June 23, 2019 • 48 mins
Bernie Fratto and Brad Powers preview the upcoming College Football season with a conference-by-conference breakdown across the nation. The guys tackle the biggest questions for the season and give their predictions on how the year will play out. What will Oklahoma look like with Jalen Hurts at the helm? Will this finally be the year Jim Harbaugh breaks through at Michigan? Can anyone take down Clemson? Bernie and Brad have everything you need PLUS their Final Four and Best Bets for the season!
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The moment we've been waiting for since September is finally here.
In honor of the Big Game. Draft Kings Sports Book,
an official sports banking partner of Super Bowl fifty six,
is giving new customers fifty six to one odds on
either team. That just five dollars and get two hundred
eighty and free bets if your team wins. Download the
Draft Kings Sports Book gap, use promo code r J
Bell and get fifty six to one odds on either team.
(00:21):
Beat Judge five dollars and get two hundred and eighty
and free bets if your team wins. That's promo code
r J Belt at Draft Kings sports Book, an official
sports betting partner of Super Bowl fifty six. Twenty one
plus minimum age and location requirements varied by joy station.
See DraftKings dot com Slash sports Book for full list
of requirements and stay specific responsible gaming resources void where prohibited.
Gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler. In tennessee caller
(00:43):
text at t N red Line one eight hundred eight
eight nine nine seven eight nine. In Connecticut, call eight
at eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven, or
visit CCPG dot org slash chat in New York call
eight seven seven eight Hope and Why, or text hope
and Why four six seven three six nine. If you
love to be remembered as the person who gives the
best birthday gifts, I'm here to tell you that one
(01:05):
eight hundred flowers dot com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination.
One eight hundred flowers has thoughtful and artfully created options
that are guaranteed to deliver the best birthday surprise. Shop
thousands of unique gifts at one hundred flowers dot com
for exclusive offers and great values. To order today, visit
one hundred flowers dot com slash tune in. That's one
(01:28):
hundred flowers dot com. Slash tune in. The NFL podcast
network is your home for all things football. Do you
love hearing analysis around the league with a touch of mirth,
Or maybe you enjoy breaking down X and os in
the college scouting scene. Do you breathe, sleep, and eat
fantasy football? Perhaps you love the funny headlines that emerge
(01:50):
each week. What if you want in depth news coverage
with reporters, or what if you want to know exactly
how each team got its name? You're in luck because
the NFL Podcast Network has a show for everybody. Listen
on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
you get your podcasts. This is Straight out of Vegas
(02:17):
with the Voice of Vegas your host r J. Bab
that's me and he's money. You are now about to
witness the strength of street Knowledge live from the Vegas
Strength the pregame show America has always wanted with r J.
Bell out, here's Ernie Freddo you know? In sixty three
(02:38):
days at seven pm Eastern from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida,
the Miami Hurricanes will face off against the Florida Gators.
And you know what that means. The two thousand nineteen
college football season will officially be underway, and according to
William Hill Sports but here in Law Vegas, the Florida
Gators are currently a seven and a half point favorite.
(03:00):
It's time tonight We're devoting the full show to our
college football extravaganza. That's right, summertime is the right time
to talk college football. Oh my god, And I just
say that. On that note, welcome back to another edition
of Straight Out of Vegas. R J Bellozan Reconnaissance. I'm
Bernie Fratto. We're coming to you live from the Gecko
Fox Sports Radio studios where fifteen minutes could save you
(03:23):
or more on car insurance. So there's a Geico dot
com for a free right quote. This is the weekend
edition of Straight Out of Vegas. You know, Straight out
of Vegas. There is Monday through Friday right here on
Fox Sports Radio. I Heart Radio Serious Sex Channel LAD
three from three to four Pacific, six to seven Eastern
with r J Bell, Steve Physic, Brad Powers, and Jonas
Knox and regardless of the season, know this. As r J.
(03:44):
Bell says daily, we promised to deliver the Vegas Truth
to you every Saturday night. This is Straight out of Vegas,
the pregame show you always wanted. We are joined tonight
by the man with the college knowledge. He's a walking
supercomputer of college football. So pack your lunch and jump
on board with us tonight. Say hello to Brad Powers. Brat,
(04:05):
thanks for coming tonight. I appreciate it. Bernie. It's a
little late for my taking, but I'll tell you what.
When I saw in college football we could do at
at three thirty in the morning, Well we might just
do that, Brad, So hold that thought what we want
to start with tonight because we're gonna cover a lot
of ground and take you through the college football season.
It's never too soon. What really? In Vegas, we have
(04:26):
this tradition at the end of May. We had Tony
Miller around three Saturdays ago. He's the sports book director
at the Golden Nugget, and they released the college football
Games of the Year, and all the big shooters are there,
including Brad Powers. Saw Brad there and Brad you've probably
already already fired on some of those games, right, I'll
tell you what. Let's dive right in. Who who did
you grab? Yeah, I mean, Bernie, you gotta fire on
(04:47):
those because I mean, you go down there. I got
people flying from all over the country, and you can
get down as much as a thousand dollars on a game.
And I got made two bats. I'll say this, Tony
Miller does the best job of anybody doing is they're sharp.
So I only fire on games. I just don't go
there to just to throw money around. If I think
a line is off significantly, and there weren't too many
(05:09):
games that were, then I'll fire two bets that I
did make. Early end of September game Nebraska against Ohio State.
Nebraska catching ten at home, right at home plus ten
over Ohio State. That that line's moved three points and
that's been significant. And then the other one, I bet
Florida State as a homedog against Syracuse plus one and
a half. Now Florida State is a three point favorite, right,
(05:31):
And we talked the one game I'm on, I typically
don't do this. I also like Nebraska was fortune to
give him that day plus double digits. But Bratt, let's
back up, because you do a tremendous amount of research.
There's a lot of science and art that goes into
your work, and you're probably up at three thirty in
the morning preparing for the for for all of your shows,
and you take this very seriously. And we've got listeners
(05:52):
all around the country. And one of the things that
we try to do on Saturday night is provide usable
in for me ation that's going to help you make money.
That's what we're in this for and brand. One of
the things you do and devote a lot of time
are are are producing and and publishing your power ratings.
They form the foundation of your methodology and how you
(06:16):
decide who to bet on. Tell our audience what a
power rating is, Explain what they mean, the significance in handicapping,
and the methodology you use to arrive at power ratings. Well,
you use the keyword there uh, few sentences back foundation.
So if you're looking to dip your toe in the water, uh.
As far as becoming your own handicapper, the starting off
(06:37):
point of any handicap to a game is the power rating.
So what's a power rating? Basically, you've got individual team
power ratings, and what that team power rating is gonna say,
and you compare it to their opponent, this team would
be favored by X amount of points over their opponent
on a neutral field. So let's use an example. Say
my power writing on Alabama's a hundred, my power rating
(07:00):
on clemsons and nine nine. Basically that would say, on
a neutral field, Alabama one point better than Clemson. Therefore,
my projected line off my power rating would have Alabama
one point favorite. Good stuff. So I happen to have
your power ratings here. What's interesting is you currently have
Alabama power rated number one over everybody at nine point
seven eight. They drop three points from last year Clemson.
(07:23):
Interestingly enough, and they have Trevor Lawrence back drop four
talk about the factors you considered and arriving at that. Well,
let's start off, so basically what that power rating saying
Alabama right around one point better than Clemson. Right now,
people are gonna be shocked. Hey, Brad, I mean you're
a college football expert. Didn't you watch the national title
game forty four to sixteen? How can you have Alabama
favorite over Clemson while say this, show me your your
(07:46):
Clemson ticket on that game, because Alabama coming into that game,
Bernie was around a five and a half six point favorite.
And I'm sorry, at the end of the season, I
don't adjust my power ratings after one game five six points.
I just don't do that, especially that particular game, which look,
I'm not saying Clemson wasn't the better team. They clearly
were the better team, but that was a very misleading game.
(08:08):
So after that game, both r J myself Steve Fenzi said, hey,
if you had to make the line now after watching
that game, both Pesik and myself said, yeah, Alabama small favorite.
So we start with that after that reasult, so you
look at both teams returning production when you're coming up
with a preseason power writing both teams about the same
twelve returning starters for both obviously massive losses for Clemson
(08:31):
on the defensive line and Alabama always loses. I mean,
they're always losing ten guys in the NFL, so no
different they're recruiting classes. Advantage Alabama in that regard. I
also think Alabama, even though they have two new coordinators,
I think they upgraded a coordinator, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.
Added all up, I think Alabama was just slightly better
than Clemson. And I'll say I'm probably a little bit
(08:53):
on an island there because you can bet that hypothetical
matchup right now at the Gold Nugget and Clemson's about
a two point favorite over Alabama. And I'm sure a
lot of that's driven by public perception and market correct Yeah,
I think a lot of it. Uh. I mean, the
money come in if that if that game would you
can you can bet it right now and there hasn't
been any movement. And if that line is off, then
(09:16):
that line is gonna move big time, you know. And look,
even though I'm slightly higher in Alabama, I'm not running
down there to bet Alabama plus two and a hypothetical. Now,
if that line had Clemson three and a half, Bernie,
then I would make the bet because it would be
around a key number of three. But I don't see
any movement whatsoever there. And you're right, I think public
(09:37):
perception says, hey, Clemson to sixteen over Alabama. Clemson has
Trevor Lawrence. Clemson has got to be better than Alabama.
I just slightly disa and Alabama has to a talk
of a lowest. So it's you know, it's it's a
flip of the coin. We're going to dive into all
the power conferences and project before we exit this show.
And of course we'll have our best bets at the end.
(09:58):
And Sleepy took a weary well to serve night off
and his best bet hit last weekly over in the
White Sock Yankee Game. We don't have Brad powers with
the best bet as well. Before we dive into analyzing
the five power conferences and projecting the final four, Brad,
there are a couple of other power readings that caught
my eye, most notably Michigan and Ohio State. Michigan just
(10:19):
a hair over Ohouse State. Justifiably, I have what I
like to look at is continuity. So Michigan does return
Harbaugh and Shaye Patterson. Meanwhile, Ohio State brings in Justin
Field from Georgia. We really don't know what you get
there and Ryan Day, but yet they're still pole rated
fairly equally. Yeah, I have Michigan about a point better
than Ohio State. And for those of you out there
(10:40):
listening saying, well, I mean Brad again, you know you
didn't watch the National title game evidently because you got
Alabama over Clemson that you watch the big game in
Columbus where Ohio State one sixty two to thirty nine
over Michigan. How can you have Michigan over Ohio State.
Ohio States beating Michigan fourteen the last fifteen years. I'll
say this again, show me your Ohio State ticket from
(11:02):
that game last year because in Columbus, Bernie, in Columbus,
Michigan was a four and a half point favorite. That
blows me away for another reason. Go ahead, So on
a neutral at that point we're talking the final game
of the regular season, the Vegas market was saying Michigan
at the very least was at least they touched down
better heading into that game, so I don't think it's
(11:24):
out of the realm of possibility that Okay, Ohio State
loses a Hall of Fame coach, they lose their you know,
first round draft pick at quarterback. Michigan's got more returning
production to think now, Michigan only a one point favorite
over a neutral over Ohio State, and right now those
lines agree with me. You can bet Michigan Ohio State
right now, and Michigan's about a three and a half
and a half three and a half in the game
(11:45):
will be playing an arbor. The reason I scratch my head,
we're gonna get into the conferences here. I just want
to say one thing a year ago, at this time
at the Games the Games a year Game of the
Year lines, I believe Ohio State was minus six thereabouts.
Four and a half sounds about right, and the line
moves ten points. And I'm thinking to myself, what in
God's green Earth would move somebody to make Michigan a
(12:08):
Someone would actually fire on Michigan as a road favorite
when you could have had him as almost a touchdown underdog.
