On today's episode, Jason gets the party started by sharing his thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys' uninspiring win over the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night. The Titans rested all of their best players since the game was virtually meaningless in the AFC playoff race... and Dallas still didn't pull away until the fourth quarter. While everyone is jumping for joy after the Cowboys earned their 12th win of the season, the harsh reality is Dallas is playing mediocre football as of late and they're basically limping into the playoffs. Later, Super Producer Rob G (Robert Guerra) swings by to help discuss LeBron James' public plea for help from the Los Angeles Lakers front office. It's clear that the Lakers as presently constructed aren't championship contenders - and The King isn't happy about it. While Jason and Rob agree that they'd like to see Los Angeles make a swing to make the club relevant again, they disagree on exactly how much blame the Lakers front office deserves for their current predicament. Finally, J-Mac closes the show with a very special College Football Playoff and NFL Week 17 edition of the Best Bet.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up
Straight Fire? Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight Fire for Friday, December,
final Friday podcast of the year. It's been a good one.
(00:26):
I can't complain about, especially from a podcast standpoint, a
sports standpoint. We just had the World Cup and how
about this weekend college football? You know, obviously you guys
listen to the pod. You're follow me on I G
three and oh on College Football Picks on Wednesday, three
and one on College Football Picks on Thursday. Tuesday was
not good, but we bounced back. It's been a productive week.
(00:47):
We'll have best bets at the end of the podcast.
College football for Saturday's big games, NFL's Sunday games. We're
not gonna talk about Monday yet. It's a great game,
but we're not gonna go there yet. Um. You also
have an NBA topic that has popped up. Surprise small one. No,
it's not the Nets winning ted straight but it's just
a quick NBA topic I had to get to before
(01:09):
NFL Best Bets. I do want to start, obviously with
the Dallas Cowboys win over the Titan unimpressive, boring Cowboys
were basically facing a practice squad defense a quarterback who
I don't I think this was Josh Dobbs his first start.
You know, I was watching the game, not with the
(01:29):
sound on. They kept showing Josh Dobbs his mom and
dad in the stands. I guess this is his first start,
twenty seven year old. Uh, he's appeared in a bunch
of games before with Pittsburgh, but his first start. Josh Dobbs,
good story out of Tennessee. Nice quarterback, really just scoring
machine in college with the balls, and he looked okay.
(01:52):
I mean again, he's throwing the trail on Burts who
had an awesome play, and a bunch of guys who
really would not cut it on any of the playoff
rosters in the a f C. I mean, seriously, some
of these they had. Let's see one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,
ten guys catch a pass against the Cowboys. And if
(02:13):
I if we played a game where I said, is
this an actor in London or is this an NFL
wide receiver Racy McMath, Is this gentleman an nb DL
player or is he a pass catcher for the Titans.
Julius Chestnut. I literally never heard of those guys. Just
to humor you, I'm gonna click on Racy McMath. He
(02:37):
is a two thou six round pick out of Tennessee
Ladies and Gentlemen. Racy McMath has now four career receptions.
At any rate. Deck Prescott continues to underwhelm another two
interception game. I know, you just look at the stat
line O two touchdowns, two two yards. You know, um,
(03:00):
you know when Tennessee made it interesting, Dac delivered. Okay, fine,
you want to look at it that way, that's all good.
Dak Prescott lost a fumble, had one interception that was
not his fault. You know, you look at the replay
of the receiver basically bobbled it right into the hands
of Bayard who is always around the football. And then
the other interception was just brutal, terrible past nice play
by Bayard. And again it's one of those games where
(03:21):
Dallas just played with their food for the large portion
of the game. Did not look over the impressive no
Tony Pollard. The backfield lacked punch. They did lose their
center to an ankle injury. That is never a good
sign heading into the playoffs. Folks, Listen, I was bullish
on Dallas about four weeks ago. And listen, they did
win last week against Gardner Minshew. They have now won
(03:44):
back to back games. You're gonna be a get I said, Oh,
twelve wins, amazing, awesome. McCarthy is doing a great job
their last two wins or against Gardner Minshew and Joshua Dobbs.
I mean, we could go down this list. It gets
really interesting. They did lose to Trevor Lawrence. They beat
Davis Mills, they beat Matt Ryan, they beat Daniel Jones.
(04:10):
The win over the Vikings was super impressive. But I
just can't get over this. And you look at some
of these teams they've beat and the backup quarterbacks, folks.
I don't really know what to do with this Dallas
team heading into the playoffs. I don't. They have had
moments where they get the turnovers going their way, and
they dropped forty nine on the Bears and then forty
on the Vikings, fifty four on the Colts. A lot
(04:32):
of this stuff is turnover aided. And I just wonder
this injury on the offensive line. Yeah, Dak Prescott in
a big spot. I had a buddy at a bar
on Thursday, asked me if I if you had to
make one dollar bet on would the Cowboys win one
playoff game this year? And I'm like, well, it depends
who they play. Nope the bets. Now would you do it?
(04:55):
And I'm thinking, well, if Tampa wins, they're probably facing
Tampa in Tampa, and I think that Dallas has to
be the side. I don't like Tampa at all. That
being said, Dak Prescott on the road, Todd Bowles defense,
Tampa defense getting healthier. We'll touch on that a little
bit in the Tampa Carolina game later, But I don't
(05:17):
know what you do it. Do you think Dak Prescott
is getting a win on the road, because I'm just
telling you, there is a scenario where Dak loses the game,
Mike McCarthy loses the game. And when you look into
point Fingers what we lost last year at home to
San franz and everybody says that was mostly a McCarthy meltdown,
but Dak could surely be blamed as well, and Kellen
(05:39):
Moore could get some And then you look at this
year and if they go down in the first round
again despite thirteen wins, It's like, folks, do we keep
riding this or is this gonna be one of these
Marty Schottenheimer, We win fourteen games, losing the playoffs and
fire the coach because something's got to give at some point,
and Dak Prescott ain't going to where because of the
salary and the contract. I'm just I don't know. Many
(06:02):
I'm not I'm not trying to shove McCarthy out, just
pointing out that the Cowboys are suddenly just like Philadelphia,
sort of limping into the playoffs. I don't know. I
don't know. There's any way you could have watched what
happened against Tennessee and call that impressive win. Tennessee's reeling.
(06:23):
They basically benched all their important players so they could
save them for next week's game to get in the playoffs,
and they faced the week prior an Eagles team that
lost Lane Johnson, backup quarterback, three fumbles in the game.
Dallas recovers all of them. I don't know, guys, Dallas
just seems like a very fortunate regular season team this year.
I've vacillated back and forth. Or do I love them?
(06:44):
Do I like them? Is their value? I don't know.
After Tennessee I just uninspiring is the word I choose.
All right, let's pivot to the NBA and talk about
what I think could be an interesting story, Lebron James.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk up in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports
Radio dot com and within the I Heart Radio app
(07:06):
search f s R to listen live. Al Right, so
you guys know, I'd love to talk about my hits
on here all the time, gambling, fantasy, whatever it is.
I love a little brag, little pat on the back
to myself. My wife does not like that trade just
f y I. That being said, I had a whiff
this week. Rob g hit me up one morning and said, Hey,
(07:27):
did you see what Lebron said? I said, nope. You know, listen,
it's Christmas week. Maybe I'm not on my game as
much as I should be. I'm not watching Bowl games,
trying to spend some time with the family. My brother
got me into FIFA, so I started like a dynasty
in FIFA, so I'm sneaking in games every now and
then got back on the basketball court. I'm not as
locked in on sports as I should be. That could
be a good thing for the gambling, which you know
(07:49):
this is a big weekend. Uh, in the contest, I
need to go five and oh absolutely at any rate.
Rob G tells me, well, these Lebron quotes and I
read them and I'm like, okay, it's mini shot at
the Lakers, no big deal. Lebron's quote was let's see
what it exactly was on how long he wants to play.
I'm a winner and I want to win, and I
(08:09):
want to win and give myself a chance to win
and still compete for championships. That has always been my
passion playing basketball at this level, at this level, just
to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It's
not in my DNA anymore. That right, there was a
shot at the Lakers. I was like, okay, he's taking
a little jab at the Lakers. He's unhappy that they
(08:31):
haven't swung a trade like he wants. And that was
mushroomed into kind of a thing. And you see Lebron
pop up on the injury report with the game against
the Hawks tonight, and you start wondering, is Lebron gonna
start playing games with these guys, and say, listen, if
you ain't gonna do something, maybe I'll just start sitting
some games, arresting up for next year wherever I may
be playing. And you guys don't have the Lebron guy. Obviously,
(08:53):
he's been playing at a ridiculously high level of this season.
I mean I saw some stat where I think it
was on I G guys who were playing in their
twentieth season in the league, and they were posting some
of their stats for guys who have been in the
league for twenty years, and you know, Lebron is having
a very very very good twentieth year. Uh both points
(09:15):
per game in their twentieth season, right, Vince Carter twenty
years in five points a game, Jabbar with the skyhook,
ten points a game, Dirk Nvitski twelve, the Great, the
late great, Kobe Bryant seventeen point six points per game.
