Missouri (5-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) looks to become bowl-eligible for a second straight season against Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-4) on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CDT on SEC Network. Here are five things to watch for in the SEC East matchup:
**1. Vanderbilt’s quarterback situation**
The saying goes, “if you have two starting quarterbacks, you don’t have one.” So what happens if you have four different starting quarterbacks? That’s exactly what the Commodores have done this year. Redshirt freshman Johnny McCrary, freshman Wade Freebeck, senior Stephen Rivers and sophomore Patton Robinette have all appeared behind center for Vanderbilt.
McCrary is expected to make his first start of the season after he led the team to a 21-20 victory over Charleston Southern last week. Not one of Vanderbilt’s four quarterbacks have thrown for 400 yards this season. If McCrary struggles early on, Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason will not hesitate to make a change.
**2. Robinette’s health**
If there is a true starting man behind center for the Commodores, it’s Robinette. The sophomore was named the starter for the Commodores’ opening week game against Temple, but was injured after throwing just six passes. He returned against Massachusetts, but suffered a concussion the following week against South Carolina. Early Friday morning, he was cleared to play against Mizzou, but will not start. Robinette is the lone Vanderbilt quarterback to have not thrown an interception this season, and he has dual-threat ability.
**3. The play of Mizzou sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk**
With fans clamoring for redshirt freshman quarterback Eddie Printz to see some time behind center, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is standing right by Mauk’s side. When asked if he ever thought about making the change last week after Mauk finished with just 20 passing yards against Florida, Pinkel responded with a simple “no.” In each of Missouri’s last three games, Mauk has completed less than 50 percent of his passes, and thrown for under 150 yards and no touchdowns. Against a reeling Vanderbilt team whose pass defense ranks 12th in the conference, that has to change, right?
**4. Missouri senior safety Braylon Webb’s play**
Webb is coming off arguably the best game of his college career. He picked off two passes against Florida and now has entered a tie for second-most interceptions in the SEC, with three. Facing the conference’s worst passing offense should help Webb add to that total.
**5. Junior defensive end Shane Ray’s record chase**
If Ray can pick up two more sacks, he will break Missouri’s single-season sack record of 12.0, set by Aldon Smith (2009) and tied by Michael Sam (2013). Currently, Ray ranks third nationally in sacks and first in the SEC. He said breaking the Mizzou single-season record was his goal at the beginning of the season. He could very well reach the mark this week.