<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1kOAMA_0vM4VcQu00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1kOAMA_0vM4VcQu00" width="1210" height="806" ></figure>The vibes are excellent in the Show Me State. The Missouri Tigers enter the 2024 season with loftier expectations than usual. Mizzou took the college football world by surprise last fall by piecing together an 11-2 record and finishing No. 8 in the country after upending Ohio State in a defensive-oriented Cotton Bowl.Mizzou returns a strong contingent of its roster under head coach Eli Drinkwitz, and the Tigers already find themselves firmly inside the AP Top 10 after just one outing — a 51-0 shutout over Murray State of the FCS. The Tigers remain home for Week 2 in a matchup with Buffalo, hoping to win their 13th consecutive game against MAC competition.Previewing the Tigers in anticipation of this Saturday night matchup is Sammy Stava (@StavaonSTL), who writes for Missouri’s SB Nation site Rock M Nation. Here is a Q&amp;A collaboration between Hustle Belt and Rock M Nation revolving around Saturday night’s non-conference matchup at Farout Field:Steve Helwick (Hustle Belt): It’s been 16 years since Missouri played Buffalo. It’s also been 16 years since Missouri cracked the top 10 this early in the season. What are the expectations among Tiger faithful this year? Is it College Football Playoff or bust given the expansion to 12 teams?Sammy Stava (Rock M Nation): It has been quite a while since Missouri Football had such lofty expectations entering a season. After the Cotton Bowl championship last year over Ohio State, 2024 sets up to be a highly anticipated year. The Tigers return plenty of offensive firepower along with a manageable schedule for an SEC team — and that’s a good mix to have College Football Playoff expectations as it expands to 12 teams. Now, is it CFP or bust for this Mizzou team? I think that’s unfair, because the Tigers can still go 9-3 and still have a pretty good season, but they may never have this good of an opportunity to reach the College Football Playoff.Helwick (Hustle Belt): The Tigers looked excellent offensively throughout all of last season, notching 30+ points against every opponent except Middle Tennessee in Week 2 and Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. Retaining the Brady Cook and Luther Burden connection, while replacing Cody Schrader with some veteran transfer running backs, is this sustainable in 2024? Or is there a chance that you feel even better about this year’s offense?Stava (Rock M Nation): I think this Missouri offense is capable of being even better than last year — and that’s all due to their revamped offensive line. The Tigers are bringing in Oklahoma transfer Cayden Green and SMU transfer Marcus Bryant. There’s no doubt that replacing Cody Schrader is going to be a tall task, but there’s more depth now at the running back position with Georgia State transfer Marcus Carroll and Appalachian State transfer Nate Noel. An experienced quarterback in Brady Cook has the luxury of working with one of the best wide receiver units in the entire country along with another year of familiarity with offensive coordinator Kirby Moore. The potential for this Mizzou offense is off the charts.Helwick (Hustle Belt): Missouri currently leads the country in total defense as the only team to limit its Week 1 opponent under 100 total yards. While that minuscule sample size is promising, are there any concerns about the defense given it loses five NFL Draft selections from the 2023 unit?Stava (Rock M Nation): Losing five players to the NFL Draft on the defensive side is going to be a tough transition for any college football team. Not only that, but Missouri brings in a new defensive coordinator Corey Batoon from South Alabama. So, there are some valid concerns for this Mizzou defense entering this season. However, the Tigers bring multiple Power 4 transfer portal additions to help fill the void. Clemson transfer Toriano Pride, Miami transfer Corey Flagg Jr., and Michigan State transfer Zion Young are just to name a few.Helwick (Hustle Belt): Missouri uncharacteristically struggled in Week 2 last year, needing a late defensive stop to fend off an upset against a 4-8 Middle Tennessee team. What needs to happen with the five-touchdown favorites on Saturday to find themselves in another Week 2 close finish?Stava (Rock M Nation): Yes, Buffalo kind of reminds me of Middle Tennessee from last season. There are some similarities there that the Bulls could give Mizzou some problems as MAC teams have the potential to be dangerous. However, this Mizzou team will remember that close call from Middle Tennessee and won’t look ahead. I also believe that head coach Eli Drinkwitz knows that style points are going to matter if Mizzou lands on the bubble for the 12-team playoff. Overall, the talent difference is huge in this one and Missouri will play like it.Helwick (Hustle Belt): What’s your score prediction for Saturday, and how does the matchup between Missouri and Buffalo play out?Stava (Rock M Nation): Unlike Murray State, Buffalo will put up points on the scoreboard. This one will be too much Missouri, however. Mizzou wins and covers in a 48-10 final.For the flip-side of the Q&amp;A, see our responses to Rock M Nation’s questions here.Buffalo at Missouri kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 7. It is available to watch on SEC+/ESPN+ streaming.</div></body>

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Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Buffalo’s Week 2 opponent Missouri with Rock M Nation

The vibes are excellent in the Show Me State. The Missouri Tigers enter the 2024 season with loftier expectations than usual. Mizzou took the college football world by surprise last fall by piecing together an 11-2 record and finishing No. 8 in the country after upending Ohio State in a defensive-oriented Cotton Bowl.

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Buffalo’s Week 2 opponent Missouri with Rock M Nation

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