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IT'S DUCK SZN!! / Week 2 Review / Week 3 Picks · Honey, It's Saturday

• Mitch: What's going on everybody? Welcome back to the Honey It Saturday podcast. My name is Sam Grant. And I'm Mitch Williams. And I'm very dejected right now about the Oregon Ducks, but we'll get to that later. Yeah, he's been on, he's been on a really, really bad, bad spot recently because that loss. If you're familiar with our pick seven segment, you know what I'm talking about. If you don't, you'll know what I'm talking about later. But I don't want you to stop listening because you're confused about why I'm depressed. It's too early for this. It's not even week three yet. I know. There's a hey, there's a long season left. They got Portland State this week. Surely they'd be 0-3 Portland State. By a million points. I don't know. We'll have to see. All right. Can we move on? We we can go on. D do we just want to go into right into the recap? Gosh, that's the first game we're talking about. Which is first recap. I need to put my thoughts together. All right, we're gonna Oklahoma State. I hope you all had a great weekend, by the way. It was a really fun weekend of culture. Yeah. It was a great weekend. A lot of games left you on the edge of our seats. we're excited to be here filming. Just got done with our Bible study with our group, getting ready to continue to read through scripture together and just love that time. So yeah. Had a good build up to filming this podcast and now really needed it. The Lord the Lord's gotta work in Mitch's heart after Oregon let him down. but Oregon Oklahoma State, I was shocked to say the least. I think you saw the potential and what a lot of people have seen at Oklahoma State this year and they just really put it all together against Oregon. you saw what Drew Mestermaker is supposed to look like on a weekly basis. Oregon just didn't look prepared. Oklahoma State honestly just looked like the better football team. And that's shocking to me considering it's a Dan Landing team and how long he's been at Oregon and the recruits and I don't know if it's just for him. He's struggling with staff turnover continuously, with DCs and OCs and position coaches leaving, but they just didn't seem prepared and ready to go on Saturday. And you saw the side of Oklahoma State that makes a lot of teams, I think, pretty scared comparative to the last week against Tulsa, where it's the lowest of lows to now the highest of highs. I mean, what a cornball show. Like here's the deal. I Dan Lenning, I have major beef with you. I started a college football podcast. I love the sport. I was basically born a college football fan. Incredibly excited. The first thing I ever do on this podcast is put out a playoff bracket believing in and standing by and being very vocal about it, the Oregon Ducks. But I think that's We were three episodes in and I've already lost all credibility. Nobody's gonna watch me. But that's the entire country. Everybody picked Oregon to be in this spot. I think you're more hurt because of the pick seven, which I know we'll get into. Shout out Spindriff by the way. Not a sponsor but could be. Spindriff is the way to go. Best sparkling water I think in the market. Yeah, good crack too. Good can crack. Yeah. Yeah. so anyways, I'll I'll talk about it a more. Aside from everything else, obviously I have personal ties to this game and not in a positive way. Oklahoma State, I'll start with them. I would like to talk about them. I love Drew Mestimaker. I love the coaching staff. I was very high on them coming into this year, but I also wasn't so high that I had like legitimate expectations. I just was excited to see what it would look like. And after week one against Tulsa, I was very confused. I think everybody was. I was very confused. So I almost put it on the back burner. I was like, okay, well, maybe it's just not gonna work out, which I should not have done at all because MestiMaker is still incredibly talented. They have a lot of talent on the roster. I mean, how good is Tulsa, bro? I'm telling you guys, Trey Lamb is a coach on the rise, and I think he'll be in a really big time power four job next year. How good is Tulsa? Seriously. But I mean, back to Oklahoma State. They looked amazing. On the Oregon side of things. Yes, it's a long season. And you won week one, even though it was really sloppy against Boise State. It was a good football team. Yeah. Very good. But you're you're one and one, so you're not 0-2. Could be worse. You might feel like you're 0-2. Probably do. I just find it hard right now, based off the football team I saw play. They can't get after the quarterback. They do not have a push on the offensive line. They're elite weapons, which are elite weapons, they're incredibly talented rosters still. It just I don't know, man. It's I I gotta see it to believe it at this point. I'm completely out on the Oregon Ducks. Already? I'm completely out. I mean are I I I will tell you right now, I think that they are twenty twenty six version of both Clemson and Penn State from last year. S so is that is that your way of saying you think Dan Lenny gets fired? Maybe not. Obviously Dabo didn't get fired. if we're if we're talking Penn State, I mean James Franklin did get fired. No, I think I I don't I don't think he gets fired. But I think he'll be in desperate need of a bounce back season next year. Fair. I think the Oregon Ducks, like, look, they might win seven games. They might still win seven games. But to me, right now, at this very point in time, that's towards the ceiling of what I see. Yeah. At this exact now, look, they could completely turn it around. And probably should. And I look like a fool in a few weeks again because of the Oregon Ducks. So that's great. This will get clipped again and I'll be on the opposite side of things. But I just right now that's how I feel. I don't see it. Yeah. I mean I think from the first two weeks there's there you can see the potential, but it's just not it hasn't been put together. They don't start strong. No, they don't start strong at all. I mean, I think they lack a little bit of discipline up front of the line of scrimmage. So I I just I think there's a lot of these things that Dan Lating always is able to turn around at some point. but I think you just too it's too early to to bail in Oregon. Just because you don't I mean Oklahoma State, they look like a really good football team. They're gonna play some tough competition in the Big Twelve. Like there's chances for them to be able to prove that Tulsa was a fluke. That was just week one. Trey Lamb, Tulsa just a really good program. Maybe they're the they're the G five, G six team that gets in the playoff. I don't know. That's all true. That's a that's a good point. I believe that Oklahoma State could do that. Yeah. It doesn't change the fact that even if Oklahoma State's a good team, Oregon didn't even compete fair until it was too late. Yeah. And and when they had chances they just made dumb mistakes. Yeah. Fourth quarter was painful to watch. Whole game was painful to watch. I enjoyed this game. W we could elaborate more on that. Basically the pick seven. He has Oregon in one of his seven teams and I have Oklahoma State. So I got a ton of points for winning this matchup. And I lost a lot. You did. Not just for this week, but really for the season. We'll get to that in more detail later. So season's over. Next game, next game, next game. Yep. Ohio State, Texas. Probably the game of the weekend. Which everybody kind of expected it. you wanna start this one? Yeah, I'll take it. Okay. So a little bounce back for ya. I was in New York City this weekend. Watching this game with some friends. Some Aggie friends, actually. you know, in this podcast I try to stay as neutral as I can, no bias, but I will admit I was having the hate watch of my life for the first half. Brooding against the longhorns. Brooding against the longhorns. 'Cause I have to. I mean, if they win, great, I'll give full credit and I will here in a second. but I was having the hate watch of my life. And all of a sudden, in the fourth quarter, it was like It was a combination of two things. Very impressive for March Manning. He flipped a switch very clearly. Mm-hmm. That was Manning mode. It was great. It was fun to watch, even as an Aggie fan. Texas defense really stepped up in the second half. So full credit to them. Sark, way to go. Ballsy, ballsy fourth down play calls twice in that game that were huge. They don't win that game without both conversions. Amazing. On the flip side of that, I I feel like Ryan Day and it's a long season. This doesn't break Ohio State season at all. But I feel like Ryan Day would really like some of those sequences back. I think the execution in the second half for Ohio State was pretty poor. I think they took their foot off the gas, missed field goal aside, which why do they always have kicking problems? I don't know. No matter who it is. It always pops up. I mean, why? I'm sure Ohio State fans are asking the same question, so I'm sorry. I probably that hurts. But yeah, I I felt like it was a combination of Texas really, really being a good football team and showing up in that second half, specifically in the fourth quarter. And also Ohio State not executing very well with the lead in second half. Yeah. So I thought it was a combination of two things, but it was an amazing football game, great atmosphere in Texas, props to those guys. huge win and they deserve to be number one in the country right now. Yeah. Yeah, I think I think with this matchup, honestly I think this is obviously you have a winner and you have a loser, but I think this truly was a a win for both teams. I think you look at Texas and just kinda that matchup and how we talked about last week, just the monkey off their back. Like they had to get over this Ohio State hump. I mean Arch Manning And neither of us picked it by the way. No, neither of us picked it, but I think that was because they've they've got they played this team before, just just haven't been able to do it. And Arch Manning said in his interview after the game, he's like that I've had nightmares about playing this team. Like That whole team, you just know like they were determined to get that win. Obviously they started off super weak and just really turned around in the fourth quarter and they were just watching that fourth quarter, you just knew Texas was just gonna win. They just kinda had this vibe. They had this the way they were moving down the field. I mean, that last drive, like going into the end zone with Smothers, like you just knew he was gonna score on that drive. And it was just it just all was put together. But also you look at Ohio State and I mean, they obviously kind of dominated the first three quarters. I mean, they truly did. And then obviously Texas turned it around. But I think well, it's a good it's a good point for Ohio State of yes, they lost, but also like they can use this to fuel