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The NCAA Report Week 9 Heisman and the playoffs
3 Plays10 days ago
Don and Russ talk Heisman, the playoffs, games from week 7 and 8 and preview week 9
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to the NCAA Report
00:00:00
Speaker
This is the Fuel Sports Network. Ladies and gentlemen, I've got a couple questions for you. Do you love college sports as much as I do? Are you always wondering where you can find the latest NCAA reports? Well, you've come to the right place. Welcome, sports fans, to Fuel Sports Presents, the NCAA report with Don and Russ. You've got to get it done.
00:00:50
Speaker
Look at the air, look at the hang time, look at the flying motion. Look at his head above the rim.
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Speaker
I need to win the game!
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Speaker
by confident young men, a superb athlete.
00:02:27
Speaker
Caught on the field stands, touchdown. The moment you've all been waiting for, here they are, your favorite host, Don Glenn.
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Speaker
and Russ Robinson.
00:02:54
Speaker
Well, thank you again, Devin Tynan for that wonderful introduction. As he said, this is the NCAA report presented to you by the Fuel Sports Network. And as always, right by my side, well, he's actually down downstate a little ways across the across the Mississippi River. Here's my good buddy, Russ
Mid-season NCAA Updates and NIL Discussion
00:03:12
Speaker
Robinson. How are you doing tonight, Russ?
00:03:15
Speaker
I'm doing great Don. Thank you guys. Well, I'll tell you what it is. it It was. It was a week last week. Got a couple ups has to talk about. We got some things. Uh, it's getting mid season now. So we've maybe take a look at, uh, at the playoff picture, how that looks like it may be shaping up. Uh, group of five is getting really interesting. Um, the Heisman watches started for a lot of people. Uh, so we got a few things to talk about. Plus there's been comments by Kirby smart and, um, or not Kirby smart. Um,
00:03:52
Speaker
ah Nick Saban, but the who who's the basketball coach that? Tubby Smith. Tubby Smith made some comments about the NIL and the portal and stuff. so okay okay And we'll be, we're still efforting someone else that's got a little bit more ideas about how this portal and NIL works than Russ and I. So, you know, bear with us. We'll mention it, but don't, don't expect in-depth coverage on it. Cause neither one of us know deadly squat about how that stuff works. I know enough to, I know enough to get me in trouble. That's about it.
00:04:27
Speaker
Yeah, we know just enough to be a little dangerous. Yeah, that's right. We can be a little dangerous with it. No, no doubt about that. Well, let's go ahead and start off with. I mean, there was some comments made by by Nick Saban at a White House or not White House, a Capitol Hill hearing as he was seated next to Ted Cruz. um And, you know, basically what he was saying is that, you know, college football is not the same. You're not now it is not in developing players. i'm And I'm paraphrasing, obviously, folks.
00:05:04
Speaker
You're not developing players. You're not looking at players for your long term. You're looking at short gain and the kids aren't asking where they're going to play or how they're going to play. They're asking how much you're getting paid.
00:05:20
Speaker
Yeah, and you know as you and I surmised um and he didn't really say it in the in the conference or the but the the ah ah hearing um But you kind of got the inference. That's why he left college football right, right Yeah, and I've heard that that's why he left that before I've listened to radio shows, NCAA analysts who talked to Saban, you know, basically what he said in that video you shared with me, you know, he's got the kind of tired of negotiating with players how much, how much they're going to get paid. And, you know, and, you know, the the portal
00:06:00
Speaker
you know He's not a big fan of that portal. he It's hard to stabilize a roster that way. You got people coming and going all the time. So I yeah i had heard that before, and I think that's exactly why Saban retired and stepped down. I just didn't think he felt like dealing with it. And you know some younger coaches may show the way on that, Don. Some coaches coming in, the and they may know how to handle that better. We were talking about Kaling the board.
00:06:29
Speaker
uh, while ago, you know, he's not having a great year, but he's a younger guy and he may not be, he may eventually end up being a better manager of that than, uh, than Saban wanted to be or something like that, you know.
00:06:44
Speaker
Well, and that's that's entirely true. And and and you say, you know, the a different group of coaches that are around. I mean, if you look at just in my my backyard, look at look at the just across the other side of the state line at Syngenetti at Indiana. You know, and bringing people in, you look at. um Well, Illinois has done a fair share of it. Penn State's been able to stay fairly relevant through the portal, getting the players they need. um So, you know, I can see how the, and, you know, Franklin and, and Syngenetti and, and, and, uh, uh, Bilema, you know, they're not old coaches.
00:07:27
Speaker
You know, I mean, I've been around for a while, but they're not, you know, the old, the old guard, if you will, you know, so maybe they're able to adjust to it a little bit. You know, I hate to see it in one respect and I will agree with Saban in one respect that
00:07:45
Speaker
And you may not see it as much in football. You may not see it as much in football, but you do definitely in basketball when you know, and I'll use Illinois and Missouri the last three or four years as prime examples. Um, you know, you, the old line that, that Underwood used when he started, when he brought in that, that bevy of players last year, he's, I had to get old in a hurry. Yeah.
00:08:12
Speaker
Yeah, you know, I had too many young players had to get old in a hurry. ah You know, and now he's got that portal adjusted where he's not just bringing in the the fifth year seniors and the grad students and the seniors. He's got sophomores coming in on the on the transfer portal, you know, and um and that was a gate. Is it Gates at the Missouri?
00:08:35
Speaker
Yeah, I didn't skate. he's a ro Yeah. He worked, he's working the portal pretty well. Uh, and it's recognized nationally that he works the portal pretty well and recruits well. So, uh, yeah, so he's a younger guy. And, uh, so those guys may have more patience with it. Were they able to adapt on the run since I'm a Mizzou fan, Don, you know, uh, which is the same way. He's a young guy. He's foolish. Uh, and he's adapting.
00:09:03
Speaker
to it, if he loses someone in the portal, he goes out and gets someone outside of the portal. you know If someone steals a player from him, he'll go out and steal a player from someone else. There you go. And I just think that's part of the game right now. So you know it's I don't know in the long run how this plays out with NILs and transfer portals, but coaches are learning how to adapt on the fly on this or trying to learn how to adapt on the fly on this.
00:09:31
Speaker
oh you know we
00:09:35
Speaker
I don't guess they'll ever do anything about the transfer portal anymore. The NCAA is essentially powerless, kind of almost a non-entity. So see what happens down the road. Some people want Congress to get involved, especially with the NILs. I know that's why Saban was there at that congressional hearing with Cruz. Cruz is a big promoter of trying to get a grip on the NILs.
00:09:59
Speaker
I don't know if if we can depend on Congress to do it or not. They just have a hard enough time electing a speaker. And and no you know I mean, putting a budget together, I just don't know that's going to be a priority for them.
NCAA Influence and Future of NIL Regulations
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Speaker
So I just don't know they're going to get much help. I think, Don, I could be wrong, but I think, Don, it would be the leadership of the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference that will try to pull things together.
