Did Auburn send a message and how did Alabama take it? (Photo-Twitter)

Auburn’s Big Win Over Arkansas Sends Tide a Message

By: Larry Burton

Auburn 56 – Arkansas 3. That wasn’t just a score. That wasn’t just a message to the Razorbacks. That was a message to both Alabama and their fans that they’d better not celebrate their win over #6 Texas A&M too much, because that might not be their toughest end stretch game.

Alabama defeated Arkansas a few weeks ago by a score of 49-30. That’s bad news for Alabama fans for three reasons. First of all Auburn beat them by 53, Alabama by just 19. Second, Arkansas put 30 points on the Tide but only scored three on Auburn. Lastly, Auburn is getting hot, gaining confidence on both sides of the ball at just the right time to have a shot at defeating their biggest nemesis.

Now for the bad news for Auburn fans. Saban will use that for getting his team ready. Secondly, after years of studying football, I’ve learned that comparing games against common opponents don’t mean as much as you think. Lastly, Auburn will find that Arkansas is not Alabama and what they were able to do against the Razorbacks won’t translate into what they can do against Alabama.

But it will drive interest in what could have been a ho hum Iron Bowl. Auburn fans will be energized, the Tiger players will be more hopeful and the media will really play this game up now.

Alabama will enter the game more than likely still undefeated and Auburn should come into the contest with two losses at the best and three as the most. The game will be played in Tuscaloosa and that doesn’t help Auburn either.

Las Vegas will no doubt make Alabama at least a 10 point favorite, but what happens in the game is the reason we watch them. It is the Iron Bowl and anything is possible.

Alabama’s statement back to Auburn is simple. “We have some business to take care of first, but we’ll see you in November!” As a backup they could say, “And didn’t the Aggies beat you?”

Larry has been published in almost every media outlet for college sports and now primarily writes here for Touchdown Alabama. Follow Larry on Twitter for inside thoughts and game time comments at https://twitter.com/LBSportswriter

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