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There will be an undefeated team at Sanford Stadium next Saturday. But it won't be the Georgia Bulldogs, widely acknowledged as contenders for the SEC title and, if everything breaks the right way, a national championship. Instead, it will be the Missouri Tigers, who have quietly put together a 5-0 record that leaves them as the only undefeated team in the SEC East.
The latest installment in that record came against Vanderbilt, with the Tigers eviscerating the Commodores' defense in a 23-point beatdown. Only three Missouri drives ended without points: one that ended the first half, one that ended in a punt, and another when the Tigers failed to convert fourth down in Vanderbilt territory late in the game. It was 20-0 at the end of the first quarter and 30-7 at the half, and Missouri basically coasted from there.
But here is the comprehensive list of Missouri's opponents: Murray State, Toledo, at Indiana, Arkansas State, at Vanderbilt. There's really no telling how well the Tigers will do when they face a quality opponent like Georgia, especially considering that they gave up 468 yards to a Vanderbilt offense that is not nearly as high-octane as the Dawgs.
So hold off on the "Missouri is a contender in the SEC" bit for a few more days. If the Tigers are still undefeated at this time next week, it will be time to start wondering if Missouri can make a run at Atlanta.