THE BLITZ | Beat the Books in CFB This Weekend! | College Football Week 12 Predictions & Best Bets

Welcome to THE BLITZ, your go-to college football betting show for the entire season! Each week, Bryan Power, Ross "The Boss" Benjamin & Ralph "The Pen" Michaels break down the biggest college football matchups, providing picks, predictions, and best bets to help you stay ahead of the lines.

Introduction 00:00
Oklahoma vs. Alabama 00:54
Texas vs. Georgia 12:16
Iowa vs. USC 17:02
Notre Dame vs. Pitt 26:01
Penn State vs. Michigan State 35:16
Live Q&A 47:35
Mississippi St vs Mizzou 48:00
Jacksonville St vs Kennesaw St 50:00
Miami vs NC State 51:53
TAMU vs South Carolina 53:34
Best Bets 54:52
Bryan Power Best Bet: Georgia Southern vs Costal Carolina 55:17
Ross Benjamin Best Bet: Georgia vs Texas 57:10 
Ralph Michaels Best Bet: Eastern Michigan vs Ball State 1:00:40
Best Bets Recap 1:02:20

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I've got a lot of great college football games to

(00:04):
discuss this week on the Blitz. Here to help me
do so, as they always are, Ross the Boss, Benjamin
and Ralph Michaels with his pen. We are here, guys,
a lot of big games as always, Like I said, Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas,
USC Iowa, Notre Dame Pitt.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
How about some interesting comments from Pat and Ardoozy earlier.

Speaker 3 (00:27):
In the week.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Is Pitt hunting on this game?

Speaker 1 (00:30):
I've never heard of coach be that fourth right before
I don't pick and then Penn State Michigan State. A
power rankings versus spot argument to be had there, Ross,
I'm gonna go to you first here as we open
with Alabama in Oklahoma. I know nobody really wants to
hear me come on here and say, you know what
you know, I powerrate this game close to market, at

(00:52):
least at the open I did. But I was on
earlier today with Joe Rnaarian Art to Caesar Art giving
us the view from the other side of the counter,
and he mentioned that it's been a steady stream of
Oklahoma money so far. And you look at the wager
Talk odd screen. Yes, I'm even seeing a five and
a half pop here at FanDuel minus five.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
And a half for Alabama.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
If this gets any lower, I kind of want to
punch back at the market with Alabama. I know some
of these wins and we had a big discussion about
this last week. The margin of victories necessarily haven't been
that impressive for Alabama, and the yards per game wise
it's not that impressive. But I don't know, man, Oklahoma
even off of BUYE I guess it's a good spot.

(01:37):
But do we buy the Sooners end the Tuscaloosa Yeah, you.

Speaker 3 (01:42):
Know, I'll due respect Art and the rest of the
sportsbook managers we have on wager Talk TV. They provide
very valuable information. But let's not forget folks that's at
his sportsbook. It doesn't necessarily mean all the sports books
are getting hit with Oklahoma action. And just keep that

(02:05):
in mind. And again, it's no disrespect to any one
of those gentlemen, you know. So I sort of like
Oklahoma here, I mean, Alabama, this is not going to
be part of my card. This is a tough call.
But given that I have to form an opinion and

(02:25):
a lean, I would lean toward Oklahoma just because of
the fact. Alabama, by the way, I had them as
a five percent best bet last week at minus ten
and they went by eleven. I had it all away, guys,
all the way, you know. But a tough game against LSU,
and now they come back against Oklahoma this week, a

(02:46):
hungry Oklahoma team. Alabama to me can almost afford one
more loss as long as they went out the rest
of the way, and I think that they will. Even
having said that, Oklahoma to me is in one of
those If they lose this game, they're pretty much, in

(03:09):
my opinion, going to be out of contention for a
college football playoff spot. So just based on that alone,
this game has all the makings of one that will
go down to the wire. And I like the Oklahoma
Sooners here you can get a six with them. Still,
there's a couple five and a halfs out there, But

(03:30):
Oklahoma plus the six against Alabama.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
All right, that's one opinion there, Ralph. We see some
people in the chat. I see RJ who always joins
with us, joins us live here. Of course, we go
live every one pm Eastern Thursday, although next week I
believe it is will be a little bit different. We're
gonna be going Wednesday, the week of Thanksgiving.

Speaker 4 (03:50):
RJ.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
That was Hop in the chat.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
He likes Oklahoma's team total over nineteen and a half,
says he hasn't bet it quite yet.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
Though.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
What do you think about this game? Ralph as the Sooner? Well,
I think the spot does scream Oklahoma to Ross's point,
desperation rested, But I still think Bama is the better team.

Speaker 4 (04:10):
First, I'm going to disagree. I think the spot favors Alabama.
You know, yes, Oklahoma's off a bye, but let's remember
Alabama had a buye the week before LSU and then
they weren't challenged last week. It was a walkover game
where they you know, led double digits the whole way.
Now this team has two losses. They have to go
on the road. And remember, you know they played Texas

(04:31):
in a neutral than there are only other two road games.
This is only their third true road game. They went
to South Carolina, they only put up three hundred and
nineteen yards. They went to Tennessee. They won the game,
but they got out game by one hundred and five
yards and only put up three hundred and fifty one yards.
The reason I will fade Oklahoma is simply look at
their last two games prior to playing Mississippi. The worst

(04:57):
game statistically they had was Texas, and they allowed three
hundred and two yards. Every other team was held a
two hundred and ninety year of less. The last two weeks,
they allowed four hundred and thirty one yards to Mississippi,
four hundred and fifty six yards to Tennessee. Those quarterbacks
threw for three hundred and fifteen and three hundred ninety

(05:19):
three yards. And we have this guy over in, you know,
for the Crimson Tide, some guy named Ty Simpson or
something that's a twenty one to one touchdown the interception
ratio I leanked Alabama here. I'm not going to make
it into my card. In fact, it didn't even make
my top fifteen for the week. But again it is

(05:40):
a clear opinion for me for on the Crimson Tide.

Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah, Oklahoma might still be without one of their best
defenders here. It's also interesting, I feel we the three
of us, had this discussion a couple of weeks ago
that were Oklahoma those great defensive numbers early in the season,
even going in still going to that Ole Miss game.
But it was largely a byproduct of who they had played.
This is going to be a very tough test for

(06:06):
that Oklahoma defense, I think.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
On the Let me argue.

Speaker 4 (06:09):
Let me argue a little bit with your Brian. The
Alabama defense is number twelve in the country, holding the
opponents to under what they average in other games. In
the last three games, they held Tennessee to a season
low four hundred and ten yards and they held LSU
to a season low two hundred and thirty two yards.
I think the offense, I think the defense is still shining.

(06:32):
It just happens that they're playing very good offenses of late.
So while the yardage goes up, if you look compared
to what they average, there's still stellar performances.

Speaker 3 (06:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (06:42):
I apologize, I misspoke.

Speaker 1 (06:43):
I met the The Oklahoma defense might have been over
might be overrated from early.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
Got the Obama defense, Yeah, is good? Go ahead, Ross, Yeah, Roth.

Speaker 3 (06:51):
How many yards did they all out first Tennessee?

Speaker 1 (06:55):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (06:55):
Four hundred and ten?

Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah? Well, yeah, they really held them. I know they
pitched well below their season average, but they really held
them down in that game. You know, if.

Speaker 4 (07:07):
You hold them under their season average, I.

