re: Nick Saban has NEVER beat a Auburn team with 9 wins

What Saban did at LSU is irrelevant, he is at a much different place now. The relevant numbers are that at Bama he has won 7 of 9, 3 in a row and 3 of 4 at J-H. But really none of those numbers matter. Bama has better players and coaches, and Jalen Hurts. AU has probably the best unit on the field, IMO, the most important unit besides QB: an elite DL. Though Bama is a great road team, it's usually better to be at home. Bama has a serious injury problem at one position group and one position within that group. Neither team will be intimidated, both teams are good and both teams want it badly. Likely a good game. History, most of which is on Bama's side, means essentially nothing. With only a few exceptions, the best team almost always wins this game.

Since the series resumed in '48:
Bama is 27-8 against AU when in top 10, when top five 21-3.
AU is 13-5 against Bama when in top 10, when top five 6-1.

When both are top ten 4-4, when both are top five 1-1.