Latest / Dawgs Down South / Episode 117: Tennessee St. Preview, Lane Kiffin and LSU Drama Pt.2, Week 1 SEC Picks

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Episode 117: Tennessee St. Preview, Lane Kiffin and LSU Drama Pt.2, Week 1 SEC Picks · Dawgs Down South

• Ted Turner: Good evening, everyone. Hope you're doing well tonight. Welcome to Dogs Down South. It is week one game week, Georgia versus Tennessee State. And before we even start anything tonight, I have a surprise for you guys. So without any further ado, we're gonna hop right in right here. Man, man, fish, it is here, man. It is here. Adam Fisher: Yeah. Ted Turner: And if that video don't give you chills, man, I'm sitting there right there going, Man, I'm in Florida and it's cold in here. man. Adam Fisher: I know, right? Ted Turner: Fish, it's game week, man. It's Thursday. We are we are literally less than forty eight hours out from between the hedges. What's your feelings today, man? What's your feelings this week so far? Adam Fisher: Dude, it's been it's going by fast. Thank God. I thought it was gonna drag, but you know, it didn't. The days are going by pretty quick. I've been really busy this week, so that helps. man, I'm I'm pumped, dude. I'm sitting down right now about to watch Georgia Tech and Colorado just because it's football. Two teams I don't care I don't care about at all. But I'm gonna watch and I'm gonna be into the game and I'm pulling for Colorado. So because, you know, we hate Georgia Tech. So I'm glad it's here, dude. Can't believe it's finally here. Here we go again. Ted Turner: Yeah, man, it's finally game week. Georgia, obviously, between the hedges to start the twenty twenty six season gets underway this Saturday, number three in the nation to start out the season versus the Tennessee State Tigers. Sanford Stadium. Got a pack show today, Fish. We're going to talk about some history. just give the fans some, I call it game day nostalgia. Just get the blood flowing a little bit. I think that's warranted for this time of year. and then we're gonna get through some fun facts around Georgia football. while we play the battle him, I think some people may not know why we actually do that. And then obviously we're gonna talk some key strategies, things to look for from Georgia, things we're gonna look for from Tennessee State, and we get our first official week one pick'em. We might want to pick that Georgia Tech game before it actually starts, but we'll wait to see how close Adam Fisher: Got an hour. Ted Turner: we are. Yeah, no, no, no peaking per se, I guess I would call it. But fish. Let's hop right in, man. Before we do so, though, man, we are literally sitting here within the hour of, I mean, I don't know, watching a different type of history right now. If you did not join on Tuesday night, we we dove a little bit into what's going on right now with LSU, Lane Kiffen, NFL players being able to play one more year. Officially today, the SEC and Greg Sankey has taken some action and is is going about suing The University of LSU over this and we are literally fish one part of it has already been ruled over in favor of the NCAA from what I understand and the SEC, sorry. and then we're literally sitting in another part of it right now wondering like, is there is there gonna be action taken right now, tonight, before the weekend? Like, really quick before we hop in the night, like this kind of is an overshadow like is this an overshadow week one of college football? Adam Fisher: No man. As soon as the lights are on and the they kick the ball off the tee, you know, and get it going, that's it. Nobody cares about the other stuff. It's gonna go away. It's not gonna overshadow, I don't think. if not for me at least. I mean, it's comical and it's entertaining. And, you know, it just I've lost so much respect for Lane Kiffin this this off season. Well actually started back in November when he the way he did Ole Miss. But you know It it's it's not. It it shouldn't, at least anyway. Ted Turner: They're really, really seeing this through, man. Like they're real I mean, I am if you can say one thing about Greg Sankey, man, he's really seeing this through. He's not just, you know, he's not sitting there going, well, you know, we'll see, we'll we'll try to we'll throw a couple of words out there and see what happens and so on and so forth. But I mean, I don't know, man, like by the end of this podcast tonight and before we, you know, get in the middle of this game going on tonight to kick off the week, the weekend, like We could see some action from the SEC and the NCAA and what's going on. So all eyes are not necessarily on that, but curious to see that. And we'll we're gonna pick that game here in a little bit and so we'll talk more about it. But fish fun facts. also before we even share that, I know we we we well we'll we'll get into like we'll get we'll finish this out with kind of the grim news, but wanted to follow up for people if you haven't seen it today. We did report on Xavier McLeod on Tuesday. And you know, we we kind of dove in on what we thought was going on and and we we kind of always know there might be a little bit more, but honestly it came out today there was an arrest and a misdemeanor charge for Xavier McLeod. It had to do a lot with some stuff going on family related, destruction of property, misdemeanor issues, things, but it it was, I think, a a point where I think him and Kirby hit part of You need to make a decision what you're doing, what's going on in your life. And maybe it's something you need to step away from football and take care of and get some help. And I wish Xavier McLeod nothing but the best. I just always want us to know on here. We will report it, whether it's good or bad. We want everybody to be in the know. But in the end of the in the end of the day, these still are kids, man. They're still we gotta remember that. Like we're we're paying, you know, these kids these crazy amounts of money, but they're still trying to learn how to figure life out, man. So I love what Kirby is, you know, doing. I don't think this was a dismissal. I think it was a, hey, let's get in the the same area code and go, what is it gonna take for you to get to a good headspace, not only personally and professionally, to maybe either further your career in football or just just further your your career period, you know, to and in healthier ways. So we wish Xavier McLeod the best. I just wanted to make sure we reported on that. Truthfully and honestly from Tuesday and got to give everybody what they wanted to know. Fish a couple of fun facts, right? More than a hundred and thirty years of Georgia football team history, right? think about the names, right, that have come through Athens. George Woodruff, Wally Butts, Vince Dooley, Mark Rick, Kirby Smart. There's names that all of us could just funnel out galore. number of championships, four claimed national championships, nineteen forty two, nineteen eighty, twenty twenty one, and twenty twenty two were the back to back years that we were so I was I was and I know you are personally to gratefully be a part of. and then the back to back ones, you know, they remind the college football world of who Georgia really is. we're not just living on the history that everybody was like, you guys are still living back in the eighties. but and you know, in the most recent ones, you know, kind of what we would call names that kind of stand out to us in those years, Setson Bennett, Brock Bowers, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, N'Kobe Dean, the list could go on and on and plenty more. But fish like let's just let we're we we decided to take a little bit apart of tonight's show and just really delve into the history of Georgia football and why, you know, not only being a little biased, but also going like when you come to Georgia Adam Fisher: huh. Ted Turner: and you come to Athens and you experience a home game, it's just different in Athens, right? It's different not because we're Georgia fans, but because we have great tradition, we have great culture. I think we have great fans, even though a lot of people like to say the barking is annoying, but I mean, as long as you're not barking at people's faces, like I get that, that's annoying. But but Fish, I thought it'd be cool for you, man. Give me a couple of like moments as far as Georgia history and you've been going to the game since you were a kid that you can remember that really stand out in your mind about Georgia football, you know, back in the day when you were a kid and even now. Adam Fisher: Well, my earliest memory of a Georgia game was nineteen eighty six, eighty five, eighty six. Anyway, we upset Clemson and my hands were so red from high five and the guy that was sitting next to us, some drunk dude, had no idea who he was, but he just happened to have seats right next to me and my mom and dad. And, you know, it was we were we were like not supposed to even hang in the game. We weren't supposed to be a part of that game. Like it was supposed to be a route. And then we ended up upsetting them and beating them. I can't remember exactly what they were ranked, but that was that s like kind of springboarded me into like my love for the game, you know. Well for Georgia football at least anyway. I I always love football, have always loved since I can remember. But you're right, like, you know, when you were playing that video earlier, you know, and It's this this isn't bad, but it's you know like hearing that not in the stadium, you know, it's like it's okay, you know, it's good. It's good, it's great, you know, it is like it's tradition, it's it is it's what we do. But when you're actually in the stadium and at the game, like it's like you just get chills as soon as you hear it, like you know it's coming, you're just kinda