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Missouri’s eighth game of the season may be their toughest of the year.
The Tigers have to travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide are coming off a 12-2 season in which they won the SEC championship and made the College Football Playoff. Alabama fell to Michigan in the Rose Bowl 27-20 in a dramatic overtime game.
Head Coach
For the first time in over 17 years, legendary head coach Nick Saban will not be on the sideline for Alabama.
Kalen DeBoer will be the new man on the sideline for the Crimson Tide. He caught the eye of Alabama after two impressive seasons at Washington including leading the Huskies to the National Championship game last season.
DeBoer got his coaching start at his alma mater Sioux Falls as the wide receiver coach before working his way up to head coach. DeBoer then worked his way through the FCS before multiple stops as an assistant FBS coach. In 2020 he landed the head coaching job at Fresno State and within five seasons finds himself as the head coach of the 16-time national champions.
Offense
DeBoer brought over Washington’s tight end coach Nick Sheridan as the offensive coordinator, and Sheridan’s deep shot style fits quarterback Jalen Milroe perfectly.
Milroe threw for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns, but on top of that rushed for 583 yards and 12 touchdowns. He may be the most dangerous rushing quarterback in the country and his ability to take care of the football adds to the threat he possesses.
The receiver core is a question for the Crimson Tide, especially after star receiver Isaiah Bond transferred to Texas. Bond was Alabama’s hero in last year’s Iron Bowl catching a last-minute touchdown on a 4th-and-31 play.
Look for star recruit Caleb Downs and more experienced receivers Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, and Germie Bernard all to make a difference.
Law has great speed and had 15 receptions for 135 yards last season. Prentice is the returning leading receiver having 18 catches for 314 yards in 2023. Bernad comes to Alabama from Washington where he was an important piece in the offense having 34 catches for 419 yards and two touchdowns.
Defense
The Alabama defense struggled a little bit last year, allowing 407 yards per game. The Tide also lost stars Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell to the NFL draft and star safety Caleb Downs to Ohio State.
The defense will be able to fill the gaps. Linebackers Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell were second and third on the team last season in tackles with 67 and 66 tackles respectively.
Malachi Moore is another star safety and will have to find a way to be even better with Down’s absence. USC transfer Domani Jackson and Michigan transfer Keon Sabb will all be asked to play a role in the defensive backfield.
The D-line will be a classic ‘Bama rotation with no true star, but multiple solid players.
Prediction
The last time Mizzou played at Bryant-Denny Stadium, it was a 39-10 loss with Drew Lock at quarterback. The Tigers now have their best QB since Lock in Brady Cook and he will have to play the game of his life to give Missouri a chance.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, I think the matchup will be a little too much to handle.
Final Score: Alabama 34, Missouri 24.