their team for the rest of this year, while also Texas gets this monkey off their back to where I think and these teams are both both playoff teams in my opinion, and this is only gonna help them both as they go throughout the season. The other thing I'll say too, because yes, Ohio State was dominating the game. I wonder, a part of me wonders why If Ohio State has a little bit more of a problem than we're acknowledging. Slightly more. Because if you think about how the game started, it could not have gone worse for Texas. First sequence, fumble, Ohio State gets the ball in your own territory. Hold him to a field goal. That's great. Second sequence, deep ball to Coleman. He had him a little bit overthrown and a fluke bounced off his chest into the defender's arms. Train wingo, drop touchdown pass in the end zone. Wingo dropped. So Yes, Ohio State was dominating, especially on paper. But if you watch that game, really, Texas kind of had a nightmare start and gifted them a head start in that game. So, I mean, credit to Ohio State for forcing those plu those turnovers and capitalizing on them. But it does make you wonder if either Texas is better than we all think, even though we know they're very good, or Ohio State might have some issues that were covered up a little bit. Yeah. At least it makes me think. Yeah. I mean, I think you could look at it really both ways. And I think it's I think it's too early, but I think I'm still of the opinion these are two incredibly football teams. And I thought Saiyan looked really good. He did. I thought he looked good. Yeah. I thought overall throughout the game, Saiyan was a better quarterback. But in the fourth quarter, obviously didn't matter. Yeah. He was able to just pull away. Yeah. But great game. Great matchup. Having that in week two, just the music to college football fans here. So thank you, Texas and Ohio State, for a great matchup. Yeah, props to you guys. Now to Boomer. Sooner. boy. We both struck out on this pick last week. I think most people did. Truly. I mean Michigan did what I thought they needed to do to win this game. yeah, I agree. They pretty much turned the offense into underwood. Just being a tank, which he needs to be. He is a tank. and not that he didn't make plays with his arm, but he he really made his biggest impact on the ground. Yeah. And their defense is still great. Yeah. Their defense is a Michigan defense. Whittingham knows what he's doing, and he's still a great coach. And and I'm not entirely surprised they bounced back from the Western Michigan week. The one thing you can't say about the Western Michigan game is that their defense didn't play well. Yeah. Besides one like drive where it was like twelve or fifteen plays. Correct. Little things like that. Correct. But they gave up they gave they gave up what? Ten points? Twelve points? Yeah. In that game. Yeah, it was something. So I mean over four quarters, that's not on the defense. That's on the offense. And for Oklahoma, like, I thought and I was optimistic that Mateer and the offense were gonna be different. I thought they were gonna be able to run the ball this year. And I thought if they could run the ball, then Mathir would have more opportunities to make plays with this arm. Yeah. And man, it was like watching paint dry. It was like watching the same thing we watched last year. And and you could argue it was even worse. Yeah. I agree. Yeah, I think I think that's the biggest thing right now was Oklahoma did everything they needed to do defensively. And yes, Michigan has a good defense and all that kind of stuff, but Matear like he put up a lot of points at Washington State. He came with a va his offensive coordinator and he is just not putting it together. And that's that's the missing thing that I think Brent Venables is gonna have to kind of reevaluate after this year is Like I don't I don't know how much Oklahoma can do offensively to keep them in matchups as the year goes on. And this was them last year too. Like it's two. They had they had these games where like defensively just carried the way and Brent Menables is always gonna do that. But for Oklahoma to take that next step, I don't know if they have the guy quarterback. No, and it's it's two things too. Like Mateer did not look good. He's not the guy. I think we can all agree he's not the guy anymore. Yeah. And I wanted him to be. I thought he was gonna be great. I loved him at Washington State. I just he's not the guy, but also if you're a one dimensional offense, it's gonna be hard for anybody, whoever's whoever's under center. Yeah. And if that guy under center is struggling a little bit, it's even worse. Yeah. So I I think they've really, really, really gotta go and evaluate, yes, you're right, the quarterback situation in the offseason. But they've also gotta figure out how to run the football. Yeah, they can't. Whatever Venables has gotta do, 'cause it's been Couple of solid years now stalemate at the line of scrimmage. Yeah. And they've had running backs that have been capable of running the football. I mean they brought in I don't think it's a a running back talent issue. No. I just I don't know if this is the guys up front, but they can't they can't be as one dimensional as they are 'cause I mean Matir is a running quarterback, but they just they were forcing him to throw the football and it paid off. And I'll I'll just before we go to the next game, I'll say if you're a a Michigan fan Obviously this is huge for you guys. A lot of optimism. Now you're two and one and one, some would say. But you're two and going into the rest of the year, everything's in front of you. Whereas last week you were probably, you know, pretty deflated for Oklahoma on your side of things. You're looking at one of the toughest schedules in all of college football after watching that performance. I don't know what the floor is for the Sooners this year, but it can't be high. I mean they go to Georgia next week. They go a lot of places. They do go a lot of places. But for for Georgia to be that first SE C T Well they go to Georgia the week after next. Georgia's got Arkansas this week. Sorry, I when I meant next week, I meant I truly meant next week. I understand. Okay. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah, Geor Georgia will handle Arkansas, but diff it's a different conversation. It'll like that. Yeah. Put to sleep. All right. Bama, Kentucky. Takeaways? I think you can see the potential of Will Stein in Kentucky. defensively they held their own, held Keelan Russell, kinda had him flustered. I mean Alabama had some turnovers but they were s they were still they were still tied at halftime, I think it was what was. I think they was down by one. Yeah. Something like that. to where I mean they were still in the game and then I mean, I think the difference is I mean I think Keelan Russell's a good quarterback and I think he'll continue to grow. I mean he's a young young kid. the difference maker for this Alabama team right now is they have guys up front. on the defensive line. this is kind of looking almost like a little bit of a defensive line that you would think about from when Nick Saban was there. I mean, Kane Womack has proven time and time again just the impact that he has as the defense coordinator, but specifically for halftime adjustments. I mean, you watch him fly around on that sideline. I mean, he gets those guys amped up and ready to go. Yeah. And I think that's that's the difference maker for Alabama this year is they have the guys on defense that they know they need to keep them in every single football game. Yeah, I mean that's pretty much how I felt about this game too. I was really interested in it, especially since A has Kentucky at home this week. I was tuned in to see what that sign look was gonna be. And I I mean look, I thought Kentucky did Pretty much what I expected them to do in this game. I I like you said, I think you can see the potential. They fought really hard in the first half. They came out with their foot on the gas. They pretty much threw everything in the kitchen sink at Bama. which is good. That's what they should have done. And Bama responded well. Yeah. They came out in the second half firing. They have a ton of talent. Their defense is flying around. Yeah. Their defense is very good. The offense is gonna take some time. I think if Keelan continues to improve throughout the year by the end of the season. This Bama team could be pretty scary. Yeah. so I mean I have Bama I have Bama in my playoff preseason as I I think somewhere around like the eight seed. You did, yeah. and I I feel okay about that right now. But yeah, I think they're a pretty solid team. They have they have growth to do, especially on the offensive side of the ball. But a lot of a lot of the top programs do right now. I mean, yeah, it's early in the season. So Yeah. I agree. I think this is this that was a good litmus test for both those teams. Yeah. Just to see where they're at. So I think Bama, Bama, Bama Bama made a little bit of a point. I know it's Kentucky, but they did. I think they kinda let the SEC know that they're not messing around on defense anymore. So Yeah. Good for them. Yep. The next one. This was fun. This was this was a fun match. Yeah, we both picked it right. We did. A lot of people didn't, by the way. Yeah. Mississippi State, Minnesota. I mean, this was Super Camario. Yeah. I mean, this was over in the first half, maybe even first quarter. I mean, Mississippi State started four for four. I mean, I I hope you guys could go. If you guys didn't get a chance to watch that game, go back and watch the highlights and just see the throws that Kamario Taylor made. I mean, this dude is on a next level. He's a baller. He's so fun to watch. Yeah. It's ridiculous. He's like a superhuman. He really is. And it's really fun because you know, like, he loves Mississippi. Like, he's not. Like he's from Mississippi, keys that's his hometown, right in that area. Like he loves that school through and through and wants them to be successful. Yeah, to all you guys I keep seeing this stuff. I don't know if you do, who are like jabbing at Mississippi State fans and it's funny, I get it, whatever. But jabbing at him like, ha ha ha enjoy him this year while he laughs, he won't be there next year. I wouldn't be so sure about that. Yeah. I I think he loves where he's at. I think he does too. And I think he wants he wants Mississippi State to be successful. And I think he's got the right coach. And the right offense. And one of the one of the sneaky hires that I don't think has hasn't been talked about enough is their defense coordinator, Zach Arnett. He was their former head coach. Pretty good name. And the ability for him to be able to come back and kind of humble himself in a sense and kind of put pride aside to be able to turn around, turn that defense around. I mean, he's one of the best defensive minds before he kind of got thrown into that head coaching job. And then Jeff Jeff Levy's one of the best