PRESS PICKS (Week 14): Lots of questions surround this year's Iron Bowl
STAFF REPORT
Heading into the 89th Iron Bowl, the question must be asked…
Have Alabama and Auburn traded places as far as momentum is concerned?
It seems reasonable to ask considering where these two teams were two weeks ago and where they are today.
Alabama was moving towards another playoff spot, possibly an SEC Championship berth. The 24-3 loss to Oklahoma all but ended that. The night created the same doubts after the loss to Vanderbilt a few weeks ago.
Auburn has been, in a word, awful, most of the season. A turnover machine, Auburn could have been considered the worst team in the SEC. They could have folded and waited for next year or, for some, found the portal.
Not now. They’ve won two straight after the win over Texas A&M. Even though it wasn’t pretty, it showed a side we haven’t seen from this team in the last couple of years.
Another question - what does the Crimson Tide have to play for? This is just the fourth time since Nick Saban’s first year in 2007 that the game has no national-title prospects for the Tide heading into this game - at least it looks that way for the moment. Tuesday’s poll may have shown a glimpse of hope for the Tide but a lot has to happen.
There was a similar case was 2022 and that was somewhat questionable the year TCU was the darling of the playoff committee. Will Kalen DeBoer find a spark in this bunch for the last game?
Auburn can earn a bowl berth with a win. Alabama will go to a bowl it has no interest in.
Auburn’s future can get a boost with its first victory in the series since 2019. No matter the outcome Saturday, Alabama’s off season will be riddled with questions.
Emotionally - Auburn has the advantage. That should help at least in preparations. Alabama has to reevaluate its prospects, appreciate the chance to win five straight against their arch rival… show a little pride.
This edition has a different dynamic since Alabama has dominated at Bryant-Denny, by an average of 20-plus points. The last time Auburn played the Tide close in Tuscaloosa was 2014 when the Tigers held a 12-point lead early in the third quarter only to lose by 11.
Bottom line… can Bama shake off the empty feeling and play like their future depends on it, even if it doesn’t?
Can Auburn continue to show improvement and make plays to give it a chance?
The biggest myth in this series is you can throw out the record books. Truth is, the favorite may not always cover but usually win.
Bama will be somewhere in the neighborhood of a two-touchdown favorite at kickoff.
Which team shows up for this one - Bama or Auburn? It should make for an interesting afternoon.
2024 Standings (Last Week)
1. Michael Butler 153-57 (10-5) .728
2. Tim Gayle 149-61 (10-5) .706
3. Doug Amos 146-64 (9-6) .695
4. Graham Dunn 145-65 (9-6) .690
5. Rosie Langello 142-68 (8-7) .676
6. Wesley Lyle 139-71 (9-6) .661
7. Mike Peacock 138-72 (10-5) .657
8. Lindsey Bonner 124- 71 (8-7) .590
Barry McKnight 124-86 (4-11) .590
10. Rick Hendrick 123-87 (4-11) .586
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
153-57 (10-5) .728
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Alabama
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas
Louisville at Kentucky - Louisville
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU -LSU
Arkansas at Missouri -Arkansas
South Carolina at Clemson - South Carolina
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Tennessee
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - Notre Dame
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
149-61 (10-5) .706
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Alabama
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Louisville at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU -LSU
Arkansas at Missouri -Missouri
South Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Tennessee
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - Notre Dame
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
146-64 (9-6) .695
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Alabama
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas
Louisville at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU -LSU
Arkansas at Missouri -Missouri
South Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Tennessee
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - Notre Dame
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
145-65 (9-6) .690
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Alabama
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Louisville at Kentucky - Louisville
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU - LSU
Arkansas at Missouri -Missouri
South Carolina at Clemson - South Carolina
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Tennessee
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - Notre Dame
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
142-68 (8-7) .676
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Alabama
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Louisville at Kentucky - Louisville
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU -LSU
Arkansas at Missouri -Missouri
South Carolina at Clemson - South Carolina
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Tennessee
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - USC
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
139-71 (9-6) .661
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Alabama
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas
Louisville at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU -LSU
Arkansas at Missouri -Arkansas
South Carolina at Clemson - South Carolina
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Tennessee
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - USC
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
138-72 (10-5) .657
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Auburn
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas
Louisville at Kentucky - Louisville
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU -LSU
Arkansas at Missouri -Missouri
South Carolina at Clemson - South Carolina
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - Notre Dame
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
124- 71 (8-7) .590
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Alabama
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas
Louisville at Kentucky - Louisville
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU -LSU
Arkansas at Missouri -Arkansas
South Carolina at Clemson - South Carolina
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Tennessee
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - Notre Dame
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
124-86 (4-11) .590
Saraland at Pike Road - Saraland
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Auburn
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas
Louisville at Kentucky - Louisville
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU -LSU
Arkansas at Missouri -Arkansas
South Carolina at Clemson - South Carolina
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - Notre Dame
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
123-87 (4-11) .586
Saraland at Pike Road - Pike Road
Vigor at Catholic - Catholic
Auburn at Alabama - Alabama
Tuskegee at Alabama St (Thur) - Alabama St
Miss St at Ole Miss (Fri) - Ole Miss
Ga Tech at Georgia (Fri) - Georgia
Texas at Texas A&M - Texas
Louisville at Kentucky - Kentucky
Florida at Florida St - Florida
Oklahoma at LSU -Oklahoma
Arkansas at Missouri -Missouri
South Carolina at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
MIchigan at Ohio St - Ohio St
Notre Dame at USC - USC