Who wins the next national championship? Paul Finebaum makes his prediction
Since Nick Saban’s hailed arrival in Tuscaloosa back in 2007, Alabama fans have not had to wait longer than three seasons to win a national championship.
Incredibly, that streak lives on as we are set to enter the 2020 college football season.
Considering Saban has not led Alabama to a national championship victory in the previous two seasons, that streak is on the line entering the season but it will live on if Paul Finebaum’s preseason prediction turns out to be true.
During a recent appearance on ESPN morning show “Get Up,” the SEC Network host was asked to make his prediction for the next national champion in college football.
“I don’t want to shock you here Greenie, but I’m going with Alabama and I’m going with Alabama for a specific reason,” Finebaum answered on the show. “It has been two years, two long years since they won a championship. Nick Saban probably will find his team ranked number three in the preseason behind Ohio State and Clemson.
“They’ve got an ax to grind and that can be very dangerous, and one more thing, I think Saban has taken advantage of the offseason while other coaches have been wondering, ‘What am I supposed to be doing right now?'”
Who will be Alabama’s main competition in the Southeastern Conference? Finebaum pointed toward Kirby Smart’s program when asked to share his take on the show.
“Georgia, and [Alabama] could face Georgia twice, I know Laura [Rutledge] picked Florida [to win the SEC East] but sorry, she’s going to have to be wrong about this one,” Finebaum continued. “Georgia plays Alabama September 19 on the schedule in Tuscaloosa. So that’s an advantage Alabama.
“Alabama has Southern Cal in the first game, whether that game comes off we don’t know. They have to go to LSU, but I think you’re right, LSU has missed too many pieces. I think you’ll have a really good season, they could win 10 or 11 games, I don’t think they’ll win the championship. And then they have Auburn and home, and we’ll probably have to face Georgia again Georgia is the nemesis.”
Finebaum is playing it conservative and going chalk, picking Alabama and Georgia as the best two teams in the SEC heading into the 2020 season.
“I think Saban has taken advantage of the offseason while other coaches have been wondering, ‘What am I supposed to be doing right now?’”
Well we know LSU fans have been painstakingly following Saban while relaxing around in an Alabama boat this off season so one of those can’t be true.
It’s not that often that I agree with Paul Finebaum…but this year It’ll be Ohio State or The Tide. Clemson lost Four(4) offensive Lineman and the Offensive Coordinator, so my thinking is that they will not be as strong. Plus Ohio State will Not Lose to them again.
Alabama seems to be on a mission this year, as there was no huge loss of Assistants/Coordinators and with Mac at Quarterback(a game manager) The Tide’s Defense will actually Get Some Rest. Alabama vs. Ohio State in the Natty is my thought.
Yeah but don’t forget Georgia has the second coming of Cam Newton at QB, and all those 5 stars
Second Coming of Cam Newton ? I know you posted it in jest…and I agree. I am still not Sold on Jamie Newman(Always Cushy Conference Quarterback). Clemson’s DB’s ate him up. His legs will be valuable but as as SEC Quarterback he is still unproven. He’s a wait-n-see experiment.
Of course you are right and yet there is another hype story about him today comparing him to Cam and Jalen Hurts
Lol, conjoneslicker emoting about UGA and Newman on an Alabama article.
Poor little mullet, UF and Trask. Finebaum didn’t give them any love.
Lol,
conjoneslicker emoting about UGA and Newman on an Alabama article.
Poor little mullet, UF and Trask. Finebaum didn’t give them any love.
LOL DumbsOfWar, twice stupid
I wouldn’t count Clemson out of the hunt just due to losing 4 out of their 5 starting offensive lineman. This team has recruited well and had a ton of talent sitting behind all of those seniors. The lack of chemistry may hurt early in the season but with the talent they have on both sides of the ball Clemson is just as much in it this year as they were last. I broke down what a Clemson v. Ohio State matchup would look like on my sports blog: collegefootballsfinest.com! Go check it out!
