December 30, 2025 • 34 mins
PFF Analyst Dalton Wasserman stops by to talk some college football playoffs as we have a ton of bunch of great games coming up. MJ and Kidd read messages from listeners via the text line, and Ian Furness drops in to share what he has planned on his show.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
That everybody, no matter what New Year's Eve party that
they're going to. I will be there down in Jerry
World tomorrow. Kickoff local time in Dallas six thirty. It'll
be at four point thirty on the West coast here
in Seattle. But Miami, Ohio State. Miami comes in as
a nine and a half point underdog Dalton. Do the
(00:22):
Kynes I mean, I will tell you this, I don't
think the Kines lose by more than that. But do
they have a shot at winning this game? And if so,
how do they do it?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
They have a shot if they can turn it into
the same type of slugfest that they turned the Texas
A and N game into. Right, Obviously, ten to three
is a hard score to get to, you know, especially
against a team of Ohio State's caliber. But you look
at Miami and you look at their defense, especially that
defensive line with Ruben Bain a team mesidor those two
guys combined for eighteen pressures and I believe five sacks
(00:55):
against Texas A and M. And they just found a
way to keep it within range. And obviously they're Offen
was hit or miss. Mark Fletcher had a really good
day running between the tackles. Malchai Tony didn't have his
best day. Carson Beck didn't have his best day. Thrown
for just over one hundred yards. Now, the task, you know,
facing Ohio State defense only gets harder. You know, they're
even better than Texas A and m who also has
a very good defense. But I think Miami's gonna have
(01:18):
to keep this thing within range, and honestly, with the
quality of both defenses, it might be a game where
the first team to twenty points wins it right there.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, I know, I know.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I think it's gonna be a very low scoring game,
and I think this could be if Carson Beck is
gonna sort of validate his legacy in college football in
his fifty year and transferring after spending his first four
years in Georgia, He's gonna have to do it.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Ohio State's weakness, Dalton is their O line. So with
Rubin bayin a, keem Mesidor and those Canes, can they
you mentioned what they need to do, but can they
get enough pressure on sayan Or Do you think more
or less that they're just basically gonna throw it to
the best player in college football Jeremiah Smith and his
(02:10):
other cohorts in Carnell Tate and Brandon Innis and basically
just kind of maybe like death by a thousand paper
cuts and get these guys the ball as soon as
the ball is snapped.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
That's gonna be the question for Julian saying in those
obvious passing situations, right, how often is Miami gonna leave
Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate on the outside available one
on one for him to take shots too? Right? I
really love the middle of Miami's defense or safeties are awesome.
You saw Bryce Fitzgerald with the two interceptions in the
Texas A and M game. Kiante Scott in the slot's
(02:45):
a great player, but outside the numbers is where I'd
be the most concerned. And then I think as far
as the defensive line, I think there's a step even
before that. You have to make Ohio State one dimensional.
You have to find ways to stop the run on
early down, stop bo Jackson up front, and put them
in third and eight, third, nine, because I don't care
who your quarterback is, I don't care who your receivers are.
If you're in third and long situations all night. Even
(03:06):
with the quality of players that Ohio State has. It
makes things harder, especially against the defense that loves to
pin their ears back and rush the passer like Miami does.
So I really think step one is slowing down Ohio
State's run game and put them in bad situations. If
Ohio State is two dimensional, they're unbeatable. I'll be honest
with you. If Bo Jackson, their freshman tailback at the
one hundred yards, they're unbeatable. Indiana stopped the run, they
(03:29):
put him in bad third down situations, and they made
say And make throws down the field when he didn't
want to. That's the blueprint for Miami to win this
game on defense.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Dalton Wasserman Pro Football Focus here talking about the college
football playoffs.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, it should be.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
I think it's gonna be a pretty tight game and
we'll see what happens. The one thing about Ohio State, though, Dalton,
they were only really battle tested. I mean, the Texas
game was the first game of the year, was Julian
Sayan's first start, so I don't really count that as much.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
In Archie was on the road.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
They were really only truly battle tested against Indiana, and
they only scored ten points.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
And Miami has been battle tested all season long.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Is that something that could play a big part in
tomorrow Night's outcome.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I think it can certainly with regard to their defense
for sure, and then even offensively. Look, you talk about
a Miami team that there are only two games they've
lost this year were both by a field goal against
solid teams in Louisville and SMU, And I think that
was part of what got them here is those two
losses were still pretty darn good teams, right that had
really good defenses. But I think the big thing that
needs to carry Miami through this game is Carson Beck
(04:39):
in his experience right, understanding that he can't turn the
football over in this game. As long as he doesn't
turn the ball over, I think Miami's defense can keep
them in it, but certainly that experience of being battle
tested and in Beck's case for three years as a
starter now is going to at least help them a
little bit to stay in it. I think early on
they have to weather the storm early. If they can
drag that game out again, make it a slugfest like
(05:01):
they did their first round game against Texas A and
M then they can just stay in it for sixty
minutes and give themselves a chance.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
What about and I mentioned Texas Tech before, what is
Joey McGuire and this Red Raiders team need to do.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
They're playing that game down in Miami.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
What do they have to do to defeat Dante Moore
in a very tough, defensive minded Oregon team.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
First thing, First, they got to win in the trenches, right,
Texas Tech has been really good. Their defensive line has
arguably been the best in the country this year with
David Bailey and Romelo Height. That's a great battle you're
going to see with them against Oregon's offensive line. Can
they find a way to make Dante Moore hold the
football and get pressure on him? Because the one game
when more had consistent pressure on him, the Indiana game,
that's the one that Oregon lost. So that's first and foremost.
(05:46):
Texas Tech's defensive line has to control the game. The
second thing, Oregon has so much speed on the outside.
You have to make open field tackles and prevent those
big plays that really get their offense going. And then,
I honestly think the biggest X factor in the entire
game is it's Baron Morton. You know this Texas Tech team,
they haven't had to ask him to carry them too
(06:06):
much this season, if at all. They've really been relying
on the run game that's been so good all year
with their two backs. But Baron Morton, throughout his career,
when things have been clean and easy, he's looked pretty good.
But what's going to happen in the big pressure moment.
What's going to happen when that Oregon defensive line is
breathing down his neck in big moments? I really think
he's the X factor that's going to decide whether or
not Texas Tech wins or loses this game.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Dalton Wasserman Pro Football Focus joining us here on MJ
in the midday. Hey, Dalton, you look at the five
of the top the remaining eight teams in the college
football Playoff Indiana, Oregon, Miami, Texas Tech, and Ole Miss
all were amongst the top five to eight in the
(06:53):
portal rankings. So I guess what I'm saying is that
apparently the portal rankings really matter because you got five
of the top eighty five the remaining eight teams who
all finish in the top ten of the portal rankings.
So maybe is that kind of the way to go
now the way it kind of shifted over in college basketball.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It is, but you still have to be able to
recruit at a very high level, right. I think about
a team like the Miami Hurricanes and Mario Christobal has
been getting so many recruiting wins. You still have to
set the foundation of your team with high school recruiting
and finding players that you can develop over you know,
a shorter spin. You don't get four or five years
to develop these kids anymore. You've got to develop them
within the first two years. And you even got to
(07:36):
bring in impact freshmen. You've seen that with them and
Malachi Tony. How about Jeremiah Smith last year in the
role he played on Ohio State's national title winning team.
You've got to find impact players at a younger age
or they're going to leave. But this is how it
goes now. Man, every player in college football, they're on
a one year contract. They're a free agent every single year,
and you can go stack up whatever talent you need
to right And I know, you know, there's a lot
(07:58):
of traditionalists that don't like it. I don't like the
fact that these kids, you know, they can play at
two to three four different schools, throughout their career. But
you've got to find talent. You have to stack your
football team with it and then figure out how to
fit it together during the summer and during the season.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, how about Alabama, Indiana, Indiana listen to this, Dalton.