waiting there, you're sitting there anticipating it and then boom. Like there it is, you know, you hear the horn start to play and you know, all eyes on him, everybody turns around and looks 'cause he's always up there in the north corner, I think it is, or on the east s west side I'm not sure. but you know, and it it just goes quiet while he's playing and then with a video and then as soon as that video's over, man, the place just erupts and it goes nuts and they start playing what's the name of the song? I'm a bad Georgia fan. my god, the ho the Who song. I can't remember the name. Anyway, you know what I'm talking about. You know what song I'm talking about. Ted Turner: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Adam Fisher: but then everybody gets pumped and you know, it just just you know, snowballs from there and it's it it's a great feeling, man. Ted Turner: Yeah. Adam Fisher: It's it's awesome. Like you said, I've been going to the game since I was a kid, you know, since nineteen eighty six. And Ted Turner: Yeah. I you know, I was listening to you and and I was like I I have memories of when you and I would go to games and actually a few a few weeks ago when I went solo on the show the night we were supposed to go, mentioned something about your you know, obviously your mom and dad, huge Georgia fans, Georgia alum. and you know, spoke a little bit about the the passing of your dad and I used to I talked about how you guys were very vital in me becoming a Georgia fan because you take me to games and You know, we would half the time me and you would throw the football and we would walk around laps around the hedges, not knowing anything that was going on between the hedges. We would sit down for a little while, but that was probably just to eat, right? food was important as a kid. It it Adam Fisher: Yep. Yep. Yep. It was. Ted Turner: nourished the body so you could run more laps around the hedges. Adam Fisher: That's right. Ted Turner: but I think one of my fondest memories as of late was me and my wife going and experiencing Georgia, Tennessee. We we flew up there together. We did it. We went this game particularly without without our our two daughters did a cover trip just us. And we sat up in that area and it and we didn't realize at that time how big that game was going to be and where where we were gonna be in that situation two years ago. It was the year that Tennessee was known for something happened in their fans or somebody they were they were calling Stetson Bennett all night long on his cell phone. Adam Fisher: Yeah. Yeah. Ted Turner: And two two big things come out of that game, three really. Number one, how Just how we just slayed the wood on them that day, which was incredible. The decibel levels in that stadium that day were downright. I mean, it was just like as a as a fan sitting in a particular seat in the in the place, it was just so loud. It was just so mind wrecking how loud it was. And to see them look in, we broke that there was apparently decibel records in Sanford Stadium broken that day. The third one was to be able to witness when Stetson Bennett had had many a touchdowns that day and was throwing up the call me sign on Tennessee. And man, it was just a really cool day, man, and you've liked the times where you walk out of that stadium and I can I'm gonna knock on wood right here and tell you I've I've yet to walk out of that stadium defeated. And I've never gone to a Georgia game that that I've that we have walked out defeated. And once again, I knock on wood and I say that with extreme confidence because I will be attending a game this year, same game you're attending this year. So hopefully that that that doesn't you know in lie something like that. But it's just something unbelievable from the tailgating scene. And there's great tailgating scenes everywhere. I had the privilege of being on campus in the last two to three years at Georgia Auburn, you know, at you know, at Auburn on the Plains. Man, what what great people. And what great, what a great environment, but it just wasn't Athens, man. Like it wasn't Athens. It wasn't the the scene, the the band, the team shows up and you know, you have dog walk and you know, you go in early and you you you just you're in the stands and you're like, All right, there's like twenty-seven people in the stands, but I'm ready to go three hours ahead of time, you know? And you just have that feeling that in the in your stomach, and and I know that to some degree, regardless of who the opponent is on Saturday, we're gonna experience that. and it's gonna be fun, it's gonna be great, but for us, it's bigger right now than just the first game of the year. It's the start of something for us that goes way back to our childhood that takes over kind of our fall every year. So it's I mean, I'm I'm super pumped. I wanted the last thing to talk about is is you know, that that battle hymn the history behind that, you know, when we talk about the the glory, glory to old Georgia being the fight song and and you know The battle hymn, so I'm reading this straight out as information I read, but it was being sung at Georgia Games as early as the the eighteen ninety. So the from that came the fight song, Glory, Glory Troll Georgia, which was a fight song sung to the tune of the battle hymn of the Republic. The song was being sung at Georgia Games as early as eighteen ninety. And legendary Georgia musician Hugh Hodgson arranged it in its more familiar form in nineteen fifteen. And if you ever have been inside the stadium, we talked about this for kickoff, you know exactly what comes next. Stadium gets ready, the crowd gets quiet, and then the lone trumpeter appears seven minutes seven minutes before kickoff. There's a whole theme behind this. Playing the opening notes of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The current battle hymn trumpet tradition grew out of students' projects in 87 and became the regular part of Georgia's pregame tradition in 2000. And then those notes hit, and then the goosebumps happened, and then the the old familiar thing at the end, go dogs, and then you immediately heard. You immediately heard the fight song, that's when that's when Georgia ran out. And so ninety-three thousand people, man. after that happens, it just it is a buildup unlike any other, and we're getting ready. You know, fans that are gonna be there live are gonna experience it in a very hot day on Saturday. But to kick off the season, we're super pumped. We're super excited. but with that being said, fish, let's do let's hop right in, man. Let's preview a little Georgia versus Tennessee State. and kind of talk about it for people that don't know, for the people who aren't here, haven't been on Earth, and are just coming out of hibernation for the year for Georgia football. That game will be at home in Athens September 5th, Saturday, 3 p.m. Eastern. this will be the first ever meeting, fish, between Georgia and Tennessee State. Georgia interseason coming off a 12-2 campaign. Tennessee state last year finished the year 2-10. but for this week, I thought I would kick it off, Fish, let's let's kind of go back and forth on this, but you know, big questions, right? So how how sharp can Gunner be right off the bat? How sharp can he look? You know, we we always talk about the terms of like what what things look like on air, meaning no defenders, things of that nation. How does he look on air? this is more like there's gonna be people, there's gonna be players defending him. How sharp can he look, how quick? who emerges at wide receiver? Can we establish the run early without hitting any bumps? Does the defense look dominant from the opening snap? And last but not least, last but not least, which young players force their way into some of the rotation? So I thought let's dive in the first one. Like Gunner. Gunner in general. Like, what do you want to see out of Gunner? I mean, I know we want to see him look smooth, we want to look great, but like what specifically when you look at Gunner on Saturday, do you look and go, I'd like to see these few things very detailed. Adam Fisher: Explosives. Patience. But not too much patience. Take shots. You know, don't hold back. You know, by you know, especially, especially these first two games. I mean, this is when you go out and you just let it rip. Like there's no need to be, you know, too strategic or overthink it too much. I mean, no offense. But you know, Tennessee State is Tennessee State and we're Georgia. You know, we're in different leagues, we're different teams. we got different athletes on our team and you know, they have not to say not to take anything away from them, but you know, but he needs to just be consistent, be steady. We're not gonna see a wide receiver really emerge yet, I don't think, until Oklahoma. You know, I mean, 'cause it's it's hard to I mean maybe Arkansas You know, maybe by then we'll know. You know, depending on, you know, how that game goes. just consistency. Ted Turner: So you said you don't think we'll see an a receiver emerge. I mean, do you feel like there'll be some s I guess the term used to use was like some steady eddies, maybe some people that are expected to take on the load of, you know, I I would say just I mean, every team comes out and they have kind of a a first fifteen, a first twenty five, they wanna see. They wanna run it and they wanna see how it all lands, right? So the names you kind of think, and I mean I have the second question is who emerges as wide receiver. I I'm I'm with that. We're gonna see a pretty good list probably of the first two games. But I would say the steady eddies, right? I think you're gonna see a heavy dose of London Humphreys. I think you'll see very quickly who they want to get the ball to in the tight end room, as far as dependability. And