Staff Predictions for the SEC Championship Game

The final week of college football is upon us and the most improbable SEC Championship matchup has become a reality. Missouri, a year removed from a 2-6 conference record in its first SEC season, will represent the Eastern Division while Auburn, which needed lightning to strike Jordan-Hare Stadium twice, will represent the West.

A lot more than an SEC Championship will be on the line Saturday afternoon. Depending on how the other conference championships finish, the winner of this game has a great shot of earning a birth in the BCS National Championship game. Meanwhile, Alabama can only watch and wait to find out where it will head for a bowl game.

We asked our staff to shake off the Iron Bowl hangover and make a prediction for this game. Here's what they gave us:

Baron Huber (Host of Houston & Huber)

Yes, I'm still depressed. Auburn 32, Missouri 31

Martin Houston (Host of Houston & Huber)

Well one thing for sure is that a Tiger will be the SEC Champion for 2013.  What a turnaround for both team. The two teams went from a combined 2-14, to 14-2 in the conference. If you look inside the numbers, they are evenly match from top to bottom. But I'm going to give the edge to the Mizzou Tigers in this one. That defense will find a way to slow down the Auburn Tigers' running game. Auburn will not have an answer for James Franklin and the trio of 6'4" plus wide receivers. In a very exciting and competitive game, Missouri will end Auburn's consecutive streak when scoring 30 or more points. Missouri 35, Auburn 32

Chris Stewart (Host of The Chris Stewart Show)

Missouri will do what the Tide could not - shut down Auburn's run game. Let me be a little more specific - they won't give up the big play in the run game. THAT is what killed Alabama. If Mizzou can avoid allowing the home run, they will win. The Eastern Division champions are more than capable of moving the football offensively, and if they get a few stops, they'll claim the league crown. Missouri 35, Auburn 24

Ryan Fowler (Host of The Game)

Gus Malzahn has one of the biggest challenges this week in his young coaching career (college): getting a team emotionally ready to play after beating the Tide in the final second of the Iron Bowl. I do think he will be able to accomplish the task. Missouri will also teach Alabama a lesson on how to take advantage of one of the worst pass defenses in college football. Missouri 35, Auburn 24

Trey Brooks (Host of Houston & Huber)

When Auburn plays its best, they are unbeatable.  Unfortunately, they normally only do that for about half a game. That should still be enough to beat a Missouri team that has had injury problems throughout the season. Mizzou's receivers will be a handful for Auburn's defensive backfield, but the rushing attack of Mason and Co. can help the Western Division champs control the clock.  In a shootout, I'm taking the orange and blue Tigers. Auburn 42 Missouri 38

Ryan McMunn (Host of The Chris Stewart Show, The Game)

I bet the house that the Tigers win this one. Now, all joking aside, Missouri is the team that no logical-thinking football coach wants to play. They are a matchup nightmare, with a stout running game and receivers so tall that they experience different weather patterns than the rest of Columbia, MO. And let’s not forget that they have arguably the best defensive line in the country. Auburn will fight tooth and nail to win this game with a chance at a national title, but they’ll have their hands full with the fighting Pinkels, and Mizzou will claim the 2013 SEC title in just their 2^nd season in the conference. Mizzou 41, Auburn 31

Ben George (Digital Managing Editor)

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I've seen this Auburn program benefit from too many fluky plays to believe that it won't happen again this week. I'll be expecting the unexpected from Auburn to pull out a late victory over a better team, again. Auburn 29, Missouri 28