COLUMBIA, Mo. - Missouri’s football program looked more than a little over matched in its first season in the SEC.
Despite coming off seven consecutive successful seasons in the Big 12, the Tigers finished 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the SEC, with four of those conference losses by at least 21 points.
South Carolina thrashed Missouri 31-10 at Williams-Brice Stadium last year in their first conference meeting, but the Tigers look like a perfect fit in their new surroundings with the Gamecocks coming to town for tonight’s rematch.
With seven consecutive victories to start this season, including conference victories against Vanderbilt, Georgia and Florida, Missouri has jumped to No. 5 in the first BCS rankings while taking command of the SEC East title chase.
“Missouri is the team that, I guess, has caught everybody off guard a bit,” South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier said. “They weren’t picked to win the East, and yet they got a two-game lead.”
The No. 20 Gamecocks (5-2, 3-2 SEC), who are coming off an upset loss to Tennessee, must win to have hope of catching Missouri.
“Missouri has really come around,” Spurrier said. “Last year they were 5-7. They were competitive, but it seemed like nothing good happened for them much throughout.”
Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel said a multitude of injuries a year ago made for the most adverse circumstances he had encountered while attempting to keep up with rugged SEC opponents. This season’s Tigers look far more like his Big 12 teams that won 48 games the previous five seasons.
“It’s a lot different, but it should be. We’re healthy,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve been fortunate to win our games.”
Missouri will be playing against a Top 25 team for the third week in a row. Pinkel said he watched the Gamecocks romp to a victory last season and understands they remain capable of snapping the Tigers’ unbeaten streak.
“They’ve got great players,” Pinkel said. “He [Spurrier] does a great job with that football program. They’re a physical football team like everybody in the SEC. Just the week-in and week-out of playing high-level football, which makes the SEC great, they know how to win. They could very easily be undefeated right now, too.”
The Tigers are holding up their end of the bargain, just as Texas A&M did last season - the first for both teams in the SEC.
In 2012, the Aggies beat national champion Alabama, finished No. 5 and had quarterback Johnny Manziel win the Heisman Trophy. Texas A&M is ranked No. 16 this season.
Alabama Coach Nick Saban said the programs have made the SEC better. Spurrier and Florida Coach Will Muschamp said they aren’t surprised by the success of the Aggies and Tigers.
South Carolina players are learning Missouri is for real.
“They always had the talent to do it. They were just getting used to the SEC,” linebacker Marcquis Roberts said. “I think the first game I really paid attention to was the Georgia game. They played really well. “
The Tigers have averaged 44.3 points and 513.4 yards per game, numbers that have their players gaining confidence in their ability to keep winning.
“Trust me,” senior receiver L’Damian Washington told the Kansas City Star. “Not a day went by when we didn’t say, ‘We’ve got to show we belong.’ ”
At a glance NO. 20 SOUTH CAROLINA AT NO. 5 MISSOURI WHERE Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo.
WHEN 6 p.m. Central TV ESPN2
THURSDAY’S GAME Mississippi State 28, Kentucky 22
TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Vanderbilt at (16) Texas A&M, 11:21 a.m.
Tennessee at (1) Alabama, 2:30 p.m.
Furman at (13) LSU, 6 p.m.
(21) South Carolina at (5) Missouri, 6 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at (11) Auburn, 6:30 p.m.
Idaho at Mississippi, 6:30 p.m.
Sports, Pages 22 on 10/26/2013