On today’s episode, Jason discusses the Seattle Seahawks' thrilling overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams, how the San Francisco 49ers could ultimately swipe the top seed in the NFC from Seattle in Week 18, and the narrative that Matthew Stafford 'lost' the MVP last night. Later, professional sports bettor Brad Powers swings by to preview the College Football Playoff from a wagering perspective, how NIL has re-shaped the long-term outlook of the sport, whether Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is the sure-fire top pick in the NFL Draft that some people think he is, the likelihood that high-profile coaches like Alabama's Kalen DeBoer or Clemson's Dabo Swinney could be on the move, and much more! Finally, J-Mac closes the show with his Best Bets for the College Football Playoff and NFL Week 16 slate.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is up Straight firefam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight
Bowyer for Friday, December the nineteenth, and this podcast hopefully
can be as much fire as Seahawks thirty eight Rams
thirty seven was. Oh my goodness, how good was that game?
(00:34):
Obviously we will talk about that extensively. Then you'll be
served with an interview with Brad Powers, college football, gambling
god Gawd, and then some best bets at the end
of the pod. Full disclosure, I don't have a ton
on the NFL this weekend. It's just a wacky weekend.
A lot of tight lines. Have some on college football,
but that's at the end of the podcast. Obviously, you
(00:55):
gotta start with Seahawks Rams. So it's funny. I heard
this lady on a podcast several years ago and she
was talking about how the number one predictor of success
for humans is has nothing to do with how much
money you grew up with or how much talent you have.
It was how much grit do you have the ability
(01:19):
to overcome obstacles? Right, you're trying to achieve a goal
and you're persevering in the face of adversity, right, rejection, failure,
and you keep going and keep going, and that is
the number one predictor of success. And I'm watching Sam
Darnold struggle last night. Bro is getting hammered by the Rams,
(01:45):
hammered by everybody watching on Amazon Prime. He was terrible.
He was objectionally terrible. Four ins in the first meeting,
two inch last night, sacked four times on the struggle
bus so badly. You couldn't help but feel for Sam Darnald.
He throws that pick in the third quarter. It was
(02:07):
almost a pick six. They run it back, tackled at
the one, and that's when Stafford, I believe, had the
no look touchdown pass and that put him up two scores.
And you're like, oh boy, there's Stafford flexing. He's got
that MVP RAMS number one seed, Rams going to Super
Bowl guys. I mean, they're the best team in the league.
I texted with Coward, I called him, spoke with him Coward,
(02:28):
and I are like, oh my gosh, Rams, who's stopping
these guys? Who's stopping him? Donald drives down the field
interception at like the one yard line. I mean, it
was it was bad. Jared Verse with the pick It's
like not quite a thick six because Jared Versus is
a bad boy coming off the edge. But at that point,
you know, Donald's down bad. I don't know if they
were booing him, but it was rough. It was the
kind of scene where you like, he goes to the sideline,
(02:49):
there's not a lot of people near him, like, man,
this guy's screwing it up for us. Now, never mind,
his defense is getting cooked all night. Okay, but what
happened in the fourth quarter. Now, obviously the game flipped
on the Rashid Shahed punt return touchdown. That was everything
because the Seattle offense was stuck in the mud, couldn't
do anything. Shahed, which was an awesome mid season acquisition,
(03:11):
by the way, It took a couple weeks to get
up to speed, but he is a game breaker and
he breaks off the punt return touchdown. Rams go three
and out, and from that point it was like, Okay,
the stadium's loud. Things are happening. Here we go and
next thing you know, Donald two plays huge touchdown pass
to Barner and it's tied. Well, I'm sorry they were
(03:33):
down too, And then came the craziest two point conversion
I've ever seen in my life, and that is not hyperbolegue. Guys,
I get if you fell asleep early on the East Coast,
because this game ended near midnight on the East Coast.
If you went to Betterly, you have to see the
two point conversion, watch it in real time. So Sam
Darnald tries to throw the bubble screen. It goes off
(03:55):
the helmet of a Rams defender who was like unblocked,
and it was like incomplete. Oh who okay, Ram survive.
They're up still up to with you know, six minutes
left or whatever, and then all of a sudden, the
referees go to review the incomplete pass because you know
it may have been a backwards pass, which in reality
(04:15):
would be a fumble who picked it up. So after
the incompletion, Zach Sharboney just happened to be right there.
Ben's down and pick up to the football in the
end zone and it's like, oh wait, well, there's no
way that that was actually a backwards pass. Then they
get to like the fifth angle and it's this overhead skycam.
It reminded me of when lebron was playing the Timberwolves
(04:36):
in the playoffs last year and this new camera angle
emerged that showed, yes, the ball was off Lebron. No
other angle showed that except this one on Lebron's Like,
I've never seen that camera angle of my life. Where
did they get that camera? I've been playing the league forever,
I've watched a lot of a en folcons. I don't
think I've ever seen that overhead camera view. And it
very clearly was a backwards pass and as such, just
(04:58):
because Sharbonny picked up the football, nobody was racing Torrey,
that play was dead. Now here's where it gets weird.
Warren Sharp and some others have enhanced the audio, and
it does sound like a whistle blows after the incompletion,
which would make it dead. They didn't look into that.
Whatever what's done is done. I mean, that was like
an interesting moment because it was one of the craziest
(05:19):
two point con versions in NFL history. That being said,
there were still so many other wacky things that happened.
Did you know, folks, I had to triple check this.
Sometimes you see stats out there and you're like, there's
just no way that that's possible. Okay, there were eleven
possessions in the fourth quarter. This game was crazy eleven
(05:40):
in the first half. There was one, there was four
in the first quarter, then five, six, seven, eight, and
then the end of the half that the Rams kind
of ran out. So I guess we can call that
nine nine possessions in the first half, eleven in the
fourth quarter. Neither team wanted to lose this game. And
I'll be real, I'm gonna be completely honest with you.
The Rams were the better team in this game. They
(06:01):
did whatever they wanted for most of the game and
then got a little tight, sat on the ball. McVeigh
baby took his foot off the gas folks. They had
five hundred and eighty one yards of offense six point
six yards per play, did not turn the ball over,
got in the red zone six times, and still lost
the game. Now, early on, one of my takes was
gonna be off. See they're settling for field goals. Okay,
(06:24):
No Devonte Adams, who's maybe the best route runner in
the red zone in the league. He has fourteen touchdowns,
leading all receivers. No Devonte Adams, They're not scoring in
the red zone. See, that's going to hurt their reins.
But then at thirty toes fourteen, you're like, oh, they're fine,
who cares, It doesn't matter. So of course it comes
down to special teams again in the fourth quarter and
the thick kicker and I in the sight that I
(06:45):
keep mentioning that's not live to everybody yet, just I'm
still working out the kinks. I mentioned that the Rams
kicking situation was among the worst in the league. Why
is that, Well, do you guys want to guess who
has the fewest field goals in the league. The Rams
are tied for dead last with fifteen. Now, part of
that's McVeigh not trusting his kicker. Part of that is
(07:07):
let's just go for on fourth down. Well, guess who's
the best kicker in the league. Some would say Brandon Aubrey.
Some would although he missed twice last week. Some would
say Cameron Dicker. Well, Jason Myers would like a word.
The Seahawks have a league leading thirty seven field goals made,
and Myers has the second most from fifty plus. Now, unbelievably,
(07:29):
I mean you could say that fifteen times in this game.
My son is in the Fantasy playoffs. He has Myers
as the kicker. Myers is a machine. He had two
extra points. That's it. I mean, that's not a great
start to the playoffs for him. As an aside in
the big money league. I'm in that I won last year.
I was in first place all season. I had the
most points, which more than pays for my buy in.
(07:54):
I'm facing Puka who had fifty, and I bench Stafford
because of the rain, the win that was expected, and
no DeVante, and I went with Cee J. Stroud, so
I'm almost certainly gonna lose. It was devastating. But listen,
Pooka had fifty. I think that's the best game of
the season for any wide receiver the actual line. And listen,
Pooka had a hell of a week with some other stuff.
(08:16):
He had twelve catches for two hundred and twenty five
yards two touchdowns. I think he had three catches over
forty yards. That's an extra bonus in our league. So
every other receiver on the Rams had seventeen catches. Puka
had twelve. And I'll just say a small thing that
I've got to file away when you get to the playoffs.
What the hell were the Seahawks thinking leaving Josh job
(08:38):
on an island with Pooka all night. You've got other cornerbacks, Woolen, Witherspoon,
what are you doing? What are you doing? I did
not understand it, and you know, I was mostly focused
on that because Puka's murdering them and I'm basic with fantasy.
But Seattle's defensive decision against Pooka and don't say, well
they won the game.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Just stop.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
You needed miraculous stuff. I haven't even got to overtime.
Rams go right down the field, touchdown, Pooka huge play.
And I'm not gonna bury out Michaels. He's been a
guest on the podcast before. I know the guy a
little bit. Yeah, it was a rough one for al Michaels.
He had low energy throughout the night. I mean, this
was a thrilling game and he's, you know, showing no emotion.
(09:21):
I mean, I personally think I would be a pretty
damn good announcer because of the energy that I bring
and the excitement. Again, there's seventy thousand people in the stadium.
It's literally having an earthquake because they're going bonkers. It
is for the number one seed, possibly for the MVP,
and al Michaels is just a run of the mill
score for Puka and he was a little late on everything.
(09:42):
I don't know. I'm not gonna bury the guy. I
like al Michaels anyways, So you get to overtime, Rams
score easily, Seattle gets the ball back, and this is
where the Sam Darnald Grick comes in. The guy's getting
killed all night, and you're like, okay, well he got
bailed out with the punt return and that drive to
tie it up essentially a fluky two point conversion, and
(10:04):
there was a wide open barner. You know, I get it. Okay,
I get it, and undaunted Darnold goes right down the
field in overtime, has an unbelievable touchdown pass to JSN.
By the way, JSN completely shut out in the first half,
second half has a has a hell of a half.
He finishes with eight for ninety six and a tuddy,
and then the two point conversion was a great call.
(10:25):
I mean, essentially, it's like, you're not punting the ball
back to the Rams, you're at home. You got to
go all in and they made a great call. Folks.
I had to look up this guy who caught the
two pointer his name. Actually he didn't even make the
box score. How is that even possible? Where you see
a box score and like receptions. Yeah, he doesn't even
(10:48):
register because it was just a two pointer. His name,
I had to write it down was Eric Soubert sau
b e er T. I'm like, who the hell is
that he has two catches on this season on two targets. Essentially,
Seattle knew the Rams. Hey, they're gonna load up on JSN.
They're gonna be all over Barner, the tight end, they're
gonna be on the backs, they're gonna be on Shiheed.
(11:10):
We gotta go where they're not going to be. And
they had Salbert basically hang in the pocket for a second,
a beat or two, and then just leak out right
to the goal line. And it was right in his midst,
easy catch. It's a great play call by Koobiak. And
I'm just still in shock that the Rams lost the scheme,
just stunned, unbelievable turn of events. And here is the
(11:34):
ultimate kicker. And I know everybody in Seattle's like, we're
the number one. See don't feel vantage blah blah blah.
