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The Stanford Steve and the Bear podcast is presented by DraftKings, America's top rated daily fantasy app. The underdog is howling. This is Stanford Steve and the Bear. Oh yes, a home team getting points.

What's better than that? First ever, I believe week 15 pod of Stanford Steve and the Bear. We also have a first ever underdog as a steamer, our thoughts on the latest rankings. But first, also I want to remind everyone to check out MinaCon's podcast, download and subscribe to the MinaCon show featuring Lenny and also us, Stanford Steve and the Bear, wherever you get your podcast.

All right, Bear, we are in unchartered waters at the right saying week 15. We're usually like, you're usually just shut it down. This is your week. You're traveled 14 straight weeks.

You got the nasal going. You got a little cough going. But you know what? I feel like you're good.

We talk to Risho. You're good. I've been pretty good. Usually this is like the week of like you kind of get that Vegas bowl like travel out there for the first week.

Maybe we kick around some bowls. But yeah, we got some games this week. Yeah, it was interesting to see the Texas one from our guy. And I had like, you take a double check and run by the eyes.

I was like, there's a plus sign there. I like it's a coach. Coach, they can all right? But somebody grab his phone.

All right, we will get to the underdog steamer. We do have to catch up on your travel plans. We have unprecedented times there for this coming Saturday. As you will be headed to the great Mikey Stadium for game day.

But first, I feel like I always take the reins there. And I just take it and I run with it and I go and you got to follow. And now that's week 15, it's your week. You start you got something to say.

The floor is yours, sir. It's fine. I put something out there last week about how like the whole big 10 situation. And you know, at first I was like, yeah, it would suck your knee and it would stay to play all your games and and have the have them change your rules.

But I was kind of like, yeah, but I expect it and I wasn't going to like be totally upset and like outraged by it. But it kind of bothers me a lot now. Just you know, seriously, it gives off a vibe of, okay, we don't like the results. We're just going to change a week or a week before.

Like it's like, come on, the big 10 could have this the best of both worlds in this ridiculous dumb year and season. You could have a special story where Northwestern or Indiana get to crown themselves big 10 champs, Ohio State play Iowa next week or whatever. They're still going to go to the playoffs and you get the best of both worlds. Now, it's like the game is right now.

It's like everything's stacked against you. I wish I had all my soccer under bets. Like, I know, actually paid me after 57 minutes because that's basically what what they they ask me. It's like 62.5% of their season.

Like, pay me for up. Pay me for up 57 minutes worth of a soccer runner. That's what it's what it's what it's what it's what basically it is. Like, it just shows that the games don't matter.

They know Ohio State is their money maker and they got to just accommodate them. And it just bothers me. And it also, like, you're going to think that much better of Ohio State because they beat Northwestern in a big 10 championship game than you would if they be Iowa in just another game next week. Like, this whole like charade and facade of like a conference championship meaning that you're better than someone up.

That's just a committee playoff committee like joke. Like, it has nothing to do with it. That's based on the premise that all conferences, all teams are created equal. And it's just a thing.

Like, you're telling me that like, is USC or whomever? Colorado, Colorado wins the Pac-12, that they're better than Texas A&M or Florida. Like whoever doesn't win the SEC. Come on.

You put a banner up and you get a conference championship right. But when your conference has nothing to do with like determining who the best team is. And that's just like this committee, like fallacy to just kind of leave it big and open it up and kind of make it fair for everyone. But more and more, I thought about it a little bit the last couple of days, what it was kind of like, obvious what the big time is going to do here.

It's bothering me more and more. And I don't like it one bit. I'm sure I'm in the minority there. I'm sure people are saying, oh, well, they can do whatever they want.

The SEC did this. But the big 10 had an opportunity here to like, they always talk about like the big 10 is above all this and academics and everything matters and they're higher standard. Like, this is a higher standard. This is catering to a team and changing things around at the last at last hour because he didn't like the result.

You could have had it both ways. You got the best of both worlds instead. Indiana's games crew. So no one is saying Indiana is better than Ohio State.

They played in Columbus, Ohio State won the game 42 35 and the game where Indiana came back. Indiana managed to do everything, get through their season, manage the virus, keep their players healthy, Ohio State by five games. At some point, like playing games has to matter and qualify and setting the standard in the rules of what the big 10 said out. Like, that should matter.

But instead, they're not. So that's my rant. I feel bad for Indiana because if I'm an Indiana player or coach where the rules were there, I wouldn't do the rules. It's a clear attempt by the big 10 to manipulate and get Ohio State in the conference.

You have a trip game for a game that ultimately means nothing because they're going to make a playoff anyway, whether they be Western or whether they be Iowa. So you don't feel like Indiana deserves a shot at the playoff. No, no, no, okay, because that argument is is ridiculous to me. I got no time for that.

