🏈 NFL Week 16 Preview: Allen MVP Lock, Top Team in NFC, Lakers Miss Playoffs & College Football Playoffs🔥

Ready to navigate the thrilling landscape of Week 16's college football and NFL games with us? We're breaking down the action with our dynamic trio: Derek, Diego Thompson, and Christopher Davis. Join us as we celebrate Diego's victory in the season's head-to-head battle and explore the new challenge featuring newcomers Brianna and Chris. You'll gain insights into the strategic plays from recent games, like the Broncos vs. Chargers match, and get an inside look at why Derek is all-in on the Bills and Josh Allen's MVP-worthy season.

✅ NFL Week 16 Preview: Breaking down all the top matchups, including the heated Steelers vs. Ravens rivalry game.
✅ Way Too Early NBA MVP Rankings: Who’s leading the race, and who could emerge as a surprise contender?
✅ College Football Playoffs: Diving into the matchups, key players, and predictions as the road to the championship unfolds.
✅ Special Guests: Bryanna and Chris return to bring their expert insights and lively takes!

Curious about the current quarterback landscape and team dynamics in the NFL? We've got an engaging discussion lined up about the challenges facing Caleb Williams and Bryce Young, as well as the broader issues that plague the Chicago Bears beyond just their quarterback woes. We also touch on the playoff ambitions of teams like the Bengals, the Lions' prospects against the Bears, and Anthony Richardson's performance amid the Titans' decline. Don't miss our reflections on Jonathan Taylor's impact on fantasy football, which marks him as a top running back in the league.

In the heat of NFL matchups and playoff predictions, we're diving into the NFC playoff picture with a fiery debate on the strongest contenders. The episode gets a boost with guest Brandon Bean joining us to discuss the newly expanded college football playoffs and to debate whether the expansion to 12 teams was the right move, all while making bold predictions for the championship. We're also tackling the Lakers' ups and downs, LeBron's performance, and the possibility of Jimmy Butler's departure from the Heat, ensuring you get a comprehensive look at both football and basketball landscapes.

Pick'em Pros is a father son duo who enjoy talking sports, debating and having fun while doing it!

Please subscribe to the podcast today and share this content with your friends!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I pick them like a pro global triumph ball.
Talk a big and roll.
We gon' up the score.
Touchdown, this is not a fieldgoal.
We the winning team champions.
When you walk through the hall,you can play your bet with us,
cause you know we gon' win themall.
Yeah, this is a major play.
We do it big in a major way.
Diego, be havin' the pick ofthe day, here we come, don't

(00:20):
care if you wait, all right.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back.
You know who it is.
I am Derek Thompson, and I'mDiego Thompson.
I'm Christopher Davis, and whoare we?

Speaker 4 (00:30):
The Pick'em.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Pros.
We are the Pick'em Pros comingback at you in the house with
another episode of who you GotFather-son dynamic duo.
Got my main man, chris, in thebuilding.
How you doing man.

Speaker 4 (00:40):
Doing good, doing good, Excited for this holiday
season.
Doing good, doing good, Excitedfor this holiday season.
All of these great footballgames college football, NFL.
Really excited for these nextfew days.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, man, excited for it.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
How you doing, diego Doing good, you know, got
Christmas break yeah.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
I know you're excited .

Speaker 3 (00:54):
I got a lot of football, so doing good.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, man, we've got the riveting college football
playoff game tonight, oh yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, do you know who's playing?
We got a Notre Dame in Indiana.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Oh, okay.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
Okay, that's impressive.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
That's impressive.
Well, hey, we've got a fireshow for you today.
We've got Brianna joining usonce again.
She's going to school us on whothe best team in the NFC is
right now.
We're also going to dive intoall the picks this week.
We have been battling the lastfew weeks, so Diego has won this
season.
He's won this season, so wegive him that.

(01:28):
And so we decided to startanother challenge for our NFL
picks.
So we've had a competition.
It's not just for me to win,it's just to get Brianna
involved.
She's new to the show.
Chris just came on board, so wewanted to let them get involved
in our picks.
You know what I mean.
So you won the head-to-headbattle for me.
Now we've got Chris and Briannahere, so we want to have a

(01:48):
little battle with them for fourweeks.
So we're halfway in.
Okay, you two are in the leadright now.
You're like 23-7.
So congratulations to you.
But you're on notice, okay,because Brianna and myself are
three games back and we'recoming.
Matter of fact, chris, I thinkyou had a big defeat last night,

(02:08):
didn't you?

Speaker 4 (02:10):
Oh yeah.
So I picked the Broncos overthe Chargers.
Ok, I had a good reason.
The Broncos were hot and theChargers were falling apart the
last few games.
It was a very disturbing trendfor them and I thought I was
right in the first half.
And then I fell asleep but Iwas like, ah, they had just.

(02:32):
I weirdly have justin herberton my tvd at 22 points.
So, matthew stafford, I needyou to show up.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
So please, please do.
We're definitely trolling youon that.
Well, let's, let's get into theweek.
Uh 16.
Let's preview this week here aswe go.
So, diego, I believe you werelike, were like me and picked
that game correct last night theBroncos and Chargers.
I believe you picked theChargers as I did.
I think you may have copied meon that one, but tell us about

(02:56):
that game and why did you pickthe Chargers?
A lot of people pick Broncos.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
I picked the Chargers because they're at home and
they really needed that game, tohave the true tiebreaker over
the Broncos, yeah, and to get alittle closer to the Chiefs.
Well, even though the Chiefsclinched it, never mind, but
still just to help their playoffchance and try to clinch a spot
.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
Okay, all right, okay , yeah, yeah, well, yeah, man,
this was very clear to me.
Again, you said the Chargers athome and whatnot, but the
Chargers have been so up anddown this year and coming off
that loss, I knew that they wereprimed for a win.
Right, it was just the cycle.
And then the Broncos won aboutfour in a row.

(03:39):
Everybody was high on theBroncos getting a little too
high on the Broncos, so it wasthe perfect setup.

Speaker 4 (03:45):
Perfect setup there.
I would have been better.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
The perfect setup game, Should have put a little
something on it, but that's okay, Because I did here the Bills.
I did put a little something onthe Bills game Because I saw
that one coming from a mile away.
This was my Island game lastweek and I snatched that one
from you guys.

(04:10):
You know it's interestingbecause I actually won last week
, Even though we tied last weekand we all went 12-4, I think I
went from the tiebreaker fromhaving that game.
Y'all got to give that to meright?
Yeah, we had the same record?

Speaker 3 (04:22):
No, we're not getting a D, no, okay.
Well, it's not what we do overhere.
We celebrate winners, we win.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
Well, all of our Buffalo Bill fans out there, we
got a lot of new subscribers inBuffalo because they see how I'm
repping for them.
So, yeah, you know what I mean.

Speaker 3 (04:46):
Growing the channel.
Buffalo fans, you should bescared that this man right here
is picking you a lot, becausewhenever that happens, that team
seems to lose.

Speaker 2 (04:56):
Hey man, I've been on it.
I've said for weeks now theywere the best team in the AFC,
and I said for about a monththat Josh Allen is the MVP, and
now everybody else is justseeing that it's becoming clear.
I've been saying that.
You know what I mean, beensaying that, but anyway, I'm not
going to beat you guys downwith that too much.
I'm going to beat you guys downon some of these other topics

(05:17):
that we'll get into later.
Merry Christmas to y'all, andwe're going to give you a great
fire show today.
All right, so let's get intoour no-brainers, all right.
So we've got 11 no-brainershere.
Diego, why don't you start usoff with the first one?
These are the games that we allagree on.
We'll get to the Island gamesand bring Bree on and talk about
the games we disagree, butstart with the first no-brainer.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, this one Texans going into kansas city to play
the chiefs we all got the chiefsin this one.
Uh, they're an arrowhead athome.
Even if patrick holmes doesn'tplay, I'm gonna pick them, just
because I don't like how thetexans have played this year.
Yeah, I just think like theyhaven't played that well against
the good teams, I guess, andthey just they haven't even had
to play that well against thebad team.

(05:59):
So I'm just thinking we can'tsay no matter what.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
Okay, man, that seems like a shot at another, shot at
CJ, that's not just a shot atCJ.

Speaker 3 (06:09):
It definitely is, but it's a shot at the whole team,
including CJ.
Okay, it wasn't just CJ.

Speaker 2 (06:17):
Wow, okay, all right, all right, interesting,
interesting.
Let me see that comment there.
Tell the truth, diego Buddy, Isaw that out of the corner of my
eye.
I had to check and see whatthat was.
Texas, please be funny.
Okay, alright, chris man, Imean, it's probably not much on
this one yeah, chiefs andArrowhead in December.

