September 20, 2025 • 26 mins
Ryan "BEEF" Coyle and Nick McClay talk College Football Week 4 and the biggest surprises through two weeks of the NFL season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Number one on your car radio preset hand, the new
and improved Diehard Radio, WDAYES and WD two seven three
D Philadelphia Ice, Fox Sports Radio The Gambler, All Right,
bringing on in football is king here on Fox Sports
The Gambler, your weekly show, Ryan Coyle and Nick McLay
(00:21):
streaming this week on Tuesday night.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Most likely we'll hear this on the air Wednesday afternoon
Wednesday evening. But a little dose of college, a little
dose of NFL all under thirty minutes, Nick, we got
three college games that I really want to dive into
this week. Texas Tech Utah, the first kind of big
Big twelve matchup of the season, Auburn Oklahoma, A lot
of storylines in that one in the SEC. And then
(00:44):
go to the nightcap with nine Illinois versus number nineteen Indiana.
Two historical basketball programs were starting to make some waves
in the football world. So got some really nice college
games to touch on, and then also get over to
the NFL. We're two weeks in, let's talk about some
of the biggest surprises in a positive way a negative way.
And then we got a big time match up here
in Philly with the Eagles and Rams. Between two two
(01:05):
and no squads and arguably you know, two of the
two of, if not the two best teams in the
entire NFC.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
So pretty loaded show here thirty minutes or.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Less every single week on the Gambler, Nick, welcome back,
and how are.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
We Yeah, I mean we got a lot of touch on.
I mean every single week we're gonna have a lot
to touch on. But I mean bunch of college storylines,
a bunch of you know, surprises, maybe upsets, stuff like
that we can talk about coming into this weekend from
the past weekend. Stuff that's happening in the NFL as well,
you know, team surprise, teams that we really haven't expected.
I mean, you know, with college football, we can I
(01:38):
mean Arch is arch a bad football player from what
we've seen. That's a storyline to talk about. And with
South Caroline and Leonora Sellers losing him losing the Vanderbilt,
how does that shape up that you know, top of
the SEC. And you know for USF it was a
fun start for them, go down to Miami get dismantled.
We were one of Miami's biggest hitters. Honestly, Yeah, they're
(02:00):
really proving us wrong right now. I think I was
one of Carson Beck's biggest hater right now, and he
looks like kind of a heis mcalliber quarterback right now.
So I mean there's a lot to touch on, a
lot to you know, talk about, and I'm sure we'll
touch on it all. Can't wait to get to it though.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Yeah. I want to start in the Big Twelve with
this Texas Tech in Utah game. And I'll be quite honest,
I haven't watched I don't think a snap of Texas
Tech this year, but that's because they played Arkansas, phind Bluff,
Kent State in Oregon State.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
They haven't had an opponent yet, but.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
They're rolling in three games, and they had one of
the biggest transfer portal classes. I think even the most
expensive transfer portal classes. Was a program that had an
infusion of nil money and they fend it well. But
now here we go kind of their first real tests
of the season. When you look at their schedule the
rest of the way, Utah, the game that the matchup
this week, is the only ranked opponent currently on their
(02:49):
schedule for the rest of the season. Now that could change.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Arizona State could certainly get back in the mix, but other.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Than that they have a pretty easy schedule, so if
they do find a way to go to Utah pull
off an upset, this could be a team that's going
ten and two, eleven and one potentially looking at their
schedule the rest of the way. But as I said,
this is their first big test and then interesting spot
here too. Fox chose this game for the Big new
kickoff game is out in Salt Lake City, Utah. So
we said ten am body clock kick against Utah Squad,
(03:16):
that is my pick to win the Big Twelve.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
But so far their.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Wins are over UCLA, who we just saw lose by
twenty five points to New Mexico, Cal Poly and Wyoming,
So really the first test for both of these teams.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Were your thoughts on this matchup?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Yeah, I mean this are two teams as of now
I think odds wise d DraftKings are to win the
Big Twelve. The top two teams Utah at plus three seventy,
Texas Tech right behind him at plus three ninety and
two teams in the top fourteen in total scoring, Texas
Tech being number one in the whole entire country and
scoring averaging fifty eight points. Obviously, you know, competition hasn't
been that good, but scoring over sixty points in the
(03:52):
first two games is pretty crazy. In Utah as well,
right behind them their fourteenth in the country and scoring
averaging just over forty five right now. But I mean,
like you said, Texas TCH really spent the off season
and it is paying off right now the first three weeks.
Obviously strength of schedule plays into that, but both teams
still putting up those numbers. Baron mooreton, quarterback at Texas Tech,
(04:13):
has played really well. Ninth in the country in passing
yards nine hundred and twenty three and tied first in
the country in passing touchdowns with eleven and only throwing
one pick, So that race is great right there, exactly
what you want out of your quarterback from Texas Tech
and completion percentage of seventy percent. But one thing with
him is home passing grade is eighty and with him
(04:33):
on the road drops all the way down to fifty nine,
so I mean he's a completely different player on the road.
On the other side, Devin Dan Pierre and Jason Beck
have been everything that you tah can really hope for.
Six hundred and twenty six passing yards, seven passing touchdowns,
no interceptions, completent percentage of seventy three percent, along with
adding to the wrong game leading Utah in rushing yards
(04:54):
with one hundred ninety eight and a touchdown. So he's
a dual threat, can do it in many ways. And
both these quarterbacks are connect with each other in Heisman nods,
Devin dan Pierre being at plus two thousand, Barren mooreton
Ne plus twenty two thousand, five hundred, so you know,
and also on the flip side of both these balls,
both defenses have been dominant, Utah allowing eight points a game,
(05:14):
Texas Tech allowing eleven. Again, strength schedule plays into that,
but I still think you know that that plays a factor.
You've got to go out there still stop them. In
this one. I'm still going to go Utah home team.
I think since the College Football playoffir Utah is fifty
two and sixteen at home, so I'm going to roll
with that trend. Kyle winning him is one of the
best coaches at home, especially as a favorite, So I'm
(05:36):
going to go Utah on this one. Thirty one twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, Utah has to be hating the Fox executives, so
for making this game at noon. Typically a Utah game
at night, you can automatically chuck.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
That one up to a win.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
So I definitely think that kind of plays at a
hand in this game. Three and a half is kind
of a weird number there because I could see this
game coming down to the end.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
So I do like Utah to win.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
This one at home, win it outright, give me Texas
Tech to cover the plus three and a half there.
