The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Chargers take down the Broncos, Herbert Shines, Woody Johnson is at it again

Episode Date: December 20, 2024

John opens the podcast reacting to the Chargers taking down the Broncos in an exciting Thursday Night Game. John talks about how impressive Justin Herbert is and how people seem to always forget that Herbert is in the group of the best QB's in the NFL. He also talks about how well Denver looked despite losing the game. Later, John dives into the latest with Woody Johnson and how him making decisions based on Madden Ratings isn't as crazy as you might think. Lastly, the College Football Playoff is here and John Middlekauff is joined by ⁠ The Action Network sports betting expert, Stuckey, to share their best bets for the CFP and Week 16 in the NFL. The fellas start the show giving their picks for the first round of the CFP: Indiana-Notre Dame, SMU-Penn State, Clemson-Texas, and Tennessee-Ohio State. Finally, the guys give their NFL Week 16 bets: Texans-Chiefs, Steelers-Ravens, 49ers-Dolphins, and Rams-Jets. 6:11 - Thursday Night Football Reaction 32:48 - Woody Johnson and the Madden ratings 41:31 - Fugazi Friday 49:31 - Stuckey Interview Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's a good day to be alive here, Jim Harbaugh, because he just won his ninth game, and now he's got the Patriots and the Raiders to finish out the season. Very good chance that Chargers will win 11 games. Obviously, they're headed to the playoffs. Same, I think, with the Broncos as well. So tonight was a good little playoff teaser. We will dive into the game.

Harbaugh, Justin Herbert, Sean Payton, Bo Nix. Just a really, just an old school knockdown, dragout. Ladd Mokke making some plays. Herbert making some throws. Bo Nix made a lot of plays in the first half quite a little in the second half. But that Denver Bronco defense gave us some big plays for the first time in a while. And we obviously got to dive into the Woody Johnson story of picking players. based on Madden.

I think it sounds a lot crazier. I think we'd all be surprised that this type stuff's happening in some of these teams. I just would imagine it happens more than we realize. And then it's obviously it's Fugazi Friday.

The game plan, we're going to have podcasts I think all weekend because of these college football playoff games. So I'll have something tomorrow reacting to Notre Dame as well. We'll have a big mailbag.

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Last-minute tickets. Lowest prices guaranteed. You know, it's funny. I mean, for a large portion of that game, it felt like Denver was going to win. And I had the television muted right around halftime when it felt like, you know, it was just going to go to half with them being down 21 to nothing. And then I look up and I see that. that kicking play and I had to text people like what the hell just happened it's the first time it's

happened or been converted since 1976 it's a hundred year old rule but then even down the stretch of the game harbaugh finds a way to win and justin herbert who of all the good players in the league feels like he gets like the kirk cousins treatment right brock purdy dac prescott it's like guys he's in the group with Mahomes, Alan, Lamar, and Joe Burrow. Like, that's the crew that NFL people talk about him. But there are a couple arguments that, like, I just don't waste. I don't have the energy anymore to even argue with other people. Now, after Jim Harbaugh won the Super Bowl, or not the Super Bowl,

but the NCAA championship last year, like he did get the monkey off his back that he could win the big game. But I would say for a long period of time, he was a very polarizing individual. It's like, how good is he? I don't know really freaking good. Now, in this situation, a lot like the 49er situation, which he took over, a lot like the Michigan situation. Now, I would say Brady Hoke, you know, I don't consider the guy a phony or a fraud. I mean, Mike Singletary got run out of an awful high school program like five years ago.

And Brandon Staley is one of the most fraudulent individuals I have ever seen in the history of humanity. He would be up there with a lot of politicians and scam artists. and scam artists. You know, I was listening to my guy, Tim Kawakami's podcast today about the 49ers, and he expects Brandon Staley to not be on the staff next year. Obviously, you talk about toxicity. It's like, get that guy away from us. Bring that guy in, you lose.

They won five games last year. This franchise was a joke. I mean, an absolute train wreck. And they had been trending in this weird direction of not knowing what they were doing and Brandon Staley was at the helm. And you remove him and you bring Jim Horacellie. Harbaugh in. The identity was set from the jump. It's why I'm kicking myself. I told everybody, I'm betting on this team to make the playoffs. I'm betting on this team to make the playoffs.

Everyone's like, they don't have enough skill guys. Have you guys watched Jim Harbaugh, coach football? He's one of the rare guys that doesn't really need wide receivers to win a lot of games. I don't know how he does it, but he doesn't. And this year, but it goes back to March and it goes back to April when he had four guys that made a lot of money. And everything in vogue is wide receivers, wide receivers. And listen, a lot of like tough-minded old school coaches invest in wide receivers. Kyle Shanahan drafts them all the time and pays them. It's like, what are you doing?

And you got Jim Harbaugh's like, you know what, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, see you later. Joey Khalil, I want you to stay with me because I care the most about the trenches. And then he has a first round pick and everyone's like, what's Jim Harbaugh going to do? He got rid of these wide receivers. Is he going to draft one of these sweet guys to go with Jim Herbert? Justin Herbert, and he laughed in their face. And he took an offensive lineman who is dominant.

I mean, is awesome. Who looks like the next Lane Johnson. And instead of taking the receiver high, what does he do? He gets this little guy in the second round, who just is going to end up with like 90 catches. And looks like some version of West Walker meets Julian Edelman. And now he has a core of young guys a starting tackle, he already had another tackle,

so he's got two tackles and a stud slot receiver to go with his star quarterback. And this team is built with his identity. And the only reason they've been struggling because it turns out that J.K. Dobbins is like Walter Payton. And they removed him and they haven't been able to run the ball. I thought Gus Edwards is a solid player, but up until that run tonight, he is,

like they have really, really been struggling to run the ball. Before that final drive, that solidified the game and put the nail in the coffin, I looked, if you remove Justin Herbert, they had two guys that combined for like barely 50 yards. They have no running game. I saw on Twitter up until that finer, or maybe it was like with two drives left,

Herbert was like 10 of 10 on play action pass attempts, which is crazy because they had no running game. It just shows you that like, I don't know, you're just playing Jim Harbaugh. You just think he's going to run the ball no matter what. But then he finally gets a big run, which if Jim Harbaugh, can run the ball with this level of a quarterback who is by far the best quarterback he's had

since I don't know, a guy named Andrew Luck, he's going to win and he's going to win a lot. Now he has nine wins. His next two games are the Patriots who fucking suck and the Raiders who might be worse. So there's a decent chance in his first year as the head coach taking over a franchise that had five wins, taking over a franchise that had just complete negative aura all around him, despite drafts, well, having a ton of stud players for most of my adult life. Hell, they told a stat tonight, which was crazy. The Denver Broncos have both these two teams started in like the 60s, right?

And both of them have been playing for whatever that is, 75 years. The Denver Broncos have been to eight Super Bowls. Obviously, they lost a lot of them, but they've been to eight. The Chargers have been to one, which most people would say was pretty lucky for them even to get there. In 1994, technically it was like January of 95. And in that game, they were an 18-point underdog. They've been to one Super Bowl. They've never won one.

In the one game they attended, they were an 18-point underdog. Now, that 904-90s team is one of the great teams of all time. But still, can you imagine a Super Bowl in like the day and age we're living in that the spread was 18 points? I feel like that would be one of the biggest stories in the history of America. Because it wouldn't just be like, yeah, the quarterback. injured, be like, quarterback's out. You know, the head coach got mono.

The offensive coordinator's got a kidney stone. He's gone. The defensive coordinator. His wife left him. He had a mental breakdown. How was that even possible? And it just, that's the franchise he took over. And immediately they're good.

And immediately they're in the playoffs. Like, how have we argued about this individual for so long? Same thing with Justin Herbert. Like football, there's a lot of context that goes into the sport. right? It's by far the most confusing of all the major team sports. It's by far the sport that most fans know very little about the actual nuances of the game because it is so complicated. We're so fascinated when you hear like Matt Ryan or Drew Breeze or whoever like,

yeah, this was our play call. And they list off like 17 words. You're like, how do you even function on this? And anyone that's played at any level, you know, JV, high school, let alone college of the pro, knows the factors that go in. The intangible stuff, mental toughness, just you have to have football IQ to understand what's going on. You've got to have physical ability.

You've got to be physically strong. You've got to have cardio. Like, you've got to have the total package. And we have been arguing it feels like Justin Herbert for a long time. I mean, tonight they're rolling out of team. And rightfully so, because they kind of had to, they had to flip the script and they had to choose the two guys. And they chose the right two guys.

They let Keenan. So their wide receiver core is. Ladd McConkey, a former first-round pick, Quentin Johnson, who actually has eight touchdowns, and last week was like tied for fourth most in the NFL. He literally can't catch the ball. He has eight touchdowns, he can't catch the ball. He plays wide receiver. If you play DB and you're a good DB and you can't catch, like whatever. If you play linebacker and you can't catch, whatever, he literally plays wide receiver and can't catch. He has eight touchdowns.

Their running backs right now are Gus Edwards and some dude with the last name Vidal. I mean, I know little to nothing about him. He had five carries for 24 yards. Hayden Hertz finally came back. They have this other guy named Stone Smart, who actually is pretty interesting, number 84. They're throwing to Joshua Palmer, who got six targets tonight.

Now, I like McConkey, and he is going to be a core player for them when they're competing for Super Bowls in like two years. But the rest of these cats, they ain't going to be around. So that's what Herbert's dealing with. I mean, I love Joe Burrell. Like everybody else,

he's got Jamar Chase. He's one of the most talented players I've ever seen. His second wide receiver is T. Higgins. Obviously, Mahomes, for a large portion of his career, has had Tyreek and Kelsey. You remove those. I mean, look what he's got going on right now. Lamar, obviously, has always had talent,

running backs around him and skill guys, and obviously he's just a runner. But, like, what are we arguing? Like, when we're just watching this guy play? There's nothing he can't do. He's like the light version. You know, if he's Kor's original or Budweiser is Josh Allen. he's like Bud Light or Coors Light.

Like that's Herbert. He runs really fast. He is massive. He, like, his ability to throw the ball at every level with ease. Obviously his arm. I mean, he has some, in his short career, some of the great passes down the field we've ever seen, him and Josh Allen.

