In three days, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers will play in the 89th Iron Bowl. Predictions are almost done, and there’s probably still some trash talking to go as well.

On Tuesday night, Alabama was eliminated from the playoff group that had been predicted. Alabama fell from No. 7 to No. 13 this week after losing 24–3 at Oklahoma on the road. Because of how badly the Tide played last week, they probably won’t make it to the College Football Playoff, but those dreams aren’t quite dead yet.

Of course, none of that means if Alabama doesn’t win the Iron Bowl on Saban Field this Saturday afternoon.

Alabama is still not over their loss to the Sooners, but Auburn is feeling better after beating ranked Texas A&M in overtime. Over the course of the season, the Tigers have gotten better. Once they stopped giving the other team the ball, they looked like they could beat anyone.

Their three losses this season have all been to teams that were not as good as Alabama’s.

Follow these three steps to help Alabama beat Auburn on Saturday, avoid a two-game losing streak, and finish the regular season with a 9-3 record.

Three things that will help Alabama win the Iron Bowl on Saturday

Have Payton Thorne in your pocket.

The game tapes of Alabama’s losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma have been watched over and over by Hugh Freeze. Rest assured of that. Alabama has a hard time stopping the quarterback run, and his quarterback, Payton Thorne, is very fast and can make big plays with his legs.

Thorne will be given a lot of planned runs, but he will also try to get out of the pocket and make plays when the pitch isn’t open. It’s important for Alabama’s defence to keep him in the pocket and make him throw.

Additionally, it is important to push him down and apply pressure to his face. When he’s pushed, Thorne tends to force some throws, which is usually good for the other team’s defence.

2. Both of Alabama’s offensive lines need to be held up.

Alabama was beaten in the front last week against Oklahoma. Football has changed a lot over the years, but at its heart, it’s still a pretty simple game. Usually, the team that wins at the line of play is the one that does better.

Alabama needs to give Jalen Milroe, Jam Miller, and Justice Haynes some open spaces to run the ball. Milroe needs time to find open targets down the field, so the offensive line needs to protect the pass well.

Alabama has to stop the run on defence. Jarquez Hunter is one of the best running backs in the SEC. Thorne, the Tigers’ quarterback, is also very agile, which makes things hard for Alabama’s defence. Last week, Oklahoma’s offence had no differentiators at all. They ran for more than 250 yards even though they were never a threat to pass.

Auburn can run the ball well this week, but Thorne is also good enough to make plays down the field to a group of talented wide outs.

The Crimson Tide should be able to win if they can keep the game under control up front.

1. Jalen Milroe needs to put in an appearance

It’s been a strange season for Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide. Milroe has played quarterback so badly in Alabama’s losses to Tennessee and Oklahoma that it makes you think of players like Marc Guillon and Spencer Pennington.

Against Georgia and LSU, for example, he looked like the best player in college football.

Alabama wants Milroe to do more than just run the ball. They also need him to throw the ball. He has to be able to pass the ball as well as he did against Georgia. Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard will be able to get through the Tigers’ defence. Milroe has to believe that he can execute the shots.

Alabama needs Milroe to be at his best on Saturday. Everything else that is needed to win doesn’t matter if they don’t.