Mizzou heads to Vanderbilt for first road game since August

The #22 Missouri Tigers (5-1, 2-0) hit the road as the new leaders of the SEC East this week, when they’ll head to Nashville to face off with their division foes, the Vanderbilt Commodores (1-5, 0-3).

How to watch or stream

Time: 3 p.m. CT

TV: SEC Network

Stream: WatchESPN

Preview

The Tigers are atop the SEC East following Georgia’s loss to South Carolina last weekend, and Barry Odom’s bunch likely will not be letting that opportunity slip away anytime soon. Already having won five straight games, the Tigers take on a Vanderbilt team that lost to UNLV at home last week before heading to Kentucky next week. These two games should be tuneups before the Tigers square off with Georgia to open their November schedule.

What’s been good for Mizzou over the past five games? Everything, really. Kelly Bryant and the offense have been firing on all cylinders, and the defense has allowed just 11.6 points per game over the course of the winning streak. While the Tigers slipped up a bit defensively against Ole Miss last week (allowing 28 points), the loss of senior linebacker Cale Garrett (pectoral) can receive at least part of the blame. Now that the Tigers have had a full game without Garrett, they likely will be more adjusted to the fact that their defensive leader is no longer there.

For Vanderbilt, replacing Kyle Shurmur has proven to be no easy task, as Riley Neal and the offense have struggled to get in gear. Neal has just four touchdowns this season, and with the exception of a 378 yard outburst against Purdue, has crossed the 200-yard passing mark in just one game. Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn has been excellent again this season, but he can only do so much. Defensively, the Commodores are a mess, allowing 482 yards per game (second-worst in the Power Five behind just UCLA). This is surely something Bryant and the Tigers are aware of, which could lead to another long day for the Vanderbilt squad.