offensive minds. I mean, this team can be dangerous. How many guys have ended up as a coordinator at a school that they were formerly head coach at? The only one I can think of right now is Brent Pry, Virginia Tech. Yeah. That's it. Yeah, it it it does take some humility and and a genuine love, I think, for that for that program. So that's that's great to have in the culture. I think Mississippi State's gonna be scary. I they we'll we'll preview their game with South Carolina later, but that's one I'm very intrigued by. Yeah. And I think just just to touch on Minnesota. Yeah. Just just disappointing. I mean, I PJ Fleck's been there long enough. I mean, he was super confident in this team, and they really just kind of got. place. So I think he's a good coach. Obviously they don't have a ton of resources there and they're they're kind of that consistent middle of the pack Big Ten team that but I just don't know if that's ever gonna change. Yeah, I mean also just side note for more of kind of a storyline, Big Ten SEC thing, when the Oklahoma Michigan result went the way that it did, it was a potential doomsday for the SEC. Yeah. And shout out to Mississippi State. And Texas. They needed that. For pulling through. Not not that we're like SEC Big Ten, whatever, but just for the narrative, it would have been really bad. And shout out to them for pulling their weight so that we don't have to talk about that. Yeah. Agreed. Next one. Tennessee, Georgia Tech. Yeah, I think we knew it was gonna happen here. I I actually in the in the preview for this game, we were talking and you know, phase on's incredible. We were talking about what that game was gonna look like and potential for what he was gonna do. And he had a he had a pretty solid game. Yeah. But I kind of made a comment where based off what I saw from Georgia Tech against Colorado, I didn't even think he was gonna have to do much. I thought Tennessee was pretty much gonna out physical them and just ground and pound. And that's pretty much what happened, especially in the second half. Second half, yeah. Second half for sure. I think Rick Key has a little bit of a project on his hands this year. Yeah. I don't think it's shaping up the way that he would like it to. It's probably not gonna be a super fun season for you, Georgia Tech fans. I'm still a key believer. I wouldn't jump ship. I just think something's not working right now. This roster maybe needs a little bit more development. They need to make some moves in the off season, but it's expectations are probably gonna be a little lower rest the season. Yeah. Not that it's a done deal. But from the Tennessee side of things, I think it's continued encouragement. Yeah. I think you continue to get excited about what's to come. Yeah. I agree. I think I'll I'll kinda start with Georgia Tech and then transition Tennessee. I think Bryn Pryde's still the guy. Not Bryn Pryde. Bryn Key is still the guy. I think he can recruit. I think he can coach. I just think I there ACC is wide open. Like they can still win a lot of football games at ACC. There's just kinda just that toughness side of things that you would expect from a coach team by him that is just not showing. Just doesn't look like it. No. The toughness just isn't there, the physicality, I mean they're just Just little things like that that you just would never expect to see where you would walk into a game thinking, Okay, we're gonna play Georgia Tech, like we have to give it our our all and they're just not matching it. That's what makes me think it's just a lock like the wrong guy's gotta be in the locker room. 'Cause I don't think Rink Key has changed at all. No. I just he's the same person. Yeah, I I just think this year and maybe by the end of the season they shaved up a little bit. But we'll see. and then on Tennessee front, I think I I think they left a lot on the field, truly. They had a lot more room to kind of blow that game away. I feel like for some reason there's just little moments where I think we Tennessee offense can just continue to like as the game kind of separates itself that they can continue to push, and just kind of not let their foot off the gas pedal. And so I I I would kind of like to see that from Tennessee when they kind of get these games out of reach, just really be able to just continue to to run the ball, throw the ball, like don't change offensively. But of almost three hundred yards rushing, Fraser FaZe on Brandon didn't have like his best day. But the big thing with him is that he makes smart decisions and he doesn't turn over the football, which I think is huge. Yeah. And the difference I think I think Alabama and Tennessee are two teams that are very similar right now. And the advantage that Tennessee has compared to Alabama is that Tennessee has a run game. And they're not solely relying on the freshman quarterback and when he has to make decisions, he makes smart ones and he isn't. Not they're not it's not everybody dropping out knowing that he's gonna throw the football because they don't they don't have run game. And then defensively, I think you kind of see a little bit a little bit more sprinkles being thrown in by Jim Knowles. I think they're gonna unleash everything two weeks against Texas. Yeah, I was gonna say the Bama comparison's a very interesting one because I would agree that they've got a lot of similarities this year. I think at this point in the season, I lean Bama defense. But I I agree with you that I don't think they've really unleashed. Everything they're gonna do schematically. So that'll be interesting to track. this was also a great G six game. Memphis Boise. Boise ended up pulling away, so the final score doesn't look super great, but there were just big plays all over the place. Yeah. Explosive big plays, but by both teams. I mean, I picked Memphis to win this game, so I was I was wrong. I went out a little bit on a limb there. But looking at the box score, man, like they lit it up too. Yeah. There were Stats all over the place. They ran for like 300 something yards on Boise. Yeah. Boise in turn ran for like 300 something yards. 200 maybe. I don't know. big special teams play. I think Memphis or Boise had a kick return or punt return for touchdown in this game. Yeah. I can't remember which one. Late in the game. But yeah, there were a lot of swings. Boise's a very good football team. Yeah. They just are. Yeah, I think they are, and I think this game the scoreboard doesn't necessarily tell the true story to where if you go look at it and you're like, they won by eighteen you'd be like, Boise State probably handled this, but I mean this was a really competitive football. I think Memphis was up at halftime. Yeah. And then Boise did a lot of their damage in the fourth quarter. And one of them was that big kick return. They just they just pulled away at the end. Uhhuh. but I I mean I think this was a good G six matchup and I think that kind of furthermore solidifies Boise State as that team to beat right now for that for that twelve spot. Playoff spot. Yeah, I would I would definitely agree with you. Yeah. unfortunately the Oregon game, even though they didn't win, is not as much of a resume builder as we thought it was. If they would have just pulled that one out, that w I mean, imagine if Oregon's 0 2 right now. boy. Yeah. But even so, like the fact they played Oregon close isn't as big a deal anymore. I I still think it is. I think it's too early to say that. I mean I don't think Well you know me I'm jumping ship already. You're yeah you're j you're jumping ship already. Yeah. then our last one, just kinda talk through really quickly. Arkansas, Utah. Let's do I kinda liked our moment of silence last week. moment of silence. Let's do a moment of silence for, you know. We're gonna we're gonna have one moment of silence every week. Okay. That's what we're gonna do? That's our that's our thing. Well, Arkansas's our moment of silence team. Baby man. I mean Fayetteville, Arkansas, what a beautiful place. Yeah. They just dominated. there was a couple years ago when I was at Liberty, we went down to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and we beat Arkansas twenty one nineteen. And after the game, super excited and I wanted to see like I love watching ball quests for Tennessee. I know you're a Tech Sags. huh. Arkansas has one called Hog Sports and there's a guy who's on there, his name's Trey Biddy. Walk right up. Yeah, he does his walk and talk. And I after Arkansas games like this, I'm always just curious, like seeing his reaction and just this man has been through the ringer. Did you see him after this game? Yeah. it's bad. Heartbreaking. And it's just I I remember ever ever since that Liberty game, I've seen just the pain that he's gone through being an Arkansas fan. And it it really does make me sad. And I I want Arkansas to be good 'cause I think they have just the environment and the I they just can't do it. They're a tradition. They're a school with football tradition. Yeah. And it they just can't do it right now. I mean it's you but also Utah looked very good on Saturday night. It's okay, Arkansas fans. Basketball season is coming. Yes. Here comes John Caliperi to save your life. Yeah. Utah did look very good. Yeah, Utah did look good. I've seen a lot of people start to pick them now as a playoff team, which I think is a little bit of an overreaction. But Dampier quarterback defensively, they really didn't show a ton either. They just kind of flat out dominated. Yeah, I mean I I mean Utah definitely has a chance. No, yeah, I agree. we'll learn more when they play a better competition. Yeah, all right. For real. Let's move on. We've got our pick seven segment to go over. This is episode what, three now or four? Episode four of our podcast. So I'll explain it a little bit again, just for you guys who are new viewers. Sam and I before the season started. We're given a list of every FBS football team. And each one had a point value assigned to them based off of win projections, point projections, et cetera. Like how good are they supposed to be for the year essentially? And we had a budget of 8,500 points to pick seven teams. So with our 8,500, we picked our seven teams, and throughout the year we get points for wins, margin of victory, and we lose points for losses and margin of loss. There are also bonus points available for wins over higher ranked opponents for shutting out an opponent. And there's also opportunity to lose more points for getting shut out. That's pretty much it. Those are the rules. That's the scoring. So we're gonna get into it. Sam's gonna go over his teams, talk a little bit about what happened last week, and then projections for his roster of seven moving forward to week three of college football. That's right. all right, so just kind of overview of my teams. Tennessee play Georgia Tech. Tennessee one, handled that, hit on that week. Virginia Tech played Old Dominion, same thing, kind of total domination from start to finish. USF played Army. Man, I