Speaker 4 (06:38):
It's, you know, this is starting to be the tune up
for the playoffs.
They're gonna lock in.
Mahomes is gonna do the wholewarrior spirit.
My ankles and his ankles gonnabe magically be fine, and
they're gonna, you know, for theplayoffs.
They're going to lock in.
Mahomes is going to do thewhole warrior spirit, his
ankle's going to magically befine.
They're going to do their thing.
Texas already clinched theplayoffs, so they're already
going to be comfortable probablybeing a four seed, so I'm not
even too worried about that.

Speaker 2 (06:58):
Let's move on.
Not much else to say on thatone.
Let's get to our second onehere.
Who we got in this one?
Diego.

Speaker 3 (07:05):
This on that one.
Let's get to our second onehere.
Who we got in this one, diego.
This one we got Giantstraveling to the ATL to play the
Falcons and we got the Falcons,michael Penix, starting.
This is the perfect game tothrow a quarterback in.
They're playing the perfectteam, so I think he's going to
play great and they're going towin.
That is a great point.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yeah, that is a great point.

Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yeah, that's a great point I'm just really excited to
see michael pennix's debut.
Kirk cousins has, you know,left a lot to be desired, and
the fact that they're playinghim 92 million dollars to sit on
the bench is kind of crazy.
But you know what it's atlanta,so you know they always do
something crazy.
So we just see how michaelpennix does and I hope he balls
out, because I loved how heplayed at Washington.
So I hope he has a great weekthis week.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
He was a beast at Washington, so we'll see how
they play.
That'll be the only reason towatch somebody play against the
Giants.
We'll see what he does there.
Okay, let's move on to the nextone.
Next, no-brainer.

Speaker 3 (07:57):
Next, we've got the Lions traveling to Chicago to
play the Bears.
We all got Detroit in this oneto play the Bears.
We all got Detroit in this one.
Detroit's just a beast.
Chicago, they've lost eight ina row and I think the streak's
going to continue.
My gosh, I don't believe inthem.

Speaker 2 (08:13):
I don't believe in them at all.
Do you believe in Caleb?
Caleb Williams?

Speaker 3 (08:19):
Yeah, he's not bad.
He's not bad, he's solid.

Speaker 4 (08:25):
I feel like Caleb again we've talked about it
previously is in the situationthat Bryce was, where you had an
inept coach, you didn't have agood coordinator, there was so
much turmoil going on.
They're still going to losethis game.
I'm not going to like it forthem.
All of a sudden it'll be theLions, but I do think that Caleb
is.
You know he's going to improvenext year.
They get a good coach, we'regoing to see.

(08:45):
But you know, I feel like thisis going to be the hey, let's
put on good tape, like that'sbasically the testament for the
rest of the Bears season.
Right?

Speaker 2 (08:54):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (08:54):
Yeah, I agree.

Speaker 2 (08:55):
All right, yeah, and the Lions are coming off a loss.
As I begin, love the Lions.
That's the hometown, that's thefam right there.
Shout out Much love to Detroit.
But again, this is picks, notpersonal, and again, when you
know something's going to happen, you have to call it how you
know it's going to happen.
So, again, I knew the Billswere going to win that game.
But, with that being said, Iknow that the Lions are going to

(09:16):
win this game.
Coming off of that loss andgoing into Chicago, caleb
Williams will get his ninth lossin a row.
But again, like we like to sayhere in Carolina, it's the
O-line, it's the defense, it'sthe coach, it's the owner, it's
the stadium, it's everything.
But him.

Speaker 4 (09:36):
Our quarterback has literally shown up and we've
literally lost like maybe threegames because somebody else on
our team screwed up royally.
It was the defense versus theChiefs, it was Chubab versus the
Bucs, and then it was A-Railagain versus the Eagles.
Now did we get destroyed by theCowboys?
Absolutely, but the three gamesprior, bryce, it's no longer
Bryce's fault.

Speaker 3 (09:53):
Caleb was like I didn't hear anything about the
O-line before the year.

Speaker 4 (09:57):
Neither did I, or the fact that he has three great
wide receivers and everybody.
There's about at least 20 teamsin the NFL who would want that
wide receiver room.
All of a sudden they can't play.
I find it a little weird, justsaying.

Speaker 3 (10:10):
They had three amazing receivers.

Speaker 2 (10:12):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (10:13):
Did Des say that?
Yes, he did.

Speaker 2 (10:14):
He said they had three amazing receivers Okay,
but Caleb Williams is not a bust.
No.

Speaker 4 (10:22):
I think with our team we've kind of proven like hey't
, don't immediately, you know,throw, throw people out right
before, like we, just you justgonna wait and see.
I'm again gonna give him nextyear.
I feel like with bryce, againit's gonna be like hey, we gave
him this year, he's shownimprovement, now he needs to
build on this bryce is different.

Speaker 2 (10:39):
Bryce is just yeah, yeah, bryce is different.
Yes, that is true, 5 inchesshorter.
Ok, let's move on to the nextone.
We got an hour show, so wecan't stay on that one too long.
Alright, cleveland Browns, I'lllet you take my man.

Speaker 3 (10:56):
Cleveland Browns traveling to Cincy to play the
Bengals.
We all got the Bengals.
The Browns are.
No one cares about them anymorebecause Jameis is on the bench
and the Bengals are fighting fora spot set.
They should be pretty excitingat least.

Speaker 4 (11:10):
So we're all going with them because they're
they're hungry and uh yeah, yeah, the bangles have a very slim
chance of making the playoffs,but a chance nonetheless, so I
figure they're gonna try to comeout and play their best
football, hopefully if dtr DTRlights up this defense.
We got to have a seriousconversation about the Bengals'
defensive coordinator and thatwhole system right there,
because there's no way the DTRshould come in and light them up

(11:32):
.
I hope that the Bengals winthis game, but knowing that it's
probably going to be astressful nail-biter to the end.
So we'll see.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
Okay, yeah, yeah, I think it's another uh game I got
right.
You know, picking the bangleslast week, I think I did you
guys pick the bangles last week,I don't think it is.

Speaker 3 (11:48):
That was probably just me.
Did they play?

Speaker 2 (11:50):
the bangles.
I can't remember.

Speaker 3 (11:51):
I remember I got that right.
Oh wait, they played tennessee.

Speaker 4 (11:55):
Yeah, they played tennessee.

Speaker 2 (11:56):
Oh yeah, for sure oh no, you know what I'm thinking.
The week before that, when theyplayed the cowboys uh, yeah did
, yeah, we did.

Speaker 3 (12:03):
We'll have to fact check.

Speaker 2 (12:10):
Okay, let's go on to the next one.

Speaker 3 (12:11):
What do we got?
Oh boy, we got the TennesseeTitans going to Indianapolis to
play the Colts, and we all havethe Colts in this one.
They're at home.
Anthony Richardson has comeback.
Since his binging, he's playedokay.
So that's home.
Anthony Richardson has comeback.
Since his binging, he's playedokay.
That's good, even though he hasthrown some picks, still
playing good.
We're just going with them.
I think Tennessee's justtanking.

Speaker 4 (12:34):
In complete agreement .
Tennessee's an upstart fire.
Let's get to the next seasonfor Tennessee as well.
Another let's put on good tapeso we don't get fired.

Speaker 3 (12:42):
Anthony Richardson trying to put on some good tape.

Speaker 4 (12:44):
Oh, for sure, For sure.

Speaker 2 (12:47):
Well, it looked like the Colts were trying to tank
with the running back, throwingthe ball behind his back before
he scored a touchdown, Iremember.

Speaker 4 (12:56):
Jonathan Taylor and crazy conversations.
That's off.
He's the best running back infootball.
Okay, all right, and I think wecan put those to bed.
We can definitely put those tobed.

Speaker 2 (13:07):
Although I do have a fantasy football championship
due to my man, jonathan Taylor.
So big shout out to JonathanTaylor.
I appreciate that championship.
Yes, yeah, we're going tospeaking of fantasy.
We are going to talk aboutfantasy football a little later,
because we have the PickhamPros Fantasy League that I
happen to be in the final fourof, and we have the trophy here,
on set.

Speaker 5 (13:27):
I'm not going to reveal it just yet.

Speaker 2 (13:28):
You are, I am, you are Okay, okay, wow, shocker, I
didn't know that.
All right, we'll talk aboutthat in a minute.
Okay, let's hit the next game.

