Transcript
Caleb Call: Blue vs. Red, Holy War Pod, Caleb and Ben. Back at it for our week five preview. um Second week in a row, we've had one of the... Two teams in Utah on a bye week. BYU last week and now Utah this week. so So the last week we only have one in -state game to preview before the rest of the year where we've got games every week. BYU.
Caleb Call: Going out to Fort Worth, a place that has not been kind to the Cougars in the past. Last showing 44 to 11 loss. one of BYU's first games in the Big 12. Josh Hoover's first career start, and he made the Cougars pay. And just in general.
Caleb Call: Even back to like the Mountain West days, it just the last few times BYU's played in Fort Worth has been... Not an easy place for the Cougars to win. Last win was 2006.
Caleb Call: Avenged some defeats in the past and TCU's kind of reeling after a... 2 -2 start with two pretty bad losses to North Carolina and UCF. What have you seen from TCU so far this year?
Ben: Yeah, TCU. I was watching that ah the opener. It was one of those week zero games, one of the first games on the – was it the first game of the day? very first college football game on Saturday.
Caleb Call: First game of the day out in Ireland, yeah.
Ben: Yeah, that was. So kind of my eyes were on that one just because it was the first game of the the Saturday slate. and um i was not impressed by alan craig they're uh Harvard quarterback. And so He was had all this hype.
Ben: Or sorry, did I say Alan? Jaden Craig.
Caleb Call: Yeah, Jade and Craig. yeah
Ben: Yeah, Jaden Craig, my fault. Alan Craig, I think he's an old NBA player, if I remember. remember, and right? But yeah, Jaden Craig, he's a Harvard transfer and they had all this hype. TCU is supposed to kind of be this little dark horse team this year.
Ben: And. Um, Yeah, they just kind of, he didn't look, I mean, the ball, it was. It was wet. It started raining a lot in that game. And so he...
Ben: I kind of... Initially chalked it up to that for TCU was. They kind of just... Had a little bit of the... The wet ball syndrome, he couldn't throw the ball, and they ended up.
Caleb Call: The Ireland games were always kind of weird, too.
Ben: but
Ben: Yeah. And so I was like, I kind of gave him a little bit of a pass. Like maybe that was kind of a weird game where they started out hot, like went and scored on the opening drive. And then. Kind of just stalled out and Bill Belichick's defense kind of shut him down. but they They didn't look great against... UCF, they only scored 13 points. and so That game was at UCF. It was in Orlando. So maybe coming back home, you get a little bit. a little bit more love, but...
Ben: um Jaden Craig threw for over 300 yards against UCF, but then didn't didn't. really result in any points and so I think it's one of those games where TCU it's gonna have to I think when the turnover battle um to even have a shot in it type of thing and so i uh i'm curious to see how they do at home See if they protect the ball.
Ben: Craig threw two picks last week so he against UCF. i Um, he kinda... didn't do enough like he he threw for a lot of yards but he didn't do enough to
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: make winning football plays. And so, like you said, though, BYU's had a hard time with TCU in the past. and so They're at home. They're coming off a loss, which usually means they practice. and I'm harder this week. And so the line's actually a lot closer than I thought it was going to be. I saw six and a half and was surprised how low it was. so um She's getting a little respect in the in the Vegas bookies market.
Caleb Call: Yeah. can i
Ben: so
Caleb Call: Vegas is kind of sticking to their guns too. I saw a tweet today that... 93 % of the public money is coming in on BYU. and they haven't adjusted the line, they they feel good about the 6 .5. Maybe they do think that TCU is a little undervalued. Against UCF, they did put up the yardage passing. They struggled a lot to run the ball.
Caleb Call: but they have over 300 passing yards. Really, the game came down to TCU had four turnovers and they were one for four, scoring in the red zone. so they were Moving the ball, they just couldn't finish drives. they um found a lot of different ways to kind of shoot themselves in the foot.
Caleb Call: Which, if you're a TCU fan... Maybe that gives you a little bit of hope that if you can just put it together and finish and drive that the offense isn't. terrible, like scoring 10 points against North Carolina and 13 against UCF.
Caleb Call: The yardage looks better than you'd expect for only scoring an average of 11 .5 in your two. power four games so We'll see. I feel like TCU, there's... Enough for optimism there. And then on the other side of the ball, their run defense has been one of the best in the country. they're allowing 86. rushing yards a game. and Obviously, that's where BYU is going to try and...
Caleb Call: come in and establish the run. and Obviously with LJ, you're hoping he gets over that 86 by himself. So it'll be an interesting matchup. The six and a half did feel low to me as well.
Caleb Call: I think BYU, I mean... Beat. TCU last year 44 -13. That was a better TCU team than this year's TCU team. and Granted, it was in Provo. but If BYU wants to accomplish their goals.
Caleb Call: this year. This can't be a game that you struggle in against. a probably mid to lower tier big 12 team yeah it's a game that you got to be able to Put away, move on. and Hopefully get out healthy. and
Ben: Yeah. I uh... Yeah, the six and a half when I first saw that was like Man, how is the... how is it this low? And I was kind of, I started looking back at some of their games and just curious to see what. what was the underlining details of TCU at least. and And TCU from there.
Ben: standpoint last week it was Two fumbles, two picks. And just like kind of, I mean, you turn the ball over. and you you lose a lot of those types of games. And so I'm like,
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And usually when you turn the ball over like that, unless it's something that you do consistently, that skews game results a lot. and so i uh it doesn't really show what type of team you are is if you have like four or five turnovers in that game unless you're doing that every game and so um if they can hold on to the ball and Um, Like you said, kind of. Try to keep LJ intact. If you keep him for under 100 yards, they're probably feeling pretty good about it on Saturday.
Caleb Call: Yeah, and honestly, BYU's defense since 2024, no defense has more interceptions than BYU does. which you probably, if you're cheering for Jaden Craig, you're hoping that that stat doesn't.
Caleb Call: play out how you'd expect it to. i I feel like BYU's defense will be able to keep TCU to... 20 points or less, and I'd be shocked if the offense couldn't. beat that total. so Wetwall.
Caleb Call: call this one in the pig gum but i feel pretty confident about BYU winning this one. Oddly enough. despite it being a home night game. I might be slightly more nervous for the Iowa State game next Friday.
Caleb Call: simply because I think that's a team that can kind of get down and dirty with you, and you've got the big look -ahead spot with Notre Dame the next week. so Not that BYU can't lose this game too, but I just...
Caleb Call: I think BYU is a program with the way the roster is built right now. is maybe above losing a game like this. Honestly, the matchup.
Caleb Call: almost identical, reminds me of a game that happened five years ago. BYU fans are going to hate listening to this. You had an undefeated. ranked 10 in the country, just like BYU is now.
Caleb Call: BYU team. Going to Boise and playing in... Andy Avalos, defense. Boise's they're not it was actually in Provo but they played a 500 Boise team who would been struggling that year, BYU's undefeated.
Caleb Call: And you just thought, like, oh, yeah, BYU's going to beat Boise at home. This shouldn't be a problem at all. We had already beaten Utah and ASU and everyone else. We're sitting there number 10 in the country. and There was a lot of rain. BYU fumbled the ball and had three or four turnovers and after a quick 10 -0 lead Boise scored the next.
Caleb Call: 17 or maybe even 20 points in that one and BYU ends up losing by a couple scores and just a really weird Game over. You got all the makings of that again. Number 10 BYU playing Andy Avalos again. Maybe he can...
Caleb Call: just like that game, forced enough turnovers and scored just enough to... get the win, make the game just kind of ugly. and never let be what you get in a true rhythm so But I think as a program BYU is elevated beyond what they were in 2021 to where I think hopefully they should be able to avoid a letdown spot like that against an inferior team. And even like in 2024 against Kansas, you saw a similar situation. so We'll see.
Caleb Call: Feel pretty good about this one, but... the six and a half spread that Vegas is sticking their guns to a lot. Definitely makes you wonder if they... Not if they know something, but if they just maybe TCU is an undervalued team at this point.
Ben: yeah yeah so This will be a fun one to watch. Just looked it up.
Caleb Call: Yes.
Ben: Alan Craig. former St. Louis Cardinals baseball player.
Caleb Call: There you go so let's say I've never heard of him, but I'm not a huge baseball guy.
Ben: That was fun. That's where I got out of it. here Yeah.
Caleb Call: Makes sense.
Ben: Yeah, I was like, I was just talking and then I realized I caught myself, but.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Alan Craig, old the old St. Louis legend. Not really a legend. of but Um,
Caleb Call: The rest of the Big 12, we got some fun games, though.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: We got – To kind of close the day, you've got both Arizona teams playing big games. Arizona's hosting Cincinnati. Arizona State's hosting Baylor. What do you think we're going to learn down here in the desert?
Ben: Yeah, this one's kind of a fun. Both the Arizona teams are home, and both of them have a short line. So Arizona State's a four -point line on Baylor. and Arizona is a... six and a half point line on Cincinnati.
Ben: um This is an interesting one because I think Cincinnati is They're 4 -0, but they're an interesting team because I don't know how much we know about them yet. um They had that. Big win against Kansas State. So if they win.
Ben: um walked into Arizona, came out with a win. I think. I would start to take them seriously more seriously than I do now, just because. But I'm still hanging on a little bit to that Miami of Ohio game.
Ben: And so I really want to see it again this week.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I want to see it two weeks in a row against two Big 12 teams, Kansas State and Arizona. If you can go win both those games, made now I'm going to kind of. more take you seriously. And so Arizona.
Caleb Call: Here's the question.
Ben: just
Caleb Call: Oklahoma State gets blown up by Tulsa, but we both feel pretty good about Oklahoma State, right?
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: In Cincinnati. They were down big to Miami, Ohio. They may actually come back and win the game. they got A weird game against an in -state rival. I'm not ready to write Cincinnati off yet, but I do agree that that's a concerning result.
Caleb Call: But I do think Cincinnati, honestly, is a... Not a big championship contender, but they're a decent team this year, I feel like.
Ben: Yeah, and Arizona did struggle with Washington State last week. I i was really impressed by how they looked early against BYU. so I uh... Not wrote off the Washington State game, but I mean i do factor in how they played against BYU and how they looked pretty good against BYU.
Ben: I'm interested to see where they actually are as a team because. Are they a team that... can play with. Like the top end of the Big 12 or are they a team that? It's struggling with a Washington State team that they should take care of easily because if you play like that.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: um If you play like they did against and against BYU late in that game and how they played against Washington State early on, then you're not going to win a lot of games. and so um It'll be interesting to see Arizona. this I mean, it's a game that's losable.
Ben: They definitely, I mean, they got the edge at quarterback, so. I think Fita's gonna... need to make the plays and so if he makes the plays and
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Um, takes care of the football then I think Arizona will be able to take care of business and Um, but it should be a fun one.
Caleb Call: Honestly, for Arizona. This is your second Big 12 game, and you're already in must -win territory because you lost the BYU game in week two. If you start 0 -2 in conference play, your season's as good as over. You could have to win seven straight to even have a chance to make the Big 12 championship game, and even then it's...
Caleb Call: Probably unlikely at 7 -2 and losing the tiebreaker to BYU. Muslin Range, Arizona.
