SEC Title game loser left out

photo SEC Southeastern Conference

The winner of Saturday's SEC football championship is guaranteed a spot opposite Notre Dame in the BCS title game, but the loser will be left out of a BCS bowl.

"For one of these teams, it's not really a great scenario," Alabama coach Nick Saban said Sunday. "I mean, you play your way into the championship game, which means you're the best team in your division. It doesn't seem quite right, but it is what it is.

"I don't feel good about it for our football team or their football team."

A Georgia loss could leave the Bulldogs playing as far down in the SEC's postseason pecking order as the Chick-fil-A Bowl, with the scenario as follows:

• Alabama defeats the Bulldogs to claim a berth in the BCS title game.

• Florida, due to its top-four status in the BCS standings, automatically qualifies for a BCS bowl and goes to the Sugar Bowl.

• The Capital One Bowl, which gets first pick among SEC teams not in the BCS, goes with Texas A&M's energized fan base and potential Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

• The Cotton Bowl, hoping for Texas-Texas A&M, regroups and gets Texas-LSU, which still manages to pack Cowboys Stadium.

• The Outback Bowl, after having Georgia last year, opts for South Carolina and a fan base excited about a fourth straight win over Clemson.

• Georgia winds up in the Georgia Dome for the second time in December, with Clemson the most likely opponent.

Should Alabama lose, the Crimson Tide would not be expected to fall as far as the Chick-fil-A Bowl, which is played on New Year's Eve.

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