ESPN analysts discuss Alabama at No. 3 in CFP rankings

On3 imageby:Griffin McVeigh11/30/21

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No matter which way you try to spin it, Saturday’s SEC Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs will be the most important matchup of the weekend. It will be a battle between two top three teams, possibly deciding two spots in the playoff.

Before heading to Atlanta, Alabama faced off against the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl. It was a close one for the Crimson Tide, winning 24-22 in four overtimes. Even with the win, there was some thought they could slip down one spot from last week to No. 4.

Alabama stayed put where they were at No. 3, where ESPN analyst Rece Davis asked if there was “any surprise” by the committee’s decision, given the close to win a now 6-6 Auburn team. Kirk Herbstreit did not think so, thinking rivalry weekend was a factor in the result.

“I think it’s the circumstances,” said Herbstreit. “Rivalry game, on the road. Yeah, they had to fight like crazy and get it to overtime. If you really watched the game, if you sat down and watched the entire game, Auburn played their tails off. Alabama, give them credit for finding a way to get it into overtime and win it. I don’t have any problem with Alabama being there at three.”

Joey Galloway took a different approach, saying there could have been a universe where Alabama fell in the standings. He claims if somebody not named Cincinnati were ranked at No. 4, they would have moved up one spot and jumped the Crimson Tide.

“Kirk, you talk about the circumstances that keep Alabama at No. 3, let me tell you what that circumstance is,” Galloway said. “It’s Cincinnati at No. 4. All I am saying is, as we look at this week by week and Alabama has not just had a close game but they have had a number of times where they haven’t looked very good and they still stay above Cincinnati. If it had been another team behind Alabama in that situation, after watching that game, I think we would be having a different conversation.”

Davis got back into the discussion, having the final word. He noted how Alabama’s strength of schedule is much higher than Cincinnati. Even if not, they have had their fair share of struggles as well.

“Maybe so Joey but no matter which metric you look at in strength of schedule, Alabama ranks at least 60 spots higher than Cincinnati,” Daivs said. The Bearcats did not look good against a lot of weak teams”