The Kevin Sheehan Show - Nearing Offensive Normalcy

Episode Date: November 27, 2025

Kevin opened with a look-ahead to not only the Denver game on Sunday but an increasing chance at a full-health offense by next week in Minnesota. Nicki Jhabvala/The Athletic jumped on to talk Commanders. Tim Murray/VSIN joined Kevin to talk College Football before the final regular season weekend of the year. Kevin finished up with two "Smell Test" picks for Thursday and Friday. For all your football betting needs: DCRELOAD at MyBookie for a 50% Deposit Match Want to spruce up your lawn? FastGrowingTrees.com 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 Sheehan Show, here's Kevin. Yeah, I understand why people feel that way, but you look at it from my perspective. I'm a football player. That was Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow yesterday, answering a question about the concern that some have about his return to playing this year. He'll play tomorrow night in Baltimore on a team that is currently three and eight. You'll hear the rest of his answer coming up in a few minutes. The show's presenting sponsor is always Window Nation, 86690 Nation, windownation.com if you need new windows. Two guests

on the show with me today. Nikki Javala from The Athletic. She'll join me in the next segment. Tim Murray after that to talk some college football and then two smell test picks in the final segment of today's show. One for tomorrow, one for Friday. I'll have Saturday and Sunday's smell test picks on Friday's podcast. No show tomorrow on Thanksgiving. And let me begin there. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Thank you so much, actually, for listening to this podcast and in so many ways being part of it.

I love doing it, and I love, you know, for the lack of a better description, the connection that we've made with each other over the years. I know Tommy feels the same way. He doesn't express it all the time, but he feels the same way, I promise you. We both love, like, this very interesting community of primarily DC sports fans, skins fans, of course. We've been through a lot together, you know, over the years. Hopefully we will continue to go through a lot together and share in the experiences of being sports fans,

but, you know, in particular, Skins fans, commanders fans, I hate saying commanders. This year hasn't been the best year. We know from experience, however, that years like this always lead to very interesting times ahead. conversations about what they should do in the off season. And then when the off season begins, you know, discussing what they're doing. But yeah, thank you so much for listening. It really does mean so much to me. I love doing this podcast.

So I wish you and your loved ones a very, very happy holiday tomorrow. A Thanksgiving that without a doubt is that, the best Thanksgiving Day lineup of football we have seen in years. I mean, it's been a long time since we've had, you know, all three games be meaningful games and compelling matchups. The opener, Green Bay at Detroit, I mean, this is a battle for first place or, you know, to stay in second behind Chicago. But I do think most people think it will ultimately come down to Green Bay, Detroit in that division, followed by Kansas City at Dallas. They are expecting 50 plus million people to watch this game.

They are expecting it to be the most watched regular season game in NFL history, and it will rival the audiences they are projecting that championship games get, not the Super Bowl, but it will rival the audience that the NFC and AFC championship games get. in mid to late January. That should be a good one, especially with both teams coming off the comeback wins from last week. And then the nightcap, Baltimore, at hosting, excuse me, hosting Cincinnati in Joe Burroughs' return, the Ravens have won five in a row, but they're not right.

You know, something's not right. Lamar's not right physically, but a big matchup in a division that is setting up to be, you know, a division that could be won by an eight and nine team, probably nine and eight. We'll see what happens with Pittsburgh and Baltimore. They've got two matchups against each other. The first one coming up, I think, next week, and then the other one in the season finale. But a great Thanksgiving day lineup that does not include, and I'm not unhappy about this, our team on Thanksgiving. They've played a lot on Thanksgiving in recent years. You know, I knew when the schedule, when I was doing my mock schedule, I knew that they

were going to play more likely than not on Thanksgiving or Christmas. I ended up predicting Christmas. And I think I had them at Lambo on Christmas in my mock schedule. They're hosting, of course, Dallas on Christmas Day. Washington's first ever Christmas Day. But no Thanksgiving Day game. I don't know how you guys feel. I prefer that they don't play on Thanksgiving. Now, I do love the matchup with Dallas. I do love the high profile spot. It just seemed like it was happening so much in recent years. And it was happening more often than not with bad teams. That's never fun. But, you know, they have a tradition of playing Dallas a bunch on Thanksgiving. You know, I was looking through yesterday, I think, and maybe Tommy and I talked briefly about this. Washington's played 13 times on Thanksgiving. Did you know that the first one was actually in 1968. They played in Dallas and lost. The first one I remember, 1971 is really the first season that I remember. In 1973, kind of the first season. The forgotten Thanksgiving Day game for Washington. They played in Detroit. Old Tiger Stadium

against the Lions, and they shut out the Lions, 20 to nothing that day. The Lions were not a very good team that particular year. Washington was the defending NFC champion in 1973. They had beaten the Cowboys in the 72 title game, lost to the Dolphins, the perfect 17th. and O Dolphins in the 72 season Super Bowl. So they played as a high-profile team that year. They had Monday night games. They had this Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit. They blew out Detroit 20 to nothing to get to 8 and 3 on the season.

In that game, it wasn't Larry Brown, who had the big day. Charlie Harroway, Larry Brown's fullback, number 31, 18 carries 100, 37 yards. Larry Brown was 25 for 80. So Washington, between those two running backs and Dwayne Thomas, who was a redskin that year after coming over from Dallas, they had 44 carries for 200 yards on the ground. Billy Kilmer threw for 112 and two touchdowns, but they ran the ball so effectively and 120 to nothing. That's kind of the forgotten. Thanks. Thanksgiving Day game because Washington's never played Detroit on Thanksgiving since. That would actually be kind of a fun spot to be in that first game instead of the second one

against the Cowboys. But 1974 was the next year. They played on Thanksgiving. That's the infamous for us, Clint Longley game, Longley coming off the bench, throwing three touchdown passes and rallying Dallas passed Washington 24, 23. By the way, the 73 season, after they beat the Lions 20 to nothing, they won the following week and then they ended up losing a late-season showdown for the NFC East title against the Cowboys in Dallas. Dallas ended up being the NFC East champion.

Washington was a wildcard team, went to Minnesota and lost. Dallas ended up losing the NFC championship game at home to Minnesota. But if Washington had beaten Dallas, and had clinched a second straight division title, it's very possible they would have faced the Cowboys in a second straight NFC championship game. But anyway, 74, of course, the Clint Longley game. And then they played in 78,

where they got absolutely crunched by the Cowboys 37 to 10. They played again 12 years later in 1990. So a whole 12 years went by before they played Dallas again in 1990, and that was really the big-time, you know, game for Emmett Smith as Jimmy Johnson's Cowboys started to become a more competitive team. Washington lost that game. I think my favorite by far, I don't think it's close, is 2012, the RG3 game, where they blew out the Cowboys, 28 points in the second quarter. They won 3831, but they had a 28-3 halftime lead. that was their first ever win against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. 13 times on Thanksgiving, four wins. That Detroit win, the 2012 win over the Cowboys. 2017, they played the Giants on Thanksgiving night and one,

and then in 2020, Ron Rivera Skins on a bit of a role towards the end of the season, remember, beat the Cowboys on Thanksgiving in blowout fashion. Remember that. You know, the 2020 Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas during the COVID year was an absolute blowout of the Cowboys, 41 to 16 in that game. Antonio Gibson was the star. 20 rushes, 115 yards, and three touchdowns. So those are the four wins. Detroit 73, then 2012, 27. and 20, 24-9 overall on Thanksgiving Day. Real quickly, before I get to the topic here in the opening segment that I want to, I guess, continue. How about the Wizards snapping their 14 game,

losing Skid last night on the day that Tommy told us about the column that he was going to write ripping the Wizards for not putting out a legitimate product at this point? Yeah, they got 40, they had 45 points in the first quarter, 46 from C.J. McCollum. My Terps got destroyed last night by Gonzaga. They play Alabama in Vegas tonight. They are a big underdog in that game as well. All right.