Okay, I'm not saying I'm not talking about the idea of a big 10 championship. Okay, I just wanted to clarify because this stuff of Oregon or Indiana being supposedly in the playoff is is asinine to me. You just like Scott said last night, I was saying to play enough games going to you, but they played enough against you and they beat you and it was 35 seven. So I will say this in a year where we're going to have limited games and you talk about the games played the and I don't know where this takes us.

I'm not saying, you know, we would obviously wait to see what happens with Florida and Bama. But the AML in over Florida has to mean something. They played the game and it happened. And you're talking about getting through the season.

They're getting through the season, both teams. But and that's one thing I will say they there are things to assess if Florida does beat Bama, but you still have to have an empire than Florida, which is correct. You won't you won't be as Florida, Florida will be number one Alabama and the SEC champion. That's that's what will that's where we'll be.

And it's this that's the one thing that if you're and we talked about betting and stuff, if you are a better out there who is now kind of upset about this Indiana thing, you're holding Indiana ticket or North Western ticket to win to win the big 10 big numbers and the big 10 is going to a little high estate in the game. What you want to have happen now, you want Florida to be Alabama in the championship game. Because in that scenario, you're probably going to get Florida and Alabama in the playoff and you're probably going to get Clemson and Notre Dame in the playoff. This is a new Clemson wins and then Ohio State will be left out.

You probably would feel a little bit of like bitter vengeance if that's the case or kind of feel good about the rules kind of be twisted to help Ohio State and it's still not workout. And the thing is like there is a path. I mean, is it likely? No.

I gave you the path last night. I tweeted it out. The path is there. Alabama beats Florida.

Notre Dame beats Clemson. You got Clemson and that's going to be the thing. Again, what we're talking about here, I don't think there's anybody else that thinks Iowa State is better than Clemson. But in this committee logic mind, Iowa State will be the big 12 champion in Clemson.

Won't be a champion. They'll be a two loss non champion. So a two loss big 12 champion somehow in the committee's mind is better than a two loss Clemson. But that's the path.

It's A&M won't be a conference champ. Florida will have been eliminated two loss non time, not a champ. Like the path is there for like potentially for this Iowa State Clemson discussion if we do have a second Notre Dame upset of the Tigers in the ACC championship game. Yeah.

So the scenario was, I bear said it there. I was a couple other things I had. Alabama beats Florida. Notre Dame beats Clemson.

Ohio State doesn't play again. A&M doesn't play again. And that, you know, and what opened my eyes to that very is there's no way Cincinnati is in their, I don't see a road for them. They, I just, I don't see it.

Maybe if I was state or Oklahoma beats, Iowa State three nothing. And a very unimpressive big 12 title game, even though our last year's big 12 title game wasn't too impressive either. But it's, it's crazy to see a big 12 champion. Listen, we've talked about Iowa State on this podcast more than anyone talks about podcasts.

I've heard other podcasts say they're not even in their mix, whatever that means. But it, it's pretty eye opening now that this Cincinnati thing and to hear Bard of afterwards on the conference calls say they don't have a win against the top 25 team. That's right. But at least we, you know, I would put in that scenario if all those things happen.

Georgia. Yes. Got it. Georgia.

Georgia. I mean, I was expecting a, I mean, they got it all. You should see, I mean, I love seeing there's all you know, we are, you think Florida's a better team than when they played A&M. We're better because we got Daniels now and we're, oh God, please, please, please.

Um, well, so we have the last night. I was state. Yep. People are killing them.

I'm like wondering why they're ranked this high. Like, like an FBI is not used by the committee, but it's like, it's determining like quality wins in terms of like teams that are good. That's a power ratings have high. Iowa State has the same number of wins against top 40 FBI teams.

It's not what happened to us. They both have five. So it's like, again, the committee's using wins versus like the committee top 25 or with the committee ranks, which is fine, which is fine as well. But like Iowa State has good wins.

They play 10 names this year and seven of them have been against top 40 teams in terms of our power ratings. Now maybe you can say there's a bit of a bad losses there. Well, here's the thing. Yes, you look at the final score against Louisiana and you see a 17 point loss, whatever it was.

And then you do a little bit more research and you see three non offensive touchdowns, colored in play half the team didn't practice until like three days before the game, I don't think. But there were a lot of circumstances, it was touchdown with like two minutes left, that completely blew it open. So yeah, the score looked bad, but like it wasn't, it wasn't like 31 14 with a late touchdown to make it from 31 seven to 31 14. Like, we're using it to a seven yards of the game.

I mean, I think there are other losses worse, but loss of Oklahoma State in Oklahoma State in Oklahoma State in Oklahoma State in Oklahoma State. Yeah, party party didn't play well that game. That's that's perfectly fair. No, I'm just saying like all losses aren't created equal.