And we know urban meyer record as an underdog is
just spotless. Right, make a long story longer, even if
you grab Michigan at the six, it wouldn't have covered anyway.
So that's why you're sure. Yeah, right, all right, let's
dive into this because, uh, you know, college football has
(12:30):
become a race to the Final four, and we start
with the Power of five conferences. I want to start
with a Pack twelve, Brad, because Oregon is your highest
power rated team and they improved six points over last year.
Obviously a great quarterback in Justin Herbert. Are they your
favorite to win the Pack twelve? You know, I'm glad
you started with this because even though I have Oregon
as my top righted Pack twelve team, that's just the
(12:52):
power writing on a neutral field. You still plug that
into a schedule. That doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going
to have Oregon winning the Packed of And hear me
out here, I think it's all about Oregon schedule. Yes,
I love the returning production Justin Herbert at quarterback, who
I think is the number one prospect. I love to
but I'm as far as the NFL goes, Justin Herbert
(13:12):
is your best pro prospect that will be available for
next year's NFL draft. Obviously, Trevor Lawrence two years away
for Clemson. But Oregon has struggled on the road, Bernie,
the last week and I look at their road schedule.
It starts they're away from home in Arlington, Texas to
start off the season, they play Auburn, and then the
road schedule in conference they have to go to Washington,
(13:34):
to USC to Stanford. Yeah, even though I have my
highest rated team, I don't have them, you know, winning
the Pack twelve this year. There are two point dog
to Auburn on that new dual, and we know Oregon
has struggled mightily with the SEC. If they open up
with a loss, you know, what is that change for you?
Or if anything doesn't change much? Because I have Auburn
(13:55):
about two two and a half points better than Oregon,
I think that line is completely fair right now, doesn't
change too much. Now. If they get crushed and it's
just like they're severely outclassed and they lose by three touchdowns,
especially against an Auburn team that might start a true
freshman at quarterback, then that would say not only a
lot about Oregon but also the PAC twelve. Pack twelve
needs a marquee win, Bernie, it's been a long You're
(14:17):
you're you're so right, and I will just say this
about that game because I've already fired on Auburn. Look,
i think they're gonna run for about a million yards
that day against Oregon. Just saying we're talking about you
mentioned a good point schedule. Utah is a team that's
caught my eye. Their eighteenth power rank. They've got the
easiest road schedule in the Pac twelve South. Could they
upset the Apple cart in the Pac twelve. Yeah, And
(14:39):
even though I have Utah number eighteen, even behind Washington,
you saw it would be my team to win the
Pac twell because of their schedule, I mean, their toughest
game they do play Washington, but I think Utah has
almost a clear path to the Pack twelve South title.
They're better than everybody in that conference. They do have
to travel to USC, but I mean Utah has had
USC's now umber. If now watch last year's game, if
(15:01):
you don't believe me, so, I think Utah, especially at
the line of scrimmage, I think people forget about Utah.
Bernie last year, last five games, they didn't have their
starting quarterbacks, starting running back. I'm high on Utah. I
think they win the Pack twelve got a minute ago
before break. But Washington State great road team last year
five and one. They beat Wyoming, Oregon State, Stanford, Colorado,
and Iowa stayed all on the road and all those
(15:22):
teams were barely five hundred. But can you ever count
on Mike Leach. You can't. And that's one team that
he doesn't recruit very well. It's plugging play at the quarterback.
No Gardner Minshow this year. Yeah, but I mean who
was I mean, we didn't think of much of Gardner
Mintshew this time last year. We thought, oh my god, Carolina,
but he had mid tested fair. Yeah, but that's a
(15:43):
plug and play offense. So even though you look four
thousand yard passer and I'm not overly high on Washington State,
but would certainly be a contender in the pack twelve North.
He's Brad Powers, He's with us the full hour. We're
gonna give you a college football extravagance to go through
all the part of five conferences, plus lots of other
subject matter. I want to remind you, Straight out of
(16:04):
Vegas is brought to you by Discover. Go further than
ever with the Discover at Miles Cart they automatically matched
the miles you earn at the end of your first year,
so your thirty five thousand miles could become seventy. Discover
It miles limitations apply discover Match for new card members only.
Learn more at discover dot com. Slash travel. I'm Bernie
(16:25):
Frattaware County Alive from the Gecko Fox Sports Radio Studios.
This is the pregame show you always wanted to. Don't
go away. You're listening to Straight out of Vegas. Get
right to the romance and find the way to wow
this Valentine's with one hundred Flowers dot Com. From classic
roses and Bouquet's to decadent chocolate covered berries, gourmet treats
(16:47):
and more. Surprise your Valentine with Flowers dot com right now.
Get the eighteen stem enchanted rose Medley for or upgrade
red Roses for ten dollars more. Go to one hundred
flowers dot com. Slash tune in. That's dot com. Slash
tune in. The NFL Podcast Network is your home for
(17:12):
all things football. Do you love hearing analysis around the
league with a touch of mirth, or maybe you enjoy
breaking down X and os in the College Scouting feed.
Do you breathe, sleep, and eat fantasy football. Perhaps you
love the funny headlines that emerge each week. What if
you want in depth news coverage with reporters, or what
(17:32):
if you want to know exactly how each team got
its name? While you're in luck, because the NFL Podcast
Network has a show for everybody. Our vast network has
the NFL's best talent, bringing you right into the action
each week. There's always room to add more football into
your podcast rotation, and our vast group of shows will
(17:52):
surely keep you up to date with everything you need
to know surrounding the National Football League. Listen on the
I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get
your podcasts. I'm John Gonzalez, the host of Sports Illustrated. Weekly.
Sports Illustrated has delivered the best storytelling in sports for
(18:14):
seventy years, first in the pages of the magazine, then
on SI dot com, and now that tradition continues on
a new podcast. Each week, we'll dive deep into the
best stories from around the sports world. We'll ask the
questions that we're all wondering and push for the answers
we all want. Everything from investigating the Super Bowl's impact
on l a to examining white booing is as big
(18:37):
a part of the fan experience as cheering. Sports Illustrated
Weekly is here to bring you the entertaining tales you
can't get anywhere else, the kinds of stories that make
you smile and laugh, clap and cry, marvel, think, and
fall in love with sports all over again. Sports Illustrated
Weekly is available every Wednesday on the I Heart Radio app,
(18:57):
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe. Now
you're back on Straight Out. I guess the pregame show
you always wanted. I'm Bernie Franto, coming to you live
from the Gecko Fox Sports Radio Studios. Welcome to our
College Extravaganza show. Nine weeks from tonight. We've got Miami
(19:17):
and Florida in the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, seven
o'clock Eastern. It'll be here before you know it. And
that's why we've got the man with the college knowledge,
Brad Powers, with us tonight breaking it down. Get your
pencils and pans ready or your notepads. He's dropping knowledge, Brad.
Let's move along to the Big twelve. Obviously the big story.
Oklahoma gets a kid, what's his name Jalen Hurts. I've
(19:41):
heard of him. His name rings a bell. He'll take
over at quarterback. And Oklahoma's a machine. Uh. And you've
got them, obviously for all the right reasons. As the
highest power rated team in the Big Twelve, so I'm
assuming they're the favorite. I don't want to put words
from but there's a kid down in Texas m Herman,
who I remember a couple of three years ago when
(20:03):
he had a Houston team, there was only power ranked
about thirty three. They smacked Oklahoma week one. Can Texas
challenge Oklahoma? Take it away? What are your thoughts in
Big twelve? I think nationally the narrative is that, yeah,
Texas can compete with Oklahoma, and they certainly did last year.
They won one of the two meetings and we're very
competitive in the Big Twelve championship game. But I'm gonna
(20:24):
be contrarian on Texas, and to me, I think a
mistake that a lot of people make this time of years.
They just focus on who's back at quarterback and other
skill positions, and of course I love Texas quarterback Sam Allinger.
I think another mistake that that people make is when
we last saw Texas. What were they doing. Oh, they're
(20:45):
pulling a big upset over Georgia and the Sugar Bowl
could have been a very disinterested Georgia team. So those
two factors there, for me, has Texas overrated. I look
at who else is back for Texas and I'm looking
around and I don't see anybody leading. Russia's gone leading,
Seaver has gone. All seven guys that started on that
linebacker and the defensive line all gone, zero returning starters
(21:08):
on the front seven. That's the type of stuff people
don't dive into. And Tom Herman great underdog coach that
the books on that he might be the best underdog
coach in the country right now. But when expectations are high, Allah,
that Houston team that beat Oklahoma and that opener and
probably should have went undefeated, that they had no business,
you know, losing the Memphis and Essen later in the season,
(21:30):
and they crushed the Louisville team in the Heisman Trophy
here for Lamar Jackson. So I'm selling Texas, Bernie. And
if I'm selling Texas, that means I'm really buying Oklahoma.
I think Oklahoma goes undefeated and there in the playoff, well,
I I love Lincoln Riley. He's absolutely done the job.
And uh, there's no argument there. Let's move along to
the big tent. Obviously you get the big two Ohio
(21:51):
State in Michigan. Is this finally the year hardball breaks through?
He's got a gauntlet of four games at home, He's
got Michigan State at home, He's got Note Dame at home.
He's good. Ohiose stated at homes gott Iowood home. I
think he's I think they spit the bit in one
of those games. A couple of tough road games. You've
already fired on them against Middle Tennessee State. Brad, I
don't think you can pencil in Michigan, but I'm down
(22:13):
dying to hear your opinion. Well, I pencil nothing was
Sharpie for sure. Uh, it has to be the year
for Michigan because you mentioned it. They get all those
big teams at home. They still got to play Penn
State Wisconsin on the road, and that's not gonna be
Week three right exactly. Now, Wisconsin might have a young quarterback,
(22:33):
so that might be advantaged Michigan there. But this has
to be the year because they get the Buckeyes at home.
Because they get Michigan State Notre Dame, and the unfortunate
thing was I think last year's team might have been
slightly stronger, but they had to face all three of
those teams on the road, losing the Notre Dame in
Ohio State book and shape Patterson's back. I'm not a
huge shape Patterson fan defense. Lost a lot of leadership
(22:54):
Devin Bush and Chase Winovitch. Are you kidding me? But
when you add it all up at home and my
power rings call for it, Yeah, this has got to
be the year from Michigan. Finally they break through win
the Big ten. You know they and I just have
no faith in Harball. Three years ago, they stumbled at Iowa.
Last year they almost stumbled at Northwestern. I think they're
(23:15):
gonna stumble somewhere, but we're gonna save that for a
later show. We're gonna do another one of these folks
in mid August. One of the teams I think we're
both pretty high on, and I want you to tell
the folks why bred. I think Nebraska obviously great. Higher
in Scott Frost, he needed a year to get his
feet wet. Uh. They struggle on the road last year,
but you brought up a good point that a lot
of those games were close. Can Nebraska make the quantum
(23:38):
leap upward and actually challenge for one of the titles?
I don't think it's such a quantum leap, Bernie and
hear me out. Record wise, yeah, I mean there four
and eight last year Nebraska, but they statistically the Hoskers
were more like a six or seven win team team
that lost five games by a touchdown or less. The
team at the start of the season that started ohing
(23:58):
six far different than a team to finished four and
two in their last six games, So they were already
making major strides at the end of last season. Adrian Martinez,
back at quarterbacks, one of the most underrated quarterbacks in
the entire country, learned that name folks. He's only a
true southomore. I would not be a bit surprised when
his career is over that he at least has one
(24:19):
invite to New York for the Heisman Trophy. That's how
good I think he is. They've upgraded the talent level
and I love their schedule this year. They avoid Michigan State,
Michigan and Penn State from the east. They get Ohio
State at home. They get Iowa at home, Wisconsin at home.
