Auburn @ Alabama preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 26, 2011 ) Alabama 42, Auburn 14

Second-ranked Alabama suddenly has a clear path to its third national championship in four years. But first the Crimson Tide must take care of rival Auburn in Saturday’s Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama is 3-2 against Auburn under coach Nick Saban, including last year’s 42-14 victory in which the Tide did not allow an offensive touchdown. This could be the last game at Auburn for coach Gene Chizik, whose team is 0-7 in SEC play for the first time in school history. University president Jay Gogue says he’ll evaluate Chizik and the program after the season.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Alabama -31.5

ABOUT AUBURN (3-8, 0-7 SEC): The Tigers rank 13th in the SEC in scoring (20.4) and have not scored more than 21 points in any SEC game. Freshman quarterback Jonathan Wallace is showing promise, completing 62.1 percent of his throws with four touchdowns and two interceptions. But the last time he faced an elite SEC defense, he could not lead the Tigers to any points (38-0 loss to Georgia). Sophomore running back Tre Mason has run for 920 yards and eight touchdowns, including seven scores in the last six games. Auburn is last in rush defense (191.3), which spells trouble against Alabama.

ABOUT ALABAMA (10-1, 6-1): The Tide still need to win to secure their spot in the SEC Championship Game versus Georgia. They’ll try to pound the Tigers behind running backs Eddie Lacy (870 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns) and T.J. Yeldon (809 rushing yards, nine TDs). Quarterback AJ McCarron ranks third nationally and second in the SEC in passing efficiency. He has completed 66.8 percent of his throws for 2,291 yards and a school-record 21 touchdowns with two interceptions. The Tide rank first nationally in points allowed (10.1) and boast a plus-12 turnover margin.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Alabama leads the all-time series 41-34-1, but Auburn holds a 7-1 edge in games played in Tuscaloosa.

2. This is by far the largest spread in Iron Bowl history. The second-largest was last year, when Alabama covered as a 21-point favorite.

3. Alabama has won 10 games for the fifth straight year, and for the 32nd time in its 117 years of football.

PREDICTION: Alabama 48, Auburn 10