Last week on these pages we gave you another winning selection and system as Ole Miss was our “Conference Avenger” and they not only covered but won the game straight up over LSU. That makes this articles record now 8-3 ATS this season and four straight!

This week we take a look at the Alabama/Auburn game which actually has significance 365 days a year to all Alabamians. Yes, the Iron Bowl is the most heated rivalry game in the country and we have learned this from firsthand experience. Alabamians literally allow this game’s outcome to determine how they feel for 365 days a year.

This season the game has national title implications for the first time in awhile and the Tide could actually keep the Tigers from becoming bowl eligible. It would take Alabama breaking a losing streak of six games for that to happen as Auburn has owned this series of late. The Crimson Tide has not won the Iron Bowl since 2001.

Nick Saban was primarily hired for this one game. The 'Bama faithful had taken all they could stand from the plains and they were willing to pay Saban whatever he wanted because they were convinced he was the person that could turn the Tide program around sooner rather than later. Well it appears they were right because in Saban’s second season the oddsmakers have posted Alabama as a 14½-point favorite, this on a team that has lost six in a row to their opponent.

Neither coach has to get their team motivated for this rivalry but the Tigers are certainly not the Tigers of the past six seasons. This is a much improved Tide team that Auburn will face this season compared to Alabama teams the last few years. Auburn’s offense ranks 99th in the nation while Alabama’s defense ranks third. In years past one would say that doesn’t matter because this is a rivalry game but the team with the 99th ranked offense has won the last six seasons and may not approach this contest with the same vigor as in years past.

This week our College Football System of the Week is active in the Iron Bowl and it tells us that from Game 8 on, play on an undefeated Saturday home team with 9+ days rest and not 14+ days rest before that vs. an opponent not off a conference underdog SU loss of 5+ points, going 15-0 ATS since 1992 and averages covering the spread by 10.6 points per game!

The Crimson Tide faithful get what they paid for as Coach “S” leads his team to the win and cover over the boys from the plains on Saturday and the Tiger faithful have to face the dreaded “L” for 365. Good luck with the Tide on Saturday and please have a safe and happy holiday!

Free Pick: Alabama -14½ (-110)