Drew Lock has only won 4 road games as Missouri’s starting quarterback, and only 2 were SEC road games.

The two SEC victories came at Vanderbilt and at Arkansas last season, and the other two road wins were against UConn and Purdue squads that won’t be mistaken for national powerhouses any time soon.

Therefore, Saturday’s SEC East showdown at South Carolina looms large as a statement game for Lock and the Tigers. If they’re going to prove they’ve taken a big step forward in Lock’s senior year, this is a game they must win.

Coming into the season, the Gamecocks were expected by many to challenge Georgia for the SEC East crown, but at 2-2 with losses to Georgia and Kentucky, the Gamecocks are struggling. Still, this is a must-win game for coach Will Muschamp’s crew, and he’s sure to have his team ready to play.

So, how can the Tigers escape the other Columbia with a victory? Here are three things coach Barry Odom and the Tigers must do on Saturday afternoon:

1. Get Lock back on track

Playing the Georgia defense will make even the best quarterbacks look average, and Lock certainly struggled against the Bulldogs in Week 4.

He didn’t throw for a single touchdown (though he did rush for one) and had an interception (off a receiver’s body). He didn’t look as bad as he has in the past against the SEC’s top teams, but it was still a bit concerning to see.

The Gamecocks have the SEC’s second-best pass defense through four games, but those games have come against teams that don’t throw it like the Tigers do. If star WR Emanuel Hall is healthy after dealing with a groin injury for most of the past month, Mizzou should be the toughest aerial attack the Gamecocks have faced.

Lock will need to take care of the ball, especially early. If the Tigers can score a couple of early touchdowns, it’ll calm the rabid South Carolina fan base a little bit.

2. Keep Bryan Edwards out of the end zone

Deebo Samuel will draw a lot of attention from the Tigers, and rightfully so. However, the Gamecocks have another incredible receiver in Bryan Edwards, and the Tigers can’t forget about him.

Samuel has more catches (22 to 17), but Edwards is South Carolina’s leader in receiving yards (236) and touchdowns (three). If he gets going, it’ll be a long day for Mizzou’s defense.

Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The Gamecocks will likely run more quick passes to Samuel, who is an elite playmaker in space. However, Edwards is averaging more yards per catch than his teammate, so his routes take a little longer to develop. If Odom can dial up the pressure early and often, South Carolina QB Jake Bentley might not be able to find Edwards down the field.

Edwards is also dealing with an ankle issue heading into Saturday’s game, so the Tigers might want to try jamming him on the line and making things even more difficult for him.

3. Don’t give away points

This should go without saying, but the Tigers can’t afford to let the Gamecocks score on defense and special teams.

The Mizzou defense proved it can keep the Tigers close against tough teams, but against Georgia, the offense saw a fumble returned for a touchdown and Georgia also blocked a punt for a touchdown. That can’t happen on the road this week if the Tigers are going to leave town with a win.

Saturday afternoon’s game is sure to be a tight one even if the Tigers play well, so they’ll need to take care of the ball and avoid special teams mishaps in order to improve to 4-1 on the season.