And I'm not sitting here, something that Iowa State should should get in the play. I'm just for people are asking why are they ranked where seventh where they are ahead of Cincinnati. It's because they have a lot of games against good teams. Cincinnati has played one team in the top 40.

Cincinnati is four wins versus the bottom third on college football. Iowa State's got one. So like, this again, this is the committee showing that schedule matters to them. Like, it doesn't matter too much.

Me, you could argue, maybe it does. But but but I'm just answering the question. I guess I was just saying to you, so it's 77. Do you have coastal rank ahead of Cincinnati?

I'll tell you what, I could I could make that argument. They got it. They are a top team. I can make that argument.

They have to have them in the top 10. I mean, Cincinnati, what's Cincinnati's best BCS? Is that their best win? Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, they gave SMU his first loss, but then SMU hasn't done anything. If you're coastal, you're coastal and you have a win, a blowout win over a power five team in Kansas. I mean, it's still a power five team.

I know it's there on the feet. Like, this is the thing that the Iowa State lost to Louisiana. That's the thing that hurts is they're one of the three losses where the sunda three and oh, that's tough, man. Coastal has the win over Louisiana, and then a win over app state, and then the win over BYU, like that's a pretty damn good resume for a group of five team.

For the sunda. You can make a very, very good case that coastal should be right there, Cincinnati. Thank you. Because I listen, I've been on Cincinnati the whole year, and now they're at you know, they've been at you know, and in every year where the winds are counting, I'm counting the winds more than anything, there's a lot of no one has more deserves more reasons to buy us than coastal.

So I have them in the top 10. I mean, they're this Iowa State thing, and I just can't buy it. I've always said they don't drop them low enough when they when these teams lose, and they don't move enough high enough when they're undefeated. So I have coastal again, ahead of those two.

I have seven. All right. I think that gets us any of the fans are mad because they should move up in the top 10 after a massive win at Madison. Remember when that Friday night when everybody thought the Grand Mart.

I'm going to get two teams in the blood out. Yeah. How long ago that was? Yeah.

Speaking of Grand Mart's shot out to our coach dogs for against some more off-season hardware, one of the quarantine award for his content in the off-season. Good for him. That was the best thing that happened to coach Doug's this past week after the Badgers went down at home to Indiana and and your guy, Duke alum Wojcie in Marquette got out. I didn't want to bring that.

That's not a hard one. At least the weekend on a good note for Doug's. There you go. Shut up, Doug's.

All right. You're going to Mikey Stadium. I am. And then you're going to Miami.

Okay. So let's start first with the drive up the Hudson game day is going to army, maybe at army. I still they cannot be happy seeing that painted end zone with Navy in it, man. Like I saw that last week and I'm like, that is going to drive like there are guys up in West Point that haven't slept since they saw that paint there.

There's no there is no doubt. Speaking of the guys who haven't slept, there's no way Sean McBae has slept this week with the Patriots coming in. No one was going on. There's another person.

I don't know. Yeah. All right. So you're going to Mikey Stadium game day.

I asked you, you've been there. We've been there. We've been there. The show is going to game day.

Yes. We went to 2003. We had South Florida, Jim Lovett era at Arnie. Who was the late September?

And it's the only game day show that has ever been canceled mid show. We had a lightning strike nearby or horrible weather and we had to shut down the show and stop the show mid show. And then we we had to drive back from West Point and the rest of the day on Saturday, we had what I like to call the jumbo package on the set doing scoreboard shows and wraps the rest of the day. We had Chris Lee and Kirk because that wasn't it wasn't there yet.

And Chris Lee and Kirk and then we got a Rees Trevor Mark. So we had six people on the set, Valerie and Reese bookend in the set and then the four analysts in between there. And that actually was the day that the dirty golden bears beat USC in 2003. Wow.

I asked about it's late September. It should be back to school. I think it was like September 26 or September 27, 2003. But yeah, so we're looking forward to getting back there this week.

And then some things are in the works on the mix to at the end of the show to potentially have some fun. And we're Kirk and Maria and myself need to get down to Miami to call the the Keynes and materials. All right. So that's a three 30 Eastern kick.

Sure is we'll take a fast flying plane to get down there in time, do the game. And then like in the most unlikliest of like flights that ever possibly could exist. There's a 905 nonstop on the other airline. And this is the other airline my airline 905 PM nonstop other airline, M.I.A.

BDL. And I'll take it. Make you happy. I took that flight.

I took that flight. The super bowl. I know exactly that flight. I couldn't buy.

I'm looking at it. I wonder if there's some there is Miami Bradley, yeah, I don't know. Five on Saturday. Perfect.

So I was you hold your nightlife triple zero. I'm in the car down that 95 South to I'm I. Good luck with that airport. That is.

I get lost every time I go on it. It's the well, I haven't been usually offline at the Lauderdale. Yeah, that's kind of been the thing. And I think the last time I went out of Miami was when I left mid show game day to get to Dallas for the Alabama, Michigan State Commonwealth 2015.

