No. 7 Missouri Tigers Battle Vanderbilt to Open SEC Play

Quarterback Brady Cook — © Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Missouri Tigers (3-0) dropped to No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, however, they are coming off an impressive win against Boston College (2-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). As they enter Southeastern Conference play, the wins they have racked up put them in a position to make some serious noise. But they must stay true to themselves, play sound defense and use wide receiver Luther Burden III in every way possible to open up the offense.

Breaking Down the Tigers' Opponent

The Vanderbilt Commodores (2-1) are surprising everyone this season. Historically known as bottom feeders in college football, they've pulled off an upset win against a then-ranked Virginia Tech (2-1, 1-0 ACC) and only suffered a close loss against Georgia State (2-1). This has put them in a position to challenge many SEC teams this year, and their upcoming game will be an excellent opportunity for them to establish themselves as a strong program further.

Vandy is led by head coach Clark Lea, who is on a new contract and has his team believing in his message of hard work and commitment to improving every day. QB Diego Pavia (64.5 percent passing for 543 yards and 4 touchdowns) is the driving force behind Vandy's offense. He has been a dual threat, contributing consistently to the passing and running game (2 rushing touchdowns). Notably, he has zero interceptions, which will be crucial as he faces the Tigers' opportunistic defense.

The Commodores' defense has many players who have contributed to the team's success this season, but Mizzou will have to game plan for No. 53, defensive lineman Glenn Seabrooks III. Seabrooks has been a game wrecker, with 11 tackles and 1 interception, which the big man returned for 15 yards. The former three-star recruit will be someone the Tigers will have to focus on to prevent him from disrupting their game plan.

Key to a Tigers Victory

The Tigers need to establish a solid running game to have a chance at winning. Running backs Nate Noel (242 yards rushing, 5.4 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns) and Marcus Carroll (154 yards rushing, 5.1 ypc, 1 touchdown) will be crucial in setting up the offense. Without a solid running game, the wide receivers won't get single coverage, so the team's ability to pass effectively will be limited.

The Commodores utilize various methods to run the ball, including with their quarterback. Therefore, stopping the run will be crucial for the Tigers' victory, as increasing the quarterback's pass attempts might lead to more mistakes and three-and-outs.

Burden (13 catches for 181 yards and 3 total touchdowns) is the Tigers' most dangerous weapon on offense and special teams. He can change the game and break it open. Mizzou has good players on offense, but Burden has so many coverages designed for him that it benefits the flow of the offense even when he doesn't touch the ball. If he can make plays, they win.

Final Thoughts on the Tigers game

The SEC is a competitive conference with teams that can beat each other on any given weekend. Mizzou emerged victorious by opening its playbook and showcasing its talented players. With this win, Mizzou improves to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference.