Missouri, Vanderbilt provide dangerous roadblock for SEC East opponents

When you’re looking at projections and predictions for any given season, there’s always going to be teams that are going to be counted out. In the end, someone does have to lose. Still, although On3’s JD PicKell didn’t fully discuss Missouri or Vanderbilt in his recent breakdown of the SEC East, he made sure to note that both squads could be dangerous if other teams aren’t careful.

To start, PicKell discussed his issues with where the Tigers and Commodores are at. He said that he has reservations about Mizzou because of their offense and about Vanderbilt considering where they currently are in their rebuild under Clark Lea.

“I’ll say this. I did not mention Missouri, did not mention Vanderbilt,” admitted PicKell. “I have reservations on Missouri. Their offense scored 24 points a game last year and we don’t know who the quarterback is going to be. Vanderbilt? Clark Lea? I think he’s going to build that thing. They’re gonna really start to try and build from the ground up.”

However, from there, PicKell designated both as teams that could trip up the rest of the division whether it be Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, or South Carolina. If those programs aren’t careful, he said both Missouri and Vanderbilt are very capable of taking any of them out.

“I’ll just say this about Missouri and about Vanderbilt: The SEC is a lot like Austrailia. You walk around off of the beaten path? Start messing around in places you’re not as familiar with? There’s stuff in there that can end you. There’s stuff crawling around,” PicKell said. “If you don’t bring your best on that Saturday? That could end your dreams. That could take care of you.”

Per ESPN’s FPI, Missouri and Vanderbilt are projected to win no more than six games. As far as the SEC East, those ratings have the Tigers slated to finish fifth and the Commodores to finish in last.

Even so, while there are obviously more formidable opponents to worry about in the division, PicKell continued to say that other teams better be careful if you have to go to Columbia or Nashville or if either of those teams come to your house on a bad day.

“I’m just saying. While I may not be picking Missouri or Vandy to win the SEC East, if you don’t want to take them seriously one Saturday? Stuff can happen,” said PicKell.