Week 8 Preview

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Welcome back into the Sunbelt Syndicate Podcast with you from the first kick to the last pitch, part of the Syndicate Sports Podcast Network.
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It's good to be back, TJ.
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Uh yeah, a day later than we usually do.
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But uh you had something important to take care of last night.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Wife's birthday was last night.
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So uh 40th birthday.
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So milestone, yeah.
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So we had to we did a celebration over the weekend um as well for her, I had a couple of her friends fly in um and and surprise her and and that kind of thing.
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So that was fun.
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But then my son was like, hey dad, what are we gonna do for more?
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I'm like, oh well, we'll go to dinner again.
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So here's here's your paper and pen to make her a homemade card.
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Right.
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Right.
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So it ended up being good.
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Nice.
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Glad to hear it.
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Glad you guys got to spend uh evening.
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All three of you went to dinner, is that what yes?
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Yeah, that's what uh that's what I did uh for anniversary.
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They're like, You took your kid?
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I was like, Yeah, man, he's part of the family.
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We we we take him.
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Right, absolutely.
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Why why wouldn't you?
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Right, you include him.
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He's uh he's there for the long haul, so yeah, uh, it's just easier.
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Um plus I think you and I both have kids that behaves very well overall, so there's really no concern that you know can't hang.
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Um speaking of can't hang, let we, you know, we we didn't do this episode before Tuesday night's game.
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I mean, we got that early Tuesday week uh kickoff between Marshall and South Alabama, and let's let's uh you know we'll put it up on the screen now.
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South Alabama picked to be the clean sweep of all three of us this week.
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You, myself, and College Sports Impact.
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Um, but they just couldn't establish much of anything, really.
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But they they had previously established the rush pretty well.
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Um we start off with a with a loss.
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I know that, like you said, you were out to dinner, didn't maybe see all of it, but you saw a good portion of it, even so.
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Uh just thoughts you have on that matchup between the Herd and the Jags last night.
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Yeah, I mean, to me, the difference was Zion Turner, especially late in the game.
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Um, he he was able to use his legs a lot in that fourth quarter.
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Um, you know, if you look at it from a box score perspective, it's not gonna, he didn't wow you with rushing for, you know, 110, whatever it was, yards, but the runs that he had in the fourth quarter were extremely effective.
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He also uh was very efficient on 21 of uh I think it was 21 of 33 passing for 181 yards.
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Um, you know, just so happened that they had three rushing touchdowns getting in the end, getting into the red zone.
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But for me, I I think Zion Turner, again, especially in the fourth quarter, being able to establish uh his legs and and and uh even on some design runs as well, um, I thought they utilized him to his best ability.
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Um and he was the difference in the game, uh, to me, late in the game.
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And I think he he's what sort of iced the game uh really for USA um uh towards the end of it.
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So yeah, I I think he I think he was the difference.
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Yeah, and then and Wilkins came in and just I feel like as Turner got a little banged up towards the end, he got just a touch.
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Uh slower is probably not the right word, right?
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But Wilkins came in with an absolutely explosive uh burst, right?
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Right, and got to the outside a couple times and took it.
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I I gotta ask you this because I you know interacted with uh Dave Schultz from the locked on podcast earlier today.
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Do you think it was, I mean, I I think I understand some of the concept, but I want you to speak to it even further.
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Wilkins comes in, they probably know, right, that he's not gonna throw much, if at all, and he obviously ends up not throwing.
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But knowing he's gonna run the ball, South Alabama brought pressure, brought blitz packages toward him.
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Was that kind of their downfall, their detriment?
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Like, would would you have done something different?
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Or is that the type of defense that you think is appropriate when you know that they're obviously trying to ice the game now, they're trying to run clock, and they're having a quarterback who's just gonna keep it more often than doing anything else?
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Yeah, well, there's two types of blitzing, right?
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Like there's a there's there's blitz that especially designed for the run, there's blitzes for pass coverage.
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Um, you've got to be it when you're blitzing against the run and you know that there's a run coming, you have to have specific responsibilities for each individual during that blitz.
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Um, I think what happened with USA was while they were blitzing, I think there was a lot of responsibility that was lost on both the D-line and the linebackers and overpursuing your rush responsibilities.
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You know that there's a run play coming.
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You got to be sound and not overrun the play, both not, you know, setting the edge on the front side, uh, but also to protecting cutback lanes and those kinds of things.
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And that's not what they did.
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They, you know, in a lot of instances, uh, even while they were blitzing, like I said, they they overran the play a whole lot.
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And so when you're again, when you're blitzing against the run, there has to be controlled aggression.
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It has to be a systematic approach to stopping the run, as opposed to letting your hair down, um, you know, and and getting after the quarterback, you can run as fast as you want or kind of you know try to get back there as quickly as possible.
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But when you're when you're playing against the run and one angle over pursued, and that ends it for you.
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So I think that was the difference.
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Like you said, they did they did um blitz a lot against the run and knowing they were trying to ice the game, I think a lot of the blitzes didn't work because of how well the both the cutback lanes were and then also to just front side blocking.
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So um a lot of it was was uh um was it was tied to their ability to run the ball effectively.
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Makes sense.
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Makes sense.
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I was you know very surprised that South Alabama didn't kind of establish that run much at all throughout the night.
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They had some they had some drives where they actually looked half decent with that, but the fact that they couldn't really get it established and keep it there, uh, and then forcing Hollins into some throws that I mean that last one on that fourth down attempt, I feel like he might have had a split second or two to set the feet a little bit more before he kind of chucked that one.
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Uh, not that it would have been a huge difference maker.
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They still would have had to get further and score uh touchdown and kick the extra point or go for two, whatever the case would have been.
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Uh, because we saw how aggressive it is.
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It is interesting to see how aggressive that they do play it.
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Um thoughts on is it the ballsiest call in the Sun Belt at least so far to have a fake punt within what were they inside their own 20 there?
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Yeah, that was the fourth quarter.
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That takes guts, man.
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I I I don't know that I don't know if I've got the go Naz to pull that off.
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That's that's insane.
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Um, yeah.
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Well, I mean, yeah, to try something like that, it's just ultimate faith in your team, ultimate, and then also too, ultimate confidence and knowing that the other team is is 100% planning for a punt.
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What so it there's a lot there's a lot of very I mean, no one thinks you're gonna punt it from your own or fake a punt from your own 20, I think inside 20 or whatever it was.
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I feel like it was, yeah.
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Yeah, it's just yeah, that was crazy.
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I I just remember like I think I was looking down at the phone for a second, like, okay, they're gonna punt, and then I hear, oh, it's a fake, and I'm like looking up.
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And I think because of the play being a whatever, what you know the broadcast thought was gonna be a punt.
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I'm pretty sure they took the first down marker like away, like on the screen, like the yellow line.
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And so I'm like, oh my gosh, I I think he clearly got the first, but like uh was it wasn't looking at the sec at the screen at the very second.
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So I'm like, I don't know, but then I could tell because the crowd got quiet, right?
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Like you like, they would have been loud if they got you know stopped.
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Uh but yeah, interesting.
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And I mean, I love the call.
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It's like you said, you have to be confident that they just would not suspect.
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I mean, nobody really did, like I said, yeah, because that's not something you do.
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No, no.
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So I I mean, I love the call, worked out, uh made it exciting, right?
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Because I think at that point it was still tied.
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I don't think they were having to kind of go for it just yet.
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But uh yeah, because I think it was towards the beginning of the fourth quarter they actually pulled that off.
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So interesting, interesting play call there.
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Uh, adds some excitement.
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Those are the types of things you want to see on an early week game, I feel like.
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Just throw a package out there that that gets everybody talking.
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Um, so that was kind of fun to see in that regard.
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So again, Marshall wins that game 20 to 13.
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Uh, we'll take a look at the standings before we talk about the rest of the week's schedule.
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James Madison's still at the top, really overall, if you want to look at it that way, but we know we have an East and a West still in the Sun Belt.
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So they're up top the East.
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La Tech now kind of slots into that first spot in the West after South Alabama's loss last night.
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Uh, as far as standings go, I move Louisiana up because they have the five and two overall record, and Louisiana and South Alabama have yet to play.
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Uh, so I'm leaning on that overall record as that kind of tiebreaker for now.
