Countdown to Kickoff Presented by BetMGM

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Are you ready to witness quotquaitness College fans, Welcome to
the biggest tailgate party in the nation.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Different day.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff, presented by bett Emga,
the gig of sportsbook. We're setting you up with the
information you need to watch your team win.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
Let's go.

Speaker 4 (00:24):
We're here to break it all down. Let's go, let's go.

Speaker 1 (00:27):
This is Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff, presented by
bett Emga. No, we're lyve from your tailgate. Here's Brian No.

Speaker 5 (00:40):
Oh, good morning.

Speaker 6 (00:41):
Week one is here in college football. Man, look at
these rich Ornberger's got his game face on. The Irish
must be playing at primetime tonight. That's what it looks
like to me.

Speaker 3 (00:52):
Go let's go. This is a day boys.

Speaker 7 (00:56):
We've been waiting for this for a long time and
it's finally here. Look at us Week one. We've got
a full slate of action coming up. This is the best, man,
it is.

Speaker 8 (01:05):
Dispense date play today? Oh yeah, yeah, played three hours.
Let's go they do?

Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yes, got the.

Speaker 9 (01:12):
I know it's crazy, yeah yeah.

Speaker 5 (01:16):
Week one unbelievable.

Speaker 3 (01:18):
You know.

Speaker 6 (01:19):
Let's start off on a good foot here or a
bad foot, It depends on which side you were on,
but shout out to Elon, who was a twenty four
and a half point underdog. Yeah, and with fourteen seconds
to go, they kicked a field goal and ended up
losing the game twenty six to three. So of course

(01:39):
they were avoiding the shutout, but they also in the
process covered the spread with a field goal with fourteen
seconds to play there. So yeah, if you were on
Duke against an FCS team, that's, uh, that's too bad
right there.

Speaker 3 (01:54):
That's rough.

Speaker 6 (01:54):
But if you're on Elon, hey, baby, let's call that
the cover play. That's exactly right. They have the cover
play in football as well. How about this, what are
you guys most looking forward to? Like me, I'm a
Notre Dame honk.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
You know that.

Speaker 6 (02:07):
You guys are Penn State honks. We all know that.
Like put your rooting allegiance to the side. Okay, because
that's obvious. What you're most looking forward to? Rooting allegiance
to the side. Which game has circled the most here?

Speaker 7 (02:21):
Well, I'll tell you what I was thinking about was
Alabama with Calin de Boor and I know they're playing
again against Western Kentucky. I want to see what a
Nick sabanless Crimson Tide team looks like we haven't experienced
that in most of my life, you know, if I

(02:42):
think about it, like I'm I'm nearing forty and most
of my time caring about playing college football or observing it.
Nick Saban has been synonymous with that program, so very
curious just to see what that looks like. I think
Notre Dame actually, you know, you know, not to not
to be you know, scoot over to your side of

(03:04):
the the diner booth here. But I think I think
that's a fun little matchup right there, you know what
I mean. We got a we got a road dog
heading there to Aggie Land. That's gonna be a fun kickoff.
I think a lot of people are gonna be tuning
in to watch that. There's a lot of good games
in this early slate here, you know. And and I

(03:25):
don't think I don't think now seasons are going to
be lost or made week one, like it feels like
many times in the past they would be when we
were with the four game playoff. But when when we're
getting down to the nitty gritty seeding teams in the
new expanded twelve team playoff, that That's that's where Week

(03:46):
one can bite you.

Speaker 8 (03:48):
Yeah, I mean obvious answer rank versus rank Clemson Georgia.

Speaker 9 (03:51):
Actually see a little money here on Clemson this morning,
seeing that that number is starting to get a little
short in the eleven range. I mean that thing was
two touchdowns a little early in the week. So a
little money on Clemson this morning. That obviously is the
high profile game today. I think if you wanted to
ask me, what's the most intriguing game that could have
fringe playoff implications, it's actually tomorrow here in Vegas, USC

(04:15):
against LSU, A very intriguing game. Of course, both teams
losing their you know, Heisman caliber quarterback, so we'll see
a very different offense for both USC and LSU. I
know we're gonna break this game down a little bit later,
but in terms of name recognition in the brands, obviously
Clemson and Georgia right at the top.

Speaker 8 (04:34):
Obviously A and M.

Speaker 9 (04:35):
Maybe not as much as Notre Dame, but those brands
are right at the top, and I think USC LSU, right,
it's a neutral site game in Vegas.

Speaker 8 (04:43):
I'm already starting to see a lot of.

Speaker 4 (04:44):
Trojan fans invading Las Vegas.

Speaker 8 (04:46):
This weekend.

Speaker 9 (04:47):
It's gonna be I would imagine a very heavy us
C crowd of LO LSU travels really well, wouldn't be
shocked if they, you know, fill up Allegiance Stadium too.
But that's a very intriguing game. Of course, you have
two offenses that we just don't know what we're gonna
get because the quarterback production we have from both programs
last year obviously very different.

Speaker 6 (05:05):
Now you guys might call me a liar here, but
rooting Allegiance to the side, it's still Notre Dame, Texas
A and M.

Speaker 7 (05:11):
Yeah, I can get it's a tight spread.

Speaker 3 (05:15):
That's a fun game too.

Speaker 6 (05:17):
Yeah, and the backdrop is pretty cool too, where the
former well the former Duke head coach, Mike Elco is
now at Texas A and M his former quarterback Rightley
Leonard is now at Notre Dame, so they're on closing sides.

Speaker 5 (05:31):
That's that's pretty interesting.

Speaker 9 (05:33):
That happened last year too, By the way, that second
year in a row, we've seen that happen last year
Wisconsin Luke Fickel, right, and we saw Ben Bryant from Northwestern.
Those guys were coaching quarterback last year playing against each other.

Speaker 5 (05:44):
Man, who could forget that epic showdown?

Speaker 3 (05:46):
Huh.

Speaker 9 (05:46):
You know, little high more, little more high profile this time, right, yeah,
a little bit.

Speaker 4 (05:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (05:52):
And one that I have circled that we haven't mentioned
yet is that Miami Florida game. You know, I think
that's gonna be an interesting one. You get cam Ward
going over there to the you can Mario christobaal get
it going in the right direction. Man, Florida, you talk
about murderers row their schedule is freaking brutal. So if

(06:15):
they lose this game, man, you're staring like a three
win season right in the face potentially, you know. So
Florida's got to find a way to win the game.
I don't know that they will, but the way they
close their season, it sounds like a joke where it's
just ranked team, ranked team, ranked team on the road,
ranked team. It's like, my gosh, So Billy Napier, who's

(06:37):
on the hot seat. That is a big game because
you don't want to start off losing to Miami with
that schedule facing you and all the naysayers that that
is a must.

Speaker 5 (06:46):
Win game for Florida, and I'm not sure they're gonna.

Speaker 7 (06:49):
Yeah, and opening your season that way for either of
these programs Week one against an in state rival, one
of the oldest rivalries you have going with your football program.
It's almost unfair because nobody knows who they are yet.
In college football, that is going to be something We're
going to see a lot of beware of road favorites

(07:11):
early in the season. I'm gonna say that right now,
full well knowing that Miama Mater plays as a road
favorite in Webter TV today, because you're going to see
a lot of self discovery, a lot of naval staring
in college football as the beginning of this season kicks off,

(07:33):
because I don't think, I really don't think these teams
know a whole lot about themselves because there's so much
roster turnover, because of the open transfer portal, because of
the name, image and likeness money that players are chasing. Yeah,
I'll go back to talking about Nick Saban for a moment.
That guy's an analyst this year instead of a head

(07:53):
football coach out a football program. Because he said it.
He said it a couple times this offseason. I didn't
like where this game's heading with all these players. Asks
after we lose a heartbreaker in the semi final.

Speaker 3 (08:08):
He was like, I don't.

Speaker 7 (08:09):
I don't like how this is turned out where I
have to, you know, dance and prove and pay players
to keep them in my program. He was like, that's
not the way it was, and and I didn't. I
didn't like the way that felt. It felt too transactional
instead of what it used to be. Where the exchange

(08:29):
was you come to my football program, I try to
make you a better football player, and then we shake
hands on your way out the door. And you know what,
maybe if you learned a couple of things about life
along the way, all the better because I got into
the business for that too. And now it's like, you
walk into this football program four years later, you could
potentially have already made a down payment on a house.

(08:51):
You may have a couple of cars in that that
house is garage. You may have set up a couple
of family members with all the money you made in college.

Speaker 3 (08:59):
These guys are professed now it's a completely different game.

Speaker 7 (09:02):
And going back to my original point, week one, week
two of this college football season, I think we're gonna
see some really wacky things happen on the fields out there.

Speaker 8 (09:11):
Yeah, we already saw them, right, in Ireland.

Speaker 9 (09:13):
Last week, Georgia Tech as a double digit dog, wins
out right in Florida State. I think is you know,
kind of licking their wounds a little bit. I think
that is the key everybody. And I saw that number
move a ton. Everybody was betting Boston College. Boston College
plays Florida State in a couple of days, they got
a couple of extra days rest after their trip home,

(09:34):
and you already saw that number adjust, you know, I
think it was like four points. I got BC like
plus twenty and a half, and now it's sitting at
like sixteen or seventeen, even touch fourteen at one point.
So you already start to see the overreactions right after
those initial games. You don't overreact to one data point.
Now if it's a second data point, for example, if

(09:54):
Florida State goes out and gets pushed around by Boston
College on Monday night, well then we can start to
raise the alarm on what's happening in Tallahassee. But if
your team goes out there today and kind of doesn't
look like you expected based on what you were reading
in the off season publications, it's not time to push
the panic. But yet for two reasons. Hey, it's ones
thinking data point, and these are college kids. They are

(10:16):
going to improve or maybe look worse the following week
if they look really good this week. But also, the
Collegeable Playoff is different now, like you can lose it
Florida Stay could still make it. They probably won't, but
they could still make it theoretically, Whereas last year, if
you lose that opening game, you're done, You're cooked. They
would have had no shot to make the CFP. So
it's just a completely different set of rules that we're

(10:37):
working with this year, and I think that makes the
season very, very interesting.

Speaker 6 (10:41):
Yeah, that's the interesting thing to me is because there's
no preseason like the NFL. This is your first glimpse,
like you guys are just talking about. So, yeah, I agree.
There is such a thing as overreacting. I think there's
such a thing as underreacting as well. It just depends.
It's case by case. Give you an example. Let's look

(11:01):
at Colorado. Colorado took on North Dakota State and their
offensive line looked freaking brutal. Okay, and their defense didn't look.

Speaker 5 (11:10):
Very good either. Like that that's a great said.

Speaker 6 (11:13):
I know the Bison do their thing at the FCS level,
I know they're one of the behemoths. So it's not
like it was you know, Billy Bob Tech over there
or something like that the most rema. But but you
know what I'm saying is, even though that's your first game,
there were signs where that is a that's a bad
sign going forward. Shaduer Sanders did his thing, four hundred
and forty five yards passing, Travis Hunter was unbelievable, three

(11:36):
touchdown catches. Those guys are phenomenal. But when you don't
have the O line, when your defense is like, eh,
but I don't see this being a turner corner a
corner turning type season. So that's the thing is, it's like,
holy FCS batman. On the schedule over here, there's so
many games against FCS teams where what do they look like?

Speaker 5 (12:00):
And that's your first glimpse.

Speaker 6 (12:02):
Maybe you're overreacting, like, oh man, we had a last
second field goal to beat an FCS team.

Speaker 5 (12:07):
We suck, Like that's game one. You might improve.

Speaker 6 (12:10):
That might be an overreaction, But there is such a
thing as underreacting where it's like it's just.

Speaker 5 (12:16):
The first game.

Speaker 6 (12:17):
It's like I don't see the offensive line all of
a sudden, pushing everybody around when you can't push around
an FCS team.

Speaker 3 (12:23):
You know, I completely agree with you.

Speaker 7 (12:25):
I think there is a way that human beings, to
protect themselves, will not absorb guilt in that way. Right,
you know, even if it's a win, you can still
consider a game of loss.

Speaker 3 (12:40):
And actually I typically felt like those were the.

Speaker 7 (12:43):
Best wins for football programs that I played for, whether
it be collegiately or professionally.

Speaker 3 (12:50):
And that's across all the teams I played for.

Speaker 7 (12:53):
When you have a narrow win against a team you
should beat badly, it teaches you more than beating that
team by a million or beating any of the better
teams on your schedule typically, And the reason is because
it's it's a gut check, it's who It's kind of
a who do you want to be this season type

(13:15):
of moment. And so if Deon Sanders coach Prime, if
he's smart what he's doing when he gets his team
into the film.

Speaker 3 (13:22):
Room, he is treating it like it's a loss.

Speaker 7 (13:25):
Now you get the w on the official schedule, nobody's
going to really.

Speaker 3 (13:29):
Recall that game play for play.

Speaker 7 (13:32):
Come the end of the season when there's so many
other bigger moments to reltigate.

Speaker 3 (13:36):
But you treat that like a loss.

Speaker 7 (13:39):
You look every single player in the eye in that
room and you ask them what kind of football team
do you want to be? Do you want to be
a football team who has to survive against North Dakota State?

Speaker 3 (13:48):
Or are we going to be the type of.

Speaker 7 (13:49):
Football team that gets to hoist some hardware at the
end of the season. And that's a stare yourself in
the mirror moment and so good on the buffs for
getting the w. But yeah, you do not miss the
opportunity to create a teachable moment. Do not do not
miss the opportunity to don't be don't be so overwhelmed

(14:11):
with how good of a football team you are not
to look at a loss or a win that closely
and investigate and try to make yourself better.

Speaker 3 (14:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (14:21):
I didn't change my opinion on Colorado based on the game.

Speaker 9 (14:25):
Colorado has elite skill players, elite skilled players, and not
a ton of depth in the trenches. That's what they
were last year, That's what they are this year. At
least based on that first game. I wouldn't move Colorado's
number too much. Based off of that. Now, if one
of those guys get hurt, Sanders or Hunter, I mean,
then you're gonna move that number considerably. But I still

(14:46):
think Colorado is what is, what they is, what we
thought they were. As Dennis Green would say, right, I
will say, the one concern is the coaching. And I
don't know everything I read from you know what we've
seen in the off season, the you know controversy that
it's just there's there's a lot of going on behind

(15:08):
the scenes there, and it's all about quieting that noise,
right Rich Like when when Penn State was going through
some struggles, it was the year before, it was my
freshman year, the year was Zach Mills, and then all
of a sudden they kind of hit that hit that
spurt and improve. When you're facing adversity when you're expected
to be good, is that harder than when no one
expects anything of you and then you don't play well,

(15:29):
like Colorado has these high expectations and they kind of
fell short of that obviously in that opening game. Is
that harder to overcome than a team that just isn't
really supposed to be good and then fall short?

Speaker 8 (15:39):
Obviously?

Speaker 3 (15:40):
Absolutely?

