Tag: Iron Bowl

LOOK: Paul Finebaum trolls Auburn

On Friday, Paul Finebaum completely trolled Auburn with a clever take off the “change my mind” meme that’s been popular for quite a while.

On Friday, Paul Finebaum completely trolled Auburn with a clever take off the “change my mind” meme that’s been popular for quite a while.

Finebaum, who has shown support for Alabama over the years, shared earlier this week how a win over Auburn could be the resume booster Alabama needs to slide back into the Playoff.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

WATCH: Alabama drops new hype video for Iron Bowl

This Iron Bowl hype video from the Alabama Football twitter account will give you chills.

The Iron Bowl is without a doubt, one of the biggest rivalry games in College Football, and this year is no different.

So much is on the line for both teams. For Auburn, they’d love to once again, try to stun Alabama at home and prevent them from making the CFB Playoff. And for Alabama, this game means everything. Not only do they need a win over Auburn, they need to do so in a big way to prove to the College Football Playoff Committee that they’re more than worthy of being back in the top 4.

This hype video from the Alabama Football twitter account will give you chills.

We’re less than 24 hours away from kickoff in a game that will be one of the best games we’ve seen all season.

Who’s ready?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Ohio State football rooting interests for Week 14

What should Ohio State Buckeye fans root to happen this weekend? Let’s go through the schedule, including major rivalry games.

There are just two weeks left in the college football season, and one of those is just conference championship games. Ohio State looks to be closing in on a College Football Playoff spot. Now it’s time to look at what the Buckeyes should root for to ensure they get in, even if they don’t win their last two games. And, maybe, we can touch on what to root for to get a preferred matchup in the semifinals.

At this point, we first have to figure out exactly what case Ohio State is rooting for. The Buckeyes are a Playoff lock with a win next week in the Big Ten Championship Game, even if they lose to Michigan. So, basically, Ohio State is rooting for the scenario that can allow it to get into the Playoff with a Big Ten Championship Game loss.

We’ll touch on it more later, but an important starting point for Ohio State is Wisconsin beating Minnesota. If the Golden Gophers win out, they’re in the Playoff. A Wisconsin win means that the Buckeyes, at worst, will be the Big Ten’s only one-loss team, so Ohio State should stay ahead of Wisconsin even with a loss to the Badgers.

Improving the resume overall will be important if a 12-1 non-Big Ten champion Ohio State team wants in the Playoff, so wins by Miami (Oh) and FAU will be useful. A win by Cincinnati over Memphis is even more important, as that would likely lock up a year-end ranking for the Bearcats, and keep alive their chances of ending in the Top 15 or better.

Ultimately, though, for Ohio State to get in the Playoff in this case, it needs there to not be four other contenders with better resumes. Right now, the teams with potentially better resumes are:
1. LSU
2. Clemson
3. Georgia
4. Utah
5. Oklahoma
6. Baylor
7. Alabama

Little things might matter, because if it comes to splitting hairs between a 12-1 Ohio State or a 12-1 Clemson (or a 12-1 Alabama), the more points of contrast in Ohio State’s favor, the better. We’ll focus on that later. For now, let’s get the big things out of the way. At least four of these teams need to have a resume worse than a 12-1 Ohio State (with a loss to Wisconsin) will have. Let’s break them down.

Next…Looking at these seven resumes

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Alabama at Auburn odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Tigers college football matchup, with NCAA football betting odds, picks and best bets

The Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1, 6-1 SEC West) travel to Jordan-Hare Stadium to face the Auburn Tigers (8-3, 4-3) in their annual in-state Iron Bowl battle at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday. We analyze the Alabama-Auburn odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Alabama is No. 5 and Auburn is No. 16 in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA Today Sports. Meanwhile, the Tide are also fifth in the College Football Playoff Rankings, while the Tigers are 15th.

Alabama at Auburn: Three things you need to know

1. Auburn sends its fans to the pay window often. Under coach Gus Malzahn, the Tigers are 7-2 against the spread as a home underdog and 8-2 ATS in its 10 games.

2. Neither team is starting the quarterback they intended to have under center at the start of the season. With Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa out for the season, sophomore Mac Jones gets his first “real” start. At Auburn, true freshman Bo Nix was pressed into action earlier than expected when starter Malik Willis was denied an eligibility waiver. This will be the first Iron Bowl for both starting QBs.