So the correspondence just keeps coming in on the Jaden should he play or shouldn't he play topic. I'm only going to read one here on the show today. and it comes from Hokey Drew. Hokey Drew writes, Kevin, the only silly person in this debate about Jaden Daniels is you and the people who think like you. Why would you want your, and then he writes in quotations and capital letters,

elite top five franchise QB. I kind of think he's being sarcastic there. Why would you want your elite top five franchise QB? QB to play in games that mean absolutely nothing. Why use up worthless games on a player who has a shelf life of games? The opposite of silly is serious. I'm a serious person who can do the math. You're a silly, non-serious fanatic, aka fan for short.

If they put him out there and he gets seriously injured, I'll never forgive you. Oh, Hokey Drew, that sounds serious. You are a serious person. That's a good one. So Hokey Drew, by the way, is responding to me saying that I believe, I said it, I think, two days ago and maybe even with Tommy, that those who don't want Jaden to play again this year are silly. And by the way, just to be clear, I just think that the opinion is.

silly, not necessarily the person is silly, but if the shoe fits, I guess. First of all, if he gets seriously injured, Hokey Drew, I would be devastated, but I would not feel any responsibility or culpability. So choose to not forgive me all you want, but I promise you that if he gets hurt and seriously hurt, I did not have anything to do with it. So I've gone through the reasons Zed nauseam, why I think he should play, assuming he's cleared, obviously, and 100% healthy, think what you want, but I just don't get shutting him down with, you know, five, six games left. You know, at this point, it's probably going to be five games left because he's not going to play against Denver. He has not been ruled out officially, and he is taking practice reps,

but not with contact. And Quinn, again, today reiterated, not likely for Sunday. So we'll get Marcus Marriota against Denver. But, you know, also just to be clear, you know, the when in all of this matters, the when being when he is cleared. You know, if it's with a game or two left, that's far different for me. Then you get into is the juice really worth the squeeze. But five games left, 30% of the season remaining, that's where for me, I say he's my starting QB.

We have 30% of our season left. He's going to play. I know that the previous injuries this year, his, are the driving force for most of you who don't want to see him play again. I get it. I would assume that if he had not gotten injured at any point this year and they were still three and eight,

you wouldn't be calling for him to be shut down with five games left. Right? Like, I think that Hokie Drew, you can respond via email, which is how you reached me. I would assume that without the three injuries, right, the knee injury, the hamstring injury, the elbow injury, that if they were still at three and eight, you wouldn't be calling for him to be shut down right now with six games left. You know, it's the injuries that have raised the level of angst for many of you, many of you. But look, none of the injuries were serious injuries. None of the injuries increase the probability of him being injured again.

If he gets injured again, it's not because he had an injured elbow before or an injured knee before or an injured hamstring. I don't want him out there if there's any increased risk than normal as a 100% healthy player. I don't want him out there. But if he's 100% healthy and there's nothing off of anything from what happened previous this year that would lead to something else, I want him to play.

But I want to make clear that I get that most of you that feel like, you know, you're very adamant that you don't want him to play. You feel that way because of the previous injuries. You wouldn't be calling for him

to be shut down had he been healthy and the team on the verge of being mathematically. eliminated, which they are not yet. By the way, they could be mathematically eliminated this weekend. If Philly and Chicago tie on Friday, then on Sunday, Washington loses to Denver, while Seattle wins, and I guess Green Bay wins tomorrow, if that all happens, a Green Bay win, a Seattle win, a Seattle win, a Philadelphia, Chicago tie, and a Washington lost.

actually mathematically eliminated after this weekend, which would be the earliest that they've been mathematically eliminated with five games left since 1963. But look, even in Cincinnati, where an elite top five franchise quarterback hokey drew on a three and eight football team where he's missed, Joe Burrow has, much of the season for a much worse injury than Jayden's had this year, one that required surgery, turf toe. He's coming back tomorrow night with six games left in the season, six games that while they're not mathematically eliminated, they have exactly, according to ESPN, a 1% chance of making the playoffs. So the same level of these games don't mean

anything are Cincinnati's scenario right now. I mean, you could say that their division is within more reach than Washington's, you know, based on the leaders being six and five versus Philadelphia being eight and three. But, you know, Washington plays Philly twice. They play Dallas once. Cincinnati does play Baltimore two times still. But some of the same questions are being asked about Joe Burroughs return and whether or not it makes sense in Cincinnati, I played for you part of his answer coming in. Here's his entire answer. You understand why people feel that. Yes, I understand why people feel that way, but if you look at it from my perspective, I'm a football player and if I get hurt, I'm going to go through the

rehab process and then I'm going to let everybody know when I feel like I can go out there and play. I don't really know what else to say about that. I'm not going to ever go to somebody and say, yeah, I'm healthy, but I don't think I don't think I should go out there and play. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I'm not going to live my life and play this game scared of something happening. Like, yeah, something's going to happen. It's football.

Guys are going to get hurt. Guys are going to get concussions. You're going to break bones, tear ligaments. It's a physical, intense game. That's part of this. And, yeah, I've had injuries. There's not a lot I can do about that. I work really hard to have that not happen.

But what I can do is when it does happen, I can control how I'm attacking my rehab and attacking practice and doing everything in my power to get back as quickly as possible. So that's what I did. First of all, real quickly, I really like Joe Burrow as a player first and foremost. But from afar, I just like Joe Burrow. I mentioned this over the summer when that quarterback series on Netflix was running. He was one of the three quarterbacks.

And there was a wide range of opinions on Joe Burrow. He was the most talked about quarterback on that series this summer. He was actually not the most talked about. subject. That would have been Jared Gough's wife. But after Jared Gough's wife, Joe Burrow was talked about the most, and the wide range of opinions

went from he's kind of a dope to and I think I would put myself into this category. He's kind of interesting. He's kind of a deep thinker. I mean, he's not Einstein, but there's something to this guy. That's what I

thought in watching it. And in listening to that answer, I know what many of you would say. They would say, look, it's fine for him as a hyper competitor to say, I'm a football player. I'm never going to say I'm healthy and I shouldn't play. That's for the grownups to decide. Some of you would say that. Those of you that are in favor of shutting down Jaden Daniels would say the grownups have to make these decisions.

You can't leave them up to the players. And that's where I would say, yeah, for the season finale or maybe with two games, left. Look, you know, like with Joe Burrow, actually, there's probably more risk with his injury and him playing. Turf toe is a serious thing. He's coming back much sooner than they said he would come back. They thought it would be later in the season. Now, he's always had Thanksgiving as a target, but some of the estimates were the season would be lost with the surgery that he had on his on his toe, turf toe, was the injury. But, you know, for me, like with Jaden Daniel, Joe Burrow and the like, there's risk in not playing those guys with this much of the season

left. I mean, specific to Jaden, you know, you risk to a certain degree the locker room dynamic. You risk the relationship with him, as Tommy's talked about. You know, you kind of risk heading in the next season with a quarterback that for the most part hasn't played since the 2024 season with his guys anyway. I mean, if he didn't play the rest of the year and the next time we saw him was the season opener in 2026, you really would have to go back to the NFC championship game other than a few plays this year where he was playing with all of the starters on the field. But yeah, I don't know, as mentioned yesterday and the day before, for me, he's the starting

quarterback. You don't pull him with 30% of the season remaining. You just don't if he's healthy. I don't think you can find an example of it ever happening. Seriously, I don't think you can find an example of a team shutting down. It's franchise quarterback. It's elite level, absolute starting number one quarterback, if he's 100% healthy with five games left in the season. I don't, I've Bet you can't find a team doing that. It doesn't mean that it shouldn't be considered. I just wouldn't consider it. By the way, there are indications that when Jaden does return, there will be a bit of

normalcy around him. Yay! So I don't think it'll be this week. I think we can pretty much rule out this week. But I think the Minnesota game is a good bet. And Dan Quinn was asked today about the ramp up. for Jaden. And his answer actually was kind of about Jaden, but he said, quote, some of the nice part of this is that there's some continuity now because Noah's back and Terry's back. Debo is

there. And he actually mentioned Traylon Brooks, Berks as well, is out there again. We may see the return of Terry, Noah Brown, and Burks Sunday night against Denver for Marcus Marriota. that would be huge. But, you know, he, it was like, for Quinn, it's like, you know, it's just nice to see everybody out there, again, practicing. And Jaden's out there practicing, too, just without contact. And, yeah, I mean, I want to see, and I think they desperately want to see what it looks like with this team.

