Gasparilla Bowl, Potato Bowl, Best Bets and More

Joe Lisi, Rich Cirminiello, and Gabe Morency continue to preview more of this week's bowl games including the Gasparilla Bowl and the Potato Bowl. Then, they provide their best bets for the week and more. #FNTSY #FNTSYRadio #NCAA #BowlGames #CollegeFootball #GasparillaBowl #PotatoBowl #BestBets #Betting

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
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A College Football Today. If we're an hour and twenty

(00:51):
seven minutes away from the start of the two thighteen
Bold season, right, you're on College Football Today, brought to
you by bet ds I. We're gonna talk about the
Frisco Old thanks so much. In Ohio taken on Rocky
Long and San Diego State, there is a big battle.
I love both teams. In terms of mac opponent. Ohio
they stepped up, Nathan Rourke having a solid season twenty

(01:13):
two touchdown passes. This is an Ohio defense that has
allowed around four hundred total total yards per game to
opposing offenses. In San Diego State, we know blue collar
offense and defensive lines only given up ninety four rushing
launds to opposing offenses. Juwan Washington is back, they have Jasmine.
Quarterback will be a concern for San Diego State. Does

(01:35):
Rocky Long go with the senior Christian Chapman or does
he roll the dice with Agnew who I think was
the better quarterback throughout the year. I still like San
Diego State here, but again I look for a high
scoring game in this matchup. I think this is a
vastly underrated Bowl game, Joe. I mean that to me,
there are so many uh storylines that I want to watch.

(01:56):
To begin with, what a great coaching matchup. You have
sixty eight year old Rocky Long versus seventy four year
old Frank Solich. And despite the fact that they're a
hundred and forty two years combined, these guys are still
bringing it year after year. I mean, look at Solich's
Ohio Bobcat team. Last five games. They've scored at least
forty nine points with Nathan work the Canadian running around,

(02:18):
throwing the throwing passes a j Ellett out of the backfield.
I mean, these guys can run the ball. I leaned
towards San Diego State because I think we have forgotten
about the Aztecs because it was a very inconsistent up
and down year. This is a team that could struggle
with Eastern Michigan and yet upset you know, Boise State,
and I mean this team was inconsistent all year long.

(02:39):
But the fact that Jawan Washington is healthy, I think
they go with the senior quarterback. I think it's gonna
be Christian Chapman. I think he's ridden Chapman all year long.
That's been his guy. He was hurt. Agnew was not spectacular.
I think Chapman will get the ball. This is such
a contrasting style game game. I'm gonna lean towards San
Diego State in this one, but I think it's gonna

(03:00):
be very, very entertaining. They're concerned here and you have
two veteran coaches, two class acts and solid and long
and have great jobs with mid tier programs and really
put them on the map. Um. But when push comes

(03:22):
to shop, I can't overlook the fact, uh, courtesy of
Mark Lawrence's database, that the Mountain West teams are six
and one last seven times contests against the MAC. I
just think San Diego stayed got better athletes than Ohio
do and I respect Soulich, but at the same point
in time, I think there's sort of a there's a

(03:43):
ceiling uh that that comes with with Ohio work is
a good quarterback, but he also is a little bit
uh you can turn the ball over all right, he's
a little bit of Radica at times. I just think
I like San Diego States athletes. I just think they're
they're a little bit more of a solid all around
football game and will be ready to ready to go today.
I like today later in a way given the Aztecs. Yeah,

(04:06):
here's the thing when you look at San Diego State,
the difference between last year and over the last few
few years in terms of their style of play. We
know they want to ground the pound the football. They're
only averaging a hundred and sixty two rushing arts per game,
only passing for one through the year. But more importantly,
this is a team over the last four years that's
been able to dictate the tempo on the offensive defensive

(04:27):
lines and forced turnovers. This year negative three in turnover
margin for the first time since two thousand and thirteen,
so they were positive in turnover march over the last
three years they've been entering this season, they were plus
forty three in turnover margin and only have twenty four
total sacks. Is the defensive unit, so he's getting more
younger players involved, but there it's a transition this year

(04:50):
for a defensive perspective on the Rocket. You know what
it reminds me of, Joel reminds me a little bit
of Stanford this year. You know Stanford, you know their identity.
San Diego State you know their identity, you know what
they want to do, and this year they just haven't
been able to do it up to their usual standard.
But I think this is a redemptive game for San
Diego State. You know, they listen. They still have the
talent to beat boise in Arizona State. I mean the

(05:12):
Arizona State team that we like and we like what
herm has done. San Diego State when that game and
it was a little controversial at the end, but they
beat Arizona State. They could beat a Pack twelve team,
and now that they have the luxury of time off
and health, I really want to watch John Washington. That's
the kid we really like to Jazz Jass Jasmine another kid.

(05:32):
I mean that running game which got you know, listen,
they got banged up. The offensive line was banged up.
It wasn't the San Diego State that we're accustomed to.
Now that you've had a little bit of time to
to breathe, to heal, watch San Diego State in those
running backs. I think you'll see. I think you'll see
the San Diego State team that we're more accustomed to
next week. And to your point, how big of I

(05:54):
want to say, the transition during the regular season of
daniegns Alice. We saw it a few years ago, the
transition of Nordoozy becoming the head coach at pit and
Michigan State took a minor step back without him at
the helm. Now, the regular season, they sort of played well,
but didn't dominate ball games. They rolled the dice offensively,
had some injuries, and now you have an extra three

(06:15):
weeks of preparation, and I think that's what you'll see
in terms of stepping up from a defensive perspective in
this ball game. So we'll see. I mean, it's a
intriguing battle. I said it again, that's my favorite word
of the day. But Dave, I mean, is there one
one thing that when you break it down from the
Vegas angle. I mean anything that jumps out besides Mark

(06:36):
Lawrence's database. From a total perspective, in this matchup, the
total feels a little high to me. Just they are
looking at it at fifty four. Funny because we have
a lot of low totals in these Bowl games. But
we have to listen, man, This This isn't Mike Leach
versus Kendall Briles. Here is it this game? Man, We've

(06:58):
got two coaches. Neither coach wants to get into a tract. Me.
We got two coaches that want to win the line
of scream mats. We've got two coaches that want to
play defense. Um, you know, we got a San Diego
State team at averages twenty two points a game. I
don't Ohio put up forty one points a game, but
they're they're not scoring forty one points on sts you here.

