The Bill Simmons Podcast - Ep. 136: Week 8 Lines, NBA Futures, and World Series Predictions With Cousin Sal

Episode Date: October 24, 2016

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss the fall of football (3:00), adding entertainers to the TV booth (8:00), Tom Brady's MVP odds (13:00), 'Sunday Night Football' vs. the World Series (17:30), Blake Bortles's road record (22:00), the lowest NFL spreads ever (25:00), the problem with the PAT (28:00), the four worst teams in the league (31:00), the out-of-sync offenses (38:00), the NFC East vs. the AFC West (45:40), Dan Quinn's questionable call (50:30), Warriors vs. the field championship odds (56:50), LeBron's MVP campaign (59:00), the Cubs' curse (1:03:30), and the Indians' best hope with Andrew Miller (1:05:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's episode of the BS Podcast is brought to you by SeatGeek, our presenting sponsor, the only fan-friendly app for buying and selling tickets for sports and music. It's October, late October. Sal, this is the best week we got. Lots of fun. World Series, NBA starting, football is dying, and hockey. What a week. You need SeatGeek for all of it.

Drop your old ticket app. Use one bill for 2016. Buy tickets at interstadiums on your own phone. Download the free SeatGeek app. Go to SeatGeek.com. We're also brought to you by Trunk Club. They find amazing clothes that fit you perfectly. They're handpicked by your own personal stylist. Not a subscription service. Order clothes wherever you like from your own personal stylist. Then take five days to try everything on. Returns are always free. Get started at trunkclub.com slash BS.

Your personal stylist is waiting to help you with your fall wardrobe. Trunkclub.com slash BS. Don't forget about any given Wednesday, 10 p.m. This Wednesday, HBO. We have Wayne Gretzky, Bill Burr, and Larry Wilmer. Oh, that's fun. Hockey. I'm excited to talk hockey.

Bill Burr. Good. Big Bruins fan. What a show. We also have theringer. Bill Burr. Good. Big Bruins fan. What a show. We also have TheRinger.com and our ongoing Mammoth NBA preview. Welcome aboard to Roger Sherman. He's writing about football,

college football, and basketball for us. He has a kick-ass Saturday college football column you should check out. It's really good. I like it. Don't forget about

our other eight podcast feeds on The Ringer Network. Cousin Sal is is here let's roll i think this is our last time with bach picture me rolling we have a big wrinkle for year two of the of the music for the bs podcast really yeah Yeah. I can't tell you what it is. I also think this is the last time. This is the week eight podcast is the podcast we emotionally lose Bill to the NBA for the rest of the year. This is it.

What did you call me? What's your sarcastic name for me? The NBA hole. What do I call you? NBA hole. Yeah. He becomes an NBA hole. Nah.

I'm really enjoying the fall of football. And now I was just going to say, now we're going to talk about how football is over. Football had a Giants-Rams game in London that was an out-and-out atrocity. They had a tie between the Cardinals and Seahawks, which was probably the most loathed football game ever played on social media. Yeah. It was like everybody's just lining. I'm amazed Obama didn't weigh in. Yeah, he might. And then what do we have tonight? It's Texans-Broncos. It was like everybody's just lining. I'm amazed Obama didn't weigh in. Yeah, he might.

And then what do we have tonight? It's Texans-Broncos, Osweiler against Simeon. You know that's going to be just a defensive showdown. And then Thursday, everything peaks. Jags-Titans live on the NFL Network. Get rid of it. Get rid of it. Everything is leading to this moment of Jags-Titans.

That's not even worthy of a thursday night game that should be should be wednesday when everyone's asleep or something that's that whole division should just go away it really should and then meanwhile your division the nfc east everybody's over 500 i think i don't remember everyone being over 500 and going into week eight like ever it's hard to do it's hard to do and i also think the nfc just in general is impressive like every division has a wild card candidate right even now with tampa uh you know in the west obviously you may not like arizona but i think they'll be there in december somewhere yeah who would you pick for wild cards and i think that tie really hurts arizona like now they have to go nine six and one yeah three three three and

one's because i think ten and six is gonna take it so they'd have to go yeah nine six and one and i'm not that ten and six is better that beats it right so what do they do they have to go ten five and one they have those two more games all season i say eagles and packers of the uh of the wild cards well we have i mean we've made history over and over again with our gambling bets that have fallen through at the last second. This one might take the cake. We bet on the Lions, the Browns, and the Niners collectively not to make the playoffs. Right. And you texted me in August.

You were like, how does this lose? And I looked at it, and I said, you're right. This doesn't lose. It's impossible for this to lose. Matthew Stafford led three straight comebacks the Lions are four and three they're atrocious I don't get it

I don't understand it I've watched the ending to these games I keep waiting for them to lose they don't lose and now this is going to be the week where everybody writes Matthew Stafford columns because I think he's since the bye week last year, I think he's like 36 TDs and five picks,

something like that. And most to 100, quickest to 100 touchdowns or something, the fewest games or something weird. But I think they're, as bad as this season's been for football, there are three bad, exciting teams. I think New Orleans, Detroit, and the Colts are bad, exciting teams. And the Chargers are like decent, exciting. I think New Orleans, Detroit, and the Colts are bad, exciting teams. And the Chargers are like decent exciting.

I think they're good. They actually may be good. They should be like five and two. I do really think they are. Oh, my God. Bad, boring is San Francisco, LA, Cleveland, Jacksonville, and Chicago. But there are three bad, exciting teams, I think. Bad, boring.

Well, the Colts have a good quarterback, and they're absolutely atrocious at every other spot which makes them fun to watch right the week so our loss was with the tight i think you were starting to say the we had the titans that was my cousin's house your thing best bet i bought it down to two and a half i thought it was looking great it was they were driving it was 2020 they were driving with seven minutes left. They got conservative. They had a terrible sequence of first, second, third down plays. Kicked a field goal.

And you knew luck was going to come down. And then all of a sudden they're down 10. We were lucky to be in it. I think the Colts had 131 penalty yards or something. They kept getting bailed out. Yeah, they dominated again. Mario was doing really bad passes, getting bailed out by pass interferences or defensive holdings or whatever it is.

Barry Oda, I don't even know if he's worthy of an are-we-sure-he's-good conversation. I don't even want to have it. He's in the bottom third of quarterbacks we've seen in the last two years. He's not accurate. Right? The worst one is Case Keenum. Yeah.

Now we have to really look at this Jared Goff thing and wonder how terrible he is, that they can't play him. He's got to be. Case Keenum has the lowest QBR this year so far. I looked it up. I wait seven weeks and then I look at the QBR. He's 31st. Right, yeah.

I mean, the Browns guys aren't in there because they haven't qualified, but, yeah, he's got, I think. I think I bet against him in each of his three wins, and now I'm not able to benefit from these pick sixes But let me defend him for a second And he's atrocious but let me defend him They're winning 10-0 There's a pass over the middle

I think it was Tavon Austin Tips it in the air and that Collins then takes it And runs it back They're driving to make it 13 or 17-0 Maybe they put the Giants away there And then it just all fell apart You throw two picks in the end zone and i always thought they should have team interceptions right wait can we go back to sunday night sure are you happy with the nfl overtime slash tie rules should we ever have a tie i'm okay with it yeah you're okay with the tie yeah yeah and then

we can make fun of how bad the teams are that they couldn't pull it out i really like i i barely watch college but i always enjoy when it goes in overtime i think it's really fun wouldn't it have been more fun yesterday if they had college football overtime rolls yeah i think so it just screws up the stats and everything you know i don't know just it's grew oh it screws up oh it'd be bad for fantasy. Yeah. Oh, I like how you think. Think about that. Like, you know, like you'll end up with Reggie Cobb will have more than more. Did I say Reggie Cobb? Is it Randall Cobb? I gave it to you.

Damn. A little more touchdowns than Jerry Rice because he had four in a four-overtime game or something. You know, it would be weird. Okay. I don't know. I just like that game. I don't like what happened yesterday. It was so bad. And, you know, Collins worked so hard to keep the interest like oh i love i love the smash mouth football i love the time i love the low score it's like all right he's really turned he's

turned into a wwe announcer he really has the way he sells these matches so oh over the rope yeah like he's just totally gets into it. I think at some point they need to cut the cord. It's like, all right, this is a bad game. We understand. Al and I, we have to mix it up. We're going to do a crap game karaoke. We're just going to sing.

Like Don Meredith used to sing in the booth, whether the game was good or bad. Well, you know, they've tried a comedian. They had Dennis Miller in there. And then they had Kornheiser, who's not a comedian but is like a reverend. Maybe they should have somebody who just travels with the crew, and then if the game sucks, they just bring the guy in. I like your guy Bill Burr. Bill Burr would have been perfect.

He might have sworn a couple times on the air. I don't know if he could have gotten through that game. How could he help but swearing in that game? I mean, it's not the death of football, but that was a bad car wreck that football's going to walk away from last night. Well, and then if they're walking away and then the Jags-Titan car is going to run them over

and kill everybody. And poor London, what we're doing. There's another London game. So I started Eli over... Can I do my annual or my weekly? I hate fantasy football. I started Eli over Russell Wilson because I thought Russell or my weekly? I hate fantasy football. I started Eli over Russell Wilson because I thought Russell Wilson was going to have a tough night.

And Eli could not crack 10 points. And then Russell Wilson couldn't either. And I might be done. I really... This might be it. This might be my farewell year. Your team broke 50 last night, last week, this week. I thought that was good for you.

It turns out building your whole team around Gronk and Ezekiel Elliott doesn't work. But I mean, at the same time, like Joseph Ajayi, all these dudes. People picking these guys up on Friday night. So I wrote down some fantasy stuff that jumped out. Matt Ryan, who you got for a dollar when everybody was half asleep at the end of our draft, leads the league with 182.4 fantasy points thank you le garrett blunt is on pace for 1300 rushing yards and 17 tds and right now he's the sixth highest fantasy oh non-qb oh i can't believe all the non-qbs he's six i thought he'd be even higher your top six non-qbs david johnson demarco murray leshawn mccoy zeke elliott yeah

julio jones le garrett blunt who went for like a dollar i mean this is all so random good this is the one that really gets me and this is why i don't think i should do fantasy football anywhere i had melvin gordon last year i spent like 20 on him in zero tds no touchdown he's 10 and seven games yeah same guy right team isn't different it's the same kind of shitty nine and seven but kind of exciting chargers team that they've had every year right it's gonna he's gonna have 20 tds yeah it's bad and then the other statistical thing i had to throw oh david johnson by the way is over a thousand yards combined with everything. They pound him.

They give him the ball all the time. He went for like 50 bucks in our league. Yeah, he was a big. And it was kind of one of those where you're like, you wanted to make fun of it, but everybody kind of wanted him too, so nobody said anything. Yeah. So Tom Brady, 3-0, 1,004 passing yards. Eight TDs, no interceptions. No picks.

Almost 10 yards per pass and a 132.6 QB rating. He's good. No, they made the right decision to start him when he got back. I agree. Do you think he can get in the top 10 for passing yards? I haven't looked at it. I looked at it. He's like about 1,000 behind the 10th guy.

Sure. What? If he can make it, He's got nine games left. Oh, this year? This year. Yeah. Who's the, I don't know. He'd spot the field four games and still be top 10 in passing yards.

Oh, I see. I see. This year, oh, I thought you meant overall. Like Tannehill's in the middle. He's like 15th. He's got 1,800 passing yards or something. Brady's going to pass him by the end of the year. Right, right, right.

Actually, I looked it up because I was thinking, is there a chance Brady could win the passing yards title? What would the odds on that be? That's interesting. If he throws for like 325 yards a game for the last nine, that gets us to close to, he'd be around 4,000. Somebody's going to throw for more than 4,000, right? Matt Ryan will.

Right. Breeze will be up there. Breeze will be up there. He's getting garbage. What about MVP, though? I think Joe House liked Brady for MVP preseason. I laughed at him. I don't think you did, but I laughed at him.

Oh, I got misty-eyed. I loved it. Tom Brady, plus 120 for MVP. What? Plus 120. Who are the MVP? Who else? David Johnson, 10 to 1.

Ezekiel Elliott, he's the true MVP, 10 to 1. Aaron Rodgers, 12. I don't know where they get that. Matt Ryan, 12. And Luck, 18-1. Aaron Rodgers, 12. I don't know where they get that. Matt Ryan, 12. And Luck, 18-1. Wow. So if the Pats go like 15-1 or 14-2, yeah, you're right. He has a chance.

Sure. I didn't even think. If Elliott rushes for like 1,900 yards and you get a one seed, he's winning. Well, why not take Elliott at 10-1 and Brady? Why aren't we doing that? Why wouldn't we? I know actually David Johnson. What a weird year.

How is Brady the MVP? Brady's the MVP favorite? He missed four games. Yeah, guy who missed four games. David Johnson, who no one heard about ever a year and a half ago, and Ezekiel Elliott. Those are our top three. Those are the top three.

Julio Jones has to be in the mix, right? What if they go 11-5 and he has 2,000? Yeah, he's 30-1. With Stafford. They may just give it to Ryan. Maybe Stafford is the way we hedge our lines. He's down the list a ways, in fact. I mean, they're 4-3 and he's...

He's 120-1, if you want. 120-1? Yeah. Not a lot of true. People are writing columns about him, but no one willing to put money on him. Yeah, I guess Brady is the best bet. Because when you look at the AFC right now, who do you have as the second best team? I don't know.

Pittsburgh, like Roethlisberger is going to miss five games. Right. And Landry Jones, the Pats, it took them three quarters to figure out that he was just throwing either lob passes or really soft line drive passes. He's a nice backup. Nice backup. But he's not going to make Eli Rogers and Sammy Coates great receivers like Roethlisberger does. Yeah, you're right.

He's what Lombardi would call a 45-minute QB. Yeah. By the fourth quarter, he was out of ammo. The Pats are like, oh, yeah, we know the two things you can do. Pat's what Lombardi would call a 45-minute QB. By the fourth quarter, he was out of ammo. The Pats are like, oh, yeah, we know the two things you can do. Exactly. The Pats' second half was the bet there. We can agree that the Pats are the best team right now. It might not last, but after seven weeks, you'd pick them first.

We've no pass rush. And our offensive line had like six holding penalties in that game yesterday. And our kicker has missed a couple extra points and some field goals. And this is a guy that we've never had to worry about for 10 years. And something goofy has happened. I shouldn't have this many concerns about the best team in the league, which just makes me think the league sucks. It's hard for me to believe the Patriots are the best team in the league.

But you still have that formula down where maybe even if there's a close game, you stay with them, and then Gronk just breaks everyone's spirit. He makes the big catch. Might be for a touchdown, might not be. But it's like, wow, why? You almost think, like, why aren't they covering him? I still feel like in the league, there's like, why? It seems like teams forget to cover certain guys that they shouldn't be.

Gronk's one of them. Julio Jones is another. Like, wow, how is that guy? Antonio Brown's another one. Antonio Brown. Is it just like, I don't want to deal with it. He's going to beat me, so let me pretend it's someone else's guy. I'm not going to cover him.

It's very strange what goes on there. But Gronk is a spirit killer. He's got eight catches for over 20 yards already. Is that right? And he's only played, I think, three full games. I watched with Kevin Brady, longtime Pats fan yesterday, and that Gronk touchdown, the way they lined up, I started to get, because I've played so much Madden over my life

where you can just see what Madden plays are going to work. And a lot of what the Pats run are like, it's the best Madden offense with the tight ends. They lined him up on the left on the inside. And you could see the Steelers didn't have it covered. They didn't have somebody. And you could see that the numbers were wrong. And I was like, Gronk over the middle, Gronk over the middle.

But I thought he was going to go in. He just went straight. Yeah. And it just seems like that plays there twice a game. A little shuck move and that's it. Yeah. It's just the one time the safety falls asleep or they ran another play in the first half where he was on the left side with two receivers one just went down the sideline deep edelman ran a button hook across the middle and then gronk

kind of cut in like they they took out everybody and just said gronk 101 it's unstoppable yeah but i don't know if i don't know across the middle but i know what you're saying i know what's it what's the one over the middle where where the guy swerves it's not a button hook it's uh what is it slant route what are you talking about no like the deep slant yeah the post right yeah i got my football terminology screwed up do you hate jhi i hate jhi yeah i don't like i don't like when people come out of nowhere to swing fantasy leagues well that's the whole thing i'm looking at him as a fantasy player. And the guy I was playing this week, my scumbag friend Harry,

picked him up, like, not even Wednesday night, but Thursday night. And, yeah, just 27 points. What did he have? Something crazy? Dallas-Philly is Sunday night against what game of the World Series? Four? Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Five.

