With the arrival of Mizzou to the SEC (along with Texas A&M this season) a third team with the \u201cTigers\u201d nickname is added to the conference fray. Missouri hopes to distinguish itself far more than its mascot, however. <\/p>\n
SEC 2012-13 Football Previews: Missouri Tigers<\/strong>
\nCoach: <\/strong>Gary Pinkel
\n2011 Record: <\/strong>8-5
\nMissouri Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: 100-1<\/strong>
\nMissouri Team Page \u2013 Players Stats \u2013 Roster \u2013 2012\u00a0Schedule \u2013><\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe Tigers will play in the SEC East division, which will be a far cry from the Big 12 North, where Missouri found its home for the last several years. It won\u2019t be easy to make a statement with inter-division foes like Florida, Georgia and South Carolina looming \u2013 and that\u2019s not counting the East-West division crossover games. There\u2019s no question that this a good move for the Tigers, in terms of revenue and long-term recruiting potential. Yet, don\u2019t think for a second that all the excitement involved with changing conferences will mitigate the headache of a cream-of-the-crop SEC.<\/p>\n
Mizzou\u2019s offense will be dependent on junior QB James Franklin. Franklin is big, athletic and extremely tough; he almost seems to relish contact, as his high school nickname \u201cFrank the Tank\u201d suggests. In addition to scrambling, Franklin will have a pair of important targets to throw to. Senior T.J. Moe is an established weapon; he was 2011\u2019s leading receiver. Freshman WR Dorial Green-Beckham is intriguing, as he was the #1 recruit in the nation this past offseason. Green-Beckham\u2019s huge 6\u201d6, 220-lb frame will join Moe and fellow big man, 6\u201d5, 215-lb junior Marcus Lucas. Clearly, Franklin has some options apart from a mere QB keeper. Missouri\u2019s offensive line has a couple returning starters in guard Travis Ruth and tackle Justin Britt, though the unit\u2019s best player may well be senior LT Elvis Fisher.<\/p>\n
Defensively, the Tigers have a green defensive line, but feature an experienced back seven. Outside \u2019backers Andrew Wilson (98 tackles a year ago), Zaviar Gooden and CB E.J. Gaines stand out as the crucial pieces on a unit that should struggle to adjust to SEC speed (you are never going to convince me that programs like Nebraska, Kansas State and Colorado have equivalent speed to a Florida, a Georgia or an LSU). Regardless, SS Kenronte Walker is an intriguing specimen, as he\u2019s a highly-touted JUCO prospect whom redshirted in 2010. Walker has the talent and he must take a profound step forward, not unlike DT Sheldon Richardson, another player that made scouts\u2019 eyes bulge in junior college. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n
On special teams, the efforts will be spearheaded by senior Trey Barrow, who could handle both the kicking and punting duties.<\/p>\n
2012-13 Missouri Football Prediction: 6-7<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Missouri has just 12 returning starters this year, a formula that likely won\u2019t help the transition to the SEC. It cannot be stressed enough that some temporary pain in the win\/loss ledger due to the conference shift will definitely be off-set by the financial and speculative gains for the Tigers\u2019 football program. But fans and bettors don\u2019t want to hear an accountant\u2019s take.<\/p>\n
The Tigers have some talent (less talent than the LSU Tigers or the Auburn Tigers, but it doesn\u2019t happen overnight) and they should be fired up to face a new set of opponents. Still, Mizzou gets road games at South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M. The Tigers also draw dreaded Alabama out of the SEC West. Finally, Mizzou plays games against beatable but pesky non-con opponents such as Arizona State and Syracuse.<\/p>\n
Franklin will show plenty of moxie, there will be some impressive catches made downfield courtesy of Moe, Green-Beckham and Co., and Fisher should pancake the occasional hungry SEC defensive lineman, but it won\u2019t be the most successful first SEC season in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers may or may not make a bowl; it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if they did not.<\/p>\n
2012 Schedule<\/h3>\n
9\/1\/12 7:00 PM ET SOLOU
\n9\/8\/12 TBD GEO
\n9\/15\/12 TBD ARZST
\n9\/22\/12 TBD @SOCAR
\n9\/29\/12 TBD @CENFL
\n10\/6\/12 TBD VAN
\n10\/13\/12 TBD ALAB
\n10\/27\/12 TBD KENTY
\n11\/3\/12 TBD @FLA
\n11\/10\/12 TBD @TENN
\n11\/17\/12 TBD SYR
\n11\/24\/12 TBD @TXAM<\/p>\nGRAB OUR BEST Expert CFB Picks for 2012 NCAA FOOTBALL Betting! \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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