Auburn vs. Alabama Total Prediction
Will this year’s “Iron Bowl” between the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide turn into a defensive struggle? Or will Alabama’s explosive offense move the ball at will against a stout Auburn defense?
Game Snapshot
227 Auburn Tigers at 228 Alabama Crimson Tide
3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, November 24, 2018
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Crimson Tide are 24.5-point favorites to beat the Tigers. The total, meanwhile, sits at 52.5 points. As of this writing, 60% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Tigers.
Auburn Tigers
Auburn redshirt junior QB Jarrett Stidham completed 12-of-18 passes for 178 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Saturday’s 53-0 rout of Liberty. Stidham also rushed for a touchdown in the rout before handing the reins over to Malik Willis, who finished out the second half against the FBS Independent Flames. The three total touchdowns marked a season best for Stidham. Next up is the always contentious rivalry game against No. 1 Alabama next Saturday in the Iron Bowl. He passed for 237 yards with 51 rushing yards and a score in a 26-14 win over the Tide in his first taste of the rivalry last season.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama sophomore QB Tua Tagovailoa completed 18-of-22 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s 50-17 win over The Citadel. Tagovailoa also added 37 yards and a touchdown on the ground. This will go down on paper as a blowout, but heading into halftime this was a tie ballgame at 10 apiece. That changed quickly as Alabama scored four touchdowns in the third quarter. Citadel dominated in time of possession as they went with a run-centric gameplan and their only two pass attempts of the day came from Brandon Rainey. Tua’s touchdown passes came from 68, five, and seven yards out. He continues to be one of the most efficient and explosive quarterbacks in the country and the Heisman front-runner. The Crimson Tide host Auburn before their matchup with Georgia in the SEC championship game.
Betting Trends
Auburn
The under is 6-2 in the Tigers’ last eight games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Alabama
The over is 5-0 in the Crimson Tide’s last five games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Prediction
The under is 7-2 in the last nine meetings between these two teams in Tuscaloosa, is 12-3 in the Tigers’ last 12 games overall and 7-2 in their last nine conference games. I just can’t see Auburn’s offense moving the ball against an Alabama defense that is playing its best ball of the season. In fact, after shutting out LSU and Mississippi State over the past month, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Tigers throw a goose egg on the scoreboard on Saturday. Either way, I’m taking the under.
College Football Prediction: Auburn/Alabama under 52.5