Missouri Tigers Are Headed Back To The SEC Championship Game
Gary Pinkel and his Missouri Tigers are SEC East champions, and are headed back to the championship game next Saturday. Their opponent is yet to be known as Alabama hosts the Auburn Tigers this evening in a pivotal match-up for the Crimson Tide.
It’s simple: You win, you’re in. If ‘Bama can hold on and win in the Iron Bowl, they will travel to Atlanta next weekend to take on Missouri. However, if they lose, Mississippi State will take the crown as champions in the west.
For Missouri, it doesn’t really matter who they play. At this point, the Tigers are back-to-back SEC East champs and have once again defied the odds and made the run. Despite two horrible home losses to Indiana and Georgia, Missouri has rattled off six straight wins three of which coming on the road.
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The Tigers have been resilient all season, something that has come up big for them in the fourth quarter.
"“I am really proud, this team is very special and remarkably competitive,” said Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel following his teams fourth quarter comeback over Arkansas. “One of the great traits they have is that, when things get tough, they get tougher.”"
Missouri will need that type of mentality for whoever they have to face next Saturday. The SEC West has been ridiculous this season and many of the experts have already crowned the winner of that division as the SEC champion.
That’s why Missouri is sitting on house money.
The Tigers hardly have a shot at making the four team college playoff, if at all, and the winner of the West has everything riding on just that. The Tigers could go out next Saturday and play whatever kind of game they want to.
Now don’t get confused, for Missouri and Coach Pinkel, this is a huge game. Pinkel is yet to win a conference championship in his time with Missouri and getting that monkey off his back against number one ranked ‘Bama, or, number four ranked Mississippi State would be the perfect time to do so.
The biggest thing the Tigers have going for them is how physical they’ve been all season, on both sides of the ball. This Missouri team isn’t like those of the past, quick scoring offense and bend-but-don’t-break defense.
This Tigers team attacks you on the ground on offense, and gets after the passer on defense.
Though most outsiders don’t believe the Tigers stand a chance in this game next Saturday, you have to realize this could be a better game than people want to give it credit for. Whether it be ‘Bama or Miss. State, the Tigers will be ready and will be physical.
The 2014 SEC Championship is shaping up to be a classic.