Iron Bowl
Saturday, 2:30 PM CT
at Auburn, Jordan-Hare Stadium, (87,500)
CBS
Verne, Gary, the Wolf with the call
Bama by 10 1/2 right now
Keys to the game:
1. The lines of scrimmage for both teams.
A. Can the Auburn o line led by Reese Dismukes, Alex Kozan, Greg Robinson, Chad Slade and company control the Alabama defensive line and open up holes for Tre Mason, Corey Grant and Artis-Payne. Fulback Jay Prosch will be important as well, really important, as he takes on the many times unblockable C. J. Mosley and, Trey DePriest. Can Prosch allow Mason and Grant to get by those two stellar players. The wide receivers will have to get the job done on the outside to allow Grant and Nick to run on the perimeter. Also will the line be able to protect Nick and Jeremy Johnson, if he’s in there, in the passing game. Playing Johnson would be an interesting twist Gus could throw in there.
B. Can the Bama line control the formidable AU defensive line? Can center Ryan Kelly, guards Anthony Steen and Arie Kuondijo, and tackles Cyrus K and Austin Shepherd handle Dee Ford, Gabe Wright, Carl Lawson, Montravius Adams, Nosa Eguae and Elijah Daniel. This will be a major determinant of the outcome of the game. If T.J. and Kenyan Drake have holes to run through they will pile up the yardage. I look for Derrick Henry to maybe get some playing time as well. If A.J. has time to throw he will be able to connect with Christion Jones, Amari Cooper, the always dependable and explosive Kevin Norwood, DeAndrew White and Kenny Bell. Look for O.J. Howard to get in the act too, if A.J can have time. The Auburn line has to pressure A.J. It’ll be interesting to see if AU defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson throws in some blitzes to rattle A.j. some.
2. The Alabama and Auburn secondaries: Will be on high alert. Auburn will try to hit some big plays with Sammie Coates and Ricardo Lewis, so Deione Belue, Bradley Sylve, Cyrus Jones and the other corners will have to be at their best. Ha Ha and Landon will need to be there to guard against the long ball. On the other side, Chris Davis and Ryan Smith will be severely tested. This is where AU really needs to get a pass rush to help these guys in coverage. Jerome Whitehead and Robinson Therezie will need to lock down deep and come up and make plays. Interceptions could play a key role in this game.
3. Turnovers, as always, will play a big role in the outcome. T.J. and Kenyan and Henry, if he’s in, will have to take care of the football for the Tide. A.J. needs to not only make plays in the passing game, he will need to manage the game well. Same for Tre and Corey and of course Nick. Nick has done an excellent job of avoiding turnovers and that will be critical Saturday.
4. Kicking game and special teams will play a role. A Chris Davis punt return or a return in the punting game or kickoff return game by Christion Jones would be game changer. A Cade Foster or Cody Parkey field goal or a couple will mean a lot. Cody Mandell and Steven Clark could determine key field position in the punting game. All important players.
There are always a lot of factors that determine the outcome of a game, any game, and in a game of this magnitude, you need to take care of business in most all of the areas I listed. Should be a thriller on the Plains Saturday. Ready for it to get here.
Will have more and my prediction on Thursday.
Another huge game Saturday Night is A&M @ Missouri at 7:45 PM ET/6:45 CT on ESPN. Missouri wins and they go to the SEC championship game in Atlanta, a week from Saturday, Dec. 7 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta at 4 PM ET/3 CT on CBS. If Missouri loses, South Carolina will go to the championship game to face Alabama or Auburn. Missouri playing really good football right now with quarterback James Franklin back and an offensive arsenal and a defense led by defensive end Michael Sam that is playing stellar. Excellent football team here. South Carolina plays Clemson at home at 7 PM ET/6 CT on ESPN2 Saturday. Should be an excellent game there as well. Some classic rivalry games this week beginning Thursday Night with Ole Miss at State, in what should be a very interesting and exciting game. That game will kickoff at 7:30 PM ET/6:3o CT on ESPN. Texas plays Texas Tech Thursday Night at 7:30 ET/6:30 CT on Fox Sports 1. Georgia-Georgia Tech play Saturday at 3:30 PM ET/2:30 CT on ABC. Florida State travels to Florida for a Saturday noon ET/11 AM CT start on ESPN. Duke in a key game at Chapel Hill to face Carolina. If Duke wins they earn a spot in the ACC championship game and if FSU doesn’t have Jameis Winston, which is possible, Duke could knock them off. The Jameis Winston situation is very disappointing if true.