College Football Playoff Final 4 and NFL Playoffs Preview!!

Episode #20!!!
1st episode of 2025!!!
Charlie and Anthony discuss:
CFollege FootballPlayoff Final Four Preview
NFL PLayoff Preview
BTB Parlays of the week!!

Transcript

Charlie (00:23)
Welcome back to another episode of the Blitz the Bookie podcast. I'm Charlie Winkle joined as always by Anthony Roberts and it is the first show of 2025. made it to the new year and we made it to episode number 20, number 20, another small milestone for us here blitz, the having fun.

New year, we're going to keep it rolling. Anthony, how was your new year, man? Good, Had a real good new year. Had fun watching the games. A lot of good games Finally had my first couple of losers in college football. Alabama and Texas. I did go six and two. I did go six or two. That's still a week. So I guess essentially I was for those who listened to the end of the episode, 31 and two Alabama and.

Texas were my two losers that didn't cover. but how'd it feel to get it? Well, I'll be honest with you. told you the first one was Alabama that day and I was convinced that Millrow was cheating. and Charlie made me laugh. He made me laugh with it, but it is what it is. It's been a good end of the year for me, NFL. I've been doing decent with by no means been doing what I've been doing in college, but having fun with it really enjoyed the NFL. And so

getting into the playoffs this year, probably more than I have in a long time since I've been young. looks like an exciting playoff. They got the brackets drawn up and Charlie explained to me that they can change. They re-seed them after the wild card games. Correct, Charlie? Yeah, I think the NFL might be the only that does that. Re-seeds the second round. So seed to win in the first round.

has to go to that one So a little different from, pretty much every other tournament. I don't mind. Major sports. I don't think anybody else does that. Put the most deserving team there. I know we had talked about a little bit off the record, I'm not even against, going away from the division champs and just giving the best records, the chance to play in the playoffs. Minnesota would agree. Yeah, no doubt. 14 win wild card team.

Going to the Rams who have less wins than they do. So there's an argument to be made there. I kind of compare that to Ohio state or maybe a Penn state not being able to be in that top four because of their conference.

I mean, really the team that got screwed on at all was Oregon. They're the ones with the best, record in the regular season. They did not deserve to have to play Ohio State, which many consider the best team in college football right now in the very first game they played. So yeah, it screwed a couple other teams at the bottom, but the team that deserved it by having the best regular season on paper was Oregon. And, you know, Oregon really got screwed in the deal. Because I think most people would agree that Ohio State was in that top four.

To me, I think they should have been the three seed. It's easier said now after they've been demolishing teams, but I would have said that before it started. I think they should have been the three seed that would have kept them away from Oregon. Yeah. the Rams probably ain't too happy about it either to be honest.

I do think the NFL has got something good with the way they do everything, but there's flaws and this is one of them with Minnesota or any team having a better record and having to play on the road as a wild card team than a division winner who has a, worst record. So I wouldn't be against it. I just don't think it'll ever happen besides that one little thing, I can't really think of much more that the NFL messes up on.

No, they got it down right. do. think the way they do the scheduling is about as fair as it could possibly be.

there's not many arguments to be made on how the NFL runs season and their postseason. But you know, really, I know you say that about being fair in the NFL. And I know you explained that to me where the best teams got to play the best teams the following year. But is that really fair to the best teams? Shouldn't it just be a random schedule every year? Should you have to play hard teams you did good the year before? That's kind of like a way to let the weaker teams catch up.

it's probably the best for a parody, but is it the is it the most would argue to say maybe it might not be so what you're do on the NFL draft just put all the teams Give all the teams a chance. It's a good point. He's got a chance at the number one pick I mean if you're being fair, you're being fair. I have fair. Yeah, that's right And I like how it creates parody I do you see where Lane kiffin been less than a blitz the bookie? Yeah. I sent Charlie something

watching the Mississippi bowl game talking about how Lane was upset with, you know, who was invited, who wasn't. He put a whooping on Duke. said, yeah, this was the best defense in the ACC supposedly. I think they scored a hundred on them. It was bad. But one of the comments he said was, that maybe Vegas should determine who the best team was. He did. said that exact thing. So for anybody that listens here at Blitz the bookie, that's what Blitz the bookie said too. mean,

They don't not want to make the correct point spread. Now, while we're on that, I do think that Vegas does have a little bit of bias when it comes to that. towards whatever betters. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Who's going to, what teams bet the most? Yeah, maybe. What teams fans, know, not even their fans, but who lays the most money on, I'm sure people lay more money on Alabama than they do Arizona State. I've heard that argument, but at the same time,

feel like they made a bad line. Like that one group of fans, like everybody else would override them because they would like the sharks, the people that they say that top 1 % that's like 96, 97 % of the money. They would be all over that and they'd eat them up on them guys don't care. And them guys are pros. they're betting what they think is the best bet. Vegas wouldn't get it right all the time either. They get stuff wrong. They get it all the time, but they're the most dumb bias. Yeah. I still agree with I don't think there's another group.

that would be less biased than Vegas. Now there might be a little bit of bias Alabama over in Arizona state in Vegas is mine. Alabama might bring in a ton more money, but I think for the most part, it would be the best way to do it. But

Nothing's going to be perfect. Let's not, let's not act like anything's going to be perfect because it's not there's be there'll be bitching and complaining no matter how you do it. Look, I don't like the idea of Vegas doing it, putting the gamblers hands, but I just put a group of people together that know football and is going to put the best teams in there. giving teams credit for not playing nobody. That's, that's my biggest gripe. And just trust your eyes, trust your eyes.

What about New Year's Eve? I know you went out because your kid was at my house. What'd y'all go do? We went and listened to a of ours. I drank a little bit too much. Watched the Penn State Boise game while I was drinking. No, sound to hear, which I watch a lot of games like that anyways sometimes. So got tore down, probably drunk or not been in a while. It took me about 36 hours to recover. So

I told you it takes a while. does. So you were struggling on New Year's Day then? A little bit, but I pulled through. I got up, watched the games. can tell you that. you do? Did you have fun with the boys? Yeah, we partied with the boys. We like banged on pots and pans, played some games and messed around. It was fun. might think I'm lying to you, but when you sent me those videos and I seen them, I was jealous, man. rather be with my kids. I enjoyed going out, having a good time, but enjoy the kids

We had fun, look, what you did is good for the soul. You need that

Look at this motherfucker, he just hung on the rim. I know we're off thing. This dude just like shook the rim. He just dunk it shook on it like five times. Kentucky's playing Georgia right now. They do let him hang on the rims. He shook on it like Shaq or something. And Mari Williams did that in the game against Florida. How's that not a T? While we're on that Florida.

Amari Williams did that same thing. Shakes on the rim a couple of times. They used to get teed up for that every time in college. Oh, you should get teed up for that. Not for some of the stuff, but for that I do. Kentucky did get a big win last weekend though against Florida Big win for him. Florida looked really good. thought there wasn't a ton of great defense in the game. It was 106 to a hundred

But Florida looked really good. And we're going to find out here in just a little bit, because Florida plays Tennessee. They are at home, But we're going find out a lot about both of those teams. But I was impressed with Florida. Really was. Their offense is no joke. Offensive basketball. Looks like both teams have a really good offense. Yeah, this SEC.

is now and it is going to be wild because it's still looking like all these teams are 13 teams. Really good. They're saying maybe 13 teams that be in the tournament We're playing Georgia right now at Georgia. It looks like it's 11 to eight. Georgia's up. I'm not making any predictions on this game because last time I did, when we were it went haywire on me. So I'm not making any predictions. What's the points for it on this game, Charlie?

think Kentucky's minus like 1 and 1 half or two. can't see that. think they only got two losses. we're going to start finding out these teams really are talked about it last couple of episodes, just mentioned it. SEC's got a lot of really good teams. But as they start getting into league play and start beating each other up, think we'll learn a lot more. But it's looking really strong.

really strong right now. hopefully Kentucky can pull this out. I don't know who we got this weekend, but I'm sure it's another tough one. Yeah. When you got 13 teams, they're going to make the tournament. not many easy games.

Clark passed since last time we had a show. Clark Kellogg, that's going to suck when the NCAA tournament starts because I can almost just hear his voice right now. I can I think he's like the first voice you hear on day when you turn it on. He's the first voice you hear, has been for a lot of years. It's going to be a lot different. Yeah, hate to hear that. Jimmy Carter passed also, one of our presidents. I feel like he outlived a lot of them.

100 years old, I think it was, and it's funeral today. former president, worth talking about there for a second. All right, Anthony, I didn't have any. I know we have kind of done away with the badass and bonehead the last few weeks. Scataboos, the only thing I can say, badass. He's a badass. I would have tested him for drugs, but he looked pretty awesome.

want to dive right into it, man? got really good college football games and we've got six NFL, like we were talking earlier, game on Thursday night, college football game Thursday night, college football game Friday night, two NFL playoff game Saturday, three NFL playoff game Sunday. And you got a Monday night game.

