Perry Perspective: NCAA Football Preview

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Perry Perspective: NCAA Football Feature Nov 17

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Historic Alabama rivalry will be hotly contested

This Saturday?s college football action features what is perhaps the most intense intrastate rivalry in college football.

The No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide (9-1) visit ?The Jungle? to take on the No. 11 Auburn Tigers (8-2) in the historic Iron Bowl (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS).

Named for its birthplace in Birmingham, Alabama, which was built around iron ore deposits, this annual SEC classic dates back to 1893 when the football programs at both Alabama and Auburn were in their infancy.

More than 100 years later, the game has become the event of the year in football-mad Alabama. Up for grabs are bragging rights for the state, whose inhabitants typically develop allegiances to one side or the other early in life.

The game has been played a total of 69 times with the Crimson Tide holding a 38-30-1 all-time series lead. However, Auburn enters the game having won the past three.

While Auburn has fielded strong teams in recent years, the Tide has been hampered by well-publicized adversity. That adversity has included a recruiting scandal, a two-year bowl ban, 21 lost scholarships, four different head coaches and back-to-back years without a winning record (2003 and 2004).

But that?s all behind ?Bama now, the Tide is once again rolling. Under the guidance of coach Mike Shula, now in his third campaign, the Tide was unbeaten in their first nine games this season. In fact, they were in the running for a Rose Bowl bid until they were beaten 16-13 by No. 4 LSU in an overtime nail-biter last week.

Auburn knows all too well about missing out on the national championship bowl game. Last year they went 12-0 in the regular season but failed to get an invite to the Orange Bowl. Undefeated Oklahoma and USC got the invites instead.

The Trojans went on to win the game and the national title in a 55-19 laugher. The Tigers, on the other hand, were relegated to the Sugar Bowl where they victorious. Although they finished with a perfect 13-0 record, the Tigers were denied a share of the national title, despite having an arguably tougher schedule than USC.

This year the Tigers, who lost the foundation of their offense - running backs Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown as well as quarterback Jason Campbell were all were drafted into the NFL - got off to a rough start losing their opener to Georgia Tech.

However, Coach Tommy Tuberville rallied the troops and they went on to win their next five before losing to LSU. They have since won their last three heading into the Iron Bowl.

Along the way, the Tigers have established the highest scoring offense in the mighty SEC. The leader of the attack has been junior running back Kenny Irons, who tops the conference in total yards gaining more than 110 ypg. Handing Irons the ball has been quarterback Brandon Cox, who has passed for more than 2,000 yards this season. Cox has had plenty of targets. Five Tigers have more than 200 yards receiving, 10 have more than 100.

Auburn has also been stingy on defense allowing only 14.4 ppg. However, they haven?t been nearly as stingy as the Crimson Tide who are allowing just 9 ppg, the fewest in the nation.

The Tide?s stifling defense is allowing just 89 rushing yards per game, which could cause problems for the Tigers, who rely heavily on the rush.

That said, we currently have Auburn listed as a 7-point favorite. The Tigers have been money against the spread (ATS) this season at 7-2. The Tide, meanwhile, have not been kind to backers at 3-5-2 ATS.

It should come as no surprise that the total in this game has been pegged at a slim 37, which will likely be our lowest total of the weekend.

This reflects both teams? strong defenses. It also reflects the Tide?s offense which has struggled in recent weeks. In three of their last five games they have scored less than two touchdowns. Part of the reason for their struggles has been the absence of wideout Tyrone Prothro, who suffered a season-ending leg injury in ?Bama?s fifth game against Florida.

Alabama is 2-8 on the OVER/UNDER this season; Auburn is 5-4.

The winner of this game could earn a trip to the SEC championship game, as well as an invitation to the BCS.

Other notable games:

No. 9 Ohio St. at No. 17 Michigan (1:00 p.m. ET, ABC)

In another historic matchup, Ohio State (8-2 SU, 7-2 ATS) heads to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS) in a Big Ten finale. The Buckeyes are listed as 3-point road favorites and the total has been pegged at 45.5.

This will be the 102nd time these two teams have met in what is simply known as ?The Game?. The Wolverines have a commanding 57-38-6 lead in the series, which began in 1897 and has been continuous since 1918.

Michigan is 30-17-4 at home versus Ohio St. and has won four of its last five in Ann Arbor. However, the Wolverines have been wracked by injuries this season and that could be a factor come Saturday.

Ohio St. is currently riding a five-game win streak. But their last loss came to Penn State, whom the Wolverines beat four weeks ago.

Michigan has struggled to score this season and that is reflected in their OVER/UNDER record which is 3-7. The Buckeyes are 5-5 on the O/U.

No. 16 Fresno St. at No. 1 USC (10:15 p.m. ET)

In a week of big rivalries, this game is not getting much attention, especially since most expect the Trojans (10-0 SU, 5-5 ATS) to trounce the Bulldogs (8-1 SU, 6-2 ATS). We have USC listed as a fat 23.5-point home favorite and the total is set at 64.5.

The WAC-leading Bulldogs are on a seven-game winning streak and have won four-straight against the number.

This will mark the first time these two teams have met since 1992.


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