And even though I don't have Nebraska as the highest
you know rated team in the Big Ten West, they
(24:40):
have the best schedule. I think Nebraska goes to Indianapolis
for the Big Ten championship game. A couple of other
teams that bear mentioned. I love pet Fitzgeraltt Northwestern what
he gets you. There were six and one on the
road last year, beat Perdue, Michigan, State, Rutgers, Iowa, and
Minnesota all on the road. They give you every they give.
Do you have everything they have a week almost beat Michigan,
(25:00):
had him beat by a couple of touchdowns them in
p J. Fleck in Minnesota. You saw that he did
to Western Michigan. It wasn't a fluke. He's got resources
now in Minnesota. Can Minnesota return? People probably don't remember this.
I don't. I was born, but I don't remember it.
In the early sixties, Minnesota was a powerhouse, all right,
Ken Minnesota and or Northwestern Baza McGuire would say, the
(25:23):
cockroach in the plate of spaghetti that falls in and
message it up for somebody. I think they can I
mean I could see any any five or six teams
in the West coming out of the Big Ten West.
I mean, with the exception of probably Illinois and love Smith,
everyone else I think has a shot at this. I
mean I have Minnesota and my power rings as a
(25:44):
day near top thirty team. And if you're not paying attention,
he's had too the youngest teams his first two years
there in Minneapolis, two the youngest teams in the country.
They started eight true freshman in the bowl game, a
bowl game that they pummeled Georgia Tech in the final
game for Paul Johnson. Yeah, this is the best Minnesota
team on paper, at least coming in the season in
several years. And your power rankings A ratings are really
(26:07):
bear that out Bread because there are a slot ahead
of Virginia Tech, which I think is a fine club
club Golmo State, TCU Virginia, So they're they're no longer
a dormat. They compete. And the thing is, even if
Minnesota goes four and eight, doesn't mean you can't catch
your ticket. They're gonna be a dog in most of
their games. Yeah, they will be. Now they've got a
soft nonconference slate, but but certainly when it comes to
(26:29):
big Yeah, the Big Ten West. They're not getting as
much publicity as your Nebraska's. Your eye was in your
your Wisconsin's anybody else in the Big Ten that you
think could rise up to scare somebody. Oh yeah, where
should we tease this because I got a best bet
on a Big Ten team at the end of the show. Okay,
let's let's say it. Let's say and they're from a
state that you're very familiar from, Bernie, Oh I bet,
(26:53):
I know. Oh wait, could this be the Michigan Michigan
State game. We'll see. That's for the end of the
good stuff. Bread. Until last year, you could have blindly
met Michigan State as the dog the last nine years,
and many of those they want out right, and they were,
they were a cover machine until last year. You are
exactly right, Bernie. I'm glad you brought the last nine years.
I got the stats for you. They have covered sixty
(27:14):
five percent of the time every time they've been a dog,
and Bernie, they've won half of those games outright. So
in Michigan State's a dog the last nine years, they've
won half of their games outright as an underdog. And
that's might be one of the reasons why I like
Michigan State. Well, we'll just tease it towards the end,
something involving good stuff. At the end of good stuff,
(27:34):
I love it. You're you're pretty good at this bread.
He's Brad power as I'm Bernie Frouted. We've started. Got
to get to the sec, the a SEC. Brad's gonna
project his final four. We've got best bets at the
end of the show and fun for the whole family.
But first let's go to the dulcet tones of Ralph
Irvan with the latest. Well, thank you very much, Bernie,
(27:55):
And it was quite a night in l A once again,
another walk off win for the Rodgers is Alex Verdugo
hit the second of his two home runs in the
bottom of the eleventh inning, lifting l A to a
five four win over Colorado. Meanwhile, San Francisco and in
Arizona their sixth straight lost seven four, the Giants over
the Diamondbacks, Nomar Mazzara belt into home runs, Texas a
(28:17):
six five win over the White Sox. And how about Baltimore,
They snapped their ten game losing streak. Jonathan VR with
a three run homer, and the Orioles beat Seattle eight
four Online car shopping can be confusing, not anymore. With
Trew Price from True Car and I can know the
exact price you'll pay for your next car. So visit
Drew Car to enjoy a more confident car buying experience.
(28:39):
Oakland's won five of their last six. Matt chap And
had a home run a RBI double in their four
to win over Tampa Bay. Milwaukee snaps a five game
losing streak. They beat Cincinnati six five, and Cleveland has
won seven of their last nine. They shut out Detroit
to nothing. The Yankees they're red hot. They won seven straight.
They handed Houston there have a straight lost seven five
(29:02):
New York beats the Astros. Now send it back to
Vegas and Bernie Fratto, great to have you back with
us tonight on straight out of Vegas. Most assuredly you'll
provide a ratings boost, maybe like watching Ted Williams hit Man.
All right, what does it mean, by the way, when
Gego says just fifteen minutes could save you fift or
(29:22):
more on car insurance, it means you probably should have
gone to geco dot com fifteen minutes ago. All right, bad,
let's pick up what we left off. Let's dive into
the a CEC. There's a little team coached by Dabo Swiney,
them and everybody else. Now Virginia Tech we mentioned earlier. Look,
they're always have the potential to be in that fly
in the ointment. But I think this Clemson team is
(29:43):
so loaded. I just if they if they work on
a stumble last year when that third string quarterback came
in and made the miracle pass on third and fifteen,
I just don't see it in the cards. But then again,
I didn't see it happening to Golden State either. Brad thoughts, Yeah,
I mean the most overwhelming favorite, not only this year,
but I would say in the last I mean I
(30:04):
can't remember a bigger favorite over the rest of their conference. Brethren,
then Clemson. Right now, in a neutral field, I think
Clemson is at least at least seventeen points better than
any other team in the a c C. I would
be absolutely stunned if Clemson doesn't win that conference this year.
They're just heading shoulders above everybody else. You know, Florida
(30:25):
State I think's improved, Virginia techs improved. But with that
being said, I have neither one of those teams in
my top twenty. There's finitely one team in the top
twenty in the A C C and it's Clemson. Right
then you've got Virginia Tech about thirty three. Virginia. I'm
with you, you really can't. How do you project when
you look at how the dabble Sweeney reloads. I mean,
(30:47):
they didn't have their best defensive lineman in the in
the in the title game, their defensive front seven. You've
got the freshman wide receiver who's back, Trevor Lawrence, who's back.
They're gonna score points and double double double that up
with the fact they're gonna have another stifling defense. Yep,
all right, we saved what I think will be probably
the most talked about for last and that is the SEC.
(31:10):
Because you do start with Alabama and Nick Saban has
a tendency to be in a bad mood when he
doesn't win the national championship, you know they're gonna be Literally,
they got to a back. Brad, Here's what I was
looking forward most to talking to you tonight, because I'm
curious Canna Dan Mullen at Florida be a fly in
the ointment this year. They're clearly going to be improved.
They took it out on Michigan in the ball game. Obviously,
(31:34):
the SEC gauntlet's a little different, and now they actually
have expectations in Florida. But you've got them par rated eight.
That's quite a bit. Yeah. Obviously there was a team
that won ten games a year ago and baris Michigan
in the bowl game. Felipe Franks is back at quarterback.
You have a dynamic wide receiver corps. I think a
lot of Dan Mullen. I mean, when you get Mississippi
State to number one in the country for about a
(31:56):
month in October, you're doing some things right like he did.
And he had Dak Prescott about five years ago, getting
the Bulldogs and number one for a stretching in the
college football season. You know what to worry I have though,
Bernie diving through Florida. They lose four starters on the
offensive line. They basically have no one and that's one
if they're gonna play at Georgia or in Alabama. What
(32:17):
separates the SEC from the other conferences in college football
defensive lines. And if that offensive line doesn't gel, I
could see them struggle a little bit. But with that
being said, I still think it's a nine or ten
win team and certainly a contender in the SECS. Their
one upset away over Georgia from playing in the SEC
Championship the world's largest cocktail party. And look get Florida credit.
(32:38):
Last year five and one on the road, they beat Tennessee,
Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Florida State. Of course, Michigan was on
a neutral But I always bring up road in college
football because that's what separates me, in my opinion, the
men from the boys that when you get out of
your friendly conflin confines and can you beat a ranked
team on the road, not so easy to do. If
(32:59):
Florida can do that to be in the conversation. But
the other team more so that I think really it
has to be in the conversation is l s U.
They looked to me on paper to be loaded, and
not only do you have them power rated fourth overall bread,
but their difference in the rating improved six points from
last year. That's significant. Yeah, I mean, I think people
forget that coming into last year at Orgeron was on
(33:20):
the hot seat, and this was an L s U
program that had seventeen straight seasons of winning eight or
more games and the season win total last year, Bernie,
At this time last year for l s U was seven,
and obviously the Tigers and ed Orgeron exceeded expectations. They
win ten games, capped off by Fiesta Bowl victory, Joe
Burrows back at quarterback, sixteen returning starters. Love the talent
(33:44):
level for them. But I'll say this, Bernie, even though
I have them fourth because of their I would say
daunting schedule at Alabama, at Texas, they pulled Florida from
the SEC East. I still only have L s U
winning nine or ten games this year, even though I
have them four. Mind that power writing is not an
a peopole ballot. That's just who would be favorite over who? Right? No, No,
(34:06):
it's very scientific, and you're a professional at this. No,
not for you, Bernie. I'm talking to the audience. Yeah, Brad,
I want to talk about you mentioned coaches on the
hot seat, and I have to mention one a guy
like but at Auburn is gust mels On on the
hot seat. And I'll tell you why, because last year
two thousand and eighteen, I thought was supposed to be
here we go again, Cam Newton rebooted, they'd won ten games.
(34:29):
The year before, they'd beaten both Georgia and Alabama. They
spit the bit. They lose five conference games. Auburn opens
up against Oregon, which we mentioned earlier. There are two
point favorite and neutral at Arlington, Texas. Can Auburn return
to former glory this year? Can they make a legitimate
run in the SEC? It's top because again, schedule, I
(34:49):
think it's gonna get in the way for Auburn. I
think they play top five schedule in terms of difficulty.
Question mark at quarterback if they figure out the quarterback position.
I love the offensive line, all five starters back like
the wide receiver corps. They always can find a running
back at Auburn on the planes, they have a dynamite
defensive line. If they figure out quarterback, then they can
certainly be I would say a spoiler more than anything,
(35:12):
uh Bernie, But I mean I have him as a
top ten power rated team. I think their season when
they go to l s U, they have to win.
L s U beat him twenty one there last year.
After that, Auburn seemed to fold. They weren't the same
the rest of the year. One minor known to Gus
malls On only six and thirteen. He gets ranked opponents
in his career at Auburn, so you know, and Cam
Newton ain't walking through that door. Yeah, and after he's
(35:34):
signed that big contract extension after beating Alabama a couple
of years ago, I think he's like eight and eight
since that game, right now, that's not gonna that's not
gonna fly in the SEC, especially when you're in the
same state as Nick Savan in Alabama now and they
got serious expectations here and since since they fell short
last year, I think he can do two years in row.
Another coach, I'd like you to talk about Willie Taggart
(35:56):
at Florida State. To me, he seems like he's really
on the hot seat. When he took over the program
for Jim brow Fisher, people thought they'd lead Florida State
to a division title, they'd challenge for an ACC championship.
Did materialize their five and seven And here's the problem.
They looked overmatched and uninspired. Is Willie Taggart he did
great at other school? Well you know what he did
(36:16):
in lesser schools. Is it a situation? Is either right
for it for the job. I don't want to cash
this versions, but The bottom line is he has he
reached the situation there where he might not be able
to deliver. Yeah, I mean keeping mid floor stay. Last year,
first losing season since the first season for Bobby Bowden
seventy six. Very good, so historically poor season last year.
