MU-Baylor football preview

•TV/radio: No TV; KMBZ (980 AM)

•The line: Missouri by 14

•Series: Missouri leads 10-2

MISSOURI (5-3, 1-3 Big 12)

What’s at stake for Missouri does not change if the Tigers can keep winning. But a loss, in any of the next four games, likely ends Missouri’s run as the top team in the Big 12 North.

Cheers if …

Missouri follows the same game plan it used at Colorado. Run early and often. Keep the pressure off quarterback Blaine Gabbert, whose sore ankle appears to be much better.

Jeers if …

Missouri loses this game in any way, shape or fashion, but especially if Gabbert doesn’t learn from the mistakes of last week when he threw two interceptions on passes that should never have been thrown. Kid is good but has to learn when to throw it away.

Three things about Baylor

1 A year ago, with Robert Griffin at quarterback, the Bears nearly upset the Tigers. Missouri moved on top 31-28 on Jeff Wolfert’s field goal with under three minutes to play, but it took Brock Christopher’s interception to assure the victory.

2 Baylor has averaged only 8.5 points in four Big 12 games, and the reason is obvious. The Bears miss Griffin, lost for the season with a torn ACL in the first quarter of the third game of the year. Likely no Big 12 team — including Oklahoma with quarterback Sam Bradford — has suffered a more key injury.

3 Read the national rankings and weep if you are a Baylor fan. The Bears rank 92nd in rushing, 92nd in scoring, 96th in third-down conversions, 99th in red zone production, 97th in rushing defense, 102nd in making tackles for a loss.

Key matchup

Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Yost against the temptation to call a pass play first. Making sure the MU offense is balanced, or even weighted toward the run, is supported by two things. It takes the pressure off MU quarterback Blaine Gabbert thinking victory and defeat depends on his passing, and Baylor has given up 179.5 yards a game on the ground, worst in the Big 12.

Mike DeArmond’s pick: Missouri 32-10

My prediction early in the week was 32-17 Mizzou. Then I noticed Baylor had not scored more than 10 points in any Big 12 game this year. No reason to change that this Saturday.

MISSOURI OFFENSE