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But technically, South Alabama could be second or third because they're both two and one there in the west side of things.
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Um, and let me take this overlay away so we can see the rest on Southern Miss ULM down there below them.
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Uh, we've got a big one coming up.
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Georgia Southern is two and one as well in the east.
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Uh, and then we've got two teams tied at one and one.
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Let's jump into the rest of the schedule.
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We have a Thursday game.
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We've had a Tuesday game.
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Now we got a Thursday game.
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James Madison versus Abstate ESPNU, seven Eastern, six central time.
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Uh, TJ, you picked against your own team in this one.
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I know.
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Taking James Madison.
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Uh, I I'm a JMU hater, apparently, even though I'm constantly defending them online to others.
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Uh, but I saw the county.
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Honestly, that's what's so funny.
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I had a couple people comment and say, he just oh, he just loves to lose.
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He's stupid when he does this.
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Right, yeah, yeah.
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Well, there's a couple things tied to this, and not everyone's gonna understand it, and not everyone's gonna watch this show.
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But basically, this is also a game between you, myself, and whoever the guest picker is.
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Sure.
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And you kind of have to take some chances, right?
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Um, and I to be as fair as possible to the the predictions, I obviously get to see yours and whoever is guest picking, typically before maybe I've done mine.
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What I try and do is as soon as you guys send me, I give you like the thumbs up emoji or say thanks, and I try to ignore whatever you've put on there because I try and do my picks first before I fill in y'all so that it's you know it's as fair as possible.
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I'm not trying to copy anybody or go against the grain just because I could gain points.
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Uh, so this is probably like the closest card that we've had filled out all season for the predictions.
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Sure.
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Um, so yeah, I went up.
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I've guessed I guess now someone was keeping track of it.
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I didn't even keep track of this.
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I think this is the fourth straight week, apparently.
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I've picked against JMU or something.
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Yeah, I saw that and I was like, oh, how about that?
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Who's keeping score?
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I guess someone is.
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Yeah, yeah, I guess so.
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I mean, this one reason we do it, right?
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It's just fun to do it.
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Um, but yeah, I I hadn't even realized that.
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Uh, it's not that I'm a hater.
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I mean, you know, we have, you know, back at the home office, I've got the JMU CFP football.
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So, like, I was in for the championship game.
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I'm glad they made the CFP.
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We had a representative for the first time ever.
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Uh, but let's get back to uh brass tacks here.
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You don't think that app can pull off the upset?
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And it would be a fairly large upset.
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I believe app has like a projection of less than 15% chance to win this thing or something like that.
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So it's it's not that I don't think that app Blackest State has a chance to win.
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Let's let me let's pause there.
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Everybody has any chance to win on any Saturday, right?
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Any things can go wrong, people get injured, ball bounces a funny way.
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I mean, that football is a funny shape, right?
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It bounces the wrong way one time.
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That could be the difference between winning and losing.
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That said, here the the the reason that I chose uh JMU is twofold.
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Number one, we gave up entirely too many big plays in the back end against Coastal Carolina.
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Do I think Coastal Carolina is as talented of a football team as JMU?
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Absolutely not.
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The difference now coastal should have beaten us if we're just if we're keeping it honest.
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Um Coastal should have beaten us.
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Coastal doesn't finish football games.
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You and I have had this conversation on multiple occasions.
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They don't know how to finish football games.
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And so that's the reason why Coastal would have lost.
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You put Arkansas, you put USA, you put Troy or Louisiana or anybody, La Tech, in any of those spots.
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And and the way we played, we lose by at minimum 10 points because we didn't play well.
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We gave up entirely too many big plays.
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Now, conversely, there were some opportunities for us to get some interceptions, to get some turnovers.
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We got those and took advantage of them, went down, were able to score.
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But you cannot, this is not a give-to-get game, right?
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You can't keep giving up things and then hoping that you're you're in a position to get those things back later on.
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Good teams will ruin you in that regard.
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And the second part of why I don't know that we're equipped yet to win a football game like this is because we don't run the ball with any level of consistency.
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We ran the ball pretty well in the red zone against coastal last week because there are some times where we do run the ball well.
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But when it starts to get cold outside and when there starts, when it starts to be inclement weather and those kinds of things, you have to be able to run the football even when the stadium knows that you're going to run the football.
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We have not done a good job of that all year.
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Could it change?
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Absolutely.
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But I got to pick with my football mind and not my football heart.
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And that's the difference.
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Obviously, my heart is with App State, it always will be, but I got to tell it like it absolutely is.
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And right now, we are not playing with any level of consistency.
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And until we do that, these types of games we won't win.
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I think that's fair.
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I mean, we to further your point about the establishing the run, we had our first ever 100-yard rusher of the season in Carolina.
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It makes no sense.
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And it was our backup quarterback.
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Yeah, obviously kind of became the guy in the coastal game, right?
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Because Malachi went down with that injury and he was seen limping back over to the sideline.
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So I I I guess that's the other thing here.
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Do you expect Hasselback to be the starter at the very least in this one?
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Um, because of the case.
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I don't know.
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I think I think it based on what I've seen out of out of Logan so far, I think it might be situational.
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Um, I think two things have to happen.
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I think we're gonna probably play it by ear and see how Malachi is doing um as the week goes on.
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Um, there's gonna be some passing situations where Malachi is likely gonna be the guy.
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There are gonna be some obvious run situations where you know Hasselback will be the guy.
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And then there are gonna be some probably mixed situations where Hasselback's in the game and it's gonna be a run threat, and they're and they're probably gonna end up throwing the football.
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Hassleback is a fairly decent throw of the football, not as elite as as Malachi is, but Malachi's not as elite of an athlete as as Hasselback is in terms of running the ball.
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So there's things that each quarterback offers.
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I don't like using two consistently.
00:16:23.750 --> 00:16:33.590
Um, but I think given where we are right now, and also given um the health of Malachi, I we may be in a situation where we have to.
00:16:33.669 --> 00:16:34.070
Who knows?
00:16:34.149 --> 00:16:34.950
We'll see.
00:16:35.269 --> 00:16:43.830
Yeah, uh, just to speak further to that point about Hasselback, I mean, I was thinking back, I was like, I don't remember him throwing the ball that one that much.
00:16:43.990 --> 00:16:47.990
He did go nine of 12 for 112 yards and a touchdown.
00:16:48.149 --> 00:16:50.710
And that was halfway through the third quarter, right?
00:16:51.350 --> 00:16:52.870
So he did throw the ball.
00:16:52.950 --> 00:16:56.470
Uh, I thought I was like, man, he's we really are not throwing the ball much at all.
00:16:56.549 --> 00:16:59.350
He he did throw the ball and he threw it pretty well.
00:16:59.509 --> 00:17:02.389
I am just surprised though, 125 yards on the ground.
00:17:02.629 --> 00:17:09.909
To me, if you're asking me and and my thought process, I and we talked about this between the two of us, DJ.
00:17:09.990 --> 00:17:20.230
I thought after game one against Maine, Hasselbeck had the jump as far as the quick step to get out of the pocket and make some yardage on the ground better than Singleton did.
00:17:20.389 --> 00:17:22.470
Uh, I do think Singleton is the better passer.
00:17:22.549 --> 00:17:25.029
I don't think there's any question there at this point in time.
00:17:25.269 --> 00:17:26.070
But is he though?
00:17:26.230 --> 00:17:28.869
Is he the better passer or is he just the passer we've seen?
00:17:29.110 --> 00:17:29.349
True.
00:17:31.909 --> 00:17:35.750
There's something to be said for NFL pedigree, right?
00:17:36.150 --> 00:17:43.269
Now, albeit your dad and your uncle weren't you know stars, one of your one of you, I think it was your uncle, won a Super Bowl.
00:17:43.509 --> 00:17:44.069
Right, right.
00:17:44.309 --> 00:17:49.109
So I mean, let's there's something to be said for the ability to do it at this level.
00:17:49.349 --> 00:17:55.910
Now I think if given the opportunity, you know who you know who Hasselback reminds me a lot of?
00:17:56.789 --> 00:17:59.269
Zach Thomas that we had back in the day.
