After completing their sixth win of the season on the road at Vanderbilt, the Missouri Tigers find themselves in the mix of teams that are bowl eligible.
So far, representatives of the Liberty Bowl and TaxSlayer Bowl have courted the Tigers the most. You have to figure though, that if Missouri were to win one more game and finish the season with seven wins, that the Tigers might land a few more suitors.
The last time Missouri was in a bowl game, was 2014, when the Tigers beat Minnesota, 33-17, in the Citrus Bowl. With an 11-2 record, that was the most recent season Mizzou won the SEC East.
Since 2014, the Tigers have endured two losing seasons – a 5-7 season in 2015, and a 4-8 season in 2016. After the Tigers’ loss this year to Purdue, in week 3, many began to think a bowl game might escape Mizzou’s grasp. After the Tigers’ meltdown to Auburn, the preseason possible felt impossible.
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Fortunately, the bye week came at the right time for the Tigers, and it gave the coaching staff and team a chance to stew over the first four weeks, while also allowing an opportunity to reset.
Coming out of the bye, the Tigers had Kentucky in their cross-hairs, in a game they looked ready to steal away from the Wildcats, but the officiating crew allowed too much time to bleed off the clock, while resetting the ball, costing the Tigers a potential win.
Against Georgia, the Tigers put up 21 points in the first half, and a final touchdown in the second half, giving Mizzou 28 points in a road loss at Georgia.
By no means was a win over the Bulldogs expected, but the Tigers’ offense was doing something it hadn’t done against good SEC opponents, in a long time: Scoring points and stretching the field.
Pending the outcome of this week’s road contest against Arkansas, their game at Georgia was the last game the Tigers lost, which has Missouri on a five-game win streak.
Next: Mizzou stocking-up on commits
As Missouri prepares for Arkansas on Friday afternoon, the Tigers have received offers to play in the Birmingham Bowl (12/23), Independence Bowl (12/27), Texas Bowl (12/27), Music City Bowl (12/29), Belk Bowl (12/29), TaxSlayer Bowl (12/30), Liberty Bowl (12/30), and Outback Bowl (1/1).
Editor’s Note: Missouri’s 2014 bowl appearance, opponent and score corrected.