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Lee Sterling - @Paramount Sports · The Sean O'Connell Show

• 0:05
  Speaker 1: This is the Sean O'Connell Show, your home of the
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: best inside of your Utes. Let's get back to OC
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: from the Murdoch Chevrolet studio of ESPN 700 at 92.1 FM.
• 0:19
  Speaker 2: I got Smith's gift cards to give away if you
• 0:21
  Speaker 2: come down here to 3808 West Hardman Way in Lehigh.
• 0:27
  Speaker 2: Smith's hooking you up with $ 10 gift cards. All you
• 0:29
  Speaker 2: have to do is throw up a U, say go Utes,
• 0:32
  Speaker 2: and we'll hand you one. Also, Pepsi products on sale here.
• 0:35
  Speaker 2: We gave away a couple of pairs of tickets to
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: Utah versus Arkansas, courtesy of Smith and our friends at
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  Speaker 2: Pepsi earlier in the show. Now we welcome in Lee Sterling,
• 0:45
  Speaker 2: who's off to a hot start. Big weekend last weekend.
• 0:48
  Speaker 2: He's the number one handicapper in the business from Paramount Sports.
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: More picks for this week. Lee, welcome back. How are you, sir?
• 0:55
  Speaker 3: I'm great. I'm great. I feel like I'm playing with
• 0:57
  Speaker 3: house money. I had Seattle. on Wednesday night, and at
• 1:01
  Speaker 3: 10-0 without their quarterback, I'm like, this is done. And
• 1:05
  Speaker 3: when you get a gift like that and you come back,
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  Speaker 3: the last time that happened I think was Aaron Rodgers
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  Speaker 3: a couple years ago on an opening game. So you
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  Speaker 3: can't throw in the towel just yet.
• 1:18
  Speaker 2: I feel like I'm playing with House Money League because,
• 1:20
  Speaker 2: as you know, I'm a Niners guy, and what a
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  Speaker 2: game that was in Australia yesterday. So eat it, Rams.
• 1:26
  Speaker 2: Love to see that from my San Francisco 49ers.
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  Speaker 3: Well, I don't think you're going to see any team
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  Speaker 3: that is going to be crossing four or five time
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  Speaker 3: zones or more in the future going out the day before.
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  Speaker 3: That was an absolute disaster for the Rams. So 49ers
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  Speaker 3: figured it out and absolutely dominated. Now the Rams got
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  Speaker 3: to go home, and next week's going to be a
• 1:49
  Speaker 3: must-win for them.
• 1:52
  Speaker 2: All right, let's get into the games this weekend here, Lee.
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: All of us watched what happened with Michigan today. And
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: that was not a strong indicator for the Wolverines heading
• 2:03
  Speaker 2: into a really tough Week 2 matchup as they take
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  Speaker 2: on Oklahoma. Sooners are five-and-a-half-point favorites. How are you leaning?
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  Speaker 3: So I don't normally watch press conferences. You don't glean
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  Speaker 3: very much from them. But I saw in the background
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  Speaker 3: Bryce Underwood talking, and I'm like, God, this kid doesn't
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  Speaker 3: look right. So I rewound it, and I just think
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  Speaker 3: that he's out of it. I just think he's lost
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  Speaker 3: all confidence. I do believe with what the coach said
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  Speaker 3: and former coach for the Heat, I don't think he
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  Speaker 3: has confidence in the kid. And if they don't score
• 2:38
  Speaker 3: a touchdown or a field goal in the first couple drives,
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  Speaker 3: I think they're going to pull him for Lloyd Carr's grandson,
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  Speaker 3: Tommy Carr. Now, you think, well, that might give him
• 2:46
  Speaker 3: a boost, but they're playing a Sooners defense. Top five
• 2:50
  Speaker 3: last year and looks just as good this year in
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  Speaker 3: almost every major statistical category. And John Mateer looks good.
• 2:57
  Speaker 3: 100% again, and Lloyd Abbott, the running back from Colorado State,
• 3:02
  Speaker 3: who they brought over, looks like he packs a punch.
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  Speaker 3: Unless Oklahoma turns the ball over three or four times,
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  Speaker 3: I haven't won in this game by two touchdowns, 27-13.
