Week 3 college football is bringing a clash of the titans, with *two* undefeated teams, Troy and #20 Missouri, set to battle it out Saturday in Columbia. While both squads are rolling at 2-0, the betting odds from Fanatics Sportsbook are telling a wild story: Missouri is a massive 26.5-point favorite. That’s a huge spread for two teams with perfect records, and it really highlights the talent gap everyone expects to see on Faurot Field.
Missouri’s Explosive Offense Has Been Absolutely Flawless
Eli Drinkwitz, in his sixth season coaching Missouri, has this team looking legit, especially on offense. A big part of that is Ole Miss transfer quarterback Austin Simmons, who has been nearly flawless in his first two starts. The guy has racked up 544 passing yards and dropped seven touchdowns, all without throwing a single interception! Are you kidding me? That’s the kind of precision you dream of seeing. With Donovan Olugbude and most of their receiving corps back from last year, this unit looks like one of the most explosive in the SEC already. And don’t forget the running game built around Jamal Roberts; it gives Drinkwitz’s offense multiple ways to just pull away from opponents. On the other side of the ball, Missouri’s defense has been stout, locking down teams so hard that no opponent has even hit 20 points yet this season. Their size and speed up front? It’s a huge advantage against most lines, especially coming out of the Sun Belt.
Troy’s Grit and The Uphill Battle Ahead
Troy, under Gerad Parker in his third season, is also sitting pretty at 2-0. They’ve built a reputation as one of the Sun Belt’s steadier programs, known for physical, well-coached football that typically keeps games from getting totally out of hand. They’ve handled their business against overmatched competition so far, but this Missouri matchup is a whole different beast. The 26.5-point spread tells you everything you need to know about the real talent gap they’re facing. For Troy to even think about covering that spread, their path has to run through ball control, limiting Missouri’s possessions, and absolutely *not* trying to match them score for score. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every FBS game 10,000 times and has been on a 33-21 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks since 2024, has this one pegged, so you know the betting world is watching closely.
It’s a huge test for both squads, but especially for Troy as they try to keep this dream start alive against a surging #20 Missouri. Kickoff is Saturday at 7 p.m. ET at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, and you know we’ll be glued to every single snap to see how this story unfolds. The over/under is set at 49.5, if you’re into that sort of thing, but the real show is going to be watching these two undefeated teams battle it out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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