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A home team getting points. What's better than that? Welcome in championship week. A week before bowls are set, all the good stuff.
We got we got 11 games, 10 titles on the line. And I got some math for Bear to check me on. Great. All right.
I was told I was told I was told there would be no math. Oh, sorry. Before we get started, two things I just want to mention. New SB Pod this week on the podcast Scott and I discussed whether his tree was up, tree purchased, best and worst Christmas songs, how early to start Christmas songs, all that good stuff.
Thanksgiving recap, reaction to Lincoln Riley taking the SC job. It was before Brian Kelly went to LSU, which Bear and I will talk about in a little bit. But all that good stuff, listen and follow the SB Pod wherever you get your podcast and watch NBA Today, Monday through Friday at 3 p.m. Eastern, New Pacific on ESPN and ESPN app or listen to the show wherever you listen to your podcast.
Scott and I also just taped the bad beats of the month and boy they were bad. That should be up on ESPN app. You could watch that anywhere. You find that goes up on the first of every month for a month prior recap, which we've been having some fun with.
So Bear, here's what I got here. All right. I don't think this is too crazy for you. I said 11 games, 10 titles on the line.
Okay. I see there's no time there's no title on the line in Berkeley this weekend. There is not what I do on touch on that game because I know I'm going to be watching it because it's at 11 Eastern and it's on the one for fun. So I will be, I will be taking that one in.
But before the year started, I was worried that the sport was starting to feel a little broken because we didn't have any new flavor in there. And all I asked was for an opportunity to see some new flavor in those teams that had the chance pounce on the opportunity and get there. So with that, 10 titles on the line this week, seven conferences are going to have new champions. Seven, that's what I have.
Two conferences will have new new champ, possible new champions that are favored. And one repeat champion, one repeat team is favored in that Cincinnati. The two possible new champs that are favored are Utah and Georgia. So I'm really fun.
But Michigan, Michigan will be a new champion. Yeah, but they're already that game already is guaranteed a new champ. I put that with that one. So that's in the seven.
So yeah, I'm the worst at math that I tried to make it. So I can explain it. And then I put 10 at the top and then I had to add the seven to two and the one underneath it. So we got there.
I'll tell you this, when we could talk all the coaches stuff at the back end and have some fun with that, because I'll just say this, I love every higher so far. Love every higher. But when I look at this slate and I'm going down and that's what stuck out. I was like, all right, how many teams do we have?
And then, you know, I said, you know, the Sun Belt, I put in the will definitely have a new champion because that game got called coastal, Louisiana, which was I was really looking forward to last year. That didn't happen. But I'm looking down the slate and I'm leaning every underdog. I really am.
And it's all different scenarios. I look at our roadrunners who are at home now and they already beat Western Kentucky. And I know they lost last week, but they weren't in the running for a new year. They played the worst game of the year.
I like the over and that game last week. I thought they were going to be sluggish and North Texas needed a ball and they got the win. Or it's a good time to get your worst game of the year out of the way, the biggest game of the year. Right.
And I would expect an awesome crowd in the Alamo Dome Friday night. I'm actually fired up. That's the first game we get Friday because that over under 72 and a half, I believe the roadrunners won 52 46 earlier this year. And Western Kentucky hasn't lost since that game.
We know what Bailey Zappi has done. I'm bummed. I didn't take a shot at them to win the conference seeing what those odds are now with a preseason. If you don't know the story, Bailey Zappi was a quarterback at Houston Baptist, the head coach at a Hill Toppers, Tyson.
Yeah, why did I write? I can't remember writing. That's how early it is. You're thinking of Tyson Barry and H.L.
player? I don't know. Oh, maybe maybe. No, but Tyson Helen goes out and gets Zach Hilly who was at Houston Baptist and called the place for Zappi and just brought that whole offense in.
If you remember way back to last year, Houston Baptist got on the map because they went to Lubbock and almost won and beating Texas Tech. But they've done not they went nuts. Zappi five almost 5,000 yards, 52 touchdowns. I mentioned they won seven in a row.
They do have the loss earlier to the roadrunners in a game in that game. Zappi threw for 505 CDs and Frank Wilson threw for 349 and six touchdowns. So this is the first on a docket and I'm fired up for it. I do lean the roadrunners getting points at home.
Yeah, I'm a little bummed. I'm not going to be able to pay for attention to this game because I'll be in Vegas for the practical title of the look and see if Oregon can regain some of the manhood that the that the youth sold from them in salt like a couple of weeks back with it was just an awful performance defensively poor tackling. This guy completely dominated up front on both sides of all, Anthony Brown had his voice game of the year. So I'm really curious.
I would expect Oregon to come out and play a very inspired game with a chance at the Rose Bowl. That's the great thing. In our conversations with the players this week, they couldn't care less about the playoff. They like Utah's like, we're going to the Rose Bowl.
And it's awesome to hear that that still matters to these players, that the Rose Bowl, I mean, you play, you know what it's all about. Anyone who's grown up at college football, I know that the Rose Bowl is kind of above all those other ball games. And it's great to see that these players in this age of seemingly playoff or Boston, a lot of situations that this game ultimately matters a hell of a lot to these guys. I don't have a play on this one because I have a feeling I would lean UTSA with you in that first game.
