Missouri vs. Kansas
Watching Rutgers vs. Boston College on Friday night may have you questioning your life choices, but tuning into Missouri vs. Kansas should be entertaining for those chilling at home or those tracking this one at their watering hole of choice. These former Big 12 rivals played last season for the first time since 2011, as Missouri won 42-31 in Columbia. Incredibly, this will be the first head-to-head game played in Lawrence since 2005, as the 2007-11 versions of “The Border War” were all held in Kansas City.
We found out very little about these two teams in Week 1, as Missouri pummeled Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Kansas did the same to Long Island U. The Jayhawks ran up 613 yards, while the Tigers racked up 562, with each team debuting a new QB. Beau Pribula (Virginia) and Jalon Daniels (NFL) combined for 589 pass attempts last season for their respective schools. With the torches passed at both schools, Missouri enters this game as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 50.
Odds from Circa Sports as of September 8, 8:15 a.m. PT; check out our Circa Betting Splits and DraftKings Betting Splits. See all of our Week 2 College Football Picks and Predictions.
Missouri (-5.5, 50) vs. Kansas Prediction
Pick: Over 50
Even though coaches can walk up and down the transfer portal shelves looking for the right QB like they’re shopping for cookware at TJ Maxx, HC Lance Leipold and OC Andy Kotelnicki walked out of the store without buying anything, aside from backup QB Chase Jenkins, who transferred away from Rice’s option offense. Instead, Leipold and Kotelnicki gave the keys of the offense to Isaiah Marshall, a three-star out of Michigan who was part of Kansas’ 2024 recruiting class.
Listed as 6-feet and 210 pounds, the sophomore threw three passes last season and had 15 carries for 160 yards, as he had carries in eight different games. This will be his first real collegiate test after going 14-of-19 for 246 yards and two touchdowns against the Sharks in the opener. Nine players, including backup QB Cole Ballard, had rush attempts and seven players combined on the 18 catches, as Ballard also had six pass attempts in relief.
So far, it seems like Marshall has picked up Kotelnicki’s offense, but it remains to be seen whether or not new DC DK McDonald has made any headway with the defense. The Jayhawks did have 11 tackles for loss and three sacks in the opener, but LIU is not Missouri. Not even close. This was a defense that ranked tied for 96th in yards per play and allowed nearly 29 PPG to FBS opponents.
The Jayhawks are going to have their hands full with Austin Simmons, who was starting at Ole Miss before Trinidad Chambliss took the job and ran away with it. The 6-foot-4 senior out of Miami had a nice start to his Missouri season by going 17-of-19 for 252 yards with four touchdowns against an overwhelmed Golden Lions defense. Simmons was a four-star transfer per 247Sports and the ninth-ranked transfer QB in their rankings.
Much like McDonald on the defensive side for the Jayhawks, we don’t really know yet about Chip Lindsey as the new OC for Missouri. That’s a role he’s had in a lot of different places and he stepped in for Mizzou when Kirby Moore left to be the head coach at Washington State. Lindsey has been credited with the development of Drake Maye, Jarrett Stidham, and Nick Mullens, so a big passer like Simmons should evolve as the season goes along.
While the Tigers mostly got what they wanted through the air on offense, the defense only mustered one sack and six tackles for loss. Arkansas-Pine Bluff did exactly that against the Missouri offense, so Corey Batoon will be looking for more out of that unit here. Given that the Tigers were a top-10 defense in yards per play last season, it should come, especially with six starters back.
Missouri vs. Kansas Prediction
Even though Ahmad Hardy remains out for the Tigers while recovering from a gunshot wound, Jamal Roberts had over six yards per carry last season and should be more engaged this week against a better opponent. Simmons is somebody who can improvise if necessary, but should also improve as a passer each passing week under Lindsey. Similarly, Marshall has a ton of upside as a legitimate dual-threat guy in Kotelnicki’s offense. Two good play-callers with toolsy QBs should lead to some points on Friday night.
Pick: Over 50
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