Georgia hosts Mizzou Saturday evening in Athens

In typical Missouri Tigers fashion, this season has gone off the rails in a hurry. After rebounding from a baffling season-opening loss with a five-game win streak to move to 5-1 on the year and climb their way into the AP Poll, the Tigers immediately squandered their goodwill and fortune by losing to Vanderbilt and Kentucky in back-to-back weeks before going into their bye week at 5-3.

So now, as they’ve been so many other times under Barry Odom, Missouri is at a fork in the road with regards to both this season and their future. A third straight loss would take the Tigers from 5-1 to 5-4 and continue the downward spiral as Odom’s seat continues to warm. A win over the #6 Georgia Bulldogs would go a long way in improving morale within the fanbase and protecting Odom’s job.

The Barry Odom Experience has been such that Mizzou loses games they shouldn’t lost every year (the three mentioned above meet that criteria this year), but they counteract that by winning a game or two that they shouldn’t (Florida last year, for example). Is it time for the pendulum to swing the other way for the Tigers?

Well... probably not.

Kelly Bryant isn’t expected to play, as his strained hamstring suffered against Kentucky is still bothering him. Taylor Powell would start for Mizzou if that’s the case. Powell is 11-26 for 108 yards in his limited action this season.

The Georgia Bulldogs are flying high right now. They picked up their third straight World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party victory this past weekend and came in at #6 in this year’s first College Football Playoff Rankings, a prime position for them if they just keep winning.

The Bulldogs also got a huge boost on offense last week from Lawrence Cager. The graduate student returned to action after missing the Kentucky game with an injury, and made his presence felt in a big way with seven receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown. Georgia’s offense also converted 12 of 18 third downs, which will be a nightmare for Mizzou if the Bulldogs can repeat.

How to watch or stream

Time: 7 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Stream: WatchESPN