GAME THREAD: Missouri can’t afford to pump the brakes against Tennessee

Missouri (6-4, 2-4 SEC) faces Tennessee (5-5, 2-4) in Knoxville, Tenn., as the Tigers look to improve upon another late-season winning streak.

Follow along below for live updates and analysis as Missouri looks to make it a seven-win season.

Missouri-Tennessee football: Live updates, score

Sorry for the lack of updates; this one has been over for quite some time. Taylor Powell is in, Missouri is leading 43-17 with under four minutes remaining. Stay tuned for post-game coverage on Rock M Nation.

9:15 3Q, Missouri 40, UT 17: Joshuah Bledsoe returned a fumble for a touchdown and Missouri is currently in the pulp-grinder phase of this game.

10:15 3Q, Missouri 33, UT 17: A hell of an effort by Tyler Badie extended Missouri’s drive and two plays later, Larry Rountree brings it across (barely) for six. Nice, quick answer for Missouri’s offense — especially after learning that Damarea Crockett will miss the rest of the game with an ankle injury.

12:50 3Q, Missouri 26, UT 17: Maybe it’s time to not leave Acy one-on-one with Callaway in the middle of the field? Another jump ball long-completion to Callaway after a long KO return, and Tennessee scored a few plays later.

0:15 2Q, Missouri 26, UT 10: A Demarkus Acy INT and long return gave Missouri prime field position, and Drew Lock’s second TD of the day — this time to Johnathon Johnson — is going to send Missouri into half with a 16-point lead.

All things considered, that was an impressive half for Missouri.

1:39 2Q, Missouri 19, UT 10: Missouri used a goal-line stand to hold Tennessee to a field goal, and then rolled down the field to score on a short pass from Lock to Gicinto... and then the PAT was blocked. Man.

Missouri scored earlier on a short run by Tyler Badie — thought I made the update in here, but guess it didn’t save.

10:45 2Q, Missouri 6, UT 7: Game has turned thanks to a very questionable third-down decision to go no safeties deep; Missouri was burned by back-up QB Keller Chryst and a few plays later, Ty Chandler scored.

Missouri should have way more of a buffer in this one. Instead, Tigers trail.

1:15 1Q, Missouri 6 UT 0: Missouri missed another great scoring opportunity, getting great field position, marching down the field — and then having to settle for another short field goal. Missouri’s defense is playing lights-out and the offense needs to capitalize while that’s going on.

8:31 1Q, Missouri 3 UT 0: Missouri missed a golden opportunity, forcing a quick three-and-out by Tennessee, getting the ball at midfield — and then going three-and-out on three straight passes itself.

11:34 1Q, Missouri 3 UT 0: Solid drive stalls in the red zone on two penalties and two long incompletions to Emanuel Hall. On third down, Lock had to get rid of the ball fast and it was long to Hall — if Missouri had a guy running over the middle of the field, would have been a wide-open touchdown.

Field goal is good. Tigers up three early.

Missouri-Tennessee football: Time, TV channel

Time: 2:30 p.m. CT

Date: Sat., Nov. 17, 2018

Location: Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn.

TV: CBS

Missouri-Tennessee football: Live stream

The Missouri-Tennessee football game can be streamed online at CBSSports.com, with a valid cable/satellite log-in. Fans can also watch the game at that link from the All-22 camera, getting a birds-eye view of the action.

Missouri-Tennessee football: Betting odds, preview, prediction

As of Friday evening, Missouri is a 6 1/2-point favorite over Tennessee, according to VegasInsider.com. The total points (over/under) is 57.

Pete Scantlebury: I think Missouri wins and covers. Tennessee’s defense has been good; its offense has not. But Missouri’s offense is rounding into form, and Emanuel Hall is another week healthier and coming off a down game. I think that bodes well for Missouri. I think Hall goes over 100, I think Tre Williams has two sacks and Missouri wins this one, 31-20.

Ryan Herrera: 33-17, Missouri. On offense, as is the case every week, Drew Lock needs to have an efficient performance. I don’t think it will take a career game from Lock to knock off Tennessee, but he has to complete his passes and avoid interceptions for this offense to go anywhere. Defensively, Terry Beckner Jr. has to keep leading that rush defense. We saw the Volunteers rely heavily on their backfield in the win over Kentucky, but again, winning the ground game is something the Tigers have proven to be capable of. If Beckner continues to take charge of that unit, I’m expecting a good day for Missouri in Knoxville.

Josh Matejka: It’s hard to pick a game like this as both teams have the potential to come out firing, flat or any combination of the two. I do think Missouri is the better team overall, but that doesn’t particularly matter when it comes to playing November road games in the SEC (unless you’re Alabama.)

Ultimately, I think the game rides on — who else? — Drew Lock. Tennessee has played three quarterbacks at or above Lock’s level this year, was torched by two (Will Grier, Tua Tagovailoa) and the other (Jake Fromm) never really needed to have his best game in a blowout. So if there were a defense vulnerable to his talents, this would be it. On defense, I think it needs to be DeMarkus Acy. He’s been quietly very good this year, and a big game from him would help mitigate some of the damage Guarantano can do. Assuming all that happens... Missouri 34, Tennessee 27