You gotta go all the way down to Lebron at
twenty seven points per game in his twentieth season, averaging
(09:35):
eight point five boards, six point five assists. This is
other worldly stuff. Well, you do not see this in
the NBA. We've never seen anything like Lebron. But that's
not news, right, I think what news could be here
is what's going on between Lebron and the front office.
We know that they're not happy with the Russell Westbrook move,
which was influenced heavily by Lebron. Him and Anthony Davis
(09:58):
were whining and dining Russ Westbrook out here talking about
how great it's gonna be, and it's not worked out.
So yeah, theoretically the Lakers are saying, we're not listening
to you, Lebron. We're gonna do what we think is
right for the team. Okay, got it. Well, you know what,
Lebron doesn't want to be on some freaking Orlando Magic
Charlotte Hornet's team that's not trying. Are the Lakers trying
(10:20):
to win right now? Anthony Davis is out a month.
They're not playing well without him. Obviously, they're beating up
on the dregs of the league. They're not a playoff
team without him. With him, I think you're probably talk
and play in because they have got so much ground
to make up here. Rob here's my thing. I don't
know what the solution is for the Lakers and Lebron.
(10:42):
I would say it goes one of two ways. Lebron
goes in, says, guys, I really want to win. I
know you don't want to listen to me because I
screwed up the rust thing. You know what, do something?
Do something to make us a contender. Not there's no
magic switch, there's no silver bullet the gonna make it
happen overnight. But please do something even if you don't
(11:05):
want to listen to me, and then the Lakers have
a choice. We don't think there's anything that could be
done to Salvage's team. Well what Lebron is like? Well,
what am I doing here? Can you trade me to
somebody who is trying to win? I don't think Lebron
wants to go anywhere. Loves living out here. His kids
are in playing basketball in high school. You know, he's
got the spring Hill production company, He's got the show, um,
(11:26):
the shop, the shop, Lebron's crush. You get out here.
You don't want to go nowhere. That being said, should
the Lakers do something? And I'm an unequivocally yes, you're
always trying to get better forward momentum? Do something? Do
you give up a two seven pick? Whoopee damn? Do
who cares? It's freaking four years away? What would you
(11:48):
would you like? Some seventh grader now is is a
guy that's going to be impacted in that deal, or
I guess the ninth grader, like, that's what we're doing,
that's what we care about. A two thou pick. It
just seems dumb that the Lakers are not trying to
do anything. And I don't want you yelling, but what
can they do? What can they do? Listen, there's guys
working with the Lakers seventy hours a week trying to
(12:13):
figure out what can can they do around the cap moves,
what kind of wiggle room they have? Okay, that's their
job full time. You know you guys don't got a podcast.
I got the TV show, I'm writing for Fox Sports
dot com. I got oh, by the way, two kids? Yeah,
I got wife, all that stuff. Either guy could go
through every contract in the league. I can float some
(12:35):
ideas that I have, certainly, but I think the Lakers
it's not a good look for them to sit on
their hands and do nothing while Lebron James pouts about
playing his ass off and not even making the playoffs.
So Rob, I know you're a hardcore Lakers guy. You
don't want a cave and cow tow to Lebron, but
(12:55):
let's be realistic. This team borderline unwatchable. They gotta do
something with a play in tournament and you can't even
get in. It's an embarrassment. Oh yeah, you know it's
fitting that tonight they get the Atlanta Hawks because, um,
you know, a week and a half ago, it was
reported by Chris Haynes that Lee executives believe that the
next superstar to request the trade is gonna be trade
(13:15):
young and low and behold, Lebron dropped this bombshell, and
so you know, you might see the summer Lebron is
the next superstar to drop a trade. So that's kind
of funny. Um, But going back to what you said,
I think it's a double sided coin, because well all
coins are double side. Is that, you know, expression doesn't
make a lot of sense. But let me start here.
I agree with what you're saying. You know, like I
(13:36):
believe that if you have Lebron, James and Anthony, especially
Anthony Davis who was playing at the peak of his
powers before he had this fluke injury, Um, then you
should be going all in. And if you're not gonna
go all in, then what's the point of having him?
Then you might as well tear it down and trade
both of those guys in the off season and just
build from scratch like that. That's what I agree with you.
(13:57):
I agree that if you have those two guys, it
should be championship robust all the time. My only caveat, though,
is that when Lebron made these quotes, and you're not
the one who who who was like this, but there
was a lot of people on TV and radio and
podcast on social media were saying, yeah, look at the
way the Lakers are doing Lebron dirty. They're they're wasting
(14:20):
his talents. You know, they're doing a disservice by not
you know, trading those picks and Russ and and those
picks and Pat or whatever. Right, And it's like, you
do realize that all of their biggest moves and their
biggest contracts, and their biggest trades involved Lebron James led
(14:41):
decisions and clutch sports guys. You go back in the time, Okay,
the Anthony Davis trade, which worked out because you want
a championship. I don't care about the draft picks now
moving forward, I don't care if it costs you Victor
women Yama this season, because you got the title out
of it. Which is the ultimate goal. But then you
keep going down the line like, oh, well, they alienated
(15:02):
Marc Gasol so that they could bring Andre Drummond in
and that was a colossal failure. He ends up getting
benched in Game six against the Phoenix Suns. They give
the full mid level exception to Mantras Harrold, who did
not fit alongside Lebron in a D and was off
the team in the year. A year later, they kept
Taylor Horton Tucker, a clutch sports guy, over Alex Caruso.
(15:25):
Now you can argue that they could have kept both
of them, because it's just the money thing, of course,
but ultimately they the front office decided, we didn't want
to be paying ten million dollars a piece to two
role players who we didn't think we're worth that much
to begin with, so they went with the clutch sports guy. Obviously,
they have the mini mid level exception guys. They only
had two of them in the last couple of years.
(15:46):
Kendrick Nunn, who has been a bad signing as soon
as they made it because he had been available and
now he's not a good player anymore. And Lonnie Walker,
who was okay, but he's a six four gunner on
a team that love. Don't don't be merchant. I like
Lonnie Walker, but it's payer this year. No, he's like
the fourth who's third as reason yeah, Austin reasons okay,
(16:09):
and then obviously the cherry on top. The biggest one
of them all is you gut a championship contending team
in some eysa championship favorite. If you go back to
NBA dot com, the executives pick the Lakers to be
the championship favorites in and so the last year and
the year before they gave all that up to get
Russell Westbrook, which blew up in their face. So I
(16:31):
understand why the front office is like, bro, every time
we listen to you and your representatives, ship go sideways.
So forgive us for being like, hey, let's be patient,
Let's wait a little bit, let's see what else is available.
Because every time we cave in too Lebron and Clutch
and you can't separate them. They're not like it's two
(16:52):
different things, They're all together. Everyone knows this. The minute
we decide to follow what Clutch Sports wants to do,
it backfires except for the first time, and that's ever
since then, it's been all negative. It's all downhill from there.
I just just based on what you said. I can't
believe I thought of something. It may irk you, and
I hope our audience is not angry. So you know,
(17:12):
the Lakers listen to Kobe Bryant there in his final
few years, he wanted that big money. He didn't get
no title for the Lakers. At the end, Lebron, they
listened to him. They at least got a title out
of it. And it looks now like the Lakers are
headed back to pre Lebron Lakers like that waste land
of wins. Let's get D'Angelo Russell. Oh, no, he's not
(17:35):
the guy. Let's get Lonzo Ball. No, no, he's not
the guy. Rob. You gotta bet Lebron did get them
a championship, right, yeah, well, I mean Kobe got him
a champion to do with Pakasol. Remember he said he said,
trade trade me to Pluto before I played for the Lakers.
They said, no, we're not going to trade you. They
get Pagosol Boom two championships, right, But I don't know that.
Kobe said, Pagosol is the guy. Bring him in, he said,
(17:57):
Lebron said a D's the guy. Yeah, well, I mean
it's a little bit different when Lebron is also basically
the shadow boss for Clutch Sports. So if there's a
Clutch Sports client and he wants him in l a
or to be his teammate wherever he decides to go,
it's much easier for him to steer said player to
wherever he wants him to. Yes, that is definitely true.
(18:19):
So look, obviously I'm a Laker fan. I want them
to compete. I'd rather them trade Russ and a pick
and Pat Bev and none in a pick and get
wing players and guys who are gonna be here longer
than one season. Of course, you know, because I think
the West is wide open. I think they can make
a run where they win a championship. I don't know,
but the West, there's no Juggernaut team obviously. Um, but
(18:40):
I don't like this idea that, oh, they're wasting Lebron,
they did him dirty, that they're there, it's a disservice
to his talent. That sounds not It's not like that.