3. The eight wins Nick Saban has vs. Auburn in the Iron Bowl as ‘Bama’s head coach have come by an average of 24½ points.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Alabama at Auburn: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 1:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Alabama 27, Auburn 20

Moneyline (ML)

This is about as low a moneyline (-182) as you’ll ever see for Alabama. However, Auburn (+150) often plays Alabama tough, having won five of the last eight meetings between the two. This game doesn’t look to have blowout potential, so, if you’re think the Tigers will protect their home field, getting +150 is a pretty nice return. But we’re taking ALABAMA to win outright and investing to get a return.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The spread is Alabama -4.5 (+105 for Alabama, -125 for Auburn) and the better-than even money odds are also a rarity for ‘Bama. This one smells of a trap, which the boys in Vegas often do to entice bettors to take the side they want them to. That being said, the slim hopes Alabama has to make the championship playoff needs a decisive win. We don’t expect a blowout, but we can envision the Crimson Tide keeping their foot on the gas if they get an early lead. Take ALABAMA and lay the points.

Over/Under (O/U)

This is a tough one because Alabama is averaging 48½ points a game by itself. Saturday’s O/U is 50.5 (-106 on the Over, -115 on the Under). All the talk this week is about the offenses, but both defenses are allowing just 16 points a game and are capable of dominating. You have two unproven quarterbacks in Jones and Nix in the biggest game of their lives in this in-state rivalry, and we can see the potential for the defenses to dictate the pace of the game and both teams needing to run the ball and prevent turnovers. Take the UNDER.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]

Back off Mac Jones, He’s more than capable of winning the Iron Bowl

In Jones’ two starts against Arkansas and Western Carolina, he’s a combined 28/34 for 510 yards, 6 TDs, and 0 interceptions.

For the past few weeks, all we’ve heard is how Alabama wouldn’t win with Mac Jones, how he’s less than superb, and how Alabama wouldn’t make it to the College Football Playoff.

I don’t know about you, but I am sick of hearing people constantly belittle and bash Mac Jones, a guy who has done nothing but show up for Alabama the past two games he has started. In his two starts against Arkansas and Western Carolina, he’s a combined 28/34 for 510 yards, 6 TDs, and 0 interceptions.

Oct 19, 2019; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws a pass as Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Darrell Taylor (19) applies pressure during the second half of an NCAA football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

And here’s another thing I am sick of hearing, “Mac Jones is no Tua Tagovailoa.” Well NO kidding he’s not. He’s Mac Jones. A different type of caliber quarterback. Mac Jones is a type of pro-style quarterback that we are used to seeing under Nick Saban (think Greg McElroy and AJ McCarron) where Tagovailoa is a once in a lifetime that we’ve never seen at Alabama before.

In my honest opinion, Mac Jones is more than capable of leading Alabama to the CFB Playoff. He’s more than capable of beating Auburn in the Iron Bowl. And honestly, I think he’d be starting at many other schools in the country. Jones is very talented. He’s smart, has incredible field vision, and is able to see beyond his first two receivers.

I think people have underestimated Jones, and I think it will show against Auburn. Alabama Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian has done a good job calling plays that will have the best chance of putting Alabama in scoring position, and also put Mac Jones up for success. We’ve seen the running game become more dominant, while also seeing Jones throw quick slants as well as deep bombs. Long story short, he’s a good quarterback. One who is definitely more than capable of getting a win in Auburn on Saturday.

Oct 26, 2019; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones (10) looks to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

And who knows…. what a story it would be to see Mac Jones, a guy who has waited a long time for this opportunity, to not only get an Iron Bowl win, but lead Alabama to the playoffs. Jones has been nothing but a good teammate, supporting Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, both of which he was a backup for. 

So, Mac Jones, if you’re reading this, I believe in you. I know you’re more than capable of beating Auburn. Bama Nation needs to rally behind you, like they’ve done for Tua, and show you their full support.

It’s your time to shine, Mac.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

BAMA BEAT: Western Carolina game recap + Iron Bowl preview (Ep. 272)

In this episode, Clint Lamb sits down with beat writer Brett Hudson to recap Alabama’s 66-3 victory over Western Carolina in Week 13.

Cecil Hurt and Clint Lamb, through TideSports.com and The Tuscaloosa News, produce a podcast called “The ‘Bama Beat”, which features all the latest news and analysis surrounding the Alabama Crimson Tide.

In this episode, Lamb sits down with TideSports.com beat writer Brett Hudson to recap Alabama’s 66-3 victory over Western Carolina in Week 13.

The two then turn their attention to the upcoming Iron Bowl on Saturday, as well as the Playoff landscape following Oregon’s loss to Arizona State.

 [protected-iframe id=”95a62c76d0ef02ffbf4ddc3a19842f29-162776958-84624375″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-bama-beat/western-carolina-game-recap-iron-bowl-preview-the/embed” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]