00:10:26
Speaker
you know those two conferences working together. I agree. i think I think those two are probably going to take the lead. And then the the big 12 and the ACC will will join in at a later date and make it a little solidified across all the the the major the major universities. um I think the biggest problem that that ah a lot of people see, especially with the NIL, not so much the portal,
00:10:53
Speaker
but with the NIL is there is, every state has a different variation of how it's done. Yes. I know there's like seven states, if I remember the article correctly, where they can actually negotiate NIL deals with incoming freshmen while they're still a high school senior. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I know I,
00:11:20
Speaker
it's I don't know. To me, that is just sending the wrong signal. yeah i mean granted granted i'm a din Granted, I'm a dinosaur, but for crying out loud. Yeah. Well, I am too. Greg Saikis said that was critical of these schools that were their states going out and doing different things. He wanted everyone to get on the same page. Greg Sankey, by the way, for those listeners, is the SEC Commissioner. He was very heavily critical of that. Missouri went out and did the NIL deal statewide to help the zoo go out and do NIL deals. And apparently, it's a pretty good one, I mean, a pretty aggressive one. And
00:12:02
Speaker
a If you get the guy you were talking about, he could probably address that pretty well. If you ever, you know, guessing on our show, on the show, he could probably address it, make it a little better than I could. But anyway, so yeah, it's a, we're dinosaurs, but at the same time, it's, I think most people realize they've got to get, there's got to be some sort of Uh, they got to get a grip on it and get everyone to get on the same page about it. You know, put the algorithm i mean it's going to have to come down to it. And I don't like, I'm like you, I don't, I don't relish the idea of Congress getting involved, uh, to the large extent, you know, I mean, yes, they did a good thing back years and years ago with title nine.
00:12:54
Speaker
and And introducing title nine, you know, um, which I think, you know, it has, has helped women's sports and speaking should probably be a little strengthened, a little better to continue to help women's sports. But, um, they did a good thing back then. I'm not sure we've got the same minded people now that we did back then when they took care of title nine.
00:13:20
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right. And title nine was a good thing for across the board. ah And I think it benefited certainly benefited college sports and ah it was the right thing to do. But yeah, I don't know now too many people had their had their hands into this NIL thing, and it's just hard to get it. It's just out of hand. It is. But I think most of the universities, most of the people across the NCAA, I think the conference commissioners, I think the ADs, the presidents, I think they all know that.
00:14:00
Speaker
And just trying how to get a grip on it is ah is a question, getting everyone in the same room. you know that's go Exactly. And I think it was a start when the SEC and the Big Ten met in Nashville a couple of weeks ago when you and I last talked. We were talking about that meeting.
Heisman Candidates Analysis
00:14:15
Speaker
They didn't talk just about that, but that was one of the issues that came up. you know So I mean, that was a start. Yeah. and And like you said, you know, people hoping for the NCAA itself to get involved. Uh, like you said, I, they don't run the ship anymore. They may, they may be there as they may be listed as the captain of the ship, but they're not steering this. They're not steering that ship. Well, they may be more like the, uh,
00:14:45
Speaker
if you work for a company and there's an honorary chairman of the board, no you know, you know, he doesn't have a lot of executive power, but he did a lot of good work and they made him an honorary chairman of the board and write right he can show up at meetings and stuff like that and get paid and all that. I just really don't know the NCAA, you know, that they have, they're able to do much now. I think they've lost control of the situation and I'm not sure. they No doubt. Yeah, no doubt.
00:15:12
Speaker
Uh, okay. Let's turn our attention to, um, I, Russ and I freely admit we have not seen all these kids play. We know from reports, we know from maybe watching a few, uh, videos here and there of, of certain plays about these, these, uh, guys, but we are in week eight, nine area here.
00:15:37
Speaker
So you know you're gonna start hearing a lot about the Heisman watch, who's we're looking at for the Heisman. And I thought we might take a quick look at see who some of the names are that are popping up and then maybe Russ and I can can keep an eye on those those particular ones as we go along here for the next next four or five weeks as we get into the late part of the season. So I'm looking at the ESPN Heisman watch and it says, OK, ESPN Midseason Heisman Watch votes are in and the person they have as number one right now leading the Heisman is Ashton Genty running back for Boise State.
00:16:22
Speaker
since six games, Jenny is on his way to becoming Boise State's unstoppable star. He's gained 1,248 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns, averaging 9.9 yards a carry, which if you want to, as as they they ah matched him up against Oklahoma, the former Oklahoma State superstar, Barry Sanders, who also had a very long NFL career, who at the same time,
00:16:51
Speaker
Sanders had 1156 yards rushing. And i've got I guess they're talking about his Heisman year, uh, 19 touchdowns, 7.5 yards of a carry through the first six games in 1988. So this kid is, is pretty much right on par with what Barry Sanders was doing back 30 years ago. Right. Right. Well, interestingly, actually.
00:17:17
Speaker
40. Yeah, it's been a while. Interesting enough. I pulled up Yahoo Sports list and he leads Yahoo Sports list to Ash and Ginty. And one comment from UNLV coach Barry Odom said that he's going to try and put 12 or 13 defenders on the field to try to stop Ginty. So that's how good he they think he is. You know, unfortunately, I haven't watched I'm not watching that game tomorrow, not just to watch this guy now, you know, having the chance to watch, uh, watch too many boys. You stay at games, any at all. But that one key stat it shows here on the ESPN thing is Jamie has gained 841 rushing yards after first contact.
00:18:08
Speaker
Um, uh, that's three, that's 355 yards more than any other running back in FBS. Uh, Iowa's Caleb but Johnson ranks second with 586 after contact.
00:18:24
Speaker
So that's that, yeah. I mean, that I mean, I guess that does show you he's, he's not just a neat, he just doesn't need a hole. He can, uh, he can run you over as well as run around you.
00:18:36
Speaker
Right, right. that's ah That's an NFL guy right there. if he can no doubt right what What did they say years ago? year And I'm talking many years ago when Herschel Walker was in high school, ah there was a scout that was viewing him. i I don't know if it was for Alabama, Georgia, one of the SEC teams.
00:18:56
Speaker
and they ask him what he thought of Herschel Walker and he says, well, he's big, he's strong, he can run, he's got speed, he belongs in the pros right now.
00:19:09
Speaker
but wrong and hot so yeah yeah This guy, this is Jenny, I mean, so we'll have to keep an eye on him. The next guy that yeah ESPN's got, I don't know how it matches up with Yahoo, is Travis Hunter from Colorado, wide receiver cornerback. he play I guess he plays both ways, unheard of these days.
00:19:27
Speaker
Yeah, they don't have him listed in the top four. Let's see, but they I was trying to see. They just going with the guys they're looking at right now. but Hunter is mentioned.
00:19:38
Speaker
the ah
00:19:44
Speaker
I guess one, I guess one reason they're, they're looking at him maybe is there's, there's this one saddle. He's been on the field for 92% of Colorado's plays on offense and defense, 322 snaps on offense and 341 snaps on defense. Yeah. Two-way player. Yeah. You don't see those guys too often anymore. They're talking about odds, uh, with, uh, bet MGM. Yeah.
00:20:11
Speaker
um And though his odds are far behind a clear top three, Hunter trails Boise State. This is Yahoo Sports, Boise State's Gen team, Miami's Cam Ward and Oregon's Dylan Gabriel. So that's just the odds speaking. So anyway, yeah, I'm looking at, I'm kind of, yeah. the ah ESPN's given the odds too. And that kind of matches up with what they're saying too. They've got, um I don't know why they've got Hunter listed as number two, cause his odds are plus 1100. And number three for ESPN and is Cam Ward. um And his odds are plus 600.
