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For Alabama football, CFB Selection Committee loving the SEC works well

By Ronald Evans

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 22: Statue of Head Coach Nick Saban on campus before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 22: Statue of Head Coach Nick Saban on campus before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football sits atop the CFB mountain. The Crimson Tide may have a one-loss cushion because the Selection Committee so highly values the SEC.

Most of CFB world is anxious to see Alabama football tumble with its first loss of the 2018 season. Alabama football fatigue is particularly high this season since other Power Five conferences have lost stature. Outside of a little buzz for Washington State and some earned respect for Michigan, the PAC 12 and the B1G don’t carry much clout. Clemson is strong while the rest of the ACC is weak. Surprisingly, the Big 12 has regained some cred with the play of Oklahoma, West Virginia, Iowa State and Texas.

None of the other conferences can match the SEC. Don’t just take our word for it. Look at how highly the College Football Selection Committee values the SEC.

Check out the results of the second Committee Top 25 rankings. The SEC has four of the top 11 teams and six of the top 16 teams. With Auburn sneaking in at No. 24, the SEC has seven teams in the Top 25.

To understand how much that chaps fans of other conferences, consider these facts. The SEC has,

  • The highest ranked undefeated team: Alabama
  • The second highest ranked one-loss team: Georgia
  •  The highest ranked two-loss team: LSU, who is ranked above three one-loss teams (Washington State, West Virginia and Ohio State) and an undefeated team (UCF)
  • Another two-loss SEC team: Kentucky is also above undefeated UCF
  • The top two, highest ranked 3-loss teams: Florida and Mississippi State, ranked above two-loss Boston College.

The Committee loving the SEC is an understatement. Don’t tell anyone else outside the SEC footprint, please, but – the Committee is obsessed with the quality of SEC football. Only Auburn at 6-3 and No. 24 does not get what the rest of college football thinks is preferential treatment.

James Carville may need to defend a new collusion complaint. This time it would be LSU and the Selection Committee. If that happens, Carville will only need to cite how the betting ‘sharps’ still value LSU. Even after LSU getting beatdown at home, some ‘sharps’ rate the Bengal Tigers more highly than Notre Dame.

All the SEC love could flip in any weekend. What Alabama football fans should be rooting for is continued wins by Georgia, LSU, even Kentucky and Florida as the regular season winds down. To the extent, the Crimson Tide has a one-loss cushion going into week 11 of the CFB season, it is best maintained by no more losses by the Bengal Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Five Bold Predictions for the Tide in November. dark. Next

Those Alabama football fans thinking why consider any of this now? We answer that question with another question. How many undefeated seasons has the Nick Saban led, Crimson Tide had? Maybe 2018 is the second one. But if it isn’t, some Selection Committee love for the SEC might come in handy.

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