(36:39):
Can't cannot have a losing season. Obviously, this year, I
think you know they're set up to they're gonna be
much improved, no question about it. I think there was
some team leadership issues with them. DeAndre francois quarterback, he's
off the team. They bring in Justin Blackman, who was
the starter two years ago. I think that they improved
the seven eight wins and that buys him another year.
(37:00):
But but certainly I would say of all the year
two coaches, he is on the warmest. See Bernie, alright, Brad,
very good. What does it mean when Geco says just
fifteen minutes could save you fift or more on car insurance?
I means you probably should have gone to Geico dot
com fifteen minutes ago. We come back, We're gonna talk
about more coaches on the hot seat, Brad's projection for
(37:20):
the final four and best bets. I'm Bernie Fratto coming
to you live from the Gecko Fox Sports Radio Studios.
This is the pregame show you always want us to.
Don't go away. You're listening to Straight out of Vegas.
They say, if you love something, set it free a LifeLock.
We say that's bullhockey. All that's saving up and paying
(37:42):
off debt just for some identity thief to set it free.
Crazy talk. It can be dangerously easy to steal your identity.
LifeLock by Norton makes it easy to help protect yourself.
If you become a victim, will work to fix it.
No one can monitor all transactions, but everyone can save
up off their year at life flock dot com. Slash
aware identities have to protection starts here. Look to your
(38:06):
children's eyes to see the true magic of a forest.
It's a storybook world for them. You look and see
a tree. They see the wrinkled face of a wizard
with arms outstretched to the sky. They see treasure and pebbles.
They see a windy path that could lead to adventure,
and they see you. They're fearless. Guide is this fascinating world?
(38:28):
Find a forest near you and start exploring a Discover
the Forest dot Org brought to you by the United
States Forest Service and the AD Council. If I could
be you and you could be me for just one hour,
if you could find a way to get inside each
other's mind. Walk a mile in my shoes, wac a
mile in my shoes shoes. We've all felt left out,
(38:51):
and for some that feeling lasts more than a moment.
We can change that. Learn how it Belonging begins with
US dot Org. Brought to you by the ACT Council.
Welcome Out. You're back on Straight Out of Vegas, the
pregame show you always wanted. I'm Bernie Freddo, coming to
you live from the Geico Fox Sports Radio Studios. I
(39:14):
want to remind you Straight Out of Vegas is brought
to you by Discover. Go further than ever with the
Discovery Miles car. The automatically matched the miles you earn
at the end of your first year, so your thirty
five thousand miles could become seventy Discovered miles. Limitations apply
Discover Match for new card members only. Learn more at
Discover dot com. Slash Travel Brad one more coach that
(39:37):
Indiana had high hopes for, but I think he's very
much on the hot seat because he's kind of lumped
in with Jeff Brown and Pat Fitzgerald and p J Flex.
So there's pressure on Tom Allen in Indiana. He's been
competitive against the lower teams in conference, but over the
past two seasons O and TAN against Ohio State, Michigan,
Michigan State, and Penn State Island Wisconsin not good. Yeah,
(39:57):
you mentioned, I think you hit the nail on the head.
No signature wins and going through it. Indiana has been
an underdog twelve times under Tom Allen and they've lost
all twelve of those games. So I mean, just mathematically speaking,
you probably should have won a couple of those games.
He needs a signature win and you and I kind
of isolated a good spot, Bernie, And I'll let you.
(40:18):
I'm not gonna steal your thunder here late in the
season for Indiana. Will you certainly verify the information for me.
But on November twenty three, Michigan visits Bloomington, Indiana will
be at home. I gotta believe in the name Kitchen fourteen.
Yeawing that out there. Here's the kicker. The week before
Michigan hosts Michigan State. In the week after, it's the
(40:38):
House State game. I don't necessarily like the term sandwich game,
but it's a spot play to look at. I know
I'll grab Indiana the points. You know, they'll be competitive.
It'll be a tall order for them to win, but
I won't rule it out. I love that breaking almost
say that's gonna be on my card. Come absolutely, Brad.
Let's skip to the final four and look ahead, and
(40:59):
who do you project? It's uh into Jane into the December,
and we're headed into college football playoff if we want
to call it that the final four? Who do you project? Yeah,
I'm not gonna be breaking news here and going really
off a beaten path here. I'm gonna start with the
two obvious ones, Alabama and Clemson. Alabama's gonna be a
double digit favorite all twelve of the regular season games, Bernie.
(41:21):
The toughest game for them would be in the SEC
title game against maybe Georgia or Florida. Clemson even a
bigger favorite over the rest of their conference. I think
those two are shoeins. Then followed by and this might
be a little bit of surprised Georgia fair enough. I
think Georgia George is gonna be favored in all twelve
of the regular season games. And I think this year
and they lose another close one to Alabama, I think
(41:42):
at twelve and one they might get the benefit of
the doubt. This year final team for me, Bernie Oklahoma
Sooners again, another team that's gonna be favorite in all
twelve games. And I like Jalen Hurts at quarterback to
replace Kyler Murray Alo Jalen Hurts, and I love Lincoln
Riley and what he'll do with him. But that's st
backtrack to Georgia because I really believe with what Kirby
Smart has done, he's basically become Alabama West. He was
(42:04):
a nick you know, sabing protege. Georgia is the one
team that appears to have Alabama's number. They're just not
intimidated by them. As a matter of fact, if they
didn't have to play the fourth quarter of their football games,
they beat Alabama every time. Yeah, I mean, I don't
know if they're better than Alabama. They certainly are three quarters.
I mean, they're certainly not intimidated. But something they can't
(42:27):
get over the hump. And something tells me, even though
I think Alabama is better than Georgia, sooner or later.
But when you're playing a bunch of close games and
the brakes are gonna fall your way, and this might
be the year at Falster. We're gonna do this show again,
probably August seventeenth market calendars. But we had a great
before your discussion talking about the best teams. Did you
take umbrage with the fact that Georgia was left out
last year? No? I didn't. I mean they got crushed
(42:49):
by L s U on the road. I mean, you
gotta put away Alabama and you're have two touchdowns in
the second half. Put them away. There were in agreement,
all right, So based on the teams you mentioned Alabama, Clemson,
Georgia and Oklahoma, which I don't argue with. I think
there's a probability it's those four, but you never know.
Your teams have to stay healthy and you never know
what gonna happen. That means the Big ten's left out
(43:12):
in the cool What are your thoughts? Yeah, and that
would be what third straight year for the Big ten
being left out? Yeah, that's not gonna fall too well.
But I mean, are you counting on Michigan. No, I'm not,
And I think Ohio State's got too many question marks,
a new quarterback, and then they got to replace the
Hall of Fame head coach. So I don't think this
is the best year for Ohio State. I just think
(43:32):
the conference is getting too competitive. Kudos to the Big Ten.
They've went out and hired a bunch of really good coach.
Oh my goodness, Yes, that's my running joke. In Michigan,
Jim Harbaugh is the fourth best coach in the Big
Ten West, the fourth best coach. We go. We can
talk about that another time. But you know what, let's
just unpacked this for just a second, Brad, because this
implies that Michigan is gonna stumble somewhere. Who are they
(43:55):
gonna stumble against? Is it gonna be home against Michigan State,
home against Ohio State, Is it against Pen State Wisconsin?
Two tough road games might not be Iowa might have
bere Dame. Well, you know, I'll even mentioned Notre Dame
because the week before Michigan's at Penn State and Notre
Dame's off of bye, and Notre Dames had a really
disadvantage this year where they face seven teams that are
coming off of bye, the only time all season where
(44:17):
Notre Dame has the rest advantage is that Michigan game. Yeah,
I think Michigan trips off at least once, if not twice. Bernie,
we're total agreement in based on your projections, and they're
probably gonna be very accurate. The Pac twelve once again
left out looking in the cold, and uh, that's not
gonna sit well with Chris Peterson and the boys. If
anybody can break through in the Pac twelve, who wny be?
(44:38):
Actually think it will be Utah this year? Now, I'm
with you in Utah. Yeah, I don't think they go
on defeated, but I could see Utah being eleven and
one in the regular season. I think they'll only be
an underdog in one game that's at Washington, right, Very true? Alright,
everybody's favorite part of the show. Let's make sure we
get this in best bets. You've been listening to Brad Powers,
the man with the college knowledge. He is here every
(44:59):
day three of four, Pacific, six and sevent Eastern on
Straight out of Vegas with r J, Bill, Steve Physic
and Brad Powers. And again we are going to repeat
this show closer to college football season, probably the week
end of August seventeen. Did you have one or two
best bets today? One? Okay, go ahead, I'm gonna go
season win total. I'm gonna go to the big ten.
I'm going Michigan State over seven and a half wins.
(45:22):
Hear me out for oh, I love the returning experience.
Seventeen returning starters. Here's a team that underachieved last year. Well,
there was a reason why they had like fifty plus
starts lost to injury last year. Their quarterback Brian Lurk,
he struggled why he was injured. He had a shoulder injury.
Pre shoulder injury. He completes sixty of his passes after that,
probably the best defensive front in all of college football
(45:45):
coming back. And I like the schedule too. I haven't
favored by double digits in seven games. Oh, that's pretty easy.
And again we already talked about you and me before
the show. Michigan State as an underdog has won like
half their games, so it's not out of the realm
of possibility. They could steal a game at Ohio State
or at Michigan. Give me Michigan State over seven and
a half wins. Actually, I'm favored in nine games this year.
(46:07):
Burnie D'Antoni is amazing as an underdog, especially against Michigan.
And I'll say if that any kind of offense last year,
they might have beat Michigan. Last year that was a
dead nuts game until into this, into the second half.
All right. My best bet is World Cup soccer. The
USA has advanced to the round of sixteen against Spain.
Spain is never once advanced as far. It's gonna be
(46:28):
a hard fought, low scoring game. It's got one nothing
to nothing written all over at the total it's two
and a half. It's shaded now, it's probably minute. Get
on it when you can. The game won't kick off
till Monday, nine Pacific, but I think it's a solid
play and a lot of sharp respected money has coming. Brat,
thanks so much for joining us tonight. We could have
done three hours standing on our head. Thank you so
(46:48):
much for having me. Bernie. Look forward to talking to
again at the end of the summer. Great information. I'm
Bernie Fratto, you've been listening to straight out of Vegas.
We'll see again next Saturday night. Good luck with all
your bets and you nine weeks from now, college football
is going to be here before you know it in
in the coming weeks. You still got the Major League
All Star Game, all kinds of stuff, the NBA Summer
League too. That's gonna do it. For this week's edition,
(47:10):
Straight out of Vegas. I'm Bernie Frouda. Next up the
man from Operland Hotel. It's the Jason Martin Show. Get
right to the romance and find the way to wow
this Valentine's with one hundred Flowers dot Com. From classic
roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate covered berries, gourmet treats
(47:31):
and more. Surprise your Valentine with one hundred flowers dot
com right now. Get the eighteen stem enchanted Rose Medalley
for or upgrade to red Roses for ten dollars more.
Go to one hundred flowers dot com slash tune in.
That's one flowers dot com. Slash tune in. I'm John Gonzalez,
(47:52):
the host of sis new podcast, Sports Illustrated Weekly. Sports
Illustrated has delivered some of the best storytelling in sports
for seventy years, and now that continues. On our show.
Each week, we'll dive deep into the best stories from
around the sports world. Sports Illustrated Weekly is available every
Wednesday on the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, where
(48:14):
wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe now. Hi everybody, I'm
Rachel Banetta and I have my very own podcast called
Benched with Banetta. You're kidding me. I'm just here so
I won't get fine. Every week, I'm gonna be talking
about all the things I find fascinating about the NFL.
(48:34):
And I'm doing something that has never been done before.