Speaker 3 (07:08):
Mean, yeah, I get it, I get it. Uh, you know,
but the difference between Tennessee and Oklahoma. Yeah, Tennessee's got
a better offense, but at night and day comparing both defenses.
So good point, Ralph. You know I I gotta give
you a hard time, you know that. So, but those
season averages and what teams do against other teams and

(07:30):
holding them below season average are definitely very valuable points
to make when you're handicapping.

Speaker 1 (07:36):
The game that is our Mason Thomas, that could be out.
I know, Vetable said he expects to get some guys.

Speaker 2 (07:41):
Back in this game after still very very question uh.

Speaker 1 (07:47):
Defensive and he got hurt retorting a fumble for a
touchdown in that win over Tennessee two weeks ago. And yeah, Ralph,
great point you made about ty Simpson. The touchdown interception
ratio is obviously I'm twenty one to one guys completing
sixty seven percent of it.

Speaker 3 (08:03):
He looked off to me last week, though guys didn't
he I mean, just your my opinion. I watched the
game to its entirety because I had stake in it,
but that was one of the worst games he's played
in recent memory this past year. He just looked like
he was inaccurate and he was missing. He was just

(08:23):
behind on some throws, inaccurate on other ones. I didn't
like the way he looked last week. Now, all let's
use defense is pretty good, but so's so is Oklahoma.
But just your you, guys, thoughts on what you witnessed,
if you witnessed anything at all.

Speaker 4 (08:38):
I did not see. I did not watch that game,
so all I did was reading, and you know the
stories I read. No one pointed that out to me,
so but I you know, you you make a good point.
You look now, he was twenty two of thirty six,
fourteen in or scept fourteen incompletions is in horrible, but
that was after at South Carolina he was twenty four
of forty three. He had twenty in completion, So it's

(09:00):
not the gaudy numbers that he put up early. So
that is a good point.

Speaker 1 (09:04):
Ross, Yeah, and Ross obviously you know you you you
joked about it at the outset, how you had it
the whole way, you know it was it felt a
little for That's one of those ones that after you've
been I've been in your position, you're watching the game
for three and a half hours, it feels like you've
bet your body's been through every like it's just an
emotional war, you know.

Speaker 2 (09:23):
Ls you miss the field.

Speaker 1 (09:24):
Goal in that game, you know, and Bama needed that
for you know, obviously they were fine to win, but
they needed that for the cover.

Speaker 2 (09:29):
So it performance.

Speaker 3 (09:32):
You just never felt that LSU was gonna win that
game because their offense is terrible. You know, they can't
get out of their own ways. Smyer gets benched, they
bring in uh a sophomore quarterback who I thought did
a better job than Smyer did, but you know, uh
Rolph said that Alabama led comfortably by double digits most

(09:55):
of the way, but they really weren't covering comfortably for
most of the way. It was right around the number
where it could have won either way as far as
the spread went.

Speaker 4 (10:06):
It's funny ross the games that you watch that you're
just you know, you're just looking at scores and you
think double digit lead, double digit lead. The games that
you bet screw the lead, you're paying attention to what
the credit is so different. Mind said, if you don't
have skin in the game, like you said, right.

Speaker 3 (10:21):
And you didn't have skin in the game, you didn't
watch the game. And there's several occasions where I do
the same Ralph, where if I don't have skin in
the game i'm watching, I might be watching a lower
profile matchup that I need more than two high profile
teams going against each other.

Speaker 1 (10:37):
Yeah, it look anyone who's watched the game with me
knows this. I never think it's over. I always think
the bottom is just minutes away from dropping. I wish
they could all be like last night with Central Michigan.
They're up thirty eight to thirteen with nine minutes left.
It takes that kind of advantage being up twenty having
a team on the money line, being up twenty five
with nine minutes left, and I'm like, you know, I

(10:57):
think I think this my get home.

Speaker 4 (11:01):
Okay, let me ask you this. If you haven't under,
do you watch the first half? I can't. I cannot
watch the first half. I'll look at scores, I'll see
what happens, but I just get so emotionally drained that,
like you have to, I have to have like a
twenty one point margin to watch the whole fourth quarter
when I have an UNDER.

Speaker 5 (11:23):
Yeah, I agree with you, Ralph. Unders are tough to
squeeze for. I use a lot of them, but I
pretty much do the same thing you do. I'm looking
at my phone because sitting there hoping both teams go
three and out is exasperating.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
Yeah, don't even give you start on bidding unders in basketball.
One last point here and then we're gonna move on
to the other big matchup in the SEC. I know
a lot of you guys are talking about it, but Oklahoma,
for what's worth, does have the better yards per play
margin relative to Alabama.

Speaker 4 (11:53):
Ralph.

Speaker 1 (11:53):
I know you you referenced that statistic a lot. All right,
that's one big SEC game down here on the Blitz.
Keep those coming, guys, by the way, we will after
we get through our rundown, get to your questions in
the chat. That is the benefit of catching us live
here on the way to talk YouTube channel. But we
got to talk Texas and Georgia. Texas, who so many

(12:16):
people were writing off after that slow start to the season.
They are still viable ross for the college football playoff.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
They would need.

Speaker 1 (12:27):
I don't know if they need to win both this
game in A and M. They definitely need to win
one of them. We know that if they lose both
of them, they're out. So I know you're gonna be
talking about this in our best bet segment, of course,
that comes at the end of the show. Everybody, Ralph
Ross and I will all be sharing a best bet.
So do you want me to go to I can
go to If you want to save your thoughts for
the end of the show, I can go to Ralph here.

Speaker 3 (12:49):
No, my best BET's going to be on the total
in this game. But it's going to come down to
who could run the ball better and who could stop
to run. Both teams very good against the run. Georgia
a real run heavy team. Fifty seven percent of their
offensive plays are runs. So I think the game comes
down to the ability to run the ball. And also

(13:12):
in Texas struggles running the ball, you look at their
offensive rushing numbers not very good and so I mean
if they have to become one dimensional, they're going to
be playing uphill, especially if they fall behind in the game.
So yeah, that's all I got to offer in that regard.
But I will have a winning total for you folks,
so stay tuned for that at the end of the show.

Speaker 1 (13:33):
Stay tuned for that. Plus, Ralph and I have best
bets as well. Ralph, what do you think you're Texas
and Georgia obviously a very very big match up here Texas.

Speaker 2 (13:44):
Like I said, I don't know.

Speaker 1 (13:45):
If they need to have it, but they can't afford
to get whacked.

Speaker 4 (13:49):
Oh, I think I think they if they if they
lose one more, I don't think Texas is in the
way they're going. You look at their stat profile, guys,
when you look at conference only games, Okay, Georgia is
number eighteen plus eighty nine yards per game. Texas is
number one oh three. They're getting out gained by sixty

(14:11):
yards per game in conference action. That is a one
hundred and fifty yard difference versus Georgia, and George's played
the tougher schedule. You look at the Texas Longhorns. Ross
mentioned uh struggling against the run well in their last
five games Florida fifty two yards two point zero yards

(14:32):
per carry.

Speaker 3 (14:33):
They struggled, I'm sorry, Roff struggled running the ball, not
stopping to run.

