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Paul Finebaum doesn’t subscribe to the national narrative that the SEC is somehow dead, because how could something be dead when it’s still alive?
The ESPN college football analyst reminded all the anti-SEC folks that the conference does still have 1 team left in the College Football Playoff as we head into this week’s semifinal showdowns in Miami and Arlington, Texas. During his weekly Monday morning appearance on the McElroy & Cubelic In The Morning show, Finebaum defended that 1 team, which is Texas, sarcastically claiming that fans and media must have forgotten that the Longhorns did join the SEC last summer.
And, yes, Texas did need double overtime to squeak past Arizona State in the quarterfinals on New Year’s Day. But the Longhorns are still breathing. Despite that though and despite Finebaum defending Texas, that doesn’t mean he totally believes in the team in burnt orange and its ability to get past a sizzling Ohio State team in Friday night’s Cotton Bowl semifinal.
Finebaum was asked if he thinks Texas has a real shot to win the national title.
“I don’t, no, because to me they have a very big mountain to overcome on Friday night,” said Finebaum, pointing to that mountain as Ohio State. “I think they are a really good team with some flaws, and the flaws are creating enough points. Their defense speaks for itself. I didn’t like the way that game (against Arizona State) ended the other day. I thought they were pretty fortunate to win. I give Quinn Ewers credit … (but) he’s one of those QBs who people tend to only remember what he did wrong.”
It will be hard to slow down Ohio State at this point, and Texas opened as a 6-point underdog via DraftKings for the semifinal showdown at the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns may have the crowd on their side in this one, and we’ll see if that makes a difference.
Be sure to use our favorite sports betting app to take advantage of all the odds throughout the Playoff.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
