The Border Showdown

One of college football’s most bitter and historic rivalries returns to Lawrence for the first time since 2005 as the Kansas Jayhawks host the Missouri Tigers in the latest chapter of the Border War.

After Missouri edged out a thrilling 42–31 victory in Columbia last season, Lance Leipold’s Jayhawks are out for revenge on their home turf. Both teams enter Friday night sitting at 1-0 after dominant Week 1 victories against FCS opponents; Kansas rolling past Long Island 51-6, and Missouri routing Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54-14. In a rivalry that usually produces competitive and blood-thirsty games, this game serves as the appetizer for a great Saturday College Football slate.

What to Watch For?

• Kansas With the Home Field Advantage

  • The animosity between these programs runs deep. Playing this game in Lawrence for the first time in over two decades adds a massive home-field energy for Kansas. With Missouri sitting near the bottom of the Top 25 at #23, can they deal with this pressure to make their case to move up the rankings?

• Quarterback Duel

  • Dual-threat Kansas QB Isaiah Marshall takes the helm after earning the starting job, while Missouri relies on young QB Austin Simmons to lead the Tigers' offense

  • Handling early-game jitters will determine who controls the pace; this stadium is going to be absolutely ballistic

  • Both QB’s coming off solid starts vs FCS teams, can they overcome this feud and produce numbers against much tougher opponents

• Winning the Small (or Short) Battles

  • Missouri’s offensive line features major size with Cayden Green (coming off injury), but Kansas' front seven showed serious disruption in Week 1

  • Kansas’ front seven is well rested for this game, having played no more than 28 snaps vs Long Island

  • Creating and winning third-and-short scenarios will be crucial to sustain long drives

• The Verdict

  • Expect an intense, high-energy atmosphere with two dynamic offences trading punches early. While Kansas will feed off the electric crowd at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Missouri's depth in the second half could prove to be the ultimate difference-maker.

• Current Odds

  • Missouri (-4.5)

  • O/U 51.5

• Early Leans

  • Missouri -4.5 (I expect a close battle early on, but the talent gap will start to show later in the game where Missouri could pull away a bit and control the final minutes of the game)

  • Over 51.5 (Look for a lot of early scoring drives before both defenses settle in. With the potential for Missouri to pull away late, this over could be the easiest cover of the night)

• Full Game Prediction

  • 31-23 Missouri