Kansas vs. Missouri Predictions: Who Wins The Border War?

0:00This is Belie, one network, every topic, everywhere. Welcome back to southeastern 16 presented by rock form, Fandall and tailgate, tikes, Billy Jones alongside Graham Dodie is the border war returns. We won't see this series again until 2031 was a really fun matchup last year. I think unless you were a Missouri Kansas fan and then you were puckering up for all 60 minutes, but a barn burner in Columbia last year, Missouri gets the win against their their hated rivals and Kansas could be out for for some revenge this year in the warrants. It feels right that these two teams are playing each other and I'm going to have to wait a little bit for these two teams to collide again. But look, having spent some time in Como and having friends that went there and

1:00everything, like, you don't really understand how big of a rivalry this is until like you talk to people that are in the area, but I think it's awesome. Yeah, it was fun last year. I think a lot of people, especially in the SEC, kind of got their first taste of it. You know, they played on the hardwood. It was the most watched ESPN two game in over five years last year. This year's game kind of stay in the loan on Friday night on Fox. So should get a ton of national attention again. And obviously for Missouri, the big storyline was at quarterback. And I know it was Arkansas Pine Bluff, but certainly if you were looking for positive signs for for Austin Simmons, he gave you that game number one. Yeah, he really did, especially in his Missouri debut. And remember, so like that was his first start against an FCS opponent. So like I kind of figured that he would put on a show and boy he did.

2:00And I think if you're a Missouri fan, you just got to be excited. Like for the first time in a long time, like probably since the Drew Lockdays, you got somebody that can really zip the ball down the field. Yeah, and he showed off the arm strength for touchdowns in the first half for Austin Simmons. Don Binalubade receiver flashed as well defensively from his very big question marks replacing. You know, going into the season, what was going to be 10 starters five for five brings sterling lead back on the defensive line. But a lot to replace off the defense that that was really good, especially the back half of last year. Yeah, so I mean, you're obviously very familiar with this Missouri team. Like, what were your main takeaways there? And like, did you think the defense would be ahead of the offense or vice versa? Like, like, what were your main takeaways? Yeah, I kind of thought vice versa. Honestly, you know, the thing about Missouri is they've they've had a lot of guys drafted over the last couple of years.

3:06And it's kind of been a next man up. So there were a lot of experienced guys, especially in that defensive line room that weren't starters last year, but played a lot. And so, you know, this is four years in a row. Missouri's had a top 30 defense. So you kind of hope that it would just be plug and play thought, especially the secondary where I think some of the question marks were. And then, you know, I think it would be a nice performance is now again, it was Arkansas pine blow up. So going to be a different challenge coming up. But you kind of hope, especially off the front line, like Missouri might be in the spot where it's they know how to identify guys and develop them. But we'll see because you know, Kansas is running game with Andy Codon, Nikki coming back as the play caller. So I think we'll see what he was able to do when he was the offensive coordinator for Kansas. He spent the last two years at Penn State. Now he comes back and surprise some people.

4:06I think most people thought it was going to be cold valor. He goes with the dual thread option in Isaiah Marshall, who. You know, got off to kind of a slow start, but, but, but really kind of flashed, especially in that second and third quarter against Long Island. And he really did and, and, you know, you said the magic word like you got to take in consideration of who the competition is. But looking at his numbers, here's like when Long Island Blitz, he was four for five passing, he did have a touchdown. And he was just deadly when he had a clean pocket clean pocket, 12 of 15, two touchdowns, 222 yards. Just kind of looking at his charts. He did not have a completion to the right side of the field at all. Like everything was either over the middle or to the left. He did most of his damage to the middle. So I like, I don't know if that was by design or what, but not one single pass attempt to the right.

5:06So we'll see, you know, if they try to go in that area at all against this Missouri defense. Yeah, maybe something for for the zoo to key in on in the meeting rooms this week. We'll see Grant, maybe they need to bring you on as an analyst. No, they like, if you want to win, he definitely need somebody way smarter than me, but look, look, I feel like coaches hate the PFF stuff, right? Because like this is their world that they live in. I think it's fascinating. Mainly snap counts are then like quarterback charts. Like you actually see where the quarterback through the football and like what his completion rate was and all that stuff. So I think stuff like that's fascinating. Yeah, defensively Kansas brings a lot back, but it was a defense that struggled last year towards the bottom, given up over 200 yards of game on the ground. Middle of the pack in terms of their their past defense last year, but I mean, you look at Arkansas, Mississippi, stages for reference.

6:10I mean, they were middle of the pack and past defense last year when teams can run the ball on you. Sometimes it makes those past defense numbers look a little better just because they don't have to throw it, but, but what we'll see, maybe this Kansas defense can take a step forward. I know they're certainly excited about guys like Jaylen Todd and and Trey Wathan and and Bam Crouch. And I mean, this is really I guess the first test for Mizzou life without a mod hearty. So, you know, what what does that look like? You knew they were going to be pine bluff, no matter what, like 100 times out of 100. You know, we get our first little taste of it. Life without a mod hearty. So I'm be curious to see how much they put on the plate of Austin Simmons in this matchup. Yeah, we'll see what they do before we get into our predictions for this game word from our sponsors want to thank rock form and tailgate tight rock form, especially now that tailgate season is here, grand more important than ever.