Ben: Kind of reminds me a little bit of last year. A little bit of last year, Arizona started out really slow and then. um they were kind of an underrated team. I think they started out. ohmph thought or? That was it.
Ben: Not 0 -5 because they probably had some FCS games early, but it was like they they had lost five games quick in the year. and
Caleb Call: That my Arizona
Ben: But then they said. Yeah, and they started...
Caleb Call: No, Arizona last year went 9 -3.
Ben: um
Caleb Call: They lost to... They started in conference play. They lost to Iowa State. And then they lost to BYU. I think they started 1 -2 in conference.
Caleb Call: And then right after BYU, they lost to Houston. And then they won out after that. So they they were sitting there at like four and three. with three losses to good teams, Iowa State, BYU, and Houston, and then they won the rest of the games on their schedule.
Ben: Okay.
Ben: Okay, so yeah, they had so they were So they had those three losses in four weeks and then they ripped five in a row is what it was. And so those, ah I remember late in the year last year where.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: they just They were a team that seemed like they were out of the Big 12 race. But we're kind of a sneaky, dangerous team late is what I remembered. And so that could be the same thing if they drop this game. as they They're a team that can do damage later to somebody. and um but Amen.
Ben: Kind of didn't figure it out early last year. So they're kind of an interesting one.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Arizona State is a... They're a four -point favorite. This one's kind of a sneaky game. i yeah I was... I kind of have been a little bit impressed by Baylor. how Baylor's looked just.
Caleb Call: The defense, especially.
Ben: um in the In the trenches, yeah. I think they ah they run the ball well. and they They, uh... defend the run well and so they kind of look like a a big physical powerful team that can play with anybody that way. And, um,
Ben: And, I mean, they went kind of toe -to -toe with Auburn. and And we don't know how good Auburn is yet, but. um They were kind of like we were talking about last week. They were on a one -footed quarterback and almost won that game, Baylor over Auburn.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and so They're a play away from being 4 -0, and they're kind of a sneaky team. They're a four -point dog um at Arizona State, and I think that's one they can go win very easily, especially if...
Ben: they kind of I don't know. I'm a big fan of Kenny Dillingham too, though. So he ah he'll have the boys ready to play.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: But I think this is going to be the – this is kind of the one I'm – for the big 12 slate this week, I've got circled. I think. Baylor kind of has this sneaky potential to make a run right now in the Big 12, and it's going to start this week.
Caleb Call: I think so.
Ben: that was over So.
Caleb Call: Yeah, and BYU gets both these games they're both these teams in Provo later in the year, and so I'll definitely have my eye on this as well. I feel like both teams, Baylor and Arizona State, they both already lost a game that they probably felt they should have won.
Caleb Call: ASU lost by 28 points, but they... We're in that game until the quarterback kind of blew it at the end, and then obviously Auburn beat Baylor by the four inches. Kenny Dillingham even said earlier today. this week, you said.
Caleb Call: Baylor's four inches away from being a top 20 team coming in here to Tempe. Doesn't play out that way. Baylor's not getting any votes right now, nor should they yet. But I do think that the winner of this game.
Caleb Call: probably will find themselves in the top 25 poll at some point this year. They'll be sitting there with just one loss with a decent win under their belt. and Both of them have a somewhat manageable schedule over the next few weeks. So, yeah, I feel like this is a huge game for the Big 12. And it's just unfortunate. you have is a conference you can't Like...
Caleb Call: Just let opportunities in the Audi conference go to waste because had Baylor beat in Auburn which they're four inches away had ASU been able to just keep themselves under composure.
Caleb Call: in the fourth quarter against Arizona State. This game you could be talking about.
Ben: It's A &M.
Caleb Call: 15 years. That's 20 Baylor. This could be A &M, sorry. like This could be... arguably the biggest game of the day, have both these teams just been able to finish their games.
Caleb Call: So and it's too bad as a conference they weren't able to deliver in the out of conference, but that doesn't make this game any less exciting for. Those of us in the conference, both of them still undefeated in the league. and Should be a fun one.
Ben: Yeah, I think it's more when I'm circled the most excited about watching or following this. this weekend.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: so
Caleb Call: We have another matchup that I think will be a fun one. Two teams that have probably looked better to this point than anyone expected. Iowa State was sitting at 2 -2 with a loss to Iowa and a loss to Utah, played respectively in both games.
Caleb Call: Now, West Virginia coming off of a... Lost to Oklahoma State. They let that one get away from them in the fourth quarter. And this game. I'm super excited for. It's out in Jack Trice Stadium. And I think the last time I saw it.
Caleb Call: I think Iowa State's a one -point favorite in this one. And... Honestly, kind of surprising.
Ben: I think it's effective Yeah. It opened at one and and now it's up to three for Iowa State. So it's gone towards Iowa State.
Caleb Call: Wow.
Ben: Yeah
Caleb Call: Yeah, and Iowa State, we saw in the second half against Utah. I mean, West Virginia, they rely on the run. They had like 30 passing yards at halftime last week against Oklahoma State. but Iowa State's got a pretty good run defense. like I feel like this is a game where...
Caleb Call: If they're able to slow down and make Hawkins throw the ball. honestly you could find yourselves in this game and winning it. um Still a lot to learn about both of these teams, and I feel like... West Virginia getting the big Virginia win. We kind of expect a lot more from them than we do at Iowa State at this point. but I feel like the...
Caleb Call: Both of these teams are teams that... If you've got them on your schedule, I'd watch out for. You can't just sleepwalk through a game against either of them.
Ben: Yeah, this one's kind of ah an interesting one just because I think two weeks ago, the West Virginia over Virginia game, it kind of. gave them dislike. perceived. Like, oh, they're going to be a Big 12 contender.
Ben: Then they immediately had the letdown last week against Oklahoma State.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and at home and so now they're going across the country. to an Iowa State team that's been at home. They played Utah at home last week. and They're at home. They're coming off of a loss, too. So both teams are coming off a loss. And so I was ah initially just initial instinct when I saw it was, oh, wow, I'm surprised Iowa State's the favorite. but the more I think about this, like if they, like you said, their run defense, Iowa State's run defenses.
Ben: um is done for being pretty good this year and um I think if. They can slow West Virginia's rushing attack, which is their strength. they They'll be right in the mix to to win this game too. So this one should be a fun one as well.
Caleb Call: Yeah, I'm excited for it. Obviously, if you're in the Big 12, you're probably hoping West Virginia wins this one, gets to 4 -1. Honestly, there's a few teams sitting here in the Big 12 that... could find themselves in the rankings you already got five ranked in West Virginia the winner of the Baylor a ASU game winner of the Arizona Cincinnati game like There are some...
Caleb Call: teams that we could see kind of creep up and get into that conversation so we're It's only we... two for conference play but i feel like we're already going to start to see some um sifting of figuring out who's going to be good. and who won't be in conference play.
Caleb Call: We've got two more games that I feel like. You probably expect the Texas team to win, Houston, Houston, UCF, Texas Tech going to Boulder. Do you think that... Either one of these teams should be.
Caleb Call: I mean, obviously Houston. Hosting UCF at the fuck UCF. It was a good showing against TCU. Probably a more scary game than we expected. and then Texas Tech on the road to Boulder only a twelve and a half point favor. I just I feel like in both of these situations, Houston and Texas Tech probably win these games comfortably.
Ben: Yeah, the I... I am, as ah as a Utah fan, I was always an Isaac Wilson apologist, and I watched him play in high school, and I... I still. with my own eyes like the best high school quarterback I've seen ah out of the state of Utah. And he's a true freshman. It doesn't always work out for true freshmen. you have more and You just had the success Bear had last year as a true freshman, but that's an anomaly compared to everybody else. usually
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: um true freshman quarterbacks. typically struggle and that's what it's shown in the past and i'm willing to i'm willing to say isaac he he's getting the start this week first start for colorado on the year and
Caleb Call: intimidating for a start.
Ben: um I'm willing to say that. Yeah, and but Texas Tech hasn't looked great. like They've been turning the ball over a lot. I think I saw somewhere today it was eight turnovers through the first four for them.
Ben: And.
Caleb Call: Very uncharacteristic for how they were last year
Ben: Yep.
Ben: Yeah. And so I like if they're turning the ball over, I i think Isaac's. um I think he's a good quarterback. I, I really do think he was ah a really good prospect that just, I mean, as an 18 year old came in and didn't play very.
Ben: kind of got thrown in he he didn't have all of spring ball as the starting quarterback because it was supposed to be cam rising that year and so i think he kind of got thrown into a tough spot where he didn't um that kind of back half of the 2024 season with him in Utah. It just didn't go.
Ben: really that well. And so i ah I think... i think isaac's a good quarterback i think he could give uh being in uh at colorado texas tech going on the road like i uh I don't mind Colorado covering here and giving them a shot late, especially if Texas Tech turns the ball over a few times. And so this is one ah this is a sneaky spot. i think i'm ah i I really do like Isaac Wilson. I think if he can go play a...
Ben: Good football, take care of the ball. like I think this game could be close, closer than a lot of people think it's going to be.
Caleb Call: Got a big disagreement with me on this one. I do think Isaac's a fine quarterback. I just don't think this Colorado team, especially their offense. is ready to handle a team like Texas Tech even if Texas Tech is down from last year.
Caleb Call: I think this is a game Texas Tech wins by 20, even if Isaac has an okay day. i I don't think this game will be closed.
Ben: Although Colorado's not winning if Isaac has an okay game. He's got to be able to take care of the ball. He's got to do what Case Keenum just did on Monday night.
Caleb Call: Yeah. i don't see that happening All right. We'll disagree on this one I think Texas Tech wins big. We can revisit it next week in our recap, but I just don't think that.
Caleb Call: Especially the further this year goes on, I think it'll become obvious that Deion won't be coaching there. I think Colorado's going to start to fall apart. and I think you can start to see that happen this week if things go. south quickly.
Caleb Call: Maybe Isaac would give him a... shot of rejuvenation here who knows but um We'll see.
Ben: Quarterback switch to spark some fire, hopefully, for is what Deion's thinking.
Caleb Call: Yeah. i mean honestly with how juju's played to this point I mean... There was no spark. There was no fire at all. so What's the worst in trying something else?
Ben: And Will Hammond, four touchdown passes this year, five interceptions. So he hasn't been good.
Caleb Call: He has not been great.
Ben: If they play anybody with a pulse, they probably have already dropped a game. so
Caleb Call: Yeah. That Houston game, they very well could have lost. It was only a two -point win, and Houston was leading for a lot of that one. So they are vulnerable. The fact that this is only a 12 .5 point spread compared to what Texas Tech was doing to teams last year.
Caleb Call: goes to show just how differently Texas Tech is perceived to this point. And I do think that they're going to find themselves in a lot of close games in Big 12 play. But not this one.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: As far as the rest of the country goes. We got spoiled last week. We have a slate this week that... is honestly a little underwhelming. There are still some fun games. Game day is going to Ohio State, Iowa.
Caleb Call: I know last time Ohio State went to... the visit the Hawkeyes. They ended up getting smacked. They lost 55 -20, I think was the final score on that one, or 55 -24 maybe. um Any reason to believe that Iowa can have a similar performance? Maybe not blow them out, but at least...
Caleb Call: win the game this time against Ohio State.
