Week 1 Predictions!

We are finally back to regular season football and what a slate it is! The boys predict the biggest matchups of the week, including: 

#25 Boise St at SOUTH FLORIDA

Auburn at BAYLOR

Georgia Tech at COLORADO

#8 Alabama at FLORIDA STATE

#1 Texas at #3 OHIO STATE

#9 Lsu at #4 CLEMSON

#6 Notre Dame at #10 MIAMI

#13 South Carolina at VIRGINIA TECH

Syracuse vs #24 Tennessee

Transcript

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SPEAKER_02 0:36

Wicky wicked. Wow, wow. Let's go. Fourth and wrong podcast. We're back for another fantastic regular season. This is what we started the the origin of the pod. Yeah. Name changes over the years.

SPEAKER_01 0:53

But this is the what was it before Florida State Bama? Yeah, the GOAT game. I just I dropped 40 milligrams of Adderall. We talked for two and a half hours. Yeah, it was uh tough episode.

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Audio quality, not great. Yeah, it was like we I think were we sitting in chairs, even I think we were sitting you lived in somebody's like basement, I think, at the time.

SPEAKER_01 1:17

It wasn't somebody's basement, it was a basement apartment, which is a very normal thing for people to have in Virginia Highlands, Georgia. It was I'm not ashamed of the basement. Hi, Wesley.

SPEAKER_02 1:28

Um, I think we were sitting on a couch down there. Yeah, it's a black couch, it's a cast on the couch. Uh, but no, and it was before the Florida State Alabama game, which here we are miraculously again, eight years later for another season. We haven't done it every season, but most seasons we've been doing the pod. So appreciate those who have been around since the winning and boozing days, including producer Booza. Um, yeah, winning and booza days. That's right. Actually, we just had our fantasy draft, and his team's name is Winning and Boozing.

SPEAKER_01 2:03

That's sick. You guys are in a fantasy football league together, just you two with other people. Yep, that's awesome, man. That's cool. I can't wait till I go to high school.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

We we could add to 12, but we just can't think of two others to invite. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:19

Just because you said that, I hope you do invite me, and then I'll forget to set my lineup every fucking week.

SPEAKER_02 2:25

Good. Easy dubs for me. Um well we things are gonna be. Oh, wow. Not really.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

We we were like 10 years ago, but it's whatever.

SPEAKER_02 2:40

Uh yeah, I'm not sure I know who that is, Austin Kroll.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

Eddie, do you know who that is? Edward. Edward, speak up. No, no, I don't know who that is. Yeah, all right. Well, ask your ask your wives, guys. They'll know. Ask your girlfriends, wives. I've you know, let's just start the fucking show. My bad. So things things escalated last week. Uh that's another thing about the Lord. That was Tyler.

SPEAKER_02 3:14

That was Tyler the whole time. Yep. That was that was a rough, that was a rough showing, but it's just it just means, you know, when the bourbon's flowing like that, it means college football's kicking off. All right. Everyone loved it, dude. Everyone, everyone loved it.

SPEAKER_01 3:25

They were like, you gotta do that every episode.

SPEAKER_02 3:27

Did we even uh did we even like get to like national championship picks, SEC picks, even really? I don't think.

SPEAKER_01 3:33

We just cut it off in half the show and then promise ourselves we were gonna come back on Sunday and do it again, which we never did. And then um somebody said, Can you talk about the stabbing on the pod? I'm watching live. Did you guys see my post on Twitter the other day?

SPEAKER_02 3:51

No, I didn't.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

So you guys ever heard of Steven McDaniel? No, I haven't. He murdered someone, and there's a video of him on the internet, and like what I don't even know what site or handle posted it, but it's it's this very creepy thing where he's like in he's being detained and he's he's in an interrogation for hours, and they they put it like on a time lapse, and he is like this the entire time. Never moves, never moves. Wow he murdered, he murdered his college, like a girl that he went to college with across lived across the hall from him. Okay, he made a copy of her key or something like that, somehow, snuck into her apartment and killed her. Then no one knew. Um he went back and forth between her apartment and his, dismembering the body for the next 36 hours. Oh. And Alex is saying she's in a good mood. Um and so anyway, so he dismembered the body, and um then was like on camera with like a local television station. They were, they were like, Did you hear about so he's like, what happened? They were like, She was she's missing, she was murdered. He's like, Oh someone murdered her? She was my neighbor, like like sociopath. It's like, yeah. So some I saw the video the other day, and I didn't, you know how sometimes I just blurt stuff out and don't realize it's like a big deal until afterwards. This yeah, I I went to high school with him and he he stabbed me in the hand with a pencil in like my tenth or eleventh grade during standardized testing. It was kind of my fault. I was kind of even he had he used to wear mittens and carry around a briefcase, and I was like, Hey, briefcase, and he's like he would like kiss, and I was like, What? And he was like briefcase, and I was like, Well, I'm gonna touch the fucking briefcase now for sure. And so then I reached out to grab the briefcase and he just stabs me right in the hand. And it it never even occurred to me that was a big deal until like uh I think yesterday someone's like that guy murdered someone and he stabbed you. Dude, first thing I did, I looked up when he's when his uh parole is, it's not till 2041. Thank god.

SPEAKER_02 6:08

Thank god he doesn't listen to the show and the clink. Just waiting, waiting for his time to get out to find you, boy. Fuck you, Eddie. Um, yeah, seriously. Okay, well, let's just get in the week because there's there's a lot of I'm like firing starting tomorrow. I mean, I I fired on on Saturday, of course, but I don't talk about that because I had Kansas State, and then Avery Johnson goes in, he's terrible, his dad fights his brother afterwards. I don't I didn't want to be anything part of it. So now we we clear the slate. We didn't bet Kansas State mines three and a half.

SPEAKER_01 6:46

I bet Iowa State to win money line.

SPEAKER_02 6:50

All right. Um, well, officially starts this week, Chris. Uh, so I'm gonna be on this USF Boise State game tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01 6:58

Dude, right off the bat, it's 4 30 here. I'm excited. Let's just why don't we just do the show different this year? And we need a different bottom. I'm gonna make a bottom real quick. Power bottom. Um you make a good bottom. Thanks, brother. Um I what's what's your lock of the week? Let's just start there.

SPEAKER_02 7:17

Okay, so I I don't know if this is my lock of the week, but the boise I'm I'm all over USF. I'm all over USF here. Yeah, against Boise State. Boise State's coming to town, you know. Obviously, they were in the playoff last year, Chris. Yep. Um it's a new team. I don't know if you remember a guy, Ashton Genty. That's not how you pronounce his name. Gente? Ashton Genti. Gente, whatever it is. He was Heisman runner up, 2,600 yards rushing last year, coming off a 12-2 season. Gotta go down to South Florida, Tampa. It's hot, it's disgusting. I remember when Boise did this a couple years ago, came to uh actually was supposed to be Tallahassee, then it got moved to Jacksonville, still beat us because we Willie Taggart was doing his thing at those days. Um so I all the talk then was how they were not gonna be able to handle the heat, and they somehow handled it better than our state. But I think Goalish and the boys, he's gonna have the boys ready to handle the gentiless Broncos. I think Boise State's like a five and a half, five-point favorite at Tampa.

SPEAKER_01 8:29

A five? I'm sorry, a what favorite?

SPEAKER_02 8:31

Your favorite line, five and a half. I hate that line. Um I'm with you, man.

SPEAKER_01 8:37

I I love South Florida.

SPEAKER_02 8:39

I'm taking USF here. I think I think they've done a good job for their level of how they've recruited that roster. Goalish. I like him as a coach. Um, yeah, they only went seven and what did they go like seven and six last year? They weren't great, but I like their QB. And I mean, he was a baller two years ago. He got hurt like at the beginning of last year. So I mean, he's back. So give me give me moneyline USF, but I'll just take the points for this. Yeah, I like that.

