Alabama Football: Expect Charles Barkley to wear Tide colors

NBA analyst and Auburn alumni member Charles Barkley has a bet with Alabama football’s starting quarterback Jalen Hurts regarding today’s Iron Bowl.

Barkley is never afraid to speak his mind. That’s part of what people respect about him. No matter what he says or does, everyone knows where they stand with Barkley.

It’s part of what made Barkley’s one-on-one interview with Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban so special. Two men who tell it like they see it discussed how they see college football, especially in the state of Alabama.

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However, Barkley may have finally bet too much on his words. He has a bet with Alabama’s starting quarterback Jalen Hurts about today’s much-anticipated Iron Bowl matchup.

John Rowe of NorthJersey.com reminded everyone yesterday about what Barkley’s bet was with Hurts:

"If Auburn, Barkley’s alma mater, wins, Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts must wear an Auburn jersey around the Tuscaloosa campus for a week.If Alabama wins, the basketball Hall of Famer must wear a Crimson Tide jersey on the set of NBA pregame show that he’s a part of.High stakes indeed."

Possibly too high for Barkley. The basketball legend has never been one to fret too much about putting money where his mouth is, win or lose. Yet, he has put himself in harm’s way with his fellow Auburn supporters if the Tigers lose the game.

That harm also may be more a guarantee than just a fear.

Some of the media, such as ESPN College Game Day, have thought that Alabama’s defense is showing too much vulnerability with the injuries that they have sustained. Yet, in the same program, Saban had an update on that way of thinking:

Even in spot roles, that’s a group of leaders, along with defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, who are going to appear on the field to help guide the younger linebackers in that 3-4 defense for Alabama. That spells trouble for a very predictable Auburn offense. A couple of deep throws with a bunch of rushing plays are all that the Tigers have against the Crimson Tide.

That predictability may very well be why Barkley will be sporting a sweet dose of crimson in his wardrobe on national television. Will Barkley be able to live it down? Will Auburn be able to live down the fact that one of their most successful athletes in their history had to wear Alabama’s colors because he couldn’t resist a bet?

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One thing is for sure, if Hurts plays like he can, staying frosty and moving the ball down the field, Barkley will be sweating blue and orange as he has crimson-colored nightmares.