I'm opening my d m s. D MS now open,
listen every Tuesday and join me on the bench. Subscribe
now and listen to the Bench with Banetta podcast on
the I Heart Radio app, on Apple Podcasts, or wherever
(48:54):
you get your podcasts.
The moment we've been waiting for since September is finally here.
In honor of the Big Game. Draft Kings Sports Book,
an official sports banking partner of Super Bowl fifty six,
is giving new customers fifty six to one odds on
either team. That just five dollars and get two hundred
eighty and free bets if your team wins. Download the
Draft Kings Sports Book gap, use promo code r J
Bell and get fifty six to one odds on either team.
(00:21):
Beat Judge five dollars and get two hundred and eighty
and free bets if your team wins. That's promo code
r J Belt at Draft Kings sports Book, an official
sports betting partner of Super Bowl fifty six. Twenty one
plus minimum age and location requirements varied by joy station.
See DraftKings dot com Slash sports Book for full list
of requirements and stay specific responsible gaming resources void where prohibited.
Gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler. In tennessee caller
(00:43):
text at t N red Line one eight hundred eight
eight nine nine seven eight nine. In Connecticut, call eight
at eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven, or
visit CCPG dot org slash chat in New York call
eight seven seven eight Hope and Why, or text hope
and Why four six seven three six nine. If you
love to be remembered as the person who gives the
best birthday gifts, I'm here to tell you that one
(01:05):
eight hundred flowers dot com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination.
One eight hundred flowers has thoughtful and artfully created options
that are guaranteed to deliver the best birthday surprise. Shop
thousands of unique gifts at one hundred flowers dot com
for exclusive offers and great values. To order today, visit
one hundred flowers dot com slash tune in. That's one
(01:28):
hundred flowers dot com. Slash tune in. The NFL podcast
network is your home for all things football. Do you
love hearing analysis around the league with a touch of mirth,
Or maybe you enjoy breaking down X and os in
the college scouting scene. Do you breathe, sleep, and eat
fantasy football? Perhaps you love the funny headlines that emerge
(01:50):
each week. What if you want in depth news coverage
with reporters, or what if you want to know exactly
how each team got its name? You're in luck because
the NFL Podcast Network has a show for everybody. Listen
on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
you get your podcasts. This is Straight out of Vegas
(02:17):
with the Voice of Vegas your host r J. Bab
that's me and he's money. You are now about to
witness the strength of street Knowledge live from the Vegas
Strength the pregame show America has always wanted with r J.
Bell out, here's Ernie Freddo you know? In sixty three
(02:38):
days at seven pm Eastern from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida,
the Miami Hurricanes will face off against the Florida Gators.
And you know what that means. The two thousand nineteen
college football season will officially be underway, and according to
William Hill Sports but here in Law Vegas, the Florida
Gators are currently a seven and a half point favorite.
(03:00):
It's time tonight We're devoting the full show to our
college football extravaganza. That's right, summertime is the right time
to talk college football. Oh my god, And I just
say that. On that note, welcome back to another edition
of Straight Out of Vegas. R J Bellozan Reconnaissance. I'm
Bernie Fratto. We're coming to you live from the Gecko
Fox Sports Radio studios where fifteen minutes could save you
(03:23):
or more on car insurance. So there's a Geico dot
com for a free right quote. This is the weekend
edition of Straight Out of Vegas. You know, Straight out
of Vegas. There is Monday through Friday right here on
Fox Sports Radio. I Heart Radio Serious Sex Channel LAD
three from three to four Pacific, six to seven Eastern
with r J Bell, Steve Physic, Brad Powers, and Jonas
Knox and regardless of the season, know this. As r J.
(03:44):
Bell says daily, we promised to deliver the Vegas Truth
to you every Saturday night. This is Straight out of Vegas,
the pregame show you always wanted. We are joined tonight
by the man with the college knowledge. He's a walking
supercomputer of college football. So pack your lunch and jump
on board with us tonight. Say hello to Brad Powers. Brat,
(04:05):
thanks for coming tonight. I appreciate it. Bernie. It's a
little late for my taking, but I'll tell you what.
When I saw in college football we could do at
at three thirty in the morning, Well we might just
do that, Brad, So hold that thought what we want
to start with tonight because we're gonna cover a lot
of ground and take you through the college football season.
It's never too soon. What really? In Vegas, we have
(04:26):
this tradition at the end of May. We had Tony
Miller around three Saturdays ago. He's the sports book director
at the Golden Nugget, and they released the college football
Games of the Year, and all the big shooters are there,
including Brad Powers. Saw Brad there and Brad you've probably
already already fired on some of those games, right, I'll
tell you what. Let's dive right in. Who who did
you grab? Yeah, I mean, Bernie, you gotta fire on
(04:47):
those because I mean, you go down there. I got
people flying from all over the country, and you can
get down as much as a thousand dollars on a game.
And I got made two bats. I'll say this, Tony
Miller does the best job of anybody doing is they're sharp.
So I only fire on games. I just don't go
there to just to throw money around. If I think
a line is off significantly, and there weren't too many
(05:09):
games that were, then I'll fire two bets that I
did make. Early end of September game Nebraska against Ohio State.
Nebraska catching ten at home, right at home plus ten
over Ohio State. That that line's moved three points and
that's been significant. And then the other one, I bet
Florida State as a homedog against Syracuse plus one and
a half. Now Florida State is a three point favorite, right,
(05:31):
And we talked the one game I'm on, I typically
don't do this. I also like Nebraska was fortune to
give him that day plus double digits. But Bratt, let's
back up, because you do a tremendous amount of research.
There's a lot of science and art that goes into
your work, and you're probably up at three thirty in
the morning preparing for the for for all of your shows,
and you take this very seriously. And we've got listeners
(05:52):
all around the country. And one of the things that
we try to do on Saturday night is provide usable
in for me ation that's going to help you make money.
That's what we're in this for and brand. One of
the things you do and devote a lot of time
are are are producing and and publishing your power ratings.
They form the foundation of your methodology and how you
(06:16):
decide who to bet on. Tell our audience what a
power rating is, Explain what they mean, the significance in handicapping,
and the methodology you use to arrive at power ratings. Well,
you use the keyword there uh, few sentences back foundation.
So if you're looking to dip your toe in the water, uh.
As far as becoming your own handicapper, the starting off
(06:37):
point of any handicap to a game is the power rating.
So what's a power rating? Basically, you've got individual team
power ratings, and what that team power rating is gonna say,
and you compare it to their opponent, this team would
be favored by X amount of points over their opponent
on a neutral field. So let's use an example. Say
my power writing on Alabama's a hundred, my power rating
(07:00):
on clemsons and nine nine. Basically that would say, on
a neutral field, Alabama one point better than Clemson. Therefore,
my projected line off my power rating would have Alabama
one point favorite. Good stuff. So I happen to have
your power ratings here. What's interesting is you currently have
Alabama power rated number one over everybody at nine point
seven eight. They drop three points from last year Clemson.
(07:23):
Interestingly enough, and they have Trevor Lawrence back drop four
talk about the factors you considered and arriving at that. Well,
let's start off, so basically what that power rating saying
Alabama right around one point better than Clemson. Right now,
people are gonna be shocked. Hey, Brad, I mean you're
a college football expert. Didn't you watch the national title
game forty four to sixteen? How can you have Alabama
favorite over Clemson while say this, show me your your
(07:46):
Clemson ticket on that game, because Alabama coming into that game,
Bernie was around a five and a half six point favorite.
And I'm sorry, at the end of the season, I
don't adjust my power ratings after one game five six points.
I just don't do that, especially that particular game, which look,
I'm not saying Clemson wasn't the better team. They clearly
were the better team, but that was a very misleading game.
(08:08):
So after that game, both r J myself Steve Fenzi said, hey,
if you had to make the line now after watching
that game, both Pesik and myself said, yeah, Alabama small favorite.
So we start with that after that reasult, so you
look at both teams returning production when you're coming up
with a preseason power writing both teams about the same
twelve returning starters for both obviously massive losses for Clemson
(08:31):
on the defensive line and Alabama always loses. I mean,
they're always losing ten guys in the NFL, so no
different they're recruiting classes. Advantage Alabama in that regard. I
also think Alabama, even though they have two new coordinators,
I think they upgraded a coordinator, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.
Added all up, I think Alabama was just slightly better
than Clemson. And I'll say I'm probably a little bit
(08:53):
on an island there because you can bet that hypothetical
matchup right now at the Gold Nugget and Clemson's about
a two point favorite over Alabama. And I'm sure a
lot of that's driven by public perception and market correct Yeah,
I think a lot of it. Uh. I mean, the
money come in if that if that game would you
can you can bet it right now and there hasn't
been any movement. And if that line is off, then
(09:16):
that line is gonna move big time, you know. And look,
even though I'm slightly higher in Alabama, I'm not running
down there to bet Alabama plus two and a hypothetical. Now,
if that line had Clemson three and a half, Bernie,
then I would make the bet because it would be
around a key number of three. But I don't see
any movement whatsoever there. And you're right, I think public
(09:37):
perception says, hey, Clemson to sixteen over Alabama. Clemson has
Trevor Lawrence. Clemson has got to be better than Alabama.
I just slightly disa and Alabama has to a talk
of a lowest. So it's you know, it's it's a
flip of the coin. We're going to dive into all
the power conferences and project before we exit this show.
And of course we'll have our best bets at the end.
(09:58):
And Sleepy took a weary well to serve night off
and his best bet hit last weekly over in the
White Sock Yankee Game. We don't have Brad powers with
the best bet as well. Before we dive into analyzing
the five power conferences and projecting the final four, Brad,
there are a couple of other power readings that caught
my eye, most notably Michigan and Ohio State. Michigan just
(10:19):
a hair over Ohouse State. Justifiably, I have what I
like to look at is continuity. So Michigan does return
Harbaugh and Shaye Patterson. Meanwhile, Ohio State brings in Justin
Field from Georgia. We really don't know what you get
there and Ryan Day, but yet they're still pole rated
fairly equally. Yeah, I have Michigan about a point better
than Ohio State. And for those of you out there
(10:40):
listening saying, well, I mean Brad again, you know you
didn't watch the National title game evidently because you got
Alabama over Clemson that you watch the big game in
Columbus where Ohio State one sixty two to thirty nine
over Michigan. How can you have Michigan over Ohio State.
Ohio States beating Michigan fourteen the last fifteen years. I'll
say this again, show me your Ohio State ticket from
(11:02):
that game last year because in Columbus, Bernie, in Columbus,
Michigan was a four and a half point favorite. That
blows me away for another reason. Go ahead, So on
a neutral at that point we're talking the final game
of the regular season, the Vegas market was saying Michigan
at the very least was at least they touched down
better heading into that game, so I don't think it's
(11:24):
out of the realm of possibility that Okay, Ohio State
loses a Hall of Fame coach, they lose their you know,
first round draft pick at quarterback. Michigan's got more returning
production to think now, Michigan only a one point favorite
over a neutral over Ohio State, and right now those
lines agree with me. You can bet Michigan Ohio State
right now, and Michigan's about a three and a half
and a half three and a half in the game
(11:45):
will be playing an arbor. The reason I scratch my head,
we're gonna get into the conferences here. I just want
to say one thing a year ago, at this time
at the Games the Games a year Game of the
Year lines, I believe Ohio State was minus six thereabouts.
Four and a half sounds about right, and the line
moves ten points. And I'm thinking to myself, what in
God's green Earth would move somebody to make Michigan a
(12:08):
Someone would actually fire on Michigan as a road favorite
when you could have had him as almost a touchdown underdog.
And we know urban meyer record as an underdog is
just spotless. Right, make a long story longer, even if
you grab Michigan at the six, it wouldn't have covered anyway.
