So it's 2018 and while we scramble to get through the dead period where recruiting news has taken a back seat, Missouri hasn't yet filled out its coaching staff and basketball is on an 11-day break, I'm looking for the easiest story idea I can find to quench your thirst for things to read about Mizzou. It gets no lazier or easier than a column of predictions that you call can save for the next 364 days and use as ammunition with which to insult me.
So here are my five predictions (completely wild guesses made up on the fly) for Mizzou in the coming calendar year.
1. Drew Lock is Missouri's quarterback next season
No breaking news here. The NFL told Lock to stay in school. I think he will. He'll come back and throw at least 35 more touchdowns next season, put up ridiculous numbers and be a no-doubt first-round pick in April of 2019.
2. Robin Pingeton's team hosts a regional
I think the Tiger women are actually the team with the best chance to go far in March. I think they'll earn a top four seed and reach the Elite Eight. This is the one that will be the easiest to prove wrong. We currently don't know the status of Sophie Cunningham. If she's going to miss the rest of the year (something we actually could potentially know by the time this piece is published) then forget I wrote this.
3. Missouri wrestling wins the MAC
I mean, come on. I might as well say the sun is coming up tomorrow morning. Look, I said I'd make five predictions. I didn't say they'd all be good or bold.
4. Missouri football plays only 12 games in 2018
Look at you all panicking thinking I'm picking Missouri not to make a bowl game. Au contraire. I think the Tigers win enough (eight or nine games) that they play on New Year's Day 2019 somewhere. There are five SEC teams playing today. I think Missouri can be one of the SEC's top five next season.
5. Michael Porter Jr. plays in a Missouri uniform
I still don't think it's likely at all that he comes back for his sophomore season. But I think he's gonna suit up some time during this season. While Porter rehabs from back surgery, guys like DeAndre Ayton, Mo Bamba, Trae Young and Marvin Bagley are dominating college basketball. Three months ago, Porter was supposed to be better than all of them. If he doesn't play in the next three months, they could all be drafted ahead of him. I think we see Porter on the court this year. I'm not gonna be dumb enough to tell you when. But I think he plays this season.
