Today, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL, the annual Iron Bowl will be played.  This year, though, it will have more significance than it usually does.  Alabama is looking to go 12-0 in the regular season and go into the showdown vs. Florida next week strong.  Their biggest challenge will be getting past Auburn with a victory.

Auburn has defeated Alabama the past six straight years and wants to make it seven this afternoon.  For Auburn, the game plan is simple: win or cry in the basement all through bowl season.  No win in Tuscaloosa = no bowl.  The Tigers have struggled all year with many heartbreaking losses including a last second one home at Jordan-Hare to LSU in the last seconds of the primetime game.  They even were leading Georgia last week but came up short in the end.  A win against the Tide would salvage the Tigers' season and would knock 'Bama from the number one spot.

For Alabama, think how devastating this loss would be to Nick Saban, John-Parker Wilson, and the whole team.  Think about how they would go into next weekend's huge game against Florida in the Georgia Dome.  Think how fired up Florida is going to be about their one chance to make their national championship bid.  I know 'Bama is wanting to look ahead to the SEC Championship, but they have one long showdown against their number one rival today.  This past off-week has given them sufficient time to prepare for this big game.  Auburn is going to run out of the tunnel all fired up and ready to play, and the Tide better be ready and rollin'.

                                         My Prediction: Alabama over Auburn by a field goal