Latest / College Football Nobodies / Texas at Tennessee, Iowa at Michigan, Oregon at USC | Week 4 Preview

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Texas at Tennessee, Iowa at Michigan, Oregon at USC | Week 4 Preview · College Football Nobodies

• Kevin Ivers: Welcome back, everybody. Week four college football. Cannot wait to get into this week, Eric. As we talked about last time, it is a full conference slate across the board for all the teams. This is where things really heat up. So without further ado, let's get right into it because we have 11 games to discuss this week. But I know you wanted to add something before we get into the Northwestern Indiana game. What do you got for us, Eric? Erich: So Kevin, I wanted to go back and watch the Ole Miss South Carolina highlights. And I was like, okay, you know, the extended highlights, ESPN, 19 minutes, that'll give me you know, great coverage. And I'm watching the game, and it was in the third quarter when it's 23 21, and South Elmit or Mississippi State is driving. And all of a sudden, it cuts, and it's now to the point where it's 38 23, Mississippi State. They skipped the entire run that Mississippi State had to take the lead. And it was like the most worthless 19 minutes of highlights you could ever see in your life. So we're gonna cover everyone and some crazy bias, even in your long form highlight videos, and rant over. So let's get into the games. And I think we finally get to learn about Indiana this week. And when Kevin Ivers: Huh. Erich: I say we finally get to learn, is I didn't think we were gonna get to learn about them at this point. But because Northwestern smacked Colorado around in a way I don't think anyone was expecting last last week, forty one to was it forty one Kevin Ivers: Seven. Erich: to nine or forty one to seven. Yeah. and rightfully so with the way these Colorado players were talking crap about Northwestern's temporary stadium as they're about to move into one of the newest and most beautiful stadiums in all of college football. Really ironic. this game's interesting to me, and I want I'm curious to see what you think. The spread was twenty one. I think it's twenty one and a half. Opened like at twenty two, twenty three and moved down. And I I'm gonna talk about this one later. So I'm not gonna have a lot of takes, but I wanna hear your two takes on this game. Kevin Ivers: Yeah, I'm interested in this game too, suddenly, because of last week's result. This is the Friday night Fox game. I believe it's eight o'clock Eastern. the Friday night has become the new Thursday night of college football. Ever since they put those stupid Amazon Prime like Thursday NFL games on, they don't want to compete with that. And I guess, you know, I'm old school in pretty much everything. You know that, Eric. But I've learned to adopt the Friday night like pretty good college football model just because, hey, it's Saturday's the next day, it's the weekend. So you can enjoy enjoy it even more than those Thursday night games back in the day. So this one's intriguing. I think it is a little rich with Indiana laying twenty-one and a half in this game. Northwestern is well coached by by Coach David Braun, who they just extended. They're always tough. They're always gonna fight you. They've been known for that forever. And like you said, with Indiana, a ridiculous non-conference schedule. This is their first game versus a team that can literally complete a forward pass. So we're gonna be able to educate ourselves a little bit more with the defending national champs in this game. And you said on last week's show, what else can we term Northwestern than maybe a middle-of-the-road Big Ten team? And maybe they're that, maybe they're a little bit more, maybe Colorado is that awful, and Northwestern's like the 16th best team in the Big Ten. So I think we can learn something in this one. I do like that Northwestern has Aiden Childs at quarterback in this game, a experienced Big Ten quarterback coming over from Michigan State. He's looked good so far. If they can slow the game down and avoid giving up explosive plays for Indiana and make Indiana string together some long drives, I think there's a way for them to stay under this number. It would be shocking if Northwestern won this game. I I don't think that's in the cards at all here. So don't mishear me out there, anyone. But Indiana, they've had their moments like in the North Texas game where they couldn't really get Turbo. Turbo Richard going in the run game. And it just doesn't look quite as clean offensively as last year. And is that a huge surprise? I don't really think it is. Is Josh Hoover a good quarterback? He certainly is. But it's hard to replace a Heisman Trophy winner winner, the leader that Fernando Mendoza was, and the accuracy and everything he was about. So I think Indiana misses that. And their ground game hasn't been as strong. So those are my initial thoughts on this game. I definitely think Northwestern can hang around in this one. So what say you, Eric? Erich: I'm gonna talk about this one in one of my categories. I wanna save my comments until then, if that's okay with you. So Kevin Ivers: Ooh, I like it. It is Erich: we will we will come back to this game, I promise. but I'm excited to see it. I'm excited to learn about Indiana. Another team I'm excited about to learn more about is most people think Texas is the number one team in the country. They clearly have the best win in the country, albeit by one point. However, time for them to go to their first. Tough environment. And you and I had this one marked before the game at Tennessee at Nylon Stadium because Texas only has four true road games this year. And in fact, this is their only true road game until like November seventh or something like that, whatever this is. So huge opportunity for Texas to if they win this game, they have a lot of friendly environments until they have, you know, three road games at on their last four. And the way the SECs look pretty open right now, you gotta feel good about Texas just in regards to getting past that Ohio State game. Now they get to go to Tennessee, who's looked strong, but Tennessee hasn't played anyone yet. So chance for Texas to make themselves road tested, their only opportunity to do so for a long time. And a chance for Tennessee to maybe shock the world here a little bit. Texas favored by four and a half on the road. It was yesterday. We'll see how that spread moves. It moved down. I think opened closer to seven, it's moved down to four and a half. So I think that's a little telling. It's it's a bit of a travel for Texas, eight hundred and ninety miles. So it's it's it's a true road game in every in every respect. I think Texas comes away with this one. I just they're a top three roster in the country. Everything they've shown me to this at this point leads me to believe that they are. I think, and I'm hoping Sark continues to let Manning win the games when they need to. If they do that, I think they'll do well. So really for me, I think Tennessee will get some points, but I see this one like Texas 31, 34, Tennessee 28, something like that. Kevin Ivers: Interesting big SEC game early in the morning. Noon Eastern down there in Knoxville on ABC. I believe Fowler and Herbie are working this game. That's where game day is. Not that Kirk doesn't travel down to games that are in a different site than game day, but I believe he's just staying there right after game day for this one. Generally the big SEC games are your three thirty Eastern or seven thirty Eastern. So will be an interesting environment. I know Tennessee fans are eager to see how what their team is. They've yes, they went on the road to Georgia Tech. We're both pretty down on Georgia Tech. The they don't look very good at all. And then they've played To absolute nobodies. So their efficiency metrics for Tennessee are off the charts offensively, but you have to take with a grain of salt. This is going to be phase on Brandon's first true test. The true fesh true freshman five-star quarterback for the Valls versus Texas defense. I do like Texas in this game as well. I think. They showed enough for me versus Ohio State. What I don't like about Tennessee is looking into the numbers, they're allowing their opponents to convert on more than fifty percent of their third downs. I I saw that today. That is not good with Texas coming into town. That's that Texas does have some of its own offensive red flag. The Longhorns haven't been nearly as efficient as you think. I'm looking right now. Their offensive success rate I wrote down today is only forty-four percent. that's 82nd nationally, according to the Action Network. Shout out to those guys