(07:18):
I'm leaving with the under. I'd be surprised if this
game was a track meet. Joe and I don't like
betting unders, but as an over better and somebody generally
bets overs or a pass, I wouldn't be pulling the
trigger on you over this game. I think we're looking
at a smash mouth football game here that goes onto
the number. It all depends on who can dictate tempo,
because if if Ohio does, then then San Diego State

(07:38):
might have to play catch up and and throw can happen.
That's not their role, and I know think it happens, Dave.
I think San Diego State will dictate the tempo and
and the the just the overall philosophy of this game.
I think it will be more smash mouth. I think
they'll drag Ohio into that. And in a game like that,
I think it will be lower scoring. And this was
an Ohio defense at the start of the year. At

(07:59):
one point in the first six games of the year
was allowing five hundred total yards of defense to opposing offenses.
So I mean they were in a dominant defense throughout
the year. They got better as the season wore on,
but in the early part, especially in run support, teams
were able to run the football on them. Watch the backs,
Watch the backs. Watch Joel Washington. This is his redemption
game after missing healthy part of the season. Healthy and

(08:21):
another great joke about this game, then it should be
named me a r People. Somebody missed out on a
sponsorship deals. Coaches though, are quality coaches and and again
they coach their talent up. I mean Solids did it
throughout his years at Nebraska. I mean I think he
got a bad rapid Nebraska forrawl. I mean if if

(08:42):
they had Frank Solich throughout his tenure there, Nebraska fans
would have been very happy, as opposed to when they
had Bo Polini at the Helm. And now Scott Frost
is the right guy. But we'll see how that plays
out in Lincoln. A big battle, uh in this matchup
Marshal and USF I must win. I'm gonna call it
out for Charles Strong in the crew playing at home
on their home stadium, Blake Barnett is healthy, Isaiah Green

(09:06):
and Marshall step up this year. They're going to a
ball game. One thing I think I break down this matchup.
You look at two of the teams that Marshall struggled
with defensively this year, NC State earlier in the year
in Vo Tech. South Florida runs a similar style of offense,
not the same type of way under Charlie Strong at
the Helm. But in terms of four nations, this is

(09:28):
a must win. I'm taking Blake Barnett I'm taking the balls.
Even though they're giving up two four rushing yards per game,
they still have their speed. Minor upset USF over Marshall. Yeah,
I'm gonna go with history and I'm gonna go with
Doc Holiday. I mean, if you look over the last
twenty years, Marshall ten and one in Bowl games, they've

(09:49):
won six straight postseason games. I tryed to, you know,
I try to look too much of history because it's
it's off on apples and oranges. But Dot Holiday knows
how he gets his kids ready. Doc Holiday has at
Marshall five consecutive Bowl games. I'll stick on the number
five guys, because USF has lost five consecutive games after
starting seven. Oh As, I watched tape and I looked

(10:12):
at numbers this past week. There's nothing that's remarkable about USF.
I mean, it used to be defense. Defensively, they used
to have that Florida speed. They were great in the secondary.
They had linebackers that could, you know, run all over
the field sideline to sideline. Not the team this year.
And Barnett it helps that he's healthy, but Barnett had
almost as many interceptions as touchdowns this year. The yeah,

(10:33):
that was it was exact then I thought it was
eleven and ten, but eleven and eleven, so you know,
it helps that he's there. I don't love this us
F team. I continue to say, Charlie Strong, what might
be one of the most overrated coaches in college football,
hasn't done a damn thing since uh since the Louisville days.
I'm gonna take Marshall. I think it means more to Marshall.
It's a road game to be at Raymond James and Tampa.

(10:55):
But that defense of Marshall, Malik Anton, the secondary, Ryan
b Up for ty Tyler upfront much better than USF.
Give me the herd. Yeah, and they knocked off Colorado
State last year. That was a great Bowl game, right game.
I mean, in order for Martional win this matchup, they're
gonna have to force turnovers, but it could go counterproductive.
Sometimes teams are happy to stay home, but sometimes they're

(11:17):
bored that they have to play in their home stadium
for a bowl game. Well, you're exactly right, at Marshall
travel Well, Uh they're they're a good road team, as
you guys mentioned, great great bowl team as well. Uh,
they've one in Florida before they've had success here in
the past. To me, these are two teams going in
different directions right now. South Florida really started to fall

(11:38):
apart as in the last month of the season. What
five straight losses. Meanwhile, you know Marshall one seven straight,
stumble a little bit and then got back on track.
And you know, to me, as you stayed, I think
there's a lot of tension around the program. There's like
an elephant in the room when it comes to Charlie Strong.
You guys brought it up, uh and this program. You

(11:58):
know that the boosters are one during and I don't
think that they're coming in here as a hey, let's
have fun. You talk about it. And I remember late
Kiffin talked about the challenge last year even though they rolled.
I thought it was your boy, I guess right, have
an operator, but Kiffin said, hey, you're you're at home.
But at the same point in time, kids aren't excited.
They're not they're not out of bowl game. It's a

(12:19):
home game, and they almost think it sucks because they're like,
I didn't even get to go to a bowl game,
you know, I mean, like playing a bowl game in
my home stage is on a Bowl game, right, kids
want to go on the road, they want to get
you know, the gift bags, and they want to enjoy
the experience. I think it's hard to get the kids
up for this sometimes. I meanwhile, we know Marshall's gonna
come in here fired up for this football game. Gave

(12:39):
me the thundering herd in this spot. I think they
continue their Bowl dominance. Had been proved to eleven and one.
When you look at both coaches, I mean, uh, excuse me.
When you look at Marshall and Doc Holiday, I mean
dynamic Bowl record. But you look at Charlie Strong, they
are four and three under Charlie Strong in terms of
his tenure of Bowl games. So again, Marshall stepped up

