Mizzou Can Be The SEC's Fun Dark Horse Team in 2021

Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz has started to earn himself a reputation as one of college football’s most unique quotes.

His personality may be on full display, but what isn’t being highlighted enough is the Tigers’ talent entering the 2021 season; and why a turnaround into SEC contention could be on the horizon.

The Missouri over/under at WynnBET Sportsbook is set at just seven wins, with -110 odds on the over, compared to even money at +100 on the under. Mizzou is also all the way down to +10000 to win the SEC, with heavy hitters like Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M all way above.

So are the Tigers being overlooked? Or is there simply too much competition in the way in a very difficult conference?

Missouri’s schedule is easier than most would expect

The Tigers enter the 2021 season with the 43rd ranked strength of schedule amongst FBS teams. They only have three teams on the schedule currently ranked in the AP Top 25: No. 5 Georgia on the road, and No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 13 Florida both play in Columbia this year.

The Tigers went 5-5 a season ago, with three of their losses coming against teams in the top-10, so expectations, along with two of the matchups coming at home with fans back in the stands could play a major role if Mizzou were to pull off an upset.

Mizzou will see a major bump on both offense and defense

After moving on from Shawn Robinson, Connor Bazelak was a much better fit in Drinkwitz’s system; throwing for 2,366 yards and completing over 67% of his throws. His offensive line returns four of the five starters from a season ago, and plenty of experience will be back on display at both running back with Tyler Badie, and at receiver with Tauskie Dove, Keke Chism and Barrett Banister. The Tigers will also have Mookie Cooper, a transfer from Ohio State to use all over the field.

The Tigers finished in the top five of the SEC in total yards, averaging over 400 a game in addition to 26.7 points per game. Mizzou put up 41-plus points three different times last year in wins over LSU, Vanderbilt and Arkansas.

Defensively, former NFL head coach and longtime defensive coordinator Steve Wilks will lead a unit that got gashed a season ago. Via Athlon, the Tigers allowed just over 49 points-per-game during the final three matchups of the season. Wilks was known for terrific pass defenses during his tenure in Carolina, Arizona and Cleveland, coaching some of the premier cornerbacks in the league like Patrick Peterson, Josh Norman and Denzel Ward.

How many games will the Missouri Tigers win in 2021?

I like the Tigers to clear their seven-win total, despite the notion that Mizzou fans (much like my alma mater at Indiana), should always expect the worst to happen so that their dreams don’t get crushed. Drinkwitz’s charisma and dynamic offensive approach is legitimate and I expect Mizzou to knock off one of those AP Top 25 teams at home, either in Texas A&M or Florida. 

PREDICTION: OVER 7 WINS (-110)

EXACT WIN TOTAL: 8 WINS

Can the Tigers claw their way to the over on their win total? What about as a dark horse pick in the SEC?

Make your pick with the brand new WynnBET app today!