This Alabama football team has passed the road game test, the revenge game test, and now they are looking to pass the trap game test on Saturday. Going to Columbia, Missouri for an early start game against an undefeated Mizzou team is a little worrisome.
As much as the Tide were written off after the loss in Tallahassee, which seems to have motivated this team since, now they must make sure they are not listening to the media that has jumped back on board. As focused as this team has been from week to week, I feel good about the preparation that will go into getting ready for another road test, but we see every week during the college football season what happens when you underestimate your opponent.
This, of course, will be the biggest test of the season for the Tigers, who may not have had the most daunting of schedules, but they have looked good in their wins, including a solid win over South Carolina a couple of weeks back.
Missouri's biggest strength this season has been running the ball, and it is no secret that Kane Wommack's defense still has issues consistently stopping the run. Mizzou's number one back, Ahmad Hardy, already has 730 yards in five games and has not been held under 100 yards yet this season. Their second option at running back, Jamal Roberts, has 350 yards on the season, which includes over 140 yards against Kansas.
Clearly, it will come down to the Alabama defense being able to contain a high-powered running game and not allowing Eliah Drinkwitz's team to stick around late into the game Saturday afternoon. Missouri has had two 10+ win seasons in a row, but is still looking for a signature win that gets them the respect they have been looking for since coming to the SEC. They have yet to threaten the Tide in their couple of matchups since joining the conference, and of course, coming off a bye week makes it that much more of a tricky test for this Alabama team that seems to have started to figure things out.
It will be important for Kalen DeBoer to keep his guys grounded and focused because this will be a game that cannot be taken for granted.