The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Stuckey joins the podcast

Episode Date: December 24, 2024

John Middlekauff is joined by⁠ The Action Network sports betting expert, Stuckey, to share their best bets for the NFL's Christmas Day Special and preview the weekend ahead. The fellas tell you which games they like the most and which games to stay away from. It's all here an more. 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.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

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 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 ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Your husband is not who you think he is. Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Danny Shapiro, and these are just a few of the stunning stories I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets. He kind of shoved me out of the way and said, move. And he went out the front door, and he jumped in a car and drove off, and that was the last time I saw him. Listen to Season 14 of Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio,

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio. Non-stop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit.

Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. I heart radio. This season on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler, we have some fantastic guests like Amelia Clark. When like young people come up to me and they want to be an actor or whatever.

My first thing is always, can you think of anything else that you can do? Rather be disappointed in. Do that. David O'Yellow-O. I love this podcast, whether it's that. or relationships or religion or sex or addiction or you just go straight for the guts. Dennis Leary, Gaten Moderato from Stranger Things, Tana Monsu, Camilla Morone, Carrie Kenny Silver, and more.

Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The volume. What is going on, everybody? How are we doing? John Middletoff, three and out podcast. Merry Christmas to all my parents out there. I don't mean my actual parents, but people that are listening with children, especially young kids.

This is a, it's a great time. Get to open some presents under the tree and put a smile on their face and celebrate for a couple days. Have a few cocktails, watch the little ball. Today will be a little preview teaser with my guy Stucky. Looking forward to the couple games coming up

on Wednesday. Wednesday, which are just mixing and matching the games that we saw from Saturday, and maybe hit on a couple other games. Get you in and out of here on Christmas Eve. So hopefully everyone's having a good holiday, enjoying their families, and just kind of chilling, relaxing, hanging out, especially for those of you that live in frigid, cold temperatures. It's about 75 degrees where I'm at, but I'm headed to a much colder place.

Not too cold, but in the 50s, it's cold for me. So yeah, you guys know the drill, subscribe to the podcast. If you listen on Collins feed, everything's up on YouTube as well. So go check that out. And yeah, before we dive into some football, listen, you want to get some tickets, the official ticketing app of this podcast, Game Time, Games, concerts, comedy shows, any event you want to go to, I got you covered. So take the guest work out of buying tickets to the holiday season with my friends at GameTime.

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Again, create an account, redeem the code John for $20 off, download the GameTime app, last minute tickets, lowest price is guaranteed. Okay, a little Christmas special with my good buddy,

my gambling partner, and someone who probably respects Indiana as little as I do at this point in time and I'm sure can't wait to hammer the under in 2025 because I already looked at their schedule. At Penn State, at Oregon, at Iowa, and every other Big Ten can't wait to beat the shit out of them.

So thank you, Indiana, for ruining our weekend. You too, SMU. But obviously the Rams and the 49ers ruined mine Stuckie's weekend because we bet against the Rams and on the 49ers and Rams covered and the 49ers surely did not. So Stucky, quick turnaround here. Not used to talking to you on early in the week, but how you doing, brother? Good, and yeah, Sunday was rough.

I had the Raiders is a favor. It was my only winner. Imagine that. You're a sick. You're a sicko on that one. I appreciate it. The Rams came out flat, as we thought, and the Jets just countless mistakes. Usually you get the home dog catching three and a half the cover in that spot.

This year, for whatever reason, the NFL, those spots just haven't been hitting. But yeah, we have football Wednesday, Thursday. We have bowls all week. NFL, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. So, yeah, it's happy holidays to everybody. Enjoy. Merry Christmas. Enjoy the football and your couch time. And, yeah, Indiana, I thought, like, their run defense held up well.

They give up that 98 yard. other than that. Notre Dame average like two and a half yards per carry, but nothing else was up to par. The most disappointing part was just how cowardly they called the game, which was kind of a theme. It was a winner go home. I thought Tennessee, too, punning down 17.

