We are past the halfway mark in a dreadful Mizzou Football season. Questions swirl about the future of head coach Barry Odom and the future of the program. The Tigers are currently 2-5, with no SEC wins. The toughest games are behind us, and if Barry is to see a third year as head coach, we will need to see a major turnaround.
There are signs of progress as the inconsistent offense has shown signs of life the past three games, but is it enough to overcome a horrid defense and constant mental lapses. Below, we take a look at what lies ahead for the Tigers and give a realistic estimate of how Barry’s boys will finish the 2017 campaign. So let’s break it down game by game and see just where we’ll end up.
at Connecticut
Back in 2015, another dreadful Tiger team played an abortion of a football game against the Huskies in Faurot Field. Mizzou managed to eek out a 9-6 winIt seems apparent that the 2017 Tigers at least have a more potent offense than two years ago and UConn appears to be just as bad now as they were back then. This is especially true of the Husky defense which has given up scores of 38, 41, 49, 70 to teams with winning records. Granted, Mizzou does not have a winning record, but they do have a potent offense. Look for a similar score to the Mizzou vs. Idaho game. Expect gaudy offensive numbers, and let’s say UConn gets one more TD than Idaho because a) they’re better than Idaho, and b) they’re at home.
MU 63, UConn 28 (MU Record 3-5)
Florida
Mizzou is going to lose this one. Florida is struggling this season, but they have better talent and are a more consistent team than the Tigers. Mizzou tends to give Florida a good game most years, but the Tigers’ garbage defense will be the difference in this one, making even Florida’s anemic offense look capable. And, don’t let a couple of wins against cupcake dogs make you forget just how ugly this 2017 Tiger team has been.
MU 24, FLA 42 (MU Record 3-6)
Tennessee
In a division of dumpster fires, Tennessee is an exploding incinerator. We are praying that Butch Jones is still around when the Volunteers come to Columbia, but even if he isn’t the Tigers can win this one. Expect Tennessee to look better early but to continually make Butch Jonesian mistakes and for Drew Lock to hook up with Albert O and Emmanuel Hall on repeat to earn Mizzou’s first SEC win of the year.
MU 42, TEN 31 (MU Record 4-6)
at Vanderbilt
Mizzou stinks. Vanderbilt stinks. BATTLE OF THE TITANS! Even on the road, a more confident Drew Lock will put up just enough points to overtake the Commodores. Vanderbilt is prone to coughing up the football on occasion too and a favorable turnover margin can help out our struggling defense.
MU 49, VANDY 31 (MU Record 5-6)
at Arkansas
The Razorbacks are quietly putting together an impressively trash season. Bert and company will be looking to avenge their choke-job in Columbia last season, and this Tiger team will oblige. Bielema may be coaching to keep his job and Mizzou will be overconfident coming off a couple weeks of success. The last game of the season will remind us of just how bad our defense is and Drew Lock will come back to earth after about a month of impressive passing stats. The letdown will keep the Tigers out of a bowl once again and put Jim Sterk in a very difficult position with regard to Barry Odom’s status as head coach.
MU 21, ARK 38 (MU Record 5-7)
PREDICTION: Barry gets the boot as the accumulated missed opportunities and bonehead coaching errors make the late season boost insufficient to save the head coach. Jim Sterk will get a seasoned vet to become his first football coaching hire at Mizzou.
There are signs of progress as the inconsistent offense has shown signs of life the past three games, but is it enough to overcome a horrid defense and constant mental lapses. Below, we take a look at what lies ahead for the Tigers and give a realistic estimate of how Barry’s boys will finish the 2017 campaign. So let’s break it down game by game and see just where we’ll end up.
at Connecticut
Back in 2015, another dreadful Tiger team played an abortion of a football game against the Huskies in Faurot Field. Mizzou managed to eek out a 9-6 winIt seems apparent that the 2017 Tigers at least have a more potent offense than two years ago and UConn appears to be just as bad now as they were back then. This is especially true of the Husky defense which has given up scores of 38, 41, 49, 70 to teams with winning records. Granted, Mizzou does not have a winning record, but they do have a potent offense. Look for a similar score to the Mizzou vs. Idaho game. Expect gaudy offensive numbers, and let’s say UConn gets one more TD than Idaho because a) they’re better than Idaho, and b) they’re at home.
MU 63, UConn 28 (MU Record 3-5)
Florida
Mizzou is going to lose this one. Florida is struggling this season, but they have better talent and are a more consistent team than the Tigers. Mizzou tends to give Florida a good game most years, but the Tigers’ garbage defense will be the difference in this one, making even Florida’s anemic offense look capable. And, don’t let a couple of wins against cupcake dogs make you forget just how ugly this 2017 Tiger team has been.
MU 24, FLA 42 (MU Record 3-6)
Tennessee
In a division of dumpster fires, Tennessee is an exploding incinerator. We are praying that Butch Jones is still around when the Volunteers come to Columbia, but even if he isn’t the Tigers can win this one. Expect Tennessee to look better early but to continually make Butch Jonesian mistakes and for Drew Lock to hook up with Albert O and Emmanuel Hall on repeat to earn Mizzou’s first SEC win of the year.
MU 42, TEN 31 (MU Record 4-6)
at Vanderbilt
Mizzou stinks. Vanderbilt stinks. BATTLE OF THE TITANS! Even on the road, a more confident Drew Lock will put up just enough points to overtake the Commodores. Vanderbilt is prone to coughing up the football on occasion too and a favorable turnover margin can help out our struggling defense.
MU 49, VANDY 31 (MU Record 5-6)
at Arkansas
The Razorbacks are quietly putting together an impressively trash season. Bert and company will be looking to avenge their choke-job in Columbia last season, and this Tiger team will oblige. Bielema may be coaching to keep his job and Mizzou will be overconfident coming off a couple weeks of success. The last game of the season will remind us of just how bad our defense is and Drew Lock will come back to earth after about a month of impressive passing stats. The letdown will keep the Tigers out of a bowl once again and put Jim Sterk in a very difficult position with regard to Barry Odom’s status as head coach.
MU 21, ARK 38 (MU Record 5-7)
PREDICTION: Barry gets the boot as the accumulated missed opportunities and bonehead coaching errors make the late season boost insufficient to save the head coach. Jim Sterk will get a seasoned vet to become his first football coaching hire at Mizzou.