SPEAKER_01 9:08

Um my lock of the week. Yeah, I just did I sent it to Eddie. Um my lock of the week. Without question, without hesitation. Oh buddy, Auburn, moneyline. I think it's only minus 130 right now. Hammer. By the way, I don't know if you've paid attention to any Baylor fans on social media. No, no, they have some. They talk like they are like this, like oh, but like like Auburn has no clue what they're walking into. They're walking into 42,000 Methodists, I'm assuming, because it's not Baptists, or maybe that's I don't know. I mean, like it is something could not be a less intimidating environment to be in front of that stadium. I thought was huge because it's like Chip and Joe built it, and it's shiplap on the outside of it. It's beautiful, it's beautiful shiplap, yeah. But no doubt, Waco. No one has been scared of Waco since 1994, and with very good reason. And the idea that Auburn with all the talent, do you know what do you know what Auburn's team talent ranking was for the roster um composite rankings that came out in 247 sports? I do not 12th. Oh, 12th. They they have done like like you can sit here and say I I I it this all depends on Hugh Freeze still, and he's gotta figure his shit out and not get in his own way. And I think this idea that that there's two to three different people calling plays on on downs is it's fucking stupid. But the defense is gonna be good. There's play, there's there's legitimate stars in two of the levels with Jay Crawford at defensive back and uh Keldrick Falk. If you look at his success rate and win rate as a uh as an edge rusher, it was higher than Dylan Stewart's last year. The numbers might not have been as good stats-wise, but they weren't far off. Um, and and so that's a guy that's gotten a lot of preseason love, like in an early NFL, way too early NFL draft pick love for next year in the first round. So you got stars in the defense, and the and Albert's defense is always good. Then you look offensively, it's the best offensive line they've had in over a decade. Jackson Rolls is a former five-star consensus top 10 player in the country. I have a hard time believing he's just bad. I have a hard time believing he's just not a good quarterback, considering last year at Oklahoma he had the worst offensive line in the entire country that allowed 50 sacks, and then also had their top five receivers out. He is going in a situation where Auburn has legitimately a top three receiver room in the country with Ohio State and LSU. And they are deep and loaded at that at that spot, multiple former five stars. Eric Singleton, top five player in the portal. You went out and got a top five player or portal class this past offseason. Also have two back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes. Like Baylor doesn't have any of the things I just mentioned. Baylor has Chip and Joe, and that's it. And a weird Sawyer Robertson. Go on. Cool.

SPEAKER_02 12:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:06

Uh how me another player.

SPEAKER_02 12:08

Their coach is about as weird as their fan base.

SPEAKER_01 12:11

Tell me, oh, then throwing all the midgets in that in them in them games or playing all the games, throwing midgets.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

Strange, strange. Um, no, I think you're right. Um, now one thing was kind of weird that Hugh Freeze came out and said that all three quarterbacks are gonna play in this game.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

He said they might, which was so stupid. I don't know why he's doing any of this.

SPEAKER_02 12:32

Did he also come out and basically admit that the defense like had to let Jackson Arnold like get some wins so he could build some confidence?

SPEAKER_01 12:39

I didn't see that, but I wouldn't be surprised. Like, he he is a masterclass, and like if you ever watched an HR video for a shitty job and they were like, Here's a situation you're in, you're in the break room, you see Rhonda. What should you say? And it's like, hey Rhonda, you got a fat ass. Or hi Rhonda, may I get some coffee, please? Which one do you choose it? He is the first video, he is the before and after of every fucking HR video you've ever seen. Everything he does is wrong. Like everything he does from a PR standpoint is wrong, and he just doesn't ever learn. You would think he would have learned by now. Nope. He's just gotten rinklier and godlier. That's the clip. Clip of Eddie.

SPEAKER_02 13:21

Um yeah, three signal callers in one game. I don't I don't that that would frighten me, um, as well as the alleged uh quote about the defense having to like help him gain some confidence. Don't know if you like that. No, but um yeah, man. I'm I'm excited. This is a great Friday game. Like, this is a great Friday. Like you get you get USF. Um what are the games are on on Friday? I think there's a Colorado. That's right, Georgia Tech Colorado. That's another one I wanted to talk about just quickly. I mean, so Caden Salter's the guy, not the kid from that used to be committed to Auburn. Um, what was his name? Five star kid, but anyways, went to Colorado. Everyone thought he was gonna be the the Arabic Sanders.

SPEAKER_01 14:09

Yeah, I think he ruined it to UST and Auburn, right?

SPEAKER_02 14:13

Or was he thinking about going to Auburn at one point?

SPEAKER_01 14:15

He was thinking about it for sure.

SPEAKER_02 14:16

Yeah. Um, anyways, he goes to Colorado. Caden Salter transfers in from Liberty. He's he's put up like pretty great stats there, but I mean that that's a Liberty offense that's not really going up against um competition in the world.

SPEAKER_01 14:32

So 328th ranked strength of schedule in the country.

SPEAKER_02 14:35

Um, this is at Colorado, so you know, obviously, home opener at night. Georgia Tech goes out there like Georgia Tech. I mean, I feel like they're getting a lot of love for seven and six squad last year, but I think there's a lot of goodwill that was built up from that awesome game against Georgia at the end of the year. Um, Haynes King is back, obviously. Um I think the biggest thing that we're looking forward to seeing is Dion without Shador at the helm and Travis Hunter on both sides of the ball. Like that to me, that's it's this first game going up against uh you know a tough-nosed Brent Key defense. I'm just interested to see how it goes for them. What are you thinking in this game? I mean, they're four and a half underdogs at home.

SPEAKER_01 15:18

Yeah, I I I don't love that, but I do like tech. And that line's gone up from three and a half or three to four and a half now. Um, could be a situation to parlay uh for for Friday night. I listen, like I think you're right. I think you nailed it with with tech in the terms of well, they've gotten a lot of I guess like benefit the doubt and and and positivity going in the offseason because of what they did against Georgia. But the reason why they did so well against Georgia last year, and you saw it firsthand in that eight overtimes and you had to go to the play calling part of it, which is Buster Faulkner's OC, who's one of the best OCs in the country, comes from one of the best high schools in the history of the country, and and a lot of people that go to that high school are very successful, and everyone knows that. Some of them live in basements at times in their lives, but they're not bad, they're called terrace-level apartments. I want to reiterate that. But Buster Faulkner is one of the best play callers, he still has a lot of talent here. They still have Jamal, there was Jamal Haynes, the running back, who's very, very good, very talented. Um, and Haynes King, man, like Haynes King continues to be one of the better, most more underrated players, I feel like, in the in the country, and not just underrated players, but like very underrated athlete. Part of that's because he's white and looks like King Joffrey from Game of Thrones, but also it's because like we see it time and time again. The way he's able to utilize his legs, if he can stay healthy, they are a dangerous team.

SPEAKER_02 16:37

Yeah, I mean, imagine if Singleton hadn't transferred from this team, you'd be but uh if you saw um their tight end room looks a little weak, but I did see that Luke Harpering is uh a tight end on the team, which I'm guessing that's Matt Harpering's son. So it's just another sign that we're getting older. Um yeah, man, I I like what what Key has done at Georgia Tech. They're thankful that he's um an alum because I gotta imagine if they overperform here in his third season that he'd be out without joking. No, just one course light here this time. That's it. Yeah, I mean, I could always go get more, fellas. That's you know, you just tell me.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

I mean, I'll probably you could probably just go to the store, and I won't I won't skip a beat.

SPEAKER_02 17:22

Um I do have the kids this time. Last time I was free of child.

SPEAKER_01 17:27

Oh, okay. So I've seen people up that way, just you know, put them on a leash, head to the store, get a baby monitor, head on out. Booza does it all the time. I know. Um, okay, okay, so we're on the same page as that. Let's real can we real quick, speaking of alum, can I can I give a shout out real quick?

SPEAKER_02 17:48

I know where you're going. Elon Duke, or Thursday, 7 30 p.m. ESPN Plus.

SPEAKER_01 17:53

No, before we get into FSU Bama, which is what the people are Jonesing for here. Yeah, can I also tell you Florida State? You're you're alma mater. Eddie went to the cut the community college in Tallahassee there and was one of those fringe guys that was around campus a lot, so he made friends that way because he always used to buy them booze, booze when they were underage. Um, and so you guys both kind of went to Florida State. I went to Georgia College and State University. Oh, yeah. Everyone that knows me from this show or us from this show knows the last couple years and all, and just our our track record here, but there's been a lot of up and ups and downs. I all jokes aside, am so fucking excited to say this. I got someone reached out to me today from Georgia College and State University, and I'm being written about as a feature as the featured alumni for Georgia College and State University in the month of December. I was there for six years. All they had to do was just look at my actual records and be like, nah, we're good on that.

SPEAKER_02 18:59

We're we're positive this isn't a prank of some kind.

SPEAKER_01 19:02

That'd be so fucked up. And then you talked about it here. That would be tough.

SPEAKER_02 19:08

I don't think I'm sure it's legitimate. I mean, look, don't get me wrong.