they're gonna wanna see you're gonna accept some nuances of some of those explosive Zachariah branch type routes. I mean, yes, Dog Nation, like we're not gonna go away from what has worked really, really well for Georgia and what is like it's Mike Bobo's kinda I call it his kind of like his peanut butter to his jelly, right? He's gonna have some things he likes over here, but he's got some things he really likes to go to to set up certain things. And so you may Adam Fisher: To Zamo. Ted Turner: see a Sokovi White Helton or a Craig Dandridge or a or a Landon Rawldon, right? That fit into that mind, but you kinda wanna see who that is, right? But I think those will be some steady eddies. Kind of as I say, you want to see Isaiah Canyon. Like, how is he going to fit into this, right? you want to see how we set up some of this explosiveness. And so, and that kind of leads to the second thing, like, can we establish the run very early? How is it hard to start? Like, there's been years past where we play these games and one part of the offense like comes out really strong and the other part really struggles, most of the time because these teams I mean these teams are coming in and they do have something in the back of their mind that you you can't imagine the pep talk in the locker room is like, well, hey guys, we're coming in here to make our one million dollars and we're just gonna roll over and not take it. I mean, this parti Adam Fisher: Nobody get hurt. Ted Turner: Yeah, right, this particular team went toe to toe with Jackson State. I it's Jackson State, but like they had a game under their belt. They played a really close game and they had some they had some moments where they had to overcome some obstacles, you know, and we haven't had that yet. We've been hitting each other. So like how we come out and how consistent we come out and not get enamored and overwhelmed by the atmosphere in game one and but not to do what we came there to do. How important is it to establish the run first that we've said most of part we think that's gonna open up the explosiveness in our passing game? How important is it to get the run game going first? Adam Fisher: I think Bobo comes out and he lets it rip. I don't think we try to establish the run at first. I know that's what we normally do, you know, that's that's us, that's Georgia, but I think with all this talk about explosives and, you know, wide receiver worry in the you know, preseason, you know, in the off season I mean, at camps and everything, I think he's gonna come out and prove a point. I think he's gonna give us what we want. I think he's gonna take some shots early. I think we're gonna be gunner heavy. the first few drives and then maybe settle in, you know, after that, see how it goes, see if we land some of those big play passes. That's what I wanna see. And that's what I that's what I hope happens. That's what I think is gonna happen. Ted Turner: I like it. you know, it's a good take, man, because I mean, you very well could be right. I mean, maybe that's something that in the past has been the reason why sometimes we just kind of get kinda bullheaded, right? We come out there, run the ball, run the ball, we're three and out. We start we get a slow start because we just kinda butt our heads against the wall and we don't have any continuity in the offense. So there's nothing able to breathe as far as the playbook and maybe You know, and also maybe, maybe George doesn't want to have anything on tape for Oklahoma or Arkansas or Alabama or to be like, This is this is what they're gonna do, guys, you know? you gotta know you gotta know Kirby really challenges his coaches in the offseason. As much as he meets with the players and as much as they meet as a you know, in in the classroom and they have these skull sessions, you gotta know he has these sessions with his coaches where he talks about how they can get better and how they we can get better as a team to prepare for teams. And not be the same and be different and but also steady in knowing what we rely on and what we depend on. So that's a that's a really good take, man. I I I can see that being something, but at the end of the day, like we're going to at some point in time be Georgia. it's just how are we gonna how go about doing it, right? Is it gonna Adam Fisher: Exactly. Ted Turner: be as vanilla as it always has been, or is it gonna be with a little bit of a backwards flare? I don't know about you, but I even I had this vision on the way in today and I'll let you kind of chime in as well, but I just thought to myself, I was like, man, for every Georgia fan on Saturday, whether it's Tennessee State or not, and I was riding it and I was going, if I if we came out and just really just, the offense just did what they wanted. They couldn't do any wrong. They ran the ball really well. Great holes, great passes. We were able to stretch the field a couple times. We just hit on all four cylinders, and the defense lived up to the hype of the fall camp. I mean, I know you gotta you sit there and evaluate at the end of the game and you go, Well, you know, even though 'cause you you'd hear it from every news outlet, every media outlet, that they would always preempt it with, Well, it was Tennessee State, but that's fine. But I do know, and you know too, Fish, that we are notorious sometimes for taking these games and making them way more interesting than they need to be. Maybe even per se the score doesn't always evaluate how the game went. Agreed? Adam Fisher: Yep, yep, agreed. A hundred percent, dude. But you know what's funny? Cause I had something a similar thought. Like I was thinking, like, we need to just go out here and seventy two to three. Like, that's what we need to do. That's what I want. I want a run up the scoreboard type of day. I want to be watching Sports Center or College Football Final at the end of the night on Saturday. And I wanna hear And how about Georgia seventy two to three just dismantling Tennessee State, blah blah blah, showing their dominance, blah, blah, blah. Maybe we shouldn't overlook you know, whatever. Like that's what I wanna see. Like I had that I swear Ted Turner: Yeah. Yeah. Adam Fisher: to God. I had that I had that I thought about that today when I was at work. That's funny. Ted Turner: Yeah. Very interesting, man. Very, very interesting. It don't you think hot take here, if that were to happen, let's let's seventy two to three is nice, reasonable, let's be reasonable. Fifty six, ten, something like that, something weird like that. Don't you think that like SEC like I always I watch it on repeat at night on Saturday nights 'cause I watch all those the West Coast games as well. So I'm up pretty late, but don't you think that the the SEC I forget what they call it, but those it's basically like the follow up show. The late night show. Don't you think they're going, guys, why is this Georgia team different this year? This is the normal time and the normal time of year in these games that Georgia doesn't win these games like this. They're just Georgia. They they run it down your throat. They make you methodical. They they let you go on these drives. They don't let you score. The game ends up being twenty one to three, twenty eight to three. And then you think, man, Georgia's not Georgia. And then they come out and they have a big win third week, you know. That that would be them. I think the narrative would be completely different to these guys if they're like, guys, something is their different feel about Georgia. How many times can you find them your for your, you know, first game of the year putting a fifty six or a s or a sixty point mark on a team, right? That would be a game changer. Now, it it doesn't always tell the tale, but it but it very well could be an interesting first week take to a lot of news media outlets, including like SEC network and ESPN. So I Adam Fisher: Yeah. Ted Turner: I I I I agree. I I really agree. Adam Fisher: Yeah, I f I f I feel like that would alleviate a lot of a lot of fans stress about the offense and the offensive woes Ted Turner: Mm-hmm. Adam Fisher: and the worries and the concerns that everybody has this offseason. Ted Turner: Yep. Yep. And then we said did you know the defense does it look dominant? I think, you know, we we we talked about it Tuesday night. We want to see the defense, you know, just fire it on all cylinders. I think the defense is gonna be dominant. I think it's gonna they're gonna make it really, really tough there for this offense, but are we sharp? are we we we get to see how many just how deep and how much we're gonna rotate game one. we get to see, you know, look look at play calling. We get to see how we bounce around. You know, how we you know, audible in, audible out, change stuff, how we're looking at progressions of assignments and are we are we following assignments and our other busted assignments. You just want to see really good, smooth continuity in this game. and also in you know, included in that like the young players. Like we we talked about who we honestly think will we we talked about it last week, who we think will be out there and who we think we'll see taking the field. And I think we're pretty close within a couple of percentage points. Maybe whether it's a person here or there that's gonna be out there. but we know we're gonna see a lot of players that day, but like you said, interested to see the players' names that continue to come out of camp. Caden Prothrow. How you know, how's Caden Prothrow gonna fit into this? Craig Dandridge, what's he gonna look like? we talked about Raw Dawn, we talked about Zayden Walker, we talked about who's gonna step on the defensive line now to kind of fill that starting void for Xavier. There's a ton of there's a ton of talent there, but like Is it Khalil Barnes? We got we