That's move that the NFL has done in the last two or three years. They started that Monday night, first round wild card playoff game. love it. Well, you usually in Vegas. usually go to Vegas that weekend, stay until Tuesday so we can stay for that Monday night game. Skipping the trip this year, kind of bummed about it, but yeah, I love the Monday night playoff game. You you. So you said this earlier, but I thought it was kind of cool. The first, you know, you got the final.

for the college football. The first game is Thursday night, second game's Friday night. So Thursday, Friday, and then you got NFL Saturday, Sunday, Monday. pretty cool what they did there. They knew what they were doing. Even though the last couple weeks, NFL has went up against college football playoff games, which I thought was stupid, and hopefully they do away with that in the next couple years. There's something about contracts, probably, or something. Just like you were asking me about, did I watch the Baltimore Pittsburgh game in week 16 or 17 or whatever?

No, I didn't because it was at the same time as one of the college football playoff games. Notre Dame, Indiana. They played that first game that Friday night, didn't they? Or was it SMU Penn State? That was the first game Saturday. I want to say, the second game on that Saturday, but whatever it was, Pittsburgh and Baltimore were playing at the same time. And I was invested in the college football playoff. Sure.

So, no, I missed that one. Hopefully they do away with that in the next couple years. Talking about college football playoff, can't believe we had to make our first major edit of the show's history just now. Yeah, that was pretty bad.

That was pretty bad. Charlie was going with it and I was whatever. Yeah. Anyhow, yeah, that's right. the first game Ohio State went up against Oregon. That was the rematch everybody wanted to see. lot of people think Ohio State outplayed Oregon in that game, whether they did, whether they didn't, they outplayed them this game. Ohio State won the game.

41 to 21. Put ass whooping on you think of that game, Charlie? I thought it the game was over in like 10 minutes. What was that? mean, they scored. 34 to nothing. 34 to nothing. Yeah, was... Once the... I think it was coming on the same time Arizona State and Texas was ending because that game went into overtime. So it kind of came on at the same time.

But I feel like by the time we stopped watching the Texas game

and kind of focused on the other game. It was over already. It was, was one that sat with Ohio State all year. You know, that game was at Oregon. Ohio State had two turnovers. I don't think they had the game they wanted. Ohio State has those young receivers, probably better by the end of the year. But I just feel like that was one where you've ever experienced that in your life. Maybe you got in a fight and somebody got the best of you and you couldn't wait to fight them again. I've had that happen to be before when I was younger. Did it really get the 34 to nothing? Yeah, it did.

34 to nothing. Yes, got to 34 to nothing before, Oregon would get their legs under them and actually played good the rest of game. Now did Ohio State go into conservative mode? I don't know, you'd have to really go back and try to watch it and analyze it. But they got their ass whooped. That's all I know. the biggest story of the day was that they tried to man cover, Ohio State star receiver and they gave Will Howard all day in the pocket and Gabriel got no time with Oregon.

I will Oregon was without Evan Stewart. They got two superstar receivers Tess Johnson, Evan Stewart, Evan Stewart missed the game, that was a big miss for Oregon. I'm not taking nothing away from Ohio State, but he is definitely a huge part of their kind what their offense is. Those two receivers and that quarterback and they protect them pretty good. But Ohio State was able to get pressure. So, great game for Ohio State.

Now, Ohio State's big boy on the block. I thought they'd been the best team all year. I feel like everybody's kind of on that same boat now with them. And now it's funny because I'm kind of questioning whether they can win the next game. So it's just weird how college football works. I know that's what everybody's telling the other game was on New Year's Eve. There was four of them, actually. The other game was on New Year's Eve. had Penn State really control the game against Boise.

They've jumped out on them 14-0. Boise had a couple little things, kind of kept it close the final score ended up being 31-14. But most everybody I've talked to felt like Penn State was in total control of the game. They probably should have just rang in the ball, just rang in the ball, and they would have been fine Penn State's for real, guys. did a job on Gentie. They probably focused on him too much because it made some things in the passing game kind of easy for Boise. But he had 30 carriers for 104.

that's probably a three yard. I carry average. You'd get a hundred. Yeah. figured I told my son the same thing. I said he'll get a hundred bud. Cause they're to feed it to him a million times, but 3,400 is not that good. all in all, state one at Penn States for real. What'd you think of that game? Charlie? My main takeaway from that game is that Penn State's defense, especially their front causes.

Havoc that was time Abdul Carter left the game in the first quarter. Yeah, and they still havoc and Anthony they do not blitz No, why blitz if you don't need to they don't blitz they bring for every time It was the other thing I took away from that game I Told Anthony. I think I feel like I kind of pegged this game pretty good

But the one thing I was wrong about on this game, I said Boise State's would take care of the ball. He had three interceptions. So I was wrong on that. Boise did try to keep it close for a little bit. They just wore down. And those three interceptions weren't going to help them any. things are a little different when you get pressure.

We saw that in Arizona State game. No, we did. And we'll get to that game last because I think it the best game. third game, and I'm not doing these in order. I'm just kind of picking them. Notre Dame was able to beat Georgia 33 to 10. Georgia was out their quarterback Carson Beck. I've said this to you all year and I'll say it after this game. Yes, Georgia lost, but I think it was Kirby Smart's best coaching job.

he didn't have what he usually had. The defense was still good, but their offense really struggled to create offense. they just didn't have a quarterback. Then Carson Beck went down. I didn't even think he was playing out of this world, but they come in with this guy. Just wasn't that good. played actually I think Georgia outplayed them. the first half, it's arguable that they, that they outplayed them. Not by a lot. I don't think it was close, but me personally, you take away the,

They had a kick return in the second half to open it up. Georgia was pretty much tied with them. Might've been down three with seconds ago. Usually Kirby would nail it there. that decision probably caused them to. Yes. He tried to get aggressive quarterback first half, everything. really did. Notre Dame scored. I think it was either 17 or 21 within like.

30 seconds because that was, yeah, know, I know, know that was 30 seconds overlapping from the first, the second half. 17, they ended up scoring 17 in like 30 seconds. Cause they had the field go and then they got the mistake. Yeah. The that was the changer and then Kirby's great at making halftime adjustments and they come out, they're down 10 because of the mistake call some a touchdown. They should only be down three.

he comes out ready to make his adjustments and they return a kick for a touchdown. But the rest of the game, I thought Georgia played them. Georgia had a play where, they fumbled the ball like on the 10 yard line. They're running back. Did, just got popped. They out. That cost them points and another play Georgia looked like they were close to getting a touchdown. I they ended up going down to seven, but the referee got hit by one of the walk-ons.

them back to like the 37 yard line. They were inside the seven. It was a good game-o. it a fun game to watch. know, shout out to Notre Dame. I'm still not a fan of the head coach. I think it's a of the offensive coordinator. That's the brains behind it. He was a part of that LSU. I didn't know at Tyreddit. He was part of that LSU offense. You don't like their head coach? I do not. I think he's... Man, he made it. Well, It was the play where he brought them players out,

What did at the end? He brought his players out like he was going to punt. But Georgia did a good job of countering that. Georgia was ready for it. They brought their guys right out too, but then they jumped offside. It was a good move. It was good move by Georgia too. was. Except they jumped offside. Yeah, There's no you could see it in Kirby's eyes. I feel like Kirby knew he didn't have the horses. Listen, I wasn't a Carson Beck guy, but I'd much rather have had a Carson Beck than the backup.

a shit. I'm going to give some props to Gunner. Yeah. He didn't play bad. 2432 234 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions. I actually thought they first start. actually thought they outplayed them. really not by a lot, just by a little bit, you know, the game props to Stockton. He's going to be all right. Yeah, he's going to be all right. I mean, look, he made his first start ever in big time playoff game against a top three defense in the country.

With the offense that happened in working that well, didn't turn the ball over yet. Had doesn't have a bunch of horses in the stable. like they normally do. I give the kid props. at one. Well, yeah, he did. had a lot of mistakes. Not a lot, but very costly mistakes. The ones they had.

So, Notre Dame marches on. They'll be facing Penn State and then the last game of the day, my only game I've lost doing in the college football playoff, the Texas Longhorns do what the Texas Longhorns do, what they've done many times this year. They get a big early lead. Frustrate your ass. they will. They will. I agree. they get, they got a big early lead. They cost me a decent amount of money. I will say that I still won.

On that, I actually won pretty good that or them four games. But I would have cleaned house. I would have cleaned. I would have house. Oregon. I was the same way. Anyhow, we both went through. Right. had Oregon. You had Texas. That Texas didn't give up a touchdown until six minutes to go on the fourth quarter. But then they gave up two and got the two point conversions They just.

I felt like they should have been up by 20 something at halftime. They dominated the first half, was only up by 14 at halftime. I heard a commentator say this. I'm not going to steal it. I've told you already, Charlie. Texas is like a team that plays with like a animal, like a lion that plays with their prey. I will say before we get into the game, I kind of think it's good they're going in as an underdog because that's part of their problem is, they just kind of get bored.

or I don't know, play conservative. Their defense is really good. So we'll talk about it more as we get into it. But Texas won that 139 to 31. Shout out to Scataboo, man. I mean, anybody who watched that game and the quarterback Leavitt, you take those two away from that team, they get beat by 60. You Leavitt away from that team, they get beat by 60. I agree.

