Paul Finebaum says he’s ‘out’ on Alabama winning national title after LSU game
By David Wasson
Published:
ESPN pundit Paul Finebaum appears every Sunday morning on SportsCenter to discuss the previous Saturday in college football, and he took the time following Week 11 to weigh in on Alabama’s chances of winning the College Football Playoff national championship after the Crimson Tide’s 20-9 victory against LSU.
“The bottom line is this: Alabama did not look good (Saturday), they were lackluster,” Finebaum said Sunday morning on SportsCenter. “I am actually out on Alabama because of their running game. They just can’t get it going. To go far in the national championship, they will need to do better. They have one of the best quarterbacks, though, in Ty Simpson.”
Finebaum’s point about the Alabama rushing attack is valid, especially in light of the Crimson Tide’s pedestrian 56 ground yards on 26 carries against LSU. Daniel Hill led Alabama with just 21 yards on 7 carries, and the 2.2 yards-per-carry average continues a trend for the Tide.
Alabama entered Week 11 ranked 14th in the SEC in rushing with just 118.88 yards per game and a 3.63 yards-per-carry average. Simpson, meanwhile, stayed in the Heisman Trophy conversation against LSU by throwing for 277 yards and a touchdown.
Alabama puts an 8-game winning streak on the line in Week 12 at home against No. 12 Oklahoma (3:30 pm ET, ABC).
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.