Speaker 7 (15:41):
And and it's because you can control so much about football,
and then there's obviously things you can't control. You can't
control a road environment, you can't control, uh you know,
another team's plays or players, personnel, et cetera. And you
certainly can't control what people expect from you on the

(16:01):
outside looking in, and that can derail your season if
you have players who are sensitive to that stuff. So
the drum beat has to be very closed culture. When
things like that happen, you have to you have to
convince your players we are controlling the control bulls. We
are doing the very best we can inside of these doors.
What everybody says on the outside, it's not their fault,

(16:24):
but they don't know what they're talking about.

Speaker 10 (16:26):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (16:26):
That is the voice of rich Orenberger right there. Penn
State All American Jared Smith FSR, betting analyst. I'm Brian know.
Jared of course went to Penn State as well. You know,
so we got to Penn State, honks on.

Speaker 8 (16:38):
I'm just I think Penn State today, guys, I never
I did.

Speaker 5 (16:42):
I just looked at the rundown. I didn't shoehorn this
game in there. It's a travesty man.

Speaker 9 (16:47):
Oh mage, Okay, the figure out a way to get
it in there.

Speaker 6 (16:51):
Well, we'll definitely talk about that one. It's football time
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Speaker 5 (17:21):
I got got choked up right there. Fifteen hundred dollars.

Speaker 4 (17:23):
That's a lot right there.

Speaker 5 (17:24):
That's good insurance, all right.

Speaker 6 (17:26):
Coming up next, would you like to hear the mother
of misleading stats?

Speaker 5 (17:32):
If you do, We've got it for you.

Speaker 6 (17:34):
It is Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff, presented by BETMGM.

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Quick, knowledgeable and funny, opinionated.

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Shut up.

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It is Fox Sports Radios.

Speaker 6 (18:30):
Countdown to kick Off presented by bet MGM all season long.
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Speaker 5 (18:51):
All right, so we've got a big one hit.

Speaker 6 (18:53):
We got a dandy Keith Jackson, We got a dandy here, right,
Clemson at Georgia, or I should say Clemson versus Georgia
because it's at a neutral site there over at Mercedes
Benz in Atlanta. So I think this is the mother
of misleading stats. I saw this flash on the screen
last night and I was like, Wow, if you're not

(19:13):
reading the fine print on that, that is quite misleading.
This stat is Clemson and Georgia have combined to win
four of the last eight national championships. And while that
is completely accurate and that is a fact, yeah, yeah, man,
there's a big difference between where Clemson is right now

(19:34):
and where Georgia is right now because that arrow has
been pointing downward.

Speaker 5 (19:39):
For Clemson.

Speaker 6 (19:40):
That was their first single digit win season under Dabo Sweeney.
He's had double digit win seasons for twelve years in
a row. That ended last year when they went nine
to four. So Clemson has not been close to where
Georgia has been these last couple of years.

Speaker 3 (19:57):
No, not even close.

Speaker 7 (19:59):
And it really stems back to Dabo Sweeney's failure to
adapt to the changing landscape in college football. Early on
win a lot of coaches they saw the way things
were zigging, they zagged with it, meaning nil and transfer
portal and all of the things that are so popular

(20:22):
now in terms of you know, people like US sports
pundits or even the players themselves in terms of interest.
I mean, this is a brand new world compared to
what it was just two seasons ago. It's a brand
new world now. Talk about five years ago, a half decade.
I mean, college football barely resembles what it looked like

(20:42):
back then.

Speaker 3 (20:44):
And I think.

Speaker 7 (20:46):
Clemson as a result, is playing a little ketchup. I
think that's the biggest problem for them right now. And
you don't want to play ketchup, especially when teams have
fiercely gathered players in the transfer portal and they've put
together their war chests with their you know, with their
their their friends and allies amongst their alumnis, and they

(21:07):
they've been able to spend and build rosters better than
a lot of other teams.

Speaker 9 (21:12):
Yeah, and we're seeing a little bit of handled humm
in on Clemson. I checked in with a couple of
pros that I trust, and it looks like there's a
there is some sharp money on Clemson today.

Speaker 8 (21:24):
Does that mean Clemson's gonna win?

Speaker 9 (21:25):
I have no idea, but maybe this number is a
little bit heavier, and I think when you look at
what Georgia is, they've got some questions too. I think
both teams this is a very intriguing game because both
teams have high expectations and I think both teams have questions.
I think with Georgia it's more on the defensive side.

Speaker 8 (21:45):
They did lose a lot.

Speaker 9 (21:46):
They didn't have as many players, you know, raided by
the draft as they had in prior years. But that
also means last year's defense wasn't as good as it
has been in prior years, and they're dealing with a
little bit of a I would say youth movement on
the defense side. They were run on last year. Auburn
and Georgie's both ran on Georgia last year. Clemson's going
through a defensive transition to I think Clemson's offense is

(22:08):
going to be better this year. It's year two of
Garrett Riley. The OC did not go well at the
end of last year. They were very conservative at the
end of last season. You lose one of the back Shipley,
but you keep MafA. He's a belcal I think the
run game is going to be really strong for Clemson
this year. The offensive line is gonna be good. Club
Nick needs to take care of the ball. I think
that is the key for the Tigers in this game
and pretty much every game all season.

Speaker 8 (22:31):
It's gonna be interesting to see what George's offense looks.

Speaker 9 (22:33):
Like, right because I think when you look at what
Mike Bobo is trying to do, they don't have as
many of those high profile pieces as you might think.

Speaker 8 (22:42):
They lost their best pass catcher in Bowers.

Speaker 9 (22:44):
Who is a tight end, but the number one receiver
Dominic love It was really good last year when Bowers
was hurt. So we'll see if Lovett takes a step forward.
Oscar Delp's supposed to be better than brock Bauers, we'll see.
He's young, he's very talented. I think he's more of
a vertical tight end threat. Bowers a little bit more
in line. But Beck's gotta be, you know, the Patrick
Mahomes approach. Defend every blade of grafts. Make Clemson secondary,

(23:07):
which can be a little bit suspect at times, make
them defend all angles of the field. Because George's got speed,
Clemson secondary maybe a little bit flat footed. It's all
about can Carson Beck really, you know, command the offense
and take that step forward.

Speaker 6 (23:22):
Yeah, it's funny, right because you go back to the
twenty twenty two NFL Draft and Georgia had fifteen guys
drafted and they had five defensive players drafted in the
first round. And like you're saying, Jared, you think about
that defense and that first championship season for Kirby Smart,

(23:42):
is that just a flash in the pan?

Speaker 5 (23:44):
Like are we never going to see that again at Georgia?

Speaker 6 (23:47):
Like defense at that level where you had playmakers everywhere. Man,
it's like you were seeing guys like Jordan Davis and
Jalen Carter their teammates now with the Eagles, like they
were on the same Georgia squad, you know what I mean,
And they had just talent. Goal lord Na Kobe Dean

(24:07):
was amazing for that defense. He's an Eagle also, like
anybody who was good, Doly'd smit that all these guys
are Eagles right now. But I'm just wondering if the
defense can look similar to that but not the same,
because yes, there's a big difference between where they were
at their peak and where they are now. I'm not
saying they suck, but there's a gap between where they

(24:30):
were at their peak and where they are last year
and where they are now.

Speaker 7 (24:34):
Yeah, and also going back to the betting line where
it opened as Georgia the Bulldogs being thirteen and a
half point favorites not number has now dropped fairly significantly
a full point to twelve and a half. I think
some of it has to do with the fact that
Attn is not going to be on the field for
the Bulldogs. You know, you have a rusher who comes

(24:56):
in who's presumed to be your number one back, who
had seven one hundred yards his freshman and sophomore year
at Florida before transferring into the Bulldogs football program, have
the dy back in May and has what I believe
he pled no contest to some lesser charges. I forget
exactly how it all hammered out, but he's facing obviously

(25:19):
some sort of suspension for this, and it's going to
have an effect because they're going to rely on a
guy who's banged up coming into the season. They're backup
Branton who's got turf toe and had a Pteller tendant
situation a season ago.

Speaker 3 (25:34):
So you have you have some.

Speaker 7 (25:36):
People evaluating the Bulldogs who are going to be facing
that again not a home game, neutral site game. Dealing
with adversity out the gate in terms of their roster
and personnel abilities, you know that that could rear its head,
especially if they have an early lead, say, and they
want to sustain that lead. You want to rely on

(25:58):
your running back and whoops, you don't have the guy
you want to rely on in your backfield.

Speaker 8 (26:03):
Yeah, let's go through some personnel on both sides.

Speaker 9 (26:05):
For Clemson, it's the secondary, right, so their number one
corner spots set Adon Terrell, number two is a battle Jade, Lucas,
Shelton Lewis, both of those guys hurting Clemson's final scrimmage
and Lewis couldn't even put weight on his leg. He
was seen on crutches very recently. Dabo very tight lipped.
All right, everyone's good to go, and then he's like,
oh no, we're all day today. So we'll see what

(26:26):
the Clemson secondary looks like. And again with Georgia's offense,
Mike Bobo and Carson Beck. That's the strength of Georgia's
the quarterback position. We'll see if they take advantage of that.
And you mentioned it rich for Georgia, I think Ethen
is going to be suspended. The rest of the group, though,
is so bad that Ethen was. It was rumored as
we that he actually might play because the rest of
the group is is that thin.

Speaker 8 (26:46):
Roderick Robinson, the backup, done with.

Speaker 9 (26:48):
Toe surgery, so we're at a third string running back
now if Etn doesn't play, and as you mentioned, Brandon
Robinson coming off with a teller injury. The walk on
Cash Jones is also on the depth chart. They've also
got a true freshman, Nate Jones. He was the number
two running back in the twenty four class. He flashed
in camp, but that's a true freshman playing in the
first game of the year against Clemson, who defensively did

(27:09):
lose a lot. Again, five guys drafted on the defensive
side of the ball for Clempson, three of their best defenders.
This is gonna be I'll be honest, I'm changing my
answer from earlier.

Speaker 3 (27:20):
This game is.

Speaker 9 (27:21):
Very intriguing to me in terms of the upside, because
I think Georgia has a chance. If they want to
push the ball down the field, I think they've got.

Speaker 8 (27:28):
A chance to do that with their speed.

Speaker 9 (27:30):
It's all about Clemson controlled. It's kind of a typical
Clemson game. Can they control tempo? Can they control the
line of scrimmage. If they can do both of those things,
they are live in this game because I think their
defense can at least compete, and I think Clay Cup
Club Nick, I'm gonna have to say that a lot
this year at least has an opportunity with.

Speaker 8 (27:47):
Some of the weapons it is disposal to push the
ball down the field on his end.

Speaker 6 (27:50):
Well, hey, you talk about being intrigued by the upside.
I'm intrigued by the upside of one Isaac kleewen Kron.
And let me tell you, Mount everest of upside is
what you have with Ilo.

Speaker 5 (28:03):
What is going on today?

Speaker 4 (28:04):
I low, Well, thank you, Brian.

Speaker 10 (28:05):
And in this case it was actually you who had
the bigger upside because you mentioned earlier Billy Bob Tech.

Speaker 4 (28:16):
I actually scrolled.

Speaker 10 (28:18):
I did a lot of scrolling through the college football
scoreboard on Friday night, and it turns out there is
a Billy Bob Tech Division three Triple A. Last night,
the Billy Bob Tech Boss Hogs defeated the Jimmy Bubba
State Mighty Mullets thirty one to twenty seven.

Speaker 5 (28:40):
Incredible Jimmy Bubba State.

Speaker 8 (28:42):
Huh, Jared nig Bubba State?

Speaker 4 (28:43):
Jared, how did your how did your bet come out
on that one?

Speaker 8 (28:46):
Jimmy Bubba State?

Speaker 3 (28:47):
Plus?

Speaker 8 (28:47):
The points went down high?

Speaker 10 (28:49):
I hear that anyway, and less important college football. Actually,
on Friday night, Wisconsin defeated Western Michigan twenty eight to fourteen.
Western Michigan actually led this game with ten third to
play in the fourth, with the Badgers closed on a
fifteen to nothing run. TCUs Josh Hoover threw for three
point fifty three at a thirty four to twenty seven
win at Stanford, and Michigan State held off Florida Atlantic

(29:10):
sixteen to ten. Baseball Friday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers
one at Arizona ten to nine, show Hey Otani and
other home run and others stolen base becoming the first
forty three forty three.

Speaker 4 (29:22):
Player in Major League history.

Speaker 10 (29:24):
However, Clayton Kershaw left the game with a bone spur
in his left big toe and is expected to have
to go on the injured list. Giants over the Marlins
three to one thanks to a basis clearing double by
Matt Chapman at the bottom of the eighth inning US
Open Friday night, defending champion and men's number two seed
Novak Djokovic was upset of the third round by Alexey
Popperin of Australia in four sets, and of the WNBA

(29:47):
On Friday night, Caitlin Clark dropped a season I thirty
one along with twelve assists as the Indiana Fever defeat
of the Chicago Sky one hundred to eighty one.

Speaker 4 (29:55):
Fella's back to you.

Speaker 3 (29:57):
Thank You, I Lo.

Speaker 6 (29:58):
It is Fox Sports Radio's Countdown to kick Off Off,
presented by Bett MGM. So we can expand on this
a little bit later, but just to dip our beaks
in the waters over here of number eight Penn State
against West Virginia, and man, there has been a steady
stream of West Virginia money. You had Penn State open

(30:19):
between like minus ten minus twelve, and it's all the
way down to minus seven and a half for Penn State,
the road favorite in this one. I don't know, man,
I love your Nitney Lions in this matchup here when
it is just like, hey, all the cool people are
betting West Virginia plus.

Speaker 5 (30:38):
The points, I don't know, man.

Speaker 6 (30:40):
And James Franklin has been money in situations like this
at Penn State. You see his record when his teams
are favored between seven and twenty four points, his record
is unblemished against the spread. They are sixteen zho to
one wow against the spread. When the Nitney Lions are
favored between seven and twenty four and that's what they're

(31:03):
favored by seven and a half right now, So that
stat would play into this. I just think I think
it's going to be a madhouse there at West Virginia.
But I think that Penn State with a new offensive
coordinator and Drew Aller and that running game and that defense,
that's a lot of and and and and you know,
and again when you've get when you get all of

(31:25):
that money on one side, I go to the other side.

Speaker 3 (31:30):
Man.

Speaker 5 (31:30):
I like Penn State in this one a lot.

Speaker 3 (31:32):
Yeah, I get it.