That sounds like a bit of a Twitter take that
they did Lebron dirty. Well, it all started with a
CBS column, and then all a suddeny got picked up
by Fox Sports One and ESPN who wrote the CBS
(19:01):
I don't remember, but I saw it was we had
we had an idea for a topic on the radio show,
and because we had saw it on TV during our
pre production, it was on FS one as an disputed
replay and on ESPN's uh I think it was around
the Horn they had as a topic there too, and
it's like, no, we're not doing it. Lakers wasting dirty
(19:25):
basically wasting. I mean, well, listen. Wasting and doing dirty,
I would say, are two different things. I would say, yes,
they are, I think wasting. I would agree with he's
having an incredible season and they're wasting it because there
what five games under Well, he had an incredible season
last year and look what it got him, and that
was with the team he had picked. If you go
back and do the research and read the articles, Lebron
(19:47):
said multiple times, Oh, it was great to be a
part of the process of building this team together, and
it was arguably the most disappointing team in Lakers franchise
history relative to like expectations. Here's the core that was
year one of Russ Yes, here's the quote. It was
exciting helping put this team together this summer, making us
as explosive as we could be, both awesome offensively and defensively.
(20:10):
We have a team that's looking forward to putting in
the work. I'm looking to see. Yeah, Lebron played fifty
six games last year. Yeah he was. He puts up
good numbers, but it wasn't you know, resulting in wins.
I mean yeah, but he missed twenties six games with injury.
Let me see how manny Anthony Davis missed? Yes, so,
(20:32):
I mean, I guess I can see the argument that, hey,
they running it back. You know, it's not the greatest
thing ever, but it's so, you know, Lebron missed twenty six.
Let's see Anthony Davis last year missed Oh dear, I
don't even want to hear the number. I mean, no,
he Anthony Davis played forty games last year, bro, So
(20:55):
Anthony Davis missed forty two and Lebron missed twenty six. No,
you're not making the playoffs if you're top two players.
I don't care. If it's Janice and Chris Middleton miss
that many games, I don't know. Drew Holiday might be
their second best and beat and Harden missed that many games.
They're not making the playoffs. Hey, don't disrespect Tyrese Maxie
and Tobias Harris like that. Okay, I don't want to
be like defending Lebron guy, but the reality is like
(21:17):
they're kind of wasting this year of Lebron's greatness. Now
Anthony Davis is injury. I just I don't see how
you don't want to go do something. Rubber Linka may
not even be with the organization in four years. Yeah,
I mean it makes me hypocrite because everything said about
John Daniels all week. But this is one of those
situations where if you're Rob Polinka, you can make a
series of moves in effort to save your job and
(21:40):
give yourself the built an excuse. Well, the weird thing
is didn't get an extension in the off season. He did.
All right, That's enough on le Bron in the NBA.
Time for the best bets on a massive football New
Year weekend. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
Fox Sports Radio Dot and within the I Heart Radio app.
(22:02):
Search f s R to listen live. The only thing
better than sitting on your couch watching the game. He's
making money while you do it. Here's your best bet alright,
time for the final best bet of two thousand twenty two.
(22:24):
It's been a good year. World Cup was incredible. Hopefully
you guys were tagging along on the picks on the
World Cup. It was better than any sport I've had
this year. College basketball was good, not great. During the
NZA tournament this early season, I had our hot streak
and then it cooled off the last week. So I'm
gonna lay off here until after um we get back
in a conference play in early January. But NFL has
(22:47):
been up and down a winning season, fifty six percent
in the contest, and we'll be doing some college football
bets in a moment. But I think the thing you
need to remember the key to betting this late in
the Sea in its Fantasy Football finals weekend right. Sorry
to you who could not use Derrick Henry last night.
That's a big bummer. I had Tony Pollard. I had
(23:09):
to actually end up cutting him. My strategy for fantasy
late like this is load up on all the skilled
position players and dump your kicker and just wait to
see who is in and who's out. So I was
able to dump Pollard because I don't need him pick
up a kicker because you know, I didn't have a kicker,
because I feel like kickers are interchangeable this late in
the season at any rate. For the NFL, the number
(23:31):
one thing you need to remember is teams that are
motivated to win that needs something historically are inflated in
the market. You're betting into a number that should not
be that big. Let's take the Eagles for instance. They win,
they wrap up the NFC East, the number one seed,
the bye week, so much on the line for the Eagles.
It's only six and af against the States. Oh, the
(23:53):
States stink. Its are terrible. This is true. Did you
guys see the Lane Johnson True? We talked about it
on the podcast. I found this crazy number that was
almost not believable. The Eagles without Lane Johnson, I believe
the last three seasons are three and ten. He is
massively instrumental to that offense, one of the best right
(24:15):
tackles in the league. Eagles also maybe without Jordan Davis,
the defensive nose tackle who has returned um. Good player
on the inside. Avonte Maddox is not gonna play their
slot cornerback. I know it's like, well, what does it matter,
it's against Andy Dalton. Just remember this is a one
PM Andy Dolt. This is not prime tom Andy Dalton.
We're looking at an Eagles team that's beat up. They're
(24:35):
coming off an emotionally draining loss to the Cowboys. We
still don't know if Hurts is gonna go or if
it's gonna be Minshew. I would guess it's Minshew. I
don't see why you'd force Hurts into this, but I
think you gotta take the Saints here, guys. I mean,
if you got the seven amazing, I think you can
also consider six and a half. I would not be
(24:56):
surprised to see this go down to six five and
a half as we get closer. Some pressure here on
the Eagles and that Lane Johnson injury cannot be underestimated.
I don't think much of the Saints, but I think
that's definitely a pick that all I'll have in the contest. Obviously,
we don't need to say much more about the Jets.
I've talked about them all a week. Better about one
and a half to two and a half. Mike Whites
(25:18):
back for the Jets. The Seattle defense is criminally overrated.
Did you know Seattle has not covered the spread in
six weeks? That's how far they've fallen. And I saw
that the Jets. You know, I'm looking up. Oh, people
are on the road. It's so tough to go into
Seattle and win. Remember they said there about Sam Donald.
Sim Donald went in their one wire to wire victory
Marcus Mariota back when he was the starter one there.
(25:38):
Seattle just not playing well. Now the interesting development here
is Locke it may return. You know, it's a big
game Locket as a clutch player. If they get him back,
that's that's kind of a big one because I could
see a scenario or Sauce Gardner removes Metcalf in one
half the field. Mc mccalf will probably have a couple
of catches, but without Metcalf, so Gardner on him. I
(26:01):
just wonder where does you know Smith look for offense.
I don't think the running game will do too much
damage against his Jets front big mismatch with Quinny Williams
on the Seattle Center blithe Um, but the Locket edition
would be big. DJ Read is having a good season
but Lockett is just a great possession receiver, so I
think there is a case for Seattle if Lockett plays.
But the Jets have gone on the road seven times
(26:24):
this year, five and two against the spread on the road.
One of the losses was the walk off loss against
the Patriots on the punt return with like two three
seconds left or whatever crap it was. The other was
the Minnesota game, which was started by Mike White. So
I'm just saying, Jets leaving New York have done very,
very well. It's definitely going to be one of the
picks for me. And the contest Jets and Saints are
(26:46):
two for sure. I like Carolina, but I just I'm
struggling with the number. Tampa Bay was favored by thirteen
over this team what two months ago, thirteen on the road.
They're now three at home. It's just a massive move
Carolina down. Their top two cornerbacks J C. Horne and
(27:06):
Jackson both out. Listen, I Caroline has been a great story.
I I am rooting for Sam Donald. It's tough for
me to only get three. A week ago. This was seven.
You've gone now through the key number seven, the look
ahead line with seven all the way down to three.
It's something doesn't seem fishy about that. It's just something
seems off. And we've been saying for weeks. Oh, this
(27:27):
is the Tom Brady spot where Tom Brady shows who
we really is. And you know Brady of course is um.
I think the numbers are one eleven and one against
the spread this season, Tom Brady, Okay, I've got knocked
out a survivor taking Tampa against Carolina. Um, there's no
way I can get beat Tampa here. It's Carolina or
pass for me. Um. I'm looking at the Bears. Haven't
(27:49):
pulled the trigger yet because this is gonna sound idiotic.
In a fantasy league where there's some good money at stake,
I may start Jared Goff and I cannot then go
back the Bears at plus six. I mean, I guess
the only out there as well. You just hope the
Bears score and then the lines are able to score
(28:10):
and it's a shootout and golf throws for four yards
and four touchdowns. The total has gotten rocketing up the
fifty two, so there will be points. I just can
Detroit at margin. Can they looking at the Bears and
justin fields in that spot. But Here's what's interesting. If
Houston wins against Jacksonville, we don't know yet. That's a
game we're not gonna talk about. What is Peterson sitting
(28:31):
his guys? I don't know. It sounds like they should
as Tennessee is sitting everyone and they'll get extra rest,
obviously leading into the Jacksonville Tennessee game, which is for
a playoff spot next week. But if I'm Jacksonville, am
I playing my guys? So now let's say Houston wins,
and Houston has won nine straight against Jacksonville. Let's just
(28:52):
say Houston wins that and the Bears lose. The Bears
now are in line for the number one pick in
the draft. What do you I mean, what do you
want with the number one pick or number two pick? Now?
