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Rebels Heisman and Playoff Hopes

University of Alabama coach http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/nick-saban-1.html">Nick Saban doesn’t lose a lot of games. Since finishing with a perfect season in 2009, Saban has lost just 10 games.

He has lost just three games over the past two seasons, and http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2014-10-04-mississippi.html">two of those have http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2015-09-19-alabama.html">come against the University of Mississippi. With the Rebels’ recent wins, they have been a thorn in the side of arguably the best coach in college football.

In 2014, UM won a dramatic affair when the team scored the game-winning touchdown with under three minutes to go and a late interception, sealing the victory. Last season, the Crimson Tide committed five turnovers and couldn’t overcome a 30-10 Rebels lead as the Alabama rally ran out of time.

Plenty of eyes will be on the Rebels and Tide this weekend. The game could have a major say in the postseason hopes for both teams.

This game means more to the Rebels than the Tide. In the past two years, UM has beaten Alabama, but the Tide righted the ship, http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/alabama/2014-schedule.html">making the College Football Playoff at the end of the seasons.

Last season, Alabama lost to the Rebels and http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/alabama/2015-schedule.html">still ended up winning the championship. The Crimson Tide has shown they can overcome a loss, but UM hasn’t been able to turn either win over Alabama into a SEC West title or a spot in the four-team playoff.

For the past two years, both teams entered this game undefeated. That is not the case this year, after the Rebels blew a http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400868979">28-13 lead to Florida State University in their season opener.

Alabama will want to beat the team that has provided its only blemish in the regular season the last two years, but theTide could still make the playoffs even with a loss. For the Rebels, this is a must-win game in the middle of September.

UM quarterback Chad Kelly could see his Heisman Trophy hopes end and the Rebels’ playoff aspirations dashed before the first month of the season ends. If the Rebels lose the game, there is no tomorrow for them.

Kelly put up solid numbers http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400868979">against the Seminoles, going 21 for 39 passing with four touchdowns, but three interceptions and a fumble lost were really ugly for a Heisman hopeful. In fact, Kelly’s poor play late in the second quarter through the second half is part of the reason the Rebels lost.

A second loss in another marquee game would pretty much spell doom. No one really cares what numbers Kelly put up against Wofford College last week when it comes to winning the Heisman. He was supposed to put up big numbers, and did as http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400868986">he went 20 for 27 with three touchdowns.

If the team loses to the Tide, he would need to be out of this world the rest of the season to have any hopes to make a trip to New York. It wouldn’t be impossible for Kelly to get back into the Heisman race, but it would be highly unlikely.

The same thing goes for the Rebels’ playoff hopes. A win against the Tide, and UM’s playoff hopes stay on life support. A loss, and it would seem highly unlikely that the Rebels could reach the playoffs.

UM still would have a chance to win the SEC West with a loss against the Tide. Alabama overcame a loss to the Rebels, winning the division in 2014 and 2015.

Again, it would seem unlikely the Rebels would be able to run the table with the rest of their schedule and win the division. UM still has four ranked teams left on its schedule.

The Rebels would also need help to win the West. They would need to win out in the SEC and have two teams beat the Tide to overcome a loss.

That brings us back to Saban. The Rebels would need two losses from a team that has lost just 10 games in the last six years. The last time the Tide lost http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/alabama/2010-schedule.html">two or more regular season games was 2010.

That just shows what long odds the Rebels would face if they lose on Saturday.

Playoff and Heisman hopes will die for the Rebels with a loss. Even with a win, those hopes still will need a lot of help.

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