But Indiana punting down three possessions. What were you doing? Fair catching every kick, draws on third and long. It was just a cowardly game player from a coach who just talks all that shit. and then coached with this tail between his legs for the entire game. He has a college football weekend dominated by the favorites and the home teams. And then as we thought, Oregon, I mean, winning that Big Ten championship, hopefully they can win the national title because that might be the only banner they have.

The teams, Georgia, excuse me, Texas and Penn State lost on the competition weekend are double-digit favorites. George's small favorite and the biggest underdog of the top seeds is Oregon against Ohio State, two and a half point underdog. That's their reward, broken bracket, how they structured it. But that's their reward for going undefeat, the only undefeated team and winning the Big Ten championship. They're two and a half point underdog against Ohio State. Pretty amazing. You know what?

Before we dive into Wednesday, I would have told you a month ago that like the NFL, I'm glad you're playing on Christmas, but you're kind of ruining my college football playoff weekend. Thank God we had those two NFL games, especially I'm a sucker and I know you're a Ravens guy. That game just feels so awesome on TV every time they play. I don't care. Dilfer could be their quarterback. Flacco could be their quarterback.

Lamar could be their quarterback. Rothersberger candy, I don't care. That game, that was the thing is made for television. That was, I thoroughly enjoy. Honestly, I like the Chiefs games too. besides the tank tail injury, that sucked. But that game was a wild ride, a wild ride. And props to Lamar.

I thought one big takeaway I had, I thought it's one of the better games he's ever played, given the pressure on that moment. They took away his running ability, and he was just calm, cool, and collected. He just looked like, I thought he was going to look last year in the playoffs. So props to him for kind of getting that game out of the way,

and now it feels like the Steelers aren't fucking shit. Samples. Yeah, I will say part of that had to do with injuries for the Steelers. I mean, their offense isn't the same without George Pickens, but the defense was ravaged by injuries. I mean, they were already missing two starters in the secondary, and then Joey Porter, Jr. got hurt. They're also missing a start on the defensive line.

Joey Porter, Jr. got hurt, and the Ravens picked on Trice. So their corner situation, and then without Porter, they can't really run. some of the stuff that they want to run. So their second, it was just in shambles and the Ravens took full advantage. That's a huge storyline for this Steelers Chiefs game. I mean, there's injuries on both sides. The tackle situation for the Chiefs' influx,

Chris Jones might miss the game. He's massive. I mean, his presence is, and obviously his impact is hard to overstate. And then the Steelers, like is Pickens going to play? I don't think Porter's going to play. Do they get any other other secondary guys back?

That's just, there's a lot of injuries watching. And it's interesting because the cheeser's still going for a one seed. The Steelers still playing for the division. They have the tiebreaker over the Ravens. But it's a short week. And then, you know, if you err on the side of caution because the playoffs, both teams are giving the playoffs. And then you get extended rest before week 18.

I'm really, really curious to see how these teams handle the injury situation headed into this game. And Texans have a bunch of injuries, too. Well, I do think my initial reaction, obviously, it's hard to tell because this game comes at you so fast. And they mentioned this on the broadcast on Saturday, just how good Chris has played this year and what's that meant for the guys around him. So you're right, that is massive. I do think though I know they would get a longer rest to play Denver but that was a pretty scary game

the last time they played the Broncos and then having to go to Denver that you know Andy and these guys want to end it right now right? Because I think for a split second you're like it. All of the rest. Yeah for sure. That's why I think they are a kitchen sink game because even if they were to lose it

they still got a little more time. I have a hard time seeing the Steelers, man. They are, like you said, they're secondary the last two weeks with injuries and just miscommunications. I mean, they've been getting a visor. They got no shot. And the one thing the chief showed a little bit more life, Xavier Worthy. I mean, now the more and more reps he's getting with Mahomes. Still that deep ball is a little off.

That Tyreek thing, it felt like he never missed when he began to start. But, you know, Andy's so good at getting them on like running a little outroutes, getting a pick play. He's going to find a way to use them. even if they got to wait till next year to hit the bombs. I just feel like the Chiefs now are kind of in like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, like I'm going to end this fucking thing right now. Because for a split second on Sunday it was like, are the bills really going to do this?