His accuracy on out routes, on just like basic intermediate routes is fantastic. And then he also has touch. Like he's not just only throwing. in 100 miles an hour. He literally is the total package. Super high character guy. Everyone likes them. It's not just a franchise quarterback. That's a high level max franchise quarterback. We talk about differentiating. He's with the crop of the elites. The other guys we argue, and the only reason we argue with him is because one guy went to Andy Reed, another guy went to

John Harbaugh and the Ravens. Josh Allen, just perfect timing, went to two guys that really know what they're doing. And Joe Burrow is just a rare talent that can overcome dysfunction. But this guy went to the fucking Chargers. The Chargers. One Super Bowl. In 75 years. And they were an 18-point underdog. And if it wasn't for Dean Span, I was

finally going, yeah, I'll spend some of this unlimited money we have. His career might have been completely wasted. And he's leading a team. I mean, I think they're going to end up with 11 wins. And their leading receiver is a slot little white guy from Georgia, who's a rookie.

They have no outside threat. For the majority of the season, they're starting running back, is at home injured. So it's just like, these arguments are done. They're over. Now, if you want to argue,

like, can he ever win a Super Bowl? Can he be these guys? Okay. But this argument, is he a good player? Or this guy's really overrated? It's just like, you don't know fucking anything.

You know nothing. You might as well just stop talking about football. The hardball argument ended a couple years ago, but the Herbert has, and the Harba argument, even while it was going on, was mind-numbing. It's like, how are there this many dumb people in society? Then all you have to do is just look on the internet and you realize there are a lot of those around here. But the Herbert arguments has been going strong. It's like, what are we talking about at this point? Now, can this team make a legit run? You know, their defense has got to play a little better. They were getting

gashed in the first half. Now, they were better in the second half. And they definitely you know, if Bose is healthy to go along with Khalil Mack who's playing his ass off, Derwin James is playing his ass off. They got some other young defensive backs. They got to pre-rotating in as a backup outside pass rusher. So like, yeah, I think both

these two teams have a formula that in the first round as potentially the six and seven seed, now we'll see what happens to the Ravens over the next four or five days. But I think if you were a betting man right now, you'd say probably the Ravens or the Steelers end up as the five-seat in these teams

and some order end up as the six and seven, they're going to be a problem because they can play defense. They have, you know, obviously, Sean Peyton and Bo Nix, who will dive into in a second, you know, have functional quarterback play. They're not explosive offenses,

but they're mentally tough teams, they're physically tough teams. They're one knock. I mean, Denver's a better running team than the Chargers, but it's not that much better. I mean, looking tonight, Their leading rusher was the rookie from Notre Dame had basically 50 yards.

Giovante Williams, who I thought was going to be a star after he heard his knee has never quite been the same. Obviously, Beau and Herbert can run. I mean, they combine today for over 50 yards on. Herbert ran it more than Knicks, but I mean, both of them are threats to move. But both these two teams are missing star running backs. And maybe the rookie from Notre Dame can become that. Obviously, the Chargers. I mean, big picture, they are.

Like, they're not going to draft a wide receiver high. So, like, in the first round, like, who are they going to take? Well, if they get bounced in the first round of the playoffs, wouldn't shock me if they drafted the kid from Penn State, number 44, warned. Like, they had, or just another defensive player. Like, they will draft skill guys later. And luckily, this draft is loaded with running backs. I mean, there are probably 10 guys that are going to go in the first three rounds.

So I would imagine that Jim Harbaugh, Joe Ortiz, and the Chargers are going to invest into one of those guys. Because if you put one of those guys with McConkey and either a stud tight end or a wide receiver, this offense is going to be real because they already got two bookend tackles who are big time. So it's like, and we know that Harbaugh is good at finding guards and centers. So this offense is going to be fine. And no matter where he's gone, their defense is always good. So the Chargers, what a freaking season.

Again, five wins last year, five wins. With one of the biggest scam artists in the history of football leading him, Brandon Staley and to Denver. I was impressed. I really was. And I know you're up 21 to 10 late in the first half. And then that situation happens at the end of the half that gives them some free points on the free kick to make it,

it was just, yeah, 2113. And then obviously they came storming back. But listen, beside that big run by Edwards, I think this defense, I mean, I've been talking about Denver all year long, about their secondary. I'm like, who are these guys? The one rookie that picked off Herbert. Obviously, they have arguably the best corner in the NFL. To me, it's between him or Stingley. I mean, they're just all around stud players. But they mentioned a time on the broadcast.

They are one of the most dominant pass rushing teams in the NFL. All their defensive linemen can play. There's a physicality and a speed in which their defense plays with. Like, that shit translates. Honestly, the one downfall, both these two teams, is not having a better running attack to win a road playoff game. Because I do think their defense is when they play well, especially Denver's. They can really cover you and they can really get after the passer.

And they play well against the run. Like, that's going to work. Denver's defense is real. And one thing, and listen, this happens during the draft, and I'm guilty of this, is there's a hype machine. And once it starts, there's no slowing it. down. There's also like a negative narrative machine. And this used to exist a lot, I think, when like legacy media had a lot more pull now that it's dying. You know, we're so splintered on the way

we think about things. But when it comes to the draft, like it's, we're talking every single humans talking about the main guys at the top of the draft. So you hear a million different opinions on like one or two things, on an individual guy. And I would say out of all the top guys, Bo Nix had the least amount of supporters. And as someone that loves West Coast football and watched them a lot at Oregon, it's hard. And I remember being in the NFL,

like hearing people talk, like you've got to learn to kind of put your blinders on to not listen to that stuff because it can't impact you. Even if you know more, you're more convicted in your belief. Like, you just start listening to stuff and seeing stuff on television,

it can start swaying your belief. It's like, how good is this guy? This guy's over... But then once Sean Payton just loves him, and everyone's like, well, Sean Payton's just this arrogant guy, he's going to tell you that, he thinks he invented football.

And then we're in the middle of December and you're watching him going, he's 6'2, he's 220 pounds. His ability on the move is fantastic. He has a long way to go in the pocket, but he still makes a lot of good pocket throws. His arm strength is much better than the way he was discussed

of just being this like spread offense, quick screen guy. Now there was a deep ball of the night that thank God they didn't call pass interference with which was a bad throw. He kind of did what the Derek Carr throw I used to call it like this long lollipop. It's like the guy's open.

You don't need to throw like a Brett Farr of laser but just put a little air under it and just get it out there. Do not throw it basically at the roof. But their ability to make, you know, obviously get the ball out of his hands fast. He's really, really good at that. Anything behind the line of scrimmage and they got, you know, Sutton's a big play guy, and Mims, you just get the ball in his hands.

He's a fantastic player in space. I think Bo Nix is really impressive. I've been blown away this year. And I think both these two guys, I've said it forever. The thing we don't talk about at that position, it's always like, how tall is he? How strong is his arm? How many touchdowns is he throws? How about the intangible stuff?

And I don't mean the intangible leadership stuff, which clearly both these guys are team captain. I'm talking about toughness. It feels like the entire season, Herbert's been limping around out there. No one disputes Bo Nick's metal toughness. I mean, the dude went through it at Auburn after going to becoming royalty there and failing and then going to Oregon resurrecting his career and then going to play for this guy who clearly is not easy to play for as an offensive player, let alone a rookie quarterback. And I think he's been fantastic.

I thought tonight, for the most part, he was awesome. I mean, there was one late drive when they were down 27, 24. I wrote down like, what can Bo Nix do on this drive? And they got the ball relatively close to midfield. On the first play of the drive, it's not his fault. The offensive line fucks up and he gets sacked with Eads because a guy comes right up the middle. Or maybe that was Bud Dupre's sack. They don't block it correctly.

You know, it was like a delayed, tight end. He was going to the route. He blocks him originally and it looked like Bowles was supposed to get over. He doesn't. And he just goes right to butt. low nicks. All of a sudden, you're second and 20,

you got no shot. And honestly, that was kind of the game. Then they ended up punning. And then the next drive is when Charger busted off that big run and basically put the nail in the coffin. But if I was a Bronco fan,

I would be thrilled. Because the physical skills of this guy, I was texting Colin and I honestly, he has a lot of purty qualities, but he's a little bigger and stronger. And, I mean, there's a reason he went 12th in the draft. It's just weird because in his draft,

he was the last quarterback taken, right, of any of the guys that matter. And he wasn't only the last quarterback of the group. He was the guy with the least amount of positive, optimistic support behind him. There weren't many believers. You know, most people did not think the Chargers were going to be a playoff team. I would say all people didn't think the Denver Broncos were going to be a playoff team. And I'd probably fall into that category. I underestimate their defense.

I mean, I had no clue their defense was going to be this. good. But offensively, like, Mims is probably a little better than I thought. And I've watched them since Oklahoma. They are a little bit like this offseason. They're going to need to find kind of their running back to lean on if they can. And yeah, I mean, what a year for these two guys. And we've been talking about it kind of, you know, beating a dead horse here.

But this is why you pay coaches $15, $20 million when they deserve it. This is why you get big time guys in to run your franchise. You can take swings on coordinators all you want. Like a first-round draft pick, it's probably a flip-able coin. Maybe he'll be your next coach for 10 years. Stats would show he probably won't get a second contract for you. When Jim Harbaugh is available, when Sean Payton's available, you pay him a premium and it basically guarantees you not just relevancy, but the playoffs.

And think how many shitty teams right now are in the NFL that would die to be in the playoffs. And that's not going to be an issue for the Broncos or the Chargers. And listen, this is where Sean Payton won because Russell Wilson did not fit what he did. And when everything happened last year and they benched them and then obviously they cut them and they ate the money, I mean, it was pretty bold.

It was pretty bold. But now you got nine wins. You win one more, you're 10, you're in the playoffs. It's like it was all worth it. And you got your rookie quarterback that you can build a round that fits your skill set of what you were looking for. Because he always looked for this guy.

He wanted Taysam Hill to be this guy. but Taysam Hill didn't pass like this. But he clearly wanted to transition from Drew Brees to more of that mobile guy. I remember early in this game, I was taking notes. I'm like, anytime they get Bo Nicks moving, stuff happens. Just get them moving immediately. Quick rollout. Get him to scramble to his left.

Any sort of play action. Obviously, he's a really good athlete, but he's very confident thrower on the run. To me, where I'm less confident on him is when he's just sitting in the pocket and kind of having to pick you. you apart. That's not really his game right now. Or Herbert is much more confident. It's also, you know, Knicks is 6-2. Herbert's like 6-6. Way easier for him to see his crappy receivers attempt to get open.

