5
**All-Time Series:** Missouri leads, 1-0
**Last meeting:** Missouri won, 50-20 (2000)
**What to watch for:** Missouri’s built-up depth should receive plenty of reps in this one.
**X-Factor:** Missouri running back Kendial Lawrence. In last year’s meeting with FBS opponent McNeese State, it was Henry Josey with the field day. This practice-like contest might tell just how far Lawrence has come since last year.
**Prediction:** A late Western Illinois score downs the shutout hopes as Missouri skates into the showdown in Norman. **Missouri by 41.**
**At Oklahoma**
**When:** Sep. 24
**2010 record:** 12-2 (7-2)
**All-Time Series:** Oklahoma leads, 66-24-5
**Last meeting:** Missouri won, 36-27 (2010)
**What to watch for:** Will a revenge factor be in play for the Sooners, or can Missouri ride the momentum of last year’s GameDay upset?
**X-Factor:** Dominique Hamilton, Missouri DT. Last year, Hamilton led an interior push that made Oklahoma rely heavily on the pass. It was also the last game he played before sustaining a season-ending injury. If he has similar success this time around, it would go a long way to limiting the Sooners’ offense.
**Prediction:** Honesty is the best policy. Nobody but OU wins in Norman. **Oklahoma by 14.**
**At Kansas State**
**When:** Oct. 8
**2010 record:** 7-6 (3-5)
**All-Time Series:** Missouri leads, 60-31-5
**Last meeting:** Missouri won, 38-28 (2010)
**What to watch for:** K-State’s slide in 2010 related to an inability to stop the run (119th against the run in 2010). How has the team adjusted this season?
**X-Factor:** Kansas State running back Bryce Brown is making a lot of noise early. He’ll have to make a lot of noise in this one to give K-State a chance, because the team’s passing attack won’t.
**Prediction:** K-State will need to quickly find a passing game to pull an upset. Very quickly. **Missouri by 15.**
**Vs. Iowa State**
**When:** Oct. 15
**2010 record**: 5-7 (3-5)
**All-Time Series:** Missouri leads, 60-34-9
**Last meeting:** Missouri won, 14-0 (2010).
**What to watch for:** Just how amped will Missouri come out for this year’s Homecoming?
**X-Factor:** Jacob Lattimer, Iowa State DE; the Cyclones will need to use their best pass rusher to wreak some havoc on Elvis Fisher’s replacement at blindside for them to have a chance.
**Prediction:** Another fun Homecoming for Missouri fans. **Missouri by 27.**
**Vs. Oklahoma State**
**When:** Oct. 22
**2010:** 11-2 (6-2)
**All-Time Series:** Missouri leads, 28-22-0
**Last meeting:** Oklahoma State won, 33-17 (2009).
**What to watch for:** The Cowboys are coming off a surprisingly successful season, thanks in part to the third-best offensive attack in the nation. A new offensive coordinator won’t result in much change, so expect quarterback Brandon Weeden to throw the ball early and often.
**X-Factor:** Pressure, pressure, pressure. Weeden is not a mobile quarterback (gained -68 yards on 17 attempts last year), and Missouri’s defensive line could make a huge impact by disrupting his pocket.
**Prediction:** It’s not a stretch to think both of these teams could come into this game with only one loss, making this an important conference battle. Missouri’s offense, while talented, can’t hope to keep pace with the Cowboys’ passing game. The Tigers’ defense will hold them off just enough to keep things close, but Oklahoma State should come out on top. **Oklahoma State by seven.**
**At Texas A&M:**
**When:** Oct. 29
**2010 record:** 9-4 (6-2)
**All-Time Series:** A&M leads, 7-4-0
**Last meeting:** Missouri won, 30-9 (2010).
**What to watch for:** The Aggies lost the heart of their defense when tackle Lucas Peterson and linebackers Von Miller and Michael Hodges moved on to the NFL ranks in April. It will be interesting to see what level their replacements are playing at by this point.
**X-Factor:** Containing senior Aggie receiver Jeff Fuller is the top priority for Missouri corner Kip Edwards. Fuller broke the Texas A&M record for single-season receptions in 2010 with 72.
**Prediction:** Last October, Miller and Peterson plugged up the middle and kept the Tigers’ run game under wraps, yet Blaine Gabbert threw on the Aggie secondary for 361 yards and three touchdowns. Now without those two standouts, Texas A&M’s defense won’t be able to handle a more balanced Missouri offensive attack. **Missouri by 14.**
**At Baylor:**
**When:** Nov. 5
**2010 record:** 7-6 (4-4)
**All-Time Series:** Missouri leads, 10-3-0
**Last meeting:** Missouri won, 40-32 (2009).
What to watch for: Bears quarterback Robert Griffin is an exciting dynamic threat both in and outside of the pocket. In 2010, not only did Griffin throw for more yards than Gabbert, but he also gained more rushing yards than Missouri’s rushing leader De’Vion Moore.
**X-Factor:** Simply put, the game will be decided based on how well James Franklin can match Baylor’s offense on the scoreboard.
**Prediction:** Missouri’s defense has improved by leaps and bounds since letting up 40 points to Baylor two years ago; so expect a lower final score this time around. Ultimately this will come down to the two quarterbacks, and we have to give the slight edge to the more proven Griffin. **Baylor by 3.**
**Vs. Texas:**
**When:** Nov. 11
**2010 record:** 5-7 (2-6)
**All-Time Series:** Texas leads, 17-5-0
**Last meeting:** Texas won, 41-7 (2009).
**What to watch for:** Was last season just an anomaly or will we see more of the same from what was a disappointing Longhorns squad in 2010? By November, that question may already have been answered. But expect Texas to be eager to prove itself against a solid Missouri squad.
**X-Factor:** Two words: Garrett. Gilbert. Historically, the Longhorns have lived and died by their quarterback play (see: McCoy, Colt and Young, Vince), and the highly touted Gilbert didn’t play the savior role well in 2010. When it’s crunch time at Faurot, will Gilbert step up?
**Prediction:** Brad Madison and Sheldon Richardson combine to make Gilbert’s day a chaotic one, and Missouri wins comfortably at home. **Missouri by 10.**
**Vs. Texas Tech:**
**When:** Nov. 19
**2010 record:** 8-5 (3-5)
**All-Time Series:** Missouri leads, 5-3-0
**Last meeting:** Texas Tech won, 24-17 (2010).
**What to watch for:** Last season, a staunch second-half performance by the Red Raiders’ defense helped complete Texas Tech’s comeback win. Can Tech. replicate that effort?
**X-Factor:** If Missouri can establish the run game early, it can expose Tech’s inexperienced linebacking corps.
**Prediction:** Missouri avenges its disheartening loss in Lubbock, taking the lead early and holding on for the win. **Missouri by 24.**
**Vs Kansas:**
**When:** Nov. 26
**2010 record:** 3-9 (1-7)
**All-Time Series:** Missouri leads, 56-54-9
**Last meeting:** Missouri won, 35-7 (2010).
**What to watch for:** The Jayhawks were about as offensive as Mother Teresa in 2010, ranking dead last in the Big 12 in yards, scoring and rushing. If they have improved by this game, then this Border Rivalry game could be an interesting one.
**X-Factor:** Kansas’s offensive line struggles mightily in pass protection, so expect Missouri to blitz early and often.
**Prediction:** Missouri’s defensive prowess is too much for a rebuilding Kansas offense to handle, and the Tigers win the rivalry game for the third consecutive season. **Missouri by 30.**
