Missouri Football: The Tigers can beat Georgia and Arkansas to become bowl eligible
Missouri football is recovering from a horrendous 2016 season, but 2017 will see the Tigers make a bowl appearance en route to at least six wins.
In 2016, all the pieces were in place for Missouri to compete and contend for a bowl bid, but the pieces never really came together to allow Mizzou to win some close games, until late in the season.
Missouri’s 2017 schedule is slightly favorable, especially against non-conference opponents, but its slate of division opponents should also present opportunities for the Tigers to take advantage.
In his second full season as head coach, Barry Odom will see the bulk of his offensive players return, and while the defense remains a question mark, coordinator DeMontie Cross will have his squad ready to play by the start of the season.
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Quarterback Drew Lock is something of a dark horse for the Tigers entering the 2017 season. Lock, who posted 3,399 passing yards in 2016, should match those numbers, at the very least.
ESPN predicts that Missouri will finish around the same win total as 2016, but considering all the pieces that Mizzou has returning for at least their second year, I believe the Tigers will muster at least six wins in 2017. That number continues to increase for me as the season draws closer.
Since Missouri entered the SEC, the Tigers’ record against Georgia is lacking severely. With a 1-3 mark against the Bulldogs, this should be the season in which Mizzou starts closing the gap.
The ‘Dawgs are a formidable opponent, and one that holds a higher competitive edge than Arkansas, but they can be had on a bad day.
The x-factor for Missouri will be its ability to contain Georgia’s offense. With the Tigers slated for a midseason matchup in Athens, GA, we will have better idea of where the Tigers’ D stands.
Mizzou’s offense will present a challenge to Georgia’s defense, and as long as the offensive line is able to limit the Bulldogs’ ability to pressure Lock and the running game, Missouri has endless weapons to use against Georgia.
A win in Athens is no easy task for any team, but if a bowl bid is on the line for Missouri, then that could be the incentive needed for the Tigers to eke out a win on the road.
Arkansas is a team on the rise in the SEC. While Missouri holds a 4-2 record over the Razorbacks, it’s more likely that this year’s contest at Arkansas will be closer than it was a year ago.
In 2016, a floundering Missouri team that found its footing late in the season, came back from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Razorbacks. That loss to end its season left Arkansas with a bitter taste in its mouth.
The ending of this game will likely be closer than it was a year ago, and it’s the season finale for both teams, so Arkansas will be seeking retribution in the newly-minted “Battle Line Rivalry” game.
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While the game will be closer, I expect Mizzou to take the win for at least one more season. With wins over Georgia and Arkansas, the Tigers will find their way to a bowl game.