REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
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REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
Mariners, Dodgers. Bears,Falcons and Big Upsets in Week 6 with Casey In MT.
A marathon walk-off in Seattle sets the tone for a postseason surge, the Dodgers flex depth without peak Ohtani, and the Chiefs quiet doubts with a statement. We break down the Bears’ culture shift, the Falcons’ surprise, AFC North turbulence, college chaos, and A’ja Wilson’s dynasty run.
• Mariners clinch AL West, home-field edge, and a 15-inning classic
• Polanco’s clutch streak and Seattle’s pitching depth without Wu
• Dodgers’ depth and October form, NL paths, and pressure points
• Week Six roundup: Bears’ turnovers, Falcons’ defense, Chiefs’ reset
• Caleb’s composure, Chicago’s run game, and Ben Johnson’s imprint
• Buffalo’s missteps, Atlanta’s young pass rush, and receiver breakouts
• AFC North volatility: Ravens’ identity, Bengals’ urgency, Steelers’ steadiness
• Most impressive win debate: Seahawks, Bucs, or Chiefs
• Monday doubleheader stakes: Tampa–Detroit and Houston–Seattle matchups
• College football shocks: Penn State fallout, SEC momentum, playoff forecasts
• Texas rises with Arch, Oklahoma’s injury timing, Oregon’s rebound case
• WNBA finals: A’ja Wilson’s legacy and Vegas’ playoff gear
• Montana football vibes and closing banter on Bears and Falcons
And welcome, welcome, welcome, everybody, to another episode of Real Talk. Doc, you doing all right today?
SPEAKER_02:Yes, I am. Honored to have our guest again. This is good stuff, man. Very knowledgeable in the sporting world. Let's do it.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. Casey in Montana joins us again. Uh, he's a huge uh Bears fan, and he is a Mariners fan, so this is the perfect time to get him on with his two teams flying high right now. So uh Casey, how you doing, man?
SPEAKER_01:Good, good. Thanks for having me on again, guys.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. So, yeah, we'll go ahead and start off with uh some baseball. And uh your uh Seattle minors are looking pretty good right now. So, KC, real quick, I'll start with you. What were your thoughts so far on this playoffs? What's your thoughts on going into the the postseason? What are your thoughts so far on um the World Series and where it's or I'm sorry, the the uh MLB playoffs and where it stands right now?
SPEAKER_01:Well, going into the playoffs, uh I loved where the Mariners are at. And you know, s uh sealing up the AL West for the first time in 24 years, that was pretty exciting. It has been a lot to cheer about as a Mariners fan, especially for postseason baseball in quite a while. So the fact that they could finally over take the Astros and get that division title was huge. And not only that, but also jump in the Tigers to get the two seat was I mean really helpful because they're electric playing at home, so anytime they can play into the home crowd and difficult quest is a huge advantage for them. And you know, they had a tough series. Detroit brought it like I knew they would in the ALDS. And the fact that the Mariners were able to overcome uh Turks Kubel twice in a fighting is massive, just massive. And it was it was some some tough sledding and a freaking marathon game on Friday night that I didn't sit down for four hours. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it was uh a lot of a lot of pacing back and forth in the living room for that one and a lot of a lot of nerves, and but damn, I was so excited when Planco hit that game-winning RBI to win it in the bottom of the fifteenth. I mean I I felt like a nine-year-old kid again back in 1995 when Edgar Martinez did the same thing against the Yankees. Like it I had the exact same reaction, exact same joy. So it was it was exciting to to finally be able to to celebrate a playoff win nonetheless for the mariners. And baseball playoffs have been exciting for sure.
SPEAKER_02:Absolutely. And I'm very happy for you, man. Seattle's a very underrated sports town, if you will. Uh you had Ichiro, you had King Ricky Jr. If you go back in the day, man, you had Jim Zorn, Steve Logic, Kurt Warner through the years, some Hall of Fame people, man. And it's one of those things where, you know, you mention some names. Scooby is a machine. You already know that. He had 13 strikeouts, and you still walk out of that series with a with a series win, man. He is dominant. But uh that 15-inning thing, Marlon, and I stayed up here on the West Coast to watch it, and I was tired as heck. And uh, congratulations on making it, man. Now, my question is, Casey is uh, you know, your boy, Cal Rowley, man, he's doing things unprecedented. God bless him as a catcher. Uh, but Polanco, you mentioned Polanco, he's one of my favorite players from the old far looking end because he's underrated. He's come up plus in the postseason. Your take on Polanco and your World King, brother.
SPEAKER_01:I mean, he's had a phenomenal year. I mean, Jerry DePoto just bringing him back on a on a one-year deal for seven mil was was huge. Like, I mean, just a bargain for him with what he's done. You know, got off to a hot start in the season, kind of had a wall throughout the summer, but then came on strong at the end of the season. And I mean, he's been Mr. October so far. He has been clutching every single moment that they've needed him to be in. Yeah. And becoming the the first player in 60-something years to have a game, uh hit to take the lead in uh six inning or further than three straight playoffs. Like that's just that's who he's been, and that he has completely elevated that lineup.
