Who’s the real QB1 at Ohio State? Will Michigan fulfill their preseason goals? Plus, sorting out contenders from pretenders, a dark horse candidate to make a NY6 Bowl, and “Rutgers to the Rose Bowl” is . . . a taller task than normal.
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Who’s the real QB1 at Ohio State? Will Michigan fulfill their preseason goals? Plus, sorting out contenders from pretenders, a dark horse candidate to make a NY6 Bowl, and “Rutgers to the Rose Bowl” is . . . a taller task than normal.
Follow us everywhere @RivalPod
Big thanks to Elevated Integrity for their support: http://www.elevatedintegrity.com/
See Jace not wear his tee shirt on our NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://youtu.be/b3WmD3fjBn4
Become a Patron: patreon.com/therivalry
Want more shows like this one? Visit riverradio.com
People are going to say that I'm just being a hater and I don't know why you'd think that. What if I ever said on this podcast why would you not have?
Speaker 2:faith in a man that assigned to a 10 year $95 million contract. If you're going to pay him that much money, you would think he would win the football game.
Speaker 1:Michigan versus Ohio State. This is the rivalry sponsored by elevated integrity construction. Welcome to the rivalry podcast. My name is Jayce. That's a JP. This is your garbage free college football podcast focused on the Ohio State Michigan football rivalry. On socials at rival pod, this is sports talk. For people that love sports talk but don't love all the tangents that sometimes come with it, you don't have to worry about any of that here. The only garbage here is probably the opinions that you're going to hear.
Speaker 1:We're just two normal dudes who happen to like the complete opposite football team and maybe, no, maybe a little more. We'd like to think you can determine that for yourself. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. All right Wheel route is back. By the way, if you're not, if you're not watching at rival pod on YouTube. Make sure you do that Things are things look?
Speaker 2:things are going to be a little different this year. We got a lot of fun stuff going on, but wheel route forever will stay the same.
Speaker 1:It's just spin that wheel, it's just a good icebreaker First one of the season. It feels good to be back. I'm, I'm so excited.
Speaker 2:And we don't even have a weird advertisement this year, oh I like this question.
Speaker 1:Team to watch out for Team to watch out for.
Speaker 2:Can't obviously say your own team, okay.
Speaker 1:So is this. Is this team to watch out for from a national title perspective, or just like a team that could just surprise a lot of people?
Speaker 2:A team that you think can just surprise a lot of people.
Speaker 1:So I said this on on Twitter I I have a dark horse pick for the group of five making a new year six bowl. I know Tulane is a pretty popular pick after what they did to USC last year UTSA, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the road runners this is a good this is a this is a low key a very good group of five team that is going to play the Tulane role this year.
Speaker 1:They'll end up with a new year. Six bowl out of that group of five. They've got a great opportunity. They go to Tennessee in late September, so they have the major national upset opportunity and they played Tulane at the end of the year. They could very easily win 10 games and stop, win their conference and take that spot. That I think a lot of people think Tulane will end up doing again. It is the first week of the season and you're saying UTSA is going to win Beep, beep or meet me, I don't know.
Speaker 2:No meep is the road runner.
Speaker 1:Whatever, you got the idea.
Speaker 2:Well, mine is probably not as surprising, but I think it's a team Ohio state. Spoiler alert.
Speaker 1:Might surprise, let's get to nine wins.
Speaker 2:This is a team that they're not going to be in a national championship contention or anything like that, but they are going to be up there for a really, really big bowl game by the end of the year. And I want to start it off by saying they kind of remind me of Michigan a little bit from a couple of years ago Penn state, I think. Let me say oh my goodness.
Speaker 2:Drew Aller reminds me of McCarthy coming in, a highly touted, recruited quarterback. There was a lot of excitement. There was a lot of excitement around the offense. There was some good defense going on there. It's a tough environment to play at. Their roadblock is obviously Michigan and Ohio state. I mean they're not going to beat both of those teams but this is okay to be clear.
Speaker 1:The question was a team to watch out for and you said well, you know they're not going to compete for national time. They're ranked seventh in the country.