again. They do a great job with some of those numbers. That means on first down, they're not getting at least half the yards you'd expect 44% of the time. So not great. I Guess you can give him a pass like we said last week, total hangover spot after the big Ohio State win. It's only thirty to six versus UTSA. But you would have liked to see Arch's numbers be a little bit bigger in that game. He wasn't overly efficient. He was under two hundred yards. Where Texas has really been striving and it showed up versus Ohio State is their special teams. They're getting a lot of they're winning a lot of the the hidden yards battles, starting with good field position, getting turnovers, getting short fields and all. Those types of things. So it's gonna be interesting to see in this game if they're forced to constantly go on long drives. Can this offense and Arch Manning and Ryan Wingo and Hollywood Smothers and all their talent like start to really show up and put together long drives in this game that's only gonna help their outlook further? I'll go Texas here in a low-scoring game. I think they do cover that number. I've seen it bet down to three and a half. I I think it's currently at five and a half. I'll say twenty-four-sixteen Longhorns, but a slug fest, much lower than maybe people might realize. I think Texas's talent on defense is able to slow down the tempo, the quick tempo of Josh Hepel and the Valls offense in this game. So I get the line, I got Texas covering, and a fun game to watch though. Erich: Yes, fun game indeed. and another fun one, same conference that will be I think this is on ESPN. So this other the Texas Tennessee game was ABC. This one will be ESPN. Oklahoma at Georgia. And boy, does this feel like a terrible spot for Oklahoma and the injury news to David Stone? I gotta read a little bit more about the defense, but where they're saying they're getting second opinions, that's never good on when you're getting second opinions. And I didn't see what happened, but someone basically said that Venomals was trying to get cute in practice. And to me, sounds like maybe I don't know if he was pushing his starters to do maybe more than he should, or I I have to read into it more, but it sounds like there was maybe some things they were doing on a Monday practice that they're not normally doing. I don't know if that's true or not. I'll I'll read into it. But terrible news. He's their best player on their front four. And I think Georgia is waiting for, has been waiting for someone to quote unquote plant their flag in. They've looked really good. I mean, did you see where they are running practice drills? Did you hear about this? Kevin Ivers: Yeah. Erich: cause I watched the first half of the Arkansas game and then I was like, this game's over. And then the second half, they were running drills. with their players. I I mean that has to be the most embarrassing thing in an SEC conference game that I've heard in a long time where one of the teams is having their players practice on the sideline. I mean that just means there's zero respect for a fellow SEC opponent. Really feel bad for the Hog fans. They were kind of out on that coaching hire after it started and that is what it is. But I think Oklahoma's in a bad spot here. Georgia favored by 14. I think they cover that. I'm going thirty five fourteen. and that might even be generous for Oklahoma because frankly, how are they gonna score on Georgia's defense from what we've seen so far? So those are my thoughts on that game. Kevin Ivers: Did see that just a savage quote by Kirby after the game saying, Yeah, our guys weren't getting enough enough work out there, so we had to do it Erich: Ha ha ha. Kevin Ivers: just our own guys. Yeah. we are sorry, Hogs. We love you. That's why we got the helmet in the background. Better times are ahead, hopefully, down the road. But this is a just horrible, horrible matchup for the Sooners. The David Stone injury is the last thing they needed. The second last thing they needed was this game on their schedule. Georgia's rush defense ranks in the hundredth percentile. It is nasty. If Oklahoma can't get their running game going, which I don't think that's gonna magically happen between the hedges on Saturday, John Matir is gonna be in second and third and longs all game. You're facing Kirby Smart's blitz packages on third down. Good luck. John Matir, you're gonna have to complete passes from your back and well, no one's ever been able to do that. So I don't love this. Offensively, I just wanna talk big picture for Georgia. I think they're getting closer to their national championship offenses. They've Erich: I agree. Kevin Ivers: been They've been mired and for their standards a bit of a slump the last couple of years. But looking at Gunnar Stockton's numbers, he's he's thirty eight of forty five. That's super efficient. He's got zero interceptions, nine touchdowns. I read Erich: He's comfortable running the ball. He's using his legs better than he ever has. Kevin Ivers: Better than he ever has, and they're throwing the ball downfield. He's averaging a ridiculous 13 yards per attempt. I love that. You and me, we hate the dink and dunk game. Let your athletes play. I feel like sometimes their receivers have been underutilized. I'm sure the fans in Athens would agree. So this one could get ugly. I think your score and my score is kind of sparing them. My score is similar. I have the 21 points, 31 ten. That might just be out of respect for Rent Venables and and the Oklahoma brand fighting, but it could be a lot worse than that. So that's what I'll go with. Dogs big and they'll get to four and and the Sooners will be two and two going into October, and that is not what their fan base had in mind. Did you have anything else to add there, Eric, or did you want to roll on? Erich: No, let's keep rolling. but really looking forward to that game 'cause I I I think it'll be very telling to where if you and I start doing our top twenty five rankings, which we can talk about that after this week, where I think the appropriate amount of data will exist to where you can actually do that properly, Kevin Ivers: Yeah. Erich: this will be a game we'll look at heavily for Georgia. Kevin Ivers: Classic unis in that game. Never have to worry about those schools doing anything dumb. So I love that. Next one, we're standing the SEC. Is that right here? Let's see. Next one. Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: Yep. Yeah. The 330 Eastern ABC Ole Miss at Florida. So excited for this game. What a game. Erich: What a game. What a game. Kevin Ivers: I love when this stuff happens in college football where Ole Miss gets an incredible win last week. They're the center of the college football universe. And then you gotta hop on that horse and you gotta go down to Gainesville to face a hungry Gators team and a new coaching regime that's revived and excited, and just a talented team in general. How do you respond? Can you win two in a row? Does Florida really make their mark with John Sumerall and go, yeah, we're more than just, hey, we we beat Auburn and we maybe beat an SEC peer, so to say. We're we're knocking off one of the big boys. The storylines are endless in this game. With that, Eric, where is your head at for this one? Besides being incredibly excited. Erich: Yeah, this will be one that's is probably on my primary screen. even when there's as long as there's not a commercial, this is gonna be the game that I'm focused on. This one I think goes against where I normally go in these games, which is the best QB wins. And it's the best QB wins unless there's significant matchups somewhere else, like the front four or the offensive line. Or you know, you could go across these categories. And I think where that mismatch is is the front four four. I'm starting to believe Florida might have, at least for like a third down rush package, they might have like a top three to five front four in the country. And I think that's going to allow them to do enough to escape a late rush by Trinidad Chamberless to get the win here. If this was at Ole Miss, I'd I'd go OMS. But to get off the mat, to go to Florida. Keywand Lacey left that game with a shoulder injury, so he's probably not going to be a hundred percent. Obviously, Florida is favored by three according to the the the odds makers. So some people and that isn't really an upset if you know the betting odds. we're gonna go with the flawed AP pull that we have here of you know twenty one over four. but I think I s I I go by the rankings. you know, if you were doing your rankings, you would be hard pressed to put many people above Ole Miss just with the their win over LSU. And I think Florida wins this game. I just