was sweating this game out. USF scored in the last 25 seconds on just a straight vertical route. And it was a beautiful thing. I remember getting up out of my- good win for USF. Yeah. I was I was at I was at I was working on Saturday and I was at the job site, or I was up in the press box as like our job site trailer. And remember jumping up and down from my chair, just being so excited because I knew I would get these points. the next one was the surprise of the week for me was Oklahoma State, Oregon, which I know we touched on. But huge points for me be Oklahoma State being unranked and Oregon being top five. So huge huge win for me. Don't look at me like that. I mean, that you're gonna talk about that team here in a little too. So huge win for me there. Wake and produce what of that went out to. There is a Wake Forest. fourth down that they were ruled a yard short in overtime, ended up getting the first down and then scoring the touchdown and taking the two-point conversion and winning. So I've heard a lot of things about that ruling. Questionable. Wake Forest is two and Michigan State beat me Eastern Michigan. Sam's got friends at low place. He's got friends with the with the booth man. I actually knew the ref referee that was on that game. Bad look. yeah I slipped in the little chains. Just kidding. I did not Disclaimer, that's yeah he totally false. Totally totally false. Honey Saturday has that much influence. Yes, that's right. Michigan State beat Easter Michigan. They kind of expected that. And then Colorado State played southern Utah, which was a hit. So it's undefeated week for Sam. Yep. I was seven and and huge upset win by Columbus State. And it's reflected in his point total. He now has four hundred and seventeen total points in this competition. Yep. That was two hundred points just from this week. Just in one week. That's pretty good. I'll let him brag about that. That's impressive. Mitch, on the other hand. Alright. Look, here's the deal. I already told Sam to go figure out what my punishment's gonna be for losing to him. We got I don't know how many weeks left of the season. Anything could happen, but most things probably won't happen. And so I'm in bad shape right now. Oregon. That was one of my top dogs. I invested a lot of points into the Oregon Ducks. like a lot of points into the Oregon Ducks. And we've already talked about this game enough, so I'm not gonna talk about it anymore, but that was a loss, a really bad one for me. Yep. Indiana. At least I got that. Thanks for the points. Shout out Signetti. Glad you could beat Howard. Man, I got another tough one next week. You too. I love Indiana's cup cupcake schedule right now. It's saving my my tail. North Dakota State, they've been a great pick too. turns out I'm not terrible. At this game. I just happened to have picked probably the worst team I could have picked. Anyways, North Dakota State, shout out them. Great tough win against Air Force. Probably should have been a bigger win, to be honest. They kind of let their foot off the gas at the end, almost sold. I was a little scared, but they didn't. So shout out them. Cal got a win against Syracuse. Very close, but that was a big road win for them. So huge. I feel a little bit better about that. like he said earlier, ACC's wide open. I just need to win a few games. So that'd be great if they could keep doing that. Delaware, they lost against Vanderbilt, but they looked very I mean, they competed. They looked pretty solid. they've looked like a competitive, solid football team in their first two weeks. So I'm not I'm optimistic about them rest of the season. Obviously this week's a loss, but that's okay. I can live with that. Oregon State, that's another one that I can honestly live with because their first two games, while they've lost both. They've been competitive. They had Houston, which is a tough matchup week one. And they have Texas Tech, which is another tough matchup in week two. And they've fought and competed in both of those games. I'm pretty high on both teams. Yeah. So while right now they're sitting in the negative for me, those are games that going into the season, I didn't think they were going to win anyways. Yeah. I can live with that. I just wanted to see some potential and I do see it. So right now it doesn't look good, but the rest of the season, I'm optimistic. And then Sam Houston State. With a loss against Tulsa, who might be the best team in the country. Tulsa might be the best team in the country. They kept that game competitive though. And Sam played well. Yeah. Sam competed. So it's another one where I got a loss. And I really gotta stop getting competitive losses. Cause I love the the optimism, but it's like I still need the points, guys. But the point value for these teams was low. Was low. And so for them competing as they are, yeah, was probably be a win in your books. No, that is a win for me for sure. The the only reason I'm so dejected is because I was counting on those to be losses, but I was also counting on Oregon to be dominating and they're not. So now I'm in a bad spot. My total points Compared to Sam's four seventeen, I'm sitting at one sixty-five. That's a pretty big difference. yeah, I mean, we'll see. But Sam just got two hundred points in one week. So anything can happen. I did. And you guys are about to find out. This next week might be a good one for me. Yeah. And I I have a really tough schedule. So Tennessee plays Kennesaw State. Win. Virginia Tech plays Maryland. I think that's a sneaky game on just kind of everybody's radar. Maryland has a pretty good quarterback. I think Loxley's a little bit on the hot seat. in Maryland, but Virginia Tech gets the job done. US F plays Delaware State. USF. why do you even pause there? I don't know. It's just just for effect. Oklahoma State, Murray State, same thing. And then my last three teams are brutal stretch. So Wake Forest plays Miami on Friday night. Michigan State plays Notre Dame. And Colorado State plays BYU. I told Mitch before we began filming, I win one of those matchups. I'm not gonna say which one, but I'm gonna win one of If you don't I want a Dr. Pepper next week. I will hand deliver and crack open a Dr. Pepper for you next week. Deal. And if you do, I'll bring you one or whatever you want. Okay. Beverage of choice. Okay. Okay. Good deal. That's not gonna happen. the only one I could potentially see is Colorado State BYU. But Michigan State is not beating Notre Dame. And Wake Forest is not beating Miami. Just have to find out. If one of those teams is winning. I love Dr. Pepper. I can't wait for next week. All right. I can't wait for my cherry coke. Okay. Yeah. here's my slate. So I have an opportunity to make a dent in the lead that Sam has. Here we go. Oregon has got Portland State. Might be a tough game, nail biter. So bad. Might be a nail biter. No, Portland State is 0 and 3. If that game is remotely close, I might not even record next week. You can swap out Oregon, right? Yeah, but I'm not going to. trades are trades are not worth it. You lose a lot of points. You have to you have to spend like four hundred points just to trade. So it's not worth it. Indiana. Is playing Western Kentucky. So I'm looking at W, W, and should be two big W's right there. North Dakota State's playing Sacramento State. I like that matchup as well. I think that's fantastic. Cal's playing Wagner. Come on. Wagner. Delaware is playing Coastal. That one's tough. Coastal, I I have a lot of respect for. Delaware's look good though. So I expect them to compete. I actually think that's gonna be a really good game. Winnable, but not a guaranteed win. Oregon State, Montana. Montana, excellent FCS program. Very good. That's sneaky. It's sneaky. It's a very good FCS program. Oregon States looked good in their first two games, even though they lost. I want to be confident, but it's Montana. Montana's a good program. So we'll see. but I think that should be a win. And then Sam Houston State is playing Nichols. My boys in Sam Houston. I'm counting on you. I need points out of that game. I need points. All right, and we're about to move on to our favorite segment. Well, maybe. I think this is up there as one of my favorite segments. All of our segments are our favorite. And all of our subscribers are our favorite. If you haven't subscribed, please click subscribe. If you haven't liked our video, please like. If you haven't commented, we'd appreciate that too. We love feedback and interaction. This is our Chat GPT sponsored pick three top twenty five teams segment where we buy one, we sell one, and we hold one. And we've got our three teams. You wanna go first? List them off. Alright, three teams. Number seven, LSU. Number eighteen, Iowa. Number twenty three, Louisville. So buy, sell, hold. It's free. I'm gonna buy LSU. Obviously. I think you're you're you would be of that same opinion. Well you'll find out. I wanna see what you do. Alright, buy LSU. I will Ooh, this is tough. I'll sell Iowa, I'll hold Louisville. Okay. Why? I think Louisville's just they'll they'll stick around that top twenty five spot. I think they may don't want to give up my prediction, but maybe slip up this week. but I don't know. But I I also for Iowa, I just don't think they're gonna be all that good. Yeah, they didn't they didn't an interesting one this week. They didn't blow me away against Iowa State. No, that's a rivalry game, so it is, but I don't know. I think it's just your typical Iowa team. Still a little bit of struggle offensively. Defensively, still just lights out, but they'll probably lose three or four games. Okay. Yeah, I agree with you. I'm also gonna buy LSU with the caveat though. Because we haven't seen play a good team yet. That's fair. I don't know if you saw what Clemson did this weekend. But it was sad. I mean they won. Thank goodness they beat I think it was Georgia State Georgia Southern Georgia Southern Southern. And they won, but it like twenty two to seven. Yeah. Yeesh. Vizina's hurt might be a good thing for them. Yeah, I think that's just kind of the writing on the wall for Reynolds to Yeah run away with that job. But I anyways, my point is they played a constant team that's really just not good. Yeah. And they looked great, so credit to them. And then they had Louisiana Tech this week. Louisiana Tech. I think Levit threw like three or four picks. Yeah, he didn't look great. Threw a pick s big pick six. Louisiana Tech was in the game for a while, so they didn't, you know, blow me away this week. Yeah. So I think LSU does still have a lot to prove, actually. we'll find out this week. Yeah. But yeah, I I will buy LSU. having said all that. And I'm gonna do the same thing. I'm gonna hold Louisville 'cause I believe And Keene Holtz, mm-hmm. What they got going on there. I'm just a braum believer. And then I'll sell Iowa. So I I I I don't know. I don't like selling Iowa. I never do because they're like the most contest consistent nine win team ever. Yeah. and that'll probably mean they finish