John, Mizzou has seen the two best teams in the SEC East with BAMA on the way. A&M has played Florida which some believe is the 3rd best team in the East, Arkansas, & Ol Miss. Two different experiences. A&M put 58 on Arky, & 30 on Ol Miss, so the defenses have not been an issue for them.
As a Mizzou fan what I have observed as the difference between the Big12 & the SEC is that the SEC is a much more physical & athletic conference on the line. Your big guys need to have the ability to pass and run block. Mizzou can't use injuries as an excuse for the 0-3 start. The truth is that the team has not executed well on the basic fundamentals this year. Hopefully they will be corrected, or we will continue to get pounded.
Fitz Hill's book "Crackback" explains the UK situation.