SPEAKER_02:Wow, that's good. So good response there. Go ahead, Marlon. I know you want to jump into the National League, but congratulations on you know 2-0 and a hard place to play in Toronto. So good job on that, Casey. Wow.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. And and what's the score on the Dodgers game uh right now? Do we know the score? As we speak. 3-1 dungeons. Yes. 3-1. 3-1, yeah. Murphy just hit one out. Yeah. Man, so I mean, I mean, Doc, we I mean, you're you're down there in Los Angeles. I mean, it w what's it looking like? Is it gonna be just Dodgers just a clean path through the World Series? What's it looking like?
SPEAKER_02:Well, they're a bunch of arrogant suckers, and rightly so, man, because they did win it all last year, and they got the highest payroll in the history of the sport. Not even George Steinbrenner's Yankees back in the day did what they're doing. You know, Yashinobu Yamamoto is doing this thing, and of course, Blake Snell was pitching like uh Juan Marichal or somebody or uh, you know, some of the great pitchers of the past, you know, he he faced the minimum, minimum. So you got to give the Dodger fans credit for loving their team and doing what they're doing and saying what they're doing. This Dodger team is historic. You only won 93 games, man. You know, it had some injuries, but now Muncey's back. He hit one out, you know. Yesterday, Freddie Freeman hit one out to start off 1-0, and they're getting contributions from everywhere. So to answer your question, man, Angelino's down here in the LA, LA County, and all over the country. They they travel good. They're they're they're really confident that they can repeat, man, you know. And I didn't even mention O'Tani's not having a great postseason, and they're still doing the business. You know what I'm saying? So yeah, there you go, right there, Marlene.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, yeah, and the Dodgers, they're they're impressive just for the fact that they were struggling the last you know month and a half of the season, and then suddenly when the playoffs roll around, they just turn it on. Like they've been really impressive this postseason. They took it to the Phillies and now they're taking it to Brewers.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and just think a year and a half ago, Casey, they was on uh the manager's ass. They were on him, they want to get rid of him, and he ends up winning it all. Dramatic when Freddie Freeman hit that three-run home roll. Grand Slam it was in game one, I think it was against the Yankees. And then, you know, now this year, you know, uh Yamamoto, and then you're getting a contribution from Otani on the pitching side. And I just mentioned some of the guys, you know, like Munchie coming back from injury, you know, hit Pihez. And Tiasco Hernandez took some heat for last night's game, but you're still up 1-0 on the way to 2-0. You know, uh Fiasco Hernandez, I think his name is. You know, you made the error. But yeah, they're confident down here, and uh, you know, it's one of those things where only time will tell it would take a monumental effort from your mariners to do it. Yeah, who's your eighth pitcher, you know? Casey, who who is, you know.
SPEAKER_01:Uh throughout the season it's been Brian Wu, but he's been out for the last month with a pectoral injury. He didn't even make the roster for the ALDS, and he's probably not gonna start it all in the ALCS, but I think Wilson's in at least uh bring him out of the pen just to get him some game experience. Um yeah, he's he's been their their ace bite all season, but their entire pitching, their entire rotation has been rock solid.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, right on. And that that that leads into my next question. And Mar, I know you'd appreciate this. I love Aaron Judge, and he's put up four straight, 50 home run seasons, but you know, your your boy Cal Riley, man, playing catcher, he got the pitching style. It's a lot of a burden, but he he's he doesn't think of it as a burden, you know. And Seattle hasn't been uh uh relevant since 2001, and he's carrying that thing, you know, like it's nothing. Hit a bomb yesterday, or what was the day before? Yeah. So yeah. So uh, you know, I think America wants to see somebody new, but the Dodgers just we'll we'll see. Cal Riley ain't no joke. He's my MVP. Go ahead, Marlon.
SPEAKER_00:Okay, okay, all right. And then on to um some NFL action. So um, man, this this was a crazy week six. I mean, obviously starting off with Philadelphia at uh New York, nobody saw that outcome of that game 34-17. Uh, you can go to that boring London game, which was 13-10, Denver over the Jets. Um, my Chargers barely winning in Miami, which shouldn't even been that close, but we have so many people banged up, but we got out there with a win. Um, what other good games did we have? Pittsburgh still looks good, they're moving on. Uh Rico Dotto revenge game, that was amazing. Uh there's so many real games. Uh Baltimore didn't give up a million points for once. They they lost against uh the Rams, but they didn't give up a million points at home. Uh Jordan Love, I was Doc, I was dead wrong last week saying that the Cincinnati would win outright. I was dead wrong on that one, but uh yeah. And Baker still looks great. Kansas City is back looking like Kansas City, and Buffalo drops a dud to your Falcons, Doctor, which we'll get to that in a second. But the Chicago Bears go into Washington and win uh in a a nail biter back and forth, ugly, rainy, uh, crazy type of weather. So we'll get into all these games, but first we'll start with both of your Monday night football games. So um Casey, your Bears, how are you feeling about your Bears this season? It started off ugly. You guys are turning around, so how are you feeling about last night? How are you feeling about the season so far?