the season ranked. But I just am more confident in Louisville, I guess, at the moment, coming off that Iowa State game, while it is a rivalry game, and I take it with a grain of salt. They didn't look as impressive as I thought they would. Yeah. I I thought their offense would move the ball a little bit better. I didn't expect to blow out or anything, but I I did expect them to kinda establish themselves and they didn't. So yeah, I'll sell Iowa. Yeah. So we we We're on the same page. We're lined I mean I I think that's pretty straightforward, but there are some things to think about. Yeah, I agree. I mean, I do think it is a little bit tricky because if LSU wasn't there, I would love to buy a a Louisville. Yeah, and I mean the at the end of the day, this is a season long thing, but Louisville could very well lose to SMU this week. Iowa gets a win and they're still raining, so next week it's not looking great for us. Yeah. But that's, you know, it's a season long thing. Yeah, I agree. So all right. Let's transition into this next segment. Games to watch. Man, this is a good week. This is a great week. And it starts Friday. It does start Friday. Technically it starts Thursday, but the games we're covering start Friday. Yep. Right. Houston, Texas Tech. And Miami Lake Forest. We're not gonna talk about Miami Lake Forest 'cause we already talked about them in the pick seven, but Two pretty big matchups. I'm not talking about Miami Wake Forest because it's not gonna be a close game, but this guy thinks that's one of the ones he can win. Okay. Let's talk about Houston, Texas Tech. wait, sorry. I do have to to honor this. yes. Yes. So this is from week zero when I lost to my wife. She won three, she was three and two, I was two and three. Yep. So what does it say? It says, My wife is always right. Yep. So for this segment, since I lost week zero and the hat just came in, I'm gonna wear this. And it says, My wife is always right. And my wife is always right. Yikes. Josh Pate clown knows. I raise you that my wife is always right. Hat. All right. man, that's good. So Houston, Texas Tech. I this is a mean. There's a lot of games to be excited about this week. I'm very excited about this game. I cannot wait for Friday night. What are you excited about? Well, first of all, I I'm from Texas, so it's a little kids his close to home. Yeah. I mean, I'm not a Houston or a Texas Tech fan, but that's just close to home. Yeah. And I love Connor Wigman. I love this Houston team. I'm just excited. The reason I'm excited is because I've been a believer in this Houston team since preseason. Yeah. And this is the week I get to figure it out. I get to find out how good are the Houston Cougars. And I can't wait. The spread is seven and a half. Texas Tech is favored. It's in Lubbock. it's gonna be a great environment, fantastic, rowdy, super fun. I hate the Friday night thing, side note, because should be Friday night lights. Everyone should be rolling out to the local high school on a Friday night. Especially in Texas. Especially in Texas, especially in West Texas. Not a huge fan of that. but excited we get to watch it on Friday night. And dude, Texas Tech didn't look that great this past week. I'm very curious to see how much Thomas Castellanos we see in this game. Yeah. He played a little bit, but I don't know. He hadn't been there that long. No, but he made an impact when he was in the game. And Hammond bro, he did not look Not look not look sharp. Yeah. So I'm very curious. And that alone is enough for me to, you know, wonder about what we're gonna expect from Texas Tech. Their defense is supposed to be a staple, and their defense looked a little bit mistake prone last week. So I I'll just I I'm going for the upside here, straight up. Connor Wigman and the boys are gonna pull this one out and love it. See it's gonna shake it's gonna shake things up a little bit. And I have Texas Tech in my playoff. So I don't I don't know, but I I'm doing it. I'm pulling the trigger. See, I think that's the thing for me where I struggle with this game is I don't see this as an upset. I have Houston winning too. Well, it's a seven and a half point spread. I know, but I don't You have Houston winning too? Yeah. I think that's wrong. Wow. I think that's flipped. Texas Tech has just not impressed me whatsoever this first part of this year. And I I said this from the very beginning with them, with just all their roster turnover and just changes that are being made on on a team like this that's consistently like whole new roster every single year. I just I didn't think it was gonna work this year and I'm I'm gonna stay true to that. Connor Wigman, Houston, I trust their their staff. I trust their their players. Just a lot more just culture and a lot more just team build up that they have out there. So yeah. I got the Cougars one in. All right. I thought we'd be different there, but I'm not mad at it. Yeah, I I just I I went into that matchup and I I honestly didn't feel like I needed to talk about it very much. I just w Houston. I love it. by the way, just for your guys' reference, I think it's kind of fun to track our overall records throughout the year. right now, before week three, Sam is fifteen and six, and I'm fourteen and seven. So he's got a one game lead on me. but not not too shabby from the both of us so far. It's early. Yeah. There hasn't been a lot of you know I'm glad you didn't pick Oklahoma State, Oregon last week. Phew. Why we keep talking that? It's like because we're done with that. Alright, let's move on. Next game. this one's just as this one's just as sad. Yeah, this one's pretty bad. All right. UNC, Chapel Hill, at Clemson. The Valley. No, no Death Valley anymore, just Valley. until further notice. So what are your thoughts here? Where's this game at? Do you know off top of your head? Is this in Is this in Death Valley or is this in a pretty sure I just said Valley no Death Valley. Are we sure? Where's it at? At Clemson. You're right. Okay. My apologies. So yeah, he he I have no credibility. It's okay. I picked the Oregon Ducks my pick seven. I have no credibility. I've lost a lot of trust with Mitch. So yeah, this game's in Death Valley. Just valley. Sad Valley. Everything in me wants to to believe in Dabo Sweeney, but I the but it this is just such a weird matchup for me. From a coaching staff standpoint of everything that's gone on at Chapel Hill, but they've looked like the better football team up to this point. Yeah. And I it's hard for me to pick against Clemson, especially in a matchup like this. This is such a weird matchup. My it's hard to pick just 'cause I really still don't know what to fully expect. You want me to pick and give me some time? I'll go Chapel Hill. I'll go Chapel Hill. I just think they've looked like the better team so far, two weeks in. Yeah, I mean, don't outthink the outthink the wheel. I mean, these are two coaches that are on the hot seat big time. Yeah, definitely. I, yeah, I mean, I'm intrigued too. I think North Carolina, like Sam said, has looked like the better football team so far this year. There's a butt coming. There is a butt coming. And here's the butt. I don't think this Clemson team is good. But even so, there's potential for a Tate Reynolds spark situation here. I think the boys might rally around their guy. And he can do a lot of work on the ground. It's a very different style than what you see from C V. and I think if Clemson. comes out and plays a little bit more of a backyard football type of situation here, I think they'll give themselves a chance. So I am gonna go with Clemson, who is favored by three and a half, which I kind of disagree with. It's probably a home field advantage thing. I think that's probably it. But dude, Death Valley is gonna be Dead Valley. It's not gonna matter that much, I really don't think, but I'm still gonna go with Clemson. Yeah, I don't I'm gonna go with clips. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. Yeah, this the I will be very curious to see the result of this matchup. Yeah. I just don't I don't it's hard because there's not enough from these teams right now to to like sit here and be confident to pick. But we have to But we have to and that's our job. And we're different. It's our responsibility. We do it so you don't have to. That's right. We can take accountability later. Yep. N C State Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt favored by three and half. This is another one for me. I haven't been impressed with Vanderbilt. NC State got the brakes beaten off of them. Goodness, they looked bad. In in week zero. Vanderbilt hadn't looked great either, they haven't, but they are starting Jerry Curtis officially this week. I saw that got announced today. So this is this is his first matchup. It's at Vanderbilt. Yep. I trust Clerk Lee, their defense. And I think Jared Curtis at home, his first start provides a little bit of a spark. I think they win by a field goal. I think that spread's pretty accurate. But give me the Commodores. Yeah, I would agree with you on the point spread here. I think CJ Bailey has got to make a point. I agree. He's got to. And he's very talented. And yes, Jared Curtis, this. Jared Curtis, that. He's great. He's very talented, but he's also a true freshman. and it's a powerful opponent, albeit a powerful opponent that hasn't looked very good. Yeah. I think NC State goes to Vanderbilt, who I I really do think Vanderbilt does not look like a good team this year. I don't wanna say this, but they look like they've regressed not to old Vanderbilt necessarily, but they've based off the first two games I've seen, they don't look like the Vanderbilt that we thought was building, is what I'll say. so I I'll take NC State by, you know, wow one possession, one score. Very tight game. There's gonna be a lot of changes in our picks this week. I think NC State takes that one. I think C Day Bailey has a great game. I think he lights it up. Okay. I'm a little nervous about that, but I wouldn't have been confident picking Vanderbilt either. So that's I think that's the biggest thing for those is like those last two matchups. There's no confidence with either of those four teams. Yeah, and and by the way, each of us picked one of the favorites. Yeah. So we just flipped which one we took the favorite in. Yeah. So that'll be interesting. SMU Louisville, what a banger. Yeah. This is where I was very excited for this kind of portion of the slate because You've seen these teams play, you have expectations set for them. You want y you want to take it first? Yeah, so I can start. I think this game being at Louisville, I think Louisville playing Ole Miss the way that they did was such a tail point for me of just the team that they're at. And that's week one. I think for that team with a new quarterback, them to be able to kind of produce to that level of how they played against Old Miss is he is gonna just progress them throughout the rest of this year in ACC play. I think Louisville gets it done. And I