finally get a chance to see who he really is, right? So this is a lot of things to take in from Saturday as well. really quick offensive comparison stuff. So these are based off 2025 stats, but it's just something to look at. The teams are obviously not the same, but coming into game one, this is the only game where you'll be able to look at something like this. But Georgia in twenty twenty five averaged thirty-two point one points per game, four hundred and two yards of total offense per game, 182 of that was rushing, two twenty passing. a lot of major talent returning on that offense minus the receiver room, right? Keith Keys in that, obviously Gunner Stockton, 2,894 yards, 24 touchdowns in 2025. You know, it's not question's not if Gunner can play, right? The question is can he can he take the next step? Can he become the elite quarterback, not only in the SEC and on this team, but in all of college football? And if he does that, Georgia makes a huge jump into being a less of a pretender when it comes to playoffs and more of a contender. Nate Frazier, obviously, looking for big things for Nate this year. He was very, very close last year to a thousand yards, right at 947 yards last season. Chauncey Bowens, I mean, I think if Nate was like the prime time gotta work horse back type guy, he probably does get a thousand. But that's why that's why we said, you know, the other night we're like, we really feel like sealing is fifteen hundred yards between Chauncey and and and Nate. It could be two thousand, right? I think if it's two thousand, then we're gonna be very happy with a lot of results of these games this past year. And then Adam Fisher: Right. Ted Turner: last stat we have is you know, can they the the the physicality control the line of scrimmage? Can they make Tennessee State defend the entire field? that that is kind of when you look at you know, on on a from a offensive side of you, and we talked about London Humphreys and his name comes up and a lot of that. But on the defensive side of the ball as well, you know, they're gonna deal with They're gonna deal with a a quarterback who's pretty elusive. Like he's he's a he's a primarily a running quarterback and he's he's no person that's scared of contact. He's not scared of c competition, but but fish just from an overall standpoint of view of statistics and and it's hard to compare. I can probably read these stats off for Tennessee State, but it's just kind of numbers being thrown out there because this is a different offense than even Tennessee State had last year. But how important when you look at this matchup, right? When you look at this matchup on paper, how important Important is it that when you see all these key elements, that these key people that we're talking about particularly don't just have elite days, but they just have really solid days in the right areas that they need to have it. Adam Fisher: Exactly. I mean you hope that these guys come out and are dominant and look sharp. You know, and I know, you know, it's the first game and you know, but you know, they've been practicing. It's not like they haven't played football in a couple of months. You know, it's not like they've just been sitting on their couches playing Madden or, you know, EA Sports, College Football, Twenty Twenty Seven. you know, they've been playing football. They've been outside in the heat, wearing pads. throwing the ball around, running plays, you know, practicing, getting yelled at by coach. You know, this so, you know, a little a couple of little, you know, hiccups maybe at the beginning, you know, maybe until they, you know, get comfortable and get settled in. And but yeah, Nate needs to come out and only if he r if he only runs the ball eight or nine times, you know, for like fifty, sixty yards. That's not bad. Maybe a touchdown. Gunner comes out, plays the first, you know, half. You know, hopefully, you know, we're we're we are we're beating so bad at halftime that our starters can take a break. 'Cause I plan on seeing a bunch of twos and threes and fours playing Saturday. Like heavy rotation in the trenches, you know, a bunch of young dudes getting in, getting some playing time, getting some you know, time on the field, you know, you know, in a game like environment situation, which is gonna be vital for them later on down the road. Hopefully. We don't need to step up, you know, but these guys who, you know, if something happens we get a injury, you know, to somebody, one of our key guys, one of our starters, then we need these young guys to be prepared to come in and, you know, step up. Ted Turner: Yeah. Yeah, you would hope you would hope that, right? You definitely would hope that. And that's if if we're seeing that, that means we're we're clicking on all four cylinders. you know, Tennessee State, big name I think that, you know, that we want to just mention is the guy that you'll see hopefully you won't see a lot of, but if you're gonna see a bright spot, we feel like the name is Byron McNair, quarterback for Tennessee State. fifteen hundred fifty eight Adam Fisher: In relation to Steam McNair? Ted Turner: right? I don't know, man. Could be. Long lost cousin. I don't know. 1,558 Adam Fisher: You said he's mobile. Ted Turner: yards, nine touchdowns. week one, interesting, right? Already played Jackson State, showed some fight, close loss, late touchdown pass that briefly gave the Tigers the lead. so it isn't just a team walking into Athens you know, without playing a football game. The energy definitely needs to be there. defensively, Georgia's defense last year allowed seventeen point six points per game and right under the cusp of three hundred yards per game last season, two hundred and ninety eight. and that's the standard, right? That's that's the standard of Georgia defense. They wanna they wanna hold you to the minimal of minimal. The expectational in Georgia is not just to be simply good, it's to be elite. and you know it's it's they're they're out to be one of the best defenses in the in in the country, period. obviously we're looking at key names, KJ Bolden, the leader in that back half. you know How how aggressive will he play? how much will you see of him? Things of that nature. obviously Chris Cole is a name that's popped up all camp. We want to see what he's gonna the dynamic he's gonna bring. He he he just looks like a cannon man being shot at I mean, straight just he he he just I just can't even imagine game one, the speed we're gonna see out of him and the other the other linebackers. But really quick. Before we end this off, and we're gonna we're gonna pick because we have a long extensive list. It's not too many times in the year that all sixteen SEC teams are not playing each other. Usually it's eight teams we're picking, but we're picking sixteen games plus a couple of extras that are going on. So we're gonna give ourselves a little bit more time. But five biggest things I'm gonna give you that we're watching for, right? We're gonna reiterate this again. Gunnar Stockton, how does he look? Does he look comfortable? Does the offense operate efficiently? Number two, wide receivers. Biggest offensive questionnaire in the season, obviously. We've said it over and over. Need to find reliable playmakers here. Go to guys. It's a first opportunity for someone to take up, take up, take up the note. as they used to call it, pick up your lunch pail, put your shoes on, go to work, right? it that's the Adam Fisher: Yep, clock in. Ted Turner: that's the day. Defensive front can Georgia dominate the line of scrimmage. Can the Bulldogs create pressure that constantly needs being adhered to without bringing extra blitzers? That will be huge. Can we get to the quarterback with four and five? Schumann's defenses in 20 in in those national championship years, 21-22, were best when you could get pressure with four, maybe five, right? So that's huge. And then also, who are the new names? Like, who are the new names? Who are going to be some people that add to the value of this team this year? That we went either we we were right on about that, or holy cow, you know, who's that guy? and I'm interested, I'm I'm really interested to see that. and we're gonna we're not gonna predict the game yet. We're gonna do it last. But we will but fish any final thoughts on the game? We're gonna we're gonna we're gonna hop into pick 'em's for the the week, but final thoughts on just I mean, we've we've we've had all season to beat this first game to death. because it's the only game on the slate, right, for a good few months. So dex test you know, next week will be a little bit more intentional. It'll be fun 'cause there's a whiteout next week we're gonna talk about. But any final like thoughts on that as far as preparedness and Georgia, Tennessee State before we picked the game later on. Adam Fisher: Well, like I said, they should be ready to go. Now this is a Kirby Smart led team. We shouldn't expect anything less than near perfection. You know, like I said, couple hiccups, couple stumbles maybe here and there, but outside of that, man, we we we need to dominate this team. Make a statement. Ted Turner: Make a statement. Make a statement. All right, fish. Well, let's do it, man. Pick picks for week one. we're gonna pick every SEC game and we're gonna throw some bonus games in there from some games around the con around college football. There's not a ton of really quality head to head hardcore action as far as rankings, but there's a few out there that'll be interesting to pick. next next week will be really fun. 