Alabama football rooting guide for CFP implications: These teams can help Tide on Nov. 9

If Alabama football wins out, it should be in the College Football Playoff.

That looks to be the case with the CFP committee ranking the Crimson Tide No. 11 with the No. 11 seed inside the 12-team playoff in the first CFP rankings this past week .

There are potential scenarios where Alabama wins out and doesn't make it , though. SMU winning the ACC could prove problematic, for example. So it wouldn't hurt if Alabama received some help from some other teams to boost its ranking and provide more cushion.

Of course, none of it matters for the Crimson Tide if it doesn't beat LSU on Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Another loss, and Alabama is out of the College Football Playoff race.

For now, let's operate as if the Crimson Tide remains in the mix after this weekend. With that in mind, here are some of the teams for whom Alabama fans should root this weekend to help boost the Crimson Tide in the CFP rankings and improve Alabama's seeding.

No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 16 Ole MissLogistics:

Root for:

Right now, the Crimson Tide has the second-best win in the country behind No. 1 Oregon beating No. 2 Ohio State. Alabama's late September victory over the Bulldogs is the best reason for including the Crimson Tide in the playoff. Alabama needs the win to stay that way. So the more Georgia keeps winning, the better for the Crimson Tide. If Georgia loses and falls in the rankings, that will hurt the value of that victory Alabama has on its resume. Plus, Ole Miss losing another game will make it a three-loss team and eliminate the Rebels from playoff contention.

South Carolina vs. VanderbiltLogistics:

Root for: South Carolina

It might help for Vanderbilt to win and become ranked so that Alabama's two losses would be to two ranked teams. But the committee will probably value the Crimson Tide adding to its list of wins over ranked opponents. Alabama beat South Carolina, so the Gamecocks becoming ranked would be good for the Crimson Tide. South Carolina isn't ranked now, and it's hard to know how far out of the CFP top 25 the Gamecocks are right now. But South Carolina was the second team out of the AP top 25. So maybe a win over a solid Vanderbilt team would put the Gamecocks in the CFP top 25.

Florida vs No. 5 TexasLogistics:

Root for:

If the Gators can go into Austin and beat the Longhorns, it would give Texas its second loss. That would almost certainly move the Longhorns below Alabama as Texas doesn't have a victory over an opponent ranked in the CFP top 25.

Michigan vs. No. 8 IndianaLogistics:

Root for:

The Hoosiers are undefeated, but they don't have a single victory over a ranked opponent. Their best wins are over two 5-4 teams: Washington and Nebraska. Considering Indiana only sits three spots above two-loss Alabama, one loss could move the Hoosiers below or around the Crimson Tide. If Indiana loses to Michigan and Ohio State, two losses would without a doubt put the Hoosiers lower than Alabama in the CFP rankings. So an Indiana loss to Michigan would be a good thing for the Cri

Florida State vs. No. 10 Notre DameLogistics:

Root for: Florida State

The Seminoles have struggled mightily this season, winning only once. Outside of Florida to close out the regular season, this is the last matchup for Florida State to get any kind of signature victory in what has been a dismal season. At this point, the Seminoles don't have much to lose. Can they go into Notre Dame and beat the Fighting Irish? Probably not. But it sure would help Alabama, ranked one spot behind the Fighting Irish right now.

Washington vs. No. 6 Penn StateLogistics:

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If the Huskies can somehow go into Happy Valley and beat the Nittany Lions, that would give Penn State a second loss. Couple that with no wins over teams that are still ranked, and Penn State wouldn't have much of an argument for being ranked ahead of Alabama.

Purdue vs. No. 2 Ohio StateLogistics:

Root for:

Don't hold your breath on Purdue (1-7) beating Ohio State (7-1), but it would benefit Alabama. The Buckeyes would fall in the rankings and Georgia would move back up to No. 2 and give Alabama the best win in the country again.

Mississippi State vs. No. 7 TennesseeLogistics:

Root for: Mississippi State

Add this to the list of rooting for the significant underdog. Chances are slim the Bulldogs will go into Neyland Stadium and beat the Vols, but it would be nice for Alabama if Mississippi State did so. That would give the Vols a second loss. Tennessee still might not fall below Alabama considering the Vols beat the Crimson Tide, but another Tennessee loss or two will help the Crimson Tide potentially move up. Alabama just doesn't want the Vols to lose too much so that it becomes a loss to an unranked team on the resume. Tennessee is a long ways away from that happening, though. So one or two more Vols losses should help Alabama.