Speaker 4 (14:38):
I'm sorry, I am reading their rushing numbers. My apologies,
that's just me being old and senile. I misspoke. Ross,
I heard you right. Here's what I tell my friends.
You gotta just you just gotta know what I mean
and not listen to what I said Texas. Texas's rush
offense over their last five games Florida fifty two yards

(15:02):
two point zero, Kentucky forty seven yards one point seven,
Mississippi State seventy two yards two point three, Vanderbilt at
home one hundred yards three point seven. They're not going
to be able to rush on Georgia. You look at
the defense. Three of the last five games they've given
up over four hundred and twenty three yards. And you

(15:25):
look at their schedule. Okay, Brian, hold up, how many
winning teams I'm gonna give you here in the SEC?
Florida no, Oklahoma yes, Kentucky no, Mississippi State No. And Vanderbilt.
And they beat Vanderbilt by three hosting Vandy. So Georgia

(15:48):
has the chance to make my card. I think they're
that good. I think they have the offense and defense,
defensive line edges. They haven't gotten much pressure. That is
a negative because we've seen we've seen their quarterbacks struggle
with pressure, and he wasn't sacked at all against Vandy.
So maybe the old line's playing better. I only watched
this and pieces of that, but a couple other games

(16:09):
against Florida and Mississippi State. They were sat five and
six times respectively. Georgia, for me, has a chance to
actually make my card.

Speaker 3 (16:17):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (16:18):
Remember, guys, Georgia has lost only one since last what
thirty three to thirty four home games, and that was
earlier this year to Alabama, and that took falling into
a really bad hole in the first half. Remember they
held out. They shut Alabama out in the second half
of that game. Of course, slow starts have been an
issue for the Dogs this season, although not last week.
I think Kirby was out to prove a point in

(16:40):
that Mississippi State game. I thought that was the most
complete effort we've seen from the Dogs all season. So
Georgia Texas, there you go. I see some questions coming
in about Iowa and USC. It just so happens that
that will be the next game on our rundown. Guys,

(17:00):
from the SEC to the Big Ten. We had a
big discussion last week about the Oregon Iowa matchup.

Speaker 4 (17:08):
Oregon.

Speaker 1 (17:09):
They are pardon me, Iowa played their hearts out in
that one. It just wasn't if they lose on a
last second field goal after laying it all on the line.
That was a very It wound up being an ideal spot.
The weather favorite Iowa. Oregon had a couple of receivers
ruled out late, and now Iowa loses again. They thought
they had them for a little bit. They have to

(17:30):
turn around, they have to fly out west and take
on USC. Although ironically enough, the weather, you know, you
don't think weather is gonna be an issue in southern California.
Apparently there's going to be some rain in the forecast.
So Iowa always bringing weather wherever they go. But ross

(17:51):
Iowa's gotta be careful here because they can't compete in
a shootout with this USC offense.

Speaker 3 (17:56):
Yeah. I listened to Ralph on wager Talk today breakdown
this game, which I thought he did a magnificent job,
and he and he brought up a couple good points.
He brought up the fact that, you know, Iowa, you
look at the game against Indiana, who has an explosive offense,
and they held them the twenty points at home. Again
last week against Oregon, I think they held their own

(18:18):
as well. But Rolph also said when they go on
the road, it's not very similar to how they perform
at home. And I just think I said this last
week I'll say it again, Iowa's offensive numbers are improved
this year, but they're a little bit when it comes
to points per game anyway. But I just think that

(18:41):
points per game average that they're they're showing this year
is a little bit of skew because they've created a
lot of points defensively themselves, between creating turnovers and giving
their offense a short field to work with. Returns for touchdowns,
whether it be fumble return, interception return, or punt return

(19:03):
or special teams continue to shine. But here's the thing,
you know. Ruff also said that USC is very underrated defensively.
We think of them as a very good offensive team,
which they are now. They're not a great defense, but
they're not horrible by the same stretch. And I think
going on the road and the other thing to keep

(19:25):
in mind, Iowa lost the heartbreaker last week, yes, you know,
on the last played the game against Oregon, and now
they have to go on the road and take on USC.
Like you said, Brian, travel across two time zones. Yeah,
it's gonna be raining, but big difference between rain and
thirty degrees like it was last week in Iowa and

(19:48):
rain in seventy five to eighty degrees like it'll be
in southern California. So I have a lean toward USC
in this game latest six and a half over Iowa.

Speaker 1 (19:58):
All right, ross your excellent breakdown earlier this week on
a Way to Talk today, He also referenced to USC defense. Yeah,
they held Northwestern to just twenty eight yards rushing and
three points in the second half last week.

Speaker 2 (20:10):
So tell me about it. Those of you who may missed.

Speaker 1 (20:12):
Your breakdown of Wage to Talk today, give it to
us here again on the blitz.

Speaker 4 (20:18):
Really it's home road dichotomies here. You know, you look
at Iowa and hell yeah, the defense impressed me against Indiana.
Hell yeah, the defensive creshed me against Oregon. But we
all know it's so much different having that elite defense
with your fans, where the players can't hear the play
call and you get a few extra penalties jumping off

(20:40):
sides and those are the type of things that you lose.
So you know, both of those offensive both of those
great defensive performances against Iowa were at home. You know,
their other road game at Iowa State, they had two
hundred and fourteen yards against Rutgers. They put up thirty
eight points, but only at two hundred and forty eight
three hundred and forty eight yards against a crappy Rutgers defense.

(21:03):
And then they played one good road game, and that
was against Wisconsin. On the USC side, you know, the
offense is legit. I mean they are. They are my
number one ranked offense, and they're also number one averaging
more than their opponents allow. And if you look at
the performance, you know, the Nebraska game, they only put
twenty one points up, but they still had a fifty

(21:26):
one yard edge. Northwestern they end up having a two
hundred two yard edge home against Michigan a one hundred
and seventy three yard edge, so home to road. At home,
they are out gaining foes by two hundred and sixty
two yards per game. On the road, they're out gaining
foes by twenty four yards per game, a basically two

(21:46):
hundred and forty yard per game difference in their home
road dichotomy. And then you look at the two road
games they lose. At Illinois they still had four hundred
ninety yards and at Notre Dame they still had three
hundred and ninety six yards. I was wrong on Iowa twice.
That was at home. I'm going to stick to my guns.

(22:07):
USC pools away quick because Ross basically said it, will
Iowa offense score enough to keep close or will us
these defense give up enough to keep it close. I
favored that the USC defense will perform the Iowa offense.

Speaker 1 (22:27):
Okay, there you got yes, certainly a guys, since the
Big Ten expanded, it's you know, consistently these teams struggle
when having to cross two times to look at Washington
last week losing to Wisconsin.

Speaker 2 (22:39):
That downdrodden program. I mean that says it all here.

Speaker 1 (22:42):
Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, but it has
been a struggle and Iowa it's a tough.

Speaker 2 (22:47):
Spot getting off the mat after the close loss at Oregon.

Speaker 4 (22:50):
And you did bring it up, Brian, I mean I
actually went in to tecked my mail and the headlines
on the top were LA and San Francisco. Torrential rains,
historic range Saturday. It's good. It's like flash flood warnings, downpours, thunderstorms.
The winds, though are are fifteen miles an hour or less.
If they get over fifteen miles an hour, it will

(23:12):
affect us the's offense. So if you are going to
play the game to make sure you stay tuned for
the weather and get that late wind report to make
sure it didn't shift by a few hours where it
can clearly impact the tropes's.

Speaker 1 (23:24):
Pass game, and the market will react to that. Of course,
sometimes they'll ross it over reacts, you know, we always
see that in the end, Like I always think it
like these it's.

Speaker 2 (23:32):
Not an apples to apples comparison.

Speaker 1 (23:34):
But I was thinking, whenever there's the threat of snow
in an NFL game, you see that total come way
down and then the team still find a way to
get to flood.

