Paul Finebaum: SEC success in bowl season will be defined by Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia

Bowl season is upon us, as 10 FBS conferences have the opportunity to flex on one another win head-to-head wins. Few are more prideful than the SEC, as the perceived best conference in the country looks to have another successful postseason from top to bottom.

However, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum does not seem too interested in the matchups toward the bottom. In order to have a good bowl season, he believes there are three games the SEC must win to have bragging rights heading into 2022.

“I think it comes down to a couple of critical games,” Finebaum said. “I don’t mean to be dismissive of what Missouri does in a bowl game or Florida or some of these other schools. But I think you got a couple of critical matchups that I think the public will look at and determine.

“I think one is Clemson–Tennessee. Even though Tennessee is not the same team, that’s a rival that you pay attention to. That’s one.”

Clemson has been a college football powerhouse under Dabo Swinney, even if they have not made a CFP appearance in two seasons. A program like Tennessee, which is hoping to sit at the adult’s table, could set the tone with an Orange Bowl win according to Finebaum.

Elite-level talent on the Vols’ side will not be playing, such as quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Cedric Tillman. Validating the 2022 season with a win over a top-level program would do wonders for both Josh Heupel and the SEC.

SEC sending Alabama to Sugar Bowl for crucial matchup

Moving across state lines and Alabama‘s Sugar Bowl was pinpointed by Finebaum. Eyes are always on the Crimson Tide when it comes to the SEC, no matter what level of competition they are facing.

“You know where I am going next,” Finebaum began. “It’s Alabama-Kansas State. It might not be fair because I don’t know who is going to be playing for Alabama.”

Bryce Young and Will Anderson are the two names everyone is watching for when it comes to Alabama opt-outs, with both projected to be top-five picks in the NFL Draft. Plenty more could decide against playing in the Ceasers Dome as well, leaving the Crimson Tide thin at certain positions.

Mix in a Kansas State team fresh off a Big 12 Championship and back in a BCS/NY6 bowl for the first time since 2012, and Alabama is going to have a tough test ahead of them. Nick Saban will have to have his players ready for an 11 a.m. kickoff in New Orleans.

Head-to-head matchup against the Big Ten will set tone

The Big Ten and SEC love battling against one another, no matter the scenario. No bigger stakes than the College Football Playoff, where two powerhouse programs in Georgia and Ohio State will face off in the Peach Bowl semifinal.

With Michigan on the other side of the bracket, Finebaum a potential all-Big Ten national championship could sting the SEC. Georgia has been the conference’s best team over the past two years and will need to continue the success in Atlanta.

“Ultimately, what happens with Georgia, especially in comparison to the Big Ten,” Finebaum said. “One Big Ten spot will be determined in that game. For whatever reason, if Ohio State and Michigan are playing for the national championship, then no matter what has happened previous to that, will not be able to scrape away that perception nationally that the Big Ten has completely moved past the SEC.”

A nice overall record would be nice but if there are three in the loss column come mid-January and Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee provided them, Finebaum thinks there will be an issue. Getting those wins is critical for the SEC.

“It’s going to be far more important with those games than the number you see on the screen in January that the SEC has nine bowl wins and the ACC has six and the Big Ten has five,” Finebaum said. “Those things are not going to be nearly as important as the marquee games.”