Alabama football fans are well aware that many predictions have the Alabama Crimson Tide outside the CFB Playoff Field. Nonetheless, there is hope that a 10-2 Crimson Tide is not impossible. Alabama’s ranking in the first Playoff Top 25 on Tuesday night will determine how much the Selection Committee will reward the team for its difficult schedule.
While the Alabama Crimson Tide watches football in Week 10, Alabama supporters can follow eight games in which the loser may improve the Tide’s playoff hopes.
Alabama Football benefits from having fewer undefeated Power Four teams. Michigan is unlikely to defeat Oregon, but a win for the Wolverines would push the 8-0 Ducks down a peg. The Ducks are 8-1, but the Miami Hurricanes are not. The Canes are 8-0 on a schedule that includes no wins against rated opponents. To beat a ranked team, Miami must make it to the ACC Championship Game. The Canes are clear favorites over the Duke Blue Devils, but Alabama supporters can root for the Dukies.
Penn State is also undefeated (7-0). The Nittany Lions face 6-1 Ohio State. Either loser should enhance Alabama’s playoff hopes, but eliminating Penn State from the unbeaten ranks is probably better.
The Indiana Hoosiers are another Big Ten club that is unbeaten (7-0). IU will face Michigan State on the road this Saturday. The game may not be close, but the Spartans have a shot at an upset.
The greatest circumstance for Alabama Football and some other SEC teams comes in December’s final Playoff rankings, given the Big 12 only has one champion in the 12-team Playoff field. That may not be doable if BYU and Iowa State continue to win. Texas Tech’s 7-0 victory over Iowa State on Saturday could benefit Alabama in the future.
Pitt (7-0) is another undefeated squad that will play on Saturday. The Panthers face 7-1 SMU. Based on its schedule (ranked 102nd among all FBS teams by ESPN), a 10-1 Pitt squad has a slim chance of making the playoffs unless it wins the ACC Championship Game. SMU dropping to 7-2 may also assist Alabama.
In Saturday SEC games, South Carolina defeating Texas A&M in Columbia would benefit Alabama. The Aggies, now rated No. 10 in the AP Poll, may tumble three or four spots if the Gamecocks improve A&M’s record to 7-2.
In a crazily unpredictable college football season, the Alabama Crimson Tide may get a couple breaks on Saturday.
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