Oklahoma Sooners vs. Missouri Tigers Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 9th 2024

Preview and Prediction

When discussing the essential components, Missouri has been uncertain as of late about the availability of a crucial element in their recipe for success.

In the past two games, Tigers quarterback Brady Cook has been forced to leave due to separate injuries.

However, after a bye week, head coach Eli Drinkwitz is optimistic that Cook will be able to return for No. 24 Missouri's upcoming game against Oklahoma on Saturday in Columbia, Mo.

Cook is expected to be listed as either "likely" or "unlikely" for the matchup with the Sooners, as he was prior to the 34-0 loss to Alabama on Oct. 26.

Although he did play in that game, Cook suffered a possible hand injury after completing 7 of 12 passes.

With Cook at the helm, the Tigers' offense has been explosive.

"He's got great energy and he's fearless," said Oklahoma coach Brent Venables of Cook. "I don't know his entire background, but he's a winner. I think he brings out the best in the players around him... You can see the bravery and toughness."

If Cook is unable to play, Drinkwitz has stated that Drew Pyne will start for Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC).

Pyne has stepped in for Cook in both the Auburn and Alabama games, throwing three interceptions in the loss to the Crimson Tide.

"We put him in some tough situations," Drinkwitz said of Pyne. "We need to protect him better, establish the run game, and limit turnovers."

This Saturday's game will be the first time the Tigers and Sooners have met in the SEC.

The two teams were long-standing rivals in the Big 12 and Big Eight conferences, facing each other 96 times in their history, with Oklahoma leading 67-24-5.

They also met in back-to-back Big 12 Championship Games in 2007 and 2008 before Missouri joined the SEC in 2012.

Venables was the Sooners' defensive coordinator for those games.

Two former Oklahoma players, wide receiver Theo Wease and Luther Burden, are now on Missouri's roster. Wease has recorded 37 catches for 482 yards and a touchdown, while Burden has 40 catches for 450 yards and four touchdowns, making them a formidable duo.

"He's one of the top players in all of college football," Venables said of Burden. "They find creative ways to get him the ball in open space."

Oklahoma's offense has shown improvement in the last two games since Jackson Arnold regained his starting quarterback position and Joe Jon Finley took over as offensive coordinator following the firing of Seth Littrell.

In the past two games, Arnold has completed over 71% of his passes and thrown for four touchdowns with no interceptions.

Arnold had thrown three interceptions in the first four games before losing his starting job to freshman Michael Hawkins Jr.

The Sooners are hoping to have some key receivers back in the lineup after being without five important options for most of the season.

Jalil Farooq, who suffered a foot injury in the season opener, is close to returning, as is Deion Burks, who hasn't played since the Sept. 21 loss to Tennessee.

"It definitely adds an explosive aspect to our offense, as well as leadership," Arnold said of the duo.

The Sooners (5-4, 1-4) have lost three consecutive conference games and are coming off a 59-14 victory over Maine last week.

PREDICTION

Oklahoma Sooners

Missouri Tigers