Missouri plays its first road game of the 2017 season at Kentucky on Saturday night, where the Tigers hope to kick a failed start to their 1-3 season.
Coming off a bye week, which the Tigers desperately needed , the team hopes for a reset against Kentucky, whose 4-1 record suggests a better team than they really are.
Don’t get me wrong, the Wildcats are the superior team in this match up, but after narrowly defeating teams like Southern Miss and Eastern Michigan, Kentucky isn’t as scary of an opponent as Auburn, but the Tigers need to bring their “A game” if they want to win.
Kentucky’s strength lies in its defense, which is second in interceptions in the SEC, with six, while linebacker Josh Allen leads the team with 5.5 sacks. Kentucky’s secondary is tough and physical, and will give Mizzou’s receivers a tough day, which may end up forcing the Tigers to run the ball with Crockett.
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Missouri cannot sleep on Kentucky’s offense. With its running game, led by Benny Snell and Sihiem King, and an efficient quarterback in Stephen Johnson who has thrown for a solid seven touchdowns and only one interception, the Tigers will have their work cut out.
The Tigers defense will have to stop the run and force Kentucky to throw the ball. Expect this game to be more of a defensive battle, which will have to rely primarily on Mizzou’s offense finally showing signs of life.
Of course, this game won’t be easy, after starting receiver Dimetroius Mason was dismissed from the team last week. Mason was a quick and productive receiver last season, but like most of the offense, was under-performing this season.
Perhaps his departure is a good thing, because it will give younger players an opportunity to start, while junior receiver Nate Brown is coming off an injury he suffered in the off-season. Brown has proven he can play, so maybe his presence will give the Tigers the boost in their offense that they desperately need.
If the Tigers defense remains stout and younger players emerge hungry for a win, perhaps the Tiger may finally find the groove they’ve been looking for.
As I said before, this game could be low-scoring, as both teams’ offenses aren’t powerhouses, but we can be hopeful that his may be the week Missouri finally shows signs of life. You can catch the game at 6:30 CT, Saturday night on the SEC network.