Tigers’ trigger man tries to shake off malaise
Missouri has dropped 11 straight SEC tilts since vanquishing South Carolina last October. But does Barry Odom’s squad stand a chance of climbing off the canvas this afternoon?
In the season’s penultimate game at Faurot Field, the Tigers (2-7) host East Division rival Vanderbilt. Online sports book BetDSI opened MU as a 3-point favorite over Derek Mason’s troops. The over/under is set at 54.
While Mizzou continues to languish at the bottom of the standings, the Commodores (4-5) are vying for their first bowl bid in three years. Mason’s defense ranks second in the conference, permitting 17.0 points per contest. On the other side of the ball, junior Ralph Webb boasts 901 yards on the ground.
Conversely, Missouri looks pretty wretched in all three phases these days. After a fast start to the campaign, sophomore quarterback Drew Lock has thrown for 1,009 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions over his past five outings. The less said about DeMontie Cross’ D, the better, too. The Tigers haven’t kept any SEC foe under 28 points.
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Vandy tends to operate quite efficiently when the field shortens, scoring on 27 of 28 possessions inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. Still, we’re not ready to proclaim the school an offensive juggernaut just yet. Expect a grind-it-out affair in Columbia.
SATURDAY NCAA FREE PICK: VANDERBILT/MISSOURI UNDER 54 POINTS