The Kevin Sheehan Show - More Cooley + College Football Playoff Talk

Episode Date: December 31, 2024

Kevin opened up with an email that addressed a strategic mistake Washington made at the end of regulation Sunday night against the Falcons. He also had two College Football Playoff "Smell Test" picks. More Cooley on Sunday night's Commanders' win over the Falcons plus who he'd prefer they face in the playoffs. Tim Murray/VSiN jumped on to preview and give us his "best bets" on the four College Football Playoff games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don't want it. You don't need it. But you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Cheon Show. Here's Kevin. Wind Donation is the presenting sponsor of this podcast. Call them at 86690 Nation or head towindonation.com if you need new windows. Cooley Part 2 on the show coming up.

I had Cooley on the show yesterday. Got his thoughts on the Atlanta game. He watched the game. It just got a little bit long. so I kept part of it for today, so you'll hear the rest of it in the next segment. Following Chris, Tim Murray will be on this show, and we will preview and we'll get Tim's picks for the four quarter final games. Let me give you right now up front my smell test picks for today and tomorrow. Nothing today, nothing on tonight's quarter final game between Penn State and Boise State.

I would lean under in that game, but I don't like a side in that game. The total is at 54.5, 55 somewhere around there, but it's not an official play. Tomorrow, nothing on Texas-Arizona State, although I'd lean Texas and I'd lean under in that game as well. The two plays are for tomorrow's last two quarterfinal games. In the Rose Bowl, I like the under in the Ohio State Oregon game, that number right now at 55 and a half. They played a 33, 32 game in October against one another. Oregon's last game was 45 to 37 against Penn State in the Big Ten title game. Ohio State beat Tennessee in a game that went over.

People are expecting an offensive shootout in this game. The public's lined up on the over. I'll take under 55 and a half in the Rose Bowl. And I will take under 46 in the Sugar Bowl matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia. Those are the two plays under Ohio State Oregon, under Notre Dame and Georgia. I'll have all of the NFL picks for week 18 coming up on Friday show this week. But just two plays, they're both tomorrow, under in the Fiesta Rose Bowl and under in the Sugar Bowl. I would lean Notre Dame in terms of aside.

I don't really have a good feel for Ohio State or Oregon. There's more public action on Oregon, but there is super sharp money on Ohio State. So I'd stay off that. I kind of like the unders in all four. of the quarter-final games. But again, just to be clear, the two official smell test selections under Ohio State, Oregon, 55 and a half, under Notre Dame, Georgia, 46. I got this from Kyle.

Kyle wrote yesterday, hi, Kevin. I listened to your show today, hoping you'd mention DQ's decision not to have a returner in the end zone. at the end of the fourth quarter. He's talking about the 56-yard field goal attempt by Riley Patterson. It didn't come up, so I'm probably just missing something. The coaching staff knew the kicker well, because he played for Washington in the preseason,

and Kyle continues, and had to be on top of the weather conditions, the ball winds up landing in the center of the end zone. How great would it have been to have a kick six that ended the game, Allo the famous Iron Bowl. play. Great point, Kyle. Excellent point. They knew the kicker. They watched him in warm-ups where apparently he was struggling. They knew there was wind, I believe it was in his face. Yeah, you're right. They should have had James and Crowder back there or Luke McCaffrey back there. They should have had somebody with speed. That is a play with a field goal unit team on the field

that lacks athleticism to chase down a returner. That's an excellent, excellent point. They did not have anybody back there. Very true. Also, I wanted to read this. This came from Jeff. Jeff wrote, Love the recap today.

I don't think you mentioned the fact that Atlanta did not allow McCaffrey to return any kickoffs. Everything was kicked deep. I thought that was interesting, given his recent success on returns. He did have a kickoff return in the game, but you're right, most of the kicks, Atlanta kicks, were touchbacks. But he had one kickoff return,

and it was a pretty effective kickoff return of 29 yards. So he's been pretty effective right now as a kickoff returner for Washington. Right now, averaging, he's averaging nearly 30 yards, per kickoff return on 10 kickoff returns this year. I like Luke McCaffrey as a returner. I do. I think Washington's special teams overall are excellent. Now, whether or not they were trying to keep the ball away from him

and maybe the one time they didn't was because they were kicking in a direction where there was wind, I don't know. But McCaffrey seems to be a bit of a weapon. If they get Echler back for the postseason, it would be interesting if they get him back and they decide not to use them on returns, that wouldn't shock me, given McCaffrey's success, and given the higher probability on those plays of taking a big shot, I think Echler's real value is on offense, but he was a pretty effective kickoff returner as well.

Another email that I got from Eric. Eric wrote, Rising Tide lifts all boats. Tom was right when he said that. But when Jaden has to take over, his aggressive play style comes with a cost, more hits and a higher risk of injury. What we need to see is him under center with Rodriguez in a single back formation. The setup not only protects Daniels, but also gets the ball to someone who can create yardage on his own. Once Rodriguez gets rolling, the play action and passing game will become even more explosive. I love Brian Robinson. His story is incredible, but there's a lot.

no question in my mind that Rodriguez is the more natural and gifted runner. And then he went on to write more about the game. I like Rodriguez too. I've liked Rodriguez for a while, going back to his first preseason. There is something there that we're missing in terms of why he hasn't maintained a roster spot. You know, he's been cut, he's been brought back to the practice squad, he's been elevated from the practice squad, because he is, as you write,

Eric. He is a natural and gifted runner. He's just a running back with the vision of a running back, with the feet of a running back, with the ability to lean forward, contact. He's a very good yards after contact runner. We saw him catch the ball out of the back field. I don't know about under center with Rodriguez and single back formation. You know, you're talking about an offense that would be different than the one they're running right now, where Jaden is involved. And I get the higher risk of injury. Look, Lamar Jackson has a totally different frame, and Lamar Jackson's missed a bunch of games in his career. I do think about that with him, especially running as much as he is in the designed portion of their run game, which I don't love. I don't mind design

quarterback draws. You tend to spread the field out a little bit more. There's an opportunity to to get through the line, past the line of scrimmage without contact and even get down before contact. But man, the quarterback counter stuff, I know this is ad nauseum at this point. It's going to end in a pile and it's going to end with the quarterback being tackled more times than not. So that is aggressive play style calling and play calling from Cliff. I agree with that. I'd like to see Rodriguez, whether it's, you know, at a pistol, at a shotgun, under center, you know, I I tend to agree with you on that. And I like Brian Robinson, Jr.

