Alabama is the clear favorite, but the battle for the SEC West is just getting started
Can anybody catch Alabama?
That’s been the question for several years and it remains true as the SEC West contenders enter the home stretch.
It looks like the West will come down to one of four teams: Alabama (5-0 in the SEC), Auburn (4-1), LSU (3-1) or Texas A&M (3-1). Technically, Mississippi State is still in the mix at 2-2 in the conference, but it’s not likely. The Bulldogs could be eliminated Saturday if they lose at A&M. That’s the only game of consequence in Week 9, as Alabama, Auburn and LSU are all enjoying a bye week before the mad dash resumes.
Auburn has the toughest remaining schedule. The Tigers play two teams who are still vying for the West crown in Texas A&M and Alabama, and also have No. 3 Georgia, the best team from the East.
Alabama has already beaten the Aggies 27-19 in Week 6, but the Tide still have LSU and and a trip to Auburn.
LSU still has to play Alabama and A&M, and A&M, of course, still has LSU and Auburn.
In other words, out of the six possible games between the four biggest contenders for the West, only two have been played — Alabama at Texas A&M and Auburn at LSU. That leaves a lot of great football left to be played.
The most intriguing matchup will almost certainly be the Iron Bowl coming up on Nov. 25 in Jordan-Hare Stadium. That game takes on an even greater significance if Auburn beats Georgia on Nov. 11, also at Jordan-Hare.
Alabama and Auburn have many similarities. Both field a solid stable of running backs who make up a majority of the offense’s identity, and they both complement that with a capable quarterback and rock solid defense.
Here’s a more in-depth comparison between the two teams from the state of Alabama:
One advantage Alabama has over Auburn in rushing offense — while also allowing Auburn to have better passing numbers — is that Alabama QB Jalen Hurts is a lot more effective as a rusher than as a passer.
When you break down the total yardage between Hurts and Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham, you’ll find that Hurts has 1,795 (1,223 passing, 572 rushing) while Stidham has 1,803 (1,728 passing, 75 rushing). Hurts has the edge in total touchdowns, however — 15 to 10.
The point is that while Alabama is better in most statistically categories, these two teams aren’t that far apart.
Playing at Jordan-Hare further evens it out.
That’s going to be the case with most of the divisional games down the stretch. Alabama is the clear favorite of the four, but all of the other teams have a legitimate shot at making it to the SEC Championship Game.
A&M gave Alabama its toughest test with that 27-19 loss in College Station, and the Auburn-LSU game turned out to be one of the better SEC games this season after LSU went on a 27-3 run to come back and beat Auburn 27-23.
It’s going to be a wild finish to the regular season, and it’ll be interesting to see who prevails to take on — more than likely — Georgia in Atlanta.
The games up to this point have only been a preview of the excitement that we are sure to see starting in Week 10 with Alabama against LSU and Auburn against A&M.
Who comes out on top?