I think if this is a night game, it's potentially
a different story because that's one of the more intimidating
nighttime atmospheres and all of college football.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
But goes back to kind of just what I said at.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
The beginning, where this is the first real major test
for about these teams. Like looking at Utah Ucla, you thought, okay,
maybe that could have been a close game that was
only a five and a half point spread, and we
saw what Ucla.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Is right now. So first major test for both these teams.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I think when we look up in a few months,
this could be potentially the Big twelve title game if
all shakes right. But you got to give Utah the
benefit of the doubt to get the win at home.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But I do think Texas Tech covers that plus three
and a half.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
But excited to really sit down and watch this one
because two teams that they played in for your opponents
so far haven't got a full look at them.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Excited to see what we can get because.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
I think as of right now, sitting here on September sixteenth,
these are your top two dogs in the Big twelve.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
So give me you tell to win, but Texas Tech
to cover there.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Yeah, and this one I like if you think of
the matchups here. Obviously, both quarterbacks are going to be good,
but this one. Utah has one of the best offensive
line in the country and Texas Tech is one of
the best defensive lines in the country. So as explosive
as those quarterbacks are, this is going to be a
battle in the trenches as well.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, it should be a good one.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
A lot of pro prospects on both sides of the
ball in this game, so looking forward to that.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I think this game could have a lot of drama.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Some fights in it, a lot of passion in this one.
Matchup in the SEC between two coaches at end of
the year on the hot seat, but they both start
out impressive, going three and oh out of the gate.
That number twenty two Auburn with Hugh Freeze going to Norman,
Oklahoma to play the eleventh thranks Sooners, led by Brett
Venables also three and oh Sooners are three and a
half or excuse me, six and a half point favorite
here at home. Forty eight and a half is the
(07:40):
total to your three point thirty kick on ABC. John
Mattierre has looked pretty awesome since coming into his own
at Oklahoma. Jackson Arnold, who I've nicknamed Johnny Arnold, I
think has kind of revised his career here at Auburn
after a really down year last year at Oklahoma. Oklahoma
basically kind of kicks him out the door and now
he has a chance for actually for revenge.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Do you think Jackson aren't on and the Auburn Tigers
can go to Norman and get the outright win this week?
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Yeah? I mean, like you said, that huge storyline with
Jackson coming into his former school in Oklahoma where things
didn't really work out well, it didn't produce at the
level that he was kind of expected to there even
was bench for a time there, So there's gonna be
fire for him to get that revenge there. And on
the flip you get John Mattier, who has looked like
one of the best quarterbacks in the country so far,
currently the odds favorite right now in the Heisman at
(08:27):
plus eight hundred, seventh in the country in passing yards
nine hundred and forty four and puts up numbers with
his legs one hundred and sixty one four touchdowns on
the ground, And for both these teams, I think a
win here is going to be huge momentu for the
rest just because of the schedule. Both these teams face
Auburn has to go to A and M, then they
face Georgia, Missouri, go to Arkansas, go to Vanderbilt, and
(08:50):
then face Alabama. Oklahoma has to play Texas, go to
South Carolina, Ole, miss at Tennessee, at Alabama, Missouri LSU.
So huge moment for whoever wins going into a gauntlet
of the schedule. Really interested to see how Jackson can
really handle the Oklahoma defense and the pressure that Brett's
gonna put on him. He knows that quarterback, he knows
(09:10):
him well. He's a different quarterback when he faces the
blitz too. He's at eighty eight point eight passing grade
when facing When not facing the blitz, and his sixty
passing grade when facing the Blitz, so I'm expecting Oklahoma
to come add him. Brenton really knows two gum at him.
He knows that quarterback. So in this one, I think
I'm gonna go home team Oklahoma in the six and
a half. I don't that's a little too much for me.
(09:31):
I think Auburn kind of covers that. I know Auburn
has a great wide receiver group, so if they do
send a lot of pressure, it's gonna leave a lot
of man coverage downfield that could, you know, open up
the field for Jackson Orld. So I think Auburn does
cover by giving Oklahoma at home in this one.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Yeah, I love Auburn to cover in this one the
six and a half.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
It reminds me a lot of last week with Notre
Dame in Texas A and M, where I could certainly
see this game going either way. We saw Texas A
and M pull off the outright upset in South Bend
last week, but I loved to cover.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I did think Notre Dame would eventually get to win
at home.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
But Notre Dame or the A and M finds a
way to cover, I definitely can see Alburn going to
Oklahoma and covering here. Like last week short an impressive
win over Temple forty two to three the week before Michigan,
I think Michigan's probably like a seven to five eight
and four team.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
How great of a win really is that?
Speaker 2 (10:17):
I think this is Alburn's probably biggest or excuse me,
Oklahoma's biggest tests so far.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Auburn's biggest test so far too.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Like Baylor was an impressive Week one win, but we've
seen what Baylor's defense has looked like in your early going.
This is by far the best defense Auburn has played
so far, and a big test here for Jackson Arnold.
He gets a chance, though, to be the story of
college football this week. I said it last week and
it almost came true that Joey Aguilar could have left
the week being potentially like the Heisman favorite, potentially being
the story in college football Jackson Arland.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I'm not gonna say it's gonna be the heist been
favorite after this week.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
But if he goes to Oklahoma, he puts on a show,
and we've seen him use his legs that tough, that'll
be something interesting to see if Oklahoma can can contain
that Jackson Arnold could leave this this game being like
Oklahoma should never let me excuse me, never let me walk,
never let me leave, never let.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Me go out that door.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
And now I'm the top dog right now in the
SEC at the quarterback spot. Because the guys that we
said we're gonna be the top dog going into the year,
whether it was ARGs, whether it's DJ Lagway, even Nusbayer,
has it looked great. You're kind of looking more so
at the Metier and Arnold right now, I think as
maybe the best quarterbacks so far in the SEC and
Diego Pavia. So Jackson Arnold has a case this week
to make himself as kind of the best quarterbacks thus
(11:24):
far through four games in the country in the SEC.
I think he's gonna go out there and prove it
this week. I'm actually gonave Auburn to win this one
on the road. Don't think Oklahoma is the most intimidating
kind of environment. Auburn walks in there and it puts
like the colleg football world and knownice to give me
an upset there. All right, final college game of the
week before transitioning over to the NFL for.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
The second half of the episode touched on at the beginning.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
But a basketball matchup, this looks like the Big Ten
final in Indianapolis in March. You got number nine Illinois
at three and out traveling to Indiana who's also three
and out.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Indiana is five.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
And a half point free here at home, the nineteenth
ranked team in the country seven thirty kick on NBC
Nick Illinois.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Do they have the ability to go to Bloomington and
pull off the subset?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
I think they do, and I looked at both these
quarterback stats. They're coming in with pretty identical stat lines
from a passing perspective. Luke al Altmayer fifty six completions
on seventy eight attempts seventy one percent, seven hundred and
nine passing yards, eight touchdowns known exceptions. Fernando Mendoza fifty
five completions on seventy six attempts, which is seventy two percent,
(12:30):
one percent better, seven hundred and eight yards one yard less,
nine touchdowns, one touchdown more and same no peck. So
pretty identical stat lines and other than the Big three
in Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State, these two teams
are right behind them in the Big Ten to fight
for that playoff spot. So whoever wins this game big
huge confidence boost momentum to make that playoff push. And
(12:51):
one thing that I'm looking for in this matchup is
Illinois is one of the most aggressive defenses in power
For Illinois, blitz is at the highest rate in power
or four over sixty percent. And one thing about Mendoza,
he's not the best quarterback when getting blitz. Passing grade
of seventy five when getting blitz compared to ninety one
when he isn't so. And also on the defensive backside
(13:12):
of the ball, Illinois runs man's defense six high race
highest rate in the country. When Mendoza faces man coverage,
passing grade is fifty three. When facing zone jumps up
to a ninety four. So I think Illinois knows how
to attack this Indiana passing game and Mendoza is going
to have to be decisive get the ball out quick.
