https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...uburn-alabama-football-iron-bowl-2017-preview
Totally agree with the writer. Offensively, Gus will have to use his patented "eye-candy" motion and Wildcat formations to run the ball effectively and win on first downs, forcing Alabama to roll its two high safeties on second-and-mediums. Defensively, Auburn will have to bracket Ridley with Dean in press and Roberts over the top and man up on everyone else to have enough in the box to stop the run and pressure Hurts.
What I know:
Stidham was recruited to beat Kirby Smart-/Nick Saban-coached defenses. He is one of the few quarterbacks in the nation accurate enough to throw into tight windows against close man coverage (still don't know if our receivers can get open in the second half). Stidham may throw the occasional interception, but he is good enough to outdeul Hurts in shootout. Conversely, Hurts is the better of the two with the game on the line. He won a state championship in Texas; Stidham has not won a title at any level. Thus, a one-possession game heavily favors Alabama. Gus will have to "turn Stidham loose" early, scoring at least 20 points in the first half for Auburn to have a chance to win.
Sadly, the loser of this Iron Bowl is the big winner. ----> If Alabama loses the IB, it will rank No. 5 in the College Football Playoffs heading into the SEC Championship Game. Whether Auburn dispatches of Georgia or vise versa is irrelevant--the SEC Champ will be in the CFP. All eyes will turn to the Big 10 Championship Game, where Ohio State will have to beat Wisconsin soundly enough vault Alabama into the No. 4 spot. If Ohio State wins in a close game, Alabama will "back door" its way into the CFP (ala the 2012 BCS National Championship Game) as the nation's "best one-loss team," according to the CFP selection committee. (Obviously if Auburn is the nation's best two-loss team, then, Ohio State, being the nation's second-best, two-loss team would not deserve a place at the table.) For the second time in five years, Alabama will get the nod despite NOT winning its division of the conference. Furthermore, it will be the freshest team in the playoffs, having skipped its 13th game. The IB loser will be the big winner.
Alabama will play Clemson in New Orleans, and Auburn will play Oklahoma in Pasadena in the semifinals, marking rematches of last year's Sugar and CFP National Championship bowl games.
Totally agree with the writer. Offensively, Gus will have to use his patented "eye-candy" motion and Wildcat formations to run the ball effectively and win on first downs, forcing Alabama to roll its two high safeties on second-and-mediums. Defensively, Auburn will have to bracket Ridley with Dean in press and Roberts over the top and man up on everyone else to have enough in the box to stop the run and pressure Hurts.
What I know:
Stidham was recruited to beat Kirby Smart-/Nick Saban-coached defenses. He is one of the few quarterbacks in the nation accurate enough to throw into tight windows against close man coverage (still don't know if our receivers can get open in the second half). Stidham may throw the occasional interception, but he is good enough to outdeul Hurts in shootout. Conversely, Hurts is the better of the two with the game on the line. He won a state championship in Texas; Stidham has not won a title at any level. Thus, a one-possession game heavily favors Alabama. Gus will have to "turn Stidham loose" early, scoring at least 20 points in the first half for Auburn to have a chance to win.
Sadly, the loser of this Iron Bowl is the big winner. ----> If Alabama loses the IB, it will rank No. 5 in the College Football Playoffs heading into the SEC Championship Game. Whether Auburn dispatches of Georgia or vise versa is irrelevant--the SEC Champ will be in the CFP. All eyes will turn to the Big 10 Championship Game, where Ohio State will have to beat Wisconsin soundly enough vault Alabama into the No. 4 spot. If Ohio State wins in a close game, Alabama will "back door" its way into the CFP (ala the 2012 BCS National Championship Game) as the nation's "best one-loss team," according to the CFP selection committee. (Obviously if Auburn is the nation's best two-loss team, then, Ohio State, being the nation's second-best, two-loss team would not deserve a place at the table.) For the second time in five years, Alabama will get the nod despite NOT winning its division of the conference. Furthermore, it will be the freshest team in the playoffs, having skipped its 13th game. The IB loser will be the big winner.
Alabama will play Clemson in New Orleans, and Auburn will play Oklahoma in Pasadena in the semifinals, marking rematches of last year's Sugar and CFP National Championship bowl games.
