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Mizzou's improved defense not enough to overcome injuries, offensive woes in Odom's last stand

COLUMBIA, Mo. The question will vex Missouri fans, players and, probably, Barry Odom and his coaches for years to come.

Things went sideways the first week of the season at Wyoming, but Odom’s fourth Missouri team restored order with a five-game winning streak to climb into the national polls at No. 22. Graduate transfer quarterback Kelly Bryant wasn’t going to challenge for the Heisman Trophy, but he was a genuine dual-threat playmaker surrounded by enough receivers and running backs to keep the Tigers in contention in the SEC East, especially with Odom’s defense shutting down opponents week after week.