00:18:00.309 --> 00:18:06.549
You know, uh he's not gonna light it, he's not gonna run a 4-3, but he's gonna run just fast enough to get away from the next guy behind him.
00:18:06.869 --> 00:18:13.670
And he's gonna be just accurate enough that he can throw go 9 for 12 in in the quarter and a half and get you a touchdown pass.
00:18:15.190 --> 00:18:17.349
Do I think he's better than Malachi?
00:18:17.670 --> 00:18:20.150
I don't know yet because I haven't seen the big enough sample size.
00:18:20.230 --> 00:18:29.109
I need to see a full game of of Hasselback doing it, play in and play out, using his legs, being able to use his arm the whole bit.
00:18:29.430 --> 00:18:29.589
Right.
00:18:30.549 --> 00:18:41.589
I think there's there is an opportunity there for us to have some level of explosivity, if you will, um, coming out of the backfield if he's the quarterback for an entire game.
00:18:41.750 --> 00:18:45.829
Now, I'm uh I'm not calling for Malachi to not be the starter, not calling for that.
00:18:46.069 --> 00:18:57.349
Right, but Malachi being hurt last week was sort of a blessing in disguise because we were able to do some things in the second half that we did not do in the first half.
00:18:57.509 --> 00:19:03.829
So it offers us some level of flexibility and and some explosiveness that we ordinarily had not have not had.
00:19:04.150 --> 00:19:04.390
Right.
00:19:04.549 --> 00:19:06.150
No, I don't disagree with that at all.
00:19:06.309 --> 00:19:21.269
And I think, you know, to me, the fact that you opened up a little bit more by having him scramble so much, exactly like could force James Madison's defense to play you differently than if they know Malachi's gonna sit there in the pocket more often and make passes.
00:19:21.509 --> 00:19:22.470
But I I do agree with you.
00:19:22.549 --> 00:19:27.509
If Malachi's healthy enough to go, I think we will see him uh on the field.
00:19:27.670 --> 00:19:41.349
Uh interesting because we'll also see, very likely, JC Evans and Camden Coleman, who have kind of run a tandem quarterback set over at James Madison so far this year, uh, both been pretty impressive.
00:19:41.509 --> 00:19:49.589
Both were just on the field in fairly even uh marks against Georgia State Panthers last week.
00:19:49.750 --> 00:19:52.710
Obviously, you could have looked at that one of two ways.
00:19:52.869 --> 00:19:56.549
Um, you know, one guy starts and one guy finishes, but that's not really what happened.
00:19:56.630 --> 00:20:04.230
They kind of even switched them out throughout the game, uh, which was which I thought was interesting because you're thinking one guy's gonna lean more on the run than the pass.
00:20:04.309 --> 00:20:07.670
But I mean, both of those guys do both things fairly well.
00:20:07.829 --> 00:20:12.069
Uh, I guess kind of similar to AB State there.
00:20:12.230 --> 00:20:21.910
Uh, do you think that we'll see kind of the same tactic from the Dukes because it's been working for them as well as it has been for Ab State, essentially?
00:20:22.150 --> 00:20:24.069
I think if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?
00:20:24.150 --> 00:20:25.910
I mean, why would I change something that's been working?
00:20:25.990 --> 00:20:32.069
Like you said, I mean, they've they've used that two-quarterback system um pretty effectively for the most part the entire year.
00:20:32.230 --> 00:20:37.990
Um, and so, you know, for me, if if I you know my philosophy, if you got two quarterbacks, you got none.
00:20:38.309 --> 00:20:49.109
So I'm not a fan of it because I think that you know, you you deserve to get your starter the rhythm, get him in rhythm, have him on time, let them start doing this thing consistently.
00:20:49.349 --> 00:20:53.190
That said, though, it does work for some teams, and if it's been working for Jamie, they're seven and oh.
00:20:53.349 --> 00:20:55.029
Don't take any coaching from me.
00:20:57.029 --> 00:20:58.630
Yeah, I guess that's true.
00:20:58.710 --> 00:21:03.750
I uh you know when you're comparing the defense of what James Madison can do as well.
00:21:03.829 --> 00:21:08.470
I mean, Cameron Brown has had been good for Georgia State, very good so far.
00:21:08.630 --> 00:21:13.029
They held him to uh 13 of 25, one touchdown, one interception.
00:21:13.190 --> 00:21:18.869
He was still the leading uh rusher for the Panthers this past weekend, which I thought was interesting.
00:21:19.029 --> 00:21:24.950
71 yards on the ground, which is where I think you know the Hasselbeck situation could play a little bit of a factor.
00:21:25.109 --> 00:21:30.470
Although, since they have seen a quarterback who can rush, it'll be interesting to see if they maybe defend it better, right?
00:21:30.549 --> 00:21:32.309
Because they just went up against it.
00:21:32.390 --> 00:21:35.509
Um, so I just think this is a great matchup.
00:21:35.670 --> 00:21:39.029
I know that on paper it's supposed to be, you know, very one-sided.
00:21:39.190 --> 00:21:41.990
I think uh I don't do you have the spread in front of you right now, TJ?
00:21:42.230 --> 00:21:44.230
Yeah, it's uh minus 10 and a half, Jamie.
00:21:44.470 --> 00:21:44.789
Yeah.
00:21:45.269 --> 00:21:53.910
So it's not it's not immense, but that is definitely, you know, the vast majority of people placing bets on this game are all gonna side with James Madison.
00:21:54.150 --> 00:21:57.910
And probably, I would venture to think that most people are actually taking the points.
00:21:58.470 --> 00:22:01.990
They probably think, you know, they could get to 13, they could get to 14.
00:22:02.230 --> 00:22:13.029
Uh, if if you've watched both teams on tape, I think that's still, uh like you said, for you, TJ, uh fairly uh assessed, right?
00:22:13.190 --> 00:22:19.829
Um because you're looking at a team that's been there, done that last year, and they just seem to be continuing it this year.
00:22:19.910 --> 00:22:21.750
But I do think this game could be sneaky.
00:22:21.829 --> 00:22:22.630
It's in boon.
00:22:22.710 --> 00:22:23.750
The atmosphere's there.
00:22:23.910 --> 00:22:35.509
Appstate has played, obviously, besides last season, fairly well against James Madison uh every time they've met up in the FPS and specifically the Sunbelt uh since that move has been made.
00:22:35.990 --> 00:22:36.789
For both teams.
00:22:37.029 --> 00:22:40.630
But uh yeah, like I said, go back to it.
00:22:40.710 --> 00:22:44.069
You took James Madison, College Sports Impact took James Madison.
00:22:44.230 --> 00:22:45.349
I took Abstate.
00:22:45.430 --> 00:22:47.029
I'll be on the sidelines, I think.
00:22:47.109 --> 00:22:50.390
Again, once again, still waiting on this credential to come through officially.
00:22:51.190 --> 00:22:53.029
But it won't be as late of a night.
00:22:53.109 --> 00:22:55.190
You know, I think I got back close to 3 a.m.
00:22:55.509 --> 00:22:57.750
on Saturday morning after the Friday.
00:22:58.950 --> 00:22:59.509
It's seven.
00:22:59.990 --> 00:23:00.309
Okay.
00:23:00.710 --> 00:23:03.109
Yeah, so seven is not quite as bad.
00:23:03.269 --> 00:23:07.109
And I think technically it's like just barely shorter than my trip to Conway.
00:23:07.190 --> 00:23:08.069
So trip to Booth.
00:23:08.470 --> 00:23:09.349
A little under three.
00:23:09.509 --> 00:23:11.910
Conway's usually right at three or just over.
00:23:12.069 --> 00:23:16.549
So we'll see how that uh shakes out in that one.
00:23:16.710 --> 00:23:23.990
Um, let's put this back up on the board as we get to the game, first game of the slate on Saturday.
00:23:24.150 --> 00:23:35.670
This one, yeah, I hate to say this every time we pull them up, but whenever there's a game involving ULM at this point, we have to say fairly simply that there's probably not going to be a ton to talk about here.
00:23:35.829 --> 00:23:42.549
Does that change because Troy just lost to ULM or sorry, to Louisiana last week?
00:23:42.789 --> 00:23:44.869
I think it's worse for ULM.
00:23:45.029 --> 00:23:47.349
I think it's I think it's exponentially worse.
