Missouri's 2024 Playoff Hopes: Strong Offense and Favorable Schedule Make Tigers a Top Contender

Missouri enters the 2024 season with strong aspirations of reaching the College Football Playoff after securing 11 wins last year. The Tigers are viewed as serious contenders, largely due to their potent offense, featuring one of the SEC’s top quarterback-receiver duos in Brady Cook and Luther Burden. Missouri also benefits from a favorable schedule this season.

For those considering a bet on Missouri making the College Football Playoff, FanDuel currently offers the best odds at +184. Here's an in-depth look at Missouri's 2024 roster and schedule to help evaluate whether this

wager is worth placing:

Missouri’s Returning Talent 

Missouri is well-positioned in terms of returning players, ranking 17th nationally in returning production, according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly. On offense, they rank 10th, with 82% of last year’s production returning—a crucial factor for a team aiming for another double-digit win season.

Quarterback Brady Cook is back after a breakout 2023 season where he threw for 3,317 yards and 21 touchdowns. His improved efficiency, with a career-high 9 yards per attempt, has fueled optimism for the Tigers this year.

Missouri also retains nearly all of its key receivers, including Luther Burden, Theo Wease, Mookie Cooper, and Marquis Johnson. Burden, one of the top offensive threats in the nation, is closing in on Mizzou’s all-time receiving yardage record, needing just 1,566 yards to surpass Danario Alexander. The offensive line returns three starters and has added two key transfers: Marcus Bryant from SMU and Cayden Green from Oklahoma, who are expected to start at left tackle and left guard, respectively. At running back, Missouri will replace Cody Schrader with transfers Marcus Carroll from Georgia State and Nate Noel from App State.

Defensively, Missouri doesn't return as much production, but they’ve bolstered their ranks through the transfer portal. New additions like defensive tackle Chris McClellan, defensive end Zion Young, linebackers Corey Flagg and Jeremiah Beasley, and cornerback Toriano Pride are expected to play significant roles. Additionally, incoming 5-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri is anticipated to make an impact. Missouri did see changes in its defensive coaching staff, with defensive coordinator Blake Baker moving to LSU. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has brought in Corey Batoon, formerly the defensive coordinator at South Alabama, to implement a new defensive system.

Missouri’s 2024 Schedule 

The SEC landscape changes in 2024 with the inclusion of Texas and Oklahoma and the elimination of divisions. As a result, Missouri won’t face former SEC East rivals Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, or Kentucky this season.

Here’s Missouri’s 2024 schedule:

• Aug 29: Murray State

• Sept. 7: Buffalo

• Sept. 14: Boston College

• Sept. 21: Vanderbilt

• Oct. 5: at Texas A&M

• Oct. 12: at UMass

• Oct. 19: Auburn

• Oct. 26: at Alabama

• Nov. 9: Oklahoma

• Nov. 16: at South Carolina

• Nov. 23: at Mississippi State

• Nov. 30: Arkansas

Missouri’s schedule is notably favorable, with Boston College likely being the toughest non conference opponent. Additionally, Missouri faces a relatively weak SEC schedule. ESPN’s FPI ranks Missouri's schedule as the weakest in the SEC, and 29th nationally—the only SEC schedule outside the top 25.

Missouri’s 2024 Playoff Prospects 

Missouri is riding high going into 2024 with hopes of making their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Had a 12-team Playoff existed last year, Missouri would have qualified. The Tigers return much of their roster from that successful season, contributing to SP+ giving them a 63.3% chance of finishing 10-2, which would likely secure a Playoff spot.

This is particularly attractive when compared to FanDuel’s odds of +184 (35.21%) for Missouri to make the Playoff, offering a potential value of $79.77 on a $100 bet. Even ESPN’s Football Power Index, which is slightly less optimistic, suggests some value ($5.93 on a $100 wager) in betting on Missouri to reach the CFP.

The main concern is the lack of continuity on defense due to the coaching change, but the overall outlook for Missouri remains positive.

PICK: Missouri to make the College Football Playoff (+184 via FanDuel)