Alabama is a two-touchdown favorite over Georgia in the SEC Championship game, but there could be a chance the Crimson Tide loses in Atlanta.

SEC Network host Paul Finebaum, in his weekly visit with WJOX, outlined that an injury to QB Tua Tagovailoa is just about the only way Alabama wouldn’t advance as a top contender into the College Football Playoff.

“I think Alabama has a clear path with the exception of one thing — if injury strikes Tua (Tagovailoa), even more that it already has. I don’t think that Alabama can be beaten as long as Tua is the quarterback and he is healthy. I think we’ve come to that conclusion, and it didn’t take 10 weeks to come to that conclusion.”

Tagovailoa has dealt with a minor knee sprain since the Missouri game, but it’s hardly slowed him in recent games.

Given the status of backup QB Jalen Hurts’ ankle, third-string Mac Jones could be forced into action like he was briefly at LSU on Saturday. The Crimson Tide showed that even if their offense is slowed, or if Tagovailoa throws an interception, they can overcome it, largely because the defense is strong enough to shut down opponents.

With Georgia now set to meet Alabama in Atlanta, there will be plenty of breakdowns about matchups, and if coach Kirby Smart can deliver something the Bulldogs couldn’t at the same venue in January.

“I don’t think Georgia A to Z can match up with Alabama,” Finebaum said. “They’re really good — one of the best teams in the country, but they’re just not quite to the level of Alabama, especially now that the Alabama defense has decided, ‘We want a seat at this party as well.’”