PRESS PICKS: Celebrate the holidays with your favorite rivalry
STAFF REPORT
Rivalry Week is always special, no matter where you live. Depending on whom you root for, your rivalry is better than everybody else.
But in this state, the Iron Bowl has no equal. The world stops in Alabama when the two take the field. World War III could start and most of us would ignore it for those four or so hours and maybe more considering the outcome of the game.
It’s been said that it is too important to some people but it is what it is and that will not change anytime soon.
Our panel traditionally gives predictions on what might happen. They have been pretty good over the years, picking the winner at a 90 percent clip.
This year may look easy considering Alabama is No. 3 in the College Football Poll while Auburn has lost three straight and looked pedestrian in the second half in each of those loses.
But Alabama hasn’t look like, well, Alabama, particularly on defense where they have struggled. While it might not seem like Auburn has the passing game to take advantage of the Crimson Tide’s vulnerability in the secondary, it might be what the doctor ordered.
That said, the panel gave its brief opinion on the game this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (CBS). The Crimson Tide is close to a three-touchdown favorite at Jordan-Hare Stadium. They are the unanimous pick.
Doug Amos
This Alabama team is the most inconsistent team Saban had had since his first year in Tuscaloosa. You don’t know what you’re gonna get from week to week. Combine that with the history of the Tide’s struggles at Jordan-Hare and it could spell trouble for Alabama. Without Bo Nix, however, Alabama wins but by a much closer score than many think.
Alabama 27-17
Dylan Hurst
I like Alabama to put up 21 points in the first half and cruise to a win.
Alabama, 35-7
Mike Peacock
As much as I’d love to predict an upset for Auburn, I just don’t think it will happen. Auburn has too many key pieces missing to seriously contend for the upset. I do think this Alabama team is not as fearful as in past years, but Bryce Young is the real deal.
Alabama, 31-21
Rick Hendrick
As in the past, no matter the location or ranking, this will be a close game, but I think that the offensive firepower from Alabama will outlast Auburn and the Tide will win the game.
Alabama, 42-35
Michael Butler
This game might have lost some of its luster with the Tigers’ recent skid. Keep in mind that the game still matters, and Auburn would love to derail the Tide’s national title hopes.
Auburn has been good against Bama at Jordan-Hare and winners of the last two there. While Alabama won convincingly in T-Town last year, this team doesn’t appear to be of that caliber.
Still, the Crimson Tide are huge favorites. Why? It’s about Auburn’s struggles - and Alabama is still Alabama.
Expect this to be closer than the Vegas guys say. Auburn can make plays against this defense. Bigsby is good, but they need plays from Finley in place of Nix. Bryce Young is going to get his.
Alabama, 34-23
Barry McKnight
It’s an Alabama team that’s a little more vulnerable defensively than they’ve been in the recent past, but Auburn quarterback TJ Finley won’t be able to take advantage of the Tide secondary’s relative weaknesses. The best chance Auburn has (and it’s not a great chance) is to give the football to Tank Bigsby, but the Tigers’ offensive line will be hard-pressed to give him consistent room to run. Alabama will score, especially in the second half, and will pull away after halftime and win by 21.
Alabama, 38-17
Tim Gayle
With each game in Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Iron Bowl seems to get a little less predictable. The script is written in 2013 with a miracle return of a missed field goal, rewritten in 2015 with a running back setting a new Iron Bowl record for carries in a game, written again in 2017 with an upset of a No. 1 team and totally discarded last year with 93 points and a pair of interception returns for touchdowns. There’s almost no way to top the previous four Iron Bowls on Pat Dye Field except to say this year’s game will leave fans with new words to describe unlikely, improbable, unimaginable sets of plays. With Brian Harsin, we expect Auburn to get to a fast start. With Saban, we expect Alabama to climb back into the contest. Alabama, as a three-touchdown favorite, is hard to pick against when the Tigers are on their second-string quarterback and second-string kicker. That said ….
Alabama, 37-31
Graham Dunn
We love trends, especially in this rivalry. Like the one that Alabama is 0-2 and 1-3 in the last few trips to Jordan-Hare Stadium. Or that Auburn has never won this game at home when not ranked and Alabama is in the poll. But this game seems to be set to break trends. Alabama doesn’t look normal as in the past. Defensively, the Tide has holes. But Auburn hasn’t played its part either. The Tigers look as discombobulated as ever, whether its play calling or making plays in the second half (they have been outscored 44-12 combined in the fourth quarter in the last four games). They are also missing their emotional leader (and playmaker) in Bo Nix. Alabama has figured out how to win close games and it has its starting quarterback healthy, something that wasn’t the case two years ago (no offense, Mac Jones). It will be closer than it should be but the Tide ends the losing streak on the Plains.
