T-Row's Top 25...No. 25 Missouri

Originally Published: Aug 2, 2010 7:53 PM CDT

Each morning on my radio show for the next five weeks Ill be counting down my preseason college football Top 25 with some pertinent info about each team. It is without a doubt the most insignificant and unreliable preseason Top 25 youll find anywhere.

#25 Missouri

Gary Pinkels Tigers should be the second best team in the Big 12 North this season led by big, strong-armed quarterback Blaine Gabbert (65, 240). Gabbert and the Mizzou offense should be potent. Senior Derrick Washington is a solid running back and they return four starters on the offensive line. The question on offense is who will catch the ball. Two of Gabberts top three receivers are gone. Look for explosive freshman Marcus Lucas to have a chance to make an immediate impact.

The real concern for the Tigers is on defense. Their secondary ranked 104th in the nation in pass defense a year ago. And sensational linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is gone to the NFL. Defensive End Aldon Smith is back. He was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. And Jacquies Smith will be a talented bookend at the other defensive end spot. But expect Missouri to struggle to slow down talented offensive foes.

The key to the Tigers schedule is a four-game stretch of games that begins on October 16th. They play at Texas A&M, home against Oklahoma, at Nebraska and at Texas Tech. They could easily go 0-for-4 during that four weeks. Mizzous non-conference schedule, however, is manageable. It starts with their traditional opener against Illinois in St. Louis. That should be a win.

Prediction: 8-4