Latest / Game Day Collective / Texas vs Tennessee Preview | College Football Week 4 Picks & Predictions 2026
Transcript
- Josh Mahler: Texas gets its first road test in Tennessee, heading down to Knoxville. Ole Miss has to follow the LSU win, a huge win for Ole Miss with a trip down to the swamp to take on a very hot Florida team and Oregon and USC get a chance to answer some very uncomfortable questions. We're going to talk about it all here on the Game Day Collective College Football Preview Show. Welcome in. This show is presented by Outlier, the sports betting research platform that that helps you compare odds. Analyze trends and value across the market. Make sure to use the link down in the description to try out Outlier for 30 days free. Do not try to make any more bets without using Outlier. it will help you out with all of your research and make you feel much better about the sports betting that you're putting in. Of course, always bet responsibly, must be 21 or older to use Outlier and to be on sports betting platforms. So if it doesn't apply to you, then just go ahead and move on. But welcome in everybody. Welcome in live. First live here on Game Day Collective. I'm joined by Jeremy tonight. we've got a lot to get to, Jeremy. It's gonna be a lot of fun. As always, let's start it off by looking ahead into week four and talking about these teams that we're gonna be discussing here in a moment. maybe even a a a a game that we're not even gonna be looking at, but which team right now going into week four needs a win the most whenever you come through here into week four? I know I briefly talked about this on the last episode, but another team that I think that desperately needs to win is Clemson. I mean, we had a lot of high expectations against Clemson. I mean, looking at what they battled against, it looked really common confident. It looked really confident for them, but then looking at how the game and everything outcome for the end, it just didn't go their way. But I mean, just talking about like you can only go so far before you start thinking about is our head coach on the hot seat, do they need to start making some changes to the offensive line, the QB quarters. I mean, what are you really gonna do? But I mean, Clemson is just one of those teams to where we've talked about it a lot, Josh, but w there's only so much that you can realistically do until you finally pull the trigger and just make that desperate move to try and get yourself into a position to where you could try to even make it to a bowl game or even if you want try and make to a try and play for a championship here. But I mean something in my opinion has to happen. But it's definitely going to be one of those things to where we're just gonna have to wait and see for Clemson. What about you, Josh? Yeah. I mean, Clemson is definitely one of those teams that I I you know, I just think that Debo Sweeney should be on the hot seat. I'm one of the few, I feel like, that that really thinks that he should be. Because at what point do you do you stray away from okay, you want us a national championship or two? Cool. You you once had a dynasty, cool. But does that just make you completely immune to having a a a you know, hot dog water of a team? I mean, I just I I don't know. I'm I'm on the other side of it. I I think he should be on the hot seat. But anyways, very interested what you what here people what to hear what people think. the team that I'm looking at, this is maybe a a a weird one. but I I'm gonna go with Florida. just because I feel like Florida's a team, and we're gonna talk about that that game here later on. But Florida's a a team that's coming in as a favorite right now in the swamp against a very hot Ole Miss team, two hot teams. Ole Miss. Obviously, I think a lot of people kind of ri it feels like they're writing Ole Miss off and just acting like Florida's maybe better than they really are. And I told Wyatt this in our recap of week three, but I feel like I I'm trying to reserve myself and not be too high on Florida right now. I'm trying to be really careful about how I view Florida because they are they look really good on paper. They've done everything they need to do. They just now went into Jordan Hare and had a really big win this past week. But I'm trying to pump the brakes. So with all of that hype. Think you need to follow it up. So that's kind of where I'm looking at Florida right now, feeling like, man, this is a team that really needs it. nonetheless, we're gonna get into it again. This is our first time live here on the channel. Very excited to get this going. And we wanted to start getting into lives where we can interact with you guys. So if you're watching right now, I see we've got a few listeners or a few viewers right now. So if you're watching, share, help help us get the word out because we kind of decided to do live this week. on the spur of the moment and went through all kinds of hassle trying to get it set up. but make sure to share it because and and let people know because we want to see the interaction. We do the live shows so we can interact with you live. It's much easier to interact with you live. So jump in the live chat, hit that like button, subscribe to the channel, share, go check out the website. We've got a lot on the website and we're gonna get to that in a moment. We've got a pick board that we're gonna get to. You can jump on and join the pick'em board by going to game daycollective.media. You can share your pick'em board it's very easy and it gives you a little graphic to share and brag. it'll also keep your record from week to week so you can brag to your friends how much better you are than them at picking. Go check it out. Gamedaycollective.media. We're adding a lot to the website that's going to be interactive, some really fun stuff. Jeremy, let's get into it, man, because this is gonna be an exciting week of college football. Again, this pres this episode is presented by Outlier. A great sports betting research platform that you should be checking out. Go check out the link down in the description below and get yourself 30 days free. That's an incredible offer because you can sign up without the link down below and get 14 days free, but why not get like more than double? So go check it out. Anyways, we're gonna get into it and start off with our upsets of the week. and again, I always lead off with this. These are upset alerts, not necessarily that we're picking that team to pull off the upset. although Jeremy, we like to stray off the beaten path and just go all in and pick the upsets. I'm gonna start off with my upset of the week, at least my upset alert. And it's Boise. I don't know. I keep on going back and forth with this one. And I I actually told Jeremy I was gonna pick Ole Miss. I feel like people are just completely overlooking Ole Miss. Nonetheless, I'm gonna pick Boise State. I I look at Boise State right now, man, and I think this is a very hot team, a very good team. They're going on the road to Kalamazoo, and they're an underdog by seven points. I think when you look at what Divin R Dylan Riley gives Boise State right now, I think he gives a huge offensive advantage. He rushed for over 206 yards and 19 carries against Memphis, who is another very good G6 team. Over 200 yards. so you look at him and then another almost 200 and 198 yards against South Dakota. And then you've also got Sire Gaines over there for for Boise who contributed another 102 yards in that game. So you've got a a a Boise State that can run the ball very well. and and they can move the ball very well on offense. It's very hard to slow down. And so I really like this Boise team. I know they're going on the road to a Western Michigan team who let's just say they lost for the sake of being controversial. We'll say they lost a very close extra second Hail Mary pass against Michigan in week one in the big house. Really big victory for them. And so it's going to be interesting to see how they kind of live up to their hype. I talked about Florida a little bit ago having a lot of hype around them. Western Michigan has a lot of hype around them as well. Boise State has a lot of hype around them for just keeping it so close, almost upset Oregon in week one. So these are two G6 teams that man, this is a a game that needs a lot of talking about. We're gonna talk about it more so I won't give my score prediction. but I do think that when you look at Western Michigan, the concern that I have for Boise is Western Michigan has a passing production that is inc incredible. so Look at looking at them, you know, I I I think that that they're g the the the Boise Broncos have a very good chance of upsetting Western Michigan in Kalamazoo on the road here to become the best G six team. I don't know. I'll I'll go out and say it. So I think the winner of this deserves number one ranking for best G six team after this game, Jeremy. Yeah, I can definitely agree with you, Josh. I mean of course one big thing that of course everyone's gonna be looking at is how can Western Michigan focus on trying to play on that blue turf. I mean, it's completely something that everyone has to think of perspective. Like you j you're not just going into battle on just a regular basis, but you're playing on a blue turf means this one will be in Kalamazoo. So it'll it'll be at Western Michigan. So that's that's where I I understand the spread, you know, 'cause you t Vegas typically gives three points to the to the home team. So I kind of get that. So they're really calling this like a four point game. Reasonable, but I'm kind of surprised that Boise's the underdog in this game, honestly. So I'm picking I'm picking them as my upset alert. who do you got as your upset alert this week? Looking at my upset alert, I'm looking at specifically Tennessee versus Texas. I