SPEAKER_01 19:11

Like, it's I don't think there's a lot of Georgia College and State University prank accounts. Yeah. And if they uh if there are and they chose me, still an honor. Still an honor. So let's get into Florida State, Bama. Um, I was on Coach's conference call today. Oh, nice. Just very casually drops. Uh, yeah, we don't know. This was so weird, man, because like usually it's it's just local media. Like, there's I'm sure there's guys that listen in, but a lot of times it's just local media, it's not like a lot of national guys. And I'm listening in, and Calen DeBore goes, or they they have Calen DeBore on. They said, Up next, uh, Peter Nakos from on three has a question. And I was like, Peter, fairly newer. Okay, how you've grown. My how you've grown. It's me, Captain James Hook. And hello, Pizza. Um, and so he goes, Hey, just want to get an update on Tim Keenan. Is he gonna be a full go? And it was very obvious right away. Whatever he was saying was stuff that that Calen De Boer did not want out. And DeBoer was like, uh, you know, you know, I don't know. I don't know to really tell. He he because like, and then there's somebody has a follow-up question, they're like, Hey, you didn't say this on Monday, and they have to come out with the injury reports now. And so Tim Keenan, a starter, one of one of the more valuable players on this team in uh defensive line, he's gonna be out. They're gonna be out three starters. It's gonna be a rainy game in Tallahassee. Has your uh I shouldn't ask you, Tyler, because you're the eternal pessimist.

SPEAKER_02 20:47

But yeah, Eddie's to be fair, there's been a lot of positivity around the program over the last year, so you know.

SPEAKER_01 20:53

Could have hired Dion. Gone three and nine, bitch. Um Eddie, is there any is there any more optimism like creeping in now with you guys? Like like because I I I think it's gonna be a more difficult game, at least early on, than than Bama fans want it to be.

SPEAKER_02 21:12

Yeah, I mean, booze, I'll let you jump in at any point, but I did ask the question. Uh I I think I think at the end of the day, Bama will control the game just because they have the better talent. I do think the first half could be close. Um, the thing about Florida State is their starting 22, I think is good enough, especially in the ACC, to have a nice turnaround season. But the problem is is just in a game like this where you're gonna get worn down or just over the season long, especially when your quarterback who's pretty much tailor made for this kind of offense with Gus Malzon, um, he's like five ten, a hundred and eighty pounds. Like, yeah, I don't think he's ever made it through a season healthy. Um, so that's always kind of on your mind is like, yeah, I think that's starting twenty. Too, as long as they're all out there. I think they could pretty much perform what with anyone on their schedule. Maybe Clemson, potentially Bama, are like a little out of reach, I'd say, as far as the upper end talent, but it's more so through the year. How does that how do they they wear down? So I think in this game it will be a close first half. Maybe you maybe you even take a look at like the what I don't know what the points are for the first half. Um now we're talking. That could be something to look at for Florida State, but uh I guess ultimately I just don't think that they'll be able to hang for four quarters. Um I don't know, Booza. Do you have any I I've you've probably been more positive than I have.

SPEAKER_01 22:38

That's why I asked him originally. You just kept talking.

SPEAKER_02 22:40

So he was still muted, so I jumped in.

SPEAKER_00 22:43

It's I got the wood on tonight. Oh, yeah, nice. Good for you. Yeah, what? No, it's it's Bama, dude.

SPEAKER_01 22:51

Your backups are far and away ahead of our starters. Now I understand why they want to sound fucking stupid. It's it's gonna be tough.

SPEAKER_02 23:03

I told Chris that if Bama loses this game, it's so bad. Bama Bama should have basically the Lane Kiffin treatment. Just leave him on a tarmac. There's no reason to lose this game.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

No, I I will tell you, I so here's here's nobody asked, but I'll just tell you my thoughts on it. Um anyway, so I I G U N C Belichick, first game, pregnant. Um no, I I think that Bama should be able to win, but my my thoughts on them like the positive side of this where I'm like, oh well, listen, Jan Miller's out. His backup, backup running back, Daniel Hill. There's rumors circulating that he's also out. So you're down to Richard Young, who's a former five-star kid, like very good, very good pound. So your third string running back is a five-star. I get what you're saying, Eddie. Like I do. At the same time, I look at it and I'm like, I don't know if you're gonna be able to just line up and run the football in this. I'm so awesome, I'm so fucking tired of Bama going to the state of Florida and it being a goddamn monsoon every single time. South Florida 2023, the Michigan Bowl game, and now this is supposed to be just like the worst weather. And I said this to somebody the other day, I love the Ratatouille reference about Thomas Castellanas. That is perfect. Um, just take it out of his hat. Um, I I will say that I feel like watching him play a little bit. There's times when he does stuff on the field. He did it last year against Florida State, where it's like there's times where he comes in and you're like, oh my god, this kid is awesome to watch. It's like like if he wasn't playing for my team, like awesome to watch. But I compared him, and I wasn't even thinking when I said this, but I compared him to 2019 Bo Nicks, which was his freshman year, who played for Gus Malzon at the time, when he was like, There would be three to five things at a time that guy would do, or a game that guy would do that you're like, oh my god, that was incredible. And there's three to five things he would do. You're like, what the fuck is he thinking about? Yeah, that feels exactly what this guy is. But I will also tell you, Bo Nick's beat Bama his freshman year, so I don't necessarily expect that to be the case.

SPEAKER_02 25:02

You know, you moved on from that coach, you've upgraded there. Um, but uh I I think I think in this game, like Castellanos, he's gonna have to have an efficient game. Like, just don't turn the ball over. And that's at this point, you know, you you're brought in to use your legs. This is gonna be one of the games that you are going to have to use your legs to your advantage to have a chance in this game. Um, your boy Roy L Williams, back from injury this year. I think he's gonna be the starter, he'll probably get the majority of the carries. Um, his backup is a true freshman, Usman Chroma. Remember the name, Chris.

SPEAKER_01 25:38

No, this kid is legit. Have you watched any of his film? He's legit, dude.

SPEAKER_02 25:43

He's he's he's wearing an old school running back number two, uh, number or as well, I should say, number 32. Oh, like that. How many running backs were 32 these days?

SPEAKER_01 25:52

How big are his shoulder pads? Talk dirty to me. Uh, yeah, he's got a neck roll. Yeah. Oh, I'm so close. Alumni of the month, baby. Book him.

SPEAKER_02 26:11

Um, yeah, I I I think I think if Florida State's O line can stay healthy through the course of this game, and so could Castellanos, I think they could keep it close for three quarters. I I do think ultimately the depth will be tested and they just won't have enough. Um so is he drinking out of a straw?

SPEAKER_01 26:32

What the fuck? Who is this kid?

SPEAKER_02 26:35

Um damn it. I I'm gonna take Bama, probably let's go 35 to 21.

SPEAKER_01 26:43

I think it'll be a little bit more low scoring than that because of the weather.

SPEAKER_00 26:47

I'm gonna say 20.

SPEAKER_01 26:49

I just said that. I'm gonna say 27-16. I don't think they cover now completely with the injuries. Um, do we get into the good stuff?

SPEAKER_02 26:57

Here's the here's one thing I'll say about that. I'm trying to go into this game, realizing that at this stage of where we're coming off of, yeah, it's really this game is not going to tell us a ton unless Alabama just completely just destroys them, like yeah, blows them off the field. If they can compete uh for three quarters into the fourth quarter, for me, I I will I will not let it change. I'm saying it now, so when I'm pouting after the game, I won't let it change my trajectory of where we could be this year because look, that Miami game at home, like if you could somehow pull that off as an upset, basically your only toughest other game and is is obviously Clemson, but there's no more divisions, so you could potentially make some noise, you know.

SPEAKER_01 27:45

The worst thing that could happen, I think, to Norvell is to win this game and go seven and five, and that that has nothing to do with like anything with Bama. That's like if he wins this game and goes seven and five, and then you're like, why, but like, why? Why did you waste so much momentum and positivity? I I I feel for Norvell, man. I I want him to be successful here. I I want you to be happy, I want Eddie to be happy. Like, like, I get it, and like you still should have been in the playoffs two years ago. So it just it's one of those things, too, where it's like, I think that Bama coming out, especially with the running back situation, if it was dry, if it was 79 degrees or 92 degrees or whatever, not a cloud in the sky, I would pick Bama by 20. But like being situation like that, that's a that's a part where it's like we talk a lot about oh, Castellano said this, Ty Simpson's coming in, he's got all this talent around him, Ryan Williams. There's there's more experience at the quarterback position for Port of State by a long shot than Ty Simpson. Let's get in some of the good stuff because it's a really good weekend. You want to start at the 11 a.m. Central Time kickoff? Oh, God's time. That's right. Southern Mississippi State.

