Saban: Rankings, Odds Don’t Matter In Iron Bowl [VIDEO]

If it wasn't clear already, Nick Saban made it for you during his last press conference before Saturday's regular-season finale against rival Auburn.

"It doesn’t really matter much about who’s favored or ranks or rankings or any of that kind of stuff because rivalry games get determined by the team that can stay focused on what they need to do to execute and can do it for 60 minutes in the game," Saban said.

In last year's meeting, then-No. 1 Alabama fell 34-28 on the road against an underdog Auburn team ranked No. 4. The Crimson Tide (10-1, 6-1 SEC) is again ranked No. 1 entering Saturday's contest and is the favorite against 15th-ranked Auburn (8-3, 4-3).

"We’re really looking forward to a great atmosphere in Bryant-Denny Stadium," Saban said. "This is a great rivalry game, we’ve talked about that. I think execution still becomes the No. 1 goal. The team that can be the most exact in how they execute, keep their discipline, play with great emotion but also have poise in what they do."

Saturday's game will mark the 79th meeting between Alabama and Auburn in the Iron Bowl, the state's unofficial state championship game. Alabama holds a 42-35-1 lead in a series that dates back to the 1893 season but is just 2-5 in games played in Tuscaloosa since moving its Iron Bowl home games there from Legion Field in Birmingham in 2000. (Counting the 1895 and 1901 Iron Bowls, the Crimson Tide is 2-7 all-time against Auburn in Tuscaloosa.)

Senior Day Saturday

The Crimson Tide will recognize 24 seniors on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium ahead of Saturday's game. Each senior player will be announced over the PA system with family members by their side.

"This has been a fantastic senior class for us, some great individuals in this class, leaders. Done a great job here academically as well as on the field. In the last four years, this class has won 46 games, and we’ve won at least 10 games in every one of their seasons and extended the streak of however many 10-win seasons that we’ve had.

"But more important than that, I think they’re great people. They do a really, really good job of representing the university, the program, their families. They’ve done a great job in their leadership in terms of how they have affected other people in the program here as well as caring for others, setting a good example. I’m really proud of this group, and I think one of the reasons we have really good chemistry on our team this year is because of the senior class and the quality people that we have in this class."

Among the Crimson Tide's senior class, 10 of them are fifth-year seniors. That group includes Arie Kouandjio, Jarrick Williams, DeAndrew White, Brian Vogler, Brandon Ivory, Blake Sims, Anthony Orr, Nick Perry, Jalston Fowler and Austin Shepherd.

Linebacker Trey DePriest, another one of the team's seniors, doesn't plan on letting the pregame honor be a distraction for him for what will come after it.

"I’m not going to let Senior Day affect none of that," DePriest, a Springfield, Ohio native, said. "It is what it is, it’s my last home game. I mean, it’s sort of emotional, but at the same time, it’s just another opportunity to go out there and play and make it my best."

(Note: A head count on the Alabama roster posted on RollTide.com says there are 22 seniors on the team this season. Saban said 24.)

Saban wishes you a happy holiday

Nearing the end of his two-and-a-half minute opening statement, Saban made sure to make at least one message clear: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

"I think a lot of us run around in this world thinking about what we don’t have, but I think this is a really, really good time for everybody to just take a minute to give thanks for what we do have, because most of us have quite a bit to be thankful for," Saban said.

"And I hope everybody has a very happy Thanksgiving and can spend time with their family and will give thanks for all the wonderful things we’ve been blessed with."

Thursday marks the eighth Thanksgiving in a row Saban has spent in the state of Alabama. He is 4-3 in games (all against Auburn) played immediately after it since taking over as head coach of the Crimson Tide in 2007.

Injury report

Tight end Brian Vogler and wide receiver ArDarius Stewart are both in doubt to play in Saturday's Iron Bowl, Saban announced Wednesday night.

"They’re still questionable," Saban said. "They haven’t been able to practice to this point, so they’re very questionable."

Vogler, a senior, and Stewart, a redshirt freshman, sustained "stretched knee ligaments" in last Saturday's 48-14 win over Western Carolina and did not return. Both players were not present during the media-viewing periods of Tuesday and Wednesday's practices. On Monday, they wore black, non-contact jerseys.

To hear Saban's entire press conference from Wednesday, watch the video above. For player interviews, watch the videos below:

Linebacker Trey DePriest: