M.W.
Parties like it's 1979
Bama simply doesn't blow out Auburn two years in a row except in the most exceptional of circumstances wqhere the game is not expected to be even remotely competitive. Auburn is 7-1 ATS against Bama the next year after losing by 16+ to Bama, and the only non-cover was in 2012 when Alabama was favored by 34, which is 7.5 points higher than the second-highest pointspread in this series (going back to 1980).I hope you’re right as I think Utah is more deserving. I could just see bama getting some hype, especially from espn, if they blowout auburn.
And Auburn is 6-0 SU & ATS against Bama (avg. line +4.5) the year after losing by 8+ if Bama's record isn't at least three wins better than Auburn's. Examples include the recent wins in 2013 by 10-1 Auburn over 11-0 Alabama (after 49-0 whitewash in 2012) and the 2017 win by 9-2 Auburn over11-0 Alabama (after losing 30-12 in 2016).