BIG GAME BREAKDOWN: LSU-Ole Miss, Florida State-Alabama, Houston-Texas Tech, SMU-Louisville & MORE!

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Our whole story is about Shopify. Now let's take a look at the last test of Shopify. Welcome back to the Cover Three Podcast with your host, Chip Patterson, Tom Fernelli, Danny Cannell and Bob Elliott. It's your call for the best college football coverage from National Signing Day

to the National Championship and everything in between. CBS Sports presents the Cover Three Podcast. And welcome back to the Cover Three Podcast here on CBS Sports.

That's Tom Fernelli, that's about Elliott, that's Danny Cannell.

I'm Chip Patterson coming to you live. YouTube.com/cover3 everywhere you get your podcast on the man. Thanks for hanging out. Smash that subscribe. Smash that like and come and join us in the chat.

Hey, hey, hey, the cover three tailgate. Where? Happy birthday to OV star 22. Guessing you are not 22. But you might be happy 22nd birthday.

Thanks for joining the tailgate and celebrating everybody. Wish him a happy birthday. Oh, OV. All right. Listen, there ain't nothing small about today.

It is big game breakdown Tuesday because every single Tuesday at 11 a.m. Eastern Tom. We are live here on YouTube to give you inside the matchup. The X factors, the stakes, the storylines, the X is in those and so much more for some of the biggest games of the week. And it is a massive, massive, extremely fun week three slate. We are just going to be having an absolute blood feud in Oxford while we're also having tea and crumpets in London.

“And how are we accomplishing all this in one week only college football can?”

And so we're very excited. And we don't even want to get into any news. We're going to put all that to the side. No AI video talk here. Oh, god.

Lee. This is all about a big game breakdown. And we begin with the game that has been just sort of sitting in the center of college football from the moment the news broke. That Lane Kiffin would be leaving Ole Miss. After gallivanting across the southeast.

Gallivating holding three fan bases in the palm of his hand and giving his rose to the governor of Louisiana announcing his arrival to Baton Rouge. Now we get to just do the football of it all. LSU Ole Miss lots of different ways to cut this. Monopad is full. Danny Canal.

Where do you want to start here? Gosh. So many good angles for this. Let's start with what matters most. Let's start with the obvious.

Let's start with the QBs.

“Because I think you've got one of the best who's proven over his time at division two.”

Fair estate winning a national championship proved it over an entire season where he was really. It was looking back at his game last year against LSU will face Blake Baker again. A little bit like his numbers weren't as off the charts, but he's still pretty solid. Looking at what he did against Louisville. Turned out, Chambles has proven time and time again to be one of the best.

If not the best quarterback in college football. Now he's got to go against that defense, which is Uber talented has guys all over the field who I do think will try to keep him. Contained in the pocket. They'll also have to stop Q1 Lacy, one of the best running backs in the country. I think there's a clear advantage with Tradad Chambles.

What I do think is the great unknown is Sam Blavitt. Because we all noticed it against Clemson. Even though the step was a blowout win and he was running all over him. There were just a couple off throws, like just a couple a little bit off kilter. Blaze, it looked like layups. He air-melt him as like art as he just jacked up.

His nervous, like what's going on? Is your or is he just a little bit erratic? Then he has the three first half interceptions last week and everyone's kind of like, oh, oh. Now he's got to do it on the road. I think LSU has to try to run the football.

I think that to me is like it'll always comes down to who rushes the football better.

“But I think it is way more important for LSU to run the football, including Sam Blavitt's legs.”

Like those are a part of the run game. But I do think that's what I look for. Cause I know that Chinatown Chambles can win if they do take a way key on LSU. Like good luck with doing that. But I don't know if LSU can win with Sam Blavitt.

Like not having a run game and have to win from the pocket. So that to me is like the most important thing of this match-up I'm looking for. Oh, no.

Break down view. Man.

“So I think Danny's right on a lot of this.”

Like Dylan has been a really good running back.

I'm looking for LSU so far. I think like very productive. Dylan Jones former Wisconsin Badger for sure. Yeah. We sort of stepped up in a way that.

Made. We were not a lot of names on that depth chart. You know, there are a lot. A lot of guys who came in with big high school recruiting profiles. He's the one who's been getting the carries.

What 100%. I'm going to go to the secondary here. I think LSU is better. The question is, how much of what we saw from Ole Miss against Louisville is fixable. You know, we thought that Ole Miss by bringing in some of those veteran guys what was going to communicate better.

Have fewer busts and things. Brom's a good play collar. They're going to scheme some open. But they had a lot open in that game, right? And if you're laying, you're probably looking your chops.

They can, oh my gosh. Like these guys are not fixed. Ole Miss is had about two weeks to, you know, take a look at what went wrong in the secondary against Louisville and see if they can simplify some of their coverage stuff or clean up, you know, some of their communication or what have you. I've got that's going to probably be what this comes down to. I do think LSU will be able to run the football on Ole Miss.

“If they're able to scheme the explosives, then I think LSU walks in, right?”

If they're not, if Ole Miss makes them earn it, then I think Ole Miss has a real shock to win the game. So I think Trinidad is probably going to get his, you know, within a reason. You know, the home home trip looked at advantage here is pretty big, obviously. And like you have the Ole Miss tackle situation, right?

Which is why I'm muted, by the way. Oh, they're just in the Ole Miss tackle there. Look at that. Yeah, seriously. Like the Ole Miss tackles, they were suspect against Louisville and Trinidad had worked around it.

LSUS has a good path for us, too. I don't know if they're way better than what Louisville has. It's a really nice D-line as well, especially in the ACC. But are those Ole Miss tackles a weakness? Are they okay?

Because I mean, everywhere else, I think I like Ole Miss. I like their linebackers a lot. I think their D-line is pretty darn good. Like can the secondary not have the bus? And can they give Trinidad enough time?

To me, that's what this comes down to. For me, like if you look at LSU overall, they've scored 96 points through two games, right? That's pretty damn good. But I don't know if their offense has actually been all that good. Like if you look at the numbers that matter, I think.

Like they were genuinely bad last week against Louisiana Tech. And it wasn't just the three turnovers. Like they hit a few explosives, but they didn't finish in the red zone. They had a lot of negative plays. And they finished, you know, in the negative in both EPA per drive and EPA per play.

It was not a good performance. And I think overall, they're rushing offense.

I don't believe has been that great through these first two games.

And then you mentioned it like the quarterback battle. I mean, just off the top of your head, boys. Let's power rank lanes last three quarterbacks. Jackson, Dark, Trinidad, Champions, Sam, Levitt. We're Sam finishing.

Second. Second. Wow. I don't think I'm not a big dark guy. But wow, I don't know.

“Maybe you should watch Sunday night football.”

Okay. Yeah. It's interesting. There's some Jackson Dart family members that would love to reach out to you, right? That's right.

What's that been called out? I was not a believer last year. I am quickly getting on board though. Now that he's given Isaiah likely and a pretty competent coaching staff. Getting on board with Jackson Dart.

Which, which family members, by the way. I don't need his dad. Yeah, his dad came at Dan. No, no, no, no. First one.

Hey, Anthony. I do wonder though, like because like we know that the Ole Miss secondary is good. We saw Louisville get the crap out of him.

And I also believe that part of the problem is.

The past rush hasn't been very good. And that's pretty easy to understand. Like they haven't been disruptive in their front seven. And we're talking about here at these first two games, which maybe it's because the nation's current leading sack, you know, guy, Prince Will and men meal in with five.

Now plays for LSU. So like we have seen a drop off on that side of the ball for them in that area. I've made so maybe Sam Levitt and this LSU offense will take care of it. But I do think what you guys have said, they do need to run the ball. Well, I believe in this matchup, especially since they're on the road.

Because we know Sam Levitt is capable of making some mistakes. Now on the other side of the ball. The LSU defense has been incredible through its first two games, if you look statistically. Like, and it was a good defense last year. So it's not unrealistic to think that the defense might be what leads to this team as a season goes along.

Trinidad Champions to this point, let alone playing to the same level as Trinidad Champions.

Like Clemson's quarterback situation is a total mess. Tate Reynolds will be the starter this week. And Dabo said it's not just because of his scene has been hurt. And then they've played Louisiana Tech. So we're going to find out how good this defense genuinely is on Saturday in this game.

“So I think there are a lot of unanswered questions about both of these teams.”

