December 2, 2023 • 44 mins
This week, Tim O'Keefe dives into Week 13 of the #NFL highlighted by the #Eagles taking on the #49ers at The Linc, #CollegeFootball Conference Championship games, and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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For national winners. From a localperspective, You're in the right place.
It's Balls, Bats and Bets withTim o'kee right here on the Gambler.
Happy Friday, everybody. You madeit to the weekend, and that means
it's time for another episode of Balls, Bats and Bets. As always,
I'm your host, Tim O'Keeffe.You can follow me at TK Wonderscore Picks,
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and another weekend where there's just somuch to talk about. I obviously
didn't have a show last week withthe holiday. I hope everybody out there
had a great Thanksgiving. As we'remaking it into the official holiday season.
It's December first, you can officiallystart playing Christmas music. If you're playing
it before this, I have somequestions around you, but they know that's
a debate for another day. Sowelcome to holiday season. Welcome to December.
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Football. The regular season in collegeis over. We're going to break
down all of the college football championConference championship weekend in our second segment.
Coming up, big AFC and NFCwildcard races coming up in the NFL.
We're gonna do with a lot offootball this show, which I have a
feeling a lot of you won't havea problem with. But the obvious place
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to start is the biggest thing goingaround all of Philadelphia this weekend, and
it is the Eagles forty nine Ersgame, which has somehow become a rivalry
after really just being based on onegame and it was last year and the
Eagles kicked that you know what outof the forty nine ers, and somehow
that has turned this into a puregame of rivalry. And it's honestly,
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it's hatred. It really is hatred. And it's not even it's you know,
a lot of rivalries they get builtup by the fans. They do
like right, like I think,look in a lot of recent years,
it's look at Red Sox Yankees.Do I really think the last like five
years, let's say of players thatthe Red Sox actually hate the Yankees and
vice versa. No, I don'tget that. I think back in the
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day, you know, you hada little bit like early two thousands,
you know, when Pedro's throwing donzim Are on the ground, a rod
was getting into it with people.There were there was some of some actual
blood blood bad blood between players,but that doesn't exist anymore in that rivalry
even honestly to an extent. EaglesCowboys. I do think obviously the players
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know it's a huge game, butI don't. Hey, look, obviously,
I'm sure there's some the players willtell you one thing and they might
actually feel another. That that happensall the time. People aren't gonna play
all their cards. But even inEagles Cowboys, I think the player step
up because they know it's a biggergame than the fans. But I only
there's like as much pure hatred.Like I don't know if Fletcher Cox actually
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hates Dak Prescott. I don't know. I hope he does. Well maybe
I don't know. No one needshate, I get it, but this
Eagles forty nine Ers game, there'sactual hate between the players, just straight
up Deebo Samuel number one on theforty nine ers side calling it out,
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complaining and moaning and this is justdebas all of their team since last year's
game where they lost the FC titlegame got destroyed, absolutely destroyed. Yes
they lost their quarterback, Yes theylost two quarterbacks, I guess should say
because their coach drew up an offensivescheme that just didn't protect them. That's
you know what the forty nine fanswon't want to let happen or let that
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excuse come into play. But it'sthe truth. Kyle Shanahan system, while
it is very effective, Ken leavequarterbacks up to getting destroyed, and that
happened last year and they paid theprice. They didn't have that third QB
on the roster. They struggled.All these guys have just been complaining,
complaining, complaining about doing what ifs. They live in the world of what
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ifs. Yeah, I guess what. Every every fan base can live in
what IFFs? Guess what. TheCarolina Panthers could say, Well, what
if? What if? What if? And you know, if they do
enough what ifs, then they're tenand one instead of one and ten.
So I am so tired of thewhat ifs from San fran You got destroyed,
you got absolutely beat up. Idon't care if you throw Tom Brady
on that team. I don't thinkthey were winning. Now, maybe I'm
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going a little far, but youget what I'm saying. Like they got
absolutely destroyed in that game. Ijust don't. I don't know how in
their minds they justified the idea yep, yep, that was stolen from us.
No, shut up, I'm tiredof it's absolutely ridiculous. And then
you got guys specifically like Debo callingout Eagles players, calling James Bradbury trash,
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a former All Pro guy who's madeit in this league, multiple time
pro bowler, multiple contracts, bigcontracts. Look, Bradbury, is he
the best corner of the league.No, but he is absolutely a very
solid corner in this like and forDeebo to be going at him is pretty
wild to me. Deebo talks alot and then you know, remember his
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uh interview if you go back acouple of months where he got asked about
the Eagle and just literally he shutdown. He just literally shut off the
phone because he uh, I forgetthe exact question. You know, let
me pull this up because the exactquestion is important here where Deebo Samuel was
asked a question that he didn't wantto answer about the Eagles. So let's
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see Debo answers question about Eagle,won't Let's see hangs up interview. Yeah,
so all right, he was askedabout the championship game loss and kind
of the reporter more or less kindof like called out, you know,
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you guys got destroyed and he letthat kind of just slip out there.
He didn't say it in those exactwords, but Deebo just hangs up the
phone. He hangs up the phone. He just could not because he had
gotten a little bit of troubles.He kept running his mouth. I guess
this reporter was trying to bleed intoit or steer right into it. And
he has hung up the phone.And now he comes out, you know,
back to months and it's back tothis ripping into James Bradbury and doing
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all this dumb stuff him, Brandonayuk CMC. Even Robbie's freaking gold.
Who's the kicker for them? Wherehe was the kicker. I don't even
know if he's still the kicker thisyear for them, but he was the
kicker last year and everyone's had acomplaint. I'm just tired of it.
I'm just tired of it. Putup her, shut up, seriously,
It's just ridiculous at this point,and they guess what They're going to have
their chance and the game. Ifyou want to look at strictly from a
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standing's perspective, it does mean moreto the forty nine ers. If the
Eagles win this one, the fortynine Ers home field advantage chances are slim
to none. They would be threefull games behind the Eagles with the Eagles
having five to play, and theEagles would have the tiebreaker over them,
so really they would have They wouldbe four games down, if you want
to think of it that way.Eagles aren't going to lose four those last
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five. I promise you that thatseems very very unlikely. And how do
I even put it? It doesNFL wise as standings matter more to them.
But that being said, this,you don't think that this game has
not been circled on the Eagles calendarsince that NFC title game last year,
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when San Franis started moaning, startedcomplaining, forty nine Ers have been circled,
and in part it's because God forbid. If the Eagles were to lose
this week, you know you'd haveforty nine Ers fans saying that their theory
was validated. And granted, doesit actually changing anything happened last year?
No, But even I'd have tosay, like, all right, look
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if they come out and they dominatethe forty nine ers destroy us in this
game, all right, I'd haveto even look like maybe there was some
aspects that I sadly have to agreewith now. But I think that's why
this isn't gonna happen. I thinkthe Eagles know that they they have to
show up and win this game inorder to defend what happened last year.
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They shouldn't have to. It's ridiculousthat they have to. But it's all
the BULLETI wore material that Nick Sirianniwould need to build his team up.
You're at home. I get thatYou're in a little bit of a worse
spot. Forty nine ers are ona ten game coming off ten days rest
after playing on Thanksgiving. The Eagleshave gone through the worst stretch of their
schedule. Well, they're in themiddle of it. I guess I should
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say several key Eagles like Dallas Goddard, Flesher Cox aren't one hundred percent.
We're not sure they won't play,but people Syrian is going to remind everybody
fast forward three weeks or now.People are going to remember that context.
People are going to look back atthe score and go, WHOA what happened
one way or another. I thinkthe Eagles on a more complete team in
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this matchup. I truly believe that, especially with home field advantage. This
is the game where Jalen Hurts canput a real stamp on his claim for
MVP, Like if he comes outand dominates the forty nine or sure pretty
much across the board nationally considered thesecond best team in the NFL behind the
Eagles, unless you look at thosecrazy power rankings have the Eagles in seventh,
which is absolutely madness and insanity.Jalen Hurts if he can come out
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and just you know, dominate thegame, like we've seen multiple times,
Hurts can really stamp MVP. Inmy opinion, if he dominates, he
can kind of cruise control it tothe end. Not saying he can fall
off the cliff, but he canbe good. It doesn't have to be
great, and he will win MVP. But if he flounders, look,
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it can build up the case backfor Mahomes or Dak. Look, look,
Dak looked great last night, orLamar Jackson, like all of a
sudden, if Hurts flounders, it'sback in those guys hands. So it's
another added expectation for Hurts or addedpressure for Hurts. Then hey, huge
team guy, he knows we've allheard him say the right things. When
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it comes to individual awards versus teamawards. But we know he wants it.
I would want it. You allwould want it. That MVP being
able to say, hey, I'mthe best player in the league, especially
for a guy with his backstory,you know, getting benched at Bama,
having a transfer, second round pickit It's obviously means a lot, and
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that's you're crazy if you don't thinkit means a lot to him, and
it should. I'd be upset ifit didn't mean anything to him, even
though he'll say the right things tothe reporters. So huge game for Hearts
in that sense. For the MVP, I expect this game to have that
hatred that I was talking about withthe players. People are gonna get popped
in the mouth. There's gonna bepenalties. There's gonna be some after the
play penalties. I fully buy thatof people just getting in late shots both
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sides. I think it's gonna feellike a nineties throwback in many ways.
This is gonna get ugly. Butmy official prediction, I know I'm gonna
get people saying you're crazy. I'mgonna get people saying you're a homer.
I think there's so much bulletin warmaterial here from the Eagles, where San
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Fran just keeps talking, and thenyou have the books making them an underdog.
Green dogs run faster. This iswhere the Eagles thrive, and they
don't get to be an underdog reallyever. I think they were under the
only time they were an underdog wasKansas City this year. I think I
think that was like a two twoand a half point spread with for Kansas
City. I didnk the Eagles comeout and dominate. I really do.
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I think you see a big gamegame plan, we'll say from Sirianni.
I think Hurts, Brown, Carter, Sleigh, Bradbury all have big games
after everyone's been talking. I thinkthey go in and when my finisher prediction
thirty one seventeen, all right,I'm gonna that's what I'm going with.