But I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the truck and enjoy this game in Vegas on Friday night. You mentioned Vegas, I should have started right there. Travel itinerary for the bear starts, I would guess Thursday. Thursday morning to Vegas, get there around lunchtime.
I'm going to figure out a couple of maybe cross-board parlays to maybe throw in there and play. This is the boys down at Cerca dinner. I believe for a Thursday night with with Gill and Chris Andrews from from South Point. What are we got?
Joseph? I don't know. I don't know where we're going to go. We haven't ultimately decided to figure that out.
Go there. Go there, okay? Yes. I'll wait.
Chris usually has a pretty deal. We're going to go to Cerca. Which is fine. I got no problem with that.
But Chris usually is pretty good at finding some off the strip type of place. My life is just as Michael's, Michael's, Michael's, Michael's, Michael's in the South Point. Sorry. Can't believe I got that wrong.
I was going to say, but I thought maybe Joseph was something new because of the new place to pop up all the time. Then Friday morning, we'll have a production call at some point, but I'm going to head down to South Point, cast some conference, one total futures from the preseason, which did pretty well. I got two pushes. That was one of the things I got two worst case scenario pushes.
I volunteered to the push with Kansas against Texas. I gladly accepted that. And then I pushed with Ohio State on the mission game, but I actually was able to play Michigan on Monday night last week to guarantee a little profit off of that. So that worked out well.
So I got to show it to South Point with Gill and Friday. Team, then fly right from immediately this nonstop flight from Vegas to Atlanta immediately following the Powerwall Championship game. Oh, amazing. Yeah, they're going to say somehow.
Wow. How they did this one scheduled. We'll probably get to Atlanta around 4 a.m. or so.
Hopefully I can bed head can hit the pillar around 445. Get maybe two two and a half hours of sleep and then go right to the other game. They said for a nine o'clock game day show, post show nap back into Mercedes Benz, George and home super dome. Pardon me.
I don't know the name. I just called the George don't because I remember getting a name. Mercedes Benz, I believe it. Mercedes Mercedes.
Mercedes Benz. I don't know. Whatever. We got it.
You've got it. And then I'm so fired up to watch this game. And so I could stay, watch the game. We're going to hang out, watch the big 10 championship game and after the big 10 championship game.
Again, there's a miraculously scheduled flight. Oh, that's waiting for Kirk and reason myself to fly back up here from Atlanta. I'm ready for selection day. So I'll be home in the wee hours on Sunday morning.
Okay, you are not a coffee drinker, correct? No, no. Did you know? Wow.
Okay. No, I am a what I'm glad you said that too, because I already packed my little vitamin kit. I'm going to need to put what I do drink is the advocate spark. Okay.
It's a caffeine free type energy, energy, energy. And that gives me the boost that I need. Okay. So I have a care spark is my is my joke of energy, which is what I'm absolutely going to need around eight 30 in the morning on Saturday.
That's for sure. Are we going to be indoors? Because I'm wondering, yes, Desmond and those guys in Pollock look cold. I'm wondering if they thought at all, you have no, it was so cold.
Like my quads were frozen when I got up from the set to walk over to the demo field to do the cultural discussion. And then like, at first it was like, Oh, cool. This is just a little bit of little snow, a few flurries. Oh, yeah.
And then it was like, well, shit, snow. And then we left to have time to turn on up so on. But you actually, we are going to be in scene versus we got this old. I guess there's a big fan best area somewhere in like, I don't know, I'll probably the convention center.
It's just in the Georgia convention center, that Congress center. It's right there. I was told our set was going to be was going to be inside there. So we will look, we'll do it.
We do not have to worry about the barriers and worms. All right. No ear warmers either. All right.
We have the travel set fired up. You guys will be all over the place this weekend. And that's great. You guys are calling that game out in Vegas Friday.
To me, I, you know, going back to the underdogs thing, why I lean like you talk should be given more. We just watch this. They they dominate them every season. Where are you that they're not?
Yes. Yes. Cause I mean, what my two tickets I have left in place for conferences, I have a TSA from the year to win that. And then I got Utah, eight and a half to one.
So those are, you know, Utah is one of the few that are favored this week. And I just, yeah, I wasn't pressed Oregon last week, getting up off the deck and playing that civil war and getting to win in the fashion that they did. And to me, it's about, here's what I'm worried about. The thing that worries me about Oregon, Utah just doesn't give the ball up.
I mean, they make you earn everything you get. I just did it out. Oregon, the two losses, they don't have any takeaways. And Utah, I don't think I turned it over.
It's six games. Is that right? And it just sticks in your head. How you taught ran for over 200 against them.
You know, was that two weeks ago? So that's what does worry me, but Oregon, it's just, I lean Oregon because yeah, the line doesn't make sense. And I think, you know, it's just coast back to what I say, always back 12 to is we get to these circumstances in the favor piece down their leg and they don't play well. And it does feel like Utah has been playing a little bit over their head.
You know, we talked earlier in the year, how we were like, we stopped at the Utah talk because they look that bad. And then they make a quarterback change. And Oregon, it just feels like an Oregon season. You know, we're lost in November.
You know, somehow scrap it all, but put it together and play for the Rose Bowl birthday. You know, for championship Saturday. Yeah, you mentioned about the top 12 and if you go back over the last four years, in the 20 power five conference title games, there've only been two upsets and they've both come in the pack 12. But you will make the four pack 12 championship games, we would try two upsets like the ACC, the SEC, the big time, the big 12, there's been a single upset.