But I also think another huge factor that we have to consider here is, you know, late lanes talking about how he needs a national guard for his safety in Oxford this week. He's very worried about his personal safety.

But we know the environment's going to be incredible.

Like this crowd is going to be blood thirsty. They want their revenge. They are very mad at Lane Kiffin. And Ole Miss has not been shy about stoking that anger leading up to this game amongst its fanbase. So it is very important for Ole Miss to get off to a good start here,

“because you have to keep that crowd in the game.”

If LSU comes out and they play well early and they quiet that crowd and they take that electricity out of the air.

Like it could be a long night for Ole Miss.

So I believe it's imperative. No matter what the end game looks like here for Ole Miss to get off to a good start in this game to make sure they keep that environment and make it rockets because again, Sam Levitt in a tough situation with a loud crowd cheering for him. He gets confused.

He panics. He makes mistakes. They need to help force them. building up. Oh, and to open, like if you're L. S. U. You're a. Yeah, I think I have a lot more trust in my offense than my defense right now. And if I want to get off to a good start, I would love to march down the field and put a touchdown on the board. The thing that stands out to me is, if it's just what it looks like, right? If it's just what it looks like, Blake Baker has bloodthirsty tigers playing with their hair on fire on that defense.

You know, just so I get if it's just what it looks like, T. J. Donnery, wit weeks, Prince of all human male and tie been a field like NFL players who look like they are playing for their NFL draft stock every single Saturday. It's just what it looks like because there's the context of the opponent. So what we find out on Saturday, going up against Trinidad Champions on the road in that stadium is whether this L. S. U. Defense or some sunny day sailors front runners or whether they are some bloodthirsty tigers.

They're going to have a tougher challenge. They're going to face some adversity. They're going to get burned. There's going to be some explosive plays. And if they continue to play with that kind of hair on fire, downhill confidence, then I am with you, Tom. That could be the underlying sort of sneaky storyline here. And they might give up points just because the number of possessions that are going to be in some of these L. S. U. Games with the way they play offense. But if you want to talk about L. S. U. In terms of the long term big picture stuff, the thing that I am fascinated about getting out of this game is holding that defense to the fire against a quality quarterback because the talent is clearly loaded up with pros.

And the way that it has looked is like those great defenses where it's just unique motivation competition is just you are bringing absolute nothing but a hundred percent. Because those are those are the best defenses. Those are defenses that lead your team to championships is when you've got that kind of internal motivation. If they crumble when they face adversity and if they can't bring that same kind of hair on fire energy against a quality quarterback and a quality offense, you know, do salads in or got to keep your eye on him. I don't care how hyped up you are. Like if he's going to beat you for a big play that's that's like the great revelation, you know, like hold it to the fire.

If L. S. U. D. Fences for real, we talk about L. S. U. Like a legitimate national title contender in year one under Lane Kiffin.

“If not, if they get burned, and this is like 45 42 41 38, and they're on their heels for most of the night, then I think it's a little bit of a different conversation.”

So that's I think L. S. U. D. Fences, probably my biggest X factor in this one. I don't trust Ole Misses defense L. S. U. D. Fence could be awesome, or it could just be they played a different level of competition. So the other thing that makes this really hard is, like, just how bad that Clemson game plan was, right? Like, I mean, they just, it just didn't make any sense, man. Like, I was 10 years ago. Like, L. S. U. S. U. S. U. D. Fences for real, but Clemson also just had so many just missed assignments in that game. It was like just, they were just not cohesive at all.

Like, I mean, yeah, they're off its line, give up some pressures just on getting beat, but they also just give up a lot of like free runners at the quarterback. And just, it was like defensively just covered boss. It was, it was really concerning, and it just, it makes it a little bit difficult. like to truly evaluate what LSU is. And we can know kind of what LSU's players are, I think, because we have a good amount of data on them for previous stops. And they're pretty proven.

But we only have two games. One's a game. It doesn't look like LSU took seriously at all last weekend. And then the opener, our clip since game plan was just so bad. It creates a lot of mystery in this for me.

A couple matchups I'm looking at. You mentioned Doose Alexander, he'll want to see number five for LSU. Legendary number five, DJ Pickett, you know, the matchups they have together. That should be a fun one to watch. And then trade as green is a mismatch nightmare.

Like how does Ole Miss defend the big tight end who they flex out. They help to find coverage for a quarterback. You know, what do they do to their just as it man? Is it zone, it can really be a defender for a quarterback, which makes your progressions that much easier.

Really curious to see how, you know, those matchups unfold throughout the game.

“Do you guys think it's higher scoring or lower scoring?”

I think there's too much for higher power. I think I think there's some good offense.

And I, the problem is, like if I think Ole Miss is going to be competitive,

which I do, I think they're going to have to score against LSU's defense. Because I think LSU is going to score out against Ole Miss's defense. I mean, I think it's more of a higher scoring game. It's certainly priced as pretty high scoring, right? But like what's the value of Pete Golding having seen this offense every day in practice for a couple years?

What's the value of all the experience on the other side? I don't know. I want to know who won those battles, too, you know? Yeah, right, exactly. You know, I mean, we had under in, you know, Ole Miss level, right?

And it looked great until it didn't. Like it's kind of hard to bet an under on a champ list game. You know, he's level quarterbacks that can make some plays out of the pocket. Watch out, it'll be 10-3. Well, no, we used to high scoring.

Are you saying like a game upper 50s, mid 60s? Or are you like, like, because that's kind of-- I think it's priced right.

“I think, like, 31, 28 something in there, something close, but like, high--”

You know, right around their high 50s. I mean, it just-- you said there, it is funny how we've-- Dermatically changed our expectations for what a high scoring game is, then. Like you say, like 60 points. It's like, it wasn't that long ago, where we were getting, like, 55 to 49 games.

Yeah. Well, I mean, we've seen it possessions, I mean, just two weeks into the season, possession count continues to be on a decline across all of the FBS on FBS games. So the definition of a high scoring game certainly has changed. How about this?

If you'd give me an over under on yards, I would take the over. If you'd give me an over under on points, I would entertain the under more. I could see them scooting the ball a lot, and then both these defenses, find in ways to make stops, or the offenses, like we saw from LSU last week,

maybe not always being able to capitalize in the red zone.

So those three years ago, it was 55, 49. Yeah. See, I mean, this isn't incredible analysis, but I do think this game will come down to explosive plays. Like whichever team is able to make more of them,

'cause I don't think it's going to be pretty. Like, I don't think you're going to see a lot of efficient powerful drives in this game.

“I think you're going to see some three in the house,”

and you're going to see some 70 yard touchdowns. Did you see Brian Formos, note on possession's per game? Can you turn down? I just said that, but what do you have the numbers? Yeah, yeah.

So through two weeks, we're down against it. Yeah, that's where I actually did it. I was looking for the tweet, I'm sorry. Yeah, we're down to under 24 per game now through the verse two weeks. In 2007, we were at 27 and a half average position as per game.

Yeah. That's a huge drop. Yep, 100%. Coming up on the other side, Friday night lights. Gives us one of the biggest games of the season in the big 12 plus ACC

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no questions asked. Head to zbiotics.com/cover, code cover for 15% off your first order. Back here on the Covert 3 podcast Friday night, Lubbock, Texas, the Houston Cougs, come to town. The face of red raiders team that are the reigning big 12 champs and really as I've

even maybe a month ago seemed like an overwhelming favorite to be able to win this league. Now, Texas text performances over the first couple weeks of the season, their own quarterback situation, which included picking up Tommy Castellanos, maybe it's changed that out look a little bit, but my they could reverse course quickly if they're able to show the same kind of dominance they had last season against a Houston team that looks a little feisty.

We got a common opponent, which doesn't always happen with the week three matchup, Houston

beat, Oregon, state five, 13, and Texas Tech beat them by 11, so I guess it's Houston by two time. Easy. Big game breakdown over. What are you looking for in this matchup?

I got a lot of places that I would like to go, but you lead the way. You mentioned it. Like, if we look at these two teams, they have a common opponent, and they have an overall equal strength to schedule, yet which team has performed much better so far this year. As you can see, the graphic, thank you for putting that up, striker, same schedules,

much different results on offense. Houston's offense ranks second in the nation right now in points for drive at 4.78 and in success rate at 59.7%.

And in tech's offense, 64th in points for drive at 2.72, 78th in success rate at 44.8%.