00:20:53
Speaker
So big, ze him knows too yeah yeah right. They had cam ward second behind. genty Yeah. So, you and and you know, cam ward, I mean, you, you got to think he deserves to be in the conversation. I mean, 2,200 passing yards, 23 touchdowns. He does have five interceptions, but you know, if you throw the ball that much, you're probably going to have a few interceptions. You're going to have some intercepts. You're going to have some intercepts, no doubt. Um,
00:21:21
Speaker
one of their key stats, he's averaging 12.2 yards per attempt on third downs. So he's pretty much an automatic when you get to and their, their conversion rate, the hurricanes are number one nationally and third down conversion at 60.3%. Right, right. Um, so there's that, you know, they're really, go ahead. Yeah. mean They're really dealt with into analytics now. Um,
00:21:47
Speaker
looking at all instead of just total yards and total touchdowns, zone right? Looking like yards gained after contact after contact, you're looking at, yeah, all back and other stuff. Um, then they've got Dylan Gabriel number four, which Illinois gets to see this weekend. Um,
00:22:05
Speaker
He's a 49 game starter. Now here's, here's my, my, and this kind of goes back to where we're talking about with the transfer portal and everything. He's a 49 game starter at Oklahoma, university of central Florida and Oregon. Um, you know,
00:22:24
Speaker
hey he's moved around. yeah he he's He's been around a couple of days. Uh, yeah. Yeah, I guess against the Ohio State, he put up 373 yards with three touchdowns, no turnovers.
00:22:37
Speaker
um Six games right now, he's got 893 yards, 17 touchdowns, three picks, completing 76% of his passes.
00:22:49
Speaker
um You know, they're talking about Oregon and going undefeated and I'm just not so sure that's going to happen, but you know, Hey, you know, they can, they can dream. Um, let's see, Gabriel needs only 2,563 more passing yards and 18 more touchdowns to pass Houston's case. Keenum came in the NCAA all time passing leader.
00:23:15
Speaker
So in that sense, I think maybe that's why he's in the mix for sure. Well, he seems he seems to have everyone's attention. These these guys that we've been talking about. I mean, we're basing on ESPN Yahoo Sports, but they're both pretty close.
00:23:29
Speaker
Oh yeah, of what they're the people they're talking about on Yahoo Sports their last their number four guys. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeyer. I don't know if he on the ESC even on the ESPN list. He's not on the top five and he's not in the ones also receiving votes either.
00:23:49
Speaker
Well, let's see what they say about them. The tiger signal car collar has the biggest chance of anyone to jump into the thick of hospital and race in week nine as LSU visits Texas A and&L.
00:24:02
Speaker
The Tigers and Aggies are only two teams remaining in the SEC without conference loss. And this mark could end up it with the best stats of any quarterback in the SEC by the time the season's over. So that he's kind of on there their radar screen, I guess, is what they're saying. And I guess it would be ah LSU is playing A&L. So that's going to be a big game. Both those teams are undefeated in the conference.
00:24:29
Speaker
number five on the ESPN ro ranking is Curtis Rourke, a quarterback out of Indiana. um You know, now we mentioned Syngeti and the transfer portal. um He needed a quarterback after after last year and he got this. This works a transfer from Ohio out of the Mac. He was the Mac Player of the Year in 2022. He's a six year senior.
00:24:56
Speaker
Uh, right now in the end of six and oh, um, number 16 in the AP, he's got 1752 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, only two interceptions and a big tens best 11 yards per attempt. Uh, he's put up a 91.9 quarterback rating is which is the best among all power for starters. Mm-hmm.
00:25:20
Speaker
Um, then Indiana right now is scoring about 47 and a half points a game. A lot, you know, there's, I guess they're saying a large part in due to him. Uh, one other key stat he's got is Indiana has outscored six opponents by a combined margin of 196 points. Only Texas, 221 points and Ole Miss 216 have had a better, I have been better by that standard. Hmm.
Big Ten Performance and NCAA Playoff Structure
00:25:49
Speaker
So they, I mean, I don't know if you can completely point at Rourke as Indiana's turnaround from last year. I think Sinjetti had a lot to do with it. He's a first year coach. Um, you know, so, um, if you're putting up the record and you're putting up to the stats, you're going to get noticed. And you know, right now Indiana's got the record six and oh, so you're looking at who's who's who's the performer on the team. And you know, there you go.
00:26:19
Speaker
Yeah, Indiana's rise in the national polls is shocking. I mean, I don't know that I was expecting. I wasn't expecting from Indiana because they had such a rough year last year. Wow, expecting but then what gives me.
00:26:37
Speaker
And I don't know if you feel the same way, but that gets me about the whole Indiana thing. And I'm looking up their schedule right now is, and I've been having some, some conversations and different people, you know, and not just about Indiana, but actually a lot of the big 10 schools, believe it or not, um, is I'm looking at it as like, okay, tell me who you played. Now I'm going to go down Indiana's list of who they've played this year, Florida international. They beat him 31 to seven Western Illinois. They beat him 77 to three.
00:27:07
Speaker
UCLA, they beat them 42 to 13 Charlotte. They beat them 52 to 14 Maryland. They beat them 42 to 28 Northwestern. They beat them 41 to 24. And then this list last week, they beat Nebraska 56 to seven. yeah Now, if you look at the records of all those teams that they just, that I just named, um,
00:27:32
Speaker
And I had this written down and I forgot to make sure I had it with me, but, uh, Florida international is two and six overall. Okay. Um, I know Western Illinois doesn't have a great record. UCLA is.
00:27:50
Speaker
Um, uh, Maryland right now is they're one of the better teams. I think that the ah fair four and three, Nebraska. Now, Nebraska was five and one before Indiana beat him. So I'll give, I'll give him that that may be legitimate. I just can't see how Nebraska got.
00:28:06
Speaker
got a Wallach's by so much on that one. Oh, yeah. Western's three and four. Uh, and then what, uh, Charlotte was their other one. And I, you know, I'm sure they don't have a great record. Um, let's see. Who's next for, who is next for them? Washington. And that's at home. Okay. That's at home Saturday. And they went on big 10 network. Uh, Washington right now is where are they at? They are four and three.
00:28:34
Speaker
Okay. No, I mean, you're talking about who in Indiana has played outside of Nebraska. They have not played a team with a substantial winning record. No, but they're dismantling them. You know, that's the point. That's the point yeah right there. They're putting up the optics.
00:28:52
Speaker
Yeah, yeah they're this man I don't know what they had to put. Are they going? Are they a't scheduled to play Penn State or Ohio State or someone like that? Let's see what their remaining schedule after this week. Like I said, they've got so they got Washington. Then they have Michigan State at East Lansing, Michigan home. Then they do have to go to Columbus to play Ohio State. OK, and then they finished. They finished the year against Purdue at home, so I mean.
00:29:20
Speaker
Ohio state's a big, uh, Ohio state's going to be the big one. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, because right now Michigan state's foreign three, Michigan's foreign and three Purdue is one and six. So, you know, so they're, they're, they're only big game. They've got to worry about his Ohio state. Yeah. Now the yeah the schedule worked out for them. Yeah.