SPEAKER_02 28:56

Everyone's been waiting on it all offseason. So you know we should have started the pod with it. Uh no, this is game on Fox. Dave Portnoy is not allowed in the stadium. We've seen that Fox's first uh first game with um him uh at the helm kind of being the spotlight. Uh he's not allowed to be there.

SPEAKER_01 29:16

What do you want? Them like banning him.

SPEAKER_02 29:19

I mean, it's part of college sports, I guess, but it's just whatever. It's kind of lame, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 29:24

I always thought it was stupid. They were like, yeah, T T U N, that team up north. I don't think so, Mr. Like, we're not even gonna use them by name, and then like putting an X over all the M's on campus. That's so fucking it's like so stupid. Yeah, so stupid. And I I don't I just think it's I think it's really dumb.

SPEAKER_02 29:46

I I agree. Um, Ohio State is now out to a two and a half point favorite here uh in this game against Texas. Number one Texas. Uh this game is in Columbus. Totals 47 and a half. Um obviously you've got a lot new on Ohio State side of the ball. Um, you do have a lot new at on the Texas side of the ball, too, though. Um, on on both sides of the ball. Like they had a really good defensive line last year. A lot of those guys um haven't moved on. Their O-line was really good. I think Hunter or what is their what was their tight end name? Gunner Helm.

SPEAKER_01 30:25

They lost everyone on that offensive line.

SPEAKER_02 30:27

Yeah. I mean, there's there's a lot that they've got to replace. But they've got Arch, man. Arch. Heard about this guy, Arch? He's in the main.

SPEAKER_01 30:36

He's related to the Kelsey's. And rumor has it he lost Taylor Swift. No, it's he's a Manning brother.

SPEAKER_02 30:45

But I think Ohio State might make him look look more like a woe manning, a woman, who are inferior in this conversation of battle.

SPEAKER_01 30:57

We should just go to to game days and make the most ignorant, like stupid, stupid and ignorant enough signs where they're so ignorant, people will have to question if they're also sexist. More like whoa, manning, and like what? I don't know what that means.

SPEAKER_02 31:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:16

Alright. Let's get into this game. Yeah, I'll stop. I'll stop.

SPEAKER_02 31:20

All right, Julian Saiyan, also a new starter for Ohio State at quarterback, former Bama elite Hall of Famer. Um, I think he was on campus for like a month, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 31:33

Uh less than that. He was the last quarterback recruited by Nick Saban, and uh the Boer didn't know how to say his name or called him the wrong name or some shit. And then he left. Perfect, perfect, perfect.

SPEAKER_02 31:44

Um, so you got him. Um obviously you return Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, uh, former five-star Brandon Innis at receiver. Um you lose Treyvion and Quinshawn Judkins, so you've got a lot to replace in the backfield. Um it sounds like Travion's just kind of killing it for the pat the Pats in the preseason, so it'll be Quinshaan's like apparently looking at a way to come back. He's killing it somehow.

SPEAKER_01 32:10

Like no, he got I think that got dismissed, but he it's like cost him a spot, so now he's like trying to figure out a way to come back to college football. Well, maybe they get laid out here for the game. Can you just stone cold entrance? That'd be fucking sick. Um, okay. So, what do you think? What do you what from a betting standpoint and from a schematics and an X to know standpoint, what are you thinking?

SPEAKER_02 32:31

Well, I just I don't know what to think about like what we're gonna get out of Arch for a full game. This is a very difficult environment to go into, uh, like for your first real start, yeah. Um on the road defending national champions at you know uh it's a noon game, so that helps. You know, if it was a night game, that'd be tough. Um, I think the spread's probably the right move, but that would imply as well that Texas is the better team, correct?

SPEAKER_01 33:02

The spread? Uh it would because you have, I think, was it seven points in college for a home game? Is it that much?

SPEAKER_02 33:09

I think so. I think it's I think it's I think it's more than three. So either way, it would imply that Texas is the better team. Um but I I just does it feel like this is Sark's year?

SPEAKER_01 33:21

Or no? No. No. Let's leave this up here for a while. Thank you, Cruz. You look handsome. Um I don't feel that way. I don't feel like it's Sark's year.

SPEAKER_02 33:33

Okay, so what do you think is gonna happen in this game? Because I I I think the right team is favored just um off the rip because both teams are replacing so much. Yeah, but um I don't know. You know, who are we gonna see with with Brian Day with confidence? I mean, maybe this is a whole new uh run that Ohio State's about to go on. So that's a good thing.

SPEAKER_01 33:55

Honestly, that's something.

SPEAKER_02 33:59

Because last year they should have been they should have won both those Georgia games, like in my opinion on paper. Uh why? Well, they were at home for one. That's as much talent as anybody in the uh country. Um, and then they didn't even have to face the starting quarterback for Georgia in the second half of the SEC and still lost.

SPEAKER_01 34:20

Yeah. Let's just get this out of the way, Tyler. What's what is Texas's record against Georgia since they joined the SCA? Like, Texas is if you've talked to anybody from that state that covers them in the media, that's a fan of that fucking school, Texas is football. Period. Hell yeah, brother. Hell yeah, brother. All right. But I look pretty skinny when it does. Look at my wrist, they're so dainty as fuck. So here's the deal Texas is the best team in America, and Texas should win the national championship. They are the number one team preseason, even though Ohio State won the national championship and beat Texas uh uh about nine, eight, eight, nine calendar months ago. Um I I'll just tell you this Texas is 0-2 against Kirby Smart. Neutral site and at home, like you said. They haven't even had to go to Sanford Stadium where they've lost one game since 2017, and they're still 0-2. Texas is 0-1 against uh Ryan Day, lost to him last year in the semifinals, going into the national championship game. Steve Sarkeesian's a great coach. He's 0-2 against Kalen De Boer. Like, we have somehow anointed this program, not just Arts, but the whole program as the next thing. I told you this on this show four years ago that when NIL came back around, dormant former blue blood powerhouses like Tennessee, Southern Cal, Texas, Pepper. We got it, bud. We got it. Those teams were going to come back with a vengeance because they were going to have very, very starved and hungry boosters that were waiting um for something like this where they could pay for players to win a national championship. It's been two years. Still hasn't happened in Texas. Arch Manning is the former number one overall recruit in the country. So is Quinn Ewers. So is Quinn Ewers. They lost 23 total players in the draft in the last two years. By far the most they've had it ever. Uh not ever, but like at least in the last 10 to 15 years. So why should we assume that they are going to go into the defending national champion's house and walk out with a win in week one? I'll tell you why, Tyler. I'll tell you why. I'll tell you why, brother. If any team, if if if Texas can win, sorry, if Texas can score 14 points in any game, there's a chance this is way too low. There's a chance that they what's happened? I'm drunk. There's a chance that they will not lose a single game because that defense in the back seven is the best secondary and linebacking core combined in the country. That defense is going to be very, very legit. I love Ryan Day. I love what Ohio State has. I kind of feel like they're one of the least talked about um returning or like like defeating or repeating. What am I looking for? Defending national champs in the country that we've seen in quite some time. Penn State being ranked ahead of them is fucking ridiculous. But you're breaking in a new DC, you lost a shit ton of people to the NFL, you got a new quarter quarterback. It's not a night game in Columbus, it's an 11 a.m. kick. I think Texas goes in and wins. I really do. I don't think Texas is going to win the national championship, but I think Ohio State has as many question marks as Texas does. And I think that looking at these two teams, I think that that Texas has a the quarterback with more experience, a better play caller, and above all else, they have the better defense, which is I think the ultimate like de facto check mark they need to win this game.

SPEAKER_02 37:59

So you think they could win this game, possibly winning.

SPEAKER_01 38:01

Well, they will win this game.

SPEAKER_02 38:03

Now, after this, they got San Jose State, UTEP, Sam Houston State, before they do a bye week. And then they go to Florida. Then you got the run of at Florida, you got the Red River Rivalry week after that. And then you got three games at Kentucky, at Mississippi State, potentially the two worst teams in the SEC this year.

SPEAKER_01 38:27

Yeah, Gauntlet.

SPEAKER_02 38:28

Got those on the road, which is a great setup for your schedule. And then you come home to Vandy before you take a little bye week before you go to Athens. I mean, there's potential if they win this game, they're going to be undefeated going into Athens in week 12.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

Yeah, I think that happens. I and I tell you what, my biggest knock on Texas winning a national championship this year is even with this game, even with the trip to Tex or to Athens, and then even with the potential that they they get back to Atlanta again. I think the biggest question mark they have is they they aren't going to be tested enough. Like I don't see them winning a game besides this one, which is week one, and every team's gonna get better as the season goes on, where it's like, oh my god, what an incredible job they did, where where they were able to like like I don't see them getting better every week and like gelling and learning more. Like they're going to beat really average to below average teams up until November, just like they did last year, and then they're gonna have to step up and face somebody and they're gonna get their fucking teeth kicked in, like they have done the last several years in a row. You didn't beat Washington in the in the playoffs a couple years ago when you were a heavy favorite, you didn't beat Georgia last year either time, especially Atlanta with a backup quarterback, you didn't beat Ohio State. Like, I don't know how many more breaks Texas needs on a like on a big picture level. I don't think they're good enough to win a national championship.