'Cause it's separation week for Big Ten and SEC. So there's ever been one week where I'll tell you that I might hop on some SEC bandwagons that I don't tip particularly ever hop on. It will be next week. But without any further ado, fish, I'm gonna hop around. So we're gonna pick though. and let's start it out with this. So Thursday, tonight, right? Arkansas Pine Bluff goes into number five, sorry, number twenty-five, Missouri. Missouri's ranked at home, should take care of business. Noah Hardy. We want to see you know, we want to see the continuity with these new guys on defense from Missouri. we want to see you know, how this new offensive scheme comes to play. I you know, I know these games sometimes are gonna look what side, but we're looking for more of cer of certain things that come out of these games. But fish, who do you got? Thoughts on this game? Adam Fisher: Arkansas Pi I mean, just kidding. Missou Missouri by I don't know, four touchdowns. You know, this is a team that Georgia used to beat up on back in the nineties. In the early like we we played Arkansas Pine Pine Bluff quite a few times. so I mean it's a it's a punch and bag game for Missouri. You know, they should they should easily handle their business by yeah, twenty eight, thirty five, something like that. Ted Turner: I got Missouri. No mod Hardy, but no need for Mod Hardy. gonna see what this defense looks like. you know, what you're looking for in that secondary is just to make sure you don't have any blown coverage, any any weirdness there. A lot of new continuity going on with those starters and hopefully to see that going on. But I think Missouri takes care of it pretty easily in that game. Friday UTEP at number ten, Oklahoma. Senior should have too much talent for this team. I, you know. Oklahoma's at home, obviously. John Matteer, this defense that has some players on it that prior to going in, they're actually undrafted, that decided to come and make their appearance back on a team and do it the right way, you're gonna be back at Oklahoma. This defense looks stout. John Mateer, you know, what happens to that? How's this offensive line look? How have they done to re rekindle the receiver room? This is team that for myself, I have picked very high in the SEC. Fish, who do you got in this game? Adam Fisher: Oklahoma definitely. but I'm gonna be watching their first few games leading up to our game with them very closely. this is the first game on the schedule this year that makes me nervous. I mean even though it's a home game and I'm sure it's gonna be a night game and you know it's gonna be a game day type of atmosphere there, I'm sure that day. but enough you know, that's in the future. But Oklahoma should take care of business. Yeah, I'm gonna be interested in the defense, especially and John Mateer. like you mentioned, see how he is coming back. Is he a hundred you know, a hundred and ten percent? Does he look sharp? How's he look? but yeah, easily Oklahoma. Ted Turner: Oklahoma takes care of business. like you said, I'm looking more to see how some of these, some of these parts of these teams react in certain areas, preferably John Matteer. How does he look throwing the ball? Have they figured out how to run the football? Have they figured out not with John Mateer, have they figured out how to run the football so that they can be more effective in the passing game is going to be huge. East Carolina on Saturday heads to Tuscaloosa, play number 13, Alabama. Alabama at home, on paper, you know, talent galore. Obviously, East Carolina. Jamar Riddle came over from East Carolina to Georgia this year. but Fish, Keelan Russell will take first snaps for Georgia for the first time as a starter at Alabama. Who you got in this game? Adam Fisher: Yimme Bama, big. I think Killen Russell's gonna come out and have a pretty good game. not sure how much East Carolina has after they, you know, lost what they lost in the transfer portal last year, 'cause they weren't a bad team last season. They weren't terrible. they were right there. so I don't think it'll be close. I don't think it'll even be remotely close. East Carolina will probably score a few touchdowns a couple of touchdowns, but that's about it. Bamba Big. Ted Turner: Ooh. Giving East Carolina a couple touchdowns on that Cade Walmack defense. A lot of people are saying Adam Fisher: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well Ted Turner: that they like Cade Walmack to be the next head coach at Florida State. I'm hearing it's crazy, right? That they're already they're already filling Norville's spot in FSU, man. It's crazy. Adam Fisher: Well, Norville's garbage, dude. He had that one good season and miraculously Ted Turner: What do you get? Adam Fisher: somehow. And then like the just the bottom fell off, dude. That's nuts. Ted Turner: But he could save his entire season if he's if he beats Bama again. He can save an entire season and he can might he might get rid of a coach at Alabama all in one. So crazy. South Carolina gets a visit from Kent State. game cocks need to start fast, establish confidence in this new offense. Lenore Sellers, a lot of studs, come back on offense. Get to see a little bit of this rekindled offensive line, how healthy they are, look at it at the defense, see how healthy Dylan Stewart is. Fish, who do you got in this game and why? Adam Fisher: Gamecock's gonna win. I don't know how I don't know by how much so. I don't know how far they're gonna, you know, spread the score out. Kent State gave us a all we wanted a couple of seasons ago. Like, you know, we were ready for that game to be over. Like it was way too close. so they're no pushover man. I'm not sure what they got this year exactly because I haven't, you know, been keeping up with But I know they y tend to play these kind of games, you know. Big and good. So, you know, we'll see. But you know, I I got South Carolina winning, but I don't know by how much Ted Turner: Yeah, I think South Carolina wins big. I think if anything, Lenore Sellers is going to be hard to stop just running around trying to catch up with him in some areas. He's a really elusive guy, man. What hurt him is when an SEC defense knows what's going on, and you know, you have to have an offensive line and you have to have a blocking scheme to actually figure out how to get your quarterback to be successful. And it was very hard to find that in the SEC last year. For South Carolina, but I think they think they I think they win this game big. but they got to get out fast, man. It's another another case of people will start to look at what you present and how quick you present it to start looking at how your season may go very quickly. Youngstown State goes into Lexington, Kentucky. Will Stein's first opening first day of coaching at Kentucky. A lot of excited Kentucky fans. Wildcats have a lot to True. Definitely gonna be watching this game to see what the offense is gonna look like. excited about this game, but fish, who you got? Kentucky, Youngstown State. Adam Fisher: Gimme Kentucky. although there there is a little controversy in in in the bluegrass state right now. Kentucky the university bought a made a deal with a particular bourbon company up there and I don't know I don't know how mint like exactly which one it was, but I know that there's I don't know, fifty bur bourbon companies in Kentucky, maybe. Something some high egregious number, you know, 'cause that's where bourbon is made. and they pick they are they made a endorsement deal or something like that with one and a bunch of the other ones that used to sell like vend at vent you know vendor booths in the stadium and everything on game days. They're pulling out. So and so, you know well, Ted Turner: We got a bourbon problem in Kentucky. It's Kroger Field. Adam Fisher: you know, those people pay them money, you know, give them lots of money and may even donate to the program, you know, to help out with NIL and whatnot, stadium upgrades and all that stuff. So they might have just shot themselves in the foot. But Kentucky definitely Ted Turner: Wow. Adam Fisher: went. Ted Turner: We got we got NIL problems in LSU and bourbon problems in Kentucky. It's crazy. We Adam Fisher: They got a bourbon problem in Kentucky. Ted Turner: got a bourbon problem in Kentucky. Who do you got who you got winning this game, Fish? Adam Fisher: Kentucky, about twenty four. Ted Turner: Kentucky by 24. Let's just check in to see if there's any updates. No updates yet. LSU. Baylor heads in to Auburn. I should say heads into Mercedes-Benz Stadium to play the Auburn Tigers. This is an interesting one, Fish. Baylor is capable of making this game uncomfortable, right? You know. Part of me has looked at this game and looked at Baylor and looked at how uncomfortable they can make it, obviously from a standpoint of, you know, Dave Aronda. He's always been a little bit of a I mean, he he's he's known as a kind of a a defensive guru type guy. Baylor has always struggled, in my opinion, to keep up as far as NIL is concerned and talent. but DJ Lagway, right, rolls into Baylor. You another you got a high profile, I guess, quarterback. behind you know the center this year at Baylor and you know Auburn is you know retooling purposely I maybe I guess say retooling but Alex Goolish comes into town brings half the state of Tampa with him from USF and you know including Brown, the quarterback from USF last year who has a lot of talent and a lot of these USF players. But the question is is how does Lagway adapt at Baylor and how does Golish in Georgia and the USF I'm sorry, Golish in Auburn and the USF J V team come over and and and adapt to SEC play. but, you know, it's essentially a home. There'll be more Georg it'll be more Auburn. I keep saying Georgia. There'll be more Auburn fans obviously there than Baylor fans. But what's your take on this game? Who you got who you got winning this game, Fish? Adam Fisher: Dude, say what you want about old wild Bill Napier. You know, Lagway had a good all so had somebody who could call plays, calling his plays. And he was very unimpressive. I think Lagway