mean, somebody has to try and slay the top team looking at Texas, but Tennessee looking pretty dominant being three and Can they pull it off? I don't know. I mean Texas coming in unfeed undefeated an oppressive win over Texas State, then number one Ohio State, then UTSA. I mean, a long horse defense has been pretty particularly consistent, in my opinion. I mean, Arch is leading an offense featuring explosive receivers like Cam Coleman and Ryan Lingo. Like there's only one concern is particularly for me that I'm kind of looking for. Like that's Texas's offensive wasn't especially sharp against UTSA, but I mean Tennessee should provide a much tougher environment and significantly a better defense, that's for sure. But like Tennessee coming into this game, obviously it's also three and and enters a high powered offense with freshman quarterback Faison Brandon. I mean, he's been really, really efficient for throwing for five hundred and fifty two yards and six touchdowns without an interception through three games, which is definitely one of those great things to see. I mean, like I've mentioned in episodes before, the one thing that me and Josh always like to talk about is that touchdown to interception ratio. And so far he's doing really, really good in that aspect. So you gotta give him some props, and that could definitely be something that Texas is certainly looking for. Like another big question that I'm also thinking for Tennessee is how Brandon handles his first elite defense with Texas. I mean, the pass rush led by Colin Simmons who be looking to disrupt him really, really early right out of the gate. Like also even thinking about like Arch Manning versus Tennessee's pass rush, like he has to make he has to make uncomfortable without giving up explosive plays to Texas receivers and even the Vols have been able to establish a run really early this season. If they can do it against Texas, I could take pressure off a brain, and that's for sure. And even like just one big thing is just playing in Neil's Dam. This is Texas's first visit to Knoxville. And Neela's environment is a major, major factor. Texas has played in the biggest game so far home against Ohio State. The Ohio State. I gotta make sure I get it right for your wife, Josh. it's a very different challenge on the road, especially too. So, I mean Looking at this game being a f plus four and a half for Tennessee, I mean, can they be the one to slay the dragon here for Texas being number one? You can never know until we see it on Saturday. But I I I'm kind of looking towards Tennessee, but like I say, you can never know. Yeah. Don't get too far ahead of yourself because we are going to be talking more about this later. That's our game of the week. and you know, I man, it's gonna be a fun one. I I I've I'm really looking forward to this. The battle of the UTs. The winner of this gets full rights of the UT. so you know, I I don't know. I'm I'm really interested because Texas had a down week last week, man. I I don't know. I'm looking at that. I think that there's a ch a possibility. But I feel like every time that I doubt Texas, they just end up proving me wrong. So I I have a hard time. You know, it's just I don't know. That's that's a really fun game. Like I said, we're gonna cover that one in in a little bit, so I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. I started us off with the upset. You want to start us off with the locks of the week? Why not? I'll start it off with a lock of the week. My lock of the week this week is the Ohio State versus Illinois over under Yeah. Hey, the Ohio State. I I just gotta make sure I get that right. Looking at I also I I also have my mother in law in the house this weekend. So Okay. Also on Ohio State fancy. You really gotta make sure. Emphasize the just a little bit. Hey, you said Ohio State. You gotta make sure you get it right too, so you're not winding up at the doghouse. But looking at it Being at 53 and a half, the one thing I've I'm still waiting to get in the mail, but I'm really sad that I haven't is get a stamp. Smash the over looking at this one. I mean, Ohio State has been really dominant this series. I mean, recently went in 10 straight against Illinois. The Buckeyes won last year's meaning, I think it was 34 14, 34 16, something like that. But the Ohio State leads the all time series. Excuse me. sixty nine thirty and four when I looked up the stat wise for that. I mean. And plus also, I'm gonna throw this out there. This is also Illinois's first trip to Columbus since 2017. So that's one thing that you gotta also keep into perspective because some teams you see them go there on a regular basis and stuff like that. But it's been since 2017 that Illinois has gone to gone to the shoe. So it's definitely gonna be a really, really big environment for those guys. And just looking at overall, I mean Ohio State, like I said, entered a big ten into coming off of 59 to 3 win over Kent State. Mean after losing a close 24 to 23 game against Texas, that one's still stung a little bit. Julian Sane has been playing really efficiently while Jeremiah Smith remains the centerpiece of the passing game. That's that's there's no staying behind that. I mean, Smith is 21 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns through three games. Ohio State's official preview also notes that Saiyan owns a 75% career completion rate. That's something you do have to really think in consideration. Like, but the big question is. Whether Ohio State can consistently establish its running game and avoid becoming too dependent on Smith, that's gonna be my biggest thing in the passing attack. But but I mean, just even looking at on Illinois side of the ball, I mean, potentially a dangerous QB wide like between Caden Hauser and Colton Dixon, like having a really good percentage. She's just right underneath Julian, having a seventy four percent honest passes with eight touchdowns and two interceptions while Dixon's exploded for twenty five catches with Almost 370 yards and seven touchdowns through three games. sh that makes Dixon's the player for Ohio State secondary absolute to account for. I mean, Hauser has time to throw. Illinois has the receivers capable of creating some explosive plays. I mean, Josh, this is definitely going to be a really, really fun between two good teams and like I say, always smash you over on these games. Yeah. I I think this is an interesting one too, 'cause like the the stat shows on the screen too, Ohio State forty six points per game. Yeah, Illinois scoring thirty-nine points per game. It could be really high scoring. And I think most of that fifty-three and a half, if it hits the over, it's probably gonna be up by Ohio State, to be honest. yeah, and and I think what's interesting too, you bring up Jeremiah Smith having to get away from leaning on him so much. And I know Wyatt and I have talked about this throughout the week. but y you you look at how they performed, who was it that they just faced this past week? Was that Akron? It was Akron, yes. Yeah, yeah. So whenever they went against Akron, you saw how they took Jeremiah Smith out, I think maybe even before half, but for sure at halftime they took him out, sat him on the sidelines, didn't want him to touch the ball because they're wanting the other receivers to get that that that rhythm, that that chemistry with Julian Saiyan, who has been really good. but you you need Julian Saiyan to be able to rely on and trust his other receivers and find a way to get them the ball and not rely so much because What Texas did was they took Jeremiah Smith out there in that second half, specifically in that fourth quarter, and it really made Ohio State struggle on the offensive side of the ball. So I think when you take Jeremiah Smith out of the equation, it it can't completely shut down your game. And it's like you said, leaning on your couple of running backs. I love watching Bo Jackson run. you know, not the Bo Jackson, but he is Bo Jackson. but anyways, yeah, I I I think, yeah, that that over, man, I I I like You and I talk about the reason why we always like to smash the over is because it's just so much more fun to watch, you know, the over hit. To to to root for the offense to score a little bit more is a lot more fun than rooting for for the defense to make another stop. Although I am a defensive guy. So hitting the under every once in a while, like you know, maybe in that Michigan-Iowa game wouldn't be too bad. Yeah, that's for sure. no, it let's let's go on. That was actually one of the candidates for my lock of the week. But I ended up going with Mississippi State, give me Mississippi State to not just win over Missouri, but to beat them by at least a touchdown. I really like Mississippi State. I love what I've been seeing on the offensive side of the ball. Their defense has been doing just enough to keep them in. You look at what they did last week against South Carolina. Camario Taylor started that game off on a bad note. I believe he started that one off with a pick on the first drive, if I remember right. It might have been his first throw of the game, if memory serves me correctly, but starts that game off. And what does he do? He fires back with a huge game. you know, a after that. I absolutely love what this offense does around Camar Camario Taylor. there were five different receivers last week that caught a touchdown for Mississippi State. They spread the rock. Four of those were passing touchdowns from Camario Taylor. One was actually the former Oklahoma Sooner, Brennan Thompson. the wide receiver comes out and and throws it on a little wide receiver pass. So I, you know, I just Jeff Levy's offense is is always gonna be smooth. I always have an a you a lot of faith in his offense. But when I look at this Mississippi State team hosting Missouri, who