Speaker 2:How is that? A team that's coming out of nowhere Cause they're not going to make it? I'm not saying they're coming out of nowhere, I'm just saying this is a team that's going to be very, very, very good.
Speaker 1:I didn't know. Georgia, that's my answer. I didn't know. We could just pick top seven.
Speaker 2:Well, it's better than UTSA, who is not going to win 10 games, by the way, this year.
Speaker 1:Speaking of teams not going to win 10 games this year, let's talk Ohio state at Indiana.
Speaker 2:Stop it Okay.
Speaker 1:I didn't say which team wasn't going to win 10 games.
Speaker 2:Indiana is definitely not going to win even four or five games.
Speaker 1:So start here for me, because I think the most interesting part of this is as of right now, Ryan day has talked about two quarterbacks, both playing substantial minutes at Indiana in Kyle McCord and Devin Brown.
Speaker 2:Start there for me as you kind of look at this first thing there is, as we're recording this podcast, there's actually rumors that today is going to be the day they actually announced a starter. Whether it happens or not, whatever.
Speaker 1:So if someone gets an answer starter, we're not idiot. Well, not because of that we're not idiots. Because of that we are also done.
Speaker 2:but yes, I have heard nothing all season or all preseason, whatever about it being Kyle McCord. It almost felt like after the year, the keys were automatically handed to him. Yeah, that was the expectation was it's Kyle McCord's job to lose. And then recent weeks all I've heard is Devin Brown. That has been the only name that I've been hearing coming out of camp. That's on all the message boards that I've read from people that are going to the practices that are watching things.
Speaker 1:Do you think that's just internet hype or do you think there's something to it? I don't know.
Speaker 2:I do. There was a question online over the weekend that I just thought was really good to think about, because I think sometimes it is factual, where I know there was a lot of talk beforehand about Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr being teammates in high school and there was a question where it was is Kyle McCord benefiting because he had a generational talent at wide receiver and that's why he ended up at Ohio state, or is he genuinely as talented, talented enough to be there? And I think yes, I think that's fair, yeah, I think it can be yes to both, both both of those questions. Marvin Harrison became what he is now at Ohio State. He wasn't that coming out of high school, his namesake kind of helped build some of that hype up around him. He's obviously a talented receiver, but he grew into that generational talent. I think last year was his real breakout year and so I do think McCord benefited from that, because who the heck doesn't?
Speaker 2:but I do think the dude's still got to be a baller in some sense to be able to get over something with the quarterback success that Ohio State has had in the past, to be able to kind of catch their eye. There's got to be something there, and so I do. I'm not saying that that makes him better than Devin Brown. I'm just saying does he belong to be on that roster? Absolutely.
Speaker 1:The question is not, you know, is Ohio State's quarterback going to be mid? You know? The question is is it going to be?
Speaker 2:Are you going to get a future Braxton Miller or CJ Stroud, Justin Fields Like.
Speaker 1:Ohio State has had in the last decade decade plus really strong quarterback play and there's a big from the Michigan side. There's a happy, big highlighter on it where you go. I don't know what this is going to be.
Speaker 2:Again from the rival side.
Speaker 1:I'm very excited to find out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and from a history point of view, I mean looking at Ohio State. Well, you just said when's the last time that Ohio State has had a quarterback. That was mid, where we've had this conversation, which I would say would be way back in mid 2000s with Todd Beckman, when guess what still went to the national championship.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So it's not a question of are they going to be? Is quarterback play going to be a big issue? I think it's a question of is it going to be? Is it a much more human, vulnerable position for Ohio State than yours past? And the answer so far seems to be yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think, if I'm going just to answer your question, essentially I don't think we're going to get a starter. I think what's going to happen is going into Indiana, ryan Day is going to come out and say we still have a competition on our hands. Mccord is going to be the starter that's going to come out and go with the first team to start the game. But they're going to split, just like Michigan did last year with McCarthy. Where they're going to come out, they're going to have Devin Brown play a few, a few drives. They're going to have McCord do a few drives. They're going to see what ends up working unless McCord comes out or whoever he gives the ball to first comes out and it's just dominant and completely just destroying which it's Indiana. Then I think that's kind of going to be their path for the first couple of games at least. I think with Travion Williams, with Mayan Williams or with Travion Henderson, mayan Williams coming back, I think the game plan is going to be to run it down Indiana's throat, almost the Michigan game plan. They're going to run it, control the clock. They're not going to force their quarterbacks that are basically new to step into a situation where they could have some costly mistakes early. They're going to try to get those nerves out. They're going to try and help them learn the system. They're going to let Travion and Mayan do a bunch of the work. I think, at the end of the day and I thought that this was a funny thing Indiana has won six games in their last 25, four of those wins coming against Idaho, and then the other one was Western Kentucky, who Ohio State is going to play in week three this year. So four of their six wins in the past 25 games are against those quality opponents.
