My World of Sports: Happy LSBCF

What’s that? Yep. Last Saturday before college football. Next week is kickoff, and we’re excited here in CoMo. Of course, people are underestimating the Tigers and are writing them off again, but that’s ok. We like it like that.

Do I think the Tigers will do well this year? Of course! Am I a bit of a homer? Well, yes. But why wouldn’t we? We had a terrific year last year and return a lot of great players.

Strengths. Our lines are going to be tough. I just caught the SEC Network’s rating of the league’s top defensive lines. Mizzou wasn’t in the top 5?! We return two NFL first-round draft picks in Shane Ray and Marcus Golden. We go about five deep at the tackles - all solid, if not stellar, players. Insane. Our offensive line returns a bunch, too. They’ll be road graders for what will be another great running game. Boehm and McGovern should be all-conference.

Speaking of, our running backs are going to be great. Josey is now tearing it up for the Eagles, but Russell Hansbrough is looking good. Once Morgan Steward is back from an injury, he’ll be the power runner we’ve wanted for awhile (KC kids represent!). The freshmen Witter and Walters look great. And don’t forget Marcus Murphy, who last year made the supposedly tough Georgia defense look like idiots and made Clowney look like a clown. He’s playing some in the slot to give him as many touches as possible.

Questions. Never thought I’d say this, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen with QB play. Do I think Maty Mauk can be one of the best in the league? Yes. Will he? Not sure. Apparently he has had a pretty awful spring. But he is known for being a gamer. Maybe the Allen Iverson of Mizzou sports without all the off the field problems?

Our linebackers and defensive backs are a bit of a question mark. That’s largely because they’re replacing proven, all-conference caliber players like Andrew Wilson and E.J. Gaines. From what I’ve heard, though, the new guys like Scherer and Newsome and Gibson and others are more athletic.

I’m ready for some college football. If you’re not in CoMo, drop in for a  game. Catch the finest ball in the land south of the NFL.