think they're the more complete team top to bottom. But I do think it's gonna be close. I think the three points is accurate. I think there's gonna be points in this game. I think the sixty and a half total point spread is is probably good. So I'm gonna go thirty-firty-one. Florida, I'm going exactly what the spread says. Kevin Ivers: That's another interesting part about this game is when you have Omis ranked fourth, Florida ranked 21st in the AP pull, and then Florida's the one that's actually favored. So it's like, is it an upset? Is it not? I love I love when that happens. Erich: Ha ha. Kevin Ivers: the the thing for me in this game is kind of what you mentioned with Chambliss. Florida doesn't want this to become the Chambliss first phyllo battle for 60 minutes. The Gator's path is Jaden Ball on the offensive line. Because going back to the LSU game, LSU ran the ball with Dylan Jones, and they looked good doing it. I think they ran for like over 170 yards in that game. And Ole Miss has been vulnerable to that in a couple of the early games. They've also struggled to get off the field in third down. They don't rank very highly in that category either. LSU looking back at that game was nine of eighteen on third down. And they went on some long ball controlled drives. You know, they had that 17 play marathon drive. And I know they had two other drives in that game for scores that were over 10 plays. So the Gators, and you know John Sumrol, they're they're gonna pound the ball. They're gonna see that on film. And what does that also do? It keeps Chambless off the field. So I think the Gators do pull this off. I think it's just a brutal situational spot, as I like to say. These are still college kids. That's really hard to move into the next week after the emotions of that win. The swamp is gonna be going bonkers. And I just don't think they come in with their A game. And that's not not the time to be doing that. So I'm gonna roll Gators. 32. I like weird scores. 32-24. I have them easily covering, but still a a phenomenal game. Erich: Hmm. One score game. Yeah. Kevin Ivers: One score game, back and forth what for a while, but Florida starts to wear out that Ulmus front. And by doing that, you also eliminate that Ulmus pass rush, which I was really, really impressed with. in their game versus LSU. You keep what is it? Eccles. I'm blanking on his name. But That kid, sorry man, forgetting your first name right now, but he's up there. Will Will Eccles, he's up there among the nation's leaders in pressures and QB hurries and all that. So you take I think Florida is perfectly set up to win this game because they can eliminate with what we've seen so far some of Ole Miss strengths and what's makes them so good. anything else to add to this one, Eric? Erich: No. I think it's gonna be a great game and I can't wait to watch it. Kevin Ivers: Absolutely. Next we are rolling into out of the Erich: Big twelve time. Kevin Ivers: out of the SEC. This game is interesting. I love that we're talking about it. Utah going into Iowa State. Fox game afternoon. Jack Trice Stadium. Cyclones have really shown well early this year under the new Jimmy Rogers regime. And Now the or arguably the conference favorite Utah rolls into town. What's your impressions of this one? I know you love the Utes. Erich: I do. I was told by one of my friends, the same friend Matt, who convinced me to start respecting Florida more than we were early on, that I love Utah way more than I should and they're not as good as I think they are. I think even though Iowa State isn't ranked, this is an opportunity for Utah to either prove me right or prove me wrong. I want to see the Devin Dampier Bird Flick Ficklin show. I this is a game they should win. I you know, if if they scrape by and it's low scoring, I might think to myself, man, you know, when they kinda when it comes time to play BYU, is it gonna be like last year where they just kind of fold in those scenarios? but I don't think so. I I think this one's gonna be I don't think it's gonna be as close as the odds maker are saying around seven and a half right now. I I just think Utah's Too strong. I think they were a little sloppy last week offensively in their in state game. And I think they just got a little bored with Utah State, but they still shut them out. And that's the key here is Utah's defense is really, really, really good. So even when their offense isn't clicking and maybe they have some drop passes or some penalties, their defense is still preventing anyone from scoring. So I think you're gonna see a little bit of that here. Iowa State struggled to put points on Iowa. I think Utah's defense is better than Iowa's, just from what their front four has shown me so far compared to Iowa's. And I still think Iowa has a really good defense. I just think Utah's is better. So for me, I think this one is not going to be quite as close as everyone thinks. I'm in like the Thirty five to twenty types go. I think it's a two touchdown win for Utah in this game. Kevin Ivers: Yeah, Utah is just one of those teams, like you said, they're so complete. They're one of the few teams in the country averaging over forty a game and giving up less than ten a game. Forty seven points a game, allowing eight. They've been dominant. Thirty-three zero over Utah State is still you dominated your in state rival and they could have like you said, wasn't even maybe their A game. Erich: And then that was against the in state team that almost beat Washington the week before. So it's Kevin Ivers: Right. Erich: not like they're a team that hasn't, you know, has been dog crap all year. No, they almost went to Washington and won. They you know, they lost by two points. So Kevin Ivers: What you wanna have in this game is just an absolute leader and captain at quarterback. Devin Dampier is that for the Utes. I trust him on the road. I think this is a tricky spot. Jack Trice is always tricky. The grass there always seems it's about two and a half, three inches. It's kinda like Northwesterns Erich: huh. Kevin Ivers: used to be back in the day. They don't they don't cut it. They wanna slow down those quicker teams, especially like when Texas and Oklahoma used to have to go up there. I really like Jimmy Rogers as a coach at Iowa State, what he's doing. I liked what he did out at Washington State as well. Aiden Flora is a player to watch for the Cyclones. He exploded for almost three hundred all purpose yards last game. And Jalen Raynor is a solid quarterback. He can make mistakes though. That that's what Iowa State's gonna do. They're gonna try to make this like the Cyhawk game was. Muck this up as much as they can. Play physical. Problem is Utah Utah lives in that realm and they've shown the explosiveness that we've talked about this year that Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: might take them to a different level. So Erich: It's a little different explosiveness at the on the I mean, the thing is it's not just that Cubian running back. They also have good receivers, so Kevin Ivers: Y yeah, yeah, and they've been able to replace Buchanan, it seems, who's a stud for Michigan, who of course followed Whittingham. So kudos to what Morgan Scally is doing there in Salt Lake. I got the Utes here as well. I'll say I'm gonna go twenty-eight-sixteen Utah, a fight for a while, but a solid twelve-point victory, and they get the job done and and Get out of aims alive and well with all their goals in front of them. Moving Erich: Yeah, quick tidbit I'll give you on this game is Braden Pagan, Utah's best wide receiver. He was actually in the transfer portal, he came from Utah State. He followed his offensive coordinator from Utah State to Utah. He was like Wisconsin's one A choice at w receiver in the portal in the offseason. And there was a lot of teams that were after him. So if you're wondering why their offense is has been clicking when it's a new offensive coordinator, a lot of familiarity brought some players with him that were really good with where he came from. And so you you know, you do that research and you're like, okay, this makes sense to why there wasn't as much as a fall off. And I think that's the key here. Utah's offense has not fallen off with the loss of the coordinator because the coordinator they brought in is really good. That's what we you and I talked about. Coordinators matter. You make the wrong choice, Oregon hired within, you know, from within, maybe it's not the right choice. You can fall off a little bit. You make, you know, you you do make the right choice and you can maybe even be better than you were. So looking forward to seeing that. continue this weekend. Kevin Ivers: 100% with you. Coordinators matter. We will say that a lot on the show. Moving into the Big Ten, heading a little bit east over Lake Michigan. Iowa State's rival, the Hawkeyes, invade the big house. 