They haven't had a chance to see this offense as. they expected to see it before the season began, you know, except for really the giant game, but you're going to get, I think, a coaching staff and a front office that wants to see what it looks like with Jaden Daniels and Terry McClorn and Debo Samuel and Noah Brown and the offensive line that's come together, Sam Cosme back. I think they want to see what that looks like, because they really haven't had a chance to see what it looks like. All right. If you get a chance to rate and review this show and you haven't done it,

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Joining me right now is Nikki Javala. Nicky is with the athletic now, not the Washington Post. We know that. This goes back to before the season started. You know, I get occasional tweets, occasional emails about you. And the reason for it is you were the one person that I had on the show before the season began of the media people in town that predicted a big step back season. Like I got this, and I saved this one, because I got this like two weeks ago from this guy, Yale. Yale writes me all the time, and he writes Kevin, when are you going to have Nikki on the show again?

Are you afraid to admit that she was right and you were wrong? No, Yale. I'm not afraid to admit it, that I was right, that she was right and I was wrong. I love having Nikki on the show. I think you had eight and nine, right? Wasn't that your prediction? I had eight and nine, yes. which is honestly still wrong.

Okay, that's sweet, but yeah, they may only win four or five and you might be three or four games off, but you were the only one in that direction, and if this was Price is right, you would be the closest. Yeah, I mean, I just could see it in camp. I couldn't see all this, obviously. I mean, the injuries, and not that this is all on the injuries, but no one can never predict that. I mean, to lose your top three, four, five receivers, to be relying on guys who hadn't played football in more than a year, to lose your top three D-Ns, and now you're, you know, two starting quarter.

And nobody could have predicted that. I didn't think they would have been, you know, as bad as they've been at times on defense. Yeah. The part that really stood out to me was the receiving core. You know, they just didn't look deep when they were healthy. and they, the camp practices were just, they weren't as in, they weren't terribly intense in year one with Anclan, but they were even more lax this year, it just, they just looked off. I mean, I think everybody saw it in the three preseason games, and the sample size is small,

so you want to tell yourself it, you know, this is just a few snaps. They'll pull it together, but they didn't, they didn't look anything like they did last year on offense. Well, let me ask you this, because I've, I've, done call segments on this, if they had been just relatively healthy rather than just decimated by injuries this year, what do you think their record would be right now? Instead of three and eight, what would they be? I mean, I guess it depends on who they're losing, too, because some players are more valuable than others. Yeah, but if they're key players, because the biggest part of their injury season is that they lost all of their best players to, you know, games, plural, if not the

entire season. So let's just say it's a, you know, a reasonable normal injury season, but their best players are out there. What's their record? I mean, I think they would have been better, sure. How many games? Maybe a few games. I mean, I honestly think they probably would have been eight and nine. That's why I predicted that. Because I thought they do have talent on the scene. There's no denying that. And when you get a quarterback like Jayden Daniels, you're going to win some that you probably otherwise would have been crushed in. I mean, we saw that in year one. How many games do they win on the last play from scrimid? Right. I mean, everything went right that season. That was not a sustainable path. You know, everything went

right. They were healthy. All those last plays went their way. And this, it's, you know, I didn't think it would go to the opposite extreme where all those plays would go the opposite way and they'd be this banged up, but I just didn't think they had the pieces to really go deep and contend with the eagles, say, or, I mean, look at, I mean, a deep receiving court is necessary in my mind. It is not, it is not as necessary as the left tackle or having, you know, a shutdown corner or obviously the quarterback or having an elite pass rusher. But, I mean, shoot, look at what, look what Dallas is turning into since getting pickings. And I just think you've got to have some depth back there. And this team honestly hasn't had a ton of depth at all in the five years I've been covering them. I mean, it's been Terry leading away. Last year, I got into this argument with John Kime.

God bless John Kime. But last year's receiving core was so much deeper than their receiving corps. And I think they have bigger names maybe now this year with Debo and Terry and Noah Brown. But, you know, they didn't replace the Alameday Zakias, who is a workhorse and reliable. And Diami Brown, who wasn't always exceptional, but he had a speeding to take the top off. Like, having those guys mattered. And they don't, you know, if you lose Terry and you know Noah Brown has a history of injuries, what do you have? You know, and that puts Jade and Daniels in a very tough spot.

By the way, I think that they would be, you know, five and six or six and five, and they'd be in the mix, but I think that they would be heading towards that eight and nine area because ultimately, even if you had stayed healthy defensively, this was not going to be a good defense. Even when they were healthy, the only time they played well was against teams that were battered. You know, what's interesting about this, and I'm sure you get some of the same stuff,

you would have much preferred to have been dead wrong. It would have been much better for you and much better for all of us had we had another season like last year. Absolutely. I think people get this, there's always been a discussion that the media is rooting against the team. I don't root for anything for one. I, you know, I'm neutral and as it should be. I mean, it's like, I always tell me, like, would you trust a political reporter that is biased toward one candidate or the other? No, you wouldn't.

So why do you want sports reporters to be biased? That's not how this works. And I, like, honestly, I didn't have an NFL team growing up. Now, I do have my teams in, and based on college. Yeah, but I thought your father was a Redskins fan. My dad, yeah, my dad grew up in the D.C. area. My mom and dad were both die-hard, you know, Washington fans. they kind of fell out of favor

and, you know, with the precinct regime and they moved to North Carolina and the Panthers so they do not like came under town but I like that wasn't my like. Right. I just didn't, we didn't have an NFL thing. We watched football all the time. We just didn't I just liked watching the game.

But it's not like I'm rooting against the steam or anything. No, it's just based on what I saw. And yeah, trust me, business is better when they're winning. Yeah, that's the point is business is much better when we have a season like last year, which have been very few and far between.

All right. Do you think Jaden Daniels will play again this year, and if so, when? I do. I could see him playing in Minnesota. Honestly, this is probably a good game for him, though I always wonder about, like, this turf make a difference. But, you know, what are you going to do?

Some of these places have turf, and that's actually a beautiful stadium in the same doors. It's one of my favorite stadiums. So I could see him playing. He's been out there. We just watched them at practice now. He's been taking some reps. He's not splitting reps with Marcus, but he's taken some.

He hasn't been cleared for contact. But he looks very comfortable throwing. And, of course, thankfully, you know, the elbow injury with his non-throwing arm, but, you know, he looks, is going through his normal motion and doesn't seem to bite at all. So that's good. Do you think he should play again? This is a debate among fans that I'm dealing with in what I'm. I do.

Do you think you should or not? Yeah, I mean, honestly, I've had this conversation with others, and I've, like, debated with myself, and there, admittedly, I go back and forth on it sometimes. Like, I think if, at first I was like, no, you've got to shut him down. Like, why bother? Like, the season's pretty much done for, like, just move on to 26th, protect him. He's the most important piece.

He's the centerpiece. But then I started off on, like, man, they're like, say, if he can come back next week, that's like five games. Right. That's five games. You've only played in five games. Like, that's a long time to shut him down. Like, I pushed back on the notion that he needs, like, two games worth of reps, you know, to help him, like, and I don't know that the reward really outweighs the risk there, but five games, that's a lot of time.

That's a lot of time on the sideline, couple of the amount of time he's, you know, missed already because of the injuries. He's like, I don't, I don't know that that sets him up well for the future either. So my thinking now is, like, if he can come back for the Minnesota game, then, yeah, like, play him. You know, he needs, he does need a time. He's still young enough in this career where it does matter. And I don't think you want to send that message to where you're trying to keep them in bubble wrap on the sidelines either, you know. But if it's, if we're down to, like, week 17 and they're considering it, then I'm just like, oh, Well, that's stupid.

Yeah. Like, that just doesn't make sense. Yeah. The when of it matters. You know, a game or two left in the season is much different than basically 30% of your season being left. Exactly. I'm totally with you on that. Tell me if you agree with this or not.