The Jets? My Jets have done this before, winning a
meaningless game against the Rams that cost him Trevor Lawrence.
I ended up with Zack Wilson. We've seen how that's
worked out. So this is a difficult week. I kind
(29:13):
of want to take Chicago. I just wonder if there's
a call from upstairs, Hey, justin Field sits at half,
we're checking out new guys. Does that come I don't know.
Um another game, there's a major dog with fleas the
Denver Broncos. Yeah, the team that I had last week
when they went to the Rams and got their teeth
kicked and gave up fifty one unbelievable stat from the
(29:38):
guys at Fox or is it here in my notes?
So teams that lose by thirty five or more points
and are then double digits again the following week our
sixteen and three against the spread this century, I believe.
So they lose by thirty five or more. They definitely
(29:59):
did that against the Rams and then their double digit
dogs again, those teams sixty and three against us. Right now,
that it's just a trend, it doesn't mean any of
the Denver is magically going to show up. Now, they
do potentially get the bulk fire your coach bump hack
it out Kansas City. Obviously, all they have to do
is win. They don't really need to get margin here.
They just gotta win. And a Casey win combined with
(30:22):
a Buffalo loss, puts Kansas City back in the mix
of the number one seed. Buffalo Obviously, the big Monday
night game against the Bengals will break that down on
Monday's podcast. But I don't know, guys, can I pull
the trigger on Denver? I don't know if I had
the intestinal fortitude for that one. Um another one like listen,
we all just watched Nick Folds embarrass himself on Monday
(30:46):
night football practice squad to starting and looking awful, nick
Folds starting again. The line is coming down, I'm sorry,
the total is coming down forty one and a half
to thirty nine and a half. But the money is
coming in on the Giants. They went from three point
favorites to six. Daniel Jones lane six at home. We
(31:11):
not about Daniel Jones on the road obviously, Daniel Jones
covering machine on the road at home not so much.
Can you get behind Nick Foles? I mean, seriously, this
is These are some of the quarterbacks I've mentioned to
be backing this week in teams playing for something. Giants
are playing for something, Colts playing for nothing. Andy Dalton
of the Saints, and I know technically they're not eliminated
(31:31):
with guys, they basically need to heaven and Earth to
move to have a chance of getting the playoffs. Okay,
talking about betting, Andy Dalton, Darcoby betting, Justin Fields and
the second worst team in the league record wise in
the Chicago Bears, Russell Wilson and the sad Sack Broncos.
And now I just mentioned Nick Foles in the Indianapolis Colts.
(31:53):
Oh and also like White in the New York Jets.
This is a tough weekend. I mean, some of these
games you just can't touch. I mean, now I did.
I did bet the Rams Chargers under under forty two.
UM again, Ram score fifty. When people think, oh, Baker Mayfield,
appends are back tons of interceptions from Russell Wilson. Okay,
(32:14):
Flukey stuff not Russell Wilson Flukey just two out of
his first three passes being intercepted, and the Chargers are
now healthy. Bosa looks like he's slated too. I don't
know if he's gonna be out of pitch Acount, but
he's playing. So now you get Bosa mac on opposite
ends against a terrible Rams offensive line. It's weird to
me that this number solo Chargers are in the playoffs.
(32:37):
I don't know if they can help their cause much
regarding who they would play in the first round, but
I think for sure UM Chargers Rams under I could
see Chargers defense looking good, and you guys saying, damn Chargers,
they could win the a f C. They might go
to the super Bowl, And I told you you gotta
bet them before this stuff happens. Um. I like the Chargers,
(32:59):
And finally, sending day football, Pittsburgh goes to Baltimore to
face Tyler Huntley. The total has come crashing down because
it was you know, maybe Lamar is supposed to Remember
wasn't the shifter report that Lamar was supposed to return
last week? He still hasn't practiced. What are we doing?
He hasn't practiced yet, Lamar Jackson. I don't know if
(33:20):
he's playing again this season. I think I'm taking Pittsburgh.
I wish I had got in the three. I did not.
It's a two and a half. I just this series
is always um you know, going back what Harbaugh, Tomlin,
you go back a decade, This feels like it's always
landing on three. I get t J. Watt and a
(33:40):
very good Pittsburgh defense. I get Baltimore and Tyler Huntley
like Pittsburgh saw him earlier. This is not a good
quarterback and Pittsburgh's already got the book on him, like
there's enough tape on Tyler Hunter. You know that he's
not a threat. I mean, if I asked you to
pick the name the top two receivers on Baltimore right now,
could you even do it. I mean, they're storing to
DeMarcus Robinson, who was like this fourth or fifth guy
(34:04):
on the Chiefs last year. He's like their number one
option in Baltimore. I just I don't see it. I'm
going Pittsburgh, kenn He Pickett. You know, the guy scares me.
It was. It was a great, uh comeback cover last
week against the Raiders. Needed that one badly, But um,
I'm riding with Pittsburgh this week. Two and a half stinks.
I mean, if if you're betting it, you definitely buy
up to three. I got no problem with that. But
(34:24):
in the contest, it's not three, so I can't take it.
The the other big game we didn't really touch on
his Packers Vikings at three and a half. I think
I like the Packers, but that hook is just I
don't know, man, know what Packers team is gonna show up,
And I know I spent most of the week hyping
the Packers as a team that could win the NFC.
But can you assure me that this Packers defense which
(34:47):
got three picks of two last week and again, were
they picks of two or were they concuss quarterback not
knowing what he's doing, not knowing what he's doing. Some
of the quotes, by the way, about toa essentially saying
I threw the or I threw the wrong route in
the second half after the concussion is like a little troublesome.
And so now it's like, well, is Green Bay's defense
(35:09):
good or did they just get lucky because two was concussed?
And you're like, well, Kirk Cousins pretty damn accurate. I
know everybody wants to say outdoors, if memory serves, Dalvin
Cook has had some games on the frozen tundra, and
Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson should have a game. So
I don't like the hook, so I'm probably passing. Part
of me just wants to lay it with brock Purty.
(35:31):
But nine and a half, I just like the san
Frantiam What if? What if brock Purty and san fran
are the on the type of run that the Bengals
have gone where they've covered eleven of twelve and you
missed the boat. We've been on them, I think two
out of the three. Yes, well, yeah, we were on
the Miami one, but then he was like filling in
that game. We were on the Seattle one. I feel
(35:53):
like there was one more game that I'm missing, but
the Washington one, I I don't. I don't even remember
what we had last week, but I I like the
cut of this forty Niners jib right now. And oh,
by the way, they can still get the number two seats.
So if we find out the Vikings lose, Actually the
games are both in the afternoon, so they're both in
(36:14):
the window. So if the Vikings lose and the San
Francisco Fins win, San franc gets the number two seeds,
they would then have home field against the Vikings in
the playoffs. So that's basically the NFL Sunday Card. It's
a good one. Nothing really on Cleveland Washington. I would
lean team with nothing to play for Cleveland over team
that's desperate Washington, Atlanta, Arizona to Zero's nothing, sorry, absolutely nothing, Miami,
(36:42):
New England. I'm not touching Teddy Bridgewater against Bill Belichick. Sorry,
I like money. I don't want to pick the wrong
side there, and that's a Sunday card. It's a week seventeen,
should be a good one. Uh, let's get to college football.
I don't have anything yet on the other playoff games.
On the non playoff games, I'm sorry from tomorrow. Kansas
(37:05):
State Alabama. Bryce Song says he's gonna play. Are we
certain he's gonna play the whole game? Will Anderson says
he's gonna play. Are they gonna go a half and
then tap out? I can't do it, folks, I cannot
take Alabama. But that at the same time, like Kansas
State or pass as small money action play on on
(37:25):
on Kansas State, I guess I could get behind that.
I haven't done it yet just for the record, but
that that's the way I would lean. Iowa Kentucky. I
guess I would go Iowa. I guess um. And then
the playoff games. You know the Michigan tc TCU line
which we talked about with Pat forty. It's come down.
It was nine and a half money showing on TCU
(37:46):
because Michigan, their style of play doesn't lend to margin.
That being said, the totals fifty eight and a half.
So what's the likely outcome. If you're going fifty eight
and a half already one twenty four, that's still only
fifty five. So I look at it now like thirty
(38:07):
three twenties six. Something. Something seems off here, either the
totals way high or the margins high. And I think
my read would be Michigan with time to prepare, wins
a twenty seven seven slobber knocker. But I will be
laying it with Michigan. I'm hoping that it gets down
to seven. I would love that as opposed to the hook.
(38:29):
If you're noticing both have the hook. Georgia six and
a half, all the sevens are gone brought out of
the market. I did take Ohio State weeks ago. I
don't totally feel comfortable here. I'll say this, if Ohio
State gets the ball first, goes down and scores a touchdown,
which seems unlikely against Georgia defense. If Ohio State scores first,
(38:50):
I think you gotta bet Georgia at a at a
depressed price. Georgia is definitely the team that I think
wins this, and I would I'm looking forward to a
Georgia Michigan Natty. Now, I do have a bunch of
buddies who are all Stave fans, so you know, Plus
six and a half would love it, but I don't
know what it would pay um a Georgia Michigan money line.
