Ranked Auburn vs. ranked Alabama for the sixth time ever: Three thoughts heading in + game notes

AUBURN -- In a highly anticipated rematch at Neville Arena on Wednesday night, No. 12-ranked Auburn (18-4, 7-2 SEC) takes on No. 16 Alabama (16-6, 8-1 SEC), escalating one of the most intense rivalries in college sports. Bragging rights, first place in the SEC, NCAA Tournament seeding implications, it's all on the line tonight. Wednesday night’s basketball version of the Iron Bowl is the sixth all-time meeting between Auburn and Alabama when both teams are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Alabama is 4-1 in the previous five meetings. However, the No. 4-ranked Tigers beat the No. 24-ranked Tide, 81-77, in Tuscaloosa in 2022 – the last game between ranked squads in the series. Auburn enters a 5.5-point favorite. T-Rank gives Auburn a 69 percent chance to win, projecting the score 86-80 in favor of the Tigers. Three thoughts heading into the game plus game notes...