Paul Finebaum makes bold statement about Tennessee vs Alabama showdown in 2023
The Tennessee Vols haven't beaten the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa since winning a five-overtime thriller in 2003. If the Vols are going to reach their goal of winning a national championship in 2023, they'll almost certainly need to end that streak this upcoming season. But that's obviously easier said than done. Sure, the Vols […]
The Tennessee Vols haven't beaten the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa since winning a five-overtime thriller in 2003.
If the Vols are going to reach their goal of winning a national championship in 2023, they'll almost certainly need to end that streak this upcoming season.
But that's obviously easier said than done.
Sure, the Vols beat Alabama last season for the first time since 2006. And the Crimson Tide don't have superstar quarterback Bryce Young under center anymore (Bama's quarterback situation is unsettled at this point).
But this is still Nick Saban and Alabama. And if we've learned anything by now, it's that counting Saban out after a "down season" (by his standards) isn't wise. It may seem like Alabama is trending in the wrong direction, but I'm not going to believe that Saban has lost a step until he actually struggles for multiple seasons (and he didn't necessarily "struggle" during an 11-2 season in 2022).
Now, that's not to say that I think Alabama beats Tennessee in 2023. I think that will truly be a toss-up game.
SEC Network's Paul Finebaum, however, sees it differently. Finebaum, a graduate of Tennessee, appeared on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on Monday and he flat-out said that he doesn't think Tennessee wins in Tuscaloosa this fall.
Finebaum also pointed out that he doesn't think Texas or LSU beat Alabama, either.
"I don’t think Texas is going to win that game (against Alabama)," said Finebaum on Monday. "I don’t think Tennessee‘s going to beat Alabama. I don’t think LSU‘s going to beat Alabama.”
“I think the only chance you have to get Alabama during the regular season this fall is on the road somewhere," added Finebaum. "Maybe [Texas] A&M, Kentucky late seems unlikely but circumstances could make for a difficult situation there. But I really am coming around to Alabama a lot more as we work our way through the silly season to the even sillier season of July."
I'm sure Tennessee fans (and probably Texas and LSU fans, too) will be taking note of Finebaum's early prediction. And they'll be eager to remind him of it if the Vols take down Alabama in Tuscaloosa in October.
Featured image via Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
