Paul Finebaum Declares SEC Contender A ‘Lock’ For First-Ever CFP Berth

The Ole Miss Rebels completed a record-breaking season with the most wins in program history at 11. Additionally, their preseason ranking at No. 6 is the highest since 1970.

Things are looking up for Ole Miss, largely due to its success in the transfer portal. In the last three seasons, Ole Miss has finished with a top-two class, including last year's No. 1 ranked class. However, despite having two 10 or more-win seasons in the last three years, the Rebels have not yet made a College Football Playoff appearance.

ESPN's Paul Finebaum seems to be a fan of what is happening at Ole Miss. So much so he feels the Rebels are a "lock" to make this year's playoff.

"They are a lock to make the playoffs," Finebaum said.

ESPN's Football Power Index doesn't rate the Rebels as highly as Finebaum does. The FPI ranks Ole Miss as the 15th-best team in the nation and gives them the 17th-best odds to make the College Football Playoff at 21%.

The FPI also does not think Ole Miss will perform well in the conference. The FPI considers the Rebels to be a middle-of-the-pack SEC team, giving them the ninth-best odds to win the conference.

So, only time will tell if the FPI or Finebaum is right about the Rebels this season.

Related: Paul Finebaum Questions If One Preseason Top 10 Team Can Win Its Conference