I think they really want to see and are very hungry to see the starting offense play games together this year, which they have not seen since really the opener. You know, I don't think. Yeah, so I don't think. One snap, like Jaden, Cosme, the three receivers. Yeah, right, Cosme, of course. Yeah. It's not something that I believe mathematical elimination from the postseason

is going to stop them from really wanting to see this. Do you agree or not? Yeah. I agree. I mean, they're not stupid. They know where they're at in terms of, you know, they have the slightest of slightest chance to still make the playoffs. It's highly unrealistic, but, you know, if the Eagles lose out and they win out,

you know, there's that opening, but I don't see that happening. But they still want to win, and they still want to see what they have, and rightly so. I mean, they need to essentially take stock of what they have because they're, and I was having this, actually was having this conversation with David Aldridge. Like, who is the core of this team? I felt confident about a handful of players after last season, maybe more than a handful, to say that, yes, he's going to be here for at least a couple more seasons, if not more.

After this season, I can point to maybe three players. Okay. I can definitely say that. Who are the three? Well, Dayton. Of course. Trey Amos. Yep.

I'd say, I'd say, four. I put Connerley and Devon Kinla, only if Devon Kinla can have you know, I can replicate some of the stuff he did for a second season here. But I mean, beyond that, you got so many guys on

one-year deals or expiring deals. Well, don't you think they're going to they're going to extend Tunsel in the off-season? They have to, right? Well, maybe. Maybe he'll be, how old will he be at a start of next season, 32? I know, but you didn't make that trade for two seasons. I agree, but that's not, what I'm saying is, like, you know for a fact they're set

in stone that they're going to be here for the long haul. Like you, that's what I'm saying, like, where are you building on here? You don't, I don't think, aside from Bates just having, you know, that extension that you just signed, I don't know that any of your, you're not wed to any of those tight ends. I mean, Terry, Terry's deal really only gets them through next season. And then his cap hit is so high, they'll probably have to move up. on. Debo not sure yet on kind of how they feel there. He could net a, you know, third-round comp pick if they let him go or I don't know that. You mean Kroski-Marron hasn't turned into Adrian Peterson? Are you sure? Are you sure Bill hasn't turned into Adrian Peterson?

Depends on who I read that day. Oh, my God. Yeah. I mean, I think he has a lot of potential, but. Yeah. I mean, there were reports coming out of camp about him, like, is this like fiction? Like, what is this? Right. I think he can be a very good player, but he's not a complete back yet.

He's had one 100-yard game. Yeah, no, I was, that was tongue-in-cheek. Yeah, that was. Yeah, no, I know. I know. I'm just like, right. Yeah. So what do you think the one thing they would do or undo if they could go back to that

timeframe of February through, you know, middle of May? Like, is there, is there a thing that you think? I would go back farther to like early November. And not make the Lattimore trade. Okay, but after, after that, in the true off season, what's the, what's the one thing they would do or undo? I can tell you the one thing I think they should do or undo. Okay.

Um, I, I would go after one of the bigger name pass rushers. I'm trying to think of who was on the market at the time, but I would spend there. I mean, Josh Sweat was out there, you know. Yeah, I would have liked to see Josh Lett. Yeah. I still think they need to go after an elite pass rusher. And they can, I'm, I covered Vaughn from 2015 through what, 20. Right. 20 out there. Nikki was in Denver.

He's one of the greatest pastures I've ever seen. He's not the same player who would be at, you know, his age. So I don't, you know, nobody's unbelievable when he's telling me he's an elite passer still. He still put up good numbers at his age, but they need, like, an elite guy. I thought Doran's played really well, but pair him with an elite guy. And I really think they should have gotten the titan. It was a great Titans class.

I think Titans are more valuable. now in offenses than they've ever been. And I think Zacherts has been good, but he's the only pass catcher in that group. Like, Ben Sinanit has not developed into that. John Bates is very, very good at blocking, but he's not, he's really a contributor in the past game like that. And that just helps you so much with, you know, when you have injuries in the receiving core. I mean, that's because they don't have a ton of size in the receiving core at all. Right.

yeah i mean that was one yeah no i i think there's so many answers i took calls on it for like an hour yesterday there's so many answers from you know people saying they would have just paid terry uh to they would have you know unloaded joe whit junior before this season started they would have brought diami brown and zakias back um you know they would have drafted a pass rusher they would have drafted trae yon henderson you know yeah i would have offered alameda zakias another half a mill because what is half a mill in this league? Exactly. And it might have kept him. And I think he is, I thought that, remember DeAndre Carter? I thought it was a similar thing. Yeah. He was a good returner for them at the time.

Why do you just let him walk? Right to the Chargers. We're talking like a half a miller. What are we doing here? Well, what were they doing? Because they liked Zekees. I mean, we all know that. And they thought he would come back. I mean, apparently he felt he could have a big role in Chicago, but I always believe that money talks in the NFL. If you offer him a little more than Chicago's offering, it changes how they feel instantly. So, you know, he was a reliable guy. He was very good for them. And I, I feel like you need that type of guy in the receiving core. Like, you know, I just, yeah. In this, you know, now for the most part, lost season, of all the players, you know, they've been forced to play, players who are on the roster, practice

what's practice squad guys they got off the street do you think they discovered a player or two that they really liked that they either didn't know of in august or weren't sure of in august maybe tre lumberts um he only played two games yeah and then the other finger thing but he's now i don't know yet if it's by default or they really like him we'll see over these next six games or whatever but you know, maybe he's carved out a role here as sort of that third, fourth receiver, which is important with this group. I'm going down the list.

Hold on. I mean, Jacob Martin. Jacob Martin, do they view him for the long term now? I don't know. It's sort of like, you know, Dante Fowler had an exceptional season here, too. They didn't view him for the long term. I'm like, that one I'm unsure of because a lot of these are, you know, they're put into these bigger roles in part because of the injuries.

So if everybody's healthy, do they still want those players in bigger roles? And yeah, they're putting up bigger numbers, but I don't know. Yeah. I think Deacon Martin's having a very good season. It's nothing against him personally. It's just, you know, do they view them as, you know, one of their standout edge rushers? do you think they can that they think that maybe Chris Rodriguez

can be more than maybe they ever thought he could be? I mean, I don't know why they didn't think that after the end of last season. We all feel that way, yeah. Yeah, I mean, he's in better shape now, like he leaned out in the off season. But he's always had sort of that clutch explosiveness thing going on. Like we saw it at the end of last season. I mean, I think that, you know, helped them coming into the season, but I think he's kind of always

had that piece of it and it's just finding that consistency where he's done that more but I think he's a very good player I do and I think he could have a bigger role here in the long term but

I've always sort of been like I don't think he's like God's gift to rushing I don't want people to like take this right too far but like

I thought he's been he's been really good in the times that they've used them I didn't quite understand way he hasn't been able to carve out big rolls, but hopefully he can going forward. Real quickly, because I forgot to ask you this, Terry and Noah Brown, when?

This week for Terry? I could see it. I mean, they haven't set it out right yet. I mean, Quinn won't even tell us if he's a full participant in practice. We have to wait until 3 or 4 o'clock to find that out. Right. I could see it. I mean, they're both out on the field.

They've been on the field working with athletic trainers. that was in Madrid. So I feel like they did their ramp up and now they're really getting back into the team stuff. And then that way they'd have a week under the belt before, you know, if Jaden comes back against Minnesota

because he's getting some reps with them on the field just to get their timing down. So I think they're viewing it. You know, it would be interesting in hearing you, you know, mention that Jaden's out there not getting, you know, the full work, not the full contact work, but getting some of the reps is, you know, bear with me here.

This is really, you know, this is ridiculous what I'm about to say. But if Dallas loses tomorrow to Kansas City and if Philadelphia were to lose to Chicago on Friday, you know, I know it's not going to happen, but then all the sudden, if somehow they could get the win against the Broncos on Sunday night, and the best chance they would have of pulling that off would be with Jaden Daniels more so than I think Marcus Mariotta, you wouldn't be out of it. The way it sets up, it would be kind of interesting because they actually play Philly twice and they play Dallas once, and both of those teams have kind of difficult schedules the rest of the way. Well, I'm bringing up Philly schedule the rest of the way.

Oh, it's... I mean, can they win both games against Philly? Well, that's the reason that you would give is because they play Dallas once in Philly twice, and the Eagles, the Eagles not only have, you know, those games, they have to play the bills on the road, they have to play the Chargers on the road. So I'm just saying that the Bears is probably a game as a seven-point favorite. You expect them to win. if they actually lost it and they're sitting there now at eight and four you start doing the math if we

swept them all right stop it kevin um that's enough of that so last one for you because you covered the broncos all those years including the super bowl season um it's that fan base i've probably asked you about this before but i think it's one of the more interesting fan bases they're incredibly supportive and incredibly rabid, but it's not just one city. It's an entire time zone. Like basically the mountain time zone, Denver is their team. Yeah. Yeah. Because what else is out there? Nothing. It's just kind of, it's kind of an odd thing because, you know, like Chris Cooley, who I did a show with for several years and is a very good friend of mine. He grew up a Broncos fan, you know, growing up in, you know, Wyoming and Utah. I mean,

he was a massive Broncos fan because that's what you were when you lived in that time zone. Yeah. Yeah. So there's nothing else out there. Yeah. I mean, they own that. I mean, the Broncos are big out in the mountain lots. I think, I think nationally, they're kind of, I don't want to say underrated, but I think people don't quite understand how big the market is out there. Just both media market, just the number of fans, the loyalty of the fans. I mean, the Nuggets won the championship, and people still cared more. It's sad. Yeah.

Like, the Nuggets deserve more attention, but people still cared about the Broncos, and they were horrendous at that time. But they always, they always sell out. I mean, they've had a sell-out streak since I don't even remember how long. Right. I mean, that place is always packed. I mean, and they are rabid, and I don't mean that in a necessarily positive. I mean, shoot, they booed Peyton Manning, you know, at halftime of a game, and he wasn't, he was playing well.

Like, that's where they're at. Like, they want to F and win, you know, like, so. Well, I mean, you know, for many years, like, long before you got into this business, Denver and Washington were among like the top five fan bases in the sport easily. And Denver still has that. Obviously, this one is still trying to find its way back to the team. Thanks for doing this. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

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of this college football season is my good friend Tim Murray at one Tim Murray on X on Twitter. He hosts Vizen's college football tailgate show Saturdays, Vizen prime time on weeknights. You can find out everything Tim does. you've probably seen them on TV if you're into gambling in college football and weekends. And of course, Tim was here for many years before moving out to Vegas now, what, five, six years ago now? Has it been that long?

A little over five years ago, yeah. I moved out September of 2020. So, yeah, over five years. Crazy. And, you know, we had Tim on probably before the season started, maybe early in the season. I forget at this point. But, you know, this is depressing to me. It's my favorite sports weekend of the year, you know, tied for first with the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament in March.

But I just can't believe we're already at the end of this. And there are a lot of exciting games left, and we've got an expanded playoff now to look forward to. But, God, does this season fly by? It really does. And no, I was thinking about it just the other day. And I'm like, man, this is really the last week of the regular season. There are a couple of teams that are already done with their season. Shout out to UMass, who finished 0 and 12, wrapped up their season.

They might be the worst team in recent memory in Division 1. I think my buddy, I have a buddy of mine who's a handicapper, his name is Brad Powers. He goes, I'm trying to find his exact tweet, but he said, this might be the worst team I've ever power rated in my life. He said, no exaggeration, 2025 UMath is very likely the worst FBS team in history. That's funny. I mean, there's no number you could bet on them. You could just fade them every week.

But, yeah, I mean, I think the playoff, the expansion, you know, I've always been, and I know you've actually been on the forefront even before I was, of these home games and the buildup to them. So, you know, I find myself a little bit sad, but also excited for the playoffs. And look, I mean, there's a lot of discussion. And I think, Kevin, I don't know how you're feeling. I just have this gut feeling that this is going to be a weird weekend. I think they're going to be some upsets.

And I think some things are going to get sorted out. So we'll see. I think it has the chance. There's a lot of, as you and I would say, a lot of stinky lines out there this week. And we'll see if the dogs are barking in some of these really tricky spots for some of these playoffs. All right. Before we get started on some of these games this weekend, if Ole Miss takes care of business beats Mississippi State, and even if they don't, they still have a shot. But let's just say that they beat Mississippi State this is Friday early. And Lane Kiffin takes the LSU job. What will happen? Is he going to coach Ole Miss in the playoff or not?

I don't know. I mean, you know, it's not. the same situation because you're staying in conference, but North Texas's coach just took the Oklahoma State job, and he's going to stay with the team if they were to make the playoff win the American next week and make the playoff. Obviously, that's very different because you're jumping from the group of five up to the P4. I don't know what they would do. My gut would tell me he wouldn't coach, but I don't know the answer. And wouldn't it be typical lane if all this pomp and circumstance leading up and he just goes, Jordan Belfort on Friday

and say, I'm not leaving. You know, I'm staying. So who knows what's going to happen? Who knows what's going to happen? I will correct you, though. I think if Ole Miss loses on Friday, I think they're done. I think they're out. I think there's too many teams that are waiting to jump in,

and I think that loss would really be crippling, especially too, if Lane is leaving. Right. Agreed. I just think if that happens, if they win and they're in the playoff and he doesn't coach it, it's terrible for the sport. And they really should not allow that to happen. And I understand the issues, but if I'm the athletic director at Ole Miss, I'm saying please stay. And there should be, if that happens, that may be, tell me if you think this is even,

possible. That may be the impetus to create some sort of rule that says no coach tampering until every team's season is officially over. Well, and that's the biggest thing when you go take a step back with college football. It's the calendar. The calendar is completely screwed up, and that's why you see all the opt-outs, Kevin. And, you know, we even saw it last year with Bo Pribula, the quarterback who was the back of Penn State. And I didn't blame him for one to leave and go to Missouri. And, you know, that was James Franklin's doing. He said, hey, I don't want you on the team if you're not all in. But, you know, he was looking out for the best interest of himself because he wasn't going to be the starter at Penn State.

I know they've tweaked the calendar a little bit, but no, it's a massive issue right now with college football is the calendar because now the playoff is expanded. And, you know, there was thoughts that Mike Elko, maybe he would leave to go to Penn State or a number of other coaches that are very much in the college football playoff discussion in the playoff picture would ultimately bolt prior to their teams playing. So it would be a really big issue. It would be very unfortunate to the Ole Miss players who earn the right to play in the playoff and then they don't have their coach because he's going to get a massive payday. So I don't know what's going to happen. It certainly feels like based off of the press release they put out Heaven and

statement they put out that Kiffin is probably gone after the Egg Bowl, but who knows? Lane Kiffin is one of one. So maybe he's doing this just, like I said, to tell everyone, I'm just kidding. I'm staying here in Oxford. Let's go win a championship. Who knows? But if I, if there were, I mean, there are betting odds offshore, but my bet would be that he's headed to LSU.

All right. Let's, before we get to the games, just talk about the most recent college football playoff rankings that came out last night and where everything stands. First of all, do you think Ohio State and Indiana are the two best teams in the country? I think Ohio State is, I don't know if Indiana is number two. I think they deserve to be number two, but I don't know if they're the best, if they're the second best team in the country. I think they're definitely top five. I think Ohio State, when healthy, is the best team in the country, but they've got a serious situation on their hands, and we'll see

if Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, they're two superstar wide receivers play on Saturday against Michigan. But I think Ohio State has proven they're the best team in the country. I know that some skeptics would say who have they played, and that's a fair criticism. They haven't really been tested

maybe since week one against Texas. We'll find out more about them certainly on Saturday against Michigan and next week against Indiana. I think it's kind of a jumble, honestly, Kevin. And I think if you told me you say Texas A&M, is the second best team or Georgia or Notre Dame is the second best team. I would listen to the

argument and I honestly think pound for pound the second best team in the country right now and you're going to laugh. I think it's Notre Dame. I think this team is legit. I agree with you. Tim's a big Notre Dame guy which is why you said you're going to laugh. But I honestly and I've been saying this for a while now, a few weeks anyway, that I think they're going to be in the championship game. I don't know if it'll be opposite Ohio State or not, because I do think that schedule is we'll find out Saturday. By the way,

maybe in a snow game in Ann Arbor against Michigan, but I think Notre Dame right now, the way they're playing, I don't know that anybody's playing better, and the way they run the football, if you can't stop it, it's going to be a long day. Yeah, and look, I mean, you know,

we can get into the Miami versus Notre Dame discussion, which obviously is kind of taking over the college football world, which, like, I get it. If I were a Miami fan, I'd be pissed right now. But I think Notre Dame is playing the best football, and honestly, probably my lifetime. I was born in 87. I don't remember the 88 team that won the title. The 93 team, I remember watching their upset over Florida State. The irony is, and it's funny, all these old Notre Dame fans are like, well, you know what, we beat Florida State, and then we got left out of the championship. this is justice. I'm like, okay. Yeah, it was 32 years ago. But this team's really good. And they're

getting healthier at the offensive line, on the defensive line. They did lose their best linebacker last week to a torn ACL. So that was a big hit. Kingston, Billy Amalasas, an absolute beast. But I think Notre Dame, in my opinion, is the second best team in the country, but not too far behind Indiana. And I really have been impressed by what I've seen from Georgia. It feels like, Kevin, they're playing their best football right now. That second half against Texas two weeks ago was a thing of beauty. I mean, they just absolutely curb stomps the longhorns in that second half. So, you know, and then I think we'll find out more about Oregon.