I'm one with thirty one seventeen Eaglestaken on the forty nine ers. I
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the saying that keeps coming to myhead, and I can't say the full
thing on here, and you'll knowwhy, but talk bleep, get hit.
I'll let you guys figure out whatbleep is in that sense. I
it just feels like that's common forsan Fran, I really do. I
think there's there's just so much herethat should be like everything NFL schedule wise
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favorite san Fran, but everything elseis with the Eagles. There's so Weirdly,
there's a lot more pressure on SanFran because of all the talk that
they've been doing, and I thinkthey've backed themselves into a hole. And
I think it's all the material theEagles need and they come out and absolutely
dominate this game. Thirty one seventeen. I'm sticking with it. That's my
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final I think come seven thirty eighto'clock Sunday, Sunday night, it's going
to be a celebration in Philadelphia aftera regular season game like we haven't seen
in a long time. I don'twant to say ever, because you know,
there's some other big ones, likewhen we got in the Cowboys,
when we got in the playoffs bybeating the Cowboys forty four to six,
There's some other great moments, butI think we'd be ignorant to say that
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this wouldn't be one of the biggestregular season Eagles wins of all time.
So we'll leave at that thirty oneseventeen, Birds dominate. Get them on
get them as the dog as longas you can, the spread might keep
going the other way. This isone time I'm not worried about the spread.
Let people in San Francisco keep betting. Let them go because here comes
the birds. All right. Wemight not be done with fully with the
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Eagles, but we are going togo into some other topics. I want
to get into all of the collegefootball playoffs scenarios, obviously starting tonight with
Oregon versus Washington for the Pac twelvetitle, and then looking through all the
other title games on what they wouldmean implication wise, who my picks are
for who gets into the playoffs,and I'll even do it by a little
bit in each scenario. I alsowant to talk through the AFC NFC playoff
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pictures and to pick five Classic talka little bit about that as well as
we'll have our picks for the NFLweekend and college weekend coming up very very
shortly, and to kind of scatterthroughout there. So we'll be back on
balls, bats and bets on FoxSports. The Gambler, right it for
this if you can wager on it, we're talking about it. It's the
Gambler. We are back. Weare back. We are back, and
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where else to go? We alreadydid? We did Eagles, and we
might talk a little more birds.I'm not I'm not writing off the rest
of the birds yet, I promiseyou that, But I do want to
dive into all of the insanity that'sgoing on with college football this weekend,
with it being really the last conferencechampionship weekend of its kind in many different
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ways, and this is easily thecraziest kind of the craziest college football last
weekend or a conference championship weekend Ican remember. For who gets in these
playoffs? Obviously, four teams makeit. Excuse me, four teams make
it, and you got I thinkeight teams. Yeah, there's absolutely there's
eight teams that have a chance ofhearing their name called to get into the
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playoff and have a chance in thenational championship. And I'll be honest with
you, I think at least sixof them I could easily see winning the
national title. Maybe even seven.Honestly, I think I could potentially see
if they get there, seven ofthese teams winning the national title. And
it's pretty damn wild how good thiscollege football season has been. Obviously sad,
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they were coming to the end ofit going into bowl season with I
will say Gambler Bowl Challenge coming up. The belt is back up for grabs,
Drumheller, I'm coming to get itback. I want that baby back
on my shelf. So hopefully,well it's not hopefully that challenge is coming
up, so stay tuned for thaton everything Gambler wise with socials, but
absolutely crazy weekends. Starting off tonightOregon versus Washington State spread around nine and
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a half nine in favor of Oregon. Who Oregon's the team that lost the
last matchup? Right? These twoteams met back in I believe it was
October in what was one of thebest college football games of the year.
I don't think there's any doubt aboutthat in my mind. Michael Penix Junior
bo Nicks just two elite players,two guys that will be in New York
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for the Heisman ceremony. I thinkbo Nick should win it in my opinion,
if I had a vote, ifI was like mister John Jansen had
to vote, I would be goingfor bow Knicks. I get there's a
lot of great players. I getthe Jayden Daniels argument. I certainly do.
He's been fantastic, not didn't winenough games for me. Bo Knicks,
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to me, has been the guyhe's carried to seat. Michael Penix
Junior too, has been absolutely fantastic. But I think bo Nicks is the
guy that would get my Heisman vote. And that game starts off tonight again
nine and a half points spread.I think that screams Ducks. It does.
Really think about this, if yourWashington, you won the first matchup,
granted I was at home, butyou won by three points. Now
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you come in games in Vegas nineand a half, you're telling me Organ's
a nine and a half point favorite. That spread is telling you all you
need to know. I think Oregon'sgoing to dominate this game. We've seen
Oregon destroy their competition all year,but the exception of Washington. Washington,
while they are undefeated, hey justmatters at the end of the day,
is a wins win. I getthat argument, but they have not been
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in nearly as dominant as Oregon.Let let's go through some of Washington's more
recent games and we can just kindof tell you can kind of see the
story. All right. So againundefeated, twelve and zero, but their
last their last three wins, sowins home against Utah at Oregon State home
versus Washington State. Their last threewins are by twelve points combined. Their
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last two wins are by five.They beat Oregon State twenty two to twenty
be Washington State twenty four to twentyone. Before that, the other one
I factored in there was Utah theybeat by seven. It's it's a lot
of tight games early in the year, they're blowing teams out. But since
let's say since Week four or five, for them, excuse me, their
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fifth game, starting with their fifthgame, which was in September thirtieth at
Arizona, they have only one.They have not been the team by more
than eleven points. I'm looking atit. Actually, then they only have
one win by double digits, andthat was USC they won by ten.
This they just how do I putI get the argument of a win's a
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win, I certainly do, butyou know there's something to it. Whereas
I look at Oregon and Oregon,the Ducks on the other side have been
dominating teams. Oregon State they beatthirty one to seven, Arizona State forty
nine thirteen, USC they beat bynine. All right, caw sixty three
nineteen Utah thirty five to six.They're beating up on teams. Oregon's more
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built like the powerhouse. Washington doeswin games, but I don't know.
I'm going with the powerhouse. Ithink, well, look they're both powerhouse,
let's give them both credit. ButI think Oregon comes out on top
of this one. I am goingwith the Ducks. I'm laying the nine
nine and a half. I thinkit's a double digit win for Oregon,
especially with the revenge factor coming inother games other a college map. So
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we'll do the matchups breakdown first whereI'll give you the picks and then I'll
dive into the other piece of itand what I think it's going to shake
out to be. So the othergames coming up, Oklahoma State versus Texas
fifteen point spread, Texas is gonnawin this game. Now, fifteen's a
lot, so I don't know ifthey'll cover. My gut reaction is I
am leaning towards Texas to cover becauseit took a lot for Oklahoma State to
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get here. They had a doubleot win over BYU might have been looking
forward a little bit. It's close. I could argue this one either way.
Honestly on the spread, but Ido think Texas will win and get
that Big twelve title. Next matchup, Georgia versus Alabama. Georgia coming in
at a five and a half pointfavorite. As we speak, all the
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craziness and matchups is about all revolvesaround Alabama winning, because then it makes
it a lot more difficult in thedebates. I don't think Alabama's winning.
I think it will be a littlemore straightforward than people are thinking because everyone
wants to assume the match. Ithink Georgia wins this game. I think
they cover. Alabama just barely getshere on that fourth and thirty one miracle
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coming off that game against Auburn.We know it's an emotional game, powered
throw. Georgia has disrespects, notthe right work beause they're undefeated, they're
number one, but the fact thatso many people are saying, oh,
Bama, Bamabama, watch out,george is gonna wake up here. I
think Georgia shows that why they're thetwo time defending national champ dominates this game.
I'm going with Georgia lay in thepoints. Florida State Louisville. Florida
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State is the team that really everyother one of these every Obviously, all
the other seven teams are rooting againsteach other to make sure they have the
best houns to get in. Thatbeing said, Florida State's the one that
everyone's looking at, like, man, do you really deserve to be here?
The Jordan Travis injury really hurt them. Now, granted, the committee
should not be factoring that in,but Florida State's twelve and zero. The
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ACC is not getting really any respectin their schedule. Yeah, I mean
it's not great. They have twowins over ranked teams when they played them
lis you in week one, andthey beat Duke in late October. Besides
that, no other ranked wins.There's nothing super impressive about Florida State schedule.
But that being said, they beatwho's in front of them, and
that's all you can do. Didhave a nice win at Clemson. Clemson
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wasn't ranked at the time, butnice win at Clemson. They're running into
Louisville that spreads one and a halfthis one is it's tearing me a little
bit. I am leaning towards takingFlorida State. I think Florida State does
win this game even without Jordan Travis, but it's not a love. This
is a slight lean towards Florida State, and we'll come back to that because
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that obviously changes a bunch of theplayoff scenarios if they're able to what happens
with Florida State. So if theylose, they're out. There's no shot
they're making. If they're out,even though they're twelve and one, no
shot, whereas every other team withone loss that we're going to talk about,
I can at least say has achance. Last game Michigan versus Iowa,
Michigan twenty one and a half pointfavorite. I have to take Iowa
with that many points. I knowthey got murdered last year. In this
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matchup, I think I have Ihave say it's too many points. I
think Iowa. The Iowa's defense showsup get some respect. Twenty one's too
many in this case. I thinkthey will cover that. But Michigan's gonna
win the game. Michigan will goand defeated and make the playoff. So
now we've gone through each of thegames, let's based on what my predictions
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were in the games, I'll tellyou who I think makes the playoffs.
One Georgia Georgia beats Alabama. Georgia'sin done. Number two Michigan. Michigan
beats Iowa. They're in done.Now is where you get a little more
interesting for me. I think FloridaState wins already told you. I think
Florida and undefeated Florida State's getting in. I get that they do not have
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the track record of the season thatother teams have and who they played,
but they won the conference. TheACC is a Power five conference. They're
undefeated. I think they're getting in. I don't see a way that the
committee leaves out an undefeated Florida Statethat you have riots. And then lastly,
I would think Oregon gets that lastslot. Oregon gets in, uh
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because they've been the most dominant teamin many ways this season, even though
they have the one loss at Washingtonis a tougher game than any team has
that we're talking about here has playedthis year. It is at Washington that
was the that was a game ofthe year, and they just barely lost
it. Convince I think they winsomeone convincingly to night and Oregon gets that
last slot. The team that mostgets screwed in this scenario, it's Texas.
