The Missouri Tigers host their second home game of the season to their growing rival, South Carolina. Ironically, the weather outlook isn’t great for Saturday.
For the first three weeks of the season, Mizzou has been met with very nice weather, but Saturday looks dicey. The high for the day is 81 degrees with a real feel of 88 degrees at kickoff. Saturday’s low of 70 degrees combines with a 65-percent chance of areal thunderstorms.
Winds will be out of the south, southwest at 10 miles per hour, with gusts of 16 miles per hour. While the hourly forecast doesn’t show the afternoon as a complete washout, I’d err on the side of caution and at least prepare for a good possibility of some wet weather.
In 2018, Mizzou traveled to “Columbia East,” where they battled the Gamecocks well enough to pull ahead with 1:09 remaining in regulation. Coincidentally, the Tigers were also met with adverse — monsoon — weather conditions, and later coughed up the victory as South Carolina stole the Tigers’ thunder, with a closing field goal of its own to win the game.
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For anyone who has not been following this week’s pregame coverage, Tigers head coach Barry Odom offered sound advice, when asked how he could have his team ready for South Carolina: “Bring an umbrella.” As Saturday’s weather report indicates, it could be another wet and wild matchup for the “Mayor’s Cup.”
"High: 81° Real Feel: 88°Low: 70°65% chance of thunderstormsWinds: SSW 10 MPH; Gusts: 16 MPH"
I’ve never been a fan of South Carolina, but the team has shown its clout in the last four years, upsetting Mizzou in myriad ways.
As a headline in the Marietta Daily Journal aptly pointed out, “South Carolina remains Odom’s ‘white whale.’” One difference in Missouri’s favor from last year, is the Tigers have quarterback Kelly Bryant, who is an experienced veteran against South Carolina, and poses a bigger threat as a runner, than former quarterback Drew Lock.
In other Tigers’ news, wide receiver Richaud Floyd, the guy who returned a punt for a touchdown in last week’s lopsided win over Southeast Missouri, will be looking to find the end zone on special teams, as well. South Carolina makes me nervous, but Missouri is evenly matched and could have the better roster to overcome its fierce rival.