Houston has been playing much better, much more efficiently in offense, and you look at tech, like their rushing attack in particular has been pretty ineffective. And when you think of what this team is designed to be offensively with Will Hammond at quarterback, and then bringing in Thomas Castillano says the backup, they're not there to chuck the ball all over the field.

There are team that feels like they should have the offensive line and the players ready to run the ball against their opponents, and they simply haven't done so, and they haven't exactly been playing in credible competition. They're averaging only 3.8 yards per carry, and they're 87th in the nation in rushing success rate at 40.2%.

So that to me is a pretty kind of concerning thing going into this game against a Houston team that is playing very well is the best team you've seen so far this year, and also having to do so on a short week.

Now, defensively, I have mentioned some of the concerns I've seen with Texas Tech

Red Raider so far as well. They have not been outstanding at generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and what was this defense phenomenal at last year? Yeah, and after that, Tassar. Exactly.

They had great pass rushers and had a great defensive line, and they made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.

“So far this year though, just hasn't been there, but the one thing that I believe will”

change in this game compared to what we have seen from Texas Tech so far this year. Last season, Texas Tech blitzed 29% of the time. They weren't overly reliant on it because again, they had a very good defensive line. And they had David Bailey, they didn't really have to blitz to get after the other quarterback. So far this year, they've blitzed on 9% of dropbacks.

They, and these two games against Oregon State, and Evelyn Christian have been content just rushing three rushing four, dropping everybody back in coverage, and seeing if they can get home. They have not, which, again, speaks to the dropoff and talent that they have on the defensive line compared to last year, and it also speaks to maybe, you know, considering Oregon State

was tearing them apart last week, in the past and game, maybe they should have changed up their philosophy. But clearly, they didn't want to put it on tape. They're trying to save all this stuff for these games that matter to them more in conference play.

So I am predicting that on Friday night, we will see a far more blitz-happy Texas Tech defense compared to what we have seen to try to get the Conner Wegman to try to get that offense off of their flow and off of their rhythm. And we'll see how effective it is. And if it's not effective, we might have an upset honor hands on Friday night.

“Like, I don't want to tip my hand anything for later this week, but I believe this is”

going to be a much closer game than maybe I thought it was going to be two weeks ago. Like two weeks ago, I thought Texas Tech was the class of the Big 12 as we discussed on the reaction shows we discussed Monday. My estimation of what this red raiders team is, at least as far as they're sealing and their floor, is not as high as it was coming into the season.

From what I've seen from two weeks, I've got some skepticism. I've got some questions, and I think we're going to find out a lot more. It's possible they come out Friday night and absolutely blow the doors off the coogs. And it's like, oh, okay, they're who I thought they were. But I'm not as confident that that's going to be the case as I was not too long ago.

Yeah, I'm completely agree. I mean, like, if you look at what we thought we had in Texas Tech and what we were trying to find out about Texas Tech, like we thought they would have an improved run game, right? Like they felt very good about the offensive line. Now, we had some concerns about this because we know that Source B is a really good runner

a really effective run game.

Hammond doesn't quite have that. I mean, he's not a total statue, but he's not scary as a runner. Like the run game has not been great. They're explosive plays. They're they're 11th in the country in place of more than 20 yards.

So they're kind of getting boxed and they're unable to get out of that box. You know, defensively, like, I do have to give some credit to Oregon state here because it's like, when I watched Oregon State Houston, I was like, "Oh, man, this Houston defense is a little bit sketchy." Like this kid's making throws and, and they kind of like had success too against Texas

Tech.

“And I think I'm willing to see, like, so we might just have to give some credit to Oregon”

State's offense and acknowledge that Oregon State might be a little more of a player in the Pac-12 than we anticipated preseason. Like they look pretty well coached, the quarterback's good, like some of the receivers, especially the young guys, are pretty nice there. So I'm kind of, I went from thick and old man, like Houston's defense is an issue.

And maybe it still is, but also they move the ball on a text-tech defense that I'd be shocked if they suck, right? Like, I don't know. They're probably not what they were last year, but I still think that's a very good defense. And Oregon State moved the ball on both Houston and on tech.

So, but if Oregon State did it, Houston could probably move the ball on them some as well.

And like, you kind of have to have confidence in a really first team.

They're going to find a way, you know, skiing their way to certain points. It's Texas Tech good enough to grind this out if they're still this consistent, but not explosive offense. I don't know. It's also, it's been two games, and one of them was at Oregon State in the ring, which is a

little bit hard to operate in, but I, man, if they don't, I don't love like receiver by committee unless you have like a really NFL type quarterback in college. And they don't really seem to have a go-to guy this year who just, you can just spam. Okay, Houston, Mike though, and Amari Thomas. Yeah.

As I said last year, he was really good, but kind of stole my thunder somewhat because... Wait, it go, bud. Sorry.

“But I agree with him, but I, and this goes back to why I think there's a brewing quarterback”

controversy because some people pointed out it hasn't been all well, Hammond's fault, and

they're right. I thought, 'cause Baron Morton was really good. It wasn't all his fault until it wasn't against Oregon, he got exposed, but you know what Baron Morton didn't do, he didn't run the football. And I think, I think, will Hammond is more mobile than Baron Morton, but he's not that

much more mobile. And I think that is, if I was, if I, that's the evolution of the position, like, especially in college. If you have a quarterback who can run, extend plays, and as a run threat, it just opens up everything.

And I think both through the air, and on the ground, I trust Connor Wegman more than I trust Will Hammond, or whether it's Scott Salanos, and guess who's back in college football, McCoy Hughes, who was that Oregon, and then kind of disappeared, he's been running the ball pretty better, not pretty much effectively. So, both defense of the show and susceptible to getting beaten the past, now Oregon states

past happy offense is completely different than what you're going to face now.

“But I look at, I think this game is right for an upset.”

Now I did circle this when I liked Houston coming into the season. I thought this was going to be a test for Texas tech, but I'm like you guys, I think it's way more competitive than we thought it was going to be coming into the season. Yeah, Houston's skill players know who they are. The running back is a little bit by committee, McCoy Hughes doesn't have to handle it all.

They've got a couple of players cycling in there. You mentioned Amari Thomas, Kobe Young, Patrick Overmire, the UTSA transfer at Titan, like Houston feels like a fully-formed offense. They know exactly what they need to do and what they need to go out to take care of it. It is funny that you both mentioned the defensive side of this because points for play points

per drive, they both kind of check out for both these teams as a fine. But then yards per play and yards per drive look way worse. Because Bradenack can sit just sat back there and got about 30 yards every single drive. Like given the ball, he's going to find the degree, cut across the field, little yak after that. This Oregon State team, as you mentioned, bud, we'll take those notes moving forward.

I'm just so disoriented by Texas tech, you know, I'm wary of them just being able to flip this at home with the tortillas on a Friday night. Like that all of a sudden we would just say, "Oh, okay, there it is." But also, they might, this just might be who they are. They might be a big 12 title contender, just not the big 12 title favorite.

And I think that's the fun thing they can get exposed to here. I think they're still the favorite until they're proven that somebody can actually score a lot on this defense, but maybe that's Houston, right? You know, like, there's some teams in a big 12-hink that probably look a little bit better than they did in the pre-season, but also, like, you know, BYU's passing was still pretty much

all of play action, and that's a really effective for them. But I think if you were going to elevate BYU to the favor, you probably want to see a little more

in those negative leverage situations.

On Houston, no, man, how involved you get, you get Kishan Henderson here, because he was one, six of seven against Southern, wasn't comfortable, and then exploded for 54-year-art touchdown, he looked like one of the most explosive players on that team. I'd be shocked if they don't try to get him in the game play a little bit more. Four quarterbacks in this game.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, probably. Yeah, four quarterbacks in this game. Yes, Tom. Uh, another thing to consider here, the spread for this game is seven and a half points.

“Do you know how many times Texas Tech was in a one-scored game in the big 12 last year?”

Oh, many. Done? Well, it's, it was the only time they lost. Arizona State. Yeah, so if this game is closed in the fourth quarter, you've got a team that's not really used

to being in this instances, where meanwhile Houston was incredible in one score games last year.

