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The Missouri Tigers (3-4, 0-3 in the SEC) head to Nashville to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-6, 0-4 in the SEC) on Saturday afternoon. The Commodores are just trying to find anything to build on in Clark Lea’s first season at the helm, while the Tigers need this one to keep their bowl hopes alive.
How to watch Mizzou vs. Vanderbilt
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Watch Online: ESPN App
Betting Odds
(via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Spread: Mizzou -16.5 | Vandy +16.5
Total: 62.5
Moneyline: Mizzou -760 | Vandy +525
What will be intriguing for this game is how does the Vanderbilt offense looks against an atrocious Tigers defense, and the reverse is true. Vanderbilt is in a year zero with a new coach so they will get some leeway if they struggle, for the Tigers if their defense can’t get a lot of stops there may be a reckoning on Monday for some defensive coaches. Mike Wright will be the starter who has completed 34-61 of his passes this year for two touchdowns and three interceptions. Of course, the passing game isn’t what worries Tiger fans. The running game for Vanderbilt has been far from special this year but Re’Mahn Davis in 44 attempts this year has averaged almost five yards a carry and could pose a problem to that defense if he gets the carries.
On the flip side, I would expect a heavy dose of Tyler Badie who has been the best player on either side of the ball for the Tiger offense. The senior has 743 yards on just 126 carries having also caught 32 passes for 265 yards. With all that he has a combined 13 touchdowns and is a threat to do something every time he touches the ball. This is an opportunity for a get-right game for Connor Bazelak who has struggled mightily in his last three starts. There is a want from some of the fanbase to see what they may have in Tyler Macon or Brady Cook if this level of play continues.
A couple of weeks ago the Commodores almost pulled off the upset against South Carolina and if Missouri sleepwalks in they can certainly pull a trap. Of the four times that the Tigers have not played in a bowl game while in the SEC (I am including the bowl ban year in 2019) the Commodores have knocked off Mizzou in three of those seasons: 2012, 2015, and 2019. 2016 is the only exception. With a tough remaining schedule and a trip to Athens next week Mizzou desperately needs to play well and get a win in this game while the Commodores could spring a win into some major momentum as they finish out their season.