Year three of the Eli Drinkwitz era in Columbia kicks off in 45 days, when the Missouri Tigers open pursuit of their first winning record since 2018 against Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 on ESPNU.
When Missouri takes the stage Monday at SEC Media Days, questions will focus on how the Tigers can improve on their 6-7 record in 2021.
Missouri has a foundation to build around, with its two leading receivers (Tauskie Dove and Keke Chism) returning for the 2022 season.
The downside is running back Tyler Badie, who finished 2021 with more than 1,600 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, is off to the NFL.
Drinkwitz will also be pressed to replace last year’s starting quarterback, Connor Bazelak, after the junior transferred to Indiana during the offseason. Bazelak finished each of the past two seasons with more than 2,000 passing yards.
Missouri won’t face off against SEC favorite Alabama in 2022 but faces a gauntlet that includes road games against Kansas State, Auburn, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee.
There is no legal Missouri sports betting.
Missouri failed to pass a sports betting bill during the 2022 legislative session. HB 2502 made it through to the state senate before stalling out.
But Missouri fans will be able to cross the border into Kansas to place sports wagers, perhaps as soon as the Tigers second game of the season Sept. 10 at Kansas State.
Here’s a rundown of how sportsbooks see the Tigers faring in 2022.
SEC Championship Odds
Missouri Faces Extremely Long SEC Title Odds
Whenever your closest odds compatriot is Vanderbilt (in football, at least), you’re likely headed for a long fall.
That’s exactly where the Tigers find themselves, with BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook both placing Missouri ahead of the Commodores on their SEC odds boards.
BetMGM gives Missouri +40000 odds of winning the SEC, coming in ahead of Vanderbilt (+100000) but behind the rest of the conference.
BetMGM pegs Missouri’s over/under win total at 5.5 in 2022, with the over listed at +120 and the under at -145.
The oddsmakers at Caesars Sportsbook have the Tigers at +40000 to win the national championship.
The Vegas stalwart lists Missouri at +30000 to win the SEC, giving the Tigers the second-longest conference title odds ahead of the Commodores (who are listed at +100000).