Really enjoyed that game tonight. Really did. It's the most wonderful time of year for getting in on all the hoops, football, and hockey action at the Draft King Sportsbook. It's the season of giving. And we're being gifted college football and basketball. Pro football and basketball and pro hockey too, almost 24-7.

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One single use boost per customer that only applies to winnings. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos for additional terms and responsible gaming resources. Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called. Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember.

I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing. a bit for the podcast for people could call in and say, Hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential

title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman helped make you funny.

This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Joe Donno.

You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope I'm a Hypocrite. I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian.

I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One Ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know.

Listen to Help from Hypocrat as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Diana Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a person.

I'm in a menopausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with the Adamia Riva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that?

I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 4. How high can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard. Well, that's lighting.

They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears or tears of laughter, and dive into it unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of My Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game.

We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night bases on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying.

He running up the court licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A couple more things on this Fugazi Friday. We got to dive into Woody Johnson. And, you know, Bill Simmons used to have this thing back of the day when he wrote for ESPN called the Tyson Zone. And it was essentially describing a situation in Mike Tyson, for example, who was, you could not tell a story about Mike Tyson.

You know, this was like 20 years ago. that could be crazy enough that someone wouldn't believe it. Like you could be like, this is in the heyday of Mike Tyson just off the wall behavior. Like Mike Tyson wrestled a cow, killed it and just ate the raw meat and ate 90% of the cow.

He'd be like, yeah, that probably happened. Right. You could say Mike Tyson jumped off a 10-story building and got right up and walked away and wasn't even phased. There's no story you could tell about Mike Tyson that you wouldn't believe. I think the Jets have entered that category. There is no story that can come out about Woody Johnson

that people won't believe. And I've said this before. There's a nugget that's continuing in this about Joe Douglas firing the assistant GM Rex Hogan and he was forced by Woody Johnson. I had been told by multiple people that's not true. That Joe Douglas wanted to fire him. that Joe Douglas and him had a bad, you know, some sort of splintering of a relationship.

Now, maybe it's true that Woody Johnson didn't allow him to replace the position, but I think sometimes, so I'm always hesitant when these stories come out like this one, because you're like, how much is this true? But it was so egregious, even if some of it, you know, I want to believe it all, that this guy's son is telling him two signs, guys or not to sign guys or that we shouldn't trade for this guy or we should trade for this guy based on his Madden rating. That is incredible. I can't even tell you how much that made me smile reading that part of the story about Elijah Moore or it was Jerry Judy's whether it was

short area quickness or Joe Simpson the guards awareness based on Madden ratings on Woody's son. But I've been saying this for a while. that this sounds absolutely insane. And I think there was a quote in there from Joe Douglas or someone close to Joe Douglas saying that I basically answer to a teenager, which is somewhat ironic because I think most people, if you ask around the NFL who's feeding this story would be Joe Douglas. And Joe Douglas has always been a very anti-being a leak media guy.

I guess when you get fired or it's about you, it's cool to do. All these guys, you know, leaders can be very hypocritical about that. like who's allowed to talk to the media, who's not. But this, listen, Woody is getting roasted. And there's no way to read this article, even if it's not all true and 90% of it's true to go, why would anyone want to subject themselves to this? And I've been saying this, like, this sounds insane,

but like who do you think a lot of these super, super rich guys that own these teams talk to? They're kids. Most people in their life, cannot be honest with them. Most people in their life are on the payroll and want to stay on the payroll. The kids, well, are also on the payroll, are the one people that can just say whatever the fuck they want to that billionaire

and honestly not care what they think. And they're probably with one person or very few people in their lives that like there's a trust factor there of that is not comparable to the other people, whether it's your team president, whether it's your lawyer, your accountant. I guess my overall point here is this happens way more than people realize. We're not trading for that guy because he's got a bad score in Madden. But if you don't think that some of these guys that own teams are going back to their GM or coach and saying no, now they might not tell you where they heard it, but like their son convinced him that's a bad idea.

I think it happens all the time. So everyone's going to say the Jets is the worst job in the history of jobs And there's probably a lot of validity to that Especially as part of this article saying that Woody Johnson And I didn't know this I just assumed he was going back to Europe I guess Trump went with someone else And Woody Johnson's not going back

So Woody's not going away And clearly his personality relative to Christopher Is a lot different He's a lot more aggressive screaming at players in the locker room Which I also saw a lot of people say Like that's so mean him screaming at Mike White Now, listen, is it a little weird to see the owner scream at a guy or talk some shit?

I do think it happens a lot with coaches and players and players, so it sounds a lot more salacious than it is. I just think all these owners at this point in time, these guys are worth billions of dollars. It's the one profession where winning no longer matters at all. It really doesn't. Your franchise for the next, the Raiders have sucked, so much ass for the last couple decades,

it's hard to even describe. Yet they have never been more flush with cash, moved into a sweet new building, are getting $400, $500 a year from the league. The money is flowing with the Las Vegas Raiders like never before. Mike Brown never had that much money. But he does now. Why?

Because whether he wins or loses, that NFL check based on the media deal is automatically coming. I was thinking about it today with Dan Snyder, how crappy the Redskins were during like the majority of his tenure. And I remember like the middle, maybe it was the middle or maybe a little bit toward the end when he bought that yacht. It's like his team has sucked so bad. They aren't winning any games.

And this guy is making so much money because he owns this NFL team. He bought a yacht. It's why whenever anyone ever DMs me like, listen, we need George McCasky to say, sell or when do you think Mark Davis would sell? And I go, why would anyone, would you rather have $6 billion cash or would you rather own a $6 billion NFL team? Your life doesn't change either way. Because your entire life is expensed through the franchise. So actually, it's incredible to have the business because everything you do is a write-off. Your entire life is through the business. and all the cash you get from the bank is because of the business.

Where if I give you $6 or $7 billion for the Raiders or for the Bears, well, immediately Uncle Sam takes 45, 50% of that. So that $7 billion is now $3.5 billion, which is obviously an astronomical amount of money. But you're just a $3.5 guy worth $3.5 billion that no one really cares about. Doesn't own anything cool. No one's talking about you on dedicated television shows and podcasts. the only time anyone of these people ever sell

is when they have complete infighting with a family and someone dies. Why the Denver Broncos end up with the Waltons? Well, because Pat Boland died and his daughters were fighting. Same thing with some of these other franchises. It's someone dies. And when someone dies and there's no one in the family that wants to own the team.

But like Woody Johnson, who born into wealth, is clearly just a nut job but that's the case with a lot of these franchises and even some of these people that made it themselves which is an incredible story right like what Robert Kraft accomplished from nothing to what he's got

is an incredible business story but as you get older and you get that rich you kind of become a little cuckoo and then your kid as you get 82 you're not doing the day to day quite like you once did well Jonathan Kraft gets more control like is there that big a difference between like Jonathan Kraft than

Brick Johnson, beside one guy's 18 years old and the other guy's 50 years old. They all fucking coo-cookie weirdo ideas. That's what you deal with. So I see all these people like, you can't touch the Jets. This is what all these teams are. You're constantly hearing

crazy things. Now this, if this is true, based on Madden ratings, that would probably take the cake. But it doesn't change the fact of these requests you're getting from these owners. And it just gets to like do you feel that you can find a quarterback, you can land a coaching staff, because you're going to have to deal with one of these nutty owners no matter what.

Some are telling you you can't sign a guy based on Madden. The other are saying you can't sign a guy because they just have a bad feeling about it. But it's all under the same umbrella. I really do think that. Even if the Jets and Woody might be at the top of the list, I think the difference between the top of the list and the middle of the list is the gap is not that wide. It feels wide when you read things like this. But if you just polled 15 NFL coaches and GMs right now,

I think they would have somewhat similar stories that they have to deal with, especially around free agency and the draft. And even during the season after bad losses, very relatable stories with shit like this. Okay, Fugazi Friday. A couple things really quick. The Alabama athletic director, put out a tweet last night,

essentially asking fans for money. Because unlike, you know, the Oregon's and the Ohio states and the Michigan's, they don't have the high, high-end donors that can compete at this NIL level. And when I saw that Alabama, a program that has won, whatever, six national championships in the last like 15 years, is literally having to beg for money from not like they're not DMing or calling or emailing. They're rich boosts.

These are just like your common fan. Dude that makes 50K. Dude that makes 75K. Maybe a season ticket holder at the, you know, the third level of the stadium. Like, hey man, can you give me money?

Just made me realize like this thing's over. Like this thing's about to break. And the NFL, do you know how they ask for money from us, the consumer, the fans, to pay their players? can you guys just watch our games?

Just hey, we play Thursday nights, all day Sunday and Monday nights. Can you guys just watch the games? That pays for a league. Yeah, no problem. I'll be on my couch watching the game. Because I think that's what fans would be like with Alabama. Like aren't we watching the games?

Like isn't that generating all this television money, which is historic? It's like, yeah, well, we also got to pay, you know, our soccer coach makes $300 grand, or volleyball coach, you know, makes $280 and all the scholarships there. And then we got all this and this. It's like,

yeah, it's like, we got to figure this out. Because if we want to pay for football, which is the reason all this stuff exists, but once you start begging for money, and I don't, I think it's hearts in the right place, it was optically, and I think optics can be a little overrated. It just doesn't get any worse.

It's like the story a couple weeks after the election that Kamala's campaign was still asking people for money. It's like, you guys already lost. Like, why are you doing that? And like, people that ran the Democratic Party were like, we got to cut this off. The problem is they were like, millions in debt.

It just looks bad. And I think there was a ruling on the Vanderbilt quarterback today that got an extra year of eligibility. The JC kids now have four years instead of two years, which is a major revelation and a major change. I've never been against anyone getting money. I am as pro-capitalism as anyone that talks about sports. I promise you that. But this thing is fucking lost. It really is.

And they just got to get to the point. And Jim Harbaugh was banging this drum last year. It's like, we need to split revenue. We need to split revenue. Well, I think why they've been hesitant to do that because they use that revenue to subsidize all this other shit. Those days have to end. You can either make it on your own or you can't.

This is no longer a WNBA NBA-NBA situation, no longer subsidizing all the other sports. And I'm not anti these non-revenue sports. My children probably aren't going to be playing at Alabama football. If anything, they're more likely to be on one of those other teams, and probably not even do that. But like, it's all going to end. And we are about to see whether it's next year or in two years.