Speaker 7 (31:33):
I could see this being a win and a no
cover for Penn State. I could also see it a
win and a narrow cover for Penn State. I could
see this swinging back and forth. So this would be
a hands off game for me. And like I said,
I think wacky things are gonna happen to a lot
of road favorites. Earlier in the season in terms of
the point spread, but also losses, and those losses again

(31:57):
not as detrimental as they were when it was a
four to team playoff, but they will come up when
you're seeding these teams at the end of the season.
You know how desirable will your placement be. Who will
you be facing in the early rounds of the postseason,
So you do not want to drop on the road
in Morgantown if you're Penn State. What I'm most fascinated
to see is how this Nitney Lion offense looks, especially

(32:20):
on the road, super hostile environment. Drew Awler, you know,
he's not a true dual threat quarterback, but he can
run some version of the option to stress defenses and
find those stress points out there. So I think we
will see some planned QB run. I think we will

(32:41):
see obviously at times them pushing the ball down the
field in their standard offense spread formations, but also out
of the play auction, and I'm expecting them to have
some success if they convert on those plays. So, like
you said, I could see this game being a win
and a cover for the Penn State Nitney Lions. Brian
and I like the Nittney Lions. Obviously, my biases are

(33:03):
pushing me that way, but I could also see a
narrow win, and I could see a no cover, and
I could see a lot of people in Morgantown who
placed their bets on their bet MGM apps going.

Speaker 3 (33:16):
Well at least my bet one.

Speaker 9 (33:20):
Make no mistake if James Franklin has an opportunity to
cover this number, Penn State is covering this night.

Speaker 3 (33:26):
Of course, do you.

Speaker 8 (33:27):
Remember this game last year?

Speaker 9 (33:28):
Completely meaningless touchdown was six seconds left, not only for
Penn State to get the cover, but the game also
went over.

Speaker 8 (33:34):
I remember, you know why I was on the under
and that.

Speaker 9 (33:37):
Touchdown was completely irrelevant and Neil Brown this week, they
remember in Morgantown.

Speaker 8 (33:44):
Here's the quote. It is what it is.

Speaker 9 (33:46):
If our guys need something like that to motivate them,
then eh, I'm not saying that's gonna I'm not saying
that's gonna impact the game, because you gotta go out
there and strap it on and play. But they remember
that that meaningless touchdown with the back on the field
and you know, the cover play as we talked about
earlier with Elon but with Drew Aller, it's it was

(34:06):
checked down Charlie last year, right a dot. We talked
about this all the time, Average depth of target? How
far are you pushing the ball down the field? How
much pressure are you putting on the opposing defenses? One
hundred and fifty nine qualifying quarterbacks last year, Aler was
one thirty seventh in average depth of target, only nine
throws on four hundred and twenty eight dropbacks beyond the

(34:28):
sticks in the air. You just you've got to push
the ball down the field, and I think that is
the biggest question. We get a new offensive coordinator for
Penn State this year, the Kansas colto Nikki. He's been
unbelievable at Kansas. You look at the average depth of
target of the Kansas quarterbacks over the last four years,
increasing year over year, and West Virginia a little thin

(34:48):
in the secondary. Right, they lost their consensus All American
Beanie Bishop. That's a huge loss. Neil Brown's excited about
the front seven, but I think the secondary is the
weakness of West Virginia. What better chance to show that
you've taken a step forward, Drew Aller, Push the ball
down the field and make this defense respect the Penn
State offense because for defensive purposes.

Speaker 8 (35:08):
Bett State's got a huge edge in this game.

Speaker 9 (35:09):
They're gonna have a huge edge almost in every matchup
they play this year on the defensive side of the ball.

Speaker 8 (35:14):
Can Drew Aller take that next step? That is the
entire question around the Nitney line season.

Speaker 5 (35:18):
Yeah, Denk and dunk Drew.

Speaker 8 (35:20):
There you go. I like that better than check down Charlie.

Speaker 5 (35:23):
Yeah, such a That's an amazing stat you know, was.

Speaker 8 (35:27):
It throws on four to twenty eight drop backs?

Speaker 3 (35:31):
Honest?

Speaker 5 (35:32):
Yeah, that sends. That's hard to believe.

Speaker 8 (35:34):
Man, you don't respect the pass.

Speaker 6 (35:37):
There are so many times where it could be like
second and five, you know what I mean, like you
throw it past the sticks that that would count, right,
and still not that many times.

Speaker 5 (35:49):
Yeah, amazing.

Speaker 9 (35:50):
He played well in this game last year though. He
had three five three touchdowns in this game last year.
So maybe it's West Virginia.

Speaker 7 (35:56):
It's And also again that defense is going to be
so so smooth on defensive on Penn State side. I
don't know how much you get done if you're West Virginia.
But again, early in the season, roster turnover, different coaches,
different voices, hostile environment. This is gonna be This is
gonna be a fun one to watch.

Speaker 3 (36:14):
Boys.

Speaker 6 (36:15):
Okay, So we've got Rich Rodenberger, Penn State, All American,
Jared Smith, FSR betting analyst.

Speaker 5 (36:20):
I'm Brian no.

Speaker 6 (36:21):
I think it's funny that you guys graduated from Penn
State and I'm the one that's like, lay the points.

Speaker 3 (36:26):
Don't get me wrong.

Speaker 8 (36:27):
Don't get me wrong.

Speaker 9 (36:28):
I'm laying it because James Franklin's coaching. James Franklin's coaching
Penn State. I'm willing to lay as a favorite. That
dude loves cover numbers.

Speaker 3 (36:36):
He does, he does, It's important to him. All right.

Speaker 6 (36:39):
Coming up next, Jared Smith's been hard at work. We
get to the parley platter. Coming up, it is Fox
Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented by bet MGM. It
is Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented by bet MGM.
Every time you make a wager at BETMGM, you earn
BETMGM Rewards points that can be redeemed for things like

(37:00):
honus bets or converted to MGM rewards points that can
be used towards dining shows and hotel rooms at over
twenty MGM resorts.

Speaker 5 (37:09):
All Right, let's do this.

Speaker 1 (37:12):
Check this out r lad letter.

Speaker 6 (37:15):
All right, Jared Smith, I know if you have been
at your computer and you have been checking and checking
and looking and sifting and searching for the perfect parlay
platter to start us off here this season.

Speaker 5 (37:29):
What do you have for us?

Speaker 9 (37:31):
Well, we're back to the hits, right. Last year we
did a lot of this that didn't win many of them.
But again that's why it's a small risk on your
portfolio today.

Speaker 8 (37:40):
Don't go crazy with these, but we.

Speaker 9 (37:42):
Will smash three money lines together for some underdogs and
try to get lucky here with a big payout.

Speaker 8 (37:49):
So let's start with this Florida Miami game.

Speaker 9 (37:52):
You want to take the points with Florida, that's fine,
but every time it gets to three, it.

Speaker 8 (37:56):
Gets bought back down. I would just put it.

Speaker 9 (37:58):
On the money line here and take the Gator Graham
Mertz year too. I'm excited to see what Graham Mertz
can do in year two with this billion napier offense.
I certainly don't trust Mario Crys the ball is a favor.
Absolutely not, especially on the road. This feels like a
toss up game in state rivals. I know Miami's got
all the hype with cam Ward et cetera. But listen,
Florida's got some speed here on the outside, Eugene Wilson,
Shamir d k, the Wisconsin transfer very good chemistry with Mertz,

(38:21):
and Miami's weakness is their secondary So I could see
in Florida maybe being a little aggressive here with Mertz
pushing the ball down the field. We think the Gators
here in Leg one of the parlay Leg two, UNLV
is a dog today at Houston. Both of these teams
lost a ton, especially UNLV defensively.

Speaker 8 (38:37):
They lost their quarterback Mayava as well.

Speaker 9 (38:39):
But Barry Odam's a good coach and I think he's
gonna get this team at least competing. And Houston, Man,
you think UNLV lost a ton, Houston lost even more.
Willie Fritz has his hands full this year in a
big step up in conference competition for Houston. So I
think this game also a toss up. You're getting three
and a half points with the rebels, forget that. Just
put it on the money line and we'll throw it
in the parlay final leg late night out here in

(39:02):
the Desert, Arizona State at home taken on Wyoming. Listen,
Wyoming competed in their non conference road games last year.

Speaker 8 (39:09):
They had Texas Tech on the rope. They had Texas
on the rope too.

Speaker 9 (39:12):
They were tied with Texas ten to ten in the
fourth quarter until a late avalanche by the Longhorns pushed
them across the finish line. Evans the Boda can ball
a little bit. That's the quarterback for Wyoming, and they've
been really good in these spots, six and two against
the number in their last four non conference road games.
I think Arizona State's going to major changes with Kenny Dillingham.
They lost a ton in the portal. Wyoming about a

(39:33):
seven point dog in this game will put them in
the parlay as well on the money line. So that's
Florida UNLV Wyoming. This parlay over at bet MGM pays
out almost sixteen to one.

Speaker 8 (39:45):
Not bad for our first swing right out of the gates.

Speaker 3 (39:47):
Yeah, I love it.

Speaker 7 (39:48):
I'll tell you what, the same way we saw in
North Dakota State put it to the buffs. A lot
of these group of five teams, and you chose to
have the Mountain West. It's going to be tight against
some of these fbs, or I shouldn't say, FBS, some
of these powerful conference teams early.

Speaker 3 (40:05):
In the season.

Speaker 7 (40:07):
I think this is this is sneaky one of your
parly bladders.

Speaker 3 (40:11):
I'll be like, love of this. I like it a lot.
What do you think?

Speaker 7 (40:14):
Be?

Speaker 9 (40:14):
No?

Speaker 6 (40:16):
You you with the fifteen to one payouts already?

Speaker 4 (40:21):
I hate let your hair down?

Speaker 8 (40:22):
You know what I'm saying?

Speaker 6 (40:24):
Why who might have been brinch on this fifteen to
one party?

Speaker 8 (40:28):
Very little sprinkle on their little half unit quarter unit?
Nothing crazy, nothing crazy.

Speaker 6 (40:33):
You know I've thought out. I've got a portal rants
for you. Okay, if you're up for it, I'm always
up for your rants. I also have an old man
yelling at Cloud's rants that you might find halfway entertaining.
But something that you said, Jared about Kenny Dillingham losing
so much talent to the portal, Yeah, we can.

Speaker 5 (40:54):
Get back into that.

Speaker 6 (40:55):
Also coming up next, is it the quarterback or is
it the defense that has the upper we'll discuss.

Speaker 5 (41:01):
Oh, it is a beautiful day.

Speaker 6 (41:04):
No matter where you are right now listening to this,
it's a beautiful day. It could be hurricane like conditions.

Speaker 5 (41:10):
It doesn't.

Speaker 6 (41:10):
It's a beautiful day. Because we got Week one ball
over here. College football, some real matchups going on. How
about we highlight this one in prime time on ABC
seven thirty pm Eastern Time, Number seven, Notre Dame, Number
twenty Texas A and M. There is an interesting comment

(41:30):
from Texas A and M head coach Mike Elko. So
he's going to be facing his former quarterback. Riley Leonard
was at Duke when Mike Elko was the head coach
over there. Now Elko is at A and M. Riley Leonard,
the quarterback, is at Notre Dame, so they're facing one
another here this evening. So Mike Elko was asked about this, Hey,

(41:54):
who has the upper hand?

Speaker 5 (41:56):
Check out his answer? Pretty interesting.

Speaker 12 (41:58):
I would argue that he has more of an upper
hand than we do because he's probably a little bit
more familiar with this defense than most quarterbacks we play,
and we don't have a ton of comfort as a
program going against this offense. You know, we haven't defended
it for a single snap I think two years. Going
against some version of this defense that's similar to what

(42:19):
he'll see Saturday night probably gives him a little bit
more of an advantage than it does us.

Speaker 6 (42:24):
I know, Rich, We'll start with you, man who do
you think has the upper hand. Is it the quarterback
Riley Leonard who's very familiar with Mike Elko's defense, or
is it Mike Elko who knows all of Riley Leonard's
tendencies and can game plan for that.

Speaker 5 (42:39):
Who do you think has the upper hand?

Speaker 7 (42:40):
Well, players play, coaches coach, So if the player is capable,
you always give the edge to the player because he's
in control of what he's in control of. So having
some familiarity with either a defense, of how a defense
and how it's structured, or even personnel or or even

(43:03):
you know, whatever it may be like, all of those
advantages go to the player, But it's up to the player.

Speaker 3 (43:09):
To take advantage.

Speaker 7 (43:11):
Now, a coach having the whole scouting up close in person,
scouting profile on a player, having an opportunity to get
to know a player, the ins and the outs in
terms of what they do well. Weakness is strengths you
could avoid or exploit. That's important too, But still as

(43:32):
a coach, you still need to get your players to understand,
comprehend and do what it is that that you need
them to do to exploit those weaknesses or steer your
team away from those strengths, whereas the player is in
control of his own destiny.

Speaker 3 (43:50):
So I mean I.

Speaker 7 (43:51):
Would give a slight edge to Riley Leonard here in
in this matchup.

Speaker 3 (43:56):
I agree with what coach Alco said, I.

Speaker 9 (43:58):
Would agree as well, and especially because any tendencies that
Riley Leonard has picked up, well, the new offense in
Notre Dame this year with Mike Denbrock now as the OC,
so it's you know, all of those tendencies are going
to get thrown out the window. Whereas a lot of
times when coaches go from one spot to another, which
is the case here with Elko going from Duke to
A and m he brings a lot of that with him,

(44:20):
Whereas I think Riley Leonard will be going through a
lot of new tendencies, new signals, new schemes, new you.

Speaker 8 (44:28):
Know, just overall vibes.

Speaker 9 (44:30):
I think a lot of the same, especially defensive principles
that Mike Elko is going to bring over, are going
to be really intriguing. I'm fascinated to see what Notre
Dame's scheme is here. Jared Parker last year, the offensive
coordinator for Notre Dame was very conservative. Mike Denbrock's pass
right in neutral situations significantly higher. I think we're going
to see a much more aggressive Riley Leonard. The question

(44:52):
is is he fully healthy. I'm hearing that he is
because when he is fully healthy, he is fantastic at
avoiding sacks, and that is going to be key because
I know you know this, Brian, but Notre Dame's biggest
transition this year is on the offensive line. They lose Joealt,
They've got a ton of other pieces that are kind
of getting shuffled around Texas. A and M's strength is
up front. Nick s gower to number one edge rusher

(45:12):
and the portal comes in. They've got a ton of
depth upfront with this A and M defense, can Riley Leonard,
you know, maneuver around what is going to be just
a swarm of defenders in his face all night.

Speaker 4 (45:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (45:23):
It's funny like if I combined all of our statements
into one, you know, clump over here if you will, right,
who has the upper hand between Mike Elko and Riley Leonard.
I think the narrative will be written after the game.
This reminds me of like an older NBA team, right
where if they win, you're like, well, they're experienced, but

(45:45):
if they lose, you're like, well, there are a bunch
of geezers over there.

Speaker 3 (45:48):
You know.

Speaker 6 (45:49):
It's like, if Mike Elko's team wins, it's all, well, Elko,
he had the upper hand.

Speaker 5 (45:54):
He knows Riley Leonard like the back of his hand.
He got it.

