All attention for the Alabama football staff and Crimson Tide players is on the Tennessee Vols. No looking ahead is allowed. Fans don't have that restriction. Instead, looking ahead to the postseason, the Crimson Tide needs only to beat the Vols and the Aggies to become a Playoff lock. Win those two, and the game in Baton Rouge will be about playoff seeding rather than playoff qualification.
For the Alabama Crimson Tide, Tennessee Week is Hump Week of the college football regular season. In less than three weeks, after two more Alabama games, the CFB Playoff Selection Committee will release its first rankings.
Wins over Tennessee and Texas A&M would likely place Alabama as the highest-ranked one-loss team. One playoff predictor source cites a computer model that currently has Alabama as the No. 2 'most deserving' playoff team. Notre Dame is at the top, and Georgia is No. 3. The Selection Committee may (or may not) be more attuned to schedule strength, but they should, and will, rank Georgia above Alabama.
Alabama a 'Playoff-lock' rather the 'Playoff Lock'
Playoff lock is used here instead of 'Playoff Lock' because the Crimson Tide will also have to dispose of Vandy, Chattanooga, and Auburn, none of whom are going to beat Alabama this season.
College football experts disagree over how many SEC teams will make the Playoff field. Current predictions range from three to five teams. Most current predictions have the Crimson Tide as a 5-seed or 6-seed. USA Today's Matt Hayes is an exception. Hayes' current projection has Alabama No. 2 in the Playoff field. Hayes explained his ranking: " For the first time since Kalen DeBoer arrived in Tuscaloosa, there’s little doubt he has a team that can beat anyone."
An added perspective on how highly regarded Alabama should be comes from the College Football Nerds. In the Nerds' current Power Ratings, the Crimson Tide is No. 4, and above five undefeated, AP-ranked teams.
For what it is worth, a loss to either the Vols or the Aggies would not significantly change the Crimson Tide's playoff posture, as long as Alabama wins in Baton Rouge.
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