I don't know if I've ever seen so much pressure in the first. was pressured every single time he had to roll out of the pocket every and I say roll out. He was screaming for his damn wife made a lot of big third down plays not that he passed that he would just wiggle out and run just for enough for a first

games no big shout out. had to throw it in there one last time. know, he won MVP of that game, Charlie on the losing team. That's very rare.

I will say this. So I know everybody's talking about the targeting call there wasn't one offensive holding call in this game with all that pressure. You're telling me somebody don't hold at least once in that game. Yeah. On either side, at least they didn't call it on either side. That targeting was huge. I'm not saying it wasn't a game changer. it was a big play, It was a call that should have been called, but I don't feel like it's

something that was earned. They made a tackle, boy came in high on the tackle and got him with the head. But no doubt, I mean, there's a lot of people talking about But that's ridiculous that there's no holding call in a game like that. Have we just got, have we went away from the holding call and the offense altogether? I these offense alignment are holding more than ever. But you know, the problem is college football and the NFL, they want to see points, Charlie. You could not have those clean of pockets.

without these offense. mean, they're so much. Arizona State surely wasn't holding because they were. they were holding. It was in his face. They were holding. don't even think they were quick enough to hold. They had a beat right off the That kid evaded so much pressure. they'd have lost by 50. They would have. They'd have had 20 sacks.

Arizona State had a couple of big plays and they took some gambles that paid off. You know, they had that all out blitz when Texas is on the two. They could have get hit for a touchdown. I seen somebody talk about that. Arizona State does that a lot. That's risk versus reward and they take a lot of chances in games and they kind of panned out for them pretty well. First half had me questioning how Scaddy bow ran for those numbers behind that offensive line.

because they looked that bad in the first half. I'm telling y'all Texas has done that I bet you they've done that like four or five out of last seven games They've had that's what they've done. Like you say, they're unreliable. But I still think they're good. So we'll get into that before we get into the games Let's the bookie parlay college football parlay last week was a winner

Penn State and Notre Dame. I know it was only two games, but it was a winner. it. Take it. Winner. I'll tell you. Try to get another one. we've done pretty good on the games we've agreed on throughout the So we had a winner there. looking at the NFL one. We didn't do so well in the NFL. NFL Tampa and Green Bay. They had both of them. It was a funky week in the NFL. Do you feel like it was a funky week in the NFL?

It was actually had a Bay got beat by Chicago, Tampa, you know, we'll get it. We'll get into it. Yeah. Yeah. It was All right. We got two games, final four in college football. It's going to be Thursday and Friday night. Gas. Love that. Yeah, I do too. Love that schedule. One game Thursday night, one game Friday night. Yep. I love it. And I love that. It's almost here. The first game will be on Thursday night. It'd be at seven 30 Eastern time. Notre Dame.

will face the Penn State Nittany Lions at Hard Rock Stadium. That's in Miami. That's where the Dolphins play, right Charlie? Yep. don't got no home playoff games this week, do they? They don't have to fight them for schedule or nothing? Charlie's the Dolphins. So Notre Dame has come out as a one and a half point favorite. They've stayed at one and a half point favorite.

Tough game, Notre Dame's good team. did not get their running game going against Georgia. quarterback only had 90 yards passing. He did have 90 yards rushing. They only had like 240 yards of total offense in that game. Georgia did a really good job of shutting their offense down. offense was pretty much their quarterback running the ball. The running game that they, it's been so strong, Georgia shut it down. Georgia did a good job with their offense.

But Notre Dame's defense came to play and so they did a good job. Penn State on the other hand, look, we think of Penn State, we think of a defensive team. That's what I think of. Is that what you think of Charlie? First thing that I think of. That's why it was the first thing that I mentioned when you asked me what I thought about their game last week. And it's the first thing that I'm going to talk about when it's my turn to talk to you. Penn State's defense. Notre Dame's defense is legit too. No, it is. you know, and that was without Abdul Carter went off from the first down the first quarter.

They need him this is a huge game coming up. some people say he's the best defensive player in the country. I'm not seeing a ton of news on it. I think he's going to play. I he's going to play. He's a stud. He gets after the passer. He actually plays really well in the run game run support. I think Penn State's offense is good too. if you had to say one weakness of their whole team is maybe their corners, not that their defense ain't good, but their corners.

They maybe ain't the most highlighted part of their team. They can still guard, but I don't think Notre Dame challenges you there. don't. I think where Notre Dame challenges you with their tight ends, with their running game, I feel like it's where Penn State's strong. And for me, I like Penn State. I'll take Penn State plus the one and a half. I think they're the more complete team. I do not trust Notre Dame's offense. it's not that I don't think it's no good, cause I do think it's good. You know, Raleigh Leonard's good and...

They got a good running game, but were able to do that against Indiana. That was at home, a very cold weather game.

And they scored like 24 on Indiana, last week, Georgia kind of shut them down. Now Georgia does have an elite defense, but for me, I like Penn State's team. they played Ohio State I like them. I like Warren. like Drew Aller. I and the other running I like their team. I like their defensive dual car.

They got players all over the Listen, I think the championship games between Texas, Ohio state, but Penn state, could surprise somebody if they could win this game and go to the final. So I'm going to take Penn state plus the one and a half Right. To Penn state's defense their top 10 and almost every major category third verse, the run, which is going to help them here because that's what Notre Dame does.

When we're talking run games, I'll probably give Notre Dame a slight edge, slight edge because Penn State's two rushers that have rushed for thousand yards. So as, as good as Notre Dame has run the ball, Penn State runs the hell out of the ball too. I'll give the, running game edge slightly to Notre Dame because of the quarterback. he's a runner.

He is. He's a run. That's a good argument you made there because I was going to say I kind of favorite Penn States like true running game. But when you add in Raleigh Leonard, I could see that angle. Yeah. I mean, slightly. Yeah. Now we'll go to the defenses. I give the slight edge to Penn State. both defenses are really good. top 10 in almost every category category for Penn State. Now Notre Dame points per game allowed is

actually better than Penn State's. But that has a little bit to do with the schedule. not saying Penn State schedule was great, but I look back at them. Penn State's had a harder schedule than Notre Dame. Notre a lot of their strength of schedule is going towards that Army and Navy. And I don't buy too much into those. The two top offenses they faced was Georgia had no offense, they had no offense all year. The two top offenses they faced was USC and Louisville and we

We both know that, you know, them ain't world beaters. They got decent offenses. USC put up 557 yards against Notre Dame. Louisville put up 400 yards against Notre Dame. To me, I think the difference, Charlie, and I'll let you Penn State's passing game is better than Notre Dame's passing game. The tight end Warren is a superstar for Penn State. And I think Drew Aller is a better passing quarterback than.

Raleigh Leonard. Now Raleigh Leonard can use his legs, but Drew Allard. I think Drew Allard is underrated. I like Drew Allard a lot. So they rely on that tight end a lot. He does a lot of different stuff. He's like a Swiss army knife for him. I do think that's where these two teams kind of are lacking is not a bunch of crazy athletic wide receivers. I agree with that I think these two teams are really, really similar. Strong defenses, strong in the trenches, running teams.

But I think that the difference is the passing game for Penn State. They got pretty good passing game. I don't know how they get it done. I agree with that. They're I mean, I'm watching that Notre Dame game against Georgia and texting a couple of buddies. And the consensus was this kid's just a runner. He don't do anything through the air. I don't think they have many. I'm not sure he's a bad thrower because I see him a little bit of Duke, but

They don't do a lot. I don't, don't think they have many weapons at the wide receiver position. They're not, they don't got a lot of game changers. their game changer is the running back. And let's speak on that. He's got a bum knee. Yep. Georgia did a good job with them, man. He's got a bum knee. So that might be an issue.

Defense edge Penn State run game edge, Notre Dame.

quarterback Penn State got the edge there. Now I'm going to coaches. I think it's close. I think it's real close, but I like Marcus Freeman. I'll give the coaching edge to Notre Dame here. I like the young guy, man. I do. I liked their offensive coordinator a lot. I've not big Mark.

Freeman guy we've talked about this I don't feel like James Franklin's underrated I really do people don't give him his props, but I'll let you finish like I like Franklin too.

It's so close. Penn State does get two more days of rest. Does that matter? Yeah. Might when offense, I don't think they have a Warren on defense. I don't think they have an Abdul Carter. Penn State's really, if you think about it, it's got a lot of star with their running backs and their quarter. They got a lot of stars. Penn State does. They got some dudes on their some on Penn State

just think the passing game, the lack of passing game for Notre Dame is going to be the difference, going back to the SMU game, SMU had a good offense and Penn State gave them Penn State, shut Gentie down. Penn State held, I think, Ohio State to 20 points.

Penn State's got a good little defense or offense. Good. Penn State could win this thing with the, I'm almost talking myself in that they could win this thing. They got a legit shot to win it. there. There's only four teams left. They got a shot. Good shot. I like them in this game a lot. I like them actually lot. I don't see how no under name is going to be able to move the ball a lot on them. I might be wrong.