Speaker 3 (13:36):
Next one Rams going to New York to play.
And we all got the Rams here.
I mean they need each win theycan get and the Jets are just
bad, they're just a dumpsterfire.
And you know the Rams, they'rea high-power offense looking for
wins, we're going with them.

Speaker 4 (13:57):
Yeah, as a person who has both Pukunukuwa and Matthew
Stafford on his fantasy teamthis week.
Hey, la, if y'all don't win anygames, if y'all don't win any
games, if y'all don't ball outany game, I need y'all to ball
out this one.
So please, you know, turn upfor me y'all.

Speaker 2 (14:09):
So shout out to the rams yeah, yeah, rams and
dangerous, very dangerous teamin the nfc.
So we will talk about them.
Is anybody bold enough to havethem as their top team in the
nfc?
We'll find out as we talk aboutthat a little later today.
All right, hey, somebody mighthave them as their top team.
Who knows they're balling out.

Speaker 3 (14:30):
I actually like the Rams.
I actually like the Rams.
They beat Buffalo.
I like them.

Speaker 2 (14:33):
Okay so, if you're good enough to beat the Buffalo
Bills, you're an amazing team.

Speaker 3 (14:38):
Yes, didn't the Raiders beat them?

Speaker 2 (14:43):
No, they didn't.
No way, no way.
But the Raiders did beat theRavens.
Oh, they did.
Yeah, go All right.

Speaker 4 (14:49):
Stay quiet on that.
Moving on All right.

Speaker 3 (14:54):
Eagles going to Woff DC to play the Commanders.
We all got the Eagles.
Yeah, they beat them pretty badin the first game and their
defense is going to be too muchfor Jayden because they sacked
him, I think, eight times in thefirst game.
So yeah, it should be something.
If it's something similar, thenCommanders aren't going to have
a shot and they're not going tobe able to get Terry McLaurin

(15:15):
the ball, and that's the onlyway that they can win.

Speaker 4 (15:19):
So Philly is peaking at the right time, and I also
need to win a bet that I have,like season rushing guards, with
one of my friends.
So, saquon, do your thing, man,let's.
Let's have another game, likeyou did the first time versus
washington, so I can put this torest all right, yeah, yes,
let's.

Speaker 2 (15:35):
Let's fatten those pockets.
We've got to do that for sure.
Yes, all right, so let's, uh,let's move on to the next one
all right.

Speaker 3 (15:43):
Next one we got uh, we got the Vikings going to
Seattle to play the Seahawks andwe all got Minnesota in this
one.
They're really good 12-2.
And they're still trying tostay there with Detroit.
And, yes, seattle, they'recoming off a loss and Minnesota
they're just looking to gettheir wins.

Speaker 4 (16:05):
I'm thinking minnesota definitely wants to
keep pace with detroit becausethe only week 18 matchup I'm
really excited to see is themversus the lions to basically
see who can win the division ifthe record still holds.
So I definitely have minnesotain this one I agree.

Speaker 2 (16:20):
Yeah, I came close to choosing seattle in this one.
They they seem like they'reprimed for one of those upset
wins.
They're at home.
You know, geno Smith, I can seethis being one that he pulls
out.
This smells upset to me, yeah.
I can see it, but I just wasn'tbrave enough to go ahead and
pull the trigger on this one.
But I really wanted to lose.

Speaker 3 (16:40):
You have nothing to lose, wouldn't be?

Speaker 2 (16:41):
surprised you have nothing to lose.
Wouldn't be surprised you havenothing to lose.
I have a lot to lose you havenothing to lose, because I need
my cause.

Speaker 5 (16:47):
I need my cause to get the funds, I'm only three
games.

Speaker 2 (16:50):
That's nothing.
That's nothing, that's nothing.
And by you being, mrConservative, not being on the
island for any games, I'llprobably overtake everybody.

Speaker 3 (17:00):
I don't need to make.
I've already built up a cushionfor myself where I don't need
to pick crazy.
That's that.
That's a different competition.

Speaker 2 (17:05):
That's not this competition Now.
Now we have, we have we havethe great.
Rihanna, we have the greatChristopher Davis, we have more
competition.
Now I mean this this, thisisn't just me playing pity pat
with you, going easy on you.
I mean now we got other people.
Pickham Pros has grown thebrand.
Look at the gear, look at, look, we got retro.

(17:28):
You know what I'm saying.
We've been out so long.
We've got retro designs.
Now, like you know what I'msaying, that's right.
I like that.
All right.

Speaker 3 (17:33):
Okay, let's move on to the next one, all right, uh,
oh boy.
Next one.
We got uh patriots traveling tobuffalo to play the bills.
Uh, this one should be ugly.
Um, yeah, we all got theBuffalo.
Nothing should be said.
Yeah, I feel bad for Drake.
May, I'm not going to lie, Idon't even like UNC.

Speaker 4 (17:50):
I feel bad for the guy the guy playing quarterback
for the Bills had fivetouchdowns on the Lions.
I worry what he's going to doto that poor Patriots team.
Josh Allen's probably going togo get his numbers and we're
going to see a great blowout.
So shout out to the Bills.
But yeah, New England and usare in the same position.
We're all trying to get TravisHunter.

(18:11):
So, let's see how it goes.

Speaker 2 (18:14):
Agreed.
Nothing else needs to be saidon that one.
Just move on.

Speaker 3 (18:21):
Yeah, next one Jags going to the Raiders in Las
Vegas.
And we all got Jags going tothe Raiders Las Vegas and we all
got the Jags in this one.
But, yeah, they actually havesome solid players in their team
.
They got some solid receivers,decent running game and the
Raiders I just don't really knowabout them.
So, yeah, we're just going withthe.

Speaker 2 (18:41):
Jags Shador Sanders.
Yeah, shador Sanders, that'swhat we know about the Raiders.
Yes, they are tanking for real.

Speaker 3 (18:49):
yeah tanking for a specific player.

Speaker 4 (18:52):
So yeah, absolutely yeah, uh, this is one of those
ones where you got to do an eenymeeny, miny moe, and which one
hurts your stomach a little lessso I'm gonna go I'm gonna stick
with the jags.
Uh, yeah, just I believe thatthey're better team with more
talent.
And again, the raiders outsideof brock bowers, they don't
necessarily have anybody worthof note, so yeah, yeah, we can

(19:17):
just skip past this one, sanders.

Speaker 2 (19:19):
Yeah, let's get past this one for sure.
Yep, jags, we got the jags anda Thriller Alright, last
no-brainer.

Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yeah, we got Monday Night Thriller.
Saints traveling to Lambeau toplay the Packers.
Yeah, it should be pretty badPackers all day.
They're at home, one of thelast games for Christmas.
The Saints just completelyinjured Chris Olave out.
Kamara's banged up Derek Carrnot starting.

(19:47):
So yeah, definitely Green Bay.

Speaker 4 (19:51):
Yeah, shout out to Green Bay, shout out to Jordan
Love during Toyota.
I don't know if you've seenthose jokes, but he weirdly
balls out during the seasonwhere Toyota sells cars really
cheap and all of a sudden helooks like he doesn't throw
interceptions.
It's actually a weirdstatistical thing.

Speaker 2 (20:08):
But Chad's a.

Speaker 4 (20:09):
Jordan Love.
He's doing his thing Doing histhing.

Speaker 2 (20:13):
He got his money and he's balling, so shout out to
him.
All right, we'll see where thePackers fall in our NFC.
Who's the best in NFCdiscussion?
Okay, so those are ourno-brainers.
So we're going to touch onfantasy football and then we're
going to get into our islandgames in a minute.
But let's touch on fantasyfootball.
So, pick'em pros, we have ourleague.

(20:33):
We are down to the final four.
Okay, final four.
Get the hardware out here.
We've gone ahead and pickedthis up.
So, yes, check that out.
Oh man, look at that.
That is a nice piece ofhardware.
It definitely looks like theLombardi.
I'm just going to see.
I'm blocking Diego's hair.

(20:54):
I'm going to put it here.
You know what?
I'll just hold it.
I'll just do this, you'retrying to block it.

Speaker 3 (20:58):
Because you know what ?

Speaker 2 (21:05):
I, I'm going to win it anyway, so I might as well
just sit here and hold it likethis I keep receipts.
Hey, keep all the receipts.

Speaker 4 (21:10):
you want you, better hit the Kobe pose you know,
Diego, Jason Tatum Just a littlehistory.

