AUBURN, Alabama --
Paul Finebaum has covered 33 Iron Bowls.
He's seen the First Time Ever in 1989, the showdown of undefeated teams in 1971 and
Cam Newton's second-half comeback in 2010.
But the SEC West showdown between No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC) and No. 4 Auburn (10-1, 6-1) on Saturday inside Jordan-Hare Stadium is going to top them all, the Alabama and ESPN radio personality said.
"You get tired of people in my business saying it's the biggest ever, it's the game of the century, it's this and that, but this is truly is," Finebaum said. "It's the biggest Iron Bowl I've ever seen."
The winner Saturday (2:30 p.m., CBS) will advance to the SEC Championship game next week at the Georgia Dome. The biggest turnaround in Auburn history could reach another level if the Tigers upset the Tide, who enter the game as a 10 1/2-point favorite.
Alabama is looking to win its third straight BCS national championship and fourth out of the last five years. A victory by the Tigers would not only derail those aspirations, it would potentially land them into the BCS national championship under first-year coach
Gus Malzahn.
"I've done my radio show a lot of Mondays after big losses for Alabama," said Finebaum, who moved to ESPN in the summer. "I think the South Carolina game a couple of years ago people were beside themselves. I'll never forget the (Texas) A&M game last year. Even the Governor came out and criticized coach (Nick) Saban, but I think this would be the all-timer.
"Alabama fans aren't really thinking about losing this game. They don't ever think about losing a game. I think they're probably a little more concerned about Missouri the next week, or maybe Florida State. This is not part of their DNA or their lexicon to think that we're going to lose to Auburn. I think it would be one of the most manic Mondays in Alabama history."
Auburn's seven-win turnaround is the biggest turnaround in school history. The improvement from 0-8 to 6-1 in the SEC is also the biggest turnaround in SEC history.
"Even if Auburn did not enter this game with a 10-1 record, it would still be remarkable," Finebaum said. "I thought they could win eight games, that would have been a success.
This is close to a miracle."
Finebaum said he would pick Malzahn for national coach of the year if he had to vote today. "I don't think anyone has done a better job," he said.
Finebaum believes Alabama will win. He picked the Crimson Tide to win 31-20.
"I was just talking to (
Lee)
Corso and I won't reveal what he's going to do, but I would say it's going to be a phenomenal game for Auburn," Finebaum said. "But Alabama is going to win."
