College Football Predictions - Or How You Win Money By Betting Against Us

[00:00:00] Welcome everybody to Takin' On Sports, IMTD. That is Greg. Greg, how's that AC treating you now that you fixed it? Actually my wife was more DIY-er than myself honestly. I bought a lot of this stuff though but she's able to read and comprehend and watch videos better than me. Her dad did a lot of stuff, mechanical stuff, so she got that expertise. But together as a team, we're able to do it.

[00:00:30] There you go. I got the running hope for the rest of the summer. Yeah, right. Just make it to the summer. Exactly. Oh man, but yeah, we are back folks. It feels like we just recorded because we did. Yeah. But it should be a relatively quick episode tonight. I don't think there's really much to talk about this week in sports. Trying to think. Nothing, unless I'm just completely forgetting something. Nothing too major.

[00:00:57] But that's the biggest thing. We talked about the fifth year guys and the stuff and how a whole bunch of people when they get cuffed in the NFL are coming trying to get back into college. LSU has a funeral looking at it.

[00:01:39] Oh. The games actually start, but who the hell knows. A lot of them. What's going on? Especially the school. Mm-hmm. Lane Kiffin said, I think he said today, it's the truth that people are going to hate him for, but basically said, as long as you can do it, it'd be stupid of us not to do it. You know? And he's absolutely right. You know, it's like, why would you let your competitors get a leg up on you for some principle or something like that?

[00:02:08] That's just meant just... If you want... Yeah. If it's within the guidelines of whatever the rules are, whether you like it or hate it, take advantage of what's available. Yeah, exactly. Like, principle don't win you games. It gets you fired. You know? But yeah, it's our prediction episode. I don't think we actually... I don't think we did one last year.

[00:02:32] I think timing-wise we ran out of time, but we posted them. It was a pretty rough year last year for us. We did not do good on our predictions. Pulled them up.

[00:02:45] Ooh, man. We together, combined, we got three conference champs right. I had Tulane and the American had Boise State and the Mountain West, and then we both had James Madison win the Sun Belt. And that was it. A lot of rough calls around. I said Indiana would be a disappointment. That was a big old swing and a miss. Oh, wow.

[00:03:13] I had Penn State as my Big Ten champ, so oof. I really messed up in the Big Ten. You got a good call, though. You got a couple of good ones in there. You had Duke as your surprise team in the ACC. They won the whole thing, so you were right about that. You called Oklahoma being a disappointment. Yeah, and then for your playoff, you had Penn State as a disappointment, too, so you called that. Yeah.

[00:03:43] But yeah, other than that... Then they were some... Other than that, it was a rough year for us. I guess I had... Oh, go ahead. I remember, I think I had K-State winning the Big 12, and that blew up quick. Yeah, yeah. That was quick. And I had... I guess I did get A&M as my surprise team in the SEC. We both went the homer route, picked Alabama, missed there.

[00:04:13] But yeah, we'll try again. Again, as always, apologies to fans of the teams that we're going to pick to win big. Probably not a good omen for your season. No. But if you're smart, you'll probably lay some of these bets against us and make some money. Make some money. Absolutely. Unless we turn around. We did okay a few years ago. We both... It was a couple, yeah. A couple, yeah.

[00:04:40] Yeah, two years ago, we both, like, we nailed the SEC. Both of us were pretty good on the ACC. But yeah. Let's get to this year. Let's knock out these small conferences first, the mid-majors. We'll go alphabetical. Greg, who do you have as your American champ? Oh, the American... Man, I'm going to go with the service guy, and I'm going Navy. That's my American.

[00:05:08] The middies. I almost went there myself. Good team. Well-coached, obviously, always. But I went with UTSA. UTSA. Jeff Traylor, the roadrunners there. I think they might be the most talented team in the conference. But I think Navy's a solid pick, too. We talked about that in our mid-major preview episode where we said it could be the year of the service academies there. We have a... Navy has a very friendly schedule. Yeah.

[00:05:39] They do. By a little one there. And then... But yeah, yeah. But your pick, also a good one. I mean, Jeff Traylor, I mean, always highly touted as the next guy. I mean, he's been in quite a few conversations about coaching. So, as far as moving up and... Yeah. Yeah.

[00:06:03] I mean, he is... Since, I think, was it since joining Conference USA or the American, they are something like 25-1 in conference play in the Alamo Dome. Wow. So, that's a hell of a home field advantage to have. If you can steal the right road games, you know, then...

[00:06:28] That's a good pathway to success. Let's move on. Conference USA. I have the Hilltoppers, Western Kentucky, taking it this year. Again, it's kind of based on the roster. Like how talented they are. Like their schedule within the conference, I think they'll take it. Who do you have in Conference USA? I'm gonna go repeat champion, Kennesaw State. There you go.

[00:06:57] Up and up there. You know, really surprised teams last year, but I think that they will be fine there. You know, quarterback Ricky Collins is quarterback. LSU fans are probably familiar with the name at least. So, I think he has a good chance of playing some ball and, first of all, stayed the house. Serious team. I like it. I like it.

[00:07:26] Let's move on to the Mac. Who you got winning the Mac? Seaman Pupu. This is definitely one of the tougher ones. It's a lot of good teams, but nothing. I like it. A lot of 9 and 3, 8 and 4 team. You know, nothing. No one, like, completely blows out the water. But I always saw a conference. Always good watching it, especially once you get back into that match and every Tuesday night. I'm gonna go with a repeat.

[00:07:54] Go with Western Michigan, the Broncos. Same thing. Yeah. With the repeat. They seem to be putting together. They're well coached, and they seem to be on the up and up. I would say a team to watch out possibly, you know, in that playoff conversation for the mid-major. Oh, there you go. Look at that. Keep it in there. No, yeah. Well coached team.

[00:08:24] Like, there's another guy that's kind of, you know, in conversations. Oh, what's his name up there? Taylor. But he... Yeah, well coached team. I'm with you. I'd like them to repeat. Let's move over to the Mountain West. I have the Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii taking it. Almost with UNLV. Almost with North Dakota State coming in right away. But man, looking at Hawaii's schedule, they get all the big games at home.

[00:08:53] And that's always, even though it's not the old Aloha Stadium, it's always a tough road trip to take. Yeah. It's a long time. Yeah, I like what Timmy Chang's doing there. I think they can surprise folks and I think they can take the Mountain West crown. Who do you got out there? Going... I think I picked him last year as well, but I'm going with it again. I think they're in UNLV. I like... I just feel like it's Dan Mullenstein.

[00:09:22] You know, I think they will see... Well, everybody thought Jackson Arnold was going to be at a different spot. This is where he finally puts it all together. I think it's a hell of a year for the Rebels and we'll see. And we don't have to worry about Boise. That's been their pitfall as of late, no longer in the conference. So I like the Rebels to pull the conference this year. Another team, possibly in that playoff contention, but a big game to start the season. Week 0 Memphis.

[00:09:51] Oh yeah. Huge. That's like a mid-major elimination game. That's a good head. So Newfels, out of Hawaii, that's two games in a row. Yeah. Alright, let's move out to a lot of teams that used to be in the Mountain West. The Pac-12. Who do you got winning the Pac-12 in its first year of the new era of the Pac-12? Pac-12.

[00:10:19] I mean, still, you guys got to join. You got to come together. There's no reason. But, honestly, I'm going to go Boise State. I mean, they've been consistent in the Mountain West. I don't see any reason why they're not, based upon the teams in the conference, the Pac-12 champions are all there. Agreed. Yeah.

[00:10:49] Of the Broncos coming in and taking the first title of the new era there. For all those reasons. Yeah, they've dominated most of these teams the past few years in the Mountain West. No different now that they're there. They do have, I mean, they go on the road to Fresno and that's about it. All the other big games are coming home. They do have two big non-conference games on the road, Oregon and Notre Dame. So, that could hurt their playoff chances. But, you know, no. Lose. Play well in those games. You could come back. Yeah.

[00:11:19] Should you put one of those upsets? Oh, my goodness. That would be huge upsets right there. That would be like old school Boise State to win that right there. Nice. The interesting thing is the Pac-12 is doing at the end of the year. I guess the last game, they had the four teams announced as far as who would be hosting the game.

[00:11:44] But based upon seeding or different things or who has a chance to make the playoff, it'll change where teams could go from their matchups. Yeah, they got some kind of like flex scheduling going on. Yeah, they give teams either the best chance for a win if that's all that's needed or they need a resume boost for the best possible matchup. So, that's interesting. A smart move by the conference. Yeah, it'll technically be a non-conference game.

[00:12:12] But, yeah. Interesting. Interesting to see how that plays out for them. Absolutely. How that works. All right. Let's move on here. Let's get you down from Boise here. Our last mid-major, the Sun Belt, the old Fun Belt. I have another repeat champion there. I have James Madison winning again.

[00:12:40] Billy Napier coming in the program, not skipping a beat. How about yourself? Yeah. We're pretty much running the same thing with mid-majors. I mean, I think this is a level of football made for Billy Napier as a head coach. This is where he won. You know, obviously, he had a mixed bag at Florida there. But I think he's back into his element.

[00:13:08] You know, James Madison has been a great program the last couple years. And I really don't see much of a fall off with Billy Napier. Yeah, no. I mean, there's still like, I think the roster matters so much in these smaller conferences. And yeah, the most talented roster in the Sun Belt. And it'll be a close one. It's a great conference. But I think that program is just really set up well right now.

[00:13:37] And you know, it's another team that they can threaten the playoff again. I'm trying to think who their big out of conference game is if they have one. They might not. Let's see. They go cross country to San Diego State. So that's a pretty big kind of mid-major. But other than that, yeah. It's an overall friendly schedule. Yeah, it's a very winnable schedule.

[00:14:07] You could see them running the table or having a being ranked and taking that mid-major, that group of six now berth in the playoff. But yeah, I think big things again for the Dukes there. All right, let's go to the big boys now. This is where we do a champ, a surprise team. All right, let's start off with the ACC here in the mid-major, or the major, excuse me,

[00:14:36] the big power conference, the power four. Greg, who do you have as your ACC champ this year? I mean, it's a lot of ways. I mean, there's a couple of teams to think about there. But man, it's just so hard. Yeah, I'm going with the most people's favorite this year. It puts a lot of pressure since they've never won an ACC championship. But I have to go with the Hurricanes. I mean, they're well coached.

[00:15:03] They seem to have figured things out at the end of last year. We know about their national championship appearance there. Found another quarterback to come in. A lot of skilled positions, great running game, receiver. I mean, the defense should be solid again. Only question with the offensive line. But man, it's hard to question the Hurricanes coming into the season there. Other than that. Yeah. Yeah, right. I'm right there with you.

[00:15:33] Yeah, I got the Canes finally winning their first ACC crown after over 20 years in the conference now. Yeah. It's just, it's one of those things where it's like, you know, sometimes the most obvious answer is the right answer. Yeah. I think they're going to have a great season. The schedule is quite nice. Mm-hmm. Miss out on a couple of teams at the top of the conference.

[00:15:58] And on top of that, I mean, what are they, on top of that, I mean, outside Notre Dame, do you see anybody on the schedule you would expect them to lose to? I don't. All right. Where are we at? ACC surprise teams. On the Canes there. Who are you guys your surprise team there? Surprise team.

[00:16:26] I don't, you know, I don't know how much of a surprise it is, but I think Virginia Tech is going to have a solid season there compared to what they've been the last couple years. I think, you know, James Franklin coming in is really going to make a difference. Mm-hmm. And I think, you know, they at least go bowling this year, which they haven't had in a while. And I think they're going to give some teams some scares. Not the, and they do miss out on a couple of teams.

[00:16:55] I mean, but I mean, they play, outside of SMU and Miami, there's not a game where you look at you and you're like, damn, they don't have a chance. Honestly. I believe what James Franklin can do. I think it's going to be a solid season. I was back seven or eight wins this year. Yeah, I think a lot of people are high on Vitek, but still to, you know, turn it around that quickly would be really impressive. But I think you're right.

[00:17:23] James Franklin definitely absolutely can do it. I have the Wolfpack. Vinci State is my surprise team, the ACC. Looking at their schedule, they avoid Miami, SMU, and Clemson. They did lose some, a good bit in the portal, but they got C.J. Bailey back. I think this is a team that can really kind of threaten to make the ACC title game and then maybe even ruin one of the big contenders years.

[00:17:53] You know, if they get there, like I said, they avoid that top three. But, you know, I could see them beating the Louisville or somebody that has high hopes. So, yeah, I have the Wolfpack as my surprise team there. Absolutely. I mean, like you said, they are definitely well coached. I read somewhere it's been like 40 years since they won the ACC. I think it's come on in about 40 years. It's been a minute since they won. But they always seem to be a team either.

[00:18:22] It seems to be around that 8-9 win mark a lot of times. But we learned a lot about them in the Week 0, big game with Virginia. Yeah. It's a, but NC State's one of those teams where it's like every few years they'll creep up and put together a really impressive season. And I think this is, they're due for one. On the, yeah. On the flip side, Pitt Panthers are my disappointment in the ACC.

[00:18:51] I think some people are kind of high on them this year. I know they always have tough defense, but man, it's a tough schedule. They got trips on the road to Miami, Louisville and Virginia Tech. I think they fall back a little bit this year. I think, I don't think they're going to be in the ACC title game hunt by November. I think they'll be a little disappointed this year and fall out of that title race.

[00:19:18] Yeah, I can see that for sure. I don't know how much of a disappointment it really is because, you know, they haven't. But last year, Wake Forest really overachieved there. Got a lot of wins and kudos to their coach. But, you know, their offense was abysmal. Their defense was great, but, you know, without scoring points, it's kind of hard for them to repeat.

[00:19:46] I mean, in this year they have Miami on the schedule, Louisville on the schedule, SMU's on the schedule, Georgia Tech is on the schedule, even Virginia and Duke. I mean, so I see a little setback for the Damon Deacons issue. I like their coach, but I just don't think they're anywhere near with it. No, you're right. Last year overachieving with that nine-win season. But you mentioned that offense. I mean, they went four and four ACC play.

[00:20:16] They only scored 179 points in those eight ACC games and they gave up 211. So, that's rough. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Let's move over to the Big Ten. The Big Ten champ, I got the Ducks of Oregon. Just really love that team this year. Dante Moore, you know, Dan Lanning's defense. Man, I think it's a really good team.

[00:20:45] Could be a really special year out there in Eugene. So, I got them winning the Big Ten. Same. So, sorry. Sorry, Doug fans. Long, long, long. But I have worked in the glove for a lot of reasons. I mean, very rare to, you know, to get a starting quarterback multiple seasons this year. It doesn't seem like it happens a lot in college football. A lot of transfers, since we're getting guys that, you know, powerhouses in one year.

[00:21:14] But, you know, you get a second year of him. They're well coached. Do break in a new defensive and offensive coordinator, but they're people within the program. So, they know what's expected. And I don't think it's going to be too much of a drop off there. Do you know Oregon's been great the last couple of years. The biggest issue is they've had issues in the playoff with the top teams out the Big Ten. Indiana and Ohio State. I mean, can you knock it for them? Two national championship teams.

[00:21:43] So, they're losing to the best when they do lose games. It's not the toughest of schedules. I mean, you look at their schedule. You know, outside of the Ohio State game and Columbus. I mean, I don't see a one where I'm saying they're not going to win. And they do go to USC.

[00:22:12] They're familiar with USC. And, you know, I see like a perfect or 11-1 type season here for the Ducks this year in the Big Ten championship. Yeah, I absolutely see no reason that they can't make it back to the, you know, like the semifinals at the very least of the playoff. Make a deep run. Yeah. Who is your surprise team in the Big Ten this year?

[00:22:43] Surprise team in the Big Ten this year. You know, I think, I mean, they get a little hype, but I think Washington is going to, not only because, you know, they got their quarterback back, but I think they have a chance to be on that window. They'll make them right on that. They're going to be on the edge there of making the playoff. I think they're going to be that good this year.

[00:23:09] I don't know if they will get in, but I see them at like 10-2, 9-3, really fighting for that playoff spot. They do have a tough end of the year with Indiana. We're going to close out the season. But I believe that this is the Huskies' time to really have their first great season in the Big Ten. I like it. Yeah. I think it is a talented team out there, and if they can just get over that hump and win those big games, yeah.

[00:23:40] My surprise team, I picked them last year and got a big old swing and a miss, but I'm going to go back to this well this year. I think they're a well-coached team. I think they've got good defense. I think they've got a better quarterback in Wisconsin Badgers. I like Luke Fickle. I know he's a good coach. I think he, you know, he figured it out when he messed it up trying to go with the air raid. He's turned course on that, trying to go back to kind of a Wisconsin-style pro offense. I really like their defense this year.

[00:24:10] I really like their schedule. You know, no Ohio State, no Oregon, no Indiana. So I think the Badgers can maybe, you know, like kind of maybe the beginning of November, I think they can maybe be in that discussion for the Big Ten title before, you know, maybe falling off. But who knows, you know, like I said, that schedule is pretty good, man. You know, the only dangerous conference road, they got to go to at Penn State and at Iowa. So obviously that's tricky.

[00:24:39] But man, that November, if they can get their only like one or two conference losses, man, their November is pretty easy. You know, Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, Minnesota. So yeah, I think the Badgers can get back to their winning ways, put up eight, maybe even nine wins this year. Man, you would like to see Luke Fickle find success finally in Madison. Yeah.

[00:25:04] Well, it's a program that's been for the majority since the mid-90s, a pretty stable one. So it's been kind of weird seeing them really out of sync for the last couple years. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Let's go. Disappointing teams. I'll drop mine here. I got Michigan. I think a lot of people are high on the Wolverines this year. I know they didn't have a great year. Last year's fallback, but it's nothing against Kyle Winningham.

[00:25:34] But I think that program, that team a little bit and kind of a lot of off field drama, obviously the coaching transition. Bryce Underwood's super talented, but I don't know. It's a tough schedule. He didn't super impress me last year. You know, I still think he needs to break into really finding himself. I think losing a guy like Justice Haynes hurt.

[00:26:03] Not that they aren't talented, but I think they're not going to do as well as some people think this year. So yeah, I have Michigan be my disappointment in the Big Ten. I have the exact same. So Michigan fans, congratulations. You guys probably went in the Big Ten this year. But man, you know, almost the same exact.

[00:26:29] I mean, you know, Kyle Winningham was a great coach, but this is something new for him. Because yeah, he's been great at Utah, but it's a step up going to Michigan. It's a different level. So no disrespect to Utah, but Michigan is a different beast as far as expectations, in and outs, the weekly competition forms. And that schedule is brutal.

[00:26:52] I mean, week two, you've got Oklahoma, two weeks later you have Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State. Yeah, those last two on the road as well. Yeah. So honestly, I mean, I don't know what the expectations are about, about Michigan fans. I know they're probably usually high just because, you know, that's how big time fans, the big time programs think.

[00:27:19] They expect greatness, whether it's reality or not, you know. But, you know, honestly, I think if he gets a six or seven wins, he's, I think, done pretty good, considering everything that's going on there and the schedule and things out.

[00:27:42] And I don't know how badly Bryce Underwood's freshman year went, how, you know, if he's ready to, if he's mentally ready to go. Did that hurt him at all? You know, he says all the right things, but we'll see how it goes on the field. Yeah. And again, you know, when we say disappointment, we're not saying they're going to win, you know, four games.

[00:28:06] But just saying that maybe some big, big expectations might not be met. Yeah. Right. People have, some people are really high on them. And I get it. I mean, this is about Whittingham's track record in Michigan. I mean, I think it's a big ask considering everything in the recent history and then the schedule this year. Yeah. The schedule and just the other teams in the Big Ten. I think next year.

[00:28:33] Next year, you know, they bring back, you know, if Underwood shows enough improvement this year, they hit the portal, get some, you know, more talent, more weapons around them. Yeah. But this year I think Michigan's going to fall short of those expectations. Let's move to Big 12 now. Who do you have winning our favorite Wild Wild West Conference? Well, I'm going a little different.

[00:28:59] I know everybody's going to say Texas Tech and I get why you say Texas Tech. But I'm going to the Cougars. I'm going to BYU this year. You know, they only two losses last year were Texas Tech. And the thing that stands out to me about them this year, they don't have that quarterback question. They know who Barrett Bachmeier is. He's only going to get better, I think. You know, Texas Tech obviously had question even though they say they have their guy now.

[00:29:30] They spent $5 million on the portal not thinking that he was a guy. Now, whether it's true or not, I've heard that they were interested in the former Florida State quarterback. The one I'm drafted there. Castellanos? Castellanos. How true that is, I don't know. I just heard of it on sports and college sports radio on the series XM. So I was like, ooh.

[00:29:59] So that makes me think they're not as high on the guy as they want you to think. That being said, another thing I do like though, I mean, BYU has been solid the last couple of years. So I don't see any fall off. They do get a new defensive coordinator. You know, their guy followed Kyle Whittingham to Michigan.

