in NCAA F Articles

The No. 19 Oklahoma Sooners (5-2 SU & 4-2-1 ATS) hope their rejuvenated defense continues making up for the absence of Adrian Peterson in a Big 12 matchup Saturday with the high-powered offense of the No. 23 Missouri Tigers (7-1 SU & 5-2 ATS).

Oklahoma lost its Heisman Trophy hopeful and a player who has run for nearly 4,000 yards in his college career when Peterson broke his collarbone in the fourth quarter of a 34-9 victory over Iowa State on Oct. 14.

The following week, the Sooners faced a Colorado team which had reached at least 30 points and 350 yards of offense in back-to-back games. Oklahoma, though, limited the Buffaloes to 113 total yards and five first downs in a 24-3 victory. The Sooners are now 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a SU win.

While Oklahoma allows 267.4 ypg to rank 12th nationally in total defense, Missouri is 14th in total offense with 419.5 ypg.

Tigers sophomore QB Chase Daniel is eighth in the country with 2,003 passing yards. He's tied for eighth with 19 TD passes, eclipsing the single-season school record held by Terry McMillan, who had 18 in 1969.

Daniel, who has only five interceptions and has completed 66.8 percent of his passes, faces a Sooners squad which has given up 200 yards passing only once all season.

Missouri's defense suffered a devastating blow in last Saturday's 41-21 win over Kansas State, with Brian Smith breaking his right hip. The senior defensive end, who is likely to miss the rest of the regular season, has 7.5 sacks this season to rank fifth in the country and is Missouri's all-time leader with 31.5.

Smith's absence is a good break for Oklahoma QB Paul Thompson, who is facing more of the offensive burden with Peterson sidelined. Thompson was not particularly impressive in his first game without the star runner as he threw for a season-low 105 yards against Colorado, but the senior did complete 17 of 26 passes with one TD and no picks.

Allen Patrick had a decent showing last week starting in place of Peterson with 110 yards and a TD on 35 carries. The junior had only 62 yards on 18 carries in his other four games this year.

Oklahoma has won the last three meetings SU with Missouri and has a 61-21-5 lead in the series, though the teams have not met since 2003.

Notable Game Trends:

- Sooners are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Sooners are 4-1-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Sooners are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Sooners are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0.
- Sooners are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
- Tigers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games.
- Tigers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.
- Tigers are 5-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Tigers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite.