E.P.I.C. Podcast "Every Play Is Crucial"
Life is full of moments you cannot predict or control only experience and enjoy right? Come join Vernon, Isaac, Justin, and Jared every Wednesday where we lend our opinions about current event going on in sports. Every episode is promising to be entertaining, not necessarily informational.
E.P.I.C. Podcast "Every Play Is Crucial"
Unraveling Sports: College Football Insights, NBA Cup Strategies, and NFL Playoff Picture
Is it time to rethink everything you know about sports rankings and playoffs? Join us as we navigate through a whirlwind of captivating sports narratives, from the recent setbacks of Miami's football teams to the intricacies of college football playoff scenarios. We're unpacking the College Football Power Index, challenging conventional wisdom on rankings, and discussing how strength of schedule can make or break a team's playoff hopes. Brace yourself for insights on how teams like Tennessee, BYU, and Texas are shaping their playoff destinies amidst the unpredictable landscape of college football.
Switching gears, we're diving into the NBA Cup, spotlighting top contenders and the lineup strategies that could make or break a team's season. Curious about the Lakers' dynamics with Anthony Davis and LeBron James? We've got you covered, analyzing their lineup puzzles and the critical role of young players bringing energy off the bench. As we scan the competitive landscape of the Western Conference, we get to the heart of what makes teams like Golden State and the Nuggets tick, all while sharing our excitement for attending a high-stakes Lakers vs. Jazz game.
Finally, we tackle the NFL's playoff picture, dissecting the playoff credentials of teams like the Eagles, Texans, and Pittsburgh Steelers. We explore potential playoff paths for teams on the cusp, like the Commanders and Vikings, while offering a deep dive into Indiana University's quest for the Big Ten Championship. Whether you're a college football fanatic or an NFL enthusiast, this episode has something for every sports lover eager to keep up with the latest thrills and challenges in the world of sports.
Yeah, what's up with it. Do it, cause I love it and I stuck with it. We ain't with the subbing and the cut with it. Please, none of the talks I heard enough of it Like what you gonna do, where you at who you with? You ain't really bout this. Don't talk about it. Really, on the move on the map, never slip. Keep your hands to your lips, don't talk about it. Keep your hands to your lips, don't talk about it. Real eyes, real lives, real lives, all the time. Stand on it. If we said it, we don't walk around it. Loose lips ain't ships. Red cup, blue strips, new phone, who this? No, we don't allow it. Really, on goal, I don't know what's the off day. Now we on road came from smoking in the hallway. Now we got shows. Boys feeling like Broadway, always look both ways, even on a crossway climbing down Cross Bay. Our town park lays really on. Big teams came up a small way. Championship rings baby, that's a ball game. Oh, she won a little bag, baby that's.
Speaker 2:Yo, yo yo. Welcome back to another episode of the Epic Podcast. Again, joining me is Jarrett, just us two again. You know how was your sports weekend?
Speaker 3:It's cool, man. Nothing too exciting happened, you know same as always, yeah, yeah, yeah, what about? For you.
Speaker 2:Well, I couldn't say it was exciting. Unfortunately, miami lost. It's the team I root for, the? U, my bad hurricanesricanes. I'm going to say that Miami Dolphins, they lost.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was kind of weird.
Speaker 2:Now I've always just been a fan of you, mainly the players. But yeah, no, they lost. So that's making things interesting In college football. But, yeah, man, I they lost, so that's making things interesting in college football. But yeah, man, I mean, coach lost again. Join the club, brother.
Speaker 2:So we're going to talk a little bit about playoff hopes and who has a chance, a realistic chance a little later on, and we're also going to talk college football. I wanted to do something a little different Talk about the college playoff, college football power index, because a lot of times we talk about just oh, the rankings, and you know I mean who we think should be there and stuff. But like we talk about also like strength of schedule you know what I mean things of that nature to play into it too, to wonder why some teams fall further than others when they lose, or you know, contrary to what we believe, and also get started with the NBA Cup. I think it started tonight. Some of the groups are playing each other tonight, so start talking about some favorites based on the six groups and how they've broken down. Nonetheless, we're going to jump right into it, because we gave you an extra half an hour last week. Y'all don't get that this week.
Speaker 3:You won't get that this week.
Speaker 2:Y'all don't get that this week. I promise you you won't get that. Nonetheless, we're going to start with the NBA. No WNBA news, really right now Nothing's really changed in the coaching world, or nothing like that Outside of Kaitlyn Clark going to play some little, some golf, some scrimmage golf, which I heard she's pretty good at, so but nonetheless, nba Cup favorites projections. So in the East, you got three groups and in the West, you got three groups. You got three groups and in the West you got three groups. You got A, b and C. East A with Charlotte, brooklyn, the Knicks, orlando and Philly. Who's your favorite coming out of that in the East?
Speaker 3:If you had to pick. I don't know, man, there's so many like non-good teams in the East right now Well just in that group. So Charlotte Go ahead. No, just in that group.
Speaker 2:So Charlotte no, I'm just saying just with Charlotte Brooklyn, the Knicks, orlando and Philly.
Speaker 3:I have no idea.
Speaker 1:I mean, I guess.
Speaker 3:Like I was saying, there's so many ungood teams in the league right now that I mean especially in the East, the entire East is pretty bad. I guess the Knicks, I don't know, I'm not.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would definitely put Philly if they can all get on the court at the same time. Yeah, that's true. I mean they would probably, and the Knicks.
Speaker 3:Talent-wise, but the way everybody's playing, starting off man, I have no idea.
Speaker 2:I agree, I get on to slight edge. Like I said, joel, come back. Like I said, maxie, and if we get all of them back within that time frame, then yeah, I definitely would say Philly, but the Knicks are definitely contenders. I would have to say Orlando.
Speaker 3:Orlando. If PB didn't get hurt, we'd probably have a great record right now.
Speaker 2:Yeah absolutely. East B is Detroit, indiana, miami, milwaukee and Toronto. I'm going to jump outside it. I'm going to say Miami is probably the favorite in there, just because they've probably been playing the best. But I mean Milwaukee with Giannis and Dane, and then the Pacers who came out last year I would probably say them Pistons and Toronto. Like I said, they just haven't been good. So, like I said, I would probably give Miami the slight nod, just because they usually just play well.
Speaker 3:I would go to the Pacers there. Again, another group of teams that none of them are really playing at potential, exactly, and the Pacers have just been playing horrible these past couple weeks.
Speaker 2:I mean Halliburton is finally turning it on for this season, but yeah, we done kind of got ourselves into a little hole as far as our record and things of that nature. But, like you said, the East has been playing bad as far as our record and things of that nature. But, like you said, the East has been playing bad. So if nothing else, you could probably bounce back in the East to average that record with it being early on. Last group Group C is Cleveland Even over Boston.
Speaker 3:Just Cleveland Over Boston. That's going to be, but that looks like the Eastern Conference right now. That's the whole entire Eastern Conference.
Speaker 2:Is Boston and Cleveland right now. Yeah, no, I agree with that. I would definitely. I mean Boston just because Just how they're built and how they've been playing. But Cleveland is just, they're undefeated. This is their best start Almost ever. I think if they win one more game, it'd be the best start since the Golden State Warriors in 15-16. So, yeah, so it'd be historic. If they win, I think, two more games, they'll have the best NBA start, I think, ever.
Speaker 3:Nah since Warriors won 24-0.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 3:Ways to go before they get there, but I think they're already the second best start ever.
