No. 1 Alabama (0-1) at Missouri, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Line: Alabama by 21½.
Series record: Missouri leads 2-1.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
After taking week off, Alabama seeks another dominating effort against a school struggling for traction in its first season in the SEC. Missouri is 0-3 in the conference with losses to Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt, and its streak of seven consecutive bowl trips is in jeopardy. Crimson Tide defense, allowing seven points per game, will be facing a backup quarterback with James Franklin sidelined for several weeks with a left knee strain.
KEY MATCHUP
Alabama defense vs. QB Corbin Berkstresser. Missouri also has injury woes on the offensive line and mustered only 15 points against Vandy, with three trips inside the 20 producing three field goals. Berkstresser was 9 for 30 for 189 yards and a TD last week in relief of Franklin. Coach Gary Pinkel had not ruled out using third-stringer Maty Mauk, a freshman who the Tigers planned to redshirt.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alabama: DB Dee Milliner has two interceptions and nine pass breakups, and leads the nation with 2.75 passes defended per game. The Tide has forced 15 turnovers, nine on interceptions.
Missouri: TB/PR Marcus Murphy leads nation with three punt return TDs but dislocated his right ring finger at the end of 25-yard carry on Tigers' first possession last week. His status for this week is uncertain.
FACTS & FIGURES
First meeting between schools since 1978. ... Alabama coach Nick Saban (1973) and Missouri coach Gary Pinkel (1975) are former Kent State teammates and Pinkel succeeded Saban as head coach at Toledo in 1991. This is their first head-to-head meeting. ... Alabama is among three schools that hasn't thrown an interception. ... Alabama has 16 TDs and six FGS in 22 trips inside 20. ... Of Alabama's last 18 wins, all but three have been by at least 21 points. ... Alabama has allowed seven or fewer points in the first half 21 times in last 22 games. ... QB A.J. McCarron has only five INTs in 487 career passes, a school and SEC record for QBs with at least 400 pass attempts. McCarron averages one INT for every 97.4 throws, compared with one for every 95 for Tennessee's Peyton Manning. ... Missouri has won five straight games coming off a loss. ... Missouri is 33-8 at home the last seven seasons. ... Missouri defense has streak of 24 consecutive games creating turnover. ... TB Kendial Lawrence is averaging 81 yards rushing, ninth best in SEC, and 5.7 yards per carry.
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