Speaker 2:The thing I am excited about, though, is the defense. They've got a lot of key people returning. You got Jack Sawyer, you got JT. Obviously. You have Eichenberg steel chambers. Is coming back Denzel Burke, you got Proctor. You have a couple of key transfers. Is Lason?
Speaker 1:Ransom coming back.
Speaker 2:I knew you were going to say that. I purposely didn't write him down because I didn't want to say it. You have the dude from Ole Miss that transferred in, that was on record, saying that he's been holding his own against Marvin Harrison, which, what the heck does that even mean?
Speaker 1:By the way, you can't just call them JT and that guy from Ole Miss, just because you can't pronounce their names.
Speaker 2:I wrote it down and I've practiced all weekend and it's never going to happen.
Speaker 3:JT to a Moolau whatever, if I say it quick enough, then it makes it seem like I can say it.
Speaker 2:You're saying with confidence and then Lorenzo Styles from Notre Dame. I've heard good things about him, Kind of was a multi-tool. He's playing cornerback this year instead of wide receiver. That he did at Notre Dame, which is interesting. So I'm a little curious. But I've heard nothing but good stuff for him. Denzel Burke expected to go to the draft after this year and declare a little bit early, so I'm excited to see that defense come out. I mean, it's not an opponent that's really going to tell you a ton.
Speaker 1:That's the beauty If you're if you are a Buckeye fan, that's the beauty of the way the schedule opens up is yeah, you'd rather have this first game at home, but you get a. You get a conference win out of it right away. You have a couple of weeks where you should be able to coast and then you've got that chance to warm up before you actually go into a quote real road environment.
Speaker 2:And I think for Ohio State you can't wait until that week to name a starter. You've got to, almost by Western Kentucky for sure, have somebody named. You can't, you can go into the Indiana game and that be the final test. And then when you go up the next week and week two, you've got to almost declare then because you've got to give that guy the confidence for at least a couple of weeks going in. Ohio State 28 and a half point favorites. The over under is 59 and a half I. I think it's going to be worse than that. I've got well, not the over under, but I think it's going to be 42 to 10. Osu I think they're still too good offensively. They still have Ebuca. They still have God, marvin Harrison, my boy, kate Stover coming back, julian Fleming coming back and, honestly, some of the freshmen coming in, noah Rogers being a stud, brandon Ennis coming in, carnell Tate, carnell Tate I. I would not be surprised to see that young wide receiver group get a lot of playing time recently.
Speaker 1:There's a lot of backups or guys who are trying to fight that starting for a starting spot on the field that are going to get played time over the next three weeks.
Speaker 2:It feels like you're spoiled, because I think, man, whoever the backup quarterback ends up being, that second team of wide receivers still ain't a bad second group of wide receivers to have. So I got 42, 10 OSU.
Speaker 1:I don't disagree with your score prediction. I've got it a hair closer 41 17.
Speaker 2:I had 17 and I took it away.
Speaker 1:I think it's going to take a while state a little bit to get click in in this game. I don't think they're ever going to be in actual danger of losing this game or I can see it being 28, 10 at half or something I can see some points where I'll get excited because it's a little close near half time and then Ohio State will break the game open.
Speaker 1:So 41 17 on my end for the Buckeyes. I don't think Indiana is going to prove to be much of a problem. Yeah, normal youngstown state or Western We'll talk Western Kentucky when we get there.
