I am happy to take an Internet bet of mockery between the two boards, or some other type of thing. I don’t see the point in betting cash on worse odds than I can get with bookies, offshore or Vegas. That is a sucker’s bet.

I’m aware that I probably have on gold colored glasses. However, Football Outsiders has the mean number of wins for us this year at 8. They rank Illinois, Nebraska and Nevada outside the top 50 (and Illinois is in the 80s). For some reason, there is a national perception that Nebraska was actually good on defense last year. And, for some reason, replacing their starting QB with an also ran JUCO guy is more likely to lead to success than Mizzou replacing Daniel with one of the top QB recruits in the country. Weird.

I can see scenarios that involve us losing more than 5 games, but those are unlikely scenarios and most involve an injury to Gabbert.

we rely on our readers as third string fact checkers. We also plant errors throughout stories to make sure you guys are at least half conscious.

Nonetheless, thanks for the corrections. I’m sure the Mizzou fans will have plenty more.

CTJ,

I could see either scenario unfold. Having spent an unhealthy amount of time over the last week on Tigerboard and various Missouri sites getting to know this team better, one tends to lose grasp with reality quickly. They probably end up somewhere in between at 6-6. I can’t see them losing to KSU and CU but I’ll give you Baylor.

Danario Alexander can be a weapon for them. I’m fairly confident Gabbert will step up as well.

But you’re right in there just aren’t any proven game changers on either side of the ball other than Weatherspoon.

Illinois beats them like a borrowed mule.

Texas, Nebraska, and KU don’t give them any quarter.

Nevada, a team on paper that might be considered a gimme, won’t be bad this year. Baylor and Nevada are the same team, really. Either one or both of those schools could take this Missouri team this season.

They also play Okie State, although Okie State could well be without a healthy scholarship player that isn’t on the run from the law by that game.

It is hard to say “hey, they’ll have a losing record” because they’ve been winning consistently for a while now. That typed, and as you mentioned, the losses this season are damn near astounding. They lost talent at OC on top of that. There isn’t a gamebreaker to brag about, their top recruit didn’t make it in, and Gabbert is literally their wing and their prayer. If he doesn’t live up to 5 star status, they are rightly wrecked. I am going with 4-8. They take Furman, Bowling Green, Iowa State, and one of CU, BU, and KSU.

Great writeup.