Speaker 2 (21:14):
So again, the Final Four.
You are in the Final Four andwe're in opposite brackets, so
we could possibly meet in thechampionship.
So that would be interesting.
But I'm playing David Cook.
Okay, he's a great fantasyfootball player and we made a
trade, a huge trade thatinvolved Josh, Allen, Connor,

(21:36):
neighbors.
It involved a lot of people.
So we made a great trade,benefited both of us.
So it's only fitting that we'replaying each other in the
semifinals.
So, David, looking forward togoing against you this week, man
Can't wait for that showdown.
And then, Diego, you are goingagainst Silas.
So Silas represents Canada,Canada.

(21:57):
Silas is a big, big supporterof picking pros.
Silas had the number one pickand I believe he picked
McCaffrey like most people didwith the number one pick, but
shout out to Silas.
He clearly recovered from thatand is here in the semifinals
and is going against you, butour guy Silas has a special

(22:19):
message for you, so let me goahead and play this message.
Got about a 45-second messagefor you, diego, specifically.
Let's pull this up here.

Speaker 6 (22:32):
Honestly.

Speaker 1 (22:35):
Diego Thompson, I don't think you're ready for
this.
I don't think you're ready Forthe greatest team in this
playoffs To destroy you,dismantle you, beat you by 100
and after that, after Idismantle Diego, it's on to the
next, the finals.
I've never lost in the finals.

(22:55):
I'm like Michael Jordan.
I've never lost in the finals.
I'm like Michael Jordan.
I've never lost in the finals.
I've also never been to thefinals.
So it's time to win.
Derek, david, after I beatDiego, you guys need to watch
out.
I may be 5-7, but my team, myteam is ready, my team is battle
tested and my team is ready towin it all.
I am taking home that trophy.

(23:16):
Good luck to everyone out there.
Good luck to Diego, good luckto Derek, good luck to David.
You will need it.

Speaker 2 (23:28):
Hmm, all right, thank you, silas, for the message.
Diego, do you care to respond?

Speaker 3 (23:33):
to that.
As I said a few minutes ago, Ikeep receipts.
I remember that I'm going todeliver a message to my team and
we are going to beat them.
I got confidence in my teamCooper Cup.
As long as he doesn't scorezero like he did last week, I
think we're all right.

Speaker 2 (23:49):
Okay, and you know, shout out to you, man you had a
receiver in Cooper Cup scorezero points and you still
managed to get by and make it tothe semifinals.
But you know again, man, youknow every league that I've ever
played in, I've won the titlein that league.
Okay, so that is a fact.
So this is a brand new league.

Speaker 3 (24:11):
This is the first year of this league, so I have
to, it is my right, I think itjust like bait may fall this way
, because I have never won afantasy football championship.
That's right.
It would be fitting for it tobe in the Pickham Pro League.
I just think that would work itwould be pretty good.

Speaker 2 (24:28):
You want to hold this thing but, like I said, this
thing is heavy.
This is that's like theLombardi for real.
You know what I mean?
The Lombardi for real.
Yeah, yes, sir, yes, yes, allright, that's as close as you're

(24:48):
going to get to it.
Otherwise you'll see it in myroom and in my office.
But you know what, Just likewhen we drafted before, I'll
have it sitting next to me whenwe draft next year and you'll
get to see it and you'll knowwhat to aspire to.
So, all right, that's enough ofthat.
Just wanted to pause and talkabout our fantasy league.
So, hey, you guys got to get init.

(25:09):
Brianna, I know you'll bejoining us in a little bit.
You've got to get in on thiswith us.
We'll expand the league so wecan get you in.
Chris, we'll have to get you inand expand the competition.
But again, there were a lot ofdoubters.
One other thing, diego, did yousay when we drafted, when I
drafted my team, and you saidwhat?
Tell everybody what you said tome after the draft.

Speaker 3 (25:31):
Didn't I say something like it was the worst
team you ever picked?
Yes, yeah.
Yes, yep.
Well, you're going to lose.
So, I mean, I still stand by it.

Speaker 2 (25:41):
I mean, if you don't win that's not going to mean
anything.
Already.
I've already proven the doubtis wrong Already.
Okay, you haven't won anything,alright, alright, I basically
have, basically have.
Alright.
Well, let's, man, are we readyto go on in and get to these
island games?
This is where we earn our moneyand raise money for good causes

(26:04):
and we're in a tight battle.
We ready to get into theseisland games where we disagree?
Yeah, I'm ready.
Okay, all right.
Yeah, yeah, time to go to theisland man.
Okay, let's go.
So the first island game.

(26:27):
I know my accent's perfect, Iknow it's spot.
On the first island game.
My man, chris, who's tied forthe lead in the second season of
Pick'em Pros.
Here We've got Miami as aone-and-a-half-point favorite,
but it looks like you're goingwith the underdog.
My man.

Speaker 4 (26:46):
I'm picking San Francisco mostly because you've
got to do a morale thing Afterthe whole—I think it's because
of the whole Drake-Reylonsituation and the whole thing
with Devondre Campbell that itmight inspire the team to show
like, hey, we're performing as aunited front.
Because I feel like after lastweek and that loss, it left a

(27:07):
bad taste in everybody's mouthand they definitely want to come
out and give their bestperformances.
Now my concern is going to belike like is the locker room
divided after that?
But it didn't seem like anybodywas in disagreement on how they
felt about that situation.
So I definitely feel like theywant to put their best foot
forward towards the end of theseason.
And yeah, I understand it'smiami and they're like it and

(27:29):
they're like at home.
But I I don't trust mikemcdaniel for some reason, like
after the seeing them likealmost come back versus the
texans, I don't trust MikeMcDaniel for some reason, After
seeing them almost come backversus the Texans, I don't think
they got it.
I got San Francisco in this.
I know Summer's cooking meright now.
So this is not going to be great, but I got the Niners in this
one Okay.

Speaker 2 (27:47):
All right, I was also laughing because my wife's
comment about my accent.

Speaker 3 (27:52):
She said it was an interesting blend.

Speaker 2 (27:55):
Summer.
Can you pull that back up?
Why does my hubby's islandaccent sound like an
African-India blend?
Lord, Okay, I'm sorry, oh man.
So where did we go from there,Diego?

Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah, the Dolphins.
I just think that Ninersthere's a lot of drama with them
.
Debo, he's been chokingteammates and been dropping
passes and hasn't been playingthat great.
And then the Campbell stuff,that's not great either.
And I just think the Dolphinsthey're just trying to make a
final push for the playoffs andTua's playing well.

(28:35):
I just think they're going totry that final push.

Speaker 2 (28:38):
Yeah, yeah, I agree, chris man, I think you're
reaching on this one.
You got that Tua-Tyreek combo.
They're at home.

Speaker 4 (28:48):
How well has that.

Speaker 2 (28:49):
Tua-Tyreek combo been all year.

Speaker 4 (28:51):
Am I tripping Because I ain't seen no Tyreek deep
shot highlights all season.

Speaker 3 (28:56):
I all year Am I tripping Because I ain't seen no
Tyreek deep shot highlights allseason.

Speaker 2 (28:57):
Tyreek's had a wrist injury all year he's been
questionable every single game.
He's had a wrist injury, likeyour boy Leggett.

Speaker 6 (29:03):
Alright, at least he's had the wrist injury.

Speaker 3 (29:06):
He's still been balling Not really, but he's
still had the wrist injury.
But Leggett's just been.

Speaker 4 (29:13):
Alright, so yeah that's what we've got, and well,
since you stopped them fromcatching anything, so you know,
we'll see, but this should be aclose game.

Speaker 2 (29:22):
This should be a close game.
Uh, miami being at home andhaving a still somewhat being in
the playoff picture, I thinkthey'll pull it out.
But uh, this, this willprobably be settled by by a
field goal.
So we'll see what happens here.
All right, let's go on to thenext island game.
Oh man, ooh, I feel soconfident about this one.
This is one where I am on anisland.

(29:44):
I love being on an islandbecause this is where I gain
ground.
Okay, and you guys are set up,just like last week with that
Buffalo Bill Detroit game.
You were set up there, you gotcaught up.
It's like a magician.
You know what I'm saying?
He's putting his hands overhere, you're looking over here,
but he's diverting yourattention.
That's the same thing that'shappening here with the
Baltimore Ravens.
Right, the Tomlin does not losetwo games in a row.

(30:07):
All right, they've got hardknocks following them.
There's no way, way, he's goingto lose this game.
This is the perfect game.
When they're the underdog, thisis the game that they win.
When nobody thinks they'regoing to win, then they go in
there.
This is the game they're goingto win.
Russell Wilson's going to cookand that defense of Pittsburgh.
They know Lamar Jackson insideand out, so he will struggle

(30:29):
mightily against this defense.
That'll be the difference.
I'm going gonna put a littlesomething on this one and have a
very merry christmas.