00:23:47.509 --> 00:23:54.869
That was a game that Troy went into thinking that they could they had an opportunity to win and they you know they got uh outgained really on the on the ground.
00:23:54.950 --> 00:24:03.509
Um it was a lot of situations where um Troy had some opportunities to pull it off and and their defensive line just didn't get pressure and those kinds of things.
00:24:03.589 --> 00:24:09.990
But I think to your going back to your original question, it makes it way worse for ULM.
00:24:10.150 --> 00:24:15.349
Like you don't want to be on the backside of an angry Troy after losing a game that they thought they should win.
00:24:15.670 --> 00:24:17.029
Yeah, I don't disagree.
00:24:17.109 --> 00:24:26.309
And and to you know, talk about this even further, we talked about abstate's low likelihood with ESPN analytics and betters.
00:24:26.710 --> 00:24:37.269
Uh Troy 91.4 percent favored to win this game, so that obviously leaves just 8.6 on the side of ULM.
00:24:37.750 --> 00:24:39.589
Minus 14 for Troy.
00:24:39.750 --> 00:24:40.950
Yeah, minus 14.
00:24:41.109 --> 00:24:41.349
Okay.
00:24:41.430 --> 00:24:41.589
Yeah.
00:24:41.750 --> 00:24:50.470
I think that's probably about fair, but that's that's probably one of those lines where the betters don't know what to do because it is right where you might think it could be.
00:24:50.549 --> 00:24:58.069
I think it could be more, however, like you said, because Troy is now not happy after that performance.
00:24:58.150 --> 00:25:00.630
You didn't just lose, you got beat pretty soundly.
00:25:00.789 --> 00:25:01.029
Yep.
00:25:01.190 --> 00:25:06.869
Uh, Goose Crowder, you know, we've seen him go off with his legs as well as his feet uh arms.
00:25:07.029 --> 00:25:10.150
So I think they can they can rebound quite well here.
00:25:10.230 --> 00:25:13.670
Um, the defense, they've got some standouts on that defense at ULM.
00:25:13.750 --> 00:25:17.109
Noah Fleming's there, 51 tackles so far on the season.
00:25:17.269 --> 00:25:27.430
Um, so you know, I can see why some people do think that this could be within that two-score realm, but I think if Troy's firing on all cylinders, this one could get hands.
00:25:27.670 --> 00:25:28.549
I think they will be.
00:25:28.710 --> 00:25:29.910
Yeah, because they have to be.
00:25:29.990 --> 00:25:35.269
They can't play, they can't lose twice in the conference, and they know that, and they'll play that way the rest of the year.
00:25:35.430 --> 00:25:43.269
I think we'll be interesting um to see La Tech, and we'll get to this as the season goes on, La Tech versus Troy, La Tech versus UL.
00:25:43.750 --> 00:25:48.549
Um, I I think those those two games will be really, really good.
00:25:49.029 --> 00:25:49.750
Yeah, yeah.
00:25:49.910 --> 00:25:57.269
And like you said, Troy can't afford to lose another one because you essentially lose two in either side of this conference, and you're really out of the race.
00:25:57.589 --> 00:25:59.670
I mean, that's that's just how difficult this is.
00:25:59.829 --> 00:26:00.470
I know it's funny.
00:26:00.549 --> 00:26:04.309
Some people talk about SEC schools, oh well, we played SEC schedule.
00:26:04.390 --> 00:26:05.750
We only lost two games all season.
00:26:05.910 --> 00:26:15.269
Yeah, but you played yourself out of uh a lot of chances to do anything because that puts you outside of that championship game, which right now still matters.
00:26:15.349 --> 00:26:18.789
Well, you know, 24 CFP, I guess they're going away.
00:26:18.950 --> 00:26:22.789
But uh right now, that game still matters immensely.
00:26:23.029 --> 00:26:31.190
All right, next up in this schedule is that team we just talked about in Louisiana, traveling on the road, and and they're going to Southern Mist.
00:26:31.269 --> 00:26:34.789
I will say this might be the best slate of weather we've had all season long.
00:26:34.950 --> 00:26:39.990
Very clear skies everywhere, temperatures fairly good, especially in these last few games.
00:26:40.150 --> 00:26:48.390
Uh, definitely a little chilly in Huntington and certainly will be that way in Boone tomorrow night, uh, or today if you're listening to this on Thursday.
00:26:48.630 --> 00:26:59.109
But yeah, everywhere else, nice, nice weather as the the summer kind of heat is dissipating quite quickly and turning into real fall season.
00:26:59.269 --> 00:27:04.950
Uh, this one, Saturday, five Eastern, four central time, maybe, maybe similar to the last game.
00:27:05.109 --> 00:27:15.109
You think any chance the Golden Eagles stick with uh La La as they're referring to them to get under their skin a little bit here in this one?
00:27:15.670 --> 00:27:18.069
Um, I don't think there's a chance for an upset.
00:27:18.150 --> 00:27:25.269
I do think that um Louisiana should be on the upset alert, uh, because obviously anything could happen, right?
00:27:25.430 --> 00:27:26.710
But do we predict it?
00:27:26.869 --> 00:27:27.430
Probably not.
00:27:27.509 --> 00:27:32.390
And I don't think ESPN, let me Yeah, minus 10, um Louisiana.
00:27:32.549 --> 00:27:38.150
So I I don't think that there's any uh I don't want to say fear of of losing this game.
00:27:38.230 --> 00:27:54.069
But I if if there was ever a sleeper game, this is one that I think UL needs to needs to be cognizant of and and play like they played against Troy, come out, put it away early, step on their throat, and uh and and kind of coast through the third and fourth quarters.
00:27:54.309 --> 00:28:01.990
But don't don't for one second take any team lightly, especially in the Sunbelt, really on any field, but especially in the Sunbelt.
00:28:02.069 --> 00:28:05.029
Um, don't give any opportunities where where there shouldn't be.
00:28:05.109 --> 00:28:06.869
So do I think that'll happen?
00:28:07.029 --> 00:28:17.269
No, I don't think there'll be any any signs of letdowns or drop-offs, but there darn well better not be, because again, you you know, that's opportunities wasted.
00:28:17.509 --> 00:28:26.069
Yeah, and this rivalry probably exists stronger and more meaningful in baseball than it does in football, but it transcends, right?
00:28:26.150 --> 00:28:33.990
Like we don't like, you know, AB State fans don't like Georgia Southern in in football, but that that passes on to basketball and baseball to some extent.
00:28:34.069 --> 00:28:39.349
I think this is kind of doing the opposite, really, uh, and traveling over to the football side of things.
00:28:39.430 --> 00:28:46.630
But when you got a guy named Lunch Winfield on your side, uh, and and what what's funny is he's he's thrown for only four touchdown passes.
00:28:46.789 --> 00:28:47.029
Right.
00:28:47.109 --> 00:28:49.990
Um Liddy on the other side has thrown for seven.
00:28:50.230 --> 00:28:53.190
But again, Lunch also is the leading running back.
00:28:53.750 --> 00:28:58.470
I was just curious to say 97 carries with 463 yards, and then another eight touchdowns.
00:28:58.789 --> 00:28:59.910
So what are we doing?
00:29:00.150 --> 00:29:00.470
Yes.
00:29:00.630 --> 00:29:03.750
So and and he's a he's a running back size too, right?
00:29:03.829 --> 00:29:11.829
Like he can take the hits, he will he will make things happen, he will not be afraid to go get you that first down uh in short yardage.
00:29:11.910 --> 00:29:14.789
So, I mean, that's the kind of guy you want to win you games.
00:29:14.869 --> 00:29:27.910
He is the ultimate X factor as far as I'm concerned, probably what pushes them over the edge here because really, if you look at passing attacks, Southern Miss is actually stronger across the board uh going into this one.
00:29:27.990 --> 00:29:33.109
If their leading receiver just under 500 yards is Sanders, and he's got five touchdowns too.
00:29:33.269 --> 00:29:42.069
So, you know, there will be some things defensively the Cajuns will have to be you know tight with uh to make sure they don't let this game be kept close.
00:29:42.230 --> 00:29:54.710
But again, the the if it gets into a shootout, I still trust Lunch and that offense over there for the Cajuns to take care of this one and get the win ultimately there in the end.
