Neither Auburn nor Alabama is playing for a spot in the SEC Championship Game, but this year’s edition of the Iron Bowl still carries plenty of significance. The Tigers need a win to become bowl eligible, while the heavily favored Crimson Tide hope to keep their College Football Playoff chances alive and avoid their first four-loss season in nearly 20 years.
Auburn at No. 13 Alabama
Auburn (5-6, 2-5 SEC) kept its postseason hopes alive with a thrilling 43-41 four-overtime upset of Texas A&M last Saturday. Quarterback Payton Thorne (301 yards, two touchdowns) and running back Jarquez Hunter (130 yards, three touchdowns) did most of the damage as Auburn nearly doubled its season high for points in a conference game.
Now the Tigers look to keep their offensive momentum against an Alabama (8-3, 4-3) defense that just got run over. The Crimson Tide surrendered 257 rushing yards in last week’s 24-3 loss at Oklahoma. That’s the most since Auburn piled up 318 on the ground in their Iron Bowl victory in 2022.
Hunter is second in the SEC in rushing, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. He should get plenty of opportunities against an Alabama defense that’s giving up 160 yards on the ground per game to conference foes.
The Crimson Tide’s offense also struggled last week, producing season lows in points, total yards (264) and rushing yards (70). As quarterback Jalen Milroe goes, so does Bama. Six of his nine interceptions this season have come in the team’s three losses, and he has also been a non-factor in the running game, with a total of 28 rushing yards in those games.
Alabama has won four Iron Bowls in a row and eight of the last 10. The Crimson Tide also haven’t lost to the Tigers in Tuscaloosa since 2010.
Auburn at Alabama odds
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(Photo of Germie Bernard: Brandon Sumrall / Getty Images)
