The 2019 Iron Bowl has the looks of being a most intriguing match-up. While there is not an SEC Championship Game berth on the line, plenty is at stake. Alabama comes into the contest with just one loss and needs to look impressive against the Tigers. A convincing win at Jordan-Hare Stadium could sway the College Football Playoff committee to voting the Crimson Tide to fourth. Of course, this will be the first big test for Mac Jones after replacing Tua Tagovailoa. With that, here we go with the 2019 Iron Bowl preview.
For Auburn, it is all about pride. The Tigers have struggled this season in high profile match-ups losing to top-ten teams in Florida, LSU, and Georgia. Gus Malzahn comes in with a 6-15 record against Auburn’s biggest rivals, but two of those wins do come against Nick Saban and Alabama. Saban has an 8-4 record against the Tigers since arriving in Tuscaloosa in 2007. However, he is just 3-3 at Jordan-Hare Stadium during his tenure.
2019 Iron Bowl Preview
Auburn Defensive Line vs Alabama Offensive Line
Much will be made about the two quarterbacks in this game, but the final score will be determined by who wins at the line of scrimmage. Alabama will always want to run the ball, but without Tua, the running game becomes an even bigger factor. Auburn is second in the SEC in run defense allowing just 109.6 yards per game. On the flip side, Alabama comes in seventh in the conference averaging 168.9 yards per game.
This will be the best defensive front Alabama has seen since Clemson in last season’s National Championship Game. Both Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson are locks to be first-round draft picks and are a handful to block. If the two linemen are living in the Alabama backfield and stifling the rushing attack led by Najee Harris, then the game gets put in the hands of Mac Jones.
Auburn Secondary vs Alabama Wide Receivers
While the Tigers possess future NFL defensive lineman, the Crimson Tide presents four future NFL pass-catchers. Devonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, and Jaylen Waddle all present match-up nightmares for any defensive coordinator. Auburn comes in with the seventh-ranked pass defense in the SEC allowing 196.9 yards per contest.
It helps that Auburn is led by some solid veterans in their secondary. Jeremiah Dinson, Daniel Thomas, Noah Igbinoghene, and Javaris Davis won’t shy away from the challenge, but mismatches will occur at some point going against these receivers. Alabama does not go deep often though with this group. The passing game has been quick-hitting passes that the playmakers have been able to make big gains out of. It could also be a big blow in the first half for Auburn without Jamien Sherwood. Sherwood will miss the first 30 minutes due to a targeting penalty from the second half against Samford.
Auburn Must Run the Football
D.J. Williams and JaTarvious Whitlow both must be huge for Auburn to have a good day. Auburn is fourth in the SEC in rushing averaging 213.7 yards per game. That can be misleading because the Tigers have struggled to be consistent with the rushing attack in the big games. The offensive line has failed to gain a big enough push for the backs to have a great impact and it has put more pressure on true freshman quarterback Bo Nix. In fact, in the last outing against a top-ten foe (Georgia) Nix was asked to throw the ball a total of 50 times. They only gained 84 yards on the ground. If that happens again this week, Auburn will find themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
Prediction
The outlook on this game changed drastically when Tua went down with the season-ending hip injury. It gave Auburn a much better chance at winning with now an unproven Jones coming into Jordan-Hare Stadium. Alabama needs a win here to stay in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. Auburn has nothing but pride to play for, and the Tigers would love to spoil the season for the Crimson Tide. The Tigers will use a stout defense and rowdy home crown to pull off the upset over the crew from Tuscaloosa. Auburn wins the Iron Bowl 24-21.
