Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#40 Missouri Tigers 7-5 SU; 6-6 ATS

Fargos Take The underachieving Tigers likely saved head coach Gary Pinkels job last year with a huge come from behind victory against South Carolina in the Independence Bowl. Missouri has only two winning seasons under Pinkel, who is entering his 6th season in Columbia. In order for the Tigers to keep Pinkel around, they are going to have to find a replacement for all-everything signal caller Brad Banks to lead the offense. On the other side, seven starters are back on a defense that finished 81st in the country in scoring a season ago. Similar to Colorado, the Tigers benefit from playing in the Big XII North and that race will be wide open once again. Missouri has a golden opportunity to get off to a quick start, gaining confidence along the way in what could turn into another chance to play in the postseason. Pinkel will likely need that to happen to be around again in 2007.

Returning Starters on Offense 8 The loss of Banks is huge as he could make things happen and take control of the offense himself. Replacing him will be sophomore Chase Daniel, whose upside is enormous. He played in 10 games last season and led the Tigers to a big come from behind victory over Iowa St. after Banks went out with an injury. He is a pure passer and he benefits from getting back six of the top seven receivers from last year. The offensive line returns four of five starters, all of which surpass 300 pounds, and that will help pave the way for tailbacks Marcus Woods and Tony Temple. Establishing a running game will be huge in order to take some of the pressure off Daniels. If he is able to match expectations, the departure of Banks will be quickly forgotten.

Returning Starters on Defense 7 The defense will also be asked to take some of the pressure of Daniels and it all starts up front. The Tigers have one of the best defensive lines in the conference as all four starters and seven of the top eight on the depth chart are back. Stuffing the run will be the priority after finishing 63rd in that category a season ago. Two of the three linebackers are back in the 4-3 scheme but depth is a huge concern once again. The front seven is going to have to overachieve as the secondary will be the weakness of the unit. Only one starter, free safety and leading tackler David Overstreet, is back in the defensive backfield but potential is there with a very athletic group of cornerbacks. The soft non-conference schedule will give the Tigers a chance to jell on defense.

Schedule Anything short of a 4-0 start will be a disappointment for Missouri as all four games should be easy wins on paper. Three home games highlight the schedule as games against Murray St., Mississippi and Ohio will all be won. The lone road game is at New Mexico but there will be plenty of motivation for the Tigers who lost at home to the Lobos last season. The conference slate starts with three difficult games a home contest against Colorado followed by back-to-back road games at Texas Tech and Texas A&M. Home games against Kansas St. and Oklahoma are next before ending the season with three straight against North division foes. That includes the season finale at home against rival Kansas, a team the Tigers have lost to three straight years. In total, there are seven home games on the schedule and Texas is out of the mix for the first time since 2003.

You can bet on The success of the team likely comes down to the play of Daniels but he was a blue chip recruit and has the tools to be one of the best. He gained some great experience last season and even though he has never started, he is game tested. The offense has a chance to be even better. The Tigers are 15-10 ATS in their last 25 home games and with seven on the slate in 2006, it provides some good money making opportunities. They are likely going to be favored in five of the six lined home games and they have been profitable in that role in three of the last four years, posting an 8-3 ATS record in those winning seasons. There is not much room for underachieving once again and if the Tigers dont get off to the expected quick start, Pinkel could be gone before the season even concludes.