At 7-2, the Missouri Tigers currently lead the much maligned SEC East as they prepare for the stretch run of the 2014 season. The Tigers are in the midst of their final bye week, but face a tough task with three SEC opponents to finish off the year.

Before Missouri attempts to secure its position in the SEC Championship for the second consecutive season, let’s take a look at the most pressing storylines facing Gary Pinkel’s team.

  • What Maty Mauk will show up in November? — The Missouri gunslinger came into the season with the expectations of possibly being the best quarterback in the SEC. The flashes of greatness were there as a freshman and early on this season, but largely the sophomore has struggled. He didn’t throw for a touchdown until Missouri’s fourth SEC game and he’s yet to eclipse 165 yards passing against SEC competition. The completion percentage is worrisome, too, at just 52.4 percent for the season. The Missouri offense starts and ends with him and so will the Tigers’ success in November.
  • Shane Ray’s dominance — No player in college football has skyrocketed in draft stock than Missouri’s Shane Ray. From probable second-day selection to a near lock in the top-10 and possibly top-5, Ray has dazzled NFL scouts and spectators alike. He broke the school’s sack record of 11.5 sacks last week against Kentucky and will likely pile on his record in the coming games. He’s been one of the most exciting to players to watch this season, so enjoy these last few weeks Tigers fans because it’s probably Ray’s last few games in a Missouri uniform.
  • Wide receiver depth — Easily one of Missouri’s biggest weaknesses this season has been the depth at wide receiver. With injuries to Jimmie Hunt and Darius White, the receiving corps — outside of Bud Sasser — struggled to do much of anything (see South Carolina game). The Tigers’ top three receivers are seniors, so guys like Nate Brown, Wesley Leftwich and Lawrence Lee will need to step up, especially if injuries continue to be a problem.
  • Can Missouri win the SEC East again? — Thanks to a stunning Georgia loss last week against Florida, the Tigers find themselves in the driver’s seat of the division race. Missouri’s got three SEC games left with two of them in tough road environments at Texas A&M and Tennessee. One loss puts Missouri behind Georgia and Florida is still lingering in the background with a slim chance to win the division. It’s a three-team race with three weeks to go, but there’s no arguing that Missouri has the best chance to win. Now, the Tigers just have to go out and do it.

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