Pick’em: Week 14

AUBURN | Each week the AuburnSports.com staff and friends make their predictions on Auburn and top college football games from around the country.

GAMES	J LEE	CALEB	BILL	JAY G
ARI at ASU	ARI	ASU	ASU	ASU
OSU at UM	OSU	OSU	OSU	OSU
WIS at MIN	MIN	WIS	MIN	MIN
OM at MSU	OM	OM	OM	OM
UGA at GT	UGA	UGA	UGA	UGA
TAMU at TEX	TAMU	TAMU	TAMU	TEX
CLE at SC	SC	CLE	CLE	SC
VU at TEN	TEN	TEN	TEN	TEN
FSU at UF	UF	UF	UF	FSU
ALA at AUB	ALA	ALA	AUB	AUB

JEFFREY LEE (7-3, 72-38)

Alabama 27-20: Alabama can throw the hell out of the ball (No. 1 in the SEC). That’s bad news for Auburn, which has struggled mightily defending the forward pass (No. 11 in the SEC). And Auburn is dead-ass last in passing offense while ‘Bama’s pass defense is tops in the league. Not a good matchup for the Tigers. Might be some fireworks early for Auburn thanks to a raucous Jordan-Hare, but things will settle down and, as usual in this game, the better team will win. Fear the other index finger.

CALEB JONES (7-3, 70-40)

Alabama 31-27: I don’t care what anyone says, The Iron Bowl is the best rivalry in college football. This is where the sport’s most iconic moments live. The game has given college football fans so many memorable contests and Saturday could be another one. This is an Auburn team — a talented Auburn team. One with absolutely nothing to lose but everything to gain with a win over its biggest rival. Alabama has its playoff hopes riding on the line in Jordan Hare Stadium at night. There are a lot of things pointing to an upset, but Auburn still has yet to find a way to make it happen. We’ll see if I’m proven wrong…Give me the Crimson Tide.

BILL CAMERON (7-3, 66-44)

Auburn 27-24: Why not? The Auburn offense with Derrick Nix calling plays has been a sight to see, and the Tiger defense looked more like what we had seen all season after the first quarter last week. Meanwhile, the Tide is uber talented, but the lack of a consistent running game appears to be affecting Ty Simpson’s performance recently after being the best quarterback in the SEC at midseason. If ever a team was due, it’s the Tigers after the last two Iron Bowls at Jordan-Hare and the losses this season, and what better way to celebrate than by ruining the Tide’s season?

JAY G. TATE (8-2, 65-45)

Auburn 28-26: In my mind, this one is a toss-up. That really says something about the job DJ Durkin and Derrick Nix have done with this team. The Iron Bowl typically goes to the better team, though the gap between these two ball clubs has narrowed. I think this team plays harder for Durkin. I think this team will show unusual valor in this game. So for that reason, I have Auburn winning this game and potentially creating an uncomfortable situation for John Cohen. Is it wise to cut loose an interim head coach who has done a masterful coaching job with this team and who recruits so well?

GAMES	DAN	COLE	JUSTIN	BMATT
ARI at ASU	ASU	ASU	ASU	ASU
OSU at UM	OSU	OSU	OSU	OSU
WIS at MIN	WIS	WIS	MIN	WIS
OM at MSU	OM	OM	OM	MSU
UGA at GT	UGA	GT	UGA	UGA
TAMU at TEX	TAMU	TEX	TAMU	TAMU
CLE at SC	CLE	CLE	SC	SC
VU at TEN	VU	VU	TEN	TEN
FSU at UF	FSU	FSU	FSU	FSU
ALA at AUB	ALA	AUB	AUB	AUB

DAN PECK (7-3, 63-47)

Alabama 27-20: Auburn starts hot and throws big punches early, but Alabama rallies and breaks Auburn’s heart in the fourth quarter.

COLE PINKSTON (7-3, 60-50)

Auburn 28-24: Going out on a limb… Give me the Tigers in Jordan-Hare. I think the team will have a different look under DJ Durkin at home—not so tense. Auburn stops the run, makes Alabama one-dimensional, and bothers Ty Simpson enough. On offense, Ashton Daniels picks up where left off and puts it in his playmakers hands on the way to a victory. 

JUSTIN HOKANSON (5-5, 60-50)

Auburn 23-21: What fun is picking Alabama here? Exactly. Let’s say Auburn scores a pair of touchdowns and Alex McPherson nails three FGs, while the defense does enough bending but not fully breaking to aid in the win.

BRYAN MATTHEWS (8-2, 59-51)

Auburn 38-28: I don’t care if Alabama is the better team or playing for a spot in the college football playoffs. This is the Iron Bowl in Jordan-Hare Stadium at night. Auburn should win this game 10 out of 10 times. No excuses. No close. Just win.