Missouri takes on Alabama Saturday in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game in Atlanta. Maneater writers Andrew McCulloch and Jason Lowenthal scouted the Crimson Tide and gave their predictions for the game.
**Quarterbacks:**
Senior quarterback Blake Sims leads Alabama’s offense. Sims has been a model of consistency for the Crimson Tide, and he rarely makes mistakes. He leads the SEC in yards per attempt (9.1) and passing efficiency (159.5), making him the most effective quarterback in the conference. However, the Iron Bowl proved there are some cracks in the foundation. Sims may have only thrown four interceptions through Alabama’s first 11 games of the season, but he threw three last Saturday against Auburn.
_Grade: B+_
**Running Backs:**
The Crimson Tide’s backfield holds a two-headed monster. Junior T.J. Yeldon provides the thunder while his teammate, sophomore Derrick Henry, supplies the lightning. Yeldon is a bruising power back who runs straight through opposing defenses. He racked up 127 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries against Auburn, but a lingering ankle injury could hamper him come Saturday. Fortunately for ‘Bama, Henry just had his best game of the season, bolting for 72 yards and a score while averaging 14.4 yards per carry.
_Grade: A-_
**Receivers:**
Junior Amari Cooper is the best receiver in the SEC and it’s not even close. He leads the SEC with 103 receptions on the year, nearly double his closest competitor. (Missouri’s Bud Sasser is second with 65.) Cooper also has a conference-best 1,573 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, another league high. But the Tide have plenty of other perimeter options as well. The speedy receiver DeAndrew White, towering tight end O.J. Howard and elusive, jack-of-all-trades specialist Christion Jones each add their own wrinkles to a dynamic offense.
_Grade: A+_
**Offensive Line:**
The Crimson Tide’s front line is one of the biggest and baddest in the country. Anchored by senior guards Arie Kouandjio and Leon Brown and senior tackle Austin Shepherd, this unit isn’t just one of the best in the SEC, but the entire country. The average size along Alabama’s starting offensive line is 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, with only one player weighing in under 300. The Tide’s line has surrendered a league-best 11 sacks on the season and doesn’t draw many penalties either. Shepherd and Kouandjio may decide this game depending on how well they can contain Missouri’s pass rush led by Shane Ray and Golden.
_Grade: A_
**Secondary**
The Crimson Tide’s secondary, led by junior safety Landon Collins, is among the best in the nation. Collins, a preseason All-American and finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (the nation’s top defensive back) anchors a defense that ranks just sixth in the country in points allowed per game. He leads the team with three interceptions and is second with 84 tackles. Collins isn’t the only notable man in the Alabama secondary, however. Cornerback Cyrus Jones and safety Nick Perry wreak havoc on passing games as well.
_Grade: A_
**Linebackers**
While junior Reggie Ragland certainly stands out, Alabama boasts one of the most experienced linebacker corps in the nation. Ragland leads the team in tackles and ranks third in tackles for loss, but two other guys who will cause problems are seniors Trey DePriest and Xzavier Dickson. All three have tremendous experience against top-notch competition, have size (each are at least 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds), and are leaders on the field. Mizzou must watch out for where Dickson lines up, however, as he often ends up on the line of scrimmage.
_Grade: A-_
**Defensive Line**
Alabama’s defensive line will outsize and have a speed advantage over almost any team’s offensive line, including a Mizzou line that has struggled at various points throughout the season. Although Alabama’s linebackers contribute a great deal to an impressive pass rush (two of the team’s top four sack leaders are linebackers), the defensive line is very balanced, meaning it is hard to single out one man to double-team. In one-on-one matchups, the Crimson Tide’s defensive line will win nearly every time.
_Grade: B+_
**Kick/punt return**
Christion Jones is up there with some of the most explosive return men in college football. Last season, he was named special teams player of the year in the SEC. Although he has seen a little bit of a drop-off in his return average for both kicks and punts this year, Jones can break one at any point. He has four returns for touchdowns (two kickoff, two punt) in his career, but none this season.
_Grade: B+_
**Kicker**
On the other end of special teams is kicker Adam Griffith. The sophomore has struggled mightily this season, connecting on just 12 of his 18 field goal attempts. He ranks just 81st nationally field goal percentage and has missed a field goal in five of the last six games in which he has attempted one. In a tight game, Alabama fans should feel nervous if the game rests with Griffith’s feet.
_Grade: C-_
**Punter**
JK Scott is the SEC’s top punter and ranks second in the nation in punt average (47.2 yards). He has been on for 45 punts this season, including a long of 70 yards. Scott will be key in changing field position and will likely force Mizzou to go on some long drives.
_Grade: A+_
**Jason’s game prediction**
Alabama 31, Missouri 17