And then you're like, no, they're playing Gerard Mayo and the Patriots, they'll be okay. So I think you have to assume that the bills are winning the next two games. And I would imagine Andy's thinking that. And just to leave it to chance on the last game of the season, you know he would love to just basically give his guys, two and a half weeks off, especially because of all the teams like in NFL history, no group of core guys, even you can add DeAndre Hopkins to that, right?

They're fine. They could take two and a half weeks and no one's betting against them week one. I just think that loss for the Steelers was, you know, Russell really had two plays. I didn't think he was that bad, but those two plays cost him the game, the fumble in the first half. Like, bro, you're playing the rates. The fumble changed the game. That was, I mean, at minimum right, a 10-point swing, probably a 14-1. point swing.

Yeah. And it's like you got it, Russell, this is like when you first started and you were playing the Harbaugh 49ers, this is that level game. I don't know what, you know, guys come out of nowhere. They will hit you as hard as humanly possible. And then that interception was just like, oh, man, especially right after, you know, I, did Lamar miscommunication? I'm not quite sure what happened there.

But regardless, it didn't hurt them at all. So I have a hard time. Like, I'm out on the Steelers. And it's not all, like the team that we were. were in on, I would say a month ago, not everyone was in on them, but the team that, you know, was really looking solid, the defense isn't nearly the same. Yeah, I mean, I will say on the surface, this is your classic Tomlin spot, right? Everyone says they're cooked.

They lost on the road twice to two really good teams. Isn't he bad on short weeks, though? And the Steelers. I don't know. I'd have to check that. I don't have to. I thought that was something that came up. Maybe it was a different.

I thought he was a bad Thursday night guy. Maybe it was Thursday night as a favorite. Yeah, Thursday night, I think he hasn't been great. Monday night, I know Monday nights, I know he has. But this is a game like Home Dog, everyone has been like they're cooked. But by the way, the Chiefs also got Hollywood Brown back. They need to be healthy.

The Steelers need to be healthy on defense because they need to have guys in the secondary. Number one, to run what they want to run. And if they do, then that, edge rush could give Mahomes problems, especially with the tackle situation in flux. A couple injuries there. Chris Jones is obviously worth monitoring. I think like the Chief's getting lucky in games, it's a little overblown. Like they're just going to win close games. Their offense isn't explosive.

Like they just know, just kind of know that in the end, if it's close, they're going to win. And then there's been, they just know how to run the clock down. There's been a number of games where they could have won by more margin. And so it is a classic Tomlin spot. I can't say what I bet right now. I need that there's so much injury uncertainty on a short week. But historically, like, this is, the Steelers missed like 20 tackles last week. Like, you know the tackling would be more buttoned up.

And the chief secondary does have issues since losing Jalen Watson. They have not been good. And the past two weeks, you know, they got James throwing a bunch of picks. The Browns turned it over six times. The Browns also didn't have the Joku. They lost a couple of receivers during that game. And the Texans, whose offense has been. been in the tank. We're moving the ball at will, and then tanked Elle got hurt, and all you

have to do now is just double Nico Collins. There's, I mean, what are you, you just, you're going to throw to Dalton, Dalton Schultz 50 times. There's a huge drop-off. That loss is massive. He was cooking the chiefs all game. It's, I think, six catches for 98 yards and basically a half on seven targets. And that, you know, this is a Texan's offensive, and they lost a couple offensive linemen during the game and dell so like the chiefs have been getting lucky with injuries their secondary is vulnerable but the steelers need pickings yeah need pickens so is he going to play i don't know so a lot of uncertainty there i do know you'll get the steelers best effort at home uh after two straight losses on the road everyone's written like this is the raw raw tom one spot

but if they don't have the players and the chiefs do and they say hey we're going all in it's a tough ask but as it right now i have to wait and see it's just two early in the week. I'm with you on if George Pickens plays because then Calvin Austin can play a little bit of that Tankdale role, who that speed, I mean, he was going nuts. And that's where going into the second game, you know, your team's kind of hitting their stride. That's Zach Orr, which was really, really ugly early. It feels like it's calmed down a lot. Obviously, and you hammered this home and they were hammering home on the broadcast, moving Hamilton back. And basically, because early on in the season, and he was essentially playing like Camp Chancellor at the line of scrimmage,

and he was kicking ass, but they were getting smoked behind him. And then obviously it came into play in that game when he made a big play on center field on a ball that probably shouldn't have been thrown, but still, like he's right there. And I just think that this Texan team, after that loss to Tank Dell, that felt like one of the, every once in a while, you know, obviously the DeMar Hamlin injury several years ago was as jarring as anything we've ever seen.

