Sep 122 min read

No. 6 Tigers Face Off Against No. 24 Boston College

Mizzou Tigers — © Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The No. 6 Missouri Tigers (2-0) have been performing well with solid defense and a balanced offense. They are about to face a tough challenge from the No. 24 Boston College Eagles (2-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have won their last two games, including an upset victory over Florida State (0-2, 0-2 ACC).

Breaking Down the Tigers' Opponent

The Eagles are entering a new era with first-year head coach Bill O'Brien, who has a wealth of NFL and college football experience. He is leading the Boston College football program on an upward trajectory, continuing the success of the previous regime led by current Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

The Eagles offense is led by junior quarterback Thomas Castellanos, one of the best dual-threat QBs in the country in 2023. With more than 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing, he has become a massive headache for defenses. He has improved his decision-making this season and has not thrown any interceptions. Thomas will trouble for the Tigers' defense as they attempt to limit his impact on the game.

When facing the Eagles, the Tigers must focus on stopping Castellanos, who plays a significant role in their rushing attack. They'll also need to develop a strategy to contain BC's talented running backs, particularly Treshaun Ward, who averages 6.6 yards per carry. Ward has a talent for navigating through traffic and reaching the second level of the defense by finding gaps in the defense.

The Eagles' defense comprises players who understand their roles, but the standout player to watch is defensive dnd Donovan Ezeiruaku. He has recorded 5 tackles and 2 sacks this season. The Tigers' offense will need to keep an eye on him throughout the game, as he can potentially disrupt the game.

Keys to a Tigers Victory

The Tigers' first opponents have been at a lower level of competition, so the offense they needed to win was simply to stay on schedule. However, coming into this game, they will have to do more because they are up against a confident team looking to claim another Associated Press (AP) Poll Top 25 win. As a result, the Tigers will have to use more of the playbook to create big plays

In order to win the game, the Tigers will need to avoid getting into third-and-long situations because the Eagles are a ball-control team. This means that the Eagles will try to limit the number of possessions in the game, so it will be crucial for the Tigers to stay on schedule with their running game.

Castellanos is a great running quarterback, so that will be cause for concern, but generating a pass rush will be a positive strategy for the Tigers because it can force turnovers, keep the Eagles' offense behind the chains more and force them into more passing scenarios.

Final Thoughts on the Tigers

The Tigers will win this game because of their potent offense. They have many weapons at their disposal and this will be their first complete game of the year with many yards. The Tigers take control of the game in the second half.