Alabama, 35-20
2021 Standings (Week)
1. Doug Amos 139-61 (11-4) .695
2. Mike Peacock 138-62 (12-3) .690
3. Graham Dunn 137-63 (13-2) .685
4. Tim Gayle 136-64 (10-5) .680
5. Michael Butler 133-67 (10-5) .665
6. Rick Hendrick 130-70 (10-5) .650
7. Barry McKnight 127-73 (6-9) .635
8. Dylan Hurst 126-74 (12-3) .630
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
139-61 (11-4) .695
Montgomery Academy at Catholic – Catholic
Andalusia at Pike Road – Pike Road
Alabama at Auburn – Alabama
Troy at Georgia St – Georgia St
Ole Miss at Miss St (Thur) – Ole Miss
Missouri at Arkansas (Fri) – Arkansas
Florida St at Florida – Florida
Texas A&M at LSU – Texas A&M
Kentucky at Louisville – Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina – Clemson
Ohio St at Michigan – Ohio St
Penn St at Michigan St – Michigan St
Oklahoma at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
Oregon St at Oregon – Oregon
North Carolina at NC State (Fri) – NC State
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
138-62 (12-3) .690
Montgomery Academy at Catholic – Catholic
Andalusia at Pike Road – Pike Road
Alabama at Auburn – Alabama
Troy at Georgia St – Georgia St
Ole Miss at Miss St (Thur) – Ole Miss
Missouri at Arkansas (Fri) – Arkansas
Florida St at Florida – Florida St
Texas A&M at LSU – Texas A&M
Kentucky at Louisville – Kentucky
Clemson at South Carolina – Clemson
Ohio St at Michigan – Ohio St
Penn St at Michigan St – Penn St
Oklahoma at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
Oregon St at Oregon – Oregon
North Carolina at NC State (Fri) – North Carolina
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
137-63 (13-2) .685
Montgomery Academy at Catholic – Catholic
Andalusia at Pike Road – Pike Road
Alabama at Auburn – Alabama
Troy at Georgia St – Georgia St
Ole Miss at Miss St (Thur) – Miss St
Missouri at Arkansas (Fri) – Arkansas
Florida St at Florida – Florida St
Texas A&M at LSU – Texas A&M
Kentucky at Louisville – Kentucky
Clemson at South Carolina – Clemson
Ohio St at Michigan – Ohio St
Penn St at Michigan St – Michigan St
Oklahoma at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
Oregon St at Oregon – Oregon
North Carolina at NC State (Fri) – NC State
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
136-64 (10-5) .680
Montgomery Academy at Catholic – Catholic
Andalusia at Pike Road – Pike Road
Alabama at Auburn – Alabama
Troy at Georgia St – Georgia St
Ole Miss at Miss St (Thur) – Miss St
Missouri at Arkansas (Fri) – Arkansas
Florida St at Florida – Florida
Texas A&M at LSU – Texas A&M
Kentucky at Louisville – Kentucky
Clemson at South Carolina – Clemson
Ohio St at Michigan – Ohio St
Penn St at Michigan St – Michigan St
Oklahoma at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma
Oregon St at Oregon – Oregon
North Carolina at NC State (Fri) – NC State
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
133-67 (10-5) .665
Montgomery Academy at Catholic – Catholic
Andalusia at Pike Road – Pike Road
Alabama at Auburn – Alabama
Troy at Georgia St – Georgia St
Ole Miss at Miss St (Thur) – Ole Miss
Missouri at Arkansas (Fri) – Arkansas
Florida St at Florida – Florida
Texas A&M at LSU – Texas A&M
Kentucky at Louisville – Louisville
Clemson at South Carolina – Clemson
Ohio St at Michigan – Ohio St
Penn St at Michigan St – Penn St
Oklahoma at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
Oregon St at Oregon – Oregon
North Carolina at NC State (Fri) – NC State
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
130-70 (10-5) .650
Montgomery Academy at Catholic – Catholic
Andalusia at Pike Road – Pike Road
Alabama at Auburn – Alabama
Troy at Georgia St – Georgia St
Ole Miss at Miss St (Thur) – Ole Miss
Missouri at Arkansas (Fri) – Arkansas
Florida St at Florida – Florida St
Texas A&M at LSU – Texas A&M
Kentucky at Louisville – Kentucky
Clemson at South Carolina – Clemson
Ohio St at Michigan – Michigan
Penn St at Michigan St – Michigan St
Oklahoma at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma
Oregon St at Oregon – Oregon
North Carolina at NC State (Fri) – North Carolina
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
127-73 (6-9) .635
Montgomery Academy at Catholic – Catholic
Andalusia at Pike Road – Pike Road
Alabama at Auburn – Alabama
Troy at Georgia St – Troy
Ole Miss at Miss St (Thur) –Miss St
Missouri at Arkansas (Fri) – Arkansas
Florida St at Florida – Florida St
Texas A&M at LSU – Texas A&M
Kentucky at Louisville – Kentucky
Clemson at South Carolina – Clemson
Ohio St at Michigan – Ohio St
Penn St at Michigan St – Michigan St
Oklahoma at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
Oregon St at Oregon – Oregon
North Carolina at NC State (Fri) – NC State
Dylan Hurst (River Region Sports)
126-74 (12-3) .630
Montgomery Academy at Catholic – Catholic
Andalusia at Pike Road – Pike Road
Alabama at Auburn – Alabama
Troy at Georgia St – Georgia St
Ole Miss at Miss St (Thur) – Ole Miss
Missouri at Arkansas (Fri) – Arkansas
Florida St at Florida – Florida St
Texas A&M at LSU – Texas A&M
Kentucky at Louisville – Kentucky
Clemson at South Carolina – South Carolina
Ohio St at Michigan – Ohio St
Penn St at Michigan St – Michigan St
Oklahoma at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
Oregon St at Oregon – Oregon St
North Carolina at NC State (Fri) – NC State