00:29:44
Speaker
You would have thought going into Nebraska, that would have been a tough game for him. So that was a study. Yeah, you would have thought the way Nebraska has been played because Nebraska, I mean, it's not like they've been beating nobodies. They've been, they've had their only losses to Illinois. Uh, they beat Colorado. They beaten UTEP. They've beaten, uh, Rutgers, you know, now have they been dismantling the teams? No. Uh, they beat Colorado by 18 to be UTEP by, well now they did be UTEP by 43.
00:30:13
Speaker
Uh, but they lost Illinois in, in overtime. Uh, the only beat Purdue by 18 only beat Rutgers by seven. So, you know, while they had a good record, it wasn't anything like what Indiana's playing. I mean, they're, they're not playing the bigger teams other than than Illinois, maybe Colorado early in the year, you know, but they weren't putting up the numbers that Indiana's putting up that that's, that's like you said, that is the big thing right there. Mm-hmm.
00:30:39
Speaker
And, and then, you know, the thing with big tens got three undefeated teams right now, still, uh, with Indiana, Oregon and Purdue and the Penn state. Um, And like I said, Indiana's only got the one tough game coming up against, ah well I mean, Washington could be tough because they've been surprising some people here and there, but I don't think you're going to count on it. But Oregon's got Illinois coming up. Then after that, they don't have anybody of any significance. is They have to go to Ann Arbor to play Michigan, play Maryland at home. They play at Wisconsin and then at home against Washington after Illinois. So conceivably, they beat in Illinois.
00:31:17
Speaker
tell me how they're going to get stopped, how they're who's going to stop them from running the table. Really? Really? Yeah. you know That's just that's it. Who's going to stop them from running the table? Penn State right now, they're 6-0, so they've got a few games left. ah Let's see, they've got Wisconsin this week at the Madison.
00:31:38
Speaker
Then they have Ohio state at home, Washington at home. They go to Purdue, go to Minnesota and in Maryland at home. So, you know, there's another one. If they can get past Ohio state, you know, you could, you could, you could conceivably see three undefeated teams out of the big 10. Yeah. Yeah. They could be, um, which I don't, yeah which I don't remember the last time that happened. Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:05
Speaker
Well, it'd be two, then that one one of those, ah two of those teams will have to go to the championship game. And then the top two will have to go to the championship game, which will be fun to fun to see how they figure that one out. yeah because Because to do that, they all all of them would have to have a win over Ohio State. So then it comes, what's your next you know breakdown of who beats who to go there. but and And of course, in a lot of it, as we know, it's going to pay attention. It's going to be ah played out in rankings as well.
00:32:34
Speaker
um Now I could, I could envision a situation where because of the tie breaking thing, say Oregon is still number one at the end of the year, which I doubt they will be, but let's say they're number one at the end of the year. And you could have Penn state and Indiana playing for the big 10 championship due to whatever tiebreakers are involved. Right. Right. we trying Really screw things up. but but she Yeah. Yeah.
00:33:00
Speaker
But luckily those three teams end up undefeated. They'd end up in the playoff. I mean, you know, ah somehow they yeah, I yeah, I don't know how they would. Those were those three teams get in the. Yeah, go ahead. That's I mean, those three would be if it worked out that way. Even there were ah one got left out and one would get beat. The championship game and those three teams would likely be. I mean, they're going to get in tonight to the that playoff that 12 team thing.
00:33:29
Speaker
Well, as we're, as we're transitioning here into the playoff picture, I want to remind everybody that the NCAA report is presented by the fuel sports network. And you can check out the fuel sports network at fuel sports network.com. Check out all the articles and podcasts. As I said, the fuel sports network dot.com. All right. So the playoff picture, as it goes, I'm telling you, this is, if you want to talk about something, is this going to, uh, uh, completely battle and befall little anyone, it's how they're working this playoff. Because um it goes by, and just for those who haven't listened before, maybe don't don't know what we've at least talked about it, the way the playoff ranking system is going to to go this year is the top four, ah well, the champions of the power four. I have to adjust it now. I kept going. It was power five for so long. The top the the the champions of the power fours will get the first four seeds.
00:34:27
Speaker
Uh-huh. Regardless of where they're ranked. Right. The first four seats. So but I'm looking at it right now. And it's right now the pot of the top 12, because it's going to go up the top 12 rankings. The top 12 is Oregon, Georgia, Penn state, Ohio state, Texas, Miami, Tennessee, LSU, Clemson, Iowa state, BYU Notre Dame. That's it. Indiana right now is sitting at 13.
00:34:52
Speaker
So you take the top four power four conference winners. So let's say it's Oregon and Georgia and let's see, we got to have a big 12 guy in there. So we'll call on Iowa state and Clemson out of the Clemson or no, Miami out of the ACC. Right. Miami is an ACC.
00:35:13
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, they are. So, so the top four would be Oregon, Georgia, Miami, and Clemson or Iowa state, excuse me, Iowa state would be number four. Then you have the group of five winner gets an automatic bid. Now that group of five is the AAC, Mountain West, Mac, Sunbelt,
00:35:40
Speaker
And conference USA. Okay. Okay. So that representative, as I'm looking down here is right now Boise State. I think. Yeah. Yeah. Cause they're 17. So since they are out of the top 12, they go in at number 12.
00:36:00
Speaker
OK, so now from number five down because Penn State and Ohio State can't be three or four. Penn State would be five. Ohio State would be six. Texas would be number seven. Tennessee would be eight. LSU nine.
00:36:19
Speaker
Iowa State would be 10. BYU 11. Notre Dame would be knocked out of the 12th spot in favor of Boise State. Yeah, now. Well, yeah, that's interesting and. ah You know, it's still what we got. ah Most teams have five games left to play. Oh yeah, this is conference championship game if they're in it. This could this one. Shake out some more and and you know I don't know. You know Miami will hang in there. I don't know if Tennessee will hang in there. I don't know if you know.
00:36:56
Speaker
Someone from the big 12 is going to obviously hang there. Maybe it'll be Iowa State, but you know we'll see. We'll see and I still have my doubts about if Notre Dame will hang in there. You know they they're winning and they're winning their games, ah but you know they're not a dominant team well and you've and you've got some teams still behind all those guys, you know, and I'll i'll I mean granted I'm gonna sound like a Homer, but I gotta throw it in there. You're looking at Illinois. There's six in one.
00:37:27
Speaker
they yeah They get past Oregon. If they can beat Oregon this weekend, here's what Illinois has got left on the schedule. Minnesota in Champaign, Michigan State in Champaign, Rutgers on the road, and Northwestern at the Soldier Field. who I mean, the way that team's playing, I don't see any one of those four upsetting the apple cart.
00:37:57
Speaker
So if they get past Oregon, that makes them 11 and one. Do they get up in the rankings into that top 12? Do you see four or five big 10 schools in that top 12?