Speaker 2:Yeah, second best start. Okay, Jumping over to the West, group A is Timberwolves, rockets, kings, clippers and Trailblazers. Timberwolves, yeah, I would say Timberwolves Rockets, right there. Sacramento, I mean you got to give the Clippers a slight whatever, but without Homeboy, who's never playing Kawhi, then that's just a very low chance. But I'd definitely say Minnesota too. Like I said, the West is tough. That's why I would put the Rockets and Sacramento in there. A very low chance, but I'd definitely say Minnesota too. Like I said, the West is tough. That's why I would put the Rockets and Sacramento in there. Just because the Rockets are up and coming. Sacramento has been playoff contenders the past few years, so I'd definitely give them a chance. But no Timberwolves out of that. Group. Group B you get Thunder. This is a real good group Thunder, suns, lakers, spurs, jazz. I would probably give the nod to OKC yeah me too.
Speaker 3:I still don't understand how that team is playing so well. I don't understand it, and I think what's your call it Getting three guys on the team? I mean, obviously I can, but as far as like namely names, like they have the most low-profile team in the league but they're winning I don't understand it.
Speaker 2:But when you got like five first-round picks on there, like you got to think, when they were moving hard and PG and Westbrook and all these guys, they were acquiring a lot of picks. So even if they had guys who they didn't hit on, like just the odds of you going to get one or two or maybe three guys to start building around when you're acquiring that many picks. You know what I mean. So I think, like you said, with SGA and and even Giddy before he left Holmgren, like a lot of these guys you don't know but it's just like when you pull a bunch of young guys together and you let them build together for a couple years and you keep dropping. You know what I mean solid picks in there. Eventually it's going to come together. It looks like and that's what's happening in OKC. I definitely would put Phoenix and LA in there as contenders.
Speaker 2:Eventually it's going to come together. It looks like and that's what's happening in OKC. I definitely would put Phoenix and LA in there as contenders. San Antonio and the Jazz just on the back end. I just don't see them making a run right now. They haven't really put anything together on tape early on to show me anything that makes me believe something different. But yeah, but I think Kevin Durant is out for like two weeks right now with a calf strain, so that I think that kind of hurts the phoenix sands and may get the lakers a chance to contend. But uh, okay, see, right now out of that group, definitely. Oh, and uh ad with his eye, I think everything's okay, but he's going to see a specialist, so we'll see about that you know before we move on from them.
Speaker 3:It's crazy how that's the same team that we've seen since the bubble. They still don't play defense. They still take horrible shots. They still don't move on offense, they still don't talk on defense. It's the same exact team Sturges same team. That's unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I wanted to see something with them. Let's see if they have it in here because I wanted to look at. I don't think they have the advanced no, they don't have the advanced uh stats on here right now I don't think they played enough games right now. Oh yeah, they do, they got some of it. Oh, they don't have to do. Let's see, no, they don't have the defensive. Let's see, no, they don't have a defensive.
Speaker 2:I would want to look up their defensive efficiency and kind of compare it over years but, they don't have it right now Because they usually wait for a certain amount of games before they start compiling that data. But yeah, no man, like you said, they're 6-4, they're third in the division, but I mean, we're only 10 games in and they're kind of, like you said, looking the same. You know, hopefully.
Speaker 3:Same, uninspiring, underachieving. It's just the attitudes, the body language, everything is identical. It's crazy.
Speaker 2:Who's coming out, who's going to be your guy off the bench? You got to establish that.
Speaker 3:Nobody, they still don't have roles.
Speaker 2:That's what I'm saying. I'm just looking at minutes right now.
Speaker 3:Right now, you're giving Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent the most minutes off the pond, but they're the most unproductive, right now Cam Reddish has been playing good defense though, so I was just getting ready to say I do like the move with, because man you can't have. He's only played five games though. No, he just made the move to Cam.
Speaker 2:Reddish is starting now. Okay, yeah, he done started two games.
Speaker 3:I'm just saying, like overall only unfaved five games, that's all I'm saying he's playing awesome defense, and I actually like that change that was made, because having D'Lo and Austin Reeves is just starting backcourt. It's just not it. Neither one of them can really run the offense. Nobody's going to set anybody up. It's just like Cam Reddish isn't either, but at least Cam Reddish won't give you defense and neither one of D'Lo and Austin Reeves is locking anybody up.
Speaker 2:so I mean yeah plus I mean, I mean Austin Reeves is leading the team in steals, but I mean that's not saying much at all. I'm just saying, I'm just looking like nobody on the team plays defense, so and again.
Speaker 3:I've watched every game so like just nobody like yeah, they're on the average in seven.
Speaker 2:Turn out yeah, block yeah and then it's like they all. That's why I wanted to look up the efficiency to try to see if it was.
Speaker 3:It's better. Another thing that's crazy to me is that they always say you know, oh well, the Lakers, they don't foul. You know they're always at the bottom of the league in number of fouls. But I mean, that's what happens when you don't challenge shots. You don't challenge shots, you don't play defense, you're not aggressive. Yeah, you're not aggressive, you're not going to foul a lot because you're not playing defense.
Speaker 1:No absolutely.
Speaker 3:You know coaches always. You know well. You know the Lakers shot X amount of free. The Lakers don't foul because they don't play defense. And this has been the same since 2021. It's been the exact same.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Eventually you're going to have to turn on the aggression on defense, If not now she's supposed to be aggressive on defense.
Speaker 3:I think what the Lakers need is that they need to go ahead and instead of trading D'Lo, because the one thing about the Lakers is they have not began planning for after LeBron at all, not even a little bit.
Speaker 3:They have not began planning for life after LeBron at all, not even a little bit. They have not began planning for life after LeBron. It's like at some point you're going to have to do that, you're going to have to plan your organization for what happens after LeBron James is gone. I think a reason why they might ride it out with D'Lo this year because they keep falling in the same cycle. They keep trading guys, trading away picks and then bringing on contracts for them to do nothing. Trading away guys. It's just the same.
Speaker 2:Eventually, you got to start drafting and start bringing in some new blood. Exactly you got to start drafting.
Speaker 3:You got to start being able to get free agents. Yeah.
Speaker 2:They keep you afloat until these young guys come along. Absolutely.
Speaker 3:Like they might trade D-Lo this year for a guy that has two or three years left on the contract. He's not going to do nothing. It's just the same. You know, you're bringing in all these guys, none of them are panning out and you just keep getting the same result.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Because even at the LeBron you may get maybe two years tops out of AD.
Speaker 3:You know what I mean. If you plan on building your team around Anthony Davis. I'm sorry, that is not going to work.
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm just saying let's just say this is LeBron's last year. You may get two more out of AD you know what I mean, Of course LeBron is going to free up money to bring somebody else in, but then it has to be somebody who almost instantly clicks and fits in. You know what I mean. Just keep that ball rolling if y'all want to try to keep being playoff hopeful year after year and not that ball drop way off. You know what I mean. Y'all fall off a lot after LeBron's gone.
Speaker 3:My thing is I don't even know who Anthony Davis really pairs with. Like I don't know. I really don't know because, like, even when he scores 40, the team is still lifeless, the team still has no energy, the team still just is like out there looking sluggish. I don't really know what kind of player you pair with, AD.
Speaker 2:No, I agree, I mean, you guys will figure it out. I mean, that's why they get paid.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he could drop 37-19 and a team win by two against one of the worst teams in the league. It's just like it just don't hit the same. So I don't really even know who you pair with AD going forward. But, like you said, the way it's looking the Lakers might not have Anthony Davis too much after LeBron, especially if LeBron gives him two, three more years, they may leave together.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they might. I mean with their age, I mean because AD would be on the other side of 35 you know, what I mean so nah, well, after 5, I think AD's like 30, would we say 31, 30, uh.
Speaker 3:So he still has a little bit before he's uh 35, but I don't think LeBron goes 5 more years. Anthony Davis, he's 31 yeah, I don't think LeBron goes five more years. Anthony Davis is 31.