SPEAKER_02 39:42

I mean, I would I push back a little bit. I think the flo the road game at Florida is a tough environment. As long as Lagway is healthy and playing, I think that's that's a good test for them. And then right after that, very next week, you gotta go play your rival in Oklahoma, who should be very improved with um Money Line Matier, you know. So um, yeah, this it'll I they're a fascinating team to follow. Um one of my favorite games, maybe my my favorite game of the day is LSU Clemson.

SPEAKER_01 40:10

God, Jesus, man.

SPEAKER_02 40:11

That this this opening slate is I I wish so good. Maybe it maybe it will end up being a good game. And I I won't rule out the Florida State Bama game being good, but I just wish that Florida State was up to its peak potential, just so it because I feel like that game that's kind of like the standalone game at 330, and it's just not the best game. I mean, it's a 13 and a half point game, whereas all these games are you know, Notre Dame, Miami, this the Texas game we just talked about, this game we're about to talk about.

SPEAKER_01 40:38

They're all the bet on that for you, okay. You're a Florida State fan. Look at your stupid hat. Okay, it's great. I know that things haven't been great there. I I get that, I get all that. Parley P's here.

SPEAKER_02 40:52

Say the least. Parley P.

SPEAKER_01 40:54

Parley P this is our this is our dude that we're doing the the the betting uh special with this year each and every week. Oh on Bama Moneyline. There you go. He said he's adding money to go like ham uh during the game as well. He's also got some picks for us, um, which we'll get into. He had some last week as well. Um, and we'll do that each and every week because he's a great dude. Um, here's the deal that is not official advice. Here's the deal. Let me tell you why the 330 game is perfect for us. It might not be a great game, but it's our game.

SPEAKER_02 41:25

And like none of those games are during it either, which is great. What's that? None of those awesome games around it are during it either, which is exactly that's that's the biggest thing.

SPEAKER_01 41:35

And like, I hope that my team wins. I know that you hope your team wins. I get all those things. Like, like, I my fate, one of my favorite reactions ever, and I miss this version of Tyler so much, is when y'all beat LSU a couple years ago, and and then afterwards you were like, Yeah, I just fucking I went outside and I threw up. I was like, Yes, yeah, yes, Tyler. That's what I want. But I mean, like that whole thing, and then to have like the 12 o'clock games where it's like I don't give a shit about southern Mississippi State, really, but Syracuse and Tennessee, yeah, I'm in on that. The other one with Ohio State, Texas, we're obviously all in on that, but this game at night, oh my god, I I pray this lives up to the billing because I think this could be one of the best inconsequential, fun games that we've seen in the regular season week one in forever.

SPEAKER_02 42:25

Dude, night game in one of the death valleys, probably not the death valley, but one of the death valleys, 730 is uh ABC, number nine LSU, add number four Clemson. Clemson, three and a half point favorite as it stands today, total 57 and a half. Clemson coming off ACC championship, uh, first college football playoff appearance since 2020. They were 10 and 4 last year. Cade Klubnik, who I think got a lot of shit his first two years on campus. Um, this is going to his fourth year now. 36 touchdowns, only nine picks last year. He's a Heisman candidate, maybe a front runner.

SPEAKER_01 43:01

Um, right?

SPEAKER_02 43:04

What's that?

SPEAKER_01 43:04

I think he only had four picks. He only had four picks. I'm pretty sure he had 35 and four, at least in the regular season, I want to say.

SPEAKER_02 43:11

Uh, maybe well, I don't I don't think he had five picks in the playoffs. Maybe he did. Um, okay, you might be right. Four picks, whatever. Awesome touchdown to ratio. I do remember it being a little bit better than I just said, too. So um, obviously, Clemson is the betting favorite in the ACC. Um, they've had 10 wins in 13 of the last 14 seasons. Uh, a lot of us tried to spell Clemson's death and demise a little too early. Dabo's got something to say for it. He's got a little TikTok account. Obviously, he's still doing the TikTok. I don't know if he's done it yet.

SPEAKER_01 43:44

Isn't he really?

SPEAKER_02 43:45

I I I hope so. Um, but yeah, I I'm I'm really looking forward to this game. What are your thoughts? I mean, I I really like Clemson this year. I Brian Kelly, how how could you trust him in this game? Just track record alone at LCU thus far. Oh, oh, oh, okay. I see. All right, you're throwing it up. So tell me. Yeah, right there, dog.

SPEAKER_01 44:06

Right there, dog. See, that's how we pay any of the big bucks right there. So prove us both wrong. Actually, guys, I'm here with the stats. Uh both of you are fucking stupid, drunk. Um Brian Kelly sucks. I love Brian Kelly. He also made fun of me in the press conference the other day. Yeah, I asked a question that I thought was a really good question. And I was like, I go. Like, think first off, think about the fact that Brian Kelly, the last the only other question I've ever asked him, I was like, hey Brian, most important question of the day. In your best southern accent, what's your favorite food you've had in Louisiana? And he was like, so we're in the press conference, and everyone's asking legitimate questions. And then, of course, my fucking boss, Matt Muscona, asked the question right before me, and then I was like, Hey, Brian, um, I'm not giving anything too much away. Um, the receiver room, everyone's excited about it with good reason. But um, do you expect to use more 12 personnel uh against the defense? I didn't think that was a bad question. And your reaction is what everyone had that was everyone's reaction. I was like, Do you expect to use more 12 personnel um against uh Clemson's defensive line, especially without you know, just handed the microphone back to the girl, this like intern or whatever she is, could not have been more clammy. This thing was sopping wet.

SPEAKER_00 45:24

Um yeah, I was so nervous.

SPEAKER_01 45:28

I was like, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. And and then Brian Kelly just like smirks, and he's like, Yeah, I mean, I think it's good to have all of our best players on the field. Um, also, yeah, we could do that with five receivers or a running back or really anything, but yeah, I think it's a smart move to put Tradez Green and and and uh whoever the other run Bower Sharp on the field at the same time. Probably pretty good, probably pretty smart move. And I was like, Yeah, all right, I'll just I'll kill myself. It's fine.

SPEAKER_02 45:55

Uh-oh, Coach uh Nussmeyer, you think he'll get some play this week?

SPEAKER_01 45:59

So he gets to ask the question, and the fucking local sports like news guy, like out of like a local TV, like channel two, turns around and goes, Hey guys, you guys do you guys know that Chris Marlowe? He knows football. He asked about 12 personnel. Did you hear that? Did you hear him ask about 12 personnel? Big football guy back here, and I was like, That's fine, I'll just get him on the pod. Gotta talk to that guy.

SPEAKER_02 46:21

Um, I'm telling you, tell me, tell me why 12 personnel are not, why LSU is gonna go into Clemson at night and get a victory. Something they haven't been able to do in openers the last few seasons. I don't think they do.

SPEAKER_01 46:33

I don't think they do, but I tell you what, I'm still very high on LSU, but I think this LSU team is somebody we see or a team that we see that like gets better over the season, where we see them like kind of gel more. They have questions on the offensive line. What's the one position, as you guys know? You guys know ball just like me. Um, what's the one like position unit that you need like the most time to find like the right cohesive five guys or or however many guys?

SPEAKER_02 47:00

It's that obviously it's uh DB. Right fire guy. Uh run a lot of nickel flex, fire two. You start cutting them off as you're saying something like that. Like, obviously, no the talent is that's most hard to cultivate. You're like, Yeah, we get it, Coach DB. Now let's let's talk about it.

SPEAKER_01 47:20

I've been playing a lot of NFL blitz on N64 still in my basement apartment. And I just look over at you, you're not even there. Just like anyway. Um, no, I I I think that the offensive line is the part that is like you have to be the most patient with in this game. It's the one you can be the least patient with. I I am very high on LSU, and I'm very high on LSU because of I don't think Brian Kelly's the fuck up. I don't, I think that he made a bad decision with his defensive coordinator a couple years ago. I think he's got the right guy now. I I've really, really like Blake Baker. I like Joe Sloan, I like Baker more than Sloan. I God, I wish Dabo would fall down the hill. Can you imagine that?

