ESPN’s Paul Finebaum is already looking ahead at the 2017 college football season and has some early thoughts on who could potentially bring down the preseason No. 1 team in the nation.
During an appearance on ESPN this weekend, Finebaum was discussing the Alabama Crimson Tide when he shared his thoughts on the only two teams he believes have a chance to bring down Nick Saban’s squad.
The teams? Florida State and Auburn.
Florida State plays Alabama in the season-opener, while the Crimson Tide face off against the rival Tigers in the 2017 edition of the Iron Bowl to close out the regular season.
“It will not be a big surprise — Alabama is going to be No. 1 and I don’t think it’s going to be close,” Finebaum said on ESPN this morning, per 247Sports. “The most interesting thing is will Florida State be No. 2. We’ve never had a 1 vs. 2 matchup in the opening weekend. We always get that in the final game. This could be the first time. Alabama’s a 5.5 to 6.5-point favorite and I think that’s a very dangerous game.
“Alabama does not have very many dangerous games. Really the opener against FSU and the closer at Auburn, a place where the Tide lost four years ago. Other than that, most of the others games are going to be laughers.”
Do you agree with Finebaum’s take? Sound off in the comments section below.
Alabama and Florida State kickoff their 2017 campaigns on Saturday, Sept. 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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