SPEAKER_01:I'm I'm feeling good. Um you can definitely see the culture starting to come through that Ben Johnson's putting in. You know, they're they're buying in, they're they're all believing that they can win now, and they've proven it now in two straight weeks that they can win those other games. Those are games that the Bears would never win. They would always find a way to lose those. So the fact they could do it on back-to-back leaks and nonetheless on the road was huge. Their confidence is going up and they're getting guys back too that have been out injured. And you know, they've got uh an easy slate these next few games to even get some more momentum build up. So yeah, I really like where they're at right now. Caleb's looking good. He and Banner are looking good on offense. I mean, they're starting to click. Finally got the running game going last night, which that's been non-existent so far this season, so that was good to see. And you know, the the defense, they're not great by any means. They give up a lot of yards and sometimes a lot of points, but they're doing a damn good job of getting those turnovers and at least getting the offensive ball back. So, you know, I guess that's all you can ask for is it at this point.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, well, you forced three turnovers yesterday for step defense, man. You know, I love sweat on the edge. You know, I love your corner, Jalen Johnson. Champion in Mexico is a big bear fan, too, by the way. But I think your offensive line over some some serious holes, Casey, for DeAndre Swift and ex-Georgia Bulldog in his sixth year. This guy has found a home in Chicago after starting out in Detroit and whatnot. And those runs that he made late, you know, elevated your so you can make a kick. And uh, it's helping Caleb, you know. Ben Johnson's doing, he was critical of Caleb in the uh, you know, offseason and in training camp, but he had to be. And as a result, Casey, and I'm taking Marlon agree, this guy's come to play. You know, he's making, he's not making dump bone-headed decisions, making some great throws on your weapons, man, that you got Roma Duze, you know, uh Moore, DJ Moore, you got some other cats, you know. So, you know, you're doing what you're doing. It's not far-fetched that you can compete for the NFC North, you know. So good win last night, brother. Go ahead, Marlon.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. And Doc, on to your Falcons, man. It was, you know, when you think when you see Josh Allen and the Bills coming into town, you're just like, oh man, it's it's gonna be a tough one. Josh is gonna run for 100, he's gonna pass for two, three hundred. And your defense isn't great, Doc. So you definitely thought, what were your thoughts going into the game, and then your thoughts, obviously, during and after the game?
SPEAKER_02:Well, I thought we'd compete, man, given that we had a fire week and rested legs, and we got B. John Robinson and Drake London. The world got to introduce to Drake London, who's underrated and receiver, but you already knew, Casey, about B. John Robinson's exploits and potential, and he just went off. And uh going into the game, I think Josh Allen had lost last week at home at the crib to New England. He was pissed off, and the whole team was pissed off, you know. So I'm expecting a close loss, you know. I wanted a victory, but you know how Josh Allen's. Josh Allen's a machine, one of the better players in the history of this game, man, you know, former in uh league MVP, reigning MVP. But my baby puffs on defense, Casey and Marley, my my Jalen Walkers, you know, my Xavier Watts or James Pierce Jr., you know, who gave up a number one to the Rams for it. They've produced four sacks and two turnovers, you know. And in fact, Xavier Watts was the uh defensive rookie of the month last month. So to answer your question, I didn't expect such a dominant victory. I blame Buffalo's coaching staff for not running James Cook when he should have, because he was tearing us up in the second half and they ran a stupid uh reverse something to a receiver, and then the ball got all messed up. And, you know, so that's their coaching staff. They don't like Sean McDermott, and sure enough, he helped the Falcons out. But I take it, man. You know, going forward, I like our young defense with number one or number two in total defense, uh, leaving nice night scores, going into the game. So, yeah, and then I think Penix Jr., you know, in case people forget, he didn't start until late. Yeah, you know, he has his this this is only his eighth start, eighth. That's half a season, you know, and it's one of those things where, you know, we won the game with him and Drake London, and I need more out of Kyle Pitts. But to directly answer your question, I expected a loss, and then I was pleasantly surprised, you know.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Casey thoughts on the game?
SPEAKER_01:I mean, say I I I was too. I didn't get to watch a lot of the first half, but I was kind of following along as I was watching the vendors game, and yeah, I was uh shocked that they took it to Buffalo as much as they did. And yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I'll tell you, man. Uh and I'm looking going forward, I'm I'm very positive going on the road in San Francisco. But we'll talk about that later. If anything sticks out from week six, it's the Giants and Jackson Dart and uh Scatterboard, the running back, you know. And they're they was on Dabo's ass, you know. So the fact that they won the game this week or whatever it was, with with uh Jackson Dart doing what he's doing, you know, this is a big media market case here, Marlin, and the Giants are the Giants. Huge fan base, loyal, you know, people go back before Lawrence Taylor. So, and they're older generation type fan bases, the Mara family. I'm happy for them, you know, uh the G-Man. And then, of course, my wife's Raiders won a game, finally against the Richard Tennessee Titans. So, you know, there you go, right there. I know you might want to mix in your Chargers lost, Marlin, but go ahead, brother. Chargers lost those two things out.
SPEAKER_00:The Chargers won. Come on, Doc. We uh we squeaked out that win.
