SEC championship game scouting report: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 14 Missouri

When Missouri runs

Alabama’s last four SEC foes had success on the ground. Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn averaged 168.8 yards per game, but they also combined for only one rushing touchdown. The Tide has allowed three rushing touchdowns all season and only 33 runs longer than 10 yards, the second-fewest in FBS.

When Missouri passes

Alabama has given up as many as passes of at least 10 yards as Kansas (113), and the Tide don’t have a great pass rush. Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk is 89 of 163 for 1,052 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions in the last five games, all wins. He’s been brilliant in the fourth quarter of the last two games, completing seven of nine passes for 201 yards and three scores.

When Alabama runs

During its current six-game win streak, Missouri is allowing opponents only 98.5 rushing yards per game. The Tigers also led the SEC during conference play in overall defense (300.8) and run defense (115.0). T.J. Yeldon has recovered from an ankle injury, but the Tide average a good-not-great 5.1 yards per carry.

When Alabama passes

Blake Sims has thrown only seven interceptions, though three did come last week against Auburn, but generally he protects the football. Missouri has a great pass rush, but Sims has only been sacked eight times and Arkansas is the only team to get more than one all season. The Razorbacks sacked Sims twice. Oh, and Amari Cooper is ridiculous.

Special teams

Return specialist Marcus Murphy could be a game-changer for the Tigers, who ranks second in the SEC in kickoff returns and fourth in punt returns. Missouri’s Andrew Baggett and Alabama’s Adam Griffith are comparable kickers, but the Tide have better coverage units and freshman punter JK Scott’s 47.2-yard average is second in the nation

Coaching

Alabama’s Nick Saban has won four national titles, including three at Alabama since 2009. The Tide have won two SEC championships under Saban, who also led LSU to the SEC title twice. Gary Pinkel has led Missouri to five divisional titles and four conference title games in the last eight seasons, but it’s apples and oranges.

X-factor

History and tradition count for something in recruiting, but it doesn’t matter how many national championships Alabama have (15) compared to Missouri (zero) after the game starts. Having 50,000 more Crimson Tide fans in the Georgia Dome than the Tigers will bring does, however, create a tangible advantage.

Bottom line: Alabama 24-14

The Crimson Tide have the more explosive offense. In a battle of stingy defenses, that makes Alabama more likely to sustain a few drives or hit a couple big plays, so coach Nick Saban’s crew gets the edge in search of the program’s 24th SEC championship. Missouri seeks its first conference crown since sharing the 1969 Big Eight title with Nebraska.

Tod Palmer, tpalmer@kcstar.com

This story was originally published December 5, 2014 at 12:01 PM with the headline "SEC championship game scouting report: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 14 Missouri."