And on the other side, Indiana's defense is the complete opposite,
(13:33):
like they like to sit down, play zone, let everything
stay in front of him. And I think because Luke
Altmeyer's that experienced player, a lot of snaps under his
belt seen at all when it comes to college defenses,
I think going to be a low scoring, total, brutal, gritty,
Big ten type of game. I want to go Illinois
twenty one Indiana seventeen, heavy, lean to the under in
this one.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, I love your note about Illinois and the ability
to bring pressure on defense, because I really think this
game is going to come down to which quarterback makes
the mistake late. I think both of them very good quarterbacks,
very experienced quarterback Altemyer or Illinois Mendoza is really coming
into his own here at Indiana after transferring from cal
These are veteran quarterbacks that have seen a lot. I
(14:13):
really do think this one comes down to kind of
which one of these guys makes a critical mistake late.
Because Signetty, you know, he's not afraid to show some
emotion on the sideline. Brett Biloma, He's never been afraid
to really show some emotion on the sideline either. These
are two coaches that are very passionate about not turning
the football over, not hurting yourself, not shooting yourselves in
the foot. If you do, they're gonna let you know.
(14:33):
So which quarterback kind of makes that critical mistake late?
Because I could see Indiana bringing pressure right, we can
see Illinois bringing pressure like they have all season. Illinois,
I think, really turn it up in the second half
against Darian Mensa and that's where they kind of got
into some trouble.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Duke and Illinois was able to win that game.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
So who makes the big mistake late between Altemyer and
Fernanda Mendoz, I think is what this one really comes
down to.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
I do like Indiana to get the win at home.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
I think it's going to be a raucous environment there,
make an argument maybe the biggest home game kind of
in Indiana football history. So this is a huge moment
seven thirty primetime game. I'm gonna take them to win.
But still five and a half points here, that is
a lot of points to cover. I just want to
make sure because ESPN has it as IU minus fine
and a half Illinois or Indiana as minus five and
a half.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
Right, I saw DraftKings this morning at Indiana minus four
and a half.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
So still I just didn't want to be getting it
confused with IU for Illinois and.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
Saying Indiana Indiana is a favorite there.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
So yeah, well I'll go with Indiana to win, but
I will take Illinois to cover in that one.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
But a lot of eyes on the quarterback matchup, and
now I'm shopping fucked. All right, that's it for the
college kind of sleep. This week. We got a few
other really good games.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Michigan and Nebraska is a really solid one two lane
Ole Miss could be a potential upset alert. Florida and
Miami for some reason, got made the game day game.
I'm not interested that in that one after DJ Lagway
throwing five interceptions last week, but that'll still be a
lot of eyes on that one.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
But got ten minutes left for some NFL talk.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Through two weeks, Nick, we have the kin City Chiefs
at oh and two, the Eagles finding their way to
the two and oh start. The Packers looked really good
out of the gate at two and O. The Bears
have looked like a disaster so far oh and two.
Even the Texans oh and too. A lot of people
had them as a lock to win that FC South.
The Colts haven't punted yet this season in R two
and OHO, I guess, what's your biggest surprise in a
(16:25):
positive light.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
And then also your biggest surprise that give lights so far?
Speaker 4 (16:29):
I would say I don't know if it's surprises me
just with the two teams that they've played, but the
Chiefs starting out oh and two, I know what, I
forget the stat you said teams that start out oh
and two have a terrible percentage of going on and
making the playoffs. But you know, I did say before
the season, I think this is the year that Chiefs
don't win the division. But there's a lot of football
to be played. I think for me to be confident
in that take now again, I know they played the
(16:51):
Chargers and the Eagles, two good teams. I do think
this chief team will get on track once they get
everyone healthy Rashid Rice comes back from suspension. But starting
out O two is a tough look for a team
that has really been a dynasty the last couple of years.
And this isn't really what we're used to to seeing
with the Chiefs offense. Used to seeing more explosive, scary,
but really hasn't shown that much of a threat yet
with all the pieces missing right now. But overall, I
(17:13):
do have confidence that this team can bounce back and
compete in that division. Do you still think that they're
at the top of that division or at least can
compete by the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
I think they'll certainly be competing. But my kind of
take on.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
The Chiefs the past few years has been at least
like they're just the Patriots, where you can just circle
them into in the AFC East. I don't know if
that's the case this here, because you know the Broncos
they walk out of that one at one and one,
but they're still going to be in the mix.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
The Chargers have looked.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Really good out of the gate, and I think even
the Raiders look pretty good last week that it just
kind of goes to show you more I think about
the Chargers and how good they could be, because that
defensive line from clips I will see in this morning
stuff was destroying them up front.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
But the Chargers are a team that could certainly take
a leap.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
But the Chargers Malcolm Wood seem to always have an
unfortunate injury, and maybe they already got it out of
the way with Rayshawn's later. But I think the Chiefs
sold right the right the ship. But it's probably going
to be closer to like a ten and seven than
your usual thirteen and four, fourteen and three.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
In the mix there.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Yeah, I'm completely on the same page. I think I
had that in the beginning of the year two. I
think I still had them in the mix of, you know,
making that playoffs. It's hard to not say that the
serious team is going to miss the playoffs. But I
think they're looking at roster wise, they're not. They don't
look like the same team. And I know they're still
not you know, altogether yet, but just looking at them,
they look out. They look out of it. Travis Kelce
(18:31):
doesn't look into it right now. I mean, and all
the all this everyone talking about the Toush push, the
Tushwest did not win us that game. Was we played,
we called it maybe five times. Travis Kelce dropped the
ball in the end zone for a touchdown that let
us take score points. You missed a field goal, Like,
I don't understand why us calling a Toush push five
times automatically makes us win us that game. So, you know,
(18:52):
social media could go back and forth with this Eagles
and Chiefs. I just go out there and win the game.
Show me why why you're the better team, and then
we'll be able to have that conversation.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Yeah, the discourse around that is just a conversation. I
don't feel like he can have it anymore, just too
it's too irrelevant for me at this stage. But one
other kind of side topic I want to touch on,
and this is becoming like a recurring theme now year
after year. Joe Burrow is injured again. Sounds like he
won't be back till December, and you have to assume
(19:23):
if the Bengals are out of the mix by the
time he's healthy, they're just going to sit him out
the rest of you. But I saw like a side
by side graphic today alongside Andrew Luck in his career
and the injuries that he had, the amount of hits
he had, the amount of times he was sacked. Do
you think there's any possible way that Joe Burrow is
kind of following that Andrew Luck career path and might
not be able to withstand these beatings much longer. Or
do you think he's a guy that's gonna, you know,
(19:45):
just continue to play no matter the damage.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
I think he's more leaning towards he's gonna play no
matter what the damage is with the talent that he
has and the success that he's had, and he's just
gonna want to keep reaching that success. I just he's
too good of a player I think. I know, obviously
Andrew Leck was right up there too. I just think
and he's got Jamar Chase throwing him. He's got good weapons.
