Missouri lost a single game last year in the regular season, in double overtime on a missed field goal. The Tigers blew a 17-0 lead in the game, which would’ve put away the SEC East in October.

As if this game didn’t mean enough to Mizzou already, the Tigers now need it to avoid a freefall after an ugly loss to Indiana.

The phrase “this is their Super Bowl” is a cliche and overused. But this game is of tremendous importance to Missouri’s season as well as to the SEC East.

Georgia, which beat Tennessee earlier Saturday. Both the Bulldogs and Gamecocks still must face Auburn. But a South Carolina win would put them at 3-1 in the SEC with games against Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida remaining. The Gamecocks basically would be in a position where they could lose to Auburn, win those three and take the division.

A win for Missouri, though, plunges the Tigers back into the thick of the SEC East race, with a stunningly quick conclusion to come (games against UGA and Florida are next). How different is 4-1 with a road win over the SEC East frontrunner from 3-2 with consecutive losses, preparing to face a Top 15 team in Georgia?

Whatever the outcome in this one, I’d expect to see two teams get after each other like their seasons depend on it.