Alabama vs. Auburn: Tigers Doomed to Fail in Attempt to Play Spoiler

The state of Alabama's biggest football game is upon us, and it carries as much weight as any previous Iron Bowl matchup.

No. 24 Auburn will try but fail to derail the hopes of No. 2 Alabama. The Tigers would like nothing better than to be the direct reason the hated Tide won't be in the BCS title game.

It is easy to forget, but the Tigers are the defending national champions. Winning this game would allow them to have a say about who this year's champion is.

Through all of the ups and downs, the Gene Chizik-lead Tigers have remained a proud bunch. They have competed and fought back all year long, even when the pollsters dropped them out of sight.

The major impediment for the Tigers in this game is their run defense. In Auburn's four losses, they have surrendered at least 175 yards on the ground. That total was over 300 yards against Georgia and over 225 yards against Clemson.

'Bama brings a rushing attack that may trump any of Auburn's previous opponents. Heisman candidate Trent Richardson isn't the only deadly running back in Alabama's arsenal. Ed Lacy could probably be starting for any team in the country besides South Carolina, with a healthy Marcus Lattimore and a few other spots. The 'Bama offensive line is very nasty, and it will render at least two NFL players.

The Tigers' attack is not without bite, as sophomore QB Clint Mosley has stepped in for Barrett Trotter and, at worse, become a game manager for the the young team.

The Tigers have their own talented RB in Michael Dyer, but he will have to contend with one of the best defenses in the nation. The Tide allow only 74.6 yards per game on the ground and 8.4 points per game this year.

Defeating the Tide starts with stopping the run, and the Tigers just don't do that.