And I think at the time they were still like doing that like horrible rental car. Can they rebuild? Yes. Moving walkways.

No, they were. So like, I don't know what that process is. I'm looking for a finding out Saturday night around eight o'clock or so. All right.

Be careful. What what does the over under half the get to for you to take the over in Army Navy? It's at 38. I take the over now.

You would. Yeah. Okay. All right.

Good. There you go. There's the first pick right there. I'm gonna take the over.

I'm not gonna make an official pick, but I take the over. All right. Good. The the steamer.

There's there's there's there's no way that that that under streak is going to go. There's no way you'll go under again. The street has to end. Keep it against the street.

That's like the best way to manage your bank. All right. There's no way. And then in a big time steamer condo pick, it's you can bet your condo.

The steamer is an underdog. It's a rivalry game. It is Virginia. The steamer is an underdog.

It is Virginia plus two and a half. I'm shocked. He didn't say I only want to have plus three, but he did right. He didn't plus two and a half.

So there's your steamer. A couple of things Thursday. Pittsburgh's Georgia Tech. Second week is gone against Virginia Tech.

By the way, I'm the steamer. Yeah. You remember we had Clem last week. Yeah, we did.

I'm minus 22. So you stayed in the Hokies again. Interesting. Insisting.

Insisting. The alum coming out. By the way, by the way, by the way, before we move on, why we love our guy. I'm sitting in a hotel Friday after our game day call on Friday morning.

I'm getting ready for Gailie Wager later in the afternoon, working on some last minute stuff for the show. And I just get a get a text. How far does the map say you are from Calabash, North Carolina? That's all it said.

So I pull it up and it was like 41 minutes or something like that. So my guy says 38 minutes. He's like, ah, that might be a little too far. But best seafood you'll ever have.

Just like naming name in a place. And he's like, you got to get your doubled crab and whatever else. And then he's like, he was a little disappointed that I didn't make the drive on up on Friday night. But whether I got crappy, rainy, you know what?

I mean, unfortunately, I have to pass on making this drive. So the head dog was a little bit disappointed. But I wasn't able to make it up to the dockside seafood house. He said, this is almost as good of a tip as a Lexington barbecue.

And when I was talking about how they would go to Myrtle Beach a lot as a kid talking about that Calabash style seafood. And he said, please, he's got hush puppies that make a bulldog break a street, which is just like an unbelievable line. But he was he was he was very disappointed that I did not go there get the hush puppies, get the double crab, get the soft shell crab, all that stuff. But he's he was very very disappointed that I did not make that trip.

But he totally understood being that was a north of a half hour throw. Yeah, that's that's the cutoff. Yeah. All right, let's get into the slate, which is changing by the second we're early afternoon here on Wednesday.

I saw our poor guys at Charlotte just got canceled again against Marshall. We know what's going on with the big 10 and all that. So Thursday, I just look, I don't know, I don't want to say I give the benefit of doubt because the Collins is so energetic and stuff like that. But pit and Georgia Tech have both had terrible seasons and Georgia Tech's getting a touchdown at home.

That feels like a lot in a conference game where I think Georgia Tech is still playing hard. So that's something to keep an eye out. I do have a couple picks circle that I think are going to be in the column on Friday. And I am going way against the grain bear.

You talk about streaks. I'm doing something that I don't think I should be doing, but I have to. And that is that is laying double digits in the territorial cup. I was going to say you're exactly where you were getting.

That's I just I want you see layers on stage great game Arizona State showed a lot. We talked about Arizona State the beginning of the year. I thought they might have lost that first game and then one out from there. Chipper comes back and a great comeback, which he calls for the young baby Bruins.

That's what they're calling them out in Westwood. Shout out to the Chipper who was new. We're rocking. We're just going to say baby Bruins can have that.

Got that chum in there. Yeah, but I just I think I said Arizona State is almost in a red shirt season because of the youth in the recruiting class they have coming in. They have they have one of the top looking classes coming in next year and they lose last week 25 18. They lose a month prior to USC in Arizona.

Just like I mean they scored 13 last week 10 against UCLA. Went up, you know, and got destroyed for three and a half quarters against Washington. It hasn't been pretty in Tucson. It feels like a lot, but I just there's a trust factor here.

Jayden's Jayden Dangers has been good in his two games. Don't for almost 400 they've played good defense. I thought I thought I thought Chip found a couple wrinkles that got them huge first downs really in that game when it drives that ended up being a difference. But Jayden got the guys down the field.

You know, not sure what's going on. Arizona personnel wise. I don't I know what's going against everything in a rivalry game. And this has been one of the most crazy rivalries in the sport when you go back and you look at no way to an underdog when we will chance air and lay the double digits.