[00:30:23] But, you know, Clonson Tocqueville can be disciplined. They play hard on defense. They run the ball well. They don't make a lot of mistakes. And if you look at their schedule, the only game where you look at and say they're definitely an underdog is the Notre Dame game. Yeah. And that's at home. And probably there's going to be a night game. So we know I'm serious. Yeah.

[00:30:52] No, I get once again, we have the same. I also have BYU. I think all the off field stuff, Texas Tech, the quarterback situation, I think they're not going to walk through the conference like they did last year. Their defense will be really good again, but they lost a couple of really great players. So, yeah, I have the Cougars. Yeah. Like you, a couple of tough, you know, road games. You got to go at Utah. I got to go at TCU in conference. But I think they have enough to make the title game.

[00:31:22] Yeah. And like you said, there's not a game on that. You know, Notre Dame's obviously over there'll be the underdog, but there's not a game you look and say, oh, they can't win that. They can absolutely upset Notre Dame, especially in Provo. Like you said, it's homecoming. So, you know, they'll have all the former stars in the house. So, yeah, I think, and like you said, it'll be Lavelle Edwards Stadium will be rocking, especially if they put that one at night.

[00:31:50] Who do you have as your surprise team in the Big 12? Surprise team in the Big 12. Honestly, it's hard. It's hard because I think there's so many teams that were good conference. It is such a conference. I was high on them last year, but I do have Kansas State as my surprise team. I think, you know, they get their quarterback back.

[00:32:18] They got the new head coach there, former head coach, most recently been in Texas A&M. And he's got great offense. And he comes in and he gets the first year, gets their quarterback that fits well into his system. And I was just like, you know, I think K State bounces back this year. They do have kind of a tough schedule.

[00:32:44] I mean, but I think, you know, we'll see them get back to, you know, at least eight, nine wins possibly in contention for the Big 12, depending on how things go. But I think they have a big bounce back here compared to, you know, the expectations last year. That's a good pick. I like that. I almost went with them myself. Yeah. I like Colin Klein coming back home. I do. You know, all the things you said,

[00:33:13] I really do think Kansas State will be back in that title hunt this year. But I ultimately went with the Mountaineers of West Virginia. I think Rich Rod, second year back there, you know, didn't win a lot of games last year, four and eight. They, you know, of course won the backyard brawl, big one there. Had a late upset at Houston. I thought that was a pretty good win. Followed that up with a win at Colorado.

[00:33:41] You know, weren't competitive against the best teams, you know, blown out by Utah, BYU and Tech. But I think this, I think getting a guy like Michael Hawkins in, I think that's going to be a great pickup for Rich Rod's offense. You know, Cam Cook, a great running back, all American. I think he's got the talent there to win a lot of games, get back to a bowl game,

[00:34:09] win eight, maybe even nine games if they can pull an upset. They do have a really tough schedule. You know, got to go at TCU, at Tech and at Utah. But I like, I like their chances this year to surprise some folks, maybe pull an upset, but at least get back to a bowl. Yeah. So how about you? Who do you got as your, or your, oh no. Okay. We both did our surprise. Disappointment team. I have the Red Raiders, Texas Tech.

[00:34:41] I do think just like I said, before all that, the quarterback situation, all the off field stuff, I think they lost enough players on defense that they'll drop out and I have them as my disappointment team. I think I don't even have them in the Big 12 title game. Oh wow. Yeah. So how about you? Who's your disappointment in Big 12? I mean, I don't know.

[00:35:08] I don't know if it's really going to be some, much of this. But I mean, I don't know what the expectations really are for them this year, but I'm going to say, just because I don't know how, you know, what people expect from them this year, but I don't think Cincinnati is going to be very good this year. I don't think, I think they'll have a new coach after this year. I mean, you got to look at it. His tenure there has not been great.

[00:35:37] They had their quarterback last year, Sorsby, and they still fell off at the end of the year. I mean, they have a stretch where they play Texas Tech, Utah, and Houston. And before that, they go at West Virginia. So, yeah, quite a murderer's row there. And Arizona before. But I don't know, I don't think there's high expectations.

[00:36:05] I think it's going to be a pretty bad year in Cincinnati. And I think we'll see a new coach next year there. Yeah. Yeah. Scott Satterfield entering his fourth year there hasn't really impressed. Taking over for Luke Fickle, of course, took them to the playoff in the four-team era. Okay. So, yeah, I could see that. I'm with you there.

[00:36:30] I'm not sure the Bearcats will make any good noise this year. Let's move the last conference here, the SEC, the one we know, love the most. I'll kick it off here. As my champ, man, that was tough. That was really tough for me. I went back and forth on a couple teams. Even though we talked about in our preview last week, you know, it's more than just Georgia and Texas and then the rest.

[00:36:59] You know, I think there's a lot of contenders. But I picked them to finally do it, just considering the amount of crazy amount of talent in that team. But I picked Texas, the Longhorns, to win the SEC. Yeah, it's a tough schedule. But like I said, just so much talent. They started playing really well toward the end of last year. Arch was looking better and better. I think they figured out better ways to use him too. And just with all that talent they added around him,

[00:37:28] I'd like the Longhorns to finally take the SEC crown. Makes sense. I'm going to go with the team that's been the most consistent over the last couple years. And that is, again, not the easiest pick. I'm going with Georgia as the SEC champion. I mean, obviously, Kirby is a mainstay in the SEC championship game. He knows how to win the big games.

