Exit Poll: Auburn's chances vs. Alabama; Michigan has 'no shot' vs. Ohio State

It's rivalry week in college football.

This week, the big one is Alabama at Auburn. It's the top-ranked Crimson Tide, undefeated and pursuing its third consecutive BCS championship, against upstart Auburn, ranked No. 4 with just one loss. Do the Tigers have a chance against big, bad Bama?

Our Exit Poll panelists discuss what Auburn has to do to pull off the upset as well as other rivalry games around the country.

But first, what do they think is going on in Gainesville?

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Q: Florida is 4-7 with a game against FSU next week. By all accounts, Will Muschamp will return as head coach in 2014. Do you think he should?

Jake Plummer: It takes time to build a championship team -- bad decision if they decide to fire Will Muschamp. But in today's win-now environment, college coaches don't get to stick around when expectations are high. Florida wants to compete and watching FSU play in the national title game will only put more pressure on Coach Muschamp. He is 22-15 at Florida, one more year of subpar performances and the clamps will come down.

Butch Woolfolk: Muschamp is a 'Defensive Guy', has always been on that side of the ball -- at LSU, Auburn and even while coaching in the NFL. Florida's inability to move the ball on offense can be fixed in the offseason with Muschamp hiring a new offensive coordinator. Far too many schools eager for change end up throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Jared Zabransky: Florida has fallen too far from grace. When that happens, change is mandatory at the coaching positions. When you have that big of a fall from grace there are more problems in that locker room than just the X's and O's.

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Q: If you could attend one rivalry game for the rest of your life - just one - which game would it be and why?

Plummer: I have to go with my alma mater's rival game versus the University of Arizona. It's the oldest rivalry cup trophy and it splits up plenty of families in Arizona. I'm going to the game this year because it's usually a great game with lots of emotions. This is the one rivalry game I go to although there are many great ones out there -- hard to pick just one.

Woolfolk: Michigan vs Ohio State. I played in four of those contests. There is nothing like it. Michigan, the winningest program in college football history, versus OSU and their legendary program. Yes, today there are better rivalry contests, but none more significant historically.

Zabransky: Rivalries in this day and age are dying in college football. With teams jumping conferences so much and not playing their rivals year in and year out it makes this a tough question. I think the Army vs. Navy game has stood against time as well as any and still carries has the aura that great rivalry games should.

MORE: Rivalries: The Game vs. The Iron Bowl

Q: Alabama is two wins from playing for its third consecutive BCS title. What does Auburn need to do this week to upset the top-ranked Crimson Tide?

Plummer: You have to force AJ Mccarron out of the pocket with a solid pass rush mixed with blitz and hope he forces it. On offense, Auburn must continue to run and control the ball and most importantly finish drives in the red zone, especially early in the game. LSU failed to do this and the game got out of hand. If Auburn can finish those drives with TDs and put some pressure on Alabama's offense, then they may have a chance.

Woolfolk: Alabama is stout everywhere. It will not be easy picking a weakness, however, Auburn should attack them where they have shown trouble defending in the past, which is with a mobile QB. QB draws, short screens and roll-out passes may have some success as a nickel-and-dime approach. Defensively, Auburn should commit to stopping the run with eight in the box, forcing the passing game to gain yards.

Zabransky: You have to make Bama one dimensional. I would force them to throw the ball to beat me. You have to mix up the looks on defense with new wrinkles in the blitz scheme and try to force them out of run downs. On offense you have to strike early and take shots down the field with double moves and play action. Auburn has to be able to throw the ball to win.

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Q: In another big one this weekend, do you think Michigan can knock off No. 3 Ohio State?

Plummer: Michigan will have to find a way to run the ball vs OSU and that won't be easy. Rivalry games seem to always even out; Vegas can't control the emotions involved and the pride that is on the line during heated rivalries such as this one. I believe that OSU is beatable, but only if Michigan gets physical and finds its running game.

Woolfolk: Absolutely NOT. Michigan is just flat out bad this year. They cannot run the ball and their passing game is even worse. The only chance Michigan has of scoring is with an OSU turnover, a pick-6 or a fumble recovery.

Zabransky: Michigan has no shot. Ohio State is the class of the Big 10 and Michigan isn't even the class of Michigan this year.

Q: Give me your predictions on the following games: Florida State at Florida?

Plummer: FSU 38-14

Woolfolk: FSU 50-14

Zabransky: FSU 35-14

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Q: UCLA at USC?

Plummer: USC 28-27

Woolfolk: UCLA 24-21

Zabransky: USC 28-24

Q: Clemson at South Carolina?

Plummer: Clemson 35-31

Woolfolk: Clemson 24-21

Zabransky: Clemson 38-27

Our Exit Poll panelists:

Jake Plummer

Arizona State's third all-time leading passer with 8,626 yards and 65 TDs, Plummer was the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 1996. He went on to a 10-year NFL career and reached the Pro Bowl in 2005 with Denver. You can find him working in studio for the Pac-12 Network when he's not offering one-on-one QB instruction to college and high school players or spending time with his wife and two sons.Butch Woolfolk

Woolfolk led Michigan in rushing in 1979, '80 and '81. He's sixth on the Wolverines all-time list with 3,850 rushing yards and scored 29 times. He was the 1981 Rose Bowl MVP. He also was a multiple Big Ten champion in track and field and still holds the outdoor 200-meter record at Michigan (20.59 seconds) and is fourth in the 100 (10.36). A first-round NFL pick in 1982, he played seven seasons in the NFL and is now semi-retired.Jared Zabransky

Boise State's second all-time leading passer with 8,256 yards and 58 TD passes, Zabransky was right in the middle of Sporting News' No. 2 play on our list of Defining BCS Moments. In the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Zabransky perfectly executed the Statue of Liberty play on a 2-point conversion in overtime for the Broncos' stunning victory over Oklahoma that gave non-BCS teams a new level of respect. He works for National Oilwell Varco and works with young quarterbacks on weekends in the Houston area.

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