(13:01):
last year. USF didn't this defense that gave up only
a hundred thirty rushing guards for a game. They're giving
up a hundred rushing guards more than they were last year.
And how much of a bigger impact was Quentin Flowers
in terms of not only the Bowl win, but on
that offense as a whole. Charlie Strong really didn't have

(13:21):
to coach up that offense because Quentin Flowers improvised a
lot with his legs, yeah, and he inherited Quentin Flowers.
I thought did a marginal job last year, and then
this year, after the seven and oh start against largely
a week schedule, now has lost five straight games. So
I think there is pressure on Charlie Strong, and I
think certainly it's something to keep in mind. Also, is

(13:43):
what is the you know, what is the mindset of
a program going into an off season. You know, Charlie Strong,
he you know what, what's the difference between winning a
bowl game over Marshall versus a six game losing streak
to take into the offseason. If he struggles, he could
be facing hot seat status in two thousand and nineteen,
Doc Holiday. He's locked in. He knows he's gonna be

(14:04):
back contract extension, and watch out for Tyree Brady back
in the state of Florida, kid who began his career
at Miami wide receiver who blew up Colorado State in
the Bowl game last year. I'm not a big Isaiah
Green fan right now. Not the quarterback that I thought
Marshall would be using this year. He's taken time to develop,
but with Tyree Brady on the outside, that passing game

(14:26):
still could do some damage against us F. I'm just
surprised at how far USF has fallen. I mean, I
mean under Jim Levitt this was becoming a national program.
And little by little skip holds and then and then
which yeah, sure, ye, and and that's why it's a
very important game for Charlie Strong. And from the the A. T.

(14:49):
S angle, both teams are four and eight against the
numbers so this year this year, so even though Marshall's
played well and performed from the Vegas angle, they've been
over valued h especially at the early part of the year.
So we'll see how that transpires in this matchup. But
even from the recruiting aspect for Charlie Strong, you have
f I you and Butch Davis that we're gonna talk

(15:10):
about next. You have f A U and Lane Kiff,
and you have Mark Rick. You have now Dan Mullen
at Florida. That's putting a lot of pressure on Charlie
Strong because Willie Taggers still had this team headed in
a in a right trajectory and now you're seeing last
year they won ten games and now they're slipping off
now seven wins in the regular season. That's unacceptable for

(15:32):
Charlie Strong and his jobs. I'm happy you brought up
recruiting because I was. I wanted to go there and
then I kind of had a lapsed. So exactly, you
team me up nicely, because take a look at Marshall's roster.
That's a ton of Floridians on that roster. I mean,
that's what Marshall has done for years as they've gone
into the Sunshine State, the kids that don't wind up
at SEC schools or A C C schools, Marshall has

(15:55):
been able to go in and get some very talented
Florida players. So, you know, really strong is not only
battling against the f A U s and the ucfs
and obviously the Gators and the Canes and the Knolls,
but he's also competing with the Doc Holidays of the world.
Because Marshall will use this as a showcase of those
Florida kids to say, hey, listen, you want to get

(16:15):
out of Florida, you want to do something different, Come
to Huntington. We win a lot of football games here.
If he loses this ball game, it's gonna be on
the hot seat. Yes. In two thousand and nineteen, the
way they ran him out of Texas, both five and
seventeen seasons, and now Texas and Tom Herman competed for
a Big ten chap to a twelfth championship. Here to Oklahoma,

(16:36):
they're playing Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. I mean, now,
when you look at the body of work from Louisville
with Teddy Bridgewater, it doesn't look as good as it
did when he first started and came to Austin. I
couldn't agree more. Yeah, So we'll see, I mean again,
in terms of this matchup, we'll see if it's high scoring.
I mean, last year they put up a ton of points,
but USF did have quinnin you know the number because

(16:57):
I would lean towards the under. Do you know with
the under? He says, Gabe said it, Gabe, you said
it in the area fifty five and a half. For
this matchup, well, we'll catch it on the back end.
When we come back. We'll be talking about FIU and Toledo.
Keep a wordess they do that. You can listen to

(17:33):
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(17:55):
you can ask questions discuss the topics with other fantasy enthusiasts.
I'll tell everyone at you disagree. Calling to your favorite
show and ask your question. The number is a full
four A four f N T S Y. That's eight
four four eight four three six eight seven nine. Defensive
Posts Radio Network, your free fancy source, twenty four hours
a day, roaring into the Bahamas Bowl. This is quickly

(18:35):
becoming one of my favorite ball games each and every year.
It started with Western Kentucky's Central Michigan with Cooper Rush
passing for seven touchdowns with the hook and Ladder went
for two with head coach Dan Enos did not get it.
Follow that up with another big battle Western Michigan and
Middle Tennessee State. Now we have f I U and Toledo,

(18:58):
very big battle here. I like Butch Davis in terms
of what he's done with this program. Rich This was
supposed to be uh. I want to say another rebuilding year.
They haven't done that. With quarterback James Morgan. He has
passed for twenty six touchdowns defensively only given up a
hundred eighty eight passing yards for a game. Toledo. We
know they have a big gopice with Peters and Godani

(19:20):
in terms of their quarterback play twenty eight touchdowns combined
passing and rushing for over two hundred. But defensively, the
Rockets to me haven't stepped up in a big spot.
And that's why I look for the physicality of f I.
You and this fallgame. Yeah, I think this game should
be closer to a pick them. I I don't know
what the line has gone to, but I know we
have it down at six that that line might be

(19:42):
coming down at this point. I think these teams are
fairly evenly matched. Joe, and you know you mentioned the
Toledo defense. The one thing that f IU does well
is they create a lot of turnovers. And those Florida schools,
no matter how small the school is, they tend to
have linebackers, safeties, corners that move very well. There just
eruptive they can create takeaways, that's what they've done. And offensively,

(20:04):
balance balance, balance, That's what Butch Davis wants that's what
he has. He gets James Morrigan from Bowling Green. No
great running back, but enough steady ability. So the balance
of that offense, the takeaways defensively, I think they're they're
on par with Toledo. You want to give me points,
I'm gonna take it. I'm shocked the line opened up
at six and a half. It's right at six dead.

