Paul Finebaum: Alabama is not ready to play Georgia

SEC Network talking head Paul Finebaum went out on a limb with his take on Alabama on Sunday morning. On ESPN’s SportsCenter, Finebaum announced his doubt in the 8-1 Crimson Tide as their potential date with Georgia draws closer.

“Right now, it wouldn’t look very good,” Finebaum said. “I’m not sure you could get Nick Saban to say that Alabama could beat Georgia four weeks from now.”

After Alabama’s 20-14 win over LSU in Week 10, Paul Finebaum’s concerns may hold some validity. The Crimson Tide entered the game as 29-point favorites in Vegas. Nick Saban’s squad didn’t put up any points in the first or fourth quarters and couldn’t move the ball on the ground.

“But that is a long way off,” Finebaum added. “And what I mean by that is the offensive line has to get better. The starting center was knocked out of the game yesterday. And as a result, Alabama simply couldn’t do anything on the offensive line. The special teams were shaky. They have one of the best kickers in the country, he missed a field goal and an extra point for the first time in years. And that has to be corrected. They have an easy game next week, and then Arkansas and then the Iron Bowl before Georgia shows up on the schedule.”

On Saturday night, Nick Saban’s squad put up a net total of 6 rushing yards. Brian Robinson had 18 yards on 13 carries and the LSU defensive line sacked Bryce Young four times.

Young put up his yards through the air instead with 302 passing yards and two scores on 24 completions.

While Alabama struggled to put away LSU, the Georgia Bulldogs held Missouri to six points while scoring 43 on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide are still No. 2 in the nation in the USA Today coaches top 25 poll.

Alabama OL takes hit at center

Crimson Tide lineman Chris Owens moved to center against LSU to replace injured starter Darrian Dalcourt. Dalcourt limped off the field early in the first quarter, grabbing his left ankle. He earned the starting job during preseason camp last summer. 

Owens, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound redshirt senior, has plenty of experience and has moved around on the offensive line before for the Crimson Tide. He ended last season at center against Notre Dame and Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.

Sophomore Damieon George moved into Owens’ position at right tackle. The 6-foot-6, 340-pound tackle played in five games this season as a backup coming into Week 10.

Owens, Dalcourt and George were all On3 Consensus four-star recruits.