Remember next week we have to circle back and get our our Pac-12 correspondent's on. Yes, absolutely. Just remember that. So we could be having someone from SC.

We could have someone from Colorado have someone made you from Seattle. We had to see where we went. But we're right Friday. Friday they're there.

There are a couple of games that you could probably see a lot of reaction to on game debuting. Got a great story. San Jose State. My favorite one.

And that's playing the data now at UNLD because they can't play in the home games. Keep that undefeated season a lot of great win last week against hockey and football out in Hawaii. You have what could potentially be maybe the final game that kept someone there. And Arizona and you got another great story in Colorado who no one in the world would have thought this game would have been undefeated.

Carter, Carter, Elle Hire was kind of like a mob. This your hire. This guy and that they have played well in their own favorite against Utah and they will be rooting for UCLA on Saturday afternoon if they can be the youth. Yeah, that's my love.

San Jose State. I just feel like their defense is pretty legit. Bear they they play. I mean last week they go out to the island in a game that was supposed to be at San Jose.

You know they trade you know home stadiums and go out there and and I thought really gave it to Hawaii. They go up early. I want to say it was 21 nothing in the first quarter and then they coast to that to that win. They've given up 17 17.

I feel like their defense is in a better spot. I've watched a lot in Nevada. I really like strong the quarterback. He's got an absolute hose for an arm and dogs the receiver has been really really good too.

So I think San Jose State is just a more rounded better off team there. So I will lay the two and a half with the Spartans as you said that is at the not the Raiders stadium that's still at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. And he's for our guy Matt humans out in Las Vegas. And here I was thinking that I was going to be president the final game at Sam Boyd Stadium last year for that for that Vegas Bowl.

And I'll dare you. Actually I didn't even make it out to the game because I was definitely ill. That's right. I got sick on Friday after Friday night at dinner and I was I was I was after the count.

I never made it to see the Husky State on the Broncos. Don't talk about like the schedule changing and this Ohio State joke that the big 10s were doing like what if I'm the big guy like okay you're doing it you're doing it you're doing it you're like why would the big 12 like just like not pull the plug on the Oklahoma West Virginia game. Like it doesn't know it's a rescheduling of a cancel game already. Yeah West Virginia got the doors blown off in Ames last week.

Oklahoma's got the big 12 title game next week about Oklahoma. Like look I know kids want to play and it's an opportunity to play but you're going on your traveling to West Virginia. The game doesn't mean anything like you're taking a massive the conference is taking a massive risk here but but it's gonna be a big 12 out of the game on the road. I mean A you've got the the COVID concerns about maybe someone contracts something and B you got the injury because I got whatever the spits around where it gets hurt and the game was so we hope that doesn't happen but like I'm surprised that the big 12 is kind of going through with this game.

I mean we saw the ACC polls folded the deal last week which didn't bother me as much because Miami wasn't making the ACC championship game. No that was like you saw that writing on the wall a mile away but yeah and then if I'm mixed saving and damn long I'm like really I gotta I gotta play this week now too. I mean I understand kids want to play and I'm happy that we have the games and I'm happy that we're seeing them but I'm sure like behind the scenes like these coaches who are in these conference championship games next week aren't necessarily thrilled to have to go out there and play games this week. That's a great point because I keep hearing things that West Virginia still doesn't have enough guys.

I mean you saw what they put on the field in Ames last week and I have to take anything away from Iowa State but it's it's I mean I there's a I circle an underline but everybody I talk to that just says West Virginia doesn't is not sure what they're gonna have personalized. And that was like and that was like last week with South Carolina what 16 guys dressed on defense or something like that like 46 guys dressed for the game. I mean that's again I'm glad they play it and I'm glad we have these games and we get to talk about them on this pod college game day and ultra ball but it's like wow it's just it's just truly is amazing when you take a step back and you realize some of the circumstances for some of these games and and their ability that somehow we are we're still playing games but anyway my first pick is Mississippi State. I don't I had Auburn last week and it probably was the right side the lead in the fourth quarter and you dropped up an interception that probably well it probably may have been a pick six but it goes from you having the ball to right to Texas A&M receivers and for touchdown completely turning the game around but all the picks that ball out they probably win the game outright.

Maybe I think that was their last end last week. You get crushed by Bama the iron ball you're on your home field for senior day show up you know you give A&M a go and yeah maybe you could have won the game and you lose it kind of gut wrenching fashion but missing out on a play and now you're laying seven on the road in Mississippi State who I thought may have checked out long time ago but they took Georgia to the final seconds and played well in the in the egg ball. I thought there was every reason the world of this team might check out but they haven't they they played better as the year went along. I give give me give me Mississippi State plus the seven at home against Auburn.

