Paul Finebaum Names Four Teams That Can Win the SEC in 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 10:40 AM ET

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has been recognized as the premier conference in college football for nearly two decades. No other conference produces more NFL players than the SEC, and this trend is expected to improve with the addition of prominent programs like the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns.

The Longhorns had a successful first season in the conference, reaching both the College Football Playoff and the SEC Championship Game. In contrast, Oklahoma experienced a disappointing season, finishing with a 6-7 record.

There is considerable excitement surrounding which team will secure the conference championship this season, especially after the Georgia Bulldogs claimed the title last year. During "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum mentioned four teams he believes have the highest chances of winning the championship.

"Right now, there are about four teams that I really like," Finebaum said. "I like Texas more than anybody, Georgia, Alabama and probably LSU. I think South Carolina and Ole Miss are somewhere in that. I'm not crazy about Tennessee, although their schedule is not impossible."

ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) is a metric designed to measure team strength and predict future performance for the remainder of the season. It largely aligns with Paul Finebaum's assessments.

According to the FPI, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama are the teams with the highest chances of winning the conference in 2025. However, the FPI is less optimistic about LSU compared to Finebaum’s views, ranking the Texas A&M Aggies as the fourth-best team in the conference. In fact, the FPI is not favorable towards any teams beyond the top three, with no other team having more than a 5% chance of winning the conference.

Furthermore, the FPI ranks Alabama, Georgia, and Texas as the top three teams in college football overall, giving them the best odds to win the national championship as well.

The race for the SEC Championship Game will begin next month, culminating in the game played on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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