Missouri's 2012 SEC Schedule Released: Game-by-Game Analysis

After a crazy year of conference re-alignments that included teams on the West Coast landing in the Big East, conferences appearing to fall apart and then building back up and lawsuits galore, the University of Missouri Tigers landed themselves in the best football conference in the country, the SEC.

The Tigers are coming off an 8-5 season capped off by a 41-24 Independence Bowl win over the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. While many SEC fans are skeptical about Missouri's chances in the defense heavy SEC, Tigers fans believe that their pass happy offense can work and hope to surprise the rest of the conference and earn their place among the elites.

Here is who the Tigers will have to go through to do so.

Sept. 8: Vs. Georgia

2011 Record: 10-3

Conference Ranking: First place, SEC East

Bowl Game: Outback Bowl

In the Tigers' first conference game, they will have a chance to send a message as they take on the defending SEC East champion Georgia Bulldogs. After the Bulldogs started the season 0-2, with losses to Boise State and South Carolina, the Dawgs went 10-1 to finish out the season, with their only loss coming to the LSU Tigers.  

This game will be an extremely tough way to start off conference play, but if the Tigers can pull off a win, it will put the rest of the conference on notice that Mizzou can compete in the SEC.

Sept. 22: At South Carolina

2011 Record: 10-2

Conference Ranking: Second place, SEC East

Bowl Game: Capital One Bowl

Two weeks after taking on the SEC East champions, the Tigers will travel down to the other Columbia to take on the East runner-up.  

The Gamecocks enter their bowl game against Nebraska as the ninth-ranked team in the nation, but will look to be the best team in the East coming into next season.

Oct. 6: Vs. Vanderbilt

2011 Record: 6-6

Conference Ranking: Fourth place, SEC East

Bowl Game: Autozone Liberty Bowl

While Vanderbilt isn't exactly cream of the crop when it comes to teams in the SEC, they still have the ability to show up any given week and make you earn a victory, as Arkansas found out in a 31-28 game that came down to the wire.

The game will be at home for the Tigers and is one of the few games that Missouri fans can say they expect their team to win next season.

Oct. 13: Vs. Alabama

2011 Record: 11-1

Conference Ranking: Second place, SEC West

Bowl Game: BCS National Championship

The toughest test for the Tigers in the 2012 season will be when the Alabama Crimson Tide make their way to Missouri on Oct. 13.

Alabama's only loss in the 2011 season came against the LSU Tigers, a loss which they will have a chance to avenge in a rematch for the National Championship.  

Bama has the best defense in the country and will be the biggest challenge for Gary Pinkel's passing offense next season.

Oct. 27: Vs. Kentucky

2011 Record: 5-7

Conference Ranking: Fifth place, SEC East

Bowl Game: N/A

Missouri will finish up its home schedule when they take on the University of Kentucky Wildcats.

Kentucky struggled to a poor 5-7 record, while going 2-6 in conference games, and should be an easy victory for Mizzou. Most fans for both of these schools will be more eagerly awaiting the basketball meeting between these two schools than the football matchup.

Nov. 3: At Florida

2011 Record: 6-6

Conference Ranking: Third place, SEC East

Bowl Game: Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl

The Tigers will have to make their way down to the swamp to take on the Florida Gators in what will be a tough test against an up-and-coming Gators team.

Florida went 6-6 in a rebuilding year, but look to be tooling up to make a run at the SEC East title next season.

November 10: At Tennessee

2011 Record: 5-7

Conference Ranking: Sixth place, SEC East

Bowl Game: N/A

Tennessee was the worst team in the East in 2011, with their only win coming at home in overtime against Vanderbilt.

That being said, Rocky Top can pack in over 100,000 fans and can always be a tough place to play. 

Nov. 24: At Texas A&M

2011 Record: 6-6

Conference Ranking: Seventh place, Big 12

Bowl Game: Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

The biggest cost to Missouri when leaving the Big 12 for the SEC was losing its annual rivalry game against the University of Kansas. In 2012, the Tigers will take on a familiar foe in the Texas A&M Aggies on Thanksgiving weekend instead of their usual matchup against Kansas.

The Aggies had a disappointing final season in the Big 12 after entering the season with conference championship and BCS hopes.  

The Tigers and Aggies went to overtime in 2011, a game which the Tigers ended up winning, 38-31. 

Schedule Analysis

Missouri has a tough schedule their first year in the SEC, but it is not anything the Tigers cannot handle. The Tigers have taken on and defeated the best teams in the country and will expect to compete at the same level in the SEC as they did in the Big 12.

The toughest adjustment for the Tigers will be going from a pass happy, spread offense Big 12 style of play to the defense heavy SEC. If the Tigers can have success with their style of play in the SEC, they will fare just fine.

I think I speak for many Missouri fans when I say this looks like it will be the most exciting season the Tigers have had in a few years.

How do you think they will do?

Agree? Disagree? Post your feedback in the comments section!

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