In terms of talent rosters, they have the seventy second
ranked talent roster in college football out of one hundred
and thirty six teams. Now, that tells me, Wow, how
did they do this? And it also tells me man
(08:33):
Kurt Signetti might be the best coach in college football
this side of Kirby Smart.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
I think you can absolutely argue it with the job
he's done there the last two years. And look, they
maybe what was it seventy seventh You said they're in talent,
but Kurt Signetti believes that talent is still underrated, right.
A lot of those guys he brought in from James Madison,
Fernando Mendoz obviously transferring in from caw. He wasn't thought
of as a number one pick type of guy coming
into the season, but he's made the most of his
(08:59):
oppera tunity there and Indiana, I mean, it just speaks
to how well they play together. As a team, and
I think that's what they do better and maybe any
team in the country is they just play together. Everything's
in sync, everybody's on assignment, and they've got leadership on
that team, especially between the head coach, the coordinators and
the quarterback that really drive it all right. They just
drive that team towards the goals they want, you know,
(09:21):
to get to. And they don't care. They're not afraid
of anybody that. They're not afraid of Ohio State and
Alabama and whoever they may have to play after this.
If they win this game, they feel like they can
walk out on any field and win any football game
against anybody.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Georgia Olmiss is a rematch from a couple months ago. Obviously,
Lane Kiffen no longer there he took over at LSU.
Both teams combine to score seventy eight points in between
the Hedges and Athens. Do you see this being sort
of a sequel and a replica of that, or do
(09:54):
you think that this game, now that George's kind of
got their defense fixed, that it'll be a lit little
bit more of a rock fight, or do you see
it just being a track meet.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
I think it'll be it'll probably be a little bit
less than it was forty three to thirty five the
first time. Probably a little bit less than that in
the twenties, maybe lower thirties. Now. I'll say this, the
more that it gets to be a shootout, the more
of an advantage that is to ole Miss. Because Georgia
they're the better team in the trenches, they have the
better defense, They've given up ten points or less in
four straight games. They've really found the groove of what
(10:27):
they want. But at the end of the day, this
is probably going to come down to the two quarterbacks.
Right Gunner stocked in for US played his best game
of the year's highest graded game of the year against
ole Miss the first time, played an excellent fourth quarter
in that game. In Trinidad Chambliss really against this Georgia
run defense that is likely going to slow down t
One Lacy again unless he has just a monster, superhuman effort.
(10:47):
I think this game comes down to Chamberliss and how
well he plays. He's been outstanding all year, but can
he carry this team to one more win? That's really
what ole Miss team is at this point is how
far can Trinidad Chambliss carry them?
Speaker 1 (11:00):
To pick one team as an underdog to advance either
New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Who you picking
and why?
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Which which side of that Oregon Texas Tech game is
considered the underdog right now?
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I know that yeahndog, yep, yep, uh, it would whichever
team is the underdog in that game.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I know the betting lines have been within one or
two point anyway. I just think that's such an even
football game. It's gonna be so much fun to watch
with Dante more vying for a possible Top five draft pick.
The trench matchup in the offensive lines and defensive lines
of both teams, and then just so many playmakers on
both sides of the ball. I know that's not really
like to me, there's not even really an underdog in
(11:40):
that game. But I think the next one I would
probably peck out. Honestly, probably all miss. I think if
Chambliss can go out there and play like a superstar,
they've shown once already that. Look, they had a nine
point lead late on Georgia in that first game that
they played, and then Georgia won the fourth quarter. I
think the familiarity in the fact that they've seen once
already that they can play with them. They're probably the
next most likely to me.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Do you think that next year, Dalton, that we kind
of expand to sixteen teams? Or are you okay with
keeping twelve for now? Because this thing is fluid, They're
not nothing is etchgin Stone? Would you like to see
sixteen and kind of keep it there for a while?
Are you okay with the twelve?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
I think it's gonna go to sixteen, and I'm fine
with sixteen. I wouldn't go any further than that, right,
I'm fine with sixteen, And I still think the group
of five should be included in some fashion in that. Now,
we got all the weirdness in the ACC this year
and we ended up with two group of five and
then we ended up with Miami who wasn't even in
the conference title game anyway. So just all sorts of
weird scenarios when you have those automatic qualifiers. But I
(12:45):
do think if it's not next year, then probably the
year after we're gonna get to sixteen, and that's probably
the ideal number. And the other one too. I'm in
the boat that we should be adding more home games.
I think throughout more playoff rounds. I think at least.
I would argue we should just do it like the
NFL and just have home games all throughout up until
the National title game. But I know there's bowl tie
ends with the Rose Bowl and different ones like that,
(13:05):
so that's just me. I think more home games would
be better in the playoff too.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Yeah. You know what's interesting, Dalton. You know you look
at the NFL.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
They're thirty two teams, right, thirty two teams, and nearly
fifty percent make it fourteen out of thirty two teams.
Mean you're talking about here, and it's like, I mean,
I love it, Don't get me wrong. I'm gonna love
that wild card triple header coming up a week from
this Saturday. But man, I don't like when fifty percent,
(13:33):
nearly fifty percent of the teams can make the playoffs, Like,
let's make it mean something. And college football, you know,
I think sixteen, that's a good number that we can
look at and say, Okay, that's it right then and there,
and if they want to increase to twenty or whatever.
I mean, college basketball, they're talking about increasing the tournament
(13:57):
teams from sixty eight to seventy six. I'm like, oh no, no, no, no, no,
it's tough to even fill sixty eight right now. The
bubble's so weak. Let's just keep as is and it'll
be interesting to see how this continues to you know,
change everything when it comes to college football going forward.
(14:19):
What's amazing to Dalton is that you've got four unbelievable
games starting tomorrow night on New Year's Eve, Miami, Ohio
State finishing with Georgia, Ole, Miss, Alabama, Indian and Oregon
Texas Tech. And so many people are like, oh, dj
Lagway's entering the portal, cam Coleman wide receiver, stud five
star wide receiver at Auburn entering the portal. He's teaming
(14:40):
Deuce Nighte quarterback Auburn entering the and it's like.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
It's so crazy.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
So all that being said was so much controversy with
college football where nil and you know, the coaching carousel,
hiring cycle and Lane Kiffin leaving for watching his creation
that he built go to the college football playoffs. But
you know what, at the end of the day, Dalton,
(15:06):
it's the second most popular sport in America next to
the NFL.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, for sure. I mean you look at the viewership.
The ratings are higher than ever I think, honestly, for
as much as people complain about the playoff, and look,
to be honest with you, I don't think there's any
issue with the playoff itself. It's more about the selection
process and sometimes how we get there and what the
criteria for picking teams is, and hopefully that would be
solved by sixteen. But look, there's always going to be
somebody mad at getting left out, right, But college football
(15:31):
is more popular than ever, and the fun part is, Look,
you get to come to places like PFF and other
than on three in places like that to figure out,
you know, where the how in the world, where are
these guys going, How is this all configuring trying? So
it's more to keep track of than ever, for sure,
But I think I think on the field, it's a
better product than ever. You're getting the talent spread out,
you're getting more good teams. The parody of teams getting
(15:52):
teams like Indiana and Texas Tech and teams like that
that you never see in the national spotlight. Now they're
in it and now they have a chance to compete.
I'm all four the parody. I think that's what really
makes it fun to watch, is that competitive balance throughout
different teams throughout different conferences. I think that's really the
best part of it, and it's really starting to expand
now in college football.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
You know a good point, and I let's go back
to the preseason top twelve eight people. Seven of the
twelve teams, including number one Texas and number two Penn
State and number four Clemson. Seven of those top twelve
did not make the college football playoffs. So it's not
the usual suspects that you think every single year. Things
(16:33):
are changing in Indiana now is becoming a power and
so a lot of things are kind of all fluid.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
I can't wait, Dalton, always love having you.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Look forward to talking to you early next year, since
the New Year is just less than two days away,
actually a day and a half away, but who's counting.