(39:11):
Probably not well. But it's a good way to start
the new year. All right, guys, that's it for two.
We'll be back in three. Thanks for listening, talk to
you soon.
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up
Straight Fire? Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight Fire for Friday, December,
final Friday podcast of the year. It's been a good one.
(00:26):
I can't complain about, especially from a podcast standpoint, a
sports standpoint. We just had the World Cup and how
about this weekend college football? You know, obviously you guys
listen to the pod. You're follow me on I G
three and oh on College Football Picks on Wednesday, three
and one on College Football Picks on Thursday. Tuesday was
not good, but we bounced back. It's been a productive week.
(00:47):
We'll have best bets at the end of the podcast.
College football for Saturday's big games, NFL's Sunday games. We're
not gonna talk about Monday yet. It's a great game,
but we're not gonna go there yet. Um. You also
have an NBA topic that has popped up. Surprise small one. No,
it's not the Nets winning ted straight but it's just
a quick NBA topic I had to get to before
(01:09):
NFL Best Bets. I do want to start, obviously with
the Dallas Cowboys win over the Titan unimpressive, boring Cowboys
were basically facing a practice squad defense a quarterback who
I don't I think this was Josh Dobbs his first start.
You know, I was watching the game, not with the
(01:29):
sound on. They kept showing Josh Dobbs his mom and
dad in the stands. I guess this is his first start,
twenty seven year old. Uh, he's appeared in a bunch
of games before with Pittsburgh, but his first start. Josh Dobbs,
good story out of Tennessee. Nice quarterback, really just scoring
machine in college with the balls, and he looked okay.
(01:52):
I mean again, he's throwing the trail on Burts who
had an awesome play, and a bunch of guys who
really would not cut it on any of the playoff
rosters in the a f C. I mean, seriously, some
of these they had. Let's see one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,
ten guys catch a pass against the Cowboys. And if
(02:13):
I if we played a game where I said, is
this an actor in London or is this an NFL
wide receiver Racy McMath, Is this gentleman an nb DL
player or is he a pass catcher for the Titans.
Julius Chestnut. I literally never heard of those guys. Just
to humor you, I'm gonna click on Racy McMath. He
(02:37):
is a two thou six round pick out of Tennessee
Ladies and Gentlemen. Racy McMath has now four career receptions.
At any rate. Deck Prescott continues to underwhelm another two
interception game. I know, you just look at the stat
line O two touchdowns, two two yards. You know, um,
(03:00):
you know when Tennessee made it interesting, Dac delivered. Okay, fine,
you want to look at it that way, that's all good.
Dak Prescott lost a fumble, had one interception that was
not his fault. You know, you look at the replay
of the receiver basically bobbled it right into the hands
of Bayard who is always around the football. And then
the other interception was just brutal, terrible past nice play
by Bayard. And again it's one of those games where
(03:21):
Dallas just played with their food for the large portion
of the game. Did not look over the impressive no
Tony Pollard. The backfield lacked punch. They did lose their
center to an ankle injury. That is never a good
sign heading into the playoffs. Folks, Listen, I was bullish
on Dallas about four weeks ago. And listen, they did
win last week against Gardner Minshew. They have now won
(03:44):
back to back games. You're gonna be a get I said, Oh,
twelve wins, amazing, awesome. McCarthy is doing a great job
their last two wins or against Gardner Minshew and Joshua Dobbs.
I mean, we could go down this list. It gets
really interesting. They did lose to Trevor Lawrence. They beat
Davis Mills, they beat Matt Ryan, they beat Daniel Jones.
(04:10):
The win over the Vikings was super impressive. But I
just can't get over this. And you look at some
of these teams they've beat and the backup quarterbacks, folks.
I don't really know what to do with this Dallas
team heading into the playoffs. I don't. They have had
moments where they get the turnovers going their way, and
they dropped forty nine on the Bears and then forty
on the Vikings, fifty four on the Colts. A lot
(04:32):
of this stuff is turnover aided. And I just wonder
this injury on the offensive line. Yeah, Dak Prescott in
a big spot. I had a buddy at a bar
on Thursday, asked me if I if you had to
make one dollar bet on would the Cowboys win one
playoff game this year? And I'm like, well, it depends
who they play. Nope the bets. Now would you do it?
(04:55):
And I'm thinking, well, if Tampa wins, they're probably facing
Tampa in Tampa, and I think that Dallas has to
be the side. I don't like Tampa at all. That
being said, Dak Prescott on the road, Todd Bowles defense,
Tampa defense getting healthier. We'll touch on that a little
bit in the Tampa Carolina game later, But I don't
(05:17):
know what you do it. Do you think Dak Prescott
is getting a win on the road, because I'm just
telling you, there is a scenario where Dak loses the game,
Mike McCarthy loses the game. And when you look into
point Fingers what we lost last year at home to
San franz and everybody says that was mostly a McCarthy meltdown,
but Dak could surely be blamed as well, and Kellen
(05:39):
Moore could get some And then you look at this
year and if they go down in the first round
again despite thirteen wins, It's like, folks, do we keep
riding this or is this gonna be one of these
Marty Schottenheimer, We win fourteen games, losing the playoffs and
fire the coach because something's got to give at some point,
and Dak Prescott ain't going to where because of the
salary and the contract. I'm just I don't know. Many
(06:02):
I'm not I'm not trying to shove McCarthy out, just
pointing out that the Cowboys are suddenly just like Philadelphia,
sort of limping into the playoffs. I don't know. I
don't know. There's any way you could have watched what
happened against Tennessee and call that impressive win. Tennessee's reeling.
(06:23):
They basically benched all their important players so they could
save them for next week's game to get in the playoffs,
and they faced the week prior an Eagles team that
lost Lane Johnson, backup quarterback, three fumbles in the game.
Dallas recovers all of them. I don't know, guys, Dallas
just seems like a very fortunate regular season team this year.
I've vacillated back and forth. Or do I love them?
(06:44):
Do I like them? Is their value? I don't know.
After Tennessee I just uninspiring is the word I choose.
All right, let's pivot to the NBA and talk about
what I think could be an interesting story, Lebron James.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk up in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports
Radio dot com and within the I Heart Radio app
(07:06):
search f s R to listen live. Al Right, so
you guys know, I'd love to talk about my hits
on here all the time, gambling, fantasy, whatever it is.
I love a little brag, little pat on the back
to myself. My wife does not like that trade just
f y I. That being said, I had a whiff
this week. Rob g hit me up one morning and said, Hey,
(07:27):
did you see what Lebron said? I said, nope. You know, listen,
it's Christmas week. Maybe I'm not on my game as
much as I should be. I'm not watching Bowl games,
trying to spend some time with the family. My brother
got me into FIFA, so I started like a dynasty
in FIFA, so I'm sneaking in games every now and
then got back on the basketball court. I'm not as
locked in on sports as I should be. That could
be a good thing for the gambling, which you know
(07:49):
this is a big weekend. Uh, in the contest, I
need to go five and oh absolutely at any rate.
Rob G tells me, well, these Lebron quotes and I
read them and I'm like, okay, it's mini shot at
the Lakers, no big deal. Lebron's quote was let's see
what it exactly was on how long he wants to play.
I'm a winner and I want to win, and I
(08:09):
want to win and give myself a chance to win
and still compete for championships. That has always been my
passion playing basketball at this level, at this level, just
to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It's
not in my DNA anymore. That right, there was a
shot at the Lakers. I was like, okay, he's taking
a little jab at the Lakers. He's unhappy that they
(08:31):
haven't swung a trade like he wants. And that was
mushroomed into kind of a thing. And you see Lebron
pop up on the injury report with the game against
the Hawks tonight, and you start wondering, is Lebron gonna
start playing games with these guys, and say, listen, if
you ain't gonna do something, maybe I'll just start sitting
some games, arresting up for next year wherever I may
be playing. And you guys don't have the Lebron guy. Obviously,
(08:53):
he's been playing at a ridiculously high level of this season.
I mean I saw some stat where I think it
was on I G guys who were playing in their
twentieth season in the league, and they were posting some
of their stats for guys who have been in the
league for twenty years, and you know, Lebron is having
a very very very good twentieth year. Uh both points
(09:15):
per game in their twentieth season, right, Vince Carter twenty
years in five points a game, Jabbar with the skyhook,
ten points a game, Dirk Nvitski twelve, the Great, the
late great, Kobe Bryant seventeen point six points per game.
You gotta go all the way down to Lebron at
twenty seven points per game in his twentieth season, averaging
(09:35):
eight point five boards, six point five assists. This is
other worldly stuff. Well, you do not see this in
the NBA. We've never seen anything like Lebron. But that's
not news, right, I think what news could be here
is what's going on between Lebron and the front office.