It's tough. It's the best football game they've had all year. And the Cubs could be up 3-1 at home trying to win the World Series. Unbelievable. Baseball gets its revenge. This is a good time to debut crap game karaoke. No one's watching. So here's what we're going to do.

We're going to do the week eight lines. And then we're going to talk about the World Series. And then we're going to do a couple NBA future things I got to talk. But before we do that, our friends at Squarespace make it easy to build beautiful websites without breaking a sweat. Regardless of skill level, no coding needed. Not only does Squarespace provide easy-to-use tools, Squarespace's state-of-the-art technology ensures security and stability. Millions of people and some of the world's most respected brands trust Squarespace,

so you should too. Not only do you get 24-7 online support, you can even design a best-in-class online store with Squarespace's award-winning templates and customizable settings. And with Squarespace Commerce, you get all the tools you need to track inventory process orders, send custom emails in one intuitive interface. Start a free trial today at squarespace.com.

Use offer code BS to get 10% off your first purchase. All right, week eight. Let's do it. We have our Don Julio shot of the week, which for, it's the only thing I'm winning every week. You're killing it. And I'm just killing it.

I'm getting murdered. Don Julio, the world's original handcrafted tequila with multiple unique tequilas, including Don Julio, 1942, the best luxury tequila you will ever drink. And the tequila that Dan Sanborn drank before he fathered two of his seven kids to, to loosen himself up.

Those are conservative estimates, but I think you're right. So we can either pick for the Don Julio Shot of the Week tonight's game, which is Texans at Broncos, or you can roll it over to Titans-Jags. What is the Broncos line right now? I was just going to check that. The Broncos are laying eight points. Oh, wow. That's high.

I don't think the Texans offense is going to be able to do anything. Like not one thing. I really think it could go badly. Let's guess the Titans line first, and then i'm going to make the okay because i don't know what that line is jacksonville tennessee thursday night thursday night do you think they should use different announcers for this yeah maybe like why don't they use their worst announcers for this i think they're gonna have trouble finding people to announce these games announcing crew announcers are revolting they're just not gonna show up one day and that'll be that it's

too bad this isn't going against the World Series. I swear we've seen this exact game four times this year already. I know. I have the Titans by four. A little high. You said four. I said five and a half. Really high.

Especially after watching them. It's minus three and a half. Minus three and a half. Tennessee three and a half. Bortles on the road. He's two and 14 lifetime on the road. Blake Bortles. Did you know that? Is that right? Yeah. He's two and a half. Tennessee, three and a half. Bortles on the road. He's two and 14 lifetime on the road. Blake Bortles. Did you know that?

Is that right? Yeah. He's two and 14. Wow. 14 of 16 times he was lost on the road. Did Gus Bradley solidify? Because there were two coaches that helped themselves out. Mike McCoy, big win for the Chargers.

Helped themselves out. Who else? Well, Rex Ryan saved his job. Yeah, but he's not good. I'm saying this week. McCarthy. You know, there was McCarthy stuff if they had blown that Bears game. They lucked out.

Brian Hoyer broke his wrist. I think the Bears were going to beat them. I don't think the Packers are good. They look bad. They look bad. But the other coach, Chuck Strong, Pagano, also saved his job. Oh, yeah, Pagano was in the mix. Right now, I think Gus Bradley has a stranglehold on first coach.

Was there a no coach gets fired bet that we could have done? I'm saying before the year. Before the year. Because I don't know if anyone gets fired. Because Jim Caldwell was another one everybody was talking about. And he's not getting fired. Bradley's minus 200. Chip Kelly, 4-1.

They'll let him. That team's awful. Pagano, 10-1. Caldwell, 15-1, like you mentioned. Fox, 4-1. They'll let him. That team's awful. Pagano, 10-1. Caldwell, 15-1, like you mentioned. Fox, 15-1. That could be interesting. McCoy, also 15. And Malarkey, 20.

I don't think anyone gets fired. Not even Jeff Fisher. Guys made $50 million coaching. But you know what you sign up for with Jeff Fisher. They're right where we... I guess so. They are who we thought they are. They're right where we – who they thought was the Dennis Green line? They are who we thought they are.

They're 3-4, and they're going to go 8-8 again. They go 8-8 every year. It's hilarious. Yeah. The most unimaginative offense I've seen with that team. I am – God, I don't like either of those games. You know what? I'm going to take the –

You can't pass on the Don Julio shot of the week. No, I know. I'm going to throw it down with the Broncos minus eight. Interesting. I don't think... You know what? You going to change it? You want to do a shot? I'm going to take the Jags. Nobody should be favorite

in any AFC South game. Alright, I'm staying. I don't think that game is worthy of Don Julio or not even Don Knotts. I don't think that game is worthy of him. So you're going Texans? And I think I agree with all your reasoning. The Broncos should win. This is a revenge game

against Osweiler. They have had 10 days rest. The Texans are awful on the road as we've seen. They lost. They got shut out in New England. So I'm taking Houston because nothing makes sense. Houston plus eight. I hate both of these games.

I know. I just think Titans-Jags is a three-point game. I get a free half point. Right. The Jags do have guys on defense that I like. They might be better off playing on the road. We should have been all over the Raiders, speaking of better teams on the road. We bet on – oh, you mean betting this week.

Just yesterday. They're 4-0 on the road. We got scared by the line. I think it was – Jags were favored by one and a half. We know the Raiders are better. What are we doing? I don't know. The Jags were, for some reason, frightened me a tiny bit,

and I wish I could take it back. All right, now listen. You did it again. Washington at Cincinnati, technically. But this game's in London, and I know you didn't realize that because— There's another London game? This is it. This is the third London game.

Washington and Cincinnati. Oh, okay. All right. I'll redo that pick then. Go ahead. What do you think? Yeah. Cincy by four and a half.

All right. See, you're going to get it. It's not fair. You had six originally. Now you go four and a half. I said one. It's three. Oh, so I barely won that.

So you win that one. Wow. So they only think the Bengals are three points better than the Native Americans? That's very strange that they're going to have actually a good game. Does London have to let these teams in? Like, what's their border? What's their policy at the border? Some of my soccer fans at the Ringer were saying that the Premier League

is stacking really good Premier League games to go against these NFL games. It's like, I don't even think you need to do that. These games are terrible. You've got nothing to worry about, I don't even think you need to do that. These games are terrible. You got nothing to worry about. Would rate the same. Can I just say before we go further this week collectively, because you've already submitted your line. So the lowest spreads I've ever seen in a game,

the lowest spreads, there's not one game over seven. There's two at six and everything else is lower. If you added them up, I've never seen anything. I think everyone's just quit. Yeah. So just looking at the Bengals really quick, they barely beat the Jets in week one. They should have lost.

Lose to the Steelers in week two. They were down double figures the whole game. Got a cheap touchdown near the end. Got killed by the Broncos. They beat the Dolphins on a thursday night yeah which i just almost feel like you throw out the thursday night games they're so stupid get killed by the cowboys get killed by the patriots and then this week they beat the browns who had some guy i've literally never heard of in my life kevin hogan yep um came in he's

their sixth quarterback to throw pass this year. There's no sign that the Bengals are good. So maybe that Washington line is fair. I guess it is. I mean, Washington's 4-3. Right. Yeah, it should be very low, whatever it is. They're 4-3, and they could have won the Lions game,

and they could have beaten your team, right? It has potential to not be a hideous game. But the miracle gambling win of the day was Cincy minus eight at half. And they throw a Hail Mary to A.J. Green. Oh, that covered it? Yeah, congratulations if you're on that. Alright, Jets at Cleveland.

I have a theory on why everybody's missing extra points. Because people are like, why is this happening? This makes no sense. I think during the games, missing extra points. Yeah, tell me. Because people are like, why is this happening? This makes no sense. I think during the games, the extra points were almost like practice for the kickers. Right.

So they just go out, they bang in their extra points, but it's like a rep. So then when they have a real field goal, they're out there, they get a feel of the crowd, all that. Now it's like every time

they kick anything, there's pressure. There's no rep. Right, right, right. It's just you're out there, it's like, you're thinking about the crowd, the thing pressure. There's no rep. Right, right, right. It's just you're out there. It's like, yeah, I'm thinking about the crowd, the thing. And there's no easy kick anymore.

