Iowa State @ Missouri preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 20, 2010 ) Missouri 14, Iowa State 0

THE STORY: After losses at Oklahoma and Kansas State to begin conference play, Missouri is 2-3 for the first time since coach Gary Pinkel’s first season with the program in 2001. The Tigers finished that year with a 4-7 record and are hoping they don’t suffer a similar fate in 2011. Missouri has won nine straight home games, including a 2-0 mark this year. Iowa State was 3-0 in the non-conference slate but has opened Big 12 play with back-to-back blowout losses to Texas and Baylor.

Missouri has won four straight in this series, including a 14-0 victory in Ames last year.

TV: NONE LINE: Missouri -14.5

ABOUT IOWA STATE (3-2, 0-2 Big 12): James White had his first career 100-yard rushing game in last week’s 49-26 loss at Baylor. He racked up 148 yards on the ground, including a 76-yard touchdown run, the longest by an Iowa State running back since 2002. While the Cyclones have held their own offensively with 25.6 points per game, their defense has struggled, especially in conference play. Iowa State gave up 37 points in a home loss against Texas before yielding 603 yards of total offense against the Bears. Iowa State has lost four straight games at Missouri by an average of 16 points.

ABOUT MISSOURI (2-3, 0-2 Big 12): Despite a slow start to the season, sophomore James Franklin now has seven passing touchdowns and five rushing scores and has quietly developed into one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the conference. Lucky for him, preseason All-America tight end Michael Egnew also appears to be rounding into form after recording season highs in catches (8) and yards (73) in the Tigers’ loss at K-State. Missouri has the nation’s 17th-ranked offense and 30th-ranked defense but hasn’t been able to come through in a tight game yet this season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Missouri has won seven of its last eight games against Iowa State, including four straight by 10 or more.

2. With a victory, Missouri would equal its second-longest home winning streak in program history at 10 games.

3. Iowa State is trying to avoid its first 0-3 start in Big 12 play since 2008, when it finished 2-10 overall and went winless in conference.

PREDICTION: Missouri 34, Iowa State 17 - The Tigers have lost two straight games but both were against unbeaten teams on the road. They’ll get back to their winning ways against an Iowa State team that is lacking confidence.