K
Kevin Scarbinsky |
Iron Bowl history is full of memorable moments, but the one thing it lacks is a jaw-dropping upset that rocks the entire college football world. This game would be that upset.
Alabama is 10-1 overall, 6-1 in the SEC, while Auburn is 6-5 and 2-5. Alabama is second in the nation in the College Football Playoff rankings. Auburn is seventh and last in the SEC West.
Alabama is playing to clinch the SEC West title and a berth in the SEC Championship game, where the Tide could become the first team since Tennessee in 1998 to repeat as league champion and the only team to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff for the second straight year.
What's Auburn playing for besides pride? To prevent Alabama from having all those nice things. When one team has everything to gain and the other has nothing to lose, the conditions are in place for an upset of historic proportion.
Now consider the obvious mismatches in personnel. Alabama running back Derrick Henry is stiff-arming his way toward the Heisman Trophy. The entire Auburn defense got trucked by the last back it faced in Henry's class, Leonard Fournette.
The Alabama front seven is one of the best in SEC history. The Auburn offensive line is coming off a game in which it started a backup at left tackle and a third-stringer at center because of injuries on and off the field.
It's not much of a stretch to suggest Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson may be the only Tiger who would absolutely, positively start for Alabama.
The Tigers are lucky he and his right leg are on the roster. Field goals aside, Auburn has scored no more than two touchdowns in four of its seven SEC games, including the last three. Alabama has limited six of its seven SEC opponents to two end-zone visits or less.
If you've watched each team play multiple times in person this season, it's easy to arrive at the conclusion that Nick Saban and Alabama can play name your score in Jordan-Hare Stadium and exact some serious revenge for the Kick Six
Continue reading...
Alabama is 10-1 overall, 6-1 in the SEC, while Auburn is 6-5 and 2-5. Alabama is second in the nation in the College Football Playoff rankings. Auburn is seventh and last in the SEC West.
Alabama is playing to clinch the SEC West title and a berth in the SEC Championship game, where the Tide could become the first team since Tennessee in 1998 to repeat as league champion and the only team to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff for the second straight year.
What's Auburn playing for besides pride? To prevent Alabama from having all those nice things. When one team has everything to gain and the other has nothing to lose, the conditions are in place for an upset of historic proportion.
Now consider the obvious mismatches in personnel. Alabama running back Derrick Henry is stiff-arming his way toward the Heisman Trophy. The entire Auburn defense got trucked by the last back it faced in Henry's class, Leonard Fournette.
The Alabama front seven is one of the best in SEC history. The Auburn offensive line is coming off a game in which it started a backup at left tackle and a third-stringer at center because of injuries on and off the field.
It's not much of a stretch to suggest Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson may be the only Tiger who would absolutely, positively start for Alabama.
The Tigers are lucky he and his right leg are on the roster. Field goals aside, Auburn has scored no more than two touchdowns in four of its seven SEC games, including the last three. Alabama has limited six of its seven SEC opponents to two end-zone visits or less.
If you've watched each team play multiple times in person this season, it's easy to arrive at the conclusion that Nick Saban and Alabama can play name your score in Jordan-Hare Stadium and exact some serious revenge for the Kick Six
Continue reading...
