Nick Saban and Alabama football are in a familiar place.
The Crimson Tide is back in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game for the ninth time since 2008.
Alabama is 7-1 in conference title matchups, as its lone defeat came in 2008 versus Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators. Coach Saban faces Kirby Smart for the third time in a championship setting. Smart had a lead on Saban in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship (13-0) and 2018 SEC Championship (28-14) but lost both.
National media, oddsmakers, and some local media are not giving Alabama a chance to topple the top-ranked Bulldogs.