Speaker 3 (23:40):
You know, And it's just this total is pretty much
if I remember correctly, and I'll look again, but if
I remember correctly, it's pretty much held steady at forty
eight forty nine in that area if I'm not mistaken, So.

Speaker 1 (23:55):
Forty eight's popping. But yeah, for pretty much forty eight
and a half across the board.

Speaker 3 (23:58):
Yeah, I mean, look, I mean, if you're gonna bet
the under, I think that based on the weather reports
that you guys reflected on, now is the time to
do so. Because if people probably don't look at a
lot of betters don't look at weather reports till the
day of the game, and if those that weather forecast

(24:20):
for Saturday is similar to what we're seeing now, I
fully expect to see some under money here, you know.
So it Relph makes a great point. I mean, if
the wind goes over fifteen miles an hour, it favors
Iowa too, because you know, Iowa was going to run
the ball and they're gonna be and it takes away
a major part of USC's offense, which is a passing game.

Speaker 1 (24:44):
I don't know why this just popped in my mind here,
but I'm seeing USC versus Iowa.

Speaker 2 (24:48):
I remember, oh, it was a little bit more than
twenty years ago.

Speaker 1 (24:51):
Now, and I remember Ralph Flite remember this a little
bit being an Ohio State fan. These teams USC Iowa
played in the Orange Bowl. That was the year that
that idiot Skip Bayless kept saying every week that Ohio
State needed to pass up the opportunity to play in
the championship game so two lost USC could be an

(25:12):
instead against my That.

Speaker 2 (25:13):
Was the Ohio State beat Miami. I don't know if
you remember that. It was Radio two thousand and two.

Speaker 4 (25:21):
USC was ranked number five, Iowa was ranked number three.
USC was a four and a half point favorite, they
won the game.

Speaker 3 (25:29):
They killed me.

Speaker 1 (25:31):
Yeah, I remember you USC was a good team, but
I remember you Skip as that us that Ohio State
should do the quote honorable thing and by and turned
down the opportunity to play for that.

Speaker 2 (25:41):
Where does this guy come from?

Speaker 1 (25:42):
All Right, that's enough about Iowa and USC, and certainly
enough about Skip Bayless. Nor did they even pitt I
through this game on our rundown? Because I don't know
if you guys caught the comments from pitt head coach
paton rdoozy earlier this week, But okay, I'll go to
you then, Ross first, because it seems like you're right

(26:04):
about boy, does it seem like he's willing to punt
on this game?

Speaker 3 (26:07):
Huh, Well, it's not he's willing to punt. It's the
Pittsburgh media said it's a must win game for the Panthers,
And that's the furthest thing from the truth. Because yet
are seven to two, and if they lose this game
a three loss team, right, you would think from a
rational standpoint, a three loss team is you know, out

(26:28):
of the equation for the college football playoffs. But remember
they're five and one in the ACC. So if they
lose this game, they're still alive to win an ACC title.
If they win the ACC title, they go to the
college football playoffs. So and it's not like they need
style points here either or they you know, a hundred

(26:50):
point loss isn't going to make their chances of winning
an ACC title or a college football playoff berth Possibly,
it's not going to make any difference like it would
with other teams in situation.

Speaker 4 (27:03):
Now.

Speaker 3 (27:03):
Notre Dame, on the other hand, you know, there's seven
to two. You could be hard pressed to take an
independent team like Notre Dame as good as they've been,
playing highly, as ranked as they are, if they lose
as a double digit underdog on the road at Pitt,
it's gonna you know, you could virtually kiss their playoff

(27:24):
chances goodbye. So let's break you know, let me break
it down real quickly. And by the way, Pitt finishes
with Georgia Tech in Miami of Florida, it's not going
to be a picnic even if they lose. This team
the Windows last two. Right, So their only loss was
thirty four to twenty seven at home against Louisville earlier

(27:45):
this season, only loss in the ACC, and then they
were upset in the rivalry game at West Virginia. Notre
Dame opened going to seven wins in a row. Since
there are two losses come against Miami, number fifteen in
the country in Texas A and m nine to zero
and number three in the country, and those two losses
came by a combined four points. During the seven game

(28:06):
win street, they've outscored opponent's by ten points or more
on each occasion, and they were a plus twelve turnover
differential three hundred and eighty nine yards or more of
total offense and their last eight. During their last six defensively,
Notre Dame was allowing just twelve points a game and
a little over three hundred yards per contests. And I

(28:28):
really liked the emergence of freshman quarterback CJ. Carr. He's
been a catalyst to this winning streak and success that
Notre Dame has enjoyed. I mean, look, the guy's completing
sixty seven percent of its passes and nineteen touchdowns against
four interceptions at the dynamic run game with Jeremiah Love

(28:49):
and Darian Price. So I like Notre Dame here. I
think I like him an awful lot too.

Speaker 1 (28:55):
Brian yeah, I've seen some people and then that echo
those same set of and if you're not.

Speaker 6 (29:01):
Clear on what we're talking about these comments, and then
I'll throw it to Ralph. Here here were the exact
comments from head coach pat Ardoozy Ross Krecht. He was
asked directly about whether or not they must win game
for his pit team, and Arthusier's finding quote, absolutely not.
It is not an asy game. I'm glad you brought
that up. Not an aca clear. I would gladly be

(29:24):
beat one o three or one ten to ten in
that game. They can put up one.

Speaker 1 (29:28):
Hundred on us as long as we win two after that, now,
he did then later come and say, hey, you can
play this game at seven am over at the fieldhouse
or in the parking lot, doesn't matter what time, doesn't matter.

Speaker 2 (29:40):
We're playing against our guys are coming to play, period.
He might have.

Speaker 6 (29:45):
He was trying to sum it up the Kurts. So
what do you think here, Ralph? You know, I guess
it's not that important to fit. It's very important in
order today they need They obviously need to win even
though the two good teams.

Speaker 2 (29:57):
Uh can pit hang.

Speaker 1 (29:59):
I mean, has there been an overreaction to these comments,
because you know they're going to talk about this a.

Speaker 2 (30:04):
Lot on the college game days of the world.

Speaker 1 (30:06):
And I think a lot of people are expecting to
get taken to the woodshed here by a surgeon fighting
Irish team.

Speaker 4 (30:12):
I think he's just trying to temper a young team. Remember,
game day is going to be at Pittsburgh, so that's yes.
Remember we joked about I said it doesn't mean shit
to Ohio Stayton George a couple of weeks ago. When
you have a unique setting like Pittsburgh, you know when
game days there, it's a thrill for the fans and
the players. It's it's enough that I think Pittsburgh can
get a bump. While I don't like Pittsburgh full game,

(30:33):
I'm actually play them a little bit for the first quarter,
first half, and let's go back and remember this. You know,
they win their first two games. There's a lot of
there's a lot of hype for Pittsburgh this year. You know,
Eli Holstein was there, and then what happens. Holstein gets
hurt in what the Boston College game and they bring
in a true freshman Mason Heinzel, and everyone thought their
season's over. All they've done the last four weeks is

(30:56):
top four hundred and fifty yards three times. They're averaging
four four hundred and twenty three yards per game. They're
out gaining foes by eighty three yards per game. They're
running the ball for one hundred and thirty five yards
per carry, and their defense on the season holding teams
to eighty one yards per game and two point six
yards per carry. No one talks about this pit d

(31:17):
but I have it as a top thirty five defense.
You know, the way they're the way they're playing. They
have fluttered a little bit late. He did give up
four hundred and forty five to nc stayed at home.
But I'm gonna say this, I would not bet Pittsburgh
full game, but I do like their offense. I've watched
them a few times and I think they'll get an
early bump Pier. So for me, I might be looking

(31:40):
at Pittsburgh first quarter or first half. You look at
the last couple of weeks. First half against Stanford twenty
one to thirteen, they led first half against NC State,
They led thirty one to twenty one first half against Syracuse.
They led seventeen to seven first half against Boston College,
they led thirty one nothing, and then that loss against Louisville.