And if the spread is one and a half, I'll just take Moneyline. I might take the one and a half. I'd probably take Moneyline. If it got to like two or two and a half, I might, buy it up to three. But whether it's sitting at one or one and a half, and it might be, it might come down to one point game. You wish you had that one and a half. I'd to lose that way, Charlie.

But I like Penn State to win. So what do I need the one and a half for? right. We both on Penn State. Yep.

nanny lines. That's Thursday night, 730 guys. Don't miss it. It's gonna be a good one. The second college football game of the week. So this is the game I've studied more than any other game all year.

Bottom line, I know a lot about both these teams. Beginning of the year, I told everybody I thought Ohio State was the best team. And as the year went on, especially after they played Michigan, I said, Texas is right there with them. And that's been my two teams all year. I got a whole handful of future bets to prove it. I was showing Charlie all my future. Everything's wrapped around Texas, Ohio State. I think they're the best two teams. They both won. Ohio State was very convincing win.

Texas squeaked one out. I feel like the whole country right now is on Ohio State. Ohio State opened at five. I know they moved all the way up to six and a half, seven, but they are back down to five and a half. So some money recently has went on Texas. Look, the old better of me, I would have quickly, a younger Anthony, a younger better, I would have felt like the general public.

And been like, man, Ohio State's going to roll them. They're hot right now. They had the best roster in the country. Now they're really starting to show it. But I do feel like I've matured as a gambler and I try to at all angles. And as I studied this game, Charlie, there's some things that just pop out at me. as Arizona State's offensive been, and they'd been red hot going into it. They got their first touchdown with six minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

I've watched Texas a lot. I know that's how they play. They get on these leads and they kind of go to bed. that's what they do. I mean, I'm not, there's no excuses, every time they need to get points late in the game, they get them. they did it in Arizona state. They did it against Clemson when Clemson made a little bit of a threat out of them at the end there. When they can need to get points, they get them and then they get them early. as Sarkeesian save him, plays as he get conservative because their defense is so good.

Listen, Ohio State rolled Tennessee first game of the playoffs, but the word on the street on Tennessee was you could get to them if you could attack their secondary as good as the SEC was, there wasn't a lot of quarterbacks they faced that were really elite that could, get on the backside and attack the secondary. Georgia, Carson Beck, probably the best game Carson Beck had all year. He did that to Tennessee. Tennessee really wasn't challenged a lot. And that was kind of, you know, their front, the box was good, but their secondary wasn't as good.

Ohio State got a hold of them. This pass game. I haven't went back and watched all the replay, but stuff I've read and I have watched some of it. They were trying to play those two guys one on one. Smith, other boys name, they're both studs. They got no pressure on Will Howard. If you're going to play Will Howard, you're going to play Ohio State. Listen, I like Will Howard. We talked about him going into the year that, you know, I really thought a lot of him. But the one thing I learned about Will Howard this year,

is Will Howard will make mistakes if pressured. And I do think Will Howard's good. he has a lot of talent, big arm, big boy, everything I love in a quarterback.

But I have seen that if you pressure Will Howard, he kind of not loses control, you can definitely, it wasn't like Levitt, the quarterback from Arizona State. I thought he had, you know, ice water running through his veins, Charlie. He was super cool under pressure, made things happen. I felt like you can rattle Will Howard. So, Tennessee or, Oregon, Oregon guy, I think Penn State had 507 yards offense on him.

in the Big Ten championship. think Oregon's defense was a fraud. Tennessee was exposed on the back end. I'd take nothing away from Ohio State. But both teams gave Will Howard all day to throw the ball. That ain't always happened for Ohio State all year. Texas's defense is really good. Yeah, and I know they'll fuck around with you and make you not like them because of what they do. But they also, can't forget that they do a lot right. They got a, they played Michigan earlier this year, Charlie.

against Michigan. Okay, here it is against Michigan. Texas had 400 yards of offense and that's with they were in control of that game. at the end they weren't being aggressive against Oklahoma and we can all say Oklahoma is not good, but their defense is really good. I think everybody can agree with that. They got 426 yards, 34 points against Florida. This is when Florida's defense was playing good. They got 562 yards and

Against Kentucky, which it wasn't nothing, but they only gave offensive A they had 461 yards of offense. Against Georgia, that last Georgia game, Texas had 400 yards of offense. Now I know Ohio State's defense is really good, but so is Georgia's, and they had 400 yards of offense. They're gonna come up with some offense. I think this is the best defense that Ohio State's gonna see, and I think this is the best defense Texas is gonna see as well.

I say that, but they did see Georgia and Georgia's defense is right there in that group with those. So all in all, I'm going through all this. It's to me when I look at it's an even game, but if you're going to give me five and a half, six points right now, it's five and a half. I'm taking the points. I'm taking Texas. It's not that I even think they're going to win. it's a very even game, but I'm going to take the points. the whole world thinks Ohio State is going to run through them.

I don't think it's gonna be quite as easy for Ohio State, but it's gonna be hard for Texas too. I anticipate a low scoring game and I'm gonna say Texas covers.

You talk about the pressure. We all saw the pressure that they put on Arizona state. But like I said, I questioned the offensive line of Arizona state. I'm not saying I don't give any credit to Texas for getting that pressure, but they will not get that same pressure this week.

I got right here, Ohio state eighth best in the country at protecting the quarterback. I think they get after him.

you. I might be wrong. to try, but Ohio State does a pretty good job of protecting him.

I'm gonna throw some stats out here. don't do the stat thing a lot. I do got some stats here on this one. My mind can be changed, so I'm listening.

defensively for Ohio State.

First in opponent's points per game. First in opponent's yards per game. Fourth verse the run first verse the pass. want to talk about pressure? You are is going to be feeling the pressure. There is no doubt about that first in sacrate in the country Ohio State's defense is the first in sacrate in the country. You want to talk pressure?

Ewer's going to be the one under pressure. I fully anticipate both of being under pressure. I do. to me, Texas has played some really good defenses this year and they come up with yards. but Ohio State is loaded. you know how I feel. These are two best teams in the country. This is hard for me. It really is. And I'm not saying I have my mind made up yet,

Well, that was the defense offensively. Ohio State six in the country in scoring. So their first in opponents points per game on defense and their six in the country in scoring. That spells trouble. Now, Howard, we all know Howard. He's a slinger, right? He's a gunslinger, right? Seven Russian touchdowns. yeah. I wouldn't even guess that. That's a lot for a guy like him. He's not a runner. No.

I mean, he's a little bit of a runner. He's a little bit of a runner. He can run, but he's not a running quarterback. I wouldn't say I'd say he's a, well, I mean, maybe he is. He's got seven touchdowns. I was surprised by that stat. both of these teams are, you talk about being very similar, Notre Dame and Penn State. I think these teams are very similar. They both got half line offenses. Both teams, when you think of Texas, Ohio state, you think, man, these teams can run it down your throat. That's what we think about when we think both of these teams.

Both of these teams that's one of Ohio State's problems. That's one of Texas's problems They cannot run it down your throat games gonna come down to the quarterbacks They're both passing teams this year They are they don't want it like if I'll be honest with you if either one of those teams could just physically run it down your throat like those teams traditionally could do That put these teams to Ohio State tried it. They tried it and they tried it. They did it against Nebraska They were just they kept running it almost cost them

you seen it when they had to play Michigan when they couldn't air it out, Texas don't even run the ball. They do in some games, but when they, when they don't, they kind of, they kind of abandoned it. but they do some games, it's like when they play the really good defenses, they can't run the ball, but the same can be said for Ohio state. Well, they rushed for 1.8 yards per carry last week against Arizona. Sure. Sure. Good luck against Ohio state. If you only get 1.8 against Arizona state, it's going to be trouble against this fourth ranked.

defense against, but they've had games where they've rushed for a lot to Texas has. I mean, they're a hard read. this game comes down to the quarterbacks. it comes down to getting to the quarterback. Anthony was on the right track with the pressure, but I think the pressure comes from the other side. Yours is going to be the one feeling the pressure. Yours is going to be the one that makes the couple mistakes. And I think it's going to be the difference maker. I do got one other little note here after Ohio state lost to Oregon.

They moved their cornerback, Jordan Hancock, I don't know if you know this, to like a single high safety. Okay? They took their safety, his name Caleb Downs, and they moved him. Yeah, closer. Yeah, they want him to be able to make more plays. He was a transfer from Alabama. people think he's the best defensive player in the country. real good. After that...

Ohio State's only given up like 11 or 12 points a game since that, Ohio State's really good. Yeah. It's not no convincing me for me. Ohio State by a hundred, not a hundred, but they're going to easily cover the six. I like Ohio State big. I bet you, if you looked it up, I feel like the whole world's in Ohio State right now.

you're probably right. There's probably everybody probably going to be on Ohio State and they should. Ohio State has rolled both teams they've played. They played two who's played two, two better teams so far than Ohio State.

played Tennessee and who they play. I'm going to Oregon. Who's played to they roll both of them. Yeah, I'll that should be on Ohio State. I'm mad. I came off of them last week. I'm not sure how good Tennessee was. I'm not sure how good Tennessee was. I rolled last week for no, but I didn't because I came off of my gut and went with Oregon. Anthony, I think you've been right the whole year, Ohio State's the best team.

