Put down the turkey leg and pumpkin pie. The Iron Bowl is here. Alabama and Auburn have been bruised and battered in a scrappy SEC, but fans have plenty to keep them thankful in 2024. The Crimson Tide remain part of the College Football Playoff conversation.

The massive national stakes we've come to expect with the Iron Bowl are mostly gone this year. After losing to Oklahoma last week, No. 13 Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) will miss the College Football Playoff unless chaos unfolds around the sport.

The Tigers scored their first upset of the year with a 43-41 4OT win over the Texas A&M Aggies at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn quarterback Peyton Thorne threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, and senior tailback Jarquez Hunter rushed for three scores and 130 yards on 28 carries in the upset win over A&M.

Alabama (8-3) is the 11.5-point favorite for the 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff in Bryant-Denny Stadium. There’s no hope for a spot in the SEC Championship, most likely staring down a trip to Orlando for the Citrus Bowl. Auburn (5-6) has one last shot at bowl eligibility. What gives?

If Alabama can stop the run and force Auburn into must-pass situations, there are opportunities to be had. However, Alabama had one combined sack (against Tennessee) in its three losses, due in large part because it didn’t force those teams into many third-and-long situations.

The Iron Bowl either divides or unites Alabama and Auburn football fans, and right now some Alabama fans are divided about how they feel going into the last match up in the regular 2024 football season.

Alabama hosts Auburn on Saturday in Tuscaloosa! We now continue our College Football odds series with a Auburn-Alabama prediction and pick.