Auburn coach Gus Malzahn knows his team is coming into the this Saturday's game against Missouri off the biggest victory over Alabama last week, but believes they need to focus winning the SEC championship.

"The challenge on emotional winds is you've got to put it behind you. Our guys showed up for their Sunday practice and went about their business like normal. I thought that was a very good sign," he said, according to ESPN.

But now its the battle of the Tigers for Saturday's championship game.

"We're playing a very good Missouri team that's very similar to us," Malzahn said. "I think about both teams being very hungry. We were both kind of down at the bottom at the start of the year. But we've improved. I feel like we've improved each game. They would probably say the same thing."

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said exactly the same thing.

"We just kept getting better," he said Sunday. "Our kids played hard every single game at a very high level. I've been around a lot of good football teams, but I've rarely been around a team like that, playing at the level they did on a consistent basis."

Missouri thinks their team deserves a shot at the national title if they can defeat Auburn.

"Any one-loss team in the SEC (should be considered) just because of the strength of schedule," Pinkel said. "Hopefully that will be taken into consideration."

Here's the info for this afternoon's matchup:

  • Date: Dec. 7
  • Time: 4 p.m. EST
  • TV: CBS

Tags: Auburn Missouri NCAA Football