(32:02):
They led Louisville twenty seven to seventeen at the half
before getting out scored in the second half. I've just
talked myself into Pittsburgh first half.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
All right, there you go. Sometimes you just need to
say it, yes, sel Ross, I see a throw a
half again.

Speaker 3 (32:18):
Going back to Nardouzzi's comments, if you take that literally,
you're foolish. All's the point he was trying to make
was it doesn't matter if we get blown out here.
You know, you're making this game look way larger than
it should be for us, because whether we lose by
one or one hundred, our chances are still the same

(32:41):
to winning the ACC in getting to the college football playoffs. Certainly,
he's not saying that Pittsburgh's not coming ready to play, But.

Speaker 4 (32:51):
You know, you know who used to say that all
the time, and he was actually legit. He didn't give
a shit about his non conference games. Was I think
was it Dickey at North Texas when they would wait
when they ran the Sunbelt, they got to a bowl
every time, and there was only like one bowl. He
would just say his non conference schedule. They had a
schedule a lot of Power five teams to make money

(33:11):
because they didn't have the end, they didn't have the
oil money and all that. And there's a lot of
sun Belt teams that have to schedule a lot of
Power five teams and just don't give a shit, especially
if that game is the week before a Sunbelt game.
So for lesser conferences, coaches have said that they do
mean it because they're going to lose anyway. They're a
forty point dog. Their priorities to stay healthy for the

(33:33):
opening sun Belt game. So you get well, I agree,
you don't, would never believe it in this kind of role.
There are times when you are undermanned in a much
smaller conference early in the season with a conference game
on deck, where that does They have said it, and
it does occur.

Speaker 3 (33:50):
Yeah, we're talking about national title aspirations here for both teams.

Speaker 4 (33:55):
Right where where you're hosting, where you're hosting ESPN game day.
Let me see your going to be prepared for that game?

Speaker 1 (34:01):
Yes, checking in with our chat here. Financially free and focused.
I think that's what we're all striving to be in
this life. He likes the over fifty five I talked
to his sharp bet earlier in the week. He actually
agrees with that, so that might be as well.

Speaker 3 (34:14):
I think two to Ralph's point about Pittsburgh's run defense,
They're going to be facing a very balanced Notre Dame
offensive attack. It could beat you both. With the two
running backs that I mentioned that, by the way, have
rushed for over fifteen hundred yards and score twenty six

(34:35):
touchdowns combined. In the emergence of CJ. Carr, it presents
a whole different challenge. In my estimation, I.

Speaker 1 (34:44):
Think Notre names top five team in the country right now.
You know, those two losses were both close. They they
botch an extra point against A and M. They were
early in the year that I think A and M
can play with anybody right now, or a part of
the More Dame could play with anybody right now.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
All right, last game on the rundown.

Speaker 1 (35:00):
And then we will get We're going to talk a
little bit what we've got going on this weekend, and
then we're gonna get to your guys questions in the
chat and some best bets after that. A last game
I wanted to put on the rundown. It's doesn't involve
any top twenty five teams. But I thought it was
a very interesting game. Because it's Penn State and Michigan State.
There's a lot that this is just a fun one
to handicap. Okay, my numbers say Penn State should be

(35:22):
favored by more than this, But of course, this has
been a disastrous season for Penn State, all right, and
they are coming off a game where they laid it
all on the line against Indiana, they lose at the
end on maybe one of the greatest catches any of
us have ever seen, and now they're laying points on
the road against Sparti, who is rested.

Speaker 4 (35:43):
Now.

Speaker 2 (35:44):
Things have not been going swimmingly in East Lance again.

Speaker 1 (35:47):
They just had about fourteen wins revoked by the NCAAA
as well. I don't know if that's gonna do anything
that was obviously a prior coaching staff. I don't know
if that means anything to Jonathan Smith. But this, to me,
Ross is it's spot versus power ratings. By power rating
say that hey, at seven, there's value on Penn State.
But yeah, but the spot screams Sparty, So help me

(36:12):
out here.

Speaker 3 (36:13):
Yeah, this is a game that I'm not going to
even come close to touching. So I can't help you out, unfortunately,
but you know you're You're talking about a Penn State
team on a long losing streak as a seven point
favorite on the road against another team on a long
losing streak, and yet the suspensions are from when Mel

(36:35):
Tucker was in charge over it Michigan State. So look,
the only thing I say, coming up a tough loss.
Not only are they coming up a tough loss, they
played Ohio State the week before, so they played two
excellent teams that are one to two in the country
the last two weeks, and they held their own against Indiana.

(36:59):
I mean they again, and they showed a lot of
moxy to me because they fell behind twenty to ten
in that game and they were back. So I have
a small lean here toward Penn State only because they've
shown despite playing with a lane duck coaching staff right now,

(37:21):
in facing two tremendous opponents the last two weeks, and
the week before they played at Iowa and only lost
twenty five to twenty four. So this is a team
that's still competing and still trying hard. I think Michigan
State is horrible. I think you brought that up Bryan
before and I agreed with you, and I agree with

(37:41):
you now.

Speaker 2 (37:43):
Yeah, you know, Ralph Jonathan Smith.

Speaker 1 (37:48):
I don't know how much it was expected, Like, I
don't think people thought this was gonna be a quick
turnaround at East Lansing. But it's not going well there.
This is a horrible football team. It's a pair of
phrase Ross Benjamin there.

Speaker 2 (38:01):
They're not good. I don't know what do you do here.
I just think this is a fascinating game to handicap.

Speaker 4 (38:09):
Yeah, you know, if you were if you were the
devil and you hated some kid, you would probably do
the Penn State schedule. So remember Aler gets hurt, right,
So grunk Meyer comes in grunk Meyer's first three games
ever as a starter at Iowa, at Ohio State and

(38:32):
versus Indiana three top ten defenses. He's probably thinking, holy shit,
this is amazing. I get I don't have to face
a top ten defense. So we have no idea how
good he is. You know, he might come out and
throw thirty five or forty after having those three defenses
in your first three starts. So that's the unknown for me,
just not knowing that. And remember the Michigan State side,

(38:56):
Charles is banged up too. We're not sure who's going
to quarterback there. I lean under because again, you've got
a quarterback. He's only played two road games against top
ten teams, then Indiana, and now he's playing another team
on the road against the Michigan State team. You're gonna
either have a banged up quarterback or a backup quarterback.
Both are going to run the ball more than they lose.

(39:20):
No interest in the spot with two quarters backs banged up,
but I will lean the under because of that.

Speaker 1 (39:26):
All right, A couple things here. Number one, I see
Ethan Bainbridge and our chat. Ethan, he was kind enough
to meet Adam Trigger and I out. I know he
follows Michigan State very closely. He met Adam Trigger and
I out at the Bowling Green Lemoyne basketball game, because
where else would Adam Trigger and I be on an
NFL Sunday than watching Lemoyne versus Bowling Green in college basketball.
So nice to see you there, Ethan. Also remember with

(39:49):
Michigan State. Okay, this is a team that's covered three
in a row, but two of those were real Jim
Morrison backdoor man specials as they I.

