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College Football Countdown: Ranking Difficulty of Each Auburn Opponent

By Jake Mastroianni

Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Helicopters perform a flyover prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Idaho Vandals at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Helicopters perform a flyover prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Idaho Vandals at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Eddie Jackson (4) celebrates with teammates after an interception against the Clemson Tigers in the second quarter in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

2 – Alabama: Level 10

Auburn begins the season with the team who lost in the National Championship game last year, and then ends the season with the team who won that game in the Alabama Crimson Tide.

For those who aren’t picking LSU to win the SEC, everyone else is back on board the Crimson Tide train. And why not? They’ve won the SEC three of the past four years and won two National Championships in that time. They’ve also beaten Auburn four of the past five years with Auburn’s only win coming on the Kick Six.

Next: College Football Countdown: 5 Things That Must Go Right for Auburn in 2016

Still, this team loses at least one game a year, and it’s time for Auburn to stick it to them again.

Alabama will have to replace their starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy running back from last year’s team along with three other starters on an offense that scored 35.1 points a game in 2015.

They do have their top receiver in Calvin Ridley coming back after he had 1,045 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns in his freshman season. They also have tight end OJ Howard coming back and both are First Team All SEC players.

The projected starter at quarterback is junior Cooper Batement who starter in their only loss of the 2015 season. Still, they’ve proven the last couple of years that it really doesn’t matter who is at quarterback, it’s more about who is at running back.

Sophomores Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough are next in line. They combined for 261 yards on 64 carries a season ago, so they’re still very green. These guys have the talent to fall in line with the recent run of great running backs to come out of Alabama.

They return five starters to a group that was the best in the nation last year defensively only giving up 15.1 points per game. They lose four of their top five tacklers from last year, but linebacker Reuben Foster returns after recording 76 tackles, 6 for a loss, 2 sacks and 9 pass break ups last year. Safety Eddie Jackson also comes back for his senior season after picking off six passes a year ago.

As always, this will be the last game of the regular season for both teams, and each will be coming off of cupcake matchups. This rivalry goes back to Tuscaloosa where Auburn hasn’t won since Cam Newton led them to victory in 2010.

Anything can happen in the Iron Bowl, but Alabama is unfortunately the clear favorite on paper right now. That could change if Auburn is 9-2 coming into this matchup though.

Chances of winning: 20 percent

Next: Clemson

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