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2012 Missouri Tigers College Gambling Odds | Predictions

2012-13 Football Previews – (SEC) – Missouri Tigers

With the arrival of Mizzou to the SEC (along with Texas A&M this season) a third team with the “Tigers” nickname is added to the conference fray. Missouri hopes to distinguish itself far more than its mascot, however.

SEC 2012-13 Football Previews: Missouri Tigers
Coach: Gary Pinkel
2011 Record: 8-5
Missouri Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: 100-1
Missouri Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2012 Schedule –>

The Tigers will play in the SEC East division, which will be a far cry from the Big 12 North, where Missouri found its home for the last several years. It won’t be easy to make a statement with inter-division foes like Florida, Georgia and South Carolina looming – and that’s not counting the East-West division crossover games. There’s no question that this a good move for the Tigers, in terms of revenue and long-term recruiting potential. Yet, don’t think for a second that all the excitement involved with changing conferences will mitigate the headache of a cream-of-the-crop SEC.

Mizzou’s offense will be dependent on junior QB James Franklin. Franklin is big, athletic and extremely tough; he almost seems to relish contact, as his high school nickname “Frank the Tank” suggests. In addition to scrambling, Franklin will have a pair of important targets to throw to. Senior T.J. Moe is an established weapon; he was 2011’s leading receiver. Freshman WR Dorial Green-Beckham is intriguing, as he was the #1 recruit in the nation this past offseason. Green-Beckham’s huge 6”6, 220-lb frame will join Moe and fellow big man, 6”5, 215-lb junior Marcus Lucas. Clearly, Franklin has some options apart from a mere QB keeper. Missouri’s offensive line has a couple returning starters in guard Travis Ruth and tackle Justin Britt, though the unit’s best player may well be senior LT Elvis Fisher.

Defensively, the Tigers have a green defensive line, but feature an experienced back seven. Outside ’backers Andrew Wilson (98 tackles a year ago), Zaviar Gooden and CB E.J. Gaines stand out as the crucial pieces on a unit that should struggle to adjust to SEC speed (you are never going to convince me that programs like Nebraska, Kansas State and Colorado have equivalent speed to a Florida, a Georgia or an LSU). Regardless, SS Kenronte Walker is an intriguing specimen, as he’s a highly-touted JUCO prospect whom redshirted in 2010. Walker has the talent and he must take a profound step forward, not unlike DT Sheldon Richardson, another player that made scouts’ eyes bulge in junior college. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

On special teams, the efforts will be spearheaded by senior Trey Barrow, who could handle both the kicking and punting duties.

2012-13 Missouri Football Prediction: 6-7

Missouri has just 12 returning starters this year, a formula that likely won’t help the transition to the SEC. It cannot be stressed enough that some temporary pain in the win/loss ledger due to the conference shift will definitely be off-set by the financial and speculative gains for the Tigers’ football program. But fans and bettors don’t want to hear an accountant’s take.

The Tigers have some talent (less talent than the LSU Tigers or the Auburn Tigers, but it doesn’t happen overnight) and they should be fired up to face a new set of opponents. Still, Mizzou gets road games at South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M. The Tigers also draw dreaded Alabama out of the SEC West. Finally, Mizzou plays games against beatable but pesky non-con opponents such as Arizona State and Syracuse.

Franklin will show plenty of moxie, there will be some impressive catches made downfield courtesy of Moe, Green-Beckham and Co., and Fisher should pancake the occasional hungry SEC defensive lineman, but it won’t be the most successful first SEC season in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers may or may not make a bowl; it wouldn’t surprise me if they did not.

2012 Schedule

9/1/12 7:00 PM ET SOLOU
9/8/12 TBD GEO
9/15/12 TBD ARZST
9/22/12 TBD @SOCAR
9/29/12 TBD @CENFL
10/6/12 TBD VAN
10/13/12 TBD ALAB
10/27/12 TBD KENTY
11/3/12 TBD @FLA
11/10/12 TBD @TENN
11/17/12 TBD SYR
11/24/12 TBD @TXAM

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By James Hayes

James has been naming every player on the EA Sports video game rosters for half a decade now, he’s finally putting his knowledge to better use writing for us here at CappersPicks.com. Your comments are welcome below…Give Us Your Take!