And enjoy the tomorrow night New Year's Eve Miami Ohio
State and then of course the playoff triple header on
New Year's I can't wait to hope all the games
are great and we don't have blowouts, but always a
(17:04):
pleasure and happy New Year, my friend.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Will talk to you next year.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Absolutely appreciate your happy, happy New Year. Glad you had
me out all season and hey, good luck to your teams. Man,
don't stress out too much.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
No, I know.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Hey, the way I look at is this way, Dalin.
I just I mean, obviously want to win, but just
go out there, be competitive, don't get blown out.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Nobody expects us to win.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
We're nine and a half point underdogs and you're playing
with house money. Let's just see what happens and listen
at the end of the day. This is why they
play the games. You never know what can happen.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
That's it. It's all settled on the field. That's the
best part.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Yep, there it is Losserman Pro Football Focus. Check them out.
We will talk to you again very soon. Coming up next.
Oh man, when are they gonna learn? Somebody with Frisco
is talking trash going into Saturday Nights. Dare I say
to use a WWE reference Saturday Night's main event. He's
(18:02):
talking trash. He's kind of calling his shot, and he's
sort of calling out the best player on the Seattle Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
We'll get to that next. And the what do you say?
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Text of the day with Kid MJ The Midday All right, Uh,
before we get to that, kid, let's play the clip
from Diamidoor Leonore the corner from the San Francisco forty
(18:36):
nine ers, and what he had to say about j
s N for Saturday Night.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
Hopefully I'm ready for this, like like anything you'd rather have,
anybody would rather have, That's.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
What I want.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
I'll be ready. I hope he's ready. Man and man coverage,
that's what I want, all right, all right, Just make
sure your mouth can't write a check that your ass
can't cash on Saturday Night.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Just make sure. I don't know why these guys do that.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
This is actually something that Bill Belichick and his twenty
plus years with the Patriots, could not stand. He hated
it when people would talk and they would call out
the other team or a player on the other team,
or a coach or whatever. Okay, you're calling out a
guy who's been the best receiver in the NFL this season.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
You want to do that? All right, we'll see, we'll see. Okay,
fair enough, kid. When will these guys ever learn?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (19:46):
I think that's just his competitiveness. I'm not saying he's
right or wrong. I think he's just he wants he
wants to compete, and he has no problem going on
the media because he did this before the season started
as well, he went on Instagram Live and talked about, Hey,
the Seahawks can't trade DK Metcalf because I love both
(20:08):
of them. I love going with his DK and JSN.
I plays JSN be crying. There's a whole clip of that.
Maybe I canna find them play it. But he loves
this interesting.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Wow, that's uh yeah, I don't get it, man, Yeah,
that's why even do that?
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Like why even because you love to compete, he thinks
he can. He probably can't.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
No, but your defense almost get your dey Fens gave
up forty points to Chicago.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I wouldn't be talking trash about anybody.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Now you're gonna talk trash about the guy who's the
best receiver in the NFL this year.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Come on, just be smarter than that. Just.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I mean, I can guarantee you Kyle Shanahan didn't like that.
I can promise you he did not like that. It's
just why give anybody bulletin board material?
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Why?
Speaker 1 (20:56):
I love you, MJ. I too would prefer Donald through
fewr and as well, and maybe as the years go
on he will. But I don't want Seam to lose
his edge, and I believe with his defense. We can
survive a turnover or two? Okay, how about a pick
or four? Can they survive four picks like he did
(21:16):
against the Rams?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Probably not. We'll see, though, We'll see, Yeah, we'll see.
I'm hope. By the way, Hey, hey, hey, hey kid.
Let me just say this too.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I degaff about any player's wife or any player who
listens to my show and doesn't like my opinion. Phone
numbers two oh six, two eight six ninety five. I degaff.
I don't give a crap about Sam Donald's wife. If
he has a mistress, a side piece, I don't care.
I don't care about anybody. So I I get paid
(21:45):
to make my opinion. Sam Donald leaves the NFL in turnovers, period,
and I don't need you to just look at the
don't tell me those turnovers put the Seahawks in a
position to win.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
They do not.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Did those four interceptions put the Seahawks in a position
to win against the Rams down in La.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
No, they did it.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
They cost them the game, Thank you, thank you. But
let's see, let's see going forward. Just don't have fuck
on Saturday night, Sam, don't be throwing picks. Don't be
doing anything on Saturday night. With Robert solid defense. That's
all I ask. Just I don't care if you don't
throw for any touchdowns. Just don't throw for it, don't
turn the ball over. That's all I ask, is plain
(22:30):
and simple.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Jaysn is in DJ Moore, Jaysn is gonna get one
hundred and thirty and two touchdowns now. And that's probably
true because the first matchup against the Niners Week one,
JSN went for nine to one twenty four and he
barbecued everybody. They didn't He didn't go up against Lenor
except for one time on a third and eleven and
Sam missed a throw Jaysin and him got a little
(22:54):
physical at the top of the route and the ball
was throwing the dirt. That was the only time that
he really got a quote quote rep against Jasin. And
I don't think Robert sala is gonna change his defensive
game plan. He's gonna allow those other players to get
reps on Jasn and jsm's gonna fry those guys unfortunately
for his defense.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Great point, This is a good one. Interesting making the
point I was getting at, so did every other host
on KGr. I've been a fan since nineteen seventy four.
I took part in naming the Seahawks. We have had
our share of crumbing qbs. Sam Darnell plays aggressive and
it causes him to sometimes throw interceptions, but everything else
he leads the league. Is he a Brett Farv Hell No,
(23:34):
that man was a Hall of Famer. Ninety nine percent
of qbs don't measure up to Brett. But we do
have one of the best qbs in the NFL. If
he could just eliminate the interceptions, he's in the top five.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
But no QB is perfect. But he got us to
thirteen in three.
Speaker 5 (23:50):
Please let leonor shadow Jason Calvin Johnson's record is getting broken.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
If that happens, you're just gonna call out the best
player on the team. You're gonna call it's all right.
I'll give him credit. I give him credit. He wasn't
calling out Jake Bobo like he called.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
And you know what, you know what I liked about it.
He didn't say he was weak. He just wants he
just wants competition, and I think that's fair.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
That's it.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
And every player is different, right, Kyle Shanahan knows his room.
For instance, Devin Witherspoon would never go on microphone and
say something like that. He'll probably laugh and say like
he wants all the smoke. But off the record, I'm
sure Spoon has said so many great things about the
Niners that he can't wait for this matchup. Right, those
are just two players, one that backs it up on
(24:36):
the field and has stats and can show it. The
other one you have to go and look and see
how is he playing. I don't know if Lenor has
backed himself up this year to be talking like that,
but I understand that he wants the opportunity on a
big stage to show that he's one of the best
corners that he thinks he is, which is fair.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Yeah, no, he didn't.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
And like he just to me, when you can win it,
what purpose does it? And he said, I'll be ready.
I hope he's ready. Well, he will be ready. He's
been ready all season long. I mean he was, you know,
at one point, gonna possibly break Megatron single season receiving mark.
You know, I mean, this is it. JSN is in
DJ Moore, JSN is gonna get Did you read that one? Yes, Okay,
(25:16):
you read that one. I sure hope JSN doesn't get
popped in the head again and pull his writhing in
pain soccer act prior to scoring a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Oh no, well, he he'd sold it. But the good
news is he was okay.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
But he had to sell it because the rest didn't
call it immediately on that face mass on third and
a million against the Panthers. So I get why he
did that, But the good news is he is okay.
So I'm sure he might have flopped. That's great and
all last one for me. If the Seahawks play, If
the Seahawks and Niners play Sunday, you're just giving the
Niners more rest. I'm fine with the Saturday night. The
readings will show us, no question, the best game of
(25:50):
the whole weekend.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
I hope so, I hope so, but we all hope
what we want. I like, Hey, you're in the playoffs.
It's great, but they're just a there's a monumental disparity
between the one seed getting a BUYE and the five
seed going on the road. It's just and not that
this team can't make it to the super Bowl winning
three games on the road. It's just that, Man, I
(26:16):
want that one and I want that buy love you
MJ I, I gaff I give a f about you.
