Missouri Football: Preseason expectations are about right for 2017
How many wins will keep head coach Barry Odom employed? So far, pre-season expectations seem about right for Missouri football.
With the arrival of football season, we can look more seriously at the reality that the Tigers should be bowl contenders in 2017.
In his recent weekly posting, Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, responded to whether the Tigers can finish the 2017 season with nine wins.
Barring a significant breakdown in play calling, injuries, or a complete meltdown in production, there’s very little reason for Missouri to be excluded from a bowl game this year.
Missouri Tigers Football
In 2016, the Tigers’ offense struggled to make positive plays in a variety of situations, the most frustrating of which was where the outcome of the game would have gone in Missouri’s favor.
On the defensive side of the ball, production simply evaded the Tigers on multiple levels, until late in the season.
In late spring, site expert Eric Quackenbush gave a pre-season prediction on how Missouri could finish in 2017, giving brief insight on each game the Tigers play this year.
While we all want to see the Tigers finish the season with a winning record, I think, at the very least, most of us would concede a six-win, bowl eligible season a success, as long as the Tigers show a solid effort in their bowl game, if not a win.
Some believe that in order for head coach Barry Odom to keep his job beyond 2017, the team must complete a nine-win season.
Is nine wins a realistic expectation? The answer to that question seems to be one of fire. In 2018, I think a nine-win season is a realistic expectation, at a minimum.
Of course, expectations of a nine-win season in 2018 would hinge on a successful 2017 season in which the Tigers play in a bowl game, and do well enough that Odom keeps his job.
For 2017, a consensus agreement seems to be seven wins is realistic, Odom keeps his job, the Tigers go bowling, and come away with a “W.”
I agree with Matter; if the defense is able to play tough against the division’s offenses, and if the offense can contend with the division’s defense and play well on special teams, then the Tigers will contend for the division.
Depending on how the defense and kicking game shapes up in 2017, anything above seven wins is gravy, and will keep the heat off Odom in the meantime.
Next: Missouri continues its flight under experts' radar
A sampling of how the Tigers’ season should unfold will become more clear on September 2, when Missouri hosts former defensive coordinator Dave Steckel and his Missouri State Bears.