Missouri visits No. 1 Alabama following heartbreaker at South Carolina
After beginning the season 3-0 for the first time since 2015, Missouri has dropped two straight heading into Saturday’s road test against top-ranked Alabama.
The Tigers lost their conference opener to No. 2 Georgia 43-29 on Sept. 22 and lost 37-35 at South Carolina last Saturday on a last-second field goal after taking a 35-34 lead with 1:18 remaining.
But Missouri has little time to dwell on its heartbreaking loss as it prepares to face the most dominant team in the nation in the Crimson Tide.
Alabama boasts the top-ranked scoring offense in the FBS, averaging an astounding 56 points per game, while allowing just 16 points per game, which ranks 11th in the country.
Missouri coach Barry Odom talked about the importance of the Tigers maintaining a delicate balance between respecting Alabama’s abilities and their own in preparing for Saturday’s game.
“I’ve been in this situation a couple times as a player and then in the coaching world,” Odom said Tuesday. “Great competitors, you want to go play this game. You want to go prepare, and then go cut loose and see how you stack up … If there’s any circumstance that you’re in awe, or you have self doubt, then you haven’t prepared the right way.”
One key to Missouri’s preparation this week will be its game plan to contain Alabama’s explosive passing attack, which ranks second in the conference in yards per game (345) but first in passing touchdowns (24) and yards per attempt (13.8).
The Tigers rank 13th in the SEC and are tied for 116th in the nation in passing defense, allowing nearly 285 yards per game through the air, and are tied with Tennessee and Texas A&M for fewest interceptions in the conference with two.
Odom said Missouri’s secondary has been getting closer to be able to make impact plays when the ball is thrown, but that the time is now to put it all together.
“Man, I’m ready for it to happen,” Odom said. “Because we haven’t (made plays on the ball). I don’t want to say we haven’t, that’s a little extreme, but we haven’t consistently enough. We need to do it more. They do have an understanding on the positions that we need to be in. Now we’ve got to take it to the next step of allowing yourself to go (make a play).”