Paul Finebaum, Heather Dinich place Alabama atop SEC after Week 8 win over Tennessee
By David Wasson
Published:
ESPN pundit Paul Finebaum is the latest the climb back aboard the Alabama Crimson Tide bandwagon after the Crimson Tide’s 37-20 victory over then-No. 11 Tennessee, saying coach Kalen DeBoer’s team is atop the Southeastern Conference football summit.
“They are No. 1,” Finebaum said during a Sunday morning SportsCenter appearance. “There are a couple teams close, but to me they have separated themselves in a day in which there was so much confusion and conflict going on in the SEC.”
Finebaum pointed out that every time then-No. 6 Alabama was facing a renewed Volunteers threat on Saturday night, the Tide responded on defense – both with a forced safety and then with a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
“(The Zabien Brown 99-yard interception return) is where the game ended, and where Tennessee’s season may have ended,” Finebaum said.
ESPN’s Heather Dinich pointed toward strength of schedule and strength of record in also putting Alabama atop her SEC hierarchy.
“Don’t quote me on this, but I agree with Paul and I think the selection committee would too,” Dinich said. “After all the games last night, I had Alabama No. 3 overall and No. 1 in the SEC ahead of Texas A&M. The selection committee is not afraid to put a 1-loss team ahead of an undefeated team if they have earned it through the eye test and resume. And Alabama has done that.”
There are still two more Saturdays of games before the selection committee unveils its initial rankings on Nov. 4.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