00:29:54.869 --> 00:30:01.990
Uh ODU, LaTeX, I will be honest, I did think about taking a chance with ODU.
00:30:02.069 --> 00:30:03.990
We've seen what they've done against AB State.
00:30:04.069 --> 00:30:07.990
They still gave Georgia Southern a little bit of trouble for a little bit of that game.
00:30:08.230 --> 00:30:15.029
Uh, any chance they stick with LaTeX in this one, we will to be fair, we did both pick LaTeX to win.
00:30:15.109 --> 00:30:16.710
So I want to be up front with that.
00:30:16.869 --> 00:30:22.309
But is this game also one of those ones that may be a little closer than people think?
00:30:22.789 --> 00:30:25.430
I so the to that point, I was actually going to bring that up.
00:30:25.589 --> 00:30:29.029
Spread for this is 12 and uh minus 12 and a half latec.
00:30:29.509 --> 00:30:35.430
I don't think that la tech is 12 and a half points or 13 points rather better uh than ODU.
00:30:35.670 --> 00:30:36.789
Uh, do I think they'll win?
00:30:36.869 --> 00:30:37.190
Absolutely.
00:30:37.269 --> 00:30:39.589
I think LaTeX has played more consistent football.
00:30:39.670 --> 00:30:43.190
Um ODU, again, they can play ball, right?
00:30:43.269 --> 00:30:45.509
They they have a fairly decent defense.
00:30:45.589 --> 00:30:49.750
They're inconsistent, um, but when they play well, they play well.
00:30:49.910 --> 00:30:52.230
Um, they caught Abstate sleeping last week.
00:30:52.309 --> 00:30:55.190
Again, we couldn't run the ball consistently, and that was an issue for us.
00:30:55.349 --> 00:31:00.230
Probably another one of those games where having Hassel back in the game might have been beneficial for us.
00:31:00.309 --> 00:31:01.829
Uh, can't revisit the past.
00:31:01.910 --> 00:31:07.109
However, um, you know, I I I think Latech does win.
00:31:07.349 --> 00:31:10.150
Um, 13 points, though, might be a lot.
00:31:10.950 --> 00:31:13.109
Yeah, I don't totally disagree with you.
00:31:13.269 --> 00:31:19.910
I think when you look at it, like could ODU present some problems, like Henekle, not necessarily the greatest passer of the football.
00:31:20.309 --> 00:31:20.630
Exactly.
00:31:20.869 --> 00:31:22.869
He can beat you on the ground, like we talked about with one.
00:31:23.109 --> 00:31:26.869
So he is, again, kind of that ultimate X factor in this game.
00:31:26.950 --> 00:31:31.910
If he goes off and he can't be stopped easily, but you have to be fair, you've got Jackson Jr.
00:31:32.069 --> 00:31:35.509
on the other side of linebacker over there, he's probably gonna be all Sunbelt.
00:31:35.670 --> 00:31:38.470
Uh right now, I'd probably say he's gonna be all Sunbelt first team.
00:31:38.549 --> 00:31:39.670
We'll we'll see if that happens.
00:31:39.910 --> 00:31:43.589
But uh they're just they're just more well-rounded as a team.
00:31:43.670 --> 00:31:55.190
And when you're looking at a game where you're like, well, you have to lean heavily on this guy who could be an X Factor to win you the game, or you're gonna be looking at a team that's fairly efficient in all phases of the game, which is La Tech right now.
00:31:55.349 --> 00:31:57.269
And for that reason, I'm with you.
00:31:57.349 --> 00:32:05.109
I just think La Tech ultimately gets it done, even if it only squeaks by, you know, a nine-point victory or a 10-point victory, it doesn't cover the spread.
00:32:05.190 --> 00:32:08.069
Uh, I still expect them to win this one.
00:32:08.150 --> 00:32:16.869
Also, the fact that it's at their home stadium, uh, probably likely to help them because this is obviously not a short bus trip for ODU.
00:32:17.109 --> 00:32:20.230
This is definitely a plane flight to get down there.
00:32:20.390 --> 00:32:30.630
So uh, but again, nice weather day, maybe, maybe a little passing clouds, but 83 degrees, you know, partly cloudy 83 is like your perfect football weather, right?
00:32:30.869 --> 00:32:33.589
Yeah, I mean, I think 83 degrees is might be a little warm to play for the city.
00:32:33.750 --> 00:32:34.069
True.
00:32:34.309 --> 00:32:35.750
I'd like to be in the 60s.
00:32:35.910 --> 00:32:36.150
True.
00:32:36.470 --> 00:32:37.509
I'm suiting up.
00:32:37.670 --> 00:32:46.950
Well, 83, sun going down, you know, little clouds, maybe, maybe 83 doesn't feel like 83, although the humidity down there could still be a factor in movement.
00:32:47.190 --> 00:32:48.390
That's the issue.
00:32:49.829 --> 00:32:51.190
Very, very true.
00:32:51.269 --> 00:32:54.390
That that that part is the part that we didn't really play up to much there.
00:32:54.549 --> 00:33:14.710
All right, so now we've got the last game, and this one could actually be the I would not put this as like the game of the week because of where both teams sit, but this could be the most intriguing matchup because you've had a Georgia State team really overperforming if you if you're talking about I mean by all metrics, yes.
00:33:14.869 --> 00:33:21.269
Yes, and then on the opposite side of things, you have an Arkansas State team who I would say is underperforming for where a lot of people are.
00:33:21.430 --> 00:33:23.109
Based on where we thought they'd be, yeah.
00:33:23.430 --> 00:33:25.190
So now they're meeting up.
00:33:25.349 --> 00:33:27.750
Uh, and I think this one could be really interesting.
00:33:27.910 --> 00:33:29.430
What do you see out of this one?
00:33:29.509 --> 00:33:30.390
How does it feel?
00:33:30.549 --> 00:33:41.349
This is in Jonesboro, so it's at a state, um, you know, four and two, three and four, you know, one and one Georgia State, one and two Arkansas State in conference right now.
00:33:41.750 --> 00:33:44.069
I I don't know what to make of this one.
00:33:44.230 --> 00:33:48.470
I think that ESPN has this fairly even.
00:33:48.549 --> 00:33:49.349
Let me pull this up.
00:33:49.509 --> 00:33:56.309
Yes, 52%, 52.1% in favor of Georgia State, 47.9 for Arkansas State.
00:33:56.390 --> 00:34:05.589
So this is as much of a toss-up as you know, we just talked about, even by whatever analytics ESPN is putting all together to have these things come out.
00:34:05.750 --> 00:34:06.869
Are you leaning?
00:34:07.109 --> 00:34:11.109
Well, we both leaned Georgia State's way, all three of us this week.
00:34:11.349 --> 00:34:11.510
Sure.
00:34:12.069 --> 00:34:16.710
Georgia State, but thought, did you think about taking the Red Wolves in this one?
00:34:16.949 --> 00:34:17.349
Absolutely.
00:34:17.430 --> 00:34:18.390
I absolutely thought about it.
00:34:18.470 --> 00:34:25.430
It was, you know, there's a every like every week I text you like uh uh one at least one team, and I'm like, but I'm not confident.
00:34:26.390 --> 00:34:28.789
This would be the one that I'm not confident in.
00:34:28.949 --> 00:34:42.069
It's I evenly matched, maybe not the the operative words here, uh, but I do think this is as close to evenly matched as you're gonna get this week um as it relates to two teams who could win or lose.
00:34:42.150 --> 00:34:46.070
And I think for everybody, the general consensus is that that is the case.
00:34:46.230 --> 00:34:52.469
Um neither team stands out as uh world beaters, but also both teams uh can win, right?
00:34:52.550 --> 00:34:54.550
And and here's the other thing, too.
00:34:55.429 --> 00:34:59.750
Given where Georgia State is, let's say, you know, I think they're yeah, one and one in some belt play right here.
00:35:00.309 --> 00:35:00.949
They win this game.
00:35:01.030 --> 00:35:03.110
This could springboard them and they could go on a run.
00:35:03.349 --> 00:35:05.750
And you know, that could be scary for some teams in the east.
00:35:05.829 --> 00:35:07.670
We just got to see how see how it looks.