Speaker 2:I don't think LeBron goes. He'll be 32 in March. That's what I'm saying. If LeBron goes two more years, you'll be pushing. He'll be 35 at the end of that season. Yeah, in a 35-year-old AD. You see what we're doing at 31. We barely you know what I'm saying Nine yeah right, I get it. You're not going to get that super like. You're not going to get too much longer after that, you know what I mean, I get it.
Speaker 2:Especially on the offensive end. So no, I'm definitely with you on that. I don't know man. I don't know man, like you got to keep shaking. At least JJ Redick is willing to shake up the lineup and, like you said, try different things especially early on, because this is the time to try to see what works. So when you are after the All-Star game and you're making that push, you can say, okay, we're rolling now, we're rolling now, we're going to figure something out, whether it's the third lineup or even your back, your reserves coming in.
Speaker 2:Who deserves that clock? Start rotating guys in. This is the time to shake up your lineups and see who works with LeBron and AD and Austin Reeves and see who can. You know what I mean. Right, keep the thing going, because when they go to the one, ad or LeBron goes to the bench, like Austin Reeves, you got to have somebody else coming off the bench who's not just out there to be out there. Like you said, that's going to bring some energy. One thing I can say about Westbrook he may not have been the best but, if nothing else, he brought energy off the bench when he came off the bench. For sure you need some energy coming off the bench. That's where, like you said, drafting and bringing those young guys in is like, if nothing else, these guys need to come in and bring at least some energy into the game.
Speaker 2:But last but not least, in the West Group C, you get Golden State, nuggets, mavericks, grizzlies and Pelicans. This is probably the best group, just looking overall with the Warriors. Warriors are playing good right now Nuggets, mavericks, grizzlies and Pelicans, minus injuries. Zion hurt right now, but I put Golden State up there with Nuggets and Mavericks as contenders, grizzlies I would say Grizzlies and Pelicans bringing up the end, because I just think they're hurt right now. John Morant got a hit. Like I said, zion Is always something. The only injury I think the Nuggets got right now Is Aaron Gordon with a With calf strain. But outside of that I think Golden State Right now they're playing really good and they have a chance they can come out of that group.
Speaker 2:But you can never write the Nuggets off because yeah Well the state is looking good too, granny.
Speaker 3:I mean, their schedule hasn't really been. That's another thing. I mean, nah, I ain't gonna get into that, but we'll see. There's a lot of basketball left.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and, like I said, this is the NBA Cup. So if nothing else, teams, the NBA Cup. So if nothing else, teams are going to try a little more at this point, hopefully.
Speaker 3:I'll be at the Lakers. I think the Lakers opening Wait, no, I know the Lakers play the Jazz next Tuesday in LA. I'll be there, so looking forward to that. That's a cup game.
Speaker 2:Going to be in LA.
Speaker 3:Mm-hmm oh that's dope, we're going out Saturday night, going to be in LA, mm-hmm. Oh, that's dope.
Speaker 2:Next Sunday going out.
Speaker 3:Saturday night. We'll be at the Bengals game on Sunday. We'll be going to see Usher on Monday and then we'll be at the Lakers game on Tuesday night.
Speaker 2:Oh man, that's dope, oh yeah.
Speaker 3:I'm going to be on next Tuesday.
Speaker 2:No, that's cool, that's cool.
Speaker 2:We should have John and I working out. So, no, that's a good reason not to be on. Right, that sounds like fun. We got to fill y'all in on that. Right, right, right, surprise. No, that's cool though. So right now, we got a couple games going on. You got the Hawks and Celtics, heat and Pistons, hornets and Magics, knicks and Sixers, raptors and Bucks Right now. You got a couple Jazz and Suns play tonight, timberwolves and Trailblazers play tonight. So a lot of group play going on right now Celtics whooping on the Hawks, pistons is up on the heat, magic is winning and Knicks is beating the 76ers right now. So tune into those games If y'all want to see some early cup action.
Speaker 2:With that being said, man, jump over to some college football. We're just freaking crazy now. I think we just keep putting this energy out here for college football and they keep delivering every week because somebody new goes down. And then we got to have a conversation about what's next, who's going to get in the playoffs, what losses, and da, da, da, da da. So, like I said this week, I want to talk about the power index and like how that impacts people record and where they may place in the college football playoff. So first thing is they talk about is Just strength, teams, strength of scale on points, point margin and average opponent On neutral field, so which I don't even know how they even talk about that.
Speaker 2:But they put it into rankings, for the SEC has always Weighed out in the Big Ten and and things that based on who's in their conference. Right now you got Alabama with the highest power index, just based on their schedule and where they rank Texas number two, ohio State number three, notre Dame because they're independent Number four, ole Miss independent is number four. Ole Miss, georgia, Oregon, penn State and, like I said, it's a lot of Big Ten and SEC teams just because they play each other a lot. Then you get Indiana and then you get the ACC comes in towards the end with the Hurricanes, clemson and Louisville. That's just the power index ranking and I think that plays a lot because you get Alabama in there at 11 right now, at 7-2, ole Miss at 8-2, georgia at 8-2. That's why these teams don't drop too far in the polls or even in the rankings when they lose, because most of the time they're losing to another top team. What do you think about Ohio State being top three?
Speaker 3:I really don't think nothing of it. I mean I don't really pay much attention, I don't pay any attention at all to the power index, because I mean it just doesn't mean anything to me. So I mean like, yeah, I don't have an opinion on it, it means absolutely nothing. Like I mean like yeah, I don't have an opinion on it, it means absolutely nothing. Like I watch the games, I know who I think could be who. I know who I feel like is strong, who's not. You know what I'm saying, who took what loss where? Like, yeah, I don't, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I know you gave the stuff that they stand on, but how a team with two losses is number one in the power, I have no idea how they came to that. Granted Well, they are. I still think Alabama's a very good football team. I still think Alabama could beat pretty much everybody. I think Alabama could beat Oregon. But how you come to that with some kind of system or formula, I have no idea.
Speaker 2:So I think strength of schedule plays a lot into that too, because Alabama has the 11th ranked strength of schedule.
Speaker 3:I think Georgia has one Georgia's number one, yeah, georgia's number one.
Speaker 2:They have a certain amount of losses and then you get Florida, somehow. Mississippi State, oklahoma, florida State is fifth.
Speaker 3:Let's not ever talk about that, ever again. What strength of schedule. Oh, I thought you were still talking about the power index.
Speaker 2:No, no no, this is just strength of schedule.
Speaker 3:So, like you were saying, I'm too, florida State has a tough strength of schedule.
Speaker 2:Who? You said who Florida State. Florida State is. Yeah, they got the fifth toughest schedule.
Speaker 3:Who do they play?
Speaker 2:I don't understand how a team outside of the Big Ten or the SEC can have anywhere close to Well, the top four teams is SEC and then Florida State, and then the next three is SEC and then Big Ten, but none of these teams right now outside of. Like I said, georgia is number one, alabama is 11.
Speaker 3:But the rest of these teams, three damn near top five, definitely top ten teams and they have a lower strength of schedule than Florida State.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 3:That's crazy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, and that's why I want. That's why, when I looked into this, I'm like, man, this is kind of crazy, like how they look at this, Because I'm like wouldn't it change based on how the team is playing, like that current year, you know?
Speaker 3:what I mean. That's true, it is from the beginning of the season.
Speaker 2:But I got it is from the beginning of the season. I think this is from the beginning of the season because you look at Florida State, florida State's not playing well right now, but you look at their schedule it's like okay, well, they had the fifth toughest schedule.
Speaker 3:Georgia Tech, Boston College, Memphis, Cal, SMU, Clemson, Duke, Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Charleston, Southern and Florida.
Speaker 2:Yep. That's nuts, that's what I was looking at, I'm like. And then you look at someone like Georgia and you say, okay, Clemson, Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Texas, Ole Miss, like they get Tennessee this week.