Ben: I don't think so. I mean, big two score or two touchdown line here, 14 and a half. and
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and I think Iowa were coming off that crazy win against Michigan in the big house, I think they're gonna have a let down game here and I think they get blown out. So. I got Ohio State big in this one.
Caleb Call: I agree.
Ben: I don't think.
Caleb Call: and another Another thing to note. Michigan who can't throw the ball to save their lives. Threw kind of all over Iowa last week despite the loss, and Michigan had 200 -yard receivers. What do you think Jeremiah Smith's going to do to these guys? i I think Ohio State wins this one, too. I do think there's a world where this game is like kind of like what the Iowa -Indiana game was last year where Indiana won.
Caleb Call: The final score ended up being. um
Ben: respect youable
Caleb Call: True. that The one by, yeah, that was a somewhat close game, but I feel like Indiana was always kind of in control of that one. And even Iowa gave Oregon a game last year too. So we've seen them play up. to their competition I don't know if their defense is good enough to do that this year after what I saw Michigan, who is inept offensively, do to them. so yeah i I got the Buckeyes big in this one, too.
Caleb Call: Maybe the most exciting game of the day, we got... The first. Real. test for mississippi state and kamario taylor they've got three power four wins already wins over Minnesota, South Carolina, and a big win on the road against Missouri last week. At at home against Missouri, I think, actually. Now they've got Bama coming to town.
Caleb Call: And Bama's a last I saw five and a half point favorite in this one Keelan Russell has been amazing so far to this year as a freshman quarterback. Camario in his first full season starting for Mississippi State.
Caleb Call: Probably one of the more fun quarterback matchups we've had to this point in the year.
Ben: Yeah, this one should be a fun one. The lot the over -under is like 60 points. so Kind of the... No. Vegas implied total is like $33 .27. for alabama in this one so Could be a lot of points, which...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: in an SEC matchup, that's kind of a fun one where. um Usually those sometimes can get low scoring, like you've seen the Oklahoma games of the past where they're like 14 -7 or things like that.
Caleb Call: Oh, gosh.
Ben: But this one could be a...
Caleb Call: Yes.
Ben: This one could be a lot of points, and I'm i'm really curious to see Taylor and this Mississippi State team against a team like Alabama. because I don't think we really know anything about Mississippi State yet. They beat Missouri, and Missouri was ranked, but how good is Missouri actually?
Ben: There was a lot of stuff that came out where it's like...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Missouri this last few weeks where Missouri is like Oh, and something against. them Ranked teams or whatever, but they've still been ranked for like the majority of the last three years and so i i think this
Caleb Call: Props to Missouri. They've built a program that can beat bad teams. consistently. But they just still cannot win a big game.
Ben: Yeah, so I'm curious to see Mississippi State against a quality opponent. because I mean, they go beat South Carolina and Missouri the last two weeks, both by seven. and so
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: oh Alabama's kind of, I mean, they went. It was a close game for a while, but then they pulled. the away against Kentucky and then. um Blue South Carolina out. um,
Ben: Kind of played with Florida State a little bit, played with their food against them. So they're kind of a. a team that hasn't consistently dominated the teams they've played. like Even the Kentucky game was really close for it.
Caleb Call: Amen.
Ben: A majority of them. into the third quarter even and before the third quarter they kind of blew it open and so um This one's kind of a fun one. I i think ah this is going to tell us a lot about Mississippi State and how they're actually a contender.
Caleb Call: I think so. Yeah, I love seeing new teams rise up, and now's the time for Mississippi State.
Ben: So.
Caleb Call: They're beating teams they should beat if they are going to be a good team, and now you've got a chance to go prove you're a great team. I think Kamaru Taylor is a great quarterback. One of the – it's tough. I don't know if you take him or Trinidad Chambliss, but the state of Mississippi might have the best quarterback play in the country this year with those two.
Caleb Call: and I... Hope that Mississippi State can give Alabama a game. From what we've seen with Mississippi State, They struggle to stop. South Carolina, and then Missouri with Austin Simmons. was throwing the ball plenty on them too.
Caleb Call: I bet you Bama ends up scoring a lot in this one, and I think it'll just come down to whether or not Mississippi State can keep up. And we've seen cracks on Bama's defense. Florida State put up. 36 was the final score on that one. so i If I had to guess, I think this game approaches or hits the over. but Probably, ah I mean, for our pick, I'm probably into picking Bama in this one. but I'm excited for. I'd love to see some new blood in the SEC. I'd love to see Mississippi State go out and prove me wrong.
Caleb Call: And...
Ben: Yeah. and mean And Alabama, since Nick Saban's left, hasn't been as dominant as as they have been in the past. Like in the k Nick Saban era, this is a game where Alabama just dominates. And so you hear the name Alabama and you think.
Ben: oh, they're going to take care of this game, but they haven't. consistently dominated these games.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: like they have in the Saban era. And so. um This is a game that, I mean... it I think it tells us a lot about Bama, too. is Are they going to go take care of the the games they should take care of?
Caleb Call: That's true. And especially on the road. I mean, yeah, this is where we've seen Bama most vulnerable under. killing the boar and This game, not being at home, i you still remember the Vanderbilt? loss and I mean, yeah, this is gonna be...
Caleb Call: Definitely an interesting one to see. Probably the most exciting game, and of course... ESPN. the STC put this game at 11 in the morning to start the day. i know Mississippi State and Bama fans are hoping for a night game. but didn't play out that way.
Caleb Call: um Speaking of Missouri, playing big games. They've got Florida. on deck here And Florida jumps into the AP Top 10.
Ben: at home.
Caleb Call: Now they're traveling traveling out to Missouri. Do you think that... This is a potential letdown spot for Florida, kind of like what Ole Miss just had against them.
Ben: And now it's funny because you don't think about it like that because like Ole Miss. Like everyone was like, wow, Ole Miss is the dog against Florida. And it's like basically the same exact thing where now. Florida just had the big home game like Ole Miss did, and then now they went on the road in the game. and so Oh, man, I'm i'm not going to go two for two on those in the week. I i think Missouri is a different. Caliber of a team is Florida. and I mean, I think there's a reason Ford is favored.
Ben: this week rather than...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I'll miss being the dog last week. and so florida's still five and a half point favorite at home and so or on the road i mean and so i I think Florida is going to. I think Florida's going to do it. I i think Sumrall's a different beast. I think Florida's back. And this is going to be a fun. ah
Caleb Call: I think so.
Ben: Florida's got a weird SEC team where it's like actually a fun SEC team to. like I cheer for Florida over Bama, Florida over LSU, Florida like all over Georgia.
Caleb Call: Absolutely.
Ben: all All those teams. And so Florida just is kind of one of those teams that's kind of fun to. to see do well and so i think summerall's got him
Caleb Call: It's easy to cheer for them because they wear blue. It just is natural for you to cheer for a blue team.
Ben: No, I think it's the the orange.
Caleb Call: The Yankees, the Jazz, Florida, BYU. You're getting there.
Ben: Maybe I'll stop playing from now that you say that.
Ben: But.
Caleb Call: It's a big proof.
Ben: Yes, I think.
Caleb Call: Florida.
Ben: Yeah, so I think Florida's going to – I think Florida's going to – do it. I i like Florida big in this one. I think they covered that five and a half. and kind of i think they make they meant right after their statement so
Caleb Call: Yeah, and honestly... is a team. cheering for as few SEC teams in the playoff as possible. What you probably want, we talked about Bama and Florida.
Caleb Call: You want some of these SEC teams to separate themselves from the pack? And just... Beat everybody. Bama last year, Oklahoma last year. Even like Georgia, there were too many teams giving out wins.
Caleb Call: to... lower level teams that kind of elevated the middle of the pack into the playoff and You don't want to have a situation like that again where Bama loses to Mississippi State.
Ben: Georgia lost to Bama. Bama lost to Oklahoma. Oklahoma lost to like...
Caleb Call: Exactly.
Ben: and like everyone was like losing to the other team and it just like kept them everyone at 10
Caleb Call: Yeah. You need to have a few dominant teams. and Hopefully we start to see that this week with with Bama and Florida. just delivering how they need to and moving on. The rest of the slate, those are the...
Ben: Get Mississippi State out.
Caleb Call: Yeah, exactly. Those are the three ranked games ranked matchups There's one game on Friday night. I don't know if you saw this. Only time. in history.
Caleb Call: That you've had to 4 -0 Power 4 teams. facing off. and neither are ranked. Never happened before. But Pitt... Virginia Tech.
Caleb Call: are doing it. And again, it's just a new world. Teams get ranked in a new way. There's a ton of. Questionably ranked one loss SEC teams. even one -loss Big Ten teams like USC. and You get both of these teams kind of on the back burner. But it's going to be a fun one. Pitch looked awesome so far this year.
Caleb Call: Virginia Tech with James Franklin. They've been a fun story 4 -0. They survived. a brainstorm against Boston College and were able to win that one to stay undefeated. so I feel like this one on Friday night is going to end up being a...
Caleb Call: Probably one of the more fun games of the weekend.
Ben: that's ah for you For you local ones, that's the first KSL Pick 'em Game of the Week. It's ah it's a game that was ah the 4 -0, 4 -0 matchup between. Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech Pitt.
Ben: yeah I've still gone back and forth. I haven't decided who I want to go in this game. I think this is going to be a sneaky fun one. Um, with ah with these two teams and so I uh...
Ben: It's ah the James Franklin era. Is it underway where they yeah they're going to go take care of the teams they should go take care of like they did at Penn State? They win all the games they should. and so If that's the case... don't know if it'll be If he'll be in so full swing yet.
Ben: But that's a game that James Franklin's won in the past is those middle middle -tier games.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: care of those ones. so
Caleb Call: And Pitt's a team in the ACC that's always just hanging around. they've Obviously, they won the ACC back with Kenny Pickett, but outside of that season, it's just... they've always been in the mix, but not one of the premier teams. and Feels like you might get a little bit more of that here with them.
Caleb Call: I honestly am pretty excited to see. Yeah. the way that Virginia Tech plays the rest of this way. we With James Franklin, you hope that they end up being...
Caleb Call: Kind of a... ACC powerhouse. and We'll see if they can pull it off. and Go 5 -0, and I feel like the winner of this better be ranked, isn't it? 5 -0.
Ben: You'd think. Two 4 -0 teams, Friday night, so a lot of eyeballs on them. You'd think that the winner gets a... It gets a little bit of love. in the twenties, not like a super high ranking, but.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: massive
Caleb Call: We'll see.
Ben: Sorry, my thing's about to die. I'm trying to get rid of a... i for some reason the computer's not charging today so hopefully you don't lose me
Caleb Call: Hopefully we'll see.
Caleb Call: Sorry for the awkward pause there. we Had some technical difficulties over there with Ben and his computer. So he looks more clear now. It doesn't look like he's being filmed on a potato. So we got some his computers charging.
Ben: That's what he said.
Caleb Call: at bit
Ben: That's funny you say that because you're always really blurry on my end so
Caleb Call: yeah Well, yeah Both. Blur to each other, that's funny. We just talked about Pitt -Virginia Tech Friday. There's another fun one on Friday with Penn State and Northwestern. both of them coming off losses. but Northwestern looked pretty good against Indiana and Penn State with a disappointing loss to Wisconsin.
