Missouri's loss to Georgia last Saturday was disappointing. Friday's news could be demoralizing, if not devastating.

We'll see Saturday night --- and perhaps, the rest of the season.

Junior quarterback James Franklin appears to be a game-time decision when the Tigers host the Arizona State Sun Devils at 6 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field.

According to reports, Franklin re-injured his right shoulder --- his throwing shoulder and the shoulder he had surgery on this spring --- during the Georgia game.

Missouri played most of the game without five of its top-10 offensive linemen, including stalwart Elvis Fischer (knee) and Jefferson City's Travis Ruth (arm). In turn, Franklin took multiple hits, even though he was sacked only twice and played the entire game.

Still, this news blindsided Missouri fans. Franklin threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia, and offered this during Monday's media day:  "I feel pretty good ... surprising, I'm not as sore as I thought I'd be," Franklin said. "But I feel pretty good, physically."

In addition, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said nothing about Franklin during his weekly injury update.

Which begs the question --- was Franklin hurt during practice this week? Practice is only open to the media and public for 30 minutes Tuesday, then is shut down the rest of the week. Basically, that means we see nothing.

And the people who MAY know something are keeping tight-lipped. Missouri is not expected to make an announcement prior to the game.

These situations are usually treated like national-security secrets.

While MU might keep mum, the boys in Las Vegas --- and they call them wise guys for a reason --- dropped the line 2 1/2 points in less than three hours Friday afternoon. That is significant.

The Tigers opened as 7 1/2-point favorites; they had dropped to 6-point favorites by Thursday; now, it's just 3 1/2. If you weren't sure, they're not in the business to lose money.

Do you have the feeling they know something?

Franklin, apparently, did tweet several dozen times Friday afternoon, but said nothing about his injury or status. He just thanked friends and fans for the well-wishes.

Even if Franklin does play, he obviously won't be 100 percent. That would leave the job to redshirt freshman Corbin Berkstresser.

Berkstresser is hardly a guy that Pinkel randomly plucked out of the local Wal-Mart. His history proves otherwise.

The 6-3, 230-pound Berkstresser threw for 3,369 yards and 36 touchdowns his senior year at Lee's Summit, and was ranked as the 16th-best pro-style quarterback in the nation by Rivals in 2011.

In mop-up duty in the season-opener against Southeastern Louisiana, he was 5-for-5 for 60 yards and one touchdown, and also rushed for 27 yards and a score. After that effort, Pinkel offered this:  "Everybody is surprised at Corbin, but Corbin is a good player," Pinkel said. "He played with some poise, coming right out of the chute, looked real natural back there and I think he was real excited about playing.

"He hasn’t played since his senior year of high school, and two years ago is the last time he played in a game. So it’s pretty cool to see him come out and make some real nice throws and move the team."

Franklin, however, was the starter for a reason. He's better than Berkstresser.

We can only wait and see how demoralizing this news will be.