Missouri Tigers Preview | Expert Predictions & Best Bets for 2024

Missouri Tigers Preview, Predictions & Season Win Total Pick

The Missouri Tigers are on the rise under Eliah Drinkwitz. Although his tenure didn’t begin positively, the Tigers had a strong 2023 campaign, capped off with a victory over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. With several key players returning to their roster, it’s difficult not to be excited about what the ceiling for this roster really could be in 2024. Let’s dive in. 

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Missouri Tigers Preview

2023 Record: 11-2 (6-2); SEC Finish: 2nd SEC East
AP Poll: No. 11 | Coaches Poll: N0. 11 | PFF: No. 11
Head Coach: Eliah Drinkwitz 40-22 (25-18) | Fifth Season | Overall: 40-22
Defensive Coordinator: Corey Batoon | Offensive Coordinator: Kirby Moore 

Missouri Tigers Futures Odds (FanDuel)

National Championship Odds: +4000 | CFB Playoff Odds: +180
SEC Championship Odds: +2500 
Regular Season Wins: OVER 9.5 +146 | UNDER 9.5 -180

Missouri Preview: Why You Should Be Bullish

How can you not be bullish about a team that returns a top quarterback in the nation in Brady Cook, along with a potential top ten 2025 NFL Draft pick in wideout Luther Burden III? The Tigers will have all the protection they need with their returning offensive line, making you more bullish about their overall outlook. Missouri will look to exploit you with their passing game, and with an offensive coordinator like Kirby Moore, they have all the tools to do it.  

Missouri Preview: Why You Should Be Bearish

The most significant question mark about the Missouri Tigers in 2024 revolves around their defense. Ironically, while the Tigers might be one of the top passing teams in the nation this year, there’s plenty of concern about how they’ll stop opposing passing attacks on defense. The Tigers lost multiple key pieces on defense in their secondary and upfront. Although the Tigers attempted to fill those holes via the transfer portal, we’re not sold on those additions being anything more than tape, with a clear need for cement instead. 

Breakout Player: RB Marcus Carroll

After star running back Cody Schrader graduated to the NFL, the Tigers were in need of a new starting running back. The Tigers went head first into the transfer portal, bringing in Georgia State running back Marcus Carroll. Carroll is coming off a strong season at Georgia State, but the SEC is an entirely different beast. Carroll has the speed and athleticism that should make cutting between tackles behind a robust offensive line, something that transpires frequently in 2024. 

Missouri X-Factor: CB Toriano Pride Jr.

As we mentioned above, there’s not a lot of certainty about the Tigers’ secondary heading into 2024. They made some additions in the transfer portal, but the ones they made didn’t come with a proven resume. Out of their additions, cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. is a player with the potential to be a difference-maker. The Tigers will need multiple players to step up in their secondary, and if Pride Jr. can be one of the players to do so, there’s more reason to get excited about a potential CFB Playoff berth this year for Mizzou. 

Missouri Schedule Analysis

The Missouri Tigers will have some time in September to get their feet under them and find some rhythm. With Murray State, Buffalo, Boston College, and Vanderbilt on tap to start their season, the Tigers should be monster favorites in all four contests. The Tigers’ first test will be on Oct. 5, when they visit No. 20 Texas A&M. Considering what some of the other teams in the SEC are looking at with their schedules in 2024, it’s not that awful for the Tigers. They’ll have difficult matchups with No. 5 Alabama on the road and No. 16 Oklahoma at home, but it’s not hard to envision the Tigers finding plenty of success besides those matchups. 

Missouri Prediction: OVER/UNDER 9.5 Wins

If the Tigers win one of their three games against ranked opponents, we like the odds of them going over their numbers. Maybe the books know something we don’t because there’s plenty of plus-money value on the Tigers having their second double-digit win season in a row. The offense can potentially be special enough to overshadow some of the concerns on defense. It’s not crazy to suggest that the Tigers could even come out on top in the SEC East when you factor in the terrifying schedule that the Georgia Bulldogs have to go through in 2024. 

Missouri Preseason Pick

OVER 9.5 (+146) (FanDuel Sportsbook)

Missouri Best Bets

As much as we highlight the over on their win total as a strong bet, you should also look toward the Tigers finding a way into the College Football Playoff. That number is currently paying out at a strong +180. 

SEC Previews: Arkansas | Auburn | Florida |Kentucky | LSU | Mississippi State | Oklahoma| South Carolina | Tennessee  | Texas A&M | Vanderbilt

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