Caleb Call: How do you see that one shaking out?
Ben: And that was an interesting one because Northwestern. Um. I didn't think played very good against Indiana. Like I thought they were.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Watching that game was like, I wasn't impressed by Northwestern, but they kept in. the game close with Indiana, which was kind of surprising. Cause I, I would have thought that Northwestern would have had to play a really good game for that result to be like pretty close, but they cut it to that one score. and Um, I thought they could have played better.
Ben: and so ah kind of a like i I didn't expect Northwestern to be good. I mean, obviously.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Chip Kelly there now as the OC. um
Caleb Call: And they killed Colorado earlier too.
Ben: Yeah, and so they're kind of a ah weird team. They're at home um i was surprised how short the line was on that one too but i guess they're giving northwestern some love it was two and a half points for Penn State as a road favorite.
Ben: And so this is kind of a... a sneaky one because this is one you would have circled pen Penn State early and um Penn State coming off that loss. If they wouldn't have lost that game to Wisconsin late, I probably would have taken Northwestern at home here. But I think Penn State coming off the loss, I think they kind of refocused. coming in. Take care of business on the road.
Caleb Call: See, that that logic tracks if if Penn State's the better team. I think Northwestern's better. I think lord Lester wins this game, and I think they end up having a pretty solid season. Give me the Wildcats here.
Caleb Call: Like you said, they didn't play a perfect game against Indiana, and they were just hanging out with them the whole game, lose by six.
Ben: All right.
Caleb Call: They kind of cost themselves a chance to win in the fourth quarter because they couldn't get stops down the stretch. but I think Northwestern at home goes out and... wanes maybe even by multiple scores. I don't – I've not been impressed with Penn State. I think that Penn State is a – 6 -6 to 7 -5 team that...
Caleb Call: Got blessed with an easy schedule. Everybody got on the hype train during the offseason because of the schedule. and I think they're starting. I mean, we saw it against Temple. We saw it against Wisconsin. They don't look great. And I think that will continue to show here, and I think the Wildcats pull this one off.
Ben: They lose this one and they're sitting there looking down the barrel at USC Michigan the next two weeks. and On a two -game losing streak. They're probably not feeling very good about themselves in Penn State
Caleb Call: Speaking of teams, by the way, that have not been very impressive to this point, but USC and Michigan. Somebody's got to win. If Penn State's playing those two, someone's got to win. so
Ben: That's how the USC -Washington game is this week.
Caleb Call: yeah we uh Oh my goodness.
Ben: Moving over to that one.
Caleb Call: i
Ben: itd
Caleb Call: I hate both.
Ben: Um,
Caleb Call: teams.
Ben: Yeah, I think I think there's not a person lower on USC in the country than me, and I think there's not a person lower on Washington in the country than you. And so this is one of those games where one of these teams has to win, and it's going to be a funny one.
Ben: because i i don't really know
Caleb Call: Eh. I'm just as low on USC as you are. This is kind of an interesting... Like a thought pass here If the Pac -12 still existed...
Caleb Call: And you're looking at the teams in the Pac -12 right now, like the old USC. does not look good. Washington does not look good. Oregon has looked very vulnerable. They beat USC. That's, not I don't think, fixing their season.
Caleb Call: They've not looked good to this point. Like really? If the Batcovers were still together... It might just be Utah and UCLA at the top of the bunch of bad teams. And you saw a lot of that in the Pac -12 down the stretch.
Ben: You got Oregon. You got Oregon still.
Caleb Call: They had some rough years.
Ben: Orton would be still in the mix.
Caleb Call: Oregon plays the... UCLA next week. So that'll be it. Huge one, Dave. keep an eye on but Yeah.
Ben: And plus. Plus, Oregon would be the... the pseudo favorite in the the north the pac -12 north of that old one and so
Caleb Call: what they they stopped honoring divisions though so
Ben: I guess that last, was it the last year they didn't?
Caleb Call: That's how you take on the USC.
Ben: Yeah, you're right. I forgot the last one.
Caleb Call: last couple of years.
Ben: But uh... I think one of the years... um I think. i think it was 2022 was the first year they stopped doing that actually now that you're
Caleb Call: Yeah it was. It was when Utah played USC. um because that would have been usc washington but they switched the rules which let Utah go in.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: And then the next year you stop Oregon, Washington.
Ben: And Utah was in the previous. Yeah, and Utah was in the previous year and played Oregon when it was. before split in 21.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I think it was 22 that first year. so Yeah, you're right. i yeah I'd forgotten that that was a little tweet they made.
Caleb Call: Yeah, the West Coast football. is being carried right now by the state of Utah, which is... Not.
Ben: Have fun.
Caleb Call: Normal. It is fun. and It's probably uncomfortable for the... Coasters over there with ah Yeah, Oregon, Washington, USC. UCLA has looked good. Honestly, that's a team that...
Caleb Call: We'll talk about our playoff predictions in the future, but I've got a UCLA predicament to walk through. so Well, we'll see you. the Arizona school still might have a shot to have good years too. So, I mean, it's.
Caleb Call: West Coast football is not. dead, but yeah, BYU and Utah are the two highest ranked teams out West, which is kind of a... fun development.
Caleb Call: Rest of the slate, you've got a bunch of games that could be fun and could be blowouts. Notre Dame. traveling to North Carolina and playing Bill Belichick. Obviously, Notre Dame and BYU schedule, I'll have my eye on that one.
Caleb Call: We've seen North Carolina play some interesting games. They beat TCU. Dave Clemson. They honestly probably should have beaten Clemson, but they end up after a long delay. They end up blowing a red zone trip. right after the delay And then climbs and goes and...
Caleb Call: Gets a couple touchdowns and pulls that one out. Do you think that Notre Dame's on upset alert here? Playing Bill Belichick, do you think they'll be able to cruise?
Ben: So line opened at 24 .5. It's down to 21. And it seems big to me just because. I like... ah I just think Bill Belichick's a good coach. like yeah I mean, you don't win that many Super Bowls.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: being a good coach. and so A game where they they blow the game against Clemson. And honestly, Notre... it's kind of tough but then i don't think notre dame's look that great like they only They played a tight game against Michigan State. and They just have like even the Wisconsin game was tight for two and a half quarters before they kind of blew open the Wisconsin game.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And so. Um, I... I just think. I just think 21 is a lot of points. So I think. i would If you made me bet this one, I'd actually take the points just because I think a Bill Belichick defense is going to keep this low scoring enough where I think they... And I haven't been as impressed with the firepower behind the offense at Notre Dame. They haven't been able to run the ball like they were last year. and so I think this is a game that's... I mean, I would I'm not picking them. I'm not picking North Carolina to win this outright, but they're probably keeping this more like a two -score game -ish.
Ben: I uh...
Caleb Call: I wouldn't be shocked by that either.
Ben: I don't know Yeah, so that's that's kind of how I see this game going. I think Bill Belichick kind of keeps this a... a low scoring game and they keep it close -ish. Close -ish being like.
Ben: Tender. 10 to 17, probably.
Caleb Call: Yeah, it's not a game that you can turn off at halftime, but also not a game that ever... Feels like Notre Dame's in danger. I can see that, too. I do think Notre Dame played their best game of the year against Purdue, just barely. they dominated that one from the start.
Caleb Call: and Purdue. was awful last year they looked a little better to start this year so I think that that... Again, doesn't present Notre Dame is kind of fix some of their issues. They're still struggling to run the ball as they.
Caleb Call: did last year so we'll see but yeah I've got Notre Dame winning that one as well And then you've got.
Ben: Notre Dame has always started slow. Last year they started they went 0 -2 and then won 10 in a row.
Caleb Call: It's true.
Ben: A couple years back, they lost to Northern Illinois really early in the year before they got going. Notre Dame's kind of historically. started a little bit slower this year they haven't lost a game doing it but they haven't looked great in some of these and so maybe it's just the uh Their program, they get going hot late. so
Caleb Call: Yeah. We'll see if they can get that figured out. Hopefully they wait until after the trip to Provo. Figure it out. But we'll see. um Big game in the state of Utah for the Aggies, just coming off their first win of the season, and now they've got...
Caleb Call: Boise State. Coming up. Boise obviously has looked awesome to this point in the year. They just barely killed Western Michigan. They beat Memphis pretty comfortably, mostly because of a second -half surge. and Honestly, the close to Oregon loss was an impressive way to start the season.
Caleb Call: Does Utah State have a chance in this one or is this one all Boise?
Ben: i think this is all boise boise's kind of always had utah state's number even the year Utah State won the Mountain West. Boise came into.
Caleb Call: Still going to beat Boise.
Ben: Yeah, Boise came into Logan and beat him. And so I think it's one of those things where Boise's kind of always taking care of the Aggies. and Um, This is up on the Smurf turf. and so I think think Boise takes care of business and gives Utah State another loss.
Caleb Call: Yeah, I agree with that. I... Would love to see Utah State go out there and push them. I think that they already got their... Post Harrison Taggart kind of rallied out with Troy, and I think this is the comeback to Earth Week, but wanted to give them a shout -out. Biggest game on their schedule every year is Boise State. and It's coming up early this year. There's a chance we see it twice. Obviously, the Pac -12 has the weird situation where the last week of the season.
Caleb Call: It's a flex week. And so teams can. adjust who they're facing and as of this very second Boise and Utah State are slated to play twice. But again, that can be flexed into something else. so Could be one of two games against the Broncos that we see this year.
Ben: Yeah, I don't think the Aggies want to see that. um yeah i got i got broncos this week i think they kind of take care of business and It's never really a close one for the eggs.
Caleb Call: Yeah. So for our pick -em, we've already talked about most of these games. it's run through it to start. byu tcu and i can go first on this one i've got byu winning 38 to 17.
Caleb Call: I think BYU. gets up big and just kind of coasts in the second half to a win I think that Off of bye week, they'll have some stuff ready on offense. They'll score quick. and kind of leave TCU in the dust. and Just a...
Caleb Call: Hang on to the end of the week. Hopefully avoid some injuries.
Ben: Yeah, this one's This one's tough for me just because I don't know i don't know what Vegas knows that I don't know. so yeah I like this one being... um A little bit closer, but I still i still like BYU.
Ben: to take care of business and cover so i'm gonna go uh 31 21 byu and so they uh they cover the six and a half but Make it a two score game.
Ben: TCU it's kind of a kind of a tight game one score game it's kind of like a
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: the Utah -Iowa State game last week where... BYU's probably controlling the whole game. TCU comes in and cuts it to one, and then BYU kind of like goes and then finishes the game. and so I think this is one where BYU fans don't turn it off until ah they watch through the end, but I think TCU makes this a close game, but BYU ends up winning by two scores.
Caleb Call: You can see that, and honestly, with all the woes that BYU's had in Fort Worth. Get out with the wind and we'll be happy. just Stay in the field.
Ben: I guess before we go to... Before we go to the next one, you asked me this last week about Iowa State. I want to ask you this about TCU. What is TCU's script to win the game?
Caleb Call: You got to turn the ball over for BYU. You got to have BYU. I mean, Bear Bachmeier. We saw it last year. He threw. I think he had seven interceptions last year. and It's fumbled the ball.
Caleb Call: We already saw him throw one against. Colorado State and you you just That. and then red zone. If you can force BYU to kick field goals or force BYU into kind of the tempting fourth and shorts, we've seen Kalani like to go for it.