So what you said, maybe kind of interested people out by you. There he is, just kind of make a vote back. It's true. It's legit.
And it is one of those storylines this week about you saying you like all these hundred dogs and the conference title games lately have not been upset oriented. We had that run back in the BCS area where BCS one and two and three, it seemed like every year, someone is losing. Like if you just take the playoff area since 2014, the 24 power five conference favorites of greater than four points are 23 and one straight up. The Utah loss of Oregon, where they totally peed down their leg was a couple of loss.
And you got Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma State got two teams looking to make their first playoff appearance all greater than four points favorite pressure, maybe if you look, if you include the AC, there's three more teams, like the number was 27 and one to 2014 favorites outright, a four more than four points. Yeah, Cincinnati is a double digit favorite looking up to be the first group of five teams to make the playoffs. So like they haven't been upset yet, but maybe with these newcomers to the college football playoffs, maybe a little bit of pressure this week, who knows 27 and one power five and AC favorites of greater than four points in the playoff era, 27 and one in conference delegates. So that's since 2014 or 15 2014 got to write that one down for my future radio.
It's this week. You're gonna have you get on. Happy to have four points or more than four points greater than four points. Did you know?
All right. Wow. Well, it'll be a little bit of your bear bites later today as well. Can't wait for those nuggets.
Um, now that makes me feel horrible. But I don't care. You firing like you did last night. I know you know what I meant about last week.
I kind of like the Florida state game and BYU but too obvious and I was like, I don't care. Yeah, whatever. It's fine. It's it's there.
It's the most way. It's almost the most wonderful time of the year. We're on right there. I'm just waiting.
I'm just waiting to be asked to do FaceTime. It's returns to kick us a couple of weeks. Can you preview the R and all carriers in the world for me? Sure.
I'm gonna be in a t-shirt and a bathing suit. You're gonna see Grace Bay behind me. There we go. Great news.
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So those are Friday night. I just want to get times for everybody because I can't wait to watch all these. Watch what game is Easter. I know that.
80s or ABC, right? Yes. Yeah. Westley Kentucky, UTSA, Eastern, 7 E.S.
and CBS Sports Network. And then let's go to Saturday. Game deck, you'll be traveling across the country. And 12 p.m.
Eastern ABC. It's the big 12 game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. No worries about whether they're number nine Baylor and number five Oklahoma state, Oklahoma state minus five and a half over under 46 and a half. Nine of the 12 Baylor's games this year went over 46 and a half.
The folks are nine and three against the spread and four and one when favored by five and a half or more. What it comes out to me is Oklahoma State and taking care of the football. They have 15 giveaways this year. Baylor loves taking their way with 20.
That's the reason I love Baylor in this matchup. I talked about it. My brand is my favorite off-season hire. As far as the coordinators, that's come around.
I really think Baylor's an established identity and I just wonder how Oklahoma State comes back after last week. I mean, the idea and the vision of seeing Gundy get doused and throwing the cowboy hat and get the fish handshake from Lincoln Riley. I mean, we see him all. I mean, I believe he gave on the Belichick last Sunday, which was great because he knows that's what Bill does.
But Eileen Baylor, I just I like that identity. And I just think of the pressure that's on Oklahoma State knowing like they're the first ones out on noon Eastern like all eyes are on them. What do you show for it? They don't have any star-studded all-America first round draft picks on their team.
They're a team that's a step that's bought into their system from their coach and gotten the job done a weekend and week out and that's a tribute to them. I think they win the game, but I think it's a field goal game and that's why I lean Baylor plus time. You mentioned the turnovers and they got a couple of Spencer Sanders turnovers in my first meeting. But on the two insulin drives they had negative yards and couldn't capitalize on them.
If this is a hard play for me right now, not knowing the status of a parent, like if he doesn't play then you're playing a backup who now Oklahoma State has so long. And that kind of was a situation a couple of weeks ago when I played TCU. TCU the week after the win over Baylor, they got the tape on Morris and then they completely got like I see both sides. I think by the time I get to Saturday, especially if this number comes down more, I might be on Oklahoma State because you're right.
My first instinct on Sunday morning when I did the L. Daily Wagerfoner was at six or six and a half where this was at the open. I was like if this number I'm gonna have to take Baylor just because of the reasons that you that you talked about like Oklahoma State, the party atmosphere, can they beat him again? I only saw the number going down.
So but if it comes down before four and a half in that round and there's still a question about whether or having is gonna play then Oklahoma State might be the play. But right now, this is here on Wednesday morning. This is a wait and see for me but I wouldn't argue with A, you took the side of pressure can they get back up or B, but having to be able to play Oklahoma State at a reduced number. And that's what it comes down to me.
I just look at the idea of where they are and I listen, I love what Dundee's done and overcoming all that adversity against Oklahoma and getting it done and now getting his team here to play. I did, you know, I mentioned the random defense. I probably should mention Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator, right? To me, to me, North unreal job this year.
Unreal job for the Cowboys and the Pokes. So that gets us started. Now we start getting into it as I believe this is same time. Our Mac insiders team.