So that's why you're sure. Yeah, right, all right, let's
dive into this because, uh, you know, college football has
(12:30):
become a race to the Final four, and we start
with the Power of five conferences. I want to start
with a Pack twelve, Brad, because Oregon is your highest
power rated team and they improved six points over last year.
Obviously a great quarterback in Justin Herbert. Are they your
favorite to win the Pack twelve? You know, I'm glad
you started with this because even though I have Oregon
as my top righted Pack twelve team, that's just the
(12:52):
power writing on a neutral field. You still plug that
into a schedule. That doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going
to have Oregon winning the Packed of And hear me
out here, I think it's all about Oregon schedule. Yes,
I love the returning production Justin Herbert at quarterback, who
I think is the number one prospect. I love to
but I'm as far as the NFL goes, Justin Herbert
(13:12):
is your best pro prospect that will be available for
next year's NFL draft. Obviously, Trevor Lawrence two years away
for Clemson. But Oregon has struggled on the road, Bernie,
the last week and I look at their road schedule.
It starts they're away from home in Arlington, Texas to
start off the season, they play Auburn, and then the
road schedule in conference they have to go to Washington,
(13:34):
to USC to Stanford. Yeah, even though I have my
highest rated team, I don't have them, you know, winning
the Pack twelve this year. There are two point dog
to Auburn on that new dual, and we know Oregon
has struggled mightily with the SEC. If they open up
with a loss, you know, what is that change for you?
Or if anything doesn't change much? Because I have Auburn
(13:55):
about two two and a half points better than Oregon,
I think that line is completely fair right now, doesn't
change too much. Now. If they get crushed and it's
just like they're severely outclassed and they lose by three touchdowns,
especially against an Auburn team that might start a true
freshman at quarterback, then that would say not only a
lot about Oregon but also the PAC twelve. Pack twelve
needs a marquee win, Bernie, it's been a long You're
(14:17):
you're you're so right, and I will just say this
about that game because I've already fired on Auburn. Look,
i think they're gonna run for about a million yards
that day against Oregon. Just saying we're talking about you
mentioned a good point schedule. Utah is a team that's
caught my eye. Their eighteenth power rank. They've got the
easiest road schedule in the Pac twelve South. Could they
upset the Apple cart in the Pac twelve. Yeah, And
(14:39):
even though I have Utah number eighteen, even behind Washington,
you saw it would be my team to win the
Pac twell because of their schedule, I mean, their toughest
game they do play Washington, but I think Utah has
almost a clear path to the Pack twelve South title.
They're better than everybody in that conference. They do have
to travel to USC, but I mean Utah has had
USC's now umber. If now watch last year's game, if
(15:01):
you don't believe me, so, I think Utah, especially at
the line of scrimmage, I think people forget about Utah.
Bernie last year, last five games, they didn't have their
starting quarterbacks, starting running back. I'm high on Utah. I
think they win the Pack twelve got a minute ago
before break. But Washington State great road team last year
five and one. They beat Wyoming, Oregon State, Stanford, Colorado,
and Iowa stayed all on the road and all those
(15:22):
teams were barely five hundred. But can you ever count
on Mike Leach. You can't. And that's one team that
he doesn't recruit very well. It's plugging play at the quarterback.
No Gardner Minshow this year. Yeah, but I mean who
was I mean, we didn't think of much of Gardner
Mintshew this time last year. We thought, oh my god, Carolina,
but he had mid tested fair. Yeah, but that's a
(15:43):
plug and play offense. So even though you look four
thousand yard passer and I'm not overly high on Washington State,
but would certainly be a contender in the pack twelve North.
He's Brad Powers, He's with us the full hour. We're
gonna give you a college football extravagance to go through
all the part of five conferences, plus lots of other
subject matter. I want to remind you, Straight out of
(16:04):
Vegas is brought to you by Discover. Go further than
ever with the Discover at Miles Cart they automatically matched
the miles you earn at the end of your first year,
so your thirty five thousand miles could become seventy. Discover
It miles limitations apply discover Match for new card members only.
Learn more at discover dot com. Slash travel. I'm Bernie
(16:25):
Frattaware County Alive from the Gecko Fox Sports Radio Studios.
This is the pregame show you always wanted to. Don't
go away. You're listening to Straight out of Vegas. Get
right to the romance and find the way to wow
this Valentine's with one hundred Flowers dot Com. From classic
roses and Bouquet's to decadent chocolate covered berries, gourmet treats
(16:47):
and more. Surprise your Valentine with Flowers dot com right now.
Get the eighteen stem enchanted rose Medley for or upgrade
red Roses for ten dollars more. Go to one hundred
flowers dot com. Slash tune in. That's dot com. Slash
tune in. The NFL Podcast Network is your home for
(17:12):
all things football. Do you love hearing analysis around the
league with a touch of mirth, or maybe you enjoy
breaking down X and os in the College Scouting feed.
Do you breathe, sleep, and eat fantasy football. Perhaps you
love the funny headlines that emerge each week. What if
you want in depth news coverage with reporters, or what
(17:32):
if you want to know exactly how each team got
its name? While you're in luck, because the NFL Podcast
Network has a show for everybody. Our vast network has
the NFL's best talent, bringing you right into the action
each week. There's always room to add more football into
your podcast rotation, and our vast group of shows will
(17:52):
surely keep you up to date with everything you need
to know surrounding the National Football League. Listen on the
I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get
your podcasts. I'm John Gonzalez, the host of Sports Illustrated. Weekly.
Sports Illustrated has delivered the best storytelling in sports for
(18:14):
seventy years, first in the pages of the magazine, then
on SI dot com, and now that tradition continues on
a new podcast. Each week, we'll dive deep into the
best stories from around the sports world. We'll ask the
questions that we're all wondering and push for the answers
we all want. Everything from investigating the Super Bowl's impact
on l a to examining white booing is as big
(18:37):
a part of the fan experience as cheering. Sports Illustrated
Weekly is here to bring you the entertaining tales you
can't get anywhere else, the kinds of stories that make
you smile and laugh, clap and cry, marvel, think, and
fall in love with sports all over again. Sports Illustrated
Weekly is available every Wednesday on the I Heart Radio app,
(18:57):
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe. Now
you're back on Straight Out. I guess the pregame show
you always wanted. I'm Bernie Franto, coming to you live
from the Gecko Fox Sports Radio Studios. Welcome to our
College Extravaganza show. Nine weeks from tonight. We've got Miami
(19:17):
and Florida in the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, seven
o'clock Eastern. It'll be here before you know it. And
that's why we've got the man with the college knowledge,
Brad Powers, with us tonight breaking it down. Get your
pencils and pans ready or your notepads. He's dropping knowledge, Brad.
Let's move along to the Big twelve. Obviously the big story.
Oklahoma gets a kid, what's his name Jalen Hurts. I've
(19:41):
heard of him. His name rings a bell. He'll take
over at quarterback. And Oklahoma's a machine. Uh. And you've
got them, obviously for all the right reasons. As the
highest power rated team in the Big Twelve, so I'm
assuming they're the favorite. I don't want to put words
from but there's a kid down in Texas m Herman,
who I remember a couple of three years ago when
(20:03):
he had a Houston team, there was only power ranked
about thirty three. They smacked Oklahoma week one. Can Texas
challenge Oklahoma? Take it away? What are your thoughts in
Big twelve? I think nationally the narrative is that, yeah,
Texas can compete with Oklahoma, and they certainly did last year.
They won one of the two meetings and we're very
competitive in the Big Twelve championship game. But I'm gonna
(20:24):
be contrarian on Texas, and to me, I think a
mistake that a lot of people make this time of years.
They just focus on who's back at quarterback and other
skill positions, and of course I love Texas quarterback Sam Allinger.
I think another mistake that that people make is when
we last saw Texas. What were they doing. Oh, they're
(20:45):
pulling a big upset over Georgia and the Sugar Bowl
could have been a very disinterested Georgia team. So those
two factors there, for me, has Texas overrated. I look
at who else is back for Texas and I'm looking
around and I don't see anybody leading. Russia's gone leading,
Seaver has gone. All seven guys that started on that
linebacker and the defensive line all gone, zero returning starters
(21:08):
on the front seven. That's the type of stuff people
don't dive into. And Tom Herman great underdog coach that
the books on that he might be the best underdog
coach in the country right now. But when expectations are high, Allah,
that Houston team that beat Oklahoma and that opener and
probably should have went undefeated, that they had no business,
you know, losing the Memphis and Essen later in the season,
(21:30):
and they crushed the Louisville team in the Heisman Trophy
here for Lamar Jackson. So I'm selling Texas, Bernie. And
if I'm selling Texas, that means I'm really buying Oklahoma.
I think Oklahoma goes undefeated and there in the playoff, well,
I I love Lincoln Riley. He's absolutely done the job.
And uh, there's no argument there. Let's move along to
the big tent. Obviously you get the big two Ohio
(21:51):
State in Michigan. Is this finally the year hardball breaks through?
He's got a gauntlet of four games at home, He's
got Michigan State at home, He's got Note Dame at home.
He's good. Ohiose stated at homes gott Iowood home. I
think he's I think they spit the bit in one
of those games. A couple of tough road games. You've
already fired on them against Middle Tennessee State. Brad, I
don't think you can pencil in Michigan, but I'm down
(22:13):
dying to hear your opinion. Well, I pencil nothing was
Sharpie for sure. Uh, it has to be the year
for Michigan because you mentioned it. They get all those
big teams at home. They still got to play Penn
State Wisconsin on the road, and that's not gonna be
Week three right exactly. Now, Wisconsin might have a young quarterback,
(22:33):
so that might be advantaged Michigan there. But this has
to be the year because they get the Buckeyes at home.
Because they get Michigan State Notre Dame, and the unfortunate
thing was I think last year's team might have been
slightly stronger, but they had to face all three of
those teams on the road, losing the Notre Dame in
Ohio State book and shape Patterson's back. I'm not a
huge shape Patterson fan defense. Lost a lot of leadership
(22:54):
Devin Bush and Chase Winovitch. Are you kidding me? But
when you add it all up at home and my
power rings call for it, Yeah, this has got to
be the year from Michigan. Finally they break through win
the Big ten. You know they and I just have
no faith in Harball. Three years ago, they stumbled at Iowa.
Last year they almost stumbled at Northwestern. I think they're
(23:15):
gonna stumble somewhere, but we're gonna save that for a
later show. We're gonna do another one of these folks
in mid August. One of the teams I think we're
both pretty high on, and I want you to tell
the folks why bred. I think Nebraska obviously great. Higher
in Scott Frost, he needed a year to get his
feet wet. Uh. They struggle on the road last year,
but you brought up a good point that a lot
of those games were close. Can Nebraska make the quantum
(23:38):
leap upward and actually challenge for one of the titles?
I don't think it's such a quantum leap, Bernie and
hear me out. Record wise, yeah, I mean there four
and eight last year Nebraska, but they statistically the Hoskers
were more like a six or seven win team team
that lost five games by a touchdown or less. The
team at the start of the season that started ohing
(23:58):
six far different than a team to finished four and
two in their last six games, So they were already
making major strides at the end of last season. Adrian Martinez,
back at quarterbacks, one of the most underrated quarterbacks in
the entire country, learned that name folks. He's only a
true southomore. I would not be a bit surprised when
his career is over that he at least has one
(24:19):
invite to New York for the Heisman Trophy. That's how
good I think he is. They've upgraded the talent level
and I love their schedule this year. They avoid Michigan State,
Michigan and Penn State from the east. They get Ohio
State at home. They get Iowa at home, Wisconsin at home.
And even though I don't have Nebraska as the highest
you know rated team in the Big Ten West, they
(24:40):
have the best schedule. I think Nebraska goes to Indianapolis
for the Big Ten championship game. A couple of other
teams that bear mentioned. I love pet Fitzgeraltt Northwestern what
he gets you. There were six and one on the
road last year, beat Perdue, Michigan, State, Rutgers, Iowa, and
Minnesota all on the road. They give you every they give.
