Tigers out to firm up bowl plan, win finale

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A week after its hopes of reaching the Big 12 championship game went down the drain, Missouri still has a thing or two to think about today.

Not only with the Tigers (7-3, 3-4) try to complete their first unbeaten season at home since 1974, but they'll also try to position themselves for a bowl game in the regular-season finale against Iowa State (2-9, 0-7).

They also can reach eight regular-season victories for the first time in 23 seasons.

"It's just very, very important, and it's up to me to make sure my players understand the importance and that we play at the highest level of the year," coach Gary Pinkel said. "It's a sad thing, but it's a big deal to win eight games here at Missouri."

Missouri is 5-0 at home this season after outscoring opponents by an average of 21 points.

"There's a certain vibe when we play at home," defensive back Dedrick Harrington said. "It hasn't always been there, but I think it's there now."

Extra emphasis for the Tigers: They've lost four in a row to Iowa State. The Cyclones won 42-35 last year in Ames, Iowa.

Missouri has been extensively scouted by the Independence Bowl, set for Dec. 31 in Shreveport, La., along with the Alamo (Dec. 29) and Holiday (Dec. 30) bowls. The Tigers are seeking their first bowl bid since they beat a West Virginia team led by future Rams quarterback Marc Bulger in the 1998 Insight.com Bowl.

But that talk, and talk about practice plans in preparation for a bowl, will have to wait until next week.

"Maybe if we were six years into the program and we had gone to a bowl five years in a row, maybe we'd sit back and think," Pinkel said. "But my focus is on finishing this season at 8-4, and on Sunday I can look at those things and look at the options we might have."

Iowa State wishes it was so lucky. After three straight bowl years, the Cyclones are playing out the string in a disappointing season and coming off a 36-7 loss to Kansas. Iowa State has lost nine games in a row after its 2-0 start.