A quick glance at Missouri’s 2016 football schedule tells us there are plenty of winnable games for the Tigers and first-year head coach Barry Odom.

The Tigers avoid four teams in the SEC West that are predicted to finish in the top five of their respective division.

And while the Oct. 1 showdown at LSU — which is ranked No. 6 in the preseason coaches pool — appears to be a loss, the Tigers host their only other West Division opponent, Arkansas.

On paper, Mizzou will be solid underdogs in road games at Tennessee (Nov. 19) and Florida (Oct. 15).

On the other hand, three of Mizzou’s four nonconference games (Eastern Michigan, Delaware State and Middle Tennessee State) are against cupcakes that should equal three easy wins.

It’s what happens in the remaining games that will determine Mizzou’s 2016 campaign, so let’s take a look at the most important games on the Tigers’ schedule.

No. 5: At West Virginia (Sept. 3): This isn’t a conference game, so the opening week matchup with Big 12 foe West Virginia won’t affect Mizzou’s likely goal of playing for an SEC title.

But a win against the Mountaineers would almost ensure the Tigers a 4-0 mark in non-conference play and put them on their way to their third bowl game in five years.

Mizzou is 4-2 against non-conference opponents from major conferences (including BYU) in the last five years, most recently beating UConn 9-6 last season.

The Tigers will also be looking for their first true road win against a major conference opponent since 2014.

Both teams return eight starters on defense, as well as last year’s starting quarterbacks.

The biggest question appears to be how West Virginia will handle Mizzou’s defensive line, which many people are calling one of the best d-line’s in the country.

The stout Tiger defense gave up 21 points or fewer in 10 of its 12 games last year, and the group appears to be improved this fall.

West Virginia does, however, return four starting offensive linemen and its top three wide receivers.

If quarterback Skyler Howard has time to throw, the Mountaineers could put up points for their home crowd on opening day.

Mizzou sophomore quarterback Drew Lock returns after completing 49 percent of his passes last season, but he has the benefit of throwing to top returning receivers J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown.

And luckily for Lock, things can’t get much worse for the Missouri offense.

The Tigers looked rough in  nonconference games last season, putting fans to sleep with their 9-6 win over UConn a week after surviving a 27-20 affair with Arkansas State.

They put up a combined 12 points in consecutive road games at Florida, Georgia and Vanderbilt, and scored 11 points in total in their final two games against Tennessee and Arkansas.

This year’s West Virginia defense won’t be mistaken for the 1985 Bears.

I’m sure Lock and his receivers would have liked a tune-up game before heading to Morgantown, but the offense should be able to put up points against the Mountaineers.

The Missouri defense will keep this game close, and even a slightly above-average offensive performance should put the Tigers at 1-0.