Alabama @ Missouri preview
Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium
Missouri's unkind entrance to the SEC is likely to continue Saturday, as the Tigers host top-ranked Alabama while still reeling from injuries suffered in a disappointing home loss to Vanderbilt last week. The Crimson Tide rolls into Columbia as the clear-cut top team in the nation thanks to a dominant defense. Facing an Alabama team that leads the nation in total defense (191.6 yards per game) and scoring defense (7.0 points per game) will be an even greater challenge for Missouri without starting quarterback James Franklin (knee). Redshirt freshman Corbin Berkstresser will make his second career start in Franklin's place. The Crimson Tide should be close to full strength coming off an open week after winning their first five games by an average margin of 33.2 points. The teams have not met since 1978, when Alabama won 38-20 in Columbia. Missouri leads the all-time series 2-1.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Alabama -21.5
ABOUT ALABAMA (5-0, 2-0 SEC): The Crimson Tide have won two of the past three BCS titles with dominant defenses and smash-mouth offenses that take care of the ball, and this year's team fits that blueprint. Alabama has committed just three turnovers — all fumbles — while racking up 15 takeaways. The offense has not put up huge numbers but has been opportunistic, scoring on all 22 of its red-zone trips (16 TDs, six FGs). Quarterback A.J. McCarron has been extremely efficient, completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 999 yards with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. Eddie Lacy (314 yards, 4 TDs) and T.J. Yeldon (292 yards, 2 TDs) lead an effective ground game.
ABOUT MISSOURI (3-3, 0-3): The Tigers' first two losses (Georgia, South Carolina) came against teams ranked in the top 10 at the time, but last week's 19-15 home loss against Vanderbilt hurt. And Missouri came away banged-up, too, with Franklin and starting center Mitch Morse lost for at least one game with sprained knee ligaments. The offense sputtered without Franklin at the helm, as the Tigers wasted another strong effort from a defense that ranks sixth in the SEC in total defense (326.7) and eighth in scoring defense (22.8). The Tigers beat BCS No. 1 Oklahoma the last time they faced a top-ranked team at home in 2010, but they will be hard-pressed to pull off a similar shocker at less than full strength.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Alabama has held 19 consecutive opponents under 300 total yards. During that span, the Crimson Tide have held 11 teams under 200 yards and kept two under 100 yards.
2. Missouri has forced a turnover in 24 consecutive games dating to a loss at Nebraska on Oct. 30, 2010.
3. Alabama kicker Jeremy Shelley enters the week as one of five kickers in the nation who have yet to miss an extra point or a field goal. He is 24-for-24 on PATs and 7-for-7 on field goals.
PREDICTION: Alabama 37, Missouri 6