Paul Finebaum calls Georgia the SEC's biggest problem so far in 2023: 'A complete no-show'
The returns on the first two weeks of the Southeastern Conference’s season have not been as good as they usually are. However, for all the knocks on the league so far, the biggest to Paul Finebaum is that No. 1 Georgia has yet to even arrive at the party.
Finebaum spoke about the Bulldog’s schedule during an appearance on ‘The Audible’ on Wednesday. For him, a pair of 40-point wins for Kirby Smart’s team has done nothing to help generate overall interest in the SEC as the defending national champions haven’t been, and won’t be, featured in a significant game yet.
“The biggest problem for the SEC right now is Georgia hasn’t started playing yet,” said Finebaum. “Georgia’s a complete no-show on the season and will be. Nothing is going to happen on Saturday against South Carolina that really is intriguing other than just a big win.”
In his opinion, this issue stems back to the conference scrapping Georgia’s matchup at Oklahoma. He thinks the picture as a whole would look better if the ‘Dawgs had played anyone of substance rather than sitting on the back burner to start the year.
“If there was a mistake made? I believe the conference should have said, ‘You know what? Let Georgia play Oklahoma. What’s the big deal?’. It wasn’t like the game was coming back next year,” said Finebaum. “I think the game was eight or nine years away. And it confused people as well because of the Texas vs. Alabama game. Nobody realized that that was germane to the conference issue.”
“Had Georgia been in Norman last weekend? I think it probably would have helped their cause and probably the SEC’s cause.”
Wins are wins and, to this point, Georgia has handled their business against UT Martin and Ball State. On offense, they have outgained their opponents by nearly double their output with 945 yards. On defense, they have also forced four turnovers, all by way of interceptions, with three coming against the Cardinals last weekend.
Georgia has gotten their job done through two games inside of Sanford Stadium. Still, to Finebaum, them wading into the season rather than jumping right in hasn’t done the SEC any favors when it comes to the league’s slow start.
Georgia vs. South Carolina point spread: Picking Bulldogs vs. Gamecocks
No. 1 Georgia and South Carolina will kick off their respective SEC schedules against one another on Saturday. According to Vegas Insider, the Bulldogs are heading in as 27.5-point favorites.
Ahead of Saturday’s Week 3 matchup, advanced football statistics expert Parker Fleming joined On3’s Andy Staples during an appearance on his show as they made their picks for the game between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks.
“I expect low-scoring, Georgia to get up and sit on it,” Fleming said. “Now, do I expect Georgia to get up and into the 30s, sit on it, and totally cover? I believe they’re going to have the offensive firepower to get this done and South Carolina, from moving the ball consistently on the ground to forcing Spencer Rattler to make bad decisions. I’m going to go with Bulldogs here.”
“I think they will be interested and they will blow them out,” Staples said. “I’m going to take Georgia to cover.”