3:30 Eastern, the CBS game. Brad Nesser's gonna feel at home with an old Big Ten game here. Michigan's laying five and a half. Both teams are three and Both have a lot to approve. I think this is one of the more interesting games on the slate. I really want to see does Iowa have a real offense for once? Michigan has been the roller coaster of the year so far. Continue to learn about them. So I can't wait for this game. Supposed to be perfect crisp fall weather up there in Ann Arbor. This is gonna be a really fun one in the afternoon. What are your initial thoughts on this matchup, Eric? Erich: I think the conventional wisdom's telling people that, this is gonna be a defensive game, it's gonna be really close, the spread's five and a half. And I would just tell people, use your eyes. What your eyes will tell you is that Michigan probably has the best front four in the entire country. They're really good. And if you're wondering, like, you know, say what you want. No one's moved the ball on Michigan's front four. The game against Western Michigan that they technically lost, all the points came off of turnovers. They didn't do anything offensively. Last week you're like, they scored 14 points on Michigan. And yeah, there was a couple turnovers that d allowed for that. In the second half, they scored zero points. And that was UTEP. Michigan's. And look at what Michigan's defense did to Oklahoma embarrass them. Kevin Ivers: Mm-hmm. Erich: Michigan's defense, Iowa's strength is its defense. They're not going to beat Michigan with a defense that's not nearly as good as Michigan. And this is going to be what most teams run into when they play Michigan is you're not going to out defense them. I don't know that at this point, we'll see how this goes. So I don't think this is actually going to be close. I think Iowa scores maybe 10 and I think Michigan gets to at least at least twenty, if if not twenty-four or more. So I'm gonna go twenty-seven ten. Michigan, as you know, they're a sleeper playoff pick for me going into the year. Obviously, a little bit of assist from the the refs against Western Michigan, but they've come through that. They've gotten their wins. Clearly, the team is bought in. They clicked offensively against UTEP. That momentum can carry in. It's a home game. So, you know, to the Portnoite fans of the world, Michigan by a billion. Over Iowa this weekend. Not quite a billion, but that's what it'll feel like. And I don't expect to see the Hawkeyes touching the end zone paint too much this weekend. Kevin Ivers: They generally haven't through through the years in Ann Arbor. I I think their last win I I could be wrong, but I think you have to go back to the Brad Banks era, that O two Iowa team that went to the Orange Bowl. that was a fun team. Erich: By the way, I saw Wisconsin play at Iowa that year against Brad Kevin Ivers: Okay. Erich: Banks. Way back, throwback. Kevin Ivers: That is a throwback. If you if you don't know Brad Erich: Mm-hmm. Kevin Ivers: Banks and you want to see good Iowa quarterback play. Yeah. Erich: One of their best QBs ever. Yeah. Kevin Ivers: Yeah. Fun, fun watch. but yeah, it's been a house of horrors for them for sure. I I could be one of those people you're talking about that is ignoring my eyes because Erich: Ha ha ha. Kevin Ivers: it's just like I just wanna say 16 to 9 here for the score so bad. Erich: No, that's that's that's northwestern Iowa. That's not this game. Kevin Ivers: Okay. Okay. it is like that's what I'm excited about this. You know, Iowa, like you said, most people would be like, they scored fifty-five points on northern Iowa. That doesn't matter last week. It does because it's Iowa and they normally win that like thirty-four zero, not fifty-five zero. So it is two great defenses. I do trust Michigan's defense more just based off their competition they've Faced, you know, even though the numbers would tell you I was giving up like they're giving up like four points a game and under 200 yards, which that is ridiculous. You can only play who's in front of you. But like you said, Michigan is very, very good on defense. Their edges, Dom Nichols, we talked about him last week. John Henry Daly's rounding into the forum that he was as an all-American at Utah. And he looks fully recovered from that Achilles injury he had or ACL. I forget what it is. Either way, it was a bad one, and he looks phenomenal. Their secondary Michigan is all is incredibly underrated too. Like Jyer Hill. No, it's up. They just Erich: No one gets open. No one gets separation. And they play man coverage. Kevin Ivers: they play that man coverage. you know, z they get Zeke Zeke Berry back this week. s Smith Snowden, great name, came over from Utah. They are just on you like glue. They're they're a problem back there. That's why Eileen Michigan here, and because they're at home, that matters in this series Erich: Yes. Kevin Ivers: historically, and you want to You want to make Iowa throw, and I believe with Michigan's front, they're gonna make Iowa throw. I never trust Iowa's passing game, especially not on the road versus elite defenses. And that alone is why I just can't get behind the Hawkeyes winning this game. Michigan is pretty good. I think in the field position game as well. I know Iowa, of course, wants to play that with friends. but I'll say. I'll say Michigan twenty, Iowa twelve, Iowa kicks four field goals, so Michigan covering by Erich: I was worried I was worried you were gonna say six safeties. Ha ha ha ha ha. Kevin Ivers: Possible. I anything's the Iowa jokes are great. Anything's possible. I think Iowa is improved offensively, so all is not lost. Hawkeyes. This is just historically a bad matchup for you, and stylistically a bad matchup. So going with the Wolverines here, they get to four-and-o, feeling good about themselves. I did want to mention this too. This is the game f like if I wa if if you have improved, I wanna see Tony Diaz make some plays in this game versus a legit secondary. You have this all all the hype about him and he has looked good. Let's see it. Find yes, I realize you're not gonna throw for 300 yards on Michigan, but find unique ways to get him in space and let him be a playmaker. They can't come out of this game where, he had two catches for 11 yards. You have someone like him that has historically been their weakness, obviously, at Iowa. Well, now you have someone like that that can help you versus a team that has a little more athleticism than you, use him. And on the flip side, I'm having all these thoughts here at the very end of this. I do want to see Bryce Underwood in this game. He has to take a key step. Iowa plays that stingy four-three base defense. That's what Phil Parker do does. They sit in that zone. It's every play, it never changes. You have to be patient, and I want to see Underwood be patient versus Iowa. You this is a game where he has to grow and you got to go on a 14-play march and you gotta take what they give you and not turn it over. That's how Michigan would lose, is if Bryce Underwood is saying, I'm gonna force that in there, those Iowa linebackers, they tip it, it's picked, and all that stuff. So, anyways, that's where my thoughts are. What is our next game, Eric? Erich: We are into the nobody bowl. Peacock, our favorite Wisconsin at Penn State. The nobody ball. Kevin Ivers: It we're ranked thirteenth, okay? Like let's let's let's okay, okay, got okay gotcha. All right. Okay, okay. Yeah, okay. Fair. Erich: No, because college football, nobody. So your team, my team, the nobody bowl. Yeah. No, not that the teams are nobody. We're nobody and it's our teams. so no, not the nobody bowl in pr in reality. The nobody bowl in our reality. Kevin Ivers: Our world, yes. Erich: yeah, Wisconsin goes to Penn State. all indications are Penn State should win this game. The injury news today wasn't the greatest news for Penn State today, where Your best receivers you know, up in the air. We'll see. Wisconsin's starting running back is supposedly fully healthy. He missed last game. They kind of think held him out precautionary, knowing they wouldn't need him. So Abbasama is supposed to play. I would say this this the there's only one reality of which I see Wisconsin winning this game, and that is Colton Joseph's legs are fully unleashed. And it it it's enough to cause that just slight hesitation by Penn State's defense to where they can't just be downhill the whole time. If that doesn't happen and you guys can just be downhill the whole time, then I just I don't see Wisconsin being able to hold up against that. you