Paul Finebaum: 'Kirby Smart can ill-afford' loss to Alabama

Kirby Smart better not lose to Alabama this weekend, according to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum. Georgia heads to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide this weekend in a top four game.

The Bulldogs are ranked No. 2 in the country while a new-look Alabama team is No. 4 in the latest AP Poll. But when Get Up host Mike Greenberg asked Finebaum if Kalen DeBoer had immense pressure, well, Finebaum pivoted towards Smart.

Georgia can’t afford to lose to Alabama on the road with what’s to come.

“Kirby Smart did everything right at Georgia the last couple of years, but he couldn’t get by Alabama,” Finebaum said. “Remember he lost in that championship game a couple years ago. He made up for it, but last year was really probably the most painful loss of Kirby Smart’s career. Other than losing to Tua on that walk off in 2017. He was working toward a three-peat Greeny. This program has not lost a regular season game since 2020 and those two postseason games have been against, obviously, Nick Saban. 

“So I think Kalen DeBoer doesn’t get a pass with a loss, it will shatter the psyche of Alabama fans who think they own Georgia. As crazy as that sounds, but Kirby Smart can ill afford it. And not only that, Kirby Smart then has to go to Texas in three weeks and Ole Miss in November, and his playoff hopes could be hanging by a thread, if he doesn’t get by this game.”

Smart and Georgia were rolling last year. But then the No. 1 team in the country lost to No. 8 Alabama 27-24 in the SEC Championship and saw the Crimson Tide steal that last playoff spot.

It’s been Smart vs. Saban, as Finebaum alluded to, but DeBoer can bring different challenges. Despite this being the new Alabama coach’s first time in this situation, Smart isn’t thinking twice.

“I don’t expect it to be strange,” Smart said of the game not featuring Saban on the sidelines. “That’s just the normal progression. I think it’s strange going back there sometimes because I lived there or our kids were born there. We lived there for nine years and had such great experiences there.”

But Smart must know the schedule like the back of his own hand. Auburn and Mississippi State after this weekend, but don’t forget the game at Texas on October 19. As Finebaum mentioned, this could be an avalanche if Georgia loses this weekend.

You don’t think Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss will want to upset the apple cart in November? We’ll see if Smart keeps the immaculate regular season going in just a few short days.