Above: Auburn’s defense will try to stop Alabama’s Derrick Henry in the Iron Bowl. (Kent Gidley/UA Athletics)

Alabama and Auburn are nearly polar opposites going into this year’s Iron Bowl on the Plains.

The Crimson Tide has a bid for another national championship in its sights, needing only to beat Auburn and SEC East champion Florida in the conference title game to reach the four-team playoff.

Roc Thomas will have to be a factor for the Tigers if Auburn is to challenge Alabama in the Iron Bowl. (Zach Bland/Auburn Athletics)

The Tigers opened the season as a title contender but stumbled out of the blocks when it got into conference play. A lopsided win over Idaho last week spared Gus Malzahn’s team the pressure of having to beat Alabama to qualify for a bowl game.

Auburn’s pressure comes in trying to stop Heisman Trophy leading contender Derrick Henry, penetrate perhaps the nation’s strongest defensive front seven and at least slow down what may be the best team in the country.

So will this be the biggest blowout in Iron Bowl history? Or might it be the biggest upset of this storied series?

The answer will come at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.

Here’s the rest of this week’s slate in the Alabama NewsCenter football preview. All college games unless otherwise noted are on Saturday. High school playoff actions Friday night.

OTHER STATE SCHOOLS

Tuskegee at North Alabama: For the second time in three seasons, the Golden Tigers will face the Lions in the Division II Playoffs. North Alabama won 30-27 to open the 2013 playoffs. The teams, each 9-2, have two common opponents – Miles College and UNC Pembroke. UNA defeated Miles 34-17 in its season opener in Birmingham and downed UNC Pembroke 62-28. Tuskegee lost to both teams, falling 29-17 at UNC Pembroke and 26-23 at home to the eventual SIAC champions. Kickoff is at noon.

South Alabama at Georgia Southern: The Jaguars (5-5, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference) are seeking their third straight trip into the post season but they’ll have to win to do it. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN3. The Eagles are 7-3, 5-1 in the Sun Belt.

Troy at Georgia State (Friday): Troy has alternated losses and wins the past four weeks and is coming off a 45-10 loss to Georgia Southern. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. The Trojans are 3-7 overall, 2-4 in the Sun Belt.

Texas Southern at Alabama A&M: The Bulldogs (2-8, 2-6 in the Southwest Athletic Conference) has lost its past four games in a row, the latest being a 34-point loss to Alcorn State. Kickoff Saturday is at 1 p.m.

Jacksonville State: The consensus No. 1 FCS team in the nation is idle this week, waiting to host the winner of this week’s Chattanooga/Fordham first-round playoff game.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Class 7A: Spain Park and McGill-Toolen are cooling their heels this week as each won its way to the Super 7 with semifinal victories last week. They will square off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Bryant-Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama. The Jaguars are No. 1 in the final ranking of the Alabama Sports Writers Association; the Yellow Jackets are No. 3.

Class 6A: Defending state champion and current No. 1 Clay-Chalkville (13-0) is at No. 8 Austin (10-3).

Class 5A: No. 8 Mortimer Jordan (12-1) travels to No. 10 Alexandria (11-1), which won the first meeting between the teams this season.

Class 4A: Defending state champ and No. 3 Leeds (11-2) hosts Munford (10-3).

Class 3A: No. 3 Piedmont (12-1) is at Colbert County (10-3).

Class 2A: No. 7 Randolph County (13-0) visits No. 5 Fyffe (12-1).

Class 1A: No. 4 Cedar Bluff (12-1) hosts No. 8 Decatur Heritage (12-1).