Speaker 3 (30:36):
Yes, take it first my guy uh yeah well, did you not
know that tj watt is uhquestioning?
He has a high ankle sprain ohreally yeah, he's, he's actually
, he's actually probably gonnaplay.
He said, but uh, still he'sgonna be very limited, okay.

Speaker 2 (30:50):
So so see, some, some people can play with an ankle
injury but they also have theirbest wide receiver.

Speaker 3 (30:57):
And George Pickens is out too.
He's got a hammy, he's out.
Two of their best players areout.
Russell's top target's out,Best player's out.
Well, actually Lamar is badagainst Steelers.
I'm not going to lie.

Speaker 4 (31:13):
Yes, he is, he is.

Speaker 3 (31:17):
But they need this and they just need it in their
home.
I just think that he's got towin it.

Speaker 4 (31:24):
I feel like for this game, just for Lamar's whole
narratives for this year, he'sgot to win at least one of these
big games because, again, howthey played against the Steelers
previously was already veryalarming because they were like
high-flying offense, you knowlamar's back, mbp lamar, and
then we get to the sealers game.
They completely forget how toplay football for the first
three quarters.
So somehow, some way I feellike this might be a turn of

(31:49):
fortunes for them and they lockin and be the super bowl
contending team that we've seen.
And because I'm only pickingthe Ravens, because I was very
concerned on how that Steelersoffense looked without George
Pickens last week.
So that's my only caveat, andyou know I could be wrong.
And yet again the Ravens cancompletely forget how to play
football versus the Steelers andthey somehow lose by a

(32:11):
game-winning field goal, which Iwouldn't be surprised by.
But that's the thing.
I'm trepidatiously picking theRavens.
That's my real take.
I'm not as bad as what yournext take is going to be, but
this one right here I'm kind oflike yeah, we go see.

Speaker 2 (32:28):
Oh, yes, yes, okay, all right.
Well, let's move on to the nextIsland game.
I'm on the island for one morehere.
Okay, this one is the ArizonaCardinals are traveling.
They're coming here to Carolina.
Man, I bet they got some reallygood price tickets for this
game.
In Charlotte we play thePanthers.
The Cardinals are only afour-point favorite and this

(32:50):
again is a total setup game,just like that Panthers-Cowboy
game was a setup game becauseeveryone was high on the
Panthers because they had thoseclose losses and they were
coming home and the Cowboysweren't looking good.
They're having an offseason, soeverybody was on the Panther
bandwagon all of a sudden,although they were trashing them

(33:11):
earlier in the season.
Now it's the opposite.
Now, oh no, panthers are awfulagain.
They're tanking, cardinals arestill in it, and this is the
perfect setup trap game.
Bryce will look as good as hehas ever looked in this game and
the Panthers are going to get avictory.
And you two guys, I am verydisappointed in you two Up here.

(33:34):
Panther, we got all thisPanther paraphernalia here.
You're wearing thePanther-themed hoodies and now
ye of little faith what happenedto you guys?

Speaker 3 (33:42):
You think you're Shakespeare.

Speaker 2 (33:47):
What happened to you guys?
I am so disappointed.

Speaker 3 (33:50):
I believe in Bryce, but I don't know about the whole
team.
Xavier Leguette has made melose a lot of hope in our
offense.
It's very sad, but yeah, I justcan't.
Also, part of me wants us totank to get Travis Hunter, but

(34:11):
yeah, I just can't pick thisright now.
The Cardinals are hungry and wehave nothing to play for.
Bryce has already put his goodtape out, so he's good.
It's just about everyone else.

Speaker 4 (34:23):
I mean, I just don't want us to lose competitively
again.
Plus, they are a team withplayoff expectations.
Listen, it's very bad for youto say, oh, you want your team
to lose, so you can get the bestplayer available.
It's very bad for you to say,oh, you want your team to lose,
so you can get the best playeravailable however however, uh, I
don't know if you've seen howtravis hutter plays football
like listen.

Speaker 2 (34:43):
We need a wide receiver and we need a defensive
back so let's just uh, well, mygod, if you're gonna tank, then
tank.
Go ahead and tank and getShador.
We already suck.
Go all the way with it.

Speaker 4 (34:56):
Go all the way with it.

Speaker 3 (34:58):
Nobody wants Shador.

Speaker 4 (34:59):
We are good.
I saw Bryce almost take downthe Eagles with a 99.
If Xavier Luget does havebutter figures, Bryce Young has
one of the greatest drives we'veprobably seen in a minute NFL
history that I've ever seen inmy life.

Speaker 3 (35:15):
I'm sorry.

Speaker 4 (35:17):
I'm sorry I saw that third quarter throw out the end
zone.
That gave me hope.
That gave me faith.
I'm cool.
I'm good that bought him anextra year for me.
He good, he good.

Speaker 2 (35:29):
Well, we are going to bring in Brianna from Arizona
to come in and shed some lighton this game and then we'll go
to her island game.
So let's go ahead, put yourhands together and let's bring
in miss brianna.
What's going on?
All right, all right.

(35:50):
So you, you know, representalthough you represent a couple
of teams here, but you, butdefinitely one that you rep
they're playing the big badCarolina Panthers.
We're in Carolina.
I'm feeling all the energy fromthis game.
I am on the island.
I've got to get back in it.
Do you disagree with me or doyou agree with me?

Speaker 5 (36:15):
I have the Cardinals winning, so I definitely
disagree.

Speaker 2 (36:19):
Okay, okay.
Well, why do you have theCardinals winning?

Speaker 5 (36:24):
Well, what Chris said ?
It's not a competitive game.
The Cardinals are way betterthan the Panthers.

Speaker 4 (36:31):
You're going to say it like that, but God no.

Speaker 5 (36:35):
Shots fired yeah um, but lately the offense with
kyler murray he's been doingreally well, which is kind of
surprising because he's not thebest um and the panthers they
struggle in their offense.
They're not very consistentwith it, as the chronos have
been lately.
Um, and I think the I thinkthat kyler is going to go off
with Marvin Harrison Jr andthey're going to play really

(36:56):
well.

Speaker 2 (36:58):
Okay, all right, all right.

Speaker 5 (37:00):
And the Panthers.

Speaker 2 (37:02):
And all the Panthers.
Oh, man, and you know, see,that's the national narrative,
but you know what.
That's okay, because, bree,this is a perfect segue to you.
It's just that you're not asfamiliar with Carolina, so we've
got to get you out here, okay.
And I think your feelings mightchange a little bit, because
nationally, people are down onthe Carolina Panthers, so we're
going to know yet.

(37:22):
So we're going to get you downhere for our show at Kings.
All right, our Superbowl showthe night before Saturday at
Kings, february 8th.
So we can't wait to have youhere for that.
And you know we can't wait tohave you here for that, and you
know, yeah, yeah so once you gethere, you know you may, uh, may
, it may start to change alittle bit, but and we'll see.

(37:43):
All right, cool, all right.
Well, brie, you are on theisland for a game.
Uh, let's go ahead and go tothat one.
You know you and I are tied, sowe got to chase these guys down
.
We we're three games back, butwe still have time the rest of
this week and next week to chasethem down.
So we've got the Tampa BayBucks traveling to Dallas.
Tampa is a four-point favoriteand we all have Tampa, but

(38:09):
you're on an island on this onewith the Dallas Cowboys.
Why do you have the Cowboys?
Well, with the Dallas Cowboys.

Speaker 5 (38:13):
Why do you have the Cowboys?
Well, they're pretty similarteams.
When they play, they definitelyboth struggle with their
rushing.
They're not very consistentwith rushing both of them.
So I think it will be achallenging game and they both
rely on their offensive, likepeople that are really good,
like CD Lamb, dak Prescott andthe Bucs definitely rely on Mike

(38:37):
Evans and Chris Good goodwin.
So I think with that likethey're, it's gonna be a good
game and they're really similar.
So I think, with those aspects,I think the cowboys will come
out and do really well, likethey should be okay, all right
and hey.

Speaker 2 (38:50):
now nobody picked or very few people, I should say
picked the cowboys last week,they won that game.
Very few parsons.
Pars should say picked theCowboys last week, they won that
game Very few.
Parsons is back.
The defense is playing better,they're getting some people back
and they are at home.
This is what the Sunday nightgame, I believe.
So it's another Jerry Jonesspecial primetime game.

Speaker 4 (39:12):
Real quick.
What's the Cowboys' home recordand have we seen how they
played at home versus very goodteams?
Let's see Blown out by theTexans, blown out by the Ravens,
blown out by the Packers lastyear in the playoff, blown out
by good choking teams in thisinjury world this year.
The Bengals game was close.