Caleb Call: bing Keep us from scoring in the red zone. That's how Kansas beat BYU back a couple years ago. BYU moved the ball really as much as they wanted to against Kansas, but they just couldn't get points in the red zone. We saw a drive right before halftime, and that one ended in an interception.
Caleb Call: He had another like 10 minute drive to start the second half that. Ended in a field goal, didn't get the touchdown. so Yeah, if you can. turn the ball over, I think that you're going to have a chance, especially if that leads to short fields that TCU could score on. so I think that's probably the...
Caleb Call: Easiest path to victory. On the other side, too. Their run defenses look good. forcing Bear to throw the ball, but then also Jaden Craig has thrown the ball well. If they...
Caleb Call: win the turnover battle if the offense isn't turning the ball over if they're able to finish drives I think it's very reasonable to think that TCU could go out there. and win the game. but I do think they're probably going to have to have the Turnovers go their way in this one.
Ben: Gotcha. All right. Our next. ah Our next big 12 pick them. is Baylor. And Arizona State, what do you got in this one?
Caleb Call: I've been going back and forth. I think for me, this game comes down to I don't trust Cutter Bully yet. I do love Kenny Dillingham, but I'm going to go Baylor. I think that they win this one 24 -20. I think it will be a close one, and Baylor gets it done.
Ben: It's interesting you have a... 44 points because the lines 52 but I was thinking it was way too high you ah and so that's interesting that you're on the same page as me there because You go look at the... like Baylor's games against some of the Power 4 teams like Auburn 17 -16, Colorado last week they beat them 23 -13.
Ben: Arizona State played a game last week, 24 -17. Like, that's all 41 points and under, and they've got this pretty high line of 52 right now.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and so I'm a... I'm with you on this one. I actually, Eileen Baylor, I i think this defense is kind of underrated. and I think it's one of the. Um, kind of sneaky units in the Big 12.
Ben: And so. I got a... I got Baylor holding on and winning this game, and I got it 24 -17. Baylor, what was your score? how didn't I didn't catch yours.
Caleb Call: 24 -20 for Baylor.
Ben: 24 -20. I mean, we both had 24 for Baylor. I had 17, so pretty similar game right there. But I think Baylor's defense kind of slows Arizona State down.
Caleb Call: Yeah, one thing for me to watch is just tomorrow and Miller Super huge playmaker for ASU at wide receiver, but it feels like ASU is not. figured out how to use him in a way he's not really had a breakout game to this point so Maybe this is a chance where they are able to and it opens up their offense more. But yeah, I just don't trust them to score enough points. especially on a good defense like Baylor.
Caleb Call: Next one up, down in Tucson, we got Cincinnati coming to... Go visit the Wildcats. In this one I I've been tempted to go Cincinnati because I do feel like.
Caleb Call: In general they are an undervalued team right now. But I think Arizona gets it done. We saw Arizona go two. Cincinnati and beat them last year. And that was, I think. a Probably better Cincinnati team. and I think the Wildcats are able to get it done again this year. Give me Arizona, 31 -28.
Ben: I got a Arizona winning this one 34 -17. So I got him kind of taking care of business. and I think they ah they end Cincinnati.
Caleb Call: Not a lot of Cincinnati respect over there, huh?
Ben: Yeah, I I'm still ah I'm still wanting to see it. I think it's one of those things where. If they go win this game, it's going to. i'm gonna start to kind of give them a little bit more respect in the future but i still am not on the cincinnati bandwagon and
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I uh... i I know a lot of people are kind of low on Arizona after their Washington State game, but watching the Arizona play with BYU, I mean, they they were an inch away from a first down there, and if they go score that drive, then all of a sudden they're winning or they're up late against BYU. I was impressed by them. they ah They just didn't play a very good second half. and so If they can kind of...
Ben: Let what they did in the first half and kind of balance it for four quarters, like against what they did against BYU.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I think the Arizona team can go play and beat most teams on their schedule. and so I got Arizona in this one big.
Caleb Call: After that, we got... Friday night, Virginia Tech and Pitt. I've been going back and forth with this one too. I'm gonna... Go Pitt. I'll say kind of a low scoring game.
Caleb Call: similar to the Baylor ASU game. I'll go 23 to... 21. Pit.
Ben: Okay. I uh... I've been going back and forth on this one. And to be honest with you, I hadn't when we started the podcast, I still hadn't. made my pick on this game just because i was i was going back and forth i thought uh I thought for...
Ben: I thought, honestly, Pitt's schedule is more impressive so far, what they've done. I haven't been super impressed by Virginia Tech. like They only beat Boston College by a touchdown. They played a tight game against Maryland.
Caleb Call: Yeah. Granted, that wasn't a crazy storm, but the Maryland win looks a lot worse in hindsight after UCLA just went and won.
Ben: After they lose big to UCLA, they get 50 dropped on them by UCLA.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I think they only scored seven points. And so I'm like.
Caleb Call: 54 to 3. Even worse than that.
Ben: and But this one being at Virginia Tech, being a James Franklin special, I yeah i think James Franklin, he takes care of these middle -tier teams. and So I'm going to go Virginia Tech in this one. and I got this one.
Ben: 24 -21. And, uh... Pretty far under the over -under again because I like both these teams' defenses. They've both played a powerful team's lower scoring generally on their schedule.
Ben: so
Caleb Call: Yeah
Ben: I got this one under as well.
Caleb Call: All right, Mississippi State.
Ben: from Virginia Tech. Go Hokies!
Caleb Call: For Virginia Tech, yeah. Mississippi State, Alabama. I'm thinking Alabama in this one. I'll say... 41 to... 27. I think Bama wins this one by a couple scores. and I think Mississippi State will make it a fun game to watch. joe i just trust the Alabama offense to keep scoring more than I do Mississippi State's.
Ben: Yeah. That was the Oregon -USC game score last week was 41 -27. Um, Neither of their defenses are very good. And so ah this is one where Alabama, they've just poured on the points.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: 45 against Kentucky, 50 against Florida State, 49 against South Carolina, 48 against ECU. I got them rolling again. I got them. Final score, 49 -24, big over Mississippi State. and Kind of make a statement over Mississippi State. and Amen.
Ben: Yeah, on the road too. So give me a... Roll tide. Give me the... Give me a bandwagon.
Caleb Call: I like it.
Caleb Call: All right, next up. Iowa, Ohio State, College Game Day. Who do you got in this one?
Ben: Yeah, I give you Ohio State big. i yeah This is one where I don't think. We've seen it. with. Iowa before I think they can kind of keep Low scoring games, tough. And I think this is one where I think for a quarter, quarter and a half, they might be able to slow. Ohio State down, but for four quarters I don't think they're going to be able to slow them down.
Ben: um all together and so i still got this one a little bit lower scoring than some of those other ones or something like that batman game i was just talking about so i'm gonna go um 31 -14 Ohio State. so Ohio State's able to kind of beat up multiple scores the whole time, and it never feels like it's a big game, but Ohio State.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: doesn't pour on the points because I still kind of like Iowa's defense and be able to, I don't know if slow down is the right word, 31 points against Ohio State, but not get blown out off the field.
Caleb Call: yeah i kind of see a similar game script as you my score guess on this one was 24 to 6 I think that the defenses on both sides have good days. How's the defense is too much to?
Caleb Call: Keep Iowa in the game. And to close out Florida, Missouri. i've got gators in this one i don't think it's big i think that they do get pushed in this one.
Caleb Call: I'll say that Florida wins this one. 38 -31.
Ben: Okay. I ah just from ah from last week, we. I'm not quite sure if I trust Mississippi State yet. Missouri goes in. Loses the Mississippi State.
Ben: and then Florida kind of Showed us two weeks ago. a row Yes, at Auburn. home against Ole Miss. kind of poured on the point and so i gotta I got it happening again. i Give me a...
Ben: Give me 45. to um 20. for the Gators.
Caleb Call: Got a big one for Florida.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Florida and Bama both in blowouts.
Ben: Yeah, and I just don't. I don't trust Mississippi State or Missouri in those games. and So. I just think, ah I don't know if this is me hoping the SEC kind of has the clear favorites like we talked about to open more up for the Big 12.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Maybe this is just me hoping for the for the Big 12 here down the stretch. but i I like those teams to to really take it to. Mississippi State, Missouri this week. i think missouri's Finally going to get out of the rankings.
Ben: Mississippi State will probably get a little love and stay in it one more week in like the low 20s.
Caleb Call: Yeah. See you. Florida obviously had a great game against Ole Miss, but I don't think that Florida is a team that's going to go out there and just be able to blow out teams week after week. I do think that they're going to have some.
Caleb Call: How they played against Ole Miss won't be how they play every week. So that's why I kind of – leading a closer game here. And honestly, if Missouri wins, I would not be that surprised. I think Florida is probably. a year away from.
Caleb Call: Being like a true championship contender. But they've got a top 20 every game on their schedule, and it'll be fun to see if they can do it.
Ben: Yeah. i'm I'm really curious to see if Missouri's defense can slow them down in August. 44 against Auburn, 52 against Ole Miss. i and be curious to see if in Missouri can stop them.
Caleb Call: They've been putting up points all year.
Ben: Yeah
Caleb Call: Which is just if you're a Florida fan Billy Napier man, what was going on? You had almost all these guys in Gainesville last year and you couldn't score points on anyone.
Ben: Yeah. You hear Steve Sarkeesian.
Caleb Call: Here we are scoring. 50 every week.
Ben: Steve Sarkisian was telling the how He was telling the media in Texas, he was like, I was telling you guys, these guys had players last year. No, they went four and eight, but they just needed to get it to click together.
Ben: Maybe it was just a new coach to get them to all. piece it together.
Caleb Call: Yeah. See and that's what frustrates me about how teams get just ranked and like the. Advanced analytics always favor recruiting rankings. Good players does not mean you have a good team. You've got to have somebody who can bring that together and actually... meld it into something. and Billy Napier couldn't do it, and John Summerall can.
Caleb Call: Florida at 4 -8 last year truly was a bad team, even if the players were capable of greatness like they're showing so far. so yeah We'll see if Florida can keep it up, but so far I'm pretty promising.
Ben: So. behind Morgan Scali, John Summerall might be my new favorite coach. Every video I see of him, it's just, it pumps me up.
Caleb Call: He's a ball coach.
Ben: It it makes me want to run through a wall for him. So he's a. i think florida I don't think Florida is a national title contender yet, like you said.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I think they're still a year or two out before they really get that thing rolling. But I think four is on the up. but I think they're going to be good.
Caleb Call: I love John Summerall.
Ben: Thanks.
Caleb Call: I really do think we we talked about it last episode that.
Ben: So.
Caleb Call: Florida had a chance to get Lane Kiffin. They go John Summerall instead. I think they made the right decision.
Ben: Yeah. Yep. So. the
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: All these SEC teams, they ah they got they they miss on the big name, but Florida ends up. hitting the home run so
Caleb Call: Yeah. All right, Superdogs this week. My first pick. I'm going Temple plus six and a half against South Florida. South Temple have a pretty good game against.
Caleb Call: Penn State And USF is... not been super impressive to me at this point in the year. I think Temple getting six and a half points is despite this being on the road. I like Temple maybe even to get the outright win there.
