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Missouri football: Ranking the 5 easiest games on the 2021 schedule

By Jacob Milham

Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Tyler Badie (1) runs the ball against Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Michael Owusu (88) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Tyler Badie (1) runs the ball against Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Michael Owusu (88) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite being an SEC opponent, the Tigers look to run away with it against Vanderbilt.

Remember when James Franklin was going to save Vanderbilt Commodores football? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

The Commodores have not finished above .500 since their 9-4 2013 season, Franklin’s last one as head coach. Excluding the Franklin era, the last season Vanderbilt had more than eight wins was 1982. The same year that E.T. and Rocky III come out. That is how long the Commodores have struggled.

Their struggles continued in 2020, in a 41-0 blowout. It is hard to watch for any Vandy fan.

Mediocrity and low expectations are the norms with Vanderbilt it seems.

It makes for an easy game on the SEC East slate though. That quality continues as Vanderbilt did not win any games in 2020 and nine SEC games since 2013.

Vanderbilt looks to change their culture and fortunes with first-year head coach Clark Lea, a former defensive coordinator for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish only lost five games in three years during Lea’s tenure in South Bend, Indiana. Also a former Commodore himself and Nashville native, Lea has a solid resume and local support.

Lea is about the only individual bright spot. Freshman quarterback Ken Seals will lead an offensive attack that was awful in 2020.

  • 125th in points per game
  • 74th in passing yards per game
  • 115th in rushing yards per game

It was absolutely atrocious. The returning skill position players offer little optimism too. With such a weak offense, the defense reflected similar stats.

  • 121st in opponents yards per game
  • 110th in opponents points per game
  • 88th in opponent rushing yards per game
  • 118th in opponent passing yards per game

When your defense ranks amongst Central Michigan and Tulane in all facets of the game, that is not good.

Missouri leads the all-time series against Vanderbilt at 8-4, where the two teams first met in 1895. Since the Tigers have joined the SEC in 2012, the Commodores are 3-6 against them. For a program with rotten recruiting, funding, and leadership, that is not too bad.

If it were not for Southeast Missouri on the schedule, this would be Missouri’s easiest game by far. Look for this to be a bloodbath in Nashville.

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