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: Another headline matchup, Texas and Ohio State, both of those
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  Speaker 2: top five teams right there flirting with national championship aspirations,
• 3:20
  Speaker 2: and we get a good indicator of where both teams
• 3:23
  Speaker 2: are at early, early in the season with this week
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: two matchup. The Longhorns are the favorites. How do you
• 3:28
  Speaker 2: see it playing out?
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  Speaker 3: I went back and watched the game from last year,
• 3:32
  Speaker 3: and Texas was moving up and down the field between
• 3:35
  Speaker 3: the 20s. And the Reds, they just couldn't do anything
• 3:38
  Speaker 3: specifically inside the 10-yard line. I mean, Steve Sarkeesian's play
• 3:42
  Speaker 3: calling was horrendous. The execution deplorable. But to give him credit,
• 3:48
  Speaker 3: they figured out what their weaknesses were. So they bring
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  Speaker 3: in Cam Coleman from Auburn, maybe the third-best receiver in
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  Speaker 3: the country. behind Jeremiah Smith and Tony from Miami. They
• 4:00
  Speaker 3: also brought in Hollywood Smothers, and this is a really
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  Speaker 3: good running back from NC State. He's really good. If
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  Speaker 3: you get penetration on them or he's one-on-one with a
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  Speaker 3: defensive back catching a ball to the backfield, he can
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  Speaker 3: usually plant his foot and make that first guy miss.
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  Speaker 3: Going to make Ryan Wingo much better. Last year, Texas'
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  Speaker 3: number one guy, he just could not shake loose from
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  Speaker 3: the top Ohio State defensive backs, but Now he'll go
• 4:27
  Speaker 3: against the slot cover corner, the number three guy. I
• 4:30
  Speaker 3: think he'll be much better, and I think Texas might
• 4:33
  Speaker 3: actually own some edges here in the trenches. I like
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  Speaker 3: Texas to finally win a big one, 27-21.
• 4:41
  Speaker 2: The Aggies of Utah State stumbled and fumbled and lost
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  Speaker 2: against Idaho State, a mid-level Big Sky team. Disastrous start
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  Speaker 2: to Bronco Mendenhall's season, and now they've got Washington. I
• 4:58
  Speaker 2: don't know how good the Huskies are this year, but
• 5:00
  Speaker 2: they're better than Idaho State, and they are big-time favorites,
• 5:02
  Speaker 2: according to Vegas. 24.5 points for the Huskies. Can Utah
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  Speaker 2: State at least cover?
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  Speaker 3: So, Washington lost. They already lost their starting running back.
• 5:14
  Speaker 3: They lost their other two running backs. They're going to
• 5:16
  Speaker 3: be playing without their top three running backs for this game.
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  Speaker 3: If I was them... I would just line up and
• 5:24
  Speaker 3: put your quarterback in the shotgun, DeMond Williams, let him
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  Speaker 3: run and throw the football. I don't think they're going
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  Speaker 3: to have any problems here with Utah State. They've taken
• 5:32
  Speaker 3: a step backward, in my opinion. Hillstead, not the answer.
• 5:36
  Speaker 3: I would try out some other guys or receivers. Not
• 5:39
  Speaker 3: getting much separation either here. Romper room special here, Washington, 45-7.
• 5:44
  Speaker 1: Oof, ouch.
• 5:48
  Speaker 2: I got friends on that Utah State staff, man. I
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: don't like that, but I don't disagree either. All right, BYU.
• 5:55
  Speaker 2: We get to the BYU game here. They're hosting Arizona.
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  Speaker 2: It's a big 12 matchup. It's a big, big 12
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  Speaker 2: matchup in Week 2. And a little bit of additional
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: news here for folks who have been tuning in. Pete
• 6:08
  Speaker 2: Thamel is reporting that Ishmael Mahdi, who was the 2025
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: lead rusher for Arizona.
• 6:15
  Speaker 2: And one of their better linebackers, Max Harris. They're both
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: coming back for their additional year of eligibility and will
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: travel to face BYU. I don't know if that changes
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  Speaker 2: the game. I don't know if they're anything close to
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  Speaker 2: in shape, but it is a couple of really good
• 6:30
  Speaker 2: players being added to that Arizona roster last minute before
• 6:33
  Speaker 2: they head to Provo. Seven and a half points, though,
• 6:35
  Speaker 2: for the Cougs.
• 6:37
  Speaker 1: I don't know.
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  Speaker 2: Does this change anything? How do you see the game?