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Texas is on the outside looking in. Uh do I think Texas is
a better team than Florida State.I one percent do. I I don't
think it's I think if Texas andFlorida State played, they would be especially
with Jordan Travis. No, that'snot really fair, but it would be
Texas like as a ten point favoriteright now. I honestly kind of think
that's what it would be about.That being said, undefeated is undefeated,
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and if Florida State beats Louisville,they're going to get in. So I'm
telling you who I think deserves tobe I would have Texas swapped in for
Florida State. Who will be in? It would be Florida State in that
scenario. And even though Florida StateI have the three seat here because they'll
get that because they're undfeated. Butyeah, it's just a very very interesting
matchup. Obviously, if Florida Stateloses, that opens up arguments. I
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think Texas would then be the teamto slide in. Ohio State is going
to be tempting one loss at Michigan, they lost by six. I get
the Ohio State argument. I dothe Big tens of better conference than the
Big twelve, but I think they'regoing to value that conference champion. They
put Ohio State in last year andant that was an incredible game New Year's
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Eve Ohio State Georgia. But Idon't think they would go for the repeat
there. I think it would beTexas that slides in. But I certainly
get the argument. For Ohio Stateto get in, they would need Texas
to lose, Florida to lose,or Florida State to lose. Excuse me,
Alabama to lose. I mean,I guess. And if Michigan lost
somehow, I guess that would bean argument. But ah see, things
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would get great if Michigan somehow lostto Iowa. Man, these debates would
get crazy and going. Since Isaid we'll talk about debate craziness, let's
open the door to let's say,hypothetically, if Alabama were to beat Georgia.
All right, so now reset everything. If Alabama beats Georgia, and
I assume all the other matchups thatI had stay the same, so then
Michigan becomes your number one. Ithink at that point, if Florida State
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were to beat Louisville, Florida Stateis your number two. Or maybe I'm
gonna say, Florida State undefeat wouldbe your number two, Oregon would be
your man, Oregon's your number three, or Oregon Orbama. I think that's
in Oregon Orbama then gets in it'scrazy, but yeah, it's weird like
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that. My seating is probably off, Like Florida State's easily the fourth best
team there. But I think thecommittee, I think the way they would
do it is put those undefeated teamsup top. I do I get that
they're not the best teams. Idon't think that's what the Committee's got.
I don't obviously. I know theysay that's what their job is, but
I just don't buy in that's whatthey'll end up doing. I think the
undefeate of Florida State would be thetwo seed, and really the debates for
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who gets in should be amongst fans. It would be, hey, do
you put in a one lost Georgia, two time national Champa, undefeated Florida
State, one lost Texas. Ifthe Texas wins a big twelve, george
is easily the best team out ofthose three. We know that. We
know that. I think the committeewould keep THEMNUT. I think they'd go
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Florida State. I think they wouldnow. Obviously, come Tuesday, I
think that's when the selections come out, or no, it's Sunday, comes
Sunday when the selections come out.All this could change. There's so many
different things that can throw this off. But I yeah it's gonna be if
Alabama does be Georgia and it willget crazy again. I don't think that's
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gonna happen. So recapping my officialprediction for the games this weekend, and
Oregon beats Washington State and covers coversthe nine and a half, Texas beats
Oklahoma, not sure on the cover, pretty big, numbered fifteen. Georgia
beats and covers against BAM and minusfive. Love that pick. Florida State,
I'll say squeaks by Louisville. Iwill go Florida States sweep by Louisville,
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get the undefeated season. Michigan beatsI will give me Iowa with the
points of twenty one and a half. That would give you your four teams
in Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, and Oregon. I think that's your
college football playoff. And really Ican see Florida State's the one team I
struggle to see being able to winthe title, especially without Jordan Travis.
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I could easily see those three teamsthe other three winning that championship. I
think Georgia versus Oregon would be anelite game, I really do. I
think that would be absolutely electric.So a lot of great football to come
this weekend. Enjoy it, especiallystarting a night with Oregon and Washington.
That's gonna be a great matchup,I do think so. I think Oregon
might try to show off their dominanceand you can really see, hey in
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their finale season, does the PACtwelve have someone that can actually win the
National Championship. I think it wouldbe PAC twelve's first title since those USC
teams the Matt Lioner and Reggie BushShow. So lot going on. We
are coming up on another break point, so I am going to take one
last break. We're on go throughNFL coming up after this with we'llft some
NFL Picture of the weekend. Iwant to talk about the zach Ertz news
(28:21):
with him being released from Arizona andsome AFC NFC wildcard picture I want to
dive into as well. So wegot a lot going on and we'll be
right back on balls, bats andbets. Right after this the Gambling,
Philly's home for all things sports gamblingfinal segment time on this beautiful Friday afternoon
(28:42):
that night. I guess I shouldsay leading into the weekend, we've already
covered a lot of football. We'vedone Eagles forty nine ers, We've done
college football playoff. Now I wantto take a quick detour diving into the
Big Five Classic that's happening tomorrow.So for those of you who are unaware,
(29:03):
pig A five college basketball this yeardoing a little bit differently one just
full out including Drexel. Now likeDrexel's in, which is good. I
mean, it doesn't make sense tokeep them out. Drexel is off D
one Philly basketball school. They're justas you know, i'll call it distinguished
as a LaSalle, Penn Saint Joseover the last twenty years. Really even
(29:26):
Temple they're they're pretty close to that. Like it's not there's not a drastic
drop off. So good to includethem. But what the what they did
this year for the Big for theBig Five, which is now really six
teams, is they had two threeteam pods that all played each other.
This is a already done the twopods were Saint Jo's Penn and Villan Nova,
(29:49):
and then that makes the other podDrexel, Lasal and Temple where all
those three teams played each other intheir pods and there would be a winner
from each group. Now, itwas very interesting. Saint Jose comes out
on top beats Nova on wasam forthose of you who don't know. Again,
I love Nova. I got myMBA there and I obviously here at
(30:14):
the station. We have very closeties to Nova, which is great program,
great team. I am. Iwent to undergrad at Saint Jose,
so I was rooting Saint Joe's reallyproud of them. Big win, especially
after Nova had a great battle forAtlantis which we all saw they were on
fire. But then Saint Jose doesget the win there, which Mahawks got
one done. They then move oninto the title game and they'll face Temple,
(30:37):
who went undefeated on their side.Now the Big Five Championship, they're
doing it at the Wells Fargo Center. It's tomorrow starting it. I think
it's noon or maybe it's one,and there's three games, so the last
place team in each one second placeand then the championship is the last game.
And I actually really liked the concept. I know it's not the traditional
Big Five setup, but where you'renot gonna play each team, which I
(31:00):
do get that frustration. That beingsaid, I think it is fun to
have an actual, like official champion, right Like it's good like to be
able to officially say you have it. Where's the other us? You might
have a tie for the title,NA, not anymore, that's out of
the way. We have an officialWe will have an official champion, will
be Saint Jose or Temple. AndI think it's a fun I think it's
(31:22):
a fun concept. I hope itreally works out for him. The one
thing I'll say they messed up.I get there's more seats of the Wells
Fargar Center. I fully get thatthis should be at the Plusterra. There's
no doubt my mind, this shouldbe at the Plusture. I think everyone
knows that it's purely a money grabfor why it's not there. If this
is at the PLESTI man, I'dbe there all day. I'd be exciting.
Now in the fact that it's upagainst college football play championship games for
(31:44):
the conferences, yeah, tough schedulingthere. I'm probably I will have it
on on the side tea. Iwill have it on one of the TVs
for sure. I'm gonna watch tryto watch all those Big Five games.
And again, I want to supportthe concept, love the Big Five,
love college basketball here in Philly,but the uh, the thein going up
against conference championships is a little bitof a tough timing. So we'll see
how that goes. But huge game, huge chance for my Saint Choshawks to
(32:07):
get the first Big Five Classic win, which would be really a great thing.
Dubbing jumping excuse me, wow,sorry, And ending this Friday night
with a couple of twists and turnsNFL AFC and NFC Wildcard Races's let's start
with the AFC, because I thinkit's slightly more interesting the AFC where you
(32:30):
have such a i'll call it aclear cut top four. Those top four
and not in any particular or thisis just the way the standing some of
them officially listeners right now. ButRavens, Chiefs, Jags, Dolphins,
all of them eight and three arebetter with the Ravens. All of them
are eight and three except the Ravens, who are nine and three. They've
played an extra game. Those arethe clear top four teams right now.
(32:52):
I think it's pretty obvious. There'smuch of a debate there. Then you
get into the wild cards and it'swow, you fall the lift. The
five seed right now in the AFCis the Pittsburgh Steelers, the six seeds
of Cleveland Browns. Their quarterbacks areKenny Pickett, who has struggled, like
just just notub about. Kenny Picketthas not been good, like he just
(33:13):
hasn't shown it. I think he'sgoing to be probably replaced, maybe if
they make the playoffs this year,maybe he gets one more season, but
he's hasn't shown that he could bethe guy. He just hasn't. And
then the Browns, who's now withSean Watson injury and other factors, might
have Joe Flacco starting this weekend.They let that rattle around your head for
a single. They might have JoeFlacco, who, of course is elite.
(33:36):
We've all know Joe Flacco is elite. Just joking back to when we
had everyone had those shirts. Butthat's insane. Those are your five and
six at seven and four, andthen you have three teams at seven and
six and five excuse me bowing forthe last slot. With the Colts officially
holding it right now, and thenthe Texans and Broncos also at six and
(33:57):
five. Is it crazy that Ithink the Colts of the team I trust
the most out of those three.I'm shocked. I'm saying the Texans have
been a fun story, and they'vebeen and c J. Stroud has been
a fantastic I do feel like there'ssomething with the floor about to drop out
from under them. I don't knowwhy I feel that, but I just
kind of do. I feel likeI feel like I trust the Colts more
(34:22):
with gard It's not that I trustGardner more like, please don't take that
away. C J. Stroud's waybetter than Gardner. But it's just everything's
been going too smooth for the Texans, and as season that they didn't have
many high expectations, I think theyfall off a little bit. The Broncos.