Whenever that does happen, because we're clearly at the end of the road, it's going to change college athletics forever in terms of the non-revenue Olympic sports. They would be fucked. And last but not least, one hot topic is the NBA, and they're struggling ratings. And everyone's, I see constantly all these people talking about, like, what they need to do. Like, add a four point shot. No more three-pointers.

You're only allowed to take 33-pointers. It's like, guys, it's over. I'm a good example. I love the NBA growing up. I idolize Michael Jordan. I still do. I fucking love Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan, if he did, if he had some TV show for 30 minutes tonight, I would watch every second of it.

my generation that loves sports will watch and consume anything Michael Jordan and then I love the NBA up until the 2000s and even the Warriors run and I still do follow the Warriors tonight they lost somehow by 50

but I don't watch the NBA anymore and I haven't for years and I have a simple life philosophy when the talent does not care I'm surely not going to care when they stop and listen and there are a lot of variables, and everyone argues,

like, what's it the politics? Is it Adam Silver? It was overexposure of LeBron. It was a three-point shot. Years ago. Years ago, these guys stopped playing in regular season games. And I can't tell you how many people I know that bought tickets to an NBA game

to go watch a Steph Curry, a LeBron James, a whoever. And when they got there, that person was resting that night. And as a television, consumer, when you turn on the TV and you go, well, no one's even playing tonight. They stopped caring. And you lost me.

And it's hard to lose me. I've dedicated my life to talk about sports. I have been a hardcore sports fan since the moment I could think, talk, and definitely consume, you know, at seven, eight years old. And it's like, I'm just out. And I think I represent a lot of people that it's like, you don't bring us back with like, oh, no more three pointers now. or they're going to have hand checking.

None of that matters. We're going to change the All-Star game. No, I've been watching the All-Star game my whole life. It used to be cool when I was a kid. They used to feel like they played hard. I've watched the last, I mean, actually I did in the last couple years, but about six, seven years ago, it was clear like, this is an embarrassment.

Happened in football. And they just canceled it. It's like, yeah, we can't do this anymore. And I understand for the NBA, it's difficult. It's a money revenue generator in the middle of the season. Unlike football, it's at the end of the season. but like all these things add up once you treat the consumer like shit

right if I go to a restaurant and they have awful service usually my experience then a week or two weeks later I don't go hey let's go back to that restaurant never going there again part of Amazon success if you think about it and I forgot about

when I talk about great bald guys obviously Bezos would be near the top of the list whatever you order off Amazon one the majority of it gets to your house in like 48 hours. And two, any issue you have, something's too small, something doesn't fit,

something's broken, you ordered the wrong thing, immediately send it back. It's the easiest, most consumer-friendly thing I think I've ever used in my life given the volume how much most people use it.

Yet the NBA for a decade plus with load management, starting with Greg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs, just said, fuck you, we don't care.

that you are giving us your time. And never forget, the most valuable thing we have in our life is time. By far. And the older you get, you realize, like, I only got so much time. I got to dedicate it to my kids. I got to dedicate to my wife. I got to dedicate to work. So if I am going to give you a couple hours,

that's why football is so easy. You only got to give it a couple hours on your off day on Sunday. They're built in to dominate, let alone you know, like, hey, Patrick Mahomes got hurt. More likely, still going to play. That was an NBA player. it'd be out of a month. So eventually drip, drip, drip, drip, drip, you lose someone. Maybe in the 60s, the 70s, 80s, when there was less going on, it was easier to get someone to come back. I think it is a lot more

difficult. We have more options than ever to fill my palate. So if I want entertainment, whether it's sports, whether it's movies, whether it's music, whether it's podcasts, there's never been more options, right? It's like, I don't think this is that complicated. And I see all these people diving so deep into their ideas. It's like, yeah, I think you guys lost the plot on this one. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what?

We have some big news. What's the news? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's

extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say, hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an acapella with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Joe Dono. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please!

But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, hope from a hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice.

One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcasts presents Soccer Moms. So I'm Leanne.

Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. wider. This is a podcast we're recording it

as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drink. Sidebar. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they had a bogo. Well, then you got it. Do you want a white color or something here? Just hit it. What are y'all doing? Microphones? Are you making a rap album?

Oh, I would. Come on. I would buy it. Cuts through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake. That sounds delicious. Oh, you're lucky. I'm not a drug addict. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic. You are. You're lucky I'm not a killer.

I love this team and I'm really trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on. Oh. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what? He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he

knows, without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has

to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stopped by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers,

why he got the ball like, after you go through a training camp with that, I said, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As we head into Christmas,

I got my guy Stucky who was, I think, put on the earth for this moment. The college football playoffs, we got four games. It's crazy. I mean, the NFL's on Saturday with marquee teams. And I gotta be real,

they feel a little bit like an afterthought, even though, I mean, these games are pretty massive in the NFL with, you know, the Chiefs need to, you know, win a couple more to get the one seed. You got the Steelers and Ravens battling out for a division.

But starting Saturday or Friday night in through all, all day Saturday. It's hard to beat this, Ducky, man. I know as a college football, I would consider you an addict. This, this, we've been waiting for these times for a long, long time, man. Yeah, it all goes back to the NFL's desire to dominate the NBA and every holiday and every day. Because all four of these teams that play on Saturday are playing on Wednesday because they're like, we need to have Christmas days.

games. So you can't play them on Sunday. So if it wasn't for that, they probably wouldn't have done this. But the NFL wants to dominate. And the problem, I actually disagree with the NFL doing it. I mean, they know better than me. Because you have these two marquee games while college football playoffs

going on, which is going to be cool. I mean, you have SMU, Penn State's at noon. It's well, you know, Texans, Chief is at 115. Clemson, Texas is at four. Steelers, Ravens is at 4.30. Tennessee, Ohio State's at 8 o'clock. I would have liked it a little better staggered, but that's a great day of football.

But the problem is because the NFL wanted to have football on Christmas, they ruined the, I mean, next Sunday. Have you seen next Sunday slate, Week 17? No, I refuse to even. Here are the games. This is a whole Sunday slate of Week 17. Falcons at Commanders is at night. I guess that's intriguing to watch with,

but that's your night game. That's Sunday night football. Yeah. Then in the daytime, you have jets at bills, Titans at Jags, Raiders at Saints, Colts at Giants, Panthers at Bucks,

Packers at Vikings. There's your only good game. And then at 4 o'clock, you only have two games. Dolphins at Browns, and Cowboys Eagles I got's as bad as luckily there's Packers Vikings

but that's as bad of a Sunday Slate you'll ever say Niners Lions is Monday night football huh? Yep. Yeah so and there's only two four o'clock games one of them's Dolphins Browns the other ones with Cooper Rush so

yeah I get why they're doing it they just want to take over every holiday but regardless Saturday will be an epic day for football fans and for betters like myself I can't wait. I also can't wait for the Friday night game between

Indiana and Notre Dame. That's a fun one. And I really just can't. I like every bowl game. People hate it because of the portal, but as a better, it's just opportunity. It's out like you can dig for info,

get ahead of these line moves. There's money to be made. Who won the Cal U and LV game? UNLV won. Cal was down to it's third string quarterback. Mendoza went to the portal. The backup got hurt in the finale. They were down to the third string quarterback who got hurt.

And then they had to go to their fourth string freshman who would look like he never threw a forward pass before. And UNLV rallied to end a trend, a long trend in this new portal, our three years running of teams without a coach hadn't won a single bowl game. I think they were 0-11 until UNOV. But most of the UNLV players played. look like they cared. Yeah. Except for Ricky White,

their receiver who will get drafted. And it was competitive, but yeah, the Cal quarterback situation was a disaster. I feel like UNLV is kind of an up-and-coming program with the NIL era because they sign, they hire Barry Odom, who's a real coach for a Mountain West program,

and then they get Dan Mullen. I mean, you look at Washington State, who, you know, Leach had enough leaves, and then they just, you know, elevate Rolovich, who then quits because he won't get the jab. And then what's his name?

Dickert takes the job. He clearly understands, like, Washington State and Oregon State are probably lower than Boise at this point moving forward. So you look at UNLV, could they kind of take, you know, essentially become Boise-Fresno State and forever they sucked. And now it's like they're clearly spending some money. So college football, man, it's obviously the top, the big dogs. But even you see Alabama, their ADs begging for money.

You know, Notre Dame, their alumni is so big. You know, UNLV just has this built-in money pit right behind them that people are just going to want to get involved. Yeah, I just think we're in fascinating times. Yeah, it's, it's, you look at some of these teams. I mean, you know, they also get to play in a football stadium here in Vegas. There's a lot to like there. I mean, it's some of the money being thrown around.

I don't know how sustainable. it is. It can't be, right? Paying Jackson Arnold $3 million. It's just... John Mateer getting between 3 and 4 million, reportedly, the Washington State quarterback,

and Washington State is, I mean, that program is, I don't know where they're going to go. That bowl game, that was one. They play Syracuse. That's probably going to close, like, 18. They got all their starters in the portal, Meteer left, their coach just left.

Their coordinators are gone. That sucks. three to four million for this guy, kiddies, he's good. He's not elite, John Matier. I mean, Brock Purdy has made three and a half million.

We'll make three and a half million over the first four years of his deal. In the NFL is a starting quarterback. I mean, it's pretty wild that you can, there's these players making more money than NFL starting quarterbacks, and they're not even like the elite of the elite guys.

Why do you think that the Oklahoma thing, before we dive into these games one thing that used to happen in college basketball a lot because it was like you could be one and done and a guy like if you could get so-and-so Anthony Davis I remember Michael Porter who went to Missouri right am I thinking the right guy

they hired his brother to be the coach that was when Quanzo Martin I don't know is he still the coach there no but yeah it's like is that like Oklahoma they hire the wazoo offensive coordinator and then they get the quarterback. Like, is that a package deal to get the coordinator they want? I don't know.

I'll be honest. I don't think I've watched a snap of Washington State, so I don't know nothing about this quarterback. But Jackson Arroll was just a top five recruit, and then a couple years later, he's just gone to Auburn, who another SEC school, just seems like, I don't know, people are just throwing shit at the wall, hopefully and they stick it. And the reality is the transfer portal, besides like the Caleb Downs and the no doubt about it, there is a complete randomness.

