Most of the time when I go from here to Starkville I go to Montgomery, then up 65 to Prattville, then 82 from there all the way (except for bypassing Tuscaloosa on the toll road). But when I come back I tend to go to Bham and then come down 280. I never, and I mean NEVER, go 65 to Birmingham then 20 to Tuscaloosa.
I think the reason I do this is that most times when I leave it is on a Friday, and I don't want to hit Bham anytime between 3 pm and 7 pm. It's also usually daylight, and 82 has a good bit of two lane from Centreville to Prattville that is easier to navigate in daylight hours. At night I prefer not to deal with that two lane and all its hills and curves, so I go to Bham and take 280, which is four lane all the way to Auburn.
To actually answer your question in the third paragraph Bruiser style, if you are coming to Auburn during daylight hours, that is not a bad option. Just be sure you get off at Prattville (Cobbs Ford Road) and don't take 82 all the way in to Montgomery. If it is going to be dark, I would go to Bham and take 280.