thinks that ringing these little you know, these little cowbells on the sideline at practice is gonna be the same thing, you've got a whole nother thing in store for you whenever you hear however many eighty thousand cowbells ringing in that stadium. I don't know how many of their stadium seats there in Starkville, Mississippi, but This is going to be a lot of fun to see. I think this is going to be interesting to see how Mississippi performs at home off of a big win, an SEC win. Can they get their second SEC game win of the season? I'm interested to see. speaking of Camario Taylor, right up there on our Heisman rankings for the Game Day Collective Heisman rankings, I think he's in the top three. He's for sure in the top five. But I I really love what I'm seeing from the guy. Came on the scene out of nowhere, and he's thrown over 830 yards passing, 11 touchdowns. Only throwing one interception. We talked about that touchdown and interception ratio. It doesn't get much better than 11 to 1. So, you know. The way that they were able to fight back against South Carolina, I really like what I see from Mississippi State. I I know that Missouri, they rank number 15th in total adjusted defense. I think that if Hardy comes back in this game, I haven't seen the injury report for this week for the SEC, but if he comes back in, I could see there being a little bit. more of of you know that that run game, leaning on that run game a little bit more. but they've got two a two headed monster Missouri does back there. But overall, I think this is gonna be a high one. If you wanna I don't know what the overunder on this game is, but if you want to smash an over, this might be one to hit because I know Mississippi State's gonna put up some points. And I think Missouri can can put up some points of their own as well. So give me Mississippi State to cover the six and a half. that's on our pick so I won't throw my score prediction, but it it kind of gives you one of my One of my picks right there on the pick'em. But all right. You got anything to say on that game or should we jump into the game of the week? No, let's just jump into the game of the week because I know I rambled a lot about it, but I'm ready to get into it. Absolutely. Before we get into the game of the week, make sure to hit that like button, hit subscribe, help us keep on growing here on the channel. We've we've been growing pretty steadily, keeping an eye on it. one thing that we we need to do is make sure we're live on Facebook next time, but it was it was a hassle getting getting everything set up. for our first live tonight. And it was a last minute decision. So if you're watching and and you see us live right now, even if you're watching after the fact, go ahead and share anyways. Share with a friend that you think likes college football, college sports in general, because we're gonna be covering a lot more of college sports as we get through into baseball season, basketball season. Jeremy's even going to be be hosting some hockey. So if you have some hockey fans, send them send them the the link real quick to subscribe on YouTube. Follow us on social media. Help us keep on growing over there as well. we appreciate everybody so much for all the support so far, but we're gonna keep on growing from here. All right, let's get into the game of the week, Jeremy. It's a big one. I know you mentioned it earlier, and I know you kind of already gave it away that you think Texas isn't on an upset alert. I I think I don't think you're you're crazy for saying that. There's a reason why that line has kind of gone down. I think it opened up at five and a half, six and a half, somewhere around there, and it's down to four and a half now. So I I really like. Tennessee this year, I think they've been very surprising so far. You look at what Tennessee has done. I think it's really going to come down this matchup, it's going to come down to one thing. For Tennessee, I think can you keep Faison Brandon kind of in manageable situations against this Texas defense? Because the Texas defense is one of the best defenses in the nation at adjusting. You saw what they did to Ohio State adjusting on that side of the ball and doing what they need to do over there. and and ended up coming out in that second half and dominating against Ohio State. So that that Texas defense is one that is able to adjust an adjustment game. For Texas is going to be a lot about what you can do with Arch. Can can Arch really generate enough explosive offense to separate there, especially being on the road in Knoxville? I think one thing that that saves Texas a little bit is the time that is played because Knoxville at night is a different animal. Knoxville at noon, we can we can handle that. you know, everybody's gotten lubricated just a little bit, but if you're there at night, man, they've been lubricating all day. So you know what? I I I like what Tennessee's got going for them. You look at what they've got, Texas's raw offensive yards per play right now, five almost five and a half. Tennessee, almost seven and a half on offense. You look at the rushing yards per game for Texas, 176. Te Tennessee, 299. and then the rushing yards per carry, Texas four, four point two, and Tennessee six point seven, almost seven yards per carry. There's a big difference in the run games. I think the run game is really what's gonna decipher between the two, but for Texas, it's really gonna come down to how can they generate some explosives? Because you're going to have to get some of those explosive plays downfield and they've got to get off to a faster start than they did against Ohio State, right? So yeah, I think this is gonna be a really fun one, Jeremy. Yeah, it's definitely gonna be really big funnel. Like the biggest thing that I I know I talked about a little earlier for Texas, talking about Arch, I mean, being the vocal point of this team. I mean, like I said, through three games, thrown for six hundred and sixty-one yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions. Texas is averaging thirty-seven point seven points per game from what I was looking at stat-wise. Like the Longhorns also have that percentage of experience along the offensive line. Like something Tennessee coach Josh Hypo specifically highlighted over when he discussed in it about Texas. Like Another big thing I want to throw out there, Josh, is the key question, like whether Archmanning can handle the environment of Neil Stadium, or I mean, this is gonna be the first game of the stadium, and it's Texas' first road game of 2026. It's one thing for already being in an environment, but being the first road game against a really, really dominant Tech Tennessee team, this can be a real grudge match, in my opinion, between Tennessee and Texas. But like you think about it, for Tennessee's offense, they've been extremely productive, like averaging 47 points per game through three games. That's something that you have to really highlight about. The volunteers are led by true freshman quarterback Faison Brandon, who has had 552 yards and six touchdowns. Like he's a true freshman, not a redshift freshman, a true freshman coming into the game, and he's making his name known that he's going to be here for a while. But Tennessee's rushing attack also will be important. That's another big thing to think about. Like Dean Bishop has rushed for 286 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Although His availability has been something to kind of keep in mind or heading into Saturday. I know it's kind of a big thing like to think about it, but like even another thing to think about also is Texas's defense versus the young Tennessee's offense. Like Texas is allowed only 12 points per game, while Tennessee has been averaging nearly 48 points per game. That's a little bit of a thing that you have to think about. Like Texas's ability to pressure Brandon without giving up explosive plays. Honestly, could really determine how comfortable Tennessee's freshman quarterback looks at the same time. Like, and even Tennessee's defense has to find a way to pressure Manning. And if Manning gets too much time in the pocket, it's definitely gonna be a really, really tough one for Tennessee. But having that Texas experience offense could put considerable pressure on their balls defense, but Josh, Texas, Tennessee. It's definitely gonna be a real, real fullman at Neil and Stam. This is definitely gonna be a game that you do wanna tune into. Yeah, and I I think the best success for Tennessee when I look at them, it's gonna be getting yourself into early down rushing success. Tennessee's been really good on the ground, but if they can keep themselves where they're getting three or four yards on the ground, they've got the number one four offense or sorry, the number four offense in and the number four rushing offense, if I can get that whole phrase out. Gosh. the number four rushing offense in the nation right now, they're going against Texas, whose run defense only allows under three and a half yards per attempt right now. So this is going to be really interesting to see how a Josh Hypel offense who leans on that run to set up the pass for big explosive plays. I'm really interested to see how all of that plays out to where you know you get yourself into this situation where you, you know, let's let's say Texas's defense you know leans on you. And get yourself into, you know, maybe one and or two yards on first down, and you're not into a better, better situation in the later downs. I'm I'm interested to see how a true freshman at quarterback against a very tough SEC defense and phase on Brandon, how he reacts to that. So man, I'm I'm I'm excited about it. And and with with with the the overall looking at at Texas's offense, I I like what I've I've seen from Arch Manning, but You