Nov. 15, 2005
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College Football Preview: Week 12 |  |
Auburn celebrated a stunning victory over Georgia last week, and a win against archrival Alabama at home Saturday can clinch a share of the SEC West title for the Tigers.
Unfortunately, beating the hated Crimson Tide won't be enough to guarantee Auburn a return trip to the conference title game.
The No. 11 Tigers (8-2, 6-1) face an eighth-ranked Tide squad (9-1, 6-1) struggling to score points in the 70th edition of the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn's late-season surge continued last week, as the Tigers upset then-No. 9 Georgia 31-30 at Athens. The wild game came down to another crazy play, as Devin Aromashodu went 62 yards with a fourth-down pass to set up John Vaughn's 20-yard field goal with 6 seconds left.
The victory in the 109th chapter of the SEC's oldest rivalry was Auburn's third straight win overall. The Tigers' dreams of a berth in the SEC title game, though, took a major blow before the kickoff - courtesy of Alabama.
The Tide lost to LSU 16-13 in overtime shortly before the Auburn-Georgia game started, putting the Bayou Bengals in control of the division race. LSU needs to beat SEC West weaklings Mississippi and Arkansas to earn a trip to Atlanta for the title game on Dec. 3.
The winner of Saturday's Iron Bowl can get into that game only if LSU loses once against a pair of teams that are a combined 6-12. LSU plays at Ole Miss at 7:45 p.m. EST Saturday, a kickoff that should come not long after Alabama and Auburn finish their game that starts at 3:30.
LSU topped Auburn 20-17 in overtime on Oct. 22, a defeat that was sealed when Vaughn's 39-yard field-goal attempt hit the left upright.
"We had our shot at them and we didn't beat them," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said.
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So Tuberville may have to be satisfied with a shot at knocking off Auburn's biggest rival. The Tigers were hoping Alabama would remain unbeaten, setting up a head-to-head showdown for the West crown.
Instead, the teams will take their frustrations out on each other in one of college football's most intense and storied rivalries. For the Tide, they have to be hoping to quickly rediscover their scoring touch in a matchup of offenses that are going in different directions.
Despite the presence of quarterback Brodie Croyle and tailback Kenneth Darby, Alabama has only two offensive touchdowns in its last four SEC games. The Tide haven't scored more than 17 points in those contests.
"We've got to get something going," Darby said. "We can't be mediocre going against Auburn."
Injuries to receiver Tyrone Prothro and center JB Closner, as well as a young offensive line and receiving corps, appear to finally be taking a toll on Alabama.
Those shortcomings were magnified last weekend.
Alabama failed to gain a first down on six of its drives against LSU, including its possession in overtime. Bobbled snaps, errant throws and dropped passes were among the afflictions.
"All it really boils down to is certain people lose their focus and do crazy things or miss an assignment," Darby said.
Auburn has had no such problems on offense.
Despite losing star quarterback Jason Campbell and tailbacks Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown, who powered the team to a 13-0 mark last season, to the NFL, the Tigers rank first in scoring and total offense in the SEC. They're second in rushing and fourth in passing, likely a product of a veteran offensive line that includes three juniors and two seniors starting.
Kenny Irons hardly played in the first two games but leads the league in rushing with 1,102 yards.
"The biggest thing is Kenny has grown up," Tuberville said, "but it starts with the offensive line."
Quarterback Brandon Cox, who threw the long pass to Aromashodu on fourth-and-10 to set up the winning score against Georgia, has come on to become the SEC's No. 3 passer. He's thrown only three interceptions in his last eight games.
Auburn is looking for its fourth straight win against Alabama and leads the series 38-30-1, including 5-2 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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