Kirk Herbstreit names 2 reasons why Auburn has had more success than anyone else against Alabama
The Auburn Tigers have gone 3-4 against Alabama the past 7 years. While that’s hardly an impressive record in normal situations, it’s the most success anyone has had against Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide team.
The 2 rivals will meet on the field again on Saturday afternoon, with Alabama trying to keep its Playoff hopes alive. The Tide will be without Saban, who tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
On Saturday morning’s SportsCenter, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit broke down 2 reasons why he thinks Auburn has had the amount of success its had against Alabama:
“It’s 2 things. Number 1, his offensive scheme gives his playmakers the chance to go out and make plays because it’s a tough offense to prepare for,” Herbstreit said. “And I think the other thing is Kevin Steele, the defensive coordinator. Kevin Steele, who has been around the SEC and has spent time in Tuscaloosa as an assistant and defensive coordinator under Nick Saban. So, they understand each other. They know Alabama probably better than anybody. … I think Kevin Steele gets his guys fired up.”
Herbstreit didn’t go as far as to pick an Auburn upset, but those are indeed a couple of reasons why Auburn has been able to beat Alabama more than any other school.
Is an upset in the works on Saturday? Tune in to CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET to find out.
alabama is good, they usually are under saban, but a lot of teams buy into the hype of the sports media. Auburn simply isn’t beat before the coin flip, which most other teams are and have no chance.
Another interesting statistic that probably has little meaning toward today’s outcome is the Iron Bowl series is tied 20 wins each since 1980. I’m pretty sure no other team has had this success against Alabama over the last 40 years. This period includes twenty years that the game was played exclusively in Birmingham, which was anything but a neutral field. Again this doesn’t have a lot of bearing on today’s game but it does show Auburn historically has held their own against Bama, War Eagle.
I expect Auburn to surprise many today. Too many are tunneling Alabama’s last few games going into this and understandably so, but don’t be fooled by those games. Let’s look at it:
Both Auburn and Alabama held Tennessee to 17. Both teams covered their spreads against them also.
Alabama shutout MSST but I just don’t see that as a trophy. I said after week 1 that it’s hard to throw for 600+ yards and not show a big portion of your hand and I think the record shows that. Only reason they beat LSU is because Pelini was too stubborn to play zone like they should have. Everyone else has and has handled them effectively.
Alabama played a drastically depleted Kentucky and held them to 3. I’m pretty sure had Chris Rodrigues Jr been available, Bama wouldn’t have held them to 3. So let’s not read too much into that.
My point to all this is that everyone seems to be looking at these 3 games defensively as an excuse to assume that Alabama is going to beat Auburn by 4 scores. That’s not going to happen. Alabama is not going to move the ball through the air at will against Auburn’s secondary and I expect a pick or 2 if they try. This will likely be the old fashioned ground and pound that has been common in these meetings.
I like Alabama to win, but they won’t cover that spread and will likely be held to a season low.
Still feeling the same about the game now 35-6?
So you were wrong on every point. Are you a weather man?
2 things: win with a first time ever play (kick 6)
Get 2 pick 6’s, extra second and a doink all in one game.
I do think Steele is an excellent DC
Where did “Tigeralum1983” go? I’d like to see how he predicts this Covid thing playing out. Will it be going away anytime soon?