It’s difficult to imagine what might motivate Missouri players this week. For the 3rd time in coach Barry Odom’s tenure, Missouri is on a 5-game losing streak. Arkansas, meanwhile, is on an 8-game losing streak and set for its 2nd game with an interim coach.

The fresh news of the NCAA’s decision to uphold Missouri’s postseason ban could turn this game into a de facto bowl game.

In a week when games across the country are marked by border wars, state championships and trophies, this game has most of that, but maybe in name only. At least that’s what Missouri kicker Tucker McCann believes.

“I mean, it just kind of happened that way,” McCann told reporters, including Dave Matter. “I think just because we had to have a rival in the SEC. … I mean, there’s a trophy and everything, but I think it’s just another game.”

Odom admitted that Arkansas showed quite the fight early in the LSU game.

“I think we’ll get Arkansas’ best game,” Odom said. “They ended up last week against the No. 1 team in the country scoring 20 points, and if you watch that game in entirety, the 1st quarter, they were going back and forth competing really well. I’ve recruited a bunch of their guys — either we filled up or they decided to go to Arkansas. I know what kind of skill set they’ve got. I think they’ve got tremendous coaches. We’re going to have to play really well to have a chance to win the game.”

Under Odom, the Tigers have 1 win in 10 meetings against Top 25 teams, last season’s upset of Florida in The Swamp. But that’s not what has drawn fans’ ire, at least not lately. It’s losing games the Tigers shouldn’t.

There is a growing drumbeat to move on from Odom, but the Odom apologists may point out that QB Kelly Bryant had to have his knee drained before the Tennessee game, and he’s dealt with a lingering hamstring injury. Add that with LB Cale Garrett’s injury, and it is increasingly difficult to win without the best defensive player for more than half the season, and a QB at far less than 100 percent.

One area that appears to be a key to decide the game is Arkansas’ passing offense, likely with a 5th starting quarterback, against a previously strong Missouri defense that was exposed last week in the Tennessee loss. The Tigers were ranked in the top 10 before last week, but now slipped to 18th in the country after last week.

One area to keep an eye on is Arkansas leads the SEC in fewest penalties with fewer than 5 per game, while Missouri has the most in the league at 7 per game, tied with Alabama. The Tigers have had 77 penalties this season, compared with 54 for the Razorbacks, 11 fewer than the next closest team, Mississippi State. That’s 1 of just 3 categories (fumbles recovered, fumbles lost) where Arkansas is in the top 5 in the SEC.

Arkansas RB Rakeem Boyd, even despite the team’s struggles, has had a strong season with 1,038 rushing yards, which is something Mizzou fans have criticized the offensive play-calling to get Larry Rountree III more involved. He has just 741 yards.

Conventional wisdom might expect Arkansas to plug the gaps to force Bryant and his limited mobility to throw. McTelvin Agim has been a key player on the Arkansas front with 8.5 tackles for a loss. Last season, he was the first Hog with 10-plus tackles for a loss since Deatrich Wise Jr. in 2015.

Ultimately, getting Bryant as comfortable and productive as possible is the key for Derek Dooley and Odom. Likewise, Barry Lunney Jr. has admitted Arkansas starting its fifth quarterback this season is “strange” and a microcosm of the way the season’s gone.

“Our charge beginning in the locker room after the LSU game has been to play our best football game on Friday against Missouri,” Lunney said. “It’s been a tough three years for this program and the fans. My vision as the acting head coach and a former Razorback is to put aside the last three years and unite for 3.5 hours and have a moment as a state. It hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to go, but we have another opportunity to rally together and unite our fans and football team to create an atmosphere and result we’re proud of.”

Fearless Prediction time …

Missouri 24, Arkansas 12