I was impressed by what we saw on Saturday. They're dealing with a ton of injuries, Kevin, on their offensive line, a couple of their big playmakers, more, their stud-wide receiver. The freshman has been really banged up. But they got a big test on Saturday. Oregon does on the foot at Washington. But I think pound for pound, in my opinion, I think it's Ohio State 1, and I think Notre Dame is the second best team right now in college football. Is Jeremiah Love deserving of the Heisman Trophy?

He's the best player in college football. I don't know how you – honestly, Kevin, like by the letter of the law, I think Diego Pavia deserves more discussion for the Heisman trophy. because he means so much to that program. Vanderbilt has never been this good. They have some good players on their roster. Their tight end is a, I don't know if he's a first-round pick, but he's definitely a high, you know, draft pick, stowers. But I think the importance of Diego Pavia at Vanderbilt

is more important than any player in college football. But if you're just talking from a pure pound-for-pound best player in college football, I think it is Jeremiah Love. Now, I think ultimately, Kevin, the way this award is voted on, which is outdated and too many people vote on this award that don't watch the sport regularly like you and I do, I think it'll come down to the winner of Ohio State Indiana. Fernandez has been very good, and I don't want to knock, you know, what he's done at Indiana this year.

But if I had a vote, which I don't, I certainly would look long and hard at Jeremiah Love for what he's been able to do this year. just the efficiency, Kevin, of any time he touches the ball, it feels like a highlight real play is going to happen. I mean, he makes little runs go 40, 50 yards. I mean, the touchdown run he had against hit, you know, hits the spin move and, you know, makes a defender fall. He has the highlight real moment that you just haven't really seen from a ton of other players.

And, you know, I would say Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State, you know, certainly could rival him from a pure talent stamp. point, but he's been so banged up this year for Ohio State. So, look, I think he's the best player in college football. Should he win the award? I don't know. I mean, I know how this thing is voted on nowadays. It's essentially the quarterback of a top four team.

You know, last year we saw Travis Hunter win it, and I think he deservedly so. But I think ultimately it's probably Mendoza or say in. Marcel Reed's kind of interesting at Texas A&M. I mean, if they beat Texas on Friday night and then win the SEC, he has some big games, I think Marcel Reed could kind of creep back in the conversation, too. Real quickly, just so we update or we help out those that aren't following college football. Jeremiah Love is the sensational running back at Notre Dame, who right now, even if you look at some of the mock draft big boards, not necessarily the way that they'll get picked because of quarterbacks, he's, you know, anywhere from one to three, you know, in terms of the best players that will be on.

the board. He is, by most people's, you know, predictions, he's going to be the next great running back and he's going to be a high first round pick. You know, we're, you know, remember, it's, you only have to go back five, six years, seven years where it's like, you don't take running backs in the first round. Now Bejan Robinson, Jemir Gibbs, et cetera, Sequin Barclay. And Love is going to be in that category. Do you have a comp, an NFL comp for Jeremiah Love? I'm trying to think. He's not, so I just quickly looked up

because I wanted to just circle back real quickly because Ashton Genti of Boise State finished runner-up last year, right? And he was unbelievable. He ran for over 2,600 yard last year. And Love is not going to rush for that because he doesn't, Notre Dame blows out half their teams

and he's not playing in carrying. He only had eight carries against Syracuse last week. Well, and his backup running back, he's already a price of the pro as well. I mean, he's going to be like a third or fourth round pick. Who comes to mind, though, for you? Because the comp that people have used, I don't see it at all. Is Reggie Bush?

That's the comp people use. I don't see Reggie Bush in him. I think he's more powerful. I agree. I totally agree. I think he looks bigger and stronger and more powerful than Reggie Bush. But he's not Derek Henry, right? No.

He's not a tank. He's not a tank. It's not Derek Henry, but he's not, to me, it's not, I mean, his speed is ridiculous, his yards after contact, the whole thing. But it's a combination of this lightning, quick, super, like, what do you think he's going to run if he runs? 4-4? Yeah, he probably won't run, because running backs don't run anymore.

Yeah. But, yeah, I think when he hits acceleration, I mean, that's the crazy thing, Kevin, is, you know, he had that 95-yarder. He looks like Gibbs when he accelerates. And he just kind of like toys with people. Like he was looking to the sideline. There was a moment last week, Kevin, where he broke the hole. And I get it.

It's Syracuse. But still, he had two defenders next to him. And then he could just hit a gear where you're like, you're not going to touch me and just takes off and he's gone. I'm trying to think of a comp because, yeah, the Reggie Bush from a college football stand. standpoint where, you know, he made the just electrifying plays. I get that. But I think Reggie Bush was probably more elusive than Jeremiah Love. But I think love has the power.

And we think back to like his run against Penn State in the Orange Bowl, where he broke like five tackles and then was able to get into the end zone. You watch also some of the things, like he really takes pride in blocking. Like he will get out and lead block on, quarterback draws as well. So, man, I don't know. I don't know what a good comp would be. But he's a lot of fun, though, that's for sure. But I wanted to mention this real quickly, Ashton Genty.

Ashton Jenty in the regular season had 344 carries last year. Jeremiah Love has 185 right now. Like, he just, when he touches the ball, he just, he scores. I mean, he has 17 touchdowns on the season this year. and I imagine he'll probably have a couple more on Saturday against Stanford. All right, we still have a lot of very important games to play, for sure. But right now, give me a team that, based on the rankings, is going to be in the playoff as of today that you don't think is very good.

I guess very good. Well, I mean, anyone, whoever wins the ACC, I don't think it's very good. I mean, I just, like, the frustration I have about the whole situation right now with Miami, and we were talking a little bit off air, is that, you know, Miami very well could get left out of this playoff, and they are, in my opinion, the best team in the ACC, and I know they lost to SMU and they lost the Louisville, but, you know, I look at Virginia, and I'm like,

this isn't a playoff team. I mean, this is a team that lost to NC State, and, but that was a non-conference game. I mean, they are the fortunate recipient of the unbalanced schedule. They didn't play Pitt, they didn't play SMU, they didn't play Georgia Tech. They didn't play Miami, right? So the next team's behind them.

So whoever wins the ACC, I'm just not a believer in. And just to let everybody know, the ACC winner will be penciled into the playoff at this point. Technically, so for those who are new to this, the rule state, and it changed a little bit from last year. So last year, the top four seats all had to be conference winners. They have erased that. So you don't have to win your conference in order to get a buy. So Ohio State and Indiana, assuming they both win this weekend and go into the Big Ten Championship 12 and 0, almost assuredly will have buys, both of them.

So last year when Penn State played Oregon in the Big Ten championship, the winner got the buy, the loser did not, and that was Penn State. And that's why they played SMU in the first round. So that is gone. However, the rule that still sticks is that. The top five conference champions get by. So in theory, Kevin, the ACC is not guaranteed a spot, but right now, Virginia is 18th.

SMU is 21st. They are higher than any G5 team. Tulane. They are almost assured by going to get it. Tulane is 24. More than likely, the American championship is going to be Tulane versus North Texas. The winner of that will get the number five, the fifth auto bid. I know James Madison fans are not happy because they've had a really good year.

