photo by: Nick Krug

The Kansas Jayhawks race onto the field before kicking off against Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Jesse Newell: Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session. Matt, what are you looking for in the Border War, Kansas versus Missouri?

photo by: Nick Krug

The Kansas Jayhawks race onto the field before kicking off against Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Matt Tait: Clearly, this one is big no matter what the records are and I’d expect the atmosphere to be exciting yet again. I’ll be really interested to see how the crowd plays out. Will there be more Mizzou fans there because the Jayhawks are just 3-8 or will the KU fans show up? As for the game, I think it’ll be a lot like last week where the Jayhawks prove early that they can play with the Tigers. I’m just not sure they’ll have enough juice/talent/stamina to do it for an entire four quarters.

JN: KU comes in as a 24 1/2-point underdog. What should give KU fans hope that the Jayhawks might be able to pull off the upset?

MT: The hope comes from the fact that this one is up for grabs every single time these two teams play. In 2008, nobody expected the Jayhawks to knock off the 12th-ranked Tigers, but Todd Reesing and company got it done.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas receiver Kerry Meier flashes a smile as he runs in what proved to be the winning touchdown against Missouri late in the fourth quarter Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 at Arrowhead Stadium.

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2008/nov/29/21940/

This year’s Jayhawks don’t have Todd Reesing on their side, but they do have emotion, a nothing-to-lose attitude and the fact that they’re playing for everyone who ever suited up for KU. There would be no better way to end a rough first season for this team and coaching staff than to upset Mizzou.

JN: OK, Matt, having said that, what’s your prediction for this game?

MT: As I mentioned, I think KU will hang around much the way they did against Oklahoma State.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas defensive tackle John Williams wrestles with Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter during the first quarter, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010 at Kivisto Field. In back is Bradley McDougald.

The Jayhawks may even be in it late in the third quarter. But that’s when Missouri’s experience, depth and talent will take over. Missouri 41, Kansas 20.

JN: Well, you’re nicer to KU than I’m going to be. I’m going with Missouri 41, Kansas 6. The tendency is to talk about this being a rivalry game, throwing out the records, yada, yada, yada. Saying that would be ignoring the fact that Missouri, statistically, is a much, much better team than Kansas. The past few years have been good games because the two teams have been evenly matched, but that’s not the case this year.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas receiver Kerry Meier grabs a touchdown pass in front of Missouri safety Jarrell Harrison during the third quarter, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium.

The other thing that worries me about KU’s chances is sticking quarterback Jordan Webb back in as the starter. While the quarterback switch (is this the fourth official one this year?) has the potential to pay dividends, it also has the risk of blowing up on KU. Though Quinn Mecham isn’t flashy, he generally does a good job of taking care of the football, which kept the Jayhawks closer in some games than they perhaps they should have been. Webb could have a great game against Missouri, but he also is a bigger risk-taker and has greater potential to put KU in a hole with a mistake.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas head coach Turner Gill meets with quarterback Jordan Webb between plays during the first quarter Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010 at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.

I don’t blame KU’s coaches for putting in the guy that obviously they see as the quarterback of the future. I’m just not convinced, at this point, that he’s better for this team than Mecham is.

All right, Matt, who’s your Hawk to Rock?

MT: Let’s go with James Sims.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas running back James Sims looks to put a move on Oklahoma State safety Johnny Thomas (12) during the second quarter, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010 at Kivisto Field. In back is OSU linebacker Justin Gent.

KU coach Turner Gill made no secret of the fact that Sims has rushed for 100 yards or more in KU’s three victories and has failed to reach triple digits in KU’s eight losses. That leads me to believe that the Jayhawks are going to pound the rock. Though inconsistent most of the way, the offensive line has shown that it can get rolling. Look for the emotion of this one to have the guys in the trenches playing lights out and look for Sims to take advantage.

JN: I’m going with Jake Laptad. It seems like every KU-Missouri game at Arrowhead has at least one game-changing forced fumble in it by the Jayhawks. Laptad, in his final game at KU, has the most potential to create that turnover. Look for him to get some pressure against MU quarterback Blaine Gabbert off the edge to force a fumble for the Jayhawks.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas defensive end Jake Laptad knocks the ball loose from Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins during the fourth quarter, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 at Kivisto Field. The fumble was recovered by Colorado.

Though forcing a few turnovers could keep KU close in this game, the Jayhawks simply haven’t been a team that can rely on takeways this year.