(20:25):
But this is one of these matchups. And when I
look at the Bowl perspective and I say, you know what,
Bahama's Bowl, the heat, the humidity. After the second half,
teams start to wear down. And when you look at
both of these defenses, you have h f I. You
allowing a hundred and seventy two rushing yards per game.
Toledo given up close to two hundred in terms of
run support. That's why I think not only f I

(20:47):
you with the points, but I think it'll be high
scoring in this ballgame. Bahama's Bowl usually is scoring. Last
year it was you a b in Ohio. I mean
it was a one sided affair. But outside of that
matchup last year, very competitive games. And that's why I'm
taking the points. You're giving me six points. I'm taking
fi Ue with book Davis is a great game planners.

(21:07):
I think about this real quick before we turn it
over to game. I mean, look at what f I
you did against quality competition this year. Indiana lost by ten,
Miami lost by two touchdowns. Not too bad. Toledo common
opponent against the same Miami team, lost by so I
think listen. I love Toledo's wide receivers. Toledo amongst group
of five schools, nobody's better. Thompson's big Thompson john v Johnson, right, Uh,

(21:32):
I mean Deonte Johnson. They're phenomenal on the outside. But
taking the receivers out of it, I think Florida International
can go toe to toe with Toledo in the Bahamas Gays.
It's still sponsored by Popeye's this Bowl, Hey, is it

(21:52):
makers wanted? I liked it when it was Pope makers wanted.
I don't know, but what the Bahamas Bowl fun game,
isn't it. We've had some fun games over the years,
and then trying to get some teams, uh that that
will put some points on the board. You guys mentioned it.
I talked about it last year, and you guys remember

(22:13):
I was all over f A you last year, Lane Kiffin.
But I thought the job that Butch Davis did flew
under the radar, and f I, you and Lane Kiffin
sort of hogged all the oxygen last year. And look, um,
you know, Lane Kiffin shot that program up quickly and then,
you know, like a shooting star, came right back down. Meanwhile,
we got some consistency. A lot of people thought, f A,

(22:34):
you would struggle this year after losing their quarterback as well.
You know, Toledo. I thought, Toledo, this wasn't as the
same Toledo team. You know, I think it's starting to
catch up to him a little bit that they lost
Matt Campbell. You lose a good at coach, as good
as he is, and it's gonna catch up a little bit.
Yet they found themselves winning four to last five football games.

(22:55):
I didn't like those games. Man. They lost Eastern Michigan
and lost against Buffalo. They got back on track, and
then that Northern Illinois game. Man, they got smoked at
a big football game. They just got overwhelmed. And I
don't know what to make of this Toledo team. I mean,
they beat Can't State, they beat Central Michigan DA in
the year. I'm sort of a closet Toledo fan. They've

(23:16):
always been one of my go to teams over the years.
Have had a lot of respect for the Rockets, but
without being stated, I don't trust them laying points here, guys.
I've been burned too many times by the Rockets this year.
And you look at Toledo as well, six and six
against the spread this year, so five ball club. For
the most part, I think Toledo is a better underdog

(23:37):
team than they are for the most part in a
bowl game. Last year, they came out, they were favorites
again against that state. They got blown out in that
ball game thirty four to nothing. So when you look
at the coaching angle in terms of that matchup, he
didn't have his team prepared against that state. Think got
I mean, I agree from the beginning. I'm granted f
I you lost the Temple, but we know the quarterback

(24:00):
has heard on the first series that factor well, that
very well, Frankie Juice, but that was Magoo right, Alex
was out of but but but Butch Davis had the
team ready, and I think when this year, I didn't
expect a whole lot out of f I. You He's
prepared them for me that's an impressive seasons. The recruiting

(24:21):
angle as well. He understands the prep. He's been there before,
or he's been a national champion, and he understands some
of the challenges. He takes it seriously, and I think
from a coach's perspective as well, when the coach understands
what he has to do to be successful, it trickles
down to the players, because obviously you look at the
flip side, you look at Charlie Strong in USF not

(24:41):
the same type of mentality. He brought up a very
interesting point which I didn't think of, which is, you know,
Jason Candell, who was hot for a while, not not
saying he can't coach and not saying he can't regroup.
Matt Wells struggled too for a while for a number
of years, regroup this year and parlayed it into a
job in Lubbock, and maybe Jason Campbell could do the
same thing. But Gabe really gave me something to think about,

(25:02):
which is, you know, for the first couple of years
he may have been living off of Matt Campbell's players
and Matt Campbell's player development, and now that Matt has
been in Aims for the past couple of season, and
Jason Candell and hit his staff are now developing their
own players that they've recruited. This hasn't looked like the
same Toledo team offensively or defensively. It's a more mediocre

(25:26):
football team. So again, when I look at everything from
metrics two player comparisons, I don't see that much of
a difference between f i U and Toledo. For Toledo
on a neutral field to be a six point favorite,
that seems to be very generous to me. To your point,
and agree with me so much er you got you
called it to and you mentioned a Joe Toledo six

(25:49):
and six a t s. I got a Florida International
team ninety three against the spread this year, guys getting
points with once again an NFL caliber coach. Mean, look, man,
Butch is such a good coach. Guys. He got the
Cleveland Browns to the playoffs. Yeah, well said, yes he did.
And to your point in the playoffs he was the

(26:10):
coach you're that's a great point. And Butch digs that
doesn't get enough credit for what he did in Miami.
I mean, he kept that together. But to your point
about Candle in terms of the biggest change that I
see from Mac Campbell, and you'll know is that when
you look at Matt campbell offensive line play when he
was there at Toledo, they only allowed close to nine
to twelve sacks per year. This year twenty nine total

(26:34):
sacks allowed. Going up against a very physical, fast defensive
front in Florida International, and that's another match up to
see as this game plays out later in the week.
Last ballgame on the docket for Friday is b y
U and Western Michigan, one of the bigger spreads in
terms of the Vegas Angle twelve and a half points

(26:55):
against Western Michigan. Now, Western Michigan does have a balanced
offense led by lab was Nick might play in this game.
I'm not sure, but they're averaging two hundred rushing guards
for a game, passing for around two forty on the ground.
Have Bogan. They also have Bellamy, who I think reminds
me of a young I said it before Willis mcgahey,
not only from wearing the number, but the physicality perspective