SPEAKER_02:I mean, we had a close victory. Yeah, they were.
SPEAKER_00:I know we lost two straight, but we're back on track four and two. Um, yeah, it was one of those games where you you would think it's the Dolphins, the the one-win dolphins. We should have been able to go down there and and just dominate like we know we could, but um, I mean, for one, our defense. Our defense is, I know Khalil Mack is out. We did trade for the uh the kid in Baltimore who's helped out and got his first stack. Um I forget his name, but we we definitely needed to make more stops. Um 18 was looking like Barry Sanders at times out there running all over us, uh, 128 yards on the ground, which was uh unacceptable. I mean, you know, Tyree Hill, you just really had Waddle out there, Darren Waller, who what? So, I mean, it's it's it's crazy that uh we we definitely got to tighten up this defense if we want to compete, because as you know, in in this division, Broncos are looking well, they they did I I'll give them a little pass in this game that they at least won the game against the Jets, but Broncos still have one of the best defenses in the Chiefs. The Chiefs are starting to figure it out now. So we got to get healthy too. That offensive line is is we're on our third string tackles. Uh it's it's bad. It's so bad. Um Martin Holmes on IR, Najee Harris is out for the year, Quentin Johnson in play. So I don't want to make the injury excuse because everybody's going through injuries right now, but we we gotta we gotta get healthy, and and Herbert can't take all these hits because if the fo if if you know, God forbid if he goes down the season. I mean, we got Trey Lance, but still the season's pretty much over at that point. So uh we got the win. The last play was pretty incredible. Stan Ham switched the ball to his left hand after almost getting tackled, dump it off to the McConkey, and he runs for 30, 40 yards, and we kick the last second field goal. So um it was we we got the Colts coming up next. That's it's at home, but uh it's still gonna be a tough one. But uh it's this this Chargers team is depleted, and our our schedule's not getting any better. So, and it starts uh coming up on Sunday with the Colts.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I gotta ask both of you this question, Casey and Marlon. Will the Jets win a game? I mean, I like Aaron Glenn, man, but they they talking about blowing him out week seven, week seven, eight weeks. Can they win a game? I mean, negative ten net yards passing by Justin Field. Negative ten. He had 45 yards total passing, but the net, negative stuff.
SPEAKER_00:Tyrod Taylor. Tyrod Taylor time. Tyrod Taylor time. Go ahead, Casey.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. Yeah, yeah, I I I I agree too. And I hate saying that because Justin Fields is my boy. You know, when the Bears picked him back in 2021, I was ecstatic. Yeah. You know, thinking he was finally gonna be that franchise guy, and you know, even though the Bears didn't really give him anything to work with, didn't build around him, you know, he it just decided to move on from him. So and I was hoping he would find a home somewhere. I thought he maybe found that last year in Pittsburgh. You know, but then after that, and then now that he's in New York, I thought, okay, maybe this will work. And that first game against the Steelers, you're like, all right, maybe maybe this is gonna work. Maybe maybe him and Aaron Glenn are gonna be a good match. Maybe they're gonna build something there, but he has been nothing but awful since week one, which it's sad to see. I said I love the kid, I'm pulling for him. But he's he's been atrocious, and Sunday was just that was one of the worst performances I've seen from a quarterback in quite a while. And not to mention he had guys in his face all night. Yeah, you know, Marlon mentioned Denver got a great defense, but but damn, it was it was sad to watch.
SPEAKER_02:Well, before we move on, Marlon, it I I just gotta bring this up, man. The AFC North, we all know Baltimore Ravens' problems, but the fadeaway so bad that they're one and five, you know, they're finished. And and and you know, I know they got injuries to the quarterback, but still, they still have playmakers uh uh on both sides of the ball. You know, Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith on defense, the rookie malachi stars, and then on offense, you still got Derrick Henry, man. You're one and five. And conversely, KC, the Steelers. I'll be the first to admit, I didn't expect them to be four and one or five-on-one, whatever the case may be with the old man, with no running game, and DK Macat, their only threaded receiver. You know, they got Friday Moose, the tight end, and big boy Darnell Washington, but you guys talk about the AFC North and the points I brought up relative to the Baltimore and Pittsburgh. I'm shocked.
