Iron Bowl 2011: Auburn Will Give Alabama a Run for Their Money in Epic Game

Auburn is going to keep the score close in the Iron Bowl against Alabama.

Despite the three-touchdown spread that favors the Crimson Tide on the road, I think the Tigers step up and prove that they are the best 7-4 team in the nation and could be a lot higher ranked than No. 24 had they not blown games they should have been competitive in.

Sure, they lost big to LSU, Arkansas and Georgia, but this team has the capability to hang with anyone on a good day.

Michael Dyer, the sophomore star RB, has been sensational in most of their games, and a good performance out of him will help the Tigers stay in this game.

Alabama won’t run away with this game like they did last year until the epic Cam Newton comeback and will be content grinding out possessions and trying to just getting the win.

The Crimson Tide know they just need to win to make the national championship game right now, and they won’t be calling any risky plays on offense or defense. But their players also have that weight crushing down on them, and their nerves could get the best of them.

Auburn isn’t playing for anything right now but pride and a few more dollars the players won’t see by getting invited to a better bowl game. They will be cool, calm, collected and confident as they try to win the bragging rights to the most important football game in the state of Alabama.

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"It's the biggest day of the year, if you live in Alabama," Auburn quarterback Clint Moseley said. "I mean, you have Christmas and everything, but this is the day that everybody -- people who don't even like football watch this game. Auburn's going to be packed, probably, Wednesday. It's a huge game."

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I’m sure winning the Iron Bowl would be better than Christmas for most of these players. That’s why they are going to leave it all on the field in a tightly contested game.