I think Rodriguez is a bit more natural of a runner, but I like Brian Robinson, Jr. And I think Brian Robinson, Jr., if he had been healthy all season long, I think we would have seen a thousand yard plus season, not that that means a lot anymore. But I like Brian Robinson, Jr. I really liked the situation they had earlier in the year. We talked about it, you know, after maybe the Arizona game,

Cincinnati game, the one-two punch with Robbins. Robinson Jr. and Echler was pretty good. I thought they were actually underrated at the position. But let me just say, I don't like any of these guys enough not to include running back on my offseason priority list. It may not be number one or number two on that priority list, but running backs made a comeback in the league. And if you can get a massive impact player at that position. Somebody like the guy we saw the other night, Bijon Robinson, oh, you're taking that player. Ashton Genty could be available to them at the end of the first round, depending on where they pick in the first round, depending on their playoff results. But I'm not suggesting that I would

take a running back in the first round, but I would take best player available. And if it happens to be a running back, I wouldn't shy away from it. They'll be looking, I think, for a true RB1. You know, Brian Robinson Jr.'s availability has become a bit of an issue. All right, let's get to Cooley next after these words from a few of our sponsors. Hey guys, no man wants to lose his hair, but for men, it's actually very common. And now with Hymns, the solution is simple. Try Hymns hair loss solutions. You'll be joining hundreds of thousands who got their flowback.

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It is that easy. All right. Cooley was on with me on yesterday's show, recapping the Atlanta game from Sunday night. He watched the game. The conversation got a little bit long, so I kept part of yesterday's conversation with Chris for today's show. So I cut it off yesterday, right before we had a conversation about Terry McClure from Sunday night. You know, covered by A.J. Terrell all night long, targeted seven times, but just one catch for five yards. So we'll pick it up from there. Terrell's really good, but he got targeted seven times and caught one ball. And I thought some of them were catchable, and I thought their connection, just for whatever reason,

Jaden was a little off throwing to Terry. What did you think? He's one on a flamp that hit his hands that he didn't bring down, contested that you almost always didn't bring down. He had won the next play after that over the middle where he's just led by the foot too far that it's out of reach as he's diving. That if you probably adjust his body differently, he's got an opportunity to catch it. But I think he just was blanketed. And I don't need it seven targets. But you've got to move him.

That's the other thing. If you've got a guy that's that covered you on the ball, you've got to create for him. And you start to get some of those stack looks. You start to get him offset with somebody else in front of him where he can change up his release pace, that he can change up the stem without getting immediately pressured and guys in his face. To me, you find creative ways to get your best players the ball.

But at the same time, your best number one receiver should be able to get open. So there's a 50-50 on that. Yeah. I think it's really interesting that, I mean, you give them the ball back with Uber amount of time. Yeah. Well, they would have...

That's an interesting situation when you take the ball at a 30 on a first and 10. What, they had two-time-outs? Or one, they had one, because the play before they had... Where are we? Washington with a minute 19, Washington. Yeah, minute 19. I said it's an interesting situation.

You have one time out. To give them the, to kick the ball into the end zone and touch back and give it to them at the 30? Oh, I thought... No, just, sorry, I'll start over for you. Yeah. The ball is on the 30. The touchback has already occurred.

It's an interesting scenario offensively. With only one time out, it's not that hard to go down the field and get a field goal, but you cannot give Atlanta the ball back. Yeah, but all season long, they have done it. They have gone down the field and they've gotten the game winner. You know, they did it last week. Jaden's now got, you know, he's got, you know, he's got, six touchdown passes in the last 30 seconds of the game, four of them basically,

five of them basically to have a chance to win the game. They won four of them. He's just, he's, he's Mahomes. I'm just saying, I know that. But if he's Mahomes, then he needs 35 seconds, take the ball from 30 down into field range. Yeah. And so you might want to think about running the ball first and second down there,

or a screen pass, or an insured complete. The funny thing is that's right. I mean, Rahim Morris wouldn't use a timeout. He probably would have used the timeout of defense, yeah. I, yeah, I, you know what I mean? Like, you can't give them the ball back for 40 seconds, but they're just, you absolutely cannot do that. They just haven't been very effective running the football other than with the quarterback involved in the run game. Like, you know, the yards Robinson Jr. gets are off-reed option style plays. All right. What's wrong with that in the critical moment on first down?

I hear you. No, I would have been fine. However, they would have chose to move the football down the field. They had been successful. Well, I just think you open the floodgates to go try to really score. We're going to throw the ball when you hit about 50 or 40 seconds. So I don't lose a regulation there to a field goal. If that makes sense to you.

Look, third and ten, he threw a ball right into Zekees' hands on. you know, that would have put the ball into Atlanta territory. And I'm fine with that, and I love that. But third and ten, he throws a ball into the keys of his hands with what left on the clock, is what I'm saying to you. Well, there have been 50-something seconds, and then you can work the clock and make them call timeouts. But you've got to get down there first. You're not thinking about burning the clock on first and ten from the 30.

You're thinking about what's the best way to get down the field and get into field goal range. then we can worry about burning the clock. How many things have you seen get down the field and get into field goal range in three plays? I'm sorry? A lot. Yeah. I said how many times you see a team get down in three plays? Starting from the 30, it happens all the time now in the league starting from the 30.

You don't need a minute 19 is my suggestion. I understand. And if you were going to go three and out, taking that risk, then you're giving them 40. Yeah. I understand that. I'm just right now, they just came down and tied the game. I've got the best player in the game. By far, he has basically carried us, and I'm going to put the ball in his hands and have him,

you know, take us down there. Like he's done all year long, like we've given him the opportunity to do all year long. And once we're in field goal range, then we can, you know, worry about run the ball, burning their last timeouts and kicking a walk off field goal. I don't want to go, I don't want to go Brian Robinson for minus one on first and ten. And they got zero yards on first 10. But you're not going to go Brian Robinson for minus one on first. That's what we've seen in the last couple weeks.

A lot of TFLs. But you shouldn't in that situation because if I'm Atlanta, I'm not defending you to run the ball. I'm giving you the six-yard run. Okay. Then take it. I don't care. I'm not. I guess my suggestion is take, take, here look.

