Paul Finebaum: Alabama’s confidence not at ‘all-time high’ ahead of Iron Bowl

Alabama is a double-digit favorite in Saturday’s Iron Bowl at Auburn, but the Crimson Tide haven’t been playing well lately.

Alabama is 8-3 and has already suffered its most regular-season losses in 14 years after a 24-3 loss at Oklahoma last week. Auburn is just 5-6 but pulled off a dramatic 43-41 win in four overtimes against Texas A&M at Jordan-Hare Stadium a week ago.

So what’s on the agenda for Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium? Paul Finebaum, an analyst at SEC Network, isn’t so sure.

“At Alabama, you always just close your eyes and hope,” Finebaum said on Saturday’s edition of SEC Nation, broadcast live from Tuscaloosa. “I think what I’ve noticed in the last 24 hours is that Alabama fans were thinking, ‘Well, we played terrible last week.’ “That means we’re going to play well this week,” because that’s what they’ve done all year.

“It doesn’t make any sense at all. But I think that’s the confidence of the Alabama fans as we get to Game 12. I’ll be honest, confidence isn’t as high as it’s ever been.”

SEC Network analyst Roman Harper, a former Alabama safety, noted that the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium could make all the difference. A win at Alabama gives the Crimson Tide at least a shot at making the College Football Playoff, he said.

“They’re at home and played well outside of South Carolina,” Harper said. “So, Alabama with all the pressure, all the other things that have been said negatively about them, if you just go out and win this game, you’re at least ready to at least be in the (playoff) conversation.”

“There have been ups and downs for this team, and their highs have been some of the best any team can have, but their lows are just completely inexplicable. And you’re like, “What are they doing?” How was training all week? You just ask so many more questions about this team because of how they look when they’re not playing poorly compared to Oklahoma where the offense just had a day off.”

Kickoff for the Iron Bowl is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and will be televised on ABC.