00:35:07.829 --> 00:35:13.110
Um I think right now where they second in the East or second or third, right?
00:35:13.269 --> 00:35:13.989
We're third.
00:35:14.710 --> 00:35:15.909
Georgia State is second.
00:35:17.110 --> 00:35:21.429
Uh well, technically tied, uh, but one and one, four and two overall.
00:35:21.510 --> 00:35:24.949
So yeah, that this this week could separate those two teams.
00:35:25.110 --> 00:35:25.349
Right.
00:35:25.429 --> 00:35:33.429
And so with that level of separation, you talk about now Georgia Southern, or excuse me, Georgia State going on a run.
00:35:34.230 --> 00:35:39.829
You could potentially be looking at a battle for first place when when James Madison goes to plays Georgia State.
00:35:40.150 --> 00:35:41.989
So I don't know.
00:35:42.150 --> 00:35:45.429
I I think it's I think we're looking at a pretty good football game here.
00:35:45.750 --> 00:35:48.789
Well, that that uh that matchup just happened last week.
00:35:49.590 --> 00:35:49.989
Oh, that's right.
00:35:50.070 --> 00:35:50.309
That's right.
00:35:50.389 --> 00:35:52.070
James Madison did already win, yeah.
00:35:52.230 --> 00:35:55.429
But but that was an intriguing matchup going in because of that, right?
00:35:55.670 --> 00:35:56.469
Because of it, yep.
00:35:56.630 --> 00:36:01.909
Yeah, it's interesting, you know, and and look at it this way, too.
00:36:01.989 --> 00:36:09.829
App State lost that, you know, heartbreaker, shocking game to ODU by one score in a very ugly weather game, right?
00:36:10.150 --> 00:36:22.869
Had they won that game, look how much more it's put on Thursday night's matchup because now you've got a team that's undefeated in Sunbelt play, and all their only loss was a 10-point loss to a power conference opponent.
00:36:23.030 --> 00:36:29.110
Now, to be fair, I do not think NC State's a very good power conference opponent, at least this year.
00:36:29.269 --> 00:36:41.110
Uh, but it would be uh massive resume builder for James Madison if App State, you could say that App State's only loss was to a power conference opponent that they could have beat.
00:36:41.349 --> 00:36:41.670
Right.
00:36:41.829 --> 00:36:42.070
Right.
00:36:42.230 --> 00:36:51.269
So, you know, James Madison's probably kicking, you know, some things around saying, man, if they could have helped us out, right, and then vice versa, right?
00:36:51.349 --> 00:36:55.510
Because if App State gets springs the victory over James Madison, same thing with Georgia State, right?
00:36:55.989 --> 00:37:07.909
Because you you lost to UCF, uh 14-point victory for UCF, technically, although it seems to be you know felt a little closer when you're watching it in live game action.
00:37:08.070 --> 00:37:18.309
Um, but James Madison beats them and they they you know take a little bit of points from Georgia State because all of a sudden now they have a loss and they don't build upon that.
00:37:18.630 --> 00:37:27.349
I brought up the fact to somebody the other day on Twitter that you can't simply just say, Oh, well, you know, James Madison hasn't played anybody.
00:37:27.429 --> 00:37:30.949
Well, look closer at Georgia State, and then they say, Well, Georgia State hasn't played anybody.
00:37:31.110 --> 00:37:35.429
I'm like, buddy, go look at how Georgia State performed against UCF.
00:37:35.590 --> 00:37:35.829
Right.
00:37:35.989 --> 00:37:38.550
They scored 30 points on UCF's defense.
00:37:38.710 --> 00:37:39.030
Exactly.
00:37:39.349 --> 00:37:43.190
Number a ranked Houston team scored only 27.
00:37:43.429 --> 00:37:45.349
So yeah, you these things do matter.
00:37:45.429 --> 00:37:49.190
You know, again, you have to dig a little bit deeper and find some of these metrics that aren't.
00:37:49.590 --> 00:38:04.150
And that's the that's the that's the issue with people who only want to scratch the surface of Sunbelt football is you know, we beat up on each other a whole lot, and then they don't go back and look at the outer conference games that we played and and they see the box score, and it's like, oh, well, you lost by whatever amount.
00:38:04.309 --> 00:38:06.869
Yeah, but but look at what happened during the game.
00:38:06.949 --> 00:38:08.309
What did it feel like to you?
00:38:08.469 --> 00:38:10.150
What did it feel like could have happened, right?
00:38:10.230 --> 00:38:17.989
Up until it's no that we talked about, you know, and I know we're getting way off topic here, but we talked about Georgia Southern last year against Clemson.
00:38:18.469 --> 00:38:18.789
Right.
00:38:18.949 --> 00:38:19.349
Right?
00:38:19.510 --> 00:38:24.389
That game ended up getting out of hand, and I think halfway through the third into the fourth quarter.
00:38:24.630 --> 00:38:26.389
That was that was Troy, Georgia Southern went to the first time.
00:38:26.630 --> 00:38:27.269
Troy, yeah, Troy.
00:38:27.429 --> 00:38:28.949
Okay, that's what it was, Troy and Clemson.
00:38:29.190 --> 00:38:29.510
Yep.
00:38:29.750 --> 00:38:31.590
That was very much a winnable game.
00:38:31.670 --> 00:38:31.909
Yes.
00:38:32.869 --> 00:38:37.590
It did not, you know, and and then the first half, they they looked like they were the team to be.
00:38:37.829 --> 00:38:50.469
So um, you know, it you gotta peel back some layers to start understanding what these games mean and what they are and and and how they trend um and why some of the things happen that they do and why some of the predictions aren't always accurate.
00:38:50.550 --> 00:38:54.150
Um, because there's there's more to it than just a box score.
00:38:54.550 --> 00:38:55.590
Yeah, absolutely.
00:38:55.750 --> 00:39:09.030
I mean, that's what I think that's one of the reasons we all lean so heavily on South Alabama to win against Marshall just last night, because what we looked at was okay, South Alabama's undefeated in conference play so far at 2-0.
00:39:09.429 --> 00:39:14.869
Uh, they have a pretty decent overall record, and one of their losses is to a Kentucky team that's way overperforming.
00:39:15.030 --> 00:39:15.269
Right.
00:39:15.510 --> 00:39:18.070
They didn't just lose badly to them.
00:39:18.230 --> 00:39:21.590
Like they they at the half, I believe it was tied, if I'm not mistaken.
00:39:21.909 --> 00:39:23.989
Uh at least a very, very close game.
00:39:24.070 --> 00:39:30.710
Uh, and obviously, you know, the depth and the talent disparity between the two programs showed a little bit more in the second half.
00:39:30.789 --> 00:39:34.230
But even that, I mean, it wasn't a 30-point blowout, right?
00:39:34.389 --> 00:39:38.070
So uh yeah, like you said, you got to dig a little bit deeper.
00:39:38.150 --> 00:39:45.750
And that's why it's so hard to hear, you know, some people out there say, well, James Madison's moving on to a better conference.
00:39:45.829 --> 00:39:53.670
Well, if you look at the Sargon ratings and other metrics, how many teams the Sunbelt puts into bowl games versus how many teams the American puts into bowl games.
00:39:53.750 --> 00:40:00.150
Uh, the only real difference that you can point to that makes people think the American is better is one, well, two things.
00:40:00.389 --> 00:40:01.829
Who they used to have, right?
00:40:02.389 --> 00:40:07.750
I think some people still have this thought process that some of these great teams are still in the American and they're not.
00:40:07.909 --> 00:40:08.150
Right.
00:40:08.309 --> 00:40:14.389
But then, you know, the American has put the team into the college football playoff in the past.
00:40:14.469 --> 00:40:17.829
And so they they have this thought process like it should be them, it should be them.
00:40:17.909 --> 00:40:22.389
And then you've got Boise over there with the pack helping them out, but again, top heavy.
00:40:22.469 --> 00:40:30.230
The the the other teams I was just getting ready to say the the top, the I mean, once you get past the first two or three teams, right?
00:40:30.389 --> 00:40:33.510
And and then I think in the American niche is not even three teams, right?
00:40:33.670 --> 00:40:40.070
I think you've got Memphis and I mean really who else?
00:40:41.750 --> 00:40:42.949
Maybe Navy?
