Paul Finebaum has been a frequent critic of Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan program, but the longtime ESPN personality had to eat some crow Tuesday following the Wolverines’ Rose Bowl win over Alabama.
On First Take this morning, Finebaum not only credited Harbaugh for out-coaching Nick Saban, he also predicted the Wolverines would beat Washington in the national championship game on Monday.
“I do not (think Washington can pull an upset), and I’ll add that I respect what they’ve done,” said Finebaum, via Saturday Down South. “Another team that has been on a long journey — I think it’s 8 or 9 times they’ve been to the abyss — and somehow they keep winning games, and that matters a great deal. But I don’t really like the matchup.”
Finebaum did add “one caveat” to his prediction, saying that he thinks Washington has the “best offensive line in the country” which could make things interesting in the trenches.
However, at the end of the day, the Wolverines are “a team of destiny.”
Wow, Paul Finebaum just said on live TV that “Michigan is a team of destiny” 👀
— Clark Glizwold (@c_shinabarger) January 2, 2024
Additionally, Finebaum walked back his previous comments on a Michigan national title being tainted because of the Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal.
Okay, maybe he had to eat *a lot* of crow, not just some of it.
Michigan and Washington will kick off at 7:45 p.m. ET next Monday on ESPN.