I appreciate that. That's it's very nice about you. And uh,
let's see to do.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Oh man.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
By the way, there there is a male. There's always
a Karen or a Chad. A Chad saying because I
said yesterday about being Polish that I can you know,
He's like, you don't represent pole, Dude. It's people like
you that people warn me before I moved out to
the PNW are because people like you you literally look
(26:55):
for everything to be so be offended. I'm Polish, I
can get away with making on Polish people. I'm half French,
I can get away with making fun of French people.
I'm part of Italian I can get away with making
fun of Italian people. Dude, seriously, like, just do better
and don't be such a chad you mail Karen?
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Really, I mean, man, I knew, I knew.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
The West Coast was soft in a lot of aspects,
but really we don't need Chads and Karen's on the
text line, dude, really, get a life, Really, get a life,
all right. Thanks to Hu Millan. Thanks to Dalton Wasserman
and Mike Betton for joining us. Don't forget Picking the
Lock Special Edition College Football Playoff edition and NFL Week
(27:38):
eighteen edition tomorrow ten am to eleven am, one hour
show before we, I believe, go to the bowl games.
We'll talk to the mayor. Ian Fernetz coming up next.
All right, hope everybody out there has a happy new year.
Don't forget. Like I said, ten am to eleven am tomorrow,
a college football Playoff NFL Week eighteen addition of picking
(27:59):
the Locks for one hour from ten am to eleven
a m. This will be the final MJ and the
midday show of the twenty twenty five year kid.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Been great working with you.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Well, I'll see you literally next year, which is only
in a few days, and look forward to big things
in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Thank you, sir. Likewise, i'll see you soon.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
You threw a curveball at me though I thought you
were gonna go with the forty nine ers.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
I really did. You surprised me so, I I defense
think Sam Donald three.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Hundred, I know so, I mean the Bears should have
scored on that final drive. That would have been forty
five points. So yeah, man, I know I'm with you.
Ian for Nest coming up next. Ian Kracking last night
and they got a point, got a pointebe got a
point and keep the extend to point streak a live
five games and listen, Leane Lambert, he's turned some things around.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
They you know, they don't do good and shootouts, but
that's okay.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
I just like, I'm gonna look at the positive in
this and that the team is headed in the right direction.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Yeah, I think they're head the right direction. Yeah. Shootouts
are just today they are so bad. Oh and four
an them right now. I think I think they scored
maybe three goals in those four shootout losses. It's been
you get to the shootout. They you know, they had
an opportunity in overtime but they didn't. But they got
the They got the point. Vancouver's weird, horrible home team,
good road team. Would have been nice to get two
(29:22):
against them. But I think I heard Andrews and and
venting on the radio post game last night, and they
had it. They said it best. It's they had. They
had nine points or ten ten possible points in the
last five games of the calendar year twenty twenty five,
and they got nine out of ten. I think we
all would have taken that a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
True, Yeah, no, no, no, no, any upsets from you
in the college football playoff tripleheader or tomorrow night. There's
four games in total. Anything that you see being an upset, do.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
You want to go? Are you going point spread?
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Are you going?
Speaker 4 (29:54):
Actually?
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Just game on the field, the actual game, the actual game.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
Man. I lean and I hate doing this because I
like when they win, because it makes people here not happy.
I lean towards maybe Oregon getting upset.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
You know.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
Oh, here's the thing. They're they're a favorite. Well upset
in the sense that I know they're a favorite. But
come on, like, what are we talking about here? I mean,
it's Oregon. They are they gonna win a big game? Like,
really gonna win a big game? I mean there, what
is it there?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
A favorite? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I mean that's basically a push. I mean I told
you yesterday. I love I love the points with Miami
nine and a half. I think that'll be a cool Yeah.
And you know what, Ian, it's kind of just stayed there.
It didn't really hover, It's just kind of stayed right there.
I think I like the I like Alabama the points.
(30:47):
To be honest with you, probably like the under in
that game forty eight and a half probably like probably
like that a lot. Let's see what else we got,
old miss George Georgia, old man. So how about the
greasiness going on there? Have you seen this?
Speaker 2 (31:03):
What?
Speaker 4 (31:03):
Lane Kiffin is going to be at the game?
Speaker 2 (31:06):
What?
Speaker 4 (31:07):
And he's going to be there with the governor of Louisiana. Now,
there are six coaches and I think at least four
or five of them haven't committed to going with Lane
to LSU that are coaching in that game.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
By the way, he's making it all about him.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
It's all about him, all about him, tampering of coaches, distracting.
So I think I might go Georgia, even though there're
I think I think Georgia minus six and a half
is the easy play on that game.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
I And you know that Mississippi reporter said you don't
make the whole housewife.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
No, she was right.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
We just stay away, man, just stay away nobody. Here's
the thing. There isn't a player there that wants to
see you like, there isn't one player there. I mean
when he left, he tried to say that you know,
guys wanted him to coach, and all the players came
out and said, ah, that's not true. None of us
want you to be here. Go away, So I mean
I think that that jumps I just just go away, man,
just go the hell away. I mean it makes you
(32:00):
on a root for Ole Miss in a sense. But yeah,
I just I don't know. I yeah, I mean, I'm
I look just more at the spreads. I think Alabama
Indiana is really interesting. Alabama looked so good in that
first playoff game.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
I don't know, man, especially spotting Oklahoma seventeen points.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
Yeah, and Indiana's got a good defense. I don't think
they're I don't think their defense is as good as Oklahoma's,
you know, but Mendoza is the X factor. I like
him better than Simpson. So yeah, I don't know. I
wish I wish that we didn't have a hockey game
that day. But yeah, yeah, there you go, there you go.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
By the way, how about this, of all the teams remaining, Yeah,
Indiana has the seventy second talent roster of all the
one hundred and thirty sixteen seventy. That tells you how
amazing of a job Kurt Signetti has done building this
program and and kind of like starting a trend where
other than Lane Kiffen in you know, yeah, Kyle Winningham
(33:01):
that most coaches, you know, you look at Levitt, he stayed,
Actually not Levitt, Dillingham, he stayed. Levitt's gone, uh Dillingham Sting, Bromsting,
even though I bet you he would have taken the
Michigan job. I don't know why they didn't offer to him.
But you're seeing Clark Lee Vanderbilt. A lot of guys
now are saying, hey, I can make money, we can
have I mean, Indiana football, with all due respect to
(33:23):
Lee Corso, was an absolute joke.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
A dumpster fire, absolutely dumpster fire. I mean, it is
amazing what one coach can do to turn a program around,
you know, and sometimes one coach. I mean Oregon it
was one play you know that helped rich Brooks get
over the hump, uh the pick. So, I mean, yeah,
I mean there's this, It's you know, there's there's blue
bloods out there that aren't even I mean, there's teams
(33:48):
out there that aren't what they used to be, right.
So I mean I put USC in that category, you know,
I mean I think I put them in that category
in the sense too, so be good games. I mean
Oregon Texas Tech last I'm excited to watch that one.
I'm on Thursday morning. That'll be fun. It's always like
when they put the West Coast teams at nine am.
I think that's just awesome.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
Tongue firmly in cheek.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
By the way, they're playing that one in Miami. What
do you got today? We're gonna check in with Corbin
Smith one twenty today and then our weekly visit with
John one from the Bay Area. That should be entertaining
coming up at two o'clock. Kind of a big game
with the Bay Area this weekend, I believe. So, yeah,
kind of a big game. We'll get to that staff.
So he's gonna ask him about diaminor Leonore talking trash
about say you know, I'm gonna I'm ready to play, man.
(34:30):
I hope Jameson's ready. Oh really, okay, okay, yeah, yeah,
well all right, we'll see yeah, all right, they're prime time.