Minute 19, run the ball, take 30 seconds off the clock. Now there's 50. Yeah. then go. I mean, they stepped the ball with about a minute left. Okay. Because of the sack. I'm just, I'm not disagreeing with you. The one had a chance to win the game and the dude was short,

the dude was short on a field goal that went dead down the middle. 20 other kickers in the league and they lose that ballgame. Well, 20 other coaches and they're kicking a 38-yard field goal instead of a 56-yard field goal. 20 other coaches and the win is winning the game 28 to 17. I mean, that kicker has been a, he's bounced around. Washington had him in training camp and he missed three kicks in the preseason. So there was no guarantee he was going to make a shorter kick either. But he hit that 56 yard perfectly. That's for sure. He hit it on the nose. It looked in. Have you seen the videos of the Atlanta fans getting videotaped as the kick left his foot? They're celebrating. They're going nuts. They didn't realize it was short. Yeah, so this... No, that is not an amazing kicker,

but you can't give him an opportunity to have a walk. All right, look, I'm not disagreeing with you. Whatever. All I'm telling you is that there's literally no consideration with him at quarterback and the way he's been playing, and by the way, the way he had been playing in that half, to doing anything other than giving him an opportunity to throw them for yards or run them for yards.

to move the football down the field. You know, handing the ball off with, you know, with, you know, 21 personnel or 13 personnel to get four or five yards and to run the clock for 34 seconds before you take your next snap or force them to call time out. It's just not the way they play in these situations. He's been, it was a, honestly, I was shocked. Why are you, why are you going to go out and 13 personnel?

I'm not going to substitute when I run the ball. Okay, whatever. You just suggested we're going to run the ball. But you'd want to run the ball against. You can run the ball out of any person. It was run the ball at 11. I understand that. What I'm saying to you is all this, when they took possession of the football,

there isn't anybody that's watched him play this year and watched this team play that would have bet anything other than everything they had that there would have been a walk-off field goal to win the game. I guess I just watched too many games in that stadium. Yeah, before him. And when they won the toss, there isn't anybody that's watched this team all year that didn't think they would go right down the field and score and win the game with a walk-off touchdown. He's been that good and that clutch all season long.

Well, it's so much fun to why. I mean, I think everything he did is awesome. And I like just his demeanor when you're watching the television. They show him on the bench. He's so cool. Yeah. He's just so cool. Yeah, he's incredible.

So do you have anything else on the game? Because I want to ask you a question about moving. What the hell of a drive to win the game? I mean, I went on the negative. To allow Atlanta back into the game and realistic chance to win the game, which Washington, in my opinion, gave to them. Incredible drive to win in overtime. It was huge.

I mean, Daniels is huge, was huge. God, Rodriguez had a big time catch. Yeah. I like Rodriguez. I do too. Here's something. I think I've talked to you about this, not on the podcast, but off the air. I don't like, and I've talked about this all season long.

scrambles, of course, they're so effective. They're one of the most dangerous plays in the game when you have somebody like Daniels. All of the option stuff, love that stuff. I don't mind quarterback draw. I don't like running Jaden Daniels on quarterback counters as much as they do. I just think it's a play that's always going to be a play that ends in a tackle, you know, not an opportunity to jump out of bounds or slide or anything like that. And it's usually a tackle in a pile.

And they run them. It's a red zone, you know, it's been consistently in the red zone this year more than anywhere else. It's Cam Newton, Carolina, Panthers. Yeah, it's Josh Allen. It's Lamar Jackson. It's a big time college one, yeah. I know. But he is.

Started, I think, with Cam. I don't love it. Cam Newton's 6-6 and 250. I just don't love those plays, and they've been effective. I bet you his quarterback counters this year, and they've run a shitload of quarterback counters. I bet you he averages four and a half yards per carry on those. But on every single one of those, he's going to take a hit. And he's going to end up in a pile.

I just... How about his knee bent? Oh, my God. That was bad. Oh, my God. I watched that. I'm like, I couldn't do that. My knee would be gone.

I mean, thank God. I mean, because, you know, the previous reason... regime, he would have been done, it would have been a career-ending play on that turf, that franchise with Dan owning the team, it would have been the worst case. But, you know, it's a different day, brother. And he popped right back up. He was fine. But, but real quickly, answer my question. I'm with you. So I'm with you on the quarterback counter. I think it's, I just don't, here's what I would ask. One, the quarterback draw, I'd rather have the quarterback counter and then the draw, essentially.

The draw is right up the middle where he's got guys on every side of the counter, at least he knows he's protected to one side of the field. So if he wanted to slide, he can. But a QB draws with the field spread, it's from empty, you know, it's blocked.

Like, we're going to go first and ten quarterback counter. All right. He's a running. I don't know what it sets up. That's my thing. I'm not sure what it sets up. And the other thing, and you mentioned this to me, and I watched it, speaking of what it sets up,

He has no action in the backfield when he goes with any kind of fake pitch or handoff. He has no action. I know. So what it really should set up, they should run that play action. He should start the run and then throw the ball. He should start, like, he's the runner. And then just take a step back and throw. And then they take three steps forward, like you're going to run counter,

but it could be lateral steps like sprint out and then set up and throw. and your pockets move with your counterguard and tackle. That's a better run action than having a fake pitch that he doesn't even, he flippantly looks at the back. Well, even the fake handoffs are really short and quick, and his eyes never leave down the field. And I think in part it's because there's been a lot of immediate pressure in recent games. Well, I would tell you, I would say this,

if the answer for my quarterback was, I need to keep my eyes down the field. I mean, I'd keep the action. I don't hate keeping the action in, but I'd say, like, do your best. I don't want him to be able to have to take his eyes off the field and not be able to see what he needs to see. Cliff is not very good, though. Cliff is really creative, but there are a couple of things. Like every single short-yarded situation when he goes under center, it is even money that it is going to be a, you know, it's going to be a boot off, you know, everybody flowing one-way zone, you know, run fake hand off,

coming back the other way. And it's either a naked boot where he's going to run it, or maybe there's a chip with a tight end or a receiver who's going to hopefully pop into the flat. But they have run the short yardage under center quarterback keeper bootleg with him five times this year, at least. And they ran it last night again. But, you know.

He has someone to throw to. Yeah. Yeah. The New Orleans. game was the game in which they got blown up on that particular play. But it works more often than not. He's everything, well, he's not everything. He's so much more than even I thought or you thought because you fell in love with him watching him on tape before the draft too. It's just been to an historic rookie season. Chris, we haven't talked about this. He right now is an elite

quarterback in the NFL. He's a top five, top six quarterback in the NFL. We have talked about it. You told me a month ago that he's a legitimate MVP candidate. Yeah, I mean, he's not now because... Not was a month ago, and a half ago, two months ago, yeah. Yeah. It's insane how good he is. So here's... He's a legitimate MVP candidate going into next year. It'll be interesting to see what odds are on him going into the next year as an MVP candidate. No doubt.

