Early mistakes doom Mizzou against No. 2 Georgia

COLUMBIA, MO. • The art of the upset in college football almost always requires something sudden and unconventional, the game-changing play that builds momentum for the underdog and sucks the air out of the favorite’s lungs.

Like Gahn McGaffie’s game-opening kickoff return touchdown against Oklahoma in 2010. Or Sonny Riccio’s fake-field goal touchdown pass against Nebraska in 2003.

This year’s Missouri Tigers not only failed to produce those kind of plays Saturday against the nation’s No. 2 team, but they watched Georgia borrow from the underdog playbook.

For most of Saturday’s Southeastern Conference East Division showdown, Mizzou and Georgia traded blows , but two early breakdowns became too…