No. 1 Alabama Visits No. 6 Auburn In Iron Bowl For SEC West
The Associated Press
No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 7-0, No. 1 CFP) at No. 6 Auburn (9-2, 6-1, CFP No. 6), 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (CBS)
Line: Alabama by 4.
Series record: Alabama leads 45-35-1.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The winner will face No. 7 Georgia in the SEC championship game. Auburn could make the playoffs with Iron Bowl and title game wins. Alabama might not have to win out to make a fourth consecutive playoff but is assured of a spot if that happens. The Crimson Tide has won the past three meetings.
KEY MATCHUP
Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson against Alabama's run defense. Johnson is leading the SEC with 1,172 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in nine games. The Tide ranks second in the nation in run defense, giving up just 87.4 rushing yards and six touchdowns. The front is led by DT Da'Ron Payne and DE Raekwon Davis.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alabama: S Minkah Fitzpatrick is a finalist for defensive player of the year honors nationally. He plays a number of different positions depending on the situation and has 44 tackles, six pass breakups and three quarterback hurries.
Auburn: QB Jarrett Stidham has made big strides since early struggles against Clemson and LSU, passing for three touchdowns against Georgia. While Johnson is the team's biggest playmaker, teams don't typically beat Alabama with one-dimensional offenses.
FACTS & FIGURES
Alabama has won seven of the last nine meetings, with four of those seasons ending with a national championship. Auburn emerged in 2010 and 2013 to play for a national title so the Iron Bowl winner has played for a national championship or made the playoffs every year since 2009. ... Alabama coach Nick Saban is 7-3 in the Iron Bowl. Auburn's Gus Malzahn is 1-4 against 'Bama.
... This is the Tide's seventh straight season with at least 11 wins. Alabama is 27-7 against AP top-10 teams since the start of the 2008 season. ... Auburn, Alabama and Penn State are the only teams ranked in the Top 20 in both scoring offense and scoring defense. ... Auburn has won six SEC games while scoring 40-plus points, a program high. ... Alabama has scored in 49 consecutive quarters, the longest streak in FBS since 2005.
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