Yeah, we won for Winworths. It's also, oh yeah, 12 PM Eastern ESPN Ford Field, which I think is key here. All right, it's inside at Detroit. I know it's always there, but when I think about your max and for that massive help with Kent State, yes, yes, yes.
And I asked again, Rocky didn't play last week, Northern Illinois gets the job done or no, they didn't, that was the fishing line. They were, they were first in the division in underdog to the last place team and the last place team won a cover, but Northern Illinois didn't have anything to play for. They had already taken care of business. And yeah, that over under is looking at you.
It's Kent State minus three, over under 74 and a half inside on the turf. Kent State average over 33 points per game. They're 10 in the country and most plays per game. And I think I can't say I trust.
I just like the idea of Kent State here with knowing what I've seen from Northern Illinois. I think they've been one of the more fortunate teams in the country. Their average wins are about 3.7 points, whatever it down. They give up 70 yards per play and they only have 14 sacks.
And I look at Kent State as a team. But think about what you just said in the Mac, a team that all they do is all that 14, the number of drawbacks that they must have been this year and they have 14 sacks. Yeah. But I will say Northern Illinois, I think I read they only gave up 10 sacks.
So it's line play, a lot of lines play into cob. Are you ordering food? No, it's one of those telemarketer calls here, random deal. I just tried to turn the volume down, but it does just wait it out.
Yeah, we're good. We're usually usually my life is pretty quick to turn around that. At least at least my email. There we go back on today.
So where people are happy? Yeah. So with the idea of me liking all the underdogs, this is the one I have the toughest. Because I feel like Kent State's on an upswing.
We go back to being the year. They had the brutal bad beat against Texas A&M to start the year. They go on the road, lose the mayor. Like they played, they went to Iowa, lost that game.
Like they tested themselves early in the year and got themselves better for Mac play. And here they are playing for a conference title. So I think I would lean over though. No one has going to be on the turf inside.
Yeah, I probably would too. And I would probably lean Kent State as well. I mean, you'll look at the the earlier meeting and about 52 on the board and what was it like 10 yards a player, something like that. It felt like it's a game.
I mean, it's 11 yards a pass at the OA. 682 yards on 75 plays. So yeah, nine yards a flag. You know, then all I will develop it down the field to do it.
And it just doesn't feel like the type of game that he's got to see very many stops. Nope, but it'll be awesome. Awesome to watch. So I'm fired up for that one.
3PM Eastern on Fox, Utah State is at San Diego State in that game. I believe they played all their home games there at that dignity health sports parking in California. Shout out to San Diego State. I was really curious to see how they ended the year.
No one at the schedule, I felt was back loaded for them, had Fresno State against them. And that was ended up being their only loss. Utah State comes in with three losses to Wyoming, BYU, Boise, San Diego State coming off that comeback when that was really impressive against Boise last Friday or Saturday morning at 9am out there. Yeah, 9am local.
Let's go start and then board it on. And I would say, I think I saw, I could be wrong here and I shouldn't ask you before this. I think Utah State is the biggest dog in playing in a conference championship game. Is that posse?
I thought I saw like a 50 to one. The biggest, the biggest, all of them from preseason? Yeah. Yeah, they have to be.
They're not sure. Maybe wait for us or pit too, because the month, wait for us, because Clemson Northern Illinois was probably, but I'm sure they were up there. I would think wait for a catch with it. Yeah.
I don't have any preseason, she's Sandy. I'm sorry. I'm sure everybody will yell at us for that one. But anyway, it's, it feels too good to be true.
I love what I've seen from San Diego State, but I like, well, what Utah State has done, I would lean taking the sixth air in this game. I would too. I would too. I would too.
I think in this number, it feels like I just heard one way action on this game, with San Diego State, but I like what Bonner has done through the other year, they're coming in with, with Blake from Arkansas State kind of, I think San Diego State is going to have a hard time really slowing them down. And, and if Utah State score is say, 24 points, San Diego State is worth 31. Like, this is not a San Diego State offense. No, it's going to put up a ton of points.
So like, if you tell me right now, like, like, you look back at the 27 28, 23 17, 20, 20, 19 31 against New Mexico, like, that's like they're not in West offensive output. It's 20 to 28. So like, if you're telling me San Diego State is going to score 28 points, I'll take my chances that Utah State was able to score 24. Yeah, it's, it's set up for a really good matchup.
Jesse Matthews is a guy I've watched the last couple of weeks for San Diego State that's been incredible. Nine catches in each of those games against Boise and UNLV for touchdowns. He's been a big difference maker and save them offensively a ton, as you mentioned, they have not been good consistently. So that's a, that's a cool matchup out there in, in Carson, California.
So that gets us to an underdog that I really don't understand. And it's starting to scare me because it hasn't moved. And it feels like there's something going on, but it's Louisiana plus three at home against App State in the over on their 53. And I know everybody's going to point to Billy Napier coach in this game.
But if there's one team that I would expect that A plus effort, knowing that this could be the last game they had their head coach and what he's done for that program, it's Louisiana. They dominated App State when they played early on this year in that, in one of those week night games, they took it away from App State. Bryce was not good. Louisiana 141 13.
I know App State's won six around. I think they've lost since that game and that included that first loss to coastal. But when I see that game, I know it's at stake in what their kids from Louisiana are playing for. And now they're an underdog at home.
