Football 2011 Predictions: Why Alabama Rolls Over Auburn in the 2011 Iron Bowl

Only two things seem to be consistent lately in the Iron Bowl, where Alabama and Auburn meet for state bragging rights.

The first truth is records don't matter.  The other is that Bama wins big and Auburn squeaks by.

Since 1970, Alabama has won 13 times by double digits and Auburn has won by double digits only three times.

It can be a game of streaks, since 1970 Auburn had a streak of six in a row, while Alabama had a streak of nine.

Nick Saban is two and two against Auburn since arriving at Alabama, with one of those wins being a colossal 36-0 blowout win.

Alabama's last two wins were by larger margins than Auburn's last six combined.

But statistics, past wins or losses, trends, streaks or good luck won't be the reason the Tide will roll this year in Auburn.

The reason the Tide will roll is experience, they have it in shovel fulls. They return almost the entire defense and the offense could be one that actually puts up better numbers than last year.

Auburn lost 22 seniors and a handful of juniors who left early, including one and done players like Cam Newton and Nick Fairley.

You can't replace that many people that were key to your team and hope to win against an Iron Bowl opponent that has been picked by 99 percent of the talking heads to be in the national title hunt again this year.

Like most writers, I could write pages on the many other reasons why Alabama will win, but none would trump this simple conclusion.

The one point win they squeaked out last year with two of the best players in college football and a senior offensive line won't mean a thing when these young players line up against a national championship contender with revenge on their mind.

It sounds like the perfect opportunity for another one of those blowout Alabama wins this year.

You can and writers will make much of this game. They'll analyze player match ups, they'll talk about current scoring trends and defensive streaks and none of it will matter.

It's all about a seasoned well-oiled machine lining up against a bunch of first year starters. That is the reason the Tide will roll and any other reason is simply secondary.