I don't know what to make theBroncos. They've been hot obviously,
starting off I think was like zeroand three, and then maybe one and
(34:42):
five and now six and five,like they have been absolutely fantastic, winning
yeah, winning five straight, granta lot of close games in there,
but are coming off of a veryconvincing win over the Browns and a huge
game this weekend with Broncos Texans forwhat it means for that playoff. Obviously
winner will have the tiebreaker over theother, so it's not just being down
(35:04):
a game after this, it's you'rereally down two because you'll have to get
over the tiebreaker. Really interesting theBills coming in there, sitting at six
and six, the Bill schedule,I know everyone's gonna want to talk themselves
into all the Bills or the Billsthey'll find a way to the playoffs.
Listen to the Bills next five gamesat Chiefs home versus Cowboys, at Chargers
versus Patriots, at Dolphins, Chargers, Patriots. They should be wins.
(35:27):
Again, the Bills have not beendominant this season, so there's not any
really guarantees. They're six and six, Chiefs and Cowboys. The way everyone's
playing right now, those should belosses, and really so should the Dolphins.
The only thing is with the Dolphinsthey might be sitting people at that
point is that the Bills saving grace. If the Bills can get to nine
and eight, can they make theplayoffs? Nine and eight might get it
done. It might They would haveto win those last three or you know,
(35:50):
sneak one from a Kansas City orDallas, which they could. I'm
not counting the Bills out quite yet, but it's a tough road, especially
when that's battling for the line spot. When if I look at the Colts,
listen to Colts schedule, they gotsix games left at Titans, Titans
are bad, They're not a goodteam this year. At Bengals now without
Joe Burrow versus the Steelers, Steelersare ahead of them, but I'm not
(36:14):
scared of the Steelers, right They'reright behind them at Falcons. Not scared
of the Falcons. Home versus Raiders, and then home versus Texans. That's
that's not a difficult schedule that thatcould be a fun last game for who
gets in Colts or Texans. Thatcould be a good last regular season game.
But that being said, there's it'sgonna be a very interesting weekend.
(36:37):
They're not weekend rest of the regularseason coming out in this AFC playoff picture.
My official gut, I say Steelers, I think get in. I
think the Browns you could see falloff. So all right, let's pick
the wildcard teams. I think thedivision winners all hold. I'll say that
right now. I think Ravens,Chiefs, Jags, Dolphins all hold.
I think they're gonna stay. Wildcards, Steelers be one of them. I'm
(37:00):
giving the Colts another one. Man, it does get tough. I am
tempted to put the Bills in there, but I think it's I think it's
the Broncos. I think it's theBroncos, guys, I really do this.
In the Broncos schedule, Texans areat Texans, at Chargers, at
Lions first Patriots first, Chargers wereat Raiders. That's a pretty easy schedule.
(37:24):
All right, those will be mythree. We'll go Steelers, Colts,
Broncos make the playoffs, leaving theBrowns, Texans, and Bills on
the outside looking in. Wild It'sgot a lot of mess there at the
bottom. Again, I don't thinkany of those teams have really shot at
Super Bowl, but making the playoffsis a big deal. Next up in
the NFC also a little well,not nearly as top heavy OSSI in my
(37:47):
opinion, Eagles ten and one,San Fran eight and three, Lions were
eight and three, Dallas nine andthree. Those are your best four teams
now, Grant they're now the divisionleaders like they are on the other side,
Dallas two games or one and ahalf games, I guess t lead
back of the Birds at the moment. Other team now once we get after
that, the NFC South is thegarbage division, right So five and six
(38:08):
Falcons leading the division tied with theSaints, Bucks right on their tails at
four and seven. I think it'spossible that two of those teams make it.
It is which is wild my officialgut, I think the Saints take
that division. The Saints have beenso frustrating this year, but I do
think the Saints find a way toget there. I think they're the most
(38:30):
stable core of a team, relativelyeasy scheduled down the stretch. Lions this
week is tough, but then theygot Panthers, Giants, Rams, Bucks,
Falcons. It's not that difficult afterthis weekend. I think they could
be a surprise win this weekend,honestly coming out of New Orleans in favor
of the Saints. So let's go. Let's assume that the Saints get that
(38:51):
spot next. If I dive overthe other teams competing, Dallas is gonna
be a wildcard, no doubt,unless they win the division, which obviously
I hope doesn't happen. But thenit's the Eagles of the wildcard right one
wildcard slot, whoever is second inthe NFC East. After that, Which
of these teams do you trust that'sserious? Which of these teams do you
trust? I'll include the Falcons inhere, because if I say the Satsman
in division, Falcons be in this. Vikings, Seahawks, Packers, Rams,
(39:16):
Bucks, I mean, and nownow we're getting pretty ugly. Two
of those teams are gonna make theplayoffs. The Seahawks, I guess,
are the best of the bunch inmy opinion. They showed up pretty well
last night and Thursday and football inDallas. They have a little bit of
a tough schedule though, coming downthe stretch. Not that I mean at
(39:37):
forty nine Ers home versus the Eaglesat the Titans, versus Steelers at Cardinals.
I mean, it gets a littlebit easier, but it's not an
easy schedule by any means. Honestly, it shapes up pretty well for me
where I think the Rams could makethe playoffs. Listen to the Rams schedule
down the stretch. Here you gotHome versus the Browns at Ravens tough Washington
(40:00):
home versus Saints at Giants at fortynine ers when they forty nine ers might
be sitting people. I think itshapes up pretty well for the Rams to
make the playoffs. I trust MatthewStafford as a quarterback. Sean McVay is
still one of the best coaches inthe league in my opinion, and they
have Aaron donmalon defense. It's toughto argue with them. I think they
have a good case. I actuallyend up trusting them. Packers I don't
(40:20):
fully trust, but Packers and Vikings. One of them will make it.
I will lean slightly towards the Vikings, but it's it's ugly either way,
it really is. Vikings do havetwo games left with the Lions, so
they're thinking, hey, we havea shot of the division. I think
it's more, Oh, you know, you gotta split those just to make
in order to make sure that youcan make it. Packers' schedule easy down
(40:42):
the stretch. Actually, now,as we look at it, Chiefs this
week, but then Giants, Bucks, Panthers, Vikings, Bears. Yeah,
no, that's pretty easy. Imight actually let me recant that we're
gonna go with the Packers in there, so official NFC prediction division winners Eagles,
forty nine, Ers, Lions,and I'm must say the Saints,
Wildcards, Cowboys. I'm going tothen go with the Seahawks and the Rams.
(41:08):
Actually know what let me ba,I want the Rams Rams are getting
in. Put the Rams in thesix and then, oh man, I
forgot we gotta factor in three teams, don't we? All Right, it's
got I will I'm gonna go withthe Packers based on that schedule, I'm
gonna go with the Packers. Crazycrazy NFC and really both legs. It
(41:29):
shows that there is some parody atleast in the middle, but team's battling
it out, so hey watch out. Obviously a lot can change each week
with this, but is a prettycrazy AFC and NFC wildcard race. As
we're going on last topic, Iwant to jump into night zach Ertz obviously
recently released by the Arizona Cardinals kindof at his request. I would love
(41:52):
to see him back. I'm juststump ready to do. I would obviously
love to see zach Ertz back inan Eagles uniform. There's nothing I'd love
to see more. I think it'sa kind of a fitting potentially into his
career. I don't think he's retiringnecessarily, but if he has come back
and be the second tight end behindDallas Goddard, I think it makes sense
that I would love to see it. But if zach was trying to make
(42:13):
a big contract get a little money, We're not the place for him.
I say this sadly. We're notthe place. The place to go would
be Baltimore. Baltimore is built aroundthe tight end ort and Mark Andrews,
who is out for what is verylikely the season. If zach Ertz is
trying to show that he can stillplay and put up some numbers to get
a little bit of money in theoff season, it's absolutely his move should
(42:37):
be going to Baltimore and try tobe the mimic zach Ertz, or sorry,
the mimic Mark Andrews for a littlebit and just get paid in the
off season. I hope that he'smade enough money in his career and just
wants to come back to Philly andrun it back one more time. And
I think there's a very strong chancezach Ertz one time. Now, Grant,
it's not all up to him.You can get he's getting claimed on
waivers. Let's check the latest stormware. Zach Ertz is out here on
(43:00):
Twitter right now. Yeah, no, nothing new yet, it's still just
the release, but we shall see. I hope he comes other teams.
I'm seeing the Steelers could potentially beinterested in him, but we all know
that Philly wants zach Ertz and hopefullyzach Ertz wants Philly and the Stars aligned.
(43:21):
So we'll hope for that one.And I think he would honestly fill
a big need on this team.Even when God It's back, the second
tight end can have a huge impactin this offense. We've seen it before,
and by having a weapon like Ertzthat knows at least knows it a
little bit. I know it's adifferent system, it's not Doug Peterson anymore,
but he knows a lot of theplayers. He'll blend in pretty quick.
I trust zach Ertz to come inhere and make an impact. That'll
(43:43):
do it for us here on Balls, Bats and Bets. Thank you as
always for tuning in, Stay tunedall the time to Fox Sports The Gambler
look out for the events. Wehad an awesome one last night at Maggie's
on the waterfront, great getting togetherwith the guys and just so much fun.
Eagles tickets were drawing in one forI think it was the jan seventh
game, and it was fantastic.So keep your eye out, Listen to
(44:04):
Sean, listen to John, listento all those great guys, and we'll
be back next week on Ball's Betsand Bets Talk to you soon. Spreads,
totals and all the prop that's inbetween. It's the Gambler.
For national winners. From a localperspective, You're in the right place.
It's Balls, Bats and Bets withTim o'kee right here on the Gambler.
Happy Friday, everybody. You madeit to the weekend, and that means
it's time for another episode of Balls, Bats and Bets. As always,
I'm your host, Tim O'Keeffe.You can follow me at TK Wonderscore Picks,
(00:20):
and another weekend where there's just somuch to talk about. I obviously
didn't have a show last week withthe holiday. I hope everybody out there
had a great Thanksgiving. As we'remaking it into the official holiday season.