And I think these guys are psyching themselves out a tiny bit. Whereas before, it's like you go out. You just bang an extra point. Oh, yeah, my foot was off. I got to fix that for. Right. So it's almost like golf where you don't have a practice swing. Well, I was going to say almost like I hate to bring up basketball because you don't like talking about it, but like a free throw if you move the back

six feet. I think that would be about, maybe not even six feet, but guys would miss a lot more. Yeah. There you go. I don't know if I'm right. I don't know why they're missing 19-yard field goals, though. They took the five-yard penalty,

Arizona, right? Why not go for it one more time? I don't know. It was third down when they kicked? They go for it twice, and then they kick it. It's like either go for it all three times or don't go for it, but don't half-ass go for it. Oh, they were so close to getting in, too.

Jets at Cleveland. So we should mention six teams off this week. Yeah, that's too many rams dolphins niners giants ravens steelers i would argue all six of those teams are delighted to have a bye week except for maybe miami that had a little momentum from the bills game for sure the other five definitely are fired up for the bye week five of the six are either three and four or four and three and then there's san francisco at one and six. We had an old idea from a previous

podcast that I really liked that obviously didn't work this week. But when there's six teams off like this, they don't have any early games. Or they don't have any late games. This is the week where you just stack everything and then we can hang out with our families.

They basically did. There's two late afternoon games. And what are they? They are San Diego at Denver and Green Bay at Atlanta. See, those are good games. Why only two? I mean, it's not up against the World Series. That's pretty weird.

I go three or none. I'm with you. Jets or Cleveland, that could just be off the slate altogether. We didn't talk about Cleveland. Cleveland has a real chance now at 0-16. If they don't win this one... You like Kevin Hogan? No. What you gonna do

when 12 for 24 with two interceptions is coming after you? I got this, brother! Chats this week. Dallas at Baltimore. Pittsburgh Giants. Cincy at Buffalo. San Diego at Pittsburgh.

It doesn't even matter where those games are being played. That's the Jets? No, these are all the Cleveland games. I would say the best... That last month is brutal. Cincinnati at Buffalo. San Diego at Pittsburgh. They're not winning any of those games.

It's all brutal when you're Cleveland and everyone else is the other team. True. They have, I would argue, three more chances to win a game. Either this week, at Baltimore two weeks from now, and a Thursday night. Who knows? Thursday nights are weird. And then home for the Giants.

I mean, that could be like. What's their last one? Could someone possibly be sitting players? It's at Pittsburgh. No, they'll need that. Pittsburgh's going to need it for something, right? Yeah. They won't lose at home either, yeah.

Yeah, they'd be going for a two-seed, three-seed something. But holy mackerel, we might have an 0-16 team. Well, Vegas isn't counting them out this week. So you had... I had the J by by four i had the jets by six because you can only give so much credit to a team who's trying to lose but vegas has it two and a half jets by two and a half sucker bet who do you like i don't know i like to stay away that That's a sucker bet. I like the Jets. What are you talking about? We have to stay away. We have...

I have the four worst teams in the league are the Jets, the Bears, the 49ers, and the Browns. You don't put the Jags in there? I have the Jags as the fifth worst team in the league. You have the Jets and Browns playing each other, and then you have the Jags and the Titans playing each other. I have the Titans as like... Yeah. I mean, that whole division's awful.

They want badly in that group. Those are two of the worst games we've had all year. Yeah. And I would say do not lay points and win two bad teams. Stay away. Stay away. Seattle at New Orleans. Interesting game.

I put Seattle by three and a half. It's just the Saints are dying to be taken here. Yeah. Right? I said three, and it is three, so I get that one exactly. If the Saints defense can't get the Seahawks offense going, then we should have real concerns here. Right.

They're one of my bad exciting teams, though. Watch this game. This will be a fun game. Arizona at Carolina. my bad exciting teams though watch this game this will be a fun game um arizona carolina this was also once a fun game panthers by two i had you're gonna get it i had arizona by two and a half i think i made it before the end of that horrific game last night but it's carolina minus one so if carolina wins this they're two and five coming off a bye right going to la the next week after that home for the chiefs home for the saints on a thursday and then they go at oakland at

seattle i don't think there's any way they make the play i have to see i think they're a complete cross off something out of their secondary first before you could would you cross them off because I don't think there's any way they make the playoffs. I have to see. I think they're a complete cross-off. Something out of their secondary first before you could say. Would you cross them off? Because I have five cross-off teams right now. The Browns, 49ers, Bears, Jets, and Saints. I'll wait one more week. And even if they win, I might cross them off this week.

But I don't think. Talk about kick-starting an offense. I think Arizona will now score some points at Carolina. I think the Panthers. We both agree 10 wins to get into the playoffs in the NFC. So they have to go 9-1. Yeah, God. Impossible.

Their defense isn't good enough. Wow. Real quick, ratings down 11%. I don't know if you've discussed this on any of your other podcasts. NFL? And NFL ratings. What's the biggest reason? I talked about it with Michaels and Costas on Wednesday night. Oh, right.

And I laid out the oversaturation theory. Yeah. I think that's the biggest reason. But Michaels said it was the games they got unlucky with. He was just talking Sunday night. Yeah. I think it's like eight factors. The concussions, Goodell.

We didn't even congratulate them for uh uh raising awareness for women this month yeah that's right the nfl i mean if you look at it if you spin it positively they raised awareness for for domestic violence against women so congratulations to them i every time i saw the pink jerseys and the shoes it's nice i thought of josh brown you know keeping a journal about all the times he beat his wife up. Right. And, you know, that's great. Good job, NFL. Yeah. Way to go.

There's no hypocrisy there. Yeah. Yeah. It's good. But I think, what about those people that say, I'm not watching because of Kaepernick? I don't believe that people are canceling their DirecTV because of Kaepernick. Honestly, there are people that say that. Like, they canceled their package because of Kaepernick.

I don't believe that. I don't think you can underestimate people over 70 for anything. Really? Not for one thing. Yeah. Wow. I think there are people over 70 who are like, this guy's not going to stand up for the anthem.

I'm out. Just like, I think the NFL's lost a lot of female fans, and they should have. The way they have handled women this decade, there's no way that hasn't at least slightly affected the number of female fans that they have i'm with you yeah like you look at what they did this week with this josh brown thing to to go through this after they already did this with ray rice two years ago to then have this happen again in just as callous of a fashion first of

all i didn't understand why he was on the team i Just get rid of him. Get rid of him before the season. As a penal code thing. You did this, you get this. It's a kicker. Who cares? Just get rid of him. It goes to show you how under the radar these kickers are. What it really goes to show you is

the NFL is held in so low of a self-esteem right now with the general public. Right. And once a year they get caught in something where they just either flat out lied or they just completely mishandled something. Yeah. And you look at it and you go, how did you not handle this correctly?

It just doesn't seem hard to handle this Josh Brown thing correctly. The way they handle it, it's like Keystone Cops. Right. And then, which I don't want to go through deflating again but it's just funny like the one time america's like no the nfl was right was with tom brady who's never done anything in his life well greg hardy is practicing extra points right now let's put it this way once he saw how the kickers are on seriously yeah what about the guy in the chiefs ty hill go google what ty hill did at Oklahoma State. Yep.

So I'd say that, I don't know if this is the number one factor, but, you know, in the last couple of years, people say, I watch the Red Zone. I just have the Red Zone channel

on the background and I'm with the kids and that's how I watch games. It's like, okay, that's good. I could never watch TV like that. I couldn't watch the games. I have to have the eight or how many screens up.

It might not be a legitimate factor now. Maybe that's why ratings are down. I think it's your games. I have to have the eight or how many screens up. It might not be a legitimate factor now. Maybe that's why ratings are down. I think it's a factor. I agree. Right? Like a lot of people watching this Red Zone channel. I used to the four TV thing which I had never really seen in action until I moved

here and our cousin had it. Yeah. And I just loved it. I was like wow this is the next stage of football. And really now you just need the game you're watching toggle back and forth with another game and have the red zone on you really only need two tvs yeah i had four going yesterday it didn't matter like the vikings eagles game was atrocious i had that on one of the tvs yeah you know then if something gets good but there was again there was only two good games yesterday right chargers falcons was really fun. Pat Steelers wasn't well played, but it was compelling.

And that's another thing, is stars. Wilson's one of the five biggest stars in the league. Is it that much fun to watch Russell Wilson play football? Tate, do you like watching Russell Wilson play football? He's shaking his head angrily. He's ruined my life too many times. What about Cam Newton, Tate? Cam Newton's fun.

Is he fun? I know, but they're 1-5. Maybe that's why all this stuff Tate is shooting. He's really fun. Falcons are fun. I mean, just go through all the teams. Pats are fun. All right. Hold on.