It's just they got to get some people up front
to protect him. I understand that. You know, it's not
(20:10):
that easy, but these your star quarterback. You have two
good receivers on the outside. You have one of the
best receiver in the league, a great wide receiver too,
and t Higgins. You have to get the upfront to
protect your guy. It doesn't make any sense why you know,
you draft him obviously, ever, you should have only worked
on your offensive line since then, in my opinion, and
(20:31):
they really haven't. So but I still think that he'll
be able to come back. I don't know, you know, obviously,
three months is a long time and anything can happen
with that Bengals team. Who knows if he even does
come back. But I think by the time this time
next year, I think he'll be all right. Hopefully they
get some more pieces on that offensive line to protect
them and be able to you know, setting that Bengals
(20:52):
team up for success because that you know, defense is
going to give a point, so that offense needs to stay.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Off all right, speaking of quarterbacks, have taken a beating
over their career, but I think have actually had a
better second half of.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
The career maybe or like last few years, won a
Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Matt Stafford and the Rams, I think not gonna say
his career is dead in Detroit. He always put up
numbers when when he had Megatron, and he's going to
be one of probably the five most passing yards ever
in NFL history. Have to check his exact numbers, but
definitely top ten. He easily in this Rams team to
a two and oh start. They were the team that
(21:28):
was closest to defeating the Philadelphia Eagles last year in
the in the NFL Playoffs, had the Eagles on the
rope ropes there at the end. They come to Philadelphia
this week for a matchup between two two and oho
teams could be a preview potentially of a NFC playoff
game NFC Championship game down the line.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Eagles are a three and a half point favorite here
at home.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
There's concerns over the passing attack yet again here early
on in the season.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
What are your thoughts on this matchup?
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Do the Rams have a legit chance to pull off
this this outright winn at home? Or are you kind
of just at the stage week where it's you know,
the Eagles are home.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
The Eagles still have Jalen Hurts.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
When Jalen Hurts plays quarterback, that they seem to find
a way to win every game.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Yeah, I think I'm on that, but I you know,
I know this Eagles offense has look really shaky to start,
but they're two and ozero and that's really all you
can ask or he just continues to find ways to
win even if it looks ugly. You know, I know
he he hasn't really passed well, but he hasn't turned
the ball over. He's used his legs when he's needed to.
He's done exactly what you ask for when you know
when the chief splitz at the highest trike that they've
(22:29):
ever rushed in a Spags defensive system. So he got
the ball out quick, he didn't turn the ball over.
That's exactly what you ask for when you're getting blitz.
I know, you know, in this matchup with the Rams,
I think I'm gonna go with the Birds in this one.
Obviously we're at home. The spread. I don't like three
and a half. I don't like that half, So I
think I'd rather lean the money line and maybe parlay
(22:49):
it with like a Jalen Hurts touchdown right now, I
think I'm seeing it at minus one thirty, so I
think i'd go it Hurts touchdown in an Eagles money
line right now if I'm going to it.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Not Saquon he had probably yeah as well, logan as
this tweet right here, sixty touches last year, five hundred
and thirty five total or five hundred and thirty four
total yards and four touchdowns in two games against the.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Rams last year. Yeah, he clearly eats against them, so
that's obviously a safe pick too. I think I saw
him at like minus one sixty though, so juiced up too.
But I think you know, either of those picks combined
with the Eagles money line, I think that would happen
to that.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
What is the one avenue that you could see to
the Rams actually going in there and pulling off the upset,
because it felt like last year wasn't really close until
the end, Like Saquon when he had that long touchdout run,
I think there was like four to thirty left in
the game. Like it's kind of head scratching how they
even got there. But in a situation where if they
do find a way to slow him down and the
passing game is still not clicking, which it seems it
(23:48):
hasn't so far. I'm not sure if it's getting used
to the new offensive coordinator, but if we remember last year,
even through the kind kind of the first four games,
it took time to get going as well. What's the
avenue that you can see as an upset Kaseean mc
as an underdog. I pulled this stat up today as
in a way underdog. They're only eleven and twenty one
straight up, so he's only won thirty four percent of
these games and being a three and a half point
(24:09):
dog in Philly on Sunday, that fits that trend there.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Yeah, I think they're gonna have to make the Eagles
throw the ball. They we haven't been able to really
have success throwing the ball. They're gonna have to make
us throw the ball. We're gonna have to, you know,
run Saquon to the dirt like we have been and
if they can stop Saquon, we're gonna have to use
Jalen and if our defense can hold up how we've
been holding up, I think we can do it. I
love the way our defense has looked, but you know,
Puka and Devonte Adams are gonna be a tough matchup
(24:34):
on the outside. Stafford, I think I saw you tweet
a clip of one of his all twenty two throws.
His All twenty two is one of the craziest things
that you'll ever see throughout his whole entire career in
Matthew Stafford with the you know, he looks like there's
nothing there and he just makes his side arm angle
throw right on the money. So we're gonna have to
contain him. We're gonna have to get after him if
we can get him sacked. Obviously. You know that's a
(24:56):
cliche saying if we can get to the quarterback, we're
gonna have success, but that really years. We can't let
Pooker run around. We can't get let DeVante run around either.
So I think we get to the quarterback, we and
get the matt Safford, we're going to be able to
have success and be able to win this game at home.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yeah, I'm a little worried about the past defense early on.
I feel like last week Thornton had a wide open
touchdown or the homes and ever thrown and then he
did wind up getting him back later. CD had a
couple opportunities deep deep part of the secondary. Yeah, the
deep part of the secondary has been a little bit
of a worry suthing and you definitely have your your
toughest matchup yet with Pooka and DeVante, so big test here.
(25:33):
I like the Eagles to win it, though being at home,
they travel to probably their their kryptonite next week, going
down to Tampa Bay feels like that is always a
recipe for a loss. So a big spot here to
get a win against a team you're probably gonna be
competing with for the one seed there in the NFCA.
Like them to win, but three and a half's a
lot of points there. I'll take the Rams to cover.
I guess it's being like a twenty four to twenty
(25:55):
one type of ball game.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Rams keep it in that within that three and a half.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
So I'll have to talk about as always excited to
get through these college game and then a big NFL Sunday.
But then we'll be back next week. So as always
for everyone, thank you for tuning in here on Fox Sports.
The Gambler keep it locked all week, for our videos,
for our podcast, for our live hits here on the radio,
and we'll talk to you guys next week.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Spreads total, so all the prop that's in between.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
It's the Gambler.
