Mizzou 31, Baylor 28.

That was too close, eh?

I spent the fourth quarter at my online hangout, Bernie’s Press Box on STLtoday.com. Listening to the game on KMOX. Exchanging observations and venting anxiety with Mizzou fans. It was a pretty scary situation for the Tigers and their faithful.

The Mizzou defense did little to erase the perception that it’s too soft and confused and can’t be trusted to hold down a good offense. The Tigers twice blew 14-point leads in this one, and that’s discouraging.

The Mizzou offense rolled up the yards (nearly 500) but made too many mistakes, including three damaging turnovers. Quarterback Chase Daniel was picked off twice. (Just how many INTs has he thrown on Texas soil, anyway?)

But here’s what you have to like about this victory: in the old days, Mizzou would have choked away the opportunity to save the day. Some of coach Gary Pinkel’s previous teams would have found a way to lose this game.

Pinkel’s bunch found a way to win it.

With the score tied 28-28, Daniel and the offense structured a late 13-play, 75-yard drive that ended in the winning 34-yard field goal by the unflappable Jeff Wolfert.

And then the defense stepped up with a killer interception by LB Brock Christopher.

These were character plays. The Tigers were mentally tough enough to gut one out. They deserve props for that. It isn’t easy winning on the road, not in the Big 12 South. Baylor may be 3-6, but let’s face it: the Big 12 South is a monster compared to the much weaker Big 12 North, and Baylor is clearly superior to the bad teams in the North.

So yes, this was a quality win for the Tigers.

They’re now done playing Big 12 South teams (regular season, anyway) and have to take care of Kansas State (home) and Iowa State (road) before the big game against Kansas.

But Saturday’s wild ride in Waco did leave at least two questions sitting there for us to ponder:

Can this defense firm up in time to stop Kansas and the Big 12 South rep if the Tigers make it to the conference title game?

Can Daniel eliminate the errors that have been contributing factors in these difficult, dicey encounters?

We’ll see.

But for now, go ahead and exhale, Tigers fans.

Whew.

That was a close one.

-B