Published Oct 10, 7:01pm ET by
Keith McCarthy - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 10, 7:01pm ET
Updated Oct 10, 7:05pm ET
Alabama and Missouri meet this week in a key SEC battle. Both teams are in CFP contention, but are not by any means a lock to make it. A win here would go a long way for either team, while a loss would undoubtedly hurt their chances. The Crimson Tide enter as the favorites on the road.
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| Missouri Tigers | +2.5 (-110) |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | -2.5 (-105) |
Alabama has now won four games in a row, after losing their opener badly to Florida State. A ranked win over Vanderbilt last week vaulted the Crimson Tide back into the top-10. After missing the first 12-team CFP last season, Alabama and head coach Kalen DeBoer need to avoid any more losses to avoid another disappointment. QB Ty Simpson continues to improve each week, adding to the Crimson Tide's success.
Missouri rose five spots into the top-15 last week, despite not playing a game. Losses to the teams above them spurred on the move, but it gives the Tigers a key opportunity to rise into the coveted top-12. They'll need to lean on their home-field advantage against an Alabama team that they have not beaten since 1975. Penn State transfer Beau Pribula has done an excellent job leading Missouri's rejuvenated offense.
After opening the season with a shocking blowout defeat, Alabama has looked more like the team that we're used to in the month and a half since. That being said, their defense hasn't been as dominant as expected, which opens a path to victory for Missouri at home. Whether or not they seize it will depend on how much they limit mistakes, but I ultimately see this being too great of a challenge for the Tigers.
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Pick
Alabama Crimson Tide -2.5
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