Do you have everything they have a week almost beat Michigan,
(25:00):
had him beat by a couple of touchdowns them in
p J. Fleck in Minnesota. You saw that he did
to Western Michigan. It wasn't a fluke. He's got resources
now in Minnesota. Can Minnesota return? People probably don't remember this.
I don't. I was born, but I don't remember it.
In the early sixties, Minnesota was a powerhouse, all right,
Ken Minnesota and or Northwestern Baza McGuire would say, the
(25:23):
cockroach in the plate of spaghetti that falls in and
message it up for somebody. I think they can I
mean I could see any any five or six teams
in the West coming out of the Big Ten West.
I mean, with the exception of probably Illinois and love Smith,
everyone else I think has a shot at this. I
mean I have Minnesota and my power rings as a
(25:44):
day near top thirty team. And if you're not paying attention,
he's had too the youngest teams his first two years
there in Minneapolis, two the youngest teams in the country.
They started eight true freshman in the bowl game, a
bowl game that they pummeled Georgia Tech in the final
game for Paul Johnson. Yeah, this is the best Minnesota
team on paper, at least coming in the season in
several years. And your power rankings A ratings are really
(26:07):
bear that out Bread because there are a slot ahead
of Virginia Tech, which I think is a fine club
club Golmo State, TCU Virginia, So they're they're no longer
a dormat. They compete. And the thing is, even if
Minnesota goes four and eight, doesn't mean you can't catch
your ticket. They're gonna be a dog in most of
their games. Yeah, they will be. Now they've got a
soft nonconference slate, but but certainly when it comes to
(26:29):
big Yeah, the Big Ten West. They're not getting as
much publicity as your Nebraska's. Your eye was in your
your Wisconsin's anybody else in the Big Ten that you
think could rise up to scare somebody. Oh yeah, where
should we tease this because I got a best bet
on a Big Ten team at the end of the show. Okay,
let's let's say it. Let's say and they're from a
state that you're very familiar from, Bernie, Oh I bet,
(26:53):
I know. Oh wait, could this be the Michigan Michigan
State game. We'll see. That's for the end of the
good stuff. Bread. Until last year, you could have blindly
met Michigan State as the dog the last nine years,
and many of those they want out right, and they were,
they were a cover machine until last year. You are
exactly right, Bernie. I'm glad you brought the last nine years.
I got the stats for you. They have covered sixty
(27:14):
five percent of the time every time they've been a dog,
and Bernie, they've won half of those games outright. So
in Michigan State's a dog the last nine years, they've
won half of their games outright as an underdog. And
that's might be one of the reasons why I like
Michigan State. Well, we'll just tease it towards the end,
something involving good stuff. At the end of good stuff,
(27:34):
I love it. You're you're pretty good at this bread.
He's Brad power as I'm Bernie Frouted. We've started. Got
to get to the sec, the a SEC. Brad's gonna
project his final four. We've got best bets at the
end of the show and fun for the whole family.
But first let's go to the dulcet tones of Ralph
Irvan with the latest. Well, thank you very much, Bernie,
(27:55):
And it was quite a night in l A once again,
another walk off win for the Rodgers is Alex Verdugo
hit the second of his two home runs in the
bottom of the eleventh inning, lifting l A to a
five four win over Colorado. Meanwhile, San Francisco and in
Arizona their sixth straight lost seven four, the Giants over
the Diamondbacks, Nomar Mazzara belt into home runs, Texas a
(28:17):
six five win over the White Sox. And how about Baltimore,
They snapped their ten game losing streak. Jonathan VR with
a three run homer, and the Orioles beat Seattle eight
four Online car shopping can be confusing, not anymore. With
Trew Price from True Car and I can know the
exact price you'll pay for your next car. So visit
Drew Car to enjoy a more confident car buying experience.
(28:39):
Oakland's won five of their last six. Matt chap And
had a home run a RBI double in their four
to win over Tampa Bay. Milwaukee snaps a five game
losing streak. They beat Cincinnati six five, and Cleveland has
won seven of their last nine. They shut out Detroit
to nothing. The Yankees they're red hot. They won seven straight.
They handed Houston there have a straight lost seven five
(29:02):
New York beats the Astros. Now send it back to
Vegas and Bernie Fratto, great to have you back with
us tonight on straight out of Vegas. Most assuredly you'll
provide a ratings boost, maybe like watching Ted Williams hit Man.
All right, what does it mean, by the way, when
Gego says just fifteen minutes could save you fift or
(29:22):
more on car insurance, it means you probably should have
gone to geco dot com fifteen minutes ago. All right, bad,
let's pick up what we left off. Let's dive into
the a CEC. There's a little team coached by Dabo Swiney,
them and everybody else. Now Virginia Tech we mentioned earlier. Look,
they're always have the potential to be in that fly
in the ointment. But I think this Clemson team is
(29:43):
so loaded. I just if they if they work on
a stumble last year when that third string quarterback came
in and made the miracle pass on third and fifteen,
I just don't see it in the cards. But then again,
I didn't see it happening to Golden State either. Brad thoughts, Yeah,
I mean the most overwhelming favorite, not only this year,
but I would say in the last I mean I
(30:04):
can't remember a bigger favorite over the rest of their conference. Brethren,
then Clemson. Right now, in a neutral field, I think
Clemson is at least at least seventeen points better than
any other team in the a c C. I would
be absolutely stunned if Clemson doesn't win that conference this year.
They're just heading shoulders above everybody else. You know, Florida
(30:25):
State I think's improved, Virginia techs improved. But with that
being said, I have neither one of those teams in
my top twenty. There's finitely one team in the top
twenty in the A C C and it's Clemson. Right
then you've got Virginia Tech about thirty three. Virginia. I'm
with you, you really can't. How do you project when
you look at how the dabble Sweeney reloads. I mean,
(30:47):
they didn't have their best defensive lineman in the in
the in the title game, their defensive front seven. You've
got the freshman wide receiver who's back, Trevor Lawrence, who's back.
They're gonna score points and double double double that up
with the fact they're gonna have another stifling defense. Yep,
all right, we saved what I think will be probably
the most talked about for last and that is the SEC.
(31:10):
Because you do start with Alabama and Nick Saban has
a tendency to be in a bad mood when he
doesn't win the national championship, you know they're gonna be Literally,
they got to a back. Brad, Here's what I was
looking forward most to talking to you tonight, because I'm
curious Canna Dan Mullen at Florida be a fly in
the ointment this year. They're clearly going to be improved.
They took it out on Michigan in the ball game. Obviously,
(31:34):
the SEC gauntlet's a little different, and now they actually
have expectations in Florida. But you've got them par rated eight.
That's quite a bit. Yeah. Obviously there was a team
that won ten games a year ago and baris Michigan
in the bowl game. Felipe Franks is back at quarterback.
You have a dynamic wide receiver corps. I think a
lot of Dan Mullen. I mean, when you get Mississippi
State to number one in the country for about a
(31:56):
month in October, you're doing some things right like he did.
And he had Dak Prescott about five years ago, getting
the Bulldogs and number one for a stretching in the
college football season. You know what to worry I have though,
Bernie diving through Florida. They lose four starters on the
offensive line. They basically have no one and that's one
if they're gonna play at Georgia or in Alabama. What
(32:17):
separates the SEC from the other conferences in college football
defensive lines. And if that offensive line doesn't gel, I
could see them struggle a little bit. But with that
being said, I still think it's a nine or ten
win team and certainly a contender in the SECS. Their
one upset away over Georgia from playing in the SEC
Championship the world's largest cocktail party. And look get Florida credit.
(32:38):
Last year five and one on the road, they beat Tennessee,
Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Florida State. Of course, Michigan was on
a neutral But I always bring up road in college
football because that's what separates me, in my opinion, the
men from the boys that when you get out of
your friendly conflin confines and can you beat a ranked
team on the road, not so easy to do. If
(32:59):
Florida can do that to be in the conversation. But
the other team more so that I think really it
has to be in the conversation is l s U.
They looked to me on paper to be loaded, and
not only do you have them power rated fourth overall bread,
but their difference in the rating improved six points from
last year. That's significant. Yeah, I mean, I think people
forget that coming into last year at Orgeron was on
(33:20):
the hot seat, and this was an L s U
program that had seventeen straight seasons of winning eight or
more games and the season win total last year, Bernie,
At this time last year for l s U was seven,
and obviously the Tigers and ed Orgeron exceeded expectations. They
win ten games, capped off by Fiesta Bowl victory, Joe
Burrows back at quarterback, sixteen returning starters. Love the talent
(33:44):
level for them. But I'll say this, Bernie, even though
I have them fourth because of their I would say
daunting schedule at Alabama, at Texas, they pulled Florida from
the SEC East. I still only have L s U
winning nine or ten games this year, even though I
have them four. Mind that power writing is not an
a peopole ballot. That's just who would be favorite over who? Right? No, No,
(34:06):
it's very scientific, and you're a professional at this. No,
not for you, Bernie. I'm talking to the audience. Yeah, Brad,
I want to talk about you mentioned coaches on the
hot seat, and I have to mention one a guy
like but at Auburn is gust mels On on the
hot seat. And I'll tell you why, because last year
two thousand and eighteen, I thought was supposed to be
here we go again, Cam Newton rebooted, they'd won ten games.
(34:29):
The year before, they'd beaten both Georgia and Alabama. They
spit the bit. They lose five conference games. Auburn opens
up against Oregon, which we mentioned earlier. There are two
point favorite and neutral at Arlington, Texas. Can Auburn return
to former glory this year? Can they make a legitimate
run in the SEC? It's top because again, schedule, I
(34:49):
think it's gonna get in the way for Auburn. I
think they play top five schedule in terms of difficulty.
Question mark at quarterback if they figure out the quarterback position.
I love the offensive line, all five starters back like
the wide receiver corps. They always can find a running
back at Auburn on the planes, they have a dynamite
defensive line. If they figure out quarterback, then they can
certainly be I would say a spoiler more than anything,
(35:12):
uh Bernie, But I mean I have him as a
top ten power rated team. I think their season when
they go to l s U, they have to win.
L s U beat him twenty one there last year.
After that, Auburn seemed to fold. They weren't the same
the rest of the year. One minor known to Gus
malls On only six and thirteen. He gets ranked opponents
in his career at Auburn, so you know, and Cam
Newton ain't walking through that door. Yeah, and after he's
(35:34):
signed that big contract extension after beating Alabama a couple
of years ago, I think he's like eight and eight
since that game, right now, that's not gonna that's not
gonna fly in the SEC, especially when you're in the
same state as Nick Savan in Alabama now and they
got serious expectations here and since since they fell short
last year, I think he can do two years in row.
Another coach, I'd like you to talk about Willie Taggart
(35:56):
at Florida State. To me, he seems like he's really
on the hot seat. When he took over the program
for Jim brow Fisher, people thought they'd lead Florida State
to a division title, they'd challenge for an ACC championship.
Did materialize their five and seven And here's the problem.
They looked overmatched and uninspired. Is Willie Taggart he did
great at other school? Well you know what he did
(36:16):
in lesser schools. Is it a situation? Is either right
for it for the job. I don't want to cash
this versions, but The bottom line is he has he
reached the situation there where he might not be able
to deliver. Yeah, I mean keeping mid floor stay. Last year,
first losing season since the first season for Bobby Bowden
seventy six. Very good, so historically poor season last year.
(36:39):
Can't cannot have a losing season. Obviously, this year, I
think you know they're set up to they're gonna be
much improved, no question about it. I think there was
some team leadership issues with them. DeAndre francois quarterback, he's
off the team. They bring in Justin Blackman, who was
the starter two years ago. I think that they improved
the seven eight wins and that buys him another year.
