The 85th meeting between the University of Alabama and Auburn University kicks off tomorrow at Bryant-Denny Stadium at 2:30 PM CT on CBS. The Crimson Tide holds a 46-37-1 advantage in the series, but the Tigers won a game for the ages last year at Jordan-Hare, 48-45.

Nick Saban will not be on the sideline as he IS sidelined with COVID-19. But the Tide will still be fielding a spectacular team and the Tigers have been getting better and better throughout the season. Bo Nix is playing well. Running back Tank Bigsby is questionable for the game, so that’s a factor if he doesn’t play as the Tigers will be relying on Shaun Shivers and D.J. Williams to tote the rock. But Bigsby could be available. Auburn has a couple of starting offensive linemen who are questionable as well. Alabama looks to be pretty healthy coming into the game unless the COVID tests come back this morning at 10 and there are positives, players that may have contracted it from S. So that’ll be something to keep an eye on.

Here’s a look at the 85th Iron Bowl and the rest of the riveting action in week 13.

Last Week: 12-6

Overall: 160-68, 70%

Rankings are College Football Playoff Rankings

No.22 Auburn (5-2) @ No.1 Alabama (7-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

Bama by 24 1/2

Mac Jones has put up a Heisman-worthy season together completing 155 of 201 passes, 77%, for 2,428 yards, 18 TDs against only 3 ints. Mac, Kyle Trask, Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith should be the guys invited to the Big Apple in my opinion. The numbers by these 3 guys and Trask are off the charts great. Najee has rushed for 797 yards and 18 TDs and caught 22 passes for 210 yards. DeVonta has caught 65 passes for 903 yards and 10 TDs. If you ask me, I would pick DeVonta Smith first in the Heisman voting. He has been dominant, especially with Jaylen Waddle going down for the season with injury. It would be between DeVonta and Mac with Najee right there. Christian Harris is leading the defense with 49 tackles. The Tide has 8 interceptions on the season. Daniel Wright and Malachi Moore lead the team with 2 apiece. Wright, Patrick Surtain II and Jordan Battle have each taken an int back to duh house. The offense has been electric all season and the defense is showing signs of becoming a lockdown outfit.

For the Tigers, Bo Nix is completing 136 of 222 passes, 61%, for 1,627 yards, 10 TDs against 5 ints. Tank has rushed for 527 yards and 5 TDs and caught 11 passes for 84 yards. His status is up in the air for the game. Won’t know if he’s available until game time. Shaun Shivers has rushed for 172 yards and 1 TD and D.J. Williams has rushed for 183 yards and 2 TDs. Wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, and his world class speed, leads the offense with 41 receptions for 506 yards and 3 TDs. The great Seth Williams adds 33 receptions for 563 yards and 3 TDs. And Eli Stove is an excellent third option with 24 receptions for 249 yards and 3 TDs. Another weapon is 6’6”, 280 pound tight end/Hback J.J. Pegues who has only 5 receptions for 40 yards and 4 rushes for 16 yards, but i see him playing a bigger role in this game as Gus pulls out all the stops. Linebacker Zakoby McClain leads the defense with 68 tackles. Colby Wooten leads the Tigers in tackles for loss with 8 and also in sacks with 2 1/2. The Tigers have posted 7 interceptions on the season with Roger McCreary leading the team with 2. Smoke Monday took an interception back to the house last week against Tennessee for 100 yards.

Final Analysis

I like Auburn’s team a lot and not having S on the sideline is somewhat a factor for the Crimson Tide. But not enough. The Tigers can still finish strong and be competitive for a while in this rivalry, but Steve Sarkisian is capable as head coach and calls a good game offensively, and Mac, Najee and DeVonta do their respective jobs to perfection. I like the Tigers to hang tough for a while but for the Tide to pull away in the fourth quarter.

Alabama 45, Auburn 20

LSU (3-3) @ No.5 Texas A&M (5-1)

Kyle Field, College Station

6 PM CT

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Kris Budden

A&M by 14 1/2

A&M is a good team, but they’re not great. They defeated Florida at home, 41-38, but with a crowd of 55,000 and an amazing home field advantage, in what should have been about 20% full or 20,000 fans, they outlasted the Gators. They could possibly get in the playoff, and they could be formidable there, but I’m not as bullish until I see how they play against the Bengal Tigers. Florida had COVID problems right after the A&M game and A&M has had COVID problems since that game, so A&M didn’t use “an abundance of caution” in protecting the players in that game in order to get the home field advantage. Still not convinced Kellen Mond is elite though. He’s been playing well, no doubt, but I like the Bengal Tigers to give the Aggies a game. I’ll take the Aggies, but not by much. Want to see more good results from them before I see them as a Playoff team.

A&M 31, LSU 24

Kentucky (3-5) @ No.6 Florida (6-1)

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville

11 AM CT

ESPN

Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Quint Kessenich

Gators by 25

I like Kyle Trask and his offense to have a big day against the Wildcats. The defense isn’t great, like most of the elite teams. But, like most of the elite teams, the defense has superb athletes on it and has a chance to be elite by season’s end.