Speaker 6 (45:57):
If Riley Leonard wins, it's like, oh, well he that defense, really,
you know what I mean, Like, I think that's what's
gonna be talked about potentially after the game. But what
you hit on, Jared is the thing Notre Dame's offensive
line very inexperienced, new right tackle. They have a new
left tackle. That first guy got hurt, so they have
like a new new left tackle. Yeah, yes, yeah, So combined,

(46:20):
these five offensive linemen have six career startsikes, and you're
on the road in that atmosphere, and yeah, that could
be it could be a little bit of an issue
right there.

Speaker 8 (46:32):
So about this that.

Speaker 9 (46:33):
Forty two consecutive years Notre Dame with a senior on
the offensive line broken this year?

Speaker 3 (46:38):
Wow?

Speaker 6 (46:38):
Yeah crazy right, And then you combine that with again
six career starts, yeah, fight these guys, So that that
absolutely is a big factor and helps Mike Elko's defense
quite a bit in this one. I'm just looking at
Riley Leonard, where we know, before the ankle injury last
season two years ago, he was great at scrambling and

(47:00):
Texas A and M was one of the worst defenses
in football last year stopping scrambling quarterbacks. So I want
to see if Riley Leonard, if he's got you know,
color in his face, if he sees maroon in his
face and he's like, I gotta get out of here.
Like how many yards does he pick up? How many
sacks did the Irish give up. I'm really interested to

(47:22):
see what Riley Leonard does tonight with his legs.

Speaker 7 (47:24):
I mean, I'm completely there with you, because I think
he's gonna be running for his life early this season
as these new faces on the offensive line for the
Irish get settled in there.

Speaker 3 (47:36):
They're going to start three sophomores and two freshmen.

Speaker 7 (47:39):
I think about that. That's so that's so little experience.
You know, when you talk about freshmen, whether they're recher
freshman or true freshmen, you are like days, not months
or or or years away. You're like days away from
your parents being mad at you for breaking curfew at home.

Speaker 3 (47:57):
You know what I mean.

Speaker 7 (47:58):
And now you'll put check being one of the faces
of college football at a top ten football program preseason
ranked with a huge task ahead of you, and I'm
sure for many of these players they didn't realize even
though those couch conversations. When you're being recruited, whether it
be to Notre Dame or elsewhere, and you transferred in,
you know you were excited for playing time. But when

(48:20):
you get to that next level, the speed is intense.
And this A and M defensive line features one of
their best pass rushers since Miles Garrett In Scourton ten
sacks last season led the Big Ten. This is this
is a big deal. This is going to be a
huge task for Notre Dame upfront. So very interested to

(48:41):
see how their front five handled the rush of the
A and M defensive line.

Speaker 9 (48:45):
Yeah, let's let's let's break it down. I'll give you
the names on A and M that you know in
Notre Dame's offensive line might be a little bit what
did you say, Brian, A little color in the face, Yeah,
for a little bit. So you get Scourton again, the
number one edge rusher in the portal. He had a
twenty one percent rush win rate last year. Freakish, freakish athlete.
They're saying he's going to be a top fifteen pick.
You've got Shamar Stewart as well, fourteen percent pressure rate

(49:08):
on rush naps last year. Elko has raved about him
in the offseason. That's another guy that you just have
to deal with. Schamark Turners back inside, he was productive
last year. You've got DJ Hicks, he was the number
one defensive lineman in the twenty three class. He's a
space eater in the middle. Cashus Howell transfer from Bowling Green.
He had an eighteen percent pressure rate last year, ten sacks.
And I think Elko's gonna uplift this talent to new heights.

Speaker 2 (49:30):
Right.

Speaker 9 (49:30):
We talk about the talent. A and M's always had talent.
It was Jimbo Fisher not being able to make that
talent be at the highest level and stay gap sound.
There was a lot of hero ball for A and
M's defensive front last year. I think Elko is going
to clean that up. And I think that is the key.
You get all this collective talent together. Can you get
them to play as one fist and might not happen

(49:53):
Week one. But this defensive line at some point this
year is going to be a factor and is going
to wreck a game. And it could be tonight against
what is a very, as we said, inexperienced Notre Dame
offensive lie.

Speaker 5 (50:04):
I'll tell you what, man, what a phrase right there.
Space eater?

Speaker 6 (50:08):
Yeah, one time in my life, you know, I'd love
to just gain a bunch of weight and be known
as a space eater.

Speaker 8 (50:15):
Oh no, I used to be a space eater. I
didn't like it too much.

Speaker 5 (50:18):
It not all it's cracked up to me.

Speaker 6 (50:20):
Rich, I'm really curious, man, And you can speak from experience.
You played at Penn State, major program, played in the NFL.
Just think about your first major road start, right like,
what that was like as an offensive lineman. What these
Notre Dame offensive linemen are going to be facing with
that atmosphere over one hundred thousand yelling, screaming, the volume

(50:46):
turned up, you can't hear the snap count, all that stuff.
What was it like for you at college in the
NFL when you faced your first road start with the
atmosphere like that?

Speaker 3 (50:55):
It's insane.

Speaker 7 (50:57):
It's hard to even quantify how difficult it is to
manage the emotions and keep your keep yourself in I
always I always put it this way, like keep the
small things small, like don't don't let, don't let this
thing that I'm doing right here, whether it be my
assignment on this play, seems so overwhelming just because the

(51:20):
environment has changed, Like that's a small thing that I
could get really right, Like, so I know exactly where
I need to be on this play, So let me
just handle that and then deal with the enormity of
the feelings outside of this very small moment. So it's
a great question because every player has to deal with
that in their own way. I had a really weird

(51:40):
way of handling it. I would I would pretend like
I didn't care. Like that sounds really counterintuitive, but I
would just pretend like I don't care what anybody thinks.
I don't care. I don't care about these fans. I
don't care about my own fans, I don't care about
the Penn State fans. I don't care, Like I just care.
Like it was such a selfish way to think about

(52:03):
football in that moment, but like the only thing I
cared about was just getting my job done to the
best of my ability and protecting my quarterback, and it
was almost like an anger, like how dare all these
people interfere what I need to get done today?

Speaker 3 (52:20):
Like?

Speaker 7 (52:20):
And so I played with a chip on my shoulder
and like an anger. I used all of that to
fuel the fact that I'm just going to try to
make this the hardest day of that defensive lineman's life
or that linebacker's life. And so I turned a lot
of the atmosphere into fuel for my game. But I
played a really insular position in the interior offensive line,

(52:45):
where it's kind of like a fistfight every play. I mean,
when you're the quarterback, you have to have a much
wider aperture. When you're a wide receiver, I mean you're
you're much closer to the fans on the sideline. Sometimes
you're all the way out there. Sometimes you're right next
to the coach on the sideline, the opposing coaches or
players and they're chirping at you.

Speaker 3 (53:03):
Like everybody has a different experience.

Speaker 7 (53:05):
But as an offensive lineman, that's how I handled those
big moments.

Speaker 3 (53:08):
I try to make them as small as possible.

Speaker 9 (53:11):
Man, that's great perspective. Good luck finding that perspective on
any other gambling show.

Speaker 8 (53:15):
On any other network.

Speaker 9 (53:17):
So here's here's like Notre Dame upside, Brian, and this
is as the Notre Dame fan, I'm preaching you here.
I think if you can stalemate this offensive line defensive
line matchup tonight, I think you've got a chance to win,
because I do think A and M's offense is not
gonna blow anyone away. The total in this game is
very low. It's sitting in the mid forties. This isn't

(53:38):
gonna be like a thirty five to three kind of game.
Feels like seventeen ten, twenty one, seventeen. That's kind of
where I'm vibing. Yeah, can can Notre Dame play even
in the trenches here? Can they figure out a way
to neutralize the pass rush? Here's the thing with Riley
Leonard again pressured on a lot of dropbacks forty two
percent last year, but only sacked on ten percent. That

(54:00):
is a really good pressure to sacratio. He does not
get enough credit for that. But when he breaks contain,
he's not as accurate throwing downfield. That's the one number
that kind of jumped out at me. Only forty seven
percent of downfield passes fifteen or more yards were accurate
last year. So can he be effective when he does
break contain and he gets out of the pocket and

(54:20):
he evades the rush.

Speaker 8 (54:21):
Can he make the play down the field?

Speaker 9 (54:22):
If they can make a couple of those plays and
make A and M really pay for being ultra aggressive upfront,
I think that's where Notre Dame's got a shot. If not,
I'm worried that A and M just might grind this
sucker down and it just might be a little bit
too much.

Speaker 8 (54:36):
Pass rush for Leonard to overcome.

Speaker 6 (54:38):
Yeah, it's for Notre Dame. It's what you're saying there, Jared.
It's a little bit like the two thousand Ravens, Yeah,
two thousand and two Tampa Bay Bucks where it's like,
can we get up like seven to three, like all
of a sudden hold up with Grease? If we're able
to do that, right?

Speaker 3 (54:53):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (54:54):
Are we able to get up by a touchdown?

Speaker 6 (54:56):
That's like you know, that's almost like two touchdown into
the matchup like this, you know what I mean? Like,
if you can get up like that, because I'm with you,
then the totals ticking up. It's at forty seven and
a half right now at BETMGM.

Speaker 5 (55:09):
I don't see this game going over at all at all.

Speaker 6 (55:13):
But yes, if you're able to get a lead, that
is the That's the goal for the Notre Dame offense
because I think they can lean on their defense quite
a bit in this one. Yep, all right, We've got
Jared Smith FSR betting analyst Rich Ornberger Penn State, All American.
I'm Brian No. Be sure to check out all the
new looks and features in the betmgm app. It's fast

(55:35):
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that bet loses.

Speaker 3 (56:05):
All right.

Speaker 6 (56:05):
Coming up next, our main man, Seamus McGee huh, team
lead of Sports Trading at BETMGM.

Speaker 5 (56:12):
He'll let you know who.

Speaker 6 (56:14):
BETMGM needs today because you might want to need them also,
we'll get to that coming up. It is Fox Sports
Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented by BETMGM. It is Fox
Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented by bet MGM. Throughout
the entire football season, BETMGM will offer all different types
of no sweat tokens, be on the lookout for no

(56:35):
sweat same game parlay tokens and no sweat parlay tokens,
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BETMGM across all socials at bet MGM.

Speaker 5 (56:46):
All right, let's do this.

Speaker 4 (56:49):
Follow the money, real good money. Ah.

Speaker 6 (56:52):
Yes, we've got our good friend, Seamus McGee, team lead
of Sports Trading at BETMGM. Good morning to you, Seamus.
Let's cut right to the chase. Can you give us
a couple of teams that bet MGM needs the most
today with this week one college football slate?

Speaker 3 (57:08):
Who do you need?

Speaker 2 (57:10):
Great to be back guys, thanks for having me so yeah.
We will go right at noon to the first game,
one of the first games in the day, Clemson Georgia A.
It's a fascinating game in terms of betting splits. Things
like the whole world is betting Georgia except for the
sharp money. The sharp money is pounding Clemson right now.
We literally just moved to spread to eleven and a half.

(57:31):
This was a nice fourteen in the offseason, so sharp
definitely like Clemson. And seems the public is on Georgia
this this week.

Speaker 3 (57:40):
Yeah, which.

Speaker 8 (57:43):
I sorry, no, no, no, go ahead.

Speaker 2 (57:47):
I was gonna say same thing with West Virginia. I
think we're taking a lot of Penn State money at
the moment on the seven and a half and when
we were down at eight and a half. But West
Virginia has definitely been one of the sharper teams this
weekend as well.

Speaker 9 (57:58):
Yeah, I was gonna say, I confirm that they're there
is some very sharp action coming in on Clemson today.
And do you think there's a spot shamus that we
see the buyback on Georgia because I'm seeing ten I
mean tens. At some point. We got to see somebody
step in on the Bulldogs, right.

Speaker 2 (58:12):
I think if you see a flat ten, maybe it
gets there with the Georgia, but it's you know, we'll
see how the money keeps coming in. We gotta have
about ninety minutes almost to kick off. So we'll see
it's just a pretty crazy move.

Speaker 7 (58:26):
This close to kickoff, Penn State playing West Virginia, the
backyard brawl. That's going to be a nine am kickoff
here on the West coast, twelve o'clock big newon kickoff
on the East coast. When we look at James Franklin
and his track record as a coach who doesn't doesn't
only want to win, but also cover, what does that

(58:46):
do to totals and point spreads on games that he, as
a head coach, whether at Penn State or else where,
participates in.

Speaker 2 (58:55):
That states an interesting one because it's you're right, James
Franklin does does seem to do that, especially you know
at home, and I think it gets more inferior components.
But this is this is this what Virginia team isn't
very They're not a slous like they can't can just
go into Morgantown, I think, and just expect to hang
a big number. And I think the sharp money told
us that this is gonna be This is gonna be
a game all the way down to seven and a half.

Speaker 6 (59:18):
Now, in that spreads, is there any line movement Shamus
that you either say, wow, that's surprising or you say
I don't agree with that at all.

Speaker 5 (59:27):
Do you have any game that fits that description.

Speaker 2 (59:31):
I keep coming back to these two games anew between
Penn State and West Virginia and Clemson Georgia, I mean
Clemson Georgia. That line's been up for months now. And
to see this late steam coming in against Georgia, a
team that you could have argued was probably the best
team in the country last year, it's it's pretty surprising. Again.
It's pretty much a home game for Georgia today as well. Yeah,

(59:54):
well I kind of like Clemson today, but you know
that the move is still pretty pretty crazy to me.

Speaker 8 (01:00:00):
It is surprising.

Speaker 9 (01:00:01):
I think the other interesting game that is kind of
flashing and I haven't seen a ton of movement, but
I'm gonna probably be on the Gators later. Every time
this thing gets to three shame as it looks like
that's where people are stepping in and.

Speaker 8 (01:00:12):
This is a very in state rivalry.

Speaker 9 (01:00:14):
This game's gonna have some juice to it between the
Gators and the Canes big time, and it's.

Speaker 2 (01:00:19):
A pretty big handle so far. Coming in on the
game right now. Public books like they're on Miami. I
think we're gonna end up needing Florida to cover two
and a half. But you're right. Anytime this even sniffs
three Florida, money comes back in pushes it down to
the two.

Speaker 3 (01:00:33):
And a half.

Speaker 7 (01:00:34):
Seamus, How do you even go about quantifying putting a
number on a game like Ohio State hosting Akron, like
you know, it always fascinates me when I look at
where these lines open, and then I observe if there's
any movement, you know, sometimes it's a point or two,
usually not, though usually it stays pretty flat. How does

(01:00:55):
a book even go about putting a number like that together?

Speaker 2 (01:00:59):
I mean, everyone got their own numbers. You come up
with a number, you hang it, you see what everyone
else is hanging at the same time, and then usually
if you're wrong, the market's going to tell you pretty quick.

Speaker 5 (01:01:11):
Yeah all right, Seamus. So how do we get rich today? Right?

Speaker 6 (01:01:15):
Shame of special time? What do you have at the
top of your portfolio?

Speaker 8 (01:01:20):
Guys?