It's December first, you can officiallystart playing Christmas music. If you're playing
it before this, I have somequestions around you, but they know that's
a debate for another day. Sowelcome to holiday season. Welcome to December.
(00:45):
Football. The regular season in collegeis over. We're going to break
down all of the college football championConference championship weekend in our second segment.
Coming up, big AFC and NFCwildcard races coming up in the NFL.
We're gonna do with a lot offootball this show, which I have a
feeling a lot of you won't havea problem with. But the obvious place
(01:07):
to start is the biggest thing goingaround all of Philadelphia this weekend, and
it is the Eagles forty nine Ersgame, which has somehow become a rivalry
after really just being based on onegame and it was last year and the
Eagles kicked that you know what outof the forty nine ers, and somehow
that has turned this into a puregame of rivalry. And it's honestly,
(01:32):
it's hatred. It really is hatred. And it's not even it's you know,
a lot of rivalries they get builtup by the fans. They do
like right, like I think,look in a lot of recent years,
it's look at Red Sox Yankees.Do I really think the last like five
years, let's say of players thatthe Red Sox actually hate the Yankees and
vice versa. No, I don'tget that. I think back in the
(01:55):
day, you know, you hada little bit like early two thousands,
you know, when Pedro's throwing donzim Are on the ground, a rod
was getting into it with people.There were there was some of some actual
blood blood bad blood between players,but that doesn't exist anymore in that rivalry
even honestly to an extent. EaglesCowboys. I do think obviously the players
(02:16):
know it's a huge game, butI don't. Hey, look, obviously,
I'm sure there's some the players willtell you one thing and they might
actually feel another. That that happensall the time. People aren't gonna play
all their cards. But even inEagles Cowboys, I think the player step
up because they know it's a biggergame than the fans. But I only
there's like as much pure hatred.Like I don't know if Fletcher Cox actually
(02:39):
hates Dak Prescott. I don't know. I hope he does. Well maybe
I don't know. No one needshate, I get it, but this
Eagles forty nine Ers game, there'sactual hate between the players, just straight
up Deebo Samuel number one on theforty nine ers side calling it out,
(03:00):
complaining and moaning and this is justdebas all of their team since last year's
game where they lost the FC titlegame got destroyed, absolutely destroyed. Yes
they lost their quarterback, Yes theylost two quarterbacks, I guess should say
because their coach drew up an offensivescheme that just didn't protect them. That's
you know what the forty nine fanswon't want to let happen or let that
(03:23):
excuse come into play. But it'sthe truth. Kyle Shanahan system, while
it is very effective, Ken leavequarterbacks up to getting destroyed, and that
happened last year and they paid theprice. They didn't have that third QB
on the roster. They struggled.All these guys have just been complaining,
complaining, complaining about doing what ifs. They live in the world of what
(03:46):
ifs. Yeah, I guess what. Every every fan base can live in
what IFFs? Guess what. TheCarolina Panthers could say, Well, what
if? What if? What if? And you know, if they do
enough what ifs, then they're tenand one instead of one and ten.
So I am so tired of thewhat ifs from San fran You got destroyed,
you got absolutely beat up. Idon't care if you throw Tom Brady
on that team. I don't thinkthey were winning. Now, maybe I'm
(04:09):
going a little far, but youget what I'm saying. Like they got
absolutely destroyed in that game. Ijust don't. I don't know how in
their minds they justified the idea yep, yep, that was stolen from us.
No, shut up, I'm tiredof it's absolutely ridiculous. And then
you got guys specifically like Debo callingout Eagles players, calling James Bradbury trash,
(04:30):
a former All Pro guy who's madeit in this league, multiple time
pro bowler, multiple contracts, bigcontracts. Look, Bradbury, is he
the best corner of the league.No, but he is absolutely a very
solid corner in this like and forDeebo to be going at him is pretty
wild to me. Deebo talks alot and then you know, remember his
(04:53):
uh interview if you go back acouple of months where he got asked about
the Eagle and just literally he shutdown. He just literally shut off the
phone because he uh, I forgetthe exact question. You know, let
me pull this up because the exactquestion is important here where Deebo Samuel was
asked a question that he didn't wantto answer about the Eagles. So let's
(05:15):
see Debo answers question about Eagle,won't Let's see hangs up interview. Yeah,
so all right, he was askedabout the championship game loss and kind
of the reporter more or less kindof like called out, you know,
(05:39):
you guys got destroyed and he letthat kind of just slip out there.
He didn't say it in those exactwords, but Deebo just hangs up the
phone. He hangs up the phone. He just could not because he had
gotten a little bit of troubles.He kept running his mouth. I guess
this reporter was trying to bleed intoit or steer right into it. And
he has hung up the phone.And now he comes out, you know,
back to months and it's back tothis ripping into James Bradbury and doing
(06:01):
all this dumb stuff him, Brandonayuk CMC. Even Robbie's freaking gold.
Who's the kicker for them? Wherehe was the kicker. I don't even
know if he's still the kicker thisyear for them, but he was the
kicker last year and everyone's had acomplaint. I'm just tired of it.
I'm just tired of it. Putup her, shut up, seriously,
It's just ridiculous at this point,and they guess what They're going to have
their chance and the game. Ifyou want to look at strictly from a
(06:25):
standing's perspective, it does mean moreto the forty nine ers. If the
Eagles win this one, the fortynine Ers home field advantage chances are slim
to none. They would be threefull games behind the Eagles with the Eagles
having five to play, and theEagles would have the tiebreaker over them,
so really they would have They wouldbe four games down, if you want
to think of it that way.Eagles aren't going to lose four those last
(06:46):
five. I promise you that thatseems very very unlikely. And how do
I even put it? It doesNFL wise as standings matter more to them.
But that being said, this,you don't think that this game has
not been circled on the Eagles calendarsince that NFC title game last year,
(07:09):
when San Franis started moaning, startedcomplaining, forty nine Ers have been circled,
and in part it's because God forbid. If the Eagles were to lose
this week, you know you'd haveforty nine Ers fans saying that their theory
was validated. And granted, doesit actually changing anything happened last year?
No, But even I'd have tosay, like, all right, look
(07:30):
if they come out and they dominatethe forty nine ers destroy us in this
game, all right, I'd haveto even look like maybe there was some
aspects that I sadly have to agreewith now. But I think that's why
this isn't gonna happen. I thinkthe Eagles know that they they have to
show up and win this game inorder to defend what happened last year.
(07:57):
They shouldn't have to. It's ridiculousthat they have to. But it's all
the BULLETI wore material that Nick Sirianniwould need to build his team up.
You're at home. I get thatYou're in a little bit of a worse
spot. Forty nine ers are ona ten game coming off ten days rest
after playing on Thanksgiving. The Eagleshave gone through the worst stretch of their
schedule. Well, they're in themiddle of it. I guess I should
(08:18):
say several key Eagles like Dallas Goddard, Flesher Cox aren't one hundred percent.
We're not sure they won't play,but people Syrian is going to remind everybody
fast forward three weeks or now.People are going to remember that context.
People are going to look back atthe score and go, WHOA what happened
one way or another. I thinkthe Eagles on a more complete team in
(08:41):
this matchup. I truly believe that, especially with home field advantage. This
is the game where Jalen Hurts canput a real stamp on his claim for
MVP, Like if he comes outand dominates the forty nine or sure pretty
much across the board nationally considered thesecond best team in the NFL behind the
Eagles, unless you look at thosecrazy power rankings have the Eagles in seventh,
which is absolutely madness and insanity.Jalen Hurts if he can come out
(09:07):
and just you know, dominate thegame, like we've seen multiple times,
Hurts can really stamp MVP. Inmy opinion, if he dominates, he
can kind of cruise control it tothe end. Not saying he can fall
off the cliff, but he canbe good. It doesn't have to be
great, and he will win MVP. But if he flounders, look,
(09:28):
it can build up the case backfor Mahomes or Dak. Look, look,
Dak looked great last night, orLamar Jackson, like all of a
sudden, if Hurts flounders, it'sback in those guys hands. So it's
another added expectation for Hurts or addedpressure for Hurts. Then hey, huge
team guy, he knows we've allheard him say the right things. When
(09:48):
it comes to individual awards versus teamawards. But we know he wants it.
I would want it. You allwould want it. That MVP being
able to say, hey, I'mthe best player in the league, especially
for a guy with his backstory,you know, getting benched at Bama,
having a transfer, second round pickit It's obviously means a lot, and
(10:09):
that's you're crazy if you don't thinkit means a lot to him, and
it should. I'd be upset ifit didn't mean anything to him, even
though he'll say the right things tothe reporters. So huge game for Hearts
in that sense. For the MVP, I expect this game to have that
hatred that I was talking about withthe players. People are gonna get popped
in the mouth. There's gonna bepenalties. There's gonna be some after the
play penalties. I fully buy thatof people just getting in late shots both
(10:33):
sides. I think it's gonna feellike a nineties throwback in many ways.
This is gonna get ugly. Butmy official prediction, I know I'm gonna
get people saying you're crazy. I'mgonna get people saying you're a homer.
I think there's so much bulletin warmaterial here from the Eagles, where San
(10:54):
Fran just keeps talking, and thenyou have the books making them an underdog.
Green dogs run faster. This iswhere the Eagles thrive, and they
don't get to be an underdog reallyever. I think they were under the
only time they were an underdog wasKansas City this year. I think I
think that was like a two twoand a half point spread with for Kansas
City. I didnk the Eagles comeout and dominate. I really do.
(11:18):
I think you see a big gamegame plan, we'll say from Sirianni.
I think Hurts, Brown, Carter, Sleigh, Bradbury all have big games
after everyone's been talking. I thinkthey go in and when my finisher prediction
thirty one seventeen, all right,I'm gonna that's what I'm going with.
I'm one with thirty one seventeen Eaglestaken on the forty nine ers. I
(11:43):
the saying that keeps coming to myhead, and I can't say the full
thing on here, and you'll knowwhy, but talk bleep, get hit.
