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Oklahoma-Missouri Preview

Oct 21, 2010 - 7:11 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

No. 1 Oklahoma (6-0) at No. 11 Missouri (6-0), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Oklahoma is atop the first BCS standings. It knows staying there through the duration of the season won't be easy.

In fact, remaining in first place another week will be quite a challenge with the third-ranked Sooners visiting No. 18 Missouri on Saturday night in a matchup of unbeaten Big 12 division leaders.

After hanging on for narrow victories in four of its first five games, Oklahoma (6-0, 2-0) returned from its bye week Saturday and easily defeated overmatched Iowa State 52-0. The South Division-leading Sooners outgained the Cyclones 672-183, and a day later found themselves atop the BCS standings.

Despite debuting at No. 1, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops doesn't want his team getting caught up in the hype. His Sooners have started out as the top team in the BCS three times but only made it to the national championship game in one of those seasons, 2003.

"We're going up to play a 6-0 team at Missouri, and they're not handing anything out right now," Stoops said. "It means absolutely nothing."

The North Division-leading Tigers (6-0, 2-0) look like they'll provide the Sooners' toughest test to date.

Missouri, 11th in the first BCS poll, ranks second in the FBS with 13.3 points allowed per game and is tied for the sixth-most sacks with 20. The Tigers had seven sacks in last Saturday's 30-9 win over Texas A&M, which came in averaging 35.0 points, and they expect to have top pass rusher Aldon Smith back for this contest.

Smith, the Big 12 freshman the year last season after setting a school record with 11 1/2 sacks, has three sacks in three games in 2010. He missed the last three contests with a broken bone in his leg.

Like most of his teammates, Smith has been looking forward to this game since before the season began, and he's not planning on missing it.

"There's nothing that would stop me from playing this weekend," Smith said.

"I don't think it's just another game. I think we'll attack it differently, putting a lot more focus and dedication to this game."

The Tigers have had this contest circled for some time because they want another chance to prove they can beat the Sooners.

Oklahoma has won seven straight over Missouri and 19 of 20 in the series, with the Tigers' lone victory coming in 1998.

They are meeting for the first time since the 2008 Big 12 championship game after also being the 2007 title game matchup. The Sooners won both handily, knocking off the top-ranked Tigers 38-17 in 2007 and beating them 62-21 the following year.

"Our players are very well aware of No. 1, how good Oklahoma is, and No. 2, how it's such a big game," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said.

The Tigers, who last opened 6-0 in 2006, are trying to win their first seven games for the first time since their undefeated 1960 season.

While much of Missouri's success has stemmed from the defense, the offense is also playing well.

The Tigers are averaging 34.5 points and Blaine Gabbert is coming off his best game, throwing for season highs of 361 yards and three touchdowns.

The Sooners have also been efficient on offense and are coming off a record-setting performance.

Landry Jones was 30 of 34 for 334 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa State, posting the highest completion percentage of any Oklahoma quarterback with at least 25 attempts.

Ryan Broyles also bested his own school mark for receptions in a game, finishing with 15 for 182 yards and one touchdown.

Finally, running back DeMarco Murray scored on a 15-yard screen pass to break 1969 Heisman Trophy winner Steve Owens' school record of 57 touchdowns. Murray rushed for 112 yards and two scores.

Although the Sooners moved the ball with ease last weekend, that performance came against the nation's 112th-ranked defense. On Saturday, though, they will be without wide receiver Dejuan Miller, who needs surgery on his injured right knee and will miss the rest of the season.

Miller, who tore his meniscus during practice Tuesday, has 15 catches and ranks third on Oklahoma with 199 yards receiving.