Speaker 2 (01:01:20):
I was really upset before I came on today because
I was looking at this Illinois State Iowa game. I
loved the under forty one when it opened. I loved
Illinois State plus twenty four and a half, but Ducks
pounded the under down at thirty eight and a half,
and now Illinois siaks plus twenty one and a half.
It's tempting at twenty one and a half, but I

(01:01:42):
don't think I can give that out as a special today.
So I'm actually gonna go to that Ohio State game.
I'm going to take the over fifty seven in that
Ohio State acting game. Fifty seven and a half.

Speaker 9 (01:01:53):
Okay, how about another shame of special that I was
cooking up this morning. Tennessee Tech against Middle Tennessee State.
How is it'll favored by twenty six? I'm seeing some
twenty four some twenty five's out there, first first time
out of the gate for Mason, the new coach at
Middle and Tennessee Tech's got like all of these transfers
coming in and they have a very interesting offense. I

(01:02:13):
think this game could be a little tighter. It's an
in state rivalry. I think they're playing for some like
weird trophy. Twenty six seems like a lot for Middle
to be laying.

Speaker 2 (01:02:20):
What do you think, Seamus, Middle Tennessee was a funny
team because we took some interesting bets on their over
winning total this year. So and a couple of flyers
on them to win the conference. So I don't think
this Middle Tennessee team is going to be going to
be that bad at all this year.

Speaker 5 (01:02:36):
Okay, well maybe I'm wrong, Samus scritch office.

Speaker 2 (01:02:40):
I would be very wrong.

Speaker 3 (01:02:42):
We all are. Usually it's gonna happen. We're all knocking
the rough.

Speaker 2 (01:02:47):
This is my favorite sport. It's also an incredibly dumb sports.

Speaker 6 (01:02:51):
Right, absolutely, all right, Seamus, enjoyed the games, man, We'll
catch you soon.

Speaker 2 (01:02:55):
Have a good day, thanks, guys.

Speaker 3 (01:02:58):
Man.

Speaker 6 (01:02:58):
I love that Ohio State game that Seamus mentioned, and
I like that there's been a little bit of movement.
I could just picture some player for Akron like talking
to his dad or something.

Speaker 3 (01:03:09):
You know.

Speaker 6 (01:03:09):
This is this is the line earlier in the week
where it's like, uh so, uh have you seen the
point spread?

Speaker 3 (01:03:15):
Son?

Speaker 5 (01:03:15):
No, I haven't.

Speaker 6 (01:03:16):
Well you're a fifty and a half point underdog total.

Speaker 5 (01:03:21):
Seven and the total sifty seven and a half.

Speaker 7 (01:03:24):
So it's like, that's what I'm saying, like, how do
you even pick that number?

Speaker 9 (01:03:28):
Like you know what I mean, Like it's all done
in an algorithm and then the market just kind of
spits it out, you know, usually it's it's the sharp
players that help them with games like this. They have
no idea, they have no They're just putting a number
out there.

Speaker 3 (01:03:40):
That's amazing. It is amazing.

Speaker 6 (01:03:43):
It is someone who puts numbers out there and does
have an idea. That is our main man. Isaac Lohenkron
with the latest. What's going on?

Speaker 10 (01:03:51):
I low, Well, we actually do have some very late
breaking college football news. Is multiple outlets reporting Number one
Georgia is gonna hold running back Traver Etn out of
today's game against fourteenth rank Clemson kickoff ninety minutes from now,
as a consequence of his being arrested back in March
on charges that included driving under the influence. Now in July,

(01:04:12):
prosecutors dropped the DUI charge as part of a plea
agreement that saw Etn plead guilty to other charges.

Speaker 4 (01:04:19):
He eventually received probation.

Speaker 10 (01:04:21):
On the field on Friday night, Wisconsin defeated Western Michigan
twenty eight to fourteen. Western Michigan actually led the game
with ten thirty six left in the fourth quarter before
the Badgers closed out of fifteen to nothing. Ron TCU
a thirty four to twenty seven win at Stanford, Michigan
State held off Florida Atlantic sixteen to ten, but that
game went viral for another reason, when it was discovered

(01:04:46):
by America that there is a backup long snapper on
the Michigan State roster whose first name is Jack and
whose last name is Carson Wentz. What first name is Jack?
Last name is Carson hyphen Wentz?

Speaker 4 (01:05:06):
Can you believe that?

Speaker 2 (01:05:08):
Now?

Speaker 4 (01:05:08):
What are the odds on.

Speaker 5 (01:05:09):
That Nick fans in that household there.

Speaker 9 (01:05:12):
Prior than the Ohio State spread today against Achary?

Speaker 4 (01:05:18):
True story, you can look it up. In Major League Baseball.

Speaker 10 (01:05:21):
On Friday at Aight, Shohey Otati of the Dodgers became
the first forty three forty three player in Major League
history with a home run and a stolen base in
their ten nine win at Arizona. However, Clayton Kershaw left
the game with a bone spur in his left big toe.
He's expected to have to go on the injured list.
Giants op of the Marlins three to one thanks to
a basis clearing double by Matt Chapman in the bottom

(01:05:44):
half of the eighth inning, and US opened tennis on Friday,
Padres defeated the Tampa Bay race thirteen to five.

Speaker 3 (01:05:52):
There, it is there. It is very important. You're welcome.

Speaker 4 (01:05:56):
Hang on that neck. Text message is actually from my wife.
See how we can try? You have me rich?

Speaker 3 (01:06:01):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (01:06:02):
Sorry, walking on eggshells.

Speaker 3 (01:06:04):
Sorry, sorry, I love in.

Speaker 4 (01:06:06):
You don't have to apologize.

Speaker 10 (01:06:08):
US Open Friday Night defending champion and men's number two
seed Novak Djokovic upset on the third round by Alexey
Popperin of Australia in four sets. WNBA Friday Night Caitlin
Clarkasseason I thirty one points along with twelve assists in
the Indiana Fevers one hundred to eighty one win over
the Chicago sky Fellas.

Speaker 5 (01:06:26):
Back to You, Thank you, I lo it is.

Speaker 6 (01:06:28):
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(01:06:48):
alternative to a mobile phone for your kids. Go to
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free shipping ad code radio and get an extra five
percent off. Look, man, I want to say something with Georgia.
Props to them for keeping Trevor Etn out of the game.
Like Ilo said in his update, arrested for driving under

(01:07:11):
the influence. That's a bare minimum is to be out
for one game. It is a flat out joke that
Ali Gordon is playing today for Oklahoma State. And this
is on the heels of I know you guys caught
this the tragedy with Johnny and Matthew Gudro where they
both died. They were on their bikes. These are brothers

(01:07:34):
in the NHL. They are in town in New Jersey
for their sister's wedding. They're set to be groomsmen. They're
on their bikes. They get hit by a drunk driver
and both killed. An unimaginable tragedy is how the teams
described that. And it is and that's what can happen
when you drive while you're loaded. So for Trevor Etn

(01:07:57):
to be held out of the game, props to Jordan,
Props to Georgia, but for Oklahoma State. And remember the
head coach Mike Gundhy, who was trying to explain his
way through the decision of Ali Gordon not being suspended
when he was driving trunk and Mike Gundy was like, hell,
I thought, I've done that thousands of times.

Speaker 5 (01:08:18):
Really, what are we doing right now?

Speaker 6 (01:08:21):
It is the bare minimum where you miss at least
one game. That is not like it could be half
the season, it could be more than that. A bare
minimum is one game. And yet Ali Gordon, who is
a stud awesome running back, He'll be on the field
against the jack Rabbits today. Sorry, go jack Rabbits. That
is a pathetic decision by Oklahoma State.

Speaker 3 (01:08:42):
I agree. I think that people should be given second chances.

Speaker 7 (01:08:47):
Mistakes are made, and obviously certain mistakes, especially involving a
loss as great as what we were just discussing with
the hockey players. You know, there are certain things that
will follow you the rest of your life, as they
should because those are you know, those are mistakes that
where something was taken that can't be.

Speaker 3 (01:09:09):
Taken back.

Speaker 7 (01:09:10):
But in the case of getting caught doing something you're
not supposed to do, right in a situation like this,
let's be very honest with each other. I don't think
that Ali Gordon or anybody who's made a mistake like
that or Mike Gundhy for that matter, should spend the
rest of their life, you know, paying or repenting for

(01:09:31):
that mistake. However, like you gotta teach lessons, you know
what I mean, Like there has to be consequences, There
has to be something felt in order to learn from something.
So kind of like the side story to all of
this is what does Gordon learn in all of this?
What he learns is I'm too important to be punished

(01:09:54):
and it sets a precedent for a football program that
doesn't just affect your team now, but this echo into
the future.

Speaker 3 (01:10:01):
I think this is an awful way.

Speaker 7 (01:10:04):
To begin a season for for Gundy in his program.
I especially when you see and I'm not saying Kirby
Smart does everything perfectly, especially when you see what George
is doing, especially when you look at their running back room,
because they really need a healthy starting running back today.

Speaker 9 (01:10:21):
Yeah, that's what makes it even more I would say impressive.
I nothing about the story is impressive, obviously with the duy,
but I think the you know, accountability nature of it
is what at least you can hang your hat on
as moving forward.

Speaker 8 (01:10:35):
I'm sure ATM is gonna learn from this.

Speaker 9 (01:10:37):
And on the other side, if it was anybody but
Ali Gordon, right, if it was the second string running
back or the third string running back on Oklahoma State,
what are the odds that that player is suspended for
this game? Like if it was anybody but the star,
And that is a dangerous, dangerous precedent to set. We
already have an accountability problem in this society. Nobody has

(01:10:59):
ever wrong.

Speaker 3 (01:11:00):
Ever.

Speaker 9 (01:11:01):
Just go to social media for like thirty seconds and
see if anyone ever apologizes for anything.

Speaker 3 (01:11:05):
Ever.

Speaker 9 (01:11:06):
It's just a cesspool and that is not helping, especially
when you have a He's a kid, it's one thing
of an adult makes that mistake, you should know better.
He's a kid, he's a teenager. He's gonna make mistakes.
You take accountability for the mistake. You punish the kid accordingly.
Punishment fits the crime. In this case, I think one
game was fair and yeah, then the explanation afterwards that
was even worse.

Speaker 5 (01:11:27):
Yeah, he made it worse.

Speaker 8 (01:11:28):
I remember we talked about this over the summer. It
was not a shining moment I think in Stillwater.

Speaker 6 (01:11:32):
Yeah, this was a portion of what Mike Gundy had
to say. This was during Big twelve media days and
again the star running back Ali Gordon he was driving
drunk and no suspension, and so the head coach, Mike Gundy,
was trying to explain how he came to this decision
to not suspend Oli Gordon for any length of time.

Speaker 5 (01:11:53):
Here's what he said.

Speaker 3 (01:11:54):
I looked it up on my phone.

Speaker 13 (01:11:55):
What would be the legal limit, like in Oklahoma's point
zero eight and Allie was point one. So I looked
it up and it was based on body weight. Not
to get into the legal side of it, but I thought, really,
two or three beers or four I'm not justifying what
all he did. I'm telling you what decision I made. Well,

(01:12:18):
I thought I've probably done that a thousand times in
my life.

Speaker 5 (01:12:22):
Bro come off, yeah read the room. What Yeah.

Speaker 7 (01:12:25):
Well, it's also like, okay, so you may disagree with
the rules.

Speaker 3 (01:12:31):
You may not love the fact that.

Speaker 7 (01:12:33):
I don't know, for example, you're not allowed to steal signs, right,
you know you're playing a football game, and wouldn't it
be easier if you could send some advanced scouts to
another team's games and have somebody.

Speaker 3 (01:12:47):
Videotape their sideline.

Speaker 7 (01:12:49):
Well, I mean they're just at that point, they're just
a fan in attendance, right, you know, they're just videotaping
something that anybody else in the stadium could videotape, Like,
why not us and then use that to our competitive advantage.
Well no, no, hang on, that's a rule. And if
you violate that rule, whether you think that rule is
smart or stupid, that's a rule you can't you can't

(01:13:10):
break in college football, right you know, And so that's
why the Michigan Wolverines football program was investigated. Now that
we're just talking about a college football violation, right, we're
talking about a game's rules. Now you're talking about the
rules of the game of life. Right, I get it.
Maybe you think, Mike Gundhi that you can handle two

(01:13:30):
to four beers and go driving around, But that's not
the point.

Speaker 3 (01:13:38):
That is not the point.

Speaker 7 (01:13:39):
There are rules put in place to protect people, generally speaking,
or in the case of the example I used about
college football, to protect the integrity of the game. So
even if you find the rules of drinking and driving
or driving while intoxicated disagreeable, well take that up with
the government.

Speaker 3 (01:13:59):
You don't preach to your players like hey, listen.

Speaker 7 (01:14:03):
These rules are dumb, and we'll do it our way,
because that is what Ali Gordon learned.

Speaker 3 (01:14:08):
In this whole exchange.

Speaker 7 (01:14:09):
It's an unfortunate precedent center for his football program, and
I hope they revert course because somebody could get really hurt,
like we saw in that story you brought up earlier.

Speaker 5 (01:14:19):
Brian, Yeah, I know it.

Speaker 6 (01:14:21):
And thankfully it didn't happen with Ali Gordon or Trevor ETN.
I mean, thank god it didn't happen there.

Speaker 5 (01:14:28):
But that's the thing. It can It can.

Speaker 6 (01:14:30):
Happen if you're driving under the influence and you're above
the legal limit. Yeah, you can have a situation where
your car, your truck, whatever you're driving turns into a weapon,
you know.

Speaker 5 (01:14:42):
And to not have that lesson hit home.

Speaker 6 (01:14:45):
And I thought you said it great, Rich where what
Ali Gordon learned was I'm too important to get suspended?

Speaker 5 (01:14:51):
Like does that help them going forward?

Speaker 6 (01:14:53):
In lively the lesson you want to teach right there,
But they chose football over doing the right thing. That's
what Oklahoma State did. There's no denying that, and I
think that's a shame. All right, We've got rich Oornberger,
Penn State All American, Jared Smith FSR. Betting analyst. I'm
Brian No. Coming up next, we bond. We're gonna make

(01:15:14):
ourselves feel better over here.

Speaker 3 (01:15:15):
Huh.

Speaker 6 (01:15:15):
It was a tough conversation with driving drunk and the
tragedy that happened with the NHL players shout out to
their families.

Speaker 5 (01:15:22):
Man in frims, that.

Speaker 6 (01:15:23):
Was tough, awful, But we try to turn the page
on a brighter note and prop it up. Huh, prop betscalore,
we will investigate.

Speaker 5 (01:15:33):
Coming up.

Speaker 6 (01:15:34):
It is Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented by
bet MGM. It is Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented.

Speaker 5 (01:15:42):
By bet MGM.

Speaker 6 (01:15:43):
Once a day, Monday through Friday, play the free to
play bet MGM Ultimate Teams to receive an Ultimate Team
card with a pro football team and spread. If that
team covers the spread that NFL week, you can win prizes.
Play every day Monday through Friday. Have all five of
your team's cover and you're eligible to win bet MGM's

(01:16:04):
weekly jackpot.