Number one on your car radio preset hand, the new
and improved Diehard Radio, WDAYES and WD two seven three
D Philadelphia Ice, Fox Sports Radio The Gambler, All Right,
bringing on in football is king here on Fox Sports
The Gambler, your weekly show, Ryan Coyle and Nick McLay
(00:21):
streaming this week on Tuesday night.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Most likely we'll hear this on the air Wednesday afternoon
Wednesday evening. But a little dose of college, a little
dose of NFL all under thirty minutes, Nick, we got
three college games that I really want to dive into
this week. Texas Tech Utah, the first kind of big
Big twelve matchup of the season, Auburn Oklahoma, A lot
of storylines in that one in the SEC. And then
(00:44):
go to the nightcap with nine Illinois versus number nineteen Indiana.
Two historical basketball programs were starting to make some waves
in the football world. So got some really nice college
games to touch on, and then also get over to
the NFL. We're two weeks in, let's talk about some
of the biggest surprises in a positive way a negative way.
And then we got a big time match up here
in Philly with the Eagles and Rams. Between two two
(01:05):
and no squads and arguably you know, two of the
two of, if not the two best teams in the
entire NFC.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
So pretty loaded show here thirty minutes or.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Less every single week on the Gambler, Nick, welcome back,
and how are.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
We Yeah, I mean we got a lot of touch on.
I mean every single week we're gonna have a lot
to touch on. But I mean bunch of college storylines,
a bunch of you know, surprises, maybe upsets, stuff like
that we can talk about coming into this weekend from
the past weekend. Stuff that's happening in the NFL as well,
you know, team surprise, teams that we really haven't expected.
I mean, you know, with college football, we can I
(01:38):
mean Arch is arch a bad football player from what
we've seen. That's a storyline to talk about. And with
South Caroline and Leonora Sellers losing him losing the Vanderbilt,
how does that shape up that you know, top of
the SEC. And you know for USF it was a
fun start for them, go down to Miami get dismantled.
We were one of Miami's biggest hitters. Honestly, Yeah, they're
(02:00):
really proving us wrong right now. I think I was
one of Carson Beck's biggest hater right now, and he
looks like kind of a heis mcalliber quarterback right now.
So I mean there's a lot to touch on, a
lot to you know, talk about, and I'm sure we'll
touch on it all. Can't wait to get to it though.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Yeah. I want to start in the Big Twelve with
this Texas Tech in Utah game. And I'll be quite honest,
I haven't watched I don't think a snap of Texas
Tech this year, but that's because they played Arkansas, phind Bluff,
Kent State in Oregon State.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
They haven't had an opponent yet, but.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
They're rolling in three games, and they had one of
the biggest transfer portal classes. I think even the most
expensive transfer portal classes. Was a program that had an
infusion of nil money and they fend it well. But
now here we go kind of their first real tests
of the season. When you look at their schedule the
rest of the way, Utah, the game that the matchup
this week, is the only ranked opponent currently on their
(02:49):
schedule for the rest of the season. Now that could change.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Arizona State could certainly get back in the mix, but other.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Than that they have a pretty easy schedule, so if
they do find a way to go to Utah pull
off an upset, this could be a team that's going
ten and two, eleven and one potentially looking at their
schedule the rest of the way. But as I said,
this is their first big test and then interesting spot
here too. Fox chose this game for the Big new
kickoff game is out in Salt Lake City, Utah. So
we said ten am body clock kick against Utah Squad,
(03:16):
that is my pick to win the Big Twelve.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
But so far their.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Wins are over UCLA, who we just saw lose by
twenty five points to New Mexico, Cal Poly and Wyoming,
So really the first test for both of these teams.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Were your thoughts on this matchup?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Yeah, I mean this are two teams as of now
I think odds wise d DraftKings are to win the
Big Twelve. The top two teams Utah at plus three seventy,
Texas Tech right behind him at plus three ninety and
two teams in the top fourteen in total scoring, Texas
Tech being number one in the whole entire country and
scoring averaging fifty eight points. Obviously, you know, competition hasn't
been that good, but scoring over sixty points in the
(03:52):
first two games is pretty crazy. In Utah as well,
right behind them their fourteenth in the country and scoring
averaging just over forty five right now. But I mean,
like you said, Texas TCH really spent the off season
and it is paying off right now the first three weeks.
Obviously strength of schedule plays into that, but both teams
still putting up those numbers. Baron mooreton, quarterback at Texas Tech,
(04:13):
has played really well. Ninth in the country in passing
yards nine hundred and twenty three and tied first in
the country in passing touchdowns with eleven and only throwing
one pick, So that race is great right there, exactly
what you want out of your quarterback from Texas Tech
and completion percentage of seventy percent. But one thing with
him is home passing grade is eighty and with him
(04:33):
on the road drops all the way down to fifty nine,
so I mean he's a completely different player on the road.
On the other side, Devin Dan Pierre and Jason Beck
have been everything that you tah can really hope for.
Six hundred and twenty six passing yards, seven passing touchdowns,
no interceptions, completent percentage of seventy three percent, along with
adding to the wrong game leading Utah in rushing yards
(04:54):
with one hundred ninety eight and a touchdown. So he's
a dual threat, can do it in many ways. And
both these quarterbacks are connect with each other in Heisman nods,
Devin dan Pierre being at plus two thousand, Barren mooreton
Ne plus twenty two thousand, five hundred, so you know,
and also on the flip side of both these balls,
both defenses have been dominant, Utah allowing eight points a game,
(05:14):
Texas Tech allowing eleven. Again, strength schedule plays into that,
but I still think you know that that plays a factor.
You've got to go out there still stop them. In
this one. I'm still going to go Utah home team.
I think since the College Football playoffir Utah is fifty
two and sixteen at home, so I'm going to roll
with that trend. Kyle winning him is one of the
best coaches at home, especially as a favorite, So I'm
(05:36):
going to go Utah on this one. Thirty one twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, Utah has to be hating the Fox executives, so
for making this game at noon. Typically a Utah game
at night, you can automatically chuck.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
That one up to a win.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
So I definitely think that kind of plays at a
hand in this game. Three and a half is kind
of a weird number there because I could see this
game coming down to the end.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
So I do like Utah to win.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
This one at home, win it outright, give me Texas
Tech to cover the plus three and a half there.