look at last week against UTSA, a bit of a bit concerning to see the performance there. So he went 17 to 33, just over 50%, 164 yards, where you know, Texas has also only averaged 4.3 yards per play against Tex or against Ohio State, and then 4.8 against UTSA. Not much different. So I don't know if that was just a hangover off of a big win. You can write it off and say that much. And I I wouldn't argue against it. because there's not really anything I can do to argue against it. But I'm I'm interested to see can can the run game kind of exploit Tennessee's defense? Because Tech Tennessee's rushing defense has not been great this year. so you know, again, Jeremy, I mean, when you look at this Texas offense, do you have enough faith in them thinking that they can create enough explosive plays with w you know, and asking Arch to do that, without kind of trying to force the ball downfield, maybe force it into bad situations? I mean, I sincerely do, just 'cause Arch has had those moments to where when he's in those kind of predicaments to where he knows how to be cool, calm, and collective. But once those once the time does where it get he where he can get, excuse me, if I can even give my words right now. If he if he can get his right time in the moment, then Arch is gonna be shining. But if he gets too much pressure coming off of it, then it's definitely gonna be a real, real tough one because you got you got guys that are really, really hungry just to try and get into that backfield and try and get Arch. then they're trying to make a name for themselves and they're just trying to get whatever they can to try and get their respective team for a win here. But I mean, Josh, you gotta think about it for Texas. Arch going into this going into Neeland, then having really good guys both on the offensive side and the defensive side of the ball. I mean, one guy in particular I can think of for Tech for Texas as defense for Colin Simmons. I mean, his availability could be significant against this Tennessee's offense. Like can he have a breakout game? Can the can the Tennessee offense get stopped. And if they do, I mean, can you can you see Tennessee coming away with this game? Or do you think that Texas's defense coming against Tennessee's offense can be too strong of a game that you could think that Te Texas can pull this out of the water? Yeah, I mean I think Texas can pull it out. I I think Texas has a very good shot. it's just I don't know it's it's it's nerve wracking for me because I saw I mean they have one one quarter of domination. That that's it. they've they've looked, they've had some slight issues, they've had some things that we look at and and we kind of have concerns on the offensive side of the ball specifically. And I haven't been super overwhelmed with Arch Manning. I I I know I'm not trying to be, you know, the the Homer guy and and bring up Oklahoma. I I really try to stray away from that, especially on this show. But you know, I I saw somebody kind of show Arch Manning's stats against John Mateer, and I've watched John Mateer play. I'm frustrated with the guy. And the stats really aren't that much different. I'm thinking, like, really, so how are we not having a similar discussion about Arch Manning? it's because he's able to win the big game against Ohio State. If Oklahoma wins the big game against Michigan, we're probably not having this conversation, right? So, you know, I that's the the it that's the funny thing about it. They've won the games that they need to win. Texas has. And so we're not talking too much about Arch Manning, but I'm not super impressed so far. with what I've seen from Arch Manning. That's just stats on the paper, not overly impressed. Although I I do think that that with with Tennessee right now, I so what matters more late in this game? so if Texas's defensive advantage I I guess which of these aspects is more important, Texas's defensive advantage or Tennessee's ability to keep its on its offense on schedule and a and ahead of the sticks? I mean, in my honest opinion, I think Tennessee's offense to get him and go on the sticks because I mean, you can control the clock of the game depending how late it is. I mean, you can you can get down to those third and ones or those fourth and ones, even if you have to go down to that kind of a situation. And if you're to convert, then that's more time to keep arch off the field. Then you can control how the game truly goes. If it's down to a nail biter of a game, then you can go off and try and get a walk-off win, whether it be a touchdown or a field goal. But I mean You can look at it in both perspectives, but I'm really looking forward towards Tennessee and seeing what they can be able to do. But with having so much that you can do with Texas, I mean, they have a lot of firepower and they have a lot of weapons. And if they get that opportunity to where that they can get on the field and they can do the exact same thing, then obviously we can kind of see how it's gonna go. But my biggest thing is can Tennessee hold off against Texas's offense just because like I said, they got weapons, they got firepower, they can do whatever they can to try and get a game dominant. It's definitely gonna be one of those nail buyers, Josh. But in r in retrospect, in my opinion, I know I'd like to see Tennessee control the game and get the line get the line of scrimmage getting that right off the get go. But we just have to wait and see. And I'm just gonna keep keep getting off my soapbox here. But I mean, you can never know what till we see it. Yeah, yeah. And you know, I I I'm not super confident either way that I picked this game. and we'll get to our picks here at the end whenever we get to our pick board. so I I think the big thing too is that if Texas can shut down that run, slow it down at least, without any extra defenders. If you don't have to put extra guys in the box and you're able to slow them down to where they're getting maybe two or three yards rather than four or five on first and second down, then I think what it does is it puts Brandon Fays on kind of in that in that tough part of the longhorn defense. And I think Texas can really pull themselves away. So if they're able to play that kind of a defense where they're able to slow down the run without extra defenders, that's that's what I'm kind of looking at. And I mean, on the other side of the ball, if Arch Banning kind of has this same problem, this same inconsistent accuracy problems, then I think that Tennessee, Tennessee could win outright. So either way I look at it, I really do see a a key, kind of a swing factor back and forth, a key to victory for each one of these two teams. Tennessee, keep your run game going, regardless of of what Texas does to you. If you if only if Texas can only slow down that run game by stacking the box, then guess what? Brandon Faison's gonna light him up over the top, and vice versa. So very interested to see how this game plays out. It's gonna be a lot of fun in Knoxville here this upcoming week. But that one's an early game. Very early. We're gonna get that one at noon Eastern time. A game that's not early. One that you're gonna have to stay up pretty late for. One that we recommend staying up late for is our game day collective. after dark game of the week and that is this week. it's going to be Minnesota at Washington. Don't know why our our graphics not popping up for us, but we'll get it up. yeah, I think this is going to be a really fun game. we got Minnesota going on the road all the way out west. There it goes. Finally popped up. we got Minnesota going on the road out to Washington, up to that northwest. I almost said northeast, man. My brain is not working tonight. But it it I think this is going to be an interesting one. You've got A Minnesota team who's two and one right now had that loss to Mississippi State at home. And then you've got a Washington team who's just been kind of underwhelming. you look at Washington, they're they're 0-th or sorry, they're they're they're unbeaten right now. They're three and but they're 0-3 against the spread. They're not doing what they're supposed to be doing against the opponents that they've been going against. You got Minnesota who's taking its first road trip and road trip out west and playing a very late game. This one's starting off at ten PM Eastern time, man. We're gonna be up past midnight watching this game. so it it's gonna be a lot of fun after dark. you're gonna get Damon Williams e either either kind of pulling off this little escape act or you're gonna see very slow fourth quarter type of game where it's gonna have that that underdog sticking around in this game. So you know I think this is going to be a really interesting game. you got let's see Washington as a 10 point favorite right now sitting a nine and a half in the books. So very interesting. up in Husky Stadium on Fox late night. Jeremy, there's a there's a a pretty good game to stay awake for here this week. 100%, dude. I mean, thinking a lot of people, I wouldn't say a lot of people, but a certain amount of people would definitely think, you see the Minnesota Golden Golfers. One thing they particularly think of is hockey. But no, these Minnesota Golden Golfers, they do mean business when it comes here to play football. I mean, they're going to be a really, really good Washington Huskies team here. I mean, Talking about Devin Williams Jr., I mean he's thrown for almost nine hundred yards, five touchdowns, one interception, having a seventy percent completion ratio. I mean, he's also a dangerous runner. He's not just a guy that sits in the pocket and just likes to sling the rock, but he can be definitely a dual threat quarterback. I mean, he's rushed for already over a thousand career rushing yards. I mean, if you have a quarterback that has