SEC Championship 2014: Final Odds, Preview, Prediction for Alabama vs. Missouri

Feel free to call the SEC championship showdown between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Missouri Tigers the quarterfinal for the College Football Playoff. 

Alabama is in the inaugural CFP if it can get a win Saturday. The same cannot be said for Missouri, but great bowl placement and an unofficial arrival as an SEC power awaits the Tigers if they can manage to do the unthinkable.

Nick Saban's Crimson Tide get credit as one of the nation's hottest teams at the moment, but the classification certainly applies to the Tigers and a top-15 defense as well.

A game littered with postseason implications, top recruiting classes, Heisman contenders and more—birthed by the strongest conference in the land, no less—is not one to miss.

When: Saturday, December 6, 4 p.m. ET

Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Television: CBS

Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):

• Over/Under: 49

• Spread: Alabama (-14.5)

Preview and Prediction

Las Vegas does not appear to believe Gary Pinkel's team has much of a chance. To be fair, that likely aligns with the global vibe quite well.

This is how shocking upsets happen, folks.

Missouri has a notable loss to Indiana and an ugly shutout at the hands of Georgia this season, but the team has six wins in a row at the moment. Statistically speaking, the Tigers tout a defense that can certainly run with Alabama:

This is a Missouri defense led by elite defensive ends Shane Ray and Markus Golden. The former leads the SEC with 12 sacks, and the latter has 8.5. Just last week, the two were a big part of the reason the unit held Arkansas to just 155 rushing yards.

Pinkel certainly understands the challenge that awaits his strong defense now that the Crimson Tide rank better offensively than they have in quite some time.

"When you're that potent offensively, when you can play defense at that high, consistent level, that's certainly problematic for anybody that's going to play against them," Pinkel said, per The Associated Press, via ESPN.com.

The chief concern for any team against Alabama this year is Heisman contender Amari Cooper. The nation's best wideout has 103 catches for 1,573 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year.

The next closest receiver on the team? DeAndrew White, who has 33 grabs for 338 yards and three scores.

A close second in terms of concern for the Missouri defense is Blake Sims. In his first year as starter he has 2,988 yards and 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions. His ability to extend drives with his feet adds a level of versatility to an offense that has taken a traditional approach for a long time.

Not to be forgotten, though, is a strong ground game led by T.J. Yeldon. This is an area Missouri can actually match offensively, though, thanks to the efforts of Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy.

Through the air is where things can get dicey. If the Tigers fall behind, it means more pressure on quarterback Maty Mauk. The sophomore has completed just 53.5 percent of his passes this year for 2,279 yards and 22 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.

To his credit, though, Mauk has been electric when it matters most over the course of the past two weeks, as the team points out on Twitter: 

For that streak to continue, the Tigers need to stay within striking distance for most of the game or have the lead outright.

The key for the Tigers is the rush. As the ESPN report above notes, 30 of the team's SEC-leading 40 sacks this year have come when sending four or fewer rushers.

If the Tigers can get to Sims without bringing any extra personnel, that means extra bodies in coverage to account for Cooper down the field. This is a luxury many teams simply have not had this season against the Crimson Tide.

When it comes right down to it, though, the Crimson Tide can do enough to negate the Tigers rush. Whether it is getting the mobile Sims out on rollouts or quick-hitting plays to Cooper and allowing him to do the rest, Alabama has the sheer talent and coaching to pull ahead and stay ahead.

So long as the Crimson Tide grab a lead, they can beat Missouri at its own game by pounding the ball and the clock on the way to the CFP.

Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.