I think if this is a night game, it's potentially
a different story because that's one of the more intimidating
nighttime atmospheres and all of college football.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
But goes back to kind of just what I said at.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
The beginning, where this is the first real major test
for about these teams. Like looking at Utah Ucla, you thought, okay,
maybe that could have been a close game that was
only a five and a half point spread, and we
saw what Ucla.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Is right now. So first major test for both these teams.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I think when we look up in a few months,
this could be potentially the Big twelve title game if
all shakes right. But you got to give Utah the
benefit of the doubt to get the win at home.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But I do think Texas Tech covers that plus three
and a half.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
But excited to really sit down and watch this one
because two teams that they played in for your opponents
so far haven't got a full look at them.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Excited to see what we can get because.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
I think as of right now, sitting here on September sixteenth,
these are your top two dogs in the Big twelve.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
So give me you tell to win, but Texas Tech
to cover there.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Yeah, and this one I like if you think of
the matchups here. Obviously, both quarterbacks are going to be good,
but this one. Utah has one of the best offensive
line in the country and Texas Tech is one of
the best defensive lines in the country. So as explosive
as those quarterbacks are, this is going to be a
battle in the trenches as well.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, it should be a good one.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
A lot of pro prospects on both sides of the
ball in this game, so looking forward to that.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I think this game could have a lot of drama.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Some fights in it, a lot of passion in this one.
Matchup in the SEC between two coaches at end of
the year on the hot seat, but they both start
out impressive, going three and oh out of the gate.
That number twenty two Auburn with Hugh Freeze going to Norman,
Oklahoma to play the eleventh thranks Sooners, led by Brett
Venables also three and oh Sooners are three and a
half or excuse me, six and a half point favorite
here at home. Forty eight and a half is the
(07:40):
total to your three point thirty kick on ABC. John
Mattierre has looked pretty awesome since coming into his own
at Oklahoma. Jackson Arnold, who I've nicknamed Johnny Arnold, I
think has kind of revised his career here at Auburn
after a really down year last year at Oklahoma. Oklahoma
basically kind of kicks him out the door and now
he has a chance for actually for revenge.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Do you think Jackson aren't on and the Auburn Tigers
can go to Norman and get the outright win this week?
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Yeah? I mean, like you said, that huge storyline with
Jackson coming into his former school in Oklahoma where things
didn't really work out well, it didn't produce at the
level that he was kind of expected to there even
was bench for a time there, So there's gonna be
fire for him to get that revenge there. And on
the flip you get John Mattier, who has looked like
one of the best quarterbacks in the country so far,
currently the odds favorite right now in the Heisman at
(08:27):
plus eight hundred, seventh in the country in passing yards
nine hundred and forty four and puts up numbers with
his legs one hundred and sixty one four touchdowns on
the ground, And for both these teams, I think a
win here is going to be huge momentu for the
rest just because of the schedule. Both these teams face
Auburn has to go to A and M, then they
face Georgia, Missouri, go to Arkansas, go to Vanderbilt, and
(08:50):
then face Alabama. Oklahoma has to play Texas, go to
South Carolina, Ole, miss at Tennessee, at Alabama, Missouri LSU.
So huge moment for whoever wins going into a gauntlet
of the schedule. Really interested to see how Jackson can
really handle the Oklahoma defense and the pressure that Brett's
gonna put on him. He knows that quarterback, he knows
(09:10):
him well. He's a different quarterback when he faces the
blitz too. He's at eighty eight point eight passing grade
when facing When not facing the blitz, and his sixty
passing grade when facing the Blitz, so I'm expecting Oklahoma
to come add him. Brenton really knows two gum at him.
He knows that quarterback. So in this one, I think
I'm gonna go home team Oklahoma in the six and
a half. I don't that's a little too much for me.
(09:31):
I think Auburn kind of covers that. I know Auburn
has a great wide receiver group, so if they do
send a lot of pressure, it's gonna leave a lot
of man coverage downfield that could, you know, open up
the field for Jackson Orld. So I think Auburn does
cover by giving Oklahoma at home in this one.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Yeah, I love Auburn to cover in this one the
six and a half.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
It reminds me a lot of last week with Notre
Dame in Texas A and M, where I could certainly
see this game going either way. We saw Texas A
and M pull off the outright upset in South Bend
last week, but I loved to cover.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I did think Notre Dame would eventually get to win
at home.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
But Notre Dame or the A and M finds a
way to cover, I definitely can see Alburn going to
Oklahoma and covering here. Like last week short an impressive
win over Temple forty two to three the week before Michigan,
I think Michigan's probably like a seven to five eight
and four team.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
How great of a win really is that?
Speaker 2 (10:17):
I think this is Alburn's probably biggest or excuse me,
Oklahoma's biggest tests so far.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Auburn's biggest test so far too.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Like Baylor was an impressive Week one win, but we've
seen what Baylor's defense has looked like in your early going.
This is by far the best defense Auburn has played
so far, and a big test here for Jackson Arnold.
He gets a chance, though, to be the story of
college football this week. I said it last week and
it almost came true that Joey Aguilar could have left
the week being potentially like the Heisman favorite, potentially being
the story in college football Jackson Arland.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I'm not gonna say it's gonna be the heist been
favorite after this week.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
But if he goes to Oklahoma, he puts on a show,
and we've seen him use his legs that tough, that'll
be something interesting to see if Oklahoma can can contain
that Jackson Arnold could leave this this game being like
Oklahoma should never let me excuse me, never let me walk,
never let me leave, never let.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Me go out that door.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
And now I'm the top dog right now in the
SEC at the quarterback spot. Because the guys that we
said we're gonna be the top dog going into the year,
whether it was ARGs, whether it's DJ Lagway, even Nusbayer,
has it looked great. You're kind of looking more so
at the Metier and Arnold right now, I think as
maybe the best quarterbacks so far in the SEC and
Diego Pavia. So Jackson Arnold has a case this week
to make himself as kind of the best quarterbacks thus
(11:24):
far through four games in the country in the SEC.
I think he's gonna go out there and prove it
this week. I'm actually gonave Auburn to win this one
on the road. Don't think Oklahoma is the most intimidating
kind of environment. Auburn walks in there and it puts
like the colleg football world and knownice to give me
an upset there. All right, final college game of the
week before transitioning over to the NFL for.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
The second half of the episode touched on at the beginning.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
But a basketball matchup, this looks like the Big Ten
final in Indianapolis in March. You got number nine Illinois
at three and out traveling to Indiana who's also three
and out.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Indiana is five.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
And a half point free here at home, the nineteenth
ranked team in the country seven thirty kick on NBC
Nick Illinois.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Do they have the ability to go to Bloomington and
pull off the subset?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
I think they do, and I looked at both these
quarterback stats. They're coming in with pretty identical stat lines
from a passing perspective. Luke al Altmayer fifty six completions
on seventy eight attempts seventy one percent, seven hundred and
nine passing yards, eight touchdowns known exceptions. Fernando Mendoza fifty
five completions on seventy six attempts, which is seventy two percent,
(12:30):
one percent better, seven hundred and eight yards one yard less,
nine touchdowns, one touchdown more and same no peck. So
pretty identical stat lines and other than the Big three
in Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State, these two teams
are right behind them in the Big Ten to fight
for that playoff spot. So whoever wins this game big
huge confidence boost momentum to make that playoff push. And
(12:51):
one thing that I'm looking for in this matchup is
Illinois is one of the most aggressive defenses in power
For Illinois, blitz is at the highest rate in power
or four over sixty percent. And one thing about Mendoza,
he's not the best quarterback when getting blitz. Passing grade
of seventy five when getting blitz compared to ninety one
when he isn't so. And also on the defensive backside
(13:12):
of the ball, Illinois runs man's defense six high race
highest rate in the country. When Mendoza faces man coverage,
passing grade is fifty three. When facing zone jumps up
to a ninety four. So I think Illinois knows how
to attack this Indiana passing game and Mendoza is going
to have to be decisive get the ball out quick.