Caleb Call: And then my second pick, I'm going with Purdue. I mentioned that I do think that they're a better team this year. And I think I saw 12 .5 is what they're getting against Illinois. And Illinois' defense has struck. gold to this point. They gave up 31 to Duke, gave up 42 to Ohio State. Ohio State probably could have scored more on that one.
Caleb Call: I think that even UAB was scoring on him earlier in the year to start the season too. so I think Purdue with their offense, I think that they're able to. um Keep up and...
Caleb Call: score plenty and keep that game closer than 12 and a half.
Ben: Yeah. All right, my two, I got one going ah to the SEC. I uh... I like. Tennessee last week when I was watching Tennessee play against Texas. They got a punt return to the house, and then they had a late touchdown drive.
Ben: Um, but it was just kind of like a scramble fest.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: And so I wasn't impressed by them. They are in Knoxville this week. but I uh... I don't know how good they are. And so I got Auburn. um plus seven.
Ben: Going into Knoxville and being able to go win that game and so
Caleb Call: It's honestly a big number. For good.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: poor offensive team like Tennessee.
Ben: Yeah, and so I i just – just watching that Texas game. And I don't know, maybe I'm underrating Texas' is a defense because they're they're kind of – like we talked about, I think they're one of the better – defensive units in the whole country. and so maybe i'm Maybe I just watched tech one of the best defenses shut down an offense that wasn't as bad as I thought, but I just don't think Tennessee's offense is is good enough to go do it.
Ben: and so I like Auburn this week in that one.
Caleb Call: I like the bit.
Ben: so And then now in the other one, I'm going to the Big Ten. ah We talked about it a little bit earlier. It's two teams that we both. not huge fans of. I'm really not a ah fan of Lincoln Riley and what USC is doing right now. I like almost lost a Rutgers a couple weeks ago. and so I uh... Give me a can be Washington nine and a half points. um They're going.
Ben: to USC. So it's a road game, but. Is there really a crowd? favorite slash like is there is there noise in that game when you go to USC anymore with no fans at the games and so I like nine and a half Washington at I think it's one of those games I went back and looked at that Utah State
Ben: Washington game it's a weird one where they turn it over on downs on long drive and kind of a lot of weird things happen where they didn't turn the ball over it didn't finish drives and made it a pretty tight game against Utah State which is a little frightening but
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: i think I think Washington is one that can go get USC.
Caleb Call: Washington's offense is one of my least favorite offenses in the country, but USC's defense is just so bad. When those two are on the field together, I just can't wait to watch and just see what happens. because i Those are two of my least favorite units in all of college football. well I think Washington has a fine defense, and I think USC has a fine offense. but Man, the other side of the ball is brutal for both of those guys. so
Ben: Yeah, and maybe I'm...
Caleb Call: We'll see. i
Ben: Maybe I'm underrating USC's defense a little bit, but I'm just like, I think Washington's going to be able to score on them.
Caleb Call: You're not. You're not underwriting their defense.
Ben: And so
Caleb Call: You might just be overrating their offense. their Their offense is bad, bad. They belong in the Big Ten with this offense.
Ben: Yeah, I mean, it's 58 and a half. It's a big over -under in that game. So I think they're kind of projecting those to be points. And so I don't know if if it's all USC.
Caleb Call: Yes.
Ben: but we'll We'll see. i I like. I like Washington there, nine and a half.
Caleb Call: Well... We both had outright winners last week, so hopefully we can follow it up and get some outright winners this week as well. um With us getting to the end of September and into October, it's time to...
Caleb Call: redo our playoff predictions. And i I can go first with mine.
Caleb Call: This is harder than I expected because... I feel like... Going into the year, it was hard to figure out, like, okay, there's a lot of teams that I think could compete for the playoff.
Caleb Call: And I think that that list has gotten smaller. so far. And you have to make sure that even a team that may be like an Oregon who I don't think. is good enough to be a playoff team. You've got to make sure they have the losses on their schedule to miss the playoffs still.
Caleb Call: but Here's what I ended up drawing up. So I've got. For my one seed. Georgia Bulldogs. 12 -1. Got them losing to Ole Miss. in the middle of the year, and that'll be their only loss. They win the SEC. Number two, Ohio State got them winning out.
Caleb Call: 12 -1. Three, I've got SEC Championship game loser Alabama at 11 -2. I trust the Alabama offense. I think that that's one of the best units in all of the entire country. And I think that they end up having a great year.
Caleb Call: Both of their losses I have to Georgia. Indiana, 11 -2. Similar to Alabama, I think both our losses come to Ohio State. I think those are your four buys. And here's where it gets interesting for me.
Caleb Call: I've got. And I have no idea how these teams will get seeded. But this is what I... started with and maybe we can discuss it a little bit. I've got Texas Tech going 12 -1. I think they lose somewhere along the way. I put Oklahoma State. I could see it being one of a few teams.
Caleb Call: But winning the Big 12, beating 12 -0 BYU. which means BYU goes 12 -1, Texas Tech goes 12 -1. I got Tech at BYU at 6. and Notre Dame at 7 at 11 -1. Lost to BYU.
Caleb Call: beat Miami. Miami at 12 -1 gets the eighth spot. So Tech 5, BYU 6, Notre Dame 7, Miami 8. It's kind of a nice little arrangement where Tech beat BYU, who beat Notre Dame, who beat Miami.
Caleb Call: All kind of makes sense there. but Then I've got 10 -2 Florida and 10 -2 Texas. What I can't figure out is. Would the committee make them go on the road? Or would one of these teams be it?
Caleb Call: BYU who lost the Big 12 championship game. Maybe it's Texas Tech who might be a little bit further down in the rankings before winning the Big 12 championship. Are Florida or Texas ranked? Above.
Caleb Call: Any of those guys? I don't know. I have them at 9 and 10 right here. Florida at 9 because I have them beating Texas and Texas at 10. And then for the 11th spot. Some controversy. I have it coming down to a couple of teams.
Caleb Call: 9 -3 Ole Miss with some huge wins. They already beat LSU. Like I said, I have them beating Georgia, who's the one seed. in 10 -2 UCLA, who really on the year I don't have it. getting almost any big wins.
Caleb Call: So. I gave the spot to Ole Miss. at 11 which means you've only got Two Big Ten teams. Five SEC teams and two Big 12 teams in my playoff.
Caleb Call: do you think How do you think the committee would end up seeding those teams if it played out that way?
Ben: I think...
Caleb Call: I should mention, by the way, Boise State is my 12th winning the –
Ben: We'll talk.
Caleb Call: G6 bar.
Ben: yeah the g5 g6 yeah Um, I think the um I think the SEC gets a little bit of a... a bias. We've talked about it many times.
Caleb Call: A little bit.
Ben: and so
Caleb Call: I think it's...
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Pretty big bias there.
Ben: Thank you.
Caleb Call: so of
Ben: I don't think a 9 -3 team gets in. We haven't seen it yet. The only three -loss team we've seen is Bama, but they were 10 -2, lost in the SEC title.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: And so. i I think a 10 -2 team gets in over him. Is is that what you're kind of seeing?
Caleb Call: you
Ben: i
Caleb Call: But...
Ben: What?
Caleb Call: The SEC has been crying all year about. straight to schedule. And. I think in this case here, so I i drew it up, and I'm going to just kind of read off the schedules here. UCLA going 10 -2.
Caleb Call: They would have a loss to Michigan and a loss to Oregon. wins over USC, Wisconsin. Illinois, Michigan State. like Yeah, she would. Probably not have a single ranked win on their resume.
Caleb Call: Honestly, it's almost a weaker version of who BYU was last year. And then Ole Miss sitting there at 9 -3. I've got them with wins over LSU, who I also have going right now. It went over number one, Georgia.
Caleb Call: Went over Mississippi State, who I imagine will be ranked at that point in the season. Went over Auburn. like I think you could reasonably say that Ole Miss would have four wins better than a single one in UCLA's. And I think that wins out at the end. I think Ole Miss would end up being.
Caleb Call: rain tire. And honestly, I think there's a world where Ole Miss maybe is even higher than 11 if they ended up 9 -3 with that Georgia win to hang their hat on. I mean it Interesting scenario for sure, but i don't even though UCLA is a Big Ten team, I think that that schedule would get scrutinized, especially compared to Ole Miss'.
Ben: Yeah. Yeah, it's it's an interesting scenario where... you kind of hope the I don't know. We've talked about it already. but hopefully the SEC can has the Their top teams just go dominate all the other teams and it kind of pushes everybody down.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Hold that middle tier, middle to upper tier down a little bit. He kind of opens the door for us.
Caleb Call: If I had had Georgia beating Ole Miss, I – I think Ole Miss will win one of the big games. They've got Texas. They've got Georgia. The other loss I have them taking was – losing to Texas, losing to Oklahoma.
Caleb Call: I think Oklahoma's a bad team, but I think that they'll come out and surprise somebody and still win one or two big games that they probably shouldn't. so Yeah. It's tough. Honestly drawing that out was tougher than I expected what like Texas Tech is a team that I don't love. but Again, I just...
Caleb Call: Their schedule wasn't crazy tough. I think that they can get themselves into the Big 12 championship game. And honestly, if they do, and if you're BYU sitting there at 12 -0 where you don't have to win to make the playoff, and you do if you're Texas Tech, there's a lot more riding on the game for Texas Tech in my eyes. and i i mean Maybe it's just after watching Tech beat BYU up last year twice.
Caleb Call: I feel like. Texas Tech will be able to come down with that one. and get two big 12 teams into the playoff but I mean it's We're getting to a point now in the season where... Obviously, it's i mean teams are pushing them. make the playoff and there's a lot of teams kind of ranked but You've had a lot of notable teams take losses early. It feels like the field's kind of shrinking a little bit.
Ben: Yeah. Yeah, it's kind of a... It really is. You're kind of seeing it settle out a little bit. It seemed like Oregon, like you talked about where. 10 -2 Oregon in the past is like a shoe -in. I don't know if they are this year.
Ben: With the... I don't know what their... with their loss to Oklahoma State. and tight win to Boise. I just don't know if they're a 10 -2. Oregon and our 10 -2 Big Ten team.
Ben: gets in and so It's kind of a, I don't know, kind of a fun scenario where. um You just never know with the the big 10 in the sec has kind of always gotten the ah multiple bids like I think that each year they've had three at least from each of those. and so um
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: This year, it feels like the Big Ten. It could potentially only have two. And so. it If that shrinks, then that kind of leaves the door open for. Who are are these other, like if the SEC gets.
Ben: Say the Big Ten only got... or big yeah the big 10 only gets two so say you got the big 10 The ACC has won. The Big 12 has got one. The G5's got one. Say Notre Dame gets one.
Ben: So now you got six spots. SEC would probably be four or five spots. Now you've got an open spot if the Big Ten only gets two. Maybe there's a Big 12 team or a second Big 12 team gets in, and that's even with five SEC teams.
Ben: And so the Big Ten kind of feels a little bit more open than it has in the past. And hopefully there's no bid stealing from like an ACC, like say someone beat Miami in an ACC title game.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: But it kind of feels like the Big 12. this year with the big 10 being a little down and if Oregon doesn't look as good, and Penn State dropping, and all these kind of middle -tier Big Ten teams start dropping games.