00:38:11
Speaker
I kind of doubt it. Now, I'm going to say this as a homer for Illinois. I kind of doubt it. It's it's going to go that way. i I think we will end up losing to Oregon and before it's all said and done. But if they do beat Oregon, I don't see the other four teams stopping them. But I also don't see even as much as they would be worthy of it. I don't see an 11 and one Illinois making that cracking at top 12. I'm hoping it would happen, but I wouldn't be I wouldn't put my money on it.
00:38:39
Speaker
Mm hmm. You know, yeah. Um, and you look at, you look at, like I said, you look at the rest of the, the rankings as they go. I mean, Navy army, they're both undefeated right now. Uh, Pittsburgh, I think is still undefeated. Uh, you've got, uh, Texas A and&M. do And by the way, they're playing right now and they're up 24 to nothing over Syracuse in the second quarter. So pitch rolling.
00:39:03
Speaker
I don't know, no doubt. Yeah. And so, uh, so in Syracuse zone is five and one, but they're not anywhere. They're not anywhere in the picture. Well, it's not like you played a, yeah, it's not like pits played a week schedule. I mean, yeah, Kent state, but they played Cincinnati, West Virginia, Cal, you know, North Carolina, you know, and like you said, they beat, they've, they've taken on all comers and, and.
00:39:29
Speaker
You know, they've won, maybe not very impressively, as as we talked about earlier with ah with Indiana, the way they're doing. ah Now, next week will be their test when they've got SN number 22 SMU. And then they've also got number nine Clemson in November. So we'll see what, does we will see what they're made of before it's all said and done. But yeah, I mean, so this that's the way, now the the way the playoff is going to run the first four teams or the the the fact said the top four teams get a buy everybody else plays each other in the version or ah actual all games will be played in the new year's six realm so so if we're looking at the new year's six that is the uh sugar rose peach fiesta cotton and orange so the first four games are going to be played between december 20th and december 21st and
00:40:27
Speaker
You know, let's right now that the way they've got it projected and I'll just read off how they got it projected. It'd be Penn State versus Clemson in the first round. These will be at the higher seed home stadium. The way I understand it. So it'll be Penn State or Clemson will be at Penn State, Texas A and&M will be at Texas, BYU against Alabama, Boise State against Oregon. This is just a, this is just a, you know,
00:40:54
Speaker
for the Shits and gri shits chich and gis shit shits and Giggles All right, so then the next four games will be the winners of those games will take on the the four teams that are seeded in the top four. so and And they have said they're going to try to make the bowl games historically specific or historically relevant. So ah like an SCT team is gonna be in the in the sugar bowl.
00:41:22
Speaker
So Georgia would get the sugar bowl. Ohio state, we get the Rose bowl. Miami, we get the peach. Iowa state, we get the Fiesta because that's where those conferences normally have aligned over the years with those bowls. So the winners of the first four would be rat would be matched up against those guys. Those four games would be the, the, the play in games, if you will, so to speak, or the quarter finals, the semi-finals would be the cotton and the orange bowl.
Surprise Performances and Conference Updates
00:41:46
Speaker
Now I don't know if they are going to make those.
00:41:50
Speaker
historically specific or not. Um, I'm assuming so since they're part of the new year's six realistically, then the championship game will be January 20th. That's all. And I think that's going to be in Atlanta, correct?
00:42:05
Speaker
Yes, I think so. I think so. There's how the playoff structure is going to work. I mean, right now, like I said, if you look at it, the obvious ones that are, I think, pretty much in at this point, Oregon, Georgia, you got to say Penn State, Ohio State are in, but they're not going to be in that top four, except Miami right now is there. Clemson is in the top four.
00:42:29
Speaker
or excuse me, Miami is in there in the Iowa state, excuse me, but right behind Miami is Clemson, right behind Iowa state is BYU. So, you know, either one of those two could upset the apple cart and switch the whole order around. um And here's one odd thing in the, I've been hesitating to mention it, but I'm going to just for the heck of it. um Vanderbilt is ranked 25th in the nation.
00:42:57
Speaker
ah by ESPN or by, uh, yeah, by, uh, CBS, excuse me, Vanderbilt is ranked 20. And I asked this on my podcast yeah last week, my, my talking sports on the bleachers. I said, when was the last time I said, if, and this is before the the weekend, I said, if Bama loses in Vandy wins, when was the last time you saw both Vanderbilt and Alabama at five and two i don't and Alabama with more conference losses than Vanderbilt.
00:43:27
Speaker
Yeah, right. i forgot That's weird. That is weird. Yeah, it's a. Yeah, it's been a weird season. It's you know. A lot of things happened. We didn't expect to happen and no one expected Vanderbilt to be this good.
00:43:47
Speaker
Uh, so, you know, but they went into, there's someone who went into the transfer portal and found him a quarterback. And that, that was a big thing for them. you know yeah So, yeah, no doubt. No doubt. Uh, a couple of quick looks at some other, the other conferences we're talking about, you know, the big 12, like the BI BYU is a seven and oh, along with Iowa state, yu but they're being chased also by Kansas state, Kansas state six and one.
00:44:08
Speaker
Um, yeah, you know, you get a couple of upsets here and there and you know, now Kansas state's playing for that big 12, uh, uh, championship. Uh, you look at, we're looking at some of the the group of five.
00:44:20
Speaker
Nobody at a conference USA, I think is really going to scare anybody. Although we did, we did note you and I were talking earlier, Kennesaw state did beat Liberty, uh, for, I mean, a shocker of the moment. Um, and we got to see where's the the mountain West, uh, UNLV six and one and how they're not ahead of Boise state. I don't know.
00:44:45
Speaker
Um, just looking at the whole stat stat line, uh, UNLV is six and one, uh, with, uh, in conference or overall, uh, two and Oh, in conference, uh, they have, um,
00:45:03
Speaker
Out scare outscored their opponents 305 to 158.
00:45:09
Speaker
And, you know, they're ahead of a Boise state who is five and one. Now Boise state's got a pretty deep, they've outscored their opponents, one, two 81 to one 57. So I don't know how they figured all that in. It's funny. They still have the pack 12 lists, but the only two schools in it, but Washington state six and one. So, yeah, you know, Sunbelt, there's really, I mean, you got Georgia Southern's five and two in the Sunbelt.
00:45:38
Speaker
Uh, well, the Sunbelt East anyway, the Sunbelt West is Louisiana six and one Louisiana Monroe's five and one. So, you know, I think if you're looking at, uh, where these other teams are coming from, um,
00:45:56
Speaker
you know, you're looking at, uh, worked where the heck is army? What conference are they in? I must've passed them already. Uh, Oh yeah, there we are. Yeah. The American conference army, Navy or army seven, Oh, Navy six and Oh, uh, Memphis is six and one in that conference. It's going to be very interesting to see how all this, like you said, how all this plays out. You've got some teams there in the rankings that, like I said, any.
Advertisements and Upcoming Game Previews
00:46:23
Speaker
anything can happen. They can move up. um You know, Alabama's down to 15th. You've got Kansas State moving up. You've got, actually, we talked about Indiana earlier, Tennessee earlier. um ah Illinois moved up another two spots.
00:46:37
Speaker
you know So it's going to be, as these games play out, and like I said, as we've talked about with some of these teams, as the season goes on, what they've got left, I mean, they could really, there could really be some some huge shifts, as they say. Four goes all said and done. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it could be. Like I said, five games, a lot left. there's a lot There's a lot of football to be played. Yeah. We'll be back, and we'll talk some upsets in the scheduled upcoming schedules here in just a minute.