00:40:43.909 --> 00:40:46.710
Yeah, and like what what's their staying power, right?
00:40:46.789 --> 00:40:50.710
We we right I don't know.
00:40:51.269 --> 00:40:51.909
You know what I mean?
00:40:51.989 --> 00:40:58.150
Like, like we're we're talking about these this American conference as if they're some juggernaut conference, and they're not.
00:40:58.550 --> 00:41:02.309
They're not, I mean, and and you talk about Mountain West, Boise State, and then who else?
00:41:02.630 --> 00:41:05.349
Right, you know, Oklahoma State is terrible.
00:41:05.510 --> 00:41:07.989
Uh Oregon State.
00:41:08.389 --> 00:41:11.670
Yeah, or well, the Oregon State is weird.
00:41:11.909 --> 00:41:15.750
I will agree that their record does not stand out because I think they have two losses, right?
00:41:15.909 --> 00:41:21.110
But they do have people in front of them that they could beat to jump back up, and they do pass kind of the eye test.
00:41:21.190 --> 00:41:31.030
I don't know, you know, I I was in an argument with an Oregon State fan about this because uh that that's kind of the downside to the scheduling.
00:41:31.190 --> 00:41:34.789
That the pack is the weirdest schedule ever right now.
00:41:34.949 --> 00:41:41.909
There's maybe teams that probably play each other twice, uh, and even could play each other technically three times, right?
00:41:41.989 --> 00:41:47.590
Because if they're scheduled regular season in the flex game, they could technically play each other again, and then they could meet up in the championship game.
00:41:47.670 --> 00:41:54.230
I don't think that's likely to happen or possible to happen this year, but it could happen in the future if they have to stick with this scheduling thing.
00:41:54.389 --> 00:41:57.670
The flex game's weird because they're gonna reward themselves, right?
00:41:57.750 --> 00:42:05.510
If the Sunbelt had a flex game, you could have James Madison play like the next best team, and then that helps catapult that winner, right?
00:42:05.590 --> 00:42:08.309
That's essentially what the PAC's doing to elevate their conference.
00:42:08.389 --> 00:42:27.750
So even if those two teams uh you know met up again in the championship game, if one of them's close to being ranked and one of them is ranked, you know, then you're you're only rewarding instead of having like the old school Big Ten championship where you know Penn State, a three-loss Penn State team plays somebody on the other side.
00:42:27.909 --> 00:42:29.989
Or I'm sorry, usually it was the other way around.
00:42:30.070 --> 00:42:36.949
You know, Michigan or Ohio State or or Penn State was coming in with only like one loss, and they're playing like a three or four loss Purdue for the championship.
00:42:37.030 --> 00:42:38.550
It doesn't elevate them.
00:42:38.710 --> 00:42:42.630
Um, so the pack has done well to make that make sure of that happening.
00:42:42.789 --> 00:42:49.030
And the Sunbelt, frankly, has been very lucky that typically it's been a team from the East and a team from the West.
00:42:49.269 --> 00:42:55.190
Although last year it technically could have been different because ODU was the second best team record-wise, right?
00:42:55.269 --> 00:43:01.349
Um and could have, I mean, it didn't really need to happen, I guess, because James Madison ends up in the CFP anyway.
00:43:01.670 --> 00:43:04.389
But uh yeah, I I don't know.
00:43:04.630 --> 00:43:06.869
Also, just quick thoughts on this, TJ.
00:43:07.269 --> 00:43:08.710
We are losing a team.
00:43:09.030 --> 00:43:21.989
There is talk about them paying even more money, possibly more money, for James Madison to leave after this season, uh, for football specifically, but after the you know academic year, essentially and all the other sports.
00:43:22.309 --> 00:43:32.309
If they do that, does the Sun Belt just go away from the divisions and just kind of stick to what everyone else is doing now that this 2014 playoff is essentially confirmed?
00:43:32.630 --> 00:43:35.829
I think I think now that you've added La Tech, you kind of have to, right?
00:43:35.909 --> 00:43:46.070
It's I mean at this point it's not and unless being even isn't the goal in terms of the same number of teams on each side, unless that's not the goal, then I I think you kind of have to.
00:43:46.389 --> 00:43:51.269
You kind of have to go back to to um just to top two teams.
00:43:51.670 --> 00:44:05.909
And and I think every other I think I don't want that to happen because I think that's the uniqueness of the Sun Belt is that there is an East and a West, and and you know, you want there to be uh some division rivals as well.
00:44:06.070 --> 00:44:10.550
Like, you know, you don't want to always have App State rivaling Troy, right?
00:44:10.630 --> 00:44:12.389
That's a long way for fans to travel.
00:44:12.550 --> 00:44:12.789
Right.
00:44:12.949 --> 00:44:24.309
Um but App State rivaling JMU or ODU or Georgia Southern or something like that, that's a different, you know, different feel because it's a more travelable game, if you will.
00:44:24.630 --> 00:44:28.710
Um same as uh uh a Troy and and UL, right?
00:44:28.869 --> 00:44:32.070
Like those are those it's I think you want to keep those.
00:44:32.710 --> 00:44:36.869
Um but I guess to your question, uh I don't know.
00:44:37.190 --> 00:44:42.949
Because again, if if keeping it even is the goal, then you kind of have to break it up.
00:44:43.590 --> 00:44:45.349
Yeah, no, I don't disagree.
00:44:45.510 --> 00:44:49.670
Uh, but I mean, like you said, you almost have to do it for the 2014 playoff, too, right?
00:44:49.750 --> 00:44:54.630
Like what is the point in keeping divisions if you don't have a championship game?
00:44:54.710 --> 00:45:05.269
And it seems like everyone will move away from a championship game because uh essentially you'll have you'll you'll not be able to have that week with the new schedule of 24 teams in a playoff.
00:45:05.429 --> 00:45:11.909
Now, it doesn't feel like it matters if you don't have a representative in there, though.
00:45:11.989 --> 00:45:16.389
You know, well, I think that they should still have it, I just don't think it'll matter as much.
00:45:17.190 --> 00:45:20.949
Well, but they may not, I guess that's a thing we'll have to see, right?
00:45:21.030 --> 00:45:21.989
Like, how does this lay out?
00:45:22.070 --> 00:45:24.869
Where like could they literally just not feasibly have it, right?
00:45:24.949 --> 00:45:28.070
Because I just think I just think 24 is just too many teams.
00:45:28.469 --> 00:45:30.869
I don't define this team.
00:45:31.269 --> 00:45:40.469
I actually thought, you know, if you want my true honest opinion, and this would not be an advantage to the Sun Belt whatsoever, but four teams was kind of the perfect thing, right?
00:45:40.550 --> 00:45:47.349
Like in the BCS era, you crowned a champion by a poll at the end, uh, or a championship game.
00:45:47.590 --> 00:45:51.989
Uh, and I thought that was actually not the absolute worst system.
00:45:52.389 --> 00:46:00.150
Yeah, but yeah, you want you I don't I didn't like it because you've had non-football people voting on a football situation.
00:46:00.389 --> 00:46:07.349
And I I was joking, we were in a group text about it, and I won't say your name out loud, but that was just joking about a person making the call.
00:46:07.429 --> 00:46:21.110
And I'm like, meanwhile, you've got so-and-so making a call and determining who the top two teams are in in college football that's never been in a third and one on in you know, with one minute and 58 seconds left on the clock.
00:46:21.269 --> 00:46:25.110
Hey, like stop stop talking about Condoleezza Rice like that, right?
00:46:27.349 --> 00:46:31.670
It's just like, come on, man, like what we got non-football people making football decisions.
00:46:31.750 --> 00:46:32.949
That sounds insane to me.
00:46:33.349 --> 00:46:35.030
Yeah, I I don't disagree with that.
00:46:35.110 --> 00:46:39.829
If you're gonna have a board of people, like have ex-coaches, right?
00:46:39.909 --> 00:46:41.670
I don't even want conference commissioners.
00:46:41.750 --> 00:46:46.789
Like that that you shouldn't even be involved in it at that point, uh, even if you're used to be one.
00:46:46.869 --> 00:46:49.909
Like I want coaches, former players, like Heisman Trophy.
