Alabama vs. Auburn expert picks for the massive 2024 Iron Bowl game

It’s officially Iron Bowl Eve. The 2024 edition of Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers features many storylines.

For Alabama (8-3 overall, 4-3 SEC), they’re hoping for a once-promising season that saw them ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll following their thrilling 41-34 win over the Georgia Bulldogs in September . 28 doesn’t end in complete disaster under first-year coach Kalen DeBoer.

For Auburn (5-6, 2-5), the Tigers are looking for their first Iron Bowl win since 2019 and their first win in Tuscaloosa since 2010, when Cam Newton came from behind 24-0 to make an incredible 28: 24 comeback led. Furthermore, Auburn can end any faint hopes the Crimson Tide has of sneaking into the College Football Playoff.

As it stands, Alabama has fallen six spots to No. 13 in this week’s CFP rankings after a miserable performance in a 24-3 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners in Week 13. Jalen Milroe was substituted three times and the Crimson Tide failed to score a touchdown in a game for the first time since 2011. Alabama now needs a win over Auburn and some big help in the form of upsets in the Top 25 to make the playoffs.

The Tigers pulled off their first upset of the year with a 43-41 4OT victory over the Texas A&M Aggies at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn quarterback Peyton Thorne threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, and senior tailback Jarquez Hunter rushed for three scores and 130 yards on 28 carries in the upset win over A&M.

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On Wednesday, college football experts at USA TODAY Sports released their predictions for every top 25 team in Week 14, including Alabama. All six USA TODAY panel members — Paul Myerberg, Dan Wolken, Eddie Timanus, Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza and Erick Smith — picked the Crimson Tide to beat Auburn.

Elsewhere, ESPN Analytics’ Matchup Predictor gives Alabama an 87.6 percent chance of beating Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Kickoff for Alabama vs. Auburn is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT. Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy will call the shots for ABC, which will televise its first Iron Bowl since 1994.

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