Speaker 4 (39:59):
Mean reference there, Okay, I don't. I don't get that one, Brian.

Speaker 3 (40:05):
What Jim morrisons was, I'm a backdoor man.

Speaker 1 (40:12):
He wasn't talking about covered the spread was.

Speaker 3 (40:23):
Yeah. The other thing is Brian too, and I'm surprised
we're off didn't bring this up. You look at both
teams are ower and six in conference play, but Penn
State in those six losses, their margin of losses are
only by a little over six points a game, where uh,
Michigan State getting out scored by fifteen in the game.
So again it goes back to the competitive nature of

(40:45):
how Penn State's playing compared to Michigan State, even though
they lost by three last week, like you alluded to.

Speaker 4 (40:53):
Well, just just to give you another misleading stat to
throw in the mix there, Ross, While Penn State is
better scoring versus the Big Ten in conference action, they're
getting out gained by ninety two yards per game and
Michigan State's getting out gained by sixty yards. So at
thirty two yard edge to Michigan State yardagewise.

Speaker 1 (41:12):
Yeah, and guys, just if you go back a few weeks,
Michigan State, I thought they were in a great spot
last month they faced UCLA when UCLA was off. That
big upside of Penn State. Michigan State was here at home.
That was one of the single worst performances any college
football team has turned in this season when they lost
thirty eight to thirteen to UCLA here at Hume. So

(41:36):
I know the spot screens party, but they're a hard
team to back there. All right, that is our rundown.
It is completely We will be getting to your questions
in just a moment, but it is time for Ross
myself and Ralph to tell you what we've got going
on this weekend at wagertalk dot com. Of course, I
would be remiss if I did not bring up the

(41:57):
weekend Warrior Pass. It has become a very popular option
for all of you who regularly visit wager talk dot com.
You get Ralph, Ralph is making a big X. I'll
let him comment on why and just will admit. But hey,
forty nine dollars you get all of the college fate
your favorite handicapper, pick one of us, you can pick
all three. You can pick other handicappers as well. But

(42:18):
for forty nine dollars you get a complete college football
card for Saturday, complete NFL card for Sunday, and as
an added bonus not charge will throw Monday Night football
in as well. Guys, it's been a great start to
the week in college well, it's been a great start
to the month. Now nine and two a red hot
eighty two percent in CFB. That is number one right

(42:39):
now in college football in November. Mactionin Remember I am
a proud MAC graduate and we have shown why this week.

Speaker 2 (42:48):
Five dollars.

Speaker 1 (42:49):
Tuesday we had Western Michigan beating the Alma Montere Ohio University.

Speaker 2 (42:52):
I don't play favorites. I just bet who I think
is gonna win.

Speaker 1 (42:55):
And then last night, as I mentioned earlier, Central Michigan,
no doubt about it. I said, Buffalo is headed for regression.
And they where they turn the ball over five times,
we'd love to see it. So two and all this
week in college football, nine and two are to start November.
I got a four percent best bet already up for Friday,
and then we're gonna have at least four plays up
for Saturday. So join me, please wt dot bus slash

(43:19):
Pete Ralph. Since you were making that ax frantically when
I was talking, I want to know what that was about.

Speaker 2 (43:24):
I'm gonna let you have the four next.

Speaker 4 (43:26):
All right, well, you are correct. The Weekend Warriors a
great deal at forty nine dollars, but this week Special, yes,
a seven day all access is ninety nine dollars. You're
getting three free days. That's like a free sixty nine
dollars pass. So let's do some math. Guys. You could
buy Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday,

(43:51):
two football weekends, and the entire week of NBA, College
Basketball and NHL for ninety nine dollars. It's an absolute
no brain. My college football I have a five percent
already loaded. So as soon as you buy that Weekend
Warrior or the ten day Special, you'll get my five
percent for Saturday college football five percents, three and oh

(44:12):
and twelve and two eighty six percent college football overall
eighteen and seven seventy two percent, and forty five and
twenty two sixty seven percent number one over the last
five weeks. Doesn't matter who you get on this panel. Guys,
I've learned a lot from being on the show with them.

(44:34):
They've taught me a lot, and all three of us
are battling for the lead there in the college football season.

Speaker 1 (44:40):
And then they call the boss for a reason. Ross,
why don't you talk to the people about what you
got cooking this weekend?

Speaker 3 (44:46):
Well, thank you for that kind comment. I think I
could speak for Brian on that, Ralph, but I feel
equally as blessed to be sharing the panel with you,
two gentlemen, as I've learned a lot from both of
you as well. College football number two overall this year
with a forty plus forty one point eight seven units

(45:06):
twenty eight and sixteen sixty three point six percent number
one and win percentage number one and return on investment,
So in one shape or another, all three of us
are number one in some capacity when it comes to
college football. On top of that, folks, last weekend I
had probably my worst weekend of college football NFL combined,

(45:30):
But that just means I'm going to bounce back because
I went seven weekends in a row. I think maybe six,
six or seven were I made a profit on the
weekend Warrior package, So I'm going to bounce back this week.
On a positive note, I hit both my five percent
best bets on Saturday and college football and on Sunday

(45:52):
in the NFL, So my college football five percent best
bets right now are at eight and two for the
seat and folks, that's eighty percent. And then NFL college
football combined since September eleventh, forty three and twenty nine
sixty percent up over thirty six units. And the NBA
off to a great start as well. Guys nine and

(46:14):
four this season and going back to last year amound
a twenty three and nine NBA run as well college basketball.
The more the season develops and I see more out
of these teams, the more I'll up the any in
terms of units per game and volume of play. So
there you have it. You can't forty nine dollars weekend
Warriors Special can't beat that with a stick. Like Ralph said,

(46:37):
that's seven day all access pass being bumped up to
ten days. That's a steal.

Speaker 6 (46:44):
Well, weekend for forty nine and days for nine and nine.
You choose guys three.

Speaker 1 (46:51):
Of us this week at at waygertalk dot com. If
you are interested in college basketball talk, I would be remissed.

Speaker 6 (46:56):
And I.

Speaker 2 (46:58):
Hour a day you live and am classic.

Speaker 1 (47:11):
Hey, goose Balls, I saw you in the goose What
is this? What my career has come to, goose Balls
is what I'm saying, but he was asking about that
Iowa USC game.

Speaker 2 (47:21):
We did talk about it earlier. We all did not like.

Speaker 1 (47:24):
We all kind of I think the consensus was did
not like the spot for Iowa. But Dan, I believe
we do have some questions here from the people, Sean Burley, Miszoo,
this line makes no sense. He's using your phrase there, Ross, Missoo.
Seems like a fishy line to me? Is this a Ross?
This line makes no sense. Miszoo obviously down to its

(47:46):
third string quarterback. Some people said he was going to
be good. He did not look good against Texas A
and M last week. Uh So, any thoughts on Missouri
hosting Mississippi State.

Speaker 3 (47:59):
I'll tell you he know, I do that segment every
week where this line whatever the segment I do where
it looks fishy or whatever the case may be. But
I couldn't find anything in college football this week it
fell under that category. I actually had to revert to
the NFL for the first time. So yeah, I mean,

(48:22):
if that's the way you feel, then you should take
on a contrarian mindset, because if you say the line
seems fishy, you don't know why one team is favored
or underdog by as much as they are, and in
those situations, if you use the contrarian approach, I would
say that more times than not, if you're an avid
sports better and you have some experience, more times than

(48:45):
not you'll be right.