So, if it comes down late in the fourth quarter, I'm just no offense. I've got one team with a coaching advantage here, and one team with an experience in the advantage in these kind of games. Where, where one score game regression becomes one score game strength. Oh, let's go. Have full heft empty. I like it. No, you know, I, I'm team. It can be a coaching thing. And when it's someone like Willie Fritz, I think that that could be

an edge that I will not argue against. Totally. Then on Saturday, I mentioned another big time

“conference title race implication game in the mid September, but it's true because there are just”

not that many games between conference contenders. When you've got these bloated conferences, and we've got it with SMU, traveling, traveling to Cardinal Stadium to take on Louisville in the afternoon, really, really fun quarterback battle between Lincoln, King Holtz and Kevin Jennings. If you like your classic yards per attempt, we're talking Kevin Jennings number one in the country at 14.8 Lincoln, King Holtz number four in the country at 12.8. If you like your

extra advanced stats, how about Kevin Jennings third nationally in EPA, per dropback, Lincoln,

King Holtz, tenth nationally in EPA, per dropback. A lot more to get to beyond these quarterbacks, different skill sets in different ways that they're attacking it along the way, but as you're as you're looking at this battle, where, where does your head start to wander and drift to try to see where this one's going to be decided? Well, I can get some of you hold on to football. You know, like some of that was as it was FSU's defense playing poorly, but also as soon you put up Dan

near 600 yards and look to be a really well-oiled machine, although maybe like too much oil, little oil on the ball at times, not the best there, but I do think like Jennings,

“you build it to play in space and exploit things for sure. How much does global blitz him?”

Because he has not been a real effective passer under pressure, there's global half to blitz him, right? Like, if I'm little, I'm probably saying, hey, we're going to give our secondary little extra help after what happened against Ole Miss, we're going to see if that front, you know, can get home and see if SMU can conditionally drive the ball and certainly, like, deny their explosives, I think it all costs. Like, that's really what I'm looking for. Like,

this matchup of that Louisville defensive line, I guess an SP offensive line, which I think is pretty good, but a little bit better on the left side than they are on the right side. And I have to see a club Lubin does, you know, for the cards there, that is to me, that's probably what this comes down to. I'm pretty encouraged by what I've seen from the Louisville offensive and their progression, you know, like, they, I know Villanova was like not a great team,

but they continue to put it on them on was it Friday night or Thursday night, Friday night. You know, like, they look pretty good there. Like, final couple quarters against Ole Miss, they continue to look pretty good. Some of that, again, was Ole Miss busting, but I kind of expect Brom to create some bust as a really nice offensive coach as well. I, you know, which deadline gets home, probably decides this. Who can tackle? This is going to be huge because

if you look at what these two offenses have done, the ability for defensive backs to be able to get receivers to the ground will be paramount. As you can see on the graph that strikers put up there, Louisville's offense ranked sixth nationally and yeah, great. SMU is 18th. For both of these teams, over 60% of their yards in the passing game have come after the catch. They are throwing a lot of short passes and having the receivers, you know, break big games, break explosives,

break tackles and get going. So they're not asked, new teams asking their quarterback to really push the ball down field as a philosophy. When they do, it's usually a broken coverage or it's like, the play is gone off script and keen holes or jemnings are kind of scrambling and somebody's getting free and, you know, in the fire drill and they're hitting big plays down field. So far, when you look at the defenses, neither of them have been elite in the category, but they've done

a decent job of tackling and limiting explosives. But what we saw, like, if you go back to Louisville's

defense. But the difference was, Trinidad was able to throw the ball over because he's just that guy.

Like, I don't think either kind of holes or jennings can do that philosophically or what they're trying to do. So it will be interesting to see if SMU is able to exploit Louisville's secondary the same way Ole Miss did. I am not optimistic that Kevin Jennings can do so at least not efficiently and consistently. So to me, that's going to be huge tackling, tackling tackling, the team that misses the fewest tackles probably wins this game. If you force this other team

to march down the field. Now, on the other side of the ball, Louisville's been much better running it than SMU has to this point. If you look right now, SMU ranks 129th nationally in EPA per rush.

“That's a problem. Like, this is a team that I think is too good and too talented at that position”

to be that ineffective rushing the ball so far to this point. So are we going to see somewhat more of an emphasis and trying to get that done against Louisville here? I don't know if they want to lean on it, but I think it needs to be a reliable threat, something Louisville has to contend with because on the other side, if King holes is struggling, we know Louisville can run the ball to help take some of that pressure off of him. If Jennings is struggling and SMU is not

able to run the ball, it could snowball pretty quick because his butt mentioned, but go to the

Florida State game. They were incredible when they were holding onto the football, but they also

have a tendency to not hold onto the football. 55% pass rate right now for SMU's slightly, and I mean, slightly above their season averages last year when there were 53% pass rate team. I don't love, I don't love the, I don't love the Kendrick Raphael Dremeka Green

“performance so far. Raphael obviously coming over from Cal Green, somebody who they had in house.”

It's just, I don't know, man, they're having to do a lot of the passes as an extension of the run game, running the ball traditionally is not generating a lot of explosiveness. Tom, something or nothing that King holds leads to the team in rushing. It's something, I frown is not the Isaac Brown that was imagined for told, prophesied, you know, he's just, well, Brown was banged up. Yeah, pretty hard against him. He was, he was banged up against Ole Miss and then last week

against Villanova, there's really no need to hand the ball to him a bunch of times. So, I mean, it's, it's, it's something, it's not nothing. I don't know if it's a huge something. Well, it could be a something for, uh, King holds, I mean, have you seen the photo shop to King holds his face on the Mar Jackson's body? No. You know, like what was that, so what was the problematic sports illustrated cover? What if Mike Vick was white? Like it's very much in that line of

like, they've taken a famous Lamar Jackson lawful picture and they put King holds face on it, you know, this, like, there is, like, he could just be, like, having a season. And you mentioned the

“Yak stuff, I think that is the makeup of this wide receiver room. And let's throw in Jaleel”

Skinner to the mix as well. Yeah. Richardson, McCoy, Skinner, these are just dudes that if you can deliver it on time, you don't need to throw it 15 yards down the field to create an explosive pass because of just the skill set and the way that it's able to be skinmed up. Thanks. And yeah, I do think we get big game bra. Okay, it's been on this one, like, buddy, if, if we're going to call you big game bra, this is it. You're playing at home in a huge game in terms of the ACC title

outlook. This has got to be one where he lives up to that reputation to be able to skim up some of those big time plays. Also Kevin Jennings, you know, he had his Fingy hurt in the beginning, last year banged up with a lower body a lot. He's already been banged up a lot this season, 94th in nationally in quarterback context as number times that you're sacked, hurried, knocked down. Luba, you'll loop it like this at Louisville defense could say, hey, we're going to, we don't

think they can run the ball. We think that we can go and heat them up because we don't think he's moving away from contact a lot. Let's just, let's go, all gas no breaks. Now, will Mark Ivy

still in his third game as a defense of play caller have that kind of presence? We'll see,

something to to keep an eye on anything else. Yeah, just something interesting. If you look at the, at the future stuff on draft games, that they have team to reach the ACC championship game, so we kind of were looking at this is not a elimination game, but like certainly the game was really high stakes to get there. S&U's plus 100 and Louisville's plus 190, which is really interesting because this game is like we know where this game is being played and then also SMU, they don't play

Virginia or sorry, SMU plays Virginia, Louisville does not. Like so, this surprise you guys, like the split is that big to replace championship game when it seems like a lot of this, you know, comes down to that and like the one team that is the better odds still has to play a pretty damn good

I can't do it in my hands. I can't do it in my hands. I can't do it in my hands. I can't do it in my hands.

“We know none of them play Miami, right? Right. Right. I do remember previewing SMU schedule and saying”

if they started 3 and O was going to be a kickwalk from there. Virginia is at home, you know, maybe that's the difference. Oh, penalties. Both these teams are dumb. Sometimes. No, not sometimes. They're often dumb. Yeah, okay. All right. I didn't want to, I didn't want to be mean. I just admitted I'm a dummy as I just admitted. Can't do math in my head. But look out for, I mean, there was a play against Villanova. God, this is what I had so much fun prepping for this show.

I'm so glad we're back in it. Like you would be so easy to look at that game against Villanova.

