Missouri Tigers 2016 Predictions
By Josh McSwain
The Gary Pinkel era is over, now Barry Odom steps in as the new head coach of the Tigers. How will his first year go?
September:
at West Virginia- The Mountaineers are tough to beat at home. This is a far from ideal situation for the Missouri Tigers to open their season and start Odom’s tenure as head coach. This will be a chance for us to see how the new offense has come together in the offseason, but not far enough.
West Virginia 31, Missouri 20
Eastern Michigan- Coming home to a pancake MAC opponent. EMU has been really bad in recent years, and behind the home crowd the Tigers get back on track before a big one next week.
Missouri 52, Eastern Michigan 10
Georgia- The “Old Man Football” game will always be heated, from that very first game there has been a real hatred. The Bulldogs have gotten the better of the Tigers in three of the four meetings. But surprisingly the road team has won three of four, with Georgia winning at home last year in a 9-6 snoozer. Nick Chubb is back on the field for the Dawgs, and he will help them avoid falling into this trap game, as the Dawgs have Ole Miss the next week. Still it will be closer than people think.
Georgia 20, Missouri 17
Delaware State- After another tough game, there’s another cupcake. Delaware State has really struggled since turning D1 and this should be a cakewalk.
Missouri 59, DSU 6
October:
at LSU- The pattern continues as a rough game follows a win. Going down to Death Valley is going to be a tall order for the Tigers as they take on the Bayou Bengals. Leonard Fournette is going to be running like a man chasing a Heisman. While Missouri may slow him down for a half, eventually he will get his yards. But this might be one of his least impressive performances this season against a tough Missouri defense. The Missouri offense will also struggle to put up points in this one. Missouri will stay in it for the first three quarters before LSU pulls away in the fourth.
LSU 34, Missouri 10
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at Florida- After the bye week the Tigers travel to The Swamp needing a win. The Tigers have played well in Florida, nearly winning there during the dismal 2012 campaign and then winning big there two years ago. I think the Gators overachieved last season in their first year under Jim McElwain, but it will not keep them from winning this one. It will be a nail biter but the Gators pull it out with a late touchdown drive.
Florida 24, Missouri 21
Middle Tennessee State- This begins a needed winning streak for the Tigers. On homecoming they pull one out over a mid-major, but it won’t be an easy win. The Blue Raiders have been a good team for a while now and they will give the Tigers all they can handle for three quarters. But Drew Lock has a breakout performance in the fourth quarter and leads two touchdown drives to bring Missouri back and win.
Missouri 35, MTSU 27
Kentucky- After a big win, the Tigers keep it going against the Wildcats. Back at home the Tigers frustrate J.R. Towles, Boom Williams and the Cats offense. The defense gets two turnovers, including one for a touchdown to get a crucial win.
Missouri 24, Kentucky 17
November:
at South Carolina- The battle of Columbia has produced two memorable games and two stinkers. The first was a lopsided win for the Gamecocks and last year was a snoozer with both offenses incapable of moving the ball. But the 2013 and 14 meetings were both nail biters. The Gamecocks handed the Tigers their only regular season loss in 2013 as Connor Shaw came in late in the game and stunned the Tigers in overtime on Homecoming. In 2014 Maty Mauk led a comeback that stunned the Gamecocks on their home field 21-20. The Tigers win their third in a row in the series.
Missouri 20, South Carolina 14
Vanderbilt- After a three game winning streak gets the Tigers to the brink of bowl eligibility, there will be a letdown game here. The Commodores are building a solid defense and will make life difficult for the Missouri offense as it will be another slugfest between these two teams.
Vanderbilt 17, Missouri 14
at Tennessee- This is going to the Vol’s year. They have an experienced quarterback in Josh Dobbs, and lots of returning talent with Jalen Hurd and more. Butch Jones has had enough time and the pressure is going to be on him to deliver a great season. The Vols were really close last season in a lot of games, blowing late leads against Oklahoma, Arkansas and Florida and playing the Tide really close in Tuscaloosa. It’s now or never. Rocky Top will be rocking and the Vols will be just too much for the young Tigers.
Tennessee 45, Missouri 21
Arkansas- Once again, the Tigers will come into the Battle Line Rivalry needed a win to reach bowl eligibility. The Hogs have lost quite a bit of talent from last year with quarterback Brandon Allen and running backs Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams gone. Because Arkansas will have already reached bowl eligibility, there will not be the same sense of urgency and the Tigers will pull it out.
Missouri 20, Arkansas 17