Missouri Football: 5 bold predictions for the Tigers in 2017

COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 12: Barry Odom head coach of the Missouri Tigers waits to lead his team onto the field for a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 12: Barry Odom head coach of the Missouri Tigers waits to lead his team onto the field for a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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Every year, fans’ hopes and expectations are held high for Missouri football; while they never seem unreasonable, I also have five predictions for the Tigers in 2017.

The greatest hope, of course, is to once day see the Tigers win the NCAA National Championship. While that won’t happen this year, the future still looks bright for Mizzou; we can reasonably expect some solid improvements and surprises from the Tigers.

Missouri’s transition from the Big 12 into the SEC was more successful than Texas A&M’s, which for a team that “isn’t SEC,” continues to make the naysayers look ridiculous.

We are all aware that Mizzou was added to the SEC East, while Texas A&M landed in the West. That wasn’t a Mizzou decision; that was an SEC call.

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Unfortunately for SEC fans – to their dismay, I suppose – Missouri won consecutive division titles in its second and third years in the conference. Texas A&M has yet to claim a piece of the pie in the West.

One thing you don’t hear Missouri fans say is, “Texas A&M isn’t SEC;” maybe some do, but I’ve yet to hear it. We’re also not blind to the fact that A&M plays in the same division as “NFL junior” opponent, Alabama.

Now that we’ve come full circle, let’s take a look at five predictions facing the Missouri Tigers in 2017.