PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Drew Lock had his best conference performance of the season against Florida, completing 24 of 32 passing attempts for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Lock had previously thrown just one touchdown and five interceptions in his four conference matchups this season and will need a similar showing against Vanderbilt to ensure bowl eligibility in his final season.
–CB Christian Holmes had a career-high eight tackles against Florida, shattering his previous high of three, and will likely play a similarly important role in containing Vanderbilt’s offense, particularly against the run.
–WR Emanuel Hall returned to action against Florida after missing the majority of the season with a lingering groin injury. Hall’s impact was immediate, as he led the Tigers in receiving with four catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. When healthy, Hall’s vertical speed and playmaking ability make him one of the more dangerous receiving threats in the conference. Look for him to have another big game Saturday.
–LB Cale Garrett led Missouri in tackles against Florida with 12, marking his fourth-consecutive game with double-digit tackles. Garrett is Missouri’s leading tackler this season by a wide margin and will need to continue his disruptive streak against Vanderbilt.
SERIES HISTORY: Missouri leads Vanderbilt 6-3-1 all-time, and has won two straight against the Commodores, including last year’s 45-17 win in Nashville.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m going into it … for this team, on being in the present moment of the right here and right now. That serves us best at this point, and we’ll continue to focus on that. If you spend too much time looking behind you, or too much time looking ahead, then you miss out on an opportunity. We’ll need to continue to prepare the way that this week has started, and the right way, and have a great Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to put us in position to play our best on Saturday.” — Missouri coach Barry Odom on keeping his team grounded following the highs and lows of its previous two games.