Like I can't, I feel like I'm on the wrong side of it, Bob, because they're telling you what to do with App State's favor. But I'm taking Louisiana in this game. Well, if we're going to be on the wrong side of it together, we're going to win together. We're going to win together.
We'll be the first time this year. I like Louisiana in the state of the state of the country to win a conference championship after that game got canceled last year. And then they lost that close game to to App State a couple of years ago. I'm with you.
I think this is usually a lot of people will be hesitant on fun taking the other coach hand around. But I think this is going to be all in, all in for one week for a billionaire beer. Kind of like the, when when UCF the year that's got frost all around and in coach them, I can see a very similar type of deal this week for Louisiana. I think I think offensively they're going to have a little bit too much.
And yeah, you're always a little hesitant to be at it. You'll be the team 41, 13 first time around and completely dominated the game. And of course, there's going to be, or I'll say, is that electric ticket turned a ball over four times again? No, but at the same time, they had, you all done.
You, you, the Louisiana, I'm just saying, you'll be a lot for that. I mean, it's a team that ran for 60 yards of carrying over came some penalty troubles in the run in that game. Lewis was really efficient. I think even if have electricity doesn't turn the ball, it's going to turn a one to try.
I still think Louisiana is the better team here and at home, I will take the short home dog. Very good. And that gets us to two matchups at four Eastern. Let's start with the game on ABC for Eastern at historic Nipert Stadium, number 21 Houston, which I still feel like is under ranked at number four Cincinnati.
And we know what's that state for Cincinnati since that comes in as a 10 and a half point favorite over under 53. And that's where I feel like, I mean, I looked at the first thing I did was look at the weather bear. It looks like it's going to be 50 degrees and no, you know, no, no precipitation, no rain. And I feel like that lines up for good for both teams.
And I understand the personnel since that he has on defense. I think their corners are great. But if Houston's going to do one thing in this game, I feel like they're going to score a little bit. And I could see them scoring 20.
And I think Cincinnati scores 30 plus. So I lean towards the over in this game. If I had to pick the game, I would take the 10 and a half again with the idea of what I mentioned with Oklahoma State. I see Cincinnati winning the game, but I think 10 and a half is a lot with tune in that in that Cougars offense.
So I would I like the over here. And I would lean taking the points with Houston, but I think Cincinnati wins the game. We'll see in the two meetings that you had between Dana and Luke, Houston, Cincinnati, Luke's defense is shut down pretty good both times and really handled himself. I kind of think this ain't good to get out of hand.
I really do. I think Cincinnati finally getting here. And I know I talked about pressure. I don't know.
I think Cincinnati got there. They're a little nervous stretch out of the way when the rankings first came out. And the last couple of weeks, they've certainly played much better. The big special teams played last week, the block field goal, kind of protecting him out of reach against East Carolina.
I don't know. I think Cincinnati comes out here plays great and finishes the regular season. Are you feeling with it with a pretty convincing win over Houston? Okay.
Do you think it's as simple as winning in Christmassy? Not if not if Bama and Oklahoma State wins. I think it's tough. I think it's tough.
Really tough. I want them to get in. They deserve to be in. And that's I hope they do get in if that's a scenario because they deserve it.
Because when you look at Oklahoma State's resume, what do they got? When? When Oklahoma two wins over Baylor and a controversial loss. Yeah.
I think they put something in. Don't be my hunt right now. I don't want to see that come down to that. I don't.
But yeah, I'm an undefeated guy. I think undefeated matters most and knowing what they did regardless. All one lost records created equal. It doesn't matter.
It's not like that. I think undefeated should come into play there. 13 and over. 13 and over.
Five is better than 12 and one. Yes. Yep. All right.
The game you will be watching in the Mercedes-Benz dome Atlanta four o'clock CBS, Georgia, Alabama. We've been waiting for it. It's been circled all year. I will just say this.
I know all the stats are going to be out there. The last time next day, when I was an underdog, I believe it's 2015 at Georgia where they were technically what a one point dog and they rolled them. I believe that was a scenario two pregame. There's a little scuffle on the sidelines.
I think Georgia wins the game. I will take the points. I'll probably buy at the seven. I just like the capability of Alabama's offense against that Georgia defense.
And listen, Georgia is going to win the majority of the time. But I think they have the goods to keep it close. I think they're going to put pressure on Georgia's corners that they haven't even come close to see in all year. And they'll set that stuff up.
I started off with some quick game. They'll have Jameson back after the first half targeting call. Now, if that was the second half targeting call, this would be a different story for me, I think. But I just think the capability of Alabama's offense.
I know they've struggled to run the football consistently. But I do think Bryce Young is that good. And I think Bama's defense will bring something to the table and show up and keep Georgia at bay. So I don't feel great about it.
But we're going to be asked to pick this game all week because it's a big game. And I would I don't feel great, but I would buy at the seven and I would take Alabama. That's how to take Alabama plus the points with you as well. Just because I think it's an overreaction to last week's game.
And you know that it's still Alabama and how they still have there is insane something because they survived a game that they should have lost and Brian Larson and think Big's me kind of botched the end of the game. But they Alabama made look, Alabama still had to make the play there to get the game over time. And they did. I would lean towards taking the points here.
I do think under is probably a way to go here as well. Okay, since you look at Georgia since 2018, the 16 games they played against ranked opponents, 13 of them have gone under the total. So when when Kirby is very comfortable playing tight defensive relying on his defense in these types of games and really not going crazy. So I think underdog and under would be the way that I looked at.
