Missouri can become just the second team in SEC history to win three consecutive division titles, along with Florida.

But to do that, coach Gary Pinkel and his team are going to have to overcome some huge personnel losses from the last two years as well as a few East powerhouses trending upward.

RELATED: Best-case scenario — Mizzou benefits from soft sked, wins East again

Veteran SEC quarterback Maty Mauk, an experienced offensive line, an underrated standout running back and a strong-as-ever back seven on defense are the keys this year for the Tigers.

Mizzou will remain an underdog despite the team’s recent accomplishments. It will no longer be a surprise if the team wins, but perhaps we’re putting too much pressure on this program in 2015 to expect another SEC East title-contending season.

Let’s look at what the national media is predicting.

WHAT THE MAGAZINES ARE SAYING

ESPN: “Gary Pinkel doesn’t mind that the rest of us haven’t caught on about Missouri. … Yes, Pinkel is content just to keep his Tigers winning — and they seem poised to do just that in 2015.”

Lindy’s Sports: “Things could get shaky if [Maty] Mauk doesn’t have trusty receivers in the passing game, but [Russell] Hansbrough’s return, a seasoned offensive line and another strong defense could offset a middling passing game and repave the path to Atlanta.”

Athlon Sports: “[Maty] Mauk will be asked to raise his game significantly in 2015 … as his receiving corps is about as green as green can be. Losing all three starters for the second consecutive season will take a toll on anybody’s receiver depth, and it has left Mizzou with a black hole on an otherwise seasoned two-deep.”

The Sporting News: “With a veteran quarterback among its loads of championship experience, don’t expect Missouri to fade quietly. The Tigers could be 6-0 on Oct. 17 when they invade Georgia for what could be a showdown for SEC East supremacy. If Mizzou wins in Athens, well … three-peat, anyone?”

Phil Steele: “Their conference foes had a ’14 league record of 26-38, which is the easiest schedule on paper in the SEC. Mizzou could be 6-0 when they travel to Georgia. … They figure to be favored in 10 of their 12 games htis year and I for one am not ruling out their chances of an SEC East three-peat.”

BEST PLAYERS

  • RB Russell Hansbrough
  • C Evan Boehm
  • OL Connor McGovern
  • LB Kentrell Brothers
  • LB Michael Scherer
  • CB Kenya Dennis

WHAT WE LEARNED

  • Hansbrough was responsible for 21 percent of the Missouri offense in 2014, most by a Tigers running back since ’04, according to ESPN. And the team may lean on Hansbrough even more heavily this season with questions in the backfield, a strong (literally and figuratively) offensive line and a passing game with big concerns.
  • According to Lindy’s Sports, Pinkel had compared Harold Brantley to Sheldon Richardson prior to the defensive tackle’s car accident and serious injuries. It’s a shame that in all likelihood we won’t get to see Brantley play football in 2015, as he was set to perform at an All-SEC level as one of the best interior pass-rushers in the country.
  • Missouri did an excellent job of forcing fumbles (21, second in the FBS) and protecting the ball (10 fumbles, fourth in the FBS) in 2014, according to Athlon Sports. The team’s combined plus-25 turnover margin in the last two years is best in the SEC, and it will be important that the Tigers continue that trend this fall.
  • There are big special teams questions entering the fall — namely, who will replace Marcus Murphy as the team’s return specialist, and who will be the team’s punter? Ian Simon, Anthony Sherrils, Raymond Wingo and J’Mon Moore are candidates in the return game, while the team hopes incoming freshman Corey Fatony will be able to remove punting duties from placekicker Andrew Baggett.

BIGGEST AGREEMENT

As a whole, the national media is giving Mizzou’s defensive back seven more credit than I anticipated. And correctly so.

With Brantley’s injury, the dismissal of projected starter Marcus Loud, and the departure of Shane Ray and Markus Golden, the defensive line should take a major step back in 2015.

Fortunately for new defensive coordinator Barry Odom, the team’s linebackers are tackle machines. Cornerback tandem Kenya Dennis and Aarion Penton won’t get much credit in the SEC East due to the superstar defensive backs at Florida and Tennessee, but they can be very good in their own right. The team has depth at linebacker and cornerback as well.

The defense is going to need much more help from the back seven in ’15, but it should be able to provide just that.

BIGGEST DISAGREEMENT

Most all of the preseason publications slot Mizzou third in the SEC East, but give the team a legitimate shot at winning a third consecutive division title.

I just don’t see that happening in 2015. The ’13 team was a dominant group, especially offensively. The ’14 team bludgeoned foes along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Mizzou deserves credit for playing some outstanding football and winning a ton of games.

But Tennessee and Florida are on their way back to playing good football. The losses along the defensive line sting. The receivers are too green. Maty Mauk is too inconsistent. The team also has gotten statistically lucky in recent seasons with good health, a lot of wins in close games, and turnovers.

The schedule is easy this year, at least for an SEC team. But I can’t see Mizzou, which shouldn’t be as good as last year, topping a Georgia team that won 34-0 in Columbia last season.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Biggest Remaining Question: How much will personnel losses affect the defensive line?
Consensus Projection: 3rd place, SEC East
Impact Newcomers: RB Chase Abbington, DT Terry Beckner Jr.