Speaker 2:Jason's in midseason form already with his garbage opinions. If you want to hear more about garbage opinions, you can follow us on socials. We're new to Instagram now we got to Instagram this year. You can find us on there on X, or recall him at Twitter is whatever that, the bird apps, the bird app you can find us there.
Speaker 2:It's at rival pod. We also got a Patreon. If you'd like to subscribe to that, get some exclusive content there as well. That is at rival pod. And then, mostly if you just want to find it all in one place, the river radiocom slash rivalry. You can find everything you need there. Follow us when we go on the road. This year we got some cool stuff planned going to Notre Dame. That's already confirmed. So we've got tons and tons of stuff that's going to be going up there Again. Follow us on all of our social platforms, at rival pod.
Speaker 1:All right, let's talk. Let's talk about the team in maize and blue Michigan with their highest pre season AP ranking in my lifetime. They're ranked number two, just behind Georgia. That's their highest ranking since 1991, highest pre season, to be clear.
Speaker 3:Highest pre season ranking since 1991.
Speaker 1:I will I will just say this, since this is the start of the season and I feel like I got to preview this a little bit Expectations for Michigan are sky high.
Speaker 2:It almost feels and you can obviously speak to it more as a Michigan fan. It feels like if you don't, I don't want to say you have to win it, but you almost, in my opinion, you guys have to win it all You've had two years of being the playoffs.
Speaker 1:It's one of those questions where you know well, is it a successful season If you don't win a national title?
Speaker 2:you can absolutely have a successful season and not win the net, I would still, I would still say that you could win.
Speaker 1:You could win a bit the big 10 again. You could beat Ohio State again. Um, you know, do you have to make it through the first round? I don't know. I don't know. But I will say that there will be a sense of disappointment on some level If Michigan does not win the national title.
Speaker 2:I would say the bare minimum you have to make it this. This would be the third year in a row where the expectation is you make the playoffs?
Speaker 2:I don't see. Even if they lose to Ohio State, I don't see them not making it Um, and so I think making it isn't good enough. Now, the talent that you guys have from all aspects of it, from an offensive side, with Edwards and quorum McCarthy getting a full year under his belt after last year being the, the starter, essentially the four year, but he's got another year. He's shown what he's got. I think he's only going to improve.
Speaker 1:Well, he's got a, he's got a good wide receiver contingent coming back again with.
Speaker 3:Cornelius Johnson.
Speaker 1:Wilson, colston, loveland, like he's. This team has weapons everywhere. They've got high rankings. They have high expectations. Um, you know, I I never love when players will guarantee things. I know Blake quorum talked about. We're going to win the national title, I guarantee it. I get that. I don't get too wrapped up in that stuff. I don't love it. But it's, these are kids just talking, it's not. It wasn't trash talk on the field about it, whatever. But I think there's something to be said for when expectations are set that high and this is the negative Michigan fan in me talking when expectations are set that high, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Speaker 2:I'm waiting to lose three games on the schedule and that's not going to happen. But that is one of the things that makes college football so stinking good is, there can be those expectations and Michigan, I would say even as an OSU guy, is talented enough to win the entire stinking thing but all it takes is one game. You go, you play a Penn state or an Ohio state team and you lose that one game. It ruins your whole season.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely. And playing Ohio state is. Even with the success recently, it's never going to be an easy thing.
Speaker 2:They're still going to be talented, 100%.
Speaker 1:I think the fans there's a sense in which the fans expect to come into late November and roll. I think the team has confidence, but I don't think that that's a team perception of oh, they're vulnerable, let's get them. I think it's a confidence that they've built. But beating Ohio state's never going to be easy, doesn't matter what kind of year either teams have it. It's never been easy. Penn state at Penn state is not going to be easy.
Speaker 1:Not going to be fun For some of the reasons that you already talked about and, frankly, as much as I make fun of Michigan state playing your rival, they always get up for it.
Speaker 1:At your rival. I mean that's, that's not an easy call, that's just not an easy call. So playing Rutgers week four not an easy call, sure, you know. So Michigan has high expectations makes me nervous. But then I remember that the year before Jim Harbaugh took over, michigan went five and seven, and now the expectation is to win a national title, or it's a terrible year. I'll take the risk. I think I'll take the new, the new standard for Michigan football.