We know that they're not happy with the Russell Westbrook move,
which was influenced heavily by Lebron. Him and Anthony Davis
(09:58):
were whining and dining Russ Westbrook out here talking about
how great it's gonna be, and it's not worked out.
So yeah, theoretically the Lakers are saying, we're not listening
to you, Lebron. We're gonna do what we think is
right for the team. Okay, got it. Well, you know what,
Lebron doesn't want to be on some freaking Orlando Magic
Charlotte Hornet's team that's not trying. Are the Lakers trying
(10:20):
to win right now? Anthony Davis is out a month.
They're not playing well without him. Obviously, they're beating up
on the dregs of the league. They're not a playoff
team without him. With him, I think you're probably talk
and play in because they have got so much ground
to make up here. Rob here's my thing. I don't
know what the solution is for the Lakers and Lebron.
(10:42):
I would say it goes one of two ways. Lebron
goes in, says, guys, I really want to win. I
know you don't want to listen to me because I
screwed up the rust thing. You know what, do something?
Do something to make us a contender. Not there's no
magic switch, there's no silver bullet the gonna make it
happen overnight. But please do something even if you don't
(11:05):
want to listen to me, and then the Lakers have
a choice. We don't think there's anything that could be
done to Salvage's team. Well what Lebron is like? Well,
what am I doing here? Can you trade me to
somebody who is trying to win? I don't think Lebron
wants to go anywhere. Loves living out here. His kids
are in playing basketball in high school. You know, he's
got the spring Hill production company, He's got the show, um,
(11:26):
the shop, the shop, Lebron's crush. You get out here.
You don't want to go nowhere. That being said, should
the Lakers do something? And I'm an unequivocally yes, you're
always trying to get better forward momentum? Do something? Do
you give up a two seven pick? Whoopee damn? Do
who cares? It's freaking four years away? What would you
(11:48):
would you like? Some seventh grader now is is a
guy that's going to be impacted in that deal, or
I guess the ninth grader, like, that's what we're doing,
that's what we care about. A two thou pick. It
just seems dumb that the Lakers are not trying to
do anything. And I don't want you yelling, but what
can they do? What can they do? Listen, there's guys
working with the Lakers seventy hours a week trying to
(12:13):
figure out what can can they do around the cap moves,
what kind of wiggle room they have? Okay, that's their
job full time. You know you guys don't got a podcast.
I got the TV show, I'm writing for Fox Sports
dot com. I got oh, by the way, two kids? Yeah,
I got wife, all that stuff. Either guy could go
through every contract in the league. I can float some
(12:35):
ideas that I have, certainly, but I think the Lakers
it's not a good look for them to sit on
their hands and do nothing while Lebron James pouts about
playing his ass off and not even making the playoffs.
So Rob, I know you're a hardcore Lakers guy. You
don't want a cave and cow tow to Lebron, but
(12:55):
let's be realistic. This team borderline unwatchable. They gotta do
something with a play in tournament and you can't even
get in. It's an embarrassment. Oh yeah, you know it's
fitting that tonight they get the Atlanta Hawks because, um,
you know, a week and a half ago, it was
reported by Chris Haynes that Lee executives believe that the
next superstar to request the trade is gonna be trade
(13:15):
young and low and behold, Lebron dropped this bombshell, and
so you know, you might see the summer Lebron is
the next superstar to drop a trade. So that's kind
of funny. Um, But going back to what you said,
I think it's a double sided coin, because well all
coins are double side. Is that, you know, expression doesn't
make a lot of sense. But let me start here.
I agree with what you're saying. You know, like I
(13:36):
believe that if you have Lebron, James and Anthony, especially
Anthony Davis who was playing at the peak of his
powers before he had this fluke injury, Um, then you
should be going all in. And if you're not gonna
go all in, then what's the point of having him?
Then you might as well tear it down and trade
both of those guys in the off season and just
build from scratch like that. That's what I agree with you.
(13:57):
I agree that if you have those two guys, it
should be championship robust all the time. My only caveat, though,
is that when Lebron made these quotes, and you're not
the one who who who was like this, but there
was a lot of people on TV and radio and
podcast on social media were saying, yeah, look at the
way the Lakers are doing Lebron dirty. They're they're wasting
(14:20):
his talents. You know, they're doing a disservice by not
you know, trading those picks and Russ and and those
picks and Pat or whatever. Right, And it's like, you
do realize that all of their biggest moves and their
biggest contracts, and their biggest trades involved Lebron James led
(14:41):
decisions and clutch sports guys. You go back in the time, Okay,
the Anthony Davis trade, which worked out because you want
a championship. I don't care about the draft picks now
moving forward, I don't care if it costs you Victor
women Yama this season, because you got the title out
of it. Which is the ultimate goal. But then you
keep going down the line like, oh, well, they alienated
(15:02):
Marc Gasol so that they could bring Andre Drummond in
and that was a colossal failure. He ends up getting
benched in Game six against the Phoenix Suns. They give
the full mid level exception to Mantras Harrold, who did
not fit alongside Lebron in a D and was off
the team in the year. A year later, they kept
Taylor Horton Tucker, a clutch sports guy, over Alex Caruso.
(15:25):
Now you can argue that they could have kept both
of them, because it's just the money thing, of course,
but ultimately they the front office decided, we didn't want
to be paying ten million dollars a piece to two
role players who we didn't think we're worth that much
to begin with, so they went with the clutch sports guy. Obviously,
they have the mini mid level exception guys. They only
had two of them in the last couple of years.
(15:46):
Kendrick Nunn, who has been a bad signing as soon
as they made it because he had been available and
now he's not a good player anymore. And Lonnie Walker,
who was okay, but he's a six four gunner on
a team that love. Don't don't be merchant. I like
Lonnie Walker, but it's payer this year. No, he's like
the fourth who's third as reason yeah, Austin reasons okay,
(16:09):
and then obviously the cherry on top. The biggest one
of them all is you gut a championship contending team
in some eysa championship favorite. If you go back to
NBA dot com, the executives pick the Lakers to be
the championship favorites in and so the last year and
the year before they gave all that up to get
Russell Westbrook, which blew up in their face. So I
(16:31):
understand why the front office is like, bro, every time
we listen to you and your representatives, ship go sideways.
So forgive us for being like, hey, let's be patient,
Let's wait a little bit, let's see what else is available.
Because every time we cave in too Lebron and Clutch
and you can't separate them. They're not like it's two
(16:52):
different things, They're all together. Everyone knows this. The minute
we decide to follow what Clutch Sports wants to do,
it backfires except for the first time, and that's ever
since then, it's been all negative. It's all downhill from there.
I just just based on what you said. I can't
believe I thought of something. It may irk you, and
I hope our audience is not angry. So you know,
(17:12):
the Lakers listen to Kobe Bryant there in his final
few years, he wanted that big money. He didn't get
no title for the Lakers. At the end, Lebron, they
listened to him. They at least got a title out
of it. And it looks now like the Lakers are
headed back to pre Lebron Lakers like that waste land
of wins. Let's get D'Angelo Russell. Oh, no, he's not
(17:35):
the guy. Let's get Lonzo Ball. No, no, he's not
the guy. Rob. You gotta bet Lebron did get them
a championship, right, yeah, well, I mean Kobe got him
a champion to do with Pakasol. Remember he said he said,
trade trade me to Pluto before I played for the Lakers.
They said, no, we're not going to trade you. They
get Pagosol Boom two championships, right, But I don't know that.
Kobe said, Pagosol is the guy. Bring him in, he said,
(17:57):
Lebron said a D's the guy. Yeah, well, I mean
it's a little bit different when Lebron is also basically
the shadow boss for Clutch Sports. So if there's a
Clutch Sports client and he wants him in l a
or to be his teammate wherever he decides to go,
it's much easier for him to steer said player to
wherever he wants him to. Yes, that is definitely true.
(18:19):
So look, obviously I'm a Laker fan. I want them
to compete. I'd rather them trade Russ and a pick
and Pat Bev and none in a pick and get
wing players and guys who are gonna be here longer
than one season. Of course, you know, because I think
the West is wide open. I think they can make
a run where they win a championship. I don't know,
but the West, there's no Juggernaut team obviously. Um, but
(18:40):
I don't like this idea that, oh, they're wasting Lebron,
they did him dirty, that they're there, it's a disservice
to his talent. That sounds not It's not like that.
That sounds like a bit of a Twitter take that
they did Lebron dirty. Well, it all started with a
CBS column, and then all a suddeny got picked up
by Fox Sports One and ESPN who wrote the CBS
(19:01):
I don't remember, but I saw it was we had
we had an idea for a topic on the radio show,
and because we had saw it on TV during our
pre production, it was on FS one as an disputed
replay and on ESPN's uh I think it was around
the Horn they had as a topic there too, and
it's like, no, we're not doing it. Lakers wasting dirty
(19:25):
basically wasting. I mean, well, listen. Wasting and doing dirty,
I would say, are two different things. I would say, yes,
they are, I think wasting. I would agree with he's
having an incredible season and they're wasting it because there
what five games under Well, he had an incredible season
last year and look what it got him, and that
was with the team he had picked. If you go
back and do the research and read the articles, Lebron
(19:47):
said multiple times, Oh, it was great to be a
part of the process of building this team together, and
it was arguably the most disappointing team in Lakers franchise
history relative to like expectations. Here's the core that was
year one of Russ Yes, here's the quote. It was
exciting helping put this team together this summer, making us
as explosive as we could be, both awesome offensively and defensively.