Like if anyone knew that Scataboo was going to be this good, he would not have ended up at Arizona State, right? He'd be the starting running back at like A&M or, you know, Michigan or something. But you're going to get some of these programs on a given year. Arizona State's a good example this year, but it could be, you know, Arizona or a Texas Tech, or you name it, like any kind of mid-tier program in their own conference. If they hit on two or three transfer portal guys that then are just NFL players and their schedule breaks, right, all of a sudden you're like,

God, there are a nine or ten win team that everyone thought was going to win four or five. You've been talking about this overrunners in college. How the fuck would you know who Scataboo was two years ago? No one would. Yeah. But then if you don't hit for a couple of years. Well, yeah, you're screwed. It's the opposite.

You could win one game. Florida State. And how are you going to get? And it's become so much harder to draw kids if you just don't, if you're not one of the schools with an unlimited piggy bank. Yeah, it's a fast, it's fascinating. It has to be, it eventually has to be regulated. But I don't know how that's,

going to happen but this it's just it's the wild wild west right now in college basketball there's actually a try i think a potential trend there's a team if you want a team the route for in march i don't know if they'll make the tournament but um drake who usually i think you're going to say green bay they they yeah they um they play godliebub coming up but they have one of the best coaches in the country he was so what they did and you can't do this in college football, but what we've seen it a couple times, we've seen like these teams at FCS level where like Western Kentucky did it, um, with Bailey Zappy, you have these programs where their coordinator will come and all their skill position players, um, with them.

But what Drake did is they, there was a D2 powerhouse, northwest Missouri state, I think, and their coach was really highly respected in inner circles of basketball. He brought his entire team to Drake. They lost everybody. He brought his entire team. There were a bunch of D2 guys and the D2 coach. They have all that continuity. Kind of bridge the gap. There's some, like,

there's some good coaches at the D2 level, and they're 10 and O. They just won at Kansas State. Very unathletic team. Like, you can tell that there's a reason why they were D2, but run beautiful offense. And so, they'll be a great story, like talk about a Cinderella story.

Just basically just a D2 team now. in D1 if they make the tournament. But yeah, fascinating times throughout college athletics. Okay, let's go. Let's go Cinderella story. We'll start Friday night. This game is going to look pretty sweet on television. There's no debating that.

You know, this guy, I was actually watching some of JMU's bowl game. That pass rush they have looks like an NFL guy who got the MVP at that game. So clearly that's a good program. Signetti brings them all. Listen, I just feel like I'm not a huge Notre Dame guy, but my gut tells me this is like got 27 to 10 or 27 to 7 written all over it and they just smother them with defense and running the ball. Now the thing, the curve ball in this game on Saturday night, the Penn State game,

but definitely the two night games is, you know, in college football, it's not like the NFL. Like Kansas City is going to play a home game now. They're going to play a home game in the play. It's going to be freezing cold. Same thing with Buffalo. Most of college football, you get a cold game maybe early November. but they don't get the frigid weather in December and January because they never play those games.

And then they're bowl games. If Notre Dame's in the Orange Bowl or whatever, it's fucking beautiful weather. It's like the Super Bowl for them. This game is supposed to be freezing cold. You know, it's just obviously it's, you know, these Midwest games, I mean, it's just got to be cold in the middle of December.

At night, no sun. I think that has to hurt Indiana. That's a passing offense, right? And they've hung their hat on like these outside receivers, Rourke, the back shoulder throws. I don't know. I mean, this would be the one game where I'd be like, I'd probably hammer

laying the points with Notre Dame. What say you? I'm against you here. This is my favorite underdog of the four. The lines coming down. So I've, I've seven and a half. I'd want to get seven and a half. If you like Notre Dame, wait.

It was seven this morning on draft kings. All lines here are presented by draft king. So this was seven. So could that be six by kickoff, you think? I don't think it. I think they would get bought. There would be buyback at six and a half. It probably settles at seven.

I liked Indiana over a touchdown. I think they can keep this close. I don't think the cold will bother Indiana. And their quarterback works Canadian, and he played in the Mac, and nothing but cold in weather games before this, his whole career. So I think he'll be fine.

Where I think Indiana can hang in this game is their run defense is legitimate. You go back to that Ohio State game. Go back to the Michigan game. All year, even if you adjust for schedule, This is an elite, elite run defense. They're secondary. It has talent, but these are like Sunbelt, all conference players. Like some of them came from JAMU, some of them came from other conferences.

They're not elite NFL caliber corners. So where they'll struggle is, you know, if this game was in a dome and they have to go up against NFL caliber receivers, like they did in, you know, the Ohio State game. Like, Ohio State couldn't run the ball on them. Now, Notre Dame, their offense goes as, you know, Jeremiah Love and their backfield goes. And he's a little banged up. We'll see how healthy he is. But he got hurt in the finale.

He's had a lot of time to recover, but reportedly was wearing a brace. But that's their, it's a rushing offense. And then Riley Leonard can use his legs too. But the way that you beat this Notre Dame team is you turn them in to, you turn Riley Leonard into a dropback passer on known passing downs. Their offense has been bad on third down. specifically, you know, in third and medium to long. And they're like 80, I think, 83rd in the country and third down percentage.

Whereas Indiana's offense, I think, is top 20 in the country. You have to stop them in early down. So if you look at Notre Dame schedule, no one's really been able to do that. Northern Illinois did it. But they haven't really played an elite run defense. I think Indiana's run defense can hold up. You turn Leonard into a pocket passer on known passing situations. I think their defense can hang here.

And the Notre Dame defense is very, very good. it's not as a lead as, say, in Ohio State that doesn't have the same level of talent up front. You know, they do have a couple really good interior defensive linemen, but it's not that same caliber. And again, the Notre Dame defense, they didn't really play that many good teams. They put a couple of service academies, you know, you played Virginia with a bunch of backups. But you go back to a couple games where I think that Notre Dame defense might be a tad overrated. Louisville went into Notre Dame, moved the ball up and down the field. that lukey turnovers probably should have won that game.

And they're a pretty good offense, right? Yeah, and they're a pretty good offense. And they put up 400 plus yards. USC put up nearly 600 yards in the regular season finale against Notre Dame. That's probably the best offense they faced all year. And it was with a backup quarterback. I mean, Miller Moss went to the transfer portal. Maiva hadn't looked good the previous few weeks against, like, UCLA.

And he looked awful. They also lost their best player. Woody Marks was going to play in the NFL in the first play of the game. and they were moving the ball up and down the field at will. So I do think that this Notre Dame defense has some holes. I think this line is a bit too high. Signetti, a bunch of time to prepare here. I think I'll have them ready.

I think it'll be a close game. Notre Dame also has shaky special teams. They're kicker. They run out a kicker who's hurt, who misses a bunch of kicks every week. I don't know why they keep doing it. But so, yeah, I think Indiana hangs here. I think it'll be close.

So I took the seven and a half. Okay, let's go to Happy Valley. It's weird. Like when you look at the bracket, you're like, I can see a scenario where Penn State's in the national championship. Right? They win this game. Then they play Boise.

They win that game. You know, in college, is not like the NFL. So Kirby doesn't have to say shit, especially off a buy about his quarterback. Is it fair to assume that his quarterback got the Brock Purdy injury in his out or we just in the dark? Like, what would your view? He might be back for later. But he's out for that first game. Okay.

So, which makes it interesting. Yeah, there's a scenario where it's like Penn State's in the national championship. Yet on an individual game basis, even that Boise game, like, yeah, I can see this thing being weird. Like, yeah, it's like I like Penn State at home. But would it shock me if it's, you know, 15 to 15 in like middle of the third quarter? No, you know? And that whole place is getting tight and it's cold, even though they should dominate in the cold, run game, defense, tight end, like it should translate.

That being said, I liked what I saw against Oregon. I know it was, you know, Oregon obviously had some big plays offensively, but Aller's kind of grown on me. The backup quarterback who does play obviously is gone, and it's not, you know, it wasn't like a nefarious situation, kind of like Mendoza is just like, I'm out after he cries in the field. Like even James Franklin was like, this is bullshit. He didn't want to leave.

So it's not. I don't think there's like dissension or whatever in the locker room. But I don't know. I mean, I'm not some huge SMU consumer. So watching them against Clemson, obviously they look like shit early on in that game. Came stormed back. In theory, I should like Penn State to dominate this game. But I have a hard time betting on Penn State, even though I kind of like them to like make a run.

Yeah, I don't have a strong feel in this game, to be honest. I mean, SMU is going to go fast. Don't they have a good run defense, SMU? Yes, very good run day, which matters here now. But then you can go back and you can question the level of competition. Because SMU, they avoided all of the top teams in the ACC, then they lost the Clemson. I mean, who else did they play all year? Nobody really, they had such an easy schedule.

And then, you know, Clemson was able to score pretty easily on them. So I, but they do have a good. If you flip-flopped SMU, you put SMU versus Texas and Clemson versus Penn State, are those lines, like, is then SMU a 12-point dog against Texas? And is Clemson a nine-point dog against, like, how do you think that would? Like, who do they view as the better team here? Are they basically a coin flip between the two? Well, we just witnessed, or would you say people think Clemson's going to be better? I mean, between Clemson and SMU?

Yeah, like, I don't know. like to me the nine point are they just like yeah we don't know if if this should be 14 or this should be six so we'll just throw like nine or 10 to get people to bite like I feel like they don't quite know with SMU and Clemson where to put them like I feel they got a pretty good idea Tennessee in Indiana but I feel like with the ACC teams against you know Texas and Penn State it was they're kind of a no man's land with these two lines yeah I think Texas is a couple points better than Penn State

SMU is a couple better points than Clemson. Okay. But, yeah, I mean, you're right on the bracket. This is why the bracket's broken. Like, you just can't give the four teams automatic buys because Oregon and Georgia beat Texas and Penn State in the conference championship games. Oregon goes undefeated, and they're going to have tougher paths.

They're going to have a tougher game in the quarterfinals. You know, Texas and Penn State get two games is done. double digit favorites. Oregon's got to play the winner of Ohio State, Tennessee. Georgia's going to have to play either Notre Dame or Indiana. Because ideally, ideally, in these four games, there should be a couple where the lines are like two or three points, not, yes, seven to 12. And your one seat shouldn't have the hardest game in the second round, which they're going to have. So you should either reseed or you just seed one through 12. You get your automatic, but you don't get automatic buys.

