2011-2012 Football Previews – Big 12 – Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers lost their best player on both sides of the ball from last year’s team, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers will be dropping to the bottom of the conference anytime soon. Blaine Gabbert and Aldon Smith will be sorely missed, but Missouri is extremely deep and that should show in 2011.
The Tigers finished 10-3 in 2010, but they lost a heartbreaker to Iowa in the Insight Bowl to finish off the season.
Head Coach: Gary Pinkel
2010 Record: 10-3
Missouri Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: +7,500
Mizzou Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
It was a game that Missouri controlled all the way through, only to lose in the final minutes. No doubt this team is itching to get back on the field and get that bad taste out of their mouth. This is a team that has fallen just short several times over the last few years.
They are looking to take that next step and get into a high-profile BCS game. Will 2011 be the year the Tigers take that next step?
Team Strengths:
The single biggest strength of this Missouri football team is their amazing depth across the board. Pinkel has done a nice job recruiting over the last few years, and this team has several very good players at just about every position. This is the type of team that could still contend even if they lose some key players to injury.
Even though they lost Aldon Smith, the Missouri pass rush should be tremendous this year. Brad Madison is a great defensive end and Kony Ealy has the ability to step up and become a beast in this team’s blitz packages.
The defensive line is anchored by Dominique Hamilton and Sheldon Richardson, and they should make life much easier on the linebackers by shoving the offensive line backwards consistently.
The wide receivers and tight ends at Missouri are tremendous. Starting tight end Michael Egnew should be one of the best pass catching tight ends in the country.
The wide receiver corps doesn’t necessarily have anyone with game breaking speed, but there are numerous reliable targets. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Team Weaknesses:
Sophomore quarterback James Franklin should be the man under center for Missouri this year. Franklin has all the tools to be a solid signal caller for the Tigers, but he is lacking in experience and that could hurt this team in some of their difficult early conference games.
The defensive line is great at pressuring the quarterback, but Missouri has struggled mightily with power running games in the last couple years. Speed isn’t a problem for this front seven, but it seems that a team that comes out and punches them in the mouth can give them trouble.
If they are going to take that next step they need to improve against the run.
2011-2012 Missouri Football Prediction: 10-3
A quick look at the schedule and your eyes are likely to jump to the September 24th matchup with Oklahoma. It will be the first Big 12 Conference game, and it could very likely be the most important game of the year for the Tigers.
Having said that, don’t overlook the early matchup with Arizona State on the road.
Arizona State is a dangerous team and Missouri can’t afford to overlook the Sun Devils.
Missouri will benefit from Nebraska moving to the Big Ten, but I still think they’ll fall a little short of that BCS bowl game. Look for Missouri to play extremely well at home, but lose two or three times on the road.
Mizzou 2011 Football Schedule
Sept. 3: Miami (OH)
Sept. 9: @ Arizona State
Sept. 17: Western Illinois
Sept. 24: @ Oklahoma
Oct. 8: @ Kansas State
Oct. 15: Iowa State
Oct. 22: Oklahoma State
Oct. 29: @ Texas A&M
Nov. 5: @ Baylor
Nov. 12: Texas
Nov. 19: Texas Tech
Nov. 26: Kansas (At Arrowhead Stadium in KC)
One reply on “2011 Missouri Tigers Gambling Odds | Predictions”
Does Mizzou win more or less than 7 games in 2011?