Speaker 2:So I'm like all right, that makes sense, that that's number one. But I'm like the difference between that. And then I look at number two, florida, the Gators. I'm like Miami, okay, texas, a&m maybe. Then you get Tennessee, but then they play Georgia, texas, lsu, ole Miss. I'm like, okay, I can see how that's number two. But then I look at Mississippi State. I'm like Eastern Kentucky, arizona State, toledo. I'm like I guess because you sprinkled Texas and Georgia in there, I guess that bumps it up. Tennessee, missouri, ole Miss. I'm like all right on the back end, but they ain't won none of them games. And then South Carolina, who can't even get ranked, they tough schedule. I think it should be all SEC schools.
Speaker 2:I mean you look at UCLA is up there. I mean they haven't played, they don't play, nobody really outside of LSU. I mean Oregon, but then we look at Penn State like they're still seventh. But again, like the eye tennis, like I don't think Penn State is even that tough. And, like we said, oregon, is Oregon really number one? Number one in a sense of domination?
Speaker 2:No, I don't even see how you put UCLA up there, but it's kind of crazy man. But yeah, just looking at this, I don't crazy man. But yeah, just looking at this, like I don't know man, I wouldn't. I personally wouldn't, like you said, use the college football power index, but I can see where it plays a part a little bit, like early on, and like average win, like average, like this is the win probability rank, like to me I think that's important. But you put somebody up there like you look at first and it's like army black knights, like how are y'all putting this up there? Like this is the first time army has been relative in a long time but, again, who have they?
Speaker 2:they, they're undefeated. Granted, they're, they are undefeated. But FAU, rice Temple, tulsa, uab, east Carolina Air Force and Northern Texas, like Notre Dame is, there will be their first, to me, real game in next week. I don't know Like I like it, but I look over at the rankings and I'm like you might as well just get rid of it and just go college football playoff rankings from the jump. I think they should just do that. Do away with the AP poll, do away with the coaches poll and just say, hey look, we are ranking people based on their ability to make it to the playoffs, because I think that's what everybody wants. What do you think? No, I agree with that for sure. And just say, hey look, you know, yeah, we have conference champions and all that other stuff, but right now, like, we're only going to rank you based on your ability, we think as your ability to make the college playoff. And I think the schedules and strength of schedules will reflect that, because now teams will start scheduling with the thought process of, hey look, if we want to make it to the playoff, we need to put this team in here, this team in here, that tough team in there. And then I think how now it'll start kind of separating them. Teams, especially like now later in the season, like teams that we thought were really good, are starting to separate themselves.
Speaker 2:The LSU is now Kansas State, dropping down A lot of these teams. Who was up front? Like an 8-1 Boise State? Where do you put them? They're 13th. Miami lose once they go from fourth to 12th. I don't know, do a one-loss Miami get out? Be out over a two loss Ole Miss and a two loss Alabama and a two loss Georgia.
Speaker 3:It's going to be interesting. Man, I'm glad I don't have to make the decision.
Speaker 2:Me neither, because right now, like you got Alabama at nine, Ole Miss at 10, georgia at 11, and Miami with one loss at 12. But then you got Boise State 8-1 at 13. Smu 8-1 at 14. But then you put a Texas A&M at 15 at 7-2, over an undefeated Army at 16. This Tough game, this is about to be wild. And then this doesn't even matter, because you don't even know who conference champions are going to be.
Speaker 3:That's just going to make Army schedule somebody. Maybe they're trying. No, they're not going to do that, they're not.
Speaker 2:They're not Because, let's just say, army go undefeated, let's say Army gets in at 12. Like next year, bro, you're really going to have to put somebody on your schedule and let's just say they get tapped the first game in that first round of the playoff. Whoever they play, like they just get demolished. Like, bro, you're going to have to put some people on your schedule next year to gain your respect. Like, because now you done left out a team at 12 that may be a Colorado, a team that's been competing in the Big 12, you know, left them out. Or maybe even a Miami. You know what I mean.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:Like who've been good all year, like they only lost to the Georgia Tech, but they get Wake Forest and Syracuse, which, if they lose two more, like I don't think our army army is tougher than Miami, Right? So yeah, man, I don't know man, this, this is going to be interesting, and Ohio state got Northwestern coming up. I think we all just waiting on that Indiana game to see how that's going to play out, cause that's that's going to be real interesting, especially with Indiana looking so damn shaky against Miami, not Miami against Michigan, like I think now. I think, if okay, what do you think happens to Indiana with a lost Ohio State? Where do they drop?
Speaker 3:Depends on how bad it is, and I think let's just say it's close.
Speaker 2:Let's say it's within two scores.
Speaker 3:If it's close, they'll be okay. My thing with that is I think the history is going to kind of play a negative role in In the Indiana loss.
Speaker 3:I think you know like, is this going to get a nod over IU? And that's just the name of the game. Is it right? No, Is it how it's supposed to go? No, but I just think it is Like, until IU can consistently put together seasons where it's all about the benefit of the doubt Like, certain teams get it, some teams not and I just don't think IU is going to get the benefit of the doubt. Like, certain teams get it, some teams not and I just don't think IU is going to get that benefit of the doubt. So at this point they control their own destiny. But I mean, hey, there's years that we've lost one time and didn't get into the 14 playoffs. Like it happens, it happens. So it really just happens.
Speaker 2:And I agree with that too, especially because now, like you said, if they lose, let's say they lose once to Ohio state. So now, where does that put the big 10 championship? Do you do we get a rematch Oregon?
Speaker 1:and.
Speaker 2:Ohio state or like Penn state. I mean Ohio state already be Penn state. Do like the Penn state. Just not even get a nod now Like do we say okay now like. Clearly the top two is Ohio State and Oregon, because Oregon's, you know, went undefeated hypothetically.
Speaker 3:We got to remember Ohio State has got to beat Michigan too. The season does not end with IU it doesn't go from IU to the Big Ten Championship they have to beat Michigan too.
Speaker 2:The season does not end with.
Speaker 3:IU. It doesn't go from IU to the Big Ten Championship. They have to beat Michigan too, and I'm just not convinced. Looking at this team every week, watching every play, I'm not convinced that they're tough enough to beat Michigan. Is Michigan more talented than Ohio State? No, but are they tougher? Are they grittier? Are they more hungry? Yes, like they're, they're. They're a power team. We're a finesse team and we just we haven't been able to finesse Michigan the last three years. I don't think. I don't understand why anybody would think it would happen this year. So if we don't get tougher, we're not going to win that game. If we don't get tougher, we're not going to be IU. Like. We have to come out with a good game plan. We have to get an early lead. We have to really punch them in the mouth early, or you know, if it gets into a back and forth, I'm just not confident in our team. I think we picked the wrong quarterback. Our defensive play calls is just not, because he's not going to win no game. He's not a game breaker.
Speaker 2:So if it's up to whether or not we win or lose, it's over. Like you said, they have to win. I mean, ohio State just can't lose anymore Not to be in. But I think you want to play in the Big Ten Championship to try to get that bye.
Speaker 3:One loss they damn near have to.
Speaker 2:That's what I'm saying Because if you lose another one in the Big Ten. Like you said, it's crazy A two-loss Ohio State. We're now looking like okay, they're on the back end of the playoff.
Speaker 3:Right, that's crazy. And what's even crazier is that it could be two losses to number one, Oregon, and that will kind of granted. I think that will put us in position to still be the highest rated two loss team. Two loss team yes, at that point you need some help, because if say, I think if we beat IU that might put them on ice, which sucks for them.
Speaker 2:but yeah, because then you're looking at 11-1.
Speaker 3:IU team? Yeah, because I'm still taking a two loss Alabama team. I'm still taking the two-loss Alabama team. I'm still taking the two-loss Georgia team over one-loss IU. What about Ole Miss? I don't know about Ole Miss, but I want people to know that it's not because IU has done anything wrong this year. I think it's just the history. I feel like you have to earn that benefit of the doubt and they just haven't. I mean, this is the best team IU's had in the history of the school and they're 10-0. It's like how many years has Alabama, georgia, ohio State been?
