SEC Championship Prediction
Conference Championship week is already here, and there is one game everybody will be paying attention to, Alabama playing Missouri. Alabama won the West division only losing to Ole Miss. Missouri won the East division, with their only conference loss being to Georgia.
Both teams have great defenses, but Alabama clearly has the better offense. The Crimson Tide are averaging almost 37 points per game, and their offense has been one of the most balanced in the country. Blake Sims has done a tremendous job leading the Alabama offense, he currently has the second best QBR in the country. He trails only Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who could be the Heisman winner. The Crimson Tide will need a big game out of Sims, who has struggled on the road this season, with Alabama only loss coming on the road. Alabama cannot afford those struggles against a defense like Missouri. The Crimson Tide had their worse game of the season last week, giving up 44 points to Auburn, so I expect that defense will be hungry for a shutout. Alabama fans will have a much shorter trip than Missouri fans, so that could play in the Crimson Tide’s favor.
Missouri has relied on their 13th ranked defense a lot this season, and if it wasn’t for that defense who knows how many wins the Tigers would have. Missouri has won six straight since getting blown out by Georgia. Missouri has allowed over 30 points only twice this season, and both of those game they lost. The Missouri offense will need to run the ball a lot and keep their defense off the field, if they want to have a chance in this game. Junior running back Russell Hansbrough has been their main offensive weapon, rushing for 949 yards so far this season. The Tigers will also need quarterback Maty Mauk to step up. In Missouri’s loss to Georgia, Mauk threw four interceptions. It’s been proven that it will take a great game from the quarterback to beat Alabama, and I don’t think Mauk will be able to pull it off.
At the end of the day I think Alabama is too strong and will have no problem taking care of Missouri.
Prediction
34 Alabama vs Missouri 17
Last Week
6-3
Season
69-19