I can't believe you're coming off of them. I'm not coming off of them. I'm just, you know, I've been Ohio State, Texas. Not only have you been all over Ohio State, but I watched the second half of the Texas game with you and you literally cussed Sarkeesian out the whole second half. I did. You cussed them out the whole time. But dude, it's like when you go back and you get in a play by plays. They got them into so many third downs that

they got lucky to get out of, they were getting pressure, okay? yeah, he was able to get out of it, but man, they were getting like instant pressure. And when they need to score, they can score and they score. They put up all these yards against great D. I mean, Georgia's defense is good as it comes. I know Ohio State's got a really good, but so is Georgia. And they put up yards against Michigan. Michigan was not the Michigan team they were last year, but their defense was. Their defense was elite. They put up 400 yards against them. Oklahoma's defense was legit. 426 yards. Florida's defense was playing awesome.

562. But when they need to get points against these teams, when these teams threaten them, if you go back and look, they instantly go get offense. How can they get it early and then go to bed, go to bed, go to bed? And then when they need it, it's like, boom, they can snap their finger. So it's gotta be there. I'm guessing, I don't know. I'm trying to figure this out myself. I can't trust I get it. But is he holding back, trying to save plays,

certain, I've heard that argument. No way. Okay. I'm not saying you're wrong. can't hold back. Well, I he gives it, well, he gives it to you. when he needs it six weeks ago, he might've been, I'm just saying to when he needs it, he goes, gets it. When that team's threatened him, he goes, gets it. Well, they lucked out this week. They could be sitting at home. There's no doubt. they got too cute with theirself. It could be sitting at home. I really didn't think they thought Arizona state could score on them because they kept turning them away. a fourth and two. was just a creative play.

with the scataboo flea flicker, which I thought was a great play call. that got on my touchdown. And then they thought, well, they couldn't get to, and then somehow scataboo gets out of the and gets like a 70 yard pass with the face mask. That was pretty much how they scored twice. They got both two point conversions. That's really all they got. You got safety. Yeah. But I'm just saying, that's the two offensive plays they got. That's what they got. I mean, both those were just creative plays. You don't get your four foot nothing.

Running back, going out for 70 yard passes. I mean, it was awesome, dude. It was awesome. much respect to Scataboo. I like seeing him tested for steroids, dude, he was, he was juiced all day, but I loved it. was, they say he's been like that since like high school though. I seen a clip that like the next day he's been on steroids since high school. saw a clip where he ran the ball

in high school and literally broke like 13 tackles. must've broke a tackle by every player on the defense and then like a couple of them twice. I've seen him go heads up with the guy, like a rammed in their heads collide. He goes up, throws up, screams at everybody, comes out there. I mean, then does what he does, puts his team on his catches a 70 yard pass. How tall is he? Like four foot 11? Gets his

face mask, gets his helmet ripped off at the perfect time so he can just stand up and mean mug everybody. That's probably one of greatest performances I've seen. How tall is he? 411? He's not very big. He's not very tall. He's strong. He got some legs on it. Yeah, he's definitely strong. Ain't no doubt about It was fun to watch. I have to show you that video, man. It was pretty, it was, I know a lot of people have like impressive high school.

videos and stuff, but man, I've no, don't know if I've ever seen somebody break so many damn tackles in one play. Scataboo. You think he'll do anything in the NFL? Yeah. I told you I liked Gentie in the NFL. I don't know about Scataboo. I'm not, I'm not about Gentie NFL, but I'm going to say this. I didn't know much about Scataboo. I just figured it's like every other player on those kinds of teams. just don't play much.

I'm still not even sold on him. Cause if you look at it, he's just got a handful of big play. I'm with you. You said this earlier when I was talking to you. think you're right. Levitt probably was more the key of getting them out of a lot of trouble. Scatterblu had a few big plays that really just grabbed He had a good game. I don't think he's going to get that 70 yard pass every time. I just don't think that. And then the flea flicker pass. It really wasn't even that good a pass. know nobody's talking about that, but he threw it short. But it's just the, I feel like he willed him back to, willed him back.

You know, he didn't let them quit and that they kept telling Texas all week. They were going to win with heart, win with heart. You know, he Jake, the snake plumber over there. They bought into that. Hinds ward was over there. Wasn't that Arizona state? Yes, they were, they bought it. stars almost lined up. Texas was the better team, but the stars almost lined up for them. And I did that targeting man. I surprised their head coach. Didn't blow a head gasket when that happened. No, I'm with you.

I like Arizona state. I'd like to see if any of them are all them guys come like Scadaboo and Levitt coming back next year. I heard Scadaboo said whoever drafted him is going to get a hard work and he's going. going. Yeah, man. It'd be hell. It'd be awesome to see them play one more year. If Levitt ain't gone pro Arizona state better pay him or somebody else to pay. Dude, if they didn't have that kid, Levitt, he was there. He would have got, if they just had like a in the pocket throw in quarterback, Texas would have had

20 sacks. They wouldn't had a chance. would have broke the record, the NCAA record for sacks. I give probably in the first half. That's part of why I kind of still am with Texas because I think they did a lot right. And Arizona state was just able to escape some of you're taking Texas plus the point. I am as of right now, Charlie, I think it's a very even matchup and you see my future bets. I'm kind of covered on both.

probably a little bit more covered on Texas, but I'm probably not even gonna bet the game because I got so many future bets. I didn't even realize how many future bets I had. I showed you the list. It's stupid how many future bets I got, but everything revolves around Texas, Ohio State. I got a few little Penn State things in there. The worst case scenario for me would be if Notre Dame won. I do have it covered for a little bit, but not much. And then the NFL, I got Kansas City and the Rams, and I'm not covered, but I went a little bit of the Bills win.

All right. Well, no college football parlay this week since we only got two games and we're only on Penn State, but over under you like over and go about 10 units on Penn State. we're going to jinx them. We're going to work. We're love Penn State. I haven't looked at any of over unders. as of right now, I like the under in the Texas Ohio State game, but I did really like it, but then I kind of got off from it.

Forget I don't even look at the numbers when I might you know, I've done really well with the over and unders I don't even look at them I just I get the flow of the game in my head and Whatever the number is I know that sounds stupid, but I've done well that way with them Well, whatever number you come up with you in your head and then you look at you know, I don't even like think of it that way I just think of the flow of the game how I imagine the game going like about you know I always look at the play-by-plays and then I think is gonna be a low scoring game or high scoring game and Then I just get whatever the number is it is and I just go with it

I kid you not, I don't even like try to analyze, well, that's 38 and a half. And it's just for me, I try to visualize the, I don't bet a lot over runners, but when I have here lately, I've done well with them. If I feel like it's going to be a low scoring game, I go under. If I feel like it's a high scoring game, I go over. I'm usually more of an under better, but I would say I bet some overs. I bet three overs in the NFL last week, one, all three of them. Dude, I'm pretty good at over runners too. And I just, I'm a very traditional old school better.

I bet I don't move lines much. just straight bets or parlays don't bet props. But I've been messing with these over-unders and I'm pretty good at them, dude. I attested to that, go through the play-by-plays a lot and I feel like I get a flow for the game and kind of what the teams want to do. maybe that's helped me. I don't know, but I've done a pretty good job of them.

We'll see what we got here in the NFL. And if we only got a couple, maybe we'll throw Penn State in a little parlay with a couple NFL teams. Sounds good. All right. So with that, we'll go ahead and hit the NFL. Dun-a-dun, dun-a-dun. That's SportsCenter. You do that every time it's NFL. Yeah, it's SportsCenter. Well, who was that on Monday Night Football? That was Hank Williams. my ratted friends.

They took Hank off. They Yeah, they replaced him with uh, no, that was Sunday. That was my childhood here in Hank Williams. Come on for my night. That was, did you remember that Charlie? Yep. Now. Well, now they do that on Sunday night. It's like Miranda Lambert or some shit and I twain or somebody who is it? It's some, it's some Carrie Underwood. That's who it is. It's Carrie Underwood.

I get this vision in my head of sitting at my grandma's, my grandparents, you know, they were at my grandma's, you know, done got all the bets in and my grandmother had this electric heater and I loved the thing. It was half dangerous. They probably wouldn't even have it in today's world. And I would sit in front of it and Monday Night Football would come on and I always just picture the 49ers and Steve Young and Jerry Rice and

listening to Hank Williams, that game always comes to my mind. I forget who they were playing, but I was a 49ers guy and just good memories. the Cowboys. Probably. Now, you know, I I bet the Cowboys a lot. and I hated the Cowboys back then. Bet them now. When Dak comes back, don't bet them. They actually had a good team, man. They didn't fight it. Yeah, I tried. Their defense was good. they might have a big year next year, the Cowboys.

right. Little recap last week. NFL Saturday, Baltimore started off by destroying Cleveland 35 to 10, which took Pittsburgh's chances of winning the division out. Of course, Pittsburgh played next. Cincinnati won that game 19 to 17 did what they needed to do. That was the next step. Pittsburgh was done for the division, but Cincinnati still had to win that game to have a chance and needed some help on Sunday.

