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Missouri Football: Tigers traveling to Houston for bowl game

By Eric Quackenbush

COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 21: Berry Odom head coach of the Missouri Tigers waits with his team as the prepare to take to the field for a game against the Idaho Vandals at Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 21: Berry Odom head coach of the Missouri Tigers waits with his team as the prepare to take to the field for a game against the Idaho Vandals at Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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After starting the season with a 1-5 record, Missouri’s odds of appearing in a bowl game seemed unlikely. Then, the Tigers reeled off six wins.

It feels like the Tigers have come a long way this year, because they have. Back in the spring, during Mizzou’s annual “Black and Gold” game, the Tigers still looked like an incomplete team, but the offense flexed its muscle and showed its talent, and we ate it up.

After Missouri’s first win of the season against Missouri State, Tigers fans were excited about the potential that the offense showed, but once again, the Tigers’ glaring issues at defense made cause for concern.

For most of the season, Missouri’s defense has been average, at best. The defensive front gave a fairly consistent effort for most of the season, but really seemed to pick up after the Tigers returned from their bye week.

Missouri Tigers Football
Missouri Tigers Football /

Missouri Tigers Football

The defensive secondary is still an area of concern, but for all of that concern, made a handful of momentum-changing plays on intercepted passes. While the secondary showed moments of promise, it’s still a major work in progress.

On Sunday, the committee that assembles the bowl opponents, released the full 41 game schedule. There were the usual suspects at the top. As usual, at least one fan base felt slighted – I get it – but the four playoff teams are Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma and Georgia.

Surprisingly, to me, anyway, the Tigers were not selected for the Liberty Bowl (or the TaxSlayer Bowl), both of which were reportedly very interested in having Missouri play in their respective games.

Nonetheless, Mizzou will play in a bowl game, as the Tigers were selected to host former Big 12 rival Texas, in the Texas Bowl. Athletic Director Jim Sterk was reportedly very excited by the opportunity, according to Ben Frederickson, of the St. Louis Post.

Next: Tiger Takeaways: Season wrap-up

The Texas Bowl will be played on December 27, which gives Missouri a little more than three weeks to prepare for the Longhorns in a game where the Tigers will meet an old rival and seek a little respect.

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