Speaker 5 (01:16:06):
All right, let's dive into this.

Speaker 4 (01:16:09):
Prop it up player plays.

Speaker 5 (01:16:12):
Okay, prop bets go, Lord Jared. We'll start with you.
So many options? What do you have circled here?

Speaker 9 (01:16:18):
Yeah, we've got an interesting matchup here again, this Georgia
Clemson game. The number keeps falling. I think at ten
I'm gonna get involved with Georgia. We'll see if we
get there. But I think on the prop side, I mean,
I'll be honest, we have a pretty easy situation here
in the running game for Georgia because everyone's out except
for their third stringer Branson Robinson. I'm seeing his touchdown

(01:16:41):
props a little bit heavy today for me, but.

Speaker 8 (01:16:43):
Pil Mafas isn't. I was shocked.

Speaker 9 (01:16:45):
I saw film Mafa's touchdown prop at plus money. Again,
this is the bell cow for Clemson's backfield. He scored
thirteen touchdowns last year, so I would if you want
to do a little touchdown. I know this isn't part
of the parlay platter, but a little touchdown parlay platter
in this game. Again, it's a low total, so I
wouldn't add a third leg to it. But I think
both running backs Robinson for Georgia, who's a little bit

(01:17:06):
heavier of a price, and MafA for Clemson, who is
a plus money price, I would bet that one's solo.
Those are the touchdown props I would circle in this
Georgia Clemson matter.

Speaker 7 (01:17:16):
Okay, I really love Riley Leonard and the impact he's
gonna have this pickup from the portal for Notre Dame.
But I think he's gonna be running for his life
early this season. We talked about the inexperienced offensive line
protecting him. How fierce Texas A and m Maggie's are
up front on the defensive line. So I'm gonna take
the over on the thirty one and a half rushing

(01:17:38):
yards today for Riley Leonard, I think he's gonna get
outside the pocket and have to create with his feet.

Speaker 3 (01:17:44):
Also, he can be used as a dual.

Speaker 7 (01:17:45):
Threat quarterback at times, staying on the rushing props. Nicholas Singleton,
Penn State running back backyard brawl heading to West Virginia.
I think they're gonna have to lean on the rushing
attack at times to make some hay ufly in this
this new offense, new voice as an offensive coordinator for

(01:18:06):
the Nittany Lions. I like Singleton going over sixty three
and a half rushing yards today for PSU.

Speaker 6 (01:18:14):
Okay, listen a little backdrop because we have a little
bit of time here. I think I'm I think I'm
cursed with some of these prop Thats what happened last week?

Speaker 3 (01:18:25):
I didn't even remember.

Speaker 6 (01:18:26):
Yeah, a couple of great starts and not great finishes.
So I had Florida State running back Lawrence Toa feeling
over forty and a half rushing yards, had a twenty
eight yard touchdown rush on the first series. I'm like,
all right, we're in business. Didn't get there, didn't get there.
And then last night I had Jalil Farouk wide receiver

(01:18:48):
for Oklahoma and he gets fifty receiving yards. He had
a forty seven yard catch on the first drive. We
need three more yards here against Temple. We should be
get broken out for eight weeks.

Speaker 8 (01:19:02):
No more props for Brian for the rest of the year.

Speaker 3 (01:19:04):
Yeah, that's that's it.

Speaker 8 (01:19:05):
You've really that's awful. That is an awful Yes, awful.

Speaker 3 (01:19:10):
It really is.

Speaker 6 (01:19:11):
So like hot start equals unpleasant finish.

Speaker 5 (01:19:15):
So far as what's going on with me, I'm gonna say.

Speaker 7 (01:19:17):
I'm gonna say, you know what, you know what, Shake
it off, Shake it off, buddy, I like Saro.

Speaker 3 (01:19:22):
Does he even count?

Speaker 9 (01:19:23):
He?

Speaker 3 (01:19:23):
Cao is not a number.

Speaker 8 (01:19:24):
Zero's not a number, so it doesn't matter.

Speaker 6 (01:19:26):
Okay, So one had to get discarded. I had Dylan Ryola,
who's baby mahomes right over there at Nebraska making his
first college start. I had him throwing at least two
touchdown passes against UTEP today, but the juice skyrocketed. It's
up to like minus one eight five now on bet MGM,

(01:19:48):
So I won't have that as an official pick. I'm
gonna go with this Clemson Georgia game. Dominic love it.
They're gonna have to throw it. I like Carson back
a lot, you know, give me love it over fifty
one and a half receiving yards.

Speaker 5 (01:20:02):
I love it myself. And now I'm betting on Georgia's defense.

Speaker 6 (01:20:05):
I know they're not what they once weren't, but I'll
fade Phil MafA, who I like a lot as a
running back. But seventy one and a half rushing yards
against Georgia, I'm gonna.

Speaker 5 (01:20:14):
Take the under on that one. So those are my
two plays in that game.

Speaker 3 (01:20:18):
Very cool. I don't hate him.

Speaker 9 (01:20:20):
Okay, Malfa finds the end zone though, I think at
least they're gonna try to get him into the end zone.

Speaker 5 (01:20:24):
Yeah, well, hey, that's true.

Speaker 6 (01:20:26):
He might get off to like zero yards in the
first three quarters and get there in the fourth somehow,
and entire philosophy will be on the line today. Oh,
happy Saturday to you Week one college football.

Speaker 5 (01:20:38):
Let's get after it.

Speaker 6 (01:20:40):
We're less than an hour away from kickoff over here.

Speaker 5 (01:20:44):
And how about this.

Speaker 6 (01:20:46):
We get a couple of great games right out of
the right out of the shoot here, Clemson against Georgia.
We get Penn State at West Virginia. Let's reset this
Clemson Georgia matchup, because man, the line movement is all
over the place. Like Seamus McGee from bet MGM told
this last hour, a lot of sharp money on Clemson.

(01:21:06):
The line is ticked down gradually right now at the second,
it's eleven and a half that Georgia is favored by
against Clemson. And to me, guys, I think that an
entire philosophy is on center stage today with Dabo Sweeney,
who will not embrace the transfer portal. He is giving
the heisman straight arm to the transfer portal. And he

(01:21:31):
said this. This is one of the notable quotes from
the offseason. Dabo said, honestly, every player is technically a transfer.
We just signed a whole class of guys transferring from
high school.

Speaker 8 (01:21:42):
Oh please, I know, I know.

Speaker 6 (01:21:45):
But going up against Georgia in a matchup like this,
you know as well as I do. If Clemson loses decisively,
this is gonna be a main talking point is Clemson's
head coach just will not embrace the transfer portal and
pretty much which everybody else in college football is you
can't get dusted while doing something unconventional and skate right.

(01:22:08):
You are going to be called out to the nth
degree if you're unconventional and losing and losing big, which
they could lose in a big way to Georgia today.

Speaker 7 (01:22:17):
Well, and there's a lot of stake for Georgia as
well if you think about the recent history of this
incredible football program. They're looking to win their third national
championship game in four years. They play this game on
the road, neutral site, but on the road, and then
they also have other top ten SEC opponents on the

(01:22:39):
road coming up as well, Alabama, Texas, Ole miss.

Speaker 3 (01:22:44):
This is huge for the Bulldogs.

Speaker 7 (01:22:46):
You cannot start your season off on a sour note.
This is one of those games where if you lose it,
If somehow you lose this game, this could taint the
entire rest of the season because of the level of
competition you're playing against for the rest of the season.
This could rattle your confidence and not everything is perfect

(01:23:08):
for the Bulldogs. I know that they're short up pretty
well at quarterback, but if they're in a situation where
they need to rely on the run game, they're turning to,
you know, injured and inexperienced players to help toe the
rock for them Today. This is gonna be It's gonna
be an interesting game, especially the first quarter of this game.
Very curious to see what Georgia does offensively against the Tigers.

Speaker 9 (01:23:32):
Yeah, the backfield is gonna be in flux. You're gonna
hear guys Cash Jones, Nate Jones, guys that are freshman,
the third stringers in the right now. These are very
talented players, but these are not highly regarded players, at
least in this particular cycle.

Speaker 8 (01:23:50):
I'm interested to see.

Speaker 9 (01:23:51):
How Mike Bobo, the Georgia offensive coordinator, calls the game.
Because Clemson knows that they're limited in the backfield, so
does Clemson shit a little bit towards defending the pass,
which is actually a weakness of Clemson because they're a
little bit banged up in the secondary. As well again,
their number two corner situation very much in flux. They've
got a couple of guys that are going through some

(01:24:13):
injuries here in the early stage of the season. Are
we gonna see tempo from Georgia? Are we gonna see
Carson Beck really take the offense on his shoulders? We
talked about this with Drew Aller. The average depth of
target just you know, minuscule for him. Check down, Charlie
Dinkin dunk Drew. Well, you know, Carson Beck's not that
much better, actually, Carson, check down Carson. He is one

(01:24:35):
hundred and fourteenth on the average depth of target list
from last year. Just not a guy that's made a
lot of those big time throws yet. We'll see what
he's asked to do today. But this is a spot
for Clemson that they're not in often, but when they are,
they've been pretty successful. How about this Dabo Sweeney twelve
and one against the number as an underdog of five
or more points, five and one against the spread in

(01:24:58):
his last six against the number one team in the country,
according to the eight people they tend to manage up
in class. Now, last time they played this game, they
got absolutely smoked. But I think when they manage up
in class, they tend to play well. We'll see if
we get a bounce back effort today after what happened
in prior years with these teams. But I'll be honest,
this is a Clemson team that is a little feisty

(01:25:21):
and George's got some questions. So that's why you're seeing
this number come down.

Speaker 5 (01:25:25):
I'll tell you what.

Speaker 6 (01:25:26):
I don't think it makes sense for Dabo Sweeney to
be completely dismissive of the transfer portal. You know, maybe
you want to you know, you want to add a
little here, add a little there. You don't want to
be completely reliant upon it. Fine, but to completely dismiss it,
I don't agree with that. But let me give you
a rant real fast.

Speaker 3 (01:25:47):
Yeah, let's hear it. Yeah, I've been waiting for the
day long.

Speaker 6 (01:25:51):
Here's the thing, all right, Dabo is gonna like this,
but hear me out on this.

Speaker 5 (01:25:56):
A little bit of nuance.

Speaker 6 (01:25:58):
Everything I read about any team adding any player from
the transfer portal, it is oozing with positivity. I'm sure
you've read all this stuff as well, where it's like
Team X has bolstered their defensive line with this random
dude from the portal.

Speaker 5 (01:26:15):
They've strengthened their secondary.

Speaker 6 (01:26:17):
They've solidified their secondary with this random dude from some
other team. Listen, it's a lot like NFL free agency.
Not every NFL free agency helps.

Speaker 5 (01:26:26):
His new team.

Speaker 6 (01:26:27):
Okay, there are some free agents that do. There are
a lot that don't. It's the same thing with the
transfer portal. So everything I read about any team and
any players they've added through the portal, it's like, Oh,
they're set. They've added this random dude from UTEP.

Speaker 5 (01:26:44):
They're good.

Speaker 3 (01:26:45):
You know.

Speaker 6 (01:26:47):
It's like if you hit the transfer portal in life,
you don't always upgrade. If you hit the portal for
a new job, it's not guaranteed to be better. If
you hit the portal for a new girlfriend, not guaranteed
to be better.

Speaker 3 (01:27:00):
You know.

Speaker 5 (01:27:01):
It's case by case.

Speaker 6 (01:27:02):
So I'm sick and tired of reading every team and
how they've upgraded through the portal.

Speaker 5 (01:27:08):
I've yet to read one.

Speaker 6 (01:27:10):
Column that says, hey, they've upgraded. They've added this guy,
this guy, this guy. But honestly, they might all sound.
I haven't heard read any of that, And it's just
something to keep in mind that not every dude added
through the portal is an automatic upgrade.

Speaker 5 (01:27:27):
It's just not the case.

Speaker 7 (01:27:28):
Yeah, Dabosweena and Sweeney is going to send you the check.
I mean it's in the midd No, you got a
great point, So let's just talk about differences in systems.
I played with the player who's famous both for what
he did on the field during his NFL career but
what he's done since then.

Speaker 3 (01:27:46):
He's one of the.

Speaker 7 (01:27:47):
Most affable, likable characters that's ever played professional sports, Chado
Cho Cinco. When he was playing for the Cincinnati Bengals,
he was incredible. When he played for the New England
Patriots when he was a teammate of mine, he was not.
He had a hard time adjusting to that system. So
he was signed to the New England Patriots to do

(01:28:08):
what he did in Cincinnati, obviously, and he couldn't do it.
And there were issues catching up to the requests and
the requirements of that playbook. That was a big problem.
There were things that he was asked to do in
that Patriot system that he was not asked to do
as a Bengal and it didn't work.

Speaker 3 (01:28:28):
So to your point, Brian, there are times at.

Speaker 7 (01:28:31):
The collegiate level certainly at the NFL level, where a
player moves on from one place and looks great, moves
on to the next and looks so great, and that matters.
It changes of environment and coaching and structure, all that matters.

Speaker 9 (01:28:46):
Yeah, there's I told you guys the story last week.
When I was, you know, working as an intern for
a minor league baseball team in two thousand and nine,
I was like, what's this stupid Twitter thing that you're.

Speaker 8 (01:28:56):
Making me do? Yeah, this is this is dumb. This
is never gonna catch on.

Speaker 9 (01:28:59):
Who cares what Beney Spears is doing with her like
at that time, it was really just like celebrities telling you.

Speaker 8 (01:29:04):
What they were doing.

Speaker 9 (01:29:06):
You've got to evolve at some point. I think this
is going to be kind of a tipping.

Speaker 8 (01:29:12):
Point year for Dabo and this program.

Speaker 9 (01:29:14):
If they are successful in this new climate with their
old school regime, then Dabo's still probably gonna hold on
for dear life and continue to operate this way. If
Georgia wins by forty today and Clemson, you know, barely
makes a Bowl game because they just don't have the
depth and don't have the talent to compete in a
very changing, very difficult college football landscape, Well, then Clemson's

(01:29:37):
gonna have some tough questions to answer. I mean again,
I don't want to go two nuts from what we
saw last year because it was year one of a
new offense and it was a trans Last year really
was a transition year for them. I think this year
they should feel a little more settled with Club Nick
and Garrett Riley as the OC.

Speaker 8 (01:29:52):
The defense did lose a lot, and that's the key.
You get five.

Speaker 9 (01:29:55):
How often is Clemson a five players drafted on defense?
Three of their most efficient defenders, They lost their top
pressure guy, they lost a starting safety that took more
NIL money to go to Texas. They're trying to find
a new green dock communicator. Right, There's gonna be radios
in the in the helmets this year for the defenders
as well. Jeremiah Trotter, who was that guy last year,

(01:30:16):
kind of the signal caller, he's gone. So there's just
a lot of transition for this Clemson defense. And when
you don't have as even if they're not good players,
you're bringing in depth. You're bringing in warm bodies to
kind of refill the you know.

