Heather Dinich claims Alabama 'can technically afford to lose' to Vanderbilt and still make College Football Playoff

By every standard down in Tuscaloosa, Alabama cannot afford losses to a program like a Vanderbilt. However, based on the conference standings and what this year’s team is for the Commodores, ESPN’s Heather Dinich thinks that the Tide can going into tomorrow’s game.

Appearing on ‘Get Up’ on Friday, Dinich broke down what was at stake in No. 16 Vanderbilt vs. No. 10 Alabama on Saturday. She felt that the Commodores have more to lose, with contention talks and belief on the line for them, than the Crimson Tide, considering they, although already being a one-loss team overall, have no conference losses yet.

“Well, for Vandy, it’s a chance to go from the role of spoiler to an actual contender. For their quarterback, Diego Pavia? It’s a chance to really get into the Heisman conversation,” Dinich said. “And, look, for ‘Bama? They can technically afford to lose this game because any team with a chance to win its conference has a chance to play for the national title. Remember, they were the committee’s highest three-loss team last year.”

Again, historically speaking, that statement would be a no as far as ‘Bama is concerned, especially considering Vandy beat the Tide a year ago in an upset in Nashville. But, at least based on the context of this season, with it being a Top 20 matchup and neither team having a loss in league play to this point, it wouldn’t fully eliminate either from making a case for the College Football Playoff.

Jordan Rodgers, the former quarterback for the Commodores, saw it that way, too. Vanderbilt is a legitimate opponent at this point, being 12-6 (.667) going back to last season and at 5-0 so far this fall, that Alabama cannot take lightly, and certainly can’t with what happened a year ago.

“This is not your daddy’s Vandy team. This is not my Vanderbilt team from 2012. They are big and physical. They average 322 pounds across the offensive line. I didn’t even have a 300-pounder back in the day in 2012 and we won nine games. So, Alabama can not let Vandy make this their type of game,” Rodgers said. “That’s what it was last year. They controlled the ball for 42 minutes. They rushed the ball 54 times. Alabama has got to try to make them one-dimensional. Make Diego Pavia throw the football to win.”

Bryant-Denny Stadium will not be a fun place to be if Vanderbilt comes in and wins over Alabama again. Still, at least as far as the playoff race is concerned, Dinich doesn’t think a loss on Saturday would yet cost the season for the Crimson Tide.