I had that game crossed off because I didn't want to watch that game bear and now I have to watch it because I have to root for you in Mississippi State. I was really hoping I was like all right nicely all right cross that one off. I don't have to watch that one. I was speaking to watching was that not great last week you and myself and Colquibut just sharing our text chain and kind of the Twitter back and forth during the big one in the position stadium.

It was it was glorious it was a glorious day in Akron, Ohio. I had some thoughts at the end of the pod. I wanted to touch on because I keep forgetting about a couple things that I want to say when I look back and I don't want to start the pod with a look back at last week because we're already at Wednesday and everybody just wants to pick so I do have that circle I do want I have that to get to same decision I had last week I'm glad I made it the right decision I have been whole about Clemson or the over all week last week end up going with the right side which is Clemson we eventually got there which is not a fun start but I look at the over the game and the over and possible Florida in those games we just thought we're gonna I guess we're gonna continue using the word out star freshman Eric Gilbert at LSU is supposedly opting out I can't stand that because everything was all right for how many games they played but it feels like quick to me which is fine everybody has a decision to make but we know these teams are on a collision course it's just if there's I mean you knew that was not taking off the gas last week you knew that and on the other side you got Pittman you got Bryles you know you got guys that could that could stir up some offense against Bama if Nick does call dogs off knowing what's that state the following week in Atlanta and then the same thing for Mullen with Florida we know it's that state the following week we do know they have healthy pets after he was concussed and missed a couple games against Georgia so the thing that scares me here is if there's ever a time where a coach saving might call the dogs off it's it's this week I think because because of what and I feel there's a mutual respect for our guy Pitt at Arkansas when he's done his first year so I'm not sure I think the back door is gonna be open I just don't know how far the porch is gonna be to have to go in the back door for Arkansas so I was thinking about the over there and I just think on the other side I think Florida and know what's going on and in the that might be a you know our starters are staying in a little bit longer for Mullen than they are statement but I'm having it on there I like both overs the issue is and that's why I didn't give the over in LSU game last week was I don't know I can't trust LSU to do anything offensively it's bad so I'm thinking the over in the in the Bama Arkansas game is is where I'm at right now but I will make it official in the in the column what else what about Wisconsin I was down to a pick up you got anything there I don't like that game okay I don't like that game at all kind of like UCLA again like I tell you about their fun man they are fun everyone I think the the recency bias here like the last thing you saw was slow was going nuts on Sunday night but not points and getting out to a big lead and I don't know how many people really stayed up late with this on Saturday nights at the end of that you see a light come back and that was awesome it's good as he was last week you still have to remember the couple of games really you see where they weren't that good and maybe it's a case where they're getting better off of the the Utah game and the wazoo game but but this is the tricky number it's low it's lower than you might think it would be hanging there at three I can see a sea being a very popular public because we don't want that if they win they get to the actual championship game I can see myself being on the on the Bruins and the baby Bruins with jumping on their and up on Saturday hopefully the hopefully the other area of this the other area like this athletic have television on it even monitors if you're in the right section well I'm in the right section yeah I think it'd be all right I think I'm all right do you know how many yards USC Rush 4 against Washington State oh it was like 24 or something right five five it was five I knew it was some ridiculous 20 rush attempts for five yards now I know they went up 28 not in the first quarter but isn't that when you're supposed to work on your run game that that was really eye opening because I watched that game we had I mean we're at work Sunday nights we had a bunch of TV so it's obviously on one but that was really I mean they could not run the ball against Wazoo which is not a defensive team and if they're unable to run the ball I want to see they're probably not going to be able to run the ball against you they are much better upfront and I also think the way UCLA can dice you up and spread you out and find match ups that's a the I think you're gonna want to play a little keep away there away from slow is because they do got the goods man that again SC just comes out like the receivers are just so every year like you're like who's this guy St. Brown's out there and I'll tell you the the new kid I was a Drake London 15 he comes out of the gate and I think the first drive and he had three or four catches but he's he's phenomenal he's another one 6 5 2 10 just looks like a Greek god out there catching balls but that's that's my most fantasy anticipated game to watch it'll be awesome they'll both have the home jerseys on so that's a fun one good to see you're on the Bruins and a believer I'm not talking about the team that Missouri's playing I don't feel like it the line disappeared in Rutgers Maryland I saw eight all week I thought that was too many for a songe and now it's gone it feels like two totally different teams there which would be an interesting matchup with the Terps and the Knights things are dicey at the end of that Rutgers Penn State game you could tell those no one likes each other on either side of the sideline Lee hits knee twisting all that nasty stuff is the bucket gonna be played for well that was the rumor yesterday with that that Purdue had some issues and that was the whole maybe Purdue's not gonna play and we'll get Indiana Iowa State anyway yeah Florida State's playing Duke good is a coach is a coach and coach hey no no no I mean look at this bandies on the schedule against Tennessee cows laying two and a half and Pullman oh Texas laying 30 listen our we can't give up now we lost last week with ku in Lubbock in close it is Ben it has been very good to us so this is alright this is simple our math at the beginning of the season was just a dead play against ku they've covered twice so now they are two and seven against the spread do we want to just seven and two and go into the offseason or do you want to press it let's press it let's lay the 30 press lay the 30 with Texas they scored 69 last week against Kansas State Elinger we need more this week how's that sound welcome what else anything I mean the brass can Minnesota are they gonna play that's the that was the the appearance uh early in the week it looked like it looked like the the boat was ready to uh the boat was ready to go back on the water there so we'll find out I wouldn't want to give 10 and a half of the Huskers interesting because I still can't I can't believe Northwestern lost the Michigan State yeah like teams that have very small margins of their these defensive-minded teams that really don't have great offenses that when teams are able to make couple big plays against them they can't counter with big plays in the room and that's a that's a problem so that's that's what that was the other surprise in the army is a seven-point favorite over nad as well like these these were these games between the academies I think like 11 in the last 12 have been like under covered by the underdog I think like seven of them that right wins something like that it really is a uh I mean yeah like last 12 last 12 games between academies underdogs are 11 and 1 against number and one seven out right like seven seems like a lot of points I know this is not a good navy team but I'm not sure how good army is either that's not exactly what this is not the army team that went up and down the used it a couple years no no no no no that was a legit good team yes no doubt about it we obviously saw a navy against BYU to start the season and it you know it wasn't pretty but I said because army comes out of the blocks with a role job in middle middle Tennessee we know what middle was and then they rolled you elman row those are two of the worst teams in the country then they get to post-pulment against BYU and then they go to Cincinnati and lose 24 times Cincinnati had chances in that game army was not impressive then they come on I want to say they play like abilene christian they come that then the next week was when I said take citadel army only beat citadel 14 9 they beat the roadrunners 28 16 they beat Mercer 49 3 2 lane they got rolled and Georgia Southern they won by one you late there's not a good win on that schedule there like I great I mean I'm listen I got more respect for these guys than anybody but it is uh it's it's not pretty two styles know each other oh yeah I mean it's have fun man I mean the problem with navy is that they scored 13 in their last two games combined against Tulsa and Memphis so it's hasn't been pretty but yeah you gotta you gotta lean under dog care once again the uniform hey steal me one of those helmets that I put on the game they said all right take that I'm still I'm still waiting for uh for my uh master's logo game day helmet for the set I haven't gotten one of those yet oh all right I'm not gonna not gonna expect me to get one get on the phone with some of the ops guys uh I'm just trying to think I feel like we've touched on the game I don't want to leave a game out there before I just give some thoughts on next week um let's just see double check in here oh all the mac games I'm sorry I got nothing I'm I've retired one and all as a mac fan with the zips um I'm retired there you might be rice great win for rice good for them last week how like that was like the most shocking result of the year like you're gonna back up almost every position so I was gonna say you're a 27 point dog with a bunch of backups on the road and you shut them out I'm obviously Marshall helped him out with the five picks but yeah like wow that's unbelievable it's awesome Washington pause the workouts do you know if Washington doesn't play they're gonna go to the grand 12th time again yep three and one or a mission mission mission everything fine and that no one's going to apply off their own leg but it's like speaking of that that's a good segue like it's funny how people talk about like the group of five being like not treated fairly like we told Cincinnati against Cincinnati an equal for their highest back twelfth like the group of five has more respect right now than the better told us yeah it kind of bothered me last last night to see that I just I'll say this the pack 12 is the big 10 without Ohio state there's not much difference there Big 10, big 10, big 10 without Ohio State is the back 12.

