It wasn’t always pretty, and that’s the problem with Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, Paul Finebaum contends.

The SEC Network analyst, in his weekly appearance Sunday on Matt Barrie Show, can’t help but point out the issues that continue to plague the Tide, even after a 26-20 win over Texas A&M in College Station on Saturday.

“The problem with Alabama, though Matt, is you can never trust them,” Finebaum said. “They will just get in their own way. This game was a little different from the Ole Miss game, because they just finally pulled away from Ole Miss. But no matter what Alabama did, they managed to get the other team back in it. You look at their schedule, and you say where else can they trip up? How about anywhere.”

Penalties continue to plague the Tide. Alabama had 14 flags thrown on it for 99 yards, including nine of the pre-snap variety.

Still, Finebaum said Alabama’s defense, which held the Aggies to three second-half points, is championship caliber.

“(Alabama quarterback Jalen) Milroe is a tremendous deep threat, but the defense was unbelievable,” he said. “All I heard from the experts I sit with is how good the other side of the ball was. I was hearing from other head coaches around the SEC that no one can deal with that (A&M) defensive line. It was actually the other way around. On that final drive, Alabama looked like some of the great defenses of old.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.