SPEAKER_02 48:03

Uh I I've rooted for it ever since I knew that he just did dead sprint.

SPEAKER_01 48:08

Yeah, I mean that's I didn't separate time on new balances, dude.

SPEAKER_02 48:13

Uh to be honest, that's a pretty athletic move. Like, when's the last time you tried to full sprint down a hill?

SPEAKER_01 48:17

Tyler, I ran a half mile in six minutes the other day. It's the longest I've run in two years. I almost fucking died.

SPEAKER_02 48:27

And yet I think it's probably still more athletic than Dappo.

SPEAKER_01 48:33

I should have, I should have been getting ready the right way. I should have been fucking doing it in khakis.

SPEAKER_02 48:37

Like this 40, sprinting dead sprint down a hill, seems like there's some sort of tendon tear.

SPEAKER_01 48:44

Yeah, a pair of dockers. Are you out of your fucking mind?

SPEAKER_02 48:48

Pleated duckhead, turtleneck, oh underneath a sweatshirt, just full sprint in khakis down that hill.

SPEAKER_01 48:59

My favorite picture of him, if you ever go to like any like just Google Dabo, and he's like, he does it. There's a picture of him going like this in that exact outfit. He's like, and you know he's trying to give a high five, but he looks like the girl from the breakdance video in the Olympics. It's incredible. Um, dude, I'm I think Clemson on paper, back to the game, is is the best team in the country to start the year. There's so much talent defensively, especially. There's so much talent offensively with what they have at receiver. Here's the thing I keep going back to, man. You know, our buddy uh Matt Luke, talk about Matt Luke, former head coach, Ole Miss Football. He's the offensive line coach at um at Clemson. This has been the most underdeveloped and underutilized focused like position unit that anyone's had in the Dabo era. Like, I think the highest uh draft pick they have at that position is a second rounder. They don't have a ton of even uh second day or first day guys on the offensive line. Like they have been very, very like lax about recruiting that position as as well as they do other elite positions and important positions. That's changing Matt Luke. They've got a guy that's that's plays there now that's gonna be a potential first-round pick next year. He's one of four to five guys that are be first round picks. I just don't think it sets up well for LSU because of Clemson being further ahead with what they have returning and what they have in place in comparison to LSU. I do think LSU, like we're gonna have all the narratives about this are gonna be wrong afterwards. Like all the narratives after this game are gonna be so hilariously wrong when we look up in November because there's gonna be comments about the transfer portal and Dabbo doing it his way versus what Brian Kelly did, and him bringing in this incredible class versus Dabo sticking to his guns. There's gonna be the SCC Acc thing, there's gonna be all this talk, and then we're gonna look up in November, and LG's gonna be a completely different team, not having to play Clemson on the road. I I just think that LG's gonna be a better product at the end of the year than now. So I got Clemson to win, but I I I hope that I'm wrong about this one.

SPEAKER_02 50:58

Yeah, I mean, uh Clemson's D line may be the best in the country that like with proven talent. I mean certainly there are some that have all more five stars in the club in the in the room, but I mean you got TJ Parker and Peter Woods. You bring in the kid from Purdue who was a really good edge player for them. Damontee K. Park comes back, and then your entire O-line outside of your right guard, no, your left guard are all grad students who have performed well for you. Tristan Lee, former five star, Blake Miller, high four-star recruit, Walker Parks. These guys are all four stars, they're all grad students. Like, this is Clemson's year. I mean, I honestly agree. They're and when you're that good along in the trenches, as we know, you're probably gonna go pretty far.

SPEAKER_01 51:40

So, and and again, by the way, it it works both ways. Where if Clemson doesn't win this game, the idea that, oh well, you know, like like they couldn't beat another SEC team, they're 0-4 in the last four games against them, all that kind of stuff is gonna be said, and then they're gonna go play the ACC and they're gonna be fine. I will also tell you this, Tyler. I as much as I'm high on Clemson, I keep looking at this and I'm like, they had all this in place last year, and they went 0-3 against the SEC. And and this team, I think, is not as good as Georgia maybe last year, maybe, maybe. Um, but they're probably better than South Carolina, maybe like last year, and then whoever the other one, the Texas, well, maybe not Texas, either way, they're 0-3 against the SEC. I'm ahead of myself.

SPEAKER_02 52:28

Yeah, I mean, I think you got Georgia in that first game last year. You're two of your top three receivers this year. Um, were true freshmen in that game. Yeah, I think that that receiver room's a totally different. There you go.

SPEAKER_01 52:40

Yeah, I'm I'm worried. We're locked in, brother. How much is this bottle you think I can fit my mouth this way?

SPEAKER_02 52:47

Well, 100%, obviously. Um, okay. Well then let's last two minutes in. We did four games. Pew, pew, pew, pew. 7 30 on ABC. Number six, Notre Dame at number 10, Miami. Spread is currently Miami is a two and a half point underdog total 49 and a half.

SPEAKER_01 53:07

Okay, hold on, real quick. We have to do at least South Carolina Virginia Tech, and we also also do Syracuse um Tennessee.

SPEAKER_02 53:16

Okay, well then let's do those next. Notre Dame, Miami.

SPEAKER_01 53:19

I haven't eaten anything today, that's why I'm so drunk.

SPEAKER_00 53:22

I had big data.

SPEAKER_01 53:23

I'm glad I saw this week. Feeling good, feeling good. Rotate. Rotate until one of us is canceled. Um, here's the thing I think about all these uh Miami beep. Um, I think that Carson Beck is gonna have I feel bad about saying this out there because I was the dumbass that was like, dude, DJ Ualonga, he could be a Heisman finalist. They went two and ten. Sorry, that's not funny, but I should have known the moment he was at a circle K for NIL dollars that I was like, that's a bad pick. Um I I like Miami. Not like I just I their schedule is not as easy as I thought it was. It's not as easy as it was last year. Notre Dame should be good, but they have a big question mark um that they have to replace, and that's with the quarterback position. Um, also kind of a weird way that they've gone about their quarterback battle where they were like at one point were like it's clear gonna be this guy, they name the other guy's like, well, they're in contention, and all of a sudden they name you know so-and-so is the starter. I like the civility at Miami more than Notre Dame, which is something I never thought I would say going into the season. At least they they seem a little bit more sure of themselves. I like that flying under the radar, um, even with the Carson Beck uh higher higher, but basically, um I think they're gonna be good, man. I really do. I I think that Notre Dame is a team that, like, especially early in the season, has not played well. And and here's the thing that you have to be worried about with with Notre Dame. It's not like necessarily last year when they were playing turn of a prone Drew Aller or Drew Aller or like a really bad coach against ranked teams, James Franklin, like, or or playing Georgia during a game where the head coach's dad is dying, literally happened, and against a backup quarterback. Like, what was the rest of that schedule? We look at Notre Dame now, we think they've turned a corner. Like the idea that for Notre Dame is they've turned a corner. I want to remind everyone that a year ago when they went on this, they went on this run, they did it when they had a I think that week two, and then the very last week of the season, they didn't have a true road game in between those two. Like, like it was it was some game early and like Purdue and like in Southern Cal or something like that. So this is a true road game, kind of, when they're playing at Miami. I think the other part of it too is that like they were very fortunate a season ago. Their schedule was not very difficult, and then when they got to the playoffs, they played a bullshit Indiana team, they played Georgia with a backup quarterback, and again, the head coach's dad was dying. For everybody but me, that's probably a pretty big deal. Like, I would have probably gone fucking foot to the floor, gas to the pedal, or whatever it is. We would have fucking won by a hundred. But then you had Penn State, and then Penn State, like they have it that they were about to lose, and Penn State has that turnover. Like, I'm not trying to downplay making a trip to the national championship. I'm just saying what happened on their way to get there. They're very fortunate at the very least. I liked Tartsman Beck. I think he's better this year, I think he has less pressure this year. Um, and if I'm Notre Dame, I'm doing I'm doing one of two things. I'm blitzing his ass all night, or I'm putting both Cavendar twins in his ear as much as possible. Like new tits and everything, just have them out there just as front and center and get into his dome early because he can be a head case.

SPEAKER_02 56:47

You think get in the Snapchat account, fire off some just whatever you want from that account appears.

SPEAKER_01 56:53

Friday night, send someone into his fucking Snapchat.