Florida 42, Kentucky 10

No.9 Georgia (5-2) @ South Carolina (2-6)

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Alyssa Lang

Dawgs by 21 1/2

I like a closer game here in this border state rivalry. J.T. Daniels, the USC transfer, is now Georgia’s quarterback, and has brought some more playmaking ability to the offense. But Mike Bobo, the interim S.C. coach after Muschamp was fired, was the offensive coordinator at Georgia and I like him to keep it pretty close.

Georgia 35, South Carolina 24

Mississippi State (2-5) @ Ole Miss (3-4)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Rebs by 9 1/2

Give me Lane and his Rebels to take the Egg Bowl.

Ole Miss 48, Mississippi State 31

Vanderbilt (0-7) @Missouri (3-3)

Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, Columbia, MO.

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Dave Neal, DJ, Taylor Davis

Missouri by 14 1/2

The Commodores are getting closer and closer to obtaining that first victory. Derek Mason has his team playing better. They’ve got a shot here. I’ll take the Tigers in a hard fought contest, but give my Dores a shot. True freshman quarterback Ken Seals is the real deal and has a bright future. If the Dores can win a game or 2 this year that would be tremendous because they’ll have a lot of good players back next year along with a pretty good recruiting class with a chance to add some more excellent pieces for 2021.

Missouri 28, Vanderbilt 24

Today

No.2 Notre Dame (8-0) @ No. 19 North Carolina (6-2)

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C.

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Katie George

Irish by 6

This is going to be an exceptional game with 2 stellar quarterbacks going head to head. Ian Book has been spectacular for the Fighting Irish and Sam Howell is phenomenal for UNC as well. I’ll take the Irish, but barely.

Notre Dame 38, North Carolina 35

Saturday

No.3 Clemson 56, Pittsburgh 10

Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Sean, Todd, McShay, Molly

Clemson by 24

Clemson is hungry and angry. Pitt takes the brunt of that.

Tonight

No.15 Oregon 38, Oregon State 21

Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR.

6:30 CT

ESPN

Oregon by 13 1/2

The Ducks haven’t been overly impressive, so if they want any hope of making the Final Four, they need to get started tonight. I like them to play well.

Today

No. 13 Iowa State 31, No. 17 Texas 30

DKR Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX.

11 AM CT

ABC

Texas by 1

Huge game for Big 12 title aspirations for both teams. Iowa State has been strong lately. They pull off the slight upset on the road.

Saturday

No.8 Northwestern 28, Michigan State 14

Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI.

2:30 PM CT

ESPN2

Wildcats by 13

Pat Fitzgerald has fielded an excellent team with a top flight defense. They have a shot to win the Big Ten and a shot to make a run at the Playoff.

No.12 Indiana 35, Maryland 31

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN.

11 AM CT

ESPN2

Indiana by 11 1/2

I see Taulia and Maryland giving the great Michael Penix Jr. and the Hoosiers everything they want. Outstanding quarterback play in this game.

No. 20 Coastal Carolina 34, Texas State 14

Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos Texas

2 PM CT

ESPN+

Coastal by 17

Coastal keeps their New Year’s Six aspirations alive. This is a high quality football team.

Today

No. 24 Iowa 35, Nebraska 21

Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City

12 PM CT’

FOX

Iowa by 13 1/2

The Hawkeyes just keep playing better and better and becoming the solid football team they always are. They move to 4-2 after an 0-2 start.

Today

California 24, Stanford 21

California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA.

3 PM CT’

FOX

Stanford by 1

Excellent rivalry game. I’m surprised Stanford is favored. They weren’t earlier in the week but the gamblers like’em. I like the Golden Bears.

Saturday

Washington 31, Utah 21

Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA.

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Huskies by 7

Washington is trying to become relevant on the national stage and win the PAC-12. This would be a good step in that direction.

UCLA 42, Arizona 27

Rose Bowl, L.A.

7 PM CT

FOX

UCLA by 10

The Bruins are playing well right now. Like them at home.

Michigan 31, Penn State 28

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

11 AM CT

ABC

Michigan by 2

These are 2 teams that are having disastrous seasons with the Wolverines at 2-3 and the Nittany Lions at 0-5. The Wolverines are playing better and attempt to rebound and orchestrate some semblance of success this season.

TCU 38, Kansas 10

David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS.

7 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

TCU by 24 1/2

The Frogs move to 4-4 and set their sights on finishing off a successful season. Kansas is just ready for basketball.

Colorado 34, San Diego State 30

Folsom Field, Boulder, CO.

4 PM CT

PAC-12 Network

Colorado by 3

Like the way this Buffs team is playing under Karl Dorrell. Victories over a pretty good UCLA team, 48-42 at home, and a road victory at Stanford, 35-32. So pretty bullish on the Buffs. The Aztecs are always solid, but like the Buffs a little better today.