Ranking Week 11 Games By College Football Playoff Implications

Oct 25, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Eddie Jackson (4) reacts after an interception against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Alabama won 34 to 20. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) at No. 16 LSU Tigers (7-2)

Among one-loss College Football Playoff teams in control of their own destiny, Alabama might have the toughest fight at LSU in Death Valley on Saturday. And this game isn’t one-sided. Just like Oklahoma and Utah, if LSU wins, they would all of a sudden be thrust back into the College Football Playoff race as a two-loss team.

Who would be able to argue with wins over Ole Miss and Alabama at that point while only losing to Auburn and Mississippi State? Simply put, the Tigers have nearly as much to play for as the Tide in this game, which as you can see in our Vegas SEC Predictions here, could make a big difference.

Imagine, for one second, how much the College Football Playoff race could be burst wide open it Utah, Oklahoma, and LSU all win their games on Saturday. That would trim the one-loss and undefeated teams down to at least eight this weekend alone because there are already three one-loss teams playing each other. And many of them have upcoming games as well.

At the same time, if Alabama wins, they are nowhere near done. They still have to beat Mississippi State and Auburn, so this is a brutal month for the Tide. But this is the first game they have to play to avoid elimination from playoff talk.

Next: No. 3 Ranked Week 11 Game Based on College Football Playoff Impact