Published February 18, 2012 - 1:57pm
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Welcome to the SEC, Missouri Tigers. We’re on #12 on our list and yet, the third weakest schedule in our rankings is hardly easy. In fact, we believe that jumping from #13 to #12 is a significant leap. Don’t believe us? Compare Mizzoui’s schedule here to #13 Vanderbilt and #14 Georgia. Again, the third weakest schedule in the SEC next season is still a schedule in the SEC. You’re not in the Big 12 anymore fellas.
Moreover, to be fair, on our measurement, Mizzou came in tied with the 10th and 11th spots. With Mizzou and the two other teams coming in tied, we subjectively put Mizzou as the weaker one behind the other two, but again it’s by a nudge. You’ll have to wait and see what the next two teams are.
2012 Missouri Tigers Schedule
- Sep 01 – SE Louisiana
- Sep 08 – Georgia Bulldogs
- Sep 15 – Arizona State Sun Devils
- Sep 22 – at South Carolina
- Sep 29 – at UCF Knights
- Oct 06 – Vanderbilt Commodores
- Oct 13 – Alabama Crimson Tide
- Oct 20 – BYE
- Oct 27 – Kentucky Wildcats
- Nov 03 – at Florida Gators
- Nov 10 – at Tennessee Volunteers
- Nov 17 – Syracuse
- Nov 24 – at Texas A&M Aggies
The Numbers
- 5 Home Games with likely 2 cupcake games to be filled in
- 5 Road Games
- 1 Cupcakes (UCF which isn’t a true cupcake) with likely 2 more cupcakes on the way
- 1 legitimate non-conference matchup (Arizona State)
- 4 top 25 opponents (#2 Alabama, #5 Georgia, #10 South Carolina, #25 Florida Gators) using ESPN’s early top 25 estimate
- 3 top 25 opponents (#5 Alabama, #7 South Carolina, #9 Georgia) using an early SI poll
Notes
As we’ve stated, this is by no means an easy schedule. Remember, we’re comparing SEC schedules to SEC schedules, so the bar is set rather high. The stretch to start the season of Georgia, Arizona State and South Carolina features two top ten matchups sandwiching a nice non-conference game.
The Tigers are fortunate to have two of their toughest matchups at home in the Georgia and Alabama game, but will still face tough road tests at Florida, at South Carolina and at Texas A&M.
Overall, it’s a tough schedule, but it could be much worse.
Stay tuned as we break down each team’s schedule counting up to the toughest schedule. If you want a sneak peak at the full list, you’ll have to add SDS to your “Circles” on Google Plus here then view the recent posts.
This needs to be updated – we have Syracuse and SE Louisiana at home.
I don’t buy this being only the 12th most difficult schedule in the SEC. Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia are all top 10 teams in different pre-season polls and then closing the conference schedule with road games in Gainsville, Knoxville and College Station is brutal. Welcome to the SEC I guess.
By no means an easy schedule. Welcome to the SEC indeed.
I expected this to be a serious site, UCF predicted to go 11-2 would make them ‘not a real cupcake’ indeed. I guess the SEC has not lost a non conference game ever. This is not a real evaluation, just baiting fans.
Mizzou should handle UCF, but as the article indicates, UCF is not a true cupcake. Legitimate non-conference games were defined as games against other BCS conference teams. I believe UCF joins Big East in 2013, but for now we place them somewhere between cupcake and legit non-conference opponent.
Okay Kevin, fair dos, Mizzou’s depth is probably an issue, a healthy Franklin makes the Tigers a threat, otherwise they are probably better than Kentucky but the Tigers are always a mystery. I hate six o’clock games. Looking forward to a fun year and your great site.