All Eyes on Tuscaloosa: No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Alabama in a Game-Changing Showdown
The college basketball world is set for a blockbuster clash on Saturday, as No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama go head-to-head in a game with massive NCAA Tournament implications.
According to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Auburn currently holds the No. 1 overall seed in his latest Bracketology, with Alabama sitting at No. 2. But that could change in an instant—if Alabama wins, they would jump Auburn and claim the top seed for the first time since Thanksgiving.
“You’ve got No. 1 overall and No. 2 overall facing off. And Alabama has closed the gap enough on the Tigers,” Lunardi said during ESPN2’s broadcast of Loyola Chicago vs. Saint Louis on Friday night. “If they’re able to defend their home court and win this game, they will be No. 1 overall in our first bracket next week. Auburn has held that spot since winning the Maui Invitational before Thanksgiving. In this day and age of college basketball, that just does not happen anymore.”
Lunardi also highlighted Alabama’s elite depth, joking that “their second five could make the tournament” due to how stacked their roster is.
Breaking Down the Matchup: Alabama vs. Auburn
Auburn enters the game with a 22-2 record (10-1 SEC), with its only losses coming against Duke (December) and Florida (last week). The Tigers put together a dominant 14-game win streak between those defeats.
Alabama isn’t far behind, boasting a 21-3 record (10-1 SEC). Their losses came against Purdue (road), Oregon, and Ole Miss (home). However, since that setback against Ole Miss, the Crimson Tide have reeled off seven straight wins.
With both teams battling for SEC supremacy and a No. 1 seed in March Madness, Saturday’s game is just the beginning. They’ll meet again on March 8 at Neville Arena, in what could be another high-stakes showdown with major tournament implications.
Tip-off for the Iron Bowl of Basketball is set for 4 PM ET at Coleman Coliseum—and the entire college basketball world will be watching.