SPEAKER_00:Uh you know, I'll go first on this one, Casey. I I think with, like I said earlier, Baltimore didn't give up a million points. Uh they've been giving up at least 30, 40 points. And they actually look better with uh uh was it Henley, I believe his name is. They look better with him in there than they did whoever for the whoever was the backup. Um was it Cooper Rush, I think the backup was. So I don't know if Cooper Rush. The system is set up for a mobile quarterback. That's just how the system is, but it's not set up for a pocket quarterback. So I I don't I don't know. It's at this point what's next for Baltimore? If if Lamar's taking a time with his injury or comeback after the bye week, uh is it time to get rid of Harbaugh? So when you think of Ravens football, you think of just the right lowest every Smash Mount or National Football and that's the defense is not it anymore. And but there are other teams with bad defenses and still finding ways to win. Look at um uh look at the Bills, they're they're finding ways to win. Uh there's other bad teams with no defenses, they're still finding wins. So but yeah, but Baltimore's a mess of Pittsburgh. It's their defense is still they're they're still doing it. Uh the Browns are the Browns. I feel like we'll see Fedore pretty soon, but um, yeah, this and and of course the Bengals are they're their shot at this point with Joe Burrow. But uh but yeah, at one and five, you're not coming back from that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, it's two big injuries and to two of the best players in the division with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, and completely derailed the season for both those teams. Yeah, the Ravens are reeling right now, they're searching for answers, they can't figure anything out. And you know, and I guess the one good thing about Zach Orr, or that the Ravens only given up 17 points the other day is that you know that may have bought Zach Orr another week, but they if they can't give any kind of performance better than what they have them put on the field, he's gonna be out of the job here soon. And then uh Cincinnati, you know, I I I I understand trying to trade for uh a quarterback like Flacco, you know, you're trying to find some experience, some consistency, but still it's gonna be tough setting for them. I mean, and until they can the defense has got to step up for them too. They haven't been doing much either. And yeah, it it is shocking to see the both of them where they're at right now. Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02:This is great dialogue on week six. But uh that's a that's all that sticks out to me. Go ahead, Marlon. Sorry, go ahead.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, who had the more most impressive win? And these may be the three best teams of football right now. Who had the most impressive win on Sunday? Seattle beating Jacksonville, Tampa Bay taking care of business against San Francisco, or the Chiefs taking care of business Sunday night football against the Lions? Who what was the more most impressive winner of Sunday? Go ahead, Doc.
SPEAKER_02:I think it's the Chiefs, man, because we were starting to doubt whether they even make the playoffs a couple of weeks ago. I mean, you still got number 15 at quarterback. And I still I think you'll agree, Casey, that uh there was some doubt, especially on the uh offensive line and with the injuries they had, and then on the D line. Chris Jones is getting older and he has been his dominant self. And you saw Kansas City's flushing and flooding around at one and three or whatever it was, and here they are, you know, being a good uh team, and uh even though it was at home, and you know, Detroit they can be in the NFC championship game, but to answer your question relative to the who sticks out as uh the impressive victory, it's it's Aiden Hutchinson's on that defense. You got linebackers, you know, uh uh and and you got a secondary for Detroit, and and and still number 15 walked right through them. Now, granted, it was it it was at their career of an hour here, but you know, Andy Reed and they people were questioning, you know. And uh so I think Kansas City. What do you think, Casey?
SPEAKER_01:I gotta go to the Seahawks. Uh you look at Jacksonville the week before, beating Kansas City, you know, on a on a last second heroic effort by Trevor Lawrence to get that ball in the end zone after tripping twice in the backfield. But that's that was a huge win for them. That was they're riding a big high off of that. You know, and then you got the Seahawks coming in, and I thought what they did, especially with the way the Jags offense has been looking the last few games, they're finally starting to roll. Yeah, I thought I thought Seattle took it to them, and that was a bit of a shocker for me. I wasn't expecting that. I thought if anything, it would have been a close game, but I mean Seattle pretty much dominated that game from the opening kick. Like they controlled the tempo of that game throughout the whole thing, and I mean Seattle is they're gonna be a a pest in the in the uh NFC West. I mean, you got the Rams and you got the Niners who are ahead of them right now, but they're gonna be a thorn at everybody's side for the rest of the year, no matter who they play.
SPEAKER_02:But that's part for the course, gentlemen. I mean, Sam Darnold did this last year for Minnesota before blowing him out and going with the young kid who's hurt now. But Sam Darnold seems to be everybody talking about Baker Mace, Sam Darnold revived his career. You know, uh, not just last year, but this year too in Seattle. But I know they got Kenneth Walker and they got Byron Murphy at D-Tackle and that revamped defense, but up there in the Pacific Northwest, that coach doesn't get any credit, the credit that he should, and that's a good response. That's a good response.
SPEAKER_00:Speaking of Seattle, we have this Monday, we got two Monday night football games. Uh that it's it's like how they had it, I think, in week two or three. Uh, I think it's week two. So Tampa and Detroit, they're gonna play at regular time at seven, and then three hours later at 10 Eastern, we got Houston at Seattle. So we have one of those games where Doc, it won't matter for you, you'll be up, but you know, some people in the in the you know Central and East Coast are gonna be going to bed at one o'clock if they want to stay up and watch these games. So um, but I but I do think there's a lot of games, it's it's uh the spreads are uh see a lot of six and a half, seven and a half spreads uh over the course of the next week. Um but I think that the most important game is that first one and I game Tampa at Detroit. Probably gonna be the best game of the week. We're gonna see a lot about not going up against the troops. I don't think Detroit can only do so much. And if they would have figured out how to uh get um Derek offset, it would have been a different, a whole different game plan as far as that touchdown uh early in the first quarter. But um the the troops of the troops are they're throwing it out, and it's it's scary for 20 to the 50 west. But uh we'll we'll be able to tell a lot about Tampa and about uh Detroit because Baker has at this point he doesn't have his number one, two, three receiver. Um he doesn't have a starting running back, and he's still finding ways to win. So it's definitely impressive to see what uh they're doing down there in Tampa, Doc.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I I I I expect Detroit to come out and ball given that they lost last streak. And I like Dan Campbell, the coach. You know, they got the two-headed Monster running back case here, Montgomery and Gibbs. And golf hasn't had a bad year. He's not as spectacular as he was last year, but they're perfectly capable of scoring with the receiver Amara St. Brown and then uh the other cat, Williams, Jameson Williams. I know I I butcher his name from time to time, but the tight end is the key, Sam Laporte. And he's underrated as a young tight end, man. Laporte, he's a playmaker. So I expect Detroit, not because Tampa's in my division, but I expect Detroit to bounce back. That Penny, what is his name? Penny Soul. That right tackle, number 58. He's playing like Anthony Munoz on the right side, Munoz was left, and he's a physical player. Given that it's in Detroit, I just don't see Detroit giving up two in a row. I just don't. That's a good point.
