3 keys to victory for Alabama football in the Iron Bowl against Auburn

We're just three days away from the 89th Iron Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers. There's only a little more prognosticating to be done, and likely still a little bit of trash talk left to go as well.

On Tuesday night, Alabama saw itself fall out of the projected playoff field. The Tide dropped from No. 7 last week to No. 13 this week following a 24-3 defeat on the road at Oklahoma. The hapless performance by the Tide last week will likely keep it out of the College Football Playoff, but those hopes aren't quite dead yet.

Of course, none of that matters unless Alabama takes care of business in Saturday afternoon's Iron Bowl on Saban Field.

Alabama is reeling following the loss to the Sooners while Auburn comes in with a jolt of confidence stemming from its overtime win over a ranked Texas A&M. The Tigers have improved throughout the season, and as soon as they stopped giving the ball to the other team, they've looked competent and able to match up with just about anyone.

Alabama has the better team, but that was the case in each of the team's three losses this season, too.

If Alabama wants to beat Auburn on Saturday and avoid a two-game losing streak to finish the regular season at 9-3, these three things will be key.

3 keys to victory for Alabama in Saturday's Iron Bowl

3. Contain Payton Thorne in the pocket

Hugh Freeze has poured over the game tape of Alabama's losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. You can bet on that. He's seen Alabama's struggles to stop the QB run, and he has an athletic quarterback in Payton Thorne who is more than capable of making big plays with his legs.

There will be plenty of designed run concepts for Thorne and there will also be plenty of moments where he tries to escape the pocket and makes plays when things aren't open down the field. It will be important for Alabama's defense to keep him in the pocket and force him to be a passer.

It will also be important to put some pressure in his face and get him to the ground. Thorne is prone to force some throws when he's rushed, and that's typically good news for opposing defenses.

2. Alabama needs to win both lines of scrimmage

Last week against Oklahoma, Alabama got whipped up front on both sides of the ball. As much as football has evolved over the years, it remains a pretty simple game at its core. The team that wins at the line of scrimmage is usually going to be the more successful team.

Alabama has to open up some running lanes offensively for Jalen Milroe and running backs Jam Miller and Justice Haynes. The offensive line also has to hold up in pass protection and give Milroe time to find open receivers down the field.

Defensively, Alabama has to stop the run. Jarquez Hunter is one of the best running backs in the SEC and teamed with a mobile QB in Thorne, the Tigers present a lot of problems for the Crimson Tide's defense. Last week, Oklahoma's offense was totally one-dimensional. They were never a threat to pass and yet racked up over 250 rushing yards.

This week, Auburn is more than capable of running the ball effectively, but Thorne is good enough to make plays down the field to a talented group of wide receivers.

If Alabama can control the game up front, the Crimson Tide should be able to pull out the win.

1. Good Jalen Milroe has to show up

Jalen Milroe has been Jekyll and Hyde this season for the Crimson Tide. In two of Alabama's losses - to Tennessee and Oklahoma - Milroe has played the quarterback position bad enough to invoke memories of the likes of Marc Guillon and Spencer Pennington.

But he's also had games like he did against Georgia and against LSU where he has looked like the best player in college football.

Alabama not only needs Milroe to make some plays with his legs, but he has to make throws. He needs to pass the ball as effectively as he did against Georgia. Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard will find openings against the Tigers' secondary. Milroe has to trust himself to make the throws.

Alabama has to have the good version of Milroe on Saturday. If they don't, then none of the rest of the keys to victory matter.