Overview
- Kickoff is Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville with ABC carrying the broadcast.
- BetMGM lists Missouri as a 4.5-point favorite with a 45.5 over/under.
- Missouri will start freshman quarterback Matt Zollers after Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal, and the Tigers also lose LB Josiah Trotter to a knee injury plus multiple receivers to transfers and TE Brett Norfleet to injury.
- Published reports say Virginia running back J'Mari Taylor is deliberating whether to play, creating a key pregame variable for the Cavaliers.
- Both teams lean on their feature backs—Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy (1,560 rushing yards, 16 TDs) and Virginia’s Taylor (1,062 yards, 15 TDs)—with Virginia chasing its first 11-win season and Missouri seeking a third straight nine-win year.