Take take a deep breath. Okay, just take a deep breath.
The San Francisco forty nine ers are the Seahawks opponent
in Week eighteen, Seattle will have to travel. Now, this
is tough. After a super emotional game, you gotta travel
(11:54):
across the country to Carolina, who's still in the mix
as of now, at least they're like Tampa this weekend
for a playoff spot. So that's cross country travel Christmas week.
That ain't easy. Then you've got to travel back across
the country for Week eighteen to face San Francisco. Folks.
If San fran beats the Colts, I think they'll win
(12:16):
that game, it could be interesting. But if they beat
the Colts and then they go home and beat the Bears,
Week eighteen Seahawks Niners is for the number one seed.
And before you tell me I'm crazy, No, the Niners
will have gone five and one in the division and
have the tiebreaker over the Rams and Seattle. They already
beat Seattle in Week one. It was a close game, darnold,
(12:37):
I think fumbled or pick. Yeah, it was a fumble
in the pocket late in the game going in for
the game winner. So I'm just keeping a real for
everybody who's gassed up about Seattle. They I believe the
Niners will get the number one seed. In the NFC.
I'm just putting in it, and if they lose to
the Colts or the Bears, forget it. But if it
goes let me adjust that. If the Niners end up
(12:58):
playing Seattle for the number one seed, give me the
Niners to win that game. They're at home and that
offense right now is a juggernaut. Okay, and you watch
what McVeigh did up and down the field. What do
you think san Fran's gonna do? Purty Kittle? They're all
healthy now, well, we'll see about Piersol. Of course, pearsall
all my fantasy team. He's got her knees not practicing,
but he could play that frigging guy. Man. I was
(13:21):
all in on Piersaw. I really thought he would be
a game changer this season, and I think in the
first game he came out and was good and since
then he's just it's just been injury after injury. But anyways,
unbelievable win for the Seattle Seahawks. I don't totally think
it was. If you asked me, Jamack, who's the better
team after watching that, I would say I would say
the Rams. Seattle had some tough injuries. They were down
(13:43):
there left tackle. Just a reminder, the Rams scored thirty
eight I'm sorry, thirty seven points. Let me see how
many times I think they punted? Like I know, they
didn't punt in the first half, they don't barely punt it.
Through three quarters they punted four times. It was basically
all in the fourth quarter. They did whatever they wanted.
McVeigh was so confident he kept going for it on
(14:04):
fourth down early in the game. I mean, who goes
for it on fourth down in the first two drives
three times? This is crazy. He was so confidence team
and how could you not be six point six yards
per play all that without DeVante Adams. So ultimately, I
don't think this hurts the Rams that much. Obviously, not
getting the number one seed stinks, because, yeah, I would
(14:26):
love it if the NFC championship game were it's so
far right here in our backyard, that'd be great. I'd
try to go to that. The one, probably the best
NFL game I've ever been to. One of them was
Niners Rams NFC Championship game. That was the loudest I've
ever heard of stadium in my life. There was on
a late drive to win the game, Stafford hit Cooper
(14:49):
Cup on a slant and I'm just telling you, the
stadium was deafening. And it wasn't even for the touchdown.
It was just a huge third down. I've watched this
play so many times on YouTube, just a stutter step slant.
Stafford hits him and breaks a tackle in his like
twenty five yards and it was bead loo because you
knew the Rams are gonna win at that point. And
I mean, it would have been nice to have the
(15:09):
Rams hosting.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Now.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
I guess technically they still could host if Seattle stumbles
at Carolina or what you know, things happen. It's the NFL,
but it seems unlikely now. Uh, just quickly before we
get to Brad Powers. I don't necessarily think Stafford lost
the MVP. It felt like this game was for it.
If Seattle had bottled him up and he really struggled,
I could get that. Stafford was twenty nine to forty
(15:31):
nine for four hundred and fifty seven yards in three touchdowns.
He did not get sacked, he did not fumble, he
did not throw an interception. Just bye Blake Krum trying
to give him one off his hands at overtime. I
don't think Stafford could get knocked for this. Could he
get passed if Josh Allen goes to Philly next week?
In what I assume? I guess I should check the schedule.
(15:54):
I'm pretty sure it's a four. I'm pretty sure it's
the marquee for twenty five game next week on Fox.
Let's see. So at four twenty five next week we
get oh, Texans Chargers is pretty good. Oh no, wait,
that's not on Sunday. Yeah, there's only oh my gosh,
(16:15):
next Sunday because of the Christmas game. There's two games.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, there's two games at four o'clock,
Giants Raiders the Toilet Bowl for the number one pick,
and the other game is Eagles Bills. So Josh Allen
at home on Fox, probably forty million people watching, thirty
whatever the number is. That's where Josh Allen can potentially
(16:39):
steal the MVP from Stafford because Stafford won't have another chance.
He plays Atlanta and Arizona, two games that ain't nobody
gonna be watching. It doesn't matter what Stafford puts up.
It's the marquee TV games. Remember who's voting on this stuff? People? Okay,
these media are easily swayed. So, I mean, I I'm
just that game was fascinating. Do another thirty minutes. But
(17:01):
obviously we've got a monster football weekend ahead. How lucky
are we? I mean, I'm just so thankful that I
get to do this right podcast, the show Just Talking Sports.
We had an awesome game Thursday, we have a college
football playoff game. Tonight, we have college football playoff games
Saturday and two NFL games, and then Sunday a monster slate,
(17:24):
and then Monday we got Monday Night Football. Like we're
pretty we're pretty blessed in these waters. All right, without
further ado, let's get to our guest.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Brad Powers. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
Foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search
FSR to listen live. You know, Jason likes to think
he knows everything when it comes to sports.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
I know what sports fans want.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
But for everything he doesn't, he knows a guy who does.
Let's just say I know.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
A guy who knows a guy who knows another guy.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
All right, let's welcome back to Straight Fire, one of
the best college football gamblers on the planet. We had
him on preseason, he had a couple of home runs,
a couple whis this it's what happens. I mean, we
all like Penn State in Texas, Brad Powers, how are
you man doing? Wow?
Speaker 3 (18:18):
He had to bring up Penn State in Texas.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Yeah, listen, I mean everybody thought they were going to
be good. Hey, but before we get to the games,
you know, it's not that appealing of a slate. I'm
not gonna lie, and probably some of it is colored
by what we saw last year in the first round.
But real quick, So the transfer portal. I'm sure you've
seen these quarterbacks. There's a lot of quarterbacks in the portal,
and it's weird because like Notre Dame doesn't need a quarterback,
(18:42):
Miami needs a quarterback. As Beck's leaving. We don't know
about Alabama, we don't know about Oregon. I'm just curious,
what are your overarching thoughts when you see like Dylan
Reyola enter the portal. Sellers has not but he could
still technically, I mean, anything can happen. But overall, big
picture thoughts on the portal and quarterbacks.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Yeah, I would say, you know, I'll go off the
beaten path. Number one guy for me, provided he's healthy,
is probably Sam Levitt the Arizona State. Really yeah, he'd
be the number one guy, even over DJ Lagway, Riola,
you name it. So, but we'll see where he ends up.
He's the guy that moves the needle the most for me.
But I'm sure there's a shoe or two that hasn't
(19:21):
dropped yet whenever money's involved in Miami being one involved.
You know, I never saw Carson Beck going there at
this time last year.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Yeah, so what is it about Levitt? I'm looking at
the you know, Michigan State, Arizona State. He was obviously
better last year than this year. I saw that he
just blew off the ASU banquet at the end of
the year.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Just doesn't that's not good?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Yeah? So so I mean, but why do you like
him more than say Riola? And for sure Lagway, uh.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
More mobile than both those guys. Believe are a nice,
sneaky good athlete. And to me it's proven to be
a more consistent pastor than both of those guys. So
I just, provided he's healthy, I think he's got more upset.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
My hot take is everybody saw what Texas Tech did
hammered the portal got to the playoff? Is there value
you think, Brad in seeing where some of these guys land,
looking at the schedules and then making some kind of
long shot bets really quickly. For instance, the team that
jumps out, I'm sure you've seen the Penn State schedule.
It's easy as hell. There'll be a probably dog once
all season, maybe twice. And if they're able to get
(20:23):
Levitt or one of the big time quarterbacks, I mean,
I don't doubt Matt Campbell could coach that team up.
I don't care about the recruiting class. Recruiting classes don't
really matter as much, do they.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
No, not in one year, I mean, but I mean
it's all about stacking multiple ones, then it matters. But
in one offseason a bunch of freshmen aren't going to
change your dynamic. As far as the team, Oh, there's
absolute value. I mean Tech you kind of see coming
a mile away for paying attention. I mean Texas Tech
of all teams, number one transfer portal class. Certainly they
were mispriced, you know, in January, February and the hell
(20:56):
all off season long. So yeah, I'll be looking to
hopefully take advantage of that. I do like Matt Campbell.
I will say, I don't know if he's a huge
upgrade over James Frank. Oh really so, I I'm not
the Let's see how the roster shapes out. They're gonna
have to go heavy in the portal.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Heavy, heavy, heavy, for sure, real quick, Michigan. The Sharon
Moore story is crazy. I mean, you don't want to
kick a guy when he's down, but you know, hooking
up with someone on the staff for two years, giving
her a raise, then just going like, you know, crazy
on her and getting arrested. It's over. It's weird. It
sounds like everybody's waiting for the GM to get fired,
(21:34):
and no coach is going to take that job seriously
until until they determine what happens with the ad.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Right, Yeah, I would agree with that. I don't know
how he still has a job considering all the you know,
stuff that's happened with that program in the last five
six years. It's not just not the football program, I
mean the basketball program. You know did you want Howard stuff? Yeah,
I mean that wasn't great. The hockey team had some
issues as well, So I mean, we'll see. I think,
(22:01):
you know, Kaitlin de boor is the name that we've heard.
I think if he loses uh to Oklahoma, which is
definitely a possibility, Oklahoma's.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Life the favorite. Do you think he just bolts for Michigan.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I could say it's definitely a really distinct possibility.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Wow that I mean hmm, by the way.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
They for him personally at Michigan then and then he
is at Alabama.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
But what why? Why is he not a good fit Obama?
Speaker 3 (22:25):
The personality, the personality, you know, never really been from
that area of the country before. Uh, you know, I
don't think he's gonna get tired and feathered at Michigan
like he is at Alabama. If if he happens to
lose this name against the Oklahoma.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Underwood, do you think Underwood would stay if they get
to bor or would he bounce?
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Yeah? I certainly got If you want to keep Underwood,
h you probably gotta go out more offensive mine.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Yeah. Yeah, all right, let's get to the games. We'll
start with Alabama. Oklahoma got not gonna lie, Brad. I'm
disappointed Notre Dames down in the field. This game does
nothing for me. The first the first game was boring
as hell. Alabama turned it over a lot, a lot
of hype about the Oklahoma defense in venables. I don't know,
but hearing you talk about du Bor makes me wonder
if maybe there's one eye on the Michigan job and
(23:13):
building a staff there, and one eye on Oklahoma.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
First off, let me agree with you. I mean, the
whole Bowl schedules the worst I've ever seen the playoffs,
including at least the first round. I mean, I'm kind
of waiting for the quarterfinals, but these four games are
a major bummer. You put Notre Dame in there, mix
a match a little bit, had a lot of better
matchups as far as this one goes. I mean, obviously
you got to look at the data point when the
(23:37):
two teams already playing. I mean, Alabama should have won.