And you know, the fact that James was back like the start of this game is so big because in 10 of the 12 games this year, Georgia is led by at least 14 points a half time. Did you know there you go each less live select like the start is so important, but it just feels like you're getting more points than you really should just because of the narrative and the way Alabama did come back and win that game I'm dying to see in here from all the people that have taken Alabama first half the last two years to see how they feel about Alabama first half in this game. That is what I wait there because I don't feel like I will hear too many people saying Alabama first half this week, but I can't wait for it. It's it's all that is cracked up to be it's four o'clock it's right there in the middle of the day and I can't cannot wait for it.
Eight o'clock Eastern Lucas Oil Stadium my favorite NFL stadium in the country. It's number two Michigan. It's number 13 Iowa. It's funny.
I just did the only said that going back to what you were talking about earlier about how you feel on the sport was getting close to broken and needing some new teams like last week was about is perfect of a situation as you could have gotten you had Ohio State dethroned it out yet Clemson dethroned and Oklahoma dethroned it out and you were a botched end of game situation from having Alabama dethroned and out it's like if you're just like the neutral college football fan and it was about as good of a situation that you could have and seeing Michigan just talking Michigan was what made me think of that right now. So sorry. Yeah and it goes back to what we touched on with Oklahoma State here. I think it's going to take a bit from Michigan to get going and if they don't like credit to them they'll be ready to go.
I just think Iowa can hang around against them. I don't think Michigan's going to be able to run the ball when everybody in the stadium knows that Michigan wants to play the ball in Iowa like they did on Ohio State. I sort of feel like it plays in their hands a little bit. I do expect Michigan to take some shots to try and open it up knowing how Iowa likes to play but we've seen that I would that off that I would defense diced up.
It's not what it's been. I'll say that. I just think like 10 and a half. I mean this is another I feel like it's another mountain for hard ball to climb.
It hasn't been good against Iowa. They were all winnable games and knowing what's at stake here I feel like it's a touchdown you know maybe even a field goal game. So I like Iowa plus the 10 and a half here. I would see totals under it's probably the way to go here.
Like like seriously how many points is Iowa realistically going to expect a score here. Like if they score two touchdowns that's a lot of things. Yeah. Which leads me to another like I know there have been a lot of great jobs this year by assisted coaches but how was my my my my my moral size.
The reason Michigan is here is because of the defense and the unbelievable improvement that they need from previous years. But the fact that he wasn't a moral is just like amazing to me. Yeah I'm absolutely fascinated by this. Do you think do you think 23 points wins this game right?
Oh totally. 20. Yeah because I don't I don't think yeah I don't know. I guess I said yeah because I'm not I'm not expecting Iowa to be able to get that high.
Like probably 17 is probably like the ceiling I would think. I like Michigan this game then. Yeah I know I know I know I was kind of expecting them to be tight. I brought up in like I said I brought up in earlier and I brought up all the reasons why you can expect Michigan and Cincinnati and Oklahoma State to be tight.
But I was wondering if it works kind of kind of works in the other way that everybody kind of expects it and they just come out and play. Like sometimes sometimes you sometimes you too young and just to you know what some people say what's the phrase something you don't do too dumb. I just don't know what you don't know and you just go out there and play and have fun and things worked out. But yeah I mean Iowa is here and great for them for yeah but it took a pretty amazing set of circumstances for them to no doubt to have to be in this game.
And again that game is is why you're an Nebraska. That was the vintage Nebraska loss. Like you can see it coming like you saw it starting and then like once they once you had the play on the end zone you did there was a zero down the way that game was going to go once that was like that was okay here we go again and Nebraska continues to invent ways to lose games but I don't know I'm out. I was super super impressed with Michigan last week and if they play with anywhere close to the intensity and the emotion that they played in that game last week I think they'll handle it pretty easily.
Alright good so we agree on a couple we disagree. Eight o'clock ABC Pitt Wake Forest ACC title and line Bank of the North stadium Charlotte North Carolina prime time window looks like it's going to be good weather. This is another one I you mentioned Mike Mcdonald Brooks one I think Warren, Nigeria, the Wake Forest offense coordinator deserves consideration and he's up there. But it's just amazing to me to watch this offense and how it does.