Ben: like If now you're sitting there, Ohio State, Indiana, are those the only two that get in? And so it kind of opens the door up for a Big 12 team to a second Big 12 team if everyone can take care of business.
Ben: which Exciting for.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: a
Caleb Call: And the Big 12 is higher in their rankings now than they were at this point last year.
Ben: for
Caleb Call: BYU. Got into the AP poll for the first time last year at 3 -0 after beating Colorado. so Yeah, I feel like. BYU is higher than they were last year. Utah is higher than they were last year. Texas Tech is kind of on pace to get where they were last year. they're Higher than they were at this point last year. but They jumped a lot after beating Utah. Climb pretty high pretty fast. but People are a little bit more skeptical of them this year. Then you've got Houston and Oklahoma State both ranked two. And so, I mean, yeah.
Caleb Call: The way that the schedule sets itself up. With BYU and Utah playing each other. And with Texas Tech not playing either one of them. And BYU having the huge game against Notre Dame. like There is a path to three playoff Big 12 teams. And what that would look like is...
Caleb Call: You need Texas Tech to be 12 -0. You probably need Utah to be 12 -0. And you need BYU to be 11 -1 but beat in Notre Dame, go and lose to Utah. And you'd be sitting there. all three of those would be top 10 teams for sure and comfortably in the playoff. and Utah, Texas Tech matchup doesn't even matter at that point.
Ben: Yeah, because I think ah if you got ah the Holy War winner, if they were undefeated. Or even if like BYU had one loss to. Notre Dame.
Caleb Call: Notre Dame.
Ben: Amen. And then they go play at Undefeated Tech. Bye. I think in I mean, if if the holy war winner goes and beats tech that's 12 and 0. and tech turns a 12 and 1 i think it's two bits minimum so it It kind of really does.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: ah seem like elephants.
Caleb Call: the The scenario that's interesting to me... What happens in this case? Let's let's say BYU goes... 12 -0 or 11 -1, but undefeated in conference play. Utah is 11 -1.
Caleb Call: Texas Tech drops a game somewhere. They're 11 -1. Only one of those two teams. can play in the Big 12 championship game. What happens to the 11 -1 team that doesn't?
Caleb Call: Are they...
Ben: Yeah, they probably get left.
Caleb Call: and
Ben: They probably get left out.
Caleb Call: Which is wild that an 11 -1 team can't make it 12 team field but I think you're right because I think by the end of the year. I think that both... Texas Tech schedule is going to be scrutinized, and I think Utah, if they lose to BYU.
Caleb Call: would be a similar conversation to what BYU had last year. like You had one shot at a playoff contender and you lost. Like, sorry. that Just kind of love.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: the way the Big 12 is right now. so Yeah. A couple interesting scenarios that could play out. Obviously, there's a lot of football to be played before we start talking about undefeated teams for BYU, Utah, and Texas Tech.
Caleb Call: Yeah, the the college football playoff field feels like it could be. open this year because of the Big Ten seemingly down.
Ben: Yeah. So this is where I got a, this is my interesting, I've got a little scenario at the end for my college football playoff for you. Um, So...
Caleb Call: Let's hear it.
Ben: I... So SEC, I've got. um I've got five teams that I think are going to get bids this year from the SEC. I've got Texas getting in bid. and Yeah.
Ben: I've got them dropping a game somewhere. They, uh... They host Florida and Ole Miss back -to -back weeks, and then they go on the road.
Caleb Call: and Mississippi State right after.
Ben: and Mississippi State right after, but then they go on the road to LSU. I'm going to... chalk one loss in there somewhere. I don't know where which one it is, LSU or whatnot, but I'm going to go Texas. Ends up going 11 -1.
Ben: Georgia, I've got running the table. So they're going 12 and 0. I think their big game on the road against. They got two big real games. They're playing um Ole Miss, and then they also – um What was the other game?
Caleb Call: Damn it.
Ben: um They're going to Bama. And I i like them. I like Georgia. I think Georgia's got. um I think they're going to go take care of Bama this year. And then they got that neutral game against Florida too.
Ben: But I think Georgia, those are kind of like the two top dogs in the SEC that kind of take care of business 12 and 11 and one. I think they're both in um this is where.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: this is where it kind of gets a a little funky for the the SEC. I got LSU finding a way back in at 10 -2. So LSU, they got two huge games.
Caleb Call: Interesting.
Ben: They got two huge games left on their schedule with one loss already. So they go ah they host Alabama. And they... And they also host Texas. So they got those two games back to back.
Ben: back -to -back weeks and those are huge you gotta go one and one in those if you go do that and you take care of team like the other ranked teams but like Mississippi State Kentucky's the Tennessee's of the world then you're sitting at 10 and 2 and that 10 and 2 with that schedule LSU's in and so I got LSU in this year
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: um with a 10 -2 record and then Ole Miss, I got falling out. So Ole Miss, if you look at Ole Miss' schedule. um they go They go to Austin, so they're going to go play Texas in Austin. They're going to host Georgia.
Ben: And. i I think if you drop those two games now, you're sitting at three losses. I think nine and three, you're out. So I'm kicking Ole Miss out of the. um out of the field with a loss to Texas, a loss to Georgia, and then with their loss last week to Florida. So now you've got three loss Ole Miss out. So now you're sitting there with – so you've got LSU, Texas, Georgia.
Ben: Alabama's schedule, besides that Georgia game. is very winnable so they've got to play at LSU. And then they go. They host Georgia, and if they drop those two games, everything else on their schedule is pretty winnable. So i'm even worst -case scenario, you go 0 -2 in those. I like them at 10 -2.
Ben: I like that offense to be able to take care of those middle -tier SEC teams and and um and find their way in at 10 -2.
Caleb Call: For sure.
Ben: and so those are kind of the first four like and those none of those seem like crazy i guess lsu you gave me a kind of a face on that but none of those are like that crazy of picks, but, and then I just, I'm riding the Florida wave. I think they also go 10 and two, I think.
Ben: they kind of have a ah schedule where they go into. into ah they go They play Texas -Georgia back -to -back weeks. they go indoor Neither of them are at the Swamp. It's in Austin and then in the Falcon Stadium. for the Georgia game. and I got them winning every other game. They go to Kentucky. They host Oklahoma.
Ben: They go to Missouri this week. Those are kind of some of their big games. I got them taking care of those big games, those middle tier SEC teams as well. So I think John, like we talked about before, I think John Summerall gets the boys to go. And even if you lose those Georgia, Texas games, then.
Ben: You're sitting there at 10 and two. And so those are my five teams. I got three 10 and two teams. I got Texas, Georgia. sitting at 11 -1, 12 -0. um I didn't really pencil in a lot of loss for. texas I just kind of.
Ben: through one. of the one of their three big games.
Caleb Call: one of them. Yeah.
Ben: Yeah. And so those are the five S's.
Caleb Call: So they both agree then. We both agree on five SEC. You had LSU. I had Ole Miss. Even at nine and three, I think Ole Miss gets the Georgia win and helps launch them into the playoff. But yeah.
Caleb Call: I think five SEC teams.
Ben: Yeah, I think.
Caleb Call: this year.
Ben: If Ole Miss beat wins the Georgia game, I think that gives them the little vault that they need. I got them losing that game, so that's why I got them out. I got them 9 -3 with not as good of a resume because they don't have that win.
Ben: So those are the five games I got. And then I got Notre Dame going into Provo and win that game. And then. Given a really tight game against Miami, win or lose, you got 11 -1 Notre Dame or 12 -0 Notre Dame, and they're in. So now you're sitting there with six. six teams six six spots left, five SEC, Notre Dame. You got Boise State being the 12th seed. So now you got seven seven spots. So now you're sitting there with five spots left.
Ben: for three conferences. You're sitting at the ACC. the big 10. in the Big 12. And. i uh so i got miami winning the acc there's the only bid for the acc so now you got four spots left for the big 10 and the big 12. And this is where it kind of gets interesting. So Um...
Ben: I think Ohio State, I got them running the table just like you do, and so that's 12 -1, that's with a win over USC on the road, a win at Indiana. and then a win hosting Oregon. So they got a tough schedule, but I got them rolling the table there and kind of taking control of the Big twelve just like or the big Ten just like you do.
Ben: And so now you're sitting there thinking. Okay, if they beat Indiana, what's Indiana's schedule look like? And if you look at Indiana's schedule. I mean they have to go. uh to the big house and they got a host usc and besides that it's like pretty winnable games and
Caleb Call: Nebraska. Nebraska is going to be a tricky one.
Ben: Um, that one's ah That one's next week, too, so that one will be a fun one next week to see if they can go up into the early line is 9 .5 points.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I'm looking at it right now. so The line still likes Indiana. We'll see if they can go take care of an undefeated Nebraska. in Lincoln. But so I got Indiana going 11 and one as well. and um getting a second bid and so oregon is where it gets kind of A little murky.
Caleb Call: her time
Ben: just
Caleb Call: Oregon. Their schedule doesn't look too good.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Monty right now besides the Ohio State game.
Ben: So they got the Ohio State game on the road. I got them losing that one. um They host Michigan, they host Washington, they host Northwestern, they host Nebraska, they host UCLA. so all they're kind of like those big 10 teams that seem good they host a lot of them and then they go to illinois And like we said, to Ohio State and then.
Ben: they go to Michigan state. And so it's a very winnable schedule. I got them. So they are obviously dropped the Oklahoma state game. I got them winning out. So now I'm sitting here at 10 and two.
Caleb Call: beside Ohio State.
Ben: So I'm going to circle back. What?
Caleb Call: winning out besides Ohio State.
Ben: Oh, sorry. Yeah, besides Ohio State. So they lose the Ohio State game, lose the Oklahoma State game, and then win everything else. So 10 -2. So now you're sitting here. I'm going to circle back to that. So you got an 11 -1 Indiana. Uh...
Ben: a Big Ten champion, in Ohio State. and then 10 -2 Oregon. So those are kind of like the three teams. And we're we're playing for four spots for the Big 12 and the Big 10. So Big 10 can't get more than three. And so Big 12.
Ben: I uh... I got to. Texas Tech. and We talked about it at the beginning of the year. Their schedule is just really light. And you go look at it, Colorado. host Arizona State.
Ben: at Cincinnati Host Arizona. host West Virginia. They're one big game late, which it has the line already out at 15 and a half for Texas Tech, but it's... at Oklahoma State.
Ben: It's just it just seems like a very. doable schedule where they're 11 -1, 12 -0 seems very, very likely. And so I got I got Texas Tech in the mix. with a bid playing in the Big 12 Championship. late. So we'll come back to this.
Ben: And then. So BYU, I got them dropping um the game to Notre Dame. And then I got him dropping the game in Salt Lake City. So Utah. Utah is the highest FB. The ESPN FPI right now has a Utah with 11 wins projected, which is the highest right now in.
Ben: in all of college football at the beginning of the year they were favorited in um 11 of the 12 and right now i haven't seen if it's switched on the tcu game i'm i'm At the beginning of the year, TCU was their one underdog game.
Ben: I i bet it's been switched.