Yeah all right, Ian for Net's coming up next. Happy
New Year to you and your family. Ian, I will
see you next year. Don't forget picking the locks tomorrow
at ten am the eleven am so and we will
see you next year right here on MJ and in
the midday
That everybody, no matter what New Year's Eve party that
they're going to. I will be there down in Jerry
World tomorrow. Kickoff local time in Dallas six thirty. It'll
be at four point thirty on the West coast here
in Seattle. But Miami, Ohio State. Miami comes in as
a nine and a half point underdog Dalton. Do the
(00:22):
Kynes I mean, I will tell you this, I don't
think the Kines lose by more than that. But do
they have a shot at winning this game? And if so,
how do they do it?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
They have a shot if they can turn it into
the same type of slugfest that they turned the Texas
A and N game into. Right, Obviously, ten to three
is a hard score to get to, you know, especially
against a team of Ohio State's caliber. But you look
at Miami and you look at their defense, especially that
defensive line with Ruben Bain a team mesidor those two
guys combined for eighteen pressures and I believe five sacks
(00:55):
against Texas A and M. And they just found a
way to keep it within range. And obviously they're Offen
was hit or miss. Mark Fletcher had a really good
day running between the tackles. Malchai Tony didn't have his
best day. Carson Beck didn't have his best day. Thrown
for just over one hundred yards. Now, the task, you know,
facing Ohio State defense only gets harder. You know, they're
even better than Texas A and m who also has
a very good defense. But I think Miami's gonna have
(01:18):
to keep this thing within range, and honestly, with the
quality of both defenses, it might be a game where
the first team to twenty points wins it right there.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, I know, I know.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I think it's gonna be a very low scoring game,
and I think this could be if Carson Beck is
gonna sort of validate his legacy in college football in
his fifty year and transferring after spending his first four
years in Georgia, He's gonna have to do it.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Ohio State's weakness, Dalton is their O line. So with
Rubin bayin a, keem Mesidor and those Canes, can they
you mentioned what they need to do, but can they
get enough pressure on sayan Or Do you think more
or less that they're just basically gonna throw it to
the best player in college football Jeremiah Smith and his
(02:10):
other cohorts in Carnell Tate and Brandon Innis and basically
just kind of maybe like death by a thousand paper
cuts and get these guys the ball as soon as
the ball is snapped.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
That's gonna be the question for Julian saying in those
obvious passing situations, right, how often is Miami gonna leave
Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate on the outside available one
on one for him to take shots too? Right? I
really love the middle of Miami's defense or safeties are awesome.
You saw Bryce Fitzgerald with the two interceptions in the
Texas A and M game. Kiante Scott in the slot's
(02:45):
a great player, but outside the numbers is where I'd
be the most concerned. And then I think as far
as the defensive line, I think there's a step even
before that. You have to make Ohio State one dimensional.
You have to find ways to stop the run on
early down, stop bo Jackson up front, and put them
in third and eight, third, nine, because I don't care
who your quarterback is, I don't care who your receivers are.
If you're in third and long situations all night. Even
(03:06):
with the quality of players that Ohio State has. It
makes things harder, especially against the defense that loves to
pin their ears back and rush the passer like Miami does.
So I really think step one is slowing down Ohio
State's run game and put them in bad situations. If
Ohio State is two dimensional, they're unbeatable. I'll be honest
with you. If Bo Jackson, their freshman tailback at the
one hundred yards, they're unbeatable. Indiana stopped the run, they
(03:29):
put him in bad third down situations, and they made
say And make throws down the field when he didn't
want to. That's the blueprint for Miami to win this
game on defense.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Dalton Wasserman Pro Football Focus here talking about the college
football playoffs.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, it should be.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
I think it's gonna be a pretty tight game and
we'll see what happens. The one thing about Ohio State, though, Dalton,
they were only really battle tested. I mean, the Texas
game was the first game of the year, was Julian
Sayan's first start, so I don't really count that as much.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
In Archie was on the road.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
They were really only truly battle tested against Indiana, and
they only scored ten points.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
And Miami has been battle tested all season long.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Is that something that could play a big part in
tomorrow Night's outcome.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I think it can certainly with regard to their defense
for sure, and then even offensively. Look, you talk about
a Miami team that there are only two games they've
lost this year were both by a field goal against
solid teams in Louisville and SMU, And I think that
was part of what got them here is those two
losses were still pretty darn good teams, right that had
really good defenses. But I think the big thing that
needs to carry Miami through this game is Carson Beck
(04:39):
in his experience right, understanding that he can't turn the
football over in this game. As long as he doesn't
turn the ball over, I think Miami's defense can keep
them in it, but certainly that experience of being battle
tested and in Beck's case for three years as a
starter now is going to at least help them a
little bit to stay in it. I think early on
they have to weather the storm early. If they can
drag that game out again, make it a slugfest like
(05:01):
they did their first round game against Texas A and
M then they can just stay in it for sixty
minutes and give themselves a chance.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
What about and I mentioned Texas Tech before, what is
Joey McGuire and this Red Raiders team need to do.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
They're playing that game down in Miami.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
What do they have to do to defeat Dante Moore
in a very tough, defensive minded Oregon team.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
First thing, First, they got to win in the trenches, right,
Texas Tech has been really good. Their defensive line has
arguably been the best in the country this year with
David Bailey and Romelo Height. That's a great battle you're
going to see with them against Oregon's offensive line. Can
they find a way to make Dante Moore hold the
football and get pressure on him? Because the one game
when more had consistent pressure on him, the Indiana game,
that's the one that Oregon lost. So that's first and foremost.
(05:46):
Texas Tech's defensive line has to control the game. The
second thing, Oregon has so much speed on the outside.
You have to make open field tackles and prevent those
big plays that really get their offense going. And then,
I honestly think the biggest X factor in the entire
game is it's Baron Morton. You know this Texas Tech team,
they haven't had to ask him to carry them too
(06:06):
much this season, if at all. They've really been relying
on the run game that's been so good all year
with their two backs. But Baron Morton, throughout his career,
when things have been clean and easy, he's looked pretty good.
But what's going to happen in the big pressure moment.
What's going to happen when that Oregon defensive line is
breathing down his neck in big moments? I really think
he's the X factor that's going to decide whether or
not Texas Tech wins or loses this game.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Dalton Wasserman Pro Football Focus joining us here on MJ
in the midday. Hey, Dalton, you look at the five
of the top the remaining eight teams in the college
football Playoff Indiana, Oregon, Miami, Texas Tech, and Ole Miss
all were amongst the top five to eight in the
(06:53):
portal rankings. So I guess what I'm saying is that
apparently the portal rankings really matter because you got five
of the top eighty five the remaining eight teams who
all finish in the top ten of the portal rankings.
So maybe is that kind of the way to go
now the way it kind of shifted over in college basketball.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
It is, but you still have to be able to
recruit at a very high level, right. I think about
a team like the Miami Hurricanes and Mario Christobal has
been getting so many recruiting wins. You still have to
set the foundation of your team with high school recruiting
and finding players that you can develop over you know,
a shorter spin. You don't get four or five years
to develop these kids anymore. You've got to develop them
within the first two years. And you even got to
(07:36):
bring in impact freshmen. You've seen that with them and
Malachi Tony. How about Jeremiah Smith last year in the
role he played on Ohio State's national title winning team.
You've got to find impact players at a younger age
or they're going to leave. But this is how it
goes now. Man, every player in college football, they're on
a one year contract. They're a free agent every single year,
and you can go stack up whatever talent you need
to right And I know, you know, there's a lot
(07:58):
of traditionalists that don't like it. I don't like the
fact that these kids, you know, they can play at
two to three four different schools, throughout their career. But
you've got to find talent. You have to stack your
football team with it and then figure out how to
fit it together during the summer and during the season.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, how about Alabama, Indiana, Indiana listen to this, Dalton.
