The Alabama Crimson Tide play the Missouri Wildcats on Saturday in the 2014 SEC Championship game. Kickoff is at 4:00 p.m. ET. Watch the live stream below!
Last game of the regular season. The No. 1 team against another ranked opponent. College football playoff implications on the line. What could be better on a Saturday afternoon?
The dominating SEC will not be able to boast a playoff team if No. 1 Alabama doesn't take care of business against No. 14 Missouri on Saturday. Everyone at the Georgia Dome understands just how much is at stake here. Even Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban realizes the degree of difficulty.
"I think we have an outstanding league and we have a lot of good teams and the fact that we play each other and end up beating each other probably hurts a little bit," Saban said, via ESPN. "I think some of the teams in our division are really, really, good teams and I'm sure there are some other really good teams out there that I have not seen.
"Without looking at everyone, I would think that somebody in our league qualifies to be one of the better four teams in the country based on the quality of the league and the good teams that we all have to play."
Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) leapfrogged unbeaten Florida State for the No. 1 overall spot in the AP Top 25 following its 55-44 win over then-No. 15 Auburn last week. Alabama also sits at No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Missouri (10-2, 7-1 SEC) will enjoy its second straight appearance in the title game after a 21-14 win over Arkansas on Nov. 28.
Alabama hasn't forgotten about its defense-first principles. But opponents must also now figure out how to contain star receiver Amari Cooper as well.
"I think it's scary for them," Crimson Tide safety Nick Perry said. "Usually, 'Bama beats you with defense and running the ball. Now, we can play a whole different type of game. We can put up points or we can shut them down with defense. I think that's scary for other teams."
Scary, indeed. First-year starter Blake Sims has thrown for 2,988 yards this season. Cooper has accounted for 103 catches and 1,573 of those yards. His 14 touchdowns don't hurt either.
"When you're that potent offensively, when you can play defense at that high, consistent level, that's certainly problematic for anybody that's going to play against them," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said.
But don't count Missouri out. The Tigers climbed out of a 14-3 hole last week and don't have a quitting bone among any of its 22 starters.
"I just think it got contagious," Pinkel said. "You win games like that, a lot of players are making plays. ... One of the great traits they have is that when things get tough, they get tougher. I can't tell you how proud I am of these guys."
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 PM ET. You can watch the live stream of the game by clicking here.
