Alabama vs. Missouri: TV and Live Stream Info, Predictions for SEC Championship
Alabama is all that's left of the SEC's national title hopes, and Missouri has its sights set on playing the spoiler as Saturday's SEC Championship Game approaches.
Schools like Auburn, Ole Miss and most recently Mississippi State have all fallen by the wayside in the College Football Playoff conversation. Meanwhile, the top-ranked Crimson Tide stand just one victory away from an unquestionable spot in the Top Four.
Standing in their way are the Tigers, who make a repeat trip to the Georgia Dome after hanging with Auburn in a high-scoring affair a year ago. Only one opponent on their 2014 schedule remains in the Top 25, but they'll be hungry to prove themselves against the class of the conference.
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Let's take a look at everything you need to know.
When: Saturday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. ET
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta
TV: CBS
Live Stream: CBSSports.com (cable provider may be required)
Odds (via Odds Shark): Alabama -14.5, over/under 49
SEC Championship Preview
Never mind the fact that they come from the lowly SEC East. These Missouri Tigers have proven in their infant years in the SEC that they more than belong.
Gary Pinkel's squad emerged as one of the best teams in the nation in 2013, when he took his Tigers into Atlanta as the No. 5 team. And despite falling to Auburn, Missouri was within three points entering the fourth quarter of the highest-scoring SEC title game ever.
Even though they lost a flock of players—especially on the defensive side—to the NFL, Missouri (10-2, 7-1 SEC) has opted for reloading instead of rebuilding.
The central figures in that effort have been defensive ends Markus Golden and Shane Ray. With 13.5 sacks, Ray leads the SEC and ranks fourth in the nation, while the duo has combined for 36.5 tackles for loss.
WAKA's Ben Bolton noted Alabama coach Nick Saban's lauding of the pair:
The Tigers defense as a whole has been strong, holding four of its last six opponents—all in conference—to 14 points or less. Golden told AL.com's Mike Herndon that the defensive formidability comes from much more than him and Ray.
"We've got a lot of guys that get out there and just play hard and tough and physical," he said. "So I have to just say guys putting in their mindset that no matter what, we're going to play hard. No matter what, I'm going to make this play. That's what really helps us."
But Missouri's SEC East schedule—and games against Texas A&M and Arkansas from the West—hasn't had the Tigers face an offense quite like Alabama's.
Dominating on the defensive side and game-managing on offense has been a thing of the past in Tuscaloosa, at least in 2014. Quarterback Blake Sims has taken off with star wideout Amari Cooper and a fine-tuned running game, which has helped the Tide average nearly 500 yards of offense in SEC play.
Running back T.J. Yeldon hasn't had to be a workhorse this season with Derrick Henry amassing almost as many carries and yards. The bruising back also has the same amount of touchdowns, as you can see below.
Focusing on the ground game early on should be a priority for Alabama, just like it was against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. That will put the Tide in the best position to succeed and will have Sims avoiding the three interceptions he threw the last time out.
If Alabama can't grind out a decent lead via the ground game, it will put the onus on Sims to evade speedy rushers Golden and Ray. Sims' great foot speed and escapability will prove to be huge factors in extending plays if Alabama is forced to air it out.
Prediction
Hanging with the Crimson Tide at the line of scrimmage has been too much for anyone they've faced since the Ole Miss loss. And even for teams that can, attempting to contain Cooper on the outside often leads to their demise.
Alabama's secondary isn't nearly the force it has been in recent seasons, and Maty Mauk and Bud Sasser should connect on a few big plays. But it will take a heap of them to stay with the Crimson Tide on the scoreboard, which simply won't be in the cards.
As Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee noticed, Missouri's SEC dominance in the last two years hasn't been as impressive as its record lets on:
Missouri will keep it a relatively tight game through halftime, but it won't be a contest in the fourth quarter as Sims, Cooper and Yeldon all have their way offensively.
Prediction: Alabama 41, Missouri 24
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