In terms of talent rosters, they have the seventy second
ranked talent roster in college football out of one hundred
and thirty six teams. Now, that tells me, Wow, how
did they do this? And it also tells me man
(08:33):
Kurt Signetti might be the best coach in college football
this side of Kirby Smart.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
I think you can absolutely argue it with the job
he's done there the last two years. And look, they
maybe what was it seventy seventh You said they're in talent,
but Kurt Signetti believes that talent is still underrated, right.
A lot of those guys he brought in from James Madison,
Fernando Mendoz obviously transferring in from caw. He wasn't thought
of as a number one pick type of guy coming
into the season, but he's made the most of his
(08:59):
oppera tunity there and Indiana, I mean, it just speaks
to how well they play together. As a team, and
I think that's what they do better and maybe any
team in the country is they just play together. Everything's
in sync, everybody's on assignment, and they've got leadership on
that team, especially between the head coach, the coordinators and
the quarterback that really drive it all right. They just
drive that team towards the goals they want, you know,
(09:21):
to get to. And they don't care. They're not afraid
of anybody that. They're not afraid of Ohio State and
Alabama and whoever they may have to play after this.
If they win this game, they feel like they can
walk out on any field and win any football game
against anybody.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Georgia Olmiss is a rematch from a couple months ago. Obviously,
Lane Kiffen no longer there he took over at LSU.
Both teams combine to score seventy eight points in between
the Hedges and Athens. Do you see this being sort
of a sequel and a replica of that, or do
(09:54):
you think that this game, now that George's kind of
got their defense fixed, that it'll be a lit little
bit more of a rock fight, or do you see
it just being a track meet.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
I think it'll be it'll probably be a little bit
less than it was forty three to thirty five the
first time. Probably a little bit less than that in
the twenties, maybe lower thirties. Now. I'll say this, the
more that it gets to be a shootout, the more
of an advantage that is to ole Miss. Because Georgia
they're the better team in the trenches, they have the
better defense, They've given up ten points or less in
four straight games. They've really found the groove of what
(10:27):
they want. But at the end of the day, this
is probably going to come down to the two quarterbacks.
Right Gunner stocked in for US played his best game
of the year's highest graded game of the year against
ole Miss the first time, played an excellent fourth quarter
in that game. In Trinidad Chambliss really against this Georgia
run defense that is likely going to slow down t
One Lacy again unless he has just a monster, superhuman effort.
(10:47):
I think this game comes down to Chamberliss and how
well he plays. He's been outstanding all year, but can
he carry this team to one more win? That's really
what ole Miss team is at this point is how
far can Trinidad Chambliss carry them?
Speaker 1 (11:00):
To pick one team as an underdog to advance either
New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Who you picking
and why?
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Which which side of that Oregon Texas Tech game is
considered the underdog right now?
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I know that yeahndog, yep, yep, uh, it would whichever
team is the underdog in that game.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I know the betting lines have been within one or
two point anyway. I just think that's such an even
football game. It's gonna be so much fun to watch
with Dante more vying for a possible Top five draft pick.
The trench matchup in the offensive lines and defensive lines
of both teams, and then just so many playmakers on
both sides of the ball. I know that's not really
like to me, there's not even really an underdog in
(11:40):
that game. But I think the next one I would
probably peck out. Honestly, probably all miss. I think if
Chambliss can go out there and play like a superstar,
they've shown once already that. Look, they had a nine
point lead late on Georgia in that first game that
they played, and then Georgia won the fourth quarter. I
think the familiarity in the fact that they've seen once
already that they can play with them. They're probably the
next most likely to me.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Do you think that next year, Dalton, that we kind
of expand to sixteen teams? Or are you okay with
keeping twelve for now? Because this thing is fluid, They're
not nothing is etchgin Stone? Would you like to see
sixteen and kind of keep it there for a while?
Are you okay with the twelve?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
I think it's gonna go to sixteen, and I'm fine
with sixteen. I wouldn't go any further than that, right,
I'm fine with sixteen, And I still think the group
of five should be included in some fashion in that. Now,
we got all the weirdness in the ACC this year
and we ended up with two group of five and
then we ended up with Miami who wasn't even in
the conference title game anyway. So just all sorts of
weird scenarios when you have those automatic qualifiers. But I
(12:45):
do think if it's not next year, then probably the
year after we're gonna get to sixteen, and that's probably
the ideal number. And the other one too. I'm in
the boat that we should be adding more home games.
I think throughout more playoff rounds. I think at least.
I would argue we should just do it like the
NFL and just have home games all throughout up until
the National title game. But I know there's bowl tie
ends with the Rose Bowl and different ones like that,
(13:05):
so that's just me. I think more home games would
be better in the playoff too.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Yeah. You know what's interesting, Dalton. You know you look
at the NFL.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
They're thirty two teams, right, thirty two teams, and nearly
fifty percent make it fourteen out of thirty two teams.
Mean you're talking about here, and it's like, I mean,
I love it, Don't get me wrong. I'm gonna love
that wild card triple header coming up a week from
this Saturday. But man, I don't like when fifty percent,
(13:33):
nearly fifty percent of the teams can make the playoffs, Like,
let's make it mean something. And college football, you know,
I think sixteen, that's a good number that we can
look at and say, Okay, that's it right then and there,
and if they want to increase to twenty or whatever.
I mean, college basketball, they're talking about increasing the tournament
(13:57):
teams from sixty eight to seventy six. I'm like, oh no, no, no, no, no,
it's tough to even fill sixty eight right now. The
bubble's so weak. Let's just keep as is and it'll
be interesting to see how this continues to you know,
change everything when it comes to college football going forward.
(14:19):
What's amazing to Dalton is that you've got four unbelievable
games starting tomorrow night on New Year's Eve, Miami, Ohio
State finishing with Georgia, Ole, Miss, Alabama, Indian and Oregon
Texas Tech. And so many people are like, oh, dj
Lagway's entering the portal, cam Coleman wide receiver, stud five
star wide receiver at Auburn entering the portal. He's teaming
(14:40):
Deuce Nighte quarterback Auburn entering the and it's like.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
It's so crazy.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
So all that being said was so much controversy with
college football where nil and you know, the coaching carousel,
hiring cycle and Lane Kiffin leaving for watching his creation
that he built go to the college football playoffs. But
you know what, at the end of the day, Dalton,
(15:06):
it's the second most popular sport in America next to
the NFL.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, for sure. I mean you look at the viewership.
The ratings are higher than ever I think, honestly, for
as much as people complain about the playoff, and look,
to be honest with you, I don't think there's any
issue with the playoff itself. It's more about the selection
process and sometimes how we get there and what the
criteria for picking teams is, and hopefully that would be
solved by sixteen. But look, there's always going to be
somebody mad at getting left out, right, But college football
(15:31):
is more popular than ever, and the fun part is, Look,
you get to come to places like PFF and other
than on three in places like that to figure out,
you know, where the how in the world, where are
these guys going, How is this all configuring trying? So
it's more to keep track of than ever, for sure,
But I think I think on the field, it's a
better product than ever. You're getting the talent spread out,
you're getting more good teams. The parody of teams getting
(15:52):
teams like Indiana and Texas Tech and teams like that
that you never see in the national spotlight. Now they're
in it and now they have a chance to compete.
I'm all four the parody. I think that's what really
makes it fun to watch, is that competitive balance throughout
different teams throughout different conferences. I think that's really the
best part of it, and it's really starting to expand
now in college football.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
You know a good point, and I let's go back
to the preseason top twelve eight people. Seven of the
twelve teams, including number one Texas and number two Penn
State and number four Clemson. Seven of those top twelve
did not make the college football playoffs. So it's not
the usual suspects that you think every single year. Things
(16:33):
are changing in Indiana now is becoming a power and
so a lot of things are kind of all fluid.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
I can't wait, Dalton, always love having you.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Look forward to talking to you early next year, since
the New Year is just less than two days away,
actually a day and a half away, but who's counting.