And on the other side, Indiana's defense is the complete opposite,
(13:33):
like they like to sit down, play zone, let everything
stay in front of him. And I think because Luke
Altmeyer's that experienced player, a lot of snaps under his
belt seen at all when it comes to college defenses,
I think going to be a low scoring, total, brutal, gritty,
Big ten type of game. I want to go Illinois
twenty one Indiana seventeen, heavy, lean to the under in
this one.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, I love your note about Illinois and the ability
to bring pressure on defense, because I really think this
game is going to come down to which quarterback makes
the mistake late. I think both of them very good quarterbacks,
very experienced quarterback Altemyer or Illinois Mendoza is really coming
into his own here at Indiana after transferring from cal
These are veteran quarterbacks that have seen a lot. I
(14:13):
really do think this one comes down to kind of
which one of these guys makes a critical mistake late.
Because Signetty, you know, he's not afraid to show some
emotion on the sideline. Brett Biloma, He's never been afraid
to really show some emotion on the sideline either. These
are two coaches that are very passionate about not turning
the football over, not hurting yourself, not shooting yourselves in
the foot. If you do, they're gonna let you know.
(14:33):
So which quarterback kind of makes that critical mistake late?
Because I could see Indiana bringing pressure right, we can
see Illinois bringing pressure like they have all season. Illinois,
I think, really turn it up in the second half
against Darian Mensa and that's where they kind of got
into some trouble.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Duke and Illinois was able to win that game.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
So who makes the big mistake late between Altemyer and
Fernanda Mendoz, I think is what this one really comes
down to.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
I do like Indiana to get the win at home.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
I think it's going to be a raucous environment there,
make an argument maybe the biggest home game kind of
in Indiana football history. So this is a huge moment
seven thirty primetime game. I'm gonna take them to win.
But still five and a half points here, that is
a lot of points to cover. I just want to
make sure because ESPN has it as IU minus fine
and a half Illinois or Indiana as minus five and
a half.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
Right, I saw DraftKings this morning at Indiana minus four
and a half.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
So still I just didn't want to be getting it
confused with IU for Illinois and.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
Saying Indiana Indiana is a favorite there.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
So yeah, well I'll go with Indiana to win, but
I will take Illinois to cover in that one.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
But a lot of eyes on the quarterback matchup, and
now I'm shopping fucked. All right, that's it for the
college kind of sleep. This week. We got a few
other really good games.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Michigan and Nebraska is a really solid one two lane
Ole Miss could be a potential upset alert. Florida and
Miami for some reason, got made the game day game.
I'm not interested that in that one after DJ Lagway
throwing five interceptions last week, but that'll still be a
lot of eyes on that one.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
But got ten minutes left for some NFL talk.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Through two weeks, Nick, we have the kin City Chiefs
at oh and two, the Eagles finding their way to
the two and oh start. The Packers looked really good
out of the gate at two and O. The Bears
have looked like a disaster so far oh and two.
Even the Texans oh and too. A lot of people
had them as a lock to win that FC South.
The Colts haven't punted yet this season in R two
and OHO, I guess, what's your biggest surprise in a
(16:25):
positive light.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
And then also your biggest surprise that give lights so far?
Speaker 4 (16:29):
I would say I don't know if it's surprises me
just with the two teams that they've played, but the
Chiefs starting out oh and two, I know what, I
forget the stat you said teams that start out oh
and two have a terrible percentage of going on and
making the playoffs. But you know, I did say before
the season, I think this is the year that Chiefs
don't win the division. But there's a lot of football
to be played. I think for me to be confident
in that take now again, I know they played the
(16:51):
Chargers and the Eagles, two good teams. I do think
this chief team will get on track once they get
everyone healthy Rashid Rice comes back from suspension. But starting
out O two is a tough look for a team
that has really been a dynasty the last couple of years.
And this isn't really what we're used to to seeing
with the Chiefs offense. Used to seeing more explosive, scary,
but really hasn't shown that much of a threat yet
with all the pieces missing right now. But overall, I
(17:13):
do have confidence that this team can bounce back and
compete in that division. Do you still think that they're
at the top of that division or at least can
compete by the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
I think they'll certainly be competing. But my kind of
take on.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
The Chiefs the past few years has been at least
like they're just the Patriots, where you can just circle
them into in the AFC East. I don't know if
that's the case this here, because you know the Broncos
they walk out of that one at one and one,
but they're still going to be in the mix.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
The Chargers have looked.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Really good out of the gate, and I think even
the Raiders look pretty good last week that it just
kind of goes to show you more I think about
the Chargers and how good they could be, because that
defensive line from clips I will see in this morning
stuff was destroying them up front.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
But the Chargers are a team that could certainly take
a leap.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
But the Chargers Malcolm Wood seem to always have an
unfortunate injury, and maybe they already got it out of
the way with Rayshawn's later. But I think the Chiefs
sold right the right the ship. But it's probably going
to be closer to like a ten and seven than
your usual thirteen and four, fourteen and three.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
In the mix there.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Yeah, I'm completely on the same page. I think I
had that in the beginning of the year two. I
think I still had them in the mix of, you know,
making that playoffs. It's hard to not say that the
serious team is going to miss the playoffs. But I
think they're looking at roster wise, they're not. They don't
look like the same team. And I know they're still
not you know, altogether yet, but just looking at them,
they look out. They look out of it. Travis Kelce
(18:31):
doesn't look into it right now. I mean, and all
the all this everyone talking about the Toush push, the
Tushwest did not win us that game. Was we played,
we called it maybe five times. Travis Kelce dropped the
ball in the end zone for a touchdown that let
us take score points. You missed a field goal, Like,
I don't understand why us calling a Toush push five
times automatically makes us win us that game. So, you know,
(18:52):
social media could go back and forth with this Eagles
and Chiefs. I just go out there and win the game.
Show me why why you're the better team, and then
we'll be able to have that conversation.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Yeah, the discourse around that is just a conversation. I
don't feel like he can have it anymore, just too
it's too irrelevant for me at this stage. But one
other kind of side topic I want to touch on,
and this is becoming like a recurring theme now year
after year. Joe Burrow is injured again. Sounds like he
won't be back till December, and you have to assume
(19:23):
if the Bengals are out of the mix by the
time he's healthy, they're just going to sit him out
the rest of you. But I saw like a side
by side graphic today alongside Andrew Luck in his career
and the injuries that he had, the amount of hits
he had, the amount of times he was sacked. Do
you think there's any possible way that Joe Burrow is
kind of following that Andrew Luck career path and might
not be able to withstand these beatings much longer. Or
do you think he's a guy that's gonna, you know,
(19:45):
just continue to play no matter the damage.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
I think he's more leaning towards he's gonna play no
matter what the damage is with the talent that he
has and the success that he's had, and he's just
gonna want to keep reaching that success. I just he's
too good of a player I think. I know, obviously
Andrew Leck was right up there too. I just think
and he's got Jamar Chase throwing him. He's got good weapons.