You know, they're sitting there at 10 and 1, likely going to win the Sunbelt. If you're a James Madison fan, you want utter chaos and you want Duke to make the ACC championship, which has a chance of happening, Kevin, believe it or not, based off tiebreakers. And then they would have a reality where if Duke won the conference with five losses, would they contemplate putting in James Madison, the Sunbelt, champ. And leaving an ACC champ out, yeah. Correct. So is there... It's unlikely, but it's... Is there any way for Miami? Is there any way for Miami to get in at large? Yes, absolutely. So let's go through those scenarios. I mean, I think it's pretty clear.

If Ole Miss loses, I think Miami jumps in. Well, first we'll start with this. Miami has to beat Pitt this weekend, obviously. And if they win in, let's say, dominant fashion, Notre Dame two weeks ago went to Pitt and won by 22, really 28, but 22 was the final score because the gnar dog had to throw in a touchdown late in that game. But if Pitt goes or Miami goes to pit and dominate, and then let's say BYU loses the Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship, BYU is out. Alabama, I mean, Alabama is sitting there at 10, Kevin. They're only a six-point favorite at Auburn.

If Alabama loses on Saturday night at Jordan Hare, they're done. And Miami's got to have a chance to get in. If Oklahoma loses to LSU, unlikely, but still 10-point spread, crazier things have happened. Oklahoma would be out. I think in order for Miami to get in, I think Miami needs Alabama to lose on Saturday night to Auburn. If Alabama loses to Auburn, I feel pretty good that Miami's going to get into the playoff. And also, if Ole Miss loses Mississippi State on Friday, that's a seven-point spread, that's not massive. I think Miami gets in.

If it stays status quo, it seems like the committee is going to put Notre Dame in over Miami, even though, of course, week one, Notre Dame lost to Miami by three on Miami's field, and that has obviously led to all this controversy. But I do think Miami has a chance, but it seems like having them need some help. The team that is currently in the rankings, and they're going to have to face Texas Tech again, most likely in the Big 12 championship, I think BYU stinks. Like, that quarterback cannot throw the football, period.

Brock Meyer. He can't throw it. Yeah, I don't. I mean, if you look at like power ratings, Kevin, like they are by far the lowest power rated team, you know, out there, you know, Jeff Sagan has his numbers and a lot of others. Like, they're, you know, their power ratings probably like 18 or something like that. Just Sagan has them 20th in his numbers.

I mean, Cincinnati last week missed three. field goals. I had them. They missed three field goals. This is one of my losses from last week and turn the ball over twice in the red zone. Like they were the better team in the game. Bachmeier, by the way, their quarterback, where's number 47? And literally, he's a good runner. There's no doubt about it. He can actually run the football. I don't think he can throw the football. I think they really are not very good. It's too bad because I think Utah is good. but they beat Utah earlier this year. I would have rather seen Utah and Texas Tech play in the Big 12 championship.

That's probably not going, well, that isn't going to happen. Give me the team that is outside looking in that you think if they got in would wreak havoc. Well, I think Miami, I mean, I think that's the easy answer. I think when they're playing at their best, I think Miami could make. some noise. I look at their defensive front. I think it's elite. If Carson Beck can avoid the turnovers, which obviously

we saw in full force against Louisville, but they have some playmakers, Kevin. I think Miami can make some, do some damage. I think Utah could. I think what frustrates me about Utah is like, you know, they gave up like 400 rushing yards last week of Kansas State. I mean, that is, I mean,

472 rushing yards. Crazy. Yeah, I know. I don't, if Utah played Notre Dame or someone with an elite run game, they would just run it down their throat. So I think Miami is the answer. You know, Michigan's kind of creeping up if they beat Ohio State. And look, they did it last year as a bigger underdog, so it's certainly not impossible that Michigan would be able to do it. And I think, I don't know if you had Maryland last week, I did. I thought Maryland would be competitive.

I thought they would. I didn't give them out, but I said I thought they had a chance. and it was Michigan's best game, by the way, of the season offensively, really. Yeah, I think the easy answer is Miami, but, you know, I think Texas, if they, I don't think they can get in at this point with three losses, even if they beat Texas A&M on Friday night. Which they're going to do. Texas has some upside, yes, I believe. I think you and I are in agreement on that one, but I think the easy answer is Miami.

I want to go back to the question of the yes. I think the team that I don't trust in the top 10 is Oklahoma. They're elite defensively. Don't get me wrong. But the game they beat Alabama, they needed everything. And then some to win that game. Same thing at Tennessee. Right.

And then I had Missouri last week, and I'm watching that game. I'm like, this offense cannot do anything. They get a blocked field goal. They break an 87-yard touchdown. And other than that, it was nothing. So I'm really curious about Oklahoma in the playoff. They beat LSU on Saturday. they're locked in, they're probably going to have a home game.

But you can't trust that offense right now. Yeah, but they are so much of fun to watch defensively. They have unbelievable speed defensively. Kevin, did you see the total in the Oklahoma LSU game? It is 36. I've never seen that for a college game. Never. 36. That's a service academy game. 36.

That's crazy. I had not seen that yet. I got to go back and look at that. Are the public betters all over the over or not? Just because of the low number? Let me check right now. It's okay. It's all right.

I'll get the information on it and let people know. I mean, it's interesting because they actually kind of like... 79% of bets right now at draft kings are on the over. Yeah, of course, because it's such a low number. I want to bet LSU, but they are horrific offensively. I mean, and I don't know how they move the ball against Oklahoma. So, I mean, it was funny. I was watching the Missouri Oklahoma game last week because I had Missouri plus seven, six and a half.

I've never seen a college total that low unless you're right, unless it's like an Army Navy game maybe. Right. I mean. But not even that, not in recent years. Yeah. Yeah, that's nuts. I mean, 36 people. I mean, 36 and a half was Raiders Browns last week.

You just don't see that in college because there are more points scored because they're typically more plays. And I kind of like LSU plus the points, but now I think you just gave me the under in this one for sure. This is 17 to 9, I think, Oklahoma, you know? Well, last week was 17 to 6. Exactly. 17.9 gets me the dog and the under.

All right, let's talk about some of these games and just give me your, give me your, well, I want to start with this. We both think Texas is going to win because of the number. But what do you think about Michigan's chances in Ann Arbor? That line keeps coming down, part of its injury, part of its weather related, because they may get a lot of snow during this game. do we know enough to know that Ohio State can just basically hold them to 10 points and win easily? I mean, they haven't done it in four years. This is another really intriguing Michigan Ohio State game. I think Michigan's got a chance.

What do you think? I mean, the number is telling you that they've got a chance because, you know, look, I certainly didn't think they had a chance last year. And a lot of that had to do with play calling by Chip Kelly, which I thought was. was terrible. He was just running the ball up the middle, trying to, I guess, you know, pull a Nuclouche announce his presence with authority. I don't know. I mean, it was just run the ball,

run the ball, run the ball. I do look at this defense, Kevin, and you look at the metrics. I mean, they're number one everywhere from a defensive standpoint. You know, and I don't know how healthy Michigan is a running back position. I think they're getting a little bit healthier,

which is certainly promising. And you look at the offenses that Ohio State has faced. It has not been a murderer's row. They did go on the road at Washington. I thought that was an impressive performance that we saw from them there. But look, after last year, Kevin, I'm not going to say it's impossible because it's not. I mean, the number's 10.

I'll just say this. Bryce Underwood has got a lot to improve on the quarterback from Michigan. And I think Matt Patricia, you know, you can make all the jokes that you want. He's done a really good job. They've got dudes everywhere defensively. I think it's an under game, to be honest. I don't know if it's, you know, first half under, full game under, Michigan team total under. It just feels like a grinder.

And when you look at, you know, pace of play, Ohio State is a snail, you know, 31.7 seconds per play. And Michigan is not very fast either. So this just feels to me kind of like a grinded out type of game. But once again, the question is, and you mentioned it, is Jeremiah Smith playing? Is Carnell Tate playing the two super super? star wide receivers for Ohio State. They didn't play against Rutgers. Smith got a little bit banged up against UCLA.

