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Alabama looks to end slide against Auburn

Nov 24, 2007 - 11:32 AM Alabama (6-5) at No. 25 Auburn (7-4) 8:00 pm EST

AUBURN, Alabama (Ticker) -- Nick Saban gets his first taste of the "Iron Bowl" on Saturday night when Alabama visits No. 25 Auburn.

A coaching veteran, Saban has been through many Southeastern Conference wars from his days at Louisiana State. But now he enters one of college football's fiercest rivalries where winning is expected.

The Alabama faithful will be hoping Saban can turn around the Crimson Tide's recent struggles in the series. Alabama has lost five straight to Auburn but still leads the all-time series, 38-32-1.

Perhaps looking ahead to this game, Alabama suffered a stunning 21-14 home loss to Louisiana-Monroe last week, continuing a late-season tailspin.

Alabama (6-5, 4-3 SEC West) was in position to upset top-ranked LSU on November 3, but the Crimson Tide squandered a fourth-quarter lead.

Alabama never has recovered, dropping its last three games to spoil a once promising season.

While the Crimson Tide had to play last Saturday, the Tigers (7-4, 4-3) had the week off.

After allowing just a pair of field goals in wins over Mississippi and Tennessee Tech, Auburn was brought back to reality two weeks ago in a 45-20 drubbing at Georgia.