The Iron Bowl showdown between Auburn and Alabama is back for its 90th edition, and fans on both sides are buzzing with excitement. The SEC has officially set the kickoff for 6:30 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Thanksgiving weekend. The Tigers beat Mercer 62-17 to improve to 5-6 on the season. It was the first start for true freshman quarterback Deuce Knight, who accounted for 401 yards and six touchdowns, which led to Auburn’s 547 total yards.
In this week’s Iron Bowl, Auburn will fight for a chance to earn bowl eligibility. Alabama will enter the game looking to keep its playoff hopes alive as Auburn hopes to wreck its rival’s season.
Even though Auburn is expected to be the underdog again, history shows they don’t back down easily, especially at home. In 2021, they pushed Alabama all the way to four overtimes, and last year, they almost upset the Crimson Tide, who only escaped with a thrilling fourth-and-31 touchdown. Another interesting twist this year is the coaching matchup. Auburn’s interim coach DJ Durkin will be going head-to-head with Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer. It’s actually the fifth year in a row that the Iron Bowl features new head coach pairings on both sides.
Auburn hasn’t beaten Alabama since 2019, but with bowl eligibility and playoff dreams on the line, fans should expect another epic, high-drama game. The kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, November 29, right there at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. This night game will bring a charged atmosphere, which could work in Auburn’s favor with all the crowd noise that comes with a prime-time game at home.
Overall, the stage is set for another classic Iron Bowl battle where anything can happen. Both teams have a lot to play for, making this one of the most exciting matchups of the college football season. If Auburn pulls off the upset, it would be a major storyline, but Alabama is determined to hold strong and keep their playoff chances alive.
I’m backing Alabama -6 and the Under 46.5 in the Iron Bowl because the matchup points in one direction: Alabama is simply the more complete team right now. The Tide enter on a five-game win streak against Auburn and still control their path to both the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. Auburn, meanwhile, is playing for nothing but chaos and bowl eligibility — and that usually isn’t enough when your offense has struggled all season.
Auburn has lost six of its last eight and hasn’t solved its quarterback situation, with Ashton Daniels providing athleticism but very little consistency. Scoring only three points at home against Kentucky is a massive red flag, and now Daniels faces an Alabama defense giving up just 16.2 points per game. The Tigers haven’t cracked 17 points in five of their seven SEC games, and every competitive outing they’ve had this season has turned into a defensive rock fight.
That plays directly into my Under. Both teams lean toward slower, physical football, and both defenses rank inside the top 30 in scoring allowed, led by difference-makers like Xavier Atkins and Yhonzae Pierre. Alabama hasn’t allowed more than 24 points to any SEC opponent, and Auburn hasn’t shown the firepower to push them. Even with the rivalry energy at Jordan-Hare, the average combined SEC score for both teams is well below the total.
I’m leaning Tide -6 because Alabama brings the much better passing game, a more balanced offensive identity, and the more reliable quarterback in Ty Simpson. Auburn is just 2-6-1 ATS in its last nine and 0-5 SU/ATS against top-tier defenses. The script here is familiar: defenses dominate, and Alabama eventually pulls away. I’m backing the Tide to cover the number. Lock in Alabama -6 and the highly backed Under 46.5 right now at Bankroll U!