So here's a question. So they are... the six seed currently, which if they remain in that spot, they would play either the Rams at Sofi or the Bucks in Tampa in the first round of wild card weekend. If they remain there, all they have to do to remain there is beat Dallas or Green Bay loses to the Bears, but assume Green Bay is going to beat the Bears. If they beat Dallas, they're the six seed, and it's the Rams of the Bucks, if they lose to Dallas, more likely than not, it's Philly on the road. Do you play everybody and you try to go win that game in Dallas Sunday? Is Tanner McKee going to be the quarterback for the Eagles or is Hertz going to be ready?

In the playoff game, I would assume Hertz, yeah. Yeah. Did you watch that game? For the third stringer, Tanner McKee comes in from Stanford. You're right. I would assume that they're just going to... My father-in-law, he's the next Tom, Brayette. Yeah, right. Hertz will be back, I would assume. You know, he got concussed in the game last.

I would assume both. I would assume they'd have picket back as well. It was ribs. Right. So. I'm playing the Rams of the Bucks, Kev. I want the, I would, my preference of the three teams would be the Rams. You're playing in a stadium that's not a home field advantage.

In fact, you might have a slight home field advantage with the number of Washington fans that would be there. Correct. Now you are facing Matt Stafford, who's had a hell of a year. And they have really gotten it together after it looked like it was going to be a long year with all their injuries. They were one in four. But I think that's the team because of the stadium, the environment. Philly's going to be a road game in brutal cold.

Tampa is playing. I think Tampa is a legit threat to win some games. I think they are really good. good. I am in love with Baker Mayfield right now. His year has just been so much fun to watch, his highlight reel for the year. He's such a stud. Yeah, you love, you love him. I mean, he just, I just, I just think he just has balls. Yeah. Plays with it. So Rams are your choice too? I think Campbell is really good right now. His Tampa played the last few weeks, though. I don't care what Tampa did against Carolina

because I watched that game. They played Dallas. They crushed the Chargers, Raiders, Panthers, Jens. See, Tampa's, look at Tampa's run through the middle of the year. I know. Lost to Baltimore, lost to Atlanta,

lost to Kansas City, lost to San Francisco before they got all banged up. They beat the Giants, Panthers, Raiders. They were banged up through that stretch. They got banged up. They got banged up. And they lost to the Falcons and overtime on a Thursday night. They beat the Saints.

Then they played the Ravens and they got more banged up. That was the game where they lost Chris Godwin at the end. Oh, you're talking about Tampa. Sorry, I was saying they beat San Francisco before San Francisco, or they lost to San Francisco. Before San Francisco got all banged up. Who, Tampa? Tampa. Yeah, yeah.

Okay, we're on the same team. No. They had a chance to win all those games. as a banged-up team. Now they're healthier because they were without Evans for a while. Now, they beat some bad teams. They beat the Giants. They lost to Dallas.

They lost to Dallas who's played much better until yesterday with no CD-LAM. They crushed the Chargers. And then they crushed the Panthers yesterday, and the Panthers had been playing well. So they still have to beat the Saints. Because if they were to beat the Saints, lose to the Saints and Atlanta beats Carolina. Atlanta would be in and Tampa would be out.

But I think they'll beat the Saints. Their odds are going to be the best, I think, against the Rams. I think so, too. You have best odds against the Rams. I think it's a good matchup, too. Let me give you the... The Rams have been playing great defense, but, like, Washington's a different deal. And I'm not saying that Washington just go out and drop 40 on them,

but it's just a different deal offensively with what they have with the quarterback. and the Rams, other than that Buffalo game, don't necessarily score. Let me give you the point spreads right now. I haven't seen them because I don't think they've been posted. Are you going to make them up? Well, I'm pretty good at this usually. If they play at Philadelphia in a 7-2 game and everybody's healthy, they're going to be a 7.5-8-point underdog in that game.

If they play... Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. We're write them down. I'm going to see what I got. Okay. you're going to write them down first. Well, I've already given you one. I know I had already written down to eight, though. Back up.

Seven and a half, eight point dogs at Philly. At Tampa, actually would be, they'd be a four, there'd be a four point underdog. In SoFi against the Rams, they'd be like a three and a half or four point underdog. It'd be pretty close between the Rams and the Bucks. It'd be essentially the same thing.

They'd be, it'd be more than a field goal, but it'd be like right around three and a half four. But they'd be more than a touchdown underdog at Philadelphia. What did you write down? 4.5 at Tampa, one. You know what? Wait, what did you say? Five point dog at Tampa? Four and a half, four and a half dog.

At Tampa. and one point dog against the Rams? Okay. Which would make them a four and a half point favorite? What would they be favored at home against the Rams? Four? Three and a half, four? If they were one point dog on the road,

they'd be a five-point favorite at home. Two point five. What would they be? What would you assume they would be at home? Not five, right? Against the Rams? Three. Yeah.

Three and a half, something like that. Right, three. Yeah. Yeah, three is a pretty good number. So let's take the Rams. Here's the thing going into the NFC playoffs. Washington will be the team that has the best quarterback in the NFC playoffs. I mean, you might say Stafford.

Okay. Hertz? I take Jaden over Hertz right now. I take Jaden over Sam. I mean, I know you would. I think that would be a pretty, I think that would be a coin toss to most people. Okay. I'm just, this is my opinion.

I think a lot of people would take him over golf. I would take him over Goff. I would take him over Garnell. I'd take him over Mayfield. Love is the one that I think is eventually going to be great. I don't see it with love. You don't see it with him. And he's a good day guy.

I like him. The last three or four weeks, he's been playing unbelievable until the vice is it. Yeah. Donald's been playing lights out. Really, really kind of happened. Donald's had over a cuddard quarterback rating. Who's the highest rate of quarterback this year? Donald?

No. Passer rating or QBR? PASSER rating doesn't have been jack crap to me. QBR. Lamar, Josh Allen, Burrow, Jaden Daniels number four. Yeah. KBR. Yeah.

Then Love's five. Yeah. Mahomes. Six. 33, 37. Gough, 8, Hertz. 30, 10, Stafford 11. Darnold is 13.

Here's the thing with Darnold. It's a great story. He's in the perfect situation, obviously. I always thought that Darnold in the right system would be decent. Didn't you two? You kind of like Darnold. I always liked Darnold. I know you did.

I remember we did this when he came out. I liked Darnold. I thought the Jets, I thought he had a chance early. But then he went to, would, go to Carolina. Yeah, he was in Carolina from the Jets. My father and I yesterday were here, and I said, a guy that's that high of a pick, why would that, my choice wouldn't have been to go there.

I don't want it to go somewhere where they had dudes. Yeah. He said I had a chance to play well, and going to Minnesota, he did that. I felt bad. I felt bad for Kirk last night. That game that just follows Darnold getting teared off in the locker in Minnesota, and then they continue to just show him on the sideline, I'm like, not playing.

