Predicting the Outcomes of Missouri Tiger Games in 2024

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The Missouri Tigers burst onto the scene in 2023 after finishing the season ranked in the top 10, and included a 14-3 win against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl. Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz led the Tigers to an 11-2 season, propelling them into contender conversations.

The Tigers retained quarterback Brady Cook, who was named to the Davey O'Brien Watch List. The Tigers offense is set to be one of the most electric in the country. Wide receiver Luther Burden III was named to the Biletnikoff Watch List after an electric 2023 season and is projected to be a high first-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Week 1: Murray State Racers

The Tigers open their season with an easy matchup against the Murray State Racers. Cook and Burden should put on a clinic in Week 1 with a blowout victory. The two programs have not played each other yet, so the Tigers will win the first one. Tigers win 63-7.

Record: 1-0

Week 2: Buffalo Bulls

This should bode as yet another smooth victory for Missouri. To many people's surprise, these two teams have met up before in 2008. This was the only matchup and the Tigers won 42-21. The Tigers should extend the series score to 2-0 with a score of 45-17.

Record: 2-0

Week 3: Boston College Eagles

With their third straight home game, the Tigers should begin to gain more and more comfort within their offense. Boston College is not yet in a position to pose a threat to Power Four-contending schools, despite the Eagles winning the lone matchup in this series back in 2021. Missouri is in much better position now rather than 2021, and should win this in blowout fashion, 35-14.

Record: 3-0

Week 4: Vanderbilt Commodores

Missouri gets to go the entire month of September without playing a game outside of their home stadium. The Commodores fanbase is eager to start winning but have yet to come close to doing so. The Tigers currently have the series lead on this matchup, 11-4. Missouri has won four games in a row now against the Commodores dating back to 2020. Tigers win, 42-21.

Record: 4-0

Week 6: at Texas A&M Aggies

This matchup sets up to be Missouri's first tough game. While Texas A&M may have had a rough 2023, their program seems more stable following the post-Jimbo Fisher era. Walking into the 12th man and getting a victory is never easy. The Aggies currently lead the series in this matchup 9-7. The Tigers will squeak by in a close one, 24-23.

Record: 5-0

Week 7: UMass Minutemen

The Tigers will follow up a tough road trip with a much less difficult matchup against UMass. The Minuteman and the Tigers have never met, so this will mark their first-ever game. UMass is not in a position to hang with the Tigers or any Power Four school, for that matter. The Tigers should win this handily, 52-10.

Record: 6-0

Week 8: Auburn Tigers

Missouri and Auburn will face off in Week 8 for the fifth time. Auburn currently leads the series, 3-1. This game should come down to the wire, and it will be much closer. If Auburn were at home for this game, the outcome might be different, so Missouri's home-field advantage will help them in the fourth quarter. Missouri wins a nail-biter, 17-14.

Record: 7-0

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Week 9: at Alabama Crimson Tide

Missouri and Alabama have met seven times so far. Alabama has the series lead 5-2. The Tide will pose a significant threat to the Tigers' undefeated record at this point in the season. Despite replacing the legendary Nick Saban with Kalen DaBeor, they will still be a championship contender. This game will be at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which will just set up to be too difficult for the Tigers. Alabama wins 41-20.

Record: 7-1

Week 11: Oklahoma Sooners

This game sets up to be an incredible matchup. These are two high-powered offenses that will put you on a barn burner. The Sooners' new quarterback, Jason Arnold, is incredibly talented. The Sooners lead the all-time series, 67-24-5. These two schools are familiar with each other from their Big 12 Conference days. Oklahoma will pull this one off in shootout fashion, 38-35.

Record: 7-2

Week 12: at South Carolina Gamecocks

Missouri is dawned with a tough task here. Following their second loss in a row, they're asked to fly to South Carolina and win in a hostile environment. Home-field advantage is crucial here, especially in the Southeastern Conference. Currently, the Tigers lead the all-time matchup, 9-5. The Tigers have also won the last five games, dating back to 2019. Despite the road trip, the Tigers will extend that win streak to six games. Tigers win a close one, 21-17.

Record: 8-2

Week 13: at Mississippi State Bulldogs

These two programs have only faced off four times, so this matchup is quite young. Currently, the series is tied at 2-2. Mississippi State has yet to return to their winning ways since roughly the Dak Prescott era. Missouri will also be playing for a playoff appearance at this point in the season, and the opposite goes for the Bulldogs. Missouri wins on the road, 35-21.

Record: 9-2

Week 14: Arkansas Razorbacks

These two programs have faced off 15 times in history. The Tigers are not only on a two-game win streak against the Razorbacks but also lead the series 11-4. Arkansas' season will be all but over at this point while Missouri will be playing for everything. Tigers win here, giving themselves a probable at-large bid for the playoffs with a score of 31-14.

Record: 10-2

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Missouri Tigers Overview

The Missouri Tigers are coming off an 11-2 season in 2023, and will do the same in 2024. The distinct difference between the two seasons for Drinkwitz will be that the Tigers will find themselves in the playoffs. Expanding from four to 12 teams helps teams like Missouri get a shot at the championship when the regular season ends.