Finebaum's new book makes (very strong) case that the SEC is the best

Paul Finebaum’s latest book, “My Conference Can Beat Your Conference,” is one of the most highly anticipated sports books to hit bookstore shelves in a long time, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Co-written by Gene Wojciechowski, “My Conference Can Beat Your Conference: Why the SEC Still Rules College Football” was released Tuesday of last week, and it is a must-read for college football fans in the audience. 

As you might have guessed from the title, the book makes the case (a very strong case) that the Southeastern Conference is the best college football conference in the nation. The authors back this up with a mountain of evidence, mostly from the BCS era, a time in which teams from the SEC claimed seven-straight national titles.

“Find me a conference with a better commissioner, better players, better head coaches, better staffs, better game day atmosphere, better media coverage, better-looking coeds… better anything,” Finebaum writes. “While you’re attempting to do that, I’ll just go ahead and watch all eight Harry Potter movies. When I’m done, I’ll go count all the empty Southern Comfort bottles after a game at LSU’s Death Valley. And when I’m done with that, you still won’t be able to find another league that can match the SEC pedigree for pedigree.”

Alabama and Auburn fans will also eat this book up because Finebaum also makes the case that the Alabama-Auburn (or is it Auburn-Alabama?) rivalry is the greatest rivalry in all of sports. As evidence, he details the long-running series and compares it to other rivalries from the world of college football. They even run out the likes of tree-poisoner Harvey Updike as evidence of the extremes that fans of the two teams will go to because of their hatred for the other side.

This book is also laugh-out-loud funny in parts and includes stories about many of the famous callers to Finebaum’s popular radio show, which can be heard locally during the afternoon, Monday through Friday, on 101.1 FM in Evergreen. If you like Charles from Reeltown, I-Man, Jim from Tuscaloosa, Darriel from Columbus, Phyllis and Tammy, you’ll love this book.

Auburn fans usually don’t care much for Finebaum, but they might change their tune after reading his book. Much of the book is about the 2013 season, and he details Auburn’s “Prayer in Jordan-Hare” win over Georgia, gives his eyewitness account of Auburn’s shocking Iron Bowl win over No. 1-ranked Alabama and Auburn’s trip to the BCS national championship game. Finebaum is also high on Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and indicates that the best may be yet to come for the Tigers under Malzahn.

Finebaum also gives an entertaining account and a behind-the-scenes look at his adventures last year as part of ESPN’s College GameDay program. I have to admit that I only watched GameDay occasionally in the past, but from here on out, I doubt that I’ll miss an episode thanks to “My Conference Can Beat Your Conference.”

In the end, if you like college football, I highly recommend that you check out “My Conference Can Beat Your Conference.” It’s funny, highly entertaining and just the thing to put you more in the mood for the upcoming college football season.