By Steve Lansdale
The mystery is over.
The Texas Longhorns will cap off Tom Herman’s first year as their head coach by facing the Missouri Tigers in the Academy Sports & Outdoors Texas Bowl.
Missouri had perhaps the biggest in-season turnaround in the country in 2017. After whipping Missouri State in the opener, the Tigers [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]endured a five-game losing skid that sparked speculation that Barry Odom was in jeopardy of losing his job before the season ended. Since then, however, Mizzou won six straight games to finish the season with a winning (7-5) record.
The improving Texas defense will be tested by a Missouri offense that averaged 39.3 points per game this season and scored 40 or more points nine times — in all seven victories and in a pair of Tiger losses. The Missouri offense has been fairly generous, giving up an average of 31.8 points per game and surrendered 40 or more points four times.
Some notes about the game and opponent:
When: 8 p.m. (central time), Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017
Where: NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas)
About Mizzou:
2017 record: 7-5 overall, 4-4 in games against Southeastern Conference opponents
Last bowl game: 2014 vs. Oklahoma State
Head coach: Barry Odom (second year at Missouri)
Key players:
- Quarterback Drew Lock: completed 224 of 385 passes … 3,695 passing yards (307.9 yards per game) … 12 interceptions … 43 touchdown passes (SEC and Missouri single-season records)
- Wide receiver J/Mon Moore: 60 receptions … 1,017 receiving yards (84.8 yards per game) … 10 receiving touchdowns
- Kicker Tucker McCann: 14-16 field goals … 50-52 extra points
- Linebacker Cale Garrett: team-high 92 tackles … 9 tackles for loss … 3 sacks … 2 interceptions … 1 fumble recovery
Website: http://www.mutigers.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
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