This felt like this wasn't life or death, but football, in terms of an injury, as rattling as you'll ever see a team, you had people crying. Obviously, they were really rattled after the game. I just don't know if you overcome that, man. Especially, you know, he had his leg shattered last year in the end zone. Same thing this year, which is even worse.

And I just, their offensive line's not very good. I think they're just out of it. of steam. This is just, I bought into them before the season. It clearly has been a bumpy ride, but man, it feels like they're at a juice and the Ravens kind of find their swag. And they got me, they bought me in last

year right around Christmas when they beat the shit out of the 49ers. I feel like I'm getting, jumping back on the bandwagon. Yeah, the Ravens defense is playing better too. They made some changes. You know, where they played Hamilton, putting Washington in at safety, really just

playing Humphrey in the slot has been amazing, and it's really helped. Defensive line also getting healthier. I don't think the defense was great last week, but just the trend line of the defense. It was so bad the past defense earlier in the season, especially over the middle of the field. They've addressed some of those issues, and they're much healthier. Although you got to watch Zay Flowers, Tyler Lindelbaum on the injury report. It's tough on a short week. You have to monitor the injury report.

The Texans, yeah, it's, they have offensive. of a lot more offensive line injuries. That was the game where it was, okay, let's see if we can get the offense going, get confidence in Kansas City against someone will have to be most likely on the road, or definitely on the road. Yeah. And they did have it going. And this is the first time we've seen life from the offense.

Totally. In months, and then Dell goes down. And you already lost digs. A couple more guys in the offensive line go down. I don't like their offense without Dell you saw it it just doesn't have the same juice you're supposed to have Dell Diggs and Collins out there and they just haven't been able to have all three healthy and now you're not going to have Dell and Diggs for the rest of the year that makes them so much easier to cover it's just hey put your best corner on Collins

put a safety over top and then Stroud's going to be under pressure. You can't really run on the Ravens. That's been their, that's been, like, kind of their bailout card in some games. There's Joe Mixing going off. Can't really run on the Ravens. I don't mind the under in this game.

I think the Ravens defense is trending up, and the Texans' offense is very limited now. The Texans defense also has some key injuries, but the Texas defense has been elite all season. Anderson didn't practice with a hand injury. I would imagine he goes, but they already lost Petrie, who was playing like an all-pro level

on the slot. Stud. Love him. Against the run, pass. He does so much. He got hurt. Then they had to move Jimmy Ward, your ex-niner.

He was playing well and filling that role nicely, but as a result, they had two rookies and the second to get a rookie safety in a rookie corner. They were making do, but now Ward got hurt. Yeah. So, and then the Ravens know how to pick on

a weakness of a defense. So these injuries for the Texans are a lot. So yeah, I don't disagree with you. I don't mind that Ravens unders are scary, but especially indoors. But I think their defense is trending up. And this Texan's offense has been lost, and now you don't have Dell. And I think their defense will show up here. But it's from an injury standpoint, if you look at it for these two teams, the Ravens are probably going to be more aggressive than the Texans,

because the Ravens are still playing for the division, which is important. And, you know, the Steelers still have the Chiefs and the best. Bengals left and the Ravens, I believe, have this game and then the Browns at home, which should be a win. So they're playing for the division. The Texans, they're playing for nothing. Like, they've won their division. They're not jumping up to the one-two seed.

It's, let's get healthy and maybe try to figure out some things on offense. But from a motivation standpoint, and that's what I mean by that is both teams will care, but how you treat like the injuries for this week, the Ravens might be a little aggressive. So don't mind the under and don't mind your Ravens take it all. Ravens control their own destiny. They went out? No. Because the Steelers have like a, the Steelers have the tiebreaker as of now.