(27:18):
does come into play. B y U is a more
physical team on the offensive defensive lines with older kids.
They might wing, but I don't think they covered this
twelve and a half point number with Zach Wilson at
the helm in this ball game. Yeah, Wilson is a
true freshman La Bas as well, so you could have
a couple of freshman quarterbacks going head to head. The
strength in this game would have to be the B

(27:38):
y U defense. Of all the units longus is B
y U. But man, they have so many problems scoring.
I I I would not want to be laying that
many points with B y U against just about anybody.
I mean, they are so methodical, so average offensively, don't execute.
Defense again is solid, But Western Michigan, they're gonna come

(27:59):
to play. They're gonna this is gonna matter to Western Michigan. Uh,
they've had some moments this year. If you're gonna give
double digit points, I think that's asking a lot for Wilson.
It's gonna take time. And I missed the days when
b y U was prolific offensively. We really haven't seen
them quite some time. Hundred and fifty five rushing yards
per game, only one ninety nine through the year. And

(28:21):
now when you look at the progression of Wilson, like
you said, if they fall behind it's it takes them
a while to catch up. And look at the way
they surrendered that lead in the Holy War, they had
a twenty point lead, could not move to football. And
what's that ball game by eight points gave? When I
look at this matchup two, I take in the head coaches.
I'm not sold on Kilani Sataki in terms of his

(28:42):
progression for taking over from Mendenhall, and for that matter,
I leaned to Western Michigan in this ball game. Yeah,
we talk about excitement level and the enthusiasm level of
how teams are going to approach these bowl games. How
excited can the guys and I don't say kids. The
men on b Y you're gonna be to go to
Boise and they played here before, they played against Boise

(29:04):
over the years, and you know, just as a program,
I don't think it's very exciting. I mean, these guys
were talking about guys that are you know, they're not
going to the NFL, and they're also they're thinking about
their missions. They're thinking about this their white fan. I
wonder about the enthusiasm factor, and you brought it up
Rich once again, you sort of stold my thunder on

(29:24):
this is one I just don't. I can't. I can't
justify late double digit points with with b Y. You
look at the games and b Y, you played in
a few times they blew teams out, they were really
inferior opponents. And I look, you know, you know who
didn't you know who b Y, you didn't blow out
this year? Northern Illinois. In fact, you know they lost

(29:45):
to North Illinois. So you know they already lost to
a MAC team this year. And now suddenly, oh yeah,
and how gay was that? P y U? And now
suddenly I'm I'm laying twelve points on a neutral field.
Both these teams are very streaky this year. You know,
they both had their ups and downs. The Bush Western Michigan,
but hey man, we're playing with house money coming in here.
I think Western Michigan they've done a nice job. After

(30:06):
it's funny we're talking about losing coaches. I think Western
Michigan has done a nice job in the post black era.
Short of moving forward and fighting their way through this,
I think Michigan State. Western Michigan comes in, you're playing
with house money, getting double digit points. Give me the Broncos.
And here's the biggest thing that I looked at when
we look at the number in this ballgame, it's you know,

(30:27):
twelve and a half had opened that outside the college
football playoff, we Clemson opened up as an eleven point
favorite and Alabama opened up as a thirteen and a
half point favorite. This is the biggest spread on the
Are there any other double digits? No? No, no. A
good job of matchups though, at least at least we
have competitive matchups. Last year's matchups, for the most part,
the big double digit spreads, like f a U over Akron.

(30:50):
They wound up covering that ballgame, but a significant disadvantage
for those teams in terms of f a U was
one of the best teams in the country. The only
lost three games last year and seven of the four
teen they rush for over three hundred statistically. And you
have this b y U team that is just a
methodical offense. There are only averaging close to three fifty

(31:11):
total yards per game, and they're going up against a
high powered offense that's still balanced in Western Michigan. So
why wouldn't you take the points in that matchup? The
only reason is if b y U is able to
run the football with squally Canada and those packs, then
maybe they can wear them down. But otherwise you should
be in this ball game from start to finish, and
it is possible. I mean, Western Michigan does not have

(31:32):
a great defense. The one thing I've learned about b
y U this year is they played to the level
of the competition. You know, Gabe mentioned Northern Illinois. B
y U is a team that went into Madison and
upset Wisconsin, and they did go toe to toe with
Utah which won the Pack twelve South and and they
beat Arizona and only lost by a field goal to
Cal So they have that potential. But you know what,

(31:54):
this is not a Pack twelve team that's gonna be
meeting them in Boise. And I think B y U
knows that B yu you plays to the level of
their competition. Now that it's a mid tier max school
Awah North of Illinois, I think b y U is
gonna play to that level. I think Western Mission is
gonna be jacked up for this game. They're gonna be
fired up. They've got the one two punch out of

(32:16):
the backfield, and I think they can hang with b
y u ye. And to your point, the way you
have to beat Western mission is over the top. That
given up two hundred nine passing yards per game, and
that's not the strength this year for b y U.
In that offense under Wilson, they're gonna force them to
recoverage as well. When was the last time b y
U had, you know, a big time receiver. They've had
some good tight ends over the years, but it's been

(32:37):
a long time since they've had a receiver like an
a d catch guy where you're like, hey, Collie was
maybe that guy Austin, you know, but he was more
good example, a slot receiver. The year that they had
the two hail Mary's against Nebraska and UH and uh Boise,
I think that they they had a couple of wide
receivers there, but not elite in terms of the game.

(33:00):
Hasn't been scary, you know during the height of the
Taysom Hill here that was more of a of a
between the tackles, grinded out type of an offense. Was
his legs, yeah, exactly. Not a great passer. It was
mostly with you know, with his legs, his physical legs
between the tackles and you know, b y For for
Kalonnie Sataki to turn things around, he needs this young

(33:21):
quarterback to develop, or he needs to get a quarterback
in there that can sort of bridge the gap back
to yesteryear when when b y U was b y
U and they were able to outscore opponents. This hasn't
been the case now. Gave me if there was one over,
I think I would have question in terms of the Bulls,
I think it would be this one for me, just
because it's right on. I don't like the number forty

(33:42):
nine and a half. I mean, B y U probably
try and run the football, but I mean I can't
see them putting up forty on Western Michigan, can you.
It's amazing, isn't it, Joe? How the oddsmakers have really
set these bold numbers pretty low across the board. I mean,
I think they do that to suck you in though too.
I mean, look at look at Buffalo's totals in the NFL.