I wonder what Saban is doing that the other coaches are not? Pretty vague statement.
Saban’s analysis of The Last Dance from his basement is why Bama wins it all this year.
When did they start spelling stupid “vague”. Saban might be saying more of what they are doing but that is because he is asked more. Shoot, Pruitt seems to doing better because of their recruiting success. Valid reasons could be returning 4 out of 5 starters on line, return of Mosses and more experience on defense. Returning Smith, Waddle and Harris along with a healthy Sanders are good points. Saying Saban his handling the situation better is pandering.
I won’t rule out Clemson. Dabo is getting the most out of his players and that cupcake ACC schedule almost ensures he will be in the final 4.
OSU could win it too, hope not.
Bama rides on how good Mac Jones is. They would have to beat Georgia probably twice to get in, same for Georgia.
I am just not sure how good Georgia will be this year…you know there are Questions: Offensive Line, Quarterback ? The Defense yes, it will be good…but I believe we need to wait-n-see how Georgia’s offense develops. No Spring Ball hurt everyone, but breaking in a new System & QB at the same time is a bit of a challenge. It’s a long season…so we’ll see.
“I think Saban has taken advantage of the offseason while other coaches have been wondering, ‘What am I supposed to be doing right now?’”
Really Finebaum? You actually think SEC coaches, who get paid millions of dollars, are wondering what to do at this moment??
Paul just tripped over his own pile of hero-worship…
The LSU coaches are all working in the complex. I’m not sure how many other coaching staffs are together now. That certainly helps.
There are three obvious choices for the title. They are Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson. Just about everyone will pick one of those as everyone else is a dark horse in some regard. I was obviously very happy that LSU was that dark horse last season. I surely wouldn’t mind if a dark horse won again this upcoming season.
The time period between the last title and now isn’t a specific reason, Paul.
It’s a horrible reason. It’s not like Alabama wasn’t giving their best effort these past two seasons. It just didn’t happen for them. National titles are hard to come by. The run Bama has been on is historic. They will certainly stay contenders though.
He picks Bama every year. Safe pick.
@UsmaDawg: At least Finebaum’s pick is a helluva lot safer than picking GA…..1980.
It would not be surprising to see us win the NC this year. I think Mac will run the offense at a slower pace, and our offensive attack will more than likely be more balanced. The defense is guaranteed to take a step forward after last year. I think these guys will want it this year even more than they normally do.
Can someone tell Finebaum that Atlanta is open and that he could move his show down there? The cardboard cut out on the TV screen is getting old.
Yeah. Why does he do a show about the SEC in NYC? I really think he’s losing touch with reality up there. Most of the people there did decades ago.
Bama beats Maryland for the title.
Nothing surprising about his pick. He would pick uat to win a natty in anything.
Alabama may have the best overall talent in FBS, but this may be a difficult year for the SEC for a couple of reasons. First, the West is going to have four really talented teams with Bama, LSU, Auburn, and Texas A&M. I think this might be the year that Jimbo Fisher moves the Aggies up a notch in their competitive level, and it is possible that the SEC West champion goes 6-2, and more than one team finishes 6-2.
In the East, look out for a potential surprise with Kentucky challenging Florida and Georgia. South Carolina and Tennessee will have just enough talent to pull off an upset apiece, so the East champion could also be 6-2.
At the same time, Ohio State, Clemson, and Oregon may lap the field in their leagues. I wouldn’t be shocked at the Buckeyes, Tigers, and Ducks emerge at 13-0, leaving just one more team to make the Playoffs. What happens in the Big 12 will then determined whether the overall SEC champion makes the playoffs or ends up in the Orange Bowl against the #2 ACC team. Alabama could be 10-2 or 11-2 and still better than the three potential 13-0 teams from weaker leagues.
This is why I believe the Playoffs need to be figured so that every team that wins its conference has a chance to become national champion, even if that team has to play 4 playoff games. FCS has already figured this out, and eventually, the $$$$$ will make it so in the FBS.