Paul Finebaum has been criticized in the past for being somewhat of an Alabama apologist, but the SEC Network host may be rubbing Crimson Tide fans the wrong way this week.

With the College Football Playoff rankings being released on Tuesday, Finebaum joined ESPN’s Get Up! to talk about the big showdown between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. That game has major SEC and College Football Playoff implications.

Finebaum believes it’s a must-win game for the Crimson Tide. Considering the lack of significant wins on Alabama’s schedule, he thinks that if LSU comes away with the win, the Tide won’t be cracking into the College Football Playoff this year.

“Alabama must win this game,” Finebaum shouted. “Nick Saban is the only coach in the last 80 years to win the national championship without winning his division, that dog’s not going to hunt this time around.”

After making those comments, Finebaum was asked if LSU could afford to lose Saturday’s game and still be in the four-team field.

“Because this game is at home, and Alabama doesn’t have a good win other than Texas A&M, which is not really a good win,” Finebaum said. “So if LSU goes to Alabama, a place that nobody wins…if LSU loses, that’s still a really quality loss. If Alabama loses at home? Forget about it.”

With the two teams ranked so highly and so many implications on the line, the LSU-Alabama game is earning the moniker “Game of the Century,” which has been previously used in this matchup.

It’s interesting to hear Finebaum’s take on this one, believing it’s a must-win situation for the Tide.