[00:37:57] You know, the biggest knock is he can't win playoff games right now in the quarterfinals two years in a row. So, but I think, you know, there's some, not the easiest schedule. But, you know, I think that, you know, they still find a way to win the SEC. You know, Spencer Stockton is a good quarterback. They do need to find some playmakers on offense. The defense will be stout as usual. I mean, you just expect Georgia to be Georgia.

[00:38:27] And until they show me otherwise, I don't know why I wouldn't pick the Bulldogs right now. Yeah, exactly. It's like you said, until they prove wise. You know, they've been in six straight SEC title games. And, you know, it's hard to make seven in a row, but it's also hard to bet against the dogs at this point. Absolutely. Yes, that's a good pick. Who do you have as your surprise team in the SEC?

[00:38:54] Honestly, I'm going with the Florida Gators as my surprise team. We had talked about it. You know, John Summerall won the offseason. We liked Tulane. You know, he made that program a contender, bashing them what we thought after Willie Fritz left. So, kudos to him. John, he said all the right things in the offseason. And I at least have him seven, possibly eight wins, depending on how a couple of games go. A couple of toss-up games out there.

[00:39:23] But I see this for him in bowling and being a lot more competitive in big games, a lot more disciplined. Yeah, I like that pick. And I'm with you on John Summerall, I think of all the new hires, I think he's probably the best one as far as what that program needed. Yes, that's not a bad pick at all. With my surprise pick, I went a little, put my homer hat on, and I got the tide.

[00:39:53] I think people are kind of sleeping on him this year. I think people are forgetting, Kalen DeBoer is a really good coach. He's got a great record in ranked games, really shows up for big games. You know, last year's Rose Bowl, notwithstanding. I think Keelan Russell is going to be special. I think the offense is going to be better than people think. And I think the defense is really good. People know that. So, I got us, you know, maybe making a run back to the SEC title game.

[00:40:22] But I definitely think people are sleeping on the tide a little bit. So I got them as my sleeper pick. Anyway, I would love to see it. Yeah. Interesting enough, whether you think they'll win the SEC or not, that Bama over eight and a half is over under at minus 125. I'm like, we're almost guaranteed nine plus. So. I'd about say, yeah, that's pretty good.

[00:40:50] Pretty easy money right there, if you ask me. I would say. So I would hammer that if you want to bet before the season gets going on over and under there, and I just kept that today. So, that's where we're at with that. But, hey, I would love to see it. Yeah, absolutely. Disappointment team. I got the Sooners of Oklahoma. That was a tough one again, because, you know, obviously we know how great their defense is.

[00:41:20] A healthy John Mateer might be a big difference for them. But it is a tough schedule. You know, they get that out of conference game at Michigan week two. They go at Georgia at the end of September. Of course, Red River, as always. They got to go to the swamp. They get Ole Miss and A&M back to back. You know, they go. It's a pretty rough stretch from starting on Halloween. They get South Carolina come to town. Who knows with the Gamecocks.

[00:41:47] Then they go at Florida, then host Ole Miss, and then A&M, and back to back weeks before ending at Missouri. And, so yeah, I think a lot of people are high. I've seen some people picking OU as a SEC title threat, or, you know, getting back to the playoffs. And I think they might slip a little this year. Not, you know, super disappointing. Not like they were in 24, 6, and 7. But I can see them dropping three or four games this year.

[00:42:18] I could see it. I mean, they go a lot of different ways. But, yeah, that schedule is tough. For my disappointing team, I'm going with Texas A&M. Oh, okay. You know, I think that, you know, they made the playoff last year with a soft schedule.

[00:42:45] You know, obviously they, in their two biggest games, they didn't show up that well. Schedule picks up this year a lot. Not saying it would be necessarily a terrible season, because, I mean, they're a good team. But I am not sure if I trust your quarterback in big games yet. We know he has talent, but I'm not sure how I trust him.

[00:43:12] And, I mean, at Alabama, Tennessee, at OU, you know, you play at LSU, and the season, of course, at Texas, a team you can't beat for any reason. So, a lot of big games there. So, I mean, I could, you know, very well could be a playoff team that wouldn't shock me.

[00:43:39] But, you know, I could see the Aggies like 9-3, 8-4. So, not terrible season. But, I mean, they expect playoffs this year. And, you know, 8-4, you're not a playoff team. So, that's why I seem to disappoint. Not that they're going to be terrible, but I just think that they have an opportunity to lose four games. It's just a tough schedule. I think that's completely fair. Yeah.

[00:44:09] Yeah. No, again, that's, I didn't pick it, but I don't disagree with it at all. All right. Let's move on to our playoff picks. Let's work up two of the champs. Who do you have as your playoff disappointment this year? A team, you know, maybe you think will miss, or a team that people are high on that you think might get there but flame out quickly? Honestly, I mean, it's tough.

[00:44:37] You know, it all depends on matchups and who's healthy. And, you know, so much can change as we all know. But, honestly, I'm going to go with the defending national champs, Indiana. You know, I'm sure they'll make the playoff again, but I don't think they'll have, I think they'll have a quick exit. I think they'll lose their first game, whether it be the first round game, or should they, you know, get a bye? I think that they'll lose at first game there.

[00:45:08] I just, you know, I've watched Josh Hoover throughout his career. He kind of shits the bed at the wrong times. And I know it's a good situation for him. And we've seen Indiana win probably, honestly, with worst quarterbacks coming in. But I just don't, I just think that they're going to come down a little bit. You know, I said, they're showing me hell of a team that well coached. But I think that they'll have a quicker exit than people expect this year.

