Key questions heading into No. 8 Alabama’s game at No. 14 Missouri

Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula (9) tends off to running back Ahmad Hardy (29) against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns during the first half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Alabama’s gauntlet stretch of games is well underway. Following back-to-back ranked wins over Georgia and Vanderbilt, the No. 8 Crimson Tide will face another top-15 foe this weekend as it travels to No. 14 Missouri. 

It won’t get any easier from there for the Tide, either. Next week, Alabama will host No. 12 Tennessee before ending the month with a difficult trip to South Carolina. After what will be a much-needed open date on Nov. 1, the Tide will conclude its regular season with a grueling month that features matchups against No. 11 LSU and No. 6 Oklahoma, as well as a road Iron Bowl. 

The path to the College Football Playoff is daunting, but Alabama plans to take it one step at a time. This week, that means dealing with a Missouri team that has the second-longest home win streak in college football right now at 15 games. 

“We have a big task on our hands, a great opponent in Missouri,” Alabama offensive lineman Wilkin Formby said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’re going to Missouri, and they’ve got a strong defense, strong running game, and we’re excited to take on that challenge. We’re kind of just focused week to week. We’re not looking ahead at all.”

Alabama (4-1, 2-0) is currently a 5.5-point favorite over Missouri (5-0, 1-0). The Tide is 6-2 all-time against the Tigers with wins in its last six matchups, including a 34-0 victory inside Bryant-Denny Stadium last season. 

Here are five questions to watch for when the two teams kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday inside Memorial Stadium.