Yeah, he's not right. He's fine. I know. He's not right. And the reception he got in Minnesota a few weeks ago when Atlanta was there. I mean, literally the whole team lined up to say, I know, to talk to him. You understand the moment. Yeah, but here's the thing about, the woe is me moment. Yeah, I know. I feel badly for him.

But I told you a few weeks ago, something ain't right. Like, he does not love. look right at all. And it just changed. Like something happened because he was fine. I mean, he was as hot as any quarterback in the league for about a five or six week stretch. But anyway,

people don't want to hear about Kirk on a day like today. What I was... No, we're done with it. What I was going to say to you was that Donald's having a really good season. But the one thing, and I looked this up a few weeks ago, and I'm trying to find it right now, he was leading the league in turnover worthy throws and was just getting lucky a lot. And you saw it even yesterday. He threw a pick and then he literally threw almost two others when he was getting hit. But I don't think anybody gets more separation and is open more often against double coverage than Justin Jefferson.

It's just amazing. I don't think there's anybody I'd rather to throw a 50-50 ball to. than Jefferson. He's just ridiculous. And Addison's great. But I'm looking it up right now. So turnover-worthy throws on the season, Darnold is third currently in the league in turnover-worthy throws.

So he is lived right this year, but he's also been outstanding this year. But it's hard not to with Kevin O'Connell and Jefferson and Addison and Hawkinson and Air. Aaron Jones. And it's just the perfect place. And everybody that's been with Kevin O'Connell so far, I mean, Kirk benefited significantly by being with them.

But I still would take Jaden. I'd take Jaden over any of these NFC quarterbacks. I would. All right. Can we do this before their playoff game where you can watch some preview some film on the opponent, whoever it is, and we can do a breakdown and a prediction?

I would love to do that. All right, because that could be the last game of the year, but I wouldn't count them out. I mean, they got a shot. Don't you think they have a shot? Yeah, they have a shot. Everybody's got a shot. Everybody in the NFC has got a shot.

It's insanity right now that the NFC isn't quenched and you have two 14-win teams. I know. That game Sunday makes crazy. Really? There's I mean 11 and 5 right now. They can go 12 and 5 and they have no chance to win the division. No chance.

Somebody's going to have 14 wins more likely than not and lose the division in the NFC North. All right. It's unheard of. There's just a lot of good teams right now. Thank you for doing this. Oh yeah, I think anything can happen. Thank you for having me.

All right. That was Cooley from yesterday's show. that I held out for today. If you want to go back and listen to some of his other thoughts about the game on Sunday night, it is on the December 30th episode of the podcast. All right, up next, Tim Murray will jump on with me, and we will preview the four quarterfinal college football playoff games, which gets started tonight.

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after you play your first $5 lineup. Prize picks, run your game. This segment of the show, where Tim Murray is going to jump on with me and we're going to preview and get Tim's best bets on the four college football quarter final games, which begin tonight. It's brought to you by MyBooky. Go to MyBooky.orgie. Go to MyBooky.com. Use my promo code, Kevin, D.C. And MyBooky will give you a 50% cash bonus on your initial deposit. Take the free money. Take MyBooky as a secondary betting site if you already have one. But you'll get free money with the initial deposit. If you don't have a place, where you're currently betting on sports.

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Why wouldn't you? They've got everything you need for the four college football playoff games, for the NFL games this weekend. By the way, for all of the other bowl games as well. And they got all prop bets up for the, the NFL end of season awards. Right now, Jaden Daniels, minus 20,000 to win offensive rookie of the year. By the way, the second pick is Brock Bowers.

It's not even Bo Nicks. So these people out there talking about Bo Nicks versus Jaden Daniels like it's close somehow for offensive rookie of the year. It isn't. MyBooky.ag promo code Kevin, D.C. Tim Murray, my good friend, from the Veezen Network, Brett Musburger's Network. workout in Vegas. Tim is the host of Vizan's college football tailgate show, which has aired all season long 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern en masse in here locally. Tim joins us right now. We'll go through the four games and get his thoughts on the four games and whether or not he likes any of the four games

from a point spread or total standpoint. But real quickly, will you be on the air tomorrow, today or tomorrow on Vizan's Tailgate show. Are you guys doing live stuff during the games? I will be. Yeah, noon to four on Veson. So four hours, you can check us out. I don't know if we're going to be on Maston, but you can get our app, the Veson Watch app. You can listen and watch for free there, but I'll be on from noon to four. So one hour before Texas, Arizona State, and then during Texas, Arizona State, I'll be preview in Oregon State, Ohio State, Oregon, Ohio State and Notre name Georgia. Oregon State did not make it. No, they did not.

What are you allowed to say about the game that's going on while you're doing live radio? It's a great question because, you know, being at a gambling network, we're a little bit different than normal radio in this regard, right? As a normal radio show, you would

try to avoid talking about the game that's going on because people would want to turn away and go find it on the radio or go watch it somewhere else. So we don't spend the whole time focusing on it, but however, we do mention it decent amount because of in-game wagering, right? So, you know, if I see something where, you know, Arizona State, you know, Cam Scadabo, their running back goes down with an injury, I'll make mention of that and say, hey, here's the live line. I think Texas might be worth a play right now.

So there is, it's a little bit different at Vison than other radio that I've worked at before because we do spend. time in-game betting as well, discussing those. So this past fall, I've done a lot of Sunday shows where we focus, Kevin, almost exclusively on the games that are going on. So it's a little bit of a different listening experience and hosting experience than I've done prior than in my career where we do spend some time talking about the games going on because of this in-game bett angle. Yeah, I mean, I wasn't even thinking of it from that perspective.

That makes total sense. I was thinking of it more from, you know, those who own the broadcast play-by-play rights. You're not allowed, I don't think, to, you know, basically give play-by-play of the game. But anyway. I can't be sitting there and pretending to be, you know, Chris Fowler and going through the game. But look, look, if there's a big touchdown pass, you know, we'll discuss it. A lot of my shows are on during, you know, Thursday night football, Monday, I have football. So we certainly discuss it quite a bit.

