While we complain about Mizzou’s less-than-impressive offense and poke holes in a non-conference slate that includes a loss to Indiana, the Tigers keep winning.

For the second straight season, Mizzou holds the title of SEC East frontrunner as we head down the home stretch, blocking out the noise from doubters to currently ride a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s bout at Texas A&M.

We’ve heard this story before.

After beating Mizzou in overtime on the road in late October last season, South Carolina needed the Tigers to lose one of its final two games — at No. 24 Ole Miss, vs. No. 19 Texas A&M — to clinch the division and earn a trip to Atlanta.

It seemed possible, but it didn’t happen.

A year later, Georgia’s 34-0 win at Mizzou on Oct. 11 should’ve seal the Tigers’ fate, but it no longer holds any value if the Tigers win this weekend then beat Tennessee and Arkansas to close at 10-2.

Somehow, Gary Pinkel keeps getting it done.

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This year’s team, other than its pass-rushing prowess, has a different make up. Quarterback play hasn’t been consistent, the Tigers have rushed for half as many yards and the defense isn’t feasting on takeaways the way it did against quality competition.

One could argue Pinkel’s done a better job leading this team to the front of the East in 2014 than he did last fall. The Tigers aren’t as talented across the board and no longer play with the cloak of anonymity coming off a division championship.

Comparing Mizzou’s East title runs through 9 games
SEC OVERALL PPG YPG +/-
Mizzou 2013 4-1 8-1 40.5 462.7 7
Mizzou 2014 4-1 7-2 28.8 330.1 7

How do the Tigers hold a one-game lead over Georgia?

Wins. And they’re all that matter in the SEC.

Mizzou’s defying statistical logic with several anomalies often indicative of bad teams. Mizzou’s 12th in the SEC in total first downs (165) also leads the league in penalties with 63.

The Tigers are 4-1 since an upset loss to Indiana on Sept. 20, but have only eclipsed more than 330.1 yards of total offense — their season average — once. During a 42-13 win at Florida, Mizzou overcame an anemic showing on offense (119 total yards) with four non-offensive touchdowns.

There was one 10-quarter stretch in SEC play this season where Mizzou failed to convert on third down 23 times in 25 total chances. First-year starter Maty Mauk’s shouldered much of the blame and has struggled behind an injury-plagued offense line that seems to allow pressure on every snap.

Part of that has to do with Mauk’s tendency to scramble which isn’t necessarily a negative on an offense starved of playmakers after losing Henry Josey and Dorial Green-Beckham off last season’s squad.

Led by Shane Ray, Mizzou’s defense is playing at a championship level over the last month and if that continues, the Tigers will again be representing the East in Atlanta on Dec. 6 despite offensive deficiencies compared to last season.