is single handedly gonna be the reason Baylor doesn't win this game. I got Auburn by fourteen. Ted Turner: Ooh, okay. Yeah, I like it. I like it. I mean somewhere or another that the rubber's gotta meet the road with that. You're gonna see I mean, as as we hear the old term, you're gonna learn a day, right? You're gonna figure out the day Adam Fisher: That's right. Ted Turner: was it was it was it b was it bad boy Billy or was it he says so many nicknames, man. Sumbelt Billy, bad boy Billy. He's James Madison Billy. Adam Fisher: Mm. Sunbelt Billy, I like that one. Yeah. Ted Turner: Sunbelt Billy. yeah, man, I I I I like Auburn in this one. it's It's one of those things where maybe, you know, I would have loved to see count me in to see, you know, Goalish Auburn opening up, you know, on the planes, but we get him in Mercedes Benz. This will be a good game. I think Auburn too much. But watch out, man. This game could keep close. There might be some jitters on both sides, and the jitters might keep I think the defenses at first will dominate a little bit. And this could keep this could keep the game close, but look for either Lagway or Brown to have to make a play here or there. And you don't want to hear those storylines if Lagway can't make a play because and you know, some belt Billy does. He would love for the storyline to be that Lagway was the problem because it makes takes a little heat off him. This is it's it's said and done now. You're not you're not at Florida anymore. So I agree with you. I have Auburn, but closer than the experts expect. Texas State, an in state rivalry versus number five, Texas Longhorns. Texas should be able to handle business. This is a home game. In state matchup. Don't expect Texas State to show up intimidated though. You know, it's Texas football. They're gonna have some guys that take it personal. this is a talented roster at Texas that we're gonna delve into a lot during the year. Arch Manning, a lot of high hopes for him. a lot of high hopes for this offense, and it takes a turn for the better. not digress more under Sarkeesh the defense under Coach Will Muschamp, Coach Boom. How does this all integrate into this new look defense? Who do you got winning this game, Fish? Adam Fisher: Arch Madness. Like that's that's that's where we're at. Ted Turner: Arch man. Adam Fisher: Arch Madness. Okay, he's he's gotta go out there and look good. Texas with with all the the money they spent on their roster and all the people they brought in, Wingo and Cam Coleman, Arch Manning, and they're they got like two really good running backs. The O line is pretty good, man. They should dominate. They there's no reason they shouldn't score fifty on Texas State. Ted Turner: Yeah, pretty pretty straightforward. But me, what I said is what I said earlier before it. I think Texas wins, but once again, you want to see what all this looks like, right? You wanna see if there's hesitations, you wanna see if there's what's the what's the relationship between Arch and the receivers? how well does this line hold up? How dominant is this defense? I mean, do you see a little different of aggression on this defense than years past with Must Champ there? I'm hearing it, you know, from camp and from talk around Texas, but You know, time will tell. First game will tell a lot. Furman goes into Rocky Top Neeland Stadium, always tough to play there. Faison Brandon, the the named quarterback. I th I think he's deserving. in my little time of watching that go down, of being the starter, really healthy, good looking kid that has a really live arm and great legs. And that for that was, I think, the deciding factor for Hepel. I think Hepel likes The fact that he he likes to be double dimensional as far as the multi-dimensional, however you want to call it a quarterback, it makes his offense even more lethal. the days of Hendon Hooker were huge for him. Why? Because Hendon Hooker could could do as much with his arm as he could with his legs. but so all eyes will be on Faison Brandon. how does the quarterback look in a bigger storyline? But as far as Neeland Stadium, as far as Furman, you know, Fish, who do you got this game and and and what do you think the outcome's gonna be? Adam Fisher: Tennessee easy over Furman. Tennessee likes to run it up. yeah, they sh they should drop fifty on Furman too. I mean, I know I'm throwing out big numbers, but I mean again, you know, these all these games are warm up games, they're tune up games. so Ted Turner: Right. Adam Fisher: Tenn Tennessee needs to go out there and make prove a point. Ted Turner: Right. Yeah. I agree, man. I have Tennessee in this game easy. It's more I'm ready to see what Faison Brandon looks like behind center in this in this Josh Hypal offense. North Alabama heads into Arkansas, man. Arkansas pronounce this guy's name right. yeah, I don't want to butcher it. I won't do it. pretty pretty th pretty solid thing. You know, Arkansas should win this comfortably. they need to. It just might be one of the only wins on their s you know, schedule this year as far as Arkansas is concerned. You you didn't hear it here first, but but you got this game fish. Adam Fisher: Gimme Arkansas and yeah, you're right. Unfortunately, you know, this might be one of the only surefire dubs they get this year. I think the most of their Saturdays this season are gonna be hard and long. but Gimme Gimme Arkansas helpful easily. Ted Turner: Man, yeah, easy. Not not much to say. I think that yeah, Arkansas. That's all I gotta say about that. Austin P at Vanderbilt. Man, J if you're Jerry Curtis this week Like when you pan the camera over to the sideline, you see Jerry Curtis, a guy who left Georgia to go grab more money, more playing time, every excuse under the sun, and you're in the same spot on the sideline you would be if you were in the red and black on Saturday. But maybe with a little bit more dynamic development. I think I think we need to talk less about who will win the game. And more about who the winner and loser is and the decision that Jerry Curtis is not the starter. And will we see him on Saturday? What do you think, Fish? Adam Fisher: Yeah, I think we're gonna see well, you know, the pins. Austin P gave us a a good first half, at least, you know, the game got called after that. So there wasn't much well they finished it eventually, but it wasn't pretty. I think all the players were kinda tired and just you can't hold on to that mindset that long. You know, I don't care who you are, they sat down for a couple of hours, you know, on that delay. So but Austin P's not gonna roll over, man. And you know, who knows what Vanderbilt has in the tank this year. Like we don't know. Like what's what's the post Ted Turner: Yeah. Adam Fisher: Diego Pavia era look like out there in Nashville? Ted Turner: It looks pretty slim. It really does. And I I don't know, man. Like I gotta I gotta see from this game, I gotta see what Clark Lee is holding. it's gonna be a a much less talented group of guys that Pavia had around him. And I think that might go into why you see the call of Jerry Curtis not to be right there out of the box. This is not as a as as an as talented team as Vanderbilt had built around Pavia, so I like Vanderbilt. I'm looking more towards the area of though. What is we're gonna get this chance to see Jerry Curtis and the fact that he's standing the same spot he would be maybe with a a a million or so dollars more in his pocket at Vanderbilt is is wild. Missouri State has into Kyle Field, Texas AM. Aggies are one of the highest ranked SEC teams entering the season, playing in their tough stadium, their tough environment, first college game of the year. what do you think about this game? Who do you got within? Adam Fisher: I think the twelfth man shows up and shows out no matter they beat the heat or embrace the heat, I should say. handle Missouri State easy. let's say forty nine to six. Ted Turner: Forty nine to six, I like it. I got I got A and big. I really wanna see how Elko adapts to the losses in the receiver room, but obviously he went out there and he made some some changes out there, went and got some good some good picks out there as far as I call picks around the NFL, but he was able to get some good guys out there. How they're gonna run the football this year, what does that loss of of Moss look like back there? How does that line hold up? and you know, just consistency from Texas Annie. They a tough they had a much tougher schedule this year, than in previous years. So wanna see how they look coming out of the game. I think they went big though. Yeah, the atmosphere, too much talent, too much atmosphere for this game, going up against Missouri State. U L at Mississippi State, Jeff Levy, A lot to prove in this game for Jeff Levy. not just on offense, though. I'm not talking about on offense. A lot to prove on offense. I mean, sorry, a lot a lot to see on offense, but a lot to prove on defense. Zach Arnett, and the problem has always been the last few years with Levy is is we can score points, we just can't figure out how to not give up more points than we score. you know, it's at home, Cowbells will be out, season opener, who you got in this game, fish, and give me a score. Adam Fisher: Dude, you think barking at somebody is annoying. Try have somebody run up to you going ringing that cowbell in your ear, dude, for sixty minutes. Ted Turner: Cowbells. Zippers and cowbells. Adam Fisher: Mrs. State. Spurs and cowbells and zippers. Ted Turner: Yep. And zippers. Adam Fisher: Mrs. State, easy. I hope Levy comes out. I hope his team plays inspired and looks good. Hope they fix some things on defense. This is You know, back in the day, when Vanderbilt was always at the bottom of the SEC, I would always kinda cheer for them when they weren't playing Georgia, you know, on the low, you know, 