Sunday comes. It was crazy. The one o'clock games were nuts. Carolina and Atlanta go into overtime 44 to 38. Atlanta loses. Didn't really matter because Tampa come back to beat the Saints. Tampa fell down to the Saints. It was crazy at first half at Atlanta is getting beat by Carolina. Tampa is getting beat by the Saints. Chicago is beaten Green Bay.

pressure got to him or Dallas was beating Washington. Didn't know what was going to happen in the New England Buffalo game. It was crazy at one o'clock. Like I said, Carolina does beat Atlanta. Tampa beats the Saints. So Tampa wins the division, eliminates Atlanta from the playoffs. Washington ends up squeaking by Dallas 23 19. And then Green Bay did get beat by Chicago, which that didn't end up at mattering.

either because they needed Washington to lose.

secures the sixth seed and Green Bay is the seventh seed. New England beats Buffalo 23 to 16 and cost Jared Mayo his job. My man gets fired after winning the last game of the year. They were the number one pig, didn't they? We're in line for the number one pick.

He was so pissed that they didn't beat Buffalo a couple of weeks ago. I told you they were going to want to win that game. I don't know why, but they did. And they did. 2316, Jared Mayo is gone after one year. You think I'm sure that owners didn't have enough courage just to ask him to lose, but you think it was when them deals were the owners might have gave him a stare or something. And it was like, Hey, go do your best coach. Pretty much saying, don't lose this number one pick.

You went out and lost it. I don't know. don't know. don't know. Craft. don't know. You think crafts telling them to lose. I had the number one pick and you lose on last game of a season for a season of it's already in the tulip bullshit, got to lose that game. I'm not for tanking. And I even heard where Cincinnati's coach was on saying stuff about Denver, when the NFL investigated because you're not supposed to lose on purpose. Of course, Denver beats Kansas City 38 to nothing. Kansas City never loses.

even put up a fight. Nope. They did that on purpose. They didn't want to have that Joe smoke. didn't want no part of it. was Andy Reed's way of saying, pretty much say, know, Cincinnati even had to watch the game in the second half. Just said, here you go, guys. You don't have to watch the game. That was the next one I was going to get to. Denver beats Kansas City 38 to nothing. Kansas City did not even try.

That was the last step the Bengals needed to make the playoffs. Everything else had came up. Man, not at that point because the Dolphins were still playing at the same time, but we did get embarrassed by the Jets. It was only 32 to 20, but I don't care. It should have been 62 to 20. We got embarrassed. The Dolphins are terrible. I knew they would lose that game. know that I picked last week on the show, but I was picking with my heart. If you heard that, you could tell I was picking with my heart on that one.

The Denver beats Kansas city, put the dagger in the Bengals Kansas city put up no flight. Your boy Carson wins 10 for 17, 98 yards. I didn't even try to the team that it wouldn't even

Good to judge him on that. They didn't even try. I wasn't even going to bring this up, but the team that didn't try was the Giants. I know this game didn't matter, but it mattered for me because in my damn eliminator pool, I picked the Giants. The Giants did not try to win. I'm not even going to say the Giants didn't try to win. Dayball did not try to win. His substitution patterns were where iffy his play column was absolutely terrible. Drew Lock had 30 passing yards in the first half.

They didn't even try to throw the ball more than three yards down the field. You think he got in trouble for losing the number one pick the week before? I don't know. Maybe hurt my feelings. I didn't even think his job was on the line, but during the game they're saying, this might be his last, you know, this might be his last. that was the case, then just go win the game. But actually I think I heard today that they're keeping him.

Probably part of the deal. The Giants fans are not happy, but I think they said the GM and the coach are both staying. So they're not, they're definitely not going to be happy about that. Who's the guy where the video has been going through the internet with the Saquon thing? Is that the GM? Oh, that was the GM for the Giants. Yeah. It's a bad look, but at the same time, I'm not saying I agree with him, but look, Saquon or Derrick Henry.

it was good for them to go to Philly and Derek Henry helped Lamar, Lamar helped It's hard to run the ball and be really effective runner when they can just kill you. And that helps Lamar because to stop Baltimore, you gotta bring everybody up in the box now to stop Derek Henry first. And when you do that, you're bringing in slower packages can take advantage of that. So yeah, it's easy to say that, but when you're a struggling team at the bottom like the Giants are,

I don't think running back is the place to spend all your money. I don't. So as bad as it looks on the guy, it's probably the right call it from my opinion at that point. The giants. Yeah. Told you not to fall in love with a ball. I've lost a lot of money on the giants in my life. That was my grandma, one of my grandma's teams and always stuck with them. That hurts your feelings. Last game of the regular season, Detroit man handles Minnesota to win the division. Get the one seed.

get the buy, get the home field advantage all the way through the playoffs. huge win for a beat up Detroit team. I'm sitting here looking, I picked Detroit on the show last week. I turned around and bet on Minnesota. Cost me, but like I told you Anthony, I'm glad it happened. Cause now I don't have to try to buy into them next week in the playoffs.

final score was bad, they got that. Darnold was 18 for 41. he was missing wide open guys. was a, it was pretty close for a lot of the game. I didn't watch it like you. So I don't know. So I know it was close until the fourth quarter and that's kind of the wheels came out They got their ass kicked. Did when you watched it, did you feel like Detroit controlled the game? They did. Okay. They did. Menace Darnold looks so bad.

had to be his worst game of the year. Yeah. was 18 for 41. Didn't throw a touchdown. He's bad. a lot of throws. He probably missed five or six throws. And then he probably missed a couple of receivers that were wide open that he didn't even throw to. there was one that was blatant down inside the 10 yard line. Guy runs a slant. Darnold's looking right at him.

He's wide open. He looks off, ends up scrambling and incomplete pass. And that was fourth down inside the 10 yard line. Darno played bad. Not to change the subject, but a score just flashed across. Charlie is what I pointed out there. Tennessee is down to Florida by 25 points in the first half. think it is. Beginning of the second half. It's 43 to 18. You asked me if I thought Florida was legit. told you, I thought they, especially offensively.

looked really good against Kentucky. They are blowing the doors off of Tennessee right now. Tennessee, they're still ranked. Are they? Yeah, there might be. They're in the top three or four, I think. And it looks like SEC is going to be tough sledding. What are we doing? I know we were down by about 12 at halftime. We're down 11 now. Life in SEC is going to be tough this year. This has got to be the lowest.

points we've scored so far. little bit harder when they're playing Hawk and D. that's gold. Yeah. that's like, all right. So that was the recap. Now we are on to the playoffs. I love it. I should be in Vegas. Instead. I'm going to be in Baltimore.

You think the guy in Baltimore still looking for the stragglers?

probably looking for Bubba. Is he locked up? Yeah, I guess. Red said he was locked up through the holidays. looking for the stragglers. Now the big boys is looking for his ass. Probably done got him. All right. So we have two games on Saturday.

We're to start off with the first game will be at four 30. The chargers are going to Houston to face the Texans who are playing like shit, except they did get the win last week against bum Titans. I don't know how much you want to give them credit for that, but Houston's not playing great ball. Chargers are minus three on the road

Anthony, who you like in this one? I'm going let you go first on this one. Go charges. I knew you was going to, I knew you liked the chargers. like, you know, I'm Jim Harbaugh guy, Herbert. He's good. It's not that I love them. I just think they're well coached. they play for the guy. I think Houston is on a spiral down. They beat Tennessee, but I've not been big on Houston all year. Of course they lost digs and Dell, which don't help them. I'm a big believer in NFL.

A lot of times you're just as good as your situation as a quarterback. And his situation was really good before I thought. I think as know, CJ Stroud's situation is bad. I'm not taking it all away from him. I'm not giving him all the credit before. But right now, I just don't think Houston's at a good place. And I don't think the Chargers are great by no means. don't. I do think they're well coached and they play for him. So I'll take the Chargers.

I agree. I'm going to take the Chargers here too. I still really can't trust the Chargers though. I'm with you. probably sound like I'm on repeat, but they don't have any big time playmakers. They don't. They got Herbert. the running back situation has been beat up all year. they lost all their receivers last year.

But I'm with you. I Harbaugh. he'll have his guys ready

Herbert's a way better quarterback. Herbert's good. I hope they could use some talent. pointed out some of the guys that they lost. I don't trust either one of these teams. This is the least sexy game on slate. It's kind of boring even. Look, I love the NFL, but this game right here, I'm going to watch but not very intriguing matchup here.

Give me the coach and the When it comes down to close matchups where I'm I've dissected everything I can. I'm going to the coach and the quarterback coach and the quarterback. And they got both in this situation. And I actually, I think they got both by a significant margin.

