Coming off a 5-7 season in 2015, the Missouri Tigers still have a long way to go if they want to qualify for a bowl game this year.

First and foremost, last year’s abysmal offensive performance must be put in the rear view mirror. If Mizzou can’t even muster a pedestrian unit on that side of the ball, the Tigers are going to be left out of the bowl party again come December.

However, with a lackluster non-conference schedule (West Virginia aside), the Tigers should easily win their games against Eastern Michigan, Delaware State and Middle Tennessee.

That puts first-year head coach Barry Odom and his Mizzou squad at three wins — halfway to bowl eligibility.

Here are three more games the Tigers must win in order to earn a spot at a bowl game in 2016:

Start off strong

The Tigers open the season at West Virginia.

Mizzou’s Big 12 foe is no slouch, having gone 8-5 with a win over Arizona State in the Cactus Bowl last season.

It’ll be a showdown of one of the nation’s best offenses (West Virginia) against one of the nation’s top defenses (Mizzou).

If the Tigers’ offense can score three touchdowns and the defense plays up to its capabilities, Mizzou should be able to leave Morgantown with a 1-0 record.

However, scoring three touchdowns won’t be easy, even against a defense that lost several of its biggest contributors from last season. Missouri scored three touchdowns against just one Power 5 opponent last season: South Carolina.

Be the best cats in the East

Last year, the Tigers traveled to Kentucky and lost a disappointing 21-13 game to the Wildcats, who also finished 5-7.

In Week 9, the Wildcats come to Columbia, where the Tigers must exact some revenge on their feline rivals.

Both teams will most likely be clawing their way toward six wins.

In this battle of evenly-matched teams, home-field advantage could be what puts Mizzou over the top.

A win in this game should leave the Tigers with at least four wins (possibly five) with four games remaining.

Win the battle of Columbia

In the battle of Columbia, Missouri, against Columbia, South Carolina, the Tigers hold the upper hand of late.

Since joining the SEC in 2012, the Tigers are 2-2 against the Gamecocks, but have won the past two.

Winning at South Carolina in Week 9, against a team going through its own rebuilding process, will likely be a make-or-break game on the path to bowl eligibility.

The Tigers have the advantage on defense. On offense, having stability in the quarterback position with sophomore Drew Lock could be the difference as the Gamecocks are mired in a three-way battle for their starting quarterback position.

All in all, there’s reason for cautious optimism in Missouri.

Though even the absolute best-case scenario involves only an 8-4 record for the Tigers, six wins and a December bowl berth is a definite possibility and would be a successful end to Odom’s first year at the helm of a rebuilding Mizzou program.