Speaker 2:10-0?.
Speaker 3:It's been half my adulthood. We've started 10-0. So, it's just like I think the committee is going to get a benefit of the doubt. But also they could say you know what we got voter fatigue, so let's put IU in it and see what they do. We don't know.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:IU just got to keep winning and the way they're playing they because, like I said, michigan they don't slow down a lot. I wouldn't say that because Michigan is not a soft team. They're not really good, but they're not soft. They played a game. It's crazy that I'm going to say they played a game the right way, because I definitely think they were cheating, but they played a game the right way. In terms of on-field football action, they're tough, they're great, they're competing every play, they're not going to quit and then that's all times 10 against Ohio State. So that went over IU like that. You see how we beat Penn State. It was a tough game. You can't just blow them all out. That was a very, very tough game and they won it Honestly.
Speaker 2:both of those games were similar. You're right. You're right, I have no arguments with that. Penn State and Michigan.
Speaker 3:Are very tough teams.
Speaker 2:Except there wasn't a comeback In IU, but still it might as well have been Because, iu, I watched that game From beginning to end.
Speaker 3:I thought they were going to beat them out at first Me too, and then Michigan.
Speaker 2:Just I don't know At the halftime that's definitely going to be in the ring Me too.
Speaker 1:And then Michigan, just I don't know, like at the halftime like it does.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that's definitely going to be in the ring. You're right. A one loss, indiana.
Speaker 3:It's going to suck, but they may drop to 12. They got to keep winning and, like I said, if Ohio State does beat IU, keep it close. Keep it close and then go crazy on whoever y'all play Not y'all, but whoever IU plays that last game, go crazy on them.
Speaker 2:Which is possible.
Speaker 3:Oh, they're going to go crazy on them. So hey, they control their destiny. Just keep winning.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because, yeah, I think even a one-loss Indiana. Because then, like I said, the teams I stated before kind of like a, like I said, an SMU, you can really start at 15 with Texas A&M, like they 7-2. Smu 8-1. Boise State 8-1. And Miami 9-1. Like a one-loss Indiana team. What team do you bump all those teams out to keep an Indiana right there at 12? You have to let one in. I'm guessing it would probably have to be Miami, but that would be tough if all these teams continue, if those three teams continue to still have one loss, right, you're right, indiana may be the first one lost team out to to one or two, two lost teams. Yeah, just based like power index, strength of schedule, win, you know all that other stuff that they, they gonna weigh into that, like you said. And then the history, like said history ain't on their side because you can't beat, hypothetically beat, ohio State. And then what lose to Purdue?
Speaker 2:Yeah, nah, it's over, then you're really out Like even if Purdue is your loss, like you're done, that's going to be interesting, definitely interesting. One team I'm interested in Tennessee who did? Oh, they get UTEP and Vanderbilt, so yeah, they may be locked in BYU, still undefeated. They got Kansas, Arizona State and Houston. They squeaked by. I told you I knew that Utah game was going to be tough 22-21 at Utah, they went by one barely get out of there, and they got three teams that's not really tough left, so they may be undefeated.
Speaker 2:Who else am I worried about? Really? That's probably Texas. They get Texas A&M at the end of the year, but they get Arkansas and Kentucky next. I mean I don't see nobody really stopping them. Oregon they got a cakewalk. Washington and Wisconsin their next two games. Colorado they're next they play Utah. It's in Colorado, though.
Speaker 3:Everything we talked about, that not last, but the episode before last played out. They now control their destiny to not only the Big 12 championship, but they control their destiny to the college football playoffs.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. That's wild dude.
Speaker 3:We kind of called that. But it's crazy because IU technically controls their destiny as well. But it's crazy because IU technically controls their destiny as well. So it's like, hey, they opened this playoff and the team was like all right, I'm about to turn it up for the first time.
Speaker 2:Right, right, right, yeah. So, like I said, utah is a key game for Colorado, oklahoma State I just can't sleep on Oklahoma State but they went out, these three and they end the season at 10-2. I mean, like you said, and then they get in there and they're playing for the conference championship, they're playing BYU. Let's just say they beat BYU and BYU's only loss is to Colorado. Colorado is going to be automatically in, but then a one loss BYU. Like because Iowa State is done, like they're done now, seven and two, they're done. Kansas State is done, arizona State, they're all done. But do you let a BYU in and their key wins is who? Kansas State, smu, that's really it. Like they may drop BYU, they may be another one loss team that's out because they lost the conference championship. Like because again, I don't put them over a Miami, a Georgia, a Ole Miss or an Alabama, like you said, history, yep, that is funny. A Miami, a Georgia, an Ole Miss or an Alabama Like you say history, yep so that is funny.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's going to be. Everybody thought, oh man, it's 12 teams. Now it's going to be easy to get in, not so fast. I think it's just going to be a lot more teams worthy and don't make it. But like they got to start shuffling these schedules up a little bit more because IU's schedule really just hasn't been for them being a Big Ten. You don't play Penn State, you don't play Oregon, they didn't play USC, I think now next year again.
Speaker 2:Let's say, they do lose to Ohio State and now you're the first one-loss team out. Now next year you got to schedule Oregon, you got to schedule Penn State, you got to schedule all these teams.
Speaker 3:You got to. It's not a matter of them scheduling. I think it's like a rotation. Well, yeah, yeah, those schedules are already actually already built out for years, but I mean they can schedule somebody non-conference though instead of like whoever you know the little team Pull in some SEC schools. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Pull in one of them, drop a Georgia, or shoot, even if you don't want to go that tough. Drop a Tennessee in there, an Ole Miss, you know, drop one of them guys in there, just to, like you said, the outside I can't even see those. Can you see that?
Speaker 3:schedule, that future Indiana schedule. I clicked on it but I couldn't. I'm trying to pull it up now.
Speaker 2:Because that's interesting. Oh, I can Hold on. Nope, never mind. It just stopped at 2024. It goes backwards, it don't go forward for me 2025, old Dominion, kennesaw State, Indiana State.
Speaker 3:That's their three non-conference games. That's gonna hurt them like old, old, old dominion, kenesaw state in indiana, indiana state like that's no. No, but they do go to penn state and they do go to oregon and for the first.
Speaker 3:For the first time in a in a long time, since I've been born, they don't play Ohio State, which is crazy, because watch, they beat us, and then that's going to be the last time we play them every year. I have a terrible, terrible feeling about that game, and it's on my birthday too, which is going to really suck.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 3:Yeah, which is going to really suck. But I got a bad, bad feeling about that game man. But we'll see, dang.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's crazy, yeah. So Indiana may be I don't want to say playing for next year, but if they don't beat Ohio State or somehow get into that Big Ten championship, like they may be, like you said, they may be the first one-loss team out, because Miami's probably definitely going to play for the ACC Championship For sure, for sure, like. So that's their chance. And it's probably going to be against what you call SMU or Clemson if Miami lose again, because right now they got Clemson in the ACC standings ahead of Miami. Miami's actually third at 9-1, which is crazy. Clemson at 7-2. Smu is number one right now overall, with them both being 5-1, clemson 6-1. In conference, smu's the only one undefeated against the conference, undefeated against the conference. So I think, yeah, miami will have to win. They will have to win the ACC championship in order to make it in, and SMU is already on the outs. So, yeah, indiana may be on the outs too, and you're going to definitely bump in maybe a Boise State or somebody with a tougher schedule into that. And even if you want to throw an Army in there, if they're undefeated, you can argue that too. Or Colorado, like I said, they win, they're in, and that's definitely going to bump somebody else out in the Big 12. Byu, that'll bump them out. So yeah, this is going to be interesting. I can't wait.
