We are one day removed from Texas A&M's ninth game of the regular season, as they head to Missouri fresh off their bye for a date with Eli Drinkwitz's Tigers. Mizzou, in desperate need of a win to keep its playoff hopes alive, is prepped to throw the kitchen sink at Mike Elko's crew in order to grab the upset victory. But aside from desperation and disguise, how do these teams match up against one another? Let's take a look.
Missouri's ground game vs. Texas A&M's run defense
The Tigers are led by one of, if not the, best running back in the country in Ahmad Hardy. The transfer from ULM has the third most rushing yards in the country — averaging nearly six yards per carry on those — and has 25 explosive runs to go with it.
Missouri will be without the legs of its mobile quarterback Beau Pribula in this game, after suffering a serious lower-leg injury against Vanderbilt, but Jamal Roberts has been a very effective running back in relief of Hardy with 428 yards and three scores on 6.5 yards per carry.
As discussed earlier this week, Texas A&M's run totals are a bit of a mirage. They have allowed 118.5 yards per game on the ground this year, but that takes sack yardage into account. Without those numbers, the Aggies are allowing 150 yards per game on 5.6 yards per carry — the latter being one of the worst marks in the sport.
Texas A&M has dealt with its fair share of talented running backs this season and handled most of them well, but as the year has gone on this group has become less effective up front — and gives the Tigers an early lead in our positional matchup breakdowns.
The edge goes to ... Missouri