(34:03):
They've been putting them the thirty eight every week. Now,
I think they over every week the Bills four in
one of the over last five. You're right, it's just
but I'm saying, I think they do that to suck
you in, just to get the other side they put
a number. I think, yeah, I hear what you're saying,
and they're always listening and said, it's a mind war, right,
but you can't fall for that stuff. You gotta try

(34:24):
to do that out. But my deal is, I think
the books are sort of they don't know all right,
and there's a lot of these teams are not great offensively.
Plus they've been off. We talked about it earlier about wow,
these earlier Bowl games might go over. They go over
a little bit more than the teams have been off
for nearly a month. Yet these teams have still been
off as well, and there's almost that unknown factor. Yeah,

(34:46):
it's interesting. I'm curious to see how the first this
week Today's action plays out, because that will give us
a little bit of a sign about whether what we
can expect now we won't know until those semi right,
there's a lot of track. It's contagious, yeah, right, like
it is at least for the early part of the
certainly more underdogs away if the favorite for smashing the

(35:09):
famisies fac but b y U Joe nine and three
to the under on the year and they've only had
three games over. Yeah, I'm curious to see if he
needs sense. He's another coach on the hot seat of
Kilani Sitaki. If he doesn't win this Bowl, it'll be
it could be on the outside looking in for two
thousand and twenty. Well we come back. It's best bet time.
We'll also talk about the coaching changes for two thousand

(35:32):
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(36:13):
the next Daily Rhodo millionaire. College Football Today brought to you.
If I bet d S I it's best bet time.

(36:35):
I set it before on the show. My best bet
of the day is Willie Ritz and Chulane taken on Ulfa.
Yet I'll lay the three and a half. It's down
to three now, but I'll lay the four. I think
Tulane has the better offense, better secondary in this matchup.
U l a Fayette given up rushing launch per game.
Give me Cho Lane laying the wood over the raging Cajuns.

(36:58):
At the one thirty pm matchup, I'm taking Eastern Michigan
with the three points over Georgia's Southern. I look for weakers.
I look for Glass to step up offensively. Defensively, I
think they're a little bit better than Georgia Southern. Make
them one dimensional and do get the outright win. I'm
taking Mason Fine and the Mean Green I like them
with the seven and a half. They might win the

(37:19):
game out right, but I think they do cover the
seven and a half. Not sure about this one. Out
of all of them. You a b think they have
the better defense and the better offensive play then Northern Illinois,
So I like you ab laying the two and a
half in that matchup. I like San Diego State. I
think they get the outright win over Ohio and Butch
Davis and the crew. F I you give me the

(37:41):
points in the Bahamas Bowl, they get the outright win
over Toledo in that ballgame. Yeah, Joe, uh, I'm gonna
go against you on Eastern Michigan. I like Georgia Southern.
Give me the team that can ground it out today,
I'm gonna take the Eagles. I like what they've done
this year. Had a great start to the season, look
like they might actually win the Sunbelt. Tailed off at

(38:02):
the end, but I think they regroup behind Shy Wurtz
and Wesley fields out of the backfield. So I'll take
g s U. I'm with you on you A B.
I I I'm not doing backflips, but I think they've
finished this season unlike last year. I think they finished
with with the exclamation point that they couldn't get in
two thousand and seventy. Now that Spencer Brown out of

(38:22):
the backfield is gonna be healthy. A j Artily is
gonna be healthy. I think that uh that backfield now
close to A is going to help against the Northern
Illinois team with those fifty sacks. I love the defense.
I think you A B has got a little more offensively,
So give me the Blazers. I like Western Michigan. We
just talked about it in the last segment. Too many points.
I mean, you know, no b YU laying double digits

(38:44):
without much of an offensive pulse. I'm gonna take Western
Michigan motivated in the Potato Bowl. Next week, I'll take
le Broncos and then it's not on the board, it's
not on the graphic. But I'm gonna go with Joe
on FIU. The more we talked about it, the more
I realized I liked f IU. Wasn't the best bet,
but I'm gonna put it in the best bet category
next week because I think Butch Davis is not only

(39:08):
the better coach in this matchup, but he has more
speed than Toledo, that offensive balance, that sideline to sideline,
play the defense. I think FIU and Toledo is closer
to a pick him than Vegas believes six points. I'm
gonna take it. Give me the Panthers. Abe, who do
you have for your best bets of the week, Well,
my best bets of the weaker. Today, I'm going hard.

(39:29):
I'm betting all five games. Let him rip off, rip
them off, you know, John, I'm excited, buddy, because I
was at our book earlier the week. I did played
some technics. You know, I got in. I'm bet I
already played online too, So I'm gonna pull the trigger.
Right out of the gate at one thirty eastern here
with laf i act and figuring up Popeyes and the

(39:51):
Popeye's ball. I never really realized the Lafiat and the
Popeye's loger the same to the same colors and everything.
Belisia right. Maybe maybe I'm slow to the party on
this one, but yeah, give me the laugh fi ap
plus the points we talked about teams we saw with
U A. B last year. We've seen it over the years.
Teams they get to get to a Bowl game for
the first time after a long time and or for

(40:13):
the first time ever, they generally lose that game for
the first time because they enjoy the process too much
and they're just happy to be there literally and figuratively.
Give me Lafayett plus the three and a half um
taking North Texas, plus the points we talked about this game.
Guys losing your head coach, losing your defensive court, and
lose your offensive corner. I generally you want to bet

(40:34):
against interim coaches to begin with, but you know a
lot of times the head guys gone, but then the
OC here the DC steps up. We don't even have
that right here. Give me North Texas and e Latrolling
Company and Mason Fine and and the Mean Green plus
the points we talked about Arizona State. I've always been
a big fan of Laws Vegas Bowl. And it's funny
because I lived in Vegas and I never went to