Like 59 to 13 like the Louisville. They just checked a bunch of boxes. You start digging deep into

this. Louis fans are furious about roughing the pass or penalties. They are furious that Villanova was able to hold on to the ball for and just eat up so much clock during some of the stages of this game. I mean, it's just it's really, really fun to be able to get into this and break it all down with you guys here. Last one I'll give because you gave the advanced analytics stats. I love them. I'm more of a basic bitch. That's guy. Yeah. We've got number one. Kevin Jennings, number one

“in total offence versus number two Lincoln King holds in total offence. I love the matchup. I think”

this is because I have a tremendous amount of respect for Kevin Jennings. I know Rhett Lashley loves his quarterback. And anytime I like I've had top 10 quarterback lists, I've had him like right on the outside like as he top 10 in the country. Even SMU fans appointed out last year he did have 13 interceptions. I saw him at Florida State couple like what is he doing type of throats? But yeah, when the games on the line, like do you trust him because he makes plays? He's tough as nails.

I kind of, I trust Keenholds more though. Even though it's only been two games. I just trust him overall the course of a game. And I trust his legs a little bit more too. The bill is a weapon. Jennings is mobile, but I don't think he terrifies you as far as like what he's going to do with

“his legs. I think Keenholds like Keenholds kind of reminds me of love it. I don't think if he's that electric,”

but he's pretty dynamic as a runner. Yeah, I think I like far prefer Keenholds as a designed rusher. Yeah. Jennings is a scrambler. It's pretty scary. I think if you're a defense, because he can scoot. Right. Did Danny just invent a new segment for us? We've got big game breakdowns and then we've got basic bit breakdowns after. No, because the idea about basic bits breakdowns would technically be take a top 10 matchup and just read off all the total offense total defense that. Yeah. Coming

up on the other side. Revenge opportunity for Kaylin, Dabor, and a couple of SEC first year coaches,

clash on the planes. All that and more. Nooks. The weight is over. Football is here and so is draft Kings. draft Kings is now live in all 50 states. One app, every sport nationwide and new draft Kings customers sign up with the code cover three, then spend five bucks and you get $200 in free rewards within 21 days. And that includes all markets. That's code cover three, spell it out, T-H-R-E-E. In partnership with draft Kings, the crown is yours gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gambler

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seven days for 21 days. Terms at dkng.co/offer. Limited time offer nationwide based on sports book predictions and free to play sports contest availability varies by state. Back here on the cover three podcast and Tuscaloosa, Alabama will be the site on Saturday afternoon for the Alabama Crimson Tide to be able to take on the same Florida state team that downed them in the season opener one year ago. Now it's a very different Florida state team and a different Alabama team for that

mark. Mostly same coaches but quarterbacks are different for both of these teams and we've got information on this Florida state team that we did not have when they clashed last time.

Well, you know, can you trust the quarterback to throw the football at all? I think it was pretty

clear that it didn't trust that the QB to throw it all in Tallahassee on Monday night, again, against SMU. You still have a very dynamic receiver in Doose Robinson. You're still having a supposed to play threat in Micah and the backs are quite good. You know, the defensive line

“is not in any really special and so I think Keylon, he should probably operate for a lot of the”

day without being really pestered. I guess if I choose clearly going to emphasize and practice the something that coverage bus that they've had for two weeks but they also had all offseason to emphasize that. We talked about this when they had those bus against MSCo State. I didn't think that was going to get fixed in a week when you had that all camp. I think there's a pretty good chance that didn't get exposed in camp as much because, you know, Daniels is pretty bad and was bad

in camp in which we said all preseason. So, you know, I mean, can this 335 defense confuse a young QB? Does Bama take this game seriously? It's like the spread's 21, you know? I don't know it's down to 19 some years. I'm sorry, sorry. That's 19, right. Oh, it should be a 21. No, no, no, Danny's moving it. Actually, that's okay. It's already known that Danny's got a little nose plus 19 and a half, but yeah, this thing's been not, it's been taken down. Someone says line too big. You know,

there's, there's two weeks of film now on Russell. So, maybe if you're an opposing coordinator watching him, you're seeing some tendencies or things that you think that you can exploit. But, Bama's defense barely allowed 200 yards on the road to Kentucky. Kentucky has a better offensive line

“than if as she does. I think meaningfully so and a better quarterback and, you know, not as good”

as skilled as it's in players, but Kentucky's offense really couldn't do anything against these guys. So, I don't really anticipate if Alabama takes the game seriously that if a few has much of a shot. But again, they have to take the game seriously and, you know, the board teams

have been really good, but they also have not always taken every game seriously. So, I think

this crazy is, like the fact this is on big game breakdown, a lot of this comes down to how much it's been a care about this. But I think they're going to have a little motivation because they lost until I asked you last year. Danny. I, I don't know, I've watched a couple of games. I was actually before we started, I can't see it. I was watching a little game tape, a Florida state, one of the other offense trying to operate against SMU, trying to look for some redeeming qualities,

like finding out clearly the running backs have been the thing that's jumped out to you. I'm trying to figure out how Florida state can make this competitive, right? And like the defense hasn't really give you any hope that they can keep it competitive. The offense, the offensive line is a big issue. I'm like, man, if they can't protect at home against SMU and get any sort of meaningful ground game going, how are they going to do that? I mean, I guess Duos Robinson mixed a couple of

big plays. He's been not existent so far. You know, he's a mismatch nightmare, but really haven't been able to use that. I just don't see any matchups where you look like, yeah, that's a win for Florida state. I don't know if there's one. And I actually feel better,

look, killing Russell. So rough start two picks in the first half. Like, and I almost wish it was perfect

for killing Russell. It can tucky. So then maybe he gets his test and he gets a little bit

“routed at home, but he responded to the test, kind of settling into the game. I think the story”

of Alabama so far and I know killing Russell has been great, but their defense looks really good. I don't see any scenario where they overlook Florida state because they're not very good because of what happened last year. I think it's all the motivation they need. I biggest question for me in this game, because I don't expect it'll be close, is our our either of your feelings hurt that after the tailgate and chip and I have been like

pumping both of you as the new AD at Florida State that that be met came out with support of Derek Brooks instead of either of you. Derek Brooks would have my backing to. Yeah, Derek Brooks. Yeah. Does I do you guys see any like what's the cause of Oklahoma Michigan? It seems so you know it was easy, but then if you dove into like what if Michigan plays great defense and what if material struggles thrown on the football like you can

you could talk yourself into it in the point spread said, oh, maybe there's something we don't

close game or upset? I have a hard time finding it. I think the recipe is in it being close

“for a half. I think the depth is just so much better for Alabama that if Florida State would just”

break at some point, you know, that it's just Alabama can play with its food. You know, you're depending on the opponent. It might be for two drives, you know, it might be for a quarter. It might be for a little I just think the four quarter proposition is really tough to answer your question right there. But here, it's Ryan Coleman's Williams drops some balls. Kulin Russell has a bad pass or a turnover. Then Florida State uses the run game to be able to at least

convert some third and fourth down, set themselves up, gain some confidence. There's ways that I can spin Florida State not getting embarrassed for stretches of the game, but I just don't know from a roster standpoint. If the depth is there for Florida State to be able to hang for 60 minutes with Alabama. I would agree. I mean, yeah, like you have really good backs. You do have some

really nice receivers. Daniels plays some kind of amazing game somehow by his standards. Like you

get the ball out quick. Some of the screen game stuff works. Kulin is confused, but by the defense, maybe throws you a defensive score. You know, maybe Bama drops a punt. Like how did S&U keep for state in the game? Stupid players. Your component box score, which is a pretty good predictor of like, based on how the game was played on the down to down basis, if it was played again over the score B, it was S&U by like 20 and a half, right? So, I mean, they're like

what? A 10 to one dog? They're not 100 to one, but also, I don't know if it's super comparable to Michigan, Oklahoma, like that spread was five. Right. But in terms of the conversation,

“like yeah, you just lean in one way or the other, how does this happen? And I think I think that”

Danny, I think that there enough could happen that the nation grabs its remote and changes the

channel, right? You know, or at least flips it on or puts it on a side screen when they obviously have America's most watch network, the network of stars, USC at Rutgers on their main screen. They flip their tablet over from what they were watching on their secondary screen to make sure that they see is Alabama going to lose and then Alabama eventually would say no and be able to shut the door. But certainly something to look at in the ever-evolving world of Mike Norvelle.