And enjoy the tomorrow night New Year's Eve Miami Ohio
State and then of course the playoff triple header on
New Year's I can't wait to hope all the games
are great and we don't have blowouts, but always a
(17:04):
pleasure and happy New Year, my friend.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Will talk to you next year.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Absolutely appreciate your happy, happy New Year. Glad you had
me out all season and hey, good luck to your teams. Man,
don't stress out too much.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
No, I know.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Hey, the way I look at is this way, Dalin.
I just I mean, obviously want to win, but just
go out there, be competitive, don't get blown out.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Nobody expects us to win.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
We're nine and a half point underdogs and you're playing
with house money. Let's just see what happens and listen
at the end of the day. This is why they
play the games. You never know what can happen.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
That's it. It's all settled on the field. That's the
best part.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Yep, there it is Losserman Pro Football Focus. Check them out.
We will talk to you again very soon. Coming up next.
Oh man, when are they gonna learn? Somebody with Frisco
is talking trash going into Saturday Nights. Dare I say
to use a WWE reference Saturday Night's main event. He's
(18:02):
talking trash. He's kind of calling his shot, and he's
sort of calling out the best player on the Seattle Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
We'll get to that next. And the what do you say?
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Text of the day with Kid MJ The Midday All right, Uh,
before we get to that, kid, let's play the clip
from Diamidoor Leonore the corner from the San Francisco forty
(18:36):
nine ers, and what he had to say about j
s N for Saturday Night.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
Hopefully I'm ready for this, like like anything you'd rather have,
anybody would rather have, That's.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
What I want.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
I'll be ready. I hope he's ready. Man and man coverage,
that's what I want, all right, all right, Just make
sure your mouth can't write a check that your ass
can't cash on Saturday Night.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Just make sure. I don't know why these guys do that.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
This is actually something that Bill Belichick and his twenty
plus years with the Patriots, could not stand. He hated
it when people would talk and they would call out
the other team or a player on the other team,
or a coach or whatever. Okay, you're calling out a
guy who's been the best receiver in the NFL this season.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
You want to do that? All right, we'll see, we'll see. Okay,
fair enough, kid. When will these guys ever learn?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (19:46):
I think that's just his competitiveness. I'm not saying he's
right or wrong. I think he's just he wants he
wants to compete, and he has no problem going on
the media because he did this before the season started
as well, he went on Instagram Live and talked about, Hey,
the Seahawks can't trade DK Metcalf because I love both
(20:08):
of them. I love going with his DK and JSN.
I plays JSN be crying. There's a whole clip of that.
Maybe I canna find them play it. But he loves
this interesting.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Wow, that's uh yeah, I don't get it, man, Yeah,
that's why even do that?
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Like why even because you love to compete, he thinks
he can. He probably can't.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
No, but your defense almost get your dey Fens gave
up forty points to Chicago.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I wouldn't be talking trash about anybody.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Now you're gonna talk trash about the guy who's the
best receiver in the NFL this year.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Come on, just be smarter than that. Just.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
I mean, I can guarantee you Kyle Shanahan didn't like that.
I can promise you he did not like that. It's
just why give anybody bulletin board material?
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Why?
Speaker 1 (20:56):
I love you, MJ. I too would prefer Donald through
fewr and as well, and maybe as the years go
on he will. But I don't want Seam to lose
his edge, and I believe with his defense. We can
survive a turnover or two? Okay, how about a pick
or four? Can they survive four picks like he did
(21:16):
against the Rams?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Probably not. We'll see, though, We'll see, Yeah, we'll see.
I'm hope. By the way, Hey, hey, hey, hey kid.
Let me just say this too.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I degaff about any player's wife or any player who
listens to my show and doesn't like my opinion. Phone
numbers two oh six, two eight six ninety five. I degaff.
I don't give a crap about Sam Donald's wife. If
he has a mistress, a side piece, I don't care.
I don't care about anybody. So I I get paid
(21:45):
to make my opinion. Sam Donald leaves the NFL in turnovers, period,
and I don't need you to just look at the
don't tell me those turnovers put the Seahawks in a
position to win.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
They do not.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Did those four interceptions put the Seahawks in a position
to win against the Rams down in La.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
No, they did it.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
They cost them the game, Thank you, thank you. But
let's see, let's see going forward. Just don't have fuck
on Saturday night, Sam, don't be throwing picks. Don't be
doing anything on Saturday night. With Robert solid defense. That's
all I ask. Just I don't care if you don't
throw for any touchdowns. Just don't throw for it, don't
turn the ball over. That's all I ask, is plain
(22:30):
and simple.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Jaysn is in DJ Moore, Jaysn is gonna get one
hundred and thirty and two touchdowns now. And that's probably
true because the first matchup against the Niners Week one,
JSN went for nine to one twenty four and he
barbecued everybody. They didn't He didn't go up against Lenor
except for one time on a third and eleven and
Sam missed a throw Jaysin and him got a little
(22:54):
physical at the top of the route and the ball
was throwing the dirt. That was the only time that
he really got a quote quote rep against Jasin. And
I don't think Robert sala is gonna change his defensive
game plan. He's gonna allow those other players to get
reps on Jasn and jsm's gonna fry those guys unfortunately
for his defense.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Great point, This is a good one. Interesting making the
point I was getting at, so did every other host
on KGr. I've been a fan since nineteen seventy four.
I took part in naming the Seahawks. We have had
our share of crumbing qbs. Sam Darnell plays aggressive and
it causes him to sometimes throw interceptions, but everything else
he leads the league. Is he a Brett Farv Hell No,
(23:34):
that man was a Hall of Famer. Ninety nine percent
of qbs don't measure up to Brett. But we do
have one of the best qbs in the NFL. If
he could just eliminate the interceptions, he's in the top five.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
But no QB is perfect. But he got us to
thirteen in three.
Speaker 5 (23:50):
Please let leonor shadow Jason Calvin Johnson's record is getting broken.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
If that happens, you're just gonna call out the best
player on the team. You're gonna call it's all right.
I'll give him credit. I give him credit. He wasn't
calling out Jake Bobo like he called.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
And you know what, you know what I liked about it.
He didn't say he was weak. He just wants he
just wants competition, and I think that's fair.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
That's it.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
And every player is different, right, Kyle Shanahan knows his room.
For instance, Devin Witherspoon would never go on microphone and
say something like that. He'll probably laugh and say like
he wants all the smoke. But off the record, I'm
sure Spoon has said so many great things about the
Niners that he can't wait for this matchup. Right, those
are just two players, one that backs it up on
(24:36):
the field and has stats and can show it. The
other one you have to go and look and see
how is he playing. I don't know if Lenor has
backed himself up this year to be talking like that,
but I understand that he wants the opportunity on a
big stage to show that he's one of the best
corners that he thinks he is, which is fair.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Yeah, no, he didn't.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
And like he just to me, when you can win it,
what purpose does it? And he said, I'll be ready.
I hope he's ready. Well, he will be ready. He's
been ready all season long. I mean he was, you know,
at one point, gonna possibly break Megatron single season receiving mark.
You know, I mean, this is it. JSN is in
DJ Moore, JSN is gonna get Did you read that one? Yes, Okay,
(25:16):
you read that one. I sure hope JSN doesn't get
popped in the head again and pull his writhing in
pain soccer act prior to scoring a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Oh no, well, he he'd sold it. But the good
news is he was okay.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
But he had to sell it because the rest didn't
call it immediately on that face mass on third and
a million against the Panthers. So I get why he
did that, But the good news is he is okay.
So I'm sure he might have flopped. That's great and
all last one for me. If the Seahawks play, If
the Seahawks and Niners play Sunday, you're just giving the
Niners more rest. I'm fine with the Saturday night. The
readings will show us, no question, the best game of
(25:50):
the whole weekend.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
I hope so, I hope so, but we all hope
what we want. I like, Hey, you're in the playoffs.
It's great, but they're just a there's a monumental disparity
between the one seed getting a BUYE and the five
seed going on the road. It's just and not that
this team can't make it to the super Bowl winning
three games on the road. It's just that, Man, I
(26:16):
want that one and I want that buy love you
MJ I, I gaff I give a f about you.
