Nick Saban gave Georgia his “ultimate compliment” after the SEC Championship Game.

“They are one of the four best teams in the country,” Saban said Saturday night. “I don’t want to play them again. That is the ultimate compliment I can give them.”

Sunday, however, when the Coaches Poll revealed the voters’ ballots, it was found that Saban had actually voted the Bulldogs No. 5 in the country.

At a Thursday press conference of all the College Football Playoff head coaches, Saban was asked about the discrepancy between his comment and his vote.

“Well I do think they’re one of the top four teams in the country,” Saban said. “But I didn’t think they were going to get in the playoffs with two losses.”

The selection committee’s vote is obviously independent of the Coaches Poll, but it is interesting Saban chose not to vote Georgia a top-four team after Week 14.