Speaker 2 (39:31):
Oh it was close, okay , okay.
Versus the Bengals Okay close.
Oh, it was close, okay, okayversus the bagels.

Speaker 4 (39:36):
Okay, it was close.
Every other game, though it'snot big, it's not been great for
them.
I am so sorry.
I listen they're, they're athome, I'm not I don't know.
It's a weird year for them athome, like last year it was like
oh, they're world beaters athome.
Right now it's.
It's looking a little.
It's a little.
Look, it's looking a littledark for a place that has very
blinding lights.
Weirdly enough, it's kind ofannoying.

Speaker 3 (40:00):
What are you thinking ?

Speaker 2 (40:01):
Diego.

Speaker 3 (40:03):
Yeah, you know the Bucs running game is a little
more reliable than Dallas'sbecause they got Bucky Irving.
He's had some good games andthey still got the other running
back.
I forgot his name, but at leastthey got Bucky Irwin.
Yeah, I got.
I believe their running gameand their passing game is a
little more reliable.

Speaker 2 (40:21):
Believe in them, ok, all right.
Well, hey, this is, this iswhere we separate ourselves,
bree.
So you're on the island forthat one, I'm on the island with
the Steelers and we're going tosee where this shakes out.
We'll be back next week, uh,for the the finale of the
regular season as far as uhpicking and we'll.
We'll see where things shakeout and see, uh, who's gonna uh

(40:43):
whose cause will benefit fromthis uh showdown that we've got
here, all right?
Well, let's move on to our nexttopic.
We are going to talk about thetop team in the nfc.
So we've got a number number ofteams here.
Um, chris, you're lookingperplexed.

Speaker 4 (41:00):
There's something, there's something odd on the
screen you know there's a bigold polar bear in texas.
I'm just saying what is goingon with uh, not with the rams,
okay, packers, fine you know,but, what about Darnold?
And the Vikings, we're missinga couple people.

Speaker 2 (41:20):
You want us to put the whole NFC on screen.

Speaker 4 (41:22):
I'm not saying put the whole NFC, I'm just saying
we could have put one team over.

Speaker 3 (41:25):
Put the teams that are actually in the playoff
picture on there, the Ramsaren't even in the playoff
picture?

Speaker 2 (41:31):
Yeah, but everybody knows how dangerous the Rams are
.
Do you want to face the Rams?
I don't want to face the Rams,but at least put someone in the
playoff, the Rams just beat theBuffalo Bills.

Speaker 3 (41:43):
All right, let's remember that they let Jay and
Daniels get in the playoff.

Speaker 2 (41:48):
Oh no, oh no, no, no, mr Lucky Hail, mary, no way,
all right.
So, bree, give us your take.
You see we're clearly in rareform today.
So the NFC there's a lot ofteams.
Again, detroit's been runningaway with it.
They, you know, had one lossfor a while now, just took
another L.

(42:08):
The injuries are piling up.
We weren't concerned at first,but now I think the concern is
starting to rise.
Who would you say right now isthe top team in the NFC?

Speaker 5 (42:19):
Yeah, so I always love my Lions.
They're in my heart always, soI think they're definitely
second right now just because ofall the injuries they have and
losing the Bills and an onsidekick also by Dan Campbell not a
good idea or plan by him kind ofmad at him.
But so I think I would have tosay the Eagles are the best

(42:42):
right now.
I feel like they have the beststats right now.
Jalen Hurts is amazing.
He has over 2000 passing yardsright now.
Yeah, barkley, I mean, he hasover a,000 yards also.
So I feel like their whole teamcombined just makes it really
well for them to perform and goout there and win every time.
It's the times that they want.

Speaker 2 (43:06):
A lot of people are saying the Eagles are very
balanced, so you can make astrong case that they're the
most balanced team, sodefinitely not mad at that.
That selection there.
Um, where where would you have?
Did you say you'd have the lionsecond, second right now, and
then the eagles first?
Okay, all right.
Okay, um, diego, who's who'stop team in the nfc right now?

Speaker 3 (43:27):
I still believe in detroit.
After all the injuries, uh,still I still believe in them.
I just believe they got thejuice.
You know they're, they're justlocked in right, they had that
loss.
You know teams that are 15 and1, 6, 16, 1, 9, 17 games, teams
are 16 and 1 scare me a littlebit because of the panthers.
How they lost.

Speaker 5 (43:47):
I don't like, I don't like that number, I've got at
least two losses at least two orthree losses, so that makes me
more comfortable with them.

Speaker 2 (43:55):
So, uh, yeah, I I do not that actually makes me more
confident.
I do not believe that at all.

Speaker 3 (44:00):
You are just trying to kiss up to the family in
detroit I'm giving them hope itis giving them hope because
every team I picked when thesewer bowl wins it like I've,
I'm undefeated in that categoryso like I'm just, I'm just
trying to help the family out,but it's been three.

Speaker 2 (44:17):
Okay, so it's not like you've picked 40.

Speaker 3 (44:19):
How many have you picked?
You got one right.

Speaker 2 (44:22):
Yeah, over the course of my life I've gotten more
right than you.
Over the course of Pick'em Pros, that doesn't matter.
That's not what we're talkingabout right now.
See, you're changing thenarrative.
You now, See, you're changingthe narrative.
You're moving the goalposts,Moving the goalposts.
So no, but it's Christmas time.
I think you're trying to kissup, make sure you get some
Christmas presents.
So I don't know if you reallybelieve that.
All right, Chris.

(44:44):
Who's number one?

Speaker 4 (44:46):
Number one.
I have the Philadelphia Eaglesmostly because they're peaking
at the right time and I don'tlike all the whole locker room
controversy.
Oh, aj Brown doesn't mess withJalen Hurts, he's not getting
the ball.
I completely get that.
However, we just saw last weekthey at least for the first time
in forever, they won a gamethrowing the ball, with Saquon
not necessarily playing at hisabsolute best.

(45:07):
So that's the thing that theyhad to show me.
Can you win a different wayversus a very good team?
Because again, this has been aSaquon and our defense showing
up at Jalen Hurts.
You know, touch push here, bigthird down conversion there, but
it hasn't been Jalen Hurtsreally dominating the whole game
.
So actually actively seeingthat gives me more hope in them.
Because, I'm not going to lie,detroit's defense looks like
food, regardless of how goodthat offense has been.

(45:30):
The fact that it's been likethey got 34 put up, 31 put up on
them by the Packers and then 48by the Bills.
I'm very concerned about theirdefense.
And then I would say a tie, forsecond would be the Vikings and
the Lions, because the Vikings'defense has played very well.
Now, again, minnesota sportscurse aside, that's the only

(45:51):
thing that I feel like couldstop the Vikings from all their
potential because, again, samDarnold is having an all-time
great Cinderella story, justinJefferson and Jordan Edison are
playing at their best and thatdefense shows up to play every
single time.
I think that if Detroit doesn'tget a favorable path, they have
to play either the Vikings orthe Packers in the round,

(46:14):
because if they get the one seedit's going to get a little
rough because of the familiarityand how close those games have
already been between those twoteams.

Speaker 2 (46:21):
Okay, Okay, good, take, good, take, diego, you
have something else you weregoing to add yeah, no, the
Vikings are not in the samecategories of lines.

Speaker 4 (46:30):
Okay, they really have the same record.
What do you mean?
They they really have the samerecord.
What do you mean?
They do have the same record.

Speaker 2 (46:35):
They do have the same record and believe you said
they face off week 18.

Speaker 4 (46:39):
Week 18 for the division is most likely going to
happen, so we're going to see.

Speaker 2 (46:43):
We will definitely see.
Oh, I've got to give mine, sonone of you guys have said this.
But again, as usual, I seebeyond.
Just like I told y'all aboutthe Bills.
I saw it weeks in advance.
Let me tell you guys, you guyscan get on board this train
later.
It's the Green Bay Packers, andI don't know how y'all don't

(47:05):
see.
It's just clear.
They're balanced.
Jordan Love is balling out.
My goodness, they're like a14-point favorite this week.

Speaker 3 (47:14):
They lost to both the Eagles and the Lions.
That was earlier in the season.

Speaker 2 (47:21):
They have gotten better and the Lions have gotten
worse.
You'll see.
Check with me.

Speaker 5 (47:27):
Check with me in a couple weeks.

Speaker 2 (47:28):
Check with me in a couple weeks, yeah.

