Paul Finebaum previews SEC championship, picks winner of Georgia vs. Alabama

Conference championship weekend has arrived. There are a few important games on the weekend slate in college football, and the results will have drastic impacts on the postseason picture. Georgia vs. Alabama in the SEC Championship might be the most important game of them all, and Paul Finebaum joined the Dan Patrick Show to preview the matchup.

Georgia finished the regular season undefeated. The Bulldogs are already locked into a spot in the College Football Playoff. Alabama, though, finished the regular season 11-1 and needs a win to solidify its chances in the playoff. While Alabama has had Georgia’s number in the past, Finebaum thinks that this year’s SEC Championship will be different.

“I think it’s pretty low,” Finebaum said of Alabama’s chances at upsetting Georgia on the Dan Patrick Show. “And you’re talking to somebody who’s spent most of his life in Alabama. Not that our predictions matter, but I will give you a stat. I have not picked against Alabama since the Iron Bowl in 2010 when Cam Newton was the Auburn quarterback. And by the way, they’ve only been an underdog one time since then. So it’s not like I’m really doing anything or going against Vegas. You would be very wealthy if you had bet on Alabama every game over the last 11 years.”

Finebaum: Kirby Smart is ready to ‘plant his flag’ in SEC Championship game

Ever since Alabama lost to Texas A&M earlier in the season, Georgia has taken over the top spot in every ranking. Nobody has been close to being on Georgia’s level. The Bulldogs will present a huge test for Alabama’s offense. Nick Saban and Alabama might have gotten the last laugh in recent matchups, but Finebaum thinks that the SEC Championship will be Kirby Smart’s time.

“But it’s hard for me to buy into ‘well Nick Saban’s on the sidelines,’ Finebaum said ahead of the SEC Championship. “Okay, well he was on the sidelines at College Station (in Alabama’s loss to Texas A&M). He was also there last week at Auburn when Alabama should have lost. So I just don’t think the matchup goes very well. And yeah, I know Kirby Smart’s team with Georgia is in the playoffs. But they don’t care about that. I mean they want to beat Alabama.

“Kirby Smart can’t walk down the street without somebody saying ‘how did you blow the last three Alabama games?’ In the national championship game he had I think a 13-point lead. The next year in the SEC (Championship) game I believe he had a 17-point lead and he led in the most recent game a year ago. So he’s had enough of that and he’s ready to plant his flag I think in Nick Saban’s throat.”

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday in Atlanta.