'cause I wanted to see win Ted Turner: Right. Adam Fisher: 'cause they always lose, you know, give something. They need something, they need one. and y Mississippi State's kind of that team for me this year. you know, let I hope that you know, plus I like Levy. I think he's a good dude. I think he's a good coach. so I hope I hope they can turn it around and fix a few things and have a decent season this year. Ted Turner: Yeah, I think I think Mississippi State's defense will be better. But it it always takes a little while. I think they they knew it needed to happen quick, so that's why I think Arnett comes back and you know it's a quick, easy fit. He's been there. How how humbling is it to leave there as a defeated head coach and come back and go, man, that's a humbling experience. We gotta love that for Zach Arnett. What a what a guy, what a team player, and you know, talk about having some really hard passion for Mississippi State, but I want to see him succeed. But I do think it it only goes as far this year as the defense goes. So interested to see the defense against them. I think I think LSG, I mean I'm so sorry, I think Mississippi State gets the win. but more curious to see if the defense can balance out with the offense. Florida Atlantic heads into the swamp. this is the season where the Gators are going to be under the microscope a little bit, although they are breaking in a new coach. as well, a coach who is not really scared to say his feelings about how he expects things to go. John Summerall has been very upfront that he is confident that he can take this far to Gators team to to the promised land. I gotta see it first. you know the SEC is not too lame. I'll just say it that who you got this one fish? Adam Fisher: Yeah. Florida. Now I think they've got something to prove to. I Summerall wants to make a statement, you know, his first game in the swamp. I hope I think he wants to alleviate some whatever nervousness or anxiety, you know, some of the boosters in the fans might have. Gimme Florida and Florida big. Ted Turner: Love it. Love the pick. Give me Florida. I just want to see I want to see what Buster Faulkner, Aaron File look like in this offense. And let's just see, you know, some are all defensive guys, so I want to see how these trenches look. I want to see if there's improvements in the secondary and can they defend? like I said, it's it's a it's a DNA type week for s for SEC. What's the DNA of these teams look like? The things that we predict will be good and solid, are they good and solid? And the things they predict that what they need to work on and bring to the table who has improved in that area and who is over, you know, excelled in those areas and who has not, right? then the two big games before we at least the two I have on my docket tonight before we pick the Georgia game. interesting game Sunday night. night by itself. A lot of eyes will be on this game. no, you know, the last Sunday night where college football before until bowl time will kind of be on spotlight on a Sunday. But number twenty four, Brian Brahm, Louisville heads down into Ole Miss. the only matchup of two ranked teams in week one, AP top twenty-five schedule. It's a good one, right? I don't think it's the biggest one because there's a lot of controversy that brings the biggest one and things of that nature. But I don't know if you heard, but a little added flavor to this game. Brian Braum apparently said that he was told that he had to say that it was a mutual agreement that Georgia and Louisville did not play that game this year. But off the record he said that Georgia didn't want any part of Louisville. I did hear that comment. So Brian Brahm, you were officially on the clock as far as Kirby's crap list. So you don't want to be on that list and now you're on that list. So you just couldn't keep your mouth shut and stay off Kirby's list because you don't want to you don't want to get on that list. But fish, who you got in this game and what what sticks out to you about this game? Adam Fisher: Yeah, no. Yeah. Louie he just said that because he knows that Louisville has no chance. Georgia and Louisville's pads won't ever cross this year. They're sitting a playoff team. they're not even gonna sniff the playoffs. You know, it's gonna be a very mediocre season for Louisville. That ranking doesn't mean anything. I think they're garbage. oldness by seventy five. Ted Turner: Ole Miss by seventy five. I I think Adam Fisher: Ha ha ha. Ted Turner: I'm gonna I'm gonna not this is the first one, Fish. What's the first game that actually has some merit to it that we can disagree or agree with on? I I'm a not so fashion on that one. I do like Louisville. I think Brian Brahm is a really good coach. I think he has I think I think they're gonna throw the ball exceptionally well. They have a great running back. this could be a test for for Ole Miss. For for me and Pete Golding at home. You kind of don't want to see Louisville, right? This is not the year, you know, everybody expected, well, we'll we'll schedule this game because, you know, it it's Ole Miss. Lane Kippin should be the coach here. It'll be a great way to start out the year. I think if you look back, Pete Golding would have really, really wished that Louisville would not be sitting dead red because Louisville has nothing to lose in this scenario, right? It's just another team that Adam Fisher: Exactly. Ted Turner: loses to an SCC team. But that's what should be scary to Ole Miss is Louisville has nothing to lose. If anything They start out their candidacy to try to go win the ACC with a win against Ole Miss and the the narrative built around Ole Miss is now is, you know, Lane Kiffin without Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss sitting anything. I mean, isn't he in the spotlight enough? I think the ins I think, excuse me, the SEC and college football on the SEC needs this to go well for for Louisville in some in some capacity because, you know, the spotlight on on on Ole Miss right now is you know, can they step away from the Lane Kiffin spotlight, right? But i I just think if if if Ole Miss wins, like does Pete Golding even get any like, does it we d is it still Lane Kiffin's team, right? Or is it Pete Golding's team? We'll find out. but you could you got you got Ole Miss winning big I mean, I got Louisville really, really challenging them in this game, right? It's at Ole Miss early in the season, new offensive coordinator for Old miss, can they get something going? How good is the defense? I mean, is Louisville gonna open it up? I I don't know, man. This could be a very iffy game. A very iffy game. I'm not I don't know if I'm calling upset, but I will say that old miss, but close with I'm gonna do a you know, I'm gonna have one of those, you know, corso moments. Closer than the than the experts expect right there on the out. So big game of the week besides Georgia Clemson goes into LSU. We have no idea. even if this game's gonna be played, as of right now, it is. How how big of a decision is this coming up that could derail everything? We don't really know. we do know it's supposed to happen, but we aren't really in the know of if it could or could not. But, you know, fish obviously Dabo rolls in. the storyline in this is a team that has been just ridiculed, a coach and a team that's been ridiculed about their poor performance built around their NIL, how they spend, how they attract talent, how they pay talent and reward them, and just merely on how they don't even participate in NIL, basically. And then you have a team like Lane Kiffin in LSU, who is spending forty eight to fifty million dollars. They have NFL, you know, players that were literally on NFL rosters last week at this time. Going through lawsuits, being sued by the SEC, tons of controversy. Is this a good time for Dabo to catch LSU? What do you think, Fish? Adam Fisher: Okay, so I've heard a couple of interesting tidbits about this you know the leading up to this game. apparently everybody's just letting it all hang out and they're just throwing all kinds of dirt everywhere. Well, apparently or supposedly, you know the tampering thing that Dabo has against Pete Golding. He said that they were he tampered with his recruit or something like that and then that that's why Ted Turner: Yes. Adam Fisher: that guy Well, you know who leaked that to Dabo, supposedly? Lane Kiffin. Ted Turner: Wayne Kiffin. Yeah. Adam Fisher: Yep. After he had already, you know, left and headed for LSU. and did you hear the Ted Turner: Wow. Adam Fisher: Dab Dabo's interview the other day? Now he was throwing some serious shade at Lane Kiffin, talking about where we just stay Ted Turner: Yeah. Adam Fisher: in our lane over here. Now he said a few other things Ted Turner: Yeah, yeah. Adam Fisher: too, man. He he was he was, you know, throwing some jabs at old Lane Kiffin there, you know, trying to Give his team some bulletin board material I guess. I don't know if that was a smart thing or a dumb thing to do. You know, Dabo's kinda like an old grumpy man who's set in his ways right now. Who just does what he wants to do and he doesn't care what happens. Like he's a made man, Ted Turner: Yeah. Yeah. Adam Fisher: like no matter if they have a good year or a bad year, it doesn't matter. Like he's got tenure. Like they're just never gonna fire the man. that's what he acts like, dude. I don't know who knows what why he does what he does. I don't know. he's a great coach though, I know that. he does a lot with a little. so you gotta give the man credit. anyway, as far as the game is concerned, you know, I I hope Clemson comes out here and just strokes LSU. I don't want LSU to win a game. it's there's too much money on the table, I think, for the game to get cancelled or not to be played. I think there's a lot there's too much