ON MIZZOU:
Missouri at No. 1 Alabama
Kickoff: 6 p.m., ESPN
Line: Alabama by 28
Quick Hit: For the first time in several years, Alabama will revive the tradition of playing the country classic “Dixieland Delight” during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The ritual was discontinued because fans added a naughty word to the refrain at the expense of Alabama’s in-state rival, but Alabama AD Greg Byrne and Miss Terry Saban (Nick’s wife) announced this week the tradition will return for Saturday’s homecoming game, urging fans to refrain from the potty-mouth refrain. Good luck with that, Tide. The bigger question looms: Will the game be over by the time the crowd starts crooning?
There’s no reasonable reason to expect Missouri to win this game, but coming within four touchdowns of Goliath isn’t out of the question. The Crimson Tide haven’t covered the spread the last three weeks against Texas A&M, Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas. Since the start of the 2014 season, Alabama is 18-0 in home games as a 28-point favorite — but just 7-11 against the spread. Missouri, meanwhile, has covered the number each of the last four times it was a 28-point dog. Then again, the last three years, Alabama has won 10 of its last 21 conference games by at least 28 points. Alabama has the passing game to turn this into a bloodbath quickly — and the second-team defense to let the Tigers score a backdoor touchdown in the fourth quarter. This much we know: By game’s end there will be a little turtle dovin’ on a Mason Dixon line.
Matter's Pick: Alabama 49, Missouri 20
LINK to all his picks: https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_5eb610a7-7337-5462-a3cf-e68907bd05e8.html
Missouri at No. 1 Alabama
Kickoff: 6 p.m., ESPN
Line: Alabama by 28
Quick Hit: For the first time in several years, Alabama will revive the tradition of playing the country classic “Dixieland Delight” during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The ritual was discontinued because fans added a naughty word to the refrain at the expense of Alabama’s in-state rival, but Alabama AD Greg Byrne and Miss Terry Saban (Nick’s wife) announced this week the tradition will return for Saturday’s homecoming game, urging fans to refrain from the potty-mouth refrain. Good luck with that, Tide. The bigger question looms: Will the game be over by the time the crowd starts crooning?
There’s no reasonable reason to expect Missouri to win this game, but coming within four touchdowns of Goliath isn’t out of the question. The Crimson Tide haven’t covered the spread the last three weeks against Texas A&M, Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas. Since the start of the 2014 season, Alabama is 18-0 in home games as a 28-point favorite — but just 7-11 against the spread. Missouri, meanwhile, has covered the number each of the last four times it was a 28-point dog. Then again, the last three years, Alabama has won 10 of its last 21 conference games by at least 28 points. Alabama has the passing game to turn this into a bloodbath quickly — and the second-team defense to let the Tigers score a backdoor touchdown in the fourth quarter. This much we know: By game’s end there will be a little turtle dovin’ on a Mason Dixon line.
Matter's Pick: Alabama 49, Missouri 20
LINK to all his picks: https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_5eb610a7-7337-5462-a3cf-e68907bd05e8.html