I'll let you guys figure out whatbleep is in that sense. I
it just feels like that's common forsan Fran, I really do. I
think there's there's just so much herethat should be like everything NFL schedule wise
(12:05):
favorite san Fran, but everything elseis with the Eagles. There's so Weirdly,
there's a lot more pressure on SanFran because of all the talk that
they've been doing, and I thinkthey've backed themselves into a hole. And
I think it's all the material theEagles need and they come out and absolutely
dominate this game. Thirty one seventeen. I'm sticking with it. That's my
(12:26):
final I think come seven thirty eighto'clock Sunday, Sunday night, it's going
to be a celebration in Philadelphia aftera regular season game like we haven't seen
in a long time. I don'twant to say ever, because you know,
there's some other big ones, likewhen we got in the Cowboys,
when we got in the playoffs bybeating the Cowboys forty four to six,
There's some other great moments, butI think we'd be ignorant to say that
(12:50):
this wouldn't be one of the biggestregular season Eagles wins of all time.
So we'll leave at that thirty oneseventeen, Birds dominate. Get them on
get them as the dog as longas you can, the spread might keep
going the other way. This isone time I'm not worried about the spread.
Let people in San Francisco keep betting. Let them go because here comes
the birds. All right. Wemight not be done with fully with the
(13:13):
Eagles, but we are going togo into some other topics. I want
to get into all of the collegefootball playoffs scenarios, obviously starting tonight with
Oregon versus Washington for the Pac twelvetitle, and then looking through all the
other title games on what they wouldmean implication wise, who my picks are
for who gets into the playoffs,and I'll even do it by a little
bit in each scenario. I alsowant to talk through the AFC NFC playoff
(13:37):
pictures and to pick five Classic talka little bit about that as well as
we'll have our picks for the NFLweekend and college weekend coming up very very
shortly, and to kind of scatterthroughout there. So we'll be back on
balls, bats and bets on FoxSports. The Gambler, right it for
this if you can wager on it, we're talking about it. It's the
Gambler. We are back. Weare back. We are back, and
(14:01):
where else to go? We alreadydid? We did Eagles, and we
might talk a little more birds.I'm not I'm not writing off the rest
of the birds yet, I promiseyou that, But I do want to
dive into all of the insanity that'sgoing on with college football this weekend,
with it being really the last conferencechampionship weekend of its kind in many different
(14:22):
ways, and this is easily thecraziest kind of the craziest college football last
weekend or a conference championship weekend Ican remember. For who gets in these
playoffs? Obviously, four teams makeit. Excuse me, four teams make
it, and you got I thinkeight teams. Yeah, there's absolutely there's
eight teams that have a chance ofhearing their name called to get into the
(14:46):
playoff and have a chance in thenational championship. And I'll be honest with
you, I think at least sixof them I could easily see winning the
national title. Maybe even seven.Honestly, I think I could potentially see
if they get there, seven ofthese teams winning the national title. And
it's pretty damn wild how good thiscollege football season has been. Obviously sad,
(15:09):
they were coming to the end ofit going into bowl season with I
will say Gambler Bowl Challenge coming up. The belt is back up for grabs,
Drumheller, I'm coming to get itback. I want that baby back
on my shelf. So hopefully,well it's not hopefully that challenge is coming
up, so stay tuned for thaton everything Gambler wise with socials, but
absolutely crazy weekends. Starting off tonightOregon versus Washington State spread around nine and
(15:35):
a half nine in favor of Oregon. Who Oregon's the team that lost the
last matchup? Right? These twoteams met back in I believe it was
October in what was one of thebest college football games of the year.
I don't think there's any doubt aboutthat in my mind. Michael Penix Junior
bo Nicks just two elite players,two guys that will be in New York
(15:56):
for the Heisman ceremony. I thinkbo Nick should win it in my opinion,
if I had a vote, ifI was like mister John Jansen had
to vote, I would be goingfor bow Knicks. I get there's a
lot of great players. I getthe Jayden Daniels argument. I certainly do.
He's been fantastic, not didn't winenough games for me. Bo Knicks,
(16:18):
to me, has been the guyhe's carried to seat. Michael Penix
Junior too, has been absolutely fantastic. But I think bo Nicks is the
guy that would get my Heisman vote. And that game starts off tonight again
nine and a half points spread.I think that screams Ducks. It does.
Really think about this, if yourWashington, you won the first matchup,
granted I was at home, butyou won by three points. Now
(16:38):
you come in games in Vegas nineand a half, you're telling me Organ's
a nine and a half point favorite. That spread is telling you all you
need to know. I think Oregon'sgoing to dominate this game. We've seen
Oregon destroy their competition all year,but the exception of Washington. Washington,
while they are undefeated, hey justmatters at the end of the day,
is a wins win. I getthat argument, but they have not been
(17:00):
in nearly as dominant as Oregon.Let let's go through some of Washington's more
recent games and we can just kindof tell you can kind of see the
story. All right. So againundefeated, twelve and zero, but their
last their last three wins, sowins home against Utah at Oregon State home
versus Washington State. Their last threewins are by twelve points combined. Their
(17:26):
last two wins are by five.They beat Oregon State twenty two to twenty
be Washington State twenty four to twentyone. Before that, the other one
I factored in there was Utah theybeat by seven. It's it's a lot
of tight games early in the year, they're blowing teams out. But since
let's say since Week four or five, for them, excuse me, their
(17:49):
fifth game, starting with their fifthgame, which was in September thirtieth at
Arizona, they have only one.They have not been the team by more
than eleven points. I'm looking atit. Actually, then they only have
one win by double digits, andthat was USC they won by ten.
This they just how do I putI get the argument of a win's a
(18:12):
win, I certainly do, butyou know there's something to it. Whereas
I look at Oregon and Oregon,the Ducks on the other side have been
dominating teams. Oregon State they beatthirty one to seven, Arizona State forty
nine thirteen, USC they beat bynine. All right, caw sixty three
nineteen Utah thirty five to six.They're beating up on teams. Oregon's more
(18:38):
built like the powerhouse. Washington doeswin games, but I don't know.
I'm going with the powerhouse. Ithink, well, look they're both powerhouse,
let's give them both credit. ButI think Oregon comes out on top
of this one. I am goingwith the Ducks. I'm laying the nine
nine and a half. I thinkit's a double digit win for Oregon,
especially with the revenge factor coming inother games other a college map. So
(19:00):
we'll do the matchups breakdown first whereI'll give you the picks and then I'll
dive into the other piece of itand what I think it's going to shake
out to be. So the othergames coming up, Oklahoma State versus Texas
fifteen point spread, Texas is gonnawin this game. Now, fifteen's a
lot, so I don't know ifthey'll cover. My gut reaction is I
am leaning towards Texas to cover becauseit took a lot for Oklahoma State to
(19:23):
get here. They had a doubleot win over BYU might have been looking
forward a little bit. It's close. I could argue this one either way.
Honestly on the spread, but Ido think Texas will win and get
that Big twelve title. Next matchup, Georgia versus Alabama. Georgia coming in
at a five and a half pointfavorite. As we speak, all the
(19:45):
craziness and matchups is about all revolvesaround Alabama winning, because then it makes
it a lot more difficult in thedebates. I don't think Alabama's winning.
I think it will be a littlemore straightforward than people are thinking because everyone
wants to assume the match. Ithink Georgia wins this game. I think
they cover. Alabama just barely getshere on that fourth and thirty one miracle
(20:06):
coming off that game against Auburn.We know it's an emotional game, powered
throw. Georgia has disrespects, notthe right work beause they're undefeated, they're
number one, but the fact thatso many people are saying, oh,
Bama, Bamabama, watch out,george is gonna wake up here. I
think Georgia shows that why they're thetwo time defending national champ dominates this game.
I'm going with Georgia lay in thepoints. Florida State Louisville. Florida
(20:27):
State is the team that really everyother one of these every Obviously, all
the other seven teams are rooting againsteach other to make sure they have the
best houns to get in. Thatbeing said, Florida State's the one that
everyone's looking at, like, man, do you really deserve to be here?
The Jordan Travis injury really hurt them. Now, granted, the committee
should not be factoring that in,but Florida State's twelve and zero. The
(20:51):
ACC is not getting really any respectin their schedule. Yeah, I mean
it's not great. They have twowins over ranked teams when they played them
lis you in week one, andthey beat Duke in late October. Besides
that, no other ranked wins.There's nothing super impressive about Florida State schedule.
But that being said, they beatwho's in front of them, and
that's all you can do. Didhave a nice win at Clemson. Clemson
(21:14):
wasn't ranked at the time, butnice win at Clemson. They're running into
Louisville that spreads one and a halfthis one is it's tearing me a little
bit. I am leaning towards takingFlorida State. I think Florida State does
win this game even without Jordan Travis, but it's not a love. This
is a slight lean towards Florida State, and we'll come back to that because
(21:37):
that obviously changes a bunch of theplayoff scenarios if they're able to what happens
with Florida State. So if theylose, they're out. There's no shot
they're making. If they're out,even though they're twelve and one, no
shot, whereas every other team withone loss that we're going to talk about,
I can at least say has achance. Last game Michigan versus Iowa,
Michigan twenty one and a half pointfavorite. I have to take Iowa
with that many points. I knowthey got murdered last year. In this
(21:59):
matchup, I think I have Ihave say it's too many points. I
think Iowa. The Iowa's defense showsup get some respect. Twenty one's too
many in this case. I thinkthey will cover that. But Michigan's gonna
win the game. Michigan will goand defeated and make the playoff. So
now we've gone through each of thegames, let's based on what my predictions
(22:19):
were in the games, I'll tellyou who I think makes the playoffs.
One Georgia Georgia beats Alabama. Georgia'sin done. Number two Michigan. Michigan
beats Iowa. They're in done.Now is where you get a little more
interesting for me. I think FloridaState wins already told you. I think
Florida and undefeated Florida State's getting in. I get that they do not have
(22:41):
the track record of the season thatother teams have and who they played,
but they won the conference. TheACC is a Power five conference. They're
undefeated. I think they're getting in. I don't see a way that the
committee leaves out an undefeated Florida Statethat you have riots. And then lastly,
I would think Oregon gets that lastslot. Oregon gets in, uh
(23:06):
because they've been the most dominant teamin many ways this season, even though
they have the one loss at Washingtonis a tougher game than any team has
that we're talking about here has playedthis year. It is at Washington that
was the that was a game ofthe year, and they just barely lost
it. Convince I think they winsomeone convincingly to night and Oregon gets that
last slot. The team that mostgets screwed in this scenario, it's Texas.