It's that tricky balance where I'm trying to figure out, all right, what's going too much, what's going too little. So, yeah, it's kind of an interesting balancing act, so to speak, of how to focus on what's going on, but also the audience something different to listen to. Before we get to Tim's thoughts on these four quarterfinal games, I did want to get your thoughts, and I'm sure you've shared them on your shows, about the reaction to the four first round games. You know, there was a lot of criticism from all corners about the four first round games, the non-competitive nature of all four of them, the criticism of SMU and Indiana in particular,

making it into the field and basically putting up no resistance to Notre Dame and to Penn State in the two games that they had. There was just a lot of discussion about, you know, Bama should have been in, Ole Miss should have been in, South Carolina should have been in. You know, why are we going to have to watch Boise State in this next round, et cetera, et cetera. And you are a lifelong college football fan, and like me, you couldn't wait. for this expanded playoff to see these games and, you know, home venues like we got in the first round. So with that, what did you think of the four first round games? So I tweeted something out to this effect, which is the buildup to the Notre Dame Indiana game and the build up to Ohio State, Tennessee, was something we haven't really seen, in my opinion,

in a while. And most notably, Notre Dame Indiana, it's not because, because I'm a Notre Dame fan. It's just because we had been waiting for this type of expanded playoff in a while in college game days on a campus. And, you know, the buzz that was there is something I can't even recall. And sure, we've had massive games. You know, Alabama, LSUs had their fair share of just unbelievable games. And the list goes on and on.

But to me, a blowout in the playoff does not say that the playoffs stinks. and people quickly forget, Kevin, that in the first eight years of the 14 playoff, 13 of the 16 semifinal games were decided by double digits. We have seen these before. Unfortunately, in college football, it's been a bit anticlimactic, and we've seen blowouts happen on a regular basis. So to me, yes, did I want? Want to see competitive games?

Of course I did. But I did not come away from the four teams, the four games saying this is a failure. Go back to the old system. Because the old system in 30 games had 20 games decided by 10 or more points, and that includes national championships. The way this sport has been structured, we've seen blowouts. Now, could it be tinkered with? Yeah, I think so.

And I think, you know, Boise State and Arizona State getting the buys, I do think is a bit flawed. And I think it was a bit rare to have it play out the way that it did this year. But I've said it, and I'll continue to say it, Kevin. Alabama and Ole Miss and Miami, they cannot cry that they didn't make it into the playoffs. I'm sorry, you guys had more than a fair shot. Alabama, and everybody, it's funny when the goalposts get moved. Well, we should, what's the power rating between Alabama and SMU? What's the power rating between Ole Miss and Arizona State?

And my rebuttal would be, Kevin, is, well, there was a point spread when Alabama went to Vanderbilt, and it was 24 points, and they lost the game. There was a point spread when Old Miss went to Florida, and it was 14 points, and they lost the game. So would Ole Miss or Alabama or even Miami have been more competitive against Notre Dame than Indiana? Maybe, but they lost three games and they only have themselves to blame. So look, I loved it. I soaked up every second of it. I want more games on campus.

I know you've been asking for it for many, many years. I thought the atmosphere specifically at Notre Dame and at Ohio State were phenomenal. I love the weather, how cold it was. It had a unique wrinkle to it. Obviously, now we get the Fiesta Bowl, the Peach Bowl, the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl. They'll be fine, but it's not the same as the on-campus standpoint is. So I loved it. I loved watching it.

Would I have won a competitive games? Of course I would. We all would want competitive games. But I just, my biggest takeaway was, let's not pretend like the 14 playoff just gave an instant classic after instant classic. What? It was two years ago that Georgia played TCU. I think they lost by like 60 points.

Yeah, in the title game. I read your tweet, like, the day after. Everything you said, I completely agree with it. And I'll just add this to it. The best thing about what we have now is that we don't have to wait for it. You know, when we got the final four decided on, you know, the Sunday after conference championship Saturday, we had to wait at least a month, sometimes longer, for those two semi-finals. games, and by the time we got to those games, they were almost, you know, they had almost been

forgotten, and they were anticlimactic. And to your point, 13 of the 16 semifinalists in the four-team college football playoff era, 13 of those games were decided by double digits. So I loved the fact that we got football less than two weeks after the pairings were announced. And now we get another four games, nine, ten days after the first round games were played, and then we're not going to have to wait that long for the two semifinal games. That, to me, may be the best part of it, is it doesn't leave our consciousness, like college football's still there for us instead of taking a month off from it and trying to come back from it. And then the atmospheres that you described, if you're a sports fan, let alone a college football fan, the intent of

You know, pregame and leading into the beginnings of those games before they got sideways score wise. It was great. It was heavyweight championship electricity in South Bend, in Columbus, in Austin, in Happy Valley. And I loved it. And it sucked that none of the games were competitive games, but maybe we'll get that tonight and tomorrow. So let's get to it. Let's start tonight where currently Penn State in the first quarter final game, by the way, for those that don't know this, these are games played with, you know, at bowl sites. These are neutral site games from now on. The game tonight between Penn State and Boise State is at the Fiesta Bowl out in Glendale, 730 kick Eastern on ESPN.

tell me, you know, give me the analysis of this game, and then give me whether or not you've got to pick in this game, betting-wise. Yeah, I'll start and I'll just kind of get into it. I don't have a bet on the game. I really want to take Boise State. The infamous group tweet that we have, me, you, and Steve Sands, asked about this game, and I want to get there on Boise State. I just don't know if I can because Boise State.

I look at, and I watch a lot of Mountain West football living out here in Vegas, UNLV obviously part of the Mountain West, and it's just on late. If you're a degenerate Amber like me, you like to bet as late into the evening as you can. So I bet a lot of Mountain West game. And this Boise State team,

I'm not trying to take away from the season that they've had. I feel like Kevin a little bit too much gets put in the, hey, they almost beat Oregon game. You know, that was a long time ago. late in the season, they had some close calls that, you know, the San Jose State game, that your good friend Scott Van Peltz infamously had a bad beat. There was an easy covering until it wasn't, yeah.

And there were some misleading scores out there. Look, they dominated UNLV up in the Smurf turf to close out the season, but they didn't score in the second half. Like, their defense really stepped up. And, you know, I know Penn State's a team that you keep a close eye on it. They've been playing better. I've been impressed by what I've seen by Penn State. I think Drew Aller is starting to kind of come into his own.

So, you know, the reason I can't get there with Penn State is there is something just, there's a little bit of voodoo. I'll say that about Boise and these fiestaables. They've been to a fiestaable three times, and they've won all three. The most famous one being in New Year's Day of 2007 against Oklahoma with the Statue of Liberty and the running back proposing to his girlfriend after the game, one of the best college football game. Ever.

Chris Peterson was a genius offensive creator before we started to see all the others come around. I mean, in terms of gadget plays. The Jared Zabransky Statue of Liberty, you know, going for two, going for the win. It's one of the most, yeah, incredible games that we've, you know, that we've ever seen. I don't think that's being too hyperbolic, but I just, I look at this Boise State team.

