Last Friday, the No. 16 Missouri Tigers came from behind to defeat the Arkansas Razorbacks 21-14, securing a spot in their second straight Southeastern Conference Championship Game. The next day, No. 1 Alabama took down Auburn in the Iron Bowl, avenging last year’s loss and locking up the SEC West. Tomorrow, Mizzou and Alabama will face off in a battle for SEC supremacy.
The Crimson Tide are two-touchdown favorites, but that’s familiar territory for the Tigers who have been underdogs in multiple games this season, including unranked Arkansas at home.
We asked some RBHS students who they thought would win.
“I think that Mizzou is going to win because Alabama is going to underestimate them,” junior Sydney Tyler said, “because I really hate Alabama.”
“Definitely Alabama,” Junior Clayton Warder said. “Alabama is an unstoppable force at the moment and Mizzou was lucky to get there at the first place.”
“Mizzou,” freshman Keltin Serio said, “because their defense is pretty good. Once their defense shuts down the Alabama offense, it’s all over except the crying for Alabama.”
“I think I am going to pull for Missouri,” junior Grant Sykuta said. “We are just really strong this year and have one of the best defense’s in Mizzou’s history, probably the best defense Gary Pinkel has ever had. We have an excellent pass rush, and I think they will be able to get around Alabama’s offensive line. Alabama’s secondary is pretty bad and guys like Bud Sasser and Jimmy Hunt just might be able to get behind them and if Maty Mauk is on, then we can definitely win.”
Now for the “experts:”
Brett Stover, Editor in Chief:
I want to say Mizzou is going to win, because I clearly want them to. Gary Pinkel does a great job of developing players, and they do play hard. However, the Tigers can’t come close to matching the Tide’s depth. The Tigers can win if 1) Maty Mauk plays the best game of his life for all four quarters, 2) someone somehow locks down Amari Cooper and 3) special teams help us win the field position battle (and hopefully give us a Marcus Murphy special team TD). Mizzou hasn’t done that yet, though, and I’m not sure if they can tomorrow. Alabama 31, Mizzou 21.
Graham Ratermann,  Sports editor:
As someone born and raised in Columbia I would love to see the Tigers return from Atlanta as SEC champions but as a recent SEC convert, a Missouri victory sets up a scenario in which no SEC teams make the College Football Playoff.  A two loss (one of which was to 4-8 Indiana at home) Mizzou is unlikely to earn a spot in the CFP, a title game defeat would doom Alabama, Mississippi State has lost favor with the committee and Ole Miss and Georgia both have suffered three defeats.  Quite frankly, a CFP without an SEC school is one I wouldn’t watch and something I don’t want to see.
As far as the game goes I think Missouri will cover the 14 point spread and keep the Tide’s margin of victory respectable. Up front the defensive line, featuring Shane Ray and Markus Golden will compete with the fearsome Alabama line but they will need to put pressure on Blake Sims to keep him from finding Amari Cooper who could rack havoc in the secondary. On offense Mauk will have to play the game of his life to beat Alabama and play phenomenally avoiding turnovers  to even give Mizzou a chance. Final score: 28-20  Tide Roll in a heavyweight slug fest.
 
By Brett Stover[vc_custom_heading text=”Tailgating Commandments ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Abril%20Fatface%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”]The world of food is important in its own right, but it becomes vital when paired
with the world of sports. People from all different walks of life are welcome – friends, family, and even vegetarians – to eat, drink, and be merry.  Especially with the success of the Missouri Tigers football team and the upcoming game against the top-ranked Alabama football team, some guidelines should be followed to ensure for the best experience.
In the end, it is pure preference on what one wishes to eat and bring to a party,
but some rules must absolutely be followed.
First and foremost, never volunteer to bring the veggie plate.  Unless the
gathering is a “vegetarian only” type arrangement, this rule must be followed.
“It’s an absolute party foul,” Jack Widhalm, sophomore, said.  “But with that in
mind, every gathering with food needs some sort of vegetables.”
This leads to an annex of the first rule.  Vegetables are necessary to act
as a balance for the heavier foods, such as meat and chili, which are staples
for gatherings.
Rule number two is simple etiquette.  Don’t leave the house with more than 30%
of battery left on your phone.  If you arrive at a party and text the
entire time, you are almost guaranteed to not be invited again.
“Just don’t be that guy,” sophomore Ellie Flanagan said.  “Nobody likes that
guy.”
The third and final unbreakable rule is pace yourself.  Eating at a part
resembles a marathon more than a sprint.  It is important to eat at a
steady pace throughout the entirety of the competition that is being watched.
“You have to start slow. If you eat too much meat during the first half you will hit
a wall and that just looks bad,” Taten Lyngstad, junior, said.
The conversation, however, gets much more difficult when you are hosting and catering the party.
“It is nice to have items that are already done and easy to serve,” Chef Brook Harlan of the Career Center said.
Some foods, like pulled pork or brisket, can take 6 to 10 hours to cook, but they are very easy to serve once prepared. Ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and burgers are just a few foolproof entrees that are guaranteed hits when serving food as a host. Arguably, though, the most important part of a meal, however, is the sides.
“The really good hosts have really good sides,” Widhalm said.
Chef Harlan listed coleslaw and beans as two popular sides that are often served. But in the end, there is not a blueprint manual on the correct way to host a watch party.
“Most people have their own style and that is what makes it fun,” Harlan said.
This personal flair is what makes gatherings so entertaining.
“Go crazy,” Widhalm said.  “Eat a lot, beat Bama, and go crazy.”
By Ji-Ho Lee