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Football season is drawing to a close and local teams are out for the season. With the Iron Bowl scheduled this week, here is my prediction for the outcome.

Iron Bowl 2024

This Saturday afternoon will be the 89th anniversary of the nation’s most heated rivalry: the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nick Saban Field. This historic matchup has had many famous coaches and players, all SEC, All-Americans and Heisman winners. But none of that beats the most memorable games: 1967 Run in the Mud, 1972 Punt Bama Punt, 1981 Coach Bryant becoming the all-time winningest coach, 1982 Bo Over the Top, 1984 Wrong Way Bo, 1989 Bama’s first trip ever to Jordan Hare… . The list goes on and on. 

But the most memorable was last year’s fourth and 31. Alabama is coming off a devastating end to their playoff chances, losing to Oklahoma 24-3 while Auburn is coming off their biggest win of the season, a 43-41 victory over Texas A&M. Bama is 8 to 3 with nothing to play for. Auburn is 5-and-6 and a win will put them in a bowl game. Bama is not much better than the Tigers.

Gooch’s winner pick: Auburn 31, Alabama 30

Gary “Gooch” Thomas is a long-time Crenshaw County resident, football fan and freelance writer.