It’s finally game week for the Missouri Tigers.

Some may think Saturday’s opener against Central Michigan will be an easy victory for the Tigers, but the Chippewas have been known to give Power 5 opponents a hard time. Some of these players weren’t around for it, but Central Michigan nearly shocked Miami in 2019. In 2018, they only won 1 game but still came within 2 TDs of Kentucky and a ranked Michigan State team. In 2016, they upset then-No. 22 Oklahoma State on the road.

ESPN’s FPI gives the Chippewas almost a 26% chance to stage an upset Saturday.

So, Mizzou should forget the double-digit point spread and not sleep on this year’s opening opponent. What will it take for the Tigers to score a victory? Here are a few keys.

Conner Bazelak throws for multiple TDs

Bazelak is the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year. He put up solid numbers in 2020, but only twice did he throw multiple TD passes in the same game. He threw a career-high 4 in an upset against LSU, and he tossed 2 in a season-ending loss at Mississippi State.

Bazelak finished with 7 TD passes last season. Nobody is asking him to match Drew Lock’s 7-TD day against Missouri State, but CMU might provide the perfect opportunity for Bazelak to put up a crooked number.

The Chippewas gave up a MAC-worst 15 TD passes in just 6 games last year.

Mizzou’s defense needs to keep CMU’s passing game in check

Jim McElwain knows a thing or two about offense. You can toss out last year, but in 2019, his first CMU team finished 2nd in the MAC in passing.

McElwain hasn’t even named a starting QB for 2021 — why would he tip his hand against a former SEC rival?

There are 3 candidates, led by Washington Huskies transfer Jacob Sirmon, who is a dual-threat quarterback, and last year’s starter Daniel Richardson.

Richardson started 4 games last year in Central’s shortened season and completed 63% of his passes and threw 4 touchdowns. Richardson may have the edge because of his experience starting last year. Whoever the starter turns out to be, the Tigers must try to keep them in check.

CMU will be without its starting running back, which means the passing game will be asked to do even more.

Can Mizzou stop it? Last year, the secondary was a concern after allowing 21 TD passes and intercepting just 4 passes.

Don’t underestimate another underdog

Every Mizzou fan is well aware of the Tigers’ recent strange losses. They are the reason Barry Odom is no longer in Columbia.

The 2019 season-opening loss to Wyoming was particularly brutal, but those Tigers also lost at Vanderbilt. The 2018 Tigers lost to a South Carolina team that finished 4-4 in the SEC. The 2017 team was destroyed by a Purdue team that later lost to Rutgers. The 2016 team lost to Middle Tennessee.

Bazelak and Eli Drinkwitz weren’t responsible for any of that, of course, but the last thing Mizzou needs is for history to repeat itself with a sleepy start.

Especially not with a critical game at Kentucky looming in Week 2.