I'm trying to find more fun teams. Did you say the Raiders? The Chargers are fun. The Raiders are fun. Falcons, Raiders, Cowboys. Mm-hmm. And Pittsburgh when Ben's in there. So that's six teams that are fun to watch.

You say fun. I think there are 20 offenses that are still out of sync in week seven. Like, that's what's weird. Maybe it is the preseason and how slow things are and no two-a-days and no everything else. But I think that's fair. That's a big part of this though. Just what happened with the salary cap and how Kevin Brady and I were talking about yesterday about how you,

you don't keep the guy in the team for those last two years of his career anymore. The veteran, the guy who knows where to go and what to do. Like in the mid two thousands, Troy Brown's not on the Patriots in 2000 when we won our last Superbowl, he's already off the team. He's replaced by a seventh rounder.

And now they're sticking around. I had this idea a while ago. I thought it was like one of the 11 best ideas I've ever had. Wow. Yeah. I really do. I think you should be- Best ideas I've had.

Number seven. Great countdown show. Number 11. With the salary cap, you should be rewarded when somebody's been on your team for a long time. Not just that you picked them, but that the guy panned out and there's some loyalty in there. Like how long has Jason went and been on the Cowboys? 12 years? Yeah, I think it's 12.

Yeah. Yeah. I think so. Right in there. So they should have an escalating bumper thing. Like after eight years, his salary only counts for 85% of the cap. Well, this is NBA, right? No, the NBA doesn't do it this way.

I'm saying the longer you're on a team, the less your salary actually counts against the cap. So Brady, you know, who's been on the Pats now for 16 years, maybe you make it that his salary only counts 50% of the cap. Every year it's another 5% off. And then, you know, you have guys who can retire with teams and there's a little more loyalty and there's veterans. Yeah, why isn't that NBA? Isn't that what they do? You get rewarded for resigning your own free agency? Yeah, but it counts against the cap.

Oh, I see. Yeah, you have advantages for the years you can add to the deal. But this is different. This would be like Jason Witten's been on the team 13 years. We're paying him $10 million. Five counts against the cap. Both sides should be rewarded for that. And if his 40 is under over 7.5 seconds, half seconds that should also count it's 40 yard dash quickly we're

gonna talk about indochino every man looks better in a suit every man including our cousin who started wearing suits for uh jimmy kim alive when uh when did he start wearing the suit with the tie the full it's funny because we were discussing this. He was behind the desk for most of a year. Did he have a suit on? He started without the tie. And then he did the stand up, but still without the tie. And then he wore the tie. Yeah.

Gave in. Well, why get one of those generic off the rack suits? Try Indochino. It's one of the largest made to measure menswear brands. Let them help you find great fitting, high quality suits and shirts at an incredible price. Here's one of the largest made-to-measure menswear brands. Let them help you find great fitting, high-quality suits and shirts at an incredible price. Here's how it works. Visit Indochino.com, I-N-D-O, Chino, dot com, or drop by one of their nine North American showrooms. Pick from hundreds of fabrics and patterns, choose customizations, submit your body measurements,

then kick back, relax, and get ready to step into the best, most stylish suit you've ever worn in just four weeks. This week, my listeners can get any premium Indochino suit for just $389. Go to Indochino.com as long as you enter BS at checkout. That's 50% off the regular price for a made-to-measure premium suit. Shipping is free. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Indochino.com. Promo code BS. I like it. All right.

New England at Buffalo. We made it to your game. So do you think the Bills aren't that good, or did they wilt in the Florida heat? No, I think you're right. Should we start looking at the Florida heat as a gambling factor? Because that happened in the Packers-Jags week one, too. Remember how hot it was?

That'd be smart if we started looking at it in November. Let's start looking at the weather more. In November. Yeah. Florida heat. 85-degree games. No, I know, but maybe they were looking ahead to this game. How much better would this be if Bills were 5-2 and the Pats were 6-1,

and they already have a win over you? They should be. They shouldn't ever lose to the Dolphins. I had the Pats by four in Buffalo. Might have gone low. No, I think you said four and a half, didn't you? No? Four and a half, whatever I said.

Yeah, I said four, and you did go low. It's six and a half. We both went low, so you win that one. Six and a half. It's the highest line of the week. Six and a half. It's bad. That run...

All that stuff is bad for the Patriots. I think if the Steelers had to do yesterday's game over again, they should have done more. Was D'Angelo Williams hurt? Yeah, he was hurt. That helped us yesterday. Yeah. Yeah, they showed him on the sidelines a couple times.

He figured out what Bell was going to do. By the way, Bell is amazing. Yeah, yeah. I mean, he was amazing in that game. I the way, Bell is amazing. Yeah, yeah. He was amazing in that game. I don't know what his final stats were, but every single play he got three more yards than he should have for the four quarters. He was incredible.

He's excellent. Now, is this if Belichick is to circle one game on the schedule, isn't this the one? Yeah, you don't. Well, also, we win the division if we win this game. I'm sure he prides himself on not getting swept by anyone in the division. Yeah. You bring all the horses for this one.

I think that's why there's an extra two points in there. The other thing with this game... They get through this one. It's smooth sailing on the road the rest of the year, except for at Denver Week 15. Toughest home game is Seattle on a Sunday night.

This is a scary team. It's a 14-2 if they win this game. I hate it. All right, Oakland-Tampa Bay. It's a good game. My two favorite teams. My two favorite preseason teams. I had the Raiders by two.

I think you almost have to judge the Raiders on the road like they're a home team. Sure. Undefeated at home. I had Raiders by two. I think you almost have to judge the Raiders on the road like they're a home team. Sure. Undefeated at home. I had Raiders by two also. It's a pick. Okay. Giving the Bucs a little credit here.

The Bucs were down 14 in that game. That's their problem. They beat San Francisco. I don't know. They're in the stretch of three home games now, Tampa Bay, Oakland, Atlanta, and Chicago. And then they're next to at KC, Seattle, and at San Diego. I don't know what to make of the Bucs. I have no opinion.

Yeah. I do think Jameis throws it up for grabs a little too much. Yeah, I don't know with Tampa. I think they're the—you don't know what you're getting with them. They're the knuckleball pitcher of the NFL. They're the Tim Wakefield. Because they're a good one game, doesn't mean they're going to be the next. Yeah, that's true.

They make it nine runs. The Tampa Wakefields. Can you believe how many running backs just can come in and do well? No, it's weird. Like Jack Quiz Rogers and Joe Ajay? Jay Ajay? Yeah, Jay. Joseph Ajay? Jay Ajay? Yeah, Jay. Joseph Ajay?

Jay Ajay? That's what we wanted to say. I can't even get the Reggie Cobb thing right. Kristen Michael? Casey at Indy. I know you can't tip your picks for Cousin Sal's shirt thing. This, to me, looks like one of the locks of the year. I don't know what the final line is.

You're saying Casey. I had the Chiefs one and a half. I just think the Chiefs are considerably better than the Colts. I said Chiefs two and a half, and it is Chiefs three. Yeah, I should have gone higher. We should probably bet that before it keeps going up. By the half point, down to two and a half? I continue to think the Colts are terrible.

I did too. Just awful. And I don't know. Yesterday they had this, you know, Malarkey is a bottom five coach, but they had this clear offensive decision. They were making where they're just like, we're just going to throw over the middle of tight ends and we're just going

to cram it down. And Jack Doyle, you've probably never heard of him. he's going to have a huge game. And it was clear what they were doing pretty early. And the Titans were like, oh, they threw the tight end again. Whoa, didn't see that one coming. They couldn't pressure Luck. No, they couldn't.

When you can't pressure Luck, you're not good. I'm not talking about the game show of the mid-'80s, pressure Luck. I said they couldn't pressure Luck. That's what I meant. He had like 24 sacks going into that game, and they had no pass rush at all. Yeah, exactly. What a terrible division. Meanwhile, a great division,

and I think the AFC West is the best division right now. Yeah. AFC West or NFC East? All your teams are over 500. Look at the AFC West. Broncos plus 175. Chiefs plus 175. Raiders plus two.

Raiders are in first place, and they're plus 250. And Chargers are 15 to one. I like that. Are they really? Yeah. God bless the Chargers. Fun. Oh, the San Diego is really mad about the piece we did last week.

They were? Really? Yeah, they were mad. It's so funny. What do you mean? Oh, the team is mad. Yeah. Well, the city.

