SEC Championship 2014: Alabama vs. Missouri TV Info, Spread and Injury Updates
Alabama and Missouri are the two that remain among the ashes of the SEC.
Missouri is quietly one of the hottest teams in the nation at the moment. The winner of six straight after a devastating shutout loss to Georgia in mid-October, Gary Pinkel's team plays elite defense and can run with the best in the nation.
Nick Saban's Crimson Tide wound up with just one loss on the year and are assured a spot in the College Football Playoff with a win Saturday. As ESPN's Tony Barnhart points out, the hopes of the SEC in the CFP hinge on Alabama:
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
One of the most intriguing matchups of the season essentially acts as a quarterfinal for the CFP.
Trench Warfare
Alabama has a more prolific offense than most are accustomed to seeing, as Saban's team ranks 20th in the nation with an average of 36.7 points scored per game.
Behind the arm of quarterback Blake Sims, Alabama has scored more than 50 points three times this season, including last week's thrilling win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
That said, both of these teams enjoy the gritty, ground-based approach. Most fans are aware of Alabama's T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, but few realize that Missouri's duo of Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy is just as efficient:
In fact, Missouri is one week removed from beating Arkansas at its own game, rushing for 158 yards and a score and limiting the Razorbacks' brutal ground game to just 155 yards.
An elite defensive line is the key to Missouri's 13th-ranked defense, which allows just 19.7 points per game. End Shane Ray leads the SEC with 12 sacks, while running mate Markus Golden is right behind him with 8.5.
As Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch captures, Golden is particularly motivated for a shot at the Crimson Tide:
The key for Alabama is to properly protect Sims on each down, a focal point that is even more critical with offensive tackle Cam Robinson listed on the injury report.
Alabama also happens to butter its bread on the defense side of things. The nation's sixth-ranked defense allows just 16.9 points per game. For comparison's sake, the unit held that same Arkansas rushing attack to just 89 yards and a score.
As it should, the SEC is going to be a traditional battle won first and foremost in the trenches.
Airing Out the Difference
What changes the outcome of this game in an instant is Alabama wideout Amari Cooper.
Sims has been great under center. He has completed 63.1 percent of his passes this year for 2,988 yards and 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions. The rushing totals above are a testament to his ability as one of the nation's best dual-threat players.
But that pales in comparison to what Cooper has done and will do as he marches toward a serious bid for the Heisman Trophy.
Look at it this way. The Crimson Tide as a whole have 245 catches for 3,391 yards and 28 touchdowns this year. Cooper has 103 for 1,573 and 14. As ESPN Stats & Info points out, the record books have been dusted off and have seen fresh ink on their pages:
Missouri has been solid against the pass and ranks 36th with an average of 204.1 yards allowed per game through the air.
But Cooper is a weapon who can take a quick-hitting pass designed to neutralize the rush put on by Ray and Golden and take it the distance. When a defense tightens up against the Alabama rush, Cooper can even act as a pseudo ground game through short passes to move the chains.
Alabama may find itself gridlocked in the trenches, but that is an easy hurdle to overcome if the Missouri secondary cannot contain Cooper.
When: Saturday, December 6, 4 p.m. ET
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Television: CBS
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 49
- Spread: Alabama (-14.5)
Team Injury Reports
| Ryan Anderson | LB | 12/01/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Questionable | shoulder |
| Ronnie Clark | DB | 10/16/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | Achilles |
| Amari Cooper | WR | 12/01/2014 | is probable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Probable | knee |
| Denzel Devall | TE | 11/30/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Questionable | ankle |
| Kenyan Drake | RB | 10/05/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | ankle |
| Reuben Foster | LB | 11/30/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Questionable | shoulder |
| Kurt Freitag | TE | 08/28/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | toe |
| Anthony Orr | TE | 11/30/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Questionable | undisclosed |
| Cam Robinson | T | 11/30/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Questionable | shoulder |
| Blake Sims | QB | 11/30/2014 | is probable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Probable | ankle |
| ArDarius Stewart | WR | 11/30/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Questionable | knee |
| Brian Vogler | TE | 12/01/2014 | is probable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Probable | knee |
| T.J. Yeldon | RB | 12/01/2014 | is probable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Missouri | Probable | knee |
| Taylor Chappell | OL | 12/01/2014 | is probable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Alabama | Probable | elbow |
| Levi Copelin | WR | 09/16/2014 | was dismissed from the team | Out | disciplinary |
| Russell Hansbrough | RB | 11/30/2014 | is probable for Saturday's SEC Championship against Alabama | Probable | ankle |
| Lawrence Lee | WR | 11/26/2014 | was dismissed from the team | Out | disciplinary |
| Morgan Steward | RB | 08/28/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | hip |
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
It is easy to overlook Missouri. The nation wrote the Tigers off after a 34-0 loss at the hands of Georgia, but the team has gone on an epic tear and demands attention.
Even quarterback Maty Mauk does not get enough credit for his 22 touchdowns to 11 interceptions this season.
That aside, Alabama is too talented top to bottom to let this one go. All it will take is a few massive plays from Cooper through the air to open things up and suddenly turn Missouri's rushing prowess into a weakness as it is forced to play from behind.
Look for Alabama to pull ahead and stay ahead by halftime, but Missouri will not go away in a quiet manner.
Prediction: Alabama 23, Missouri 20
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