I bet Oklahoma in that game one, but I'm here
to tell you Alabama should not only won the game,
they should have covered the game. So it's tough for
me to overlook that Alabama's getting healthier. They had eight
starters out of the SEC championship game. You know, it
speaks somewhat to them, maybe as an excuse of why
they got beat so bad. Jan Miller is the outstanding
(23:58):
running back for them. He's back. I think that's a
you know, a big time bonus. I'll disagree with a
little bit of the movement. I mean, I'm not gonna
overreact crossing through zero here. That's not that big of
a deal. I lean Alabama. But I gotta be honest
with you, if this was just a game on a
regular Saturday with fifty other games, I'm not sure that
I'd find too much value here. I probably wouldn't have
a bet on it.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
It just doesn't It's not a great game. It's kind
of boring. I mean, I got a buddy a total.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Four andy and a half. Yeah, I mean that's not
going to bring in college football casual. I can tell
you that.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Yeah. I mean, listen, I don't know how many holiday
parties you're going to this weekend, but like, this is
probably not even like a top five college or NFL
game this weekend. It's a playoff game.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
You know.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
It's just I'm not that into it now, I will say,
I don't know if you know, I graduated from JMU.
I went to Virginia Tech for a couple of years
in JMU to finish out. So and I actually think
they're live to cover twenty one, twenty one and a half.
I know everybody's going to point to all Organs a machine,
they can win it all. I don't really care about that.
I just look at this JMU coaching staff as one
(24:58):
of the better, most underrated in the entire playoffs, and
I do think Oregon kind of goes through the motions, Oh,
we'll playing JAMU and they probably jump out to like
a twenty four to seven lead, but covered twenty one.
I'm just not sure they pull it off. Whether it
looks like it's gonna be an issue or you have
anything on this game.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Yeah, I bet Oregon. Yeah, I like Oregon look quite
a bit. I love Bob Jesney. I mean, I go
back to the Holy Cross days. Oh, I can go
back to a game where one of the best coaching
jobs I saw he had them beating South Dakota State
in a playoff quarterfinal like three four years ago. I
couldn't have been more impressed with that being said, Oregon's
(25:36):
get you know, Oregon's coming off probably their two best
wins of the season USC Washington to close out the
regular season. They finally showed me something there, and they
did it without two of their starting wide receivers who
are both back. Plus Evans Stewart was who was going
to be a first team preseason All American. He's missed
the whole season. He might play in this game. So
I think that the offense has a little bit, hopefully
(25:56):
an extra gear. They're gonna need it to cover this
big number. I mean, the market says you're right, though,
I mean it went up to twenty one and a half.
I mean you can now. I mean it's come down
to as low as twenty and a half in spots.
Total is way down because of the weather. I'm not
afraid though Oregon first half Oregon team total over thirty
four and a half. And I'm laying it why this
jam you hasn't look I like that. I respect the coaching.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
They haven't played anybody, I get it.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
I mean really haven't played anybody. They played one top
fifty team and they lost by fourteen. Now I watched
that game. They were more competitive than a fourteen point final.
But I mean Louisville and Oregon are are night and
day compared to one another, and plus the atmosphere and notts,
and they haven't played in front of anything like that.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
All true I do wonder do you think the Ducks
get not caught looking ahead but a lot there's a
lot of steam behind Texas A and M all right,
sorry not Texas A and Texas Tech plus like eight
hundred to win the title. Well, Texas Tech amazing defense
that get game. It's gonna be amazing against Oregon. I
feel like there's just no chatter about JMU.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
I think you know, as I'm talking through this and
you know the evolution of the handicap, I hear you
on that. I probably prefer Oregon first half. And Dan
Lanning has more of a past history of jumping on teams.
He's not a guy that tends to pour it on.
But I think that the best bet that I could offer,
at least the best piece of advice would be Oregon
first half.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Yea, boyd all that remember when Oregon had to buy
last year and they faced was it Ohio State in
the Rose Bull and they were down like thirty eight nothing.
Obviously Ohio State's a machine. I don't at the time
off is tough to handicap. But maybe that's just a
homer in me talking A and M Miami. I don't
really know what to do with this. I don't like
Miami a lot, but I did take the three and
(27:35):
a half.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Yeah you're not alone. No one really i've talked to
has taken A and M yet market hasn't. It's another
game where yeah, it's a good game, it's just you know,
if it was a you know, on a regular Saturday slate,
I looked at the line of the total, I probably
wouldn't have much interest.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Pass.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
I'll watch it, but I don't think there's much value.
You know, a couple of sharp guys that I respect,
you know, attack the under, particularly the first half under
that I thought I was a pretty smart play. You
can still find some twenty four and a half out
there with some heavy juice. I am waiting, though, I'm gonna.
I'm gonna lay three with A and M now that
I love it, I just I'm keeping as simple. I
(28:13):
think Mike Elko is a better coaching crystal Ball. And
again you think Miami big time program, but they have
not played in an atmosphere of Kyle Field in years.
I mean, I think that the largest crowd they played
in front of this year is like sixty seven thousand
at the Dope. I mean, this is gonna be one
hundred and seven thousand. So I'm just you know, lean
A and M for me?
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Ye, where are you on the whole leak? Aggie's kind
of leaking oil last three games? It removes Samford, who
gives a shit? But South Carolina they were down, was
thirty to three or something, storm backs to get to win,
and then against Texas they were really outclassed on the road.
I don't know, have teams seen stuff on tape that
you know Elco's not disguising. I don't know why they've
(28:56):
been so futured, and I do wonder that home field
advantage does it matter as much for like, what is
it a noon kickoff? Or that's true?
Speaker 3 (29:06):
I think it has to do with that. I think
they're a little overrated, to be honest with you. So
I mean they didn't they didn't. They played one team
in the SEC with a winning record that was Texas.
Look what happened in that game. So uh yeah, it's
not that I'm like, ooh, I'm betting A and M
because I love A and M. It was more of
an anti Mario Crystobal type play. I guess my biggest
I'm waiting anxiously I hope it plays close to the
(29:27):
spread where where I can, or you know, maybe maybe
a team gets overrated with it being a blowout. I'm
looking to fade the winner of this game. I'm gonna
be heavy on the buck guys.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Yeah, yeah, I would totally agree with that one. I
don't even even do we need to talk Old Miss
too late. I don't even think that game registers. Everybody
in their mom I know is on an old Miss.
There's a rematch, just there's another crappy game. Man.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Yeah, the fact that we've already seen it. It's already crappy.
We've already seen it forty five ten. It was a
legit forty five ten too, o Miss gain him by
three hundred yards. I think anytime you're back in a favorite,
what's the motivation of a margin? I think Ole Miss
plays a little bit with a chip on their shoulder
with Kiff and leaving them acting like, you know, he's
too good for them. Atmosphere will be better this go
(30:13):
around than the first time these two met. I certainly
lean O Miss. I don't even have Tulane in the
top fifty of my power ratings. That's how bad of
a G five team. This is I like their head coach,
but they're completely overmatched here. And I'll say this speaking
I'm a college football guy. This won't even be on
my main TV at that time frame. The FCS playoff
game between Montana and Montana State's a better game than this. Yeah,
(30:39):
I can lean towards Montana State. They taking some money
in the market here.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Can you name one player on either team?
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Yeah? I can lay.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Oh my gosh, that's impressive, dude, Montana. I think of
Montana State the NCAA Tournament. I think I bet them
and they did not cover a come close. It's just
it's weird, Like there's a world where Ole miss, like
you said, motivational, spot heavy and they kick their ass
and then they come out and get smashed by Georgia
in two weeks.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Right, Georgia. If I had to better look ahead a lot,
you can bet that game right now, Georgia, MIAs five
and a half would be made. Yeah, that's it. That's
a being that's gonna adjust.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Oh my gosh, that's an empty the bank, right, I mean, well,
you never want to empty the bank, but you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Against college I can tell you that.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
So then second round. It's like you have Buckeyes over whoever.
Bulldogs for sure.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
I like Oregon to make a run. I like them
to beat Tech. Again. Tech hasn't played anybody the weakest
strength to schedule of any power for a team, and
I don't It'll depend on the number. I just think
SEC fans gonna be stunned at the Indiana line. They're
gonna be favored by a touchdown over the winner of
the Alabama Oklahoma game. That's how much the market hates
those two teams.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Well, they're not good. Wait wait, Indian it'll be favored
by a touchdown a touchdow Now, I will say I
saw a Brad Power's take on the interwebs about you
not liking Fernando Mendoza or I don't know if the
Hoosiers are coming after full force. Well, I'm wear of
my Jets shirt as we record this. What do you
not like? I'd kill for Mendoz. It just looks like
such a great human being and a damn good quarterback.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Yeah, he's good human being, good size. I just he's
kind of a I mean, Signetti's system just turns out
it doesn't matter who's behind center. I'm sure the reasoning
that I was, you know, putting some digs. There was
you know, last seven years, Signetti's quarter starting quarterback at
all these different spots. It's been first or second team
All Conference, six different quarterbacks, four of them been Conference
(32:32):
Player of the Year. And I mean it hasn't been
a who's who a talent. It's just you know, he's
that good of a coach. And I just I think
whoever drafts mendoz is probably looking for a job within
three years.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Not against Interesting. Now, I didn't chick in with you
on Diego. Is it Pavia the Vanderbilt quarterback. Do you
think he's a pro because I'm sure you saw his
comments after he didn't win the Heisman.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Yeah, I think, you know, I think he's a poor
man's Johnny Manziel, That's right. I think you think of
him on the field and off the field. So yeah,
I mean, you know he's not going to make in
the pros.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Yeah, he's definitely not a pro. Interesting, So I'm assuming
you think Oregon could take down Indiana then in the
semi finals.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Yeah, I bet that I made was I bet Oregon
three to one to make the National Championship game. Now
I still kin'd. I tend to, you know, lean towards
the winner of that Ohio State Georgia game winning the title.
But I do think Oregon makes a run. You can
bet them like three to one to make the championship.
