Posted: Sep 7, 2012 2:22 PM
Updated: Sep 7, 2012 7:04 PM
COLUMBIA (AP) -- The conference affiliation is new and the tailgaters no doubt will show up much earlier. Expect the interstate to be clogged, too.
A new era has dawned at Missouri, which makes its Southeastern Conference debut Saturday night against No. 7 Georgia.
There are plenty of firsts ahead, with top-ranked Alabama coming to town in October. Players know they can't afford to get too fired up for the Bulldogs, but they want to win.
Georgia is coming off a 45-23 opening victory over Buffalo. Missouri opened the season with a 62-10 rout of lower-division Southeastern Louisiana.