Is it concerning for the time slot champs that SMU Louisville is the more attractive game in this window than Alabama Florida State? I think, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,

“what do you think about how to network? Oh, no, I think I think Alabama Florida State will rate better,”

but I'm just saying, is it concerning? We wanted to rate better. Yeah, and also, it's like, we just accidentally did about 18 minutes on SMU Louisville talking about how excited we were with that game. We just did one round to pass the stick and everyone's like, ugh, move on, please. Yeah, it's like, it's like, how in the world is on big game breakdown? Well, because the time slot champs are too quick. And now it's time for upset alert brought to you by draft gangs. The draft

Kingsports app is now live in all 50 states and this September. Draft Kings is giving customers the opportunity to get boosted every football game day. New draft Kings customers can sign up with the code cover three. That is cover three, but spell out the three. C O V E R T H R E E spend five bucks and get 200 in total rewards within 21 days, including all markets. That's code cover three. C O V E R T H R E E in partnership with draft Kings. The crown is yours. And I want you to get that mayo out. Oh, baby.

Scott, that ZANG. Scott, that spice. We're going to the Duke's Mayo kickoff classic here in week three. We've got a fun game, non-conference, but regional rivalry, Virginia against West Virginia. I'll call it the battle at country roads. One of these schools plays it all the time. The other school apparently it might have actually been written about the western part of Virginia as much as West Virginia. We'll take that for another podcast. What I want to know is whether anybody else

smells the potential of Richard Regas and this new offense going in to the bank and pulling off an upset. They find themselves currently as a double-digit dog. It would be a big upset for sure. But Elliot, do you see the path for the mountaineers to be able to take down this Wahoo's squad? I do. I'm not sure that it's going to happen, but I think it's an easier path to paint

guys, they might be on the idea that Virginia is going to run bow. Oh, unlike their season opening

“opponent, which is totally blown away at the legs of both of you. Who could have seen this coming?”

Yeah, right. So obviously West Virginia is like faces of mobile quarterback and in practice all the

time, a run first quarterback and in Hawkins, if you will, you know, bow operated that offense

extremely well. That a lot of the design runs offensive line is veteran and did a great job. It's a different scheme that the mountaineers are going to bring in defensively. So we'll have to see if they can create some penetration and some confusion with that. I think a lot more aggressive scheme, which can be good and bad compared to what NC State wants to run. My thought here is that I think West Virginia is going to sell out to try to get Virginia in negative leverage situations.

And we don't know how good or bad Virginia will be in those situations because we've not seen them in those situations this year. Like they have not been like right. Like they just have not had to face 3rd and 7th or 3rd and 8th or 2nd and 10th really much at all. So I think that's going to be that's going to be kind of fascinating to see like just how much do the mountaineers sell out

“to make that happen. But also if you're Virginia, how many points do you really need to win this game?”

Right. Like I don't, I mean 27 probably probably get you the victory here. I would think. I don't think Virginia's defense is going to give up 30 to a mountaineers offense, which looks

improved, but maybe not amazing yet. You know? So the really the Hawkins can, is Hawkins going to score

more than 24 on you? >> Is it possible that this, is it possible that the clock just doesn't stop in this game with all the reliance on the ground game? >> Yeah. I mean, now, mountaineers are going to go at tempo, but yeah, it's probably a lot of running. Virginia's defense, that damn good, I think they're really good at not allowing explosives and playing good like fundamental assignment defense because they're all old as hell and veteran guys and

they play that scheme extremely well, but maybe Rich Rod has something for him. A lot of this me just comes down to can this mountaineers defense get Virginia off schedule and make them operate from behind the sticks. If they can't, Virginia carries this. >> Danny, Tom, what's the stance out here? >> I mean, I think Virginia's offensive line was well documented in that NC state game with all the all the experience that is there. I mean, and I would, if I was West Virginia, you're going to have

to sell out. Now, bro, Probula, he did a pretty good job hitting a couple big plays like they're going to scheme up. There's going to be some open ones if he hits them. They'll take advantage of it. They'll be off to force them out of it, you know, but I think that's the matchup I'm watching is Virginia's offensive line versus West Virginia's front seven. >> Yep. I mean, I don't, can you stay in your gap? Can you get your fits? Can you maintain, you know, just your integrity

in those areas because Virginia is going to try to get you out of them. And if they don't fool you, they can just push you out of them. So you have to figure out a way to stay in there to limit their rushing attack. Because I mean, if you do take away Virginia's run game and you force both

“pretty little to be a drop-back passer, that's not where Virginia wants to be. That's what you have to do.”

>> Okay. I'm going to close out our friends at draft kings. They always liked for us to be able

to spotlight an upset alert, but the tailgate brought something up. So before we close this out, I just want to at least get a quick little straw poll. Is any part of you entertaining New Mexico over Oklahoma? >> No. Okay. >> No. I totally think that that Oklahoma can overwhelm them. The only way that this is close is if you doesn't take it seriously, because that is a unique scheme to prep for. But so was Utah. >> I just, there's a human element of this. You know,

that just the way that it went up an Ann Arbor, and now you're home and you should be able to roll these guys. You'll see Jason Eck talk about the steakhouse? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> No. >> He says, yeah, we've been, it's kind of like we've been eaten fast food, right? And now we just got invited to the nicest steakhouse in town. We got to check our wallet, make sure we got enough money. Because if we don't have enough money, we're not prepared.

You know, things we get embarrassed pretty fast. And he's talking about like, we got to make sure we have our focus, make sure we're on it, because they don't want to get embarrassed. >> Yeah. I could say an interesting half. I just feel like, I think it's one of those. Because I think Oklahoma could be that hungover, you know, feeling sorry for themselves, a little bit too many nature. You know, they got their SEC schedule coming up. It's that sandwich game.

But I think they'll have too much to just kind of push them around the second half. >> Yeah. I'm all for taking the little those to cover. >> Right, right, right, right, right.

>> It is New Mexico with a backup quarterback. Like that that's yours.

>> Well, it's backup quarterbacks, okay? They say if you don't have two quarterbacks, you got none. But if it's you got two backups, that's like 1.5 quarterbacks. >> Yeah, math. All right. And that was the upset alert brought to you by draft kings. Once again, new customers can use the code, cover three on sign up, spend just five bucks

“and get 200 in total rewards within 21 days. Remember, the draft king sports app is now live”

in all 50 states. And that means from Texas to California to Florida, every fan is in on the excitement in partnership with draft kings. The crown is yours. All right, let's do Florida Auburn.

>> Yeah. Winner gets ranked.

>> Oh, fair. Florida's been knocking on the door. They're like, quote, but if Auburn were to win, I could see how that happens. >> I'm dull. They plan to see. >> I see. I have far more faith and Florida right now in this game. Then I do Auburn. Now, like Florida has not played anybody in Auburn has had the much tougher opponent in Baylor than anybody. The gators have faced. But even last week against Southern Miss,

like I my three star lock, maybe at least it just heard feelings. But I took that team total over because I thought that that offense is going to want to go out and put on a show and make everybody feel really good. And it's not like they had a poor performance, but they did not look nearly

“as crisp and clean as I would have liked to have seen them at home against Southern Miss. And I think”

now you're facing a much better defense. They're at home. I mean, I'm not sitting there saying they're not going to win the game where they don't have a chance. It's just if the offense continues to not look great. And if it looks a lot more like we saw it against Baylor, it's tough for me to like have a ton of faith in the Tigers right now. >> Yeah, I mean, if you look at it, go less at USF against power for teams, average, it's scored 16, 15, 18, and 12,

up in the VPA, negative 7.8, right, like EPA per play, negative 0.1, success rate 37%.

Auburn against Baylor, so basically just importing the USF offense and running it against Baylor,

basically the exact same thing, 17 points EPA per play exactly the same, you know, offense of EPA, negative 0.5, so like basically the same. Most of this to me comes down to how does Florida handle going on the road for the first time, right, like, you know, their receivers look

“good and healthy. I think the win in week one over FAU looks more impressive after how FAU kind of”

took it to Navy for most of that game, although in the end there, it's certainly got got a little dicey for the owls. I think Florida is a far better team. I think, I think, I mean, some are all here to the much better roster than go less did, so I'm still very high and go less long term in Auburn, but I think Florida has a pretty good shot to get this one. >> This has to be a DJ Durkin game, an Auburn defense game, a low scoring ugly game, which you gave some of the stats there

for Alex Goldish and Byron Brown. They are totally comfortable playing in those ugly games. I am scared for Byron Brown because his offensive line was getting pushed around. He did not have a lot of time against Baylor's defense. I think it could be more of the same. I don't anticipate him throwing three picks again, like he did against Baylor, but I don't expect him to light this defense up either. I just think the recipe for an Auburn win is kind of a ugly, low scoring game,

which is how they got the win against Florida when he was at USF and kind of how he got the win against Baylor in week one. >> You sense in down on the planes, under the light. >> Yeah, I mean, you don't, as good as Florida's been, I mean, people are either the Dark Horse team that are going to SEC title. They have not played anybody yet. >> Aaron Filo also on the road in this spot, you know, need to, it just, it feels like it's one of those two sets of footprints in the sand. Auburn

Jesus kind of moments where we're just going to be like, how in the world did Auburn win that game. They won. They'd be Baylor by one foot, you know, it's on paper with everything that I've seen from both of these teams. And I know that Auburn has been tested in a way that Florida was not. I like the gate. I've liked what I've seen from the gate or more, but an awesome, awesome test for John Summerall's group, phenomenal quarterback matchup, Mississippi State, South Carolina.

