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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s in store for the Tigers this 2015. Afterwards, go check out our previews of their bitter rivals from the SEC\u2019s Western Division in the Alabama Crimson Tide<\/a> and the Auburn Tigers<\/a>.<\/p>\n[sc:NCAAFArticles ]\n There\u2019s no denying that Missouri\u2019s 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\u2019s solid offensive line, so you can expect the team to literally hit the ground running with full force.<\/p>\n [sc:NCAA240banner ]Then there\u2019s Missouri\u2019s outstanding defense, which ranked 23rd<\/sup> in the nation last season. Not a lot of key players departed from the stellar squad of defenders, meaning the intimidating \u201cD-line Zou\u201d will be imposing its will all throughout this season.<\/p>\n Standout linemen Harold Brantley and Josh Augusta are rock-solid upfront, while the SEC\u2019s top two tacklers Kentrell Brothers and Michael Scherer \u2013 who combined for 113 solo tackles and 123 assists in 2014 \u2013 headline a formidable line-backing crew.<\/p>\n Not to be forgotten, the Tigers\u2019 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.<\/p>\n As with any football team, solid quarterback play is an essential ingredient for success. Could the Tigers\u2019 starting QB Maty Mauk make a significant turnaround to lead his team to the Promised Land?<\/p>\n Mauk was wildly inconsistent this past season. He came up big during Missouri\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s arsenal, it\u2019s hard to fathom that he can do better than his 2,648 yards, 25 TDs and 13 INTs from 2014.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s status as a top contender in the conference.<\/p>\n However, a loss to Georgia could very well signal the start of Missouri\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The team\u2019s 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<\/a> odds of them claiming their first conference championship since 1969 \u2013 back when they were still a part of the Big Eight.<\/p>\n Best Case Scenario<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Worst Case Scenario<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Missouri does enough to go over the 7.5<\/a> wins line, but falls short of winning even just the Eastern Division of the crowded SEC.<\/p>\n2015-2016 Missouri College Football Preview<\/b><\/h2>\n
Overview<\/b><\/h3>\n
Key Player \u2013 Maty Mauk<\/b><\/h3>\n
Key Game \u2013 at Georgia (October 17)<\/b><\/h3>\n
Best\/Worst Case Scenario for the Season<\/b><\/h3>\n
Complete Schedule<\/b><\/h3>\n
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\n \nDATE<\/th>\n OPPONENT<\/th>\n TIME<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Saturday, September 5<\/th>\n Southeast Missouri State<\/th>\n 4:00 PM ET<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, September 12<\/th>\n @ Arkansas St.<\/th>\n 7:00 PM ET<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, September 19<\/th>\n Connecticut<\/th>\n 12:00 PM ET<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, September 26<\/th>\n @ Kentucky<\/th>\n TBD<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, October 3<\/th>\n South Carolina<\/th>\n TBD<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, October 10<\/th>\n Florida<\/th>\n TBD<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, October 17<\/th>\n @ Georgia<\/th>\n TBD<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, October 24<\/th>\n @ Vanderbilt<\/th>\n TBD<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Thursday, November 5<\/th>\n Mississippi St.<\/th>\n 10:00 PM ET<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, November 14<\/th>\n BYU<\/th>\n TBD<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, November 21<\/th>\n Tennessee<\/th>\n TBD<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Saturday, November 27<\/th>\n @ Arkansas<\/th>\n 3:30 PM ET<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Writer\u2019s Prediction<\/b><\/h3>\n