In the later slate of the Week 3 college football Saturday slate, the Troy Trojans will take on the Missouri Tigers. Both of these teams are off to 2-0 starts to the season and looked largely impressive in the process. This will be an intriguing measuring stick matchup for both sides, as each looks to take the next step in their respective outlook on the season.
Looking at the odds for this matchup, Missouri enters as a 27.5-point favorite and holds -4500 odds of winning outright on DraftKings Sportsbook. Troy holds +1700 odds of pulling off the upset, with the game total set at 49.5 points.
This article previews both teams and offers a pick for the Week 3 CFB matchup.
Troy Trojans at Missouri Tigers
Troy Trojans
The Troy Trojans enter this matchup with a 2-0 record on the season, but they have failed to cover the spread in both games. They kicked off the season with a thrilling 24-21 win over Sam Houston. This was a back-and-forth battle in which Troy limited Sam Houston to just 38 rushing yards and forced a costly interception to put it in the driver’s seat of the matchup.
In the previous game, the Trojans produced a more comfortable 34-17 win over Alabama State. Troy was able to extend the lead to as many as 24 and outgained Alabama State 427-221. Troy has not turned the ball over yet this season.
Will Crowder stands in at quarterback and has completed 26 of his 51 pass attempts this season for 366 yards and four touchdowns. TK Keyes has emerged as his top target, pulling in seven receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns through the first two weeks. No other pass catcher has more than four receptions or 45 yards through the air. The rushing attack features several talented running backs who have each already made their mark on the season. Jaheim Merriweather leads the team with 149 rushing yards and three scores, while Gavin Griffin has a team-high 26 carries and 137 rushing yards tallied. Jordan Lovett adds 17 carries for 72 yards of his own, while Crowder is also capable with his legs.
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers have climbed to 20th in the AP Poll following their 2-0 start to the season. They kicked off the year with a comfortable 54-14 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but failed to cover the monstrous 55.5-point spread. Missouri outgained the Golden Lions 562-198 and picked up 33 first downs compared to Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 13. The Tigers leaped out to a 40-0 lead, but a pair of second-half touchdowns allowed Arkansas-Pine Bluff to get on the board.
More recently, Missouri defeated Kansas in a convincing 38-21 win. The Tigers had a field goal blocked and returned for a touchdown, allowing Kansas to get on the board first. The matchup was tied at halftime, but Missouri was able to outscore the Jayhawks 24-7 in the second half to secure the comfortable win and cover the 5.5-point spread. Kansas turned the ball over three times and was outgained 469-254, with its second half meltdown securing the result.
Austin Simmons leads the production at quarterback and has completed 36 of his 48 pass attempts for 544 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Donovan Olugbode and Cayden Lee have each been major factors at the wide receiver position. Olugbode has pulled in 13 receptions for 228 yards and three touchdowns, while Lee adds 11 catches for 209 yards and a pair of scores himself. Shaun Terry II and Naeshaun Montgomery also play key roles. On the ground, Jamal Roberts dominated the production with an SEC-leading 41 rush attempts for 172 rushing yards and two scores so far this season. Xai’Shaun Edwards also plays a regular role in the rushing attack, while Preston Hatfield has added a rushing score of his own.
Troy at Missouri Pick
Troy has done an impressive job playing clean football and avoiding costly mistakes. It has yet to turn the ball over this season, and this streak will need to continue if it hopes to keep this game competitive. But Missouri’s roster is a caliber of talent it is not familiar with, and the lack of reliable production through the air will be problematic if it is to fall behind. The lack of reliable pass catchers has not proven problematic in either of the first two matchups, but expect this to be the case in this game. A strong start is essential for Troy to have a chance.
But expect talent to win out and for Missouri to continue its campaign to climb up the rankings. This will be the first road game of the season for Troy, and it has failed to cover the spread in either of its first two wins. Missouri has yet to allow a point in the first quarter this season, and expect its defense to set the tone early in this game. It has also won the first half in 23 of its last 24 games against nonconference opponents at home. The Tigers have won 26 consecutive games against non-AP-ranked teams, and they covered the spread in 13 of their last 16 games against this quality of opponents.
Troy has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five games against nonconference opponents and lost six consecutive games against AP-ranked teams. The Missouri defense has been a major force to start this year, and it has had success against stiffer offensive attacks than Troy will offer. Expect the Tigers to limit any sort of damage in the early portion of the matchup and gradually push this game into blowout territory.
Count on another strong statement from Missouri to win in comfortable fashion by more than the 27.5-point spread and for this matchup to contribute to the largely underwhelming CFB slate.