And so they need the Steelers to lose a game. And which is much more likely. They need to win out and have the Steelers lose a game. which is much more likely to happen. I mean, the Steelers, like I said, Chiefs and Bengals, both of them are at home, but the Ravens win this game, they got the Browns who are disaster at home.

So the Steelers do have the tiebreaker as of now. So that's the ASE North is TBD for the rest of the way. So you could see Steelers lose in the morning. I could see the Ravens even up in their effort coming out swinging. That might be a little. You know, hammer that bet before kickoff if the Steelers just lost to the Chiefs because it feels like they could basically end it because they are going to be massive favorites against the Browns who, I mean, by that time, who are the Browns rolling out Miles Garrett and

shit for that game? No chance probably. You know, any guy, like, they're not going to risk someone snapping their leg or having a serious injury, especially more and more of these rumors about Miles Garrett potentially maybe this offseason, you know, kind of pivot. Could he be on the trade block? that'll be it's a big little domino effect right there

yeah Steelers it would come down to common opponents the common opponents type record Steelers would be nine and three Ravens would be eight and four because they'd have the same I think conference division and record if they finish tied so the Ravens have to

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We just contributed to it. 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. And we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers was... 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 essence. 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 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Keith Jamonka.

seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad. But secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy. But I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like?

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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 I-FartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down.

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the alliances, and the T, everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Okay, the Thursday night game, I don't understand how the bears keep getting shoved down our throat, but has any, I don't remember a team that has good players

and then does stuff in the second half, like shitty teams like the Giants, like they just get, they're down big and they just stay down big. This team is pretty fraudulent in the sense of they'll be down 24 to nothing or 20 to nothing or 17 to nothing. And then it'll just kind of ebb and flow touchdown back and forth from there, but it's never, the other team, knows they cannot lose the game.

It's like, oh, look at all these Caleb touchdowns. He hasn't thrown a pick. He's not even playing in real football games because of the way they're down. So I don't even know what to make of them. Obviously, he has a good arm and he's an intriguing prospect, but to think he's a good player based on some of these touchdowns down multiple scores in the second half against playoff teams, give me a break. Now, on the flip side, Seattle, that was a pretty devastating L for them on Sunday,

especially after Gino leads him right down. I'm like, this is like the defining drive of Gino's career. The throw he made in the back of the end zone looked like fucking farf. I mean, that was like a 100-mile-hour fastball. Incredible catch. And then Donald turns into Josh Allen meets Mahomes. And that's just a big kick in the, you know what, for Seattle.

Now they're not technically dead yet, but to me, I don't even, I could never bet on the bears, but I could also see Seattle. Feels like maybe they're just out of juice. after they, I mean, that was a kitchen sink game for them, running fake punts and I don't know. It wouldn't shock me if they lay an egg here, but their egg, it might not matter

because you're playing the Bears. Yeah, this is a tough game. I mean, you're generally speaking in the past, in the final two weeks of the regos season, these teams who are playing for nothing and are out of it, playing teams that need to win are a good bet because you're usually paying a premium

on the teams that need to win. Everyone knows they need to win. Like Lions Niners, like what are the Niners playing for now. Like that that felt like it's over now. Now you're getting the Lions. The line's not that big. I can see the Lions. Yeah, nobody.

Historically, those have been good bets. They're still professional. People still show up. Yeah, I mean, the Seahawks how played the Vikings. You look, yards per play, success rate, yards per attempt, yards per rush. They just made they lost the turnover battle. It's a lot of times what football games come down to.

And they killed themselves with penalties. The biggest one, and they have like 10 penalties. The biggest one was they were up four on the Vikings, and they get a sack, which pretty much would have ended the game. It would have been like third and 20, but they grabbed Donald's face mask. Next play, 40-yard touchdown.

Devastating loss. But they were really good in that game. Should have won, but they killed themselves with their own mistakes. They're like, yeah, do they get up off the mat here? Their defense is trending in the right direction. They made some personnel changes in the second day. They got healthier. They made healthier along the defensive line.