Jim Harbaugh might be the best coach in football period. might be the best coach ever. You go to the 49ers, you go to the Andy Reid might want to fight. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm just saying pure football coach. You go to the 49ers, you go to the Super Bowl, you go to Michigan, a down program at the time, bring them back to national glory. Almost went two in a row and it ends up winning one. Goes to the Chargers, a bottom feeder. Don't forget Stanford. Yeah, Stanford. I forgot all about them. Yeah. Had all the success at Stanford. Took them to a...

Rose Bowl or something. something pretty impressive. Yeah, I forget but and then he goes out to he's just done it at the college and pro level that don't happen much and to me, that's a football coach. He's not a guru. He's a leader of men. He's a quarterback whisper The players play for him, man. Alright, so we both on the chargers there. Yep. No faith in Houston. None.

much more intriguing. This is what I like. This is a playoff game. Saturday, eight o'clock Pittsburgh at Baltimore. Baltimore is 10. I would love to go back and look at all of the spreads in every Pittsburgh and Baltimore game since, let's say, since John Harbaugh has been there.

Maybe I'm missing something, but this spread normally in these games are two and a half, three points. And I'd say the majority of those matchups are probably decided by pretty close to that. This to me seems way too much. Y'all know that I'm not a big Ravens fan. I openly admit that, but I'm not no dummy.

Baltimore is playing as good as anybody right now. Offense is high flying. Lamar's threat unlike any other. And they got Derek Henry and flowers. They added Derek Henry. They've got a good proven coach. I'm not a dummy, but this 10 I get it that Pittsburgh has lost four in a but

go back about five episodes ago and listen to what I said about Pittsburgh's end to their season. Brutal schedule. I saw it coming and I knew it. I didn't know that they were going to drop four of them, but I knew that their back end of their schedule was brutal. I think it was at Philly at Baltimore and they played Kansas City.

Tell me a tougher three game stretch than that. it's tough. Especially when I mean, Kansas City really needed that last game to Maybe Baltimore rolls them and Baltimore does scare me a little bit. But 10 points is too much in this. Anthony asked me what I thought it should should be. I said five and a half. Maybe I spoke a little too soon. Maybe it should be six or seven. There's no way you're going to tell me it should be 10.

think Mike Tomlin has them ready. know what I think about Pittsburgh, especially his underdogs, the numbers are there to support it. I'm going to take Pittsburgh. I do think Baltimore wins this game, but I don't think they win by double digits. Pittsburgh will figure out a way slow it down.

keep it a game in the fourth quarter. And I think they'll be right there with a chance to win the game. I don't think they ultimately win the game, but I love the 10 points. So I'm all over Pittsburgh. Look, Baltimore is loaded. They're loaded. I don't want to hear anybody say Baltimore and loaded. I got a lot of people are Lamar fans and I get it. Lamar is really good. Guys, there's tons of Lamar fans around. I know they're living in Louisville. Probably more than Baltimore.

Louisville is now an adopted Baltimore Raven City. They are early is y'all don't even understand it. It is it is you see Ravens jerseys everywhere around. They love them. What's your look? I get it. I like Derek Henry a lot. Not a Lamar fan, but I respect him. Jalen hurts. I don't like Jalen hurts. I don't respect him. I respect Lamar because I know what he does in today's NFL with the way the rules are set out where you can only do so much. You can't put enough hits on a guy.

and you can run around and that's just kind of what they, you know, they don't call holding as much. It sets up. You almost need a running quarterback.

He's a weapon for that reason. years ago, you couldn't do what he does now because they would hurt you and they didn't allow as much offensive home. But in saying that Baltimore has nine pro bowlers, Charlie, nine pro bowlers. They're loaded,

Now look their defense has been playing better and that was her biggest question never has been their offense But they they did just face the Browns a struggling Texans team The Steelers and then the Giants they didn't end the year with the best offenses to make them look good they beat Pittsburgh 34 to 17 at Baltimore But that game was close

until the interception return with 13 minutes to go for a pick six. At that point, it was 24-17. It had been a back and forth game all game. When you look at the stats, neither one of them jump off at your time. A possession was kind of evenish. know, first downs wasn't too skewed. Pittsburgh had one more turnover and it was for a pick six. Pretty much that's what changed the game there. If it was at Baltimore, this game would be at Baltimore too. I'm gonna take the point. I think Baltimore's good. Baltimore's probably...

should win this game. They might not. but you give me 10 points in Pittsburgh. I'll take it. if there is any team in the whole NFL that knows the Ravens and knows Lamar, it's Pittsburgh. There's not another team in the league, including Cleveland and Cincinnati that know as much about Baltimore and Lamar and the Steelers. Nope.

We're both on Pittsburgh. Next game. This will be the first game on Sunday at one o'clock Denver at

Buffalo. Buffalo is minus nine. Baltimore is minus 10 at home against Pittsburgh and Buffalo is only minus nine against Denver. See, think that's even a... Denver's pretty decent. They are, but... Pittsburgh's pretty decent too. You know what the NFL, with all them favorites winning at NFL set up, we're not going to keep letting these favorites win. We're going to raise the lines. I'm going be real straightforward here. I love Buffalo. They're good.

I don't love. I actually should not have said that. I do not love Buffalo. He's quitting the Dolphins guys. He's coming over to the Josh Allen train. Let me take that back. I do not love Buffalo. I love Buffalo in this game and we were supposed to make our Superbowl picks Anthony before we started this. So while we're on Buffalo, I'm just going go ahead and put it out there. My Superbowl pick is Buffalo.

against Detroit. Who wins? I don't know. Okay. Well, I'll give you mine. I'm gonna take Buffalo. All I'm gonna go with Buffalo. Listen, I'm a Buffalo guy. I got three quarterbacks I like. That's how I follow my teams in NFL. I like Joe Burrow. I like Josh Allen. I like Matthew Stafford. I like pocket passing quarterbacks. I've always liked it. That's what I like. Josh Allen can run a little bit more. I've always thought if you make the perfect quarterback, Allen's the guy, but I'm not sure if Josh Allen is his...

Savvy is, and Burrow, but they don't have his physical talent either. And wait till his legs go out. He'll be a just a fine pocket passer. He can do it with that. He uses those legs because he can. He uses the size. think he's like a If he just had to stand in the pocket and throw, he can absolutely do that too. Look, he don't have much else on his team offensively. He is the offense and...

with Joe Brady calling the plays, it's been a big difference. He came over halfway through the year when they were struggling last year. Buffalo's been a different team. They got rid of Diggs. I told everybody that would listen. Addition by subtraction. it's not that I don't think Diggs is no good. I just don't think they needed that drama in Buffalo. Buffalo's good, but my Super Bowl pick, look, this takes a lot of hurt for me to say this because I'm not a Kansas City fan, but their offense was really starting to come together at end of the year. They just mess around with and then they win.

So I'm going Kansas city. I'm going to go upset on the other side. And I really believe that what I'm hearing is to tell y'all. So it's not just a, that I'm a fan. I like the way they're playing. I could argue they should only have three or four losses for the year with the injuries they've had, but I'm going to go to Rams and we'll go to Rams and cheese. But I think the luck runs out for the Rams there. I'm going to go the chiefs winning it. And I hate that my son, I love it, but I'll hate it. All right. So you got chiefs over Rams. got bills over.

Lions and I like the bills and that that would be a hard game for me and I probably would pull for the bills over the Chiefs. Because I like Josh Allen I'm just telling you Kansas City's. I really think their offense was starting to come a lot. If I was them, I might not even a set of people because their offense was really starting to come together the last couple games so back to this game. I'm on Buffalo. Denver's had a good run. Denver is a good team.

I said it earlier in the year, I thought they were a year ahead of schedule. I still I don't see the upset happening. And I actually see Buffalo winning by double digits pretty easily I think the luck runs out for Denver.

They're a good team that's got a good future ahead. I agree with that. just don't think it's this year. So give me Buffalo minus the nine. I almost want to take number plus the points, but I'm going to take Buffalo, Buffalo minus nine. It's tough. It's a lot of points. Buffalo pretty much had to buy, last at home. Place is going to be crazy. They're going to be jumping through tables and

Denver ain't going to know what to do. All right. Next game, Sunday, 430 Green Bay at Philly. Philly is minus four Green Bay. I said that that loss against Chicago last week didn't matter. Didn't matter for the seating, but I do think it mattered a lot for momentum. That's not how you want to go into the playoffs. Losing that game to a

Terrible Chicago team has just been an absolute mess. You could argue they've been the biggest mess all year They beat Green Bay To close out their season. I'm sure they felt good about it But I don't think Green Bay is gonna be feeling good Going into the playoffs and then on top of that. Yeah go to Philly one of the places do not want to go play Phillies minus four

They've rested all their guys. I am still seeing that. I think that hurts is not guaranteed to play. He's playing, but I'm sure he will It took a lot for me to not take Philly to the Superbowl in my pick, but I love them in this game. Minus four. I think Philly wins by double digits too.