[00:45:41] Yeah, no, it's, and it's kind of, when you have such a great year, year before, you know, it's kind of hard to, obviously, to repeat that and live up to 16-0 expectations. But then again, it's Indiana, so their playoff appearance is amazing in itself. So... Yeah, exactly. I mean, they're riding high right now. You know, you normally say something like you get like a five-year grace period after a national title or, you know, a big championship to where you go. All right, man, Indiana's got like 20 years.

[00:46:11] They can ride off this, man. Yeah. I have, I mentioned it as my big 12. I got Texas Tech as my playoff. I don't even know if they make it. I really think that they're going to come crashing back down. Or if they do make it, it'll be a first-round game. And then like last year, you know, they're just going to struggle to compete against another big team. So I don't...

[00:46:39] Yeah, I don't really see the Red Raiders repeating last year's great run. Excellent. Yeah. As for, let's see, my surprise team, I have the Louisville Cardinals. I really like them. You know, we mentioned they're in the contenders list for the ACC. Absolutely think they can make that title game. Absolutely think they're capable of beating anybody on any given night.

[00:47:06] And I think they can not only make the playoff, but I think if they got there, they could win a game in the first round. So I like Louisville as my surprise college football playoff team. How about you? You know, what do you got there? Well, I didn't have us winning the SEC. My surprise is Alabama.

[00:47:34] I think Keelan Russell is the link to everything. As many questions there are about the offensive times, I'd say this is the first time they have the quarterback they want. First time they have the type of offensive line they want. I think the running game bounces back to a decent number and the defense should be elite as expected. I think this is the first year that we put it together.

[00:48:06] Not sure if we win the SEC, but I would see that we win at least two playoff games this year. I like it. I'll take it. Yeah, no. I mean, like I said, they're my SEC sleeper. I think people are sleeping on Alabama a little too much. They do. Yeah, I do. I think players are going to be motivated by it. All right.

[00:48:34] Before you give me your national champ, who do you have winning the Heisman this year? The Heisman, as we know, is rarely the guys that, you know, are the biggest names going into the season. So, you know, we have all the guys that we think are going to win and everybody has high.

[00:48:58] And, you know, no one had last year's highs been for sure. Oh, yeah. We wouldn't even have a lot of there. I'm going to say, as long as you say he's healthy throughout the season, Kevin Jennings, SMU. Okay, I like it. He's, you know, it's rare that you see a quarterback three years in the same system.

[00:49:29] He knows it in and out. We've seen him have some good things. And I think, you know, last year was 3,600 yards, 26 touchdowns, 13 picks. He cuts down on those picks, adds a couple more yards. He doesn't, you know, lose a weird game like he did last year to Cal, which, you know, puts him in the ACC championship. And very well could have had SMU win the playoff for a second straight year.

[00:49:58] I think he puts it all together and it's a perfect system for him. I think he has a great opportunity to put up big numbers. And if SMU is successful, SMU is going to be successful as a possible, you know, playoff team. Not going to have a lot of highs on him. I like it. I like that pick. That's good. I do have one of the big names out there, Dante Moore, Oregon.

[00:50:26] Same reason, kind of, you know, another. It's rare you see a returning starting quarterback these days. You got one in a high profile offense, high scoring offense, going to put up big numbers. And yeah, so I like, I like Dante Moore. Absolutely. And coincidentally, I also have his team making the college football national championship game, but I have them losing. Greg, the U is back.

[00:50:55] I have Miami winning the national title. So I apologize, hurricane fans. Sorry for your three loss here coming up. Yeah. But yeah, I have Miami getting back to the mountaintop. I think Darian men's is going to be what puts them over the top. I think it's a great, great fit for that team. You know, their defense is going to be tough.

[00:51:21] They can roll through the ACC, build a lot of confidence. They made the title game last year and gave Indiana a better game than anybody else. And, you know, could have won it. You know, they still had a chance to win. But, yes, I have the Hurricanes. Who do you have as your national champ? Drum roll.

[00:51:47] Well, I actually have the team that you said is losing in the national championship game, Oregon, who finally gets their ring. The jokes will be done about the empty trophy case. You know, only about uniforms. They finally get over that hump. They have a great quarterback. They're well coached. They play great defense. This year they figure out how to beat the top teams in the Big Ten, not only in the regular season,

[00:52:17] but should they face one in the playoff along the way, they'll beat them as well. So, I'll finally have Ward in their first championship. Yeah. A great pick, like I said, in my title game. And for a long time they were everybody's, you know, they're kind of the safest bet to be the next team, the next program to win their first national title before Curt Signetti in Indiana came out of nowhere. Yeah. But, yeah.

[00:52:45] Maybe they win last year. Who knows? Exactly. Two years ago, they got the rawest of deals facing Ohio State. Yeah. If there's a team that can be aggrieved by the dumb conference champions automatically get the bye, it's Oregon. Because getting that Ohio State team in your first playoff game after a bye, yeah, that's bullshit. That's the last thing ever. Yeah.

[00:53:11] Another reason too, I think, that every game until the championship game should be on campus. That's a good one. That's a good one. That's a good one. That's a good one. That game was in the outson. Yeah. Oh my God. Mm-hmm. Yeah, man. But yeah, no, I like that pick. That's good. All right, let's run them down real quick. We'll just go alphabetical order here. In the American, I had UT San Antonio. You had Navy.