They got healthier in the secondary. I made some personnel changes at linebacker. McDonald has that team playing well. The one exception was the Packers game, but the trend line for that defense, they played well last week. The turnover led to a short field on the Vikings, and the Vikings have a good offense. And then, you know, you get that penalty and give up 40-yard touchdown

to Justin Jefferson. You had two guys there that just whiffed on it. It was an incredible throw, too. I mean, that was a great throw. He got crushed. It was an amazing throw. It's hard to bet the bears. I bet some bears last week at plus seven.

It did not end well. It's amazing that they're down every week. It's 20 to nothing. Like clockwork come out. I do think they miss Iber flus on the team. They're worse. I mean, they're solo with the jets. Same thing, right?

You remove that guy. They got dramatically worse. Yeah, and they miss Iber flus defensively. And then Graham is in over his head, trying to be the head coach offensive coordinator. It's a mess. They can't stop the run. So, yeah, this is a tough game.

Like, situationally, price-wise, it's probably going to get too expensive to play the Bears, but can you put your hard-earned money on the Bears right now? I'm not sure. It's a tough game. I think that was a game, even in a loss, if I'm a Seahawks fan.

I'm not saying McDonald's going to be as good of a coach and have a resume like Pete. obviously got to win Super Bowl, go to another one, win a national championship, like Pete's a legend. But clearly the last couple years, his teams did not look like that. So if I'm a Seattle fan, you know, what Ryan Grubb, who clearly, you never know with a college guy, how it's going to transition. I mean, when they're healthy, they look pretty freaking explosive. And I think back to the Packer game, the gap that was pretty, I actually earned,

I think Gino earned everyone's respect. like, hey guys, we can nitpick me all we want, but relative to who else we got in this roster, I look like Joe Montana meets Brett Forf. I mean, Sam Howell, also it brings in the light, like their own line sucks. So Gino's kind of mobility and toughness standing behind there. And Gino has an underrated arm.

You know, we talk about big arms. No one ever mentions him. Sometimes you watch, like, Jesus. Like, listen, as a Purdy guy, 49er guy here, I mean, Gino's throwing 100. Purdy's thrown like 88, right? I mean, Gino's got a hose. So I was impressed with Seattle, and clearly they're not, they win this game.

They're not dead by any means, right, playing the Rams week 18. How does that, do you know how that tiebreaker works if they both win this weekend and then they play week 18? Is that winner get in? Rams, so Rams, Seahawks would be. Rames have nine wins, so they. Well, no matter what, if the Rams beat the Seahawks, because they would sweep. They'd be in, yeah. And they'd have another win.

Benham. So the Rams control their own destiny. Yes. If the Seahawks and Rams both win this week and then Seattle wins in week 18, they'd be finished. They'd be tied in head-to-head division and conference record. We'd come down to strength of victory. And it looks like the Rams have a clear edge right now.

so the Seahawks need a lot of help like they need, yeah, it looks like the Rams so it looks like what the Rams need I mean what the Seahawks need then they need the they need the Cardinals to win. They need the Cardinals to beat the Rams. Yeah, and they need to win, win out.

He has a devastating loss and then the Jets not being able to capitalize on any trips into Rams territory really hurt them. So Rams definitely in the driver's as of now. I mean, at one point in time, on Sunday, it felt like it was going, like, God, the Jets probably going to win this game.

And Seattle's looking good. It was about to go the other way. It was 9-9. They were driving. They were like the 12-yard line, and they decided to go for it on fourth down, didn't get it. And that kind of flipped the game. And there was a drive earlier in there. They got down to the three, couldn't score.

They missed a field goal. They went for it on their own 30 and didn't get it. I mean, there was a comedy of errors by the Jets, which really helped the Rams out because they were flat. I mean, they're often said nothing in that game. So, yeah, Rams are in the driver's seat. Cardinals eliminated, losing to the Panthers. So that division, which looked like it was going to come down to the last game, might not, based on how these results go. The Rams might be sitting pretty.