That's what I'm concerned about. I just, to be honest, Kevin, I know you mentioned it, and you probably mocked more of it than I did. I know it was their best game of the season a week ago. I just haven't seen it from this Michigan offense. And maybe it's not fair to go back to September, and they will be at home as opposed to being on the road in Norman, but they could not do anything against Oklahoma.

and I think that the defense is on the same level, maybe better than Oklahoma defense. All right. Give me your top three plays this weekend. All right, so we're on Texas, Texas plus two and a half. You know, you've talked about it plenty with your listeners, I'm sure, but when the number fits at two and a half, it tends to mean that the underdog is the right side there.

And I've heard enough people, and I'm sure if you live in a family that is a sports fan, I'm sure Uncle Bob will be sitting there at Thanksgiving dinner after a couple of glasses of red wine and be like, this number is too easy. All they have to do is win by a field goal. So I think Texas wins on Friday night down in Austin. First time they've played this game at home, I think in like 15 years, Kevin. And also I'll say this about Arch Manning.

And I know Arkansas, I mean, you and me could go out there and score some points against the Arkansas defense. But Archmanning plays a lot better at home. You look at the numbers. He's played exceptional at home. So I think Texas is the right side. I mentioned Michigan State, Ohio State. I played first half under in that one. Three games on Saturday, we'll just run through quickly.

I think it's going to get weird in Jordan Hare on Saturday night, man. Auburn plus six against Alabama. Once again, that number kind of reeks. Auburn has nothing to play for. Their coach has obviously already been fired, but I think you get a really inspired effort. And I'll say this about Auburn. and I don't know if you had Auburn against Georgia, because I did,

if they score on a quarterback sneak, they're up 17-0 at home at night against Georgia. Painful loss. But unfortunately, the refs on that side decided he didn't score a touchdown. And then they go and get a field goal. So I think Auburn plus six, if you can get seven with Washington, I think Washington is going to be live on Saturday as well. That could be a hell of a game against Oregon. I love DeMond Williams, the quarterback.

He's not the biggest dude, but he is electric. We've got to keep an eye on their injury situation, too, Kevin, because they've got some big-time playmakers. Washington does. They've got an NFL running back, too. We saw him here. He's really good. Jonah Coleman is an absolute stud,

and then the wide receiver, Gensel Boston. If they're all... They're going to give us scared of Oregon. Oregon's dealing with injuries, too. And then Kevin, I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, probably am. Doesn't it feel like Virginia Tech's going to give one little scare to Virginia? Wouldn't it be just typical that rivalry? Virginia has been the little brother in that rivalry forever,

and they've got a chance to go to the ACC Championship. Does Kyron Drones have something up his sleeve? Can he run on this Virginia team? Look, I have not been a big believer in the Virginia team whatsoever. I was impressed by their performance. against Duke. I got to tip my cap two weeks ago. I thought that was a really strong performance as an underdog to win that game. You're laying double digits in a pressure-filled spot facing a team that has absolutely

nothing to play for except to ruin your season. That one I'm like teetering on the fence. Like, do I like Virginia Tech? Do I not like Virginia Tech? So that one is not on the card yet, but I think of my kid. And look, they've played better recently even though they actually played okay I thought last week against Miami yeah all right uh appreciate it hope you're well happy Thanksgiving all right happy Thanksgiving to you Kevin and uh if you could dish me some of your winners i mean one of these days maybe i'll get mentioned by fans once once i start dishing them out to to friends is when they i mean every time i get text messages

from friends what are your picks today i don't i don't want to give them to you because it just means they'll lose uh listen to the show the way it goes All right. Thanks for doing this, as always. See you, Kevin. Tim Murray, everybody. We'll finish up with a few smell test picks for tomorrow and Friday after these words from a few of our sponsors. Hey, guys, Goldbelly is fast becoming one of my favorite websites. I've told you about it previously.

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smell test picks for Friday's show. So the first one is the first game tomorrow of the NFL triple header on Thanksgiving. The public is backing Detroit in a major way at home, laying the short number over the Packers. Now, let me just mention real quickly, I'm going to give out here on the podcast the Packers Plus 3. And the reason for that is there are now some plus 3s out there. And there are a lot of plus 2 and a halves as well. There are no more plus 2s. On Radio earlier today I gave out the Packers plus two and a half because it was all plus two and a halves and plus twos and I've been doing that this year with you know tip last year I if it was two and a half six and a half nine and a half 13 and a half et cetera I bought the half points

in all of those situations and suggested that you do the same but I haven't been doing that this year unless it was two and a half everywhere or six and a half or nine and a half or 13 and a half everywhere with even a few threes mixed in. Well, this morning it was all two and a halves and twos, so I gave it out as two and a half. Right now, I see the entire board of almost every legal and illegal sports book out there, and there are plenty of threes, so the numbers come up a little bit. So I'm going to give the Packers out plus the three. So if you heard it on radio this morning, you probably haven't played it yet.

And so you can get some threes. And if you can only find two and a halves, you can buy the half point to get to three. So the Packers as a major anti-public play tomorrow, why are they a major anti-public play? Detroit's just at home perceived to be the better team. Green Bay obviously has struggled at times to score. this year. And yeah, Detroit even coming off, you know, a very close call win in overtime over the Giants, 34 to 27. Last week, the Packers beat a pretty bad Minnesota team, but we're only a few weeks removed from the Packers losing at home to Carolina and losing to Philadelphia

10 to 7 on Monday night. Public just thinks Detroit's more explosive. They're better offensively. and that the number appears to be short. And two and a halves are always kind of an indication. You know, when it's out there in a lot of spots at two and a half, they're begging you to play the favorite. Even though we've got threes out there now, I'm going to take the dog. I'm going to take the Packers plus the three.

I think they can win the game outright. I think Green Bay is the most complete team in that division. And I actually think they're going to win that division. I think they'll run down Chicago. Chicago's schedule is brutal the rest of the way. And if they win tomorrow, they own Detroit, a sweep of Detroit. Now, it's not going to matter tiebreaker-wise unless Detroit ties a game because Green Bay has got that tie from earlier in the season against the Cowboys. But I do like Green Bay in the NFC North the rest of the way.

It's a weird division in that Chicago really looks like a team that can't get it done, even though they are the leader in the division right now. But Eagles, Packers, Packers, again, 49ers and lions are left on their schedule. And I just think Green Bay is the one team in the division for sure that has a great defense. I don't think Detroit has that. I don't think Chicago has that. Green Bay still gets the Bears twice. They do have to play a game at Denver, but they play the Ravens and the Vikings as well.

And Detroit, you know, doesn't have it easy the rest of the way. I mean, the Lions have the Packers tomorrow. They got the Cowboys. They got to go to L.A. to face the Rams. They still have to play the Steelers. They have another game against the Bears. That one at Soldier Field. So tomorrow the play is the Packers plus three.

I like the Packers to win that division. And then on Friday, Texas plus the points at home against undefeated Texas A&M. I knew when I saw this line, I think, on Sunday night, I knew I'd be giving Texas out as a smell test pick. It is kind of smell test 101 here. A&M, an undefeated team, ranked third in the playoff rankings. Texas, a three-loss team. The last time they played a good team a few weeks ago in Athens against Georgia, they lost 35 to 10. And the line's just short. It just begs every average, you know, John Cue. public better to take the favorite. And I'm going to give Texas out at plus two and a half.

There just aren't any threes out there. And there's some twos out there. I'll buy the half point and take Texas personally plus the three. But for the purposes of the smell test, Texas plus two and a half. Look, Texas still believes I'm sure that they've got, you know, an outside shot if they beat A&M at making the playoff as a three lost team. Now, all hell would have to break loose this weekend. But they would own a win over Texas A&M, the number three team in the playoff rankings, and a win over the number eight team, Oklahoma, in the playoff rankings. So they played pretty well last week against Arkansas. They played really well against Vandy a few weeks ago. This is just, this is the formula here, man.

You're looking for a team that's great, playing a team that most think is just good, and the numbers super short. Texas plus the two and a half on Friday night. So those are the two plays. I'll be back on Friday with more, but the Packers plus three, Texas plus two and a half. Good luck with it. And we will reconvene on Friday. Happy Thanksgiving again to all of you.

Thank you.