No, the whole city. They were like, don't you know? You're not from here. Don't tell us we were really it's it's what they don't realize is what happened with the chargers is or what's going to happen the chargers is what happened the padres were like it's tax-free you guys won't have to pay for anything right but if the economy turns they can all of a sudden go hey our bad you're gonna have to pay for stuff and they can just flip it

like it's not a binding contract for the rest of eternity they can just be like hey we need the money so we're gonna let them waste their money then let them be mad

but what's funny is their biggest argument is hey it's a hotel tax it's the fans from the other teams that are gonna be paying it it's like so you're gonna build another stadium right

to get fans from other teams to come to the football games what's the point yeah we're gonna have 20,000 Bears fans here it's like, so you're going to build another stadium to get fans from other teams to come to the football games? What's the point? We're going to have 20,000 Bears fans here. It's like, great. Why are you building a stadium? Just go to L.A. Make the two-hour drive. I'm building around SeaWorld.

No one's going to SeaWorld anymore because build a stadium in there. That's true. You can make something good out of something bad. San Diego is such a beautiful place. Why do they care if they have a football stadium? That's where I'd want to settle down. It's 10 football games and four concerts a year. It's 14 dates.

I watched your bit. I saw. And they have a convention center already. Everyone's happy with the old convention center. I hate this stuff. I don't know how excited people need to get about a new stadium. It's unbelievable. I will say the Vegas one, which is also reprehensible.

Just that whole thing is just as bad but at least like having a football stadium in vegas makes a modicum of sense and also you know what you're getting involved with the raiders like yeah the raiders are ripping you off if they're involved in any deal so your history right but but vegas you're getting ripped off going to vegas too so that's it the thing with the football stadium in Vegas is it would lead to Super Bowls in Vegas which you could make a case like if

if you're in Las Vegas that's a shit load of money that's millions of people coming in and betting at the casinos like you have to do that for sure and also like

I don't love their convention set up in Vegas yeah I don't know it's like a kind of old kind of old and it's just you're walking forever.

I think it would be a lot of fun. Detroit at Houston. Here we go. Texas by four. You're going to get this. I went Houston by five. I thought this would be the end of Detroit's run. It's only three.

Houston by three. I like Detroit. Yeah, a lot of... I don't know. It's only three. Houston by three. I like Detroit. Yeah, a lot of, I don't know. Every year we see one or two teams that just every game comes down to the wire and there's no rational explanation for it and you just have to ride it. And this year it's the Lions and the Chargers. Yeah. Those are the two.

The games are going to go to the fourth quarter. So take the points. Houston on a short week. Yeah, maybe. All right, now two late afternoon games. Only two. San Diego at Denver. Broncos by five and a half.

All right, I hit this one exactly. Broncos by six. Let's see what happens tonight. I love when the Chargers play in Denver. I don't know what the stats are, but I just have this vague memory of every year being mad that I don't know what the stats are but it's just i just have this vague memory of every year being mad that i didn't bet on the chargers as the announcers talk about how much phil rivers loves playing in denver taking the points yeah phil rivers loves playing here

but they score points their offense is rarely stifled even when they're overmatched they have that they he has a lot of nice bailout passes. Phil Rivers over the middle, your favorite Melvin Gordon or whoever else. That guy. That guy can go straight to hell. Their offense is good. Could you believe Gates dropped the pass over the middle that he's caught 7,000 times? Yeah, but he would have gotten hammered anyway, right? I know.

First of all, I can't believe he's still in the league. And second of all, he's caught that pass since I was in college. You're right. Was that the worst? We're getting to this. We could do this now. Green Bay at Atlanta. Was that the worst call

of the year for a coach? Quinn? Fourth and one? 46-yard line? Where was it? Midfield? Well, all right. So this is what bothers me

about football advance metrics. So they lay out the case of like, oh, the winner expected to see in the in the defense and their defense isn't good but it's it's all fine i concede all those points my problem is with the plays they did i said same thing third and short one and fourth and short one and instead of spreading everyone out and doing three receivers and a tight end and whatever yeah you're running a goal line offense on third down and fourth down. It's idiotic.

Your biggest weapon is Julio Jones. You have to at least make it like there's a possibility you might throw to him, even if you don't. I mean, the way they did it, they all came crashing the line. They knew what was coming. Get three receivers, get your tight end, spread them out, get five D-backs on the field, and then run. You can get a yard in two tries if you do that.

Your goal line on the 40-yard line is – this is the same thing that Pat said. I remember I wrote a column like seven, eight years ago, and they went for it on fourth and two from around 28. Right. And it wasn't just the math of it. It was the fact that we ran a shitty play. The play call is always the thing that does them in. I'm the same way.

And now he's made this now Quinn has made this division interesting when they could have had a one-and-a-half game lead. What do you have? Green Bay at Atlanta. Falcons by three. You get it exactly. I went a little higher. I said three-and-a-half.

That seems fair. Three. Before we do the night games, how often do you get takeout? 12, 13 times a week. A lot. You have three kids? 12, 13 times a week. A lot. You have three kids. Yeah, a lot. Yeah.

Signed up with Blue Apron for less than $10 per meal. Blue Apron will deliver all the fresh ingredients you need for a delicious and healthy home-cooked meal for you and your brood. My kids love fresh ingredients. I know. Stop talking about the fresh ingredients already. Well, Blue Apron has the highest standard for ingredients, and they build a community of home chefs that has no rival. Some of the meals available in October.

Crispy chicken mayonnaise with warm Brussels sprouts, celery, and potato salad. Thai green curry chicken and squash with jasmine rice, cashews, and yu choy, whatever that is. Roasted pork steam buns with black garlic mayonnaise and spicy cabbage slaw and then november it's a whole new batch of meals again you get your first to get your first three meals for free with free shipping you just go to blueapron.com slash bs and they start showing up at your door nice and then your wife doesn't have to cook for everybody i know you don't cook i've never seen you cook in my life. Well, no, I don't cook.

And I think you're going to think this is a joke, but this could be why ratings are down 11% because everyone's on Blue Apron. Like, they're just enjoying their meals. Oh, yeah. I don't care what's on TV. The fresh ingredients. Well, Blue Apron is a much better way to cook.

They say it's a better way to cook. I say much better. There you go. All right, night games. All right, Philly at Dallas. Here we go. Wow. Wow say much better. There you go. Alright, night games. Alright, Philly at Dallas. Here we go. Wow! Love it!

Man! Cowboys 6. Yeah. Minus 6. I went way lower. I went minus 2. It's 4.5. Dallas 4.5. They put it in the Vegas zone. Sunday night. So, Vikings-Eagles.

I loved the Vikings all week. I just thought their defense was going to completely throttle the Eagles. And I actually was right. I didn't realize until— That was a weird game. Lots of plays in the end zone, both end zones, and it was still like 0-0. It didn't seem like the Vikings were just going to win. Like, first of all, interception, the guy gets tackled on the one-yard line,

and somehow they went backwards and Bradford threw the pick. But if the Vikings went up 7-0, I think the game's over. Right. I don't know if the Eagles would have scored. It's a strange game. And they went for two, the Eagles. I know the penalty put them closer, but what does 8-3 get? Like, I don't know.

It worked. It was very strange. But I didn't realize until this weekend how bad the Vikings offensive line issues were. And I got nervous about that pick. Because I was going to bet on the Vikings on Sunday. I got nervous. I backed off. I might have talked you out of it.

But you can only win so many games with a very, very average. And I think that's a generous depiction offense. And McKinnon went out early, I think. And then you have a gimpy Stefan Diggs. So, I don't know. Sam Bradford could be a good choice. Well, here's the issue.

Sam Bradford is not durable. Right. If he's going to take hits like he took in that Eagles game, that team's not going to make it. I think the Eagles had that game circled. Is that Sam Bradford calling? No, Sam was

furious. Yeah. That was a revenge. Yeah, but that's fine. So the Vikings we'd be like, oh, they're in. Put them in. I don't know. I don't know if Bradford's going to last behind that line. And when you look at what's

happened to the other skill guys, and then you look at their schedule. There's going to be some games where the defense doesn't score a touchdown. That's just how it is. So they go at Chicago, Detroit, at Washington, Arizona, at Detroit on Thursday, Dallas, at Jacksville, Indy, at Green Bay, Chicago. See, the best thing that happened to them was they got to play the AFC South. And they have the Bears twice.