SPEAKER_00:Okay.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:All right. All right. Now on to uh some college football, Doc. There was a ton of stuff that happened uh over the course of the I know I know you're you're breathing now with with your uh Georgia Bulldogs taking care of business. So uh what were some of the most uh intriguing things you saw, upsets? Uh what's something that stuck out to you over the course of uh this week seven in college football?
SPEAKER_02:Well, it's shocking to me that Penn State, I'm not surprised at the firing case here, Franklin, but it's shocking that you could lose at home to Northwestern during homecoming week. That can't happen. This is a Penn State alumni, Penn State fan base that is big time, big money, you know, and this is after losing to UCLA losing in flux, but they fire they were firing people and they beat Penn State, you know, and then the following week they lost, oh, the previous week I think they lost to Oregon. And then then uh, but the UCLA thing and the Northwestern thing, you know, that that that was uh he dug his own grade with that. We all knew Franklin Casey couldn't win in a big spot against Ohio State, Michigan, and some of the other ones, but you can't lose to UCLA, you know. They were their first win was against Penn State. And then if you somehow get over that, you definitely can't lose at the crib at the Northwestern. That can't happen. So that was shocking. And then on the other end of the spectrum, Michigan Georgia team, you know, we rebounded with three straight wins against SEC opponents. You know, the Auburn thing on the road was problematic in the first half, Casey and Marlene. But we came out Kirby Smart and Glenn Schubert made the adjustments and we shut down Auburn's attack. Now we got Ole Miss at home, but. But Alabama, they're rolling there, you know. Uh that first loss to Florida State, notwithstanding, they they might be the best team in the country. You know, of course, Oregon did the business at home in Austin Stadium. But uh if you had to pick one thing that shocked you, it was Northwestern going into Happy Valley and beating Penn State, which led to the firing. Yeah.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Go ahead, Casey.
SPEAKER_00:Casey.
SPEAKER_01:I guess I had two. I wouldn't say I had one, I had two. Indiana. That was I was really shocked at that outcome. I I couldn't believe that. That was just like, okay, like Kurt Signetti is here to stay. He's got he's got Indiana permanently on the map now, where a lot of people questioned last year if they had the staying power because of their strength of schedule, who they were playing. But yeah, he got them firmly splanted in the top three right now, and that was a that was a hell of a win for them. Big time. And and then second, I gotta go with Texas. Yeah. That was the first time that you guys really saw Arch Manning step up in a big moment and deliver, you know, kind of what they wanted from him. Yeah, especially with Oklahoma getting Mateer back. And you know, Red River Rifle was always a big game. It always gets a big moment for people. So the and the fact that he did, I thought that was huge for Texas, especially the way they shut down that Oklahoma offense, too. The defense was rolling.
SPEAKER_02:Well, they were talking smacking by Sarkeese and Arch Manning, and people thinking, including myself, that he was a little bit overrated, struggling against UTEF and some of the FBS schools. And he came up big against the Arch Rival Oklahoma. Did they rush John Mateir back too fast after two weeks ago having hand surgery? You'll call on that, Casey. Because he threw some fluttering passes. I know it's a big game, big time school to Oklahoma, but I think they rushed him back.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I agree. I think they did too. I know when the when that first happened, the prognosis, they said he was going to be out at least a month. So bringing it back as quick as they did. I I thought that was that was venables just reaching. He knew it was a big time moment. He knew it was a game that they really couldn't afford to lose if they wanted to stay in the mix for the playoffs. So yeah, I think they did rush him back too soon.
SPEAKER_02:Absolutely, absolutely. And uh out here on the West Coast, Marlin, UCLA has lost. They I think they won two or three. And it started with the Penn State win. Nico, whatever his name is, transferred from Tennessee, is balling out. So I guess that all it took was to shock the world and beat Penn State and that they on a two or three-game winning streak. That's Mikey the O.C. school for the record, Casey. Oh, yeah. Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Now now, Casey, I got a question for you. Now, this is uh this is a uh throwing you a little curveball, but here we are. We got about two more months until we have uh the bowl games and the playoffs and all that. So if you can because how many teams get in there? Is it eight now? Or is that did it go 12 now? Okay, all right. So let's let's do the final.