Speaker 2:Speaking of that, let's look at the games for this week. Top 25 games. You get Alabama and Mercer, which blah Ohio State. Northwestern blah Texas. Arkansas should be interesting, but that's probably going to be a blah game too. Clemson, pittsburgh ACC again. So this can determine what happens with Clemson and Pittsburgh, because Clemson's 23rd right now and Pitt is 18th. My bad, that'll be interesting for them.
Speaker 2:We talked about the Utah-Colorado game. Penn State at Purdue man, notre Dame in Virginia man, notre Dame needs to win. Notre Dame can't lose. They've had their one loss and that's all they can afford. They cannot lose at all or they may be again. Two losses for them because they don't have a conference. They're out. Smu and Boston College, man, lsu and Florida that has no implications for nobody. Lsu is already out with their loss to Alabama last week. Louisville done against Stanford and Missouri done against South Carolina None of these games really helped. Boise State against San Jose State doesn't hold any weight. Kansas State against Arizona State don't hold any weight. Oregon and Wisconsin no weight. Georgia, tennessee now this does hold some weight anyway. Oregon and Wisconsin no weight. Georgia, tennessee Now this does hold some weight.
Speaker 3:Who needs this win more Georgia or Tennessee? I would say Georgia. I feel like Georgia has a lot more to lose. I feel like Georgia's the better team. I feel like Georgia has the most aspiring playoff hopes. I say Georgia there. I feel like Tennessee is kind of like. You know, I don't really even know if they even really even expect to be here like that.
Speaker 2:That's fair, because they're 8-1 right now and they're 7th. Georgia's 7-2, and they're 3rd. So Georgia, I feel like Georgia has to win, because three losses, I mean you're done, you're cooked Georgia at three losses, but a two-loss Tennessee, that puts them into that other group of really good two-loss teams. That also makes it harder for Indiana, for Miami, like any of these teams that may have one loss towards the end, to get in, because do you really keep out an SEC two-loss Tennessee to a one-loss Big Ten Indiana, who ain't playing nobody, or Miami, who didn't win the ACC championship? You know what I mean, right? Do you keep Georgia? I mean not Georgia, but do you keep Tennessee out? I don't think you do, especially with your only losses coming to Georgia. Who's their other loss? That Arkansas loss, though, but you beat Alabama. I don't think you leave them out. I don't think you leave them out.
Speaker 3:I don't think you leave them out For sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, texas A&M against New Mexico State. That's nothing Iowa State and these other games really hold any weight, but it should be still another couple good games that we need to keep our eye on for what's to come. So, last but not least, man, I'm going to jump into the NFL. Just wanted to kind of like we at that point in the year we kind of started off the season talking about like playoff implications, best 3-0 teams, who's contenders, who's pretenders. I just wanted to do a little projecting now, with us having a better scope of how teams unshook out who really has a chance of making the playoffs now.
Speaker 3:I need to switch this.
Speaker 2:So I can honestly say true Super Bowl contenders to me Kansas City, buffalo, detroit, baltimore. Could we agree? Yeah, yeah, for sure, okay, like I said, I mean just the way those four teams are playing. I don't think anybody's playing better right now in the NFL Playoff locks. These are teams I feel like that's going to make the playoffs. Let me know if you disagree. Philly at 7-2. Texans Pittsburgh I think those three teams are probably locked for playoff spots.
Speaker 3:What do you think?
Speaker 2:Those are Super Bowl contenders. I'm looking at those deep playoff spots. What do you think? Baltimore is locked. Those are Super Bowl contenders. I'm looking at those are deep playoff run teams. I'm looking at another tier, like okay, those are the Super Bowl contenders. Then we're looking at like, okay, these are teams that's locked to go to the playoffs. Like I said, the Eagles, houston and Pittsburgh. Anybody else you feel like is missing.
Speaker 3:From the AFC specifically or period.
Speaker 2:Period, because you got the Eagles in there too.
Speaker 3:I still can't give up on the 49ers. I still just think that they're better than a lot of football teams have. They really showed it? Not necessarily, but I mean you can't deny that talent and I think when it matters the most that talent will you know, it will prevail. So I'm still a big buyer in San Francisco. But outside of that, yeah, I think you got everybody, because I don't really see the commanders doing much. They've started pretty hot. I don't really see them doing much of anything. Um, oh, what do you think about the vikings? Did we mention the vikings?
Speaker 2:not yet. So my, my next tier I was looking at is likely in barn a collapse. So these are teams that like they could get in if they keep playing up to the part they've been playing at barring. They just fall flat on their face. Which I think these teams could possibly the Commanders, the Vikings, chargers, falcons I think those four possibly likely in barring. They just fall flat on their face. The Commanders have been playing really well At 7-3, I think their chances are they can get in if they keep playing the way they've been playing. Minnesota, again 7-2. I think they're in as long as they just keep playing the way they've been playing. They've been really dominating the NFC North. I don't see nothing really knocking them off unless again these next couple games they just fall flat on their face. And then the Chargers they've really come around six and three.
Speaker 3:I'm curious that surprised me because I was looking up notes on the game this week. I'm like damn, the Chargers are six and three.
Speaker 2:But again, I think they've taken the pressure off of Herbert. They developed a run game and their defense has been playing solid, if nothing else. But I think, second half goal, I think these next what five? If they can go, three and two or better weeks, 11 through 15, I think, I think they'll be all right. They get the Browns, like I said, the Ravens Chiefs and Buccaneers they get, but they also get the Falcons and then Bengals. So I think if they can steal one of those Ravens Chiefs or Buccaneer games, which is probably going to be the toughest, and then finish out and beat the Falcons and Bengals, I think the Chargers will be all right.
Speaker 2:Yeah about time, man, like I said, I think for a long time y'all been pushing it. Like I said again, I'm still not a fan of Herbert, I'm still off that train, but I do think they're playing better. Like you said, without the weight of the team being solely on Herbert. They're playing better and you can't deny the impact of the team being solely on Herbert. Right, they're playing better and you can't deny the impact of hardball Falcons at 6-4, just because the AFC I mean not AFC the NFC South has just haven't been very good. But yeah, they just have to win. They're 4-1 in the division right now. I just think they just have to just continue to win and not lose to the Panthers. I think if they win the South, I think the Falcons will be okay.
Speaker 2:Next tier, these are teams that just if they can go on the run, I feel like they'll be all right Green Bay at 6-3. The Cardinals at 6-4. San Francisco at 5-4. I think if any one of those teams can make a run, they can compete with the Vikings, they can compete with the. Well, I think Arizona is leading the NFC West right now. So I think San Francisco and Arizona, that'll be the fight right there, if those teams can kind of handle each other.
Speaker 2:The only thing is is that the Cardinals get the Panthers and the Patriots late in the season and if San Francisco can stay healthy, they host Seattle, but they go to Green Bay and they go to Buffalo. So I think that's probably the only thing that's going to be tough for the Niners, granted with them getting back healthy. Can they compete with anybody? Yes, but I think that road trip to Green Bay and Buffalo may be tough for them on the back end. I don't think they'll lose, but I think it may be tough. My bad, we missed him on college football. He said something. This is a legit question, as I don't watch him. Does it matter that IU has only had two close games, since the schedule seems to be marked against it, just to double back?
Speaker 3:Man. Iu fans got to relax Like y'all, time is coming, bro, y'all have the first elite season in the history of the school and just want everything. Just like bro, just keep winning. Like I said earlier, so many teams have been went 10 and 0 to start the season. Like this is a normal occurrence for I would say, five to 10 teams every single year. All the years Clemson went 10 and 0. All the years of Alabama started 10 and 0. Even Michigan the past couple of times Ohio State I mean we've had some big 12 teams start 10 and 0. I remember Utah under. Utah's had their little time. Oregon's had their time even before this year. Like, keep winning, like there shouldn't be anything. Iu fans should just be focused on continuing to win. Jockeying in the standings right now should be the furthest thing from IU fans' minds. This is the very first successful season in the history of the school. So like I don't want to hear about any close games. I don't want to hear about anything, just keep winning. Only thing they have to worry about is keep winning. If they keep winning, they will be in the playoff, they will have a first-round buy, they will be a top-four team, they will be there All this like this trying to go back.