Speaker 2 (48:48):
Ralph, I don't know if you had anything.

Speaker 4 (48:51):
Yeah, I'm just going to say this. You look at
Mississippi State's defense and they are absolutely horrific in conference
only games, Guys, they're number one hundred and twenty seven,
allowing four hundred and seventy one yards per game. They're
allowing six point three to two yards per carry in
SEC games that is number one sixteen, and they're allowing

(49:11):
thirty eight points per game. That's number one twenty one.
No way in hell am I gonna bet one of
the worst defenses in college football in conference action playing
Missouri one of the best defenses, no matter how many
points I'm getting. That's just you know, you talk about
defensive dogs and betting teams on the road that have defense.

(49:32):
One thing I've learned is I stay away from horrendous
defenses on the road against a good defense.

Speaker 2 (49:39):
All right, give me that. I'll take this.

Speaker 1 (49:42):
Jacksonville State question Dan from Jay buff all right, Jay,
By the way, happy belated veteran State Jay Buff.

Speaker 2 (49:48):
Always nice to see you.

Speaker 1 (49:49):
Here in the chat, he says, I know you will
say better games out there, but I really like jack
State this weekend. Any opinions, look Jacksonville State. For those
of you who don't know they're playing Tennesaw State, here's
my answer to you, Jay Buff. Last week was the
time to play against Kennesaw State. For sure, I thought,
I talked about it on the Power five. I was

(50:09):
not ready to live in a world where Kennesaw State
was a ten point road favorite against the Division one team.
Now they got off to a huge early lead against
New Mexico State.

Speaker 2 (50:18):
I looked pretty foolish.

Speaker 1 (50:19):
But New Mexico State they were able to sneak in
through the back door give Kennesau State a little bit
of a taste of its own medicine. Again, Kennesaw did
end up with a four to twenty seven, three sixteen
yard edge and had the twenty four to zering lead
in Las Crusis last week, but that was after a
game against UTEP, which the fact that anyone who watched,

(50:39):
and I know there's like six of you out there
who will other than me that watched Kannessas State UTEP
a couple two days ago. But that was one of
the most fraudulent covers in the history of mankind that
Kennesaw State covered. So Jay buff the answer, it would
be Jacksonville State or pass for me at this one.

Speaker 2 (50:54):
Obviously, I have no it.

Speaker 1 (50:55):
That is Knnessas State team I think is pretty fraudulent.

Speaker 2 (50:58):
Ralph, I see, Brian.

Speaker 4 (50:59):
Let me just quantify that. Uh, they've in conference play.
They basically have played the same schedule one twenty four
and one eight. Kennesaw State is number sixteen at plus
one point one two three yards per game. Jacksonville State
is number seventy six getting out gained. So that says

(51:19):
Kennessau State. But uh, raise your hand if I'm the
bingo card you had the second week in November, and
these are the two undefeated teams.

Speaker 1 (51:27):
In the USA, I know it's a crazy It's pretty
crazy that the Conference USA is wild and so is
the Sun Belt, which will be uh it put my
my contribution to our best bet segment, which is coming
up in just a minute.

Speaker 2 (51:42):
Do we have anything else here?

Speaker 1 (51:45):
Dan Forest, Oh Miami in NC States, I agree with
the line move on this game. I think Miami's taken
a little bit of money. I know it's crystal ball.
I know laying points with Mario crystal ball makes you ugly.
We talked about feeling uneasy earlier in the program watching
certain games, and I know laying points with Mario Pristaball

(52:05):
certainly will give you an uneasy feeling for three hours.
But look, I know there's a lot of talk about
the ACC this week. Has been a lot of talk
about the ACC this week. What a mess it is.
My opinion is Miami's by far the best team in
this conference, but they may not get a chance to
play for the conference title because of their two losses.
As a double digit favorite, they're not losing here at

(52:25):
NC State, I think they I think it's Hurricanes are
pass for me.

Speaker 3 (52:30):
Yeah, I have a small lean toward North Carolina State
this game. I mean, they showed me a lot against
Georgia Tech, especially offensively. Yes, Miami is a much better
defensive team than than Georgia Techi is. However, you know
this is better than two touchdowns, So give me. North
Carolina State is a small lead here row.

Speaker 2 (52:56):
This game.

Speaker 4 (52:57):
He was just throwing it to me, But I don't have.
I don't have any opinion here, so they have to
go with your two opinions and make their choice.

Speaker 1 (53:05):
Are right and one more, then we'll get to the
best bets. There's nothing I like more than I'll hold
your nose special. That's always that that those are near
and dear to my heart.

Speaker 2 (53:15):
I did.

Speaker 1 (53:16):
I had a couple of those last week with with
with Stanford and Iowa State, South Carolina plus nineteen and
a half?

Speaker 2 (53:25):
Is Texas A and M? When are they gonna have
a bad performance? Ross ever? Because that's who, that's who
said the game Cocks are playing here.

Speaker 3 (53:32):
Yeah, I just I don't ask bad teams to do
good things for me, especially against a red hot team
with a lot to play for. Yeah, I mean it's
nineteen and a half, and yes, when's Texas A and
I'm gonna have a flat spot? Brian, You're right game
I'm gonna stay away from Yeah.

Speaker 4 (53:50):
The only comment I want to add there is you
look at Texas A and M. They have not played anyone.
Auburn at home, Mississippi State at home, Lord at home,
Arkansas with their number one hundred and thirty five defense,
LSU with their number one hundred and thirty five offense,
and then Missouri with a freshman quarterback making his first start.

(54:12):
They have not been tested except that Notre Dame game,
so you know, if anyone punches them early, it could
be a live betting situation because they have not been
under that pressure because they've blown everybody out because of
their schedule. So coming down again, they only have South Carolina,
then they have Stamford next week before they go to Texas.
But I'm not a huge Texas fan this week, but

(54:35):
I'll look ahead to play A and M against Texas
because that'll be the most complete team they've played in
the SEC.

Speaker 1 (54:42):
That that's going to be a very interesting I'm very
interested what the line's going to be for that Texas
Texas A and M game. All right, guys, we're up
against the hour, so now it is time to do
our best bets.

Speaker 2 (54:53):
Mentioned Veterans Day just came back.

Speaker 1 (54:55):
I was very happy. We always support the troops round here.
I was very happy last Saturday when ARTI decided to
take that inside the ten and not screw the cover
up because my best bet on the show last week
was Temple plus seven, and that was very much on
the precipice in that last minute. Let's go to the
sun Belt here and let's talk about Coastal Carolina and

(55:15):
Georgia Southern. This Coastal Carolina voodoo needs to end. Okay,
I don't know where this has come from. I have
been shocked. I hesitate to use the term appalled, but
I am stunned how well Coastal Carolina has played the
last four weeks. But I think the voodoo ends this
Saturday in Statesborough. Shout out to the Alman Brothers band.

(55:38):
That's where they're from, six pm Eastern on ESPN plus
Georgia Southern.

Speaker 2 (55:42):
Last Thursday.

Speaker 1 (55:42):
They were a nice winner for me plus five and
a half against another Sun Belt.

Speaker 2 (55:45):
Fraud app State. That result for US was never really
in doubt.

Speaker 1 (55:49):
Having taken the points, Georgia Southern gets out to a
nineteen to nothing lead at halftime.

