Paul Finebaum suggests Alabama received 'a little bit of a helmet kick' from College Football Playoff committee

Alabama Crimson Tide was ranked No. 11 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, but a clash with the LSU Tigers in Week 11 could change everything.

ESPN's Paul Finebaum recognizes that Alabama's reputation may have helped them get into the initial rankings, a "helmet kick," if you will — but he's still of the opinion that the pressure is on for Kalen DeBoer and company this weekend.

The Crimson Tide are coming off a bye week, getting ready for one of the biggest games of the season against the Tigers, and the SEC Network analyst believes it's win-or-go-home for both squads in Baton Rouge.

"(The committee) think(s) a lot of them, because they are Alabama, and I think they get a little bit of a helmet kick for who they are, but ultimately, for Alabama, they don't have any room for error," Finebaum said, regarding Alabama's path to the Playoff, via Get Up. "I know we can quibble that there's always a route somehow, but from where I see it, Alabama will be out of the Playoff with a loss Saturday night to LSU."

Alas, a win over LSU would move Alabama to 7-2 on the season, with both of those losses coming in SEC play. In a conference that's crowded at the top of the standings, those two losses are going to make it difficult to make the SEC Championship Game. That means, most likely, if the Crimson Tide were to make the Playoff, it would be as an at-large team.

As Finebaum asserted, that doesn't exactly leave any room for error for the Crimson Tide, and it's something the analyst has been parroting all week. You can believe that's DeBoer's message, as well.

"Absolutely," Finebaum said earlier this week, regarding whether this weekend's game is a must-win for the Crimson Tide. "Because they don't really have a whole lot after that. They go to , which has been a disappointment and they play , which has been a disaster. So, this is it for Kalen DeBoer.

"It was all about getting in the Playoff or bust. We had that conversation back in Dallas months ago and a win and I think they're in. ... A loss and the season goes down as a disaster. I know that sounds harsh, but it's all about getting in the Playoff for Alabama."

Regardless, LSU finds itself in a similar situation to the Crimson Tide, as they have two losses on the season and can move into position for the Playoff with a win over Alabama. It should be an awesome game with some ginormous stakes in Baton Rouge this weekend, and Paul Finebaum will be tuned in.