Speaker 8 (01:30:28):
Stack the cupboards.

Speaker 9 (01:30:29):
And if those cupboards become bear well, then Dabo's gonna
have some answering to do. It's not an easy thing
in this college football landscape to keep these kids fresh
and to keep them engaged. But this is a big
year for Clemson and a big game for them to
show that they can still compete at the highest level
against the best athletes.

Speaker 6 (01:30:46):
Yeah, and I think that Dabo Sweeney he reminds me
of Coach K quite a bit. Remember when Coach K
was at Duke, and at first he was not embracing
the one and duns. He's like, yeah, I don't know,
they're here. One year they're off to the NBA. It's
hard to get chemistry and build continuity. And then he changed,
he adapted. He was like, I'm kind of missing out

(01:31:08):
on some great talent over here, you know, and he adapted.
I think that's what Dabo Sweeney needs to do. I
really do like you can upgrade your roster through the portal.
It isn't an automatic, it's not guaranteed, right, I've gone
through that whole rant, But I think that you can
certainly upgrade your roster at a major program like Clemson

(01:31:29):
if you're open to doing that. I just I don't
think it makes sense to not adapt to that. Something
else that's gonna be interesting is Garrett Riley, the offensive
coordinator think about his offense is at SMU, at TCU,
we're wide open, we're throwing it, We're chucking it left
and right. And Dabo's a lot more conservative than that.

(01:31:51):
So I want to see how these guys mesh together.
And if Dabo he seems like the guy that's got
his arms folded, scowl on his face, like portal, you know,
might open throwing off at DA you had to pound
of rock, right like. I think there are bits and
pieces where Dabo has got to adapt and it's probably

(01:32:11):
challenging for it because he's been so successful before. Yeah,
and I think that you can be set in your
ways to a fault. I think he's gotta grow, I
really do. And I think this is a year where
is he gonna grow or is he gonna stay the same?

Speaker 7 (01:32:25):
The transfer portal is a little bit like furniture shopping.
You've already bought the house, you already know what you
want the room to look like, but you just need
a new couch, you know what I mean. So you
go to the store and you say, ah, you know what,
that looks pretty good on the showroom floor. And sometimes
you bring it home and you're like, perfect, this was
the missing piece, this is what we needed. It sometimes

(01:32:48):
doesn't work out. Sometimes you put the couch in your
living room, you go, I hate it, or it's too low,
it's hurting my back when I try to get out
of this thing.

Speaker 3 (01:32:58):
Oh it's a war couch.

Speaker 7 (01:33:00):
But sometimes you know, because you already have a feel
for the fun schway of the place, you know it's
gonna work. And so Dabo Sweeney or any coach who's
reluctant to throw into the transfer portal.

Speaker 3 (01:33:13):
If you've ever been furniture shopping, you already know how
to do this.

Speaker 7 (01:33:18):
It's just you got to do it. It's where we're
at in college football. You have to do it. You
have to participate, otherwise you're gonna get left in the dust.

Speaker 9 (01:33:29):
Like you said, Brian, is there a threshold where you
know it becomes unmanageable for Clemson to, you know, just
justify the style that they're running their program.

Speaker 6 (01:33:40):
I think if they run it back, Jared, if this
is another single digit win season, I mean, what more
evidence do you know?

Speaker 3 (01:33:45):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I.

Speaker 9 (01:33:47):
Mean the schedule is relatively easy after this game. I mean,
they get NC State at home, they have to go
to Florida State, who just lost to Georgia Tech. I
think Florida State will improve, but I don't see a
whole lot of numbers on their schedule. And what I
mean by numbers is ranked teams. I mean in Virginia Louisville,
Virginia Tech, pitt Citadel, South Carolina at home. I mean,
I don't see any reason why they can't go eleven

(01:34:08):
and one if they lose to Georgia today and and
at that point, yeah, why would why would Dabbo change
course if they're still winning ten eleven games?

Speaker 5 (01:34:16):
Yeah? Man, it's because that's the thing.

Speaker 6 (01:34:19):
If they do that and they get to the playoff
and then they get dusted right at some point. To
justify what he's doing, he's got to have big playoff success,
you know. And they're not even knocking on the door
of the playoff. So it's gonna be really interesting to
see Clemson this season.

Speaker 8 (01:34:36):
Do you think they make the playoff this year? Bron
What do you think?

Speaker 6 (01:34:39):
I think they've got to like what you laid out.
If they're you know in a ten to eleven win
team yeah, eleven and one gets them in. Absolutely it does.
I would say no. I would guess if you're asking
me today, I say.

Speaker 9 (01:34:52):
No, No, Yeah, and no says no.

Speaker 6 (01:34:56):
No says most importantly h Rich Orenberger, Penn State All American.
Jared Smith, FSR betting Analyst. I'm Brian. No football is
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Speaker 5 (01:35:32):
Loses all right.

Speaker 6 (01:35:32):
Coming up next, How It Feels Versus How It Actually Is?
It's Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented by BETMGM.
It is Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented by
bet MGM. We are thirty six measly minutes away from kickoff.
How beautiful is that one of the games in the

(01:35:56):
afternoon window, three thirty pm Eastern time, Miami me taking
on Florida. They'll be in the swamp, great college football atmosphere, obviously.
I just think about this, guys, there's a difference between
how it feels and how it actually is. And I
think this is the matchup for that thought. Where Miami

(01:36:17):
they seem like they're the team on the rise, right
Like they've got some some well known players in the portal.
Cam Ward was pretty good, really really good the last
couple of seasons for Washington State. New quarterback at Miami.
That's a big get. You get Damian Martinez, the running
back from Oregon State. You added more talent than that.

(01:36:37):
So Miami it's like, okay, Miami's on the rise. Florida
it's like, goodness, what's going on with this program? You
see the schedule, it is really really difficult. They seem
to be a program on the slide. But what's interesting
is if you compare the head coaches Billy Napier twelve
and fourteen in two seasons at Florida, Mario Cristobal twelve

(01:37:00):
and thirteen in two seasons at Miami, and I don't
know how you feel about these teams, but most feel like, hey, Miami,
they're the team on the right. Oh, Florida, Gosh, Billy Nape,
you're hot seat city.

Speaker 5 (01:37:14):
Right.

Speaker 6 (01:37:14):
It seems like they're thought of much differently. But two
seasons in very comparable lack of success for both head coaches.

Speaker 7 (01:37:22):
Yeah, yeah, well they're both in a similar situation, trying
to sort of wipe off the sludge leftover from late
season slides, both of them former assistants and friends who
work together at Alabama. You know, this is college football.

(01:37:44):
Everybody knows everybody. Everybody knows what everybody's trying to do. Everybody,
outside of the rare exception, knows what they're going to
see from each other. You know, there are times where
a new fresh face offensive coordinator figure something out, you know,
a Mike Leach situation with the air raid offense.

Speaker 3 (01:38:06):
Things like that.

Speaker 7 (01:38:06):
I mean they're rare though, those things where you know,
all of a sudden, something sneaks up on the rest
of college football and everybody's got to make adjustments because
it's a copycat league, like we know, but in this situation,
outside of the players whose faces have changed, and I
think it was Napier who said it this week. He

(01:38:27):
was like, look, you know what's interesting is there's a
bunch of different faces in the weight room, there's a
bunch of different faces on the practice field, but the
goal hasn't changed. You know, the ambitions haven't changed around here.
It's just how do you catch everybody up to the
expectation of the football program you're trying to build in
such a short on ramp. And that's what, frankly everybody

(01:38:51):
around college football is dealing with. Starting your season though,
with such an important rivalry to your fan base.

Speaker 3 (01:38:58):
I wouldn't love it.

Speaker 7 (01:39:00):
If I was an athletic director or if I was
a head coach of either of these teams, I would
try to avoid slating these games as the opener, because again,
this could really sour the taste for the rest of
the season for both of these football programs.

Speaker 3 (01:39:15):
So this is a big risk. This is a risky game.

Speaker 7 (01:39:17):
This is kind of in the must watch territory on
the slate of games we have to watch today.

Speaker 9 (01:39:24):
Massive game for Florida Billion Apiers squarely on the hot seat.

Speaker 8 (01:39:28):
They're the only SEC team with all three in.

Speaker 9 (01:39:31):
State rivals on their schedule eleven opponents from the Power
for conferences. It is a gauntlet for Florida this year.
Every time I see this number, though, get bought up
to three. That's where the Florida money comes in. So
we're sitting between two and a half and three. I
call it like a soft three right now on Florida.
You can actually get three minus one fifteen on the
Gators right now. But the question on Miami side is

(01:39:54):
obviously how the new pieces mesh together. Cam wore, Dami Martinez,
You had Fletcher there at receiver, he got some depth.
Ristrepo might be my favorite, one of my favorite players
in college football. I think the on line for Miami
solid too. The bigger question here, I would say this.

Speaker 8 (01:40:07):
Is the X factor of the game, the heat.

Speaker 9 (01:40:11):
Have you guys ever played a football game in the
swamp in late August early September. It is going to
be oppressive. And here's the question for Florida's defense. You
check out the depth chart that they released. They're starting
nose tackle Desmond Watson checking in at a cool four
hundred and forty nine pounds in this game.

Speaker 5 (01:40:31):
Wow.

Speaker 9 (01:40:32):
And they what we heard in the off season was
that Watson was in better shape for fifty man. That
is a large, large person to be running around in
this heat. So we'll see if if Florida's defensive line
can kind of hold up, and we'll see if Miami
runs a little bit of tempo. The offensive line for Florida,
I think that is a question as well, and can

(01:40:53):
they hold up against the Miami front that's really good,
But I like the Florida speed on the outside. Graham
Mertz I think has a little bit more mystery in
this offense in year two. The average depth of target
last year was less than six yards and only twenty
nine percent of his throws traveled ten or more yards.
But Eugene Wilson and Shamir d k they have speed.
And the weakness for Miami is the secondary. They've got

(01:41:14):
a freshman on the outside. He's gonna start, a three
star kid of Frederique Damari Brown in the slot wasn't
impressive as a freshman last year. Miami's secondary against Florida's
receiving group. If the Florida defense can hold up, and
this game's kind of nip and talk, and you know,
the passing game becomes a factor where you know Florida
isn't desperate to throw if they're down two scores late.
I think I could see some Florida double moves and

(01:41:37):
Graham Mertz pushing the ball down the field.

Speaker 8 (01:41:39):
That's where I think Florida has an edge in this game.

Speaker 9 (01:41:41):
But in the trenches and at the other skill position groups,
I think Miami certainly deserves to be a favorite on
the road here.

Speaker 6 (01:41:48):
You know, Jared, what we call someone who goes four
to forty nine? Oh boy, call him a space.

Speaker 8 (01:41:53):
Theater, a space eater.

Speaker 3 (01:41:55):
That's right.

Speaker 8 (01:41:55):
I love a space that's a space eater right there.

Speaker 6 (01:41:58):
But man, four fifty does not crazy humidity in the swamp.

Speaker 3 (01:42:03):
Those names are tough.

Speaker 8 (01:42:04):
Why wouldn't the SID staff lie about the weight too?

Speaker 9 (01:42:07):
They do that all the time, Like why would you
make why would you put out four forty nine?

Speaker 8 (01:42:10):
Like I don't understand.

Speaker 7 (01:42:11):
Well, it's also an intimidation factor, i'd be when you're
an offensive lineman and typically you're you're blocking guys who
are similar size to you or even lighter in certain cases,
When you see four fifty on that on a roster, Yeah,
and I'll tell you what, Yeah, most most of these
players want their sids to lie about their weight because

(01:42:34):
they're afraid of what mom and dad at home are
going to say, Like, hey, listen, when you left for college,
you were about one hundred pounds lighter.

Speaker 3 (01:42:40):
What has happened to you?

Speaker 6 (01:42:41):
Well, that's the other thing. You might lie a little bit.
These schools do it all the time. But it's not
like they're lying their way up from two.

Speaker 4 (01:42:49):
Fifty right for fifty, you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 6 (01:42:53):
Even if four fifty is an exaggeration, it's not like
he's like barely three hundred pounds, you know what I mean.

Speaker 5 (01:42:59):
You can't lie for like one hundred and seventy five pounds.
We're like that guy is not for fifty?

Speaker 3 (01:43:04):
Right there? Man?

Speaker 6 (01:43:06):
Someone who is not for fifty either. I don't know
Isaac Lowan Crin's exact weight. I'm gonna guess one sixty eight.
I don't am I in the ballpark? I low who's
here with the ladies?

Speaker 10 (01:43:17):
That is scarily shockingly right on? I mean that is that.
I mean get the exact weight, right, I mean plus
or minus maybe two pounds.

Speaker 3 (01:43:29):
There we go.

Speaker 8 (01:43:30):
Let's get it all right, Brian? No more props?

Speaker 4 (01:43:32):
Can I get this?

Speaker 3 (01:43:36):
Can we? Brian?

Speaker 7 (01:43:36):
Needs to work out a carnival step right up, I
guess your way.

Speaker 3 (01:43:40):
You win the Teddy Bears.

Speaker 10 (01:43:43):
I've decided to find that delightfully creepy. Anyway we start,
I mean that plus or minus two pounds.

Speaker 4 (01:43:51):
You are right on it, folks, we do start.

Speaker 10 (01:43:53):
In college football, multiple outlets reporting number one Georgia gonna
hold running back Trevor eat out of today noon Eastern
game against fourteenth rank Clemson as consequence for his being
arrested back in March on charges that included driving out
of the influence. Now in July, prosecutors dropped the dui
charge as part of a plea agreement that saw Etn

(01:44:15):
plead guilty to other charges. He would eventually receive probation.
Also kicking off at the top of the hour, a
thranked Penn State visiting West Virginia and number twenty five
Iowa hosting Illinois State. In Major League Baseball Friday night,
the Los Angeles Dodgers one at Arizona ten to nine,
show Hey o'tani a home run and a stolen base,

(01:44:37):
becoming the first forty three to forty three player in
Major League history. Clayton Kershaw left this game with a
bone spur in his left big toe and is expected
to have to go on the injured list. At the
US Open Friday night, defending champion and men's number two
seed Novak Djokovic upset in the third round by Alexey
Popperin of Australia in four set. And the WNBA on

(01:45:01):
Friday night, Caitlin Clark a season I thirty one points,
also twelve assists in the Indiana Fevers one hundred to
eighty one win over the Chicago Sky Finally, guys, back
to college football, and you were talking about the three
point thirty Eastern matchup with Florida hosting nineteenth ranked Miami
at by Kevin Clark on Twitter just posted the following quote,

(01:45:28):
A woman brought a massive snake to the Miami tailgate.
I'm at the snake's name is Pretzel. I love this
state and this country unquote. On that note back to you, guys, now.

Speaker 5 (01:45:44):
It's a party, you know, bring Pretzel over to the tailgate.