• 6:40
  Speaker 3: It probably gives them a functional boost, but I can't
• 6:42
  Speaker 3: see them doing anything that's really– You just can't come
• 6:45
  Speaker 3: out of there cold and play and be that effective.
• 6:49
  Speaker 3: So I'm going to look at the guys that are
• 6:51
  Speaker 3: almost surely lined up. Now they do have some motivation
• 6:55
  Speaker 3: for losing in overtime last year, but I think Bear
• 6:58
  Speaker 3: Bachmeier should have some success against his secondary here. Need
• 7:02
  Speaker 3: to see more development out of the wide receivers, but
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  Speaker 3: I think the running game is going to be the
• 7:06
  Speaker 3: difference here. Maybe also special teams. Give me the Cougs here.
• 7:10
  Speaker 3: I think they win and cover this game. 30-17.
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: I think BYU is going to be really good this year,
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: and Utah is going to have to play their best
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: in order to beat that team. That's my favorite for
• 7:26
  Speaker 2: the Big 12 championship, as much as people hate hearing
• 7:29
  Speaker 2: me say it right here on the home of the Utes.
• 7:32
  Speaker 2: We'll get to the Utah game, save the best for last.
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: Game of the week is an NFL special, divisional matchup.
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: Chiefs versus Broncos. Chiefs are two-and-a-half-point favorites. Broncos are a
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: lot of people's Super Bowl favorite this year. How do
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: you see this first matchup between those two teams playing out?
• 7:49
  Speaker 3: I mean, the AFC is absolutely loaded, and these are
• 7:52
  Speaker 3: two of probably the five or six top teams. So
• 7:54
  Speaker 3: anyone wants to get that game for free, just call 800-400-9741.
• 7:57
  Speaker 3: I'll give that game on me, 800-400-9741. We started off
• 7:59
  Speaker 3: 8-2 on the season yesterday. 2-0 in the NFL. We
• 8:08
  Speaker 3: sold Wednesday night's game, the rematch, Seattle and New England
• 8:14
  Speaker 3: for $ 1. We had the under total last night, moved
• 8:18
  Speaker 3: to 2-0. So how about this? On Friday night, the
• 8:22
  Speaker 3: border war, Missouri and Kansas, you want to get it
• 8:25
  Speaker 3: just $ 1 or my UFC card, We've won 13 of
• 8:29
  Speaker 3: the last 16 cards. You can get the entire card
• 8:33
  Speaker 3: on Saturday. Starts at 12 noon. Five selections. Just a dollar. ParamountSports.com.
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: And with that, we come to the Utah-Arkansas game. Only
• 8:45
  Speaker 2: the second time Rice-Eckel Stadium has hosted an SEC team.
• 8:50
  Speaker 2: It's also a big night. It's the Eric Weddle induction
• 8:53
  Speaker 2: into the Utah football ring of honor. The Utes are
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: 12-point favorites. They need something convincing here. Do they get it,
• 9:01
  Speaker 2: Lee Sterling?
• 9:03
  Speaker 3: Well, I think that Arkansas is going to move the ball.
• 9:05
  Speaker 3: I mean, K.J. Jackson running and throwing a dynamic quarterback.
• 9:10
  Speaker 3: But here's the problem. They turn the ball over more
• 9:13
  Speaker 3: than any college team in the country last year. They
• 9:16
  Speaker 3: had another three turnovers in their first game. Their secondary
• 9:20
  Speaker 3: also horrific. Maybe one of the worst secondaries ever. you'll
• 9:23
  Speaker 3: see in Division I football. So sometimes it's a game,
• 9:27
  Speaker 3: a matchup. Like I said, it might be 550 to
• 9:31
  Speaker 3: 450 total yards, but those turnovers will probably be the
• 9:34
  Speaker 3: difference here. Going with the Utes here, 38-21 over Arkansas.
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: Let's go. Must need a win for Utah as they
• 9:44
  Speaker 2: start off their non-conference 2-0, according to Lee Sterling. Lee,
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: you're the best. Enjoy the weekend. Another great weekend of
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: college football. And a full NFL slate as well. We
• 9:54
  Speaker 2: look forward to talking with you next week.
• 9:57
  Speaker 3: You too, buddy. Take care. Be safe.
• 10:00
  Speaker 2: That's Lee Sterling, ParamountSports.com. Best handicapper in the business, whether
• 10:05
  Speaker 2: you're following or fading. ParamountSports.com. Telemocie sent you.