THE IRON BOWL THIS SATURDAY ON ZEW

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It is ALL on the line this Saturday and 92 ZEW has ALL the coverage of the biggest football rivalry game of the year!

Our complete coverage starts at 3:30pm with kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium set for 6:30 pm, and here is some analysis and a breakdown from our resident expert and fellow WNSP sports personality Michael Brauner:

Context & Stakes

  1. Alabama’s Situation
    • Alabama is very much in the playoff picture; in fact their season hinges on this game.
    • They have to win to keep their College Football Playoff and SEC Championship hopes alive.
    • Under Kalen DeBoer, Alabama’s overall play has been strong this year after the loss at FSU, and they are roughly 5 point favorites for Saturday.
  2. Auburn’s Situation
    • Auburn is in turmoil: they fired head coach Hugh Freeze in early November and DJ Durkin is now the interim head coach.
    • Their record is poor in the SEC, and they have to beat Bama to even earn a bowl bid. Their motivation is more about pride and potentially spoiling their rival Bama’s season.
    • Auburn’s defense has been a relative bright spot, with decent points-allowed numbers, though Lucedale native and new QB Deuce Knight has posted some impressive numbers in the past two games
  3. Historical / Rivalry Context
    • The Iron Bowl is always emotionally charged, and you know their records mean nothing in this match up. This year’s game is a bit skewed in Alabama’s favor strength wise, while Auburn is playing for bragging rights and has nothing to lose.
    • There’s not just rivalry pride here — this could be a season-defining game (for Alabama) or a morale boost (for Auburn).

Key Matchups & Factors to Watch

  1. Alabama’s Run Game vs. Auburn’s Defensive Front
    • If Bama can establish the run, they can control tempo and wear down Auburn.
    • Given Auburn’s instability for the whole year, their defensive consistency will matter most especially late in the game.
  2. Pass Rush / Pressure on Auburn QB
    • Alabama’s pass rush could be a big factor. If they get to Knight, they can force mistakes or disrupt Auburn’s offensive rhythm.
    • Auburn’s passing game under pressure might struggle, especially with the coaching change and Knight’s inexperience.
  3. Special Teams
    • Special teams as a possible edge for Auburn, particularly since it’s a night game at home.
    • The emotional component is big: Auburn may rally, but DeBoer has more to lose if he mismanages the game. As Nick Saban said on College Game Day when asked about playing the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium: “That Place is Haunted!”
  4. Turnovers & Momentum
    • Because Auburn is in a “spoiler” role, they may swing for big plays or force riskier throws.
    • If Alabama can protect the ball and sustain drives, they’ll likely methodically build a lead and gradually wear the Tigers down.
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