You don't need them to win, and you can hedge.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Then So are they perhaps undervalued because of all the
injuries and still winning and now they're getting healthy? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (33:34):
I think so. Uh you know again the wide receiver
position being a cluster injury, I think, you know. And
I look, if you're making you're gonna ask me what
quarterback do you want to draft? I think Dante Moore
is the top quarterback, do you think. I just think
there's an upside. Not that I think he's had a
better year than Mendoza, but I just think his you know,
skill set's going to transition better to to the NFL
(33:56):
in my opinion. So yeah, I think you got a
high value there. And plus I'm not buying Tech. And
as much as Indiana is a good story and they
beat Oregon in the first matchup, I just again, I
think Oregon's more talented and just has a higher upside
across the board.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Do you think in Oregon Ohio State final.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
Yeah, with the Buck guys winning.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
So it's like the Big ten world now we just
do we're all living in it. Uh, I mean, it's
crazy how things have changed. Where do you land on
the whole? Hey man? When it comes to the NIL era,
the smart schools with rich graduates have way more impact
and influence when it comes to the bank than the
SEC schools, you know. I mean, I'm not bashing Alabama,
(34:35):
but yeah, we don't have enough money.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
Yeah, it hasn't changed since the Civil War. I mean,
the North has more money than the South, right, and
obviously Oregon's got money because of Phil Knight. So uh,
when it's became look, everybody is paying somebody, but it
was obvious the SEC was paying more than others. So
now that it's all legaling out there, I mean, alls
you really have to do is go look at the
you know, the endowments. You know, the Michigans and Notre Dames,
(35:00):
Higo States of the world ranked way higher in endowment
than than you know, Alabama's of the world. Tech A
and M's up there and they're having their best season
in thirty years.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
It is interesting. So essentially everywhere outside of the SEC
is going to improve and level up, and the SEC
seems to be not going down now if they lose
to boor coupled with not winning the national championship or
maybe an All Big Ten final. I don't want to
write the eulogy for the SEC, but I mean, are
we going to see major changing the guard if we
(35:30):
haven't already?
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Well, I think we've already seen it, but a third
year would probably slam you know, slam dunk. Look, I
still think the SEC is by far the best conference.
It's just at the very top of the sport. Nick
Saban's not, you know, unretiring, you know, erban Meyer's not there,
and that they're that what made them so tough was
that the line of scrimmage, the depth pieces there, you know,
next twenty two was so much better than everybody else
(35:52):
in college foot. Well, it's just not there anymore. When
when you when tech can go out and buy a
you know, a roster, a good defensive line, we just
never seen that. So I think it'll be more the same.
It's just not that the SEC won't ever be dominant again,
but we're not gonna see the fifteen year run that
they had from like twenty five to twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Oh hell no, yeah, well what about Clemson? What are
you hearing on Dabo? Let's just do the dominoes. Caln
goes to Michigan. Do they pluck Dabbo Dabbo? However you
say it? And he goes to Alabama? Possible?
Speaker 3 (36:24):
He needs he needs to, you know, a change, but
he needs to change personally, not just you know, maybe
a change of scenery. But he needs to because I mean,
Clemson's recruiting. Everything's going downhill. It's it's not like a
one off where they disappointed. No, it's been trending down
now for four or five years. I think Alabama would
be fine with that higher. They'd be excited at first,
(36:45):
but I wouldn't be saying, oh, you know, you know,
Dabble's gonna get gonna win two more national championships.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
It's interesting because at the beginning of the season it
was all about Cavee club, Nick and Nussmeier. Bro. None
of those guys are going first to or even I
don't even think top three rounds, do you. Nussmaier got
benched at LSQ late this season.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
I don't see either one going the top three Rounds's weird. Yeah,
the Duke quarterback. Now looks like he's gonna be the
quarterback three.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Okay, so is he definitely coming out?
Speaker 3 (37:16):
Hasn't It hasn't been official yet, but looks like he
is gonna. He even got surprised by the early feedback
that he's got, is like, yeah, you're gonna be the
third quarterback. So from it shocked me because I've met
Duke in the Bowl game. Didn't think and you know
the men's is not the guy. I'm thinking, Oh, he's
(37:36):
gonna lead for the pros because he's got such a
good nil deal. But now I think sometime this week
he'll announce he's leaving for the draft.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
So interesting because if you look at the last three
NFL drafts, so Bryce Young went first, he's definitely not
the best quarterback in his class, Kile Williams went first,
he's definitely not the best. And then this past year
cam Ward. I like him, but he has not been
close to the best quarterback drafted. So like, going one
is a kiss of death because you go to a
crap franchise and falling down actually benefits. I mean, you know,
(38:04):
I'd rather get taken by McVeigh in the second round
than any of the jokers drafting in the top ten, right.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
Agree, And we just haven't had that, you know, that
quarterback that can overcome, you know, the generational type that
can overcome getting drafted by a terrible franchise. So this
is CJ. Carran. Next year will be that guy though, Oh.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Notre Dame guy. Yeah, everybody liked him. Somebody was trying
to sell me on the Baylor quarterback. Big strapping dude
looks the part of Sawyer Robertson.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
Yeah, if you're taking him fourth or fifth round, you
take a fly around. I mean he started from all
I'd take a fly on him. Yeah, I mean fourth
or fifth round. He's not a Day one or Day
two pick.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
No. I mean like seeing a Tyler Shuck actually look competent.
I know it's only been a few weeks and he
might win offensive year for all we know, but like
just seeing that, it's like, oh geez, well, hell if
that guy can succeed. I didn't think he'd be any good,
did you shuck?
Speaker 1 (38:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (38:57):
I might have some video on you know, did not
just saying and now after the fact, but that was
the guy I liked the most in last year's class over.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
Yeah that was your QB one over Dart and Morty one.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
But the guy like we're talking ROI you know, I
think the best bang for your buck. Yeah it was him.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Wow, that's a good call by you. All right, Brad Powers,
there's the picks. Hey man, have a great holiday, great season,
and we'll catch up with you, buddy.
Speaker 3 (39:22):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live. The only thing better than sitting on your
couch watching the game. He's making money while you do it.
(39:44):
Here's your best bet.
Speaker 2 (39:47):
Great stuff from the immortal Brad Powers. And I will
say I actually have as of this moment, more college
football action this weekend than I do NFL college football
since you know we just talked about, let's just stick
with that. I don't even know why I took this,
but I have NC State today minus four and a
(40:07):
half in some bowl game that I don't even know exists.
It was simply a numbers play, a player sitting play,
and of course now it's going against me to minus
three and a half, so I don't advocate that Monday.
I have Utah State. Now that was at three. It's
down to one and a half. So I've got some
good closing line value there, or whatever that's worth in
the playoff. I'm with Brad. I took Ole Miss minus seventeen.
(40:30):
Now this was like maybe ten days ago. It's seventeen
and a half depending on where you are now. I
actually don't have anything on Alabama Oklahoma. If you want
an action play and it's Friday night and you know
we've won some money here the last month, and you
feel like putting I don't know, bar tab money on Alabama.
(40:55):
That's where I'll be if i'm if the mood is right,
I think it's Alabama or nothing for me. Don't even
if they're gonna win. I don't think they're better. I
just I'm a Ty Simpson believer. I think Kaylin de
Boor is the better coach here. But as I said
to Brad, there's a world where d Boor has one
eye on Michigan and building a staff and one i
on Oklahoma, and he's not fully focused and they don't
(41:16):
win this game on the road, So I don't I'm
not that excited for the game, but I'm excited for
JAMU Oregon, and I'm opposite of Brad on this one.
I have JMU plus twenty one, not just because I
went there, but I think I've mentioned this a couple
of times this season. So the sharpest college football better
I know is on JMU, and so that's the only
(41:37):
reason I'm on it. And then I'm the kind of
guy who works backwards here. Once I found out it
was JMU plus twenty one, I said, okay, well, let
me see what possibly he's seeing, and I you know,
you dig in and I will be writing it up
for the site.
Speaker 1 (41:52):
I know.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
I haven't made it go live yet. It's a little
frustrating because I have given some people access because I
wanted to make sure it has all the kinks are
worked out, and there's still one little snag that pisses
me off. So I can't put it out there yet.
But Jamie plus twenty one and the other one that
this wealthy individual is on is Miami plus three and
a half. Now that's minus one point fifteen. It looks
(42:15):
like it's gonna head down to plus three, so I
don't mind paying the little extra Juice probably a three
point game. Brad, we broke this one down with him.
I largely believe that an m is leaking oil. They
got a good coach. I like him a lot, But overall,
the what I saw from this team late in the season,
I didn't like. They were better early in the season.
(42:36):
They've started to fade. How you enter March madness, how
you enter the NBA playoffs, the NFL playoffs, I think
that stuff matters greatly. So a little Miami plus three
and a half in the NFL again, you guys aren't
gonna like this, but Cincinnati minus two was the first
bet of the week sizable. That was after the McDaniel PRESCT.
(43:00):
We talked about it earlier this week. The next day
they benched him for quinn Ewers, so I got minus two.
It's now minus four and a half, which is not ideal. Obviously.
I don't love minus four and a half as much
as I did minus two. I mean, Joe Burrow minus two,
give me a break. That's that feels like a winner.
Joe Burrow minus four and a half against quinn Yours.
(43:20):
I don't know, we'll see I am on the Vikings
minus three. I like that one a lot. This Vikings
defense really trending well late in the season for Brian Flores.
Kevin O'Connell. I think there's a lot to like about
the Vikings here. JJ McCarthy has played much better now.
The concern is he played much better in two games indoors.
Forget the opponent. He played better indoors. Now he's got
(43:41):
to go outdoors, whether in New York does not appear
that bad. That being said, I really like Brian Flores.
His numbers against rookie quarterbacks are overwhelming. They just they
don't know where the blitz is coming from. He really
does a great job of confusing and rattling guys, and
we'll see a lot of Jackson Dart running for his life.
But it doesn't phaze me. I'm on Vikings minus three.
(44:03):
I'm probably gonna end up on Eagles minus six and
a half. I was hoping it would dip down a six.
It has not. I'm on the Steelers Lions over fifty one.
Actually that's a minus one twenty, so Steelers Lions over
fifty one and a half is probably available. I'm on
(44:24):
Packers Bears over forty seven. I likely will do Bears
in contest. The contest plays well so far. I like Philly,
I like Chicago. Bears is down to pick them in
the contest, which is interesting. But I did see a
really good interview with the defensive coordinator Halfley and the
(44:47):
it was almost like the reporter knew what to ask him.
But the reporter said, you know, Jeff, you planned for
a defense without Micah Parsons from February to mid August,
so you had your whole defensive plan for the SA.
Then you added Micah and the defense was obviously next level.
Now you got to go back to what you would
plan for six months. So are you pretty confident that, hey,
(45:11):
I planned for six months? No, Micah and Halfley really
laughts at him. He's like yes, and there was laughter throughout,
and it's like, oh, that's it. That's an interesting angle,
and it looks like Watson's gonna play. So I'm gonna
be other Bears. I don't know if I'm gonna bet
it on the side Ravens minus three in the contest.
I am gonna definitely be on Titans. I did bet
that plus three and a half that's headed toward three.
(45:32):
My guess is we're gonna get no Rashi Rice. We're
gonna get no Chris Jones. A lot of the players
who are on the fence, they're just gonna sit it
and say, hey, we're coming back on Christmas. We're coming
home to face Patrick, to face Denver in what would
be Travis Kelce's final game, and we are going to
win that one, and everybody's gonna play. That would be
(45:53):
my read. So I don't think they punk this game.
I just don't think we see a max effort and
all their good players. Trent McDuffie may miss like Titans
a lot. I would lean Lions, I lean Texans amounts fourteen,
and I'm looking at Cowboys. They're just secondaries so bad.
Somebody was like, should I start Herbert in fantasy? I
(46:13):
was like, well, I don't know, But then you look
at Dallas and every quarterback has taking them apart, and
you're like, maybe you should. So that's where we are
with the gambling. Looking at Panthers plus three against Tampa,
but Panthers have their injuries as well. It's a rough slate.
