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Staff
College football prognosticator Phil Steele believes the stage is set for yet another epic showdown in the Iron Bowl.
The last five SEC representatives in the BCS National Championship won the Iron Bowl, and while Steele is not yet ready to say Alabama or Auburn will go on to appear in the playoff final in 2014, he does already have a winner in mind: Alabama.
"I actually give (the edge) to Alabama and the fact that they're at home," Steele told AL.com. " When you look at Alabama a lot of folks discount them because they have a first-year starting quarterback, but then again three of the last four national champs have had a first-year starting quarterback."
As of today, Steele believes Alabama will bounce back to avenge its Kick Six loss in the final second at Auburn in 2013. The victory propelled Auburn to the SEC Championship and eventually to the BCS National Championship, where the Tigers fell 34-31 to Florida State in the final seconds.
The SEC West representative in the SEC Championship Game will emerge from the Iron Bowl, Steele said.
The rivals have several unanswered questions heading into the fall, especially on offense.
Alabama has a quarterback battle brewing, and it is expected to heat up in the fall with Florida State transfer Jacob Coker vying to be AJ McCarron's replacement.
Auburn returns most of its offense minus left tackle Greg Robinson and running backTre Mason, and must also replace most of its secondary.
"You look at Alabama as far as the running game goes, with that bevvy of running backs they have, an outstanding receiving corps," Steele said, rattling off his reasons for picking Alabama. "I believe the offensive line will be at least as good as last year. They're going to have the best defensive line they've had in a couple of years and they get that at home, which is huge."
Alabama hosts FCS foe Western Carolina before getting Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 29. "They'll be fully focused on it," Steele said.
Steele's annual preseason magazine will ship Friday and will be available on newsstands June 24.
Continue reading...
The last five SEC representatives in the BCS National Championship won the Iron Bowl, and while Steele is not yet ready to say Alabama or Auburn will go on to appear in the playoff final in 2014, he does already have a winner in mind: Alabama.
"I actually give (the edge) to Alabama and the fact that they're at home," Steele told AL.com. " When you look at Alabama a lot of folks discount them because they have a first-year starting quarterback, but then again three of the last four national champs have had a first-year starting quarterback."
As of today, Steele believes Alabama will bounce back to avenge its Kick Six loss in the final second at Auburn in 2013. The victory propelled Auburn to the SEC Championship and eventually to the BCS National Championship, where the Tigers fell 34-31 to Florida State in the final seconds.
The SEC West representative in the SEC Championship Game will emerge from the Iron Bowl, Steele said.
The rivals have several unanswered questions heading into the fall, especially on offense.
Alabama has a quarterback battle brewing, and it is expected to heat up in the fall with Florida State transfer Jacob Coker vying to be AJ McCarron's replacement.
Auburn returns most of its offense minus left tackle Greg Robinson and running backTre Mason, and must also replace most of its secondary.
"You look at Alabama as far as the running game goes, with that bevvy of running backs they have, an outstanding receiving corps," Steele said, rattling off his reasons for picking Alabama. "I believe the offensive line will be at least as good as last year. They're going to have the best defensive line they've had in a couple of years and they get that at home, which is huge."
Alabama hosts FCS foe Western Carolina before getting Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 29. "They'll be fully focused on it," Steele said.
Steele's annual preseason magazine will ship Friday and will be available on newsstands June 24.
Continue reading...