I hope I said that right. Yeah, I think you did. I just, yeah, it could just be the circumstances of this ridiculous year that we're in. I mean, all that, I mean, there's not that much difference.

Like just, I mean, do your head to head to match ups, you want to do eye test on teams, whatever you want, like it's not that different. And, you know, it's just, and then you look at the rankings, like, wow, really? Like, Indiana with a backup quarterback is really, they're really the 12th best team in the country. Okay.

All right, I got, I got, I got, I'd like to see some teams, North Carolina, three losses, really 17. I mean, we got, we got some other few teams out there behind them. So it's not fun. Anything else on this coming week?

It's a pretty dangerous type week in terms of games and something I'm, I'm going to tread lightly. I do, I do like Mississippi State, do like UCLA, but other than that, I'm going to, I'm going to be careful here. It's a lot of dangerous games out here. Yeah, I hear, yeah, it is week 15 and we've never been here before.

So you should definitely tread lightly. A couple of things I just want to say from last week watching games that I just wrote some notes down. I was really happy to see Larry Johnson be the head coach last Saturday and just see him up and down the sidelines. Like, it was awesome.

He's, he's a veteran. I said it all the time. Whenever I go to Ohio State game, I make it a point to go out to pregame and watch their D line pregame. It's my favorite pregame routine in the country.

