Missouri Tigers 2009 Season Preview: Week Two Vs. Bowling Green

After kicking off the 2009 season in St. Louis, the Missouri Tigers begin their home schedule on September 12 against the Bowling Green Falcons. Surprisingly, Bowling Green leads the all-time series three games to one, including two wins against Tigers’ coach Gary Pinkel. It’s interesting to note that Pinkel used to coach at Toledo, the Falcons’ biggest rival.   The 2001 match-up was unique, as it is not only Gary Pinkel’s first game as the Mizzou coach, but also Urban Meyer’s first game as the head coach of Bowling Green. The Falcons won that game 20-13 in Columbia and followed that up with a 51-28 win over Missouri in Bowling Green, Ohio in 2002.   As is often the case in early season games against non-conference opponents, it will be imperative for Mizzou to strike early and often. Upsets are made early in games when underdog teams hang around, gain confidence, and slowly begin to believe they can actually win the game.   If Mizzou can...