invested in it right now. I think it'd be like you know, Hol Holyfield and Tyson, you know, getting cancelled right before the pay per view, like right before it starts. I feel like that's the kind of gravity this would have. I think the amount of uproar if the game wasn't played would be you know I don't know, you would hear it for miles, and for days and years and months. but gimme Clemson and it's gonna be close. I'm thinking twenty four twenty. Ted Turner: Man, I'm gonna be watching this game, man. I'm gonna tell you something. Adam Fisher: Yes. Ted Turner: I got a hot take for you. Here's a hot take. You ready? I've been thinking about this. ESPN college game day at this game, right? Coincidentally is at this game. Where else would you want to talk about the hottest news in college football, but on game day, week one, where would you want to, where would you want to do it? Right there in the middle of where it's gonna be at. I can get Lane Kiffin out there. I can ask him questions directly. I mean, we can be in the heart and soul of the problem, right? My hot take is this all literally goes nowhere. It goes nowhere. There's a ton of hype. ESPN gets with the SEC and they go, how can we hype this game one up? College game day's coming to town. SEC, best conference in America. Big Ten's, you know, it's just a great. stage for this to all be sitting on top of week one. And then guess what? It just goes away. It just goes away. Adam Fisher: Yeah. I thought I had that same thought too, man. Like what if this is all just a PR stunt? You know, it's just to get ratings, to get money invested and, you know, get people involved and, you know, just you know, stir up some controversy to make sure people tune in and make sure they're paying attention. Ted Turner: We're going to see because you're going to hear a lot of a lot of this conversation. And if it were all wrong, then we're going to hear a lot of this conversation at game day. Gimme Clemson. Gimme Clemson. I think Dabo is right where he wants to be. He's flying up under the radar. It's a it's a knockoff. There's always a crazy week one game. This one has the setting and the backdrop for craziness. These players will be distracted, and Clemson's not. Clemson's not at all. Dabo's sliding down the slide at the sports complex, you know, making commercials, waving at the camera. He's in Comfortville, right? Clemson's not gonna you you gotta go, you gotta go two and two and eight right now for Dabo at Clemson for them to be like, I think we should get rid of Dabo. No. I think they can go two and eight, two and nine, and then you may have some talk. But if he goes, you know, six and six, makes a bowl, Dabo's the man, he'll be sliding down the slide next year. You don't know what I'm talking about. There's a slide in the in the the main locker room area, sports complex area, that he does all his little things where he re where he talks to the reporters during the week and he slides down the slide and I just I don't know. It's just a diabo thing, man. He's gonna one day he gets too old for that junk, man. I I'd be too old for it. Yeah, give me Clemson, man. I I see Clemson and and something that falls through. I see a turnover, just something where the continuity of the line. With Sam Levitt and not enough reps and all this talent, but they they do something where it looks like they don't they don't cohese enough as a team and it costs them, right? It costs them something early on. And if that happens, the dynamic of the NCAA and the SEC gets to be a lot lower and the screams of fifty million dollar roster and millions of dollars of paying coaches that are not even existing in B in Baton Rouge right now. to win to lose a home opener to the coach that doesn't even really care about NIL and doesn't even recruit and use NIL in that fashion would be huge. Georgia, Tennessee State Fish. obviously last game of the night. I think we both have, I mean, shocker would be us having Georgia losing. I think we both have Georgia winning this game. I think giving a score would be something that would be healthy, but also giving your two biggest keys to victory here. Not necessarily what you want to see, but two keys, vic keys to victory. And give me a score. we'll call it a night, man. We'll get this year this year on the road. Adam Fisher: So I already said it once, seventy two to three is what needs to happen. that's what I wanna see. Ted Turner: I like it. Adam Fisher: offensive dominance, defensive dominance. You know, I would love a shutout, but I think they get close late fourth quarter. You know, I think kicker comes out and makes kick of his life. It's gonna be like a fifty two yard field goal, you know, as time expires, just so they can throw some points on the board. You know, that's what I want to see. Garbage points, nothing nothing that means anything. You know, not no no, you know, right out of the box, you know, they drive down the field and they score a touchdown on us 'cause we're sleepwalking, you know, 'cause we're not ready, 'cause we're not, you know, pumped and we're not excited for this game. Which I don't think that'll happen. I don't think any Kirby Smart team ever has just come out and been that flat. so Ted Turner: Right. Adam Fisher: look Looking to see some good things, man. I don't I don't care who we're playing. I just want to see Georgia tee it up between the heavies. Ted Turner: Yeah. Yeah, I agree, man. I got George obviously winning. I think two key vic keys to victory are I think I want to see what play action may look like if we can establish the run. it'd be nice to see if we can drop some dimes in over top of that secondary and just see where we're at as far as stretching the field on only an explosive plays of twenty five plus yards, but even how can we get some some quick hitters, right? And then defensively. I just want to see us get pressure. I mean, I would love to see us get pressure with four or five. Right. Those are the two biggest things that are keys to victory for me. I mean, I think it's a win, but I think if we have those things happen, it's not even close. I like this odd score in my head 'cause I feel like there's some field goals in here, here or there when some of the second and third team starts to get in there. I like forty eight to six. I think there'll be a couple of field goals by East Tennessee or maybe even like a touchdown with a you know go for two or something like that and it doesn't happen. I like forty-eight to six, but I like seventy two to three as well. if we're seventy two to three, I'll tell you, we I I will be listening to a lot of media because I want to hear what they have to say about this. Is not typical Georgia to come out seventy two to three. Well, fish, Adam Fisher: That's right. Ted Turner: final thoughts tonight as we wrap up week one and we get ready. We're we're we're literally I think we might have already started, haven't we? We're over fifteen minutes in, think, right? Colorado, Georgia Tech? Adam Fisher: no, that's six minutes to kick off. Ted Turner: Six minutes kickoff, perfect time and then. final thoughts tonight, Fish. Right. Adam Fisher: Unless I'm running behind 'cause I am streaming. just pumped, man. Sitting here watching football, just just just looking waiting to hear the some news about this stupid crap going on, waiting to hear the judge's verdict so we know what's next. just all the everything. Like here we go. It's my favorite time of year. I love I love the summer. I love the fall, I mean, I love football. Just gimme, gimme football. Ready. Let's go. Ted Turner: Agreed, man, agreed. It's gonna be a great year, man. I have a good feeling. I just have this thing keep running through my head of Gunner's just I've heard it. He's in the best shape of his career. I mean, that's what I'm hearing too. Like all these players that are in the best shape of their career. You've heard Gunner, you know, you've heard Ernest Green, you've heard Juan Gaston dropping a little weight. you've heard some things about Zayd Walker and how, you know, how how much different he is with a little weight on, a little more muscle. coming off that injury last year, a little more twitch. You look you know, you talk about Chris Cole, how he looks. He's like he's just shot out of a cannon. You look at the secondary and we're hearing how Kyron Jones is laying the wood and the Melo Jones and and drawing a blank here, but Ellis, Ellis Robinson are are locking things down. KJ, I mean, Khalil Barn, I mean, you just want to see all this stuff come to come together. I can't wait. on top of seeing, like we said, some of these guys that we've been hearing about, what are they going to add to the productivity, the new names that we may or may not know about at this time and how much they kept that under wrap. So, fish, that's gonna be it for us tonight. If you haven't already done so, please go and like and follow us on all podcasting platforms. We're on TikTok, Dogs Down South, as well as YouTube, Dogs Down South. and then 24 hours later, we're on Apple Podcasts, Dogs Down South, as well as Spotify. So go check it out. You're able to listen to this on tomorrow as you're heading into work, hearing all the picks and priming yourself up for the game on Saturday, even maybe Saturday morning. You want to turn game day down because you don't want to hear all the bull crap about LSU and the NCAA and the ruling on NIL and you want to turn dogs down south up and hear a good preview before that game, do that. Go and like and follow us. We appreciate the love. fish, always a pleasure, man. looking forward to going back and forth with you through text about all the games this weekend. and for myself. Fish and all of Dog Nation. Have a great week one. Have a great Georgia, Tennessee state experience. And as always, on Dogs Down South, go Dogs.