The Missouri Tigers knew the odds were against them on Saturday night when they made their first trip ever to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on the top-ranked team in the country.
It didn’t help when they found themselves down 10-0 before the game was two minutes old.
What looked at that point like it might become a blowout didn’t happen, however, even though Alabama went to a 39-10 win that handed Missouri its third consecutive loss and left the Tigers 0-3 in the SEC.
The 39 points marked the fewest the 7-0 Crimson Tide have scored in a game this season and it was the first time this year Alabama went three consecutive possessions without scoring.
The Tigers’ offense had its own problems, as Drew Lock had another rough game. He did pass for his first touchdown in three games, a 20-yard pass to Jalen Knox that cut Alabama’s lead to 13-10 at the end of the first quarter.
That was one of the few highlights for Lock, who was intercepted twice, lost a fumble and was tackled in the end zone for a safety. Lock completed only 13 of 26 passes for 142 yards.
Alabama scored 17 points in the second quarter, opening a 30-10 halftime lead, but in their five red zone possessions in the first half Missouri held the Crimson Tide to two touchdowns and three field goals.
After giving up 31 points to Arkansas last week, the Alabama defense responded with a better performance on Saturday night, shutting out Missouri in the second half.
The Tigers once again were without their leading wide receiver, Emanuel Hall, and they also lost perhaps their best defensive player, Terez Hall, hen he was ejected for targeting in the second quarter.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, left the game in the third quarter after aggravating a knee injury. Before leaving he passed for 265 yards, including three touchdowns.
Missouri will return home to host Memphis in a non-conference game next Satursay.
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