No. 21 Missouri (6-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 15 Alabama (5-2, 2-2), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Alabama by 13 1/2.
Series record: Alabama leads 5-2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Both teams have their playoff hopes hanging in the balance after falls from the top 10. Frustrations are running high in Tuscaloosa, where first-year coach Kalen DeBoer has gotten off to a rough start despite a huge win over No. 2 Georgia. Alabama will enter November with multiple losses for the first time since 2007. Missouri produced a come-from-behind win over Auburn when Brady Cook returned from an early-game injury. The Tigers failed their only other test against a ranked team, falling 41-10 to Texas A&M.
KEY MATCHUP
Alabama’s running game against Missouri’s defense. Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe attempted 45 passes against Tennessee and hasn’t gotten loose as a runner lately. Running backs Jamarion Miller and Justice Haynes have been solid but not the kind of dominating backs that Alabama had produced over the years. The Tigers rank 10th in the SEC in run defense, giving up 115.4 yards per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Missouri: Cook. He proved his importance to the Tigers after leading them to two fourth-quarter touchdowns in the win over Auburn. An early ankle injury had sent him to the hospital for an MRI.
Alabama: WRs not named Ryan Williams. There’s no doubt Williams is the biggest playmaker Milroe has, but the freshman was targeted a whopping 18 times against Tennessee. Germie Bernard has been a reliable target but others need to step up, from Kendrick Law to Cole Adams and the tight ends.
FACTS & FIGURES
Alabama has won the last five meetings. Missouri took the first two, in 1968 and ’75. … This is the Tide’s lowest ranking since falling to No. 15 with a regular-season ending loss to Auburn in 2010. … The Tigers are trying to produce consecutive 7-1 starts for just the third time (1968-69, 2006-07). … Missouri’s string of 20 consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25 would be in jeopardy with a loss. … Alabama is seeking its 21st consecutive homecoming win. The last loss was a 35-21 defeat to LSU on Nov. 3, 2001. … Missouri’s defense ranks ninth in the nation in both total defense (273.0 ypg) and passing defense (157.6).
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