MTSU football vs Missouri: Scouting report, score prediction as Blue Raiders play SEC foe again

Middle Tennessee State football will play its second consecutive SEC opponent on the road to begin the season. The Blue Raiders play at Missouri on Saturday (6 p.m., SEC Network+).

The Blue Raiders (0-1) opened the season with a 56-7 loss at Alabama. The Tigers (1-0) defeated South Dakota 35-10.

Here is a scouting report on the game, plus a score prediction:

Tigers took care of business on offense, defense

While it wasn't the dominant effort one might have expected against an FCS team that went 3-8 last season, Missouri's offense and defense got the job done against South Dakota

The Tigers allowed just 194 total yards, garnering two sacks. Defensive lineman Johnny Walker had a team-leading six tackles and a sack.

Offensively Missouri racked up 437 total yards in a balanced effort, passing for 226 yards and rushing for 211. Quarterback Brady Cook was efficient, completing 17-of-21 for 171 yards and a TD. Cody Schrader had 18 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown.

But the game was relatively close early, with Missouri leading 14-3 with less than two minutes left before halftime. The Tigers, coming off a 6-7 season, scored two touchdowns in the final 1:48 to stretch the lead to 28-3 at halftime.

MTSU seeking better effort offensively

MTSU expects to be able to move the ball more on a Missouri defense that isn't nearly as dominant as Alabama, but it will take a better performance than the season opener.

The Blue Raiders rushed 26 times for 78 yards (3.0 per carry), which wasn't a terrible outcome. However, starter Frank Peasant was limited to 10 yards on 12 carries. True freshman Jekail Middlebrook was the most effective of the group, carrying eight times for 32 yards.

Redshirt sophomore QB Nick Vattiato was 21-of-32 for 127 yards, a TD and an interception. The touchdown went to Bryce Bailey, a seven-yarder that was the first of Bailey's career. The Blue Raiders averaged just 3.8 yards per pass attempt.

The offensive line wasn't overwhelmed by Alabama's front. But penalties (9 for 84) hampered MTSU and the two turnovers helped open a second-quarter floodgate by the Crimson Tide in which they scored 21 unanswered just before halftime.

History on MTSU's side?

MTSU has arguably played Missouri as well as any Power Five opponent. The two programs have played twice, with Missouri winning 41-40 in 2003 and MTSU taking a 51-45 victory in 2016.

MTSU had 606 yards of offense in the 2016 victory, as Brent Stockstill, now the Blue Raiders QB coach, outdueled future NFL starter Drew Lock. The Blue Raiders racked up 483 yards in the 2003 slugfest.

If history repeats itself, the game should be another high-scoring affair and the Blue Raiders should have a chance to win.

MORE: Here's how much Middle Tennessee State football is making for trips to Alabama, Missouri

Score prediction

Missouri 31, MTSU 20: Compared to previous matchups, this will be a defensive struggle. The Tigers are good defensively and have speed on both sides of the ball. But the game won't nearly mirror what happened to MTSU against Alabama, as the Tigers will have to score late to put the game away.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU football: Scouting report, score prediction for game at Missouri