SPEAKER_02 56:56

Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, I mean, look, Notre Dame, true freshman at quarterback on the road. I mean, like you said, uh this this may be a decent crowd just because Miami gets up for a couple games a year, but um yeah, I mean, look, I'm I'm kind of shocked that that Notre Dame is the favorite in this game, yeah. Just with what Miami now, Miami's receivers. I don't really know anyone that has produced anything yet. The one guy that they potentially had coming back transferred to Bama for strap the the Horton kid. Um, there's just some talent in there. CJ Daniels, who played at LC last year, transferred into Miami. Uh Josh Trader was a former high four-star, five-star guy. Um, apparently there's this kid Mal Kitoni, true freshman, who's basically gonna probably start for them. Um, so somebody's got it that hasn't done it before has got to step up and prove that they can for them. And then their DBs were awful last year. So, what does that look like for them this year? Um, I don't like that Notre Dame has a true freshman quarterback going in this game. But you know, it was a close competition between him and the the backup Minchie, so maybe that guy's good enough to step in if things go awry. But um, yeah. I don't know. I think I I think I like Miami's game too. At least plus the points. Although I think the head coaching matchup really favors Notre Dame here, so it's my two cents. You want to talk your favorite team these days, South Carolina?

SPEAKER_01 58:26

Hold on. We're not gonna get in any more trouble. We cannot monetize this in my company. We probably can't, but I gotta really cool it, huh? What? Our website, or not our website, our podcast. Eddie, come in. Fill in, fill in. We gotta get I gotta I can't do this anymore. Um hold on, I'm bringing this up.

SPEAKER_02 58:45

What are you talking about? Shut up. Yeah, it sounds great.

SPEAKER_01 58:56

Are we gonna get in trouble for doing this? Probably. Well, you know what? Rolls time. Yeah, I can barely hear it. We'll keep it down here so people can't hear it as much. Here's the deal. Don't worry, we can't hear it anyway. This is my new thing. Right? Ready? Yeah, five, six, seven, eight. I'm so fired up in this game, dude. I think Rashul Faison or Russell Faison, I've been saying his name wrong all year. Um him being put eligible, I think, is going to yes, that's right, Jay. USC. USC. I think this team, the ceiling is so high for this team, and I'm so fired up about it because I think that getting this kid as a legit 4-4-flat home run threat. Everyone looks at this team and they keep saying, listen, they lost so much talent to the NFL. That's true, they did. They lost five players uh to the NFL draft all on defense. I get it. Um, lots to replace, but I keep going back to this one thing. Chris Doring said this to me a couple years ago when I was shit talking Florida before the season, as you do. His point to me was, well, you didn't know any of the players that year going into it. Most people didn't. And then look what they did. That's how I feel about South Carolina. Same beamer deserves to have some sort of benefit of the doubt at some point with what he's been able to do in the transfer portal, what he's been able to do from a development standpoint, him and that staff, what they've been able to bring in, former three stars, all that kind of stuff. It's also the highest ranked uh roster they've had in I don't know if you know how many years. When he came in, they had 23 total blue chip players that are former four or five stars. They have 39 now. That's that's an increase by 50. Um, I'm sorry, it's over 50 because it was 26 in 2023. So it is 50 over the last two years. I feel like they are going to be very good. Clayton White and this defense, they did lose a ton of NFL talent, but they also brought in a lot of good players from the portal. They've also been able to figure out a way to go into, I think, I think like three of their top nine recruits in the history of the program are all on the field this year. Like three of the top nine in the they've only signed 10 five stars. Or like there's a kid that committed to him last week, Darius Cray, is number one in interior offensive lineman in the country. He is the 10th for uh five-star they've ever had committed or signed in the history of the program. Three of the nine going into this year are on the field at the same time. They have a chance to be very, very, very good. That also doesn't even include the trencher they got from Texas AM was a former five-star top 15 player nationally. Um, he's got a very long name. I can't remember because I've been drinking, but uh, I think the Lenora sellers, all the bullshit that people have said to him about how, well, you know what, he can't really throw the ball. There's a reason they're saying it. I'm not gonna get into what that reason is. I will tell you that 2019 Chris or 2020 Chris probably would have said something about it. Politically speaking, Tyler. Woke Chris. He is, yeah. Woke Chris would have said something. There's a reason why people think that he's a better athlete than he is a thrower. But I feel like, like, if you just look at the tape, look at the numbers, he's been very, very good, especially on throws like deep down the field. There's more talent on this team offensively than there was last year by a long shot. The offensive line should be better. I don't know how it can get worse. The receiver room they they brought in from the freshman class was the best uh receiver, recruiting receiving class in the entire country. There's talent everywhere, man. There's talent everywhere. I'm so fucking fired up for this team. I'm I'm more fired up about South Carolina this year than I am about Alabama. I like legitimately. I'm I am so excited about this team.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:36

Love that. Um, can I interest you? How do you think the defense is gonna be this year?

SPEAKER_01 1:02:42

Shut the fuck up, Tyler. Pretty good, right? Um, I think defense is good. Here's the thing about the defense is that it's it's always been last year, it was really good, but there's been years where it's been been but don't break. They have been the best team in the SEC in terms of forcing turnovers with 88 over the last four seasons under Clayton White every single year. Like they've been a top five team at forcing turnovers over the last uh four years. They have the most forced turnovers during that span as well. I think defense is gonna be fine. I like the over in this game. Yeah, it's pretty low, right? It's a 40.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:17

Virginia Tech plus the points and the over. I don't know. Dude, do we know anything about these first games?

SPEAKER_01 1:03:30

I mean I mean, I've been talking about them for a while. I will say that.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:34

Like, but I mean, seriously, like I I just use my own personal experience and like the team I know the most. Like coming into last year against Georgia Tech, Nick Saban came out and said that four state has like some of the most NFL players on their roster that he's seen this year, and we go out and lose Georgia Tech and then win two games.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:50

Nick Saban's an idiot. It's because of the um clip that clip that. I dare you, Ed.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:57

Um, no, we're playing with Tennessee and hold on, back to South Carolina real quick.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:02

Here's the one thing I do know about Virginia Tech. They ran the ball on 59 or 58 percent of their plays last year. The best offense or best defense, I don't know how this phrase goes, even when I'm sober, but like keeping Lenora Sellers off the field is going to be a key for a lot of these teams. So, like running the football effectively and being able to get gash this this team and keeping the offense on the sideline, that's your best move. That's your best move. The secondary is still gonna be really good, man. It's gonna be really good. I'm gonna tell you a couple like Fred Johnson, Sean Murphy, the kid that you're not very high on, and Justin O'Reilly and Wonquo. He went to Bama. He went to he's from Germany, so you know he hates to lose. And and he also, he also there's like people on the staff at Bama that told me flat out, they're like, listen, if he was in America, dude, five star. And I'm like, right, but he wasn't, he was in Germany, and they're like, but still 6'2, 230, like legitimately, they they they're replacing so much production in the linebacker position, um, and that that front seven as well. I just don't they they listen. We talk about Ohio State because they have potentially the best offensive player in the country and defensive player, Caleb Downs, Jeremiah Smith. If you want to make a ranking of that best offensive and defensive player in the country, the Lenora Sellers and and and Dylan Stewart nomination is gonna be right behind Justin Arcoquanquo and Lenora Sellers. Lenora Sellers and and um and Dylan Stewart right are probably right behind that dick. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:42

Um, all right. So everyone's been waiting for it all pod. Here we are, Syracuse, Tennessee, in the great state of Georgia.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:49

We gotta make our predictions, I guess, for the year. Oh god. That's true.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:53

Uh 13 and a half point favorite for for Tennessee here in the Mercedes Benz Stadium here in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia. Uh Tennessee is uh this is 12 p.m. on ABC, by the way, Saturday. Uh Tennessee is ranked 24th. Syracuse coming off a great year last year. First 10 win season since 2018. Holiday Bowl champs. Everybody loves the Holiday Bowl.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:16

The Holiday Bowl is good, dude. Holiday Bowl is low-key very good.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:20

Kyle McCord, he's gone. Fran Brown, he's kind of like this uh he knows a thing or two about Tennessee. That's what Parley P says. That is that.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:28

Well, he was at Georgia.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:30

Yeah. So is that an official nod to where Parley P is thinking? For is this one of Parley P's picks?