know, I I don't think you have your true number eleven yet on that defense, or at least one that would be playing. But I still think it's really good front seven for Penn State and and definitely one that's gonna get pressure on Colton Joseph. So that's how I would break it down. If Colton Joseph can use his legs to where he's capable of, where he, you know, throws for two fifty and runs for eighty, I would say that's probably a win for Wisconsin if it's if it's not that and he's bottled up and kinda like what Notre Dame did where they didn't let him run at all, then I think Penn State wins that game. So I would lean right now. I think nine and a half might be a little much, but we'll see. I'm thinking it's like Penn State twenty four, Wisconsin seventeen. That's that's where I fall right now. Kevin Ivers: Yeah, the the Sharps liked you guys in this game initially. This was open at eleven and a half, immediately bet down to nine and a half. I sit I think it's sitting at ten right now. I do think that is about right. I I have a funny feeling that Wisconsin's gonna hang around in this game, even though they haven't shown a ton for people to to think that. I think there's something very real about Wisconsin opening with Notre Dame, you play that elite opponent out of the gates. You can learn something from that. And Penn State, like, be very frank, we've played no one. And so, yes, is it an experienced roster? Of course, tons of talented Iowa State veterans have come over. There's Penn State veterans, Rocco Beck, Tony Rojas, etc. These players have played in numerous big games in their career. So it's not that the moment or anything, but there's something to be said season to season where it can take you a little bit some time to be like, yeah, okay. This is a powerful opponent now. Couple of the mistakes and some of the penalties that reared their head last game and some of the drives that stalled because of a poor play or so or a missed assignment. It's like, does that trip up Penn State in the first quarter, first half where they're not quite up to speed where Wisconsin's ready to roll? We'll see. It's a tall, tall order for Wisconsin going into a sold-out Beaver Stadium. 108,000 are gonna be rockin'. It's the first big ten game of the mat. Campbell era, so Penn State's got that going for him. As far as the matchup itself, you know, Matt Campbell said today in his conference, you know, a lot of respect for just Wisconsin's offensive scheme and and what you guys can do, of course, with Colton Joseph legs. He's the whole key to this game, in my opinion, of you guys staying in it. Wisconsin has to stay on schedule in this game and run the football. Is there that elite pass rusher for Penn State this year? Micah Parsons, Abdul Carter, Chop Robinson, you know, name one of the stars in the NFL right now. No, they lost that with Max Granville being injured for the season. But it's still a very good front seven that can get pressure, especially with the massive D-tackles they've brought in in the portal this year. So you get that push up the middle, and if they're able to contain Joseph and put him in second and third and longs, that's going to be tricky for Wisconsin because yes, I think the Badgers have upgraded that receiver this year with Terrell Henry going off last week, 14 catches, 160 yards. Penn State's similar to Michigan in that they have elite corners in athleticism there. And I would side with the Nittany Lions in that matchup. So we'll see. If Wisconsin, like I said, stays on schedule, then they can hang around. And, you know, you never know if they can get loose and make a big play or two. It's going to be interesting with Abu Sama going for you guys. Of course, Matt Campbell knows him well. He was highly productive behind Carson Hansen in that game. You know, offensively, I'm interested to see. Penn State in this game. It's a big blow. If Kobe Howard can't go, that would be quite a break for Wisconsin. He's been as electric as any receiver in the country, not named, you know, Malachi Tony or Jeremiah Smith. I think he's third in the country and averaging like over thirty-three yards per catch. So that would be a loss. Penn State does have other really good athletes at wide receiver. Of course, great tight end room. I think Rocco Beck's able to be His usual self make enough plays, he's savvy. I think we can get after the Wisconsin secondary in this game. But they're gonna have to run the ball, and that has been up and down in the first few games. So I'm really excited to see, hey, versus a solid front. Can we get going what Matt Campbell wants to do, which is run the football? And their offensive line is talented and and has the b ability to do so. I think they might actually enjoy playing this bigger Wisconsin front in this game. Only because, as you know, we've talked about this before. Some of those smaller teams they play you, they're twisting, they're stunned, they're doing all crazy things because they can't just match up with you man for man. So, maybe that's just the bias of me talking. Now it's just. Big on big in there in the trenches, but old school Big Ten battle. I'll go Nittany Lions 27, Wisconsin 19. So maybe a little closer than people think. And I have a question for you, Eric. Erich: Mm-hmm. Kevin Ivers: Do you know the last time that Wisconsin has beaten Penn State? Erich: In general or at Penn State? Kevin Ivers: In general. Erich: it's like two thousand eleven or earlier. Somewhere in there. Yeah, I think it was tw yeah. The Brett Belema twenty eleven team. Kevin Ivers: you nailed it. 2011. Yeah, Russell Wilson money balls. A few weeks after the scandal broke, and I was Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: in the pouring rain at Camp Randall. We got walloped. That was not great. But since then it's it's been good 15 years, six in a row. And I'm I'm hoping for bragging rights to keep keep that streak alive. So we we shall see. Erich: Well, we shall see. Well, let's go to Kevin Ivers: Of note for viewers out there, it is not only Peacock. If you have YouTube TV or another service that has NBC Sports Network, you don't have to watch it on that awful Peacock app. So that is good to know. Erich: That is good to know. It's two weeks in a row for Wisconsin on Peacock. So hopefully that's their last game on it. Kevin Ivers: Brutal. Erich: let's go to a what should we call this game? The bounce back game of the week. AM traveling to LSU. I think that's a good title. Bounce back game of the week. tough spot Kevin Ivers: Good. Erich: for AM. really, really, they really need this game because the schedule doesn't get easier for them as they go. and LSU kind of needs this game too, because you could say the same thing about them is you know, that the one of the talking points for Lane is if he goes to Oxford and loses and then loses again to AM, boy, they could be, you know, they're two and two at best. And what are the what's the LSU Faithful gonna say about that? We're spending so much money and we gave you everything you wanted, and you know, your first two tests you had, you lost both those games. I don't think that's gonna happen here. I think this is a tough spot for AM. The only thing I will say is I don't know if L I don't know what the condition is of LSU's tight end that cause when he came out of the game for them late against O'Miss, that really you know, if he's in the game, that pass to the end zone of their backup tight end that went off his fingertips. If the six foot eight tight end's in there, that's probably a completion. And now we're going for two to go to overtime. So I I haven't looked and see what his injury status is. So if he's playing, that's a big outlet for Sam Levitt. And I think that's an important part of their passing game, especially on third downs. So we'll have to see what his health is. I still think LSU is just better, especially on defense compared to AM. And I think that's what we're going to see. I think Marcel Reid's going to be running for his life most of the game. And I think the nine and a half is probably good that LSU is getting. you know, I might even go a little bit more than that. I I think I'm gonna go like thirty four twenty in this game. I think you know, AM will get some points, but I think they're just running up against a superior team defensively and I think a bounce back win for LSU and Lane Kiffin. Kevin Ivers: I like LSU big here. I'm I'm not high on AM. I think I think Kentucky took their manhood last week. LSU is fuming from that loss. I think they get off the mat. Lane Kiffin is is a very good coach. He'll have them motivated, say, hey, yep, that was you know, honestly That that's that game's past them now. They can hit the reset button, all the link hiv and talk in the circus that was. Focus on football. We got a lot in front of a lot in front of us. And I think that's gonna be a breath of fresh air for them. But Melk Mike Elko needs a response from his Aggies in this game. I just don't see it. They don't have enough offensively to go down there, in my opinion, and do this. They also lost Terry Bussey for the season. So that's a huge receiver loss. You saw that news today. Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: he was their number two receiver in yardage. Contributed in the run in the return game. So that's just another explosive piece away from Marcel Reid, which they cannot afford. Death Valley. Erich: And and AM doesn't have the front four that Ole Miss has to put pressure on Kevin Ivers: No, they do not. Erich: Sam Levitt. So that I mean, people act like LSU got killed. They didn't. They lost by one score and they were on the three yard line, five yard line, trying to score to tie it. Like so it's not like they got blown out by Ole Miss. I just think it's a superior roster to A I just frankly. Kevin Ivers: in in every way. And A and still just has not replaced those four offensive linemen like we talked about. So this is a mismatch in the trenches. I I think it could be ugly two weeks in a row for AM. I I'll I'll go LSU I'll go thirty four thirty-four thirteen. I think it's a beatdown. Erich: Okay. I like it. So Kevin, the next game I want to pose a question to you. So we talked about you talked about how you love when the team whose ranking is lower is favored. How and what has anyone seen to rank or to favor Oregon over USC? Kevin Ivers: I Erich: I I don't understand. Like, were you impressed by them beating Portland State eighty four to zero? Like, do we not remember the Boise game? Do we not remember the Oklahoma State game? Like what what because USC struggled on a road game where they traveled three thousand miles to play rutgers that you that were like, let's favor Oregon. This is at U this is in LA. This is at the Coliseum. I don't understand this. And maybe I'm just giving away my pick here. I think USC wins this game. I just I don't see how can how can we how can anyone favor Oregon based on what you've seen with your eyes so far, other than you're assuming this is their get right game. That's an assumption and that could be correct. But there's been nothing my eyes have shown me that tells me that Oregon is the better team at this point over USC. Thoughts. Kevin Ivers: All fair points, Eric. I think it's a combination of things. One of what you listed. I r I talked about it last week. I realized the travel for USC, but but Ruckers is an absolute atrocity. Erich: I get it. Kevin Ivers: I I think I think it's that. They're they've allowed 35 points to that roster. I think that's one. I think two, yes, in the Coliseum. Of course it's gonna be a pretty good atmosphere because now it's a big game, but it's still not. A Death Valley, an Odson, a Happy Valley, a Kyle Field, a swamp, etc. And then your third point is, or my third point I would say, is I think odds makers think this is the get right game for Oregon, that they still feel like this is a better overall roster and balance. I I frankly like this game is so hard to pick. It's absolutely fascinating. I did have USC. All along before the season, going into it in this game. I hate that I'm flipping now. I do not feel comfortable picking Oregon in this game, but that's exactly what I am going to do. I'm Erich: Mm-hmm. Kevin Ivers: not fully jumping off the USC Trojan wagon that I I have been driving. I've been driving this bus. Erich: Yeah, you have. Kevin Ivers: But I don't believe they're supposed to have Trent Mosley in this game. That hurts. I think there are real issues with their defense as they've shown the last two weeks. The big thing for me in this game is Oregon's offensive line has issues, and that's showed up first Boise in Oklahoma State. The problem is, is USC, as talented as they are up front with Abasiri and Luke Waifel and all those guys, they haven't been able to get home. They're one of the worst teams in the country in sacks and pressure aid and all those things. So Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: that's been part of their issue. And if Dante Moore has time back there, that's a problem for USC. I think they can still outphysical them a little bit. And Dan Lanning has won more big games recently, and maybe overall in his career than Lincoln Riley. Where I'm now at the point where I can't pick Lincoln Riley and USC to win a big game until I see the physicality and the defense fixed. And I thought it was early on. I thought I had signs. We talked about it. I I dogged about it a lot. You were skeptical. And that's why that's so funny, because it looks like you're going USC. I've been so high on on them. And I'm I'm going Oregon here in a game Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: that's I don't know how you pick it, because there's so many questions on both sides. It's really gonna be intriguing. I can't wait to watch this one and and and see what happens. Cause the Portland state, that that means obviously nothing. Erich: Needs nothing. Kevin Ivers: That was a stupid game. So What do you think? Just inside the matchup. Erich: What do you think? I just I haven't seen anything that allows me to put my faith back back in Oregon. I mean I picked them to win the national championship this year. So if they this is their Kevin Ivers: Fair. Erich: get right game, I'm happy to hop back on that train. But for now, I'm getting off at this train stop in LA and I'm buying a ticket to the Coliseum and I'm transferring vehicles here and I'm jumping on the Lincoln Riley locomotive coal fired. Engine just steaming through the caliseum. Huge win. Everyone's talking about USC after this. And I think it's gonna be close. I think Oregon's gonna make a push at the end, but I'm going USC thirty-eight, Oregon thirty-one. Kevin Ivers: That's what I that that's my score I wrote down and I'm going Oregon. Yeah. It's incredible. Erich: Just the other way. All right. So we're both thirty eight, thirty one, just opposites. Kevin Ivers: Yeah, I will hate myself if USC wins this game. but these are these are decisions that have to be made on college football nobodies. Erich: So I'm gonna queue up the next game, but I'm gonna queue it up with a question of who is the more fun team to watch Mississippi State or West Virginia offensively? Kevin Ivers: Mississippi State for sure. Camario Taylor, Fluff Bothwell, I yeah. Love, love, love that. Erich: Yeah, from a player standpoint, but from a scheme standpoint, West Virginia is the team that makes me want to turn on the game and play the way they play offense. Kevin Ivers: Fair. Erich: This is I really feel like this I just feel like I'm watching it's slightly differently, but I feel like I'm watching Pat White and Steve Slayton when when they're out there. Just the way they play the game. Hawkins is he actually can throw it down the field when they need him to, and I think he showed that against Virginia with some really nice passes down the field over 20 yards right on a dime. but Oklahoma State at West Virginia, huge game for you. Because if Oklahoma State wins this game and it's Kevin Ivers: Mm-hmm. Erich: a point and a half, so it's that coin flip spread, like everything's right in front of them, right? This would be a huge confidence boosting win. And if West Virginia wins this game, again, what what's their limit in the Big 12, right? So a huge game for both of these teams. I'm going with the home team here. I I d I just think that coming back after that neutral site win, like big win over Virginia, that crowd is just going to be jacked. They're starting to get a little attention nationally. that's very much deserved at this point. To me, they just run that scheme, Kevin. That Richrod scheme that is so hard on defenses. And they have the perfect players to do it. They and and like I said, it's a little different than that Steve Slayton, Pat White days, just because their starting running back is more of a power back. But Hawkins is super fast. He's probably their most athletic runner. And then they have this between the tackles running back that's going to break three tackles before they go down before he goes down. Great for them to grab him in the transfer portal. Perfect fit. I just think the schematically they're a tough matchup. but Oklahoma State, they have a pretty wicked offense too that we've seen. So we'll we'll see what you think here. But I'm going West Virginia to cover this one. I think it's actually gonna be like a ten point win for them. I'm going West Virginia thirty five, Oklahoma