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Tennessee football vs. Missouri: 10 keys to the game for Vols and Tigers

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee players warm up before Tennessee's Homecoming game against UT-Martin at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.Kns Vols Ut Martin Bp
Tennessee players warm up before Tennessee's Homecoming game against UT-Martin at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.Kns Vols Ut Martin Bp /
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Sep 24, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Nathaniel Peat (8) is hit by Auburn Tigers cornerback Keionte Scott (6) and fumbles the ball before crossing the goal line during the first overtime at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn recovered the fumble in the end zone to win the game. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Nathaniel Peat (8) is hit by Auburn Tigers cornerback Keionte Scott (6) and fumbles the ball before crossing the goal line during the first overtime at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn recovered the fumble in the end zone to win the game. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Missouri’s ability to avoid a fluke play

Despite being 4-5 on the year, Missouri should clearly be 6-3, and they should probably be 7-2. A collection of insanely flukey plays by the Tigers has cost Eli Drinkwitz’s team, and honestly, it’s the last thing Tennessee football fans want, as they could’ve used facing a program with more wins to sell it to the College Football Playoff committee.

Let’s start with the Auburn Tigers. Missouri is way better than them, but in regulation, Harrison Mevis, who has nailed field goals from beyond 50 yards, missed a dead-center chip shot 26-yarder in regulation. Then, in overtime, Nathaniel Peat lost a fumble in the end zone after he had already gotten to the one-yard line, gotten a first down and a touchdown would’ve won it.

Against the Kentucky Wildcats last week, it was even worse. They were up 17-14 and about to get the ball back. A bad snap on the punt resulted in Mizzou players coming after the punter, but he barely got the ball off, and since they missed the block and accidentally hit him, they got a roughing the punter penalty. UK went down and scored.

Georgia, down 10, got a 4th and 2 first down in which a false start was clearly missed. Then there was a red zone interception in their 24-17 loss to the Florida Gators. Will Missouri commit one of these fluke plays in this game? They have been prone to it all year, so watch out.

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