Thumbs up

Tide running backs Eddie Lacy (177 rushing yards) and T.J. yeldon (144) put together a day worthy of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, a duo that pushed Alabama to a national title in 2009.

Missouri entered having allowed only 107 rushing yards a game, but the Crimson Tide passed that on its second possession. Lacy got it started with a 73-yard touchdown run on the second play, and the Tigers rarely slowed down either him or Yeldon after that. Even freshman Kenyan Drake added to the fun with a touchdown.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said that the running game working as well as it did, the Tide felt less pressure to pass. That was good for Saban, considering the wet weather and quarterback AJ McCarron hardly needing to run around much on the right knee he sprained in the third quarter.

Thumbs down

Alabama earned the wrath of Saban for its lackluster performance after the delay for lightning.

Even though the Tide dominated for most of the game, Missouri did manage a slight 73-60 yardage advantage in the third quarter.

Also, Alabama allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown to Marcus Murphy, who already has scored on three punt returns this year. However, Saban said Murphy ran through a hole that would’ve been occupied by Dee Hart, who injured his knee against Ole Miss and is out for the year. Apparently, Hart’s substitute went the wrong way.

By the numbers

7: Eddie Lacy’s rushing touchdowns this year. That matches his total from 2011.

13: Number of times Missouri has lost to the No. 1 team in The Associated Press poll.

The Tigers still are looking for their first win.

75: How many games Saban has won in his career when his team has been a double-digit favorite. He has only four losses in that situation. The Tide was favored by 21.5 points Saturday.

404: The difference in yards between Alabama and Missouri.