Paul Finebaum Gives Grim Outlook in Alabama-Tennessee Showdown

One of the benefits of the 12-team playoff system that will be instituted in college football this winter is that taking a loss in September and October does not necessarily sink a team's national title hopes in December and January. For SEC powerhouses Alabama and Tennessee, that's a good thing.

But two losses? That is a different story.

When the No. 7-ranked Crimson Tide square off at Tennessee against the No. 11 Volunteers on Saturday afternoon, one winning team--both of which have one loss already--will come out with its Top 10 ranking secured and its playoff position intact.

But the other, according to ESPN CFB guru Paul Finebaum, is in "big trouble."

"I think the loser of this game is in really big trouble," Finebaum said on the ESPN program, "Get Up."

"Let's say Tennessee loses, they don't have an impressive win any longer because the beat Oklahoma, that didn't amount to anything, NC State--they have nothing on their resume, so they'll be in trouble. They also still have a game at Georgia in November, which I cannot imagine them winning."

Alabama does have a win over Georgia on its resume, and that will buoy its chances, maybe even with two losses. But a road game at Death Valley looms.

Given the shaky status of coach Kalen DeBoer, who was a hero in Tuscaloosa earlier this month when the Tide upset Georgia but has crashed dramatically since the massive upset the team suffered at Vanderbilt two weeks ago, there is still plenty of concern for Bama.

"Alabama is in a little better shape, with a loss," Finebaum said. "They go to LSU, where Brian Kelly has not lost a home game. So the loser of this game is in trouble, I think that is putting it succinctly."