Speaker 2:I think that goes for both schools, where I think a lot of Ohio state fans this year are kind of the opposite, where they, because of the big question mark with McCord and Brown, you're losing and you've had such a history of these guys that are prolific athletes that are coming in. I think that's the opposite expectation, where I think people still expect them to be good but it's still that well, we're not going to make the playoffs and whatever. And I think, yes, you can be disappointed in that, but if Ohio state wins 10 games, I don't, I don't think they're going to do that. I think they're going to win every single one.
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, of course you do, In my heart of hearts but those are still.
Speaker 2:I mean you can look at it and I mean I would even say this for East Carolina last year they went to eight and five. Anytime you get a chance to make a bowl game, that is still a successful season at the end of the day. There there are some programs that are built. Ohio state going six and six is a successful season? They are not. By the way, I was getting ready to say the game last year, michigan state.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you, I don't know if you realize this, but now Tucker's being paid 10 years for, on a 10 year $95 million contract, to not make a bowl game.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which it's not looking good either. I'm making it left, so RIP to them.
Speaker 1:Here's what I'm looking for, real quick for Michigan against ECU this week. I mean I want to see what Corm looks like. He's supposed to be at that, you know, 9,500% healthy, somewhere in that range. I want to see does he still have? Can we still make the cuts? Still have the explosiveness I am interested to see.
Speaker 1:There's been a lot of talk in camp about Michigan's air attack being a lot more dynamic this year, Trying to. Michigan's going to always have the Michigan way of doing things, where you're going to use weapons like Corm and Edwards, yeah, Don't swing the ball out because you don't have to, but to take that next step. A lot of the the beat has kind of talked about this. But to take the next step, you're going to have to utilize those weapons. So there's talk that they are going to have not an air raid but much more of an, much more of a balanced air attack versus running, and I think that I mean that's the big step If they can find a way to do that. Mccarthy looks bigger, he looks faster. I'm interested to see him. We'll see a lot of backups over the first few weeks as well. Yeah, They'll keep guys healthy and then the the edge rush is a is a question that a lot of the folks that are maybe closer to the Michigan program and camps and there's a lot of talent on the defense who's going to break out and be the dominant guy? Who's going to be the Aiden Hutchinson? Who's going to be the David? A job, oh, again, the I'm paraphrasing some other folks here who have been closer in, so I'm interested to see what that looks like as well.
Speaker 1:So there's, there's even in these games that teams should win by a button. There's always a lot that you can look at because it it can tell you what to expect down the road, Even if it doesn't tell you everything. You mentioned ECU one, eight games last year, including their bowl game. They lost a lot of talent. Oh, yeah, they, they lost a lot of talent. They're not you know, I, they're not the worst team on the schedule. I think the idea that Michigan will just, you know, be up 28 nothing at the end of the first quarter, that's not how this works. By the third quarter, mid third quarter, Michigan's going to be rolling in this one.
Speaker 2:I think it'll take that long.
Speaker 1:Based on what I saw last year, though, michigan would tend to play a very conservative, slow first half, and then they'd come out in the second half and sit on your chest. I kind of expect a lot of the same thing. I think the margin will continue to increase 52 to 13. At the end of the day, I think Michigan wins this by a ton. It just might be a little uncomfortable getting going up 13 points. Well, yeah, like a couple of feelings and a touchdown higher up on Michigan than you.
Speaker 2:I've got 56 to three.
Speaker 1:That's great.
Speaker 2:That's great, I just cannot see 13,.
Speaker 1:but it's the first game of the year so I figured you're good. It's kind of like I figured for Ohio State. It might be a little uncomfortable, kind of slow going at first, and then the good teams are going to do a good teams deal. I think Michigan 13,. What did you have?
Speaker 2:I had 56 to three. Michigan is going to have run it down their throats.
Speaker 1:I hope so man.
Speaker 2:It'll be 35, nothing a half easy and they'll. They'll get. Maybe, maybe not three, Maybe they'll get a touchdown and like the fourth quarter at some point.