And how about how about this Briles family reunion right here? Jeff Levy is Kindle Briles, brother-in-law. We got Lenora Sellers in the Kindle Corner. We got Camario Taylor in the Levy Corner.

Like, what are the places where you think? >> We got Dylan Stewart Healthier, not. That's what I'm

looking for. That's the big piece of this, too. I mean, it is a quarterback game. We'll be fun to

“watch both of them. But I think it's going to be a Dylan Stewart, how much of an impact can he have”

fluffed off well, too? Like, can Mississippi State run the ball a little bit, kind of take some of that pressure off Camario? Which quarterback would you rather have? Camario. I don't think it's close. I think it's close, but I think it's close. I think it's very close. I think right now, I would rather have Lenora's because he's been in these games. Where is Camario hasn't yet? Like, I mean, they just went on the road against Minnesota and walked their ass. Like,

that's one of the more impressive ones we've seen from anybody this year. But to me, this is a little bit of a different spot. So we'll see. I think Camario has a much higher ceiling long-term for what he could be in college than Lenora's. But right now, I think I'd rather have Lenora's. >> Like, as I downfield pass or spin in it, it looks more, it looks like Camario throwing the ball. I think I like that more than Lenora's sellers. But in this spot playing at home,

at night, I mean, take me back to two years ago, right? When Lenora's was in so many of these massive games, games they won, games they lost. The Alabama game, the LSU game. I mean, he's just, he's been able to stand up and make big plays and a lot of big spots before in his career, but a lot of fun. Four, 15 Eastern time by the way, wait, that's not quite up at the lights. >> Whenner gets ranked?

“Sure. I think if Mississippi State does,”

maybe because they have the win over Minnesota, who's leading in any of them in votes? Who's got more votes? >> Do they're doing them? >> They're probably not close. >> Neither of them are knocking on the door yet for to be inside the top 30, but that's because of their brands, Mississippi State is too more points in South Carolina. >> But it's bankless instead of the better chance. They might, the winner might just get it.

>> If Mississippi State's 3-0 with a road win against Minnesota and a road win against South Carolina, you better have them in your top 25. >> I don't know, it's in the top 12. >> All the people with these tied and knots over this Tulsa, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Boise State situation. No big luck jam in the pipes of the AP top 25 poll. We've got a very excited about this. A double header on CBS, America's most-watched network

the network of stars, USC two years ago, did not play well in the Eastern time zone. Now, they are facing a different challenge here, going up against a Rutgers team that is in very,

“very, very, very, very bad shape from the-- >> How bad is it?”

>> It's bad enough that WFA and phone lines have been blowing up because Rutgers fans are real ones. I heard the Arkansas, well, it was her name, Miss, I was an atmosphere, Miss Judy, like the Arkansas phone call, season ticket holder, who's losing her mind, WFAN, season ticket holders, like, listen, keep that going. That's that stuff's eternal right there. That's real passion, real ball. USC's going to be in a spot where the story of this game will be jade my of a will he live

up to the opportunity. You see him coming out and gutten this Rutgers defense and sort of allowing that story to be told, or do you think that it might be a little bit wonky as they're in this road spot and piscad away? >> I think you try to get in and get out. >> Yeah, they got an organ on deck, Rutgers sucks. I don't think that they need to, or we'll try to win by margin. They might do it accidentally anyway, but I think if you're liking,

it's like, "All right, hey, make this trip, it's a business trip, get in, get out." >> I think Fred Charles and Jenny are going to spend a lot of time this week prepping for stuff

to talk about in the second half. I mean, listen, you mess toward this defense apart.

>> What the hell is USC going to do to it? >> Yeah. >> I know the travel is a thing, but it ain't that big of a thing. >> Well, there's also, yeah, I mean, having discussions about what will the final score be is different than a discussion of, what's this going to look like? What does it mean to USC? What it means to USC really might be a business trip. Let's go in. Let's get this thing to 99%.

What about, I did not include this in Upset Alert. We did not talk about Colorado State last week, but we did talk about old, it's Hunter Haney. Yeah. Oh, Hunter Haney. Quarterback for Colorado State? >> Hawthey. >> Hawthey, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hawthey. I thank you.

>> Hunter Haney, you were thinking of, never, I don't think about Patriots. That's somebody else.

weren't really sure what to make of him. Some decent signs early. They're playing host to a BYU team that were feeling good about after that win against Arizona. We talked about both on Saturday

“and on Monday. What could landmines might there be as BYU makes the trip up into Colorado?”

>> Do you feel good? >> Yeah. I watched that whole Colorado State game last week. Colorado State's offense is really good. It's defensive for it. I don't think BYU is going to have to get out of their comfort zone at all, on offense. Colorado State will probably have a little something for them with offense, but probably just not enough because BYU is pretty nice at the lines of scrimmage. I think that'll really change what Colorado State can do, but I expect BYU

to fully just think, hey, we can go in and play our game plan here. It may not always be comfortable,

because Penny looks the part of a former power for quarterback recruit who is really thriving in this scheme, but I do think BYU beats him up at the line of scrimmage. >> He was Oklahoma State first, right, or Oklahoma State quarterback before this. Was he somewhere else? >> Yeah.

“>> I think TCU was involved to at one point. I'm trying to remember what the progression was there.”

>> Yep. >> Another way to think, too. We always talk about, we just mentioned with USC, going on the road against Rutgers with Oregon looming, or you see like these big teams like BYU, will they be overlooking Colorado State? This may be why Colorado State will be in this game. If you're Colorado State, are you selling out to try to beat BYU, or are you just kind of more focused on, hey, we got to win the pack 12 here. We're not going to risk our conference chances

by trying to beat a team we're probably not going to beat. >> Yeah, I don't -- I -- you know,

I always have trouble with this one. This one will also be on America's most-watch network,

the network of stars, 730 p.m. at Kickoff, Eastern Time from Mountain Fort Collins. That means you'll have Rich Walt's Brian Kelly, Adam Brennan, and Jordan Georgia on the call. So keep that on your radar for the evening slate. I mean, there's still a lot. I'll just sort of open this up. J.M.U. at San Diego State I thought was interesting. Arizona State and Kansas are playing in London. We just got our eyes on

“both of those teams a lot. Now we're shipping them out to London. >> What do we do, friends?”

>> What do you mean? I mean, county billing amside is palms out for a while, begging for money. It's got to be bad, right? They got to give a nice little payday. >> It's got to be. I mean, what's the -- this is not good for Arizona State to have the backup playing at Texas A&M in a game where I thought they played well, but just like, stepped on the wrong, you know, stepped in dog poop, I don't know what the board is, but there's -- on a down-to-down basis,

Arizona State hung with Texas A&M in Texas A&M's house. >> Yeah. Yeah. They did. >> And now they're going to London. And Kansas was like, in a game with all this emotion, I mean, you know, I'm -- what's left in the tank Saturday? You know, like, both these teams seem like they poured it out last week, and then we put them on a plane to London. >> Yeah, sure, we'll say, Petrol is in the tank, yeah. >> Petrol, yeah. What, how much Petrol you got in the tank?

A very curious to see who gets off the bus. >> Not to mention K. Ask quarterback in a country where they drive on the other side of the road, who knows which shenanigans he's going to get up to. >> Oh my gosh. >> I say a wild ride. >> It's fun to watch. So, I think I saw Ryan saying the tailgate before we got started that Isaiah Marshall's Earth 26 points for either team you just don't know. >> I mean, you see the worst throws you've ever seen a quarterback

make. I mean, it is. Where is that ball going? And then he makes 360 completion, which is another

one you probably should never throw. But then he delivers a dime and you're like, what did that come from?