He just, you talk about a guy developing players, that guy is a one and ask anyone the guys and look at the numbers he has in the pros. The Ohio State center Miller was really fired up before the game. He even got her be fired up. Like when you guys went to those live look ins and he's yelling this and yelling that.

He should buy dinner for Justin Fields like a lot because what Justin Fields did Saturday was absolutely incredible. And what I mean by that is I understand there's different linemen. He didn't know where the snap was coming anytime that whole game and to see what he did and not know and not having a rhythm. It was, it was even more outstanding to me.

So, Fields is just incredible. It's a pleasure to watch and what he did Saturday was incredible. Missouri football, fun as hell. That game against Arkansas was awesome.

And it was, you know, I'm sure Missouri fans thought the world was ending again as they drop interception at falls in Arkansas to laugh for a win. But they got the job done. Coach Drink is ranked. I can't believe it and shout out to them.

And one other thing. They got your Bulldogs for Oak Field on Saturday. I don't know what you're talking about. Fresno State, the playing Fresno State.

The team that the head dog used to man. Those Bulldogs. And one of the dads, I just haven't Michael, back on games in college football is awesome. Him and Pass been together this year.

And I forgot how much I missed him calling games. Going back to when he was with Bill Curry calling games, but I absolutely love having Michael. So passionate, so real knowledgeable, smart, so what's happening up front when D line and line backers and defensive schemes. It's just a great, great return.

And I'm so happy that he's back calling games. I've been submitting the say it every week on the pod. And finally I just wrote it down and said, make sure you say it's week 14. You should probably say it by now because we're not gonna put it.

We're gonna be a week 16 pod too. Yeah, I know. We get to talk about that Ohio State North Western Big 10 championship game. There we go.

I'm not gonna harp on it too much. All right. As Bear said, we'll be back next week for a championship Saturday recap and all that. Roadboat Skymon, go gophers.

We do have some picks. The Big Mike Happy recap is brought to you by DraftKings. DraftKings is giving new users a free shot at over $100,000. Download the DraftKings app and enter God Steve at sign up.

Eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings.com for details. All right, Bear. I'm gonna go against the grain.

As I said earlier, I'm gonna lay the double digits with Arizona State. I am going to lay the two and a half with San Jose State. And we are going to circle the over in a Bama Arkansas game at 68. Feel good about giving that one.

And our Oklahoma and Rutgers are both underlined to make sure we keep updated with the line and that and just see what's going on as the Rutgers line disappeared. And then West Virginia is there's talks of them obviously being light players. We saw their performance last week in Ames and you sir are going to Starkville. Yes, I'm going to Starkville and taking the seven with Mississippi State.

And then I'm pretty sure I'm going to take UCLA plus the three as well. So that's all I got right now. All right. Pay attention for the column coming out around noon Eastern Thursdays.

ESPN.com, the chalk section. That's where our official picks are. Bear travels safe. Have a good drive up to Hudson.

And then a nice flight to South Beach or at Nackenland. It's not really South. Yeah. Hey, say, Opalaca.

Opalaca. Is it still a hard rock, right? Hard rock stadium? Yes.

Great upgrade of a stadium. Absolutely. That's where the National Championship will be on January 11th. And the steamer is Virginia.

I appreciate Schwink filling in for Bucknuts. He's probably celebrating about this new rule change. He's gonna be mad because he wanted to play Michigan. And he said he'd rather play Michigan next week than in the Big Ten Championship game.

So I'm sure Bucknuts will be kind of conflicted because he wants to. But that's the thing too. Like in Stuart Mandela, actually was the first person I saw that tweeted it out yesterday. It's all this talk about this ridiculousness of the Big Ten changing the rules and playoff and number of games.

Like the headline is like one of the best rivalries in the sport is not being played. Like that's like the number one macro story. And it's overshadowed now by the Big Ten not like in the results of the change of the rules. It's kind of like the Piper's played episode where it's running.

Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions. It's kind of has that feel. All right. So to make the playoff, the Buckeyes will have played in beaten Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Indiana, Michigan State, Northwestern, which has a combined record of 19 and 20.

Okay. For those people that argue that either the system is rigged and that the games don't matter, this is an ultimate example of that. The games don't matter. You played five games, didn't matter how you looked.

Your eyes, you thought you were one of the best four teams in the country going in and we're gonna do everything we can tell. All right. I think it's one of the best four teams in the country. I think they should be in playoff.

I am not advocating that they're not in play. I don't care about a conference champion, not a conference champion. They're one of the four best teams. I don't care if they play next week.

I put them in, but just me. My whole issue and deal with this is the Big Ten not liking the outcome of the rule that they implemented is changing it on a win. Bless it. On that note, take us away, bear.

Let's see that more. You lose when you win.