I'm on Philly big time. I'm going to take the upset. I'm going to take the Packers. Packers pretty good at stopping the run. Money line, you said? No, I'm taking the points, but I might bet on money line. I do think the Packers have a threat here. I do. I'm going to cross out that Chicago game. I don't know how much they want to win or didn't want to win it, but played. Yeah, they played. They played to win. Yeah, I'm going to take green bag.

They all gained Chicago by 150, but I didn't, I didn't keep up with the game real quick. Jordan love. got banged up at the end. He did pretty early in the game, I think, cause Rex told me that my son,

Now Chicago, I, I'm not taking nothing away from them, but as I'm sitting here looking at the little ways, I just quick, quick snapshots. They score 24. One of was a punt return for a touchdown. The other one was a touchdown off a fumble. They only needed 20 yards to get it. So that's, you know, that's 14 of the 24 right there Watson got hurt too. Both of them got hurt. Jordan loves elbow injury, not major.

Says Jordan love should be good to go. Less optimism for Christian Watson. So I'd that's deal. I'd say love's probably going to play. It sounds like Watson might be might be questionable to doubtful. So that's a big loss for green. It is. Oh, yeah. I'm on Philly here. All right. So we're going to split that one. Yeah. Next game, Sunday night, eight o'clock. I think this is going to be a really good game.

Washington at Tampa Bay. Tampa is minus three.

You know, I've been on Tampa all year. I like Baker. I've been telling you they were a good team all year. You didn't want to believe kind of John. You got kind of got you believing later in the year. They got me last week, they got me. They got me too.

This is a tough one for me. You know, I think it was, I'm sorry. I think it was drew that told me there was some bad weather supposed to be for that game. I don't know if they ended up having bad weather or not for what game Tampa, saints game. So I don't know if they got hit by bad weather or not, but that was in Tampa and would have just been rain. Yeah, still it matters. I'm not sure. I didn't really see any, was keeping up on the score, but I didn't watch any of that game.

actually like this Washington team. They're another team that I said was, a year or two away. they're playing good. Daniel's, He's one of my favorite young quarterbacks, but man,

If you talk about a lucky team, Anthony, they got to be one of the most luckiest teams in the NFL. don't know how they come up with their whole luck factor and all that. But Washington's got to be up top. I've been saying that Daniels has got three or four or five comebacks in the fourth quarter. They got comebacks on the last play.

Like five of them. And that kick versus Atlanta. I don't know if you've seen it. I've seen it like on one of the little videos. The Atlanta player thought he'd won it. He was running up. Did you see him? Like after that kick, it was on the lineman or something. It was on that play. He started running towards the goalpost, holding his arms up, like celebrating and it fell short and he had a turnaround. my goodness. thought it was good. Washington's defense is not good enough. I think Tampa's going to expose them.

Baker is going to be pumped and ready to be in the playoffs. They got the home game. I like Tampa here. Washington I enjoy watching them play. They're fun. They're fun team to watch. but I think their luck runs out. I mean, how many games can you win at the end with the lucky stuff they got going on? I think Tampa will be ready. Give me the give me the bucks. Give me Baker.

That'd be playing at Raymond James Stadium, right? That where they got the pirate ship right down there in Tampa. Remember my cats played in the, I think that was the Outback bowl. Or is that the Outback bowl they have at that? I think it is played Penn State. feel like they play. No, that was, what's the one they play with? I'm talking about Tim couch. The one with Tim couch years It might've the Penn State game a couple of years ago. I went to that when that one was in Orlando. I'm going old school, But anyhow, look, I'm going, I'm going to keep buying Tampa. I kind of got on on

and they disappointed me last I don't know what that was all about. But anyhow, I'm going to stay with them. I'm not so into Washington. I don't know what Washington is. I feel like I like Tampa a little bit. I don't really love none of these games this week. I'm excited about watching them. But I really don't. I think they're tough games to gamble, but I'm going to go Tampa. Speaking of Tampa, did you see Mike Evans? Is he out? No, no. Hell no, he's not out.

So they got him a $2 million catch or three minutes or whatever. Yes. Yes. And not only they were, it was this play where they were going to kneel. and they threw like a little slant pass and he, he made $3 million in incentives with that catch. And even the cooler part about it, he tied or broke.

Jerry Rice is here it is. Tied Jerry Rice's all time record with 11 consecutive seasons of a thousand yards. Let me ask you a question. I know the coach ain't coach for the players, but does ownership get a little pissed at there?

They got enough money, huh? Yeah, they got so much money. I wouldn't think, you know, I wouldn't think that that would piss them off. You don't think they'll ever get the little thing in the mic, get him out of the game? You think it's ever happened? I think it might have halfway happened in the Giants game. Malik neighbors, actually, he might have ended up getting it. But man, the way they were subbing him in and out, taking him out of possessions for no reason.

He was up for some incentives too. He ended up getting it. he actually broke the all time receptions for a rookie. I think he definitely broke the record for the giants, but he passed Brock Bowers had the record for most receptions in a season for a rookie. He passed him.

Now I don't know what Bowers did. Bowers played at four o'clock and I'm sure he probably passed him to get the record back. neighbors was looking for some incentives too, but I'm telling you, Dayball was taking him in and out. So I don't know what that was about, but at least Tampa went and did the right thing, man. They said it was, I didn't see it, but I swear they said it was on a play they were going to kneel. Well, let me ask you a question. Here's the million dollar question for all the New York fans we got out there.

If you have one franchise, you could have one franchise tomorrow. Somebody was gifting it to you. The Giants or the Jets. Who are you taking? Current situation, everything. That's a shit show. Current stadium, current draft picks, current everything. Give me the Giants. Okay. I don't want nothing to do with the Jets. Nothing. The Jets got hot sauce or a sauce gardener. Giants have been to a couple of Super Bowls in my lifetime. Won a couple of Super Bowls in my lifetime.

They were even good when we were younger with Phil Sims and then the jets ain't never been good ever, ever, ever, ever. And they just got the top five quarterback ever in the history of NFL. And I was sucked to, would take the jets, but I'm, I think the jets were actually playing decent at the end, but I love Saul Skartner. That's why I take them for one place. Just sauce. Well, just buy, just you get the giants and make some trades. That ain't trading sauce.

true lock they would. That's next Josh Allen, isn't it? Last game Monday night. I'll be flying back from Baltimore right in the middle of this game. by the internet. Can't you buy internet on flights?

yeah, I'll buy internet and I'll put on my yeah, I got I'll have it. I'll have it on. We'll figure it out. It's 2025 right? Minnesota at the Rams. Minnesota is minus one 14 win wild card team.

is the favorite.

I like the Rams too, are good. I'm so glad. This is the one good thing that came of me losing a couple of dollars last week on Minnesota.

that I don't have to buy into them again in the playoffs.

frauds frauds frauds, Minnesota drops 14 win wild card team drops in the first round Rams take them out it. want the Rams to make a run. I really feel like they were close to making a run last year. They lost to Detroit on last play of the game. They played Detroit first game of the season when Detroit was fully healthy at Detroit and went to overtime. They had a few injuries and they got hot again this year.

I really think the Rams are good.

So you taking them. know you are right. right. So let's see. We are on the chargers. We're on Pittsburgh on Buffalo, Tampa and the Rams. The only one we disagreed on was Green Bay and Philly chargers, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Tampa and the Rams. Let's do it. Let's do it. Let's do it. Five, five game parlay. You want to pick a couple and try to

Maybe we both like that. We the Rams, right? We like the Rams. You like the Rams or no, you don't love them. My favorite two that we're on.

And am I going to say the chargers?

Yeah, let's go with the Rams.

You want to do a little two game? I like Tampa. All right. I like Tampa. Yeah. I like Tampa as well. Let's do a little late night, Sunday night, Monday night parlay Tampa and the Rams and then the five gamer chargers, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Tampa and the Rams. And then bet about 10 units on Penn state. That'll get you a bunch of money to start. You'll be up 10 units.

going into Saturday and then you can just load up on these, this five game and two game Love Penn State. like them too. I might put 20 units I Kentucky's bad down 12 with eight minutes left. I thought we had just cut it to, thought we had just cut it to like seven and now I look up and we're down 12.

Eight minutes left. think these road games in SEC are going to be tough. Hopefully we can come back and win this man. We're down 12 now. That's rough. all right guys. Happy new year. Thank you all for listening. We appreciate you as always. Like subscribe on all your favorite streaming platforms. Check out the social media.

I'm going do some more posting this week. We really haven't done any in the last week or two. Just been busy with the holidays, but check out the social media platforms. We'll be back active on those here pretty soon. Yep, guys. Good luck with everything. playoff football. It's both college and pro, we can now say that it's going to be exciting time. I'm super excited about the college games. I'm actually really excited about the NFL playoff.

lot of good games. I think the games that get really good the following week, you know, get these first round games out of the way that the games really should start to get really good in the NFL. So that'd be fun to watch your favorite team is if they're in the playoffs, if not adopt the team, go Rams. That's right. Let's go Rams. got some futures on the Rams. Let's hit it. I would love it. I think they deserve it. So, all right. Blitz the bookie guys. We'll see you on next week. See ya.