I don't, I know, that don't have a really good strong feel in this game. SMU is going to want to go fast. They don't really run it efficiently. you can't really run it on Penn State. This is going to be cold too. I mean, it's going to be in choice. It's going to be cold, which favors Penn State. But it is at noon, which I think helps SMU a bit. You know, it's not at night in Happy Valley.

It's going to come down. You know, the way to attack this, because you mentioned the SMU run date. It's off schedule, but I do believe in their run defense because their defensive line has dudes. The guys that came from, I mean, all of them, I think three of the four starters came from Miami. They were at Miami at one point. and they transfer them. So they have like real Power 5 guys. They have good safeties too that can come down and defend them on.

Where they're weak is that corner. So you have to attack them on the outside. How does Penn State approach this? Because their offense is kind of like gimmicky and, you know, it's run first and then you want to get Warren involved at tight end in different ways. But the weakness of Penn State is their wide receiver room. They don't really have great wide receivers. And that's really how you attack this SMU defense.

So I'm not sure it's going to win on the. the outside between Penn State and SMU. And then can SMU protect? They have a really good back in Breschard Smith, but they don't really run it efficiently and you can't really run it on Penn State. And the reason they don't run it efficiently is their offensive line isn't very good. Really weak left tackle that they lost from last year. He was really good.

And then a center. So they had a really good offensive line last year. They lost their center and left tackle. I haven't been able to replace them. So they don't get a great push. They also struggle to protect at times. So is Penn State just going to get so much pressure and overwhelm Jennings? That would be a bit of my concern as well.

So I don't know. I think this line is about right. I have nothing heading into it. If anything, I would think Penn State finds a way. Coldenickey's a great corner. He's had time to prepare. SMU's going to go fast. I think that they'll find ways to – the Penn State defense, it's very good,

but I do think that they're vulnerable on the back end. It's just going to come down to can SMU protect Because if you look at the Penn State schedule And you just parse out certain games USC put up 30 on them And then you saw Oregon And Oregon is a really good office But they put up 40 plus on them

So there's There's some opportunities to move the ball So maybe the over But as of right now Not a game I'm involved in Okay Texas Is a 12 point favorite Which I got to be honest

When I first saw that number fell a little big to me for a team. Now, they handled A&M, right? The only way they got back into it was with you or just a couple of turnovers. But, like, they're not scoring 40 points a game. So you look at that game. Now, A&M on the road, good defense. You know, you look at the Arkansas game.

They won 20 to 10. The Florida game, they molly-wapped them. That was kind of a perfect storm. But the Vanderbilt game was a struggle. Obviously, they lost the Georgia game. Even the Oklahoma game, that was a time. that was a tight game to like the last couple minutes in the first half and there was like back-to-back fumbles and then it just kind of unraveled.

But to me, 12 points for an offense that I just don't trust the quarterback. Now, their defense is good. And physically, I mean, they have NFL dudes all over that defensive line. But I don't know. I mean, Kate Columbick, he's played well down the stretch. Obviously, his legs are a big factor. You know, so he can run and pass that some of those young wide receivers look like they're coming on.

It's a perfect spot. If you just kind of look at dabbo, underdog, everyone, no one thinks they can do shit. He just showed in the conference championship game. Like, they jumped out to them. They were bludgeoning that team, right? And then I obviously kind of let off the foot off the gas and they came back. SMU fans will be in your DMs.

Be like, the refs were against us. Like, no, you were getting your ass kicked. I don't know, man. My first, it's like 12 points feels like a lot against this Texas. team that's being treated like their fucking Oregon or something. It was the first game in like 70 years that Clemson didn't have a penalty again. There wasn't any penalties called in that game. Was there an ACC crew?

Were they trying to get Clemson to win so they'd get SMU in? Yeah, I mean, it worked out for them. Whatever they were trying to do, they got, and then they got SMU to come back, and then you couldn't keep Alabama out. So it worked out for the ACC financially. I, you know, my numbers actually lean to. Because this big picture, it would be bad if they both get destroyed. If they both lose by like 15, 20 points, it's bad.

Yep. Yet, like, you get, there's going to be that bias, right or not, with the committee on a year-to-year basis based on what happened to your prior. And then you know the SEC talking heads. If SMU, you want to go on, you want Twitter to get insufferable, and I'm in SEC country, but if SMU and Clemson get blown out, you're going to hear from all the SEC people

after the weekend's over about how Alabama should have gotten in. Yeah, I actually, like, I don't think this Clemson team is that great, and I had them to make the college football playoff, got lucky because Miami lost. If you look, any time they stepped up in class this year, it didn't go great.

I mean, this is a team that lost at home to Louisville. They got blown out by Georgia. they fought for a half and you know then they beat SMU you got to give them credit for that but I don't think SMU is in the elite tier of teams and the reason is they just don't have as much talent as they used to and that's because they don't hit the portal and so it's just not as talented of a talent disparity in this game even just going like the offensive line disparity is massive Texas who should get their left tackle back banks healthy who's probably the best offensive lineman in college football. He missed that Georgia game. Their offensive line for Texas

is unbelievable. And they're going to get protection. They're going to be able to run the ball. And I think that's going to like set up all of the RPO easy passes for yours because what my fear is when you back Texas is a big favorite because you're right. Like they're on or their offense in these big games this year because they also had a soft schedule. Like for an SEC team, they have the softest schedule of any team of who they avoided. And if you look like what happens is yours will have like a couple head scratching turnovers a game and they can't score in the red zone.

They're just incapable of doing it and it was a problem last year as well. So that's hard to cover if you turn the ball over a couple times and then you're settling for a couple fuel goals, hard to cover a big number, but I just think at the line of scrimmage they're going to dominate, I don't think

Clemson's going to run the ball and they're running back. Mofa's banged up. They're going to really, they need Clubnick to have like a perfect game and one of their you know a guy like Wesco they're going to need

some of their young receivers to step up but it's just such a talent disparity in this game and yours extra time off does he get healthier

like he's been dealing with an ankle injury and then do you see more arch which I would or like so I don't know how Texas is going to handle this

do they wait and for like the arch packages when you're not as big of a favorite right and don't show it as much or do you just hey we're going to

show it every game from here and now. Because I actually think Arch is a better fit for this offense because he's a better runner for the RPO style. But I just think they're going to be able to run. Like Clemson's run the all year has been not been good. And once you once, if Texas can establish it around, everything else becomes so much easier. Safety does to start to come down and then, you know,

your screen, your quick pass game, everything from there. Then it makes it easier for yours. And you don't have to make him, you know, a drop back pass or known passing situations where he might make a mistake or two. So and then, this Texas defense is kind of built to stop this Clemson offense. And we've seen it before. Texas, when TCU made that run with Garrett Riley, the offense coordinator, Pete Kwiakowski, shut him down, the defensive coordinator for Texas. So, yeah, I actually, I lean Texas. I'm having trouble pulling the trigger right now just because I'm worried about the red zone.

I'm worried about Ewellers making a bonehead a mistake or two. But this is a big, big talent disparity that many not be, many, many, You know, casual betters when following college football. It's like, hey, Clemson, I'm going to take the 12. Dabo can play his cards here, and he's great as an underdog. But as of right now, I'm actually leaning towards a favor. Well, I think if you told me you could flip quarterbacks, like yours was on Clemson and Clubnik was on, because I think Club Nick, as you watch, after that Georgia game,

you're like, this guy, I mean, you're, Davy, you need to cut this guy. By the end of the season, he felt like one of the more improved players in the country. Yeah. I think I heard Danny Canell or someone say that they, you know, if you look at 21 and 22, Ewers was the number one quarterback coming out in 21. He was the number one quarterback, Clubnik, and 22. Two Texas guys, they've played each other, I think, in the state championship, either in 19 or 20.

I mean, these are like heralded all-time great quarterback prospects coming out the state of Texas, which is like quarterback state for producing these guys. And I just think Clubnik is a much better player, especially the way he's playing right now when you dual threat. But like you said, I mean, are they talented enough? That is a major question mark.

Because there's no disputing Texas's roster. It's just a quarterback play. I mean, even that A&M game, which A&M obviously, you know, relative to the rest of college football has an elite roster too.

And it just felt like, God, Texas is fucking overwhelming them here. And so it's like, and all Ewers has to be is kind of that, you know, kind of Alex Smith game manager,

but sometimes he's like, I'm Patrick Mahomes, you know? And that's where it's it. And you feel Sark sometimes. Who's grown on me a lot? They go shots of him. It's like he fucking wants to ring his neck. It's like, what

are you doing? But the problem is Arch, and you and I have talked about this, if he was their version of like what Trevor Lawrence was or whoever, he would already be in. I think they don't think he's quite as good as the hype. That's why I think they've kind of

eased it in. If he was as good as the way he's talked about, I think he'd already been their starting quarterback. Yeah. But His legs and using this package is definitely, I think they're going to use it more. Curious to see how much in this game in particular, because if you look at their path, again,

Texas has an easy path, do you wait to like really show everything that you're going to show with his packages? But yeah, I agree with you. And we'll see if like yours is, if that ankle injury was contributing to things and he looks a little better here. He's had three weeks off, right?

Yeah. So that could be another angle as well. But definitely an interesting game. Clubbedick has been playing a lot better. His offensive line is, he's going to be under pressure. He's going to have to use his legs. He's going to have to have to have some explosive plays downfield because the difference in this offensive line, that's going to be the clearest thing you'll see, I think, in this game. And that might end up being the difference. But Texas for just, they just, they find ways to make games close at times against, like, their special teams aren't good. Their red zone

offense isn't good. And then Uers will make a couple bone-headed throws. but they are so much more talented. So I guess one thing looking at these matchups, you know, Indiana and Notre Dame didn't play conference championship weekend. SMU, Penn State did, Clemson and Texas did, Tennessee and Ohio State didn't. So they basically, you know, neutralized any rest advantage of a team that had to play in that spot and then a team that didn't. You know, so Tennessee, Ohio State, like this feels like auto-hammer Tennessee, you know, when you just factor in their strengths, they can run the ball. and they have a fantastic defensive line.

And obviously Ohio State, who I saw Chips quotes all the days were running together. It might have been last week or might have been earlier this week, where he's like, we've gone over that Michigan game with a fine-toothed cone, realize how we screwed up. Part of where I think everyone thought they screwed up is like, guys, they're fucking Will Johnson's in the training room. They've had a bunch of guys drafts the last couple years in the secondary. You have elite wide receivers throw the ball, which was true.

