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Stephen A. Smith, Paul Finebaum debate margin of victory in Alabama-Texas game
By Keith Farner
Published:
Stephen A. Smith is a well-known supporter of Alabama, but this week against Texas, there’s an ongoing debate about the Crimson Tide covering the 20-point spread as a road favorite. Smith said he thinks Alabama will win big.
On ESPN’s “First Take” with Paul Finebaum, there was talk about how important the game is to both sides, and how that would play into the point spread. For his part, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said earlier this week that his program’s immediate goals are to win a conference championship, and this game doesn’t play into that.
“Alabama doesn’t care about this game,” Finebaum said. “This is just a road trip, that they have to go somewhere and get a win, and sometimes that helps the home team that’s a 20-point dog.”
Finebaum then recalled that last year Alabama was a big favorite at Florida, and needed a last-second stop, and then was a big favorite at Texas A&M, and lost. Alabama was a heavy favorite against Auburn, and needed 4 overtimes to prevail.
“This is not a great heavy favorite team on the road because they believe Stephen A. Smith. They’re watching right now down in Tuscaloosa, ‘Hey, Stephen A. thinks we’re going to blow them out by 40,'” Finebaum said. “That affects young players.”
Finebaum added that he believes Alabama will beat Texas A&M by more than 20 points, but this week’s game will be closer.
In the same segment, Jeff Saturday said he agrees with Smith that Alabama will put a beat down on Texas, and Nick Saban realized after 2 losses last season that he needs to once again step on the necks of former assistants.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
