The Paul Finebaum Show consistently delivers strong viewpoints on college football, and Tuesday’s episode was no exception. During the show, 247Sports college football analyst Brad Crawford shared some particularly bold predictions, focusing on two prominent teams in the SEC: the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Crawford’s first noteworthy forecast centers on which team might pose a challenge to the Georgia Bulldogs’ quest for an undefeated season. He singles out Texas as his pick, labeling them as his preseason favorite within the SEC. According to him, the upcoming clash in Austin between Texas and Georgia could mark the emergence of a significant rivalry in the SEC for the coming years. He suggests that Texas, with its revamped roster including top transfers like Isaiah Bond, could give Georgia’s coach Kirby Smart some cause for concern.
Conversely, Crawford doesn’t paint as rosy a picture for Alabama. Despite acknowledging the undeniable talent on the Tide’s roster, he doesn’t foresee them securing a spot in the College Football Playoff for the 2024 season. He attributes this partly to the challenging SEC schedule and the transition for new head coach Kalen DeBoer, who previously led Washington to a perfect regular season.
In Crawford’s playoff projection, he predicts Texas, Georgia, and Ole Miss as contenders, with a fourth slot potentially going to either Missouri, LSU, or Tennessee.
Looking ahead to early season matchups, key games like Georgia versus Clemson and Texas versus Michigan will likely provide early indicators of teams’ strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, Alabama’s clash with Wisconsin away from home promises to be another crucial test.
Ultimately, the unfolding of these matchups and performances during the season’s start in late August will reveal the true mettle of these teams.
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