(20:10):
We have a team that's looking forward to putting in
the work. I'm looking to see. Yeah, Lebron played fifty
six games last year. Yeah he was. He puts up
good numbers, but it wasn't you know, resulting in wins.
I mean yeah, but he missed twenties six games with injury.
Let me see how manny Anthony Davis missed? Yes, so,
(20:32):
I mean, I guess I can see the argument that, hey,
they running it back. You know, it's not the greatest
thing ever, but it's so, you know, Lebron missed twenty six.
Let's see Anthony Davis last year missed Oh dear, I
don't even want to hear the number. I mean, no,
he Anthony Davis played forty games last year, bro, So
(20:55):
Anthony Davis missed forty two and Lebron missed twenty six. No,
you're not making the playoffs if you're top two players.
I don't care. If it's Janice and Chris Middleton miss
that many games, I don't know. Drew Holiday might be
their second best and beat and Harden missed that many games.
They're not making the playoffs. Hey, don't disrespect Tyrese Maxie
and Tobias Harris like that. Okay, I don't want to
be like defending Lebron guy, but the reality is like
(21:17):
they're kind of wasting this year of Lebron's greatness. Now
Anthony Davis is injury. I just I don't see how
you don't want to go do something. Rubber Linka may
not even be with the organization in four years. Yeah,
I mean it makes me hypocrite because everything said about
John Daniels all week. But this is one of those
situations where if you're Rob Polinka, you can make a
series of moves in effort to save your job and
(21:40):
give yourself the built an excuse. Well, the weird thing
is didn't get an extension in the off season. He did.
All right, That's enough on le Bron in the NBA.
Time for the best bets on a massive football New
Year weekend. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
Fox Sports Radio Dot and within the I Heart Radio app.
(22:02):
Search f s R to listen live. The only thing
better than sitting on your couch watching the game. He's
making money while you do it. Here's your best bet alright,
time for the final best bet of two thousand twenty two.
(22:24):
It's been a good year. World Cup was incredible. Hopefully
you guys were tagging along on the picks on the
World Cup. It was better than any sport I've had
this year. College basketball was good, not great. During the
NZA tournament this early season, I had our hot streak
and then it cooled off the last week. So I'm
gonna lay off here until after um we get back
in a conference play in early January. But NFL has
(22:47):
been up and down a winning season, fifty six percent
in the contest, and we'll be doing some college football
bets in a moment. But I think the thing you
need to remember the key to betting this late in
the Sea in its Fantasy Football finals weekend right. Sorry
to you who could not use Derrick Henry last night.
That's a big bummer. I had Tony Pollard. I had
(23:09):
to actually end up cutting him. My strategy for fantasy
late like this is load up on all the skilled
position players and dump your kicker and just wait to
see who is in and who's out. So I was
able to dump Pollard because I don't need him pick
up a kicker because you know, I didn't have a kicker,
because I feel like kickers are interchangeable this late in
the season at any rate. For the NFL, the number
(23:31):
one thing you need to remember is teams that are
motivated to win that needs something historically are inflated in
the market. You're betting into a number that should not
be that big. Let's take the Eagles for instance. They win,
they wrap up the NFC East, the number one seed,
the bye week, so much on the line for the Eagles.
It's only six and af against the States. Oh, the
(23:53):
States stink. Its are terrible. This is true. Did you
guys see the Lane Johnson True? We talked about it
on the podcast. I found this crazy number that was
almost not believable. The Eagles without Lane Johnson, I believe
the last three seasons are three and ten. He is
massively instrumental to that offense, one of the best right
(24:15):
tackles in the league. Eagles also maybe without Jordan Davis,
the defensive nose tackle who has returned um. Good player
on the inside. Avonte Maddox is not gonna play their
slot cornerback. I know it's like, well, what does it matter,
it's against Andy Dalton. Just remember this is a one
PM Andy Dolt. This is not prime tom Andy Dalton.
We're looking at an Eagles team that's beat up. They're
(24:35):
coming off an emotionally draining loss to the Cowboys. We
still don't know if Hurts is gonna go or if
it's gonna be Minshew. I would guess it's Minshew. I
don't see why you'd force Hurts into this, but I
think you gotta take the Saints here, guys. I mean,
if you got the seven amazing, I think you can
also consider six and a half. I would not be
(24:56):
surprised to see this go down to six five and
a half as we get closer. Some pressure here on
the Eagles and that Lane Johnson injury cannot be underestimated.
I don't think much of the Saints, but I think
that's definitely a pick that all I'll have in the contest. Obviously,
we don't need to say much more about the Jets.
I've talked about them all a week. Better about one
and a half to two and a half. Mike Whites
(25:18):
back for the Jets. The Seattle defense is criminally overrated.
Did you know Seattle has not covered the spread in
six weeks? That's how far they've fallen. And I saw
that the Jets. You know, I'm looking up. Oh, people
are on the road. It's so tough to go into
Seattle and win. Remember they said there about Sam Donald.
Sim Donald went in their one wire to wire victory
Marcus Mariota back when he was the starter one there.
(25:38):
Seattle just not playing well. Now the interesting development here
is Locke it may return. You know, it's a big
game Locket as a clutch player. If they get him back,
that's that's kind of a big one because I could
see a scenario or Sauce Gardner removes Metcalf in one
half the field. Mc mccalf will probably have a couple
of catches, but without Metcalf, so Gardner on him. I
(26:01):
just wonder where does you know Smith look for offense.
I don't think the running game will do too much
damage against his Jets front big mismatch with Quinny Williams
on the Seattle Center blithe Um, but the Locket edition
would be big. DJ Read is having a good season
but Lockett is just a great possession receiver, so I
think there is a case for Seattle if Lockett plays.
But the Jets have gone on the road seven times
(26:24):
this year, five and two against the spread on the road.
One of the losses was the walk off loss against
the Patriots on the punt return with like two three
seconds left or whatever crap it was. The other was
the Minnesota game, which was started by Mike White. So
I'm just saying, Jets leaving New York have done very,
very well. It's definitely going to be one of the
picks for me. And the contest Jets and Saints are
(26:46):
two for sure. I like Carolina, but I just I'm
struggling with the number. Tampa Bay was favored by thirteen
over this team what two months ago, thirteen on the road.
They're now three at home. It's just a massive move
Carolina down. Their top two cornerbacks J C. Horne and
(27:06):
Jackson both out. Listen, I Caroline has been a great story.
I I am rooting for Sam Donald. It's tough for
me to only get three. A week ago. This was seven.
You've gone now through the key number seven, the look
ahead line with seven all the way down to three.
It's something doesn't seem fishy about that. It's just something
seems off. And we've been saying for weeks. Oh, this
(27:27):
is the Tom Brady spot where Tom Brady shows who
we really is. And you know Brady of course is um.
I think the numbers are one eleven and one against
the spread this season, Tom Brady, Okay, I've got knocked
out a survivor taking Tampa against Carolina. Um, there's no
way I can get beat Tampa here. It's Carolina or
pass for me. Um. I'm looking at the Bears. Haven't
(27:49):
pulled the trigger yet because this is gonna sound idiotic.
In a fantasy league where there's some good money at stake,
I may start Jared Goff and I cannot then go
back the Bears at plus six. I mean, I guess
the only out there as well. You just hope the
Bears score and then the lines are able to score
(28:10):
and it's a shootout and golf throws for four yards
and four touchdowns. The total has gotten rocketing up the
fifty two, so there will be points. I just can
Detroit at margin. Can they looking at the Bears and
justin fields in that spot. But Here's what's interesting. If
Houston wins against Jacksonville, we don't know yet. That's a
game we're not gonna talk about. What is Peterson sitting
(28:31):
his guys? I don't know. It sounds like they should
as Tennessee is sitting everyone and they'll get extra rest,
obviously leading into the Jacksonville Tennessee game, which is for
a playoff spot next week. But if I'm Jacksonville, am
I playing my guys? So now let's say Houston wins,
and Houston has won nine straight against Jacksonville. Let's just
(28:52):
say Houston wins that and the Bears lose. The Bears
now are in line for the number one pick in
the draft. What do you I mean, what do you
want with the number one pick or number two pick? Now?
The Jets? My Jets have done this before, winning a
meaningless game against the Rams that cost him Trevor Lawrence.
I ended up with Zack Wilson. We've seen how that's
worked out. So this is a difficult week. I kind
(29:13):
of want to take Chicago. I just wonder if there's
a call from upstairs, Hey, justin Field sits at half,
we're checking out new guys. Does that come I don't know.