both arm talent and leg talent, then you definitely have yourself a winner. I mean, Washington's averaging Three hundred and five passing yards per game. I mean twenty-first nationally. I mean, the biggest concern though for the Huskies is their running game, which is averaging only a hundred and twenty nine yards per game. But still, I mean, you come out of it with Washington having a dual thread quarterback like that, it's great, but you can't rely on that quarterback to do too much. Then he'll get himself burned out, then his throws aren't gonna be so consistent, or his running game and he can try and not trying, but he could possibly get hurt trying to whether it be a sliding issue or whatever the case may be, he can definitely get himself hurt. But looking at Minnesota's offense on the other side of the ball, I mean Drake Lindsay is thrown for a lot of yards. He's thrown for almost seven hundred and fifty yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Minnesota has also gotten production from TJ Thomas Junior, who's had a hundred and seventy three rushing yards. So they can definitely rely on him on the run game. Then they can let Drake Lindsey do his thing behind the QB and One player I also do want to throw out, I really want to watch, is Javon Tracy. I mean, he's Minnesota's leading receiver with 240 yards, but the biggest impact, in my opinion, may come on special teams. Tracy's led the nation with 251 punt return yards and has two punt return touchdowns already this season. I mean, a lot of these guys, you can definitely see them doing that maybe. Halfway through the season already, and we're only in a week, we're going on to week four here. This is definitely something that you do have to keep in fact. It doesn't matter whether it be offensive, defense, special teams. This is a team that you have to watch out for in all factors of the of the game. But also, I want to throw this out there, Josh. I kind of want to pick your brain a little bit. Washington's passing game versus Minnesota's secondary. I mean, Minnesota's allowing 153 yards per game, which, like I said, ranks 21st nationally. Washington, meanwhile, averaging three hundred and five passing yards. Like, do you kind of see Washington with especially with having a dual throw quarterback, do you see them making a big impact for Minnesota's defense? Or do you think Minnesota's defense can shut down the quarterback? And do you think that Minnesota can make a name for themselves against a really, really good Huskies team? I I mean one thing that I I look at for Washington is they've had to rely a lot on Damon Williams and he's done a fairly good job too. I I mean I I I hate to to to rag on him because he's he's doing a lot this year. thrown for over eight eight hundred and ninety yards this this year so far. pretty efficient, keeping keeping the keeping it clean. He just hasn't been able to get into the end zone. And and right now they've got a a couple of running backs, Quaid Carr and Jaden Lamar, who are both out right now, sidelined. and and at least until November. They've also got a receiver that's out in Christian Moss. So it's it's really put a lot of pressure on. on Demond Williams right now, where he's having to go out there and and perform and be the leading rusher and the quarterback. And and I mean he's he's doing that right now. So you've got to be able to find one of the one of your depth pieces, and it's tough whenever you're down two guys, but you got to find a a depth piece there in the running back room to be able to split off. Because we talked a little bit about West Virginia, how they're able to to really you know split it off with between you know, because they they've got a you know a duo back there with Hawkins Jr. And I've fr I'm drawing a blink on who their running back is. That's that's a monster as well. But when you've got two, you know, you've got a good quarterback and that can run the ball and a good running back that can run the ball, it starts to draw your eyes both ways whenever you're a defense. You've got to keep an a a a spy on the quarterback, but then you're also taking a guy out of your defense when you do that. Washington doesn't have that right now. And so what concerns me with Washington is being able to to run the ball efficiently and effectively with, you know, several guys. They don't have it right now. They're they're relying on one guy to do it all. and so I think that's kind of where I I'm I'm a little concerned for Washington. I I do think they're good enough to keep themselves in this game. I I think they're good enough to win the game. I'll come out and say it. so I I I just look at this game and man, I don't know. I I think that that w long the longevity of this team has to find something. And I think that Minnesota's a good team to do it against. Find something that you can rely on there in the run game, other than Damon Williams. he is very efficient right now. Five touchdowns on the year, though. We would like to see that number go up if you're gonna be a do-it-all guy. so I I think that that you look at this this matchup, and I think it really is gonna come down to whether Washington can get somebody else the ball and create another playmaker out there with so many offensive weapons injured. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely gonna be a really big good game. Like also another thing I do want to throw out there, like turnovers in this game could honestly be really, really huge in this game. I mean, Washington's been, like you said, been excellent at creating turnovers, standing at a plus six through three games with seven takeaways and only one turnover. That's one of the biggest statistical advantage in this matchup. Yeah, stats stats mean one thing, but how they play is gonna mean another thing. Like Minnesota's ability to protect the football will particularly be important on the road. And talking about like you mentioned, Josh, for key guys. I mean, having a TJ Thomas Jr., their running back from Minnesota. And another guy, Desmond Rubick for Washington for having their wide receiver game. I mean, and like I mentioned, Jalen Tracy, these guys, they can definitely mean business here. But I in my opinion, like it can go either way back and forth. But the one thing I'm I'm not trying to give it away, but I kinda expect Minnesota to try to slow the game down a little bit, make Washington earn every possession. But while Washington will look for opportunities to attack Minnesota reticulously, like you you can really go back. Like some people could say this can really be a stalemate of a game, but I mean you can go either way with this. And even look at another thing, like venues, it can definitely mean a big thing in college football or just anything in general for football. Like Washington has played his first four games at home. So this will be the Huskies' fourth straight home game to open the season. Like Minnesota's traveling to Seattle for its first time there since 1976. So it's just been a little bit since they've skipped across the pond here. And it it could definitely be a really, really fun game, Josh. But looking at between Minnesota and Washington, can the Gophers pull it off against the Huskies or are the Huskies too big of a of a of a thing to bark at and bite at? And what are we going to expect? You can never know until we see it. Yeah. we don't have this one in the pick'em. I was just looking at the pick'em board, making sure I I didn't give my score prediction of this one beforehand. So let's go ahead and throw it out there, man. What what do you got for a score prediction? You got the gophers coming in here pulling off a ten point upset? Or do you think that Washington, you know, the Huskies bite back and they they do just enough to protect their home turf? I mean, I love the state of Minnesota. Minnesota is my second home. But I mean, Washington is a really, really dominant team, and I think that they're gonna be too much to to handle. I think the Huskies are gonna bark a lot and they're gonna get the overall bite. Give me t I think it's gonna be a close one though. Give me give me twenty-seven to twenty, Washington. I think it could be a fe I can think it'd be a touchdown game, but anything can happen in this game. What would you say, Josh? Man, we are Spot on. We've done this three weeks in a row now. I had the exact same score written down. We don't share our notes just for everyone watching. We don't. I mean, we we tell each other we tell each other our pick and picks and then like our our locks and all that just because we have to for production. when it comes to like scores, we keep that to ourselves. so yeah, I had 2720. Washington over Minnesota. I think Washington's able to pull this one off. So yeah, I'm I'm I think this is gonna be a fun one. I think this is gonna be one worth We're staying up late to watch. It's gonna be down to the wire, down in the fourth quarter. All right. Jeremy, how about we jump into our pick'em board real quick? Let's roll. Let's roll. We've got a we've got a lot to get to in this pick'em board. It's gonna be a lot of fun. what we do, so last week, Jeremy, you had a little bit of a rougher week, but you started off with a seven and one the week before. So you know what? Yeah, just it's all right. Pull it together. I went six and two last week. Jeremy went four and four. Wyatt actually went seven and one with his first pick'em board. But this week we're we're changing it up. So first of all, make sure to head over to game daycollective.media. Check it out because you can join the pick'em board and share your pick'em board with us. Tag us on social media. it creates a graphic for you and all that. wish I would have pulled that up to be able to put that on the screen so you can see what it looks like. But nonetheless, go