It's just they got to get some people up front
to protect him. I understand that. You know, it's not
(20:10):
that easy, but these your star quarterback. You have two
good receivers on the outside. You have one of the
best receiver in the league, a great wide receiver too,
and t Higgins. You have to get the upfront to
protect your guy. It doesn't make any sense why you know,
you draft him obviously, ever, you should have only worked
on your offensive line since then, in my opinion, and
(20:31):
they really haven't. So but I still think that he'll
be able to come back. I don't know, you know, obviously,
three months is a long time and anything can happen
with that Bengals team. Who knows if he even does
come back. But I think by the time this time
next year, I think he'll be all right. Hopefully they
get some more pieces on that offensive line to protect
them and be able to you know, setting that Bengals
(20:52):
team up for success because that you know, defense is
going to give a point, so that offense needs to stay.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Off all right, speaking of quarterbacks, have taken a beating
over their career, but I think have actually had a
better second half of.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
The career maybe or like last few years, won a
Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Matt Stafford and the Rams, I think not gonna say
his career is dead in Detroit. He always put up
numbers when when he had Megatron, and he's going to
be one of probably the five most passing yards ever
in NFL history. Have to check his exact numbers, but
definitely top ten. He easily in this Rams team to
a two and oh start. They were the team that
(21:28):
was closest to defeating the Philadelphia Eagles last year in
the in the NFL Playoffs, had the Eagles on the
rope ropes there at the end. They come to Philadelphia
this week for a matchup between two two and oho
teams could be a preview potentially of a NFC playoff
game NFC Championship game down the line.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Eagles are a three and a half point favorite here
at home.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
There's concerns over the passing attack yet again here early
on in the season.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
What are your thoughts on this matchup?
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Do the Rams have a legit chance to pull off
this this outright winn at home? Or are you kind
of just at the stage week where it's you know,
the Eagles are home.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
The Eagles still have Jalen Hurts.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
When Jalen Hurts plays quarterback, that they seem to find
a way to win every game.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Yeah, I think I'm on that, but I you know,
I know this Eagles offense has look really shaky to start,
but they're two and ozero and that's really all you
can ask or he just continues to find ways to
win even if it looks ugly. You know, I know
he he hasn't really passed well, but he hasn't turned
the ball over. He's used his legs when he's needed to.
He's done exactly what you ask for when you know
when the chief splitz at the highest trike that they've
(22:29):
ever rushed in a Spags defensive system. So he got
the ball out quick, he didn't turn the ball over.
That's exactly what you ask for when you're getting blitz.
I know, you know, in this matchup with the Rams,
I think I'm gonna go with the Birds in this one.
Obviously we're at home. The spread. I don't like three
and a half. I don't like that half, So I
think I'd rather lean the money line and maybe parlay
(22:49):
it with like a Jalen Hurts touchdown right now, I
think I'm seeing it at minus one thirty, so I
think i'd go it Hurts touchdown in an Eagles money
line right now if I'm going to it.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Not Saquon he had probably yeah as well, logan as
this tweet right here, sixty touches last year, five hundred
and thirty five total or five hundred and thirty four
total yards and four touchdowns in two games against the.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Rams last year. Yeah, he clearly eats against them, so
that's obviously a safe pick too. I think I saw
him at like minus one sixty though, so juiced up too.
But I think you know, either of those picks combined
with the Eagles money line, I think that would happen
to that.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
What is the one avenue that you could see to
the Rams actually going in there and pulling off the upset,
because it felt like last year wasn't really close until
the end, Like Saquon when he had that long touchdout run,
I think there was like four to thirty left in
the game. Like it's kind of head scratching how they
even got there. But in a situation where if they
do find a way to slow him down and the
passing game is still not clicking, which it seems it
(23:48):
hasn't so far. I'm not sure if it's getting used
to the new offensive coordinator, but if we remember last year,
even through the kind kind of the first four games,
it took time to get going as well. What's the
avenue that you can see as an upset Kaseean mc
as an underdog. I pulled this stat up today as
in a way underdog. They're only eleven and twenty one
straight up, so he's only won thirty four percent of
these games and being a three and a half point
(24:09):
dog in Philly on Sunday, that fits that trend there.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Yeah, I think they're gonna have to make the Eagles
throw the ball. They we haven't been able to really
have success throwing the ball. They're gonna have to make
us throw the ball. We're gonna have to, you know,
run Saquon to the dirt like we have been and
if they can stop Saquon, we're gonna have to use
Jalen and if our defense can hold up how we've
been holding up, I think we can do it. I
love the way our defense has looked, but you know,
Puka and Devonte Adams are gonna be a tough matchup
(24:34):
on the outside. Stafford, I think I saw you tweet
a clip of one of his all twenty two throws.
His All twenty two is one of the craziest things
that you'll ever see throughout his whole entire career in
Matthew Stafford with the you know, he looks like there's
nothing there and he just makes his side arm angle
throw right on the money. So we're gonna have to
contain him. We're gonna have to get after him if
we can get him sacked. Obviously. You know that's a
(24:56):
cliche saying if we can get to the quarterback, we're
gonna have success, but that really years. We can't let
Pooker run around. We can't get let DeVante run around either.
So I think we get to the quarterback, we and
get the matt Safford, we're going to be able to
have success and be able to win this game at home.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yeah, I'm a little worried about the past defense early on.
I feel like last week Thornton had a wide open
touchdown or the homes and ever thrown and then he
did wind up getting him back later. CD had a
couple opportunities deep deep part of the secondary. Yeah, the
deep part of the secondary has been a little bit
of a worry suthing and you definitely have your your
toughest matchup yet with Pooka and DeVante, so big test here.
(25:33):
I like the Eagles to win it, though being at home,
they travel to probably their their kryptonite next week, going
down to Tampa Bay feels like that is always a
recipe for a loss. So a big spot here to
get a win against a team you're probably gonna be
competing with for the one seed there in the NFCA.
Like them to win, but three and a half's a
lot of points there. I'll take the Rams to cover.
I guess it's being like a twenty four to twenty
(25:55):
one type of ball game.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Rams keep it in that within that three and a half.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
So I'll have to talk about as always excited to
get through these college game and then a big NFL Sunday.
But then we'll be back next week. So as always
for everyone, thank you for tuning in here on Fox Sports.
The Gambler keep it locked all week, for our videos,
for our podcast, for our live hits here on the radio,
and we'll talk to you guys next week.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Spreads total, so all the prop that's in between.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
It's the Gambler.
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