(23:29):
Texas is on the outside looking in. Uh do I think Texas is
a better team than Florida State.I one percent do. I I don't
think it's I think if Texas andFlorida State played, they would be especially
with Jordan Travis. No, that'snot really fair, but it would be
Texas like as a ten point favoriteright now. I honestly kind of think
that's what it would be about.That being said, undefeated is undefeated,
(23:53):
and if Florida State beats Louisville,they're going to get in. So I'm
telling you who I think deserves tobe I would have Texas swapped in for
Florida State. Who will be in? It would be Florida State in that
scenario. And even though Florida StateI have the three seat here because they'll
get that because they're undfeated. Butyeah, it's just a very very interesting
matchup. Obviously, if Florida Stateloses, that opens up arguments. I
(24:18):
think Texas would then be the teamto slide in. Ohio State is going
to be tempting one loss at Michigan, they lost by six. I get
the Ohio State argument. I dothe Big tens of better conference than the
Big twelve, but I think they'regoing to value that conference champion. They
put Ohio State in last year andant that was an incredible game New Year's
(24:41):
Eve Ohio State Georgia. But Idon't think they would go for the repeat
there. I think it would beTexas that slides in. But I certainly
get the argument. For Ohio Stateto get in, they would need Texas
to lose, Florida to lose,or Florida State to lose. Excuse me,
Alabama to lose. I mean,I guess. And if Michigan lost
somehow, I guess that would bean argument. But ah see, things
(25:03):
would get great if Michigan somehow lostto Iowa. Man, these debates would
get crazy and going. Since Isaid we'll talk about debate craziness, let's
open the door to let's say,hypothetically, if Alabama were to beat Georgia.
All right, so now reset everything. If Alabama beats Georgia, and
I assume all the other matchups thatI had stay the same, so then
Michigan becomes your number one. Ithink at that point, if Florida State
(25:29):
were to beat Louisville, Florida Stateis your number two. Or maybe I'm
gonna say, Florida State undefeat wouldbe your number two, Oregon would be
your man, Oregon's your number three, or Oregon Orbama. I think that's
in Oregon Orbama then gets in it'scrazy, but yeah, it's weird like
(25:51):
that. My seating is probably off, Like Florida State's easily the fourth best
team there. But I think thecommittee, I think the way they would
do it is put those undefeated teamsup top. I do I get that
they're not the best teams. Idon't think that's what the Committee's got.
I don't obviously. I know theysay that's what their job is, but
I just don't buy in that's whatthey'll end up doing. I think the
undefeate of Florida State would be thetwo seed, and really the debates for
(26:12):
who gets in should be amongst fans. It would be, hey, do
you put in a one lost Georgia, two time national Champa, undefeated Florida
State, one lost Texas. Ifthe Texas wins a big twelve, george
is easily the best team out ofthose three. We know that. We
know that. I think the committeewould keep THEMNUT. I think they'd go
(26:33):
Florida State. I think they wouldnow. Obviously, come Tuesday, I
think that's when the selections come out, or no, it's Sunday, comes
Sunday when the selections come out.All this could change. There's so many
different things that can throw this off. But I yeah it's gonna be if
Alabama does be Georgia and it willget crazy again. I don't think that's
(26:55):
gonna happen. So recapping my officialprediction for the games this weekend, and
Oregon beats Washington State and covers coversthe nine and a half, Texas beats
Oklahoma, not sure on the cover, pretty big, numbered fifteen. Georgia
beats and covers against BAM and minusfive. Love that pick. Florida State,
I'll say squeaks by Louisville. Iwill go Florida States sweep by Louisville,
(27:17):
get the undefeated season. Michigan beatsI will give me Iowa with the
points of twenty one and a half. That would give you your four teams
in Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, and Oregon. I think that's your
college football playoff. And really Ican see Florida State's the one team I
struggle to see being able to winthe title, especially without Jordan Travis.
(27:37):
I could easily see those three teamsthe other three winning that championship. I
think Georgia versus Oregon would be anelite game, I really do. I
think that would be absolutely electric.So a lot of great football to come
this weekend. Enjoy it, especiallystarting a night with Oregon and Washington.
That's gonna be a great matchup,I do think so. I think Oregon
might try to show off their dominanceand you can really see, hey in
(28:00):
their finale season, does the PACtwelve have someone that can actually win the
National Championship. I think it wouldbe PAC twelve's first title since those USC
teams the Matt Lioner and Reggie BushShow. So lot going on. We
are coming up on another break point, so I am going to take one
last break. We're on go throughNFL coming up after this with we'llft some
NFL Picture of the weekend. Iwant to talk about the zach Ertz news
(28:21):
with him being released from Arizona andsome AFC NFC wildcard picture I want to
dive into as well. So wegot a lot going on and we'll be
right back on balls, bats andbets. Right after this the Gambling,
Philly's home for all things sports gamblingfinal segment time on this beautiful Friday afternoon
(28:42):
that night. I guess I shouldsay leading into the weekend, we've already
covered a lot of football. We'vedone Eagles forty nine ers, We've done
college football playoff. Now I wantto take a quick detour diving into the
Big Five Classic that's happening tomorrow.So for those of you who are unaware,
(29:03):
pig A five college basketball this yeardoing a little bit differently one just
full out including Drexel. Now likeDrexel's in, which is good. I
mean, it doesn't make sense tokeep them out. Drexel is off D
one Philly basketball school. They're justas you know, i'll call it distinguished
as a LaSalle, Penn Saint Joseover the last twenty years. Really even
(29:26):
Temple they're they're pretty close to that. Like it's not there's not a drastic
drop off. So good to includethem. But what the what they did
this year for the Big for theBig Five, which is now really six
teams, is they had two threeteam pods that all played each other.
This is a already done the twopods were Saint Jo's Penn and Villan Nova,
(29:49):
and then that makes the other podDrexel, Lasal and Temple where all
those three teams played each other intheir pods and there would be a winner
from each group. Now, itwas very interesting. Saint Jose comes out
on top beats Nova on wasam forthose of you who don't know. Again,
I love Nova. I got myMBA there and I obviously here at
(30:14):
the station. We have very closeties to Nova, which is great program,
great team. I am. Iwent to undergrad at Saint Jose,
so I was rooting Saint Joe's reallyproud of them. Big win, especially
after Nova had a great battle forAtlantis which we all saw they were on
fire. But then Saint Jose doesget the win there, which Mahawks got
one done. They then move oninto the title game and they'll face Temple,
(30:37):
who went undefeated on their side.Now the Big Five Championship, they're
doing it at the Wells Fargo Center. It's tomorrow starting it. I think
it's noon or maybe it's one,and there's three games, so the last
place team in each one second placeand then the championship is the last game.
And I actually really liked the concept. I know it's not the traditional
Big Five setup, but where you'renot gonna play each team, which I
(31:00):
do get that frustration. That beingsaid, I think it is fun to
have an actual, like official champion, right Like it's good like to be
able to officially say you have it. Where's the other us? You might
have a tie for the title,NA, not anymore, that's out of
the way. We have an officialWe will have an official champion, will
be Saint Jose or Temple. AndI think it's a fun I think it's
(31:22):
a fun concept. I hope itreally works out for him. The one
thing I'll say they messed up.I get there's more seats of the Wells
Fargar Center. I fully get thatthis should be at the Plusterra. There's
no doubt my mind, this shouldbe at the Plusture. I think everyone
knows that it's purely a money grabfor why it's not there. If this
is at the PLESTI man, I'dbe there all day. I'd be exciting.
Now in the fact that it's upagainst college football play championship games for
(31:44):
the conferences, yeah, tough schedulingthere. I'm probably I will have it
on on the side tea. Iwill have it on one of the TVs
for sure. I'm gonna watch tryto watch all those Big Five games.
And again, I want to supportthe concept, love the Big Five,
love college basketball here in Philly,but the uh, the thein going up
against conference championships is a little bitof a tough timing. So we'll see
how that goes. But huge game, huge chance for my Saint Choshawks to
(32:07):
get the first Big Five Classic win, which would be really a great thing.
Dubbing jumping excuse me, wow,sorry, And ending this Friday night
with a couple of twists and turnsNFL AFC and NFC Wildcard Races's let's start
with the AFC, because I thinkit's slightly more interesting the AFC where you
(32:30):
have such a i'll call it aclear cut top four. Those top four
and not in any particular or thisis just the way the standing some of
them officially listeners right now. ButRavens, Chiefs, Jags, Dolphins,
all of them eight and three arebetter with the Ravens. All of them
are eight and three except the Ravens, who are nine and three. They've
played an extra game. Those arethe clear top four teams right now.
(32:52):
I think it's pretty obvious. There'smuch of a debate there. Then you
get into the wild cards and it'swow, you fall the lift. The
five seed right now in the AFCis the Pittsburgh Steelers, the six seeds
of Cleveland Browns. Their quarterbacks areKenny Pickett, who has struggled, like
just just notub about. Kenny Picketthas not been good, like he just
(33:13):
hasn't shown it. I think he'sgoing to be probably replaced, maybe if
they make the playoffs this year,maybe he gets one more season, but
he's hasn't shown that he could bethe guy. He just hasn't. And
then the Browns, who's now withSean Watson injury and other factors, might
have Joe Flacco starting this weekend.They let that rattle around your head for
a single. They might have JoeFlacco, who, of course is elite.