Speaker 4 (47:32):
I'm leaving you alone .
That's Mr Interception waitingto happen.
I'm sorry.
I'm just waiting for the othershoe to drop with him.

Speaker 2 (47:40):
And then Now I will say Detroit.
If Detroit can get healthy,they can overtake.
So this is a snapshot, this isa moment in time.

Speaker 3 (47:49):
All right.

Speaker 2 (47:50):
So if they get a little healthier, detroit can
come back and overtake.
They can still win the SuperBowl.
But this is right now.
Green Bay Packers, green BayPackers, all right, bree.
Well, bree, we love having youon.
We're so excited to have youhere for the Super Bowl.
So that's going to be fun.
I know we're going to have youat King, so we'll be in front of

(48:11):
a live audience and then we'llalso do a little something here
in the studio.
So can't wait to see you thenand show you some Southern
hospitality here in Carolina,show you how we do it.

Speaker 5 (48:22):
Perfect, I can't wait .
Thank you so much.

Speaker 2 (48:25):
All right, okay, we'll see you next week.

Speaker 5 (48:27):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (48:28):
Okay, all right, that is Brianna.
So, man, you guys ready to talkabout a little bit of NBA here?
Okay, let's get into some NBA.
And then we've got Brandonjoining us at the end to school
us on the college footballplayoffs.
So when we first put our agendaout there, brandon got it

(48:49):
straight and said oh man, you'renot going to talk about the
college football playoffs.
I said, oh yeah, we definitelyneed to talk about that and he's
very efficient in that, sowe'll have him come on and
school us on that a little bit.
But, man, it's our weekly LakerChris check-in time.
Man, lebron and the Lakers andBronny and Bronny, yes.

Speaker 4 (49:11):
He's in the G League.
Yo, what are we doing?

Speaker 2 (49:15):
I think they just moved him back up, yeah that's
probably.
He scored 30.
Yes, he scored 30.
He scored 30.
That's probably part of.
The problem is that they don'thave Bronny.
They started off hot.
We look at it they started offvery hot, sent him down to the G
League and they have not beenthe same ever since.

Speaker 4 (49:29):
So what a fact.
What are we doing?
It's like, hey, we need amorale boost.
No, listen, okay, I'm just beingcompletely real about this team
.
We it's.
Either we look like worldbeaters and we look like we're
the best team in the west, or welook completely inept and we
don't know how to playbasketball.

(49:50):
Plus lebron taking his timeaway.
I and everybody was kind of ina panic about that, like is he
okay?
What's going on with him?
I'm like like I feel like youknow, the wheels are starting to
come off like let's.
Uh, I'm not saying theretirement tour is starting, but
I will say next year itdefinitely looks like this is
gonna be over.
So the one thing that it sucksto be in the nba and I've said

(50:12):
this before in our seasonpreview the worst thing to be in
the nba is the in the middle.
You either need to be contendingor you need to be tanking so
you can get good players, and weare perpet have been
perpetually in the middle sincethe 2020 championship.
So my I mean, my best guess iswe're gonna make it.
We're probably gonna be aplaying team, win the playing

(50:32):
game, probably get dusted byeither the one team one really
good young team or buy thenuggets if we ever play them
again, because you know we candefinitely never be the nuggets.

Speaker 2 (50:42):
They got something real nice waiting for you.

Speaker 4 (50:44):
Yeah, every time oh no, I've never respected a
player more than nicola yokich,because I used to be like, how
is he this good?
And I saw him play the lakers.
I was like you know what yougot it, bro, like it's, yeah,
yokich is different, so I thinkthat it's it's.
It's about quitting time withthis team.
You know, jj is still gonnahave his job.
He's been a great coach.
But we kind of gotta, I'm gonnasay, start the retirement tour.

(51:07):
But but let's have the fondmemories, have the LeBron lob
next year, start the retirementtour, so we can take everybody
out to pasture and we can juststart rebuilding.
Because I can't watch this teamsometimes.
It's frustrating.

Speaker 2 (51:19):
It's been a little frustrating.
Anything to add, Diego, we'regoing to leave it there.

Speaker 3 (51:23):
Yeah, I mean they actually have had two
back-to-back wins against theKings and the Grizzlies.
Ooh, okay, so that was good.
Grizzlies are up there, one ofthe best teams, so, yeah, you
don't write them off just yet.
They're on a little hot streak.

Speaker 2 (51:37):
Is LeBron looking better since coming back from
the break?
I?

Speaker 4 (51:40):
believe so, but I'm getting more concerned because
that 10-point game scared me.
I was like, okay, yeah, this isnot looking great and hopefully
whatever he needed to do or getfixed, he sorted that away.
So we could I don't know, Idon't know.

(52:01):
I feel like we're going to beanother middle pack of the team
in the West and we're going tolose to a really good young team
in the playoffs.
We'll see.

Speaker 2 (52:10):
We'll leave it there.
I'm sure we'll come back andtouch on them pretty soon.
Are they playing Christmas?

Speaker 4 (52:15):
Yes, we play the Warriors on Christmas.
It's the.

Speaker 1 (52:19):
Broncos on Christmas.

Speaker 2 (52:21):
Olympic showdown.
Yes, the old man bowl with thatone.
Okay, is Steph Curry orDraymond going to score in that
game Because they didn't get afield goal in the last game?
We'll see.
Okay, all right, we'll see ifsomebody can score in that game,
all right.
Well, let's move on to our lastNBA topic here.
Jimmy Butler, hit me.

(52:42):
Jimmy, jimmy Buckets, is ittime to move on?
It's time to move on.
So he's been coasting throughthe regular season for several
years now and Pat Riley and theHeat did not re-sign him.
Now it's controversy on if hedid or did not put a list of
teams out there that he'd liketo play for, and I think some of
those teams are with the Spurs,the Rockets, mavs, suns, golden

(53:09):
State.
So do you think he's going toleave?

Speaker 3 (53:13):
Do you think he'll?

Speaker 2 (53:14):
be traded.
Where do you think he'll end up?

Speaker 3 (53:16):
It sounds like he wants to go to the West.
Yeah, all those teams in theWest, but yeah, I think he
should go to the Warriors.
I just think he'd be a good fitand fit with everyone.
Just give us some star power tolike.
Give us one Someone else I canhelp stuff, at least towards

(53:36):
playoff or in the season time.
Yeah, that's really all I gotto say on him.

Speaker 4 (53:41):
All right, all right, I'm not going to get on a cell
box or diatribe.
Just understand that JimmyButler takes me off because how
are you an eighth seed in theWest, not in the West in the
East repeatedly right,repeatedly in the play-in and
all of a sudden you turn intoSuperman in the playoffs.
It is very frustrating.
And now him wanting out.
Okay, let's hope you go to agood team and I hope that you

(54:04):
could turn on the jimmy butlerplayoff superpowers when you get
to that team I hope he goes togolden state just because I want
to see staff.
You know, have another goodco-star, but it's he frustrates
me every single time becauselike seeing him play up to his
potential and he looked like atop 10 player.
He's amazing in the playoffs butthen during the regular season

(54:24):
you barely, you hardly hear himmake any noise and they're
always scrapping and fighting.
It's.
I feel bad for miami becauseit's like dude, if you just play
up to your potential in theeast we could at least be a top
five, top four seed.
But you know that's the onecrux and caveat I have with him
and he can't do that in the westbecause you have a couple bad
games.
Then all of a sudden you in the10th seed.
So hopefully you know he gets anew change of scenery.

(54:48):
You know he gets with a teamthat, like, has the competitive
fire that he has, because I I dorespect how competitive he is,
how hard he works, but I don'tlike how it seems like he close
in the regular season.

Speaker 2 (55:01):
So we'll see how it goes absolutely, yeah,
definitely, coast, um, yeah, Iwouldn't mind seeing him on any
of these teams.
If I had to pick, I'd sayPhoenix, just because that would
be the most interestingsideshow of KD and all that.

Speaker 4 (55:17):
Another super team man, I would just like to see
that.

Speaker 2 (55:22):
for the entertainment standpoint that would be
interesting.
So hey, maybe we can.
Another mid-range guy.

Speaker 3 (55:27):
Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (55:28):
Another mid-range guy .
We yeah, Another mid-range guy.
We can recreate the BrooklynNets.

Speaker 4 (55:32):
I remember what happened with that Brooklyn Nets
team.
That was not great.

