These three players could be X-Factors for Alabama football against Missouri

The road gets rougher for Alabama football this weekend with an early kickoff on the road against undefeated and No. 14 Missouri. This will be the Crimson Tide's third consecutive game against a ranked conference opponent, with a fourth waiting next week for The Third Saturday in October.

Any talk of a "trap" game this week is nonsense. An undefeated conference opponent that combined to win 21 games the last two seasons does not qualify as a trap. This isn't last year's trip to Nashville to play an unexpectedly good Vanderbilt.

Alabama is fully aware of what Missouri is capable of. The Tigers represent a tremendous challenge, and the Crimson Tide will need everyone to bring their "A" games to pull out the win in Columbia.

Along with the usual suspects like Ty Simpson, who will have to play well for Alabama to beat Missouri, here are a few other guys who will be in the spotlight and could swing the game in the Tide's favor on Saturday afternoon.

3 players who are potential X-Factors for Alabama against Missouri

S Bray Hubbard

Star safety Bray Hubbard has effectively rebounded from a disappointing performance against Florida State and has turned out to be what everyone thought he was: one of the Crimson Tide's very best defensive players.

A lot will be on his plate this week against Missouri. Hubbard will be a key part of Alabama's run defense against Ahmad Hardy and the high-powered Tigers' rushing offense. Alabama's secondary has to do a better job of fitting runs in order to have success this weekend. Hubbard was one of the key defenders who made a mistake on Sedrick Alexander's long touchdown run on Vanderbilt's opening drive last week.

Hubbard gets frozen by the potential for a Pavia keeper, and is way too late rotating over to the football. By the time he diagnoses it, it's already over. That can't happen this week, or Hardy is going to have a monster day.

DL London Simmons

Freshman nose tackle London Simmons has been an important revelation for the Alabama defense. Alabama appeared pretty thin at the position coming into the season, and especially so after injuries to Tim Keenan and Jeremiah Beaman. But Simmons stepped up when called upon, and looks like a future star for the Crimson Tide. With Keenan back, Simmons has settled into the backup nose tackle role, but he has made the most of the playing time he gets:

Kane Wommack mentioned on Monday that he anticipates an expanded role for Simmons this week. It makes sense. Alabama will need a big effort from its defensive linemen to combat the Missouri rushing attack. Winning at the point of attack is key #1 to keeping the Tigers from running all over.

TE Josh Cuevas

Josh Cuevas has been a reliable safety valve for Ty Simpson this season. His opportunities may not come as consistently as he might prefer, but that's only because Alabama's wide receivers are so talented and consistently get open.

But Cuevas has made some plays. He's caught 13 passes for 126 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. He could be in for his most prolific game to date this weekend against Missouri.

Missouri will look to do what it can to take away Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, Isaiah Horton, and freshman Lotzeir Brooks at receiver. They may do so at the expense of leaving Cuevas open. If so, he can feast.

Kansas tight end DeShawn Hanika only has 10 catches for 97 yards on the season. Six of his catches and 74 of those yards came against Missouri in Week 2. He also scored two touchdowns.

Cuevas should have an opportunity this week for a big performance, one that Alabama may need to escape with a road victory.