2010 Iron Bowl Prediction

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Jacob Bunn

It is an extreme understatement to say that Auburn’s national championship hopes go through Tuscaloosa. This is the biggest test of the season for second-ranked Auburn. Can they pull it off? Can they execute well enough to win the most difficult road game of the year?

On the other side is Alabama. The reigning national champions have seen struggles this year in big games. South Carolina put up thirty-five on the Crimson Tide defense, and LSU scored twenty-four on them. The one positive for Alabama, though, is the fact that they have taken care of business at home.

So, the million dollar question is how will Friday’s game go?

Alabama will come out of the tunnel fired up and sharp. The Crimson Tide will score a touchdown and get a defensive stop to begin the game. Auburn will be playing damage control in the first quarter. The Tigers will play well enough defensively early on to keep the margin from getting wider than manageable.

At the end of the first quarter:  Alabama 13 Auburn 6

Early in the second quarter, Auburn will tie the game with a Newton quarterback draw from four yards out. Alabama will respond with a touchdown. Both teams will continue to virtually match the other for the remainder of the first half.

At halftime:  Alabama 23 Auburn 20

The third quarter will be surprisingly defensive. The only scoring will be a field goal for each team.

At the end of the third quarter:  Alabama 26 Auburn 23

Finally, we come to the fourth quarter. This is the time in any game when legends are made and championships are won or lost. Cam Newton will become even more of a legend than he already is. He will lead Auburn to two fourth quarter touchdowns and secure a victory for the underdog Tigers.

Final score:  Auburn 37 Alabama 33

As Iron Bowls go, this is as good as it gets, two teams in the BCS top eleven within the state of Alabama.

I will say this, though. If, for some reason, Cam Newton does not play Friday, all bets are off. But, why would anyone have reason to think that Newton will not play. Auburn has said repeatedly that it is aware of all the information out there. Surely after eleven games, the Auburn administration would not suddenly come to the conclusion that it had been playing an ineligible player all year. That’s just nonsense, no?

For many in Alabama, and the south for that matter, it all comes down to Friday. Alabama and Auburn have a combined record of 21-2 this year. It just doesn’t get any bigger than this.

Contact Jacob Bunn at Jacob@bunnsports.com