00:47:07
Speaker
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00:47:48
Speaker
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00:48:16
Speaker
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00:49:11
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Week 7 and 8 Game Analysis
00:50:11
Speaker
OK, we are back, so we're going to take a look at the last couple of weeks of games. Since we do this every other week, we we have a couple of weeks worth of games to go over. So when last we talked. um We were getting ready for week seven. And we, you know, there's a few games that caught both Russ's and mine mine's eye. um One of the ones I think that was that probably has shaped the week we had last week was Oregon, Ohio State. I mean, that was huge. Oregon coming down in the last minutes to score. And then I, can you tell me, I mean, maybe you have an idea.
00:51:06
Speaker
Why in the devil with seven seconds left, are you running the ball on a quarterback draw? And yeah, I don't know but yeah ah don't know about that one. yeah i Yeah. Yeah. That one, that one threw me for a loop, but you know, give Oregon credit, Oregon credit. They came in and they won the game. They now I was at Eugene.
00:51:28
Speaker
uh but you wouldn't think that would bother Ohio State considering the stadium they planned and and then the state they have played in at Penn State and Michigan um you know but uh but uh Oregon did win that one and that shot and that that that flip-flopped a lot of things um did you know for sure you had um Alabama just barely beating South Carolina by two Yeah, I mean, and I think that that was a thing that people were getting to see. The problems Alabama's having, I think by only being South Carolina by two, you know, game at home again, they should have, you know, rolled over and they had to kind of rally back to win that game. So I mean, it's it's. It's really a yeah, I think I think that was a precursor to the some of the problems Alabama
00:52:27
Speaker
which goodness was having. So anyway, as we see the next week, what happened? As we'll see next, yeah, as we'll see in in the next week, ah Penn State only beats USC by three. I mean, that's concerning in the sense that, yeah, there's still six known as we talked earlier, they still have a ah pretty favorable schedule ahead of them, but USC was only, you know, only three and two.
00:52:49
Speaker
Right. You know, like and, and Penn State five and oh, and the game was, it was, uh, now the game was in us at USC. Uh, maybe some, maybe you got to travel across the country, had something to do with it, but you know, that's kind of a telling thing there to me. Uh, then you had the Illinois the nap game went into overtime, actually for Penn State.
00:53:12
Speaker
Uh, then you had the Illinois Purdue game. I mean, you looked at that game and Illinois had a 24 to three lead at the half. And, you know, you thought, okay, this game's pretty much done. Well, then they got outscored 40 to 19 in the second half. Uh, they ended up winning that game in overtime, 50 to 49, you know, so there's a couple of games there that you just didn't know what to think.
00:53:36
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I'm sure Illinois is saying thank God that Purdue went for two points instead of tying it and you know, keep playing because you don't know how you don't know how that game would have turned out now. Yeah, and I'm sure there were one of the reasons they decided to go for two as they were on the road. but Maybe they thought they could. Maybe they thought they had to play to get it and get it in. But yeah, that was that was. Brett Bielma said and he called his guys over before the before the start of overtime. He said, look,
00:54:07
Speaker
If we score, we're going for one. If they score, they're going for two. Here's the play stopping them. He already figured they were going to go for two. He already figured Ryan Walters, and maybe that's because he worked with Walters, but he already figured Ryan Walters would go for two. And so they already had that play pretty much set up to stop um a day two-point conversion. And my only question on that one is,
00:54:32
Speaker
The way Purdue was able to run the ball in the second half, especially with their quarterback, ah Ryan Brown. um Why would they chance throwing the ball on fourth on on a, on a two point conversion when you have been, been able to run the ball so effectively? I mean, they, they put up.
00:54:52
Speaker
239 yards of offen rushing offense against Illinois. They only pass for 297, which is still pretty not not too bad. But you know why would you pass when you've been able to run the ball so effectively? I just don't understand that particular thinking. you know um But hey, it is what it is. Illinois got the win. So that's that's the good part about that one.
00:55:12
Speaker
That's pretty much, I think, well, the Ole Miss upset by LSU. ah They won that game by three. That kind of flipped them around a little bit, dropped Ole Miss down some. um You know, we're talking about two of the guys we were talking about for that's been mentioned in a Heisman watch. ah ah Dart for Ole Miss and Nussmeyer for the Tigers. Dart went for 284 yards in a TD. Nussmeyer, 337 yards in three touchdowns. So take that for what it's worth.
00:55:42
Speaker
Uh, Tennessee barely gets by Florida by six that in week seven. So there was a lot of games that just, I mean, they weren't. Huge upsets. They weren't huge things in the making, but they kind of maybe give you a precursors of what happened last week. Right. Right. And so we'll, without further ado, let's go to last week. We'll go ahead. If you got some else, go ahead. No, I don't. I don't. Okay. All right. Okay. All right. So in week eight, then.
00:56:13
Speaker
We had a couple of really good games. Well, Georgia and Texas was was the one that surprised a lot of people that Georgia just the way they handle text. Yeah, no doubt. It's kind of like kind of like almost the Georgia Alabama game where Georgia came back so so fast and actually took the lead before Alabama, you know, fair to that game out of there.
00:56:35
Speaker
Um, but but yeah, that, that one, I think, uh, that, that raised a lot of eyebrows, uh, when that, that score came across the screen for sure. Um, because you, I mean, you figured it was going to be a tough game, but for Georgia to win by, ba by 15 and basically they shut Texas out the first half. They did it. They did. Yeah. And Texas, Texas came up and they changed quarterbacks, Texas, you know, they had the, the, uh, they brought in, uh,
00:57:05
Speaker
arch manning yeah yeah ah You know, to see if they could get some offense going. ah You know, then they brought back to starting Corbin. I forgot his name, but anyway, they did bring. Yeah, they brought him back in eventually. So you know that was at Austin. Yeah, so that's what makes that so surprising. You gotta give George a lot of credit. You know they they really they went in there. Texas is number one team in the country. Little lot they were. You know they were going to win the
00:57:40
Speaker
They were going to roll on and happened. Georgia at home, you know, played well to, uh, to Texas is, uh, he's a little lucky to Texas advantage. So get Georgia, a lot of credit for pulling that one out. Yeah. No doubt about that. Then you've got the other, uh, upset in the, uh, sec was number 11, Tennessee taking it to Alabama. Yeah. Yeah, they did. And, um,
00:58:09
Speaker
you know tennessee is a you know Tennessee is a good team, but they're not a great team. yeah That's my opinion. And they and the fact that he's beat Alabama tells me more and more about Alabama than it did about Tennessee. Tennessee is one loss, only one loss now. but you know I don't see them. I see them hitting up the loss before it's over with, but Alabama has two losses, so you know.
00:58:41
Speaker
You know, one more loss and they're out of the, they're out the pitcher, you know, totally they're kind of hanging in there by the throat. So yeah they're on right now they're outside looking in. Uh, but like you said, one more loss and, you know, this counted as, as season over wait, wait till next year. Yeah, for sure. Uh, the Indiana, we talked about this earlier, the Indiana, Nebraska game, right now how Indiana's puts up 56 against Nebraska. I do not know.
