For the first time since 2007, the Alabama Crimson Tide have dropped two games before the start of November. Although the losses have each been uniquely painful, it’s worth noting that Tennessee is a top-ten team while Vanderbilt will crack the AP Top 25 later today.
Alabama now sits at 5-2 on the year with five games remaining and will certainly have to win out if they want to make the first 12-team field. But that is much easier said than done with a remaining SEC schedule of Missouri, LSU, Oklahoma, and Auburn. Fortunately, the Crimson Tide will be on bye after hosting Missouri this upcoming weekend and will have a much-needed chance to regroup.
In their last two trips to Knoxville, Alabama has been penalized 32 times for 245 yards. Kane Wommack and the Alabama defense finally got things cleaned up and had one of their best performances of the year, only for the offense to fall apart.
Even with the two losses, the ESPN Playoff Predictor gives the Crimson Tide a 44% chance at making the playoffs, good for the 12th-best odds. Auburn, Missouri, and Oklahoma are all reeling after losing on Saturday, so to me, the Tide’s season will come down to the trip to Baton Rouge. The kick-off time has not been announced yet, but Brian Kelly is undefeated in Death Valley in prime-time games.
ESPN gives Georgia and Oregon the highest chances of getting in at 87% each.
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