The SEC Championship between No. 1 Alabama and No. 16 Missouri is so close you can almost taste it. With the game set to kick off Saturday at 4 p.m., we’re taking a look at what it will take for the Crimson Tide to win in all three phases.

Offense

Player to watch: Blake Sims. Alabama’s senior quarterback has been phenomenal all season with small bursts of poor decision making. One of those spurts happened in the Iron Bowl, when he threw 3 interceptions in the first 35 minutes of the game. Sims went right back to being lights out after that, but there is some concern. In his first season at the helm, Sims hasn’t been the same player away from Bryant-Denny Stadium, completing 11 percent fewer of his passes (68.4 to 57.1) and averaging more than 3 yards per attempt fewer (10.7 to 7.4). Alabama will need Sims operating at his highest level on Saturday, clicking with Amari Cooper and making things happen with his arms and legs both.

Key to the game: Contain Missouri’s pass rushers. That task is easier said than done on the best days, as Shane Ray and Markus Golden are two of the best defensive ends in the country this season. Keeping Sims clean is made even more difficult with Cam Robinson battling several maladies, including a high ankle sprain from a few weeks ago and shoulder injury suffered against Auburn.

Defense

Players to watch: Landon Collins and Nick Perry. Alabama’s safety duo is among the best in the country, and between them they have half of Alabama’s 10 interceptions this year. Part of Missouri’s run to the top of the East has been playing turnover-free football after a Maty Mauk had a bad start to the season in that regard. This Crimson Tide team hasn’t been much for forcing turnovers, but winning that battle would help put an end to Missouri’s SEC enchantment.

Key to the game: Clean up the issues in the secondary. Missouri is not a threatening offensive team. That is, until they get to the fourth quarter. Mauk turns into a different player late, with 8 touchdowns and no interceptions in the fourth quarter. Alabama’s secondary was shaky in the first half but shored up late against Alabama. The Crimson Tide will need to once again be solid late.

Special teams

Player to watch: Christion Jones. The Tigers offense isn’t exactly a juggernaut, although they do convert a little more than 44 percent of their third down attempts. Still, they’ve boomed the fourth-most punts in the SEC, meaning Jones will have plenty of work fielding them. The senior has certainly shored up some of his issues from earlier in the season, but having him back there could be a cause for concern.

Key to the game: Keep kicks in bounds and between the uprights. Alabama has the second most out-of-bounds kickoffs in the SEC and is tied for most missed field goals (with Missouri, no less). Special teams errors have plagued many of Alabama’s losses in recent years, so Alabama’s kickers will have to be on point. Which kicker will Nick Saban trust to put their toe to the ball on field goal attempts, Adam Griffith or Gunnar Rayborn?