Tulsa World: OSU Notebook

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OSU Notebook

By BILL HAISTEN, World sports writer
Published: 10/9/2008 2:08 AM
Last Modified: 10/9/2008 3:44 AM

The comforts of home: On Saturday, in a 7 p.m. Big 12 game televised by ESPN2, 17th-ranked Oklahoma State (5-0 overall, 1-0 Big 12) plays at third-ranked Missouri (5-0, 1-0).

Since 2003, the Tigers have a home record of 28-6 overall, 15-5 in Big 12 play. Over its last 19 home games overall, Mizzou is 18-1. Over its last 16 home dates, Missouri has outscored opponents by an average of 41-16, with an average total-yardage advantage of 507-318.

Added pressure: For the first time since 1976, Missouri and OSU both have a national ranking. That year, 16th-ranked OSU beat 10th-ranked Missouri 20-19 in Stillwater.

In their last 13 home games as a ranked team, the Tigers are 12-1. The only loss was dealt by Oklahoma in 2006.

"First of all, you're fortunate enough to be in a position where those games are big and they matter. You like to be in that arena," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said this week. "I think our players experienced quite a bit of this last year, with some big games. I think our players understand the focus level and intensity level that you need every week."

The quest for 6-0: If Missouri wins on Friday, it will be 6-0 for the fifth time in school history. The Tigers had a 6-0 start in 1899, 1960, 1973 and 2006.

If the Cowboys prevail, they will be 6-0 for only the third time in school history. OSU was 6-0 in 1945 (and went on to complete a 9-0 season) and in 1997. In their seventh game, played at Stillwater, the 1997 Cowboys lost 51-50 to Missouri in double overtime.

Mistake-free Missouri: Missouri is not a self-destructive team. On 156 pass attempts, quarterback Chase Daniel has been intercepted only once. The Tigers have committed only five turnovers in five games, and they are the least-penalized team in college football.

A key component in OSU's blowout victories over Troy and Texas A&M was turnovers. The Cowboy defense forced three Troy turnovers, and the Cowboy offense capitalized with three touchdowns. At Stillwater last week, A&M committed five first-half turnovers. To upset Missouri, will OSU need a minimum of two takeaways?

"Missouri is going to make some plays, but we need to rally to the football, hit, strip, force turnovers," coach Mike Gundy said. "You've got to hit them and be disruptive.

"Any time you play a (quality) team, you have to take the ball away from them somehow. If you play a team as good as Missouri or some of these other teams we're going to play later, and they don't turn the ball over the whole game, it's hard to win." By BILL HAISTEN, World sports writer

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