Missouri Football: Tigers should challenge Tennessee for win

Missouri holds an all-time 4-2 record against Tennessee. Of the Tigers’ two remaining opponents this season, Tennessee looks to be most winnable game.

Both Missouri and Tennessee’s records are similar. Tennessee has played two more ranked opponents than the Tigers, and has one more win against a ranked opponent than Mizzou. Both programs share a 2-4 conference record.

Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt landed the Vols’ head coaching gig after former head coach Butch Jones was fired, and a subsequent offer was made to Greg Schiano, and then rescinded. To say the least, Pruitt’s first year in Tennessee has been something of a roller coaster.

Ironically, Missouri head coach Barry Odom, who has drawn major criticism of fans and mainstream media over the last couple of seasons, has provided the Tigers with a certain amount of stability, leading his team to its second consecutive bowl game in his third season.

Missouri Tigers Football

If the Tigers finish the season with an 8-4 record, Odom could become the Tigers’ impromptu “Little Engine that Could,” who just kept going, despite negative criticism and pitfalls along the way.

Missouri is also a five-point favorite in this match-up, a factor which seemed to bode well for the Tigers two weeks ago on the road in Florida’s hostile “swamp.” While the Vols were a five-point “dog” against No. 11 Kentucky last week, they pulled off the improbable upset, 24-7.

Against Vanderbilt, the Tigers were favored by 14 points, but only won by five. At Florida, the Tigers were favored by six, and won by 21 points. By that seeming logic alone, the Tigers could be in for a rout of the Volunteers.

Missouri has play makers Emanuel Hall back in the fold, and running back Tyler Badie should return to the field, also. Mizzou will still have to make due without its premier tight end, Albert Okwuegbunam. The good news is tight end Kendall Blanton returns for the Tigers.

I would like to see Missouri play a more complete game this week, like it did at Florida. The Tigers are 2-2 on the road, while Tennessee is 4-2 at home. The Tigers have shown in games past they can be world beaters. I’ll take the Tigers in this one, 27-24.