Paul Finebaum predicts Big Ten will continue its rule (but gives SEC some love)

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Et tu, Pawwwll?

The ESPN personality who has been called the “Mouth of the South” and once authored a book about the SEC’s superiority predicts the Big Ten’s rule over college football will continue this season.

Paul Finebaum says Oregon will win the national championship.

Whoa. That would be B1Gly.

If Finebaum’s forecast comes true, it would mean four straight national championships for the Big Ten, supplied by four teams.

The SEC won seven consecutive national championships during its reign amid the BCS era (2006-12). During that stretch, it had four programs — LSU, Florida, Alabama and Auburn — win the crystal ball in successive seasons.

If Oregon triumphs this season, the Ducks would follow the Big Ten's Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana.

Finebaum recently joined me for an episode of the “College Football Unfiltered” podcast that I host for USA TODAY Sports.

(You can watch my conversation with Finebaum here, or listen to it here.)

During a rapid-fire portion of the podcast, I asked him for his picks for national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and playoff sleeper team.

Each time, he offered a Big Ten-themed response.

Careful, Paul, the SEC Network's overlords won't like that line of thinking.

I forgot to ask Finebaum whether the SEC would retain its hold on the “metrics trophy,” a mythical honor inspired by commissioner Greg Sankey’s bizarre rationalization of the SEC surrendering the throne to the Big Ten.

So, who does Finebaum like for the Heisman? Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

And a CFP sleeper? Put Finebaum down for Penn State. Before you roll your eyes, peek at Penn State’s schedule, which features just three teams ranked in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, ahead of Matt Campbell’s debut season in Happy Valley.

“It’s obscenely easy,” Finebaum said of the schedule.

Heard that.

[ This column first published in our SEC Unfiltered newsletter. Want more commentary like this? Sign up here to get the newsletter delivered free to your email inbox. ]

Lest you think Finebaum gave no love for the SEC, he offered a couple of hat tips when I asked about the best atmospheres for the “SEC Nation” Saturday morning pregame show Finebaum stars on during the football season.

“Believe it or not, it’s Mississippi State,” he said. “We have done three or four shows there from the Junction for an 11 o’clock game, so they put us right there, and the Dawg Walk happens. The year Dak (Prescott) was there, we had about 60,000 people around us.”

Finebaum also couldn’t resist giving a shoutout to the scene at Tennessee, his alma mater. I’ve joined Finebaum on set from Ayres Hall at Tennessee when he’s broadcast "The Paul Finebaum Show” there on Fridays, ahead of “SEC Nation” the next day.

“I would say, when there’s not an 11 o’clock (noon Eastern) game, my favorite atmosphere is Tennessee,” he told me. “It’s self-serving, and it’s biased, but we do the show from Ayres Hall — you’ve been there, you’ve sat with us — and there’s just nothing quite like being on that hill at 7 o’clock in the morning or 6:30 in the morning, when we get there, and being reminded of being a college junior or senior.”

Finally, some love for the embattled SEC, from the host of a four-hour daily show on the SEC Network.

Of course, if “SEC Nation” took its show on the road and got a taste of scenes in Columbus, Eugene, Iowa City or State College, Finebaum might sing a different tune.

Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream episodes on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts, Spotify or iHeart.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paul Finebaum predicts Big Ten will continue its rule (but gives SEC some love)

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