Speaker 8 (01:45:47):
Pretzel.

Speaker 5 (01:45:48):
Yeah, that's it is Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 6 (01:45:50):
It's Countdown to Kickoff presented by Bett MGM. Shortly after
the show, our podcast will be going up. If you
missed anything on today's show, be sure to check it out.
Just search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts.
Be sure to also follow rate and review it again.
Just search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts,
and you'll see the show posted right after we get
off the air. Okay, so tomorrow night, I like this

(01:46:13):
match of LSU against USC and a lot of money
coming in on the over right sixty four and a
half at bet MGM right now.

Speaker 5 (01:46:23):
But new quarterbacks.

Speaker 6 (01:46:25):
No more Caleb Williams and Jaden Daniels who went one
and two in the NFL Draft. We've got Miller Moss
and Garrett Nussmeyer. They've got new defensive coordinators at LSU
and USC. I don't know, is it the craziest thought
to say the under might be.

Speaker 4 (01:46:43):
The way to go?

Speaker 6 (01:46:45):
It sounds crazy to say that because they were over machines.

Speaker 5 (01:46:48):
Twelve of thirteen of.

Speaker 6 (01:46:51):
LSU's games last year went over and ten of thirteen
of USC's went over as well. But again, new quarterbacks,
new decordinators. What do you think, rich? You liken the
under more in LSU USC tomorrow night?

Speaker 7 (01:47:04):
How can we say that with a straight face?

Speaker 3 (01:47:08):
I don't you know what I mean?

Speaker 7 (01:47:09):
Like, especially after watching really, both of these teams play
close to zero defense at times throughout their seasons, especially USC.
My goodness, that has been just a huge problem for
SC since Riley got there. You know what's funny about
this offseason for USC. It was such a small story,

(01:47:34):
but it could be an undercurrent that starts rearing its head.

Speaker 3 (01:47:37):
More and more.

Speaker 7 (01:47:38):
You know who's back on campus at Southern California, Pete Carroll.
Pete Carroll, who is no longer with the Seattle Seahawks,
is going to quote unquote teach a class at USC.
So he's going to be having pay slips. I assume
arrive at his home address and he's gonna have that.

(01:47:59):
You know, the flexibility where if all of a sudden
he puts on a ball cap and starts roaming the
sidelines in practice fields, again, it's not going to be
so hard to just direct the posit a little bit
more cash into his account if he takes on a
coaching role. I'm very curious how this season plays out
for USC. I think this game, especially being kind of

(01:48:20):
a standalone primetime game here enormous ranked on ranked and
expanded playoffs. So the benefit of having that to look
forward to I'm very curious what the reaction is going
to be and how much more of a topic it's
going to become that Pete Carroll's been sniffing around the
program again.

Speaker 3 (01:48:40):
As the season continues on for USC.

Speaker 8 (01:48:43):
Yeah, fun watch here for sure.

Speaker 9 (01:48:46):
The DC for LSU, Blake Baker made strides in the
offseason from what I hear with the defense, the run game,
with this Piez guy in the middle, g O pi Az,
the Wisconsin transfer, that's going to kind of be the strength.

Speaker 8 (01:48:58):
The teeth of.

Speaker 9 (01:48:59):
This LSU defense will be up the middle. USC offense
obviously gonna look drastically different. I think Lincoln Riley's gonna
be a little more at ease knowing that whatever plays
he calls this year will be ran as as called
in the headset. And we'll see what Miller Moss has.
We watched him in the bowl game. He was fantastic
through a record six touchdowns in the Holiday Bowl. They

(01:49:21):
also have the UNLV transfer Mayava in the mix as well,
but it is going to be Miller Moss to start here.
The one thing I took away from Lincoln Riley's radio
show this week was he's really excited about the offensive
line that's kind of the hidden jem maybe of this
USC offense. We think speed, we think explosiveness with USC,
but maybe the offensive line will be better. They could

(01:49:42):
not control the line of scrimmage in their big games
last year, and I think that's the key against Oregon.

Speaker 8 (01:49:48):
They really struggled.

Speaker 9 (01:49:49):
Against UCLA, they struggled even more. So we'll see if
the offensive line can create a little more push. I
think the pass catching group will be better this year
for USC. Zach Ry branch I heard he joined the
track team in the offense season, so he's a speedsterar
The LSU secondary is small, everyone's under six feet and
us he's got some size. You got Jakobe Lane at
six to four, you got Deuce Robinson sixty six. You

(01:50:09):
can line up inside or outside, so that's the advantage
I think for USC, these outside receivers, the size against
LSU's secondary being a little bit small, and can they
change up the pace by running the football. Because if
the offensive line's better, we'll see if LSU's defense can
hold up. We know they've got dudes in the middle
and they've got some size, but the scheme might not
be a set. We'll see it's a lot simpler this

(01:50:31):
year for Blake Baker. So I'm that's the matchups that
I'm really interested in this game.

Speaker 6 (01:50:35):
Okay, we'll bring it back to today real fast here,
and what you guys are most looking forward to that
we haven't discussed today. Right, We've hit on the biggest
matchups and talked about a lot of teams and things
to look for and all that good stuff. But what's
a team, what's a game? What's something you have circled?
For me, it's who gets upset today? You have so

(01:50:57):
many top teams facing fc S teams.

Speaker 3 (01:51:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (01:51:01):
One of my favorite things when I would go to
games at Notre Dame Stadium back in the day. I
don't know if they still announce the scores during games,
but that was one of my favorite things where they
the PA announcer would be like.

Speaker 5 (01:51:12):
Oh miss ten Furman ten problem, Like oh my gosh, right,
Like I love that.

Speaker 6 (01:51:20):
Who goes down today is what I have circled. But
anything specifically you have circled, whether it's a team, it's
a game, something we haven't mentioned.

Speaker 5 (01:51:30):
Rich will start with you. What do you have on
your list?

Speaker 7 (01:51:32):
I said it earlier, and I'm really curious how this goes,
but favorites on the road early in the season. I'm
looking at a couple Penn State at West Virginia favored
by seven and a half. Right now VA Tac at
Vandy they're favored by just about two touchdowns. There's a

(01:51:53):
couple of these games where you're gonna see and obviously
as the season creeps forward, you know, Week two, Week three,
we're going to see you know, road favorites, and it
gets dicey Man Miami Road favorite just by a slim
margin at Florida. This is this is one of those
those situations where just beware, beware of accepting accepting a

(01:52:20):
cover there, because it's it's hard enough to be on
the road in college football.

Speaker 3 (01:52:25):
It's it's a whole another onions appeal.

Speaker 7 (01:52:29):
When with the transfer portal and the the the new
names and faces not only in the coaching staff now
but on the team every year to an astonishing number,
I feel like teams are gonna have a harder time
getting all their ducks in a row early. So I'm
very excited to see what the outcomes of some of
these especially narrow favorites, favorites playing on the road today.

Speaker 8 (01:52:53):
You know, it's crazy.

Speaker 9 (01:52:54):
We have done a almost a three hour college football
radio show week one of the college football season.

Speaker 8 (01:52:59):
We have not yet mentioned the defending national champions.

Speaker 14 (01:53:02):
Yeah right, yeah, telling though, right, yeah, just like And
I think that actually speaks volumes about what Michigan is
this year, which is about as under the radar as
a defending national champion can be.

Speaker 9 (01:53:13):
Because their head coach left, the entire team has gone.
They return one starter on offense. I think the defense
will be good. They brought in a really good linebacker
in the portal, actually two really good linebackers in the portal.
The number one rated linebacker in the twenty three portal
Jayshawn Barm from Maryland who is a freshman All American
in twenty one, and then Ernest Housman from Nebraska is
the number one linebacker.

Speaker 8 (01:53:34):
In this year's portal.

Speaker 9 (01:53:36):
So you got these two elite linebackers coming in. I
think the Michigan defense will be fine. I have no
idea what they're gonna be on offense this year. I
saw some respective money on the first half under in
that Fresno State Michigan game. But I what is Michigan
going to be this year? I mean, are they an
eight and four team. Are they a team that can
get back to the playoff? There is a lot of
unknowns in n Arbor, which is very rare considering the
lofty heights.

Speaker 8 (01:53:56):
That they have set for themselves over the last decade
or so.

Speaker 6 (01:53:58):
All right, that is the voice of Shared Smith FSR
betting analyst Rich Ornberger with US Penn State All American.
I'm Brian No. Coming up next, we wipe the slate clean. Huh. Now,
the football season is finally here. Everybody's zero and zero huh?
To start the football picks, we will set the states

(01:54:20):
the stakes rather and give you a couple of picks
from each of us.

Speaker 5 (01:54:24):
Right around the corner, it.

Speaker 6 (01:54:25):
Is Fox Sports Radios Countdown to Kickoff presented by bet MGM.
It is Fox Sports Saturdays, Fox Sports Radios Countdown to
Kickoff presented by bet MGM. Old Habits die Hard Goodness.
That was the show during the summer, not Fox Sports Saturdays.

Speaker 5 (01:54:41):
I apologize here.

Speaker 6 (01:54:43):
Throughout the entire football season, bet MGM will offer all
different types of boost tokens. Be on the lookout for
same game parlay boost tokens, parlay boost tokens and odds
boost tokens. Each NFL weekend. Props to the crew, our
trusted producer Bo Benson, Technical producer extraordinaire Chris Purfett crushing

(01:55:05):
the updates and crushing life, Isaac loewen Kron Top of
the Hour, up on game, LaVar Arrington, TJ Hushman, Zada, Plexico, Buris.

Speaker 5 (01:55:13):
They have got you covered. Have we got some picks
to make?

Speaker 3 (01:55:16):
Let's do it.

Speaker 4 (01:55:20):
Rapid fire.

Speaker 6 (01:55:22):
Okay, we have to mention that our summer Sweepsteaks winner
was Jared Smith. Huh, he had the best picks before
football season gets underway over here. So on three, Rich,
we salute him one two, three, who cares salute?

Speaker 5 (01:55:44):
No, very well done, Jared Smith. You are the headed
on show.

Speaker 3 (01:55:47):
Here.

Speaker 5 (01:55:48):
We wipe the slate clean.

Speaker 6 (01:55:49):
Now that we're at week one of the college football season,
we go all the way through the.

Speaker 5 (01:55:53):
Super Bowl Steaks. Guys, what is it?

Speaker 3 (01:55:58):
We have to do?

Speaker 6 (01:55:59):
The Will Levis challenge, Mayo and the coffee thing, and also,
like Rich said, the Mayo cologne.

Speaker 5 (01:56:06):
You just have to base.

Speaker 9 (01:56:07):
I like the Mayo cologne as an extra suite and
they're there.

Speaker 3 (01:56:10):
Okay, right, I like that.

Speaker 5 (01:56:12):
Jared will start with you. What do you like today?

Speaker 8 (01:56:14):
But yeah, let's start with Penn State.

Speaker 9 (01:56:16):
I'm gonna lay it, and you're seeing seven and a
half right now minus one zh five. If you can
fight a seven, there's a few that popped earlier today.
I think seven and a half at that price is
still fair. James Franklin loves covering numbers more than a
touchdown favorite. In his career, sixty five percent cover eight,
almost eighty percent the last four years nineteen to five
and one when favored by more than a touchdown eighth
one last season. Drew Allert taking shots down the field

(01:56:38):
is the key. West Virginia a little bit bulky in
the secondary. I think Penn stated they have a chance
to cover this number today. I am confident they will
get across the finish line.

Speaker 8 (01:56:47):
I'm gonna lay.

Speaker 9 (01:56:48):
Eight points with Troy. They're home against Nevada today. Interesting
trend teams that cover in week zero, right, teams that
played last week in Week one. If you're facing an
FBS opponent that hasn't played yet one in eight against
the spread the last two years, it makes sense if
you put something on paper in week zero, the coaches
are gonna adapt and they're gonna make you pay the

(01:57:08):
following week Troy.

Speaker 8 (01:57:10):
I don't love Troy. They're losing a lot.

Speaker 9 (01:57:12):
Jared Parker old notre a moc. He's the new head coach.
But Nevada wasn't good last week. They barely covered against SMU.
They were fortunate with a turnover for a touchdown there.
And I'm gonna tak the over in Western Kentucky in
Alabama fifty nine and a half. Hey, Kaylin de Board,
Jalen Milroe, this is gonna be like peanut butter and
jelly this year. I can't wait to watch this Alabama offense.
And don't sleep on Western Kentucky's offense.

Speaker 8 (01:57:31):
You remember this name, TJ.

Speaker 3 (01:57:32):
Finley.

Speaker 9 (01:57:33):
He used to play quarterback in the SEC. He's now
the quarterback at Western Kentucky. I think that air right
offense put some points on the board. Bama working in
a new secondary. So Western Kentucky Bama over Troy Lane
eight Penn State minus seven and a half.

Speaker 7 (01:57:44):
Yeah, big believer in Kaitlin de boor here, So I'll
start there. Have al of FAMA covering a huge spread
at home hosting Western Kentucky thirty four and a half.
I say Crimson Tide covers Vanderbilt. They're hosting the visiting
ACCS Virginia Tech. Very talented team. I think vo Tech wins,

(01:58:05):
but I'm taking the thirteen and a half.

Speaker 3 (01:58:07):
Like I said, favorites on.

Speaker 7 (01:58:08):
The row gonna be a little tricky this season for
a lot of these teams, and I could keep my
hands off the PSUs WVU game, the backyard brawl, Nitney Lions, Mountaineers.
I'm gonna take the under though, on the point total
forty nine and a half. Give me the under. I
think this is gonna be a tricky game. Maybe PSU covers,

(01:58:28):
maybe they don't, but I think it comes under.

Speaker 3 (01:58:30):
The point total.

Speaker 6 (01:58:32):
Okay, So I've got Notre Dame A and m circle.
Give me under forty seven and a half all day.

Speaker 3 (01:58:38):
I just I don't.

Speaker 5 (01:58:39):
See how it gets over.

Speaker 6 (01:58:43):
Notre Dames offensive line in experience, tough road setting, I
don't see them scoring a lot of points. And Notre
Dames defense is really really good. I love under forty
seven and a half. Give me that one. I'm gonna
go with Jared. You mentioned this in passing Who is
Michigan right right? I'm gonna go first half under twenty

(01:59:03):
three and a half Fresno State against Michigan. I respect
Michigan's defense. I don't see Fresno State doing a whole
lot early in that game. I'll go under twenty three
and a half in that one. And I would love
to join you with this Penn State thing. Do you
know what the HECKU that I will Penn State minus
seven and a half? I mean goodness, You've got James Franklin.

(01:59:23):
His record speaks for itself, sixteen to zero to one
against the spread at Penn State when the Nitney Lyons
are favored by seven to twenty four points.

Speaker 5 (01:59:33):
I will take that on the road today. In this one,
we are We're all on the same side. Go Penn State.

Speaker 4 (01:59:39):
Huh, Nitty Lyons, but do it.

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Countdown to Kickoff Presented by BetMGM