A pair of two-loss teams tangle here in what should be a high-scoring affair, with Oklahoma State showing more balance offensively this season, and Missouri's hurry-up offense moving the chains through the air.
The Cowboys rode a seven-game win streak until the final game of the season when they lost to in-state rival Oklahoma. They averaged 440 yards per game and were strong in the red zone with 53 scores in 60 trips inside the opponent's 20, including 46 touchdowns.
Missouri's offense was even more effective, amassing 493 yards per game with a fast-paced attack and three wide receivers between 6-foot-4 and 6-6.
Missouri's top draft prospects, however, are on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive ends Kony Ealy and Michael Sam were two of the SEC's top sack men, and cornerback E.J. Gaines had a tremendous season at cornerback, highlighted by a strong performance against Texas A&M star WR Mike Evans. Ealy and Sam combined for 18 sacks on the season, 10.5 of those to Sam. Gaines picked off four passes on the year and has lock-down ability in man coverage. All three figure to be drafted.
Oklahoma State's top draft prospect is cornerback Justin Gilbert, who led the team with six interceptions and broke up seven other passes on the year. At 6-0, 200 pounds, he has above-average size for the position. But he'll still be looking up to whichever standout Missouri receiver he sees: 6-6 sophomore Dorial Green-Beckham, 6-5 Marcus Lucas, or 6-4 L'Damian Washington. Keep an eye on Washington, who has also played his way into NFL scouts' notebooks this season with 47 receptions for 853 yards and 10 scores.
Defensive tackle Calvin Barnett (6-2, 300 pounds) is Oklahoma State's top senior prospect in the front seven.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