I don't love a ton and you know what, We've
got several weeks left in the season. A couple weeks
(46:34):
left in the season and then playoffs, so listen, don't
go overboard, enjoy the holidays, and we're back on Monday.
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is up Straight firefam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight
Bowyer for Friday, December the nineteenth, and this podcast hopefully
can be as much fire as Seahawks thirty eight Rams
thirty seven was. Oh my goodness, how good was that game?
(00:34):
Obviously we will talk about that extensively. Then you'll be
served with an interview with Brad Powers, college football, gambling
god Gawd, and then some best bets at the end
of the pod. Full disclosure, I don't have a ton
on the NFL this weekend. It's just a wacky weekend.
A lot of tight lines. Have some on college football,
but that's at the end of the podcast. Obviously, you
(00:55):
gotta start with Seahawks Rams. So it's funny. I heard
this lady on a podcast several years ago and she
was talking about how the number one predictor of success
for humans is has nothing to do with how much
money you grew up with or how much talent you have.
It was how much grit do you have the ability
(01:19):
to overcome obstacles? Right, you're trying to achieve a goal
and you're persevering in the face of adversity, right, rejection, failure,
and you keep going and keep going, and that is
the number one predictor of success. And I'm watching Sam
Darnold struggle last night. Bro is getting hammered by the Rams,
(01:45):
hammered by everybody watching on Amazon Prime. He was terrible.
He was objectionally terrible. Four ins in the first meeting,
two inch last night, sacked four times on the struggle
bus so badly. You couldn't help but feel for Sam Darnald.
He throws that pick in the third quarter. It was
(02:07):
almost a pick six. They run it back, tackled at
the one, and that's when Stafford, I believe, had the
no look touchdown pass and that put him up two scores.
And you're like, oh boy, there's Stafford flexing. He's got
that MVP RAMS number one seed, Rams going to Super
Bowl guys. I mean, they're the best team in the league.
I texted with Coward, I called him, spoke with him Coward,
(02:28):
and I are like, oh my gosh, Rams, who's stopping
these guys? Who's stopping him? Donald drives down the field
interception at like the one yard line. I mean, it
was it was bad. Jared Verse with the pick It's
like not quite a thick six because Jared Versus is
a bad boy coming off the edge. But at that point,
you know, Donald's down bad. I don't know if they
were booing him, but it was rough. It was the
kind of scene where you like, he goes to the sideline,
(02:49):
there's not a lot of people near him, like, man,
this guy's screwing it up for us. Now, never mind,
his defense is getting cooked all night. Okay, but what
happened in the fourth quarter. Now, obviously the game flipped
on the Rashid Shahed punt return touchdown. That was everything
because the Seattle offense was stuck in the mud, couldn't
do anything. Shahed, which was an awesome mid season acquisition,
(03:11):
by the way, It took a couple weeks to get
up to speed, but he is a game breaker and
he breaks off the punt return touchdown. Rams go three
and out, and from that point it was like, Okay,
the stadium's loud. Things are happening. Here we go and
next thing you know, Donald two plays huge touchdown pass
to Barner and it's tied. Well, I'm sorry they were
(03:33):
down too, And then came the craziest two point conversion
I've ever seen in my life, and that is not hyperbolegue. Guys,
I get if you fell asleep early on the East Coast,
because this game ended near midnight on the East Coast.
If you went to Betterly, you have to see the
two point conversion, watch it in real time. So Sam
Darnald tries to throw the bubble screen. It goes off
(03:55):
the helmet of a Rams defender who was like unblocked,
and it was like incomplete. Oh who okay, Ram survive.
They're up still up to with you know, six minutes
left or whatever, and then all of a sudden, the
referees go to review the incomplete pass because you know
it may have been a backwards pass, which in reality
(04:15):
would be a fumble who picked it up. So after
the incompletion, Zach Sharboney just happened to be right there.
Ben's down and pick up to the football in the
end zone and it's like, oh wait, well, there's no
way that that was actually a backwards pass. Then they
get to like the fifth angle and it's this overhead skycam.
It reminded me of when lebron was playing the Timberwolves
(04:36):
in the playoffs last year and this new camera angle
emerged that showed, yes, the ball was off Lebron. No
other angle showed that except this one on Lebron's Like,
I've never seen that camera angle of my life. Where
did they get that camera? I've been playing the league forever,
I've watched a lot of a en folcons. I don't
think I've ever seen that overhead camera view. And it
very clearly was a backwards pass and as such, just
(04:58):
because Sharbonny picked up the football, nobody was racing Torrey,
that play was dead. Now here's where it gets weird.
Warren Sharp and some others have enhanced the audio, and
it does sound like a whistle blows after the incompletion,
which would make it dead. They didn't look into that.
Whatever what's done is done. I mean, that was like
an interesting moment because it was one of the craziest
(05:19):
two point con versions in NFL history. That being said,
there were still so many other wacky things that happened.
Did you know, folks, I had to triple check this.
Sometimes you see stats out there and you're like, there's
just no way that that's possible. Okay, there were eleven
possessions in the fourth quarter. This game was crazy eleven
(05:40):
in the first half. There was one, there was four
in the first quarter, then five, six, seven, eight, and
then the end of the half that the Rams kind
of ran out. So I guess we can call that
nine nine possessions in the first half, eleven in the
fourth quarter. Neither team wanted to lose this game. And
I'll be real, I'm gonna be completely honest with you.
The Rams were the better team in this game. They
(06:01):
did whatever they wanted for most of the game and
then got a little tight, sat on the ball. McVeigh
baby took his foot off the gas folks. They had
five hundred and eighty one yards of offense six point
six yards per play, did not turn the ball over,
got in the red zone six times, and still lost
the game. Now, early on, one of my takes was
gonna be off. See they're settling for field goals. Okay,
(06:24):
No Devonte Adams, who's maybe the best route runner in
the red zone in the league. He has fourteen touchdowns,
leading all receivers. No Devonte Adams, They're not scoring in
the red zone. See, that's going to hurt their reins.
But then at thirty toes fourteen, you're like, oh, they're fine,
who cares, It doesn't matter. So of course it comes
down to special teams again in the fourth quarter and
the thick kicker and I in the sight that I
(06:45):
keep mentioning that's not live to everybody yet, just I'm
still working out the kinks. I mentioned that the Rams
kicking situation was among the worst in the league. Why
is that, Well, do you guys want to guess who
has the fewest field goals in the league. The Rams
are tied for dead last with fifteen. Now, part of
that's McVeigh not trusting his kicker. Part of that is
(07:07):
let's just go for on fourth down. Well, guess who's
the best kicker in the league. Some would say Brandon Aubrey.
Some would although he missed twice last week. Some would
say Cameron Dicker. Well, Jason Myers would like a word.
The Seahawks have a league leading thirty seven field goals made,
and Myers has the second most from fifty plus. Now, unbelievably,
(07:29):
I mean you could say that fifteen times in this game.
My son is in the Fantasy playoffs. He has Myers
as the kicker. Myers is a machine. He had two
extra points. That's it. I mean, that's not a great
start to the playoffs for him. As an aside in
the big money league. I'm in that I won last year.
I was in first place all season. I had the
most points, which more than pays for my buy in.
(07:54):
I'm facing Puka who had fifty, and I bench Stafford
because of the rain, the win that was expected, and
no DeVante, and I went with Cee J. Stroud, so
I'm almost certainly gonna lose. It was devastating. But listen,
Pooka had fifty. I think that's the best game of
the season for any wide receiver the actual line. And listen,
Pooka had a hell of a week with some other stuff.
(08:16):
He had twelve catches for two hundred and twenty five
yards two touchdowns. I think he had three catches over
forty yards. That's an extra bonus in our league. So
every other receiver on the Rams had seventeen catches. Puka
had twelve. And I'll just say a small thing that
I've got to file away when you get to the playoffs.
What the hell were the Seahawks thinking leaving Josh job
(08:38):
on an island with Pooka all night. You've got other cornerbacks, Woolen, Witherspoon,
what are you doing? What are you doing? I did
not understand it, and you know, I was mostly focused
on that because Puka's murdering them and I'm basic with fantasy.
But Seattle's defensive decision against Pooka and don't say, well
they won the game.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Just stop.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
You needed miraculous stuff. I haven't even got to overtime.
Rams go right down the field, touchdown, Pooka huge play.
And I'm not gonna bury out Michaels. He's been a
guest on the podcast before. I know the guy a
little bit. Yeah, it was a rough one for al Michaels.
He had low energy throughout the night. I mean, this
was a thrilling game and he's, you know, showing no emotion.
(09:21):
I mean, I personally think I would be a pretty
damn good announcer because of the energy that I bring
and the excitement. Again, there's seventy thousand people in the stadium.
It's literally having an earthquake because they're going bonkers. It
is for the number one seed, possibly for the MVP,
and al Michaels is just a run of the mill
score for Puka and he was a little late on everything.
(09:42):
I don't know. I'm not gonna bury the guy. I
like al Michaels anyways, So you get to overtime, Rams
score easily, Seattle gets the ball back, and this is
where the Sam Darnald Grick comes in. The guy's getting
killed all night, and you're like, okay, well he got
bailed out with the punt return and that drive to
tie it up essentially a fluky two point conversion, and
(10:04):
there was a wide open barner. You know, I get it. Okay,
I get it, and undaunted Darnold goes right down the
field in overtime, has an unbelievable touchdown pass to JSN.
By the way, JSN completely shut out in the first half,
second half has a has a hell of a half.
He finishes with eight for ninety six and a tuddy,
and then the two point conversion was a great call.
(10:25):
I mean, essentially, it's like, you're not punting the ball
back to the Rams, you're at home. You got to
go all in and they made a great call. Folks.
I had to look up this guy who caught the
two pointer his name. Actually he didn't even make the
box score. How is that even possible? Where you see
a box score and like receptions. Yeah, he doesn't even
(10:48):
register because it was just a two pointer. His name,
I had to write it down was Eric Soubert sau
b e er T. I'm like, who the hell is
that he has two catches on this season on two targets. Essentially,
Seattle knew the Rams. Hey, they're gonna load up on JSN.
They're gonna be all over Barner, the tight end, they're
gonna be on the backs, they're gonna be on Shiheed.
(11:10):
We gotta go where they're not going to be. And
they had Salbert basically hang in the pocket for a second,
a beat or two, and then just leak out right
to the goal line. And it was right in his midst,
easy catch. It's a great play call by Koobiak. And
I'm just still in shock that the Rams lost the scheme,
just stunned, unbelievable turn of events. And here is the
(11:34):
ultimate kicker. And I know everybody in Seattle's like, we're
the number one. See don't feel vantage blah blah blah.
Take take a deep breath. Okay, just take a deep breath.
The San Francisco forty nine ers are the Seahawks opponent
in Week eighteen, Seattle will have to travel. Now, this
is tough. After a super emotional game, you gotta travel
(11:54):
across the country to Carolina, who's still in the mix
as of now, at least they're like Tampa this weekend
for a playoff spot. So that's cross country travel Christmas week.