I think they have some serious questions defensively. Obviously, Ashton Genty is a pro. He's going to be a pro. He's going to be a damn good pro, and you can make an argument probably should have won the Heisman trophy over, you know, Travis Hunter. That being said, I think the point spread is fair, and I do think, you know, there's a little bit of a, and you always get worried. And, you know, I think you and I were texting about it, and ultimately, as the analysis continued,

I just ended up hammering Ohio State against Tennessee because it was a very public dog. I don't think Boise State is that type of public dog. But, you know, it is getting a little bit more love at some of the markets that I check out right now as we sit here on a Tuesday morning. 57% of the bet the draft Kings are on Boise State, but more money is on Penn State. So I think Penn State wins. I did not bet the game on a side standpoint, but I probably, if I had to pick it, like if I was in a pick-em-pool, Kevin, I think I'd probably go Penn State laying the points here against Boise.

I just think at the end of the day, there's just a little bit too much beef on the Penn State side. And I feel like Boise State, from a narrative perspective, is getting a little too much love because they were so close to Oregon. in the second week of the season. Oregon got so much better as the year went on. So I kind of want Boise State to be competitive here, but I'm nervous that it won't be that competitive again. Yeah, I mean, I think the key is if they can stop the run

or slow down Penn State's run and force it on Drew Aller, I think they have a shot. But because they've been decent. I don't know if they can. They've been decent against the run. They gave a bunch of yards against UNLV, but it was really one run of like 90 yards. But we'll see. I don't like the game either, by the way. Let's get to the next one. Texas, Arizona State. This won the first game on New Year's Day. This one will be played at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Texas, off the 14-point win over Clemson and Austin, Arizona State, because they were the Big 12 champion beating Iowa State Handily in the Big 12 title game.

a number four seed. Texas is a big favorite in this one. Right now, I'm seeing 12 and a half 13s out there. Who do you like in the game? And then do you like this game from a betting standpoint? So I found it interesting. I was talking to a buddy of mine who is, who runs the Westgate Superbook out here. He's actually a local guy. His name's John Murray. He went to Gonzaga. He's awesome. And he let me know that there was some sharp money on Arizona State earlier in the week. And it got the number down to around 11 and a half. I haven't talked to him since, but clearly there's been money coming back in on Texas here. It's kind of what we deem in the gambling world, a dead number, 12, 12, and a half. They're just kind of waiting to see which way, you know, the betters are going

to push this game. Games don't normally land 12. So I think they're just kind of hanging in that dead man's land. You know, Arizona State, you know, give them credit. I was on the wrong side of the Big 12 championship game. And I think that's an important. thing. I know sometimes you go on social media and apparently betters never miss. I did. I was on this very much of the wrong side. Yeah, it really is amazing how many guys are out there in social media talking about how hot they are and how they've been hot for all these years, but somehow they're still trying to sell their picks or, you know, promote themselves on social media instead of taking all of their winnings and join their life. But, you know, that's the way it goes.

they got the flame emojis out there so I'm the only I'm one of the few betters who actually gets it wrong because I was wrong on the Big 12 championship game I sat there on my show on Saturday morning and I was like I'm on Iowa State I like this spot Jordan Tyson Arizona State stud receivers out

and Arizona State went out there and gave him a dose man and that was impressive but I'll say this and you know I don't get into the X's and O's all that much because I'm just a gibroni that played college basketball but Iowa State runs like a 3-3-5 defense and never changes it. And that just is not going to be the case in this particular game.

The strength of Texas is up front defensively. And Jordan Tyson, a name that I already mentioned, he's the best receiver for Arizona State or was. He's hurt. He's out. And they rely heavily on this stud running back similarly to what Boise State does. Cam Scadaboo is awesome. him. He's a guy that you love to watch play college football. He's, you know, kind of a battering ram, breaks tackles, does a little bit of everything.

He had a really smart play against Iowa State where I don't know if it was designed this way, but he was about to have like a 10, 15-yard loss and just turned around and threw it forward. That was awesome. Yeah. I was like, wow. I was like, I don't know if that was designed, but no, it wasn't designed. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it was incredibly fun. Saved a lot of lost yards on that play. Yeah, and I think they scored on the next play on a Sam Levitt, a QB drawl or read option or something like that. Arizona State's the best cover team in college football this year, 11 and 2 against the spread.

That all being said, Kevin, I can't get there. I have not been a big believer of Texas this year. I took a little Clemson in the quarterfinal or in the first round, and obviously Texas scores a late touchdown to get the cover there. But I just think from a matchup standpoint, this is a really tough one, in my opinion, for Arizona State where I know they want to run the ball. They don't have a go-to receiver now with Tyson being out, and they're going to have to rely on Sam Levitt to make some big-time throws here.

So, yeah, once again, not a game because I just don't like lay in big numbers. You know, I mentioned there was sharp money on Arizona State, which you and I like to look for. But since that sharp move happened, there have been that what's called buyback on Texas, back to 12, 12 and a half. So we'll see where this ultimately goes. But I think Texas wins. And I think of the four, this is the one that I feel in my gut could get ugly.

But I'll say this about possible blowout. And we're kind of in this no man's land of trying to figuring out the college football playoff expansion. Texas really doesn't have any motivation to blow them out. They have to play in a week. So I do feel like backdoor covers are a possibility when you're laying double digits. So that would be my worry about laying 12, 12 and a half year with Texas. But I just, I really don't see a clean avenue for Arizona State knowing that they're really one-dimensional going into this game relying heavily on a very good running back.

But you're going up against a monster defensive line, even though I will say that Clemson was able to have some success on the ground against them. But I think if you go back and watch that game, Kevin, Cade Clubnick, who I'm actually a fan of, He had the best game probably of his career. Oh, by far, because I'm not a big fan, and I had Texas, as you know in that game, and I felt very strongly about Texas because I didn't think Clemson was good, and I didn't think Clubnik was good, and he had the game of his life, and they still didn't cover. Thankfully, they got stopped on that goal line stand, which was huge, you know,

midway through the fourth quarter. But anyway, all right, so two down, two to go. so far you don't like really from a betting perspective either game. We go to the Rose Bowl tomorrow 5 o'clock. Ohio State and Oregon in a rematch. Oregon's the one seed. They're the only team that finished the season undefeated. They beat Penn State in the Big Ten title game. They get a much harder quarterfinal game than Penn State does. We'll probably fix that next year with seeding, but we can move on from that. but Ohio State, a two-point favorite over Oregon.