Speaker 3:I stopped somewhere for lunch and I had Ohio State shirt on. He's like are you a scout? I'm like man. They wish that I was scouting. I'm not. He just goes on his tangent about IU and how they're being unfairly treated. I'm like dog. I was like pump your brakes, just keep winning. This is the very, very, very, very first time that IU has been in this situation. Just keep winning. Be humble, keep winning. You guys are in a good spot. You guys finally have a good team. Just keep winning. Don't worry about like cut off, just keep winning. I see what you're saying. I kind Just keep on eating.
Speaker 2:I see what you're saying. I kind of get both sides. I see what you're saying. I totally understand what you're saying because we just kind of went through that and also to Ike's side too, like what we've been saying.
Speaker 2:As far as IU's schedule, yes, they have only had two close games, but those close games have been against teams. A shouldn't have been close outside of, probably, michigan, just because Michigan has proven that they've just, they're just going to compete regardless. But the other close game shouldn't have been close and they haven't played like now, ohio State, let's see how that game go Like. We have to put them up against the tops in order to change that narrative. Unfortunately, ohio State, they're getting them at the end of the season to where right now we can't really definitively give an answer, because it's like well, we haven't played any of the top, even big 10 teams, to be like, hey look, they dominated Penn State or they dominated Oregon, or they had close games against Penn State and Oregon or a close game against Ohio State. Now, if they beat Ohio State and it's close, or if they just dominate Ohio State, then I think the conversation.
Speaker 2:That's what I'm saying you in, and I think the conversation started changing as far as speaking on them this year as far as the playoff go.
Speaker 2:But you I think to what jared's saying is like we can't just throw a bunch of respect on iu and I think that the polls is giving them respect because they're, like, they're there that eighth right now. So I think they're giving them respect based on their record as far as, like what you're saying, I a the number being number eight in the polls. That's us giving them respect based on their record. As far as, like what you're saying, I a the number being number eight in the polls. That's us giving you respect based on your schedule, how you play. You've been blowing teams out, you beat the teams you're supposed to beat, um, even though you've had a couple close games. I think that number eight ranking is the respect that they're giving them. But as far as the college playoff, like you got to beat the man in order for us to change the playoff conversation with IU and that will be against somebody like Ohio State.
Speaker 3:So if you beat Ohio State, then it's like, okay, it's looking good, just let it happen. Yeah, it's almost like that would be like talking to an Army fan and they're trying to see why they're not ranked so high, being Actually IU's even in a better situation than that, because they are in the Big Ten and they have opportunities in front of them to shut everybody up.
Speaker 2:And that would be it. Opportunities are there. Yep.
Speaker 3:They're there. There's nothing. As an IU fan, there's nothing to even worry about. There's nothing to talk about. I would be a silent assassin right now if I'm IU.
Speaker 2:And I think, unfortunately, like we said, if they lose bad to Ohio State, they will probably be the first one-loss team out. Unfortunately, this is based on, like we were saying, history and then the two-loss teams that's below them right now, even in the rankings. Their strength of schedule and who they play and their history may get them in on the back end. Iu may have to prove themselves again next year in order to start building that respect, like these other programs have.
Speaker 3:And check this scenario out. Say they lose to Ohio State and then Ohio State goes and loses to Michigan.
Speaker 2:Then they're completing down. Now it's Indiana-Oregon for a Big Ten championship and if they beat Oregon then they right back in. And now again we can literally put that respect that I think IU wants right now we can give it to them, but they got to earn it through beating the top teams in the Big Ten. And I think that's all we're saying. I'm not saying that IU is bad.
Speaker 3:You're still around. Even if they lose Ohio State, you're still around. For IU, they have plenty of opportunity, unfortunately, their season starts. November 23rd. They have a two-game season. You win those next two games. You really have a one-game season. You win. You win those next two games. You really have a one-game season. You win. You're going to beat Purdue. You beat Ohio State. You're in the Big Ten Championship. There's no reason for IU fans to be questioning rankings, strength of schedule, none of that shit.
Speaker 2:Because even if you, lose, let's just say, even if you lose to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship you're still in the playoff. Because of your win at Ohio State, you're still going to get in.
Speaker 3:You lose to Oregon, you're still safe.
Speaker 2:And I would say you're going to bump one of those 6-2 SEC teams on the back end. You're going to bump one of them.
Speaker 3:At Ohio State. One of those two teams is going to be at the IU. You're going to bump one of them. Ohio State, one of those two teams is winning, I'm sure, and I say this with all and that's deserving IU fans relax, your time is coming, I said I don't know what they look like, so I asked a legit question.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it had nothing to do with.
Speaker 3:IU Nobody's. Yeah, no, we're not.
Speaker 2:No no, no, we're not saying, we're not saying that, and I've been watching.
Speaker 3:If anything, iu praise. They look good. Do I think we're going to beat IU? I don't know, I'm not sure. So I'm giving IU praise, but from a fan side, just let it play out. Let it play out.
Speaker 2:No, that's a great question.
Speaker 3:It's going to trump the oh we, oh, we should be this, or why aren't we Like that's going to just keep silently killing, keep moving up in the polls. Everything is laid out for IU. They control their destiny.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's what we were saying. I don't know if we we kind of explained it wrong when we was talking college football, but that's kind of what we were saying, like kind of mapping that out for IU. We weren't saying nothing against them. We're like, hey look, this is legit, like we're playing, we're beating a tough Michigan team and like the path is there, you got two paths Beat Ohio State. Even if you lose to Ohio State, win out and hopefully, Ohio.
Speaker 3:hopefully Ohio State loses to Michigan and gives you another shot at Oregon in the big game. Ohio State would have to lose to Michigan. But no, if wait a minute, if they lose, well, no Ohio State would have to hit the head-to-head.
Speaker 2:So yeah, no.
Speaker 3:That's what I'm saying. But, like I said, if Ohio State beats IU and then Ohio State takes a ship against Michigan, then IU's in.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3:I use that Depending on what happens with Penn State, though, Because if Penn State wins out, they'll have one loss too. I don't know what that tiebreaker looks like.
Speaker 2:My only thing with the Penn State is let me look at something real quick. Penn State they play Purdue, minnesota and Maryland and their only loss is Ohio State.
Speaker 3:They haven't played nobody though but I think their strength to schedule is stronger than Indiana's right now but if they're both sitting at one loss, I think IU has looked more impressive. I think IU would beat Penn State.
Speaker 1:I think so too, I think IU would beat Penn State. I think so too.
Speaker 3:I think IU would beat Penn State. I told y'all this before our game Penn State's not that good. They're just not that good. They're always ranked high and they never really impress. I've not been impressed with Penn State either, but I think us beating them by seven points feel right, in line with how I feel about Ohio State. Neither team is really doing it for me and from what IU has done, iu has handled their opponents. Like I said, time is coming and it could be now.
Speaker 2:I believe it is now. If somebody asked me right now, like does Indiana have one of the best chances to compete, I would say yes, just from the games I've watched them play. Yes, I've watched them.
Speaker 3:I've watched them. They're running the ball well. Their defense is aggressive. They're flying around, the quarterback is making the right plays, not a whole bunch of turnovers. They're sticking to the game plan is one thing about it.
Speaker 2:No matter what?
