Paul Finnebaum confident three SEC teams make the 12-team field

Since the four-team college football playoff began in 2014, one conference won more championships than every other.  A Southeastern Conference team hoisted six of the 10 national championship trophies that were handed out during the four-team era.

The conference finished with a 16-6 record in the playoff as Alabama, LSU, and Georgia led the way. Clemson, Michigan, and Ohio State were the only schools to defeat any SEC program in the playoff.

With the field expanding from four to 12, more SEC teams are almost guaranteed to have a shot to win it all. Only one team from the conference is locked into a spot by way of the conference championship auto-bids, but beyond that, it is all up for grabs.

College football analyst Paul Finebaum gave his thoughts and predictions on how many different SEC programs will make the inaugural edition of the 12-team playoff.

“I would conservatively go with three,” Finebaum said. “I’m not bold enough to go with four because I just think that there’s so many variables. But, there’s a couple of games I think that will determine whether a Tennessee or an Alabama gets in. Or, you mentioned LSU a few minutes ago, or Ole Miss."

Finebaum flirted with the possibility of four and what it would mean for the conference.

“If things go well, they could get four. But, I think it’s going to come down to the Big Ten or the SEC, in terms of getting four," Finebaum said . "If Oregon, Ohio State [and] Penn State survives in its usual 10-2 season, they’ll probably get in. And then, does Michigan pull an upset or two? Does somebody come out of nowhere? But, if I had to give you a number in Vegas, I’d say, 3.2. It’s a little more than three, but by no means, can I say four.”

There will be seven at-large bids up for grabs and with the Big Ten and SEC battling for supremacy more participants equals more bragging rights for each conference.

Related: Paul Finebaum Issues Major Warning To Alabama, Kalen DeBoer