00:46:50.550 --> 00:46:55.590
Think if you had a committee of former Heisman Trophy winners and coaches, that's all I'd want.
00:46:56.070 --> 00:46:58.630
Because at that point, the eye test matters.
00:46:58.869 --> 00:46:59.269
Right.
00:46:59.510 --> 00:47:02.789
It's not just okay, you're undefeated, but yeah, who'd you play?
00:47:03.030 --> 00:47:17.670
And because I'd much rather see uh, you know, a two-loss Alabama, let's just I'll just put out not this year's Alabama, but two loss Nick Sabens, Alabama versus you know, uh, an undefeated Penn State.
00:47:18.469 --> 00:47:24.550
Like with respect to Penn State, they're just they can't play big, like they just haven't.
00:47:25.269 --> 00:47:27.590
And so I you know, it it matters what you see.
00:47:27.670 --> 00:47:29.989
The eye test matters in those scenarios.
00:47:30.070 --> 00:47:34.630
And so for me, I I think they need there needs to be a playoff system.
00:47:34.789 --> 00:47:39.190
First of all, back at the time that you're we're talking about, and we're way off the topic right now.
00:47:39.590 --> 00:47:41.989
No, this this is the topic we're ending with, so we're good.
00:47:43.429 --> 00:47:55.670
Um the at the time period that we that college football, or at least division one college football didn't have a playoff, they were the only uh major sport that didn't have a playoff.
00:47:55.909 --> 00:47:57.590
Like, why do you think you're special?
00:47:58.150 --> 00:48:09.030
I mean, there's tournaments for NCAA, there's NFL playoffs, NHL, NBA, division one double, you know, D1AA football, like every other place has that.
00:48:09.110 --> 00:48:10.789
And what makes you think you're special?
00:48:10.949 --> 00:48:14.150
Like, let's let these, let's line them up and let's let the boys play.
00:48:14.230 --> 00:48:16.309
They can sort it out, let them sort it out on the field.
00:48:16.469 --> 00:48:18.230
I just think 24 is too many.
00:48:18.550 --> 00:48:19.750
Oh, I don't I don't disagree.
00:48:19.909 --> 00:48:21.030
24 seems like a lot.
00:48:21.110 --> 00:48:35.349
And and honestly, if you go to 24, then then treat it like the NCAA tournament to me is like, all right, you have teams that didn't win enough games, but you're gonna be able to say, well, well, this three-loss SEC team is certainly better than a one-loss Sunbelt team.
00:48:35.429 --> 00:48:43.670
And there's gonna be tons of people that just take that as gospel because it's true, they do have a tougher schedule, but what are we supposed to do about that?
00:48:43.750 --> 00:48:45.590
It's never gonna be different, right?
00:48:45.670 --> 00:48:49.750
Like they're always gonna play an SEC schedule, and we're always gonna play a Sunbelt schedule.
00:48:49.989 --> 00:49:00.150
So to me, if you have 24 teams, then at least do the whole thing where you're taking, you know, the conference champion from a couple different at-large or whatever, right?
00:49:00.309 --> 00:49:00.630
Yeah.
00:49:01.030 --> 00:49:08.949
And here's the other thing I hate about playoffs that they've done, and and they're you know, this will exist in the 24, it exists now, even which I don't like.
00:49:09.110 --> 00:49:10.150
It's a playoff.
00:49:10.230 --> 00:49:12.150
Like, why is anybody getting a buy?
00:49:12.309 --> 00:49:16.630
Like, everybody just plays the same amount of games to get to the championship for me.
00:49:16.789 --> 00:49:24.150
Um, the other thing I never liked about this is like the the best teams that get the buy don't even get a home game in their home facilities.
00:49:24.309 --> 00:49:25.829
Like, that's kind of that's the appeal, right?
00:49:26.150 --> 00:49:32.469
TJ, you played playoff games at home facilities and it meant something, and the the fans cared and they loved it.
00:49:32.630 --> 00:49:37.909
The the first playoff game for some of these better teams is a plane flight away.
00:49:38.070 --> 00:49:38.389
Right.
00:49:38.550 --> 00:49:45.030
You're literally you're rewarding people with money other than your fans who came and paid all season long.
00:49:45.190 --> 00:49:50.469
I just hated that fact that they take essentially an away game or a home game away from you.
00:49:50.550 --> 00:49:56.789
Uh your reward is oh, you don't buddy and your game is in Glendale, Arizona, you're welcome, Penn State.
00:49:56.869 --> 00:49:58.070
Like, what are we doing?
00:49:58.309 --> 00:50:03.190
Right, and you can still call it whatever bowl you want to call it for money purposes.
00:50:03.349 --> 00:50:05.349
Dress the stadium up however you want to dress it up.
00:50:05.429 --> 00:50:06.070
Who cares?
00:50:06.230 --> 00:50:08.230
Just let the boys play in front of their people.
00:50:08.469 --> 00:50:08.949
Yep.
00:50:09.110 --> 00:50:11.510
Yeah, I that's the one thing that I can't stand.
00:50:11.590 --> 00:50:16.789
I mean, the the fact that you know, a couple teams have a bye I don't love, I understand it.
00:50:16.869 --> 00:50:18.869
Like you want a reward, maybe they get healthy.
00:50:18.949 --> 00:50:21.909
Um, we've also seen that it hasn't been advantageous, though, right?
00:50:21.989 --> 00:50:26.949
Like in these in these former playoffs, the teams that have the bye have lost a lot more often than they've won.
00:50:27.349 --> 00:50:30.070
So it I don't even know if I'd want that if I'm a coach.
00:50:30.150 --> 00:50:30.630
Like, let me know.
00:50:30.710 --> 00:50:33.750
Yeah, taking away, especially when you're in the groove.
00:50:33.989 --> 00:50:35.909
Yeah, man, I just it's tough.
00:50:36.070 --> 00:50:43.269
Look, uh, you know, 24 teams again sounds great from the outside once you look inside and realize, well, not everybody even still has access.
00:50:43.590 --> 00:50:45.989
They're still saying one group of six team, you know.
00:50:46.150 --> 00:50:52.150
Well, so we went we're gonna double the amount of teams, but we're not gonna gain any further access, is a joke.
00:50:52.230 --> 00:50:53.510
So I don't love it.
00:50:53.590 --> 00:50:54.869
I mean, I do understand it.
00:50:54.949 --> 00:51:04.230
Like you said, you're you're putting the top teams in, um, but man, it's it's hard to say like it's good and bad, but it kind of feels that way.
00:51:04.550 --> 00:51:11.030
Yeah, it's it's a double-edged sword because you want, I mean, you want the best teams, obviously, but there's not 24 elite teams.
00:51:11.110 --> 00:51:12.630
No, just there's just not.
00:51:12.949 --> 00:51:13.670
There's just not.
00:51:13.829 --> 00:51:15.349
I would have been fine with 16.
00:51:15.429 --> 00:51:16.630
I was fine with 12.
00:51:17.510 --> 00:51:17.670
Yeah.
00:51:17.989 --> 00:51:22.309
I mean, but 16, I would have been okay with 20, and 24 just seems like entire.
00:51:22.710 --> 00:51:23.829
That's just way too many teams.
00:51:23.909 --> 00:51:24.869
I don't want that.
00:51:25.110 --> 00:51:25.750
Yeah, yeah.
00:51:25.829 --> 00:51:29.429
I I don't think we need 24, but it is where we're going.
00:51:29.590 --> 00:51:31.670
Where there's no no stopping this train.
00:51:31.750 --> 00:51:37.670
Uh the money's out there to be made by television rights deals, so they'll do it and they'll all win.
00:51:37.750 --> 00:51:39.750
Uh, and the only people that lose are the fans.
00:51:40.070 --> 00:51:42.789
Yep, absolutely, because it's always us that lose.
00:51:42.949 --> 00:51:44.309
So it's what it is.
00:51:44.550 --> 00:51:44.869
Yeah.
00:51:45.110 --> 00:51:50.469
Well, hopefully no more losing for most of us, but we're about to get into football for the rest of the week.
00:51:50.630 --> 00:51:55.190
Uh, thanks for tuning in to this week's edition, a week eight preview.
00:51:55.269 --> 00:51:58.150
We'll see you ahead for week nine.