(33:36):
We've all know Joe Flacco is elite. Just joking back to when we
had everyone had those shirts. Butthat's insane. Those are your five and
six at seven and four, andthen you have three teams at seven and
six and five excuse me bowing forthe last slot. With the Colts officially
holding it right now, and thenthe Texans and Broncos also at six and
(33:57):
five. Is it crazy that Ithink the Colts of the team I trust
the most out of those three.I'm shocked. I'm saying the Texans have
been a fun story, and they'vebeen and c J. Stroud has been
a fantastic I do feel like there'ssomething with the floor about to drop out
from under them. I don't knowwhy I feel that, but I just
kind of do. I feel likeI feel like I trust the Colts more
(34:22):
with gard It's not that I trustGardner more like, please don't take that
away. C J. Stroud's waybetter than Gardner. But it's just everything's
been going too smooth for the Texans, and as season that they didn't have
many high expectations, I think theyfall off a little bit. The Broncos.
I don't know what to make theBroncos. They've been hot obviously,
starting off I think was like zeroand three, and then maybe one and
(34:42):
five and now six and five,like they have been absolutely fantastic, winning
yeah, winning five straight, granta lot of close games in there,
but are coming off of a veryconvincing win over the Browns and a huge
game this weekend with Broncos Texans forwhat it means for that playoff. Obviously
winner will have the tiebreaker over theother, so it's not just being down
(35:04):
a game after this, it's you'rereally down two because you'll have to get
over the tiebreaker. Really interesting theBills coming in there, sitting at six
and six, the Bill schedule,I know everyone's gonna want to talk themselves
into all the Bills or the Billsthey'll find a way to the playoffs.
Listen to the Bills next five gamesat Chiefs home versus Cowboys, at Chargers
versus Patriots, at Dolphins, Chargers, Patriots. They should be wins.
(35:27):
Again, the Bills have not beendominant this season, so there's not any
really guarantees. They're six and six, Chiefs and Cowboys. The way everyone's
playing right now, those should belosses, and really so should the Dolphins.
The only thing is with the Dolphinsthey might be sitting people at that
point is that the Bills saving grace. If the Bills can get to nine
and eight, can they make theplayoffs? Nine and eight might get it
done. It might They would haveto win those last three or you know,
(35:50):
sneak one from a Kansas City orDallas, which they could. I'm
not counting the Bills out quite yet, but it's a tough road, especially
when that's battling for the line spot. When if I look at the Colts,
listen to Colts schedule, they gotsix games left at Titans, Titans
are bad, They're not a goodteam this year. At Bengals now without
Joe Burrow versus the Steelers, Steelersare ahead of them, but I'm not
(36:14):
scared of the Steelers, right They'reright behind them at Falcons. Not scared
of the Falcons. Home versus Raiders, and then home versus Texans. That's
that's not a difficult schedule that thatcould be a fun last game for who
gets in Colts or Texans. Thatcould be a good last regular season game.
But that being said, there's it'sgonna be a very interesting weekend.
(36:37):
They're not weekend rest of the regularseason coming out in this AFC playoff picture.
My official gut, I say Steelers, I think get in. I
think the Browns you could see falloff. So all right, let's pick
the wildcard teams. I think thedivision winners all hold. I'll say that
right now. I think Ravens,Chiefs, Jags, Dolphins all hold.
I think they're gonna stay. Wildcards, Steelers be one of them. I'm
(37:00):
giving the Colts another one. Man, it does get tough. I am
tempted to put the Bills in there, but I think it's I think it's
the Broncos. I think it's theBroncos, guys, I really do this.
In the Broncos schedule, Texans areat Texans, at Chargers, at
Lions first Patriots first, Chargers wereat Raiders. That's a pretty easy schedule.
(37:24):
All right, those will be mythree. We'll go Steelers, Colts,
Broncos make the playoffs, leaving theBrowns, Texans, and Bills on
the outside looking in. Wild It'sgot a lot of mess there at the
bottom. Again, I don't thinkany of those teams have really shot at
Super Bowl, but making the playoffsis a big deal. Next up in
the NFC also a little well,not nearly as top heavy OSSI in my
(37:47):
opinion, Eagles ten and one,San Fran eight and three, Lions were
eight and three, Dallas nine andthree. Those are your best four teams
now, Grant they're now the divisionleaders like they are on the other side,
Dallas two games or one and ahalf games, I guess t lead
back of the Birds at the moment. Other team now once we get after
that, the NFC South is thegarbage division, right So five and six
(38:08):
Falcons leading the division tied with theSaints, Bucks right on their tails at
four and seven. I think it'spossible that two of those teams make it.
It is which is wild my officialgut, I think the Saints take
that division. The Saints have beenso frustrating this year, but I do
think the Saints find a way toget there. I think they're the most
(38:30):
stable core of a team, relativelyeasy scheduled down the stretch. Lions this
week is tough, but then theygot Panthers, Giants, Rams, Bucks,
Falcons. It's not that difficult afterthis weekend. I think they could
be a surprise win this weekend,honestly coming out of New Orleans in favor
of the Saints. So let's go. Let's assume that the Saints get that
(38:51):
spot next. If I dive overthe other teams competing, Dallas is gonna
be a wildcard, no doubt,unless they win the division, which obviously
I hope doesn't happen. But thenit's the Eagles of the wildcard right one
wildcard slot, whoever is second inthe NFC East. After that, Which
of these teams do you trust that'sserious? Which of these teams do you
trust? I'll include the Falcons inhere, because if I say the Satsman
in division, Falcons be in this. Vikings, Seahawks, Packers, Rams,
(39:16):
Bucks, I mean, and nownow we're getting pretty ugly. Two
of those teams are gonna make theplayoffs. The Seahawks, I guess,
are the best of the bunch inmy opinion. They showed up pretty well
last night and Thursday and football inDallas. They have a little bit of
a tough schedule though, coming downthe stretch. Not that I mean at
(39:37):
forty nine Ers home versus the Eaglesat the Titans, versus Steelers at Cardinals.
I mean, it gets a littlebit easier, but it's not an
easy schedule by any means. Honestly, it shapes up pretty well for me
where I think the Rams could makethe playoffs. Listen to the Rams schedule
down the stretch. Here you gotHome versus the Browns at Ravens tough Washington
(40:00):
home versus Saints at Giants at fortynine ers when they forty nine ers might
be sitting people. I think itshapes up pretty well for the Rams to
make the playoffs. I trust MatthewStafford as a quarterback. Sean McVay is
still one of the best coaches inthe league in my opinion, and they
have Aaron donmalon defense. It's toughto argue with them. I think they
have a good case. I actuallyend up trusting them. Packers I don't
(40:20):
fully trust, but Packers and Vikings. One of them will make it.
I will lean slightly towards the Vikings, but it's it's ugly either way,
it really is. Vikings do havetwo games left with the Lions, so
they're thinking, hey, we havea shot of the division. I think
it's more, Oh, you know, you gotta split those just to make
in order to make sure that youcan make it. Packers' schedule easy down
(40:42):
the stretch. Actually, now,as we look at it, Chiefs this
week, but then Giants, Bucks, Panthers, Vikings, Bears. Yeah,
no, that's pretty easy. Imight actually let me recant that we're
gonna go with the Packers in there, so official NFC prediction division winners Eagles,
forty nine, Ers, Lions,and I'm must say the Saints,
Wildcards, Cowboys. I'm going tothen go with the Seahawks and the Rams.
(41:08):
Actually know what let me ba,I want the Rams Rams are getting
in. Put the Rams in thesix and then, oh man, I
forgot we gotta factor in three teams, don't we? All Right, it's
got I will I'm gonna go withthe Packers based on that schedule, I'm
gonna go with the Packers. Crazycrazy NFC and really both legs. It
(41:29):
shows that there is some parody atleast in the middle, but team's battling
it out, so hey watch out. Obviously a lot can change each week
with this, but is a prettycrazy AFC and NFC wildcard race. As
we're going on last topic, Iwant to jump into night zach Ertz obviously
recently released by the Arizona Cardinals kindof at his request. I would love
(41:52):
to see him back. I'm juststump ready to do. I would obviously
love to see zach Ertz back inan Eagles uniform. There's nothing I'd love
to see more. I think it'sa kind of a fitting potentially into his
career. I don't think he's retiringnecessarily, but if he has come back
and be the second tight end behindDallas Goddard, I think it makes sense
that I would love to see it. But if zach was trying to make
(42:13):
a big contract get a little money, We're not the place for him.
I say this sadly. We're notthe place. The place to go would
be Baltimore. Baltimore is built aroundthe tight end ort and Mark Andrews,
who is out for what is verylikely the season. If zach Ertz is
trying to show that he can stillplay and put up some numbers to get
a little bit of money in theoff season, it's absolutely his move should
(42:37):
be going to Baltimore and try tobe the mimic zach Ertz, or sorry,
the mimic Mark Andrews for a littlebit and just get paid in the
off season. I hope that he'smade enough money in his career and just
wants to come back to Philly andrun it back one more time. And
I think there's a very strong chancezach Ertz one time. Now, Grant,
it's not all up to him.You can get he's getting claimed on
waivers. Let's check the latest stormware. Zach Ertz is out here on
(43:00):
Twitter right now. Yeah, no, nothing new yet, it's still just
the release, but we shall see. I hope he comes other teams.
I'm seeing the Steelers could potentially beinterested in him, but we all know
that Philly wants zach Ertz and hopefullyzach Ertz wants Philly and the Stars aligned.
(43:21):
So we'll hope for that one.And I think he would honestly fill
a big need on this team.Even when God It's back, the second
tight end can have a huge impactin this offense. We've seen it before,
and by having a weapon like Ertzthat knows at least knows it a
little bit. I know it's adifferent system, it's not Doug Peterson anymore,
but he knows a lot of theplayers. He'll blend in pretty quick.
I trust zach Ertz to come inhere and make an impact. That'll
(43:43):
do it for us here on Balls, Bats and Bets. Thank you as
always for tuning in, Stay tunedall the time to Fox Sports The Gambler
look out for the events. Wehad an awesome one last night at Maggie's
on the waterfront, great getting togetherwith the guys and just so much fun.
Eagles tickets were drawing in one forI think it was the jan seventh
game, and it was fantastic.So keep your eye out, Listen to
(44:04):
Sean, listen to John, listento all those great guys, and we'll
be back next week on Ball's Betsand Bets Talk to you soon. Spreads,
totals and all the prop that's inbetween. It's the Gambler.
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