SPEAKER_02:Is it 12 this year or is it still four? I don't I don't I'm I forget. I thought 12 was next year, Casey. I might be wrong. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:We're up to 12. It's heard a lot here.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:All right, so who would your final four be that you would say that would make it? I won't try to actually name 12 teams, but who, when it's all said and done, who do you think the final four teams would be? From what you saw right now, obviously we have the rankings and we have some uh some wins, some upsets and all that, but from what you saw right now, a couple months out, of course, but who's your predictions to make it uh in the final four for the college football playoffs?
SPEAKER_01:Uh I'd have to go Ohio State, uh put the defending champs in there. They're still undefeated and still playing some good football. Um Alabama, Doc mentioned, they're probably the best team in the country right now with how they've been playing. Yeah. Uh I still gonna throw Oregon in there. I I I think they're gonna bounce back from that loss this weekend. I I still think they're one of the best teams in the country by far. Uh I and I I think Lanning will have them them ready and they'll they'll bounce back for sure. And then number four, I'm gonna go with Miami. I mean, their defense is Wow. Yeah. Their defense is is back. And you know, I think I think Carson Beck can can do enough to to get them through to that point. But the defense is gonna carry them though no matter what.
SPEAKER_02:Well, I I I gotta throw my little Georgia Bulldogs in there because I really think they're gonna do some they're they're defending SEC champs, Casey. And I think we'll meet Alabama again. Don't forget about LSU and and Alabama knocking heads in a couple of weeks. And then that's gonna determine, you know, Alabama can't, they already got a loss. So LSU's undefeated. I think. I think they are undefeated, Kelly. Yeah, so I I believe they are. And you mentioned Miami. LSU has one loss, you know. Oh, LSU has one loss? Okay, one loss. I forget who they who they lost to, but they lost to Mississippi. I forget. They lost to O Miss, that's right. Yeah, yeah. Oh Miss is undefeated, but Georgia's gonna take care of them. You heard it here first, Casey, this this week in Athens. They bull rushed us last year in Oxford, you know. But yeah, I can't disagree with any of uh Casey's picks. I just gotta put the Bulldogs in there somewhere, you know. I don't know about Oregon, Casey. I I I I just don't know uh about Oregon, you know. I I love Dan Lanning and X XDC and Georgia, but that was a damning loss at home. But uh yeah, we'll see. You know, we better pay attention to school like Indiana. I know none of us picked it, but I don't do they play Ohio State or something? You know, last year it was at Columbus. If they do play Ohio State, it'll be in Bloomington, and that'll be a huge game. So yeah, there you go right there, Marlon.
SPEAKER_00:And then another curveball for you, Casey. I know you're a big college uh basketball guy too, as well. So you're a big uh Blue Devils fan. So uh predictions, way, way, way too early predictions, but your your final four uh this year from the little that you've seen thus far, but your your final four predictions in in college basketball.
SPEAKER_02:Oh my god.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I def yeah, you mentioned I gotta throw my blue devils in there. I mean, even though they lost the entire starting five, they're returning uh they're gonna they're gonna be ten deep again. They're gonna be and they got some shooting, they've got some size, they've got some defense. I mean, they're they're gonna be back. They're gonna be they're gonna be right up there. Uh oh. Probably gonna throw Purdue in there. You know, Purdue was close last year. Yeah. Yeah. Gotta throw them in in there. Um let's see. The other two are gonna be tough. I don't know. Louisville is a team, I I think can surprise people too. I mean, they're they're gonna be in the top 25 all year. They're gonna be hovering right around there, but I think they can make a run at the end. Oh, and then kind of uh let's see Dark Horse pick. No, I guess no, I'm not gonna go with the dark horse pick. I'm gonna go with the more sure fire thing. Houston's gonna be right there again.
SPEAKER_02:Houston. Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:They didn't lose a whole lot and they they got some some good transfers in, and I'm I'm hoping Kelvin can eventually win that one. I mean, it's it's escaped him so much, and I mean last year it was really disappointing losing the way that they did the championship, but yeah, that's I'll go with those four.
SPEAKER_02:There's gonna be a lot of changes in college basketball. You know, the Auburn coach, he retired, he gave it up to his son, and their superstars in the league from last year. Mark Fuhrer Gonzaga is always intriguing because they don't play, they play in such a weak conference, you know. And then, of course, the Florida Gators, they lost a lot, lost a guard to the league. I don't know, I can't answer that question, Maul. I'm glad you asked Casey. It's just too early, man. As much as I love Williams at North Carolina, somehow he just falls short badly, you know, against Duke and some of the other ACC schools. And I'm a Tar Hill fan going way back. So yeah, that was a good response by you, man. Just give me some time to uh, you know, do some research in college basketball, you know. But uh, yeah, good response, Casey.
SPEAKER_00:I think we got about a couple weeks or so till the season, um, till the season starts. So it's just I I always gotta throw in a uh college basketball question if Casey's on no matter. Or or maybe even talk about his bulls. Um you know, so I think the last time we talked about them, they weren't looking too hot. So we'll we'll we'll we'll probably save that for another another episode. But uh probably they're probably an opportunity where it's uh they're they're gonna be about the same thing too.