SPEAKER_01 1:06:37

I got Parley P's picks coming in hot. I got Parley P's p coming in hot.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:40

Whoa, okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:42

I don't know how fast you say that. Ellie just sent me a text. She goes, Are you okay? No. No, no. You knew this. All right. Well, what was it? What did he say? What'd Parley P say about this game? Well, the picks will come later. He he said what he said about this game in the comments. We just posted it. Listen, here's the thing. I think that this Tennessee team is going to be really good for what they are. I don't think they go back to the playoff. I don't think that we see this offense that's as productive. I think this is probably the least productive offense we've seen in the hypo era at Tennessee. This is a rebuilding year. And it's not because you lost Nico. It'll be it'll be the narrative will be around that, but it's not because you lost Nico. And it's not because you took a giant step back because of quarterback production or whatever. You have 49% of this roster are freshmen or red shirt freshmen. Okay. Like it is, it's very, very young. You lost one of the best players in the entire conference at your at the edge position with James. What's his name? I think he's with the Falcons now. Um, you also have the yeah, James Pierce. You also had uh Dylan Sampson, who was the SEC offensive player of the year, had 20 touchdowns last year. Every offense that Josh Heipels had in Tennessee has rushed for at least 2,600 yards. It's very much an offense that is predicated on the run way more than it ever is uh the past. I don't think that they are going to take a giant step back in their passing game. You still have uh Mike Mike McCoy, no, Mike Matthews, whatever his name is, kid from Parkview High School for five star. Um, and you have uh what's that?

SPEAKER_02 1:08:18

Mikey Matthews, and you go by Mikey.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:21

Does he? Maybe not. Mike McCoy was a receiver at Bama, I think, in like 2007. So not him, but Mike Matthews from Parkview High School for sure. Then you still have Chris Brazzle, um, kid that was one of the top players in the portal two years ago out of two-lane. You have talent there, and you don't have to be a guy that throws the ball 100 miles an hour and have all the arm talent that Nico had. You just have to be more accurate on the deep ball. And Nico was not just bad for Tennessee standards and this offensive standards, uh, at being accurate on the deep ball, he was one of the worst in the entire conference. Like he was this is a kid that that that had one touchdown, one touchdown all season against teams that were ranked. That's it. One touchdown all year. So I don't look at this and think like, oh, he left, everything's gone to shit. I do think that when you look at like the rest of the team and how young they are, yeah, it's a concern, it's a big concern.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:13

Yeah, defensively. I mean, I think this team, at least until they find their footing with Aguilar quarterback, I think he's gonna have to lead the team here. Um, I I'm looking at what's the total in this game? 51 and a half.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:27

I love the over there.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:28

I like the over here too. So both these teams, top 25 in scoring last year on offense. Um, Syracuse gave up almost 30 points a game last year.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:37

That's the thing. Whatever Tennessee's uh team total is and the over, I love those two picks.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:43

Yeah, so who knows about the spread? I mean, I ultimately I my gut would be Tennessee to cover the spread. Um, but I do love the over.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:51

Yeah, so I'm not gonna bet the the spread. Um what's going on?

SPEAKER_01 1:09:59

I just I just feel like I'm talking a whole bunch, and I asked in the chat if I was talking too much, and and Eddie just wrote Ana Peter, and I forgot about the hashtag on a peter.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:09

Great, great hashtag. Um, all right. Well, we're we're a minute or an hour ten in, so we've covered the games. What you just pick us, give us your your championship pick.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:18

Just for the national championship, yeah. Iowa State. Um, I will take. That's tough. Do you have somebody in mind? You want to go first?

SPEAKER_02 1:10:33

I think oh, I think what makes this tough is like that we're entering into a season where truly I don't think there's one team that stands out above another.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:42

The one that I think has maybe the easiest path Texas plus great O-line D-line, awesome quarterback. I hate it, but give me Clemson.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:53

I hate that too. And I think you're I think you're looking at Evan Crimes. Um, appreciate you, Evan. Really appreciate you, man. Um I don't think you're wrong.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:03

I just because think about it, they may never have to face uh a Georgia or a Texas just because there's so many playoff rounds now.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:14

Like you know what's weird is I don't I don't know anything about Oregon. Like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:21

That's kind of a quiet team, right?

SPEAKER_01 1:11:22

Like, yeah, it and they they've got like all the talent there. Um I think it's gonna be a really fun season. I'm I've been so zeroed in on the on the SEC, but there's a lot of teams I I wonder about how good they're gonna be. I I think like dude, what if Ohio State goes nine and three? Like what if Ohio State loses to Michigan, Penn State, and Texas? All very reasonable things that can happen. What if Texas loses to Ohio State, Georgia, and then they do what a lot of SEC teams have done, which is lose to a team they shouldn't. Like, I I'm I'm kind of in a year where I'm hoping for like a little bit of chaos with still my favorites happening and being in the playoff. Um I do think Clemson's the best team on paper, man. I think like their schedule sets up well. I like Clemson in the national championship. I'm gonna I'm gonna say it and I'm gonna hate it. But I've had enough of drinks, so who fucking cares? I think Clemson and Bama play in the national championship. I do. The truth comes out. I just talked to myself into it in the last 30 seconds, so you know it's real. Um, I I think Penn State is better. I think they're gonna be around, but I cannot trust anything that that that James Franklin touches. I like Clemson, I like Bama. Um, I will take. Yep. Clip it, post it. Let's go. I'm gonna take Bama. Yes. I've never done this in all of our years. I don't think I've picked Bama to win the national championship.

SPEAKER_02 1:12:57

Yes, I probably have. All right, big matchup in week one for Bama to try to get to the chip.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:03

Fuck.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:05

All right, everybody. We appreciate you tuning in. It's great to be back. I'm glad the real season is finally back. Let's do this.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:12

You don't hang up, by the way. We gotta talk after this.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:14

All right, hey, good luck on Saturday, buddy.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:17

Oh, that sucks. I don't like this, man. I because I I really do I appreciate you so much as a friend in general, and I'm not this is not the liquor talking. I'm like, I genuinely want my friends to be happy when their teams play. Oh I hate the idea. Like, I'm part of me almost wishes that you would be happy on Saturday and I would. But then I think about my life, Tyler, and I'm like, man, you know, that's a tough line. Does Eddie deserve it? Look at this smug piece of shit. Does he deserve it? Look at him. I'm Eddie. I'm here laughing the whole time. Shut up, dude. Shut up.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:52

Yeah, Bama by 90. Let's go. Laugh if you're in Bama.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:02

All right, parlay P. All right. Let's go. We're gonna do this every week. This guy is like a godsend when it comes to our picks. And and I'll I'll tell you this. We did because we talked about this a lot last year. We just didn't well, you didn't act on them. You can give me them. Georgia Tech Alabama Moneyline Parlay. Okay, he did not tell me how much that pays, okay, but I like it. All right. Um, they're both favorites though. Yes, Auburn minus two and a half. Now I'm a pussy and I'm gonna take the money line, but that is the bet of the week, is Auburn. Okay, yeah, that whiskey. And then he's got Bama first half minus seven. I didn't know the first half was only minus seven. I'd probably MC Hammer time that. Those are the Parliament P picks.

SPEAKER_02 1:14:44

I guess Parliament P loves Bama, he loves Auburn. He's a Georgia fan.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:50

Remember, we were we were all in Tahoe together, like you were there, or maybe you were there a couple weeks after, but he was in Tahoe the the only time I've ever been in Tahoe at the same time.

SPEAKER_02 1:15:01

You were in Tahoe.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:02

Remember last year, that stupid wedding that I couldn't afford?

SPEAKER_02 1:15:05

Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, wasn't it at Edgewood? Yeah, yeah, the place is sick, huh?

SPEAKER_01 1:15:12

Yes, yes, unbelievable. Yeah, I got dropped off there after like a 13-hour travel day, and they were like, uh, excuse me, guy wearing one shoe. Like, are you okay? And I was like, I just need to go to the bathroom. They're like, get out. But no, that was a the the venue was like, dude, all that's an expensive wedding. Allie's other friend got married at fucking Mar-a-Lago this year. Oh, geez, back in your old stomping grounds. Am I right? No, no, that's where I'm getting married, by the way. Hell yeah. We should, you know what? For the bachelor party, I want the same setup. I want you there, Tyler, but I want Eddie just to be FaceTiming the entire time.

SPEAKER_02 1:15:51

All right, we'll be at Mar-a-Lago.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:54

Marler Lago. Just Myrtle Beach. Just Myrtle Beach, dude.

SPEAKER_02 1:15:58

All right, best of luck this weekend, everybody. Oh, do we have an Angry Fans line set up?

SPEAKER_01 1:16:03

We we'll do it, we'll do it this weekend. I got plenty of money right now.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:06

Okay, we gotta tweet it out. We'll tweet it out. So, hey, if you haven't yet, DM Parlay P for picks.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:12

Yes, for real.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:14

Yeah, and then um follow us at Tyler Huck at Vern Funquist on Twitter. We'll we'll tweet out the line for the Angry Fans. Call in if you're pissed, you're happy, whatever, after this weekend, we'll play the best uh voicemails. Thank you, guys. Peace. We're out.