(40:56):
this game. Um and they moved it though, right so
now it's on a Saturday afternoon. I've always wanted to go.
The problem is that that stadium, it's not really in
Las Vegas. It's a pain in the acts actually the
reality to go there. And I can imagine what this
laws big about it. Guys, when this Las Vegas Bull
is gonna be like when when the Raiders have a stadium?
Will will it be played in the new stadium? Do

(41:17):
you think? I don't think it will. Do you think
it will be? It has to be dude, that stadiums
and dump it might be the worst datum like Bishop.
That's why I like the Bull game. Yeah, you know
what's fun guys. I remember last year they gave usc
in the choice and two years ago you can train,
you can practice at UNLV, or you can practice that

(41:37):
Bishop Garment. They took Bishop the High school, Bishop Gorman's
in Powerhouse High School with Vegas that was right when
you know what, Yeah, we're we're will practice at the
high school. Like so I would assume youah, it'll be
in the Raiders stadium. But give me a SU in
this game. Not It's gonna be a fun atmosphere. Not
to mention, you know, Arizona's right next to to Nevada.

(41:59):
SU is gonna be represented. You know, the kids from
Fresno are gonna be partying in Vegas. It's gonna be
a fun appmosphere that football game. And give me as
you there, we're going to Eastern Michigan. Um. I like that.
I like the physicality we talked about that, that powerful
running back that they have, smash mouth linebackers. I'm going
smash mouth Midwest on that one. And then once again,
you know, I think App State are a little bit overrated.

(42:21):
I think it also, guys, I think Johnny Public. You
look at the numbers come down a little bit here,
But then Johnny Public that bets this game just to
app State they beat Michigan. I know App State they're
gonna bet this, not really realizing the coach has gone,
not realizing the experience in Middle Tennessee State has so
I don't want to be generic here, but very simple.

(42:42):
I'm taking all five hundred dogs plus the points today.
I like that, Johnny, Like, oh, I'm taking the dogs.
I like all five dogs. Like I just told you,
you know, on each Dame, I'll give you all five dogs. Yeah,
wouldn't shock me. I mean again, if the dogs come barking,
Johnny Public is like the distant cousin of Joey double digits.
Joey double digits. Listen, Gabe, did the breakdown game? Give

(43:07):
him the facts again? When you broke down the bullseason?
How many games were decided by double digits. Well that's
a good point. Actually, I wish I had numbers here,
but you guys know it's not like are are Yeah,
our researchers aren't here for us right now, but you're right.
Let me listen when you guys, before we're done here,

(43:27):
I'll rattle off. I'll bust it up. But I'm telling
you it was about seventy guys, few and far between,
few and far between the close Bowl games until January one.
That was the day. And now it was basically all
the big TENNESSEC games were all close, you know what
I mean. But generally other ones and I'll rattle it

(43:47):
off for you. But it's amazing there really aren't that
many close, Like I'm curious to see. Okay, your opinion, guys.
Out of these five games today, do any of these
games come down to a missfield goal or last play
in the game or something like that. I think the
last one could be really close. I I think app State,
Middle Tennessee State. I think that could be a nail biter.
But I see where you're going, I mean, eastern to

(44:09):
I think what happens is once once somebody, you can
go back and forth, right, But yeah, which the dogs
are barking, Yeah, they like it. I like it. Who
let the dogs out? I mean, I think you see
closer ball ball games over like four or five years ago,
and then we've seen in recent years just because of

(44:29):
the landscape of players leaving and I think the attention
span Joe is a lot shorter. So, you know, unlike
the regular season, where you know, guys will grind, they'll
dig deep. You know what, we're down by we're down
by twenty. We're gonna we're gonna rally, We're gonna come back,
you know. I think now you know season, you know
what I mean? Yeah, game if somebody, if somebody puts

(44:51):
their foot on the gas and gets out to a
two touchdown lead early, it's a lot of time. It's
it's very difficult to find that, you know, deep down
owned to to kind of rally. It's a lot harder
to do that in the postseason. You know, here it
is last year, first Bowl game out of the game,
New Orleans ball Troy won fifty to thirty against North
Texas twenty points. Georgia Georgia Western Kentucky seven seventeen, double

(45:14):
digital pots. Boise beat Oregon double digit points. Marshall, Colorado
State three point game mid Tennessee State in Arkansas State.
That was a fun game, not one I remember now.
Thirty five thirty alright, Akron h f A U fifty
two three Louisiana Tech SMU fifty one ten, Temple three
over f i U Ohio forty one six, m over

(45:36):
U A B Wyoming over Central Michigan. You see where
I'm going with this guy. There's a pottery, isn't there. Yeah,
that favors Joey double digits, you know, joe double d
Joey double deal being in action a little bit later
today and we'll be Joe. You know what, there's some
and theres underdogs that won by double digits here, Yeah

(45:59):
knows how the dogs, right, were underdogs to the dogs.
I go down the list, joke underdogs on this. Yeah,
they're barking. I hope they're barking. It's barking, all right.
Put a bone in it, A stick a bone in
the dog, all right. I do want to talk quickly
about well we talked when we talked about the coaching highers,

(46:20):
one coaching higher that stuck out for me was Georgias
Tech naming Temple new head coach Jeff Collins slid higher.
I think they need that within the a CC. Now,
is he gonna take them to the Promised Land? Is
this gonna be a team that's gonna challenge for a
division title in years to come? No, but I still
think he can get them back to nine and three,
eight and four. Overall. He's gonna have to change the

(46:42):
talent though on that team, and that stops starts with
changing the triple option. Yeah, and I I think he
can get a different caliber of offensive player. Now. I
think when you have more of a pro style offense
or maybe even a spread offense. You can get different
types of players, different quarterbacks than obviously Paul Johnson was
able to get for a number of years. And listen,

(47:02):
Paul did an up and down job. I think you
can only get so far. He's not gonna be Georgia
in that state. We know that. But the one thing
I'll say is getting a job in the A c
C Coastal not a bad idea these days because that
is so wide open. Pittsburgh just won the Coastal. So
for a Mac Brown in North Carolina or a Jeff
Collins at Georgia Tech, you could say to yourself, the