And they have the Bears twice. And they have the Bears twice. So they should be able to get to 10 wins. But I don't know if they're getting 10 wins with a third-string quarterback. So they've got to keep Bradford in the field. So they're minus 160 to win the division. Would you take a chance with the Packers at plus 140? I would if I liked the Packers. Yeah, they're bad too.

You don't like where I'm going to go with this. What? Lions. What are the Lions' odds? 12-1. You're crazy. Well are the Lions odds? 12 to 1. You're crazy. Well, it would be a nice hedge against our no playoff bet. And then they'll win the wild card and we'll lose both.

I don't think the Vikings can win 10 games with a third string quarterback. I just don't think they're going to be able to score 14 points a game. He's a third string now, you think? No, if Bradford got hurt. Oh, I see. I see. If he got hurt. Yeah, well. I don't like his durability behind that line. It makes me nervous string now, you think? No, if Bradford got hurt. Oh, I see. I see. If he got hurt. Yeah, well.

I don't like his durability behind that line. It makes me nervous. Oh, and the Packers just so. Because it's a lost game. So I had the Vikings by seven in Chicago on Monday night. I had seven also, and it's plus six. The Bears are plus six. So who won this week?

So you won eight to three plus two ties. Ever since we moved to Mondays, I've been killing you. Yeah, but it's over. It's over. What do you mean it's over? You've got basketball now. You're going to be checked out. What are you talking about? Let me just read these lines down to you. Yeah. 3.5-3 2.5-3-1

6.5-pick 3-3-6-3 4.5-6 So we have no line over 8? No line over 6.5 New England Buffalo 6. six and a half. Minnesota, Chicago, six. And Denver, San Diego, six. We've never had them that low.

There's a wager for NBA, quickly. Go to NBA. Will the Warriors win the NBA championship? Minus 150. For yes. For yes. Yeah. Which means you can bet on all the other teams in the league at plus 120.

You can bet $1,000, not that you would, let's say $100, on 29 teams to win the NBA title. And if any of them win, you win $120. I just want to point that out. I would like to bet this, but I have a vote this year. Stop it. You're being a dick. You're being a dick. I am.

But let me ask you this. So they would have to suffer two major injuries to not make the conference. It's the playoffs. Anything can happen. No, but I am. But let me ask you this. So they would have to suffer two major injuries to not make the conference. It's the playoffs. Anything can happen. No, but I know. But maybe we wait on this bet because they're going to make the conference finals, right? And then at that point, they'll be minus two. I don't know.

I think the Cavs are going to. At some point, if I had to make a pick, I'd bet on LeBron again. Really? Yeah. This is where he separates them. Yeah. And you get everyone else as well for plus 120. It just seems like a crazy bet.

I don't get that. That is fun. That's like the Tiger Woods. You could have Tiger Woods versus the field in his heyday in the U.S. Open, and you get similar odds. What do you think, if you know the answer, tell me, what is a Cavs-Warriors finals? One to six?

No. I'll say, all right, so if the Golden State's minus 150. Two to one. Tate, what do you think a Cavs-Warriors finals, what do you think the odds are for that? I'd say 4-1. Tate doesn't teach Tate gambling. Tate's young.

He doesn't know any better. It's minus 175. How is that? Minus 175. That's not a real thing. If Golden State's minus 150 to win the whole thing, it's minus 175 for that exact matchup? The next best odds are Cavaliers Spurs at plus 600.

Celtics Warriors are 13-1. Cavs Clippers are 20-1. And everything else is higher than that. Right. That's interesting. Well, you did have us bet the Celtics at 30-1 to win the title. When I thought we were getting Al Horford or Kevin Durant. Hopefully Durant will land with the Celtics.

MVP odds have moved a little. I'm looking at these now. I'm not allowed to bet on this, but LeBron is now the favorite at 4-1. Westbrook's 5-1. Steph Curry's 5-1. James Harden's 8-1. Kawhi's 8-1. Boogie Cousins is 10-1.

Black man on Twitter, I'll never forgive him. Steve Kerr's choice, Damian Lillard, 20-1. Wow. You can't short these, but I would short Steph Curry. He's not going to get MVP-type credit anymore, right? I think you just cross him off. I would bet LeBron. LeBron.

I would. You like Harden, too. Points leaders, Harden at plus 250 and Westbrook at plus 250. Nobody else is going to be in the mix. So you basically could just take both of those. Right. And if you bet $1,000 on each, you lost one. Basically, you're getting plus 150 odds on them against everybody

else right i don't see anybody else competing with those two all right i like that the only one no i don't see it i don't see anyone else and you like brad stevens at 10 to 1 for coach of the year no i do have a coach of the year that i do yeah uh brad stevens at 10 to 1 well it's all regular season right so if they won how many games uh 53 man he'd have to they'd have to really overachieve they'd have to be like in the high 50s something like that the only other one I wanted to mention was the East. The Cavs are 3-1. The Celtics are 8-1.

Cavs are minus 3-1. Yeah, minus 300. Celts are 8-1. Toronto is 17-1. Atlanta is 30-1. The Bulls are 30-1. Wow. And the Pacers are 35-1 the Pacers odds are out of whack

I'm not saying they're going to win the Eastern Conference I'm just pointing out that those odds are not correct what about Knicks at 40-1 that could be fun for a minute it could be fun if you like to set money on fire you're just betting on a LeBron injury, right? At that point, right?

Yeah, but the thing is, the NBA of any sport has injuries that swing to finals year after year. It happens over and over again. So anytime this is too obvious, I'm always trying to think like, you know, Toronto has trade possibilities too. They have like, like that's a Boogie Cousins team, potentially. You know, that's a team that could make a move to upgrade majorly. Weird, though. It's the least exciting before-the-season gambling universe I've ever looked at. It's basically just, like, Cavs or Warriors and everyone else.

That's one of those, too. Yeah. Let me ask you this real quick oh okay i was gonna i was gonna ask you about what it turns out the most horrific thing on tv last night was not that arizona seattle game walking dead yeah did you watch i did i haven't watched for two years and i i dvr'd it and i fast forwarded through to see who died why why would you what did why let's do world series then we'll end with walking down just in case people haven't seen yet so world series the cubs are minus 200 oh it is two to one wow they're officially two to one and then can you bet oh exact total games they have total games

i don't see the total games i think this is a no win for baseball fans or fans in general like i think you go to if you're a non-cubs or non-indians fan you go straight to hell if you're rooting against the cubs you go to hell if you're not rooting against well the indians have a better case because they won the nba title to be like yeah they got at least they had the calves i know if you're rooting against the Cubs. You go to hell if you're not rooting against... Well, the Indians have a better case because they won the NBA title to be like, at least they had the Cavs. I know. I hate to tell you,

but a lot of people don't care about basketball. What? No, they're a baseball fan. They're Indians fans who aren't LeBron James fans. They've been waiting forever. I couldn't believe the 1945 when I looked up that Donald Trump was born in 1946. Right.

And he's lived his whole life since the last time the Cubs made the World Series. Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's always like, oh, they haven't won since 1945. But then when you think about how old's your dad? He's 75. Yeah, same thing. 1941.

When you think about how long that is, it's 75 yeah same thing 1941 it's just like when you think about how long that is it's insane it is a long time and uh it just i told you this when we're walking over here i don't watch national league until october and then i watch everything and i just think the cubs are amazing they do seem like they have it so good but and i and we were also discussing the indians there shouldn't be home field advantage in baseball, but the Indians seize on it. They really do. Before you know it, you're down 2-0 against them

because against your Red Sox, the Blue Jays, their bats were hot. They shut them down. The Andrew Miller-Trump card is the big one. I think you can hit their closer, though. Yeah. I felt like we could score on him. We never totally got through on him, but I feel like we can get him. The thing with the Cubs, and this happened with the Red Sox too,

and it was definitely one of the reasons we won in 04, we had a lot of people that weren't from here on the team and then a lot of crazy people like Damon and Millar. But if you're Orlando Cabrera or David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez, like, do you give two shits that some team that played in Massachusetts hasn't won the World Series since 1918? And it's the same thing with this Cubs team. They have a bunch of young guys.

They have this mix of people that are American and people that weren't born from here. And it's like, what does Javier Baez care about some curse? But that's better right that's better for the cubs yeah they're more focused on actually playing the game like in 86 when the red sox lost to the mets like we had our catcher was rich gedman he's from worcester yeah this guy like he's his whole life he'd been hearing about the red sox and that you know he had bob stanley and all these guys who were aware of what was going on and And then you go to 04 and it's like Johnny Damon doesn't know where he is.

