Auburn leads the SEC and is ranked 6th in offensive yards per game (505.2 yds/gm).
The Tigers enjoy great success running the ball lead by Cam Newton, Onterio McCalebb, and Michael Dyer. They are currently ranked 3 in the nation in rushing offense (307.91 yds/gm) with 37 touchdowns on the ground.
The Tiger passing game is strategic making, the low ranking of 77th nationally in passing production (197.27 yds/gm), and somewhat misleading as evidenced by the 21 TD passes tossed by Auburn in 11 games verses only six interceptions.


Alabama’s offensive production has been average, with the Tide ranked 26th nationally in total offense (434.64 yds/gm), 31st in rushing offense (184.91 yds/gm) and 37th in passing offense (249.73 yds/gm).
Their 44 touchdowns are almost evenly split (23 rushing and 21 passing) and they've only tossed five interceptions.



 Defensively, Auburn has struggled at times but has stood strong in critical moments and they've shown an innate ability to close teams out in the 4th quarter.
That said, the statistical block is sobering with the Tigers ranked 50th in the nation in total defense surrendering 355.73 yds/gm and 6th nationwide in scoring defense allowing 24.91 points per game.
Auburn’s pass defense is ranked a dreadful 77th in the nation but the run defense is stout. Opposing teams have averaged 111.55 yards per game against Auburn earning the Plainsmen a national rush defense ranking of 11th.

Alabama has generally been one of the stingiest defensive squads in the nation this year.
Ranked 7th in total defense and 2nd in pass defense, Alabama has allowed just 14 touchdowns all season.
If Alabama has an Achilles Heel on defense, it's stopping the run.
Alabama weighs in at 22nd nationally against the run, allowing 124.73 yards per game.


Auburn’s kicking game is a mixed bag with Wes Byrum being a solid place kicker but the Tiger punting game being a real weakness.
Auburn ranks 102nd in the nation at punting as opposed to Alabama holding on at 5th nationally.
Punt returns are equally tilted in favor of Alabama with Auburn a frigid 88th nationally in punt returns against the 10th ranked punt return team in America.
Auburn holds a slight statistical edge on Alabama in kickoff returns but the difference is so small as to be a non-issue with Auburn ranked 11th and Alabama ranked 13th.
The only aspect of the kicking game that favors Auburn is in field goals as Wes Byrum has been nails this year while Cade Foster of Alabama has struggled at times.


Both squads have talented running back stables with Alabama boasting last season’s Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram currently ranked 41st in the nation and averaging 5.74 yards per carry for 780 total yards.
Ingram’s backup is Trent Richardson who is ranked 71st in the nation with only 634 yards but a strong per-carry average of 6.89 yards.



Auburn’s running game features the quarterback Cam Newton and two underclassmen running backs.
Freshman Michael Dyer weighs in ranked at 57th in the nation with 859 rushing yards, averaging out to 6.27 yards per-carry.
Sophomore Onterio McCalebb has carried the football sparingly but in 90 carries has racked up 683 yards for an impressive 8.76 yards per-carry average.


Greg McElroy stands under center for Alabama.
Ranked 4th nationally in passing efficiency and two spots behind Auburn QB Cam Newton, the senior from Southlake Carroll High School in Texas led his team to the national championship last year.
McElroy averages 9.33 yards per-passing attempt and has thrown five interceptions in 259 attempts.
However, McElroy is not a great running threat. Not taking into account yards lost due to sacks, the Alabama quarterback has rushed for just 131 yards this season and never more than 39 yards in a game.


Cam Newton, Auburn’s beleaguered quarterback, has dominated the college football scene both on and off the field.
The latter allegations have been adequately discussed elsewhere but Newton’s production is worthy of examination.
A veritable giant, Newton is a punishing rusher and a workmanlike passer capable of beating a team with his feet or his arm.
The Tiger signal caller has rushed the ball 206 times for 1297 yards and averages 6.3 yards per carry.
Newton is ranked second in the nation in passing efficiency and for his198 passing attempts, he has thrown for 21 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2010.


The young man bidding to be Auburn’s third Heisman Trophy winner has accounted for five touchdowns in a game on three different occasions this season and six times has rushed for more than 100 yards.
Newton leads the SEC in total offense and has even caught a touchdown pass.
Off the field allegations have dogged Newton for weeks now but the young man seems unbowed by pressure and has evidenced a relentless drive to compete.
It remains to be seen if the accusations against Newton will cost him the Heisman Trophy but if Newton fails to carry the voting, the Heisman Trophy award for this season will always be remembered as a default award.




Breaking down the two teams could take several more pages but there is no need to do as it is clear the 2010 Iron Bowl has the potential to be the most explosive match-up in the 75 year history of the Rivalry.
We could talk offensive and defensive lines, Julio Jones versus Darvon Adams, and pit Nick Saban against Gene Chizik yet the real question is whether the Alabama defense will be able to stymie Cam Newton and the Auburn offense.
For the past month, Alabama fans have alternated between excitedly talking about how they intended to shut Cam Newton down and wringing their hands in fervent hope that Newton will be declared ineligible so they won’t have to face the Giant from Georgia.
Will they get either wish or will blue and orange wind sweep down off the Plains wreaking havoc in Tuscaloosa and birthing an Auburn legend?
Can the Tide keep Newton in check?—Yes.




Will the home field help? Sure it will. Playing on the road in the SEC is always tough, and especially so when the home team has a senior quarterback. Alabama is going to score some points, particularly through the air. But the rub is, Auburn is going to score, too, and likely more often than the Tide. Gus Malzahn was able to utterly flummox Nick Saban for about two and a half quarters in 2009, and that was playing with an immobile and mildly-injured Chris Todd at quarterback. This time around, Malzahn has the horses to run for sixty minutes, and Auburn's defense has the depth up front and at linebacker to avoid another late-game collapse. Auburn's game plan will be the same one the Tigers have thrived on all year: pour on the offense, especially in the second half, shut down the other guy's run, and force them predictable offensive situations. Alabama fans should recognize that tactic right off the bat--it's the same one they've used for the past three seasons.
For Alabama, the best case would be to do what Auburn did last year, and get a big lead early--although they would be about the fifth team this year to jump up on the Tigers, and the previous four all lost in the end. I think the real question is whether a Tide defense that hasn't been able to get to quarterbacks all year can turn that around, against the top QB in the nation, in this last game. If they can't, or if it comes down to a scoring match, the visitors are going to be a heavy favorite.