Missouri Tigers 2017 NCAA Football Preview

College Football Predictions – Missouri Tigers 2017 NCAA Football Preview

2016 Recap

2016 Record – 4-8

2016 ATS – 5-7

The Tigers struggled to a 4-8 mark last season and that makes it two consecutive losing campaigns. It’s easy to forget that Missouri had recently made a habit of bagging 10+ wins. The SEC is a different kettle of fish and hopefully these guys can get back to making bowl games, and maybe just maybe, start competing in the SEC East.

2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating

SEC – TBD

East Division – TBD

OFFENSE

The offense was pretty good last year averaging 205 yards per game on the ground and 295 through the air. They scored 20+ points in each of their final six games. QB Drew Lock is definitely a fine piece to build an offense around and is one of the most dangerous signal callers in the SEC. Lock threw for 3,400 yards and 23 TDs last season and was only sacked 14 times (!). The offensive line is yuuuuge and returns 5/5 starters. The WR unit is experienced and features 1,000-yard man J’Mon Moore (2nd Team SEC). These guys are gonna carve up more than a few opposing secondaries. <grabs popcorn>

The running game should be just a potent as last year’s version. RBs Damarea Crockett and Ish Witter combined for 1,800 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in 2016. They potential is pretty scary when you consider the really good offensive line that they will be running behind.

DEFENSE

The defense took an enormous step backwards last season allowing 31.5 points per game after conceding just 16.2 (!) in 2015. They were ripped to shreds by opposing ground attacks to the tune of 233 yards per game and that ranked 2nd last in the conference. They were mid-pack in the SEC in terms of pass efficiency defense and sacks (27). We have concerns this season as they only return five starters to the stop unit and will be without their top-2 leading tacklers from last year’s squad. One of those two guys was DE Charles Harris who is off to the NFL after leading the team in sacks and TFL. The secondary needs to break in a pair of new starting corners. Hmm. Feels sketchy.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Tigers return excellent P Corey Fatony and punt returner Johnathon Johnson. Field goals were an adventure last season as Tucker McCann only made 50% of his attempts. We expect Missouri to spend a lot of time in their opponents’ red zone this year so McCann will have to improve his performance.

MEGAmazing Tidbits

The Tigers scored 50+ (61,79) on two occasions last year and allowed 50+ (51,63) twice.

MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 5.0

MEGALOCKS says:

Overall, we give the TIGERS a 5.0 ATS Value Rating (Average) this season.

The offense looks really really good. The defense ? Not so much. The schedule is pretty manageable for an SEC slate and they start the season with four consecutive home games. Idaho and Connecticut pop-up in non-conference action. We would be surprised if the Tigers failed to reach a bowl game this year but any team with a defense with this many holes (on paper, at least) is not one that can be trusted too often when it comes to beating the point spread.

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