Well, they have 5 victories...so they do have something to play for... just like us... a BOWL bid. A healthy Kelly Bryant scares me.
Technically they're on a bowl ban.
I bet the NCAA is gonna wait until the week before conference championship games and just count the beans. If there's a P5 school that can fill their bowl tie-in then the bowl ban stands. If it's a scrub G5 team that doesn't create revenue as a replacement then the appeal is granted......
Or, watch the NCAA pull a rat move and grant their bowl ban appeal this Friday afternoon....... lol
I wish we could have gotten Bryant's first game back instead of Florida. I think it's almost a given he will play better his 2nd game back.
Bryant back in game rhythm = to our extra week of preparation.
How many points do we need? For starters, Mizzou is not 10th in scoring D, but 19th. Both bammer and uga are better, and we had success moving the ball on them. Should have had 21 vs bammer if not for JG antics.
I think we need 25.
I'm not saying their offense will be markedly worrisome or our defense will lapse. I can see a few instances where they create a short field off a turnover or 3-&-out, putting their offense in scoring position though.
If our OL is healthy & mended up, or as close to healthy as can be expected for the 9th game of the year, then give BM the start.
I trust our teams confidence, that we have an ace in the hole with JG as our 6th man, more than I like the prospects of having to come from behind if JG starts and plays infective.
BM moved the ball against AL/GA & we can't risk botched handoffs being a liability early in the game if JG's cast is still cumbersome.
RPO heavy prescripted play calling the 1st qtr.
Have Brian Maurer practice the handoff reads at gunpoint this week if that's what it takes.
Don't over rely on our defense keeping us in the game.
If our OL is still iffy like it was against Kentucky then give JG the start with a more conservative game plan. Less RPO. More hitches, slants, & back shoulder throws.
Run some wildcat with JJ. For the love of all thats good in the world, let's work on our RB screen passes, and get Chandler/Gray in space outside the tackle box.
TL/DR, as long as we don't shoot ourselves in the foot at QB it all comes down to OL/DL play.