Exactly. You know, that moment. Pedro's bringing a little person around. Ortiz and Manny. Like, none of these guys bounced off him. Yeah. And it feels like the Cubs remind me of that. I don't think they're going to feel the pressure.

Let me ask you this. I say, I know they've approached him and he doesn't want anything to do with it. I say you get Bartman to those home games no matter what get him there I think do what it takes we did that big 30 for him

I know we tried to get him and I really think like he's so traumatized I think he loved the Cubs yeah the only way I could

sit him in the upper deck but have him wave to the crowd where we can't cause him the problem it would be like if you screwed up the only Cowboys Super Bowl

they ever would have won. Right. You just wouldn't – you'd be – think how traumatized you'd be. They have to make it right, though. I think they have to win, and then he'll come back. You think so? You know, nobody – they kind of alluded to this, and the announcers ran from it because I think Joe Buck –

Joe Buck was great on Saturday night. I think he realized that the Cubs fans don't want to hear about the old stuff. He learned his lesson from 04. By the way, it's tough to call a potential double play ball. I know. Right? Out! Out!

Could be safe at first. It could be a lot. You don't want to miss fire on it. It was one of the best ones. But in that ninth inning, they had a foul ball into the Bartman seats. Right. Yeah, I saw it. And I've been waiting the whole game for the moment when the cubs fans were gonna their sphincters were gonna tighten

there's no way they didn't tighten on that it was like the exact same spot and i'm watching i'm like oh no that's a bad sign like i just you know and then all of a sudden it was over they did mention it though right buck they alluded to it and then they kind of ran for the like smoltz was like oh no that's not a good place for that ball to be hit and then they kind of ran for it. Smoltz was like, oh, no, that's not a good place for that ball to be hit. And then they just kind of ran away. But that was so weird that that happened. Five other guys went for that ball. It's so bad.

It was so weird that they hit the ball to that spot, though. But do you think the Cubs Saturday night, you think Chicago? Jacko thought that was the drunkest night any city's ever had. Oh, interesting. Yeah. Most number, highest number of drunk people per residence it didn't seem like they wanted to go home anytime soon it was like a happy place yeah you've been to chicago a few times right yeah yeah it's a happy nice place everybody's

so pleasant great for them everybody's got three drinks in them so i like the cubs all right it feels like destiny i would go with the Tribe. You like it in the odds? Plus 170, I think they win the first two, and Cubs bats go a little cold like they did against the Mets third week in October last year. I think the starters that the Indians have, unless Kluber can pitch three times,

he'd have to go one, four, and seven, right? I just don't see it. I don't think Danny Salazar can just come back from the injured list and immediately throw six innings. You can't pitch Miller all the time. The thing that's going to kill them is that three, four, five. They're not going to be able to pitch Miller in all those games. Yeah, that's true.

So, unless you just throw one out, I don't know. All right. It's interesting. What do you want to plug? Walking Dead? No Walking Dead talk? Forget it. Oh, yeah, yeah, Walking Dead.

Doesn't matter. So, yeah, I hadn't watched for two years. I told you I broke up with The Walking Dead. Yeah, I know. It was just too unhappy. Yeah. And then I was reminded why I broke up when uh when i watched the ending and i watched two people brutally beaten to death with a barbed wire baseball it was the toughest hour of television

ever i mean it made it made the red wedding look like uh peppa pig or something right it was ridiculous like my wife grabbed me i was like oh my god what's going on here like we had to look away for a couple times. And you hadn't watched in two years, so you're not emotionally invested in these characters. But it was, so how did you watch it? You were. I just wanted to see who died. I knew all the characters.

I knew the guy, the bearded guy. What's his name? The guy who got, the first guy who got beaten up. The hobo, yeah. That guy. So that's what an A. Very surprised they took out the Asianian guy did not see that one coming but i think they just wanted to show everyone else in the cast like look don't you guys ever band together and uh try to get like a salary raise or anything because we will beat all

of you to death but it was so perfectly done because so before they show who was killed that first of all harry morgan he, he's the best bad guy ever. Good actor. Never really had his breakout role. I like that guy. So intense. But then, so, Rick is going through the flashbacks of who might have died. Yeah.

And you see Glenn first, the Asian guy. And you're like, oh, he died. But then they do it for everybody. Yeah. And then they kill the hillbilly. Like, okay, Glenn is safe. And then, sorry if I'm spoiling something they kill glenn's like oh my god wow they really they brought it all back it was so well done so well done i think uh that show is too grim yeah it's just a tough it's just tough it's never gonna end apparently glenn died in the comic

book that way, I read. Yeah, I think so. But I don't know about the other guy. I think my friend Scott has a funny thing about the first episode of Walking Dead every year is great. The last episode is great. And then everything in the middle is like, I'm going to go for it. I'm going to go get some food. It's like, I'm coming with you.

You can't come with me. I am coming with you. Okay, fine. That's it. Then you go to a grocery store. Every episode, yeah. Oh, my God. No, no, don't go in that door. Oh, my God. There are zombies there. come with me i am coming with you okay fine that's it then you go to a grocery store episode yeah oh my god oh no don't go in that door oh my god there are zombies there maybe she shouldn't have come with you how did uh how did rick's son lose his eye i thought he was accidentally shot

right that was years ago right if rick's son gets killed i'll come back oh but the car arm and everything you want him dead i know the thing about how carl was into necrophilia that's just how carl's like he's had such a dark life yeah he's going through puberty yeah during this like he's got nowhere to pleasure himself or there's no chance for women he's just gone off the deep end with that's good zombies i think that's how the comic books do it. Yeah. Oh, do your stuff. Cousin Sal's short thing, checking on Friday. Seven and two over

my last three weeks. Nice. It was two and one last week. Still up around $1,400. Jimmy Kimmel Live, Barack Obama on tonight. Whoa, the president. Yes. The POTUS. It's going to take me two hours to get to work from here. Holy mackerel. But yeah, it's fun. Gordon Ramsey, Felicity Jones, Jimmy World, Andrew Garfield later in the week.

And you can get me on Twitter at TheCousinSal or you don't have to, whatever. Whatever you want to do. We have a Keeping It 1600 live show on Thursday, October 26th in Los Angeles. It's sold out. It's presented by SeatGeek. But thanks to Stitcher, you're in luck, listeners. On Friday, October 28th, you can listen to that live show exclusively on Stitcher,

completely free for the first 24 hours. It's up. And we'd also like to thank Truck Club. Remember, they find amazing clothes that fit you perfectly, handpicked by your own personal stylist. Not a subscription service. Order clothes whenever you like

from your own personal stylist. Take five days to try Order clothes whenever you like from your own personal stylist. Take five days to try everything on. Returns are always free. Get started today. trunkclub.com slash BS. Your personal stylist is waiting for you. Don't forget about any given Wednesday. 10 p.m. Wednesday night,

we have Wayne Gretzky, Bill Burr, and Larry Wilmore. Don't forget to check out, yeah, it's a good one. Don't forget to check out theringer.com and our ongoing Mammoth NBA preview. Guess who's writing tomorrow for The Ringer? Writing? Me.

You are? I wrote a column. Hold on a second. I came out of retirement. Hold on. Are you sure you want to do this? Yeah, I did. I wrote it.

It's handed in there. Really? Yeah. You don't have to do this. I wrote an NBA column. Nice. Yeah. I'm back, baby.

Don't forget about our other eight podcast feeds on The Ringer Network, including The Ringer NBA Show, which is now going to become very valuable during this awesome nba season that's it you're going to beat me in the guest lines the rest of the year i agree i just had to buy my time now it's mine you're excited for the warriors deep down it'll be fun but it has to be something like last year where they could set a record otherwise it's going to be boring isn't it they might have a game where they hit like 45 threes there might be some insane game they might go like 45 from 60 from three in a game like that i think it'll be more stuff like that i think their game should be one quarters just so a team has has a chance to maybe win yeah we won 22 19 well that's where you get like a point that's it yeah i do think they have a chance To have a 100.5 too

Wow Would be the other thing Cause it's just math Like if they hit 23s and a half Get some free throws Yeah Like you could very easily Climb in in the 90s

And then if they started going for it With a minute left Alright Cuss Good job by you Good job by you boys Anytime y'all wanna see me again Rewind this track right here

Close your eyes And picture me rolling Y'all want to see me again? Rewind this track right here. Close your eyes. Pitching me rolling.