Caleb Call: Would be shocked if it has when they've played
Ben: so Yeah. So, I mean, Utah, they're going to be favorites in 12. Right now, the lines for their two biggest games are six and a half against Houston and three against BYU. And they're they actually are their early favorites in both those games. and um Both of them being in Salt Lake City in Rice Eccles is huge for those um for their schedule. They just have.
Ben: um Honestly, the schedule bounced Utah's way this um this year more than ever. they They're voided. I really... a pretty easy schedule i mean they're gonna have byu every year so byu is gonna be there From here on out, it feels like Utah and BYU are always going to be in the mix for the Big 12.
Ben: And so that'll always be a tough game, but it's nice to have that game at home.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And honestly, Houston being the next hardest one and also being at home, it just feels like. Feels like the schedule gods kind of bounced, kind of. landed everything in Utah's way, and you still got to go win those games, but I got Utah taking care of their schedule, 12 -0 going and playing Texas Tech. um And.
Ben: I uh... I like. Um, Whoever wins that game, Texas Tech, Utah, obviously gets the auto bid. So now you're sitting here. Say you've got an undefeated Tech, undefeated Utah loser.
Ben: Or even if it was like. a one loss tech or a one loss Utah does the loser. at 11 and two so let's let's give texas tech a loss or utah loss somewhere so now you're sitting at 11 and one Say Utah loses the – say they take care of their two ranked games against Houston and BYU at home like I'm talking about, but they lose that trap game like at Arizona or something. So now they're sitting at 11 -1. They win the tiebreaker with BYU, the head -to -head.
Ben: BYU goes 11 -1. So now you're... You're sitting here with three teams in the Big 12, three teams in the Big 10 for four spots. You've got Ohio State 12 -1. You've got Indiana 11 -1.
Ben: You've got. And I guess Indiana probably loses to Ohio State. in the um
Caleb Call: Yeah, so they'll be sent to Lebanon too.
Ben: and the Big Ten Championship.
Caleb Call: But Indiana, I feel like they're going to outstate both, obviously.
Ben: 11 at 2.
Caleb Call: and
Ben: They're in so those two are in now. Are you sitting there? So organ at ten and two with I mean, who are their big wins? um At that point, you got USC.
Ben: um
Caleb Call: Biggest friend might be UCLA.
Ben: UCLA next week or yeah next week um how good is Nebraska?
Caleb Call: Maybe missing him.
Ben: like Michigan, I don't know if they end up getting back in the rankings. like I just don't know what. on their schedules, a big marquee win. And now, but the the big 12, how good's Houston end up being?
Ben: Because that's going to be on Texas Tech and Utah schedule with wins in those scenarios.
Caleb Call: You probably need them to be sitting and in a two or at the very worst nine and three to help kind of.
Ben: And so does that.
Caleb Call: lift the resumes.
Ben: Yeah, so does the Big 12 champion loser pass? um organ in that scenario and organ already being below both of them with one loss Um,
Ben: it made me It makes me think that right now it's Texas Tech 12, Utah 13, Oregon 15, but Oregon's got one loss. So if there's a second loss for the Big 12 team, obviously one loss, I think they're going to go below Oregon, and then they both have one more loss. down the road i think the big 12 if they have two losses i think oregon gets the spot is three big ten and the big 12 champs the only one in but I think if you've got a 12 -0 loser.
Ben: I think that's the spot where you got a 12 and 0. team that loses the Big 12 championship game. i think they're in over oregon and so it kind of just depends on that i got a I think it's going to be.
Caleb Call: but Part of that scenario, too, I think what it comes down to as well is.
Ben: a
Caleb Call: Oregon has to kind of wake up like if they are When in close, every single week can go 10 -2. Don't look dominant doing it. i can see them getting a little bit of trouble and if you do have like a 12 -1.
Caleb Call: or even 11 -2 in that case, Utah or Texas Tech. like I feel like those are world where. They leave Oregon out. But it would have to be like... if Oregon Kind of turns it around, writes the ship, and they're winning these games by three or four touchdowns.
Caleb Call: Yeah, they probably do get in at 10 -2 in that scenario. but People are kind of skeptical of Oregon, so that I think that they're going to have to kind of shake that. perception. the make it attended to in that.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: scenario
Ben: Yeah, so this is my final my final prediction is um ah october 1st right now we got the the second uh bracket prediction for us i got Ohio State and Indiana at the Big Ten. And I got Texas Tech and Utah.
Ben: Two. Two bids in the Big 12 both getting in. So give me two Big 12, two Big 10. 5 sec Notre Dame, Miami, Boise.
Caleb Call: So our brackets then. We have the exact same set of teams, except I got old. Ole Miss, you've got LSU. I've got BYU. You've got Utah. No surprise there. We'll let that one get settled on November 7th. I think both of us, if we were being honest, this would basically just write in the Holy War winner. that's That game will get decided on the field, and both teams will have a shot.
Caleb Call: Aight.
Ben: Which is all you can ask for as a player, coach, fan.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: That's all you want is want to you want that game on the field, you want to be able to play it. and So you you don't have to play any of these hypothetical games we used to 10 years ago.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben: It's mano y mano. Best on best. Let's go. ah Let's go. Go win a fist fight in a... phone booth so let's uh let's see who can do it It's going to be a fun one on November 7th.
Caleb Call: I just... What do I do? Playoff field is shaping up. I really do think that there's a path for the Big 12 to get two teams in, maybe even three teams if the situation plays out right.
Caleb Call: You just got to take care of business. And I think that BYU, Utah. Hopefully, Texas Tech are good enough to do that. I've even seen a couple people are already talking about me. BYU Utah being one side of the play -in and Oklahoma State Texas Tech being the other play -in game.
Caleb Call: I don't know if Oklahoma State's good enough to win every game on their schedule. but I feel like the Big 12 definitely – it helps for Texas Tech that Oklahoma State is ranked and gives them another – perceived tough game. Hopefully for them, one of the Arizona schools can jump in the pool as well. But yeah, it's a.
Caleb Call: Setting up nicely because of the Big Ten being down and even with the SEC probably swallowing up a bunch of bids. Where it gets really interesting is what happens at the SEC. does eat itself and all of a sudden you've got four 11 and one teams and a bunch of nine and eight win teams below them then yeah that's uh Come in. Definitely a very interesting scenario there. so Yeah.
Ben: You know what I'm kind of hoping for?
Caleb Call: Whatever.
Ben: Just for the pure sake of. This would be so fun is I'm hoping for. A Texas Tech lost somewhere. And. I don't know how the time right now last year. There was a lot of like tiebreakers where it went down to like strength of schedule. And so.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Texas Tech having a pretty bad strength of schedule if they drop a game somewhere. there's a real shot that you get a Holy War rematch. If you got the loser of the BYU -Utah game with only one loss, you got Texas Tech with only one loss, them being the two and the three seeds in the...
Ben: conference. just I would have to double check the the the standings and the schedule. but um Texas Tech's schedule hasn't been very good. I would imagine they are the worst of the three teams right there.
Ben: And so I would imagine they would lose. the strength of schedule if it got to that tiebreaker.
Caleb Call: And if it looks... BYU Utah.
Ben: over BYU and Utah, which would be such a... a fun, that would be the biggest Holy war ever is you get the rematch game two of the year and you get it as a playing game to the college football playoff.
Caleb Call: Would you take so? Magic Genie comes in the room with you. ingrains you this.
Ben: Say that one more time.
Caleb Call: Magic Genie pops in your room.
Ben: Oh, okay.
Caleb Call: and offers this deal to you, would you slam accept? Utah goes 12 -0 in the regular season. They're ranked four going into the Big 12 championship game.
Caleb Call: and they are hosting a 10 -2 BYU. They're not hosting, but they're playing in Dallas against a 10 -2 BYU who lost to Notre Dame, lost to Utah. BYU's only path to the playoff is beating Utah.
Caleb Call: BYU goes and gets the revenge. wins the Big 12. BYU makes the playoff. Utah makes the playoff. would you Would you sign up for that right now if that was offered to you?
Ben: No, I wouldn't. yeah i could You could make the argument if it was the other way with Utah winning in the Big 12 championship but losing the first matchup to me. But I, uh...
Ben: I mean that. the Big 12 Championship. but Winning a conference championship is a big deal and getting that ah automatic bid, like that'd be a a big... Wow. stepping stone for both BYU and Utah. so As a Utah fan, I want to see the fist fight in the phone booth.
Ben: I'm not giving.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I don't want to grant the win to the other team. i want to go see ah I want to go see the teams with the fight, and I want to go see the game. and so give me a Give me the – let me play it out. i I'm excited about this Utah team as a – As ah Morgan Scalier, I don't think I've been more optimistic about a Utah team ceiling in a long time. So.
Ben: I mean, I guess probably since four or five years ago with the cam rising era, but.
Caleb Call: You ready?
Ben: um
Caleb Call: You say that but
Ben: I am.
Caleb Call: Last year, you liked their ceiling. The cameras in here, you liked their ceiling. so
Ben: I didn't like their ceiling last year. I wasn't sure about Jason Beck all year.
Caleb Call: I guess that's true.
Ben: I was talking to you about that.
Caleb Call: You didn't trust me for a long time, but...
Ben: i was I was probably one of the... few Utah fans that took a long time. It probably was week nine or 10 before I was actually finally like, okay, he's got a good offense, but. um i uh
Caleb Call: And you know what's ironic about that is... Michigan fans are not feeling the same way about Jason Beck right now. They they don't feel. Much love for Jason.
Ben: I think it was that Texas Tech game week four. I was just like. unsure the whole year and then they have a bad game against BYU. And so your two big games, I just wasn't sure about it. And so I really wasn't that optimistic.
Ben: I mean, you're coming off a five and seven year the year before that for Utah fans. And so how optimistic can you really be kind getting a New Mexico? quarterback new mexico head coach like you obviously are like you watch the highlights of dan pierre at new mexico and you're like okay like he's dual threat guy it's gonna be gonna be a fun offense but I didn't like five and seven the year before I didn't, I didn't have a 10 and two. If you had told me 10 and two, I'd have signed up for that last year coming off of a five and seven year. So.
Ben: yeah I think Morgan Scali. is kind of just such a... He's such a fun, good dude to cheer for. He's fun to listen to. he's a He's a good guy. and so i i ah I think it's Utah.
Ben: program is is going in the right direction and so i uh With the schedule this year, I think I'm more a little bit more optimistic than I even will be next year. because they got a pretty tough schedule next year with starting at Miami and Vegas.
Ben: And then you got a pretty tough Big 12 schedule.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: You got Texas Tech back on the schedule with who knows if they regroup with their NIL money. So this year i'm I'm probably more optimistic than I even will be in the next year or two for Utah. So I i really think you got the the two big games at home and you can go take care of those.
Ben: i I think this might be the CFP year for Utah.
Caleb Call: Yeah, i mean I feel like BYU and Utah both have it right out in front of them in the fact that I kind of wish that they were playing each other to end the year, but... If there is going to be two Holy Wars, I probably would prefer to not have them be back -to -back.
Caleb Call: and to have so a month of space between.
Ben: Little split, yeah.
Caleb Call: so We'll see how it all plays out. Call to a playoff wide open for. everyone. BYU -TCU coming up. We'll have a recap of that and the rest of college football on.
Caleb Call: monday morning for you all thanks for listening like subscribe Go Cougs!
Ben: ah youth
