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NCAA Football Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama Crimson Tide Control Own Playoff Destiny

By

Randy Sartin, USA TODAY SPORTS

Randy Sartin, USA TODAY SPORTS

When the College Football Playoff rankings are released on Tuesday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide may still be on the outside looking in. But unlike some teams behind them, the Tide don’t need to hope that other teams lose. Alabama controls its own destiny.

Nick Saban and his team have three SEC games remaining in the regular season, and all three are against ranked opponents. Two of those opponents are currently ahead of the Tide in the national polls and the playoff rankings, so the Tide can certainly help itself by winning out.

The tough games start this weekend when ‘Bama visits its old nemesis Les Miles and his LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge. This is a night game in Death Valley, where strange things tend to happen after dark. Saban needs to make sure his team is ready for this game and not looking ahead.

After that tough road game, the remainder of the Tide’s schedule will be played at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which is even more good news. On November 15, Alabama hosts the nation’s top-ranked team, the Mississippi State Bulldogs. If the Tide can get through the LSU road trip, it would set up a game between two teams ranked in the top five nationally.

Alabama then hosts Western Carolina before the November 29 Iron Bowl game against the Tide’s arch rivals, the Auburn Tigers. Auburn is currently ranked third in the country, and this game, as it did last year, could decide the winner of the SEC Western division.

The Tide are chasing an SEC championship and a spot in the playoff. If they win out, they will accomplish both of those goals.

Tim Letcher is a contributing writer for www.RantSports.com and a member of the Football Writers Association of America. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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