SEC Network personality and radio host Paul Finebaum had strong words for Alabama’s football program on Sunday following their two-point win over South Carolina.
During an appearance on ESPN’s The Matt Berrie Show, Finebaum tagged Alabama as his biggest disappointment in college football this season.
While the Crimson Tide are still in a good position at No. 7 in the AP rankings, Alabama did reach the No. 1 status after beating Georgia but had a shocking loss to Vanderbilt the following week. Alabama then followed that up with a shaky, narrow victory at home against South Carolina this past Saturday.
Alabama now has to head to Rocky Top for the Third Saturday in October matchup this weekend.
“I am going to surprisingly go Alabama,” Finebaum said to answer Berrie’s question. “And I say that because they have the biggest win of the year in college football but it proved somewhat fraudulent to me because of what I thought they would be and what I think they are going to end up being.”
Finebaum also had a surprising Alabama-related answer after Berrie asked which coach “has put themselves in a very warm-ish type seat at the midway point of the season.”
“Well, there’s an endless list of those but to me it’s probably, hmm, (Kalen) DeBoer,” Finebaum said. “And I don’t mean costing himself a job. I’m just saying if you’re looking at Kalen DeBoer as a stock price, before the season, it’s like sky high. It shoots, literally, they had to stop trading on Kalen DeBoer, to go Wall Street on you, at midnight two weeks ago. And now? I mean, it’s like on the penny stocks market. I mean he literally is turning Alabama fans off.”
“Is it that bad?” Berrie questioned. “I mean, are you hearing that much from Alabama fans?”
“Yes,” Finebaum replied. “Matt, I realize they could turn it around and go 11-1 and still win but I just – there’s something about it.”
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Alabama is truly the great mystery (leaving you out of this, Florida State) of the college football season. Expectations for the Crimson Tide were high despite the departure of Nick Saban after Alabama brought in former National Championship competitor Kalen DeBoer to lead the program.
Alabama did struggle some early, particularly against USF, but rolled over Wisconsin before beating Georgia in college football’s biggest game so far this season. But the cracks started to grow as the Tide dropped a stunner to Vanderbilt and used a late fourth-quarter touchdown to survive the Gamecocks in Tuscaloosa.
Tennessee, on the other hand, is in a similar boat. The Vols dropped a game to unranked Arkansas the same day as Alabama’s loss to Vanderbilt. And while Tennessee did beat Florida by a touchdown compared to a two-point win by Alabama, the Vols did need overtime to get there after a late Florida touchdown.
With both teams having one loss on the season, this year’s Third Saturday in October rivalry is sure to be a monumental one.
No. 11 Tennessee will host No. 7 Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Neyland Stadium.
Check out the clips of Finebaum on The Matt Berrie Show below:
