No. 15 Alabama is in unfamiliar territory, but, thankfully for the Crimson Tide, they have a shot to get back on track after a nightmare road trip in Tennessee. The Tide have lost two games before November for the first time since 2007, and though they are not entirely eliminated from contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff, according to sports betting apps, the margin for error may have disappeared following road losses to Vanderbilt and the Vols.
Meanwhile, No. 21 Missouri seems content on sliding past teams it should beat with closer-than-expected results. A two-touchdown rally in the fourth quarter saved the Tigers from an embarrassing loss to Auburn last week. The question is whether Missouri is healthy at two key spots – quarterback Brady Cook and running back Nate Noel. After a quick trip to the hospital to examine an injured ankle he suffered on the first drive last week, Cook returned to the field late in the third quarter to spark an inept offense to victory. Without him -- or Noel -- what can Mizzou do to shake off the rust against an angry Alabama team with its season on the line?
Mizzou was a popular pick as a dark horse to win the SEC title. A double-digit win season in 2023, along with the returning pieces of Cook and receiver Luther Burden, lifted Mizzou into the top 10 nationally. But they have struggled to maintain their footing as a top-25 team. A second loss might not be a death knell for their playoff hopes, but because of their strength of schedule, it could still be the end.
Alabama vs. Missouri: Need to know
What's the status of Brady Cook and Nate Noel? Missouri quarterback Brady Cook and running back Nate Noel were listed as doubtful on the SEC availability report Wednesday. The Tigers' leading rusher (503 yards) was injured on the first possession last week against Auburn and stayed in the game but was pulled after only six carries. The offense floundered when he and quarterback Cook were off the field. Former Notre Dame and Arizona State quarterback Drew Pyne threw for only 78 yards of relief last week. If Noel Is unavailable against Alabama, count on the Tigers to lean on Marcus Carroll, the transfer from Georgia State who has 66 carries for 321 yards and six touchdowns.
Alabama is still a great — but undisciplined — team: It's popular to pile on the Tide after two losses, and after 15-plus years of dominating the sport, fans revel in their misery. Still, Alabama is a solid team capable of beating anyone (just ask Georgia). The defense has struggled at times, particularly with games on the line (Georgia's second-half comeback and Vanderbilt's incredible third-down conversions come to mind), but the offense continues to impress (38.1 ppg) with quarterback Jalen Milroe at the controls. The biggest issue is the undisciplined play in crucial moments. Alabama is the second-most penalized team in the Power Four, averaging 8.9 per game, ranking 130th overall in the FBS.
Mizzou needs to keep it simple: Texas A&M smothered Missouri several weeks ago in College Station in a 41-10 win that wasn't even that close. What went wrong? Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz said Wednesday on "The Paul Finebaum Show" that "we had way too much scheme in. We tried to win it from the press box, and the reality of it is, football is won by the players on the field. Players playing fast wins football games." That's not the entire problem for MIzzou, which has struggled to maintain an edge against most of its FBS opponents. Mizzou is averaging only 18.5 points against ranked teams and that number needs to improve for the Tigers to have a shot against Alabama.
How to watch Alabama vs. Missouri live
Date: Saturday, October 26 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV: ABC | Live stream: fubo (Try for free)
Alabama vs. Missouri prediction, picks
Missouri has teetered on the edge of the top 25 with its performances all season. The Tigers had to rally to beat Vanderbilt and Auburn at home, and they were exposed in a blowout at Texas A&M. If anything, a 13.5-point spread is low for Alabama. If the Tide have a pulse, they're red with anger after the loss to Tennessee, and returning home against Mizzou is the perfect "ranked" team to unleash their frustration. Cook and/or Noel missing the game only increases the chances of this being a blowout similar to the one in College Station. Mizzou is 0-2 against the spread against ranked teams. Pick: Alabama -13.5
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