Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers Betting Odds, College Football Pick

Alabama is 3-1 both straight up and against the spread over the last four rivalry battles with Auburn, but only 1-4 ATS the last five times it's visited Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tide can take the SEC West if it can avoid a Tigers upset bid in the 80th edition of the Iron Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

Point spread: The Crimson Tide opened as 13-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 42.4-21, Crimson Tide

Why the Alabama Crimson Tide can cover the spread

Alabama rides an eight-game winning streak into this week, after dispatching Charleston Southern last week, 56-6. The Tide led 28-0 after one quarter and 49-0 at the half before calling off the dogs. On the day, Alabama outgained the Buccaneers, 403-134, and Cyrus Jones returned two punts for touchdowns, as the Tide covered as a 40-point favorite.

Alabama has now covered three spreads in a row, with the wins over LSU and Mississippi State. With a victory Saturday, the Tide would win the SEC West, which of course is just a short hop away from the College Football Playoff.

Why the Auburn Tigers can cover the spread

Auburn is coming off one of its better performances of late, albeit against an inferior foe, beating Idaho last week, 56-34.

The Tigers, who were 33-point favorites, scored on their first drive of the day, and later led by 36 points before allowing the Vandals a pair of meaningless fourth-quarter scores and coughing up the cash. Auburn ran the ball 51 times for 297 yards, and quarterback Jeremy Johnson accounted for four touchdowns.

In Week 11, the Tigers outgained Georgia but gave up a touchdown on a punt return and lost, 20-13. Just before that, they upset Texas A&M, 26-10.

Last year, Auburn had Alabama on the ropes, up by 12 in Tuscaloosa in the third quarter before the Tide rolled back for a 55-44 victory. If the Tigers can get their running game going Saturday and avoid giving up big plays and turnovers, it could cause some headaches for their hated rival.

Smart pick

Alabama has outgained every opponent this season except one, six of them by 175 yards or more. Meanwhile, Auburn has been outgained in five of its last seven contests. And playing on the road means the spread is a little more amenable to the Tide. The smart money here backs Alabama.

Betting trends

Alabama is 1-4 ATS in its last five games on the road against Auburn.

Auburn is 2-13-1 ATS in its last 16 games.

The total has gone over in six of Auburn's last eight games after a win.

All point-spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and get the free odds-tracker app.