We had just destroyed a top 25 KY team last year and we looked better in that game than we did against Kentucky this year. You can’t really base a team’s progress on how good the other teams are. Reality is Bama, Missouri, Vandy, Kentucky and South Carolina were all better last year IMO.
That said, I do think we have a much greater chance to win these games than we did last year and we are much more consistent on defense. Additionally, we seem in better shape. For our Defense to go something like 45 minutes last game and still win the game with a stand within the 5 speaks volumes. Regardless, Missouri will be playing for a bowl game and Bryant wants to look good down the stretch to help him in the draft. They will be hungry, and the game is away. This is our biggest game of the season and it most likely will be a close game.
That said we were healthier.