00:59:09
Speaker
And I did not watch that game at all. So I had no idea what happened. I was able to watch a little bit because I went, I went to the Illinois, Michigan game and I was in a bar getting lunch and I was, they had the, that game on the TV and.
00:59:26
Speaker
Um, I, it was just, it was just a complete, uh, a complete game by India from what I was able to watch. I only watched maybe 10 minutes, 12 minutes of the game. Um, but it was, they, um, they played a complete game. They, they put it together. They were running the ball. They were throwing the ball. Um, it just seemed like Nebraska just had no answer for what, uh, Indiana was doing. Hmm. Yeah. Um, and yeah um It's hard to imagine that the those two programs are are that far apart. I don't think they are. I just think things started probably rolling for for Indiana.
01:00:08
Speaker
And everything started going wrong for Nebraska. And they just couldn't recover from it. You know, that's an environment, you know, like I said, it's good for first year coach sending Gennady over there. I mean, he's, uh, you know, he's he's he's reaping some benefits. Uh, then came the one that I said, I went to Illinois, Michigan game. And I, it, first of all, it was, it was so fun to see the Illinois team come out in the 1920 era uniforms.
01:00:38
Speaker
and they had ah so the helmets specially painted to look, but and I will tell you, if you had hadn't told me those were regulation helmets painted leather painted leather, I would have thought they were leather helmets. yeah I mean, they looked at, and according to this, they they they they got them painted by a guy in Nebraska, um and it took two hours per helmet to paint them.
01:01:10
Speaker
move I mean, it was, it was, but the Illinois came out, they scored first. They, they were able to capitalize on a bunch of Michigan mistakes. A couple of fumbles led to touchdowns. Michigan had one shot there in the fourth quarter to get it back into reason. And Illinois intercepted the ball in the, in the end zone. The curious thing is that Michigan went with their fourth or their third string quarterback. um And.
01:01:37
Speaker
You know, they said it gave them the better option of, of, uh, better passing option. And it was titled through for 208 yards, but the Illinois, here's the, the, the crazy part. Everybody's talking about Illinois or Michigan's running game that Illinois couldn't handle it. That, you know, the Michigan would just run right over them and this and that and whatever. And Michigan only ran for 114 yards total, total rushing offense and Illinois ran for 187.
01:02:08
Speaker
Now, 37 of that was on a fake punt, but hey, you know, take it from what, and, and, and Illinois ever thought Illinois is passing game would just decimate the Michigan defense Illinois only passed for 80 yards. So it was a really weird game in in that respect, but it was, it was a game that that was for at least from my perspective was, but it was fun to watch.
01:02:28
Speaker
Oh, I'm sure it was. Yeah. Yeah. And and I'll tell you, we had I was sitting in ah in a group of Michigan fans. We were kind of interspersed, Michigan and Illinois fans, a few on each end. And I had a couple of different Michigan fans as I was walking out of the stadium and said, congratulations, you guys deserved it. It was a really well played.
Upcoming Key Matchups Preview
01:02:48
Speaker
even so even a lot of the Michigan fans enjoyed they didn't enjoy the outcome but they enjoyed the game so yeah you know and and what it does it puts Illinois in a good light and puts Michigan pretty much done there they've got three losses now in the way they're seeing playoffs and you know and it it's pretty yeah you know to to quote uh uh the old former indian Indianapolis coach playoffs Yeah. you play arms yeah and So there is that. Um, so that, you know, that there was a couple of other games, maybe that might've been on the sea. We got, uh, well, we had a pretty tight game between Miami and Louisville, Miami one that fit the two to 45. So that wasn't a big thing. Uh, Missouri is able to be at Auburn. Keep there. I mean, you got to think Missouri is still a shot at the playoffs. I mean, there are six and one. Yeah, there's their shot. They've got a lot of injuries. Uh, Glenn, they,
01:03:40
Speaker
I have to say Brady cookie sprung his ankle in that Auburn game. See how he comes around from that. Yeah, he came back in the fourth quarter and and drove him for two touchdowns. ah Didn't look like he was limping at all. He might have gotten a shot or something. I don't know, but then they don't have a little quarter zone does wonders. ah Yeah, they got them listed as questionable and they lost two defensive starters in the of all games in the UMass game. So we'll see the Alabama games going to be that'll be telling for both teams next week. Yeah.
01:04:15
Speaker
couple Couple of big 12 teams ah that kept their hoves alive on, on, on the skinnest of margins. Uh, Iowa state BU university of central Florida, 38 to 35. And, uh, what was it? BYU took down Oklahoma state 38 to 35. So, um, so that's kind of your week, your week eight. So moving on to what's coming up.
01:04:39
Speaker
And like you said, we've got some big games coming up this week. Um, some scores going on right now. We're taping this on Thursday nights and some scores going on right now. Pittsburgh is up 31 to nothing at half over Syracuse. That's right. Uh, and Boise state plays UNLV a little bit later tonight.
01:05:00
Speaker
It's tomorrow night. That's tomorrow night. that's so I'm sorry. is yeah thursday yeah Tomorrow night at 9 30. Um, so getting into some other Notre Dame versus Navy. Uh, we'll see how, I mean, that could be big for both, both schools. Uh, Navy's number 24. Notre Dame's 20 there's number 12, uh, Navy six and Oh, Dame is six and one. The line is, uh, Notre Dame's a 13 and a half point favorite.
01:05:29
Speaker
Over under is 52.
01:05:35
Speaker
Well, I'm not sure how that one. Well, yeah, it's going to be at that Rutherford, New Jersey. Yeah, it's gonna be a man lost stadium. So yeah, it won't be a home advantage for Navy at all. So not really. I mean, a slight advantage. I mean, you know, an Apple is a lot closer than than South Bend, but sure not, yeah you know, yeah it's not their preferred place to play anyway, as we know.
01:06:01
Speaker
No, I mean, there's Notre Dame fans all over the place. So they'll be playing don yeah there'll be plenty of Notre Dame fans showing up for that one for sure. Uh, let's see, we've got, uh, mid 10 matchup of Oregon, Illinois, yeah Illinois is a 21 and a half point underdog. Yeah. I'm not sure. I'm not sure about that one. Yeah. I might take the, uh, my take that one.
01:06:27
Speaker
If I was betting, uh, you know, people just still aren't bought in Illinois yet. Don, I know, I know, you know, especially when they're going to play the number one team in the country at Eugene. So, I mean, they still got some things left to prove. Um, uh, you know, I mean,
01:06:43
Speaker
Everybody, everybody will be watching Illinois in this game to see how they respond to it. So yeah. Oh, no doubt. And you know, in, in the, in the absolute truth, I mean, this is not Oregon's first test. I mean, you know, they took, they took on Ohio state. So, you know, it's not like they're not battle tested. They are battle tested. Illinois is taking on Penn state. So they, you know, both teams, I think have been through enough of the war that this, this ought, I think it's going to be a lot closer game than they figure.
01:07:09
Speaker
Uh, I'm not going to pick Illinois outright. I'm not going to pick the money line and say Illinois. Um, but I, like I said, I'm like you, I think they'll, I think they'll keep it within the spread over, under his 40, 54 and a half. I think that one could go either way, depending on whether it's a shootout or defensive struggle, Alabama, Missouri, Alabama, 15 Missouri, 21. Yeah. I think, uh, is a 17 point favorite.