It was crazy they didn't. They kept running the ball up the middle. I think at one point in time, it was like 14 runs, just right up literally between the guards. So like four NFL guys on the defensive line. Yeah, it's like their only strength on their team right now. You know, Tennessee, you know, I think a little bit like Michigan, like their passing game. I mean, Nico, everyone, like kind of bet the farm on them. I know I was one of those guys like this guy, get ready.

You know, it's kind of like Josh Rosen early on. It was like, this guy's going to take the world by storm. And then by the end of the year, you're like, oh, pump the brakes on his future. But from a defensive line standpoint, it's got to be tough. I mean, they're missing their center. They're missing their offensive line. The pressure in this game, unlike a lot of teams from the south, right, you know, like a Miami, if they would have to go to Penn State, it's a lot like to Tua and that crew when they got to go to Green Bay.

It's a huge. You know, Knoxville's cold. Now, it might not be Ohio State cold, but it's, they're not sitting in 80-degree weather right now. and their style of play is a little bit like the Rams and the Niners. It's like their shit translates, whether they're playing in the cold or whether they're playing in a warm weather,

you know, kind of bowl environment if they win this game. I don't know. I just love Tennessee in this spot, seven and a half. And Herb Street said it the night that they did the bracket. Like, if this is 7-0 going into halftime or something, Ohio State's loud,

that place is going to be so fucking mad. You know, and that environment could get ugly. So if Ohio State's going to win this game, like I don't think it's penned. state where they're down 10-0 and they come storming back. Like they need an early lead. They need an early touchdown. Everyone get excited and get that crowd behind them because that crowd would turn on.

Not on the team, but on Ryan Day. Yeah, this game is very fascinating. And I agree with that point. I think that's the key to this game, which makes it tough to bet. Where is Ohio State out mentally? And then where do they go if they start slow? Because I was just in Cleveland this past weekend, talking to a bunch of Ohio State fans, and they're all like Ryan Day's got to go.

They want him to lose them. this game, right? So they can like go try to offer Vrable $100 million. They'll be like if they start stuff, they'll be fire Ryan Day chance and in the crowd and then like what I think part of what happened against Michigan is Ryan Day wanted to win that game so bad. Then the play calling was awful too. But just they were so tight. Like there was so much that we have to get our revenge and then Michigan

played so loose. Like Ohio City was so much more talented. Play calling is bad, yes. But I think that they just, they were all like so overwhelmed. with trying to win and just weren't playing football. Could that happen again if they're tight here and they start slow? The start in this game is massive because you also want to make Nico throw it, not let Tennessee get the running going. Look, the Tennessee offensive line has issues too.

I don't think Tennessee's going to have a ton of success on offense. I mean, Nico in his road games this year, like against Vandy, he was fine, but that was basically a home game. He went to Georgia. He was bad, 20 of 33 for 160. at Arkansas where they lost against a bad day. He was 17 to 29 for 158. And then at Oklahoma,

who ended up being a bad team, 13 to 21 for 190 through, yeah, it wasn't, it just wasn't great. And all year, it just wasn't overly impressive. And their receivers are pretty banged up, too. We'll see how healthy they are.

They've had like non-contact practice, non-contact jersey on in practice. So this is just going to come out of the start. Because I don't think Tennessee, is going to score a bunch. Now, what makes this fascinating to me, because initially when I solved this matchup, I said under, because I think both defensive lines will dominate.

And I don't see, and Will Howard's been dreadful under pressure. His completion percentage drops, I think, from 78 to 52% when he's under pressure. And the Ohio State offensive line, they lost the two most important players. They're center and the left tackle. So, but I said under. And then Ohio State plays really slow. Tennessee plays fast, but they're just not. that explosive this year because Nico, he's just, he's just not there yet. So I said,

D-lines dominate this game under, but my, my worry is Ohio State, do they come out here? Because I saw the Chip Kelly comments, too. They tried to roy it way too much. The one drive they had successful, and I'm surprised they didn't do this in the second half, two-minute drill. They had to do, they had to do this. At the end of the first half, they were throwing it and going fast, and they went right down the field and scored a touchdown. It was their only, the, Then they didn't score the rest of the game. So are they going to say now, okay, we're going up against another elite D. Let's go hurry.

Let's go with more tempo. And let's throw it more because the Tennessee weakness of their defense is their secondary. And then you try to tire out their pass rush by going with more tempo. So that's what scares me off the under a bit. And then another thing to keep in mind is it looks like Ohio State's going to make changes along the offensive line. They've had a couple weeks to prepare. You might see there's this kid Montgomery, another kid Padilla. might see two new young kids in there in the interior.

So how does that work out? Does it solve some of the issues? Is it just a mess? There's not that much continuity, but there has been some time. A lot of uncertainty in this game. I wouldn't blame anyone for taking the points. My numbers actually,

I'm really low in Tennessee. My numbers actually show a little bit of value in Ohio State. But I truly believe this comes down to the start. Who's a better coach? If you had a program and all things are equal, would you choose Josh Heipel and his staff or Ryan Day and his staff? That's a great question.

I feel like I know more about Josh Heiple. Like he's done more with LAT. I mean, when he took over Tennessee, they sucked what he did at UCF. Like, let's face it. I mean, Ryan Day took over a fucking Ferrari and it's no longer a Ferrari anymore. Not bad, but I think it's like

no one cares that you beat Minnesota and Iowa. Like no one gives a shit. Can't beat Michigan and he just loses all these big games. Honestly, his, his performance against Oregon was actually kind of impressive. You know, I thought they actually played pretty well.

But they still boxed the end game. Exactly. He turtles up too much in big games. But Heipal hasn't gotten to like that next level yet. So at least like day's gotten close. I'll say it's a push as of right now. Is Ohio State favorite in this game if it's in Tennessee? Um, yes, but

Three points would be two. Let me see what I have home field. That would be like, I mean, this, this line is saying three, three and a half. Small favorite under a field goal probably. Maybe minus two, minus one and a half. And yeah, I'll say this game is going to, well, we'll decide it for me now. even if Tennessee just covers, I'll probably say high football. So, fascinating game.

All eyes on that start, as you alluded to. I actually think it's easier sometimes to lose a bowl game. I think it's easier to lose a bowl game sometimes than these home playoff games because it's like kind of a way half your fans are there. This is just like a normal game for Ohio State, right? Like their local radio, the post game show, it just would feed. He drives to his house. You would rather lose this game at like the Orange Bowl, right, against Tennessee.

didn't lose it at your fucking home stadium. Yeah, and I'm sure there's going to be a decent amount of Tennessee fans. I'm curious to see that. But I would, in a way, you know, from a number of perspective, this isn't true. Like, it's, you know, six point difference. But in a way, Ohio State might have benefited from going on the road here. Because you get away from, there's so much noise right now. And everyone is, there's just around campus, it's all like, you got to win and all the noise on the talk radio.

It's like you said, sometimes it's good to get away. from that and go on the road. Obviously, Knoxville is not a fun place to play, but yeah, all eyes on the start there. I wouldn't blame anyone for taking the points. Okay, the Chiefs are either going to have like the craziest 16 in one season you've ever seen or they're going to lose a couple games here down the stretch. Now, it looks like Mahomes is good to go, practicing full, at least on Wednesday. I guess that would have been Tuesday?

Whatever. I mean, he clearly avoided major injury, which feels like he pulls off. sometimes. He's got a little NBA to him where you just feel like, oh my God, it's just season over? And then like a week later he's playing in the game. I do think this Texans matchup though is kind of tough for them given that, I mean, they got two guys that could

end up with 15 sacks coming off the edge where the chiefs have struggled and even if Mahomes is playing, he's not 100%. And he naturally kind of gimps around even when he's healthy, right? It kind of looks like. Obviously the Texans

have had a disappointing season relative to the hype, though they won the division pretty easily. I like the Texans a lot here, plus three and a half. Plus, you just factor in the Chiefs. Every game they play in as close, but just in terms of the exact matchup, that pass rush against, you know, a somewhat hobbled Mahomes against an offensive line

that is just really struggled all season long protecting them. So I think they're bound to lose one of these two games, whether it's Saturday. you would say they'd be more likely to lose the game on the road, right? Pittsburgh short week. But I wonder if this game kind of is the one that kind of bites them. I don't mind the Texans here taking the points. Now that it's over three, it's funny. This, a big regret of mine actually was not taking the Chiefs when this line. This line was Texans minus three early in the week. And like everyone assumed the Holmes is going to be out. And I said to myself,

but he's had like six ankle injuries in the past and he's never missed a game and I immediately tweeted out he's gonna have to lock him away to keep him out of the game you remember that that playoff game when he's like wouldn't refuse to go to the locker room so I was like he's definitely going to play

I don't know why I didn't I should have just taken the points with the Chiefs knowing that he's probably going to play and then I can come back but now I think he would I think he would have done the same thing in that game against the Browns if it was tied and they had to win it to get the number one seat but they're up 21 to 7 the fucking team couldn't move the ball And he's like, yeah, cool.

Just let the cars go in. Yeah, so now this is at three and a half. And Mahomes isn't going to be at 100%. And I guess there's still an outside shot. He doesn't play. There's also an outside shot. I think he's going to. But there's also an outside shot.

He gets hurt. Like, there's a bigger, a higher percentage that he hurts that ankle even more. And, you know, when you're going up against this pass rush, can the, can the Texans score? Is the guy where this offense needs to figure it out? they're not going to run on Kansas City. You've got to throw in them. Their secondary is vulnerable.

They've had some injuries back there, and their past, he's been vulnerable since. But the Texans every week, it's like, where is this passing offense? I mean, even last week against Miami, they had like 190 total yards of offense. So can they, and a lot of it is they have the worst early down offense in the NFL. They run it way too much on early downs. In this game in particular, you need to find your passing offense if you're going to win a Super Bowl, which should be your goal. And in order to win the Super Bowl,

you're going to have to beat the likes of Lamar, Josh Allen, Mahomes. You're not going to win these games 20 to 17. You need to find your offense. You're already in the playoffs. You need to find your offense before the playoffs. This is the perfect game to do it.

