This Saturday’s slate of intrastate rivalries promises some explosive games. The Alabama football game, dubbed ‘The Iron Bowl”, is no exception.
Unless you have been living in a cave for the past ten years or so, you know that the two SEC teams from Alabama have superlative football teams. Alabama in particular has earned a place in the Top Ten every year since 2009, with four finishes at number one. Auburn won the national championship in 2010 after a narrow escape (28-27) in the Iron Bowl. This rivalry is so bitter the two teams didn’t play for four freaking decades in a weird football Cold War.
This game is one of the most important rivalries in college football, because one of the two teams has finished in the Top Ten for the last eight years, with five national titles between them. Alabama won the national title in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015. Together, the two teams have 33 SEC titles–no small feat–and have some of the best win records in college football. Alabama is 7th and Auburn is ranked 16th.
The winner of this year’s game could earn a place in the Top Four of the College Football Playoff as well as making a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. If you watch only one game this weekend, make it this one.
Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s showdown:
Date: Saturday, Nov. 25
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Auburn, AL.
Venue: Jordan-Hare Stadium
TV: CBS
Live Stream: CBS Sports Live
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Keys to Victory
This game has always been about big plays in the passing game. Both teams recruit running backs that can break land speed records, but so many games in this series were won based on long passes. Auburn excels at the deep pass. This season alone they have thrown 11 passes for 50 or more yards which is fourth most in the country. Alabama’s brick wall of a defense has stalled any opponent from gaining ground in the air. The only opponent to get past the Tide’s defense this season with any kind of air was a 49-yard bomb from Arkansas earlier this season.
The Tide have so few weaknesses, but they do have them. Jalen Hurts is a great rushing quarterback, but he depends too much on his speed to bail him out. If Auburn can sack Hurts–a statistic at which they excel–they can stop the Tide’s offense from making the big plays. Auburn isn’t great against the run, so they will need to look for other opportunities to stop the Tide’s onslaught. The Tigers will need to put heat on Hurts every second he is on the field and force three-and-outs.
The Tide have been shaky on passing downs, so if the Tigers can slow down the running game and force turnovers on the passing downs, they have a good shot at an upset. If the Tigers can’t do that, it will be business as usual for the Tide.
Betting Odds
All odds via SportsBook Review
Point Spread: Alabama -4.5
Over/Under: 47.5
Prediction
If an offense is not tidy, Alabama sweeps them up like a Dyson on crack. Unfortunately for Auburn, they will need to run on Alabama, a statistic that Auburn has struggled with all season. This game will come down to which team can run the ball efficiently, and Alabama has the edge in the running game.
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This game will be close–this year’s Auburn team is reminiscent of the 2010 national title outfit. In addition, Saban has never beaten Auburn when they have more than nine wins. If the Tigers can get the right combination of juju–home field advantage, key Tide players injured, and history–they can make this game an upset for the ages. Smart money is on ‘Bama but it’s going to be fun to watch either way.
Final Score: Alabama 24, Auburn 20