That ain't easy. Then you've got to travel back across
the country for Week eighteen to face San Francisco. Folks.
If San fran beats the Colts, I think they'll win
(12:16):
that game, it could be interesting. But if they beat
the Colts and then they go home and beat the Bears,
Week eighteen Seahawks Niners is for the number one seed.
And before you tell me I'm crazy, No, the Niners
will have gone five and one in the division and
have the tiebreaker over the Rams and Seattle. They already
beat Seattle in Week one. It was a close game, darnold,
(12:37):
I think fumbled or pick. Yeah, it was a fumble
in the pocket late in the game going in for
the game winner. So I'm just keeping a real for
everybody who's gassed up about Seattle. They I believe the
Niners will get the number one seed. In the NFC.
I'm just putting in it, and if they lose to
the Colts or the Bears, forget it. But if it
goes let me adjust that. If the Niners end up
(12:58):
playing Seattle for the number one seed, give me the
Niners to win that game. They're at home and that
offense right now is a juggernaut. Okay, and you watch
what McVeigh did up and down the field. What do
you think san Fran's gonna do? Purty Kittle? They're all
healthy now, well, we'll see about Piersol. Of course, pearsall
all my fantasy team. He's got her knees not practicing,
but he could play that frigging guy. Man. I was
(13:21):
all in on Piersaw. I really thought he would be
a game changer this season, and I think in the
first game he came out and was good and since
then he's just it's just been injury after injury. But anyways,
unbelievable win for the Seattle Seahawks. I don't totally think
it was. If you asked me, Jamack, who's the better
team after watching that, I would say I would say
the Rams. Seattle had some tough injuries. They were down
(13:43):
there left tackle. Just a reminder, the Rams scored thirty
eight I'm sorry, thirty seven points. Let me see how
many times I think they punted? Like I know, they
didn't punt in the first half, they don't barely punt it.
Through three quarters they punted four times. It was basically
all in the fourth quarter. They did whatever they wanted.
McVeigh was so confident he kept going for it on
(14:04):
fourth down early in the game. I mean, who goes
for it on fourth down in the first two drives
three times? This is crazy. He was so confidence team
and how could you not be six point six yards
per play all that without DeVante Adams. So ultimately, I
don't think this hurts the Rams that much. Obviously, not
getting the number one seed stinks, because, yeah, I would
(14:26):
love it if the NFC championship game were it's so
far right here in our backyard, that'd be great. I'd
try to go to that. The one, probably the best
NFL game I've ever been to. One of them was
Niners Rams NFC Championship game. That was the loudest I've
ever heard of stadium in my life. There was on
a late drive to win the game, Stafford hit Cooper
(14:49):
Cup on a slant and I'm just telling you, the
stadium was deafening. And it wasn't even for the touchdown.
It was just a huge third down. I've watched this
play so many times on YouTube, just a stutter step slant.
Stafford hits him and breaks a tackle in his like
twenty five yards and it was bead loo because you
knew the Rams are gonna win at that point. And
I mean, it would have been nice to have the
(15:09):
Rams hosting.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Now.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
I guess technically they still could host if Seattle stumbles
at Carolina or what you know, things happen. It's the NFL,
but it seems unlikely now. Uh, just quickly before we
get to Brad Powers. I don't necessarily think Stafford lost
the MVP. It felt like this game was for it.
If Seattle had bottled him up and he really struggled,
I could get that. Stafford was twenty nine to forty
(15:31):
nine for four hundred and fifty seven yards in three touchdowns.
He did not get sacked, he did not fumble, he
did not throw an interception. Just bye Blake Krum trying
to give him one off his hands at overtime. I
don't think Stafford could get knocked for this. Could he
get passed if Josh Allen goes to Philly next week?
In what I assume? I guess I should check the schedule.
(15:54):
I'm pretty sure it's a four. I'm pretty sure it's
the marquee for twenty five game next week on Fox.
Let's see. So at four twenty five next week we
get oh, Texans Chargers is pretty good. Oh no, wait,
that's not on Sunday. Yeah, there's only oh my gosh,
(16:15):
next Sunday because of the Christmas game. There's two games.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, there's two games at four o'clock,
Giants Raiders the Toilet Bowl for the number one pick,
and the other game is Eagles Bills. So Josh Allen
at home on Fox, probably forty million people watching, thirty
whatever the number is. That's where Josh Allen can potentially
(16:39):
steal the MVP from Stafford because Stafford won't have another chance.
He plays Atlanta and Arizona, two games that ain't nobody
gonna be watching. It doesn't matter what Stafford puts up.
It's the marquee TV games. Remember who's voting on this stuff? People? Okay,
these media are easily swayed. So, I mean, I I'm
just that game was fascinating. Do another thirty minutes. But
(17:01):
obviously we've got a monster football weekend ahead. How lucky
are we? I mean, I'm just so thankful that I
get to do this right podcast, the show Just Talking Sports.
We had an awesome game Thursday, we have a college
football playoff game. Tonight, we have college football playoff games
Saturday and two NFL games, and then Sunday a monster slate,
(17:24):
and then Monday we got Monday Night Football. Like we're
pretty we're pretty blessed in these waters. All right, without
further ado, let's get to our guest.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Brad Powers. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
Foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search
FSR to listen live. You know, Jason likes to think
he knows everything when it comes to sports.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
I know what sports fans want.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
But for everything he doesn't, he knows a guy who does.
Let's just say I know.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
A guy who knows a guy who knows another guy.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
All right, let's welcome back to Straight Fire, one of
the best college football gamblers on the planet. We had
him on preseason, he had a couple of home runs,
a couple whis this it's what happens. I mean, we
all like Penn State in Texas, Brad Powers, how are
you man doing? Wow?
Speaker 3 (18:18):
He had to bring up Penn State in Texas.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Yeah, listen, I mean everybody thought they were going to
be good. Hey, but before we get to the games,
you know, it's not that appealing of a slate. I'm
not gonna lie, and probably some of it is colored
by what we saw last year in the first round.
But real quick, So the transfer portal. I'm sure you've
seen these quarterbacks. There's a lot of quarterbacks in the portal,
and it's weird because like Notre Dame doesn't need a quarterback,
(18:42):
Miami needs a quarterback. As Beck's leaving. We don't know
about Alabama, we don't know about Oregon. I'm just curious,
what are your overarching thoughts when you see like Dylan
Reyola enter the portal. Sellers has not but he could
still technically, I mean, anything can happen. But overall, big
picture thoughts on the portal and quarterbacks.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Yeah, I would say, you know, I'll go off the
beaten path. Number one guy for me, provided he's healthy,
is probably Sam Levitt the Arizona State. Really yeah, he'd
be the number one guy, even over DJ Lagway, Riola,
you name it. So, but we'll see where he ends up.
He's the guy that moves the needle the most for me.
But I'm sure there's a shoe or two that hasn't
(19:21):
dropped yet whenever money's involved in Miami being one involved.
You know, I never saw Carson Beck going there at
this time last year.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Yeah, so what is it about Levitt? I'm looking at
the you know, Michigan State, Arizona State. He was obviously
better last year than this year. I saw that he
just blew off the ASU banquet at the end of
the year.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Just doesn't that's not good?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Yeah? So so I mean, but why do you like
him more than say Riola? And for sure Lagway, uh.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
More mobile than both those guys. Believe are a nice,
sneaky good athlete. And to me it's proven to be
a more consistent pastor than both of those guys. So
I just, provided he's healthy, I think he's got more upset.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
My hot take is everybody saw what Texas Tech did
hammered the portal got to the playoff? Is there value
you think, Brad in seeing where some of these guys land,
looking at the schedules and then making some kind of
long shot bets really quickly. For instance, the team that
jumps out, I'm sure you've seen the Penn State schedule.
It's easy as hell. There'll be a probably dog once
all season, maybe twice. And if they're able to get
(20:23):
Levitt or one of the big time quarterbacks, I mean,
I don't doubt Matt Campbell could coach that team up.
I don't care about the recruiting class. Recruiting classes don't
really matter as much, do they.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
No, not in one year, I mean, but I mean
it's all about stacking multiple ones, then it matters. But
in one offseason a bunch of freshmen aren't going to
change your dynamic. As far as the team, Oh, there's
absolute value. I mean Tech you kind of see coming
a mile away for paying attention. I mean Texas Tech
of all teams, number one transfer portal class. Certainly they
were mispriced, you know, in January, February and the hell
(20:56):
all off season long. So yeah, I'll be looking to
hopefully take advantage of that. I do like Matt Campbell.
I will say, I don't know if he's a huge
upgrade over James Frank. Oh really so, I I'm not
the Let's see how the roster shapes out. They're gonna
have to go heavy in the portal.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Heavy, heavy, heavy, for sure, real quick, Michigan. The Sharon
Moore story is crazy. I mean, you don't want to
kick a guy when he's down, but you know, hooking
up with someone on the staff for two years, giving
her a raise, then just going like, you know, crazy
on her and getting arrested. It's over. It's weird. It
sounds like everybody's waiting for the GM to get fired,
(21:34):
and no coach is going to take that job seriously
until until they determine what happens with the ad.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Right, Yeah, I would agree with that. I don't know
how he still has a job considering all the you know,
stuff that's happened with that program in the last five
six years. It's not just not the football program, I
mean the basketball program. You know did you want Howard stuff? Yeah,
I mean that wasn't great. The hockey team had some
issues as well, So I mean, we'll see. I think,
(22:01):
you know, Kaitlin de boor is the name that we've heard.
I think if he loses uh to Oklahoma, which is
definitely a possibility, Oklahoma's.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Life the favorite. Do you think he just bolts for Michigan.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I could say it's definitely a really distinct possibility.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Wow that I mean hmm, by the way.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
They for him personally at Michigan then and then he
is at Alabama.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
But what why? Why is he not a good fit Obama?
Speaker 3 (22:25):
The personality, the personality, you know, never really been from
that area of the country before. Uh, you know, I
don't think he's gonna get tired and feathered at Michigan
like he is at Alabama. If if he happens to
lose this name against the Oklahoma.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Underwood, do you think Underwood would stay if they get
to bor or would he bounce?
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Yeah? I certainly got If you want to keep Underwood,
h you probably gotta go out more offensive mine.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Yeah. Yeah, all right, let's get to the games. We'll
start with Alabama. Oklahoma got not gonna lie, Brad. I'm
disappointed Notre Dames down in the field. This game does
nothing for me. The first the first game was boring
as hell. Alabama turned it over a lot, a lot
of hype about the Oklahoma defense in venables. I don't know,
but hearing you talk about du Bor makes me wonder
if maybe there's one eye on the Michigan job and
(23:13):
building a staff there, and one eye on Oklahoma.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
First off, let me agree with you. I mean, the
whole Bowl schedules the worst I've ever seen the playoffs,
including at least the first round. I mean, I'm kind
of waiting for the quarterfinals, but these four games are
a major bummer. You put Notre Dame in there, mix
a match a little bit, had a lot of better
matchups as far as this one goes. I mean, obviously
you got to look at the data point when the
(23:37):
two teams already playing. I mean, Alabama should have won.