Speaker 2 (55:37):
Not great at all, not at all, not at all.
All right.
Well, let's move on to our lasttopic.
We are going to talk about thecollege football playoffs here
in a minute.
We're almost at time, so wejust have about two, three
minutes left, but we've got tobring on our man, main man,
brandon Bean, who's beencommenting throughout the show.
We've got to talk about thecollege playoffs, so let's bring

(55:58):
in our guy from Texas.
What's going on?
Big dog?
Hold on, brandon, I thinkyou're on mute, my man, there we
go, okay, go, is that better?
Hey, oh, yeah, yes, we can hearyou.
How you doing?
Man, I'm good, good, good, yes,so, uh, brandon man, uh, we

(56:20):
were into the college footballplayoffs, got two main questions
for you and then we're going togo around the room here, but
two main questions are one is 12teams too many?
And number two who's going towin the championship?
So those are our two mainquestions going around.

Speaker 6 (56:36):
So we'll start with you, my man, I have oregon
winning the nationalchampionship championship and 12
I think 12 is good enough.
It kind of like I mean, it waslike it gives you balance.

(56:56):
I think it balances out,spreads out all the the
contenders out to where like itmakes it like harder for you
know, it makes it fair.
It makes it harder for theactual contender teams to
actually like to win more thanjust one game.
And oh, you're in the nationalchampionship game.

(57:17):
Now it's like, okay, you haveto win at least two games, maybe
three, depending on what seedyou're in to get to the national
championship.
So it it's like now, like youknow, it kind of mirrors the NFL
playoffs a little bit, whereit's like you win one game and

(57:38):
you're out.
So like the first round is, Ithink, on campus, and then after
that it's just neutral site.
So it's a unique uh format thisyear and I this is the first
time that you know it's not no,like a no brainer, it's like

(58:02):
it's a pick them.

Speaker 2 (58:03):
That's true, it is definitely so.

Speaker 6 (58:06):
That's the good thing about it.
That is no like foregoneconclusion.
Now we can just go out thereand see who the best team is and
like enjoy this ride For yearsto come.
It's like this is probablygoing to be.
It was the best way to do itsince, like, this is the best
version of parody in collegefootball since like 06, 07.

(58:26):
So I'm happy they do it.
I'm hoping that it stayspermanent and they don't add
more teams.

Speaker 2 (58:36):
Yeah, I definitely hope they don't add more.
All right, okay, thank you.
So you like 12 teams, thinkit's perfect where it is and you
have Oregon winning.
So, diego, 12 teams, is it toomany, and who do you have
winning?

Speaker 3 (58:49):
I think 12 teams is good.
Four teams is definitely toolittle, because you had some
teams that win a conferencechampionship and still not make
it in.
I think it was kind of weird.
Then the contending teams onlyhave to win one game and be in
the conference championship.
That whole format I think thatwas too little.
I think 12 gives the harderteams a road and also not too
championship.
So right, that whole format, Ithink that was too little.
But I think 12 it gives aharder teams a road and it's

(59:11):
also not like too many as likean overload.
Okay, and I got oregon winningoregon oregon, that's.
That's my team, that's mycollege football team.
It's been my team for a fewyears actually.
So just because they're numberone seed, you know, people don't
think I'm a bandwagon.
Real ones know that I'm a dayone Oregon football fan.
My friends know, everyone knows.
So yeah, I'm going with DylanGabriel in Oregon, okay.

(59:33):
He's keeping his seats from notwinning.
The Heisman also Should havewent.

Speaker 2 (59:36):
Ooh, ooh Should have went Ooh, all right, all right,
threw a lot in there, diego.
Okay, all right.
I believe you have a backupteam too, because, in typical
Diego style, you have ahonorable mention.

Speaker 3 (59:47):
Smu is my backup team .
I like SMU, of course.
Yeah, ryan Wenten is my backup.

Speaker 2 (59:52):
Okay, all right.
What about you, chris?

Speaker 4 (59:54):
Wait, did you seriously say that Dillard
Gabriel should have won the highschool?

Speaker 3 (59:57):
I was kind of trolled .

Speaker 4 (59:58):
You had to be Okay, cool, ashton Gentry should have
won, and I'm not even going toargue with that, because I did
want Jensey to win because hedid have a great season, but
shout out to Travis.
Anyway, I think the 12 teams isperfect.
As a fan of SEC teams, I'veseen how much parity there was.
I kind of see teams kind ofcannibalize themselves towards

(01:00:21):
the end of the season and therewas so much debate about who's
going in, who's going to do this, and it made every game more
interesting, especially in theSEC realm.
I'm not picking an SEC team towin it, though, because again,
Georgia's without Carson Beckand I don't trust Texas.
So I'm picking Oregon in thisone.
And it sucks because again,growing up in the South, going

(01:00:41):
to high school and watchingGeorgia play, I've developed an
SEC bias.
So I definitely want a teamfrom that conference to win, but
I don't think it's our yearthis year because of the injury
to Carson Beck.
So I definitely have Oregonwinning this Okay.

Speaker 2 (01:00:56):
All right.
Yeah, I would say you know what?
I thought it was too many atfirst, but you guys have
convinced me, you guys havechanged my mind.
I was prepared to say it wastoo many and they need to be
eight, but you know, I wasn'tlosing my mind over it and the
fact that you know, you guys,it's christmas time and you guys

(01:01:18):
seem to be so excited about it.
So if you like it, I love it.
So 12 teams, it is.
That's good.
I'm fine with it.
As far as who's going to winthe championship, this is again
clear.
I'm seeing the owl instincts.
I'm seeing it way far out inadvance Georgia, georgia's going
to win the championship.

Speaker 4 (01:01:37):
I don't know why y'all looking for players.
They don't have their startingquarterback.
That was the only thing, thatstopped me from picking.
Georgia.

Speaker 2 (01:01:47):
I may or may not have known that, but it doesn't
matter, I'm sticking with it.
I'm sticking with Georgia.
Matter of fact, I'm going toput maybe $5 on it.

Speaker 5 (01:01:58):
So I'm going to Georgia.

Speaker 2 (01:02:01):
And yeah, we got it we got it.
So there we go.

Speaker 4 (01:02:05):
So let's go dogs.
All right, here we go.
That's all you got.
It's ready after that.

Speaker 2 (01:02:09):
So let's go.
Dawgs, all right, here we go.
Cool.
Well, brandon, my man, hold on,let me adjust the camera here.
Brandon, merry Christmas to you, man.
Love engaging with you, reallyappreciate it.
We've got a little somethingcoming your way, as we talked
about before.
So keep an eye out on the mail.
A little something coming yourway, as we talked about before.
So keep an eye out on the mail.
Got some gear coming your way,man, and we can't wait to talk

(01:02:33):
to you as we continue to gothrough, uh, these seasons here
in the playoffs.
So we'll see if you write onOregon, my man, all right, man,
all right, all right.
And hey, we got this fantasy.
See, brandon, you've been doingyour thing.
Hold on, be remiss if I didn'tbring this back out again.
Hey, you're going to.
You are?
You were at the top all yearlong, so I know you're going to

(01:02:58):
get one of these days.
So you had a heck of a team andI know you're going to be
towards the top all the time.
So you're one of the bestsports minds in the Pick'em Pro
community.
So Diego got lucky to get byyou, but don't worry about it,
we're going to finish him offfor you, so don't worry about it
.

Speaker 1 (01:03:14):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (01:03:14):
All right, my man.
We'll see you, Brandon Allright All right, All right, All
right, guys.
Well, hey, it's about our timeto get on out of here.
Another show in the books,Episode 120.
Enjoy doing this with you guys.
Have a great Christmas.

(01:03:35):
Everybody out there, have afantastic Christmas.
Have a happy new year, althoughwe will see you before new year
.
So the next show will be morenew year themed.
We'll be going into week 17.
And we'll be going into thefinal week of our uh new uh
competition here to see who'sgoing to have their call
supported as a result of thisfour week pick them challenge.

(01:03:57):
So you guys have a little leadnow, but don't worry about it,
we're going to chase you down,so don't don't get too
comfortable, All right?

Speaker 4 (01:04:04):
We don't see for sure .
Okay, all right, we gonna seefor sure alright, cool.

Speaker 2 (01:04:09):
Well, brie, thanks for joining us.
Brandon, thanks for joining us.
Thank you, silas, for thatmessage.
We'll see y'all later.
Until then, we gonna sign out,like we always do, and give us
our pick and pros.
Alright, y'all ready?
Alright, pick and pros.
Pick and pros.
We'll see you next week, 7pmFriday.
Love y'all Merry Christmas.
Alright, all right, pick thempros, pick them pros Laters.
We'll see you next week, 7 pmFridays.

(01:04:29):
Love y'all Merry Christmas, allright, all right, we'll be
right back, thank you.
Outro Music.