01:07:40
Speaker
Yeah, that's at home. um The pins who Missouri can put on the field that day. Yeah, that's a lot of it and a lot of it will be the pain. I mean, this will be a telling game for both teams. Alabama loses their done.
01:07:56
Speaker
as far as the playoffs are concerned. yeah And if miss Missouri loses, they'd probably be done. Even though they would get two losses, they would probably be done. They'd certainly be the outside looking in, very much so. But they they need to go in there and win that game. They really do. But not you know yeah I really think for Missouri, it depends who they can put on the field that day.
01:08:23
Speaker
So for sure, for sure. Um, I'm only going to mention this one just because it seems like we've got a giant killer in the SEC, Texas Vanderbilt. Yeah. Yeah. I don't mean to laugh. I don't mean to laugh because that's going to be it. Uh, that's going to be at the tightness, the first bank stadium in Nashville. I see that. So Texas will be able to bring plenty of fans if they want to, uh, Vanderbilt Vanderbilt is an 18 and a half point underdog.
01:08:53
Speaker
Yeah, they, they will continue to be underdogs probably. why it that I'm just trying to figure out how they're, how they're less of an underdog against Texas know it's against, work but hey, yeah I'll take you. You got to get take with what it is. Over under is 51 and a half. Um, I don't know. I think, uh, Texas has a lot to, has a lot to prove this weekend. They need to.
01:09:20
Speaker
come back and uh you know, we' sound you know, you said yours came back and and and and played in that fourth quarter but you know, uh how much damage did he maybe do to that ankle getting there? there Is there, you know, is there something that's going to be lingering there? No, they've got arch manning behind him. They got arch man. Do you want to keep changing quarterbacks like that? Yeah, yeah. Um, Texas. that's like Go ahead.
01:09:50
Speaker
Uh, well, there's just not much to say. I just, okay ah I don't, I wouldn't vote. I mean, I go with Texas all the way on that one. So yeah, yeah go ahead. Texas ain't inverse LSU, uh, A and&M's number 14, LSU's number eight. They're both six and one. And this is pretty much a pick them game as, uh, LSU's is favored by one.
01:10:14
Speaker
Yeah, that's that's the right call. LSU and Texas A&M both have gotten better. So years gone along. I mean, you've seen the improvement. I think I've watched them both and I think they're the you know, it's really a shame. One of those teams is going to come out with two losses. Yeah, oh and it's going to put him on the outside looking in a little bit, ah but the you know.
01:10:41
Speaker
That game is 630 on Saturday night, I believe. Yep. at college Yeah, that's gonna be a good game. That'll be a game if if you're interested in the in the college playoffs. That's the game to watch because I really think the winner is going to come out there with a big advantage.
01:10:57
Speaker
yeah Oh yeah. Like I said, Texas right now sitting at 14 there on the outside looking in, you know, they go seven and one. Uh, you got to start talking about them. You know, you got to start saying, home do they, do they belong? Yeah, they're both undefeated in a conference by the way. So I mean, you know, they're, they're.
01:11:15
Speaker
Uh, this could be an early look at a conference championship game. I don't know. It's a good, it's a good, uh, it'll be a good, should be a good matchup. Yeah. Uh, like I said, the over under on that is 54 and a half. Uh, I don't know that much about either team to bet that much on it, but, uh, you know, you would probably know better. Yeah. Well, I, I could see that. I could see that, that being, uh,
01:11:42
Speaker
forty I can see that me points being put on the board. Yeah, these teams are deep. Yes, the one thing the LSU is better this year that they weren't last year was defense. They got black bankers or defensive coordinator and they've gotten better every week.
01:11:59
Speaker
so ah And of course, the Texas A&M coach is an old defensive coordinator. he's he yeah It's going to be a good game, Glenn. That's one I'll definitely watch Saturday night. The only other top 25 games right now, that that I mean, there's a bunch. There are a few more on the schedule. But ah Washington, Indiana, Washington. Now, i'm I am surprised. Washington at home versus, or excuse me, Indiana at home versus Washington,
01:12:27
Speaker
Uh, Indiana's 13 Washington's unranked. Indiana's only a six and a half point favorite. Once again, it's one of those traditional teams that aren't traditionally a good football teams or good football school. And people just aren't buying into them yet. Um, so I mean, you know, this will be another test for Indiana. You know, they can take care of business at home. Um, um, if they can.
01:12:54
Speaker
if they don't have any lingering effects from that big wind last week and in Lincoln. I mean, that was so huge. So you don't get them back up for that game. Of course. Yeah, that's all true. Another curious game is Penn State number three versus unranked Wisconsin and Penn State's only now this is at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. um Penn State's only a six and a half point favorite.
01:13:24
Speaker
Um, well, I don't know that Penn State has been overly impressive in their wins. I mean, like I said, they took, they had to take, they had to win that game against USC in overtime and USC is not particularly that good. no So, uh, it might be one of those things that people just, that God, they're number three in the country. but And there ah just doesn't sound up that the, uh, people doing the odds or just sold on Penn State. Well, it's kind of like you earlier in the year where I think it's like week three or four, we were talking about a Notre Dame game. Uh, it was, I think it was after they got beat by Northern, uh, Northern they favored by like three against their next opponent or something like that. You just don't sometimes the media just doesn't buy into or the odds makers don't buy into what they see. Yeah. You know, I just, uh,
01:14:20
Speaker
ah They're on the road at camp, right? That's got to be a easier trip for them than being on the road at Los Angeles. But no doubt anyway, but still yet. I mean, you know, people just haven't quite bought into Penn State. I think even though they're number three, number three in the country, I just think that Spanker just haven't quite bought into him yet. No, probably not. Probably not. Well, I tell you what, Russ, that's that's that's all we've got
Show Conclusion
01:14:47
Speaker
for that. that I think it's going to wrap it up for tonight. um yes We'll, we'll, we'll reconvene again in a couple of weeks and see where everything's at. um Give us your location where we can find you, buddy. Well, on Twitter, I'm uncle Frank at FR Robinson, one nine five seven. And then um you can find me floating around on the Mizzou Facebook fan groups on Facebook a lot of times. So anyway, that's where you find me at.
01:15:17
Speaker
when you can always find me at TSOTB GCS on Twitter X whatever you want to call it on Facebook I hang around the Illinois pages I hang around some of the NCAA pages um you can always find me either either one of those or you can contact the shows Facebook page or at Talking Sports on the bleachers We want to thank you for joining us and we wanna remind you to check out the Fuel Sports Network within its list of contributors and writers and podcasts. You have the team of rivals with Ron, Pete, and Elliot.
01:15:55
Speaker
um You've got the two for three with the Moose, Mike Michaels. And then you've got Ron Nuttle has, ah I believe it's at the park. We're all about city soccer. ah You can tune in and find the A-Train Arlington Lane as he talks wrestling and football. And of course there's always the Derek King show. So for my partner Russ Robinson, this is Don Quinn. I wanna wish you guys good health Have fun, stay safe, we'll talk to you again on the NCAA Report.