Okay, before I get you out of here, just looking at some of the schedules, I know you love a good random shitty bowl game that doesn't matter to most people, but you always find value. It looks like we got a pretty good slate Friday, Oklahoma Navy, Georgia Tech, Vandy, Tech, Arkansas, Syracuse, Wazoo, the Trojans at A&M, does that have blowout written all over it for your Aggies? I don't know. I mean, Texas, USC gets to play in Vegas. They played their quarterback used to play at YUNA.

They played there earlier this season. A&M's three best defensive linemen are opting out. USC has a bunch of receivers opt out, but they still have talent there. I think there's a chance they could potentially keep it close. I got to see who ends up playing for sure. Syracuse should blow out Washington State. That line was I think opened at three. It's up to 16 and a half.

Everyone on Syracuse is playing. They care. Fran Brown's all in. They said we don't opt out. Washington State is down. It's head coach, offense coordinator, defensive coordinator, quarterback coach, running back coach. 11 starters have opted out.

there might be more. They're playing a backup quarterback. That game might close 20. I'm surprised Washington State didn't forfeit the bowl. Were the defensive coordinator, the defense coordinator go with Dickert? Their defensive coordinator. Because the OC and quarterback went to Oklahoma, right?

Which feels a little basketball package deal-y to you? Or am I just be in conspiracy theory there? Yes. He was fired. Their defensive coordinator was fired. Okay. So, yeah, it's an absolute mess. Is that quarterback, is that quarterback good?

I think he's okay. I don't think he's going to like, he wasn't playing great competition. And I don't think that's like the ceiling that Oklahoma thinks of it is. I mean, I understand. I don't know. I mean, Jackson Arnold, he gets benched, he comes back. Not totally his fault. And you were saying this early on.

They're missing a million wide receivers. I mean, you could have put Baker or Kyler there. It would have been a struggle with who was out there. Then he goes to Auburn, which I read for like $2 to $3 million, which seems a little crazy to me. But then they go with this quarterback and this offensive coordinator, who I text a couple of scouting buddies. They're like, yeah, he's really tough,

but I wouldn't exactly say he's, you know, what they've been used to in their heyday. So it just, Oklahoma feels a little lost right now. And maybe it's hard with the NIL situation. And maybe they just felt comfortable getting this package deal. But, I mean, you're seeing these opt-outs. It's hard to keep track. I mean, every day you look up,

there's another guy, another guy, another guy, declaring for the draft or transfer portal, but it changes these teams dramatically. Like you said, Washington State, who I think you tweeted out, no team finished worse. And it might have simply been like, did everyone kind of see the writing on the wall? Like, I'm out, I'm out. The coach is out. Maybe they all kind of internally quit and they were just looking forward because they were pretty good. Like they've been good the last couple of years.

So I wonder if mentally everyone checked out and they just kind of went through the motions, which is it fair to say that probably is what happened because I remember your tweet like you look like how the fuck did they lose is enormous favorites three times in a row well now looking back it kind of makes sense right which I wish we would have known we would have hammered the big underducks you could have some of them probably like three or four to one yeah yeah they were all double digit dogs they lost the ball so like brighting was on the wall so that could get ugly in Syracuse some of the kids they were on the ball team ball game last year they didn't have a coach they lost 45 nothing these teams without a coach that when they have all the players opt out, they usually get blown out. Oklahoma Navy, that line's going from seven to three, a bunch of Oklahoma opt-outs. I always take the Service Academy in the bowl, especially when they're a dog, 70% against the spread, excuse me, since 1970. If you just want to go back past 10 years, 15 and 3 straight up, 15 and 3 against the spread, 7 and 2 straight up against Power 14s.

Why? They always show up. Motivation is never a question. Motivation is huge for these meaningless bowl games. and Oklahoma, do they really want to spend their holiday break preparing for the triple option? Probably not. Is their staff really focused on this game?

Probably not. They're probably focused on the portal, recruiting, next year. So the preparation advantage, and Navy, they don't have to do any of that stuff. Texas Tech Arkansas is an interesting one. Arkansas, a ton of op-outs, all their received. Didn't the quarterback transfer? No, quarterback, Tailing Green, he's staying,

but all the receivers outfit out, out their tight end, multiple offensive linemen, they're running back. Their best defensive players are opting out. Texas Tech's quarterback's out, though, due to surgery. They're going with a backup quarterback. I still like Texas Tech. They're like a one and a half point dog. I think that they're, but Texas Tech also doesn't have any coordinators.