State twenty five. Kevin Ivers: We're definitely different here. I'm on the pokes. I'm on the pokes here by by ten myself. I got the pokes thirty-one Erich: Okay. Kevin Ivers: twenty-one over the nears. It is in Morgantown. I think that line matters here. If odds makers thought West Virginia was truly the better team. You know, they say you get three at home. They're only favored by a point and a half. The matchup I'm looking at is West Virginia ranking fourteenth in the Big 12 in pass yards a game, about 246 a game. I think Drew Mestimaker and the Cowboys can explode that. You mentioned their good offense. Yeah, it's darn good. It's sixth Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: nationally, 528 a game. They proved it versus Oregon, who that's a good win over Virginia, of course. but that's Certainly not the caliber of Oregon that Oakie State took out. Oklahoma State, of course, is my surprise of the season from 1-11 going to the Big 12 championship. So looked dire early with the loss to Tulsa. Came back in a big way a couple weeks ago. I think they continue it here. And as good as Michael Hawkins is, love him. And I love their scheme. It's really tough. They have to slow him down. If he runs wild, then yeah, it it tips the scale in their flavor. But Oklahoma State, we talk about their offense and and Caleb Hawkins at running back too is really good. Erich: It's killed money back to Kevin Ivers: But they I believe, yeah. They are number one in the nation, Oklahoma State, in third down defense. Erich: I they I believe, yeah. They are number one in the nation, Oklahoma State, in third down defense. Kevin Ivers: The I love third down defense statistics. That matters. Erich: I love third down defense statistics. That matters. Kevin Ivers: They're only allowing 16% conversion rate. If they're able to get off the field and West Virginia is not able to control the game on the ground and keep Mesti Maker off the field, I think that's a real problem for the Mountaineers. So Erich: Only allowing sixteen percent conversion rate. They're able to get off the field unless Virginia's not able to control the game on the ground and keep Meskinaker off the field. I think it's a real problem for the Mountaineers. So Kevin Ivers: I'll go 31-21. Cowboys getting a big, big win in West Virginia. Fun game. I'm really excited for this one. I know you are too. Two Big 12 sleepers that are now getting a lot of attention. Erich: One twenty one cowboys game is the same thing with one game. I'm really excited for this, but I know you are too. Two through twelve sleepers that are now getting a lot of attention. Agreed. And I like that we're having some different picks 'cause we were too similar when we started. So that's good. So let's go to I'm gonna do a bold prediction next. Let's go to the fun offense we just talked about. Super Camario. The hammer that is fluff bothwell. Hosan Mizzou. I doubted Mizzou against Kansas. And after what I saw against Troy last week, I'm gonna doubt Mizzou here big. I I know people wanna think this is gonna be close. I am going with what my eyes tell me, and that is that Mississippi State is going to run and pass all over Mizzou. The only thing that's gonna stop him is turnovers. And I just don't think Super Camario is a turnover guy. Even the interception he threw, it was just slightly mist thrown and went off his player's hands. So it's not like it was a a terrible throw that he threw the other way, like a tip pass interception. I think Mississippi State runs away with this one. I'm going like 38 14 Mississippi State. I don't think it's close. I'm not sold on Mazoo as much as other people are. I think the 19 ranking it is what it is. Mississippi State's favorite for a reason. You know, if I was the betting man, I would take these points for Mississippi State all day. I don't think there's any chance they're not winning by at least ten. That's where I land on this one. Kevin Ivers: We are aligned once again, my friend. It only it only Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: it only took Mississippi State, Kamario Taylor, of course. I'm with you. Mizzou is severely overrated. Their win over Kansas Erich: Yeah. Solid team. Solid team. I don't want to make it seem like they're a bad team. I just think that they're just leagues Kevin Ivers: They're not Erich: away from what some of these teams in the SEC are. Kevin Ivers: Yeah. You're ranked nineteenth, you're six and a half point dogs at the twenty-fourth ranked team. It's pretty telling. Everything I've seen, Mississippi State's a better football team. They're averaging four five hundred and forty-five yards a game. They're an absolute freight train right now. They're balanced. Starkville and the cowbells are gonna be clanking in Erich: That'd be great. Kevin Ivers: those Mizzou Tigers' ears. This is Erich: It's it's Kevin Ivers: a very anticipated matchup, which I will get to a little bit later, as as Erich: Love it. I think I know I think I know where you're going with this. Maybe getting to them Kevin Ivers: Mm-hmm. And I didn't Erich: more than once in in a few moments here. Kevin Ivers: Yeah. The Mizzou the Mizzou game versus Troy left a lot to be desired. They got out game three Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: twenty three twenty-three to two thirty. Austin Simmons, the Ole Miss Transfer, did not look great. He was threw for under a hundred yards, ten of nineteen. Ugly, ugly win. I am not sold Erich: Yeah. I am Kevin Ivers: on the Tigers this year at all. Mississippi State, I'm with you. Big, big. It's one of those games where I Yeah, I'd probably feel the most confident o of all the games this week. So that's all I'll say. Erich: Yeah. I mean unless crazy turnovers happen, but even then I think even if Mississippi State has a couple bad turnovers, I think they still bounce through it and win by at least ten. Kevin Ivers: Mm-hmm. Erich: One more game to cover. The Bronco Bull. G six. Yeah. Kevin Ivers: Yes. Erich: I think Boise State at Western Michigan really sets the stage for who the favorite's gonna be here for both these teams as they go. I I think there's gonna be a lot of people who look at Western Michigan's game against Michigan as a win in terms of how they rank these two teams at the end of the year. because I mean if you're If you have a vote or the way you're looking, I mean you could come away saying that. so, you know, this gonna be really interesting. I'm going with the home team. I really like what Western Michigan can do with their defensive line. and I you know, I know Boise is favored, I believe, in this one. I think that's gonna be a tough travel for them. I and I just this is I think before conference play starts for Western Michigan, their last chance to kind of like make their mark. And I think they do here. I so I'm going with the home team. How about you? Kevin Ivers: Yeah, going with Boise. I love them. You know, Western Michigan is not your typical Mac tune-up. We know that with how they played at Michigan. Brock Lowry and and Jalen Buckley are a legitimate rushing identity for the Broncos. The boys from Kalamazoo will play hard, but the rushing advantage for Boise State is a lot. You know, Dylan Riley at a monster game versus Memphis. And that was a legit Memphis front. Western Michigan, they're solid on defense or MAC standards. They're not quite up to Memphis level, and Boise ran through them. I just I love everything about that program. And the thing that's tough for Western Michigan is you don't sneak up on Boise because Boise's program was built on doing that to others, so they know they're the little guy that became the big dog. So they always have respect for opponents. Because they were a Western Michigan at one point and now have gone to become the Gonzaga of college football, if I said. So I think Wumu can make this a little bit annoying in Kalamazoo, but Erich: So they have respect for business. Because they're in the district Michigan. So I think we could make this a little bit annoying in Canada too, but they're all often to be a weird and easy can really get on. Kevin Ivers: Their offense leaves a little bit to be desired and and Boise can really get out and go. So I like the Broncos here. I think they do win by double double digits, but a fun game for a while. They they pull away. Too much depth and talent. Erich: I think they do that. Wow. Okay. All right. So we're opposite there. I'm going I'm going with the Kalamazoo Broncos. You're going with the Boise Broncos. So we're opposite there. By the way, this was my backup pick for color palette of the week. And I'm gonna use that to transition into our categories with me going first. Commissioner of College Football, Jersey