College Football Preview – Auburn Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Iron Bowl has seen some exciting games over the last decade. Auburn pulled off incredible wins over Alabama in 2010 and 2013 on the way to making the BCS National Championship Game, and the Tigers have toppled the Crimson Tide the last two times these teams have met in Auburn. However, the Crimson Tide are three-touchdown favorites against the Tigers on Saturday.

The Auburn Tigers will host the Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at 12 p.m. ET on FOX.

College Football Betting Odds

Alabama -20.5

Auburn +20.5

Total 57.5

Auburn is 6-5 coming into this game. The Tigers have lost three straight games since knocking off Arkansas and Ole Miss, but they are not at full strength on offense. Bo Nix suffered a season-ending injury in the loss to Mississippi State, and this offense is not the same with T.J. Finley under center.

The Crimson Tide have already clinched the SEC West. Alabama’s only loss this season was to Texas A&M, but this team beat both LSU and Arkansas by a single score in the last month. This is not as good as most Alabama teams we have seen in the Nick Saban era though.

When Alabama Has the Ball

If C.J. Stroud doesn’t win the Heisman Trophy, then Bryce Young will probably become the first Alabama quarterback to claim the honor. Young is completing 71.7% of his passes for 9.8 YPA with 38 touchdowns and three interceptions on the season. He has two superb receivers in Jameson Williams and John Metchie III. Williams has 59 receptions for 1,218 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year, while Metchie has 77 catches for 895 yards and seven scores.

Brian Robinson Jr. leads the Crimson Tide with 945 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Alabama is only averaging 4.2 YPC though, as this team has not been as successful running the ball as the Crimson Tide have been in the past.

Auburn has a decent defense. The Tigers rank 25^th in Defensive SP+. They are allowing 24.2 PPG and 390.8 YPG, but the secondary has been susceptible to good quarterbacks.

When Auburn Has the Ball

LSU transfer T.J. Finley has not been impressive under center in place of Nix. Finley threw for just 188 yards and a touchdown in last week’s loss to South Carolina, and he is completing only 52.3% of his passes on the season.

The Tigers want to run the ball with Tank Bigsby in this game. Bigsby has run for 940 yards (5.3 YPC) and 10 touchdowns, but he hasn’t been as effective in recent weeks. Still, he is more effective than Jarquez Hunter has been in SEC games.

Alabama is allowing just 2.7 YPC and 87.9 YPG on the ground. The Crimson Tide haven’t been as strong in the secondary, but Finley doesn’t have the arm to routinely test these cornerbacks. This defense ranks ninth in total defense, allowing 313.5 YPG.

Prediction

This should be a blowout. Alabama is much more talented than Auburn, and the Crimson Tide can move the ball on this defense. Finley has not shown he can have a lot of success through the air, so lay the points with the Crimson Tide.

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