Meet Missouri

Have you met your SEC East champion this year? It’s important that you get to know them.

They are, after all, the poor souls who have to play whatever juggernaut from the West comes rolling through Atlanta on its way to the College Football Playoff.

At least, that’s what we were all thinking back in October, when the top ten looked like this:

Back then, I honestly believed that the SEC championship should feature two West teams. If not, then Georgia was the only logical choice to sit atop the SEC East throne.

They seemed like the only East team who could realistically hope to compete with the clear dominance of the SEC West. At the very least, they hadn’t lost to Indiana at home.

But it isn’t Georgia making the short trip to its state’s capital.

Welcome back, Missouri. You left some unfinished business in the Georgia Dome last season.

Arguably the SEC’s biggest surprise, the Missouri Tigers have seemingly come out of nowhere to win the East division of the nation’s best conference.

That technically makes them the second-best team in the conference, right? And you really should get to know them. They’re rather interesting.

Before beginning this daring undertaking, however, you should know that it won’t be easy. Many before you have tried and failed to get a proper read on Missouri, a task proven foolish to even attempt.

Don’t try to box Missouri into normal categories. They haven’t done anything this season that will blow you away, there are no “signature moments.”

In fact, Missouri has spent the vast majority of this season flying under the radar, quietly piling up enough wins to sneak past Georgia (to whom they lost 34-0) into the conference title game.

Some would argue that they have not been very impressive.

The Tigers rank 11^th in the SEC in scoring offense, 12^th in total offense. They won nine conference games by an average of eight points, and only topped 40 points once.

And don’t let that 42-13 win over Florida fool you, either. The Tigers recorded only one offensive touchdown, scoring four times returning a kickoff, punt, fumble, and interception. In the strangest win I’ve ever seen in my life, Missouri only managed 119 total yards. Not exactly championship material.

And yet, here they stand. 10-2, and headed to Atlanta.

In an oddly mediocre year for the SEC East, Missouri used a stout defense, brilliant special teams play, and just enough offense when they’ve needed it to prove wrong all the doubters.

As of now, Missouri has a 66 percent success rate on making the SEC championship.

Saturday, they’ll be looking to prove that it was no fluke or mistake that they are squaring off with top-ranked Alabama for SEC supremacy. They’ll certainly have their hands full.

But before you write the Tigers off, consider this: Missouri is still the only team in the SEC to be undefeated on the road this season.

Not only that, they actually play better football away from home. At home, they put up 24 points per game. On the road, it’s 35 points. At home, their average point differential is 4.3 points per game. On the road, it’s 14 points.

They put up more total yards and give up less yards while on the road, and they have even posted an astonishing plus-seven turnover margin in away games, as opposed only plus-two at home.

Say what you will about Gary Pinkel’s squad, but they travel very well.

Alabama? Not so much.

While Missouri seemingly becomes a better team on the road, the Crimson Tide have been unexpectedly average away from home.

They score 22 less points and give up three more points per game (which is actually a big swing for a Saban defense), and they only outgain their opponents by 50 yards per game on the road, as opposed to an average margin of roughly 270 yards at home.

And where did Alabama’s one loss come? On the road, against Ole Miss.

I’m not saying for sure that Missouri will absolutely beat Alabama in the SEC championship. In fact, I still think that due to Missouri’s offensive inconsistencies, the Crimson Tide present a very tough matchup.

But if Missouri can sustain its level of play on offense the past three games (587 yards against Texas A&M, 410 yards against Tennessee, 423 yards against Arkansas), and get pressure on Blake Sims with its dynamic pass rush, Missouri should at least make this an interesting game.

The Tigers appear to have hit their stride the past few games, they’ve already proven they can compete with anyone in any environment, and can win so many unique ways. Just ask Will Muschamp.

And don’t even think about trying to put a label on Missouri: sloppy, offensively inept, underdog. They live for shedding those labels.

It’ll take their best game to down the Crimson Tide, but why not?

They’ve spent all year surprising us.