SPEAKER_01:So they're not gonna be much to talk about.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, we also think it's easy, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, but uh but yeah, Doug, on uh on the WMBA. I mean, we have um uh uh AJ Wilson does it again. We talked about them mid season, and they were just looking like a team that couldn't figure it out the between uh Calto Grove, um uh, uh Joe Lord. We talked about it that they weren't gonna further. Uh really figured out how to physically went out definitely helped them from that from that standpoint that they don't have to face her in full strength because she was hurt, but they figured out uh taking care of business to get into the finals uh and and winning it, and Asia does it again. So, thoughts in general on this playoffs in the finals, doc.
SPEAKER_02:Well, and Casey, I think you'll agree from the outside of looking in. It's just one of those things where she's putting her name in some of the greatest players to ever play women's sports and basketball. You know, the sh the uh the Cynthia Coopers, the Lisa Leslie, you know, Brianna Stewart's, and I'm missing several other. I go back to Cheryl Miller, but there was no WNBA back then. You got four MVPs now, and then now you got three titles, you know. And the Feacha Collar got hurt. I had her winning MVP. She was born, and she missed two or three weeks marlin down the stretch, and they just killed the Lynx. And then, of course, they beat the Phoenix Mercury. The Phoenix Mercury girls didn't step up, man. You know, they got some stars in their team, and you know, uh it was just their time. You mentioned them flooding around the first two or three weeks of the season. They were in last place. Then he went on like a Casey 17-game winning streak, some ridiculous number, you know, for women's basketball. 17-game winning streak, might even be 18. But you gotta give props to A.J. Wilson. You know, she's obviously in the top 10 in the history, and there's some great women ballers in the history of the sport, man. Cynthia Cooper won four ranks when Way first started, and she was dominant. But uh, you know, it let Lisa Leslie, uh, Diana Treyer, Toriasi, or whatever her name is, Marlon. I'm switching their name. But you know, Asia Wilson is up there, brother, you know, for the record. You know, she might finish top five, top four uh in the history. Maya Moore is another one. So there's been a lot of great ones, Casey, but Asia Wilson right now, dominant, you know, just uh complete dominance. And uh I I think she's dating uh out of IO from Miami. I know he's working where the always working on a game. So, you know, right now as we speak with three rings and four MVPs, I I can't argue against her, Casey, at all. You know, so there you go.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Well, you you said she's been dominant, and I don't think there's any other way to put it. And the little bit that I did follow the WNBA is that you saw Vegas, they just got stronger and stronger as the playoffs went on. And you know, that's what that's what champions do. They know how to turn it on when it counts, and that's exactly what I saw from them. And then her leading the charge. Oh yeah, brother.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. Uh well, I gotta ask Casey this the is it Montana State or Montana? That crowd is awesome. And you put pictures on Facebook. What that that's great, man, for FBS.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I think that's it's Montana, yeah. Montana Grizzly.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah. All right, yeah, man. That's that's great. You know, it's too cold for me. I can't visit you, Casey, but uh from afar, I'm pulling for your team up there, man. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:You'd have to hit one of the early season games. They get pretty hot, but yeah, it's from about this time, is when uh the weather starts to turn and uh it starts starts to get a little chilly.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, beautiful stadium, beautiful campus. So yeah, keep it going, Casey. You know, and and and as far as your bears, man, I'm pulling for you, brother. NFC North, baby. Yeah, too. It's the Falcons.
SPEAKER_01:Keep them going to themselves.
SPEAKER_02:Thank you, brother. I don't think Baker's gonna continue to uh play last second heroics the entire 17 weeks. He's done it the past few weeks, MVP, but the injuries to the skilled people, that's gonna kill him. Yeah, you know, then he's missed a couple offensive linemen. They're gonna lose this week, you know. I I got them losing in Detroit. So there you go, Marlon, right there. Great show.
SPEAKER_00:All right, Doc. You sound like me whenever I talk about the Raiders or the Chiefs. It's just, you know, you you talk about they're not gonna do this, they're not gonna do that, you know. Give the kid a little bit of credit, Doc.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Yeah, I am.
SPEAKER_00:But it's in but it's in your division, so I get it. I get it. But you know, you sound like a little hater, but it but it's all right. It's it's okay.
SPEAKER_02:We swept him last year, and then we lost a one-point victory because the kicker decided not to hit a field goal, and we should be up in the but that's neither here. That's why we got a new kicker and you know, last year's last year, even though we swept him. So you're right, you're right.
SPEAKER_00:We'll work we'll work on that for next week. We'll give them credit when they beat the Lions. How about that?
SPEAKER_02:Oh, wow. Don't go to Vegas and lay down no money on that. I'm just telling you.
SPEAKER_00:Good. All right, well, Casey, we appreciate you for joining, man, and we'll definitely get you on uh mid basketball season. Thanks, guys. All right, no problem. Appreciate it, bro. All right, we'll catch you guys next week. Peace. Peace.