Missouri
What a strange season for the Tigers. Missouri currently sits at 6-2 while sporting the nation’s 114th-ranked offense, but their defense currently ranks 38th nationally and has proven to be the difference in games against South Carolina and Florida. The 34-0 loss to Georgia at home the week of Todd Gurley’s suspension was perplexing for Tiger fans, but not near as perplexing as their home loss to now 3-4 Indiana in week four. This is a team that has really struggled to find any form of an identity in 2014 and they are running out of games to figure it out.
Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk has yet to pass for more than 145 yards against an SEC defense and has looked downright poor in games against Georgia and Florida. In fact, heading into this weekend’s game against Kentucky, Mauk has thrown zero touchdowns and five interceptions against SEC teams not named Vanderbilt.
Much like the situation with Kentucky traveling to Knoxville the week after a tough game against Georgia, Tennessee will be catching the Tigers at a very good time. Missouri will travel to College Station to face Texas A&M the week before facing the Vols and the Aggies’ offense is one that will likely put a lot of pressure on Missouri’s defense. I fully expect Tennessee’s defense to shut down the Tiger offense that has been absolutely woeful against defenses with a pulse, and, assuming Tennessee’s offense can protect the ball, the Vols should be able to reach bowl eligibility by game 11 of the season.
Also worth noting, Josh Dobbs accounted for 285 total yards against Missouri last year in his first ever collegiate start. That Missouri defense was among the best in the nation and lost a lot of talent heading into this season, so I would look for Dobbs to have another big day against a Missouri team who’s record may be better than the actual quality of the team they will bring into Neyland Stadium.