7:12It is if you got a cell phone and everybody does you need a cell phone case for it. Here it is right here. They got different colors, different styles. What are they known for that magnet right there? It's awesome. You can use it around the house. You need extra hands. They also make core mounts and motorcycle mounts for like when you're traveling and stuff. Tailgate season is now here. They make speakers. If you need a speaker for that or just a speaker around the house, they got so many great products, but the cell phone case is the bread and butter. iPhone, Samsung Galaxy doesn't matter. The new iPhone 18 is about to come out. If you got one, they already have iPhone 18 cases. They have a promo code for rock form. It's SEC 25 that gets you 25% off. Yeah, and tailgate takes two if any Missouri fans are traveling out west on 70. Edit out the Lawrence and want to wrap the Tigers dress your young ones up and some of the softest pajamas out there. Tailgate takes, you know, it's that bamboo softer than anything I've seen. They've got two piece. They've got zippy one piece. They've got everything and they've got plenty of teams from across the SEC and across the country.

8:24Yeah, they do. They definitely have Missouri for sure. I'm trying to see if they got Kansas as well. And you have Kansas state. No Kansas case states. And then they got like several big 10 ACC, big 12 schools. So they got so many different teams. They got your covered. But look, our little one uses them. Sleeps all night long and they're soft or comfortable. And as you said, they got the two piece set or they're like the zip ups and everything. And she absolutely loves them. Yeah, so again, if you want more context, if you're just an SEC fan, the saying and Lawrence, you know, we mentioned the wild cats. Kansas states rivalry, Missouri's a war is kind of the way that the J Hawks think about this game. So it's going to be a charged up atmosphere at the new look David Booth stadium. Friends at Fandall have already moved the line in favor of the J Hawks. It was at six and a half to start the week. It's moved down to five and a half.

9:32If you want the Kansas money line sitting at plus 184 total at 49 and a half. You know, we'll start here when when Missouri has the poll last year, you kind of looked at that Kansas front. And I was saying, I just don't think they're big enough to stop Missouri offensive line struggled for the Tigers. Kansas a little bit bigger. But I don't know that the secondary is going to hold up against these receivers. And if Simmons can take care of the football might be less about, you know, the ground game. Missouri, I think, should be able to throw for a lot of yards in this one. Yeah, key word though, you said like, yeah, Austin Simmons is going to have to take care of the football. That was kind of in his limited plank time of season to go at Ole Miss. Like he turned it over a good bit. Rather be interceptions or fumbles. So if Missouri wants to, you know, come out on top of this one, it not face a lot of adversity. I mean, he's obviously going to have to take care of the football. Like I think this is fascinating. To me, this game, we got so many like really nice matchups in week two. This one was kind of kind of go under the radar.

10:40It is, I do think it's good. It's kind of like a, it's a standalone game since it is a Friday night Fox game. So more people might watch and tune into it. But just so many question marks so many story lines, no mod hearty. And then just what does Austin looks like? If he's money, which he can be, I think you got to feel good. If for Mizzou, if he turns it over, you could be sweating like I was watching that Ole Miss Louisville game. Yeah. And that was what happened last year, a couple early turnovers. Kansas has that big lead in the first quarter. Missouri does end up winning. How do you see this one playing out, Grandman? Do you have any wings on on spread or total? I definitely think what you said over under is 49 and a half. I mean, to me, that that kind of sounds about right. I don't envision this being like a shootout or anything. I do think it's going to be like a fun back and forth entertaining game.

11:40I'm sure you're supposed to see what the crowd looks like. I'm sure it'll be packed under they invested in that stadium. The last time I was at that football stadium, it was like. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So I know they invested in it. I kind of envision like Missouri coming out on top of this one. I trust Simmons Moore at this point. And I think his potential is through the roof. To me, it just seems like drinkwood. These are the types of games that, you know, he wins. So this is why you bring in Simmons. This is why you shake things up with your offensive staff. They wanted to throw the football more and not lean so much on the running game. So I think somehow some way I just think Missouri is going to be able to come out on top of this one. It might not be pretty, but I think they'll win. I think you're right. I think Kodelnicki will have some some stuff for Missouri that'll be tough to defend. Boy with the misdirection and the option stuff, he can get that running game going that that I think's the big thing to me is is Kim Missouri, you know, slow Kansas down in the running game like they did last year.

12:48I think they really put him in a tough spot, but I'm with you. I think the Tigers win. I don't think it's necessarily comfortable, but I do think they cover that that five and a half. How would you think the lines moved? Yeah. How would you feel authority was buying? I would feel better, but I think Jamal Roberts is is more than good enough. My concern in the running game is more about the offensive line than it is. Tell back. I feel like offensive line plays universal. Whoever your favorite team is, I feel like everybody has a giant question mark about the offensive line, but look for both of these teams. I think we're going to find out a lot after this Friday night showdown for sure. Yeah, Caden Green was out of game one. He comes back that that should help big time. So border wars back Friday night Kansas and Missouri should be a fun one and we'll be here to break it down.

13:48Let us know in the comments what you think. Who wins and why like and subscribe for more. Ram, that was fun and we'll see you all next time right here on southeastern 16. If you liked the show, please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe. It really does help the show to grow. Thank you for listening.