For the third straight week, Alabama will face a ranked SEC opponent. After beating Georgia on the road and then getting revenge on Vanderbilt in Tuscaloosa a week ago, the Crimson Tide will look to keep the momentum going on the road against Missouri.
The Tigers come in at 5-0, but Alabama represents the biggest test - by far - for Eli Drinkwitz's team.
Alabama has won four straight games after a disappointing Week 1 loss at Florida State. There's still plenty of question marks, however, and we'll get more answers about this team this week, for better or worse.
Missouri brings in the nation's No. 1 rushing offense and No. 1 rushing defense. Ahmad Hardy is the nation's leading rusher, and an Alabama defense that has been prone to giving up explosive run plays could be vulnerable on Saturday in Columbia.
After a rocky start last week against Vanderbilt, Alabama buckled down defensively. But it'll take a full 60-minute effort this weekend on the road to come out victorious. It's far from a "must-win" for Alabama, but having already used up a mulligan in Tallahassee, dropping a second game before the halfway point of October would be less than ideal.
If the defense struggles, a lot could be on Ty Simpson and the Alabama offense against a Missouri defense that has done a great job pressuring quarterbacks. This will be a big test for the Crimson Tide's offensive line. If they can hold up, then Simpson should be able to light up the Mizzou secondary.
Betting odds for Alabama vs. Missouri
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of 6am ET on Saturday.
Spread: Alabama -3.5
Over/Under: 51.5
Moneyline: Alabama -152/Missouri +128
Predictions from the Bama Hammer Team
A third straight ranked win would go a long way to proving that the early hiccups were an aberration and this Alabama team is, in fact, what fans believed it could be in the preseason.
Alabama is getting better every week, but that doesn't guarantee victory in Columbia. Missouri is a quality opponent, and Eli Drinkwitz has built a sustainable program that has quietly been one of the most consistent programs in the country the last couple of years.
Few have had more success in the Transfer Portal, and Penn State transfer QB Beau Pribula and ULM transfer RB Ahmad Hardy have turned what many figured would be a rebuilding year in Columbia into another year where the Tigers are CFP contenders. They'll look to stamp that with a win on Saturday.
This game will likely be close, but the Crimson Tide continues to play with a chip on its shoulder. They were nowhere close to satisfied with last week's win over Vanderbilt. They know they could have played better, and we expect them to play better this week.
Picks:
John Mitchell: Alabama 31, Missouri 23
Josh Yourish: Alabama 38, Missouri 28
Ron Evans: Alabama 27, Missouri 20
Greg Bosworth: Alabama 31, Missouri 17
Dominic Giacobazzi: Alabama 34, Missouri 14