Ranking Every Tennessee Football Game in 2015 by Importance

Nov 22, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Maty Mauk (7) hands the ball off to running back Russell Hansbrough (32) during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

4. Missouri Tigers

Sticking with the toss-ups in SEC play, it is time to move over to the more important division, the SEC East. After all, while Tennessee and Arkansas are in an identical battle, there could potentially be more at stake with these other upcoming schools if the SEC East indeed becomes up for grabs.

This starts with Missouri.

The Vols desperately need to beat the Missouri Tigers after losing to them for their first three years in the SEC. Yes, it was a time in which MIssouri was up and Tennessee was down, but it is still a terrible look.

Butch Jones’s squad should finally be at a higher level over Gary Pinkel’s this year, and there is certainly a lot to gain from this win. After all, Missouri will be good the way they have been good the last two years, playing their own brand of football with their own specific recruits.

That leaves a lot to gain for a win against the Tigers on the road. However, because it is an SEC East match-up between two teams that are looking like they’ll be on the same playing field this year, there is a good bit for Tennessee to lose this year with a loss to the Tigers as well.

As such, this is a huge game for both teams, and it becomes even more important for the Vols to win just so they can get rid of that awful streak the Tigers have over them. This is another game both teams desperately want to win.

Next: #3: South Carolina Gamecocks