Throw an early downs. Let Stroud, get out of his funk and throw it. And this is kind of like a risk-free opportunity to do that. If you lose this game, who cares? You're still going to win your division. You're not getting the one seed.

you can prove to yourself you want it if not you can be like all right we need to make these adjustments but yet the three and a half points with this texans defense which has been dominant and they have their two corners Lassad and Stingley I mean they rank in the top both of them are in the top three and catch rate allowed

they've been great and then you have this edge rush that's going to get after Mahomes in a very vulnerable offensive line. Tuni helped kicking him out the left tackle against Cleveland but he was still under fire the whole game so yeah lower scoring game against the team that usually just wins by two or three,

I would take the points here. I don't really have a feel for this other game. I mean, I guess you just naturally take Tomlin and the points. Steelers have kind of dominated this matchup. I think, what, they won eight of the last nine? I think that Eagles game rattled me. I was, like, so close. It's like, I think I'm taking.

I was about right before the game kicked off to hammer Pittsburgh money line. And I kind of got cold feet. and then like 10 minutes into the game you knew like thank God I didn't do that I mean they couldn't cover anybody so you know now T.J. Watts a little banged up. It's a huge game for the Ravens.

I don't know. I mean I don't really have a great feel. It's like to me the Eagle game was a pretty enlightening experience on Pittsburgh kind of got exposed. Now I'm not putting too much thought into the Ravens against the Giants. I mean you put them when they're a little motivated

against a bad team. they will fucking bludgeon you. You know, Lamar has had his issues against the Steelers, obviously. What are your thoughts? I mean, you win this game. You're right back in the mix to win this division. Yeah.

My gut says that the Ravens are going to win and cover this game, but I know better. I know that these games are always close, no matter what. I mean, since 2008, when Harbaugh got the Baltimore, favorites of three or more

in this matchup of Harbaal Tomlin, are 2, 19, and 3 against the spread. That's less than 10%. 2.19 and 3. Harbaugh is a favorite of a field goal or more against the Steelers? 0.11 and 2 against the spread. 27 of 33 matchups have been decided by one possession. The average score in these games is 19.5 to 19.4.

Over half the games have been decided by a field goal or less. They're just always close. There's so much familiarity. Tomlin usually does a good job against mobile quarterbacks. Now, the reason I can't bet this yet, like I think this line should be seven if Watt and Pickens are out. I can't really bet this game without knowing their status. Watt is so important. I mean, if you look historically, their defense falls off a cliff without him.

Not only is he important for he'll make a game-changing play almost once a game, but he draws so much attention. So it frees up other guys. It's also solid against the run. I think their defense, it gives up like a touchdown more historically when he's been out of the lineup. And then Pickens, they need him. This offense is not very efficient with Russ. He just, they need to hit explosive plays downfield. Right?

It's like run, run, run, punt. Rely on your D. Run, run, run, punt. Hit an explosive play, score, touchdown. Like, that's just how the Steelers want to play. And Pickens is the key. piece to that. So does he play? I don't know. So it's like your most important offensive player and your most important

defense player. I think that's the difference in whether this game is close or not. Because the Ravens, yeah, they're one and eight against the Steelers. By the way, this is the first time the Marr will play in Baltimore against the Steelers with fans in the stands. First time ever. The only other time he did it was in 2020 in COVID. The other four matchups, since he's been in the league, her week 18 rested, week 18 rested. Pretty crazy. but his numbers against his dealers are not good.

But I will say this Ravens defense is trending up, and they're pasty. Their run-dees been good all year, and they're getting healthy again on the defensive line. But they move Kyle Hamilton back to safety, and he's allowed over the last five games. He was playing linebacker, edge, corner. He's playing all over the place and doing it an all pro level. But they said our back end of our defense is broken, and it's how good this kid is. And they just put him, he's just playing deep safety a lot more. He's allowed one catch in five games for three.

three yards. So they put him back there. They benched their veteran safeties who were playing really poorly, guys like Williams, and they put Ardarius Washington back there. He's been great. And then Wiggins, their rookie, is starting to play really well. He's, and he, along with Lasseter and Stingley, I mentioned, he's top three in catch rate allowed. So, you know, and then they did Humphrey just manning the slot. So their past, he's really coming together. And this is like a defense that's trending in the right direction for the play.

else kind of going a little under the radar because, you know, it was the Giants and, but their past these actually better than people might think, because it was a mess early on in the year. They couldn't, anything deeper and over the middle was a disaster. There's still some weak areas in the middle of the field because of the linebackers, but trending up.

But, man, I also, it's worth mentioning because it just decided the first meeting, the kickers. He's my guy, Tucker, but, again, Again, tough state in the kickin. Steelers have the edge here in kicker. And if it's going to be a close game, maybe that's the difference.

But I can't do any. This is a weird week in the NFL. There are so many injuries, so many key injuries, you know, from Mahomes to Pickens Watt, Gino Smith. And then you have all these backup quarterbacks playing. It's a crazy week. I just need to know the status of Watt and Pickens. If they're both out, I like the Ravens.

But I might not bet it just because I've been watching. watching this rivalry for 15 years, and no matter what these teams look like who's out, it's just close somehow. So I'm conflicted. Yeah, I got a couple more games for you. Speaking of the injuries, the Niners,

I guess Kyle, just, you know, Garendo who played last week, probably out now with a different injury. So they're on, like their 17th running back. I think Miami fucking stinks. And the Niners,

you know, for a bad team are still going to try to finish hard. Like, if you're Kyle, you desperately, even if you're going to miss the playoffs, want to finish nine and eight. Because it's not like you have the second pick

in the draft. They're drafting 15 right now. So they're going to try really hard down the stretch. But Trent Williams is out now for good. You got Bosa banged up. I mean, it's just, it's really difficult. You know, and they're favored on the road. I don't know.

That's a game that I love the Niners, you know, getting a point against Miami, but you just have to wonder, like, does it eventually catch up to them? Maybe they're a little motivated after what happened with Campbell. And the other game that stands out to me is like, you know, this happened in reverse. the Rams two weeks ago when the bills came out. They get a massive win and they just kind of lay an egg. Those cross-country flights, I used to make them from Philly to the Bay or Sacramento.

It's just a long time in the air, even if you're flying, like these guys are flying. And whether you're gaining hours, you're losing hours, I do wonder a little bit, you know, the Rams, they control their own destiny with those last two games. Now Seattle's kind of in Chambles. Hell, Seattle could easily lose this weekend in Minnesota. I don't want to say lay an egg, but just come out. a little against this Jets team who's just shown a little more life.

I got that thing circled as just a potential to be a weird result and definitely a weird early game. Like, ah, the Rams looked flat. Well, you nailed two games, two bets that I made. I bet the 49ers reluctantly, because

who knows who's showing up in that game. But I trust the 49ers more to show up. And they have extra rest here. Hopefully they get a couple guys back, like Mustafa, Bosa, because of the extra rest. And Purdy and Kyle are like a combo deal. They need to justify with the owner like,

we're going to pay you, right? Because Kyle wants to pay him. Purdy wants his money. They got to play well. Dolphins play a ton of zone. Purdy usually rips that up. Miami's beat up. Their offensive line, they have no tackles.

Waddle, I think, is going to be out. That means they only have three healthy receivers. You got Tyree Kill, Washington, and River Cra crack. Well, no, on the entire roster. I mean, they're going to bring some guys up, but that's it. Just Brackett Hill, who's not the same player right now. and the offense team can't run the ball right now

because they're offensive line injuries. So it's tough, but I like the 49ers on the road in a matchup of two teams that basically got eliminated last week. And then, yeah, I bet the Jets plus three and a half. It's too many points.

I can't get to this number. The Jets have, they're not great, but they've lost seven one possession games. Like most of the time, they're in games. They just, they were unlucky early in the year.

Their offense is finally showing some life. Like Rogers looks a bit better. I think he was dealing with an injury earlier on the season. The last four games, he's eight touchdowns, one pick, 68% completion percentage. They're averaging 27 points per game. And, you know, when I... Devonte was awesome, obviously, last week. Yeah, and this Rams secondary you can get.

I think some of their younger guys are hitting a wall a little bit on defense. And, yeah, this is just a sleepy spot for the Rams who, on the road all year, what have they done? This is an indoor team. When they go on the road outdoors, not the same offense. On the road all year, this team, I think they covered one time. I mean, this team, they lost at the Bears. At the Patriots was a close game to late. At the Saints was a close game until very late.

And, you know, at the Seahawks, they won. They should have lost that game. They won an overtime. They come out flat on the road almost every week. So I think this is another spot where that happens. Stafford was horrendous in the first half against the Niners. Yep. And if you go back to last year, this same exact spot happened.

The Rams went on their late season surge. And the week before playing the 49ers, which was like a huge game for the playoffs, I think the Rams needed the win. They went to New York. Now they didn't play the Jets. They played the Giants. And I think Tyrod Taylor was starting. And they won, but they were like minus five.

They won 26, 25. and Tyrae Taylor almost picked them off. And, yeah, I mean, that game was super close right till the end. So I think this game is close. This line is just too high because people see how bad, like the Jets record, the Rams have been surging. But I don't think the Rams are, you know, five, six points better than the Jets who are showing life of late. And, you know, you get a playoff team in at home.

I think they'll carry here. You got some corners who can match up with the Rams receivers. So, yeah, I think too many points here. I like where your heads out, Stucky. Well, let's enjoy a historic first year of the playoffs, Saturday and Friday night football at Notre Dame at Ohio State. That's, listen, that's pretty cool. If you would have told someone that five years ago, would have put a lot of smiles on people's faces. And now gambling, we get to bet on it legally all across the country.

So have a great weekend. Ducky and go Jets. Yeah. By the way, upon Nugget, it'll be the first Friday home game for Notre Dame since 1900 when they beat the Chicago

physicians and surgeons 5-0. And I think someone said me that. I don't even know if that's true. It could be a... But I know that it's... Let's say, it's the first time it's on a network. First time in Notre Dame home game is not on the NBC.

since 1990. My guess is the Chicago physicians and surgeons lack some team speed. We're always in the right spot, very smart group, but probably not too dynamic in space if I had to give a scouting report without watching the film. Would you guess that would probably, it probably didn't have much speed on the outside, be my guess. And not much bulk in the middle. I think my friend might have been sending me a fake tweet.

If that's true, that's fucking incredible. It's very believable. I'm going to believe it. I mean, it's a hundred twenty years ago. So, I know it's the first one on a Friday in forever. I think my friend might have told me. I see Cal Shanahan liking one of the quarterbacks on the physicians and serves his team. All right.

Enjoy the weekend, brother. I'll see you next week. I'll see you. I'll see you, brother. Cheers. The volume. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe.

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