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It’s condition-critical time for both teams. Vanderbilt (2-4) will have to scratch and claw to get another win at some point, but Missouri (4-3) isn’t in much better shape to get to a bowl game. The offenses have struggled, and both teams have had problems, but it should be close. Check out the Missouri vs. Vanderbilt prediction and game preview.

Missouri vs. Vanderbilt Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
Game Time: 4:00 pm
Venue: Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN
Network: SEC Network

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Why You Need To Care

Seven games into the season, we know what the Missouri offense is – it’s not good. With nine points in the last two weeks, and scoring more than 13 points just once in the last five games, it’s been a struggle to get anything going with any part of the offense. The running game isn’t working, the passing attack is struggling, and generating points has been like pulling teeth. The two-time defending SEC East champion is in grave danger of not even getting to a bowl game, and forget about it if it loses to the Commodores. The remaining four games are all winnable – Mississippi State, BYU, Tennessee and at Arkansas – but not if the O keeps playing like it has been.

Speaking of struggling offensively, Vanderbilt has yet to score more than 17 points against an FBS team. The defense has been able to keep games close, but it hasn’t been enough to overcome a ton of mistakes and an offense that can’t get anything moving without making a mistake. With three of the last five games on the road, and Kentucky and Tennessee at home, it’s going to be a rough finishing kick.

Why Missouri Will Win

It’s week after week, and it’s not stopping. It’s bad enough that the Vanderbilt offense can’t move the ball, but it can’t stop screwing up and giving it away. Turnovers were a problem all year, giving it up twice against Austin Peay, not turning it over in the loss to Ole Miss, and losing it three times against everyone else. And then came the South Carolina game, and the giveaways went to another level with five turnovers killing the Commodores in a winnable game. Missouri’s defense is a disruptive machine – it’ll pressure the Vandy backfield all game long.

Why Vanderbilt Will Win

The Commodore defensive front seven will dominate the Missouri running game. The Vandy D is doing what it can to help the team out when the offense keeps turning it over, generating consistent pressure and forcing teams to throw. The nice part about that in this game is that Missouri can’t throw, either. Drew Lock has struggled since taking over at quarterback with the Tiger attack failing to hit the 200-yard mark in any of the last three games. This will be a defensive battle, so if the offense can just stop making so many mistakes, there’s a chance to pull this off.

Player Who Matters

Vanderbilt’s D is getting a huge season out of sophomore Zach Cunningham, a 6-4, 230-pound playmaker who’s doing a little bit of everything to get around the ball. After a slow start, he came up with 38 tackles with two sacks and eight tackles for loss over the last three games hitting double digits in each – highlighted by 12 solo stops against Middle Tennessee two weeks ago. Now he’ll have to snuff out what running game Mizzou tries to crank up.

What’s Going To Happen?

The Missouri defensive front will be better than the Vanderbilt line. Neither team will move the ball with any sort of consistency, but the Tigers will be more disruptive, coming up with at least two key takeaways to turn the tide.

Missouri vs. Vanderbilt Prediction

Final Score: Missouri 20, Vanderbilt 13, Line: Missouri -2.5, o/u: 35

Must See Rating: 5: Bridge of Spies – 1: Rock The Kasbah … 2.5

MORE: Midseason SEC Championship Prediction