When Missouri and Kentucky square off this Saturday at Faurot Field, the calendar will already have turned over to November, signaling the home stretch of the 2014 college football season.

The Tigers find themselves in a favorable position at 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. They sit currently in second place in the SEC East, tied with Georgia in the loss column but one game back due to the tiebreaker.

As the temperatures get colder in Columbia, the drama heats up and head coach Gary Pinkel knows this weekend’s game against the Wildcats commences the most important stretch of his team’s schedule.

“It’s a big football game,” Pinkel said. “They all are right now. We know the importance of [November games]. [Kentucky is] a very, very good football team.

Although Missouri has three SEC games remaining following the upcoming UK matchup, Saturday is a must-win situation for the Tigers.

The team Missouri is chasing in the SEC East faces its own rival on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. Considering Georgia is a 13-point favorite this weekend, a victory seems likely. For Missouri fans, Nov. 15 will be the date circled on their calendars when Georgia faces off against No. 3 ranked Auburn. That’s likely the only toss-up game left on Georgia’s schedule and if Missouri wants to have any thoughts on a repeat visit to Atlanta, the Bulldogs must lose another game.

While the Mizzou players won’t outwardly worry about the factors outside of their control, they do understand the severity of how this weekend’s game can impact their postseason aspirations.

“This is the most important time,” center Evan Boehm said. “[Pinkel] always says we have to finish in November. He has this saying that ‘those who win in November will be remembered’. That’s what we’re going to live by here at Mizzou.”

Keeping pace with UGA is the name of the game at this point for Missouri. Wins by both teams makes the SEC East a two-team race.

Considering the Tigers have four SEC games left (including UK) compared to just two conference games remaining for Georgia, the decked is already stacked against Pinkel’s team.

Road games against Texas A&M and Tennessee are certainly no gimmes and the same can be said for this weekend’s game and a season-finale home game versus Arkansas. Add in Missouri’s inconsistency all season and it doesn’t make the Tigers’ challenge any easier.

Fortunately for Mizzou, Kentucky has its fair share of struggles on the road. The Wildcats come into Saturday’s game having lost 19 straight road gams, despite an improved squad in 2014.

Missouri wasn’t able to rise to the occasion a few weeks ago against Georgia, losing 34-0, which put the Tigers behind the 8-ball. Now, a similar challenge awaits them this weekend and only time will tell how they respond.