Iron Bowl: Keys To The Game

Alabama vs. Auburn 

Date: Saturday, Nov. 30

Time: 2:30 p.m. CT

Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium; Tuscaloosa, Alabama

TV Channel: ABC 

Alabama has won four straight over their rival Auburn, which is the longest win streak for Alabama since winning nine games in a row from 1973 to 1981.

Keys To The Game:

Auburn

1). Can Auburn establish the run against Alabama’s defense?

When the Tigers have rushed for 147 yards or greater in a game this year, they have won those contests. So the rushing game is key for Auburn. 

The AU offense relies heavily on RPOs (run-pass options). QB Peyton Thorne reads the defense well on these plays and is a pretty good runner when he chooses to keep it. 

After viewing game film of Alabama’s defense this season, I expect the Tigers to come out and try to establish the run immediately with RB Jarquez Hunter and QB Peyton Thorne.

When they aren’t running, AU likes to pass deep, and they have a lot of speed on the outside with talented receivers. 

2). Can Auburn Protect The Football?

Turnovers have been an issue for Auburn this season. In reviewing the game film for this matchup, one thing that stands out is that the Tigers are much better than their 5-6 record indicates. Turnovers have cost them this season as they have been prone to not protecting the ball very well.

AU is 127th in the FBS in turnover margin this season. They have turned the ball over 20 times so far. 

Alabama is 2nd on defense in the FBS with 25 forced turnovers this season. 

Alabama

1). Can Bama take some pressure off Jalen Milroe?

Bama’s three worst rushing performances this season were against Vandy, UT, and Oklahoma. All losses. The offense didn’t surpass more than 84 yards on the ground in any of those losses. 

Against UT, 59 of UA’s 79 offensive snaps were either Milroe passing or running. He’s shown that he isn’t capable of shouldering that burden alone. Bama has to get more players involved and establish more of a traditional rushing attack. 

Milroe has difficulty making the right reads on zone-read running options and typically keeps the ball himself because of this. He has to distribute the ball more to be successful. 

2). Can Alabama’s Offensive Line Play Soundly?

In Alabama’s losses this season, the common factor involved was those teams blitzed them more than the teams UA defeated. 

Bama’s OL has struggled this year with picking up the blitz and with speed rushes on the ends. This has been the most problematic when Bama has been on the road using an altered cadence. Being at home, this game should help that some.

In their losses, those teams blitzed more than 25 percent of the time. Alabama will have to be prepared to find a way to help the tackles out. 

This Iron Bowl comes down to which Alabama team shows up. If the Tide is focused and prepared, Alabama should secure a home victory, but Auburn is certainly capable of pulling off the upset if they aren’t.