They replace their coordinators. Really interesting game. But Arkansas's offense is a mess right now. And Texas Tech, their backup, he played some this year. I think he's actually a better fit for the offense. He has some mobility. I think Todd Brooks, who's an NFL running, He's going to play.

He was listed on the debt chart. If he does, Texas tax roster is in much better shape. So I like the Red Raiders. Georgia TechVandy's two teams I wanted to bet in bowl season with their quarterbacks, Haynes King, Diego Pavia. Pavia will be healthier. Catching three, I think he just take the points there. But that's a tricky one.

But yeah, Friday's some interesting bowl games, although that Syracuse one could get ugly. Yeah, I like that. Okay, last one, though. The fighting Belichick's at Finlay. Benway Park. Now, Freddie Kitchens, legendary Freddy Kitchens, former Browns coach, coaching the game, but not really coaching for a job because Belichick's already said he's on the staff. So is this a kitchen sink game for Freddie Kitchens? Does he even have a kitchen sink game in them? It's outdoor, southern team playing Yukon, who I'll be honest, I haven't watched a snap of Yukon football

since Jim Moore's been there, but I would imagine Jim Moore is going to take this shit seriously. North Carolina favored by three. You would imagine Belichick will be kind of usually that interim guy that's or not the interim guy but the new coach who lets the another guy coach is usually there so i bet a lot of these guys on the team you would think would want to stay and play for him so does north carolina who was atrocious this year on defense right so how does this thing play out is this to stay away uh probably i if i was going to play it i would play UCon, just no coach. I don't know, I'm Bob Belich.

He's probably to worry more about the roster construction. He might not go. He might not go because they're just doing portal and recruit. He might not even care. They have so much other stuff to do. North Carolina does have some key opt-outs. The biggest one is Hampton is one of the best backs in the country. He's going to play in the NFL.

He opted out one of the best receivers, a couple of offensive linemen. So North Carolina and their best defensive end. opted out as well for the NFL draft. So they're not at full strength. Yukon's probably all in here. It means a lot to their program. Again, the coachless team.

It's Yukon. Look, you're paying for, you're paying the premium here because the line has come down. But it would be Yukon or nothing, but weird game. Okay, Stucky, I'll get you out of here. Have a good Christmas. Have a good Hanukkah. Whatever you may celebrate, enjoy just football.

I celebrate. And, uh, yeah, it's the same. And the NFL on Wednesday. So I will talk to you next week as we get forward to some more college football playoff games as well as the final week of the NFL, which might not be great. But so we can focus on college for sure. Yeah, hopefully we get some more competitive college football playoff games, which we should get, Georgia, Notre Dame at least, and Ohio State, Oregon.

And that's, I got to dive into the other two matchups and see if, Boise State can make it a game. If Arizona State can make it a game, they will have two really good backs to lean on in Ashton Gentie and Cam Scadabo. So yeah, I'm excited to talk about that, but Merry Christmas, happy holidays to everyone.

Early, happy New Year and I'll see you next week. We just need one of those two guys to go like Steph Curry at Davidson against Kansas. Just to rush for like 250 and have a legendary, a historic moment in college world. That's the good thing with the teams that benefit benefited the most from the buy, which wasn't Oregon, because they got to play Ohio State. Georgia, because they have to go to the backup.

So, one, you don't have to put him on tape for a game, and you can try to come up with some things and, you know, assimilate him into the offense, and Notre Dame doesn't really know what to expect. So they benefited from having that buy. And then Arizona State and Boise State, obviously they probably would have lost in the first round. I shouldn't say probably, but they would have been underdogs. so them not having to play an extra game. But you get Gentine and Scott who got fed the ball all year. You got some time to rest up.

Like they're going to come out with everything they got, rejuvenated, fresh legs, and I'm sure both teams are going to lean on them. So I wouldn't be surprised at the point of both. That's a really big day. Okay, Stucky, have a great week. Talk to you soon. You too, brother. Cheers.

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