Alabama returns to the SEC Championship Game for the ninth time following a huge win against the Auburn Tigers. Now, they'll look to take down another set of Tigers in the University of Missouri.

Every game this year has been important for Alabama, but none more so than this game Saturday. A win would guarantee the Crimson Tide a spot in the first College Football Playoff.

Missouri has enjoyed quite an impressive season this year and it all starts on the defensive side. For Alabama, the talk has been more about the offense rather then the defense, which is a change for Nick Saban's team.

As we get ready for the game, take a look at what our staff thinks will happen on Saturday.

Chris Stewart (Host of "The Chris Stewart Show")

Alabama dodged a serious bullet last week. Despite numerous mistakes - namely three interceptions - the Crimson Tide got up off the deck to beat Auburn. Missouri has enough firepower to create problems for Alabama. But a Tide team that avoids turnovers is very tough to beat. Bama hangs on to the ball, grabs the SEC Championship trophy, and punches its ticket to New Orleans. Alabama 42, Missouri 20

Ryan Fowler (Host of "The Game")

Nick Saban’s defense, especially the back end, got embarrassed against Auburn.  I think this unit probably got some special attention to detail in practice this week and will be ready to redeem itself this week against Missouri.  Thanks to the SEC West schedule, Alabama is battle tested, which will pay dividends in the final part of the schedule.  Alabama has a better team than Missouri and will win the 24th SEC Title in school history. Alabama 31, Missouri 17

Ryan McMunn (Executive Producer)

The SEC Championship Game. Some call it the actual national championship, and anyone other than a fan of the SEC will say it's just another conference championship game. Regardless, this is going to be a great game.

Alabama comes in as the #1 team in the country, according to the Selection Committee, and hopes to seal its place in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Blake Sims has more than impressed every spectator thus far in the season, although most of his work has come by way of arguably the best player in college football Amari Cooper. If Sims can get the ball to Cooper at least eight times, look for a Bama victory.

However, Missouri is not a bad team, although their reputation around the SEC is still that of a Big 12 team. The Tigers boast one of, if not the best, defensive line in the country, and isn't that where football games are won? If they can pressure Blake Sims and force him to throw bad balls, Missouri can steal its first ever SEC championship.

But the Crimson Tide are too strong on both sides of the ball, plus the weapon known as JK Scott will relieve some of the pressure the defense could feel in a potential shoot out of a game, and Alabama wins their 24th SEC title. Alabama 34, Missouri 24

Trey Brooks (Producer)

This game is difficult to assess because Missouri has been so up and down this year.  A lot has been made if their defensive line, but Arkansas and Georgia both carved them up with the run.  And quarterback Matty Mauk can be both brilliant and horrible in the game.

While I know Auburn had a ton of success against the Tide's secondary, the red zone play of Alabama's defense will be the difference. Bama is playing its best ball of the year. Alabama 35, Missouri 20

Kevin Connell (Contributor)

As strange as it is, yes, SEC championships have been a little bit harder to come by than national championships for Alabama in recent years. But on Saturday, the Crimson Tide has a chance to pull even with the same number of SEC titles as it does national titles under Nick Saban (three), and it will. Alabama 31, Missouri 20

Ben George (Digital Managing Editor)

Alabama is back in the SEC Championship for the fourth time under Nick Saban and is a huge favorite over an overlooked Missouri team. The Tigers have earned a spot in Atlanta for the second-straight season, but just how good is this team? It hasn't beaten an SEC team with a winning conference record and we've all heard about the loss to Indiana. I expect a close game for about 2+ quarters, but Alabama’s offense should be clicking in a familiar venue. Alabama 35, Missouri 14

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