Here we go again.
Is anyone looking forward to the Iron Bowl this year? This column’s inaugural piece laid out why the annual clown show between Alabama and Auburn should be dissolved altogether. Since then, our case has only gotten stronger.
Regardless of how much you’re not looking forward to it this year, here is your Iron Bowl preview.
WHERE ARE WE?
Alabama (9-2) is wrapping up a rare multiple-loss season under Nick Saban and, therefore, an unmitigated disaster of a 2022 campaign. Coordinators are poised to be fired and most of the fan base is already looking ahead to next year.
The Tide was shut out of the playoffs earlier than it has been in years. They’re playing to beat Auburn and to not lose in a second-tier bowl game.
Alabama’s notable games this year includes losses to then-No. 9 Tennessee (52-49) in Knoxville and to then-No. 6 LSU (32-31) in Baton Rouge.
Auburn (5-6) is sprinting into the Iron Bowl under interim head coach Cadillac Williams with about as much energy and optimism as they’ve had in a while. The Tigers fired former head coach Bryan Harsin on Halloween after a 9-21 record.
Although they’re looking at their worst season in a decade, Auburn Twitter is bordering on Texas A&M levels of cultism, which can’t be bad for the next coach named Lane Kiffin.
THE MATCHUP
Alabama wins at nearly every position on the field. From Bryce Young and a rotating cast of explosive running backs to a defense that can some time, somewhere get the job done. Auburn will have a tough time lining up against the Tide.
Tide fans will be grateful that the Iron Bowl is in Tuscaloosa this year, which negates the weird 14-point voodoo witch magic advantage Jordan-Hare Stadium brings.
As for intangibles, it’s all Auburn. Everyone is behind their head coach while Alabama’s coordinators have been dusting off their resumes for weeks. Auburn is playing for much more than Alabama is.
If Auburn Twitter this week is any indication, it’s just how the two programs are built.
Those intangibles matter more in the Iron Bowl than they do most other games. That’s why Auburn will win this game.
REALLY? AUBURN?
Yep. It’s that fun trick we all love about the Iron Bowl, isn’t it? If no crazy things happen, the better team wins. This year, crazy things will happen and Auburn will win.
The Iron Bowl is going to be unwatchable, stupid and dumb. And it has nothing to do with Alabama opening to as much as a -26.5-point favorite over Auburn (DraftKings).
Yes, it’s the Iron Bowl. Alabama will lead 11-6 with six minutes left in the third quarter and end up losing by two scores.
It’s the Iron Bowl. It can’t be anything less. That’s why we’re ending Alabama and Auburn’s respective regular seasons the same way we began this column:
With a simple plea. Stop playing the Iron Bowl. No one wins.
What did we get wrong? What games are you looking forward to? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram. Listen to Throw the Flag wherever you get your podcasts.
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