I bet Oklahoma in that game one, but I'm here
to tell you Alabama should not only won the game,
they should have covered the game. So it's tough for
me to overlook that Alabama's getting healthier. They had eight
starters out of the SEC championship game. You know, it
speaks somewhat to them, maybe as an excuse of why
they got beat so bad. Jan Miller is the outstanding
(23:58):
running back for them. He's back. I think that's a
you know, a big time bonus. I'll disagree with a
little bit of the movement. I mean, I'm not gonna
overreact crossing through zero here. That's not that big of
a deal. I lean Alabama. But I gotta be honest
with you, if this was just a game on a
regular Saturday with fifty other games, I'm not sure that
I'd find too much value here. I probably wouldn't have
a bet on it.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
It just doesn't It's not a great game. It's kind
of boring. I mean, I got a buddy a total.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Four andy and a half. Yeah, I mean that's not
going to bring in college football casual. I can tell
you that.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Yeah. I mean, listen, I don't know how many holiday
parties you're going to this weekend, but like, this is
probably not even like a top five college or NFL
game this weekend. It's a playoff game.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
You know.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
It's just I'm not that into it now, I will say,
I don't know if you know, I graduated from JMU.
I went to Virginia Tech for a couple of years
in JMU to finish out. So and I actually think
they're live to cover twenty one, twenty one and a half.
I know everybody's going to point to all Organs a machine,
they can win it all. I don't really care about that.
I just look at this JMU coaching staff as one
(24:58):
of the better, most underrated in the entire playoffs, and
I do think Oregon kind of goes through the motions, Oh,
we'll playing JAMU and they probably jump out to like
a twenty four to seven lead, but covered twenty one.
I'm just not sure they pull it off. Whether it
looks like it's gonna be an issue or you have
anything on this game.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Yeah, I bet Oregon. Yeah, I like Oregon look quite
a bit. I love Bob Jesney. I mean, I go
back to the Holy Cross days. Oh, I can go
back to a game where one of the best coaching
jobs I saw he had them beating South Dakota State
in a playoff quarterfinal like three four years ago. I
couldn't have been more impressed with that being said, Oregon's
(25:36):
get you know, Oregon's coming off probably their two best
wins of the season USC Washington to close out the
regular season. They finally showed me something there, and they
did it without two of their starting wide receivers who
are both back. Plus Evans Stewart was who was going
to be a first team preseason All American. He's missed
the whole season. He might play in this game. So
I think that the offense has a little bit, hopefully
(25:56):
an extra gear. They're gonna need it to cover this
big number. I mean, the market says you're right, though,
I mean it went up to twenty one and a half.
I mean you can now. I mean it's come down
to as low as twenty and a half in spots.
Total is way down because of the weather. I'm not
afraid though Oregon first half Oregon team total over thirty
four and a half. And I'm laying it why this
jam you hasn't look I like that. I respect the coaching.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
They haven't played anybody, I get it.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
I mean really haven't played anybody. They played one top
fifty team and they lost by fourteen. Now I watched
that game. They were more competitive than a fourteen point final.
But I mean Louisville and Oregon are are night and
day compared to one another, and plus the atmosphere and notts,
and they haven't played in front of anything like that.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
All true I do wonder do you think the Ducks
get not caught looking ahead but a lot there's a
lot of steam behind Texas A and M all right,
sorry not Texas A and Texas Tech plus like eight
hundred to win the title. Well, Texas Tech amazing defense
that get game. It's gonna be amazing against Oregon. I
feel like there's just no chatter about JMU.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
I think you know, as I'm talking through this and
you know the evolution of the handicap, I hear you
on that. I probably prefer Oregon first half. And Dan
Lanning has more of a past history of jumping on teams.
He's not a guy that tends to pour it on.
But I think that the best bet that I could offer,
at least the best piece of advice would be Oregon
first half.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Yea, boyd all that remember when Oregon had to buy
last year and they faced was it Ohio State in
the Rose Bull and they were down like thirty eight nothing.
Obviously Ohio State's a machine. I don't at the time
off is tough to handicap. But maybe that's just a
homer in me talking A and M Miami. I don't
really know what to do with this. I don't like
Miami a lot, but I did take the three and
(27:35):
a half.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Yeah you're not alone. No one really i've talked to
has taken A and M yet market hasn't. It's another
game where yeah, it's a good game, it's just you know,
if it was a you know, on a regular Saturday slate,
I looked at the line of the total, I probably
wouldn't have much interest.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Pass.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
I'll watch it, but I don't think there's much value.
You know, a couple of sharp guys that I respect,
you know, attack the under, particularly the first half under
that I thought I was a pretty smart play. You
can still find some twenty four and a half out
there with some heavy juice. I am waiting, though, I'm gonna.
I'm gonna lay three with A and M now that
I love it, I just I'm keeping as simple. I
(28:13):
think Mike Elko is a better coaching crystal Ball. And
again you think Miami big time program, but they have
not played in an atmosphere of Kyle Field in years.
I mean, I think that the largest crowd they played
in front of this year is like sixty seven thousand
at the Dope. I mean, this is gonna be one
hundred and seven thousand. So I'm just you know, lean
A and M for me?
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Ye, where are you on the whole leak? Aggie's kind
of leaking oil last three games? It removes Samford, who
gives a shit? But South Carolina they were down, was
thirty to three or something, storm backs to get to win,
and then against Texas they were really outclassed on the road.
I don't know, have teams seen stuff on tape that
you know Elco's not disguising. I don't know why they've
(28:56):
been so futured, and I do wonder that home field
advantage does it matter as much for like, what is
it a noon kickoff? Or that's true?
Speaker 3 (29:06):
I think it has to do with that. I think
they're a little overrated, to be honest with you. So
I mean they didn't they didn't. They played one team
in the SEC with a winning record that was Texas.
Look what happened in that game. So uh yeah, it's
not that I'm like, ooh, I'm betting A and M
because I love A and M. It was more of
an anti Mario Crystobal type play. I guess my biggest
I'm waiting anxiously I hope it plays close to the
(29:27):
spread where where I can, or you know, maybe maybe
a team gets overrated with it being a blowout. I'm
looking to fade the winner of this game. I'm gonna
be heavy on the buck guys.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Yeah, yeah, I would totally agree with that one. I
don't even even do we need to talk Old Miss
too late. I don't even think that game registers. Everybody
in their mom I know is on an old Miss.
There's a rematch, just there's another crappy game. Man.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Yeah, the fact that we've already seen it. It's already crappy.
We've already seen it forty five ten. It was a
legit forty five ten too, o Miss gain him by
three hundred yards. I think anytime you're back in a favorite,
what's the motivation of a margin? I think Ole Miss
plays a little bit with a chip on their shoulder
with Kiff and leaving them acting like, you know, he's
too good for them. Atmosphere will be better this go
(30:13):
around than the first time these two met. I certainly
lean O Miss. I don't even have Tulane in the
top fifty of my power ratings. That's how bad of
a G five team. This is I like their head coach,
but they're completely overmatched here. And I'll say this speaking
I'm a college football guy. This won't even be on
my main TV at that time frame. The FCS playoff
game between Montana and Montana State's a better game than this. Yeah,
(30:39):
I can lean towards Montana State. They taking some money
in the market here.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Can you name one player on either team?
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Yeah? I can lay.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Oh my gosh, that's impressive, dude, Montana. I think of
Montana State the NCAA Tournament. I think I bet them
and they did not cover a come close. It's just
it's weird, Like there's a world where Ole miss, like
you said, motivational, spot heavy and they kick their ass
and then they come out and get smashed by Georgia
in two weeks.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Right, Georgia. If I had to better look ahead a lot,
you can bet that game right now, Georgia, MIAs five
and a half would be made. Yeah, that's it. That's
a being that's gonna adjust.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Oh my gosh, that's an empty the bank, right, I mean, well,
you never want to empty the bank, but you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Against college I can tell you that.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
So then second round. It's like you have Buckeyes over whoever.
Bulldogs for sure.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
I like Oregon to make a run. I like them
to beat Tech. Again. Tech hasn't played anybody the weakest
strength to schedule of any power for a team, and
I don't It'll depend on the number. I just think
SEC fans gonna be stunned at the Indiana line. They're
gonna be favored by a touchdown over the winner of
the Alabama Oklahoma game. That's how much the market hates
those two teams.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Well, they're not good. Wait wait, Indian it'll be favored
by a touchdown a touchdow Now, I will say I
saw a Brad Power's take on the interwebs about you
not liking Fernando Mendoza or I don't know if the
Hoosiers are coming after full force. Well, I'm wear of
my Jets shirt as we record this. What do you
not like? I'd kill for Mendoz. It just looks like
such a great human being and a damn good quarterback.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Yeah, he's good human being, good size. I just he's
kind of a I mean, Signetti's system just turns out
it doesn't matter who's behind center. I'm sure the reasoning
that I was, you know, putting some digs. There was
you know, last seven years, Signetti's quarter starting quarterback at
all these different spots. It's been first or second team
All Conference, six different quarterbacks, four of them been Conference
(32:32):
Player of the Year. And I mean it hasn't been
a who's who a talent. It's just you know, he's
that good of a coach. And I just I think
whoever drafts mendoz is probably looking for a job within
three years.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Not against Interesting. Now, I didn't chick in with you
on Diego. Is it Pavia the Vanderbilt quarterback. Do you
think he's a pro because I'm sure you saw his
comments after he didn't win the Heisman.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Yeah, I think, you know, I think he's a poor
man's Johnny Manziel, That's right. I think you think of
him on the field and off the field. So yeah,
I mean, you know he's not going to make in
the pros.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Yeah, he's definitely not a pro. Interesting, So I'm assuming
you think Oregon could take down Indiana then in the
semi finals.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Yeah, I bet that I made was I bet Oregon
three to one to make the National Championship game. Now
I still kin'd. I tend to, you know, lean towards
the winner of that Ohio State Georgia game winning the title.
But I do think Oregon makes a run. You can
bet them like three to one to make the championship.
You don't need them to win, and you can hedge.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Then So are they perhaps undervalued because of all the
injuries and still winning and now they're getting healthy? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (33:34):
I think so. Uh you know again the wide receiver
position being a cluster injury, I think, you know. And
I look, if you're making you're gonna ask me what
quarterback do you want to draft? I think Dante Moore
is the top quarterback, do you think. I just think
there's an upside. Not that I think he's had a
better year than Mendoza, but I just think his you know,
skill set's going to transition better to to the NFL
(33:56):
in my opinion. So yeah, I think you got a
high value there. And plus I'm not buying Tech. And
as much as Indiana is a good story and they
beat Oregon in the first matchup, I just again, I
think Oregon's more talented and just has a higher upside
across the board.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Do you think in Oregon Ohio State final.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
Yeah, with the Buck guys winning.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
So it's like the Big ten world now we just
do we're all living in it. Uh, I mean, it's
crazy how things have changed. Where do you land on
the whole? Hey man? When it comes to the NIL era,
the smart schools with rich graduates have way more impact
and influence when it comes to the bank than the
SEC schools, you know. I mean, I'm not bashing Alabama,
(34:35):
but yeah, we don't have enough money.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
Yeah, it hasn't changed since the Civil War. I mean,
the North has more money than the South, right, and
obviously Oregon's got money because of Phil Knight. So uh,
when it's became look, everybody is paying somebody, but it
was obvious the SEC was paying more than others. So
now that it's all legaling out there, I mean, alls
you really have to do is go look at the
you know, the endowments. You know, the Michigans and Notre Dames,
(35:00):
Higo States of the world ranked way higher in endowment
than than you know, Alabama's of the world. Tech A
and M's up there and they're having their best season
in thirty years.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
It is interesting. So essentially everywhere outside of the SEC
is going to improve and level up, and the SEC
seems to be not going down now if they lose
to boor coupled with not winning the national championship or
maybe an All Big Ten final. I don't want to
write the eulogy for the SEC, but I mean, are
we going to see major changing the guard if we
(35:30):
haven't already?