Um another game, there's a major dog with fleas the
Denver Broncos. Yeah, the team that I had last week
when they went to the Rams and got their teeth
kicked and gave up fifty one unbelievable stat from the
(29:38):
guys at Fox or is it here in my notes?
So teams that lose by thirty five or more points
and are then double digits again the following week our
sixteen and three against the spread this century, I believe.
So they lose by thirty five or more. They definitely
(29:59):
did that against the Rams and then their double digit
dogs again, those teams sixty and three against us. Right now,
that it's just a trend, it doesn't mean any of
the Denver is magically going to show up. Now, they
do potentially get the bulk fire your coach bump hack
it out Kansas City. Obviously, all they have to do
is win. They don't really need to get margin here.
They just gotta win. And a Casey win combined with
(30:22):
a Buffalo loss, puts Kansas City back in the mix
of the number one seed. Buffalo Obviously, the big Monday
night game against the Bengals will break that down on
Monday's podcast. But I don't know, guys, can I pull
the trigger on Denver? I don't know if I had
the intestinal fortitude for that one. Um another one like listen,
we all just watched Nick Folds embarrass himself on Monday
(30:46):
night football practice squad to starting and looking awful, nick
Folds starting again. The line is coming down, I'm sorry,
the total is coming down forty one and a half
to thirty nine and a half. But the money is
coming in on the Giants. They went from three point
favorites to six. Daniel Jones lane six at home. We
(31:11):
not about Daniel Jones on the road obviously, Daniel Jones
covering machine on the road at home not so much.
Can you get behind Nick Foles? I mean, seriously, this
is These are some of the quarterbacks I've mentioned to
be backing this week in teams playing for something. Giants
are playing for something, Colts playing for nothing. Andy Dalton
of the Saints, and I know technically they're not eliminated
(31:31):
with guys, they basically need to heaven and Earth to
move to have a chance of getting the playoffs. Okay,
talking about betting, Andy Dalton, Darcoby betting, Justin Fields and
the second worst team in the league record wise in
the Chicago Bears, Russell Wilson and the sad Sack Broncos.
And now I just mentioned Nick Foles in the Indianapolis Colts.
(31:53):
Oh and also like White in the New York Jets.
This is a tough weekend. I mean, some of these
games you just can't touch. I mean, now I did.
I did bet the Rams Chargers under under forty two.
UM again, Ram score fifty. When people think, oh, Baker Mayfield,
appends are back tons of interceptions from Russell Wilson. Okay,
(32:14):
Flukey stuff not Russell Wilson Flukey just two out of
his first three passes being intercepted, and the Chargers are
now healthy. Bosa looks like he's slated too. I don't
know if he's gonna be out of pitch Acount, but
he's playing. So now you get Bosa mac on opposite
ends against a terrible Rams offensive line. It's weird to
me that this number solo Chargers are in the playoffs.
(32:37):
I don't know if they can help their cause much
regarding who they would play in the first round, but
I think for sure UM Chargers Rams under I could
see Chargers defense looking good, and you guys saying, damn Chargers,
they could win the a f C. They might go
to the super Bowl, And I told you you gotta
bet them before this stuff happens. Um. I like the Chargers,
(32:59):
And finally, sending day football, Pittsburgh goes to Baltimore to
face Tyler Huntley. The total has come crashing down because
it was you know, maybe Lamar is supposed to Remember
wasn't the shifter report that Lamar was supposed to return
last week? He still hasn't practiced. What are we doing?
He hasn't practiced yet, Lamar Jackson. I don't know if
(33:20):
he's playing again this season. I think I'm taking Pittsburgh.
I wish I had got in the three. I did not.
It's a two and a half. I just this series
is always um you know, going back what Harbaugh, Tomlin,
you go back a decade, This feels like it's always
landing on three. I get t J. Watt and a
(33:40):
very good Pittsburgh defense. I get Baltimore and Tyler Huntley
like Pittsburgh saw him earlier. This is not a good
quarterback and Pittsburgh's already got the book on him, like
there's enough tape on Tyler Hunter. You know that he's
not a threat. I mean, if I asked you to
pick the name the top two receivers on Baltimore right now,
could you even do it. I mean, they're storing to
DeMarcus Robinson, who was like this fourth or fifth guy
(34:04):
on the Chiefs last year. He's like their number one
option in Baltimore. I just I don't see it. I'm
going Pittsburgh, kenn He Pickett. You know, the guy scares me.
It was. It was a great, uh comeback cover last
week against the Raiders. Needed that one badly, But um,
I'm riding with Pittsburgh this week. Two and a half stinks.
I mean, if if you're betting it, you definitely buy
up to three. I got no problem with that. But
(34:24):
in the contest, it's not three, so I can't take it.
The the other big game we didn't really touch on
his Packers Vikings at three and a half. I think
I like the Packers, but that hook is just I
don't know, man, know what Packers team is gonna show up,
And I know I spent most of the week hyping
the Packers as a team that could win the NFC.
But can you assure me that this Packers defense which
(34:47):
got three picks of two last week and again, were
they picks of two or were they concuss quarterback not
knowing what he's doing, not knowing what he's doing. Some
of the quotes, by the way, about toa essentially saying
I threw the or I threw the wrong route in
the second half after the concussion is like a little troublesome.
And so now it's like, well, is Green Bay's defense
(35:09):
good or did they just get lucky because two was concussed?
And you're like, well, Kirk Cousins pretty damn accurate. I
know everybody wants to say outdoors, if memory serves, Dalvin
Cook has had some games on the frozen tundra, and
Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson should have a game. So
I don't like the hook, so I'm probably passing. Part
of me just wants to lay it with brock Purty.
(35:31):
But nine and a half, I just like the san
Frantiam What if? What if brock Purty and san fran
are the on the type of run that the Bengals
have gone where they've covered eleven of twelve and you
missed the boat. We've been on them, I think two
out of the three. Yes, well, yeah, we were on
the Miami one, but then he was like filling in
that game. We were on the Seattle one. I feel
(35:53):
like there was one more game that I'm missing, but
the Washington one, I I don't. I don't even remember
what we had last week, but I I like the
cut of this forty Niners jib right now. And oh,
by the way, they can still get the number two seats.
So if we find out the Vikings lose, Actually the
games are both in the afternoon, so they're both in
(36:14):
the window. So if the Vikings lose and the San
Francisco Fins win, San franc gets the number two seeds,
they would then have home field against the Vikings in
the playoffs. So that's basically the NFL Sunday Card. It's
a good one. Nothing really on Cleveland Washington. I would
lean team with nothing to play for Cleveland over team
that's desperate Washington, Atlanta, Arizona to Zero's nothing, sorry, absolutely nothing, Miami,
(36:42):
New England. I'm not touching Teddy Bridgewater against Bill Belichick. Sorry,
I like money. I don't want to pick the wrong
side there, and that's a Sunday card. It's a week seventeen,
should be a good one. Uh, let's get to college football.
I don't have anything yet on the other playoff games.
On the non playoff games, I'm sorry from tomorrow. Kansas
(37:05):
State Alabama. Bryce Song says he's gonna play. Are we
certain he's gonna play the whole game? Will Anderson says
he's gonna play. Are they gonna go a half and
then tap out? I can't do it, folks, I cannot
take Alabama. But that at the same time, like Kansas
State or pass as small money action play on on
(37:25):
on Kansas State, I guess I could get behind that.
I haven't done it yet just for the record, but
that that's the way I would lean. Iowa Kentucky. I
guess I would go Iowa. I guess um. And then
the playoff games. You know the Michigan tc TCU line
which we talked about with Pat forty. It's come down.
It was nine and a half money showing on TCU
(37:46):
because Michigan, their style of play doesn't lend to margin.
That being said, the totals fifty eight and a half.
So what's the likely outcome. If you're going fifty eight
and a half already one twenty four, that's still only
fifty five. So I look at it now like thirty
(38:07):
three twenties six. Something. Something seems off here, either the
totals way high or the margins high. And I think
my read would be Michigan with time to prepare, wins
a twenty seven seven slobber knocker. But I will be
laying it with Michigan. I'm hoping that it gets down
to seven. I would love that as opposed to the hook.
(38:29):
If you're noticing both have the hook. Georgia six and
a half, all the sevens are gone brought out of
the market. I did take Ohio State weeks ago. I
don't totally feel comfortable here. I'll say this, if Ohio
State gets the ball first, goes down and scores a touchdown,
which seems unlikely against Georgia defense. If Ohio State scores first,
(38:50):
I think you gotta bet Georgia at a at a
depressed price. Georgia is definitely the team that I think
wins this, and I would I'm looking forward to a
Georgia Michigan Natty. Now, I do have a bunch of
buddies who are all Stave fans, so you know, Plus
six and a half would love it, but I don't
know what it would pay um a Georgia Michigan money line.
(39:11):
Probably not well. But it's a good way to start
the new year. All right, guys, that's it for two.
We'll be back in three. Thanks for listening, talk to
you soon.
Fox Sports Radio News
Host
Jonas Knox
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