The Missouri Tigers had a great season last year as they went 12-2 overall and wound up in the SEC Title game. They lost that game to the Auburn Tigers, but did bounce back with a Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State. This year they will be rebuilding, with just 4 starters back on each side of the ball. Preview & schedule are below.
The offense put up a solid 39.1 ppg last year, but QB James Franklin is gone and that leaves the offense in the hands of highly touted Maty Mauck, who did see some action last year, throwing for 1071 yards, 11 TDs and just 2 INTs as a freshman. He will be throwing to a very inexperienced WR corps that loses their top 3 targets from last year. Bud Sasser and Jimmie hunt do return, but they combined for just 48 catches and 2 TDs last year and there is little depth behind them. The running game also has a hole to plug as they lost Henry Josey, who had 1166 yards and 16 TDs last year. Michael Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy do return after combining for 1286 yards and 13 TDs last year. The OL has 2 of 5 starters back and really is just an average group at best. The defense took some bit hits for the tiger as well, as they lose 6 of their top 9 tacklers from last year, including Michael Sam, who had 11.5 sacks and 7.5 TFL last year. The DL is the strength of this defense, but is still very average in the SEC, even though there are 3 seniors starting on it. Marcus Golden is the leader of this group after recording 6.5 sacks and 6.5 TFL last year. The defense has a couple playmakers in the back 7, including DB Braylon Webb, who had 7 PBUs and 3 INTs last year and LB Kentrell Brothers, who had 5.5 TFL, 3 PBUs and 3 INTs, but overall the back 7 is lean on both talent and depth.
The Tigers had a great year in 2013, but this year they are in a rebuilding mode and it looks like a step or two back are in order. The Offense will not put up nearly 40 ppg like they did last year. Maty Mauck has a chance to be a very good starting QB, but still the skill players around him are not nearly as talented as this team had last year. The defense lost some big pieces and while there are a few talented returning players there still isn’t enough of them to be able to match last year group that allowed just 23.1 ppg. The Tigers have tough road games vs Florida, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Tennessee on the road, while also getting Georgia at home. The rest of their schedule is manageable and should have them in a bowl game, but they will not come close to last year’s 12 win season. KEY TREND: 1-9 ATS as road favorites off a DD spread win.
2014 Missouri Football Schedule
Aug. 30 South Dakota St
Sep. 6 at Toledo
Sep. 13 UCF
Sep. 20 Indiana
Sep. 27 at South Carolina
Oct. 4 OPEN DATE
Oct. 11 Georgia
Oct. 18 at Florida
Oct. 25 Vanderbilt
Nov. 1 Kentucky
Nov. 8 OPEN DATE
Nov. 15 at Texas A&M
Nov. 22 at Tennessee
Nov. 29 Arkansas
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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