Do you like a side in this one? So it's interesting from a look-ahead market. So a look-ahead market is lines that are put out before some games are played. So on December 9th, Kevin, they put out lines on all of the possibility of quarterfinal games. And Oregon was a one-and-a-half-point favorite against Ohio State in the look-ahead market. Ohio State goes out, they play the game, they look spectacular, and now there are two, two, two and a half point favorite. So it's a pretty big move with no significant injuries.

So I always kind of keep an eye on that. But the way I look at this game and it feels so square, I don't know where stops are coming, man. Like, these two offenses are just awesome. And I, you know, we try to avoid going into the square side, even though apparently this year in the NFL, it's hit to be square because just favorites win every single week. and it's apparently gambling is easy.

You just need a bet on favorites, and you're going to, you know, win a ton of money because the books are getting their absolute teeth kicked in right now in the month of December. In the NFL, yeah. Yeah, in the NFL. I do like the over here, and, you know, maybe that's me falling into a trap. It's from 55 right now. First game between these two teams, I think was, what, 33, 32, or 32, 31, someone in that ballpark. You know, Ohio State, it felt like they figured,

something out in the Tennessee game. And that was a game where, like, you know, I already crapped on myself about a pick that I made. I was all over Ohio State in that spot. I loved it. Everybody was telling me that Tennessee could win the game outright. And Ohio State just went out there and absolutely curbstom Tennessee. They've seemed to figure something out. If they can play to their strength, which is throwing the football to their phenomenal

player, playmakers outside, I think they're going to have success here. And Will Howard, if he can avoid turnovers, I think, you know, has a chance to, you know, get them this victory. And I think there's a reason that Ohio State is the favorite. I think if you ask me right now, Kevin, who wins the title? And I had to pick someone. I would actually pick Ohio State. I don't have a pick on the game just yet. I think I'm leaning Ohio State to win this football game, but I do like points in this one.

So a bet that I have made, and I hate betting overs. I tend to bet unders, and we'll talk more about that in the sugar bowl. goal. But I like the over. I think there's points. Maybe that's wishful thinking, knowing that this is that classic Rose Bowl game, 5 o'clock Eastern out there in beautiful Pasadena. But I think there's points coming between these two teams, maybe similar to what we saw in the Big Ten championship between Oregon and Penn State. So I like both of these quarterbacks. I think Will Howard's playing better now. And I think the skill players on both sides out wide should make some plays. So I think this is going to be a hell of a game. Very entertaining if you like points. And yeah, call me, call me Huey Lewis. Yeah, I think it's an over. I mean, I think you and every, I think you and neighbor Nick are going to actually share a cocktail over the points that are going to be scored in this game. You just, you know you just talked me into the under in the Rose Bowl. I know, I did. As I was talking about it, I felt like I had, like, and now watch, it's going to be 10 to 3. And, you know, that's the way.

It's going to play out. It won't be 10 to 3, but it certainly could be 28 to 27, and it comes in a half point under, you know, something like that. All right, let's get to the Sugar Bowl, Notre Dame, Georgia. I told you this even before the field was set. In watching Notre Dame and you're a fan of the team, so you watch much more closely than I do, I've just had this gut that they run the football and they stop the run better than anybody in the country. country, and they're going to be a very difficult out in the playoff. I picked them to win the whole thing before it started. I'm curious as to whether or not you think as a one-point dog they beat Georgia tomorrow night in the Sugar Bowl. No Carson Beck, he is out for the entirety, no matter in tomorrow night's game. And if Georgia wins and moves on, he's, by the way, declared for the NFL draft already.

So who do you like in the last one? I like Georgia I do I don't think this is a blowout this isn't Notre Dame Bama 2020 Notre Dame Clemson 2018 Notre Dame Bama 2012 Notre Dame is a very good

football team Georgia has its flaws I do think Kirby smart getting ample time to prepare is worrisome I'll say this I do like the under in this game under 45 and a half is out there right now. I think that is certainly a play.

I see some 46s right now. Yeah, so I think this is, this to me, reminds me a little bit of Notre Dame, Texas Day and Eminence season opener, Kevin. I think this is a very physical game. Notre Dame, big loss in the Indiana game. Riley Mills, their

sack leader, their best defensive linemen, he's out for the game, he's out for the rest of the playoffs. Notre Dame's dealt with some attrition, but they've done on a really good job of figuring out ways filling those holes. But I think at the end of the day, the great unknown is Gunner Stockton, obviously.

We don't fully know what Gunner Stockton brings to the table, Kevin. And I think Al Golden, the defensive coordinator for Notre Dame, is going to make it very challenging for an inexperienced quarterback to have success. So once again, why I like the under, I think up front Georgia wins this game from the offensive and defensive line standpoint. I think they're not going to be. able to get a ton of pressure. But I just, I think I look at it more from a, I lean Georgia to win the game, but I think this is a game outside of turnovers, and that could always ruin your

chance as a under better, you know, short fields, forkedown failures, whatever it may be. But I think outside of that, I think this is a very low-scoring, plug-fest, kind of your SEC type of game. So, look, I love Notre Dame. I hope they win the game. But I've gone into these games too many times thinking they would win and they don't. And how about this little nugget? Pete Samson, who covers Notre Dame, said on his podcast a couple weeks ago before the Indiana game that he had heard from a source that Georgia, as the preparation continued, stopped watching Indiana film and just focused on Notre Dame because they're like, they're not losing

to Indiana. So there's obviously respect out there. I think under 45 and a half, 46 would be the way that I would look at it. but I do think Georgia ultimately wins this game. Last one, because you just reminded me of it. That Kurt Signetti got to be a bit too much, didn't he? I'll send you the clip. I got a run, but I'll send you the clip because I absolutely eviscerated him on my show.

He is an absolute, look, first and foremost, what he did was remarkable, what he was able to do at Indiana, period. he coached that Notre Dame game after going on college game day telling everyone he was going to kick everyone's ass like an absolute coward, coward, punted from inside the 40, punted in the fourth quarter, played for a field goal down 14 and nothing. So, you know, he got what he deserved and I'll have to send you that clip because I, it's viscerated. Yeah, I want to hear it because that punt down 20 to 3 and, you know, nine minutes to go in the game at midfield was almost like, you felt like he had the other side.

But they did score twice late. But yeah, he got to be a little bit too chesty over the last month of that season. All right. Great job. Appreciate it. Happy New Year to you. We'll talk before the semifinal games. All right.

See you, Kevin. All right, everybody. Enjoy the college football playoff games. Enjoy your New Year's Eve. Be safe. I will have a show tomorrow, which, I am recording today. And that show will include one Doc Walker.

Happy New Year and back tomorrow.