check it out. game daycollective.media. All you got to do is go up to the top and go to your menu board and go to college football. Go down to the game day game day collective pick'em board. And then you can make your picks. There's also fan poles on there that you can brag about, all that fun stuff. So we're gonna go through this week we're changing it up, so we're gonna kind of restart our our record keeping because I was told we're doing we're we're making it too easy. We're just picking the winners. That's why our score our our our records are inflated. Sure, sure. Let's let's pick spreads now. And I'm realizing that in my notes I wrote my picks down wrong and I was I was looking real quick to kind of double check what I've got. Anyways, we'll we'll get we'll get to it and we'll we'll get it all fixed as we go through. But all right, let's go through here real quick and start off. I guess I'll I'll start us off and then I'll I'll kick it to you. So starting off with our first game, Northwestern at Indiana. Indiana 20 point or 21 point favorites in this game. And I think I think Indiana's got a very good chance to completely blow Northwestern out of the water. But when I look at Northwestern right now, I I I think this is a team that's just kind of surprised me with the way that they came out last week against Colorado and absolutely dominated there. I'm high on Indiana. I think Indiana's still around. I think they're sticking around. I think they're gonna be able to do a lot of good things this season. But I'm not picking them in these big spreads anymore. I'm actually going northwestern on my pick. I'm picking northwestern just to cover the spread. I think Indiana still wins this game. I think they win pretty decisively. I just don't think that Northwestern has enough passing attack to really break, you know, that that you know, break out and do anything spectacular. but I think they're able to keep it within a few touchdowns because also last week Indiana had a disappointing week against Western Kentucky. so I I don't know. Maybe, maybe Indiana's pissed off about how they performed last week and comes out and just completely mops the floor with with Northwestern. But I think Northwestern. can keep themselves in this a little bit. give me like Indiana thirty-eight, Northwestern I had eight I had this score written down. So I'm just gonna stick with my score. I think Northwestern covers a spread. That's all that really matters. Indiana thirty eight, Northwestern twenty. All righty, I can see that butt Josh. But I know I talked about this last year a lot with Indiana and I stuck throughout I struck them stuck with them throughout the entirety of the college playoffs. And They did not let me down. I've been thankful for Indiana and their hoo-hoo hoo who shirts for looking at what they've been doing ever since last year. I mean, a lot of people were really, really skeptical on how Indiana would be, obviously, with losing Fernando Mendoza, but Indiana is still here and they are meaning business. I think Indiana is going to mop the floor. I know you thought that they they could mop the floor, but I'm just gonna fly outside. I think they're gonna mop the floor. Looking at it being a minus 21 spread. I think they are really just gonna get right out with it. I mean, you think about it, Indiana has outscored their opponents 145 to 16. That's just something to throw out there. I mean, Josh Hoover has been really, really dominant, 649 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, no interceptions with a 72% completion rate. So in my honest opinion, I think Indiana's gonna run away with this. But don't get me wrong, Northwestern can be one of those sneaky teams that can come up and surprise you, but still, I'm doing what I did last year. I'm sticking with my gut with Indiana. I think that they can take the spread and they're just gonna run away with it. I like it. I like it a lot. I I really hope they do. You know, I'm I I I I I love I love Indiana. I want them to do a lot of great things. So Jeremy's Jeremy's picking Indiana, I'm picking Northwestern. Let's go ahead and go on to the next one. We got Boise State at Michigan. This was my upset alert of the week. I I have a lot of faith in in Boise. I think they're gonna be able to come away with this one. They're plus seven. so obviously I I don't think there's much. You know what? I I think I actually took this wrong too. I think I I wrote this one down wrong. Man, I my brain was not working this week. A lot of things going on. I'm picking Boise regardless of of what the the the graphic might show here. the graphics gonna show I'm I'm over on Western Michigan side, but don't don't listen to it. because I I picked Boise as an upset alert. I think Boise ends up winning this game outright. I don't know. Am I am I getting this wrong? Is Boise State the favorite? No, they're the underdog. I don't know why I picked Western Michigan on the mission on the pick man. My brain is not working. So I'm picking Boise State to win this game outright. Give me Boise State 27, Western Michigan 23. That means Boise State covers the sprit. So move me over to the other side. I like Boise State in this game a lot. I th I think they've got enough to to go on the road and win and Kalamazoo. Yeah, I can definitely see that, Josh. And that was another thing that I picked also is Boise State. I mean, they've been really, really dominant with I mean, looking at oil lost came in 34 27 road battle against. The Oregon Ducks, who are finally getting it picked up back in gear. I mean, they came off. I can't remember who they played, but I remember seeing the final score 84 to nothing. I mean, that's definitely a thing that you have to think about. I mean, but back on the topic here. I mean, QB Maddox Madsen, he's been very efficient, having six hundred and ten passing yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions. I mean, I think Boise State is going to run away with this one. And Give me that Maya seven and they could definitely easily cover this. But I mean, like I say, for all these teams, you can never expect anything until you see the game. But still, give me Boise State to win this. Yeah, yeah, I like it. I like I like them to pull off the upset outright. All right, let's go on to our next game. We got Ole Miss at Florida. This is one that I just I did not understand. I hopped on the spread right away whenever I saw that it switched over to be in Florida the favorites in this one. I like Florida. I think Florida does a lot of good things right now. I I think Florida is on the right track to do great things this season and totally turn that program around. I think they can be a competitor. I think they can win some big games on this schedule. Olmus just isn't one of them. I know Ole Miss just came off of a a huge win and and they're gonna have you know all this adrenaline from the win a week ago. They get to beat their old coach that abandoned them and all this drama around it. Get right. Celebrate. Turn around on on Monday morning and get back to it. I think Ole Miss is just fine. I think Ole Miss still ends up winning this game. I'm picking Ole Miss to at least cover the spread in our pick'em. so give me Ole Miss. They're gonna they're gonna cover the spread. I think they win outright, Jeremy. Yeah, I'm I'm in the same boat with you again, Josh. mean, Ole Miss has just been really, really dominant. I mean, we've talked about him before with Trinidad Chambliss. I he's been outstanding. I mean, he's accounted for three hundred and sixty-three passing yards and two touchdowns against LSU. I mean, while also for a score. I mean, through three games, he's had almost a thousand yards. It's nine hundred and sixty eight total yards and nine touchdowns. I mean, he's really, really amazing quarterback. And I mean, he's definitely one that you do see a lot on top of the Heisman running for the candidate. But I mean, Florida's offense, they could definitely be sneaky. I mean, having Aaron Pylo and running back Jack Jaden Baugh. I mean, those those cats, they can, or not cats, I should say, those gators, they can definitely bite. But I mean, Ole Miss, I just think that they're gonna be too dominant. But give me the spread for Ole Miss at three and a half. But this this game, I I can honestly flip a coin to see who wins, but I'm more leaning towards Ole Miss, but you can never know until we see it. But still, give me Ole Miss three and a for a spread. Yeah, I like it. I don't know if I put my my score prediction out there, but I'll pick Ole Miss 34, Florida 31. Something really close like that. I think it's gonna be a close game. I think Florida's got what it takes. All right. Being within three points of you know, a top ranked team, top five team, you know, like that's something to hang your hat on, something to be proud of. all right, sorry. I'm trying to go through and and make sure that my notes are correct. cause my pick board is already wrong. We already decided that on one of so yeah. So anyways, going on to the next game here. We've got on the schedule, we've got Iowa at Michigan. This is one. Make sure to hit the under. If you're not hitting the under, I don't know what you're doing. but all right. Man, these graphics are not popping up and it's kind of ticking me off. It's what you get whenever you do a live show. But anyways, Iowa at Michigan, smash the under. I know we like to smash the over, Jeremy, but you gotta smash the under on this one. I don't care how low it goes, just smash the under. No, so in this game, I I just look at it. The main reason why I'll just throw my pick out. I'm going to pick Iowa to cover the spread. They're a five and a half point underdog. I think when you look at Iowa being an underdog right now, the interesting thing about it is that Iowa has not lost a game