And on one side you got the I think Colquilik our guy called it the Wake Forest offense where the quarterback keeps the ball in the in the stomach of the running back he called it the walk the dog mesh which I thought was hilarious as you're walking the dog in the line of scrimmage making a decision what you're going to do with pull it or throw the football and the other side you got offense going to mark Whipple who still demands his quarterback runs to the sideline against the play form no hands signals so we'll be yeah we'll be getting it all in this guy plenty of points 72 and a half the over under pit minus three I'm actually like this is the night game like I think it's going to be really exciting to watch knowing that both these teams like you said with the Rose Bowl both these teams got a big time pull up bowl game to play for and I lean wake force with the points in this game like it's a once in as long as the elbows it comes in type opportunity that you're never going to get a chance like this again to either play in the SEC championship game from the Atlantic or if you're in the coastal when you're going to get an opportunity to play not Clemson so like the opportunity is great I don't like this game at all I it's just two teams that any time you've got two offenses like this that are going to put up I have no pit does have the better defense I'm completely staying away I think I'm not sure I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm interested I want to find a force and talk into a word salad and they crap out that I have no idea what I'm saying but you have a strong conviction here I'll just let you carrot I I I'm I to watch watching enjoy for me if I have to take the game in office goals wherever I'm taking the points with the underdog and lastly USC at Cal but Berkeley will be going crazy 11 Eastern FS1 the one for fun I do they still call me going crazy I don't think worst is if this game was played in Palo Alto maybe as far as fans I don't see anybody going to this game um Cal uh not impressive against UCLA no no they're not good couldn't definitely let down after that big win yeah shout out to that UCLA coaches staff are getting their team up after that USC that was big that was a different stuff offensively as well 18-4 with a chance to win a night game in a ball game that was a huge week week after hanging 60-62 on SC hell of a job by them I think it was 66 wasn't it yeah what I'm very good facts right when you talk to Bruins on this podcast but they must be sky high I'll recruit but what was the T23 maybe I'm wrong all right I could just whatever whatever I'm sure we'll hear from people you know in West first number was a six I know that correct 60 burger um but that heart show on my s and s week come battling back from a double digit deficit and I was like okay here we go again and then somehow they like came back which is and that's why I would take USC in this game like at least they're still playing like I you don't see that I do not expect that and hey they're all dishing for jobs for next year correct that's the thing they did it they had go gets in place and he will certainly be looking to see who who's who's who's invested who's not all right I lean Jackson dart in that game even though this might be the first time ever in history to podcast I picked against Justin Wilcox and Cal um speaking of SC the hires are going fast and furious I'll ask you this what surprised you what surprised coaching the Virginia Tech hires okay that's right look I get that the goal is not to win the press conference but and again maybe you freezing and Janie Chadwell we're not candidates for the job but uh that hired did surprise me maybe it'll turn out to be great I hope it does get my prize defenses at Penn State and they've been pretty good and I think that's obviously what the Virginia Tech program was built up on that that lunch fail beamer ball mentality and I think they're hoping that pride can be a little bit of a change getting back to that after front day and the offensive mindedness of of him so that that higher did surprise me Brian Kelly going did not surprise me I think he was going somewhere it kind of had been like a the worst kept secret I think for weeks people I think expected that he was going to go somewhere whether it was going to be SC which I think was probably his first choice which is why he didn't get that then he became the candidate LSU not surprised me that that Brian Kelly moved on it did surprise me a little bit that looking really good but I think if you look depending on what you want to believe you know Oklahoma going to the SEC he could have had the LSU job which is an SEC job if you believe that I think there people out there that think he kind of played LSU a little bit kind of lever to situation and USC jumped in and gone so like I think this could have been a guy that didn't want any part of the SEC I thought I thought the next time I went to rally with a little bit of a guy but um it surprised me a little bit that he wound up going going to a SEC maybe you're in Florida did not surprise that seemed like it was a pretty darn good stick um what else am I missing anything well our zips it's not official but it could be homework homework home run higher absolutely that is that that's a that's a rough that's a rough job Terry Terry about it did a good job there early on great job from the from the depths and getting them to a ball game and then the bottom completely fell out so hopefully coach more Hichin can go there and get them back to respect ability here here's what surprised me I can't believe how Notre Dame and Oklahoma fans feel how how highly of themselves and what I mean is like you're not like like they left yeah they left you know like say sorry for more money and what they thought was a better opportunity yeah Oklahoma Oklahoma is not gonna be the best job in the SEC it's not correct SC probably the best job in the fact well right correct and here's another thing I will say I love love Bob Stoops I think he's awesome oh he's great he's a rock star in in in always has been but he still has his office in the football office in Norman and if I'm the head coach and the other guy still has office like I don't know that would cut five years it kind of get old that kind of that would kind of get old that was kind of didn't bow have an office in an arbor yeah like Bob on forever and I'm sure when coach K leaves that he's gonna keep his office and Duke and John Shire is gonna have to deal with that and you know what and I thought Swarbeck was great because he said it's been 12 years and stuff happens and you know he had what he said the Freudian slips like 12 years a long long long time long time and you know what people need some change once in a while so yep relax have confidence in your in your people that are making decisions I'm sure I'm fully confident Notre Dame you know Joe Stigley on Oklahoma and Jack they all have a list they all have a list any athletic director you would have one of the back box knew he's just gonna have a tough time bringing Bob back in from recruiting on the on the plane I think because those stoops is having a blast I feel like the last couple days selling the University of Oklahoma but that's that's what I said just just relax like sometimes there's better things out there so don't think so highly yourself that's what comes out for me yes exactly I'm glad you said because I was actually thinking of the hiring term to surprising but yes so the fact that like that these people are like shocked and up and armed it how dare they