Missouri Football: Tigers are in for rough SEC-only 2020 season

How will Missouri football fare in 2020?

The Tigers are on the right track towards a steady rebuilding process that could help them get to the top of the SEC East within a couple of seasons. They will need to build their team with patience and great recruiting to do so.

They will have a brutal SEC conference-only schedule this 2020 season which could potentially delay their rebuild.

Here is the breakdown of the schedule for the Tigers in 2020:

• Game 1: vs. Alabama (L) – The Tigers were one of the unlucky teams to get pick up the extra matchup in the SEC West against a determined Alabama team.
• Game 2: at LSU (L) – They suffered another unlucky break by adding the defending National Champions in Death Valley.
• Game 3: vs. Vanderbilt (W) – They can catch a break by building their team momentum against one of the worst teams in the SEC.
• Game 4: at South Carolina (L) – This game will be a deciding factor for Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp’s job at South Carolina, which will give them the edge in this potential shootout.
• Game 5: at Tennessee (L) – Tennessee is looking to become a more serious threat for the SEC East with its stout defense and defensive line.
• Game 6: vs. Georgia (L) – The Bulldogs return eight starters on a defense that was ranked first in points per game (12.6). This will be the most difficult game for Missouri’s rebuilding offense.
• Game 7: vs. Kentucky (L) – Kentucky has just the right amount of productive offensive skill players and a stout line to consistently score against the Tigers’ defense.
• Game 8: at Mississippi State (L) – The new air raid offense of the Bulldogs will push the boundaries and consistency of the Tigers’ secondary.
• Game 9: at Florida (L) – Missouri put up a decent fight against the Gators last season but they will be facing them in the swamp this season.
• Game 10: vs. Arkansas (W) – The Tigers are projected to finish the 2020 season with a win against the worst team in the SEC West.

Prediction: 2-8

There is no doubt that the Tigers would have to endure a season or two of a rebuilding structure. It doesn’t help that the team that was handed two additional games against two of the top teams in the SEC West. They might have the most difficult schedule, not only in the SEC but the entire nation.

They will have play away games at Tennessee, at LSU and at Florida. This season should be a focus on the long-term goal with the projected season they are bound to have.

This season will be the last for star running back in Larry Rountree III as he looks to climb more into the program record rushing books. There are only three projected starters for the Tigers that will be seniors in the 2020 season. If Eli Drinkwitz keeps them focused on their productivity, they can find success as an overall offense in the future.

Defensively, there is hope for the Tigers to keep them in the game due to the talent they currently have. Their rush defense led by defensive tackle Kobie Whiteside and outside linebacker Nick Bolton will keep SEC rushing offenses in check. It will be up to their pass rush and their ability to stay in solid man coverage that will determine how long the Tigers can stay in games.