Alabama has opened as a 3- to 4-point favorite in this weeks Iron Bowl at Auburn, but according to ESPN’s FPI, the Crimson Tide have a strong chance to pull out a victory.
It lists Alabama having a 65.7 percent chance of victory as backup QB Mac Jones makes his second straight start and third of the season in place of injured QB Tua Tagovailoa.
It’s a game that sets up a battle of which quarterback can get the ball to its speedy and talented playmakers on the outside and in the backfield.
Jones threw for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns as he left in the third quarter of No. 5 Alabama’s rout of FCS Western Carolina on Saturday. Alabama forced 5 turnovers and got big plays from Jones and receivers DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.
Auburn similarly cruised over Samford as the defense held Samford to 114 yards and JaTarvious Whitlow scored twice for the Tigers.
Whitlow, Waddle and Smith are some of the key players, perhaps more so than Bo Nix and Jones, that will likely decide the outcome of the Iron Bowl.
Alabama won last year 52-21, and has won 4 of the last 5 meetings, however, Auburn won the last meeting in Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2017, 26-14. The Crimson Tide lead the overall series 46-36-1.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
