Missouri Tigers Face One of College Basketball's Toughest Schedules

Missouri enters the 2026-27 season with one of the toughest schedules in college basketball. The Tigers received 167 points in the preseason AP poll, finishing just outside the Top 25. They are scheduled to play 11 games against preseason-ranked teams, tied with Arizona for the most in the country. Missouri opens the season Nov. 3 against Cleveland State at Mizzou Arena.

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What the Odds Say About Expectations

The Missouri sports betting market will have plenty to follow this season, with DraftKings listing the Tigers at +2100 to reach the Final Four, +6500 to win the SEC and +7200 to win the NCAA Tournament, as of Oct. 30.

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Mitchell Leads a New-Look Roster

All-SEC forward Mark Mitchellis Missouri's lone returning starter. He led the Tigers last season with 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

Freshman guard Jason Crowe Jr. scored 21 points with three steals in the Tigers' exhibition win over Kansas State. He was also named to the Bob Cousy Award preseason watch list, which includes 20 players and three freshmen. Crowe is a five-star freshman, while four-star freshman Toni Bryant also joins the roster. Transfers Bryson Tiller, from Kansas, and Kennard Davis Jr., from BYU, add to the group.

The Biggest Games on the Schedule

Missouri's non-conference slate includes No. 17 Kansas on Dec. 6 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City and No. 3 Illinois on Dec. 20 in the Braggin' Rights game at Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The Tigers also face four teams that received votes in the preseason poll: Saint Louis on Nov. 6, Marquette on Nov. 15, Nebraska on Dec. 12 and Indiana on Dec. 18.

The 11 ranked matchups also include nine SEC games against seven ranked opponents: No. 1 Florida, No. 7 Texas, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 12 Arkansas, No. 20 Alabama, No. 23 Kentucky and No. 24 Vanderbilt. Missouri plays Arkansas and Tennessee twice.

How the Schedule Fits the NCAA Tournament Picture

Missouri went 20-13 overall and 10-8 in SEC play last season, tied for seventh. The Tigers earned a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost 80-66 to No. 7 seed Miami. The NCAA selection committee considers strength of schedule, quality wins and losses, road record and other factors when it selects the field. Missouri Tiger basketball odds will reflect how the team performs against a demanding schedule as the season progresses.