by more than five in the last couple of years. They're able to keep games close. They've got a defense to keep them in it. I think that's an interesting stat. I think that this one's gonna be a dogfight of the defenses. I think both teams are gonna be trying to find something on offense. I I don't know. Can either score can either team score 14 points in this game? I I really don't know. right now, I don't know what the over-under sitting at. but my my idea is okay, so I think Michigan has enough to get some scores here and there. Iowa's gonna have to respond. And so I got to go in and I kind of picked a weird score. I'm gonna go with Michigan 20, Iowa sixteen. Iowa covers a spread. Who do you got? Okay. I I I'm gonna join the bandwagon with you, Josh. I got Iowa covering it as well. And looking at the over under I just had a moment ago, sin at thirty-eight and a half for Synet over under still still hit the under then. Yeah, I I'm still hitting the under here. But I mean, with Iowa, having Hank Brown, Cam Buffington, I mean Xavier Williams, they've been definitely playing really, really good ball. I mean, Michigan, I'm not gonna go into that top because we'd be here for another hour. let let's just get that out there. But Iowa and Michigan, this can definitely be a big time nail buyer. And in my opinion, I think it's gonna honestly come down to a field goal game. I'm kind of giving it like a 2017 kind of game. But I mean, you can go realistically either way here, but still I honestly give give it to Iowa for for covering the spread. Yeah, yeah, I like it. yeah, and I just think that they're gonna keep it a close game. You know, I th I agree with you. Something like a field goal type of game. I know I picked I think just a four point game, but still, I I think that this is gonna be close. I think the spreads are kind of tricky this week. They really are. And going into this next this next matchup, I don't think it's gonna be much different. I think when you look at this USC Oregon game, it's two teams that really have a lot to answer, and it's an un uncomfortable situation to be in. Oregon lost a terrible game against Oklahoma State there in week two. They want to turn things around. then you've got USC started off, looked all right. Fan base isn't there to see it, but they looked all right. Defense seems like it's doing enough. Fourth quarter breakdowns here and here and there. We're just chalking that up to be that we've got our depth guys in and so they're allowing garbage points. Okay, sure. But I'm still very skeptical because this is a Lincoln Riley led off or led team. It's gonna be all offense, no defense. So there's a lot of answers to be had here. I think when you look at this one, man, I this is one of them that you can smash the over. And I guess I really don't care how how high that total goes. the quite opposite of the Iowa Michigan game. So I I look at at what USC right now is doing on defense and it's very misleading. They've struggled last week against Rutgers, struggled, came down to the wire in the fourth quarter. There there was a lot of hope for the Rutgers to be able to come back and win that game. I I so there's a lot of question marks. Oregon just hung 84 points on the school of the deaf and blind. And you know, and and they're they're so proud of themselves for doing so. Dan Lanning was just straight up like what do you expect? Like, yeah, we've scored 84 That's great. We're glad that we scored 84. But what do you expect when you're going against Portland State? So give me Oregon to win this game. I just like Dan Lanning and his approach to overcoming adversity. I like his approach better. His approach to overcoming adversity is I know we're playing against a a pee-wee school over here, but we're still gonna punch a a a an another touchdown up on the board and put it up on the scoreboard, you know, regardless of there only being 30 seconds left and we could just take a knee and End this game. We're not gonna put them out of there, Mizzy. We're just we're gonna put a few more points up on the board and score eighty-four and just be ridiculous. So that's his his way of going about it. No mercy. Let's go forward. so I I think Oregon's defense does enough to keep them in this thing. I think Oregon's offense is too much for USC's defense to handle. So I'm favoring Oregon to win this game. Give me Oregon thirty eight, USC thirty four, barely covering that spread. that's where I'm going with it right now, Jeremy. Wow, I mean, it it you just kind of blew me away a little bit about that. But I mean, with Oregon and USC, I mean y you can only say so much, yeah, we just won eight four or nothing. But I mean, like you mentioned, who did you guys play against? But one thing that I do want to think about is like Dante Moore versus like USC secondary, like USC's offense has been able to score, but Oregon's probably needs more to play efficiently and avoid turnovers. But if Oregon can s consistently continue create pressure on my vol white pressuring more. I mean the ducks have a good chance to control the game. But one thing I also do want to throw out like here's an interesting historical angle. Oregon has won the last four meetings, including a 42 to 27 victory over USC last season. Oregon is also nine and in the big ten row games since joining the conference here. But I'm in the same boat Josh give me give me Oregon for that for that three but I don't even know where to begin with because Oregon can completely blow this out of the water or USC can come here and just shock the world. I mean, I was I know I was really riding high on Oregon, but obviously after seeing how he came against Oklahoma State, I mean that was definitely a really, really tough stinger, seeing them lose 39 to 31. But give I I I I can't even give you an honest score prediction, Josh, because it's it's definitely gonna be a really, really good one, but still, like I said, give me Oregon to cover it. Okay, I'll give it this. Give me thirty-four twenty thirty-four thirty-one for y for Oregon. Okay, so they're like right at the spread. I like it. Yeah, they're covering it. They're gonna be right. They're just right on the line. I guess I guess if Oregon wins at all, they they cover the spread no matter what. So yeah, you're good. it's just that that that spread is tricky this week. I was I was looking at all of them that we were going through. that's what makes the pick board a little bit more special. So go check it out. Game day collective dot media, and you can pick your own pick board. All right. Let's go on to the next game. We got Texas AM at LSU. This is a really big game for both schools. We talked about it in the beginning of the show, which team we thought like really needs a win this week. Both these schools need a win this week. I think Texas AM needs one a little bit more. And so I think they're going to come in with a little bit more grit, a little bit more firepower. And I think they're going to try to win just a little bit more. Problem with it is that you're trying to face LSU in Baton Rouge down in Death Valley, having having, you know, 100,000. drunk fans screaming at you. I like LSU to win this game. I like them to win it comfortably. I just think that with LSU, they have enough weapons to be a top ranked team. They've proven me wrong so far this season both ways, but I think that they can get it done in Death Valley. I think they win pretty comfortably here in this this game. I think Texas AM is just gonna try too much and Marcel Reid, I don't have any faith in the guy anymore. He's not the same Marcel Reed that we thought we had last season. More like the Marcel Reed that we got in the playoffs. So give me LSU to win this one. It's going to be a really fun game. It's going to be a you know a flashy game. It always is with Lane Kiffin. I really like Mike Elko. I think his defense is going to hang around for a little bit. But give me Texas A or sorry, give me LSU to win this one 34 24. So LSU covers that eight and a half point spread. There you go. I mean, looking at between LSU and Texas A now, I mean I'm already won't you put me on through, guys? My love down Baton Rouge. I mean, it's definitely gonna be one of those those games that you always know LSU is gonna be bringing everything that they have. Doesn't matter whether it's on the field or the fans just gonna be chanting in the stands. I mean just looking at Sam Levin and Prince O it's definitely gonna be a really, really fun one. I mean, you you brought it up to me. Marcel Reed, I'm in the same boat. He's not what we were expecting. We were expecting playoff Marcel Reed like what we saw last year. But still, give me give me LSU to cover the spread, but give me give me like a twenty-seven to seventeen kind of game. But I mean still, I mean you can never know between I could see it being like a twenty seven seventeen or maybe even like a twenty-seven to twenty kind of game, but you can never know. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I feel like this one could go either way too. It's i again, it's two teams emotional after a tough loss. I think Texas AM's was more of an embarrassing loss. LSU lost to a top five team and all miss. That's that's tough, but you had to go on the road to you had to go on the road to Oxford in an extremely emotional game where they wanted that more than anything in the world to sit there and and flip off their old coach running off the field. So, you know, it whatever you can get past that. That didn't kill you, but losing to Kentucky, that hurts at home. So let's go on to the next one. We got Missouri. Going on the road to Starkville, Mississippi. I brought this one up earlier, so I'm not going to spend too much time on it. I love Camario Taylor. Love what this Mississippi State offense brings to the table. I think they've got enough to win this game. I think they've got enough to win this one comfortably. I like Missouri a lot. Don't get me wrong. I think that Missouri has done a lot of good things this year. I really think that Missouri has has really kind of impressed a lot of people. and and I I like what Austin Simmons brings to the table as well. I think what what Austin Simmons has done you know, and that that whole Missouri team, man, especially if you're they're able to get Hardy back. You got Roberts in the backfield, they've got a really good team. I think they've got enough to win this game. But you're going on the road to Starkville, Mississippi, against a Mississippi State team who's very hot right now. They're they're wanting the wins. They're wanting recognized in the SEC. And man, they're making some noise. So give me a Mississippi State at home to win this one comfortably. they win by eleven points. Give me Mississippi State over Missouri, thirty-four twenty three. There you go. But I mean, looking at Mississippi State, it's definitely gonna be a fun one, but you gotta look on the other side for Mizzou and what they were able to bring. I mean Austin Simmons, yeah, he's been extremely efficient in the Q B room. I mean six hundred and fifty six hundred and fifty passing yards, eight outdies, no interceptions, having just under a seventy percent completion rate. But I mean, looking at looking at Mississippi State, they just They just keep on rolling. I mean, the biggest SEC's biggest offensive surprise. I mean, Bulldogs averaging forty-seven points and five hundred and forty-five yards per game with two hundred and forty-four rushing yards per game. I mean, Camario Taylor, he mean he's accounted for a thousand ten total yards in twelve touchdowns through three games. I mean increasable. He's thrown four touchdown passes in Mississippi State's comeback victory versus USC or South Carolina, excuse me. Yeah. But I mean, that's That's just crazy to think. I mean, even like the Marion Fluff, Bothwell gives the Bulldogs a strong rushing threat. I mean, he's averaging nearly a hundred yards per game. I mean, you have a guy that can average a hundred yards per game, you definitely know you're gonna be in business. But I'm in the same boat, Josh. Giving Mississippi State to cover that spread, it's it's definitely gonna be a fun one. But if I had to honestly say a score, I can see it being like thirty one to twenty four, maybe twenty seven. But actually I'll stick to twenty four just because obviously that'd be covering the spread, but still. Give me Mississippi State covered the spread. Yeah, yeah, I like it. I like I like what Mississippi State brings to the table this year, man. It's it's a fun team to watch. And how about the state of Mississippi? Yeah, Mississippi State handle miss. Gosh. So yeah, both of them could come away with a really big win this week, too. Let's go on to the game of the week. One that, man, I am so excited to watch. And I'm glad that this one starts off early. I got some stuff to do on Saturday too, but don't you be thinking I'm gonna be doing my stuff and not watching this game as well. because this is going to be a fun one in Knoxville. They're going to be ready. They're going to be rowdy. They're going to have a lot of fun in in Knoxville. I got a lot of faith in in Tennessee this year. I think that what Faison Brandon has done as a freshman right now, on offense, man, it's it's surprised me. and I think that Tennessee is picking up right where they they left off last season and rolling in with the with the momentum. I think they've got a lot of fight in this game. I think they've got a lot of potential. But when I look at this Texas team on paper, it's just so hard for me not to pick them. When when it was at a five and a half a half point spread, I originally was picking Tennessee. It moved to four and a half. That's where we locked in our picks at four and a half. I had to go Texas and just barely. I've got because because I I had to go based off of so I didn't even look at the spreads. I went through and I was just trying to look at my stats, come up with my predictions, and I put my predictions down. And then I went to the pr the the pick board. To pick which team I thought would cover the spread. When I was first picking the spreads, I think the first one I sent you, it showed Texas or at Tennessee covering the spread because it was at five and a half. But then whenever we locked them in, it was at four and a half. So it actually moves. I've got Tennessee covering the spread. I got Texas winning this game in Knoxville in a very tough, hard fought game coming down to the wire. Maybe a last minute touchdown the way that they did against Ohio State. I don't know. But I've got Texas winning twenty-eight twenty-three, right at five points. So man, this one could swing eight swing either way. But give me Texas to cover the spread on the road in Knoxville and cement themselves as the number one team in the nation. That that hurt a little bit, Josh. But I mean what do you think? What do you think, man? Like what how do you think I feel? I had to just now say Texas winning a game on the road in an SEC game. They win a game and all this hurts. And then I had to say Texas number one team. Like really? The the Where are we putting myself through this? You have a little dirt taste in your mouth just because I'm I'm gonna need to go wash it out. That's what it is. Yeah, you might want to go get some mouthwash because that was really dirty. But I mean, Texas and Tennessee, I know I've talked a lot about it. I mean Arch and just everybody, I mean Deshaun Bishop and Colin Simmons and Fraejon Brandon, Arch Maine, like I mentioned. Like I can just keep going on and on and on, but give me Tennessee to cover the spread at a plus four and a half. And I think Tennessee is going to shock the world and knock off number one ranked Texas here. It's I do don't get me wrong, I don't say I don't expect it to be a blog game, but give me an give me enough just to cover that spread out of sitting out, like I said, a four and a half, but give me give me Tennessee thirty five, give me Texas. You know what? I'm gonna I'm gonna go crazy. I've always gone crazy here. Give me Tennessee thirty five, give me Texas twenty one. I'm gonna go crazy here. So you think like they're they get Texas behind and and force something, some kind of mistake. That's the way I take that. Like I I just feel like Yeah, I feel like if Tennessee wins by a lot, it's because they forced Texas to feel pressure And Texas tried too much. Arch Manning throws a another another crazy pick. like that one that against Cam off of Cam Coleman to off of Cam Brown. Flip flip up into to Ohio State's hands, man. I like that's just the tough stuff. But when you try to force things, sometimes that's what happens. when you know, so if Texas can keep themselves ahead, I think they win. If they can just kind of keep that pressure putting on putting that pressure on Tennessee, I think they'll be fine. But yeah, I'm interested to see how it all rolls out, man. I just now realized you're wearing a Hawkeye shirt too. Sorry. It just totally threw me off. no, I I I I I like I like Tennessee's chances in this game. If it were a night game, I think I'd be rolling Tennessee. if Tennessee wins, do they storm the field or are they just too big of a program now and they're used to these big wins and they don't storm the field. I mean, it it's against number one. I think you can storm the field. I mean, they can take the fine. Who gives a crap? But I mean Don't do it, but if you're Tennessee, man, I I love I love watching Tennessee storm the field. Like there there's a few schools that I'm like, you know what, you're crazy enough where I'm I'll allow it. I'll allow it. Yeah. But just send it. If it's my own team, obviously, don't ever storm the field. No. No. But there's some teams, it's just so fun to watch certain teams storm the field and just go crazy. Tennessee's one of All right. We've got our winners, we've got our covers, we've got our locks. our picks locked in. Head over to game daycollective.media. You can check out the pick'em board. All you got to do is select college football, go down to the pick'em board, make your picks, post them on social media. Makes it very easy. All you do is make your picks, refresh the page, share. There you go. You've got your own graphic to share your picks on there. Tag us on social media so we know what your picks are. Let's let's have a little bit of competition here. We want to sh we want to if you tag us on social media too. and and and show us your picks. We're going to go through and and check out see who some of the the top leaders are and we're gonna give you a shout out. So make sure to go on there. We want this to be fun. We want that's why we go live, even though we had all kinds of technical issues here tonight. nonetheless, man, Jeremy, it's gonna be a very fun week four of college football. we got a lot going into it. but that'll do it for this edition of College Game Day College Football Show. Make sure to subscribe on YouTube, follow us on social media. you can give us a five-star review wherever you're listening on podcast platforms. Make sure to go check out game daycollective.media for all football coverage and so much more. We've got a lot getting added to the website, more for engagement, something that fans can enjoy and have fun with. So go check it out. Game daycollective.media. and of course, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, all that fun stuff. Give us some love and support over there. Share it with a friend who loves college sports, especially college football, because we're diving deep into college football right now, here in the midseason. I'm Josh Mahler. This is Jeremy Russell. We'll see you next time.