Speaker 3:No matter what, they'll either start fast and finish slow or start slow and finish. Last Again, we've played them every year since, I think, 1989. So I've seen my fair share of Ohio State, indiana, and it's either one or the other. They're playing complete ball games now and that's. That's something that, you know, I couldn't say for them in the past, but they're having a historical season, so we'll see yeah, I'm definitely on board without you.
Speaker 2:Um, and how they're playing this year? No, all right. So we had another question. During that time, sam, sam Mason Steelers beating Baltimore. How can they stop, henry?
Speaker 3:Steelers stop.
Speaker 2:Henry, I think when we were talking about the playoff chances.
Speaker 2:We were just talking about them competing like the Super Bowl contenders and then the next tier, which was my playoff locks. Um, I don't know if it's about beating Baltimore right now. I just think, with Pittsburgh of course always having to win a season, but not necessarily getting over the hump to get in the playoffs and competing in the playoffs, I think this is probably the best chance to compete in the playoffs and they won't have to play Baltimore the first round. Chances are they will be one of the wild cards. So with that, I just again like the formula to beating the Ravens is you have to score on their defense.
Speaker 2:Right now, ravens defense is just looking shaky right now. I wish we had Justin right here to talk about this, but I think right now there's just their defense, which is crazy. Saying this about a Ravens team is, right now, probably their weakest point On offense. You just got to try to contain them. But if you can score point for point for them and keep up score-wise, then I think the Bengals, how they played them, like that wasn't a defensive game, like both teams were really just trying to score, score, score, because the defenses just wasn't there.
Speaker 3:Um, you can't beat yourself against the Ravens. I think that's. That's a key.
Speaker 2:No absolutely Period.
Speaker 3:Both games We've, we've, we've. Threw both games in the trash against the Ravens, like we had them beat twice in in loss both. Both games the trash against the Ravens. We had them beat twice and lost both games. Second half leads Two score. Second half leads Shit hell. The first game was a two score. Fourth quarter lead To beat and the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't going to beat themselves. I don't think they've beat themselves since the 80s.
Speaker 2:Too well coached.
Speaker 3:Too well coached, too disciplined. We can go on and on and on About the Steelers, right. So I'm actually looking forward To the game Because I mean it's going to be A game of A very good game. Yeah, it's going to be the game Of matchups, like you got the Pittsburgh defense, which is really good. You got Baltimore's offense, which is really good. Somebody got to lose, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's how I think, mason. So to answer that question, I just think, like it's definitely what Jared said you can't beat yourself. But then on the back end you just got to keep up offensive-wise and you need stops. You got to get stops and you got to convert on those stops into points. You can't not a lot of field goals, you just you got a third down percentage. You got to be high, got to. Nobody's stopping the Ravens, nobody's stopping Henry, except the Ravens themselves. And that could be true too. That's facts that could be true too. They've facts that could be true too.
Speaker 3:They've done a job with that so far this year. Don't get me started.
Speaker 2:No, it's just again like at this, unfortunately, like to say about the Ravens their defense is their weakest link right now, especially with Hamilton being hurt too. I didn't really check in to see how long he's going to be out, but hopefully they get him back soon because he's very important to that defense. But moving on to the Tier 4, I was thinking about, like we were talking about, as far as these teams can compete to get in. Possibly Green Bay they're, I think, only two games behind Minnesota. The Cardinals in San Francisco they're competing, but I think Arizona owns the head-to-head right now against them.
Speaker 2:I don't know if they play again or did they beat them twice already? I'm looking right now. They play again. At the end of the season That'll be their last game of the season, so that would be their last game of the season. So I think if they beat them in that next head-to-head and Niners continue to win and build on some wins, because they're going to have to win the West in order to get in it looks like so, especially with how the Commanders are playing and things of that nature so they're going to have to win the West. So I think San Francisco come back. Last but not least, it's just teams that I just don't believe really have a chance. It's just a wing and a prayer Really really have to dominate the rest of the season Bengals, broncos, colts and Rams.
Speaker 3:It's crazy, I think the Broncos is in the playoffs as it stands now.
Speaker 2:Five and five, not what they lost to the Chiefs.
Speaker 3:Ah, okay, the Chiefs can't. Oh God, never mind, bro, that's crazy. That'll turn this podcast into 45 minutes longer.
Speaker 2:We can't, we can't, we already.
Speaker 3:We'll talk about that tomorrow. I'll hit you up.
Speaker 2:That was crazy.
Speaker 3:They have mind games over teams at this point. It's wild. It's such a mediocre playing team. I'm not calling them a mediocre team, but I've never seen a team play so mediocre and just continue to win. That's neither here nor there.
Speaker 2:It's right there.
Speaker 3:It's like they be daring teams to beat them and the team's like nah, because people forget we had them fourth and 16 for the game. We let them win that football game.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I was looking at the schedule when I said y'all lost to him. Yeah, y'all lost to him. It was about one point.
Speaker 3:But yeah, it was 14 16. All we had to do was get off the field.
Speaker 2:Game was over yeah, no, I was talking. Well, he was commenting on the arizona game, san francisco. But, yeah, no again. It's just like you said get off the field. You look at the the baltimore game, the first game of the season.
Speaker 3:A toe on the line like uh passing like it's just I forgot about it. Yeah, it's the first game, because can't nobody even say that they really had a soft schedule. I won't say it's been a terrible schedule, but it hasn't been like weak by any stretch like they've been playing and they, they play. Buffalo they got.
Speaker 2:Buffalo coming up. They just keep finding ways to.
Speaker 3:They just keep finding ways to win. They just keep finding ways to win. They damn played the.
Speaker 2:Ravens. They played the Bengals, the Falcons when they were coming on. They beat the Chargers. The Saints was falling at that time, the Niners was hurt, the Raiders was the Raiders, the Bucks, the Broncos they get the Bills, they get the Chargers again, they get the Bills, they get the Chargers again, they get the Steelers and the Broncos and the Texans towards the end of the season. That's how their schedule is really tough this year and, like you said, bro, it's got to be something else.
Speaker 3:What do we do? They got mind control. It's almost like you know.
Speaker 2:yeah, it's like Debo, they Debo, they Debo, they Debo.
Speaker 3:When you leave, I'll be laughing again, or whatever they said. I couldn't pick up enough, but yeah, that's exactly where I was going with that. No, no absolutely, bro.
Speaker 2:I'm not having trouble over Debo. Yeah, no no.
Speaker 2:It's definitely getting interesting, man. But yeah, man, last but not least, man, we got our pick-em records. Man Gosh, I smoked it up this year, man, horrible this week. I mean so 8-6. I went 8-6. This week, you went 11-3, even with missing the game. Ike went 10-4. Justin went 7-7. Overall, I'm 87-65. Jared is 96-56. Ike is the first person to hit 100 games. He's 152. And Justin's 88-64, man. So yeah, man, you and Ike right there 1-2. And I'm third and Justin's last, right now, not by much. I think matter of fact, me and Justin may be now Not by much. I think, matter of fact, me and Justin may be tied, actually 88-64 and 87-65. Yeah, so basically fighting for last place. But yeah, man, that's all I got. Man, that's all I got for this week. You got any final thoughts, man? We defunding anything this week?
Speaker 3:Nah, I can't defund stuff every week. I feel like that'll take the allure out of it.
Speaker 2:Nah, I ain't going to lie. I'd be excited Because some of the stuff be the most randomest stuff ever.
Speaker 3:I'd be excited. Yeah, yeah, you know how my mind works, so, nah, I don't have nothing for y'all this week, but I'll be back.
Speaker 2:All right, well, not next week. Yeah, not next week, but I'll be back, all right, man. So this has been an epic podcast, man. I guess we see y'all next week, man.
Speaker 3:Well, I will see y'all next week. Who else is going to be?
Speaker 2:on.
Speaker 1:We'll figure out the roster.
Speaker 2:We don't know, maybe we have some surprises. See y'all man, all right.