Alabama vs. Auburn Football: Game of the Week Breakdown

This season, Alabama and Auburn will square off for the 76th time. The Tide leads the series 40-34-1.

Alabama has a ton to play for: a BCS National Championship berth, holding onto their current ranking and a potential SEC Championship game berth.

Auburn has struggled this season. Their record is 7-4, but their four losses came against high-quality opponents.

This is the Iron Bowl. An age-old rivalry always adds a different fuel to the fire. Despite the obvious differences on paper, Auburn's home-field advantage could allow the Tigers some extra momentum.

For Alabama, this is a huge game with BCS implications. For Auburn, it means eight wins and a somewhat-respectable season.

Here is how this year's edition of the Iron Bowl breaks down:

The Quarterbacks

Alabama and Auburn both rely on their run game to carry their offenses.

A.J. McCarron must manage the game for Alabama, week in and week out. Because of Alabama's fierce defense and Trent Richardson's dynamic production, McCarron is not expected to make many big throws.

McCarron must keep the Auburn secondary honest. If he can make a few vertical throws, Auburn's safeties will have to stay back in pass coverage.

Pulling players out of run support is the main goal of Alabama's passing attack.

Clint Moseley has started the last four games for the Tigers. Like McCarron, he is expected to lean on the legs of a great running back. However, he does not have the defense backing him up on the other side of the ball.

Moseley is inexperienced. He has taken care of the ball thus far, but he will struggle against Alabama's aggressive front seven.

The Running Backs

Alabama's Trent Richardson and Auburn's Michael Dyer are two of the best backs in the nation.

Richardson has almost 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns. He averages almost six yards per carry.

He is a sure-fire NFL first-rounder. Explosive, powerful and shifty in the open field, Richardson has it all. If Auburn gives him an inch, he will gladly take a mile from the Tiger defense.

Alabama's backup Eddie Lacy has over 600 yards and seven touchdowns. He would start for most other teams.

Dyer is electric himself. He has almost 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. His production is not of Richardson's quality, but he has very little help surrounding him. He doesn't have the skill support or the offensive line to pave the way.

Auburn backup Onterio McCalebb has 526 yards and four touchdowns. He is also a viable threat in the passing attack.

The Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Alabama is No. 2 in the nation without a major producer at wide receiver.

The Crimson Tide are led by Marquis Maze. Maze has 52 catches, over 600 yards and one touchdown. Trent Richardson is second on the team in catches with 26.

Tight end Brad Smelley leads the team with three touchdowns.

The Tide do not have a threat to stretch the field outside of Maze and Darius Hanks. Both are inconsistent, but have the ability to make an opposing secondary pay.

Auburn is slightly better at wide receiver.

Emory Blake is a big body with 30 catches and five touchdowns. Backup running back Onterio McCalebb is their second-leading receiver with 28 catches and one touchdown.

Auburn's most consistent target is their tight end/H-back Paul Lutzenkirchen. He has 22 catches, but leads the team with seven receiving touchdowns.

The Tigers will try and stretch the field vertically. If they can, Alabama's safeties will have to respect the passing attack and it could open up holes for running back Michael Dyer.

Don't count on that happening.

The Offensive Lines

Alabama has a great offensive line, and they should not have a difficult time showing that this week against Auburn.

The Tide must clear out holes, seams and cracks for Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy. If they can, Richardson and Lacey will have field days against the Tiger defense.

Alabama's offensive line must also help A.J. McCarron survey the field. If McCarron has time, he is capable of hurting the Tiger secondary. If the line cannot give him time, he could make timely mistakes against an opportunistic defense.

Auburn's offensive line has a tough task ahead.

Alabama's defense is stacked on all three levels. Nick Saban will have them in full-attack mode against the Tigers.

If Auburn's line cannot stand up to 'Bama's front four, it will spell disaster for Auburn.

The Defensive Lines

Alabama's defensive line is fierce.

Josh Chapman and Damion Square headline the unit. Both are athletic playmakers and both are capable of changing the game, if given the chance.

Alabama's front four must eat up blockers. If they do, Alabama's stellar linebackers will be able to make plays against Auburn's rushing attack.

Auburn front line must also plug holes up front. Trent Richardson runs north-south. If they cannot seal the cracks and win the battle in the trenches, it will be a long day in Jordan-Hare Stadium for the Tigers.

The Linebackers

Alabama's linebacking corps is, arguably, the best in the nation.

Courtney Upshaw, Dont'a Hightower and Nico Johnson are all great players with a mean streak. If they go unblocked, this game could be over before it starts.

Upshaw provides a versatile pass rush off the edge. Hightower is a stay-at-home tackling machine and Johnson is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker.

All players complement each other's playing style perfectly.

Auburn lacks the playmakers Alabama has, but they will face even more pressure.

The Tigers have to find a way to make tackles in the open field. If they miss tackles and allow Trent Richardson to break to the next level, unimpeded, they will be in trouble.

The Secondaries

Jonathon Mincy and Neiko Thorpe lead Auburn's secondary. They will need to help in run support on Saturday more than they will be needed in pass coverage.

The Tiger secondary's ability to provide run support will go a long way toward a Tigers upset. Pass coverage must still be a priority but their tackling ability will be called upon more often than usual.

Alabama's secondary is stacked.

Dre Kirkpatrick is an elite athlete at cornerback. He lacks consistency, but he has superb playmaking ability.

Safeties Mark Barron and Robert Lester are both versatile. Lester led the SEC in interceptions in 2009, but is also a force in the box. Barron could almost be considered a linebacker.

The Kickers

Alabama kicker Jeremy Shelley is 14-for-18 on the season. He has been consistent for the most part, but his long is only 37 yards.

Shelley has the leg and the accuracy, but he has not been tested from distance. If it's a close game, that could play a bigger role than expected.

Cody Parkey has been solid for Auburn, as well. He is 11-for-15 with a long of 43 yards.

Parkey will need to be on his game against Alabama. The Tigers will need every point they can get against Alabama's staggering defense.

Conclusion and Prediction

It doesn't take a homer fan to say Alabama should win this game handily.

The Tide are more talented in nearly every aspect of the game.

Trent Richardson is dominant, and should not have a problem moving the ball against the Tiger defense. A.J. McCarron isn't dynamic, but he has proven himself as a capable game-manager. He will do just that against the Tigers' questionable secondary.

Defensively, the Tide are as good as it gets. From the line to the secondary, the Tide are loaded with game-changers.

If the Tiger offensive line cannot control the trenches, it will be a long day. It probably still will be, but allowing Michael Dyer some daylight is their only chance.

This is a rivalry and it is in Auburn. However, the Tide are simply too talented for the Tigers this season.

Final Score: Alabama 31 Auburn 13