Speaker 1:You've got third string in. Who's to say they don't pick up a touchdown somewhere? A rivalry podcast is sponsored by our friends at elevated integrity construction. It's nothing worse than having a huge project to tackle and you're either not sure the guy's doing it or knowledgeable, or if you can trust them. And elevated integrity construction puts both those worries to rest. They are the best in the business, not just in construction but design as well, and whether or not you can trust them, integrity is literally in their name. Go with integrity. It's elevated integritycom. Elevated integritycom. The national stage is an interesting setup this season. A lot of teams that at least think they've got a shot at the national title want to play a little pretender or contender with you. I'm ready for it. I'm going to give you a team and I want you to tell me if they are a pretender or a contender for the national title. Are they just being hyped up? Let's start with the boys, and so Cal USC contender or pretender? I feel like this is a tough one I would say contender.
Speaker 2:I would say I would lean more solely on Caleb Williams. I think it all depends if he comes back to the Heisman level that we expect. I think maybe this is jumping ahead a little bit. I think he's going to win it for a second time. False, but okay, I know who you think and there's just no possible way.
Speaker 1:I was going to say Marvin Harrison? No, you were not. You would never utter those words.
Speaker 2:Everybody on this podcast knows that you're a liar. You would never say that, but we're going to cut out what you actually say and use that. So he definitely said Marvin Harrison, so it falls on Caleb Williams. I also think they've just got a relatively easy path. I mean, there's a few games here and there, but it's the pack 12. I think in our, in our week zero episode, I had them being in the top four, so I'm not going to shy away from it.
Speaker 1:How about LSU contender or pretender?
Speaker 2:I like them One that I'll tell you.
Speaker 1:I have gone back and forth on a lot.
Speaker 2:I think what makes it so hard this year is there are so many questions at quarterback for so many teams. I mean not LSU. They've got Jaden Daniels coming back, which is huge. He's one of the more experienced. But I mean and I wrote this in my notes but George just got a new guy and Carson Beck that's going to be starting. I still have them as a contender because until somebody beats them, I ain't counting them out Exactly.
Speaker 1:But, Alabama.
Speaker 2:I've got. I've got them as a pretender. Ooh, I just think spicy dude, their schedule is tough. They go through a gauntlet. Now they get the lucky break of playing a lot of their tough games at home. But they've got number 11, texas and week two, number 22, ole Miss. These are at home at number 23, texas A&M at home against number 12, tennessee, and then they play LSU, who's currently ranked number five. That is a gauntlet. Granted, the rest of their stuff is like Southern Baptist of Utah in the Northeast region, like it's some random place that you didn't even know exists.
Speaker 2:But every that's a that's a rough couple of games.
Speaker 1:Granted the majority of those are Baptist of the Northeast region because it doesn't exist.
Speaker 2:They played Bishop of. Sycamore or whoever it was. They came back to be division one. But I just think they're with a new quarterback coming in after losing Bryce young, one of those games is going to trip them up to kind of knock them out. If two, I mean I could see Tennessee or LSU beating them this year Interesting.
Speaker 1:I don't know what I think about that yet, but I'll get, I'll give you. I'll give you two more pretenders that you can toss out right now, and one of them is in the SEC and one of them is Tennessee. Oh okay, Tennessee is a pretender. I don't buy that. This team is going to be good.
Speaker 2:I shouldn't say that they're not going to be high and you lost tendon hooker.
Speaker 1:I've won. All I'm saying is I've watched Joe Milton play football and the man can throw it 90 yards.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:The man can't hit the broadside of a barn Like he's got a rocket launcher and the aim of my three year old.
Speaker 3:If you're watching this, how?
Speaker 1:did you get on YouTube? Yeah, I just, I just I don't buy the Tennessee hype. The other one I don't buy and I mentioned this in our week zero episode is Florida state. I know they've got talent. It's not a question of do they have talent. I just don't believe in Florida state's execution when they play LSU right away, and that's why LSU is a contender for me, because I think LSU will beat them on. I think I, I think I must have spoken the week zero. I think I said Labor day night it's Sunday night. Sunday night, leading into Labor day, lsu, I think, beats Florida state. Now if, if, florida state wins that game, I'm going to have to come back and take this all back, okay, but I just, I just don't see that happening. I think Florida state gets hyped up. I don't think there's much to it. The the outside contender I have is Texas.
