Tennessee (5-5 | 3-3 SEC) at Missouri (5-5 | 2-4 SEC)
Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 | 6:30pm CT
Columbia, MO | Memorial Stadium | SEC Network
Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Vols Football closes its road slate for the 2019 season on Saturday with a visit to Columbia, MO, to take on the Missouri Tigers.
The game is slated for a 6:30pm (CT) kick, with Vols entering the eighth iteration of the series on a three-game win streak and fresh off of a bye week.
Saturday’s outing will be broadcast on the SEC Network with Tom Hart (PxP), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline) on the call.
Fans can also listen to Tennessee’s official radio broadcast on the Vol Network (WIVK-FM 107.7) and satellite radio (XM Ch. 384, Internet Ch. 973).
Bob Kesling (PxP), Tim Priest (analyst) and Brent Hubbs (analyst) will call the action all season long.
Fans can listen to the official Vol Network broadcast at the game on FM 101.7.
UT Carries Streak to Mizzou
The Vols (5-5, 3-3 SEC) have trended upward over the last five contests and are currently riding a three-game win streak as they enter their final true road battle of 2019 against the Tigers. A win would lift UT to its most consecutive victories since the start of the 2016 season, when it went 5-0. It would also make UT bowl eligible for the first time since that same year.
The Vols have been to 52 bowl games, sixth in CFB history, and their 28 bowl wins is also sixth.
Defense’s Recent Dominance
Led by senior trio linebacker Daniel Bituli, linebacker Darrell Taylor and defensive back Nigel Warrior, UT’s defense has surged to one of the nation’s most improved defenses over the last five games with numbers that would rank in the top 20 for a full season.
Since its 20-10 win over Mississippi State on October 12th, Tennessee’s defense has allowed just 320.2 yards per game, 17.2 points per game and 179.4 passing yards per game. Most recently at Kentucky, two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week Bituli recorded the highest single-game tackle total in the SEC with 19 tackles, while Taylor recorded his seventh sack of the year to lead the league and Warrior added his SEC’s leading fourth interception.
Cimaglia Saga Continues
Junior kicker Brent Cimaglia leads the SEC and ranks third in the nation with 19 field goals made, while his .905 field goal percentage (19-of-21) leads the SEC. He drilled a career-long 53-yarder against UAB and is a remarkable 8-of-9 on field goals from 40 yards or longer in 2019.
He holds the UT record for career FG percentage (78.7 percent, 37-of-47). His steady performances earned him recognition as a Lou Groza Semifinalist.
Tennessee Vols Coming Off Open Date
Tennessee is set to face Missouri coming off an open date for the first time in program history. The Vols are 1-1 coming off open dates in the Jeremy Pruitt era. Following last season’s open date, Tennessee defeated No. 21 Auburn on the road 30-24. Earlier this season, Tennessee fell to Georgia after an off week. Tennessee is 81-46-9 (.596) all-time when coming off an open date.
Callaway Catches
Senior wide receiver Marquez Callaway joined the program’s top 20 in all-time career receiving yards after surpassing the century mark for the third time this season in Tennessee’s 17-13 win at Kentucky. Against the Wildcats, Callaway hauled in four throws for 104 yards to move to 19th place all-time with 1,498 yards.
He needs just 50 yards to pass Alvin Harper and move into 18th. Catches by Callaway have been explosive all season as the Warner Robbins, Ga., native leads the SEC and ranks fifth in the nation in yards per catch with a 22.1-yard mark.
About the Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers (5-5, 2-4 SEC) are coming off of their first home loss of the year to a 10th-ranked Florida and will be celebrating 18 seniors on Saturday. Missouri is hoping to snap a four-game skid, while also playing for bowl eligibility (its postseason ban from the NCAA is currently under appeal).
The Tigers’ defense has been particularly effective in the passing game, ranked sixth in the nation and topping the SEC after limiting opponents to 165.9 yards through the air. Mizzou also ranks 10th in pass efficiency defense (108.93). A large part of the Tigers’ success on defense is due to sophomore linebacker Nick Bolton who leads the SEC with 8.8 tackles per game and 88 total tackles.
Mizzou’s secondary has also been potent recording pick-sixes in each of their last 13 interceptions, which dates back to last year’s game at Tennessee (November 17th).
Led by Barry Odom, who is in his fourth year, the Tigers are 24-24 and 12-18 in the SEC.
