Alabama apparently didn’t make much of an impression on the CFP playoff committee following its pasting of LSU last weekend. The panel that picks teams for the first ever playoffs only ticked the Tide up by one slot to number ten. Alabama’s next opportunity to make an impression is tomorrow when Mercer comes to Bryant-Denny Stadium. Head coach Kalen DeBoer says he’s trying to keep the team from being complacent after the win over LSU.
“Doesn't mean, you know, you can just let off, because it's about the next play, the next one's the most important one, and that's good,” he said. “That's been our focus, really, since day one. It's just that now the execution, the number of reps, all of those things are are helping us execute better.”
Georgia finds itself in a must-win situation as it hosts number six ranked Tennessee in a huge Southeastern Conference game between the hedges. The Bulldogs already have two losses after a 28-10 blowout at Mississippi a week ago. A third loss would likely knock them out of consideration for the College Football Playoff, even though it's been expanded to 12 teams this season. That's hardly what was expected from a team that has been a perennial national championship contender under Kirby Smart. Alabama’s Head coach Kalen DeBoer is in a similar boat, as the Tide is working to overcome two losses before wins over Missouri and LSU.
“I think that's the whole key. Is handling success is one thing, but our just continual development and growth and and improvement, that's that's a big deal for us right now, and that's what, what's happened over the last three or four weeks is that's finally coming to fruition,” DeBoer said.
Alabama is set to host FCS Mercer after a big win over LSU. The ninth-ranked Crimson Tide are fresh from a 42-13 win at LSU and face a lower-division opponent before closing the regular season against fellow Southeastern Conference teams Oklahoma and Auburn. Quarterback Jalen Milroe is coming off a game in Baton Rouge where he ran for four touchdowns. Mercer is ranked as high as 10th in the FCS and has already clinched the Southern Conference's automatic playoff berth. Alabama ranks ninth in the FBS playoff rankings.
