Crimson Tide set to Host College Gameday for Alabama’s Matchup Against Auburn Next Saturday

College Gameday will return to Tuscaloosa to host the Iron Bowl, this time for basketball. Alabama, ranked third, will meet top-ranked Auburn at Coleman Coliseum on Saturday, February 15, 2025.

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This will be Alabama Basketball's second time hosting College Gameday; the first was on March 2, 2024, when the Crimson Tide faced No. 4 Tennesseee, a game they lost 81-74 to the Vols.

Nate Oats and his team will aim for victory this time as the Crimson Tide and the Tigers emerge as the top contenders in the SEC. The winner of this game will have a strong chance of claiming the league title. Alabama currently holds second place in the SEC with an 8-1 conference record, while Auburn is in first place with a perfect 9-0 record. The closest challengers are Florida and Texas A&M, both of which have a 6-3 conference record. This weekend, Florida will travel to Auburn to face the Tigers in Neville Arena. Additionally, Texas A&M was defeated by Alabama on January 11th, with a final score of 94-88.

This game is predicted to be a shootout, with both teams' offenses ranking in the top three. According to Kenpom, the Crimson Tide's offensive rating is as high as third in the country, while the Tigers have the #1 offensive rating in the country. According to NCAA.com, Alabama's scoring offense is currently ranked first in the country, averaging 90.2 points per game, while Bruce Pearl's Auburn Tigers are ranked seventh, averaging 85.1 points per game.

The winner of this game will be determined by who's defense shows up to play, with Auburn having an advantage on the defensive end. Kenpom has the Tigers ranked 12th in the nation for defensive rating, while Oats and the Tide are ranked 40th. Alabama does have an advantage over the number one ranked Tigers, as the Tide do a great job of getting rebounds on the offensive side of the glass. Alabama is rated 15th in the nation in offensive rebounds, with the Tide recording 307 this season, while Auburn is 71st, with the Tigers recording only 271 offensive rebounds, according to NCAA.com.

With the game not until next Saturday, supporters have already sold out Coleman Coliseum in an Iron Bowl of Basketball unlike any other, with both teams ranked in the top five for this clash. Oats and his team will attempt to upset the top-ranked Tigers at home. Following this game, the two teams will meet again on March 8th, 2025, for the last regular season game of the year, when the Tide travels to Auburn.

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