Predicting Missouri’s 2018 Football Season

Missouri Tiger mascot

It was a season of two halves for the Missouri Tigers in 2017. A disastrous 1-5 start seemed to spell the end for Barry Odom before he had ever sunk his teeth into the job. The Tigers, though, rebounded in a big way, winning six on the bounce before (surprisingly) dropping the Texas Bowl to the Texas Longhorns.

The best offense in the entire SEC returns its starting quarterback in Drew Lock, but a change at offensive coordinator will mean a system change, with Derek Dooley slowing things down in a bid to make Mizzou more competitive against a tougher looking schedule.

September

9/1/18 UT Martin – Missouri went 7-0 against teams that didn’t go bowling in 2017 (and 0-6 against teams that did). Expect that trend to continue with an opening day blowout. Missouri 49, UT Martin 7.

9/8/18 Wyoming – This is a good game to have in 2018 and not 2017. With Josh Allen taken with the seventh overall pick in the NFL draft, Wyoming is back to having Wyoming level quarterback play. Missouri 48, Wyoming 10.

9/15/18 @ Purdue – The Tigers will be looking for immediate revenge after Purdue stomped them 35-3 on Faurot Field last season. It is fair to say that both teams have improved since that game, but can Mizzou pull off a win in Big Ten country? Missouri 27, Purdue 31.

9/22/18 Georgia – Can the Tigers step up and beat the best team in the division? No. They will go down fighting however. Missouri 27, Georgia 35.

9/29/18 BYE

October

10/6/18 @ South Carolina – On the road in the other Columbia, the Tigers will take on a Gamecocks team projected by many as the second best (behind Georgia) in the division. The talent gap between South Carolina and Mizzou isn’t close to that of Georgia and Mizzou, but South Carolina will have too much with Jake Bentley at quarterback and home field advantage. Missouri 21, South Carolina 32.

10/13/18 @ Alabama – Alabama in Tuscaloosa is the most difficult road game in the conference (and maybe in the country). Missouri will score points; Alabama will just finish with more. Missouri 24, Alabama 35.

10/20/18 Memphis – This is a sneaky tough game even without Riley Ferguson at the helm of the Memphis attack. Their mix of experience on both sides of the ball and the coaching chops of Mike Norvell makes this anything but a gimme, especially if the Alabama game the week before is as emotionally draining as it could be. Missouri 27, Memphis 24.

10/27/18 Kentucky – These feels like the sort of game where both offenses put on a show. If that is the case then Lock and Mizzou should have too much firepower for Kentucky in a shootout. Missouri 49, Kentucky 35.

November

11/3/18 @ Florida – Many will have Florida as the favorites here, especially as the game is taking place in The Swamp. If new head coach Dan Mullen is the quarterback wizard that everyone expects then the result here could flip, but there is always a chance of a Florida letdown after the Georgia game. Missouri 38, Florida 27.

11/10/18 Vanderbilt – Missouri took down the Commodores by 28 last year in Nashville. Kyle Shurmur will move the ball on the Missouri defense, but the Tigers are the better overall team. Missouri 31, Vanderbilt 14.

11/17/18 @ Tennessee – This game being late in the season is better for Tennessee than it is for Missouri. The Tigers walloped the Vols 50-17 at home last season, part of a 4-8 campaign that was the worst in Tennessee history. Tennessee will be improved by this point, but the Tigers offense should be the difference here. Missouri 38, Tennessee 24.

11/23/18 Arkansas – This will be a regular season finale that lacks the press of some others, but that will be an outstanding game. Former SMU head coach Chad Morris will have his Razorbacks close in every game this fall with his exciting offensive attack but Mizzou will be too good through the air in Lock’s final game in Columbia. Missouri 42, Arkansas 35.

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