No. 1 Alabama and No. 7 Florida will face off this Saturday in Atlanta for the 2020 SEC Championship – a game that will not only crown the winner of the conference, but will impact the College Football Playoff landscape.
Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban never likes to predict the outcome of furture games, or act like his team has the upper hand. He focuses on the scheduled contest ahead and hones in on the opponent.
Gators head coach Dan Mullen, however, does not share that same mentality.
Florida was on the verge of making the final four sitting at No. 6 in the final week of the regular season, with only one loss to No. 5 Texas A&M, their lone loss of the season. But in an unforeseen turn of events, the Gators lost to an unranked LSU team, pushing them back one spot to No. 7.
Mullen and the Gators are not forced out of the playoff conversation, but would need a win over Alabama with a wide margin of victory.
He sees it in the near future.
Florida coach Dan Mullen on if the Gators should make the playoff with two losses: "We'll think about that Saturday night after we win."
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) December 17, 2020
This sentiment completely contradicts that of Saban, whose team is projected to win by over two touchdowns.
Nick Saban: “We’re just hopeful we play well enough to get an opportunity to play in the Playoff."
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) December 17, 2020