Tennessee’s best chance to upset Alabama comes with College Football Playoff consequences

A Tennessee Volunteers upset of the Alabama Crimson Tide would carry massive College Football Playoff implications for both SEC programs.

For the first time in years, the Tennessee Volunteers have a realistic shot at beating the juggernaut Alabama Crimson Tide on the Third Saturday in October.

No. 6 will host No. 3 in a clash of unbeatens for all the college football world to see. The Vols can put up points with anybody since Josh Heupel took over the program. Although things are looking up in Rocky Top, Alabama is still Alabama, mostly because Nick Saban is not slowing down anytime soon. However, a home win for the Vols carries big College Football Playoff implications.

Here is why this cross-divisional rivalry game is so important for both teams to have this season.

Third Saturday in October carries huge College Football Playoff implications

Should Tennessee beat Alabama for the first time since 2006, it might be what propels the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff, either as an SEC Champion or an at-large team. The Vols are 5-0 on the year with SEC wins over Florida and LSU, however, the Gators and the Tigers cannot hold a candle to what the Crimson Tide are presently. A win over them will be undeniable.

Should Tennessee get to 6-0 with a rare win over Alabama, the Vols will probably have two more games vs. ranked opponents: at Georgia on Nov. 5 for sure and either vs. Kentucky on Oct. 29, or possibly at South Carolina on Nov. 19 should Shane Beamer’s team catch fire in the second half. In short, Tennessee could be a very interesting 11-1 if the Vols only loss on the season was to UGA.

Of course, they could win the SEC East if the Vols were to go undefeated or beat Georgia head-to-head, and that could include a loss to someone like Alabama, Kentucky or South Carolina. Either way, an 11-1 Tennessee team with a rivalry win over Alabama or Georgia will keep them inside of the top 10 for the duration. All that would need to happen is for another conference to cannibalize.

As for Alabama, the Crimson Tide may not be able to afford a loss in the Third Saturday in October. Keep in mind that they still have to play Ole Miss and Mississippi State this season, as well as rivalry games with LSU and Auburn. Although Tennessee still has to play Alabama and Georgia, it’s not like the Crimson Tide’s remaining six games are particularly easy to begin with. It will be hard.

Overall, the winner of this rivalry game will be picking up the best win of the season across college football. It could be enough to propel Alabama back into the top spot, and one would expect Tennessee would be at or approaching the top three with its biggest win in decades. Ultimately, the winner will be in fantastic shape, whereas the loser is probably not going to make the playoff.

All the pressure is on Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide to keep the lengthy winning streak alive.

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