Alabama Football: Week nine key games for Crimson Tide fans

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 11: The College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy is seen on the field before the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 11: The College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy is seen on the field before the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football fans at Bryant-Denny
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

As the Playoff hunt nears the first Selection Committee ranking, check out key week nine games with post-season and Playoff implications for Alabama football.

The paths to the SEC Championship game and to the CFB Playoff become more clear each week. Alabama football fans need to keep up with key games across the SEC and the nation.

Alabama football could slam-dunk its way to the final four by going undefeated through the SEC Championship game. Only once in Nick Saban’s head coaching career has his team been undefeated, the 2009 Alabama football National Champions. If ever there is a year when a one-loss Crimson Tide team will not be chosen for the final four, 2018 might be that year.

If Notre Dame goes undefeated, the Irish, deserving or not will take one of the four spots. In that scenario, two Power Five conferences would fail to get teams in the Playoff. While the SEC has more top teams than the other Power Five conferences, this does not look like a two-team SEC CFB Playoff year.

Alabama football fans are highly interested in that national group of about 15 teams. One of them will represent the SEC East in the SEC Championship game. All of them are, as of this week, potential opponents for the Alabama football in the Playoff.

So  Bama Hammer is here to help follow the action. In the following pages, our writing staff previews games from week nine.