Speaker 2:I could see it.
Speaker 1:The outside contender I have is Texas.
Speaker 2:I mean, if they walk away if they walk away after beating Alabama, and that's and.
Speaker 1:I think that and that's why I guess I agree with you on the Alabama thing as a pretender, because I do think Texas beats them. I know it's in Tuscaloosa when I could see LSU Texas is a better team.
Speaker 2:I could see LSU beating them. I think Texas would have won last year If you were stays healthy, yeah, yeah. If you were stays healthy, and so I don't disagree with that at all. I think for my contenders I've got a Michigan, osu and Georgia yeah, I am curious Carson Beck coming in. They still have Brock Bowers, the D they're going to be good.
Speaker 3:They're going to be good.
Speaker 2:They've got a. Their schedule is not crazy. I, I, until somebody beats them, like I said, they're still. They're still the champs pretenders. I've got Alabama, florida state, uh, and Clemson. I just I'm. I will never be huge on Clemson since they lost Trevor Lawrence. I just something about them. I know they don't play in like the toughest conference in the world, but I just something about them. I'm just not sold, I'm not sold.
Speaker 1:Uh, speaking of teams that we're not sold on, uh, we do a little segment called Rutgers to the Rose Bowl, in which we we kind of try to feel out and I think we're doing this on a scale of how many she on those how confident you are, what not even confidence what the chances of Rutgers making the Rose Bowl are going to be, which this year would be a semi final playoff game.
Speaker 1:So how many she on those? On a scale of one to five she on those would you say that Rutgers to Rose Bowl has right now?
Speaker 2:Uh, it is zero. Surprise, surprise.
Speaker 3:That's not fair for getting to the Rose Bowl To them to get into college football.
Speaker 2:They haven't won one.
Speaker 1:So their chances are still five. She on those, though they haven't, they haven't lost, okay.
Speaker 2:On a technicality, there are five she on those that they could make it to the Rose Bowl. There it is, but realistically it is zero. And I love Rutgers football. But I was looking at their schedule and is it not good? The thing is they will have to pull some, some upsets to be able to even make a bowl game. They start off relatively easy. They play Virginia tech I'm. I go back and forth on if I think that they could do that or not. This will be the first year that we won't have no of a draw actually behind center, which is praise the Lord. Gavin Wimsat should get a full year to start, which I'm actually excited to see how he does. We've been talking about this four star quarterback.
Speaker 1:There's no we, by the way. We haven't done anything for you we haven't done anything with Rutgers football.
Speaker 2:Rutgers fans, where are you at? Have my back on this. We've been talking about Gavin Wimsat since he came to the school. This is his third year. Now it's time to suit up, or shut up. I mean, you've got to go. You got to play the entire year. See what you got out of this kid. They've got a relatively easy schedule. Early on week four they play Michigan dub, but I don't know. They've got to steal some games later on. Who did they play later on? They've got Virginia tech, I think. Week three they've got to be able to win games against Michigan state, which I think are doable, and Indiana later on down the road. I also think is a winnable game. But other than that, I mean they've got to get, they've got to make sure they win at least two out of the first three. Start the year two and two after the Michigan game just to make a bowl game, just to make a bowl game. So it's going to be tough, but they could surprise me. Well, they could surprise me, but my expectation quick lane bowl call us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my, my quick take on it is Rutgers four to five wins, max five If they pull off an upset against Michigan state or Indiana, which I hate, even saying that that's an upset.
Speaker 1:But probably is not a good place to be.
Speaker 2:Not a good place to be in week one, and they're seven point favorites, so that's probably the largest margin. It is, and we play Wagner till we play Wagner week like fours or no week, five or something like that, and it jumps up to 20 or something which is bad.
Speaker 1:Let's talk our stupid genius upset picks of the week. Call it stupid genius, because these upset picks could either be stupid or genius, and only you can. Actually, you can't even decide the football decides who's your stupid genius upset pick of the week.