Colors, Color Palette of the Week Award. Kevin, you're gonna love this choice. I'm gonna let you guess. That's my clue is you're gonna love this choice, and I'm gonna let you guess. And you have five seconds to think. Kevin Ivers: It inv it involves Wyoming. Erich: You nailed it. Hawaii at Wyoming. Kevin Ivers: Yes. That's be Erich: Great. The Islands helmet, the brown and yellow. Great, great, great colors. can't wait to to just flip to it just to see those colors. So that is your Commissioner of College Football Jersey Colors, Color Palette of the Week Award, Hawaii at Boise. Let's go to environment of the week, Kevin. And I think I know who you're gonna choose here. Who are you picking? Kevin Ivers: Great pick for your palette, Eric. Both those helmets prominently displayed, and now they're facing off. Had to pick it. Environment of the week, going right back down to Starkville, Mississippi. My good old friend. Erich: Yeah, easy choice. Kevin Ivers: Easy choice. Their biggest home game in a long time. And it's so fun when fans. I think a lot of them know they are better than Mizzou. Not only the spread tells them that, those folks know ball down there. And that's fun when you can get a big win versus a solid team and a solid program, take nothing away from Mizzou to go and like feel in that confidence. And I think they're gonna get to see what they want to see in a in a pretty big victory. But those clank and cowbells, they don't stop. It is fun to see that. And should be a beautiful southern night down there. So I'm really excited to see those folks show up for what is so far maybe the story Erich: It's so fun. Kevin Ivers: of college football. And that that's exciting for those people down there. Erich: Yeah, I was wondering if you were gonna choose that or if you were gonna choose go with some some orange on orange violence in the SEC with Rocky Top also will be a great environment and always is. but I am glad you chose this one. Well, let's do our point spread letdowns of the week. I alluded to mine early. I said I was gonna talk about Indiana later, and I just right now have a hard time seeing Indiana beat Northwestern. By over 20 points. I think 38, 20 or something like that is probably what that final score ends up being, which is still a really good win because I think this Northwestern team is probably a little better than people are giving them credit for. They have a two-way threat at QB. they just beat the absolute crap out of out of Colorado. And Colorado has shown they're you know, they're not a bottom-of-the-barrel team right now. And so that's I think something to be said there. So for me. point spread letdown of the week. If I was a gambling man, which I am not, I am staying away from the twenty-one and a half or twenty or twenty-three and a half, whatever ends up being, that Indiana is getting. How about you, Kevin? What's your point spread letdown of the week? Kevin Ivers: Yeah, that game seems like it's gonna be right around that three touchdown number, so good call there. I got the Game Cox of South Carolina covering in Tuscaloosa, Bama. It makes no sense. They're getting thirteen and a half or twelve and a half, depending where you look. They were outclassed by Mississippi State despite the score. you know, they only lost by seven, but Mississippi State really handled them in that game. There were some late garbage scores. But this would be just like Shane Beamer and South Carolina. They've done this at times. You count them out and then they randomly show up in this game. I Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: don't think they win, but I think they get inside that number in the fourth quarter, there's still some work for Bama to be done. And we're maybe tuning in going, Hmm, is this kind of getting weird? So I'm correct. Erich: And Bama might have some real issues on defense, so let's see how they bounce back this game. Kevin Ivers: Yeah, and Lenora Sellers, you know, it was a big swing game last week with Camario Taylor. And sometimes when the attention is on South Carolina, you know, it's not good. Now, written off, not a lot of talk with this game. Perfect opportunity. Go in there, play well. with that Erich: Love it. Kevin Ivers: s with that said, we have our upset of the week. What do you got, Eric? Erich: Think we're gonna be the same. Kevin Ivers: Yeah. Erich: this was I don't want to say it's an obvious pick because it's again, we're doubting Trinidad Jamplis to our to our own peril here that he's gonna just have because I here's the thing. I don't think he's gonna have a bad game. I just think Florida, the environment, their defensive line, Jaden Baugh, I just think it's too much for what both these teams have right now. and like I said, I think Florida wins by three. so Florida again, you know, at the end of the year we might say that's not really an upset. Florida's a better team than them. Well, we're going off the the rankings that we have right now. And right now Ole Miss is ranked ahead of Florida because of who they've beaten. so I'm going with Florida and looks like you are as well. Kevin Ivers: I am. We talked about this too much last week not to have this on there. It's just one of those classic Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: situational spots in college football and I just don't see Omus winning this game after last week. I the swamp i if Florida was mediocre, this would be a brutal turnaround spot. But Florida looks like they could be really, really good and a revived fan base. Give me the gators here. This is the upset of the week since Florida is favored by three in this game. Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: But I was trying to manufacture something else, and I'm like, you know what? We're just gonna have the same pick this week because it it it's too obvious. So Erich: Well, that leaves one category, our game of the week and mine. While you normally want to pick, I think your pick is the better pick, 'cause I'm going with just what I'm more excited to watch, even though I don't think it's gonna be a close game. I am going with Missouri at Mississippi State, SEC environment. I don't get to get doubt get to give out on Environment of the Week award. so that's kind of bleeding into this one a little bit. but I'm just so high on the Bulldogs right now and just I think Can't wait to watch that game, even though I think it's gonna be a blowout at the end of it. So for me, game of the week, Missouri at Mississippi State. Kevin Ivers: Good pick. I'm going with Oregon USC. We just touched on this. This is so this is your NBC primetime game. I'm so fascinated with this game with Oregon's early loss and the unbelievable upset at Oklahoma State. Everyone's writing them off as a national title contender. Can they get back to looking like that? and getting a huge win over USC, a team they've dominated in recent years. USC wants to get back Erich: He may have done it or see once again. Kevin Ivers: to winning this game. This is the supposed to be the Erich: Is it so? Kevin Ivers: s the Prove it to me, show me year for Lincoln Riley defensively. Doesn't look like that. It kind of looks like the same old fluff high flying USC team, but they don't have it in the trenches. Maybe they do. Maybe they've just been waiting for this game and they haven't given a damn about their past opponents. I I don't know. I'm excited to see it. The amount of athletes on the field, old Pac-12 powers going at it on a fast track with a late Erich: fast track Kevin Ivers: afternoon sun going into twilight there 'cause it'll be four thirty out in the Coliseum. Should be a ton of fun. I cannot wait for that game. 'Cause I have no clue, no clue what's gonna happen, even though I picked Oregon. Erich: with a late sub twice I think there's only four thirty on the top so for that game. I love it. I think it's a great pick. I could see it very much going down to the last possession, which will be fun to see that happen in the with the lights on in the evening there. And that's it. That's our week th week four, excuse me. Week four Preview. Great slate of games. And I think Kevin, we should say whether it's the probably the preview for the following week, we'll start doing our own rankings. Whether that's playoff rankings or top twenty five, we'll decide. But I think we'll finally have enough information to where we can do that in a fun way. and that's the preview. Kevin Ivers: Normally I sign off and and wish everybody good luck to your teams out there. I I cannot say that in good faith this week, Eric. I'll just say may the best team win and go Knitney Lions. Erich: Likely to happen. That's where I'm at. All right. Thanks everyone. Bye. Kevin Ivers: Thank you guys.