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Well, I think we've already seen it, but a third
year would probably slam you know, slam dunk. Look, I
still think the SEC is by far the best conference.
It's just at the very top of the sport. Nick
Saban's not, you know, unretiring, you know, erban Meyer's not there,
and that they're that what made them so tough was
that the line of scrimmage, the depth pieces there, you know,
next twenty two was so much better than everybody else
(35:52):
in college foot. Well, it's just not there anymore. When
when you when tech can go out and buy a
you know, a roster, a good defensive line, we just
never seen that. So I think it'll be more the same.
It's just not that the SEC won't ever be dominant again,
but we're not gonna see the fifteen year run that
they had from like twenty five to twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Oh hell no, yeah, well what about Clemson? What are
you hearing on Dabo? Let's just do the dominoes. Caln
goes to Michigan. Do they pluck Dabbo Dabbo? However you
say it? And he goes to Alabama? Possible?
Speaker 3 (36:24):
He needs he needs to, you know, a change, but
he needs to change personally, not just you know, maybe
a change of scenery. But he needs to because I mean,
Clemson's recruiting. Everything's going downhill. It's it's not like a
one off where they disappointed. No, it's been trending down
now for four or five years. I think Alabama would
be fine with that higher. They'd be excited at first,
(36:45):
but I wouldn't be saying, oh, you know, you know,
Dabble's gonna get gonna win two more national championships.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
It's interesting because at the beginning of the season it
was all about Cavee club, Nick and Nussmeier. Bro. None
of those guys are going first to or even I
don't even think top three rounds, do you. Nussmaier got
benched at LSQ late this season.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
I don't see either one going the top three Rounds's weird. Yeah,
the Duke quarterback. Now looks like he's gonna be the
quarterback three.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Okay, so is he definitely coming out?
Speaker 3 (37:16):
Hasn't It hasn't been official yet, but looks like he
is gonna. He even got surprised by the early feedback
that he's got, is like, yeah, you're gonna be the
third quarterback. So from it shocked me because I've met
Duke in the Bowl game. Didn't think and you know
the men's is not the guy. I'm thinking, Oh, he's
(37:36):
gonna lead for the pros because he's got such a
good nil deal. But now I think sometime this week
he'll announce he's leaving for the draft.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
So interesting because if you look at the last three
NFL drafts, so Bryce Young went first, he's definitely not
the best quarterback in his class, Kile Williams went first,
he's definitely not the best. And then this past year
cam Ward. I like him, but he has not been
close to the best quarterback drafted. So like, going one
is a kiss of death because you go to a
crap franchise and falling down actually benefits. I mean, you know,
(38:04):
I'd rather get taken by McVeigh in the second round
than any of the jokers drafting in the top ten, right.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
Agree, And we just haven't had that, you know, that
quarterback that can overcome, you know, the generational type that
can overcome getting drafted by a terrible franchise. So this
is CJ. Carran. Next year will be that guy though, Oh.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Notre Dame guy. Yeah, everybody liked him. Somebody was trying
to sell me on the Baylor quarterback. Big strapping dude
looks the part of Sawyer Robertson.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
Yeah, if you're taking him fourth or fifth round, you
take a fly around. I mean he started from all
I'd take a fly on him. Yeah, I mean fourth
or fifth round. He's not a Day one or Day
two pick.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
No. I mean like seeing a Tyler Shuck actually look competent.
I know it's only been a few weeks and he
might win offensive year for all we know, but like
just seeing that, it's like, oh geez, well, hell if
that guy can succeed. I didn't think he'd be any good,
did you shuck?
Speaker 1 (38:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (38:57):
I might have some video on you know, did not
just saying and now after the fact, but that was
the guy I liked the most in last year's class over.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
Yeah that was your QB one over Dart and Morty one.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
But the guy like we're talking ROI you know, I
think the best bang for your buck. Yeah it was him.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Wow, that's a good call by you. All right, Brad Powers,
there's the picks. Hey man, have a great holiday, great season,
and we'll catch up with you, buddy.
Speaker 3 (39:22):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live. The only thing better than sitting on your
couch watching the game. He's making money while you do it.
(39:44):
Here's your best bet.
Speaker 2 (39:47):
Great stuff from the immortal Brad Powers. And I will
say I actually have as of this moment, more college
football action this weekend than I do NFL college football
since you know we just talked about, let's just stick
with that. I don't even know why I took this,
but I have NC State today minus four and a
(40:07):
half in some bowl game that I don't even know exists.
It was simply a numbers play, a player sitting play,
and of course now it's going against me to minus
three and a half, so I don't advocate that Monday.
I have Utah State. Now that was at three. It's
down to one and a half. So I've got some
good closing line value there, or whatever that's worth in
the playoff. I'm with Brad. I took Ole Miss minus seventeen.
(40:30):
Now this was like maybe ten days ago. It's seventeen
and a half depending on where you are now. I
actually don't have anything on Alabama Oklahoma. If you want
an action play and it's Friday night and you know
we've won some money here the last month, and you
feel like putting I don't know, bar tab money on Alabama.
(40:55):
That's where I'll be if i'm if the mood is right,
I think it's Alabama or nothing for me. Don't even
if they're gonna win. I don't think they're better. I
just I'm a Ty Simpson believer. I think Kaylin de
Boor is the better coach here. But as I said
to Brad, there's a world where d Boor has one
eye on Michigan and building a staff and one i
on Oklahoma, and he's not fully focused and they don't
(41:16):
win this game on the road, So I don't I'm
not that excited for the game, but I'm excited for
JAMU Oregon, and I'm opposite of Brad on this one.
I have JMU plus twenty one, not just because I
went there, but I think I've mentioned this a couple
of times this season. So the sharpest college football better
I know is on JMU, and so that's the only
(41:37):
reason I'm on it. And then I'm the kind of
guy who works backwards here. Once I found out it
was JMU plus twenty one, I said, okay, well, let
me see what possibly he's seeing, and I you know,
you dig in and I will be writing it up
for the site.
Speaker 1 (41:52):
I know.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
I haven't made it go live yet. It's a little
frustrating because I have given some people access because I
wanted to make sure it has all the kinks are
worked out, and there's still one little snag that pisses
me off. So I can't put it out there yet.
But Jamie plus twenty one and the other one that
this wealthy individual is on is Miami plus three and
a half. Now that's minus one point fifteen. It looks
(42:15):
like it's gonna head down to plus three, so I
don't mind paying the little extra Juice probably a three
point game. Brad, we broke this one down with him.
I largely believe that an m is leaking oil. They
got a good coach. I like him a lot, But overall,
the what I saw from this team late in the season,
I didn't like. They were better early in the season.
(42:36):
They've started to fade. How you enter March madness, how
you enter the NBA playoffs, the NFL playoffs, I think
that stuff matters greatly. So a little Miami plus three
and a half in the NFL again, you guys aren't
gonna like this, but Cincinnati minus two was the first
bet of the week sizable. That was after the McDaniel PRESCT.
(43:00):
We talked about it earlier this week. The next day
they benched him for quinn Ewers, so I got minus two.
It's now minus four and a half, which is not ideal. Obviously.
I don't love minus four and a half as much
as I did minus two. I mean, Joe Burrow minus two,
give me a break. That's that feels like a winner.
Joe Burrow minus four and a half against quinn Yours.
(43:20):
I don't know, we'll see I am on the Vikings
minus three. I like that one a lot. This Vikings
defense really trending well late in the season for Brian Flores.
Kevin O'Connell. I think there's a lot to like about
the Vikings here. JJ McCarthy has played much better now.
The concern is he played much better in two games indoors.
Forget the opponent. He played better indoors. Now he's got
(43:41):
to go outdoors, whether in New York does not appear
that bad. That being said, I really like Brian Flores.
His numbers against rookie quarterbacks are overwhelming. They just they
don't know where the blitz is coming from. He really
does a great job of confusing and rattling guys, and
we'll see a lot of Jackson Dart running for his life.
But it doesn't phaze me. I'm on Vikings minus three.
(44:03):
I'm probably gonna end up on Eagles minus six and
a half. I was hoping it would dip down a six.
It has not. I'm on the Steelers Lions over fifty one.
Actually that's a minus one twenty, so Steelers Lions over
fifty one and a half is probably available. I'm on
(44:24):
Packers Bears over forty seven. I likely will do Bears
in contest. The contest plays well so far. I like Philly,
I like Chicago. Bears is down to pick them in
the contest, which is interesting. But I did see a
really good interview with the defensive coordinator Halfley and the
(44:47):
it was almost like the reporter knew what to ask him.
But the reporter said, you know, Jeff, you planned for
a defense without Micah Parsons from February to mid August,
so you had your whole defensive plan for the SA.
Then you added Micah and the defense was obviously next level.
Now you got to go back to what you would
plan for six months. So are you pretty confident that, hey,
(45:11):
I planned for six months? No, Micah and Halfley really
laughts at him. He's like yes, and there was laughter throughout,
and it's like, oh, that's it. That's an interesting angle,
and it looks like Watson's gonna play. So I'm gonna
be other Bears. I don't know if I'm gonna bet
it on the side Ravens minus three in the contest.
I am gonna definitely be on Titans. I did bet
that plus three and a half that's headed toward three.
(45:32):
My guess is we're gonna get no Rashi Rice. We're
gonna get no Chris Jones. A lot of the players
who are on the fence, they're just gonna sit it
and say, hey, we're coming back on Christmas. We're coming
home to face Patrick, to face Denver in what would
be Travis Kelce's final game, and we are going to
win that one, and everybody's gonna play. That would be
(45:53):
my read. So I don't think they punk this game.
I just don't think we see a max effort and
all their good players. Trent McDuffie may miss like Titans
a lot. I would lean Lions, I lean Texans amounts fourteen,
and I'm looking at Cowboys. They're just secondaries so bad.
Somebody was like, should I start Herbert in fantasy? I
(46:13):
was like, well, I don't know, But then you look
at Dallas and every quarterback has taking them apart, and
you're like, maybe you should. So that's where we are
with the gambling. Looking at Panthers plus three against Tampa,
but Panthers have their injuries as well. It's a rough slate.
I don't love a ton and you know what, We've
got several weeks left in the season. A couple weeks
(46:34):
left in the season and then playoffs, so listen, don't
go overboard, enjoy the holidays, and we're back on Monday.
Fox Sports Radio News
Host
Jonas Knox
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