After moving to the SEC in 2012, many pegged the Missouri Tigers as easy outs in the hotly contested conference. Instead, head coach Gary Pinkel has led the team to two consecutive SEC title games in the past couple of seasons to show that they truly belong.
And in spite of losing both title games to powerhouses Auburn and Alabama, there are still a lot of things to like about Mizzou and their outlook heading into this renewed season of football. Read on as we examine what’s in store for the Tigers this 2015. Afterwards, go check out our previews of their bitter rivals from the SEC’s Western Division in the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers.
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2015-2016 Missouri College Football Preview
Overview
There’s no denying that Missouri’s bread-and-butter on offense is its running game. The Tigers boasted a terrific trio of backs last season that was led by Russell Hansbrough, who rushed for over a thousand yards and 10 touchdowns. Hansbrough will be ready for opening kick-off, and so will four starters from Mizzou’s solid offensive line, so you can expect the team to literally hit the ground running with full force.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Then there’s Missouri’s outstanding defense, which ranked 23rd in the nation last season. Not a lot of key players departed from the stellar squad of defenders, meaning the intimidating “D-line Zou” will be imposing its will all throughout this season.
Standout linemen Harold Brantley and Josh Augusta are rock-solid upfront, while the SEC’s top two tacklers Kentrell Brothers and Michael Scherer – who combined for 113 solo tackles and 123 assists in 2014 – headline a formidable line-backing crew.
Not to be forgotten, the Tigers’ secondary is as equally impressive against the passing game as well. This unit allowed just 6.3 receiving yards per catch against opposing defenses. With experienced corners in Kenya Davis, John Gibson and Aarion Penton all set to return, Mizzou is ready to stifle any and all offenses headed its way.
Key Player – Maty Mauk
As with any football team, solid quarterback play is an essential ingredient for success. Could the Tigers’ starting QB Maty Mauk make a significant turnaround to lead his team to the Promised Land?
Mauk was wildly inconsistent this past season. He came up big during Missouri’s 33-17 win over Minnesota at the Citrus Bowl with his two touchdowns through the air and an additional scoring effort on the ground, but he only attempted 19 passes for 97 yards and still had two picks in that game. Then there was his embarrassing outing against Georgia where the Tigers were blanked 34-0. Mauk also had just 97 passing yards in that game, but had four picks and a QB rating of 1.8 in that stinker of an effort.
It seems as if things will not get any easier for Mauk and his bid to improve his game, as Missouri lost three of its starting wide receivers this offseason. With a newly-minted receiving corps in Mauk’s arsenal, it’s hard to fathom that he can do better than his 2,648 yards, 25 TDs and 13 INTs from 2014.
The Tigers need their junior quarterback to make the leap from total wild card to at least above average if the team wants to prove that they are worth more than the +10,000 odds stacked against them to win the national title. And if Mauk so much as regresses just a tad early on, a shot at the SEC title may not even be within reach before the end of the regular season.
Key Game – at Georgia (October 17)
Missouri has some pretty weak competition to start the season, so padding up on wins will be crucial before the mid-October showdown against Georgia. The Tigers would love to get their revenge after being shutout by the Bulldogs last year, and a win in Athens will also solidify the team’s status as a top contender in the conference.
However, a loss to Georgia could very well signal the start of Missouri’s downward spiral late in the season. The Tigers will face much tougher competition after their match against the Bulldogs, with games against Mississippi State, BYU and Tennessee followed by a season finale at Arkansas to close out the regular season.
The team’s true path towards a third-consecutive SEC title game begins with a redeeming win over Georgia. From there, the Tigers can build on the positive takeaways from that match and work their way towards defying the +1,700 odds of them claiming their first conference championship since 1969 – back when they were still a part of the Big Eight.
Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season
Best Case Scenario
Mauk dazzles in the passing game as he forms great chemistry with his young targets downfield, further complemented by another solid effort by the team’s deep group of running backs. The defense also proves to be resolute as the Tigers win their first conference title in just four seasons in the SEC.
Worst Case Scenario
The passing game proves to be atrocious with Mauk not being able to break out of his funky play, and the running game somehow is also put to a grinding halt. The defense turns into a shell of its old self, and Missouri finishes with a losing record for just the second time in 11 seasons.
Complete Schedule
DATE
OPPONENT
TIME
Saturday, September 5
Southeast Missouri State
4:00 PM ET
Saturday, September 12
@ Arkansas St.
7:00 PM ET
Saturday, September 19
Connecticut
12:00 PM ET
Saturday, September 26
@ Kentucky
TBD
Saturday, October 3
South Carolina
TBD
Saturday, October 10
Florida
TBD
Saturday, October 17
@ Georgia
TBD
Saturday, October 24
@ Vanderbilt
TBD
Thursday, November 5
Mississippi St.
10:00 PM ET
Saturday, November 14
BYU
TBD
Saturday, November 21
Tennessee
TBD
Saturday, November 27
@ Arkansas
3:30 PM ET
Writer’s Prediction
Missouri does enough to go over the 7.5 wins line, but falls short of winning even just the Eastern Division of the crowded SEC.
Create a betting account now if you’re raring to roar out your predictions for the Missouri Tigers or any of the other NCAA football teams this 2015.
