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The Missouri Tigers finished the regular season with an overall record of 8-4 and punched their ticket to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Virginia Cavaliers — marking the sixth straight season the program has been bowl eligible under head coach Eli Drinkwitz.
Mizzou had a good,
but not great season with three of their losses coming against College Football Playoff teams (Alabama, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma), plus a Vanderbilt team led by Heisman finalist Diego Pavia. While Missouri had eight wins this season, they only had one victory over a bowl-eligible team (Louisiana on September 13th). A win over Virginia in the Gator Bowl would undoubtedly be the Tigers’ best this season.
Virginia comes in with a 10-3 record and are ranked No. 19 in the last College Football Playoff rankings. However, the Cavaliers lost to Duke in the ACC Championship Game which would have punched their ticket to the 12-team CFP. For more on UVA, read up on Nate Edwards’ Better Know Your Opponent.
Despite Virginia’s ranking in the CFP and while the Tigers are unranked — Mizzou comes in as a 6.5-point favorite per our partners over at FanDuel Sportsbook. Perhaps that’s due to the fact that the SEC has established themselves as the better conference than the ACC.
Missouri, however, will be losing some key pieces ahead of the Gator Bowl as linebacker Josiah Trotter and tight end Brett Norfleet have both been ruled out due to injury.
In the end, bowl games usually come down to motivation level — and Mizzou should be plenty motivated as the Tigers are looking to clinch three consecutive 9+ win seasons for the first time in program history. A win would give Eli Drinkwitz’s team three straight bowl wins in three straight seasons — which has also never been accomplished before in program history.
Though, Virginia should be motivated as well after the breakthrough season they had under head coach Tony Elliott.
Mizzou vs Virginia will kick-off on Saturday, December 27th (6:30 p.m. CST on ABC).
In our latest SBN Reacts survey, we ask you this: What is your prediction for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl?
