The SEC Championship game could not have gone worse for Alabama as the Crimson Tide fell 28-7 to the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta. All Alabama had to do was keep the game close, and even with a loss, the Crimson Tide would have still had the best shot possible to make it to the College Football Playoff.
While many are already starting to write off Alabama because of the loss, Vegas oddsmakers aren't thinking differently. Even after the loss, FanDuel Sportsbook is still giving Alabama good odds to make the College Football Playoff. Here are the odds for the Tide making the playoff or not.
- Making the playoff: -340
- Missing the playoff: +260
That means that Vegas believes the Tide still has a real shot at making the CFP, even with the ugly loss to Georgia, where Alabama only rushed for -3 yards. Everyone in Tuscaloosa will be on the edge of their seat on Sunday at Noon, just hoping the Tide can make it in.
The CFP selection committee saved Alabama with penultimate rankings
Alabama moved up in the College Football Playoff penultimate rankings on Tuesday night. The Tide moved from No. 10 to No. 9, jumping Notre Dame. While some think it is because of the win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl, in reality, it was most likely because the committee could protect Alabama a but more if they lost the SEC Championship game.
The committee can now "punish" Alabama by dropping it a spot after an ugly championship game against Georgia. However, at least Alabama was in a championship game, and they should get rewarded for that.
If Alabama had not jumped Notre Dame, they almost certainly would have dropped out of the field and been playing for just another run-of-the-mill bowl game instead of a College Football Playoff National Championship.
So rest a little easier tonight Alabama fans, nothing will be decided until Sunday.