just wasn't le I wasn't overly impressed with Kevin Jennings and just turnover problems that he had against Florida State. I think they're still gonna make some noise in the ACC, but being at Louisville, just kind of the weird scheduling that SMU's had with playing on a Monday night. did they play last week? I don't know if they did. Yeah, I don't I think they might had a bye week last week. Yeah, something like that. No, they did play. Did they? Yeah, they they won. I Don't remember their playing. We figure out. Just Lincoln Keenholes, that offense, Jeff Rom. I trust them a lot more right now and they're just in this week three spot. So I'm gonna take the Cardinals. Yeah. I'm gonna do the same thing. Okay. I'm gonna take Louisville. I am overly excited about this game. and I like just because I'm taking Louisville and I started off my my pick segment with that, doesn't mean I don't think this is gonna be worth watching. I think this is gonna be one of the best games of the whole weekend. Yeah. The the main reason I'm taking Louisville here, similar to what you're saying, I think we saw a lot out of Louisville against Ole Miss. Yeah. That we didn't see out of SMU against Florida State. Even though, you know, they went in to handle business. It didn't look like what we wanted it to look like. I mean, it was really sloppy. Now, it was a bad circumstance, like the lights going out, starting super late. They were the last team to play. Like I I get it. I mean I I'm not saying SMU is a bad football team based off that game. I don't think so at all. I think they're a great football team. But I think Louisville is in a better spot at this point in the year. Yeah, agreed. so strictly based off that, the last thing I'll say is Kevin Jennings, great quarterback. One thing I've noticed in his career is that he struggles in road environments. He tends to be turnover prone in road environments. I've noticed it consist on a consistent basis. We just saw it at Florida State. I'm thinking back to the Penn State playoff game where he completely lost his mind. Yeah. Very quickly. Now that's Penn State's a great environment as a playoff. That was a good team, but still like yeah, he just he looked he looked lost. and there have been a couple other moments in his career where he's kinda had a similar experience. So I think Kevin Jennings' a great quarterback, but this is also a chance for Louisville to to get in his head a little bit. In that environment, and I think that's gonna be one of the difference makers. I think SME's gonna turn the ball over a couple times. It'll be it'll be big moments. next game is Mississippi State, South Carolina. I mean, all of the this slate is great. Yeah, this slate's fantastic. Mississippi State, South Carolina. South Carolina's favorite here by three and a half, a lot of three and a half point spreads this week. Yeah. I'm assuming a lot of that's because South Carolina's at home. It's gonna be at Willie Bryce. Yeah. That's great. The environment's gonna be awesome, I'm sure. but man, Lenora Sellers versus Camario Taylor. I mean, I feel like these are copy and paste players. Like how Camario Taylor is hyped up around college football media right now is exactly how Lenora Sellers was two years ago. Yes, I would fully agree with you. And South Carolina does not have the momentum here. Their their most recent home game this past week was not pretty. Now it poured rain for a a chunk of it. So yeah. That was, you know, what it was. But they just their offense did not look smooth whatsoever. And I can say the complete opposite for Mississippi State. Yeah. I mean, they looked beautiful against Minnesota, a powerful opponent on the road. Sometimes it's easier to get up for those games than it is to get up for a home game against a lesser opponent. But I think you gotta prove you're the better team on the field. It doesn't matter who you're playing. Right now I have more trust, more faith in Kamario Taylor than I in Jeff Levy than I do in Shane Beamer in the South Carolina team. And this program as a whole, to be honest. I gotta see more from South Carolina before I'm gonna pick in a primetime SC matchup. So I'm going Mississippi State here. Man. This is a this is the hardest matchup I think for me to pick. Mm-hmm. All day. Like, I'm not even keeping UNC Clemson and C State Bandy in that category, but from a just competitive matchup. Everything about everything in me wants me to say Mississippi just 'cause they've looked better, Kamario Taylor. But something about South Carolina this year. Add Williams Bryce, Lenora Sellers. I think he they're gonna hear all this noise about Camario Taylor and I I think Lenora Schellers shows up and says, All right, young dog, let's calm down here. I'm still one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. I would be give me the game, Cox. Let's go. I would be happy with that. I like w we've got some different takes here. This is gonna be interesting. I I like that though. I mean, this is not an easy game to pick. I just think right now, I mean Mississippi State's got all the momentum. They look great. And I'm just not fully confident in South Carolina. But the potential for that is there. Yeah. And I wouldn't be that mad because I have a Lenora Sellers Heisman ticket. And right now, it's in the dumps. That's fair. I mean, if he goes off, that's great for me. but yeah, that's that's gonna be a fun one to watch. Very interested. This one's gonna be great too. Florida Auburn. Florida's the favorite in this one on the road at Jordan Hare by two and a half. Yeah, that that doesn't make any sense to me. Whatsoever. I have a different take, actually. Do you think that makes sense? I still on the road at Jor at Auburn. I just still haven't been impressed with Auburn. I still think they should have lost the Baylor game the way they play. I they didn't, so credit to them. Obviously I'm not taking that away from them. But I just think we're about to really find out what that looks like. I think Florida is on a much better trajectory. And I think Florida is going to run the ball. Run the dang football. I really do. I think they're gonna establish themselves. And Auburn's gonna find out they got a little bit more of an issue defensively than they think they did. do I know that for a fact? No, not at all. But I just I have a hunch. and I think that's not just me who's got that, because I think there's a reason Florida's favorite on the road. Now it's never easy to win in Jordan Hare. Never, never, never. No. So would I be surprised if it goes the other way? No. But I'm I'm gonna ride or die right now with the Gators this week. See, I think this spread should be flipped because I have the Auburn Auburn Tigers winning. I think Florida really hasn't played anybody quite yet. I think Auburn I think Baylor's gonna be better than I think people give credit for. Obviously Randa's still on the hot seat, but that was a much improved Baylor team compared to last year. Auburn defensively, I still trust DJ Durkin. Defensive line, Coach Vontrell, King Williams. Those guys are gonna come ready to play. First home game. in the era for them in this new staff it's hard for me to pick against Auburn. I think I think Florida will be a good team and I think yes they can run the football. But I'm not sold on them really being able to throw the football, really. So if if they're if Auburn's just gonna be able to load the box and force Philo to throw the football, which he can do, but I just don't think that's where Florida wants to be. Especially with a with an offensive Buster Faulkner and how he kinda was at Georgia Tech in years prior. So I think I think Auburn does just enough and Golish gets his first SEC win. Weird. Look, here's the deal. The Durkin thing. You got beef with him because he was at A If you wanna stop the run. I just don't think he's your guy. Based off personal experience. So here here's my thing, right? Durkin's there. That's fine. I have personal experience too. Where's this Liberty football right here? Defensive line coach. When I was at Liberty, he was GA. Bontrell King Williams. He was the GA when I was there. He's the defensive line coach there at Auburn. He was Wentzworth Freeze. He got retained there. In twenty twenty-one, we were top 15 or 20 in the defense or in the country for tackles for loss. Statistically, we were top twenty-five. He's got all the pieces. I really do think Auburn has enough defensively to be able to stop Jordan Ball, Aaron Philo, and just that offense. Yeah, I mean we'll see. I yeah, that very well could be the case. I just got DJ Dirk and PTSD. And I'm just fair. Like I I'm not even saying that he's necessarily a bad coach. We just had a bad experience in college station. That's fair. so that's just the way it is. But we'll see. We'll see on that one. LSU, big time, favored by three points. In Oxford. In Oxford. Called Lane Kiffin is going to need as much security as possible. The place will be rocking. Fans, please behave yourselves. But I would not be upset if it's very entertaining. If you know what I mean. I will enjoy this game from my couch. Hmm. Hmm. We thinking? Do you want me to take this? LSU. Okay. LSU. They didn't look great last week. And like I said, they haven't really been tested. What they have been tested in, though, is entering into a game week with high expectations and energy around it. That week one game against Clemson, regardless of whether Clemson is a good team or not, had the most anticipation out of any game that week. College game day was in town. Yep. They had to be up for it. They had to be ready. And all they did was show up and curb stomp the Clemson Tigers. So I'll give them credit for that. Ole Miss, on the other hand, has also had a game already this year that took them to the limit, that tested them. Yep. And that also had some anticipation. Not quite the same level, but some anticipation. It was a great game to look forward to against Louisville. And they they pulled it out. It was tough. Defense looked like it had some holes. I'm very interested to see what that looks like this week. I think that as much as I would love for Chambliss and Olmis to just do their thing this weekend, this is as good of a moment for Lane Kiffin, as built for Lane Kiffen as a moment gets. And I think unless he gets knocked out by some unforeseen foreign object flying through the air in the stands, I think that. The Tigers and Sam Levitt are gonna pull this out. The one thing I will say is a caveat here. Levitt turned the ball over a lot last week. So if Ole Miss can make him uncomfortable, which Clemson could not do at all. No. If Ole Miss can make him uncomfortable, it could get interesting because I could see a world where there's a couple early turnovers. Yeah. And Ole Miss gets off to an early lead and jump on that opportunity. I can see a world where it flips the other way. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens. I'm gonna take, I'm gonna take the Kiff Kiffin led. I guess. And I I I I'm just gonna do it. I don't like it, I'm gonna do it. Okay. There is one player in this game who is going to make or break it. It is the quarterback for Ole Miss, Trinidad Chambliss. And I'm gonna ride with him. I I there is so much about this game, the backstory, everything that happened last year into the playoffs. I think the Ole Miss team specifically, that staff, Coach Golding, all those guys have been waiting for this game ever since Kiffen left. Obviously Kiffin's gonna come in. I think it'll be a really competitive football game. But the storyline here, the way I think Colt Golding is gonna get these guys fired up. Shambliss is gonna make a play at the end to be able to put this away. I just I I don't s I there's a way, obviously, but for everything that's surrounding this game, I I can't not pick Old Miss here. I love it. Do you see a world Where Ole Miss Just to show this, I've been sipping on this this Ole Miss cup is part of my prediction for showing his car the whole time. I know. Do you see a world because this is another thing I worry about, part of the reason I pick LSU and I wanna hear your perspective of this. Because maybe I'm maybe I'm wrong. Do you see a world where Ole Miss could be so amped up, worked up, ready, thought about it all year long for this game, that they're too juiced and they play with too much emotion. And they make some mistakes and it impacts the game in a negative way for the rebels. I mean, I think that's the case too. I mean I I think that could definitely be an issue for them. That's one of my concerns. But I also think Kiffin is a very emotional coach when it comes to this stuff. Like he loves the drama, he loves stirring it up. Yeah. And to where I think I think he's gonna try to come in here and prove a point when he really doesn't even have to. But I think he wants to come in and make a statement. And so I think that's gonna kind of affect his play calling a little bit, even though I Charlie Weiss is calling the plays, but I think he's gonna take a lot more risk than he would say for any other SEC matchup. Yeah. So I I think it kinda goes both ways. To that note, by the way, this there's a lot of I mean, outside of the emotions and the anticipation, everything else surrounding this game, the storylines, there's a lot of familiarity among coaching staff that's very interesting in this game. I mean, they are very familiar with each other. So it'll be interesting to see if there are some curve balls thrown in here and there too. Because I mean I imagine DCOC knows each other pretty well. These games of chess are gonna be pretty interesting to watch. Yeah. they're very familiar with one another. So that'll be interesting. So I I've got LSU and you've got Ole Miss. Yeah. Man, this is gonna be a big week for Pick'em's. last one we're picking this week is. The University of Virginia against West Virginia. University of Virginia UVA is favored by ten and a half points. This is in Charlotte. yeah, I'm for some strange reason. Not Charlottesville. Charlotte. Yeah, I'm I'm not sure what the draw is for it being in Bank of America Stadium. It's not like Charlotte is a big hub for these two fan bases. It might have just been a typo. Somebody typed Charlottesville and it auto corrected. All of a sudden said Bank of America. At nah yeah, also that too. And buy your parking tickets for Charlotte, North Carolina too. Typo. I think this game is another just point for Virginia, just up front on the line of scrimmage, just dominating the West Virginia offensive line and defensive line. I think UVA just continues this trajectory for them of, hey, we're a team to be reckoned with in the ACC. Roberbula just continues to get better. I think he'll throw the football a little bit more than he did against NC State, just 'cause I think West Virginia will be a little bit more prepared. But this is this is the who's the UVA. I'm with you. I agree. I feel the exact same way about it. I think Virginia just dom dominates them. Not I mean scoreboard probably in my mind, but I'm thinking more total yards, time of possession, those type of things. I just think they suffocate West Virginia. yeah, I agree completely. So that'll be interesting to watch. We'll see. Anything could happen. We've got some games that we want to mention that we're not picking, but the first one is Kentucky, Texas AM. And there's also some coaching staff familiarity here, by the way, with Bateman being at Kentucky. Who is he? Jay Bateman. He's the offensive coordinator. He's the DC. He was at AM last year. did he go over? Did he get fired? Or did he go with Stein? He went Stein got him. Interesting. Stein got him. So familiarity. AM's DC from last year. so there's some familiarity there. Elko's talked about changing up a couple of things this week in his press conference. really? Yeah, I think this is just just one dimension of just another another test to kind of gauge where Kentucky's at. And obviously s and give at give AM their first SEC battle. Yeah. Now I think Arizona State would would beat Kentucky at this at this certain point, but just kind of a just something to keep an eye on that that could get interesting. Yeah, I mean, I I don't think this is a game to overlook at all if you're Texas A man. I mean, I know last week was a 13 and a half point point spread. We thought that was kind of crazy. They ended up winning by 28 against ASU. I think ASU's a good football team. They competed a lot dominated a lot better than what that twenty-eight point. differential ended up actually being they did that that game was very interesting. I think AM, although you won by 28, you have to be happy about that. But there's a lot to clean up. They have got to run the ball. And it may not matter as much against Kentucky this week, although I think they really do need to run the ball against Kentucky as well. But moving forward as they get further into SEC play they've got LSU next week at night on the road. They're gonna have to figure out the run game. If they don't it's gonna get really Really difficult. So I do think they they're they're probably okay this week, but that'll be fun to watch. Good tune up. Yep. Notre Dame, Michigan State. Just one to watch. I I don't know why. Yeah. Maybe to see just how good Notre Dame. Big Ten, Michigan State, see where they're at. Obviously they have their two and Notre Dame just kind of another another test of a Big Ten team like Wisconsin, just to kind of see where they're at. So If you want to watch CJ Carr put up a nice stat line, just turn that one on, tune in. Florida State, Bama. Bama is favored by nineteen and a half. Yeah. I think this one's just important to watch just to see what the outcome is and how competitive Florida State can be. Cause I think this could be a a big teller for Mike Norvell in his future. So I agree. So again, not picking those games. Kentucky A and Motor Damage can stay in FSU Bama, but Just ones to notably watch. Yep. You got picks. And just to note, we have the picks from the wives. So Sam, the whole reason he's wearing this hat, it's because he took an L to his wife, Cameron, a couple weeks ago. These are the picks from our wives for this week. For Cameron, we've got Texas Tech. Different. Clemson. Vanderbilt. Same. Louisville. Same. South Carolina. Same. Florida. Different. LSU. Different. Virginia. Different. Very similar to my picks. Yeah, it seems a little bit more aligned with you. Yeah, but there's still some differences there. And then for Keaton, we've got Texas Tech, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, SMU, South Carolina, Florida. That's the only one we have in common. LSU. We have that one in common. West Virginia. And West Virginia. So I only have two picks in common with Keaton this week. That could be interesting. I'm glad she picked West Virginia. But that could be very interesting. I can't believe I'm the only one that picked Old Miss. yeah. I mean, that's probably bad for us. That's probably good for you. Yeah. This is what makes me excited for the life tracker and picking when we get into weeks like this. Because it only I mean, next week is a gauntlet. it is. Like this is this is just a teaser for next week. Anything can happen with these. And for the record, Keaton's overall record right now is twelve and nine. Mm-hmm. And Cameron is doing pretty solid. She's fifteen and six. She's outpicking me. Yeah. Cameron and I are tied right now. Yeah. So I'm really hoping I don't have to wear this hat. What happens if we both lose this week? I have another hat. You have another hat. I'm about to. Okay. All right, we're prepared. Yeah, I figured, you know, we're not that good. We'll happen at some point. All right. Here we go. We've got a mailbag question for this week. We do. it's from Ethan from Charleston. He kind of wanted us to talk through top five venues in all of college football. Hmm. Which is a phenomenal question. Thank you, Ethan from Charleston. I'm gonna have to think this one out. I think we should go from five to one each and alternate each one. Five to one each. I can okay. I take it back because it's harder to think about it that way on the fly. Let's go one to five each. One to five. So I can kick it off if you want me to. Okay. Top five environments in college football. Look, at the end of the day, I can only be as neutral as I can. And I I'm just telling you, if you have not experienced a game in Calfield, you must experience a game in Calfield. You must. I've experienced some prime time amazing environments. Don't get me wrong, but I would be doing my university a disservice if I did not put them at number one on this list. And if look, if you haven't experienced it, don't talk. I see a lot of smack. Don't talk. We're weird, that's fine. It's tradition, it's everything you love about college football. Bundled up into a towering college football stadium with a hundred thousand plus fans screaming the entire game and a student section that does not sit down. Does not sit down the entire time. It's amazing, it's coordinated, it is choreographed, it is pageantry. And at the end of the day, why do we all love college football? Why? A lot of those reasons that I just listed. Okay. So I'm and on top of it all, by the way, the band is fantastic. So I'm going Kylefield. Okay. So I'm which I know is probably a hot take. I'm taking my number one down to Lynchburg, Virginia. I'm just kidding. for me, I got a little bit of bias in this one too, but it's Nealand Stadium. I think growing up going to games there, very similar to Kyle Field, a hundred over a hundred thousand people. I think the difference for me is when you have 102,000, 455 people, plus or minus, with Pride of the Southland band all singing Rocky Top at the top of their lungs. There is truly no other feeling like that. And I th I I think you and I both have experiences in those two SEC environments to where we need to try to find time to go to each home and just to be able to compare. Mm-hmm. But I think from just that pure standpoint, Nealand