Speaker 2:I've got South Carolina over number 21, north Carolina, okay, I think, and this is just a weird statement.
Speaker 2:Yeah, spencer Rattler is the better college quarterback to me than Drake may. Drake may is going to be the better NFL quarterback I. I know it's a neutral site, so I'm not. There's no home field advantage that's really going to matter. I something about it. I just feel like Spencer Rattler has always kind of had a chip. Since it's Oklahoma days he's going to come out and want to showcase. Wouldn't surprise me. For the first little part of the season he was in the Heisman watch. He'll fall off inevitably, but it wouldn't surprise me if that happened.
Speaker 1:The way they ended the year was phenomenal. I mean, he, he's definitely riding high. I don't think, and I don't think that that's even a crazy pick. Here's my issue with stupid genius. Is that you make, like the sensible, like, hey, this makes sense, is it? This is technically not set. I took a team who are 14 and a half point dogs Friday night, central Michigan over Michigan. I knew.
Speaker 2:I knew you were going to do it. The second I saw it.
Speaker 1:The second I saw it on the schedule, I thought people are going to say that I'm just being a hater and I don't know why you'd think that. What have I ever said on this podcast? Why would you not have?
Speaker 2:faith in a man that assigned to a 10 year $95 million contract. If you're going to pay? Him that much money, you would think you would win the football game.
Speaker 1:You would think that, wouldn't you? They lost Peyton Thorn. They lost Kion Coleman. I have no faith in this Michigan State team.
Speaker 2:They're going to be bad.
Speaker 1:This is a dumpster fire and I cannot wait to watch it. Central Michigan beat Michigan State in East Lansing circa 2000,. Oh, I want to say 2007, 2008, somewhere in there. I think it's another one. I think it's an ugly football game and I think, directional Michigan gets one done.
Speaker 2:I love the directional Michigan.
Speaker 1:That's not mine, I'm borrowing that. But still, a directional Michigan is going to beat Michigan State. Fire up chips, fire up chips. Wow, I don't know if I would not be upset about that. Is that? Yeah, I don't know. Anyway, central Michigan over Michigan State is my stupid genius upset pick of the week. You got any closing thoughts for us? Anything that we missed, anything you didn't talk about?
Speaker 2:Man, it just feels good to be back. Doesn't feel it feels great to be back. It feels good. I want to reiterate again this year going to look a little different. We're on Patreon, we've got a new Instagram going out at rival pot again, tons and tons of stuff that's going to be happening on all of those platforms, especially on the road. Definitely want to stay tuned for the Notre Dame game, yeah.
Speaker 1:Excited about that one.
Speaker 2:Because the stuff we're going to be grabbing there is going to be sick.
Speaker 1:And the podcast doesn't continue without the support of businesses, generous friends like you. So do consider becoming a supporter on Patreon. We've got some fun perks. We've got some prize drawings. We did a T-shirt like this Jace was supposed to wear.
Speaker 2:We've talked numerous times about a week one. You've got to wear the rivalry T-shirt to showcase the new merch. We've also got go ahead. Typical Michigan fan doesn't listen.
Speaker 1:But anyway, you could have that T-shirt and you could actually wear it like you're supposed to.
Speaker 2:And look, you made the flag mad, and now it wouldn't be the rivalry podcast.
Speaker 1:This is why we need the Patreon support, so we can fix this dang flag.
Speaker 2:I got to show the back. I got to show the back.
Speaker 1:I don't know which camera I'm going to go here? You can pick up that shirt again at rival pod on YouTube. You're missing out If you're not watching there. We've also got brand new rivalry stickers you can put on your little knowledge and water bottle on your laptop. They're so new we don't even have our own yet. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay, so he wouldn't even display it if he had it, apparently.
Speaker 1:So subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Follow on social media at rival pod. Consider becoming a patron supporter. Football's back folks.
Speaker 3:Let's go Go box, go blue. The rivalry is a production of river radio ministries. Live updates from the show Follow us on Twitter at rival pod for live tweets, score predictions, contests and more, and make sure to follow us wherever you're listening. Now for new episodes every Wednesday and if you like what you're hearing, tell a friend so they can listen too.