(37:00):
But but certainly I would say of all the year
two coaches, he is on the warmest. See Bernie, alright, Brad,
very good. What does it mean when Geco says just
fifteen minutes could save you fift or more on car insurance?
I means you probably should have gone to Geico dot
com fifteen minutes ago. We come back, We're gonna talk
about more coaches on the hot seat, Brad's projection for
(37:20):
the final four and best bets. I'm Bernie Fratto coming
to you live from the Gecko Fox Sports Radio Studios.
This is the pregame show you always want us to.
Don't go away. You're listening to Straight out of Vegas.
They say, if you love something, set it free a LifeLock.
We say that's bullhockey. All that's saving up and paying
(37:42):
off debt just for some identity thief to set it free.
Crazy talk. It can be dangerously easy to steal your identity.
LifeLock by Norton makes it easy to help protect yourself.
If you become a victim, will work to fix it.
No one can monitor all transactions, but everyone can save
up off their year at life flock dot com. Slash
aware identities have to protection starts here. Look to your
(38:06):
children's eyes to see the true magic of a forest.
It's a storybook world for them. You look and see
a tree. They see the wrinkled face of a wizard
with arms outstretched to the sky. They see treasure and pebbles.
They see a windy path that could lead to adventure,
and they see you. They're fearless. Guide is this fascinating world?
(38:28):
Find a forest near you and start exploring a Discover
the Forest dot Org brought to you by the United
States Forest Service and the AD Council. If I could
be you and you could be me for just one hour,
if you could find a way to get inside each
other's mind. Walk a mile in my shoes, wac a
mile in my shoes shoes. We've all felt left out,
(38:51):
and for some that feeling lasts more than a moment.
We can change that. Learn how it Belonging begins with
US dot Org. Brought to you by the ACT Council.
Welcome Out. You're back on Straight Out of Vegas, the
pregame show you always wanted. I'm Bernie Freddo, coming to
you live from the Geico Fox Sports Radio Studios. I
(39:14):
want to remind you Straight Out of Vegas is brought
to you by Discover. Go further than ever with the
Discovery Miles car. The automatically matched the miles you earn
at the end of your first year, so your thirty
five thousand miles could become seventy Discovered miles. Limitations apply
Discover Match for new card members only. Learn more at
Discover dot com. Slash Travel Brad one more coach that
(39:37):
Indiana had high hopes for, but I think he's very
much on the hot seat because he's kind of lumped
in with Jeff Brown and Pat Fitzgerald and p J Flex.
So there's pressure on Tom Allen in Indiana. He's been
competitive against the lower teams in conference, but over the
past two seasons O and TAN against Ohio State, Michigan,
Michigan State, and Penn State Island Wisconsin not good. Yeah,
(39:57):
you mentioned, I think you hit the nail on the head.
No signature wins and going through it. Indiana has been
an underdog twelve times under Tom Allen and they've lost
all twelve of those games. So I mean, just mathematically speaking,
you probably should have won a couple of those games.
He needs a signature win and you and I kind
of isolated a good spot, Bernie, And I'll let you.
(40:18):
I'm not gonna steal your thunder here late in the
season for Indiana. Will you certainly verify the information for me.
But on November twenty three, Michigan visits Bloomington, Indiana will
be at home. I gotta believe in the name Kitchen fourteen.
Yeawing that out there. Here's the kicker. The week before
Michigan hosts Michigan State. In the week after, it's the
(40:38):
House State game. I don't necessarily like the term sandwich game,
but it's a spot play to look at. I know
I'll grab Indiana the points. You know, they'll be competitive.
It'll be a tall order for them to win, but
I won't rule it out. I love that breaking almost
say that's gonna be on my card. Come absolutely, Brad.
Let's skip to the final four and look ahead, and
(40:59):
who do you project? It's uh into Jane into the December,
and we're headed into college football playoff if we want
to call it that the final four? Who do you project? Yeah,
I'm not gonna be breaking news here and going really
off a beaten path here. I'm gonna start with the
two obvious ones, Alabama and Clemson. Alabama's gonna be a
double digit favorite all twelve of the regular season games, Bernie.
(41:21):
The toughest game for them would be in the SEC
title game against maybe Georgia or Florida. Clemson even a
bigger favorite over the rest of their conference. I think
those two are shoeins. Then followed by and this might
be a little bit of surprised Georgia fair enough. I
think Georgia George is gonna be favored in all twelve
of the regular season games. And I think this year
and they lose another close one to Alabama, I think
(41:42):
at twelve and one they might get the benefit of
the doubt. This year final team for me, Bernie Oklahoma
Sooners again, another team that's gonna be favorite in all
twelve games. And I like Jalen Hurts at quarterback to
replace Kyler Murray Alo Jalen Hurts, and I love Lincoln
Riley and what he'll do with him. But that's st
backtrack to Georgia because I really believe with what Kirby
Smart has done, he's basically become Alabama West. He was
(42:04):
a nick you know, sabing protege. Georgia is the one
team that appears to have Alabama's number. They're just not
intimidated by them. As a matter of fact, if they
didn't have to play the fourth quarter of their football games,
they beat Alabama every time. Yeah, I mean, I don't
know if they're better than Alabama. They certainly are three quarters.
I mean, they're certainly not intimidated. But something they can't
(42:27):
get over the hump. And something tells me, even though
I think Alabama is better than Georgia, sooner or later.
But when you're playing a bunch of close games and
the brakes are gonna fall your way, and this might
be the year at Falster. We're gonna do this show again,
probably August seventeenth market calendars. But we had a great
before your discussion talking about the best teams. Did you
take umbrage with the fact that Georgia was left out
last year? No? I didn't. I mean they got crushed
(42:49):
by L s U on the road. I mean, you
gotta put away Alabama and you're have two touchdowns in
the second half. Put them away. There were in agreement,
all right, So based on the teams you mentioned Alabama, Clemson,
Georgia and Oklahoma, which I don't argue with. I think
there's a probability it's those four, but you never know.
Your teams have to stay healthy and you never know
what gonna happen. That means the Big ten's left out
(43:12):
in the cool What are your thoughts? Yeah, and that
would be what third straight year for the Big ten
being left out? Yeah, that's not gonna fall too well.
But I mean, are you counting on Michigan. No, I'm not,
And I think Ohio State's got too many question marks,
a new quarterback, and then they got to replace the
Hall of Fame head coach. So I don't think this
is the best year for Ohio State. I just think
(43:32):
the conference is getting too competitive. Kudos to the Big Ten.
They've went out and hired a bunch of really good coach.
Oh my goodness, Yes, that's my running joke. In Michigan,
Jim Harbaugh is the fourth best coach in the Big
Ten West, the fourth best coach. We go. We can
talk about that another time. But you know what, let's
just unpacked this for just a second, Brad, because this
implies that Michigan is gonna stumble somewhere. Who are they
(43:55):
gonna stumble against? Is it gonna be home against Michigan State,
home against Ohio State, Is it against Pen State Wisconsin?
Two tough road games might not be Iowa might have
bere Dame. Well, you know, I'll even mentioned Notre Dame
because the week before Michigan's at Penn State and Notre
Dame's off of bye, and Notre Dames had a really
disadvantage this year where they face seven teams that are
coming off of bye, the only time all season where
(44:17):
Notre Dame has the rest advantage is that Michigan game. Yeah,
I think Michigan trips off at least once, if not twice. Bernie,
we're total agreement in based on your projections, and they're
probably gonna be very accurate. The Pac twelve once again
left out looking in the cold, and uh, that's not
gonna sit well with Chris Peterson and the boys. If
anybody can break through in the Pac twelve, who wny be?
(44:38):
Actually think it will be Utah this year? Now, I'm
with you in Utah. Yeah, I don't think they go
on defeated, but I could see Utah being eleven and
one in the regular season. I think they'll only be
an underdog in one game that's at Washington, right, Very true? Alright,
everybody's favorite part of the show. Let's make sure we
get this in best bets. You've been listening to Brad Powers,
the man with the college knowledge. He is here every
(44:59):
day three of four, Pacific, six and sevent Eastern on
Straight out of Vegas with r J, Bill, Steve Physic
and Brad Powers. And again we are going to repeat
this show closer to college football season, probably the week
end of August seventeen. Did you have one or two
best bets today? One? Okay, go ahead, I'm gonna go
season win total. I'm gonna go to the big ten.
I'm going Michigan State over seven and a half wins.
(45:22):
Hear me out for oh, I love the returning experience.
Seventeen returning starters. Here's a team that underachieved last year. Well,
there was a reason why they had like fifty plus
starts lost to injury last year. Their quarterback Brian Lurk,
he struggled why he was injured. He had a shoulder injury.
Pre shoulder injury. He completes sixty of his passes after that,
probably the best defensive front in all of college football
(45:45):
coming back. And I like the schedule too. I haven't
favored by double digits in seven games. Oh, that's pretty easy.
And again we already talked about you and me before
the show. Michigan State as an underdog has won like
half their games, so it's not out of the realm
of possibility. They could steal a game at Ohio State
or at Michigan. Give me Michigan State over seven and
a half wins. Actually, I'm favored in nine games this year.
(46:07):
Burnie D'Antoni is amazing as an underdog, especially against Michigan.
And I'll say if that any kind of offense last year,
they might have beat Michigan. Last year that was a
dead nuts game until into this, into the second half.
All right. My best bet is World Cup soccer. The
USA has advanced to the round of sixteen against Spain.
Spain is never once advanced as far. It's gonna be
(46:28):
a hard fought, low scoring game. It's got one nothing
to nothing written all over at the total it's two
and a half. It's shaded now, it's probably minute. Get
on it when you can. The game won't kick off
till Monday, nine Pacific, but I think it's a solid
play and a lot of sharp respected money has coming. Brat,
thanks so much for joining us tonight. We could have
done three hours standing on our head. Thank you so
(46:48):
much for having me. Bernie. Look forward to talking to
again at the end of the summer. Great information. I'm
Bernie Fratto, you've been listening to straight out of Vegas.
We'll see again next Saturday night. Good luck with all
your bets and you nine weeks from now, college football
is going to be here before you know it in
in the coming weeks. You still got the Major League
All Star Game, all kinds of stuff, the NBA Summer
League too. That's gonna do it. For this week's edition,
(47:10):
Straight out of Vegas. I'm Bernie Frouda. Next up the
man from Operland Hotel. It's the Jason Martin Show. Get
right to the romance and find the way to wow
this Valentine's with one hundred Flowers dot Com. From classic
roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate covered berries, gourmet treats
(47:31):
and more. Surprise your Valentine with one hundred flowers dot
com right now. Get the eighteen stem enchanted Rose Medalley
for or upgrade to red Roses for ten dollars more.
Go to one hundred flowers dot com slash tune in.
That's one flowers dot com. Slash tune in. I'm John Gonzalez,
(47:52):
the host of sis new podcast, Sports Illustrated Weekly. Sports
Illustrated has delivered some of the best storytelling in sports
for seventy years, and now that continues. On our show.
Each week, we'll dive deep into the best stories from
around the sports world. Sports Illustrated Weekly is available every
Wednesday on the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, where
(48:14):
wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe now. Hi everybody, I'm
Rachel Banetta and I have my very own podcast called
Benched with Banetta. You're kidding me. I'm just here so
I won't get fine. Every week, I'm gonna be talking
about all the things I find fascinating about the NFL.
(48:34):
And I'm doing something that has never been done before.
I'm opening my d m s. D MS now open,
listen every Tuesday and join me on the bench. Subscribe
now and listen to the Bench with Banetta podcast on
the I Heart Radio app, on Apple Podcasts, or wherever
(48:54):
you get your podcasts.
Fox Sports Radio News
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.