Stadium will forever be hard to beat for me. Love it. No problems with it. That's great. And I think just coming from the two of us, our number one should be no different than that. Yeah. So that's great. Now we gotta go number two. And my number two, I'm gonna take y'all down to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I look, I've been and it was an amazing experience. The only unfortunate there wasn't really anything unfortunate. It was a great experience for college football. Only unfortunate thing about that day was that it wasn't a night game. So I do need to go back and experience Baton Rouge at night. That's the reason it's at number two for me. Because it was fantastic as it was during the day. And it was a great game. I got to watch JD five with a fourth quarter comeback over the Aggies who weren't even that good that year. But Heisman winner JD five, that was very fun. Place was rockin'. Tailgating was great. We got all the trash talk and Cajun behavior that you could expect from LSU fans. And that's what you want. If you're going experience, that's what you want. You don't want anything negative, obviously. People have had some bad experiences, but you want some animosity. so I just I loved everything about it. So I'm gonna go Baton Rouge, Death Valley, number two. Baton Rouge. Yeah, so I think for me, I'm kinda obviously Neil Lind was my one. I've been to lot of different college stadiums, but kind of the ones that are up there that for me I think deserve to be in this top five is kind of where I'm going from here now. So my second pick is Touchdown Jesus and University of Notre Dame. Wow. I think just the culture, the tradition, everything about that environment. just screams college football to the core. And I have some family that are big Notre Dame people. That's a that's a t that's a game and a team where I I have to be able to go see them in person one day. So that's that's definitely a bucket list item for me. So I think I think for me that's where I have my number two. I have no problem with that. You we've been there, right? No, unfortunately. Okay. I thought about going last year A and playing which would have been fantastic. wife had a concert. Dang. Honey, it's sad. She's lucky this wasn't a thing. I know. I would love to go. I yeah, we should go together. Yeah. So that's all I'll say there. Number three on my list. This one I'm really starting to have to think about. I think number three for me, I am going to go with Beaver Stadium. Penn State. Interesting. I've never been. I have a lot of respect for it. I love the White Out. And that's bucketless for is to go to a Penn State wideout game. I can't get the Mo Bamba video against Michigan out of my head ever. Yeah. Ever. and I just would love to go. I would love to go to we are Penn State. I would just love to go. Yeah. I can't I can't wait for that someday. So that's that's gonna be my number three. Okay. It's a good pick. I like that one. I feel like my number three is going down to Ann Arbor, Michigan in the big house. I think just the matchups that you see every other year with Ohio State, just the amount of passion that that fan base has. And I have this image in my head. And this is probably granite, a little bit dark for a lot of Michigan fans. But 2007, week one, Appalachian State goes into the big house and wins. And that's your that's your reason for the big house being a great environment? It is. Yeah. I I have Obviously like a lot of these Big Ten matchups, like crowd is raucous, like insane. But just growing up growing up in the south, being two hours from Boone, growing up being in the Boone area, had some Appalachian State ties, just the Mountaineers are gonna win the football game, coming into the big house and stunning college football. Like everything about that is just very sentimental. And it and it's a huge it is a huge venue. But I think for me just that would be the one that I'd that's number three for me. I love it. And App State is our list killer apparently. They've also been to Kyle Field. They have that was a bad AM team. Dang near went into Nealand and beat them too. Bad AN. Yeah, they're but App State, man. You don't schedule them. Yeah. Do not. Don't schedule them. But mine we're on number four. the only thing I'll say about the big house, because I will disclose they're not gonna be my top five. Okay. Only thing I'll say about them, I would love to go still. It's a great environment. So Michigan fans don't hate me. The only thing I'll say about the big house is that and I've never been, but from what I hear, it's not very vertical. Yeah. It's very out. It's very like still. So I've heard the viewing experience is little tough, especially if you're sitting in a higher row because you're really far from the field. Fair. I've also heard when you're on the field, it's not that it's not loud, but it's doesn't you don't get the same echo effect that you do in a lot of other stadiums that are kind of stacked on top. Yeah. And so in my mind It takes away a little bit from it, but dude, that's an incredible environment. So yeah. No no hate on that. number four, Nealand. Really? They're on my list. I love it. I've I've been, it's amazing. One of my favorite experiences ever. If you haven't been, you have to go. I'm not even a volunteer. I am an Aggie. It was great. the checkerboard is beautiful, rocky top, gets stuck in your head for days. It does get kind of annoying. It does get kind of annoying. It will be stuck in your head for days, I promise. No. No, okay. You don't want that. No no singing on the podcast. But yeah, it it's incredible. It's great. And they show up. It was a day game. And I will say, to their credit, the day game I went to at Neeland was more rockin' than the day game I went to in Baton Rouge. Mm. Interesting. Okay. So you're That says and both were against Texas A and so I feel like it's a pretty fair comparison. Dude. As the the characters, the creatures come out at night. Okay. So but but four. That's respectable. Yeah, I get that. Baton Rouge is my four. I think they're up there for me. It's like same to you. Just insane environment. Just one of those that for as long as I've been following college football. Just from those those glory days when they had Les Miles and those matchups against Saban, just the things you see on TV. I could only imagine if Aldmus was going into Baton Rouge this weekend. Yeah. How crazy that would be. so L LSU's gonna be num my number four. Yeah. And last one, number five. My number five. This one I've really had to think long and hard about. Yeah. My number five is here though. And I do have an honorable mention as well. okay. But my number five is Jordan Hare. Really? Jordan Hare. Very high on Jordan Hare. Love Okay. Love the environment. There's some mystical magic that happens in that stadium, man. Okay. It's just it's just different. It's special. Yeah. I mean, dude, are you kidding me? War Eagle flying down. I mean, dude, it doesn't get it doesn't get much better than that on the planes. That's fair. So I I would love to go to Jordan Hare. It's rocking. That's great. My honorable mention is actually this might surprise some people. Washington. Hmm. Okay. I've only heard amazing things. Plus it has a gorgeous view. Yeah, it does. I would love and and I need to include the West Coast here. And I feel like just because personal experience, I didn't include the West Coast as much. I do happen to think some of the best environments in the country are in the South does not mean there are not elite environments in on the West Coast or in the Midwest. and so I am giving Washington my honorable mention and would love to go to a game there. Yeah. So my number five, it's a little bit similar to yours, but it's on the other side of the Iron Bowl. And I'm going Brian Denny Stadium. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Dixie Landolite. Would love to go to a game there for the third Saturday in October. Smoke cigars, either way. I think that's just an environment. Just a I personally for just I think part of it's also 'cause the dominance that Alabama's had. Mm. They have a little bit with Debore now, but those Sabin years, just rich history and just talent, I I I feel like that environment was just insane back in the day. So Yeah. Okay, so then I have an honorable mention, but was the was it the top five venues in college football? Top five environments, venues, that's how I took it. Okay. So my honorable mention, I have it here just because it's it's kind of a I don't know how to categorize it. And for me I think it would be number one if we were looking at it a little bit differently. But honorable mention, Army Navy environment. okay, okay. Yeah. So yeah, I thought about Rose Bowl. But I didn't know if we were doing that. Yeah, I yeah, that was that was kind of way held off on it. Yeah. But Army Navy, that's that would probably be my number one shout. Good shout. Yeah. Number one game. Just Army. My grandfather was Army, my dad was navy. Just the rich history, all of it. That that that is a game every single year that I'm s so excited to watch and love that it's the only game on that Saturday. Yeah, that's amazing. It's beautiful. I love that. So In theory, I mean we need to close out, but in theory, can you just tell me because I'm a little insecure where Kyle Phil would be on your list? It would be price eggs. Okay. Yeah. It'd be right there. Okay. Yeah. thanks, man. I appreciate that. Even if it's not true. Yeah. No, it's true. It's true. I promise you. I debated that in Brianny. Okay. Gotcha. I'll take it. all right, guys. Thank you so much for tuning in. This is gonna conclude our podcast for this week. Please continue. We love you guys. Thank you for watching. We've gotten pretty solid viewership for three episodes in. Definitely want to keep that, keep that up and keep it growing. We would love to keep it going if you enjoy this podcast and you made it to the end, which we're discovering. Yeah. We've got some haters. Yeah, we've got some people that don't make it to the end. Detractors. He won't hear this because he won't listen. He won't make it this far around. We'll hear if he does. But yes, please guys, we really appreciate you. Continue to share the word. share the link. Send it to your group chats. Subscribe, like, comment. Interact with us. Hit us up on TikTok. Yep. Hit us up on Instagram. Twitter. Twitter. I or I think I would like to think we have some pretty good tweets. Yeah. But we need some interaction. We have some good tweets that I think need a little bit more love. Yeah, yeah. So we need some interaction. We're we're doing our best to be able to get out the best content for you guys and hope you guys are enjoying it for sure. Yeah. So we love being able to do this. Yep. Praying for the chance that this gets to grow. If not, it's just two really good friends having a great time on a Wednesday night or Tuesday night. So Hundred percent. Awesome. God bless you guys. Have a great weekend. Yep.