I appreciate that. That's it's very nice about you. And uh,
let's see to do.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Oh man.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
By the way, there there is a male. There's always
a Karen or a Chad. A Chad saying because I
said yesterday about being Polish that I can you know,
He's like, you don't represent pole, Dude. It's people like
you that people warn me before I moved out to
the PNW are because people like you you literally look
(26:55):
for everything to be so be offended. I'm Polish, I
can get away with making on Polish people. I'm half French,
I can get away with making fun of French people.
I'm part of Italian I can get away with making
fun of Italian people. Dude, seriously, like, just do better
and don't be such a chad you mail Karen?
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Really, I mean, man, I knew, I knew.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
The West Coast was soft in a lot of aspects,
but really we don't need Chads and Karen's on the
text line, dude, really, get a life, Really, get a life,
all right. Thanks to Hu Millan. Thanks to Dalton Wasserman
and Mike Betton for joining us. Don't forget Picking the
Lock Special Edition College Football Playoff edition and NFL Week
(27:38):
eighteen edition tomorrow ten am to eleven am, one hour
show before we, I believe, go to the bowl games.
We'll talk to the mayor. Ian Fernetz coming up next.
All right, hope everybody out there has a happy new year.
Don't forget. Like I said, ten am to eleven am tomorrow,
a college football Playoff NFL Week eighteen addition of picking
(27:59):
the Locks for one hour from ten am to eleven
a m. This will be the final MJ and the
midday show of the twenty twenty five year kid.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Been great working with you.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Well, I'll see you literally next year, which is only
in a few days, and look forward to big things
in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Thank you, sir. Likewise, i'll see you soon.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
You threw a curveball at me though I thought you
were gonna go with the forty nine ers.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
I really did. You surprised me so, I I defense
think Sam Donald three.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Hundred, I know so, I mean the Bears should have
scored on that final drive. That would have been forty
five points. So yeah, man, I know I'm with you.
Ian for Nest coming up next. Ian Kracking last night
and they got a point, got a pointebe got a
point and keep the extend to point streak a live
five games and listen, Leane Lambert, he's turned some things around.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
They you know, they don't do good and shootouts, but
that's okay.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
I just like, I'm gonna look at the positive in
this and that the team is headed in the right direction.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Yeah, I think they're head the right direction. Yeah. Shootouts
are just today they are so bad. Oh and four
an them right now. I think I think they scored
maybe three goals in those four shootout losses. It's been
you get to the shootout. They you know, they had
an opportunity in overtime but they didn't. But they got
the They got the point. Vancouver's weird, horrible home team,
good road team. Would have been nice to get two
(29:22):
against them. But I think I heard Andrews and and
venting on the radio post game last night, and they
had it. They said it best. It's they had. They
had nine points or ten ten possible points in the
last five games of the calendar year twenty twenty five,
and they got nine out of ten. I think we
all would have taken that a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
True, Yeah, no, no, no, no, any upsets from you
in the college football playoff tripleheader or tomorrow night. There's
four games in total. Anything that you see being an upset, do.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
You want to go? Are you going point spread?
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Are you going?
Speaker 4 (29:54):
Actually?
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Just game on the field, the actual game, the actual game.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
Man. I lean and I hate doing this because I
like when they win, because it makes people here not happy.
I lean towards maybe Oregon getting upset.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
You know.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
Oh, here's the thing. They're they're a favorite. Well upset
in the sense that I know they're a favorite. But
come on, like, what are we talking about here? I mean,
it's Oregon. They are they gonna win a big game? Like,
really gonna win a big game? I mean there, what
is it there?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
A favorite? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I mean that's basically a push. I mean I told
you yesterday. I love I love the points with Miami
nine and a half. I think that'll be a cool Yeah.
And you know what, Ian, it's kind of just stayed there.
It didn't really hover, It's just kind of stayed right there.
I think I like the I like Alabama the points.
(30:47):
To be honest with you, probably like the under in
that game forty eight and a half probably like probably
like that a lot. Let's see what else we got,
old miss George Georgia, old man. So how about the
greasiness going on there? Have you seen this?
Speaker 2 (31:03):
What?
Speaker 4 (31:03):
Lane Kiffin is going to be at the game?
Speaker 2 (31:06):
What?
Speaker 4 (31:07):
And he's going to be there with the governor of Louisiana. Now,
there are six coaches and I think at least four
or five of them haven't committed to going with Lane
to LSU that are coaching in that game.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
By the way, he's making it all about him.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
It's all about him, all about him, tampering of coaches, distracting.
So I think I might go Georgia, even though there're
I think I think Georgia minus six and a half
is the easy play on that game.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
I And you know that Mississippi reporter said you don't
make the whole housewife.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
No, she was right.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
We just stay away, man, just stay away nobody. Here's
the thing. There isn't a player there that wants to
see you like, there isn't one player there. I mean
when he left, he tried to say that you know,
guys wanted him to coach, and all the players came
out and said, ah, that's not true. None of us
want you to be here. Go away, So I mean
I think that that jumps I just just go away, man,
just go the hell away. I mean it makes you
(32:00):
on a root for Ole Miss in a sense. But yeah,
I just I don't know. I yeah, I mean, I'm
I look just more at the spreads. I think Alabama
Indiana is really interesting. Alabama looked so good in that
first playoff game.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
I don't know, man, especially spotting Oklahoma seventeen points.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
Yeah, and Indiana's got a good defense. I don't think
they're I don't think their defense is as good as Oklahoma's,
you know, but Mendoza is the X factor. I like
him better than Simpson. So yeah, I don't know. I
wish I wish that we didn't have a hockey game
that day. But yeah, yeah, there you go, there you go.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
By the way, how about this, of all the teams remaining, Yeah,
Indiana has the seventy second talent roster of all the
one hundred and thirty sixteen seventy. That tells you how
amazing of a job Kurt Signetti has done building this
program and and kind of like starting a trend where
other than Lane Kiffen in you know, yeah, Kyle Winningham
(33:01):
that most coaches, you know, you look at Levitt, he stayed,
Actually not Levitt, Dillingham, he stayed. Levitt's gone, uh Dillingham Sting, Bromsting,
even though I bet you he would have taken the
Michigan job. I don't know why they didn't offer to him.
But you're seeing Clark Lee Vanderbilt. A lot of guys
now are saying, hey, I can make money, we can
have I mean, Indiana football, with all due respect to
(33:23):
Lee Corso, was an absolute joke.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
A dumpster fire, absolutely dumpster fire. I mean, it is
amazing what one coach can do to turn a program around,
you know, and sometimes one coach. I mean Oregon it
was one play you know that helped rich Brooks get
over the hump, uh the pick. So, I mean, yeah,
I mean there's this, It's you know, there's there's blue
bloods out there that aren't even I mean, there's teams
(33:48):
out there that aren't what they used to be, right.
So I mean I put USC in that category, you know,
I mean I think I put them in that category
in the sense too, so be good games. I mean
Oregon Texas Tech last I'm excited to watch that one.
I'm on Thursday morning. That'll be fun. It's always like
when they put the West Coast teams at nine am.
I think that's just awesome.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
Tongue firmly in cheek.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
By the way, they're playing that one in Miami. What
do you got today? We're gonna check in with Corbin
Smith one twenty today and then our weekly visit with
John one from the Bay Area. That should be entertaining
coming up at two o'clock. Kind of a big game
with the Bay Area this weekend, I believe. So, yeah,
kind of a big game. We'll get to that staff.
So he's gonna ask him about diaminor Leonore talking trash
about say you know, I'm gonna I'm ready to play, man.
(34:30):
I hope Jameson's ready. Oh really, okay, okay, yeah, yeah,
well all right, we'll see yeah, all right, they're prime time.
Yeah all right, Ian for Net's coming up next. Happy
New Year to you and your family. Ian, I will
see you next year. Don't forget picking the locks tomorrow
at ten am the eleven am so and we will
see you next year right here on MJ and in
the midday
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