[00:53:38] In the ACC, we both had Miami as our champ for our surprise teams at NC State. You had Vatek. For disappointments, you had Pitt. I had Pitt. You had Wake. Big 10, we both had Oregon as our champ there. A surprise team. You had Washington. I had Wisconsin going for the Ws there. And we both had Michigan as our disappointment there. Big 12, we're in lockstep again. BYU as our champ.

[00:54:07] Sorry, Cooper. Yes. Sorry. Yeah, Miami, Oregon, BYU. Yeah, we shared quite a few champs there. I had West Virginia as my surprise team. You had K-State rebounding. Disappointing. You had Cincy. I had Texas Tech. Conference USA, you had Kennesaw State winning it again. I had Western Kentucky. We both had Western Michigan in the MAC. Mountain West, you had UNV, Dan Mullen getting that crown out there.

[00:54:36] I had the Bows, Hawaii. We both had Boise State in the Pac-12. SEC, I had Texas. You had Georgia winning it all. Surprise teams, I had Bama. You had Florida. And disappointing teams, I had Oklahoma and you had A&M. We both had JMU at James Madison as our Sunbelt champs. For college football playoff, we both had Miami as our national champ. You had Oregon as your national champ.

[00:55:06] Surprise teams, you had the Tide. I had Louisville. Disappointment teams, I had Texas Tech. You had Indiana. And then Heisman, I had Dante Moore and you had Kevin Jennings. So, let's see. Miami, Oregon, BYU, Western Michigan, Boise and James Madison fans, we are sorry. All seasons. We're in the basketball.

[00:55:34] But yeah, that is our list. Of course, we'll revisit this in December. And then after the playoff too, you'll probably laugh. Or maybe, who knows, maybe we'll get back on that horse. Greg, you got anything else from World of Sports you want to touch on? Yeah. We don't have a Saturday for the rest of the year with a no-card football. That's beautiful. It's beautiful.

[00:56:05] Yeah, my wife, we're going to her, my mother-in-law's 70th birthday Friday night. But then my wife is staying with a kid in Mississippi to take him to a birthday party. And she said, well, I guess, you know, you don't have to come. I was like, ah, I can drive back home and watch football all day. I said, that's fine by me. All right. See me lounging around. And yeah, like you mentioned, we got a pretty good nightcap at UNLV Memphis game. Man, that's pretty good. That must be a fun one.

[00:56:33] But yeah, other than that, folks, check out if you played our ESPN Pigums from last year, you can sign back up for those. Remember, we do the Taken on Sports. It's just our name. It's the group name. You can search it. If you were in it last year, you should just be able to go to your ESPN profile and rejoin it. But we do against the spread. Yeah. Yeah, we do against the spread in ours.

[00:57:02] And if you look for the Alabama Tate group, it's the confidence points one. Blaine actually named it something different this year. Let me look that up real quick. But yeah, those are both active back up. So you guys can check those out. Like I said, if you played last year, all you got to do is go back to your ESPN and hit rejoin. So yeah, that is pretty. Let's see. College pick them here.

[00:57:32] Trying to find Greg. Of course, we'll be doing our picks column again this year. Like we do every Friday. You'll see us posted. We pick three college games, one NFL game. We'll try to do better. Greg, I know you need a big rebound near there. Sure. Yeah. You can check that out on the Alabama pick.com.

[00:57:57] Check out that nice redesign site that Blaine put some hard work into. Redesign the site there. I think it looks real good. So go in there, check that out. And let's see one more time. If I could just, man, computers being real slow right now. Trying to find this name for you. It's called Alabama. Take your pick. There you go. So search up Alabama.

[00:58:24] Take your pick for the confidence points game and then take it on sports, just like the podcast with that apostrophe. No G for the spring against the spread pick. And like I said, if you win, I will send you. I'll send you a. Take it on sports t-shirt or some piece of swag, whatever you want to pick off the site. Last year, I sent it to my mom. So come on, y'all. Let's be. Let's be Nona.

[00:58:56] I can't. I can't. I can't. Huh? She was pretty dominant as well. Well, she was. Yeah, man. She's doing pretty good, man. So I got to, I got to take, I got at least got to be her again next this year. I got to. Cause she's going to, she's going to let me know about it every week. She's going to remind me that she won last year. But, uh, all right, folks, uh, that'll do it for us then Greg, buddy.

[00:59:22] Uh, I'll see you next week and we will be able to talk about some college football games. All right, football. I can't wait. All right, buddy. Thank you once again for listening, folks. As always subscribe rate, like us, do whatever your chosen podcast platform ask you to do. Tell your friends about us, tell your rich friends about us, especially if any of them feel like sponsoring a podcast. You can check out all of the family of Alabama take podcast at the Alabama take.com.

[00:59:52] You can also find a bunch of wonderful writings there from our lovely talented roster of contributors. If you'd like to join that roster, shoot an email to the Alabama take at gmail.com. Blaine will get you set up. We're always looking for new voices here on the Alabama take. You can check out Greg at Bama hammer. He writes a lot about, uh, Alabama women's basketball there and other Alabama athletics. You can follow us on socials at taken on sports.

[01:00:18] Of course, drop that G and as always folks, keep it done up real good yourselves out there. I'll see you later. We'll see you later on what's going on in the next one.