Speaker 2 (55:53):
It was a wire cover.

Speaker 1 (55:55):
Eagles only ended up winning out right by two points
in that game because they had to settle for four
field goals. I think it could have and probably should
have been a much bigger win at app State. Regardless,
this Georgia Southern offense gang has now scored twenty four
points in six of its last at least twenty four
points in at least six of its last seven games. Meanwhile,
Coastal Carolina, they have come back from the depths obviously

(56:17):
to win and cover four in a row, three straight
forty plus point efforts. I'm as shocked as anybody. Three
out right wins as underdogs. I'm not buying it. This
is a team prior to last week had not been
favored over a single FBS opponent all season. Even with
this recent surge, guys, they're still the Chanticleers, being outgained
by an average of eighty yards per game. So I

(56:41):
eventually the market will catch up.

Speaker 2 (56:43):
It always does.

Speaker 1 (56:44):
I will gladly lay a short number here with Georgia
Southern against Coastal Carolina as my best bet. Ross Benjamin,
you are up next.

Speaker 3 (56:54):
I hope you don't have the State's Borough Blues.

Speaker 2 (56:57):
After that, there we go.

Speaker 3 (57:00):
So you know that's the Allman Brothers are from Statesboro, Georgia,
like Ryan just said, and Statesboro Blues was one of
their hit songs. So in any event, Yeah, last week,
these guys made a little bit fun of me because
I was selecting a lower profile game, which I normally
don't do. They do, and they do it very well,

(57:22):
but I had Middle Tennessee and FIU over the total
of fifty one and a half. Fifty six thirty was
a final score. So gradulations to all of you out
there who followed my advice on this game. I'm going
to look at Texas and Georgia. Like I said, I
promised you a winning total in this game, and that's
just what I'm gonna do right now. I'm looking at

(57:43):
forty nine and a half pretty much across the board
for a total. This game opened at forty seven, so
the over is getting some money in this game. Look again,
Texas eight and three to the under on in true
away games since twenty twenty three. And Texas also defensively,

(58:04):
they slouched off a little bit over the last four
weeks when you look at their entire body of work throwing,
allowing sixteen point four points per game, three hundred and
fourteen yards per contest, four point seven yards per play,
and that includes allowing just seventy eight point two yards
per game on the ground. And like I alluded to
at the top when we discussed this game, that's important

(58:26):
because they're very good against the run and Georgia runs
the ball over fifty seven percent of their offensive plays.
They average around one hundred and ninety eight yards per game. Now,
going back to rough season averages, I think there's no
way george Is going to be hell the seventy eight
yards or less with Texas is allowing. But I think

(58:47):
they'll be allowing a lot less than their season average.
Let's put it that way, and then Texas again. I
spoke about this earlier as well. Their inability to run
the ball is a glaring weakness offensively, and Georgia's defense
stops to run. So again, this may make Texas one dimensional,

(59:10):
and we've seen through the courch. Even though we've seen
arch Manning play much better of late, we've still seen
with Texas when they fall behind in games and they
have to be one dimensional, they struggle a bit. So
I like this game to be a low scoring affair.
These teams did meet twice last year, once in the

(59:31):
regular season, once in the SEC title game, and those
games combined for just forty three points per game, and
just to combine six hundred and four yards of total
offense between both teams, So I'm looking for something similar
on Saturday Night. This game's nationally televised on ABC Texas,
Georgia under forty nine and a half for me, guys.

Speaker 1 (59:54):
All right, that's two legs, one more to go, Ralph,
where we were in the chat, we're getting requests one
of your charts, people are offering money.

Speaker 2 (01:00:02):
I don't know if you have any information on that.

Speaker 1 (01:00:04):
If you, I'm assuming you don't want to give your
home address out on live television here, but uh.

Speaker 2 (01:00:09):
That's something that's financially free.

Speaker 4 (01:00:11):
And just go ahead and uh drop by BP's house,
his addresses three one seven, drop lost of money there
and build his venmovie.

Speaker 1 (01:00:23):
Yeah Jo Rnaire's house. See he lives where Lebron used
to live out in Miami. To take it from me anyway,
go ahead, Ralph, you're luck at the bar.

Speaker 4 (01:00:31):
You're gonna have to be the judge, Brian if Ross
has a more high profile game or I do, because
I am, of course going to Munthsey, Indiana, with Eastern
Michigan being in a way favorite at Ball States, so
you know, I'll have to get the Mac. I'll have
to get mister Max's approval on this game, after what
you did with your customers this week giving him two

(01:00:52):
Mac winners. To me it's just how have you played
recently down the stretch. You look at ball State's last
four games. Shut out against Western Michigan forty two to nothing.
Go to Northern Illinois you lose twenty one to seven.
So your offense in those two games put up three
hundred and fifty yards total. You did beat Akron, you

(01:01:12):
did beat Ken State, both Red Home, Akron and Kin State.
We know they're not at the bottom of the MAC,
but talent wise, they're still near the bottom of the MAC.
I look at Eastern Michigan in their last four games.
They they have gone bowling green by one hundred and
twenty six yards the last four weeks. They're only getting
out gained by twenty two yards compared to Ball State

(01:01:33):
getting out gained by one hundred and forty four yards. Now,
I will say this, this game is this game I
used as a wise guy play, and I'm not sure
it's going to get to my card just because Eastern
Michigan has not won a road game this year. Now,
they were a dog against Texas State, they went to Kentucky,

(01:01:55):
they went to Central they went to Buffalo and lost
by one, and they lost to fourteen Miami. So if
it's the final road game and you have yet to
win a road game, you do have to put some
caution to the wind. But against against this competition in
ball State, I trust Chris Creighton with a quarterback who's
playing well. Ken has a fifteen to six ratio, he's

(01:02:16):
completing sixty two percent, and they have been able to
run the ball a little more down the stretch. Eastern
Michigan for me.

Speaker 2 (01:02:24):
There you go, all right, throwing up on the screen. Dan,
do you have a graphic?

Speaker 5 (01:02:29):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (01:02:30):
He does, of course he does.

Speaker 3 (01:02:31):
That's what Dan does.

Speaker 2 (01:02:32):
He's always getting it done for us.

Speaker 1 (01:02:34):
Ross Boss likes Georgia Texas under forty nine and a
half and then in some lesser action, although hey, the
money's green no matter what gave me cash on guys.
Ralph likes Eastern Michigan minus two and a half against
ball State in some Saturday action.

Speaker 2 (01:02:55):
And then I am going.

Speaker 1 (01:02:56):
With Georgia Southern minus two and a half against Coast
Still Carolina. That is it for the Blitz. Thank you
for joining us, guys. Thank you to Ross and Ralph
as always for helping me, care for helping carry me
through the hour. We'll be back next week, say tuned,
I'll tweet out because I believe is do I have

(01:03:17):
this friend as next week that I'm so screwed up today?
Ralph is next week Thanksgiving? Or is that in two weeks?

Speaker 2 (01:03:22):
Somebody?

Speaker 1 (01:03:24):
Okay, we don't listen, Okay, So I'm getting so excited
about eating Dan that I jumped.

Speaker 3 (01:03:29):
Ahead of my Christmas on Tuesday.

Speaker 2 (01:03:31):
By the way, okay, here we are all right, all right.

Speaker 1 (01:03:35):
If we weren't gonna get sued, I would tell Dan
to play whipping post right now.

Speaker 2 (01:03:38):
But I don't want to get sued for Ralph, for Ross.
See you next week, guys,