Mizzou Football: Five things to watch vs Alabama Crimson Tide

Dec 6, 2014: Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) cuts behind the block of offensive lineman Austin Shepherd (79) during the second quarter of the SEC Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Missouri Tigers at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta,GA. (Photo by Jim Dedmon/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

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Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH VS ALABAMA

NUMBER 3 – BAMA QUARTERBACK TOUGHEST TASK YET

I briefly mentioned Tua Tagovailoa, but he’s worth getting his own slide. He’s THAT good.

In the past, Alabama has been lethal in every area except the quarterback spot. They’ve had a good offensive line and fantastic run game to help cover up the liability at the game’s most important position.

Yeah, that isn’t the case with Tagovailoa in that Crimson Tide uniform. The kid is the real deal, already throwing for 1,495 yards and 18 touchdowns with zero interceptions. You read that right… 18 touchdowns and ZERO interceptions through six games.

Those stats are even crazier when you consider that the sophomore signal caller has yet to take a snap in the fourth quarter. Alabama has had such big leads that there’s been no point in leaving Tagovailoa in the game.

Even with the sensational quarterback isn’t the one under center, Jalen Hurts is the backup. We’ve all seen the damage Hurts can do and even if he were to play in the majority of the game on Saturday, Missouri would still have a tall task ahead of them in stopping him.

Missouri made Jake Fromm of Georgia look human in the first half, but then he figured out their defense in the second half and was able to pick them apart. The Tigers have to apply pressure and irritate Tagovailoa or they’re going to be in big trouble.

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