leave it happens so if you're Notre Dame yep how do you play or as you said if you're Luke fickle you know I would imagine it's going to be the first one call that Notre Dame makes like how does this go down because like this Notre Dame just kind of sit and wait and be like hey we're gonna hire Luke but we're just not gonna we're just gonna sit and wait for three weeks until the college football playoff or do you just talk to Luke and say how do you want to deal with it because like if it comes out that if they are making the offer like or does Notre Dame say hey no you have to come now like it's you can wind up with two playoff teams yes if Notre Dame happens again well yeah no doubt um here's here's what I say and I had some fun yesterday I went to eat up and since now you lose this weekend fickle coach Notre Dame in the in the playoff obviously I was just trying to have some fun I think if you're notary name you say I think we're gonna have coach your coach never name the playoff that would be awesome I think you say Luke the job is yours if you're you know obviously Sunday we're gonna know if since now he's in the playoff since now he's in the playoff you go coach the playoff for Cincinnati and do your double recruiting or do whatever you gotta do I'll never forget it was 2000 it was it was the florida oklahoma national championship at the orange state you know today you know today he's over to sam ratford and I got there it was one of my first on field gigs and I got to the field I was there like three hours before kickoff and it was just after I blocked that again yep and Dan Mullen had accepted the job I believe at Mississippi State yep and he sat on the bench in the rose bowl and was on the phone for a good hour and a half talking like he knew he had the job and he took care of you know calling recruits like it works pretty good if you call recruits and say where are you all I'm on the sidelines about to coach in the national title game it can be done these guys are tyros workers they know what they need to do to succeed succeed and I think the timing of it all sucks because of recruiting that new early sign period that that's where it really gets that gets confusing and I think that's where these guys the most important thing is is hiring the right guys and that fast it because that's what you need to get settled as soon as possible but I totally think Luke Vickill could handle the job um I do find it fascinating that people outside the Notre Dame tree don't have any problem with going and hiring a Cincinnati head coach again but the Notre Dame fans feel but hurt and don't want another Cincinnati head coach just because their coach that guy just left and gave it 12 years and he's all the time wins wins leader so I find it funny that that that would be an issue but um I do think about Freeman um I had never heard one bad word about him I just don't know if Notre Dame do you just ride the lightning knowing what they've done recruiting uh keeping that staff intact um I think really highly at Tommy Reese I don't know what's in store for him but do you ride the lightning keep those coordinators make marks to head coach like I don't know how that works but I would think Vickill would be the first call yeah I would think so too and my catalog guess would probably be the second if indeed you're not gonna hire him not a name does not usually hire uh guys who have not been head coach I mean that went like with Bob David Bob David they hired him and that was very mixed mm-hmm so I just think about Bob David if any other name coach was the coach at Notre Dame against Oregon State that night in a feasible they didn't they weren't gonna win that one either no no we didn't that um all right let's get to the big Mike happy recap big Mike happy recap all right officially I'm gonna go I'm definitely taking Louisiana plus the three I'm taking Iowa plus the 10 and a half I will take the roadrunners plus two uh for anything more check the column two and a half by the way bro two and a half roadrunners two and a half oh we'll buy that to three for sure um yes by UTSA plus three uh Iowa plus the 10 and a half Louisiana plus the three uh possibly could be looking at USC plus the four and Oregon plus the three and Baylor uh plus the five and a half so oh you know what what over in the sense that I used to get that's that's that's over 53 and a half yeah that's me you sir roadrunners plus two and a half cages plus three three and three and a few three and a few spots so we didn't even have to buy it there um so we can get it we can get a true three their cats minus 10 and a half um Michigan minus 10 and a half Iowa team total under and Utah State plus six all right very good good luck to all you we will probably take next week off and get you set for shrink what we said we'll take a bold preview on the 15th yeah I think so I think it's gonna be the 15th because you're the 16th I'm gonna be gone yeah you are yes you are all right so now we could probably do another we do like an early early bowls and kind of a general whatever hope for re-conversation and then maybe the following week or like the 29th or something we can kind of yeah circle back and focus in on you get something done smartly mates very good um obviously the biggest thing of the bowls is going to be these opt-outs because it's going to be few and far between I think right and I think that's probably the way for us to go I'm having an on-air conversation about our workload but I think people are interested I think I think the best thing for like our column I'm just paying that kind of kind of thing where we just kind of update it daily as we go along and just fire it into baremen and disbarment and can it is as a buddy of mine said you'll get what you get what you get and I think that's what bearments gonna have to do what you get when you get it if we got to play on a game a morning of a game we'll send it in and you post it do your job just like go ball shake the baby there we go speaking of my NFL lock of the year Buffalo Monday night I have a I have a bills division bet so I um I'm hoping for that that would be very good not keep covering at this clip that would be very well you know what's so funny about how like what what I crappied college football season I'm having like I'm in one of these super contest type type deals like I'm 38 and 22 and the NFL which is like the sport that I don't even pop so it's like I'm having terrible college football year and then I'm like I'm right in the mix of uh the football blue the NFL so it's just bizarre how when things are down a little silver lining and it's been a down year for college football very good you brought the playoffs that's why I know I know I just couldn't help myself uh no we're not doing an NFL weekly podcast because no we're not I don't look at it until sundaes unless I know exactly what I have to make my picks on Saturday that's what I do what we got this week we got a lot of road favorites it looks like only yeah all right road shock all right as you look at that go jets take us away have the jets last week that was a lock last week absolute lock but they were gonna we'll see what happens then maybe get gardener make sure you just say great but eagles yeah that's a massive stay away game yuck probably find myself on the Cowboys though we'll see bless you bet more you lose when you win you can listen or follow the Stanford Steven the Bear podcast we have you listen to podcast plus don't miss more from Stanford Steve on ESPN Sports Center with Scott Van Felt and check out the bear on college game day on ESPN