The Iron Bowl — a rivalry steeped in college football history — returns this Saturday, but there’s a different vibe this year. The Alabama Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC) face off against the Auburn Tigers (5-6, 2-5 SEC) in a showdown missing its usual high-stakes drama of SEC Championship or College Football Playoff implications.
So, who comes out on top? Our Auburn vs. Alabama preview breaks it all down—from the latest betting odds to what’s at stake for both teams as they close out a pair of underwhelming 2024 regular seasons.
Auburn vs. Alabama Betting Preview
All Auburn vs. Alabama odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Alabama -18 - Spread
Alabama -11 - Moneyline
Alabama -410, Auburn +320 - Over/Under
51 points - Game Time
3:30 p.m. ET - Location
Bryant-Denny Stadium | Tuscaloosa, AL - Predicted Weather at Kick
53 degrees, mostly cloudy, 4 mph winds - How To Watch
ABC
The 89th Iron Bowl is one of the highlights of the 2024 college football season, and Alabama holds a significant head-to-head advantage ahead of Saturday’s marquee matchup. The Crimson Tide takes a 50-37-1 head-to-head lead into the game, and despite Kalen DeBoer’s team having a difficult year, they’re a substantial favorite to extend their lead in Week 14.
In addition to being the moneyline favorite, Alabama is given an 11.5-point advantage by DraftKings. Our metric expects the Crimson Tide to have even greater success over their bitter rival. Being favored hasn’t always translated to a victory this year, losing three games in that position, but their average margin of victory (18.6 points) suggests they can cover if they win.
Auburn’s Winning Probability
According to CFN’s Football Playoff Meter, the Tigers have an 8.7% chance of defeating the Crimson Tide on Saturday.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
If the win probability holds, Auburn will finish its 2024 campaign at 5-7 and will miss bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012, which was Gene Chizik’s last season at the helm for the Tigers.
- at Alabama: 8.7%
Alabama’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, Alabama has a 91.3% chance of defeating Auburn in the Iron Bowl on Saturday.
If the win probabilities hold, the Crimson Tide would finish 2024 at 8-4 but would most likely miss out on the first-ever 12-team college football playoff in Kalen DeBoer’s first year after taking over for Nick Saban.
- vs. Auburn: 91.3%
Prediction for Auburn vs. Alabama
The Iron Bowl is back, with the familiar high stakes, but this year’s narrative has a twist. Last season, Alabama arrived at Jordan-Hare Stadium as heavy favorites but needed a miraculous 4th-and-23 catch to escape with a win.
This time, the Crimson Tide comes into the matchup battered, both in record and morale, after a humbling 24-3 loss to Oklahoma—a game where Alabama looked uncharacteristically out of sync.
The Crimson Tide’s struggles were evident, managing just 234 total yards while allowing a staggering 257 rushing yards on defense. With their slimmest College Football Playoff hopes hanging by a thread, Alabama enters the Iron Bowl with everything to prove.
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For Auburn, the mission is straightforward: win and secure bowl eligibility. They’re riding high after an emotional upset of Texas A&M, a victory powered by sheer grit but plagued by penalties and inefficiencies.
However, with just over 23 minutes of possession last week, the question remains—can the Tigers muster enough energy to outlast an Alabama team desperate for redemption?
The Crimson Tide may not have looked dominant in recent weeks, but rivalry games have a way of reigniting focus and determination. Auburn brings the emotional spark, but Alabama, wounded and driven, still holds the edge in talent and resolve.
The Tide rolls on Saturday.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Auburn 16
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