Be prepared on defense

The Tigers don't huddle between most plays, and while it's not a true hurry-up offense — Missouri ranked only fifth in the SEC in snaps taken — it does sometimes prevent defenses from substituting. Sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk, who rarely lines up under center, is improving his ability to take advantage of the no-huddle setup, learning to spot holes in coverage before the snap. He'll be hurt, however, by the loss of senior receiver Jimmie Hunt, who underwent shoulder surgery last week, leaving senior Bud Sasser, who had 70 catches and 10 scores, as the main receiving threat.

Make Mauk win it with his arm

Speaking of Mauk, he won't hesitate to abandon a play and roam downfield himself, and he was third on the team in rushing yards (335). That ability means a defense has to account for him at all times, but it can be his undoing, too; he is often quick to abandon the pocket against an aggressive pass rush. The best bet is to focus on containing him and force him to beat you with his arm, since his passing accuracy (52.9 percent) has been unimpressive, especially on midrange passes. He threw 23 touchdown passes, but also a league-leading 11 interceptions.

Force ball carriers inside

The Tigers' offensive line is one of the quickest in the SEC, but it has trouble imposing its will on straight-ahead running plays. Similarly, tailbacks Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy utilize their speed more than power to pick up yards, and the Tigers do a good job of getting them to the edge. Hansbrough's 5.1-yard-per-carry average is comparable to David Cobb's 5.3 for the Gophers. The offensive line is also penalty-prone, having led the conference in flags.

Act quickly in the pocket

Bookend defensive ends Shane Ray, a future first-round draft pick, and Markus Golden are the most difficult players to game plan for, because they're as smart about pass rushing as they are strong. They work exceptionally well together, with Golden adept at moving the pocket even when he's been effectively blocked, forcing the quarterback into Ray's grasp. It's nearly impossible to run deep drops or slow-developing plays against them. The Tigers, whose 42 sacks led the conference, are 17-0 since joining the SEC when they record at least three sacks.

Hang on to the ball

The incredible pressure the Tigers generate up front probably makes the rest of the defense look better than it really is, and Alabama exposed the young secondary. Still, Missouri is strong up the middle, and senior safety Braylon Webb, adept at run support, covers a lot of ground. Ball carriers and receivers beware: The Tigers specialize in stripping the football (they led the nation in forcing fumbles), and they have recovered a turnover in 53 of their past 57 games.

Watch out for returns

Missouri's special teams are not particularly noteworthy — their kickers are a little below average, their coverage a little above average — with one huge exception: Marcus Murphy, one of the most dangerous kick returners in the country. Only 5-9, Murphy is an electrifying runner who led the SEC in kick-return average, finished fifth in punt-return average, and scored three special-teams touchdowns (plus four more as a tailback). His breathtaking ability to change directions can frustrate coverage units that overplay.