Alabama vs. Auburn point spread: Picking the Iron Bowl

Auburn is not entering the Iron Bowl exactly how they thought they would. A loss to New Mexico State was a shocking one, especially because of how dominant the Aggies were. Hugh Freeze admitted the program and its fans deserve better and will have an instant opportunity to make up for it against Alabama.

Somehow, Auburn losing on Saturday was the worst thing possible for Alabama. As it is, weird things happen when the Iron Bowl is played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Somehow, it’s just the nature of the rivalry — just look at the results during the Nick Saban era.

But when an embarrassed team is looking to bounce back, the energy is just a little bit higher.

“Auburn is unbelievably embarrassed and they should be,” Jake Crain said during Monday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “That’s not a shot at Jerry Kill. This New Mexico State team is not North Alabama or Alabama State. But most people don’t know that.

“They think ‘New Mexico State, it’s a money game. You should beat them.’ Auburn got dominated in that game. They were not the better team on that day. But embarrassment is an amazing fuel.”

How to watch the Iron Bowl

Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Channel: CBS, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium — Auburn, AL

Auburn could provide scare throughout game, similar to Georgia

If any other team is aware of the magic Jordan-Hare Stadium provides, it’s Georgia. Not just from a historical standpoint, where the Bulldogs have been on the wrong side of the jaw-dropping results in the past.

Even this season, Carson Beck and the offense struggled at times. Auburn was able to hang around until the Brock Bowers show broke out, ending the upset bid from the home team.

Crain sees something similar unfolding on Saturday, taking Auburn to cover the 14.5-point spread.

“I think this is going to be a tight game most of the way through,” Crain said. “And I do like Auburn to cover the 14.5. If it goes under 14, I would probably take Bama. But don’t be shocked if this game is a little reminiscent of the Georgia game where Auburn is hanging on, hanging on, and hanging on and Jalen Milroe and them find a way at the end.”

Staples hypothesized that during last week’s practice, Auburn was not exactly preparing for New Mexico State, which possibly led to the loss. Freeze was getting his team ready for Alabama and was attempting to get two weeks of prep for the game.

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While the Tigers might be well prepared, Staples does not believe it will be enough to pull off the massive upset.

“I imagine Auburn will be very prepared for Alabama,” Staples said. “I’m just not sure it’s going to matter… I’m going to take Alabama to cover here because I think they are starting to really roll.”