(47:24):
gap between where we are today and at least appearing
in an A C C title game not so far.
So I think Jeff Collins was a good heart. Look
at what Temple has become in terms of a pipeline
to the Power five programs. We talked about it off
air during the week. Al Golden goes to Miami, right, Um,
you know, uh, Jeff Collins goes to Georgia Tech, Rule,

(47:46):
Matt Rule goes to bail Or Steven Donzio goes to
Boston College. So you know, Temple is becoming the cradle
of Power five coaches over the past decod and to Gabe,
I want to get your take because I'm going out
on a limb here. If Oklahoma uses to Alabama and
the college Football playoff and now we see Kansas State
with climbing from North Dakota State, we have Matt Rule there,

(48:07):
we have Matt Campbell there. We're slowly starting to see
a transition going back to more of a blue collar
type of approach in the Big Twelve. Don't be shocked
if we start this. He's a changing of the guard
within the conference. It's interesting, isn't it. As the NFL
is starting to change into spread off hence college guys.

(48:29):
Or that's that's the thought. You know, our boy Pete
actually in Canada. I think he's Ontario. Uh, you know,
a regular view of the show said it tweet, you know,
and he just said a thing from Dave Briggs reported
House Stated decided on to search to replace rban Meyer.
It's top four candidates were Matt Campbell, Dino Baber's, Bob Stoops,

(48:51):
and a current NFL head coach. I just bring up
Matt Campbell's name, guys, because you don't know I would
talk about mc cabell earlier being connected to the Cleveland Browns.
And I know it's a little bowl all right, maybe
not yet, but Mac Campbell's gonna be coach at a
big time place in a couple of years. And I'm

(49:12):
just thinking, I don't know how it's gonna work out
with day here at os U. But as I just
told someone on Twitter on Twitter, don't you believe you know,
I'm thinking Mac Campbell's gonna be the coach of my
house state one day, right. If not, maybe he's gonna
be a coach in the NFL. If he isn't, Yeah,
I think, well, I think that's not a bad you know,
uh progression because of his ability to coach up the

(49:34):
offensive line and on the next level that's what you want. Now.
It would be a good important house state than NFL. Yeah,
I mean, I think when you look at Cleveland overall,
there can be Lincoln Ridley if he if he coaches
up Kyler Murray to a playoff win, you would have
to think with Baker Mayfield that might be a fit.

(49:55):
But Dallas could be as well. I mean there's a
number of places that that both of those coach just
can go. How how how auspicious the debut for for
Lincoln Riley, I mean, well, maybe never see something like that,
to Heisman Trophy winners, to different Heisman Trophy winners in
his first two years as a head coach. So his
stock can't be really much higher than it is right now, unless,

(50:17):
of course, they upset Alabama and then somebody's going to
open up the vault track. Would why would you leave
if you're not if you're not goingf Alabama. Now you're
back to back, you know, college football playoff appearance semifinals,
you lost one, you win one. Now if you do
win a national championship, why would you leave? I think
it's just a matter of personal taste. He's young now.
If he hadn't been doing it for ten years, we've

(50:38):
seen coaches, Yeah, you've done it for a long time,
and then you figure, like, you know what, I want
to try something different. I wanna maybe go to the NFL.
Let's win a Super Bowl. But but you know, Lincoln
is still in his thirties, only in his second year
at Oklahoma. I I think he loves college football, he
loves where he's at. He obviously has a great thing
in Norman, so I believe he stays at this point.

(50:59):
But this is to be successful five or six years
from now. Maybe does win that national championship, then he
might say let's try out the NFL, and then you
have the mad Hatter. He's overrated him, not overrat I
don't want to say that, but I'm saying I don't
really get this. Let's hand the keys to Lincoln Riley
in the NFL talk. Has anyone watched his defense play? Yeah? Yeah,
but I think that's like McVeigh argument though, Gabe, it's

(51:22):
it's yeah, but he's still ca home and he's done
it for one year with Bob Stoops players like come on, man.
I just think there's a little overreaction here. I think
people are a little too. I'm I'm not disrespecting him.
I don't know. I mean, maybe he'll go, you know
what I mean. I don't know what his future is,
but I like Linken Riley. I'm just standing seems a
little bit of premature. We gotta hire this guy because

(51:45):
he was with Baker Mayfield for a year. Yeah no,
that's a great point. Two years. Yeah, yeah, I agree
with what games saying. I mean two years he scored
a lot of points, but collapse in the playoff last year,
and they don't play a look at defense and now mentality,
but don't have at whatever. The hot topic is that
it's Kyler Murray. So you you look at Kyler Murray,
look at Baker Mayfield. You know I woke up dangerousness.

(52:08):
All I know is I wish I was Lincoln's agent
because I mean, that is an ideal situation to be in.
Then Lincoln does actually I am aware of that. Hey.
One thing coaching I want to point out is I'm
not a huge fan of the Mac Brown to Chapel Hill.
Higher love the coordinators he's brought in. I mean you

(52:30):
know that. You know, Joe and I have had Phil
long go On from Ole Miss and Phil has done
a great job offensively, But the one that really impressed
me was Jay Bateman. I mean, look at what Ja
Bateman did with that Army defense over the past couple
of seasons to get long go on offense and Bateman
on defense. Mac is basically saying, almost like herm at
Arizona State, I'm the manager, I'm the CEO. Of course

(52:52):
I'm gonna be the face. I'm gonna be the guy
who brings in more dollars more recruits, but look at
these young up and coming coordinators. I have that that's
a program in Carolina that could also be competing for
a coastal championship in a couple of years. And you
mentioned it, I mean it's wide open. When you see
the progression of some of the other team's votech took
her step back six and six Miami with Mark Rick.

(53:12):
It's wide open for some of those teams. So we'll
see what transpires in the A C C Coastal. For
Rich Sermonello and Game Morenci, I'm Joe Leasy. Have a
great weekend, everyone, enjoy the games. We'll see you next Saturday.