>> He's incredible. I love him. >> This actually might turn the British into American football fans. >> You know, we ship them. We ship them the jags all the time and that ain't getting it done. >> But they see this. >> Scarred football ambassador. They see this game and they're like, whoa, we never seen anything like this with the other football you send us. I don't know clue who is, who shows up, who shows up Saturday there. I mentioned that J.M. U. San Diego state game.

Feel like I've gotten a little bit more J.M. U than San Diego state at this point in my process. I don't have like an expert opinion, but I think it's a really fun and interesting game and a good opportunity for San Diego state after they just didn't seem to have the horses in that game against UCLA.

part of that game. I think this is going to be a tough game for James Madison. >> I bet I said,

yeah, quarterback wise, I don't think San Diego state as a guy to hang with some of the power for teams this year. Everything else looked okay. What about for the San Diego state? Because I'm

“calling this equally interesting for San Diego state. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like I don't”

say, I don't think San Diego state is because of everything else they have around them. Very, yeah, very old school college football in that where it's like remember you're like middle before quarterbacks got good when your middle of the road like power conference quarterback was a liability mostly and you just really hoping he would be able to take care of business and be a bus driver. >> I was hoping to get San Diego state here as a dog for locks, but Vegas was like no,

San Diego state is a little better than Jamie. >> Or at least with that trap. >> Or like basically

even with Trent. >> Yeah. >> What any other sort of game, I know we've run a little bit long. Thanks for sticking around. There's a lot more games that are interesting, but any others, you want to turn attention to here in the final moments of BGB. >> Are we? I think we're not a turtle pod. >> Yeah, Ryan and West Virginia Tech. Winter gets ranked. I mean, this is a big game. Virginia Tech has looked good to start the season. Maryland has looked good to start the season.

Win here, three and oh, he set up pretty well. Tom. Tom. Yes. >> How you doing? >> Good. Thank you coach. >> That's all right. I mean, like, was going on. >> Oh, no, it's his,

“he's got a shake. Yes, you have to say respond to him and say, I'm good coach. How are you?”

>> If you say, hey coach, he says, hey back. If you jump right into your question,

there's a nuance to it. >> There's a nuance to it. And he's trained everybody in the room. The question came from Zoom. And his Zoom was, the reporter's Zoom was glitching. So he couldn't hear. Like, he thought there was an honest technological issue. And James was just sticking to it. >> Yeah. >> Take into the bit. >> Yeah, Andy Bitter of VT sidelines, somebody who's covered Virginia Tech for a really long time. I've been, I've been using him to sort of discern what exactly is going on here.

And that's what I, as I understand it, thanks to, thanks to Andy's reporting on the media scene in Blacksburg, is that I think that everybody else is kind of, Franklin is trying to train everybody on some decorum here. And it was an honest tech issue that made that exposed to, but if you wanted to say, that's a little much James, but I understand. Are we going to play it? >> Oh, yeah. There, there you go. Michael's explanation for it.

You know, he's a one of one. >> I hate being good right now. He's feeling great. Blacksburg, vibes are high. >> A lot to be between Laxley and Franklin when they were both coaching at, in the big ten at Penn State and Maryland. James Franklin was Ralph Friedgen's offensive coordinator and at one point considered a coach in waiting. >> A coach in waiting, yeah. >> For Maryland. James Franklin was in the, we must protect this house commercial alongside

fridge. Back in 2003 in Maryland, you know, part of that underarm were breakout. >> So I call the game, is this called, I call the game in Maryland when James Franklin was the head coach in waiting. And I was asking him in our production meeting, I said, you know, coach, I said, you know, are you, do you think you're ready to be the head coach? Like, you know, what timeline? Like are you ready now? And he turns around. He pulls out this massive, because you see this right here.

This is my coaching playbook right here. I know it was like a three ring binder. It was like six inches thick. And he's like, you see, I've been taking notes every single day since I've been in this business. I've got this coach in here. I've got this schedule in here. 365 days a year mapped out. You think I'm ready? I'm ready to go. Like he was all fired up. I was like, all right, coach, ready to go. And he went to Vanderbilt and the great job. I'm left Maryland hanging in the dust.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't, that's, I think a door was shut. Yeah, exactly. I'm waiting and waiting and said, I'm out. Yeah, exactly. They're supposed to know, but you know what we got to do in Maryland and Virginia Tech get together. They're out the record books. They're out the record books. Yeah, I mean, you got to absolutely. ACC, hey, build up here for like a few years when they were in the

“same conference. Yeah, I think it was at like, oh, I guess, how long were they in there together?”

Not that long, but it was 10 years. Virginia Tech joins in O4, Maryland leaves in like 14. I think

Different, Ethan Grunkmire. Oh, Ethan Grunkmire and Luke Reynolds are so at home in Blacksburg.

Mm-hm. Yeah. I seen them in post game press conferences with their, uh, Camo VT shirts and their shorts. And I'm like, these boys are about to go fishing. They're about to leave this stadium and they're about to head out and go fishing. It's, they've found their home. They have, they have found their place at Blacksburg. Happy for them right there. They are also are playing well. It also, they are having some success

on the field for Maryland, Malik Washington, where we have, we are tracking the Malip and we'll see

“how that looks against. I think that this will be, the, without a doubt, the toughest challenge”

that the Maryland offensive line has had to deal with in terms of blocking Virginia Tech up front.

And that'll be a lot. You know, that's one place that I think that my, my eyes will be going in terms of how Malik Washington and Maryland's offense will play in this game. It's going to be, whether or not, whether or not he's having to deal with Camari Copeland in the rest of those guys up front just sitting in his lap. This could, like, of the games this weekend, they could be the best quarterback matchup. You know, obviously LSU Ole Miss, SMU

Louisville, we can just make some Mississippi states out of Carolina. I, I don't think this is it, but I think it's in, it's like one of the ones that could sneakily be in contention.

“Yep. Um, okay, what else was, I had, Texas, Texas UTSA?”

Letdowns Buffer, Texas, prove it point for UTSA. I don't think it'll be close, but you can't completely rule it out. Can't completely rule it out. And see state Vanderbilt. Is this a current, uh, Jared Curtis start? Is he getting the start? Are they going to go? I think I win a lot. I don't know. I don't know. I think we need to doubt the blaze. It's been enough. We need to, yeah. I thought they made the trend. I was expecting now. I made it doing a little

competitive and, you know, keep the corner on the toes, but I think it's about to start. It needs to start for, for the wolf pack. Um, it was it didn't we project it here after, like, um, CJ Bailey has, uh, had all that time to sit on. Maybe one of the worst games as a starter. What do you think he's going to do when he plays against that FCS Richmond, often, defense, uh, he'll, he'll find a lot more friction here in this one. If it gets the highest

bowl leverage game this weekend. Woo. What it means for the bowl math for both Vanderbilt and NC state is no game in week three that might have a bigger swing and whether or not you go bowling. Correct. Fun. UCLA Purdue is going to be your late night offering. Ooh, speaking of bowls. What if Colorado goes on the road and wins again and beats North Western? Starts 3 and 0. I mean, I'm, I am not, uh, damn was already speaking in Tom's way

went away. Ghost, what's he going to do for an encore? He'd also, this is the last A, A, A at the race. Don't buy him from the dead. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. D, K, I had snakes in my mind. You know, it's just, yeah, it's coming to the press conference with some snakes. That's, that's, that's if you really want to level this up, uh, take it even deeper. Duke, Duke Stanford will nerd bowl,

“Davis Warren against Duke's defense, which, I mean, Tom, what was the first to have second half?”

Was that, was that on Illinois offense? Was that Duke's defense? I would say it's a little bit of both. I think that Duke did a much better job of covering Colin Dixon and they did a decent,

they did a better job of stopping the run in the second half too. But Illinois was also down a

couple offensive live in by the second half, which probably played a role as well. We'll build Bellachect do a Hubert Davis impression and end the career of a legendary ACC coach. If I, I think Clemson is going, I don't know. I can't say that with extreme confidence. Yeah, it could be rough. If they lose the North Carolina, considering all the crap around North Carolina, all offseason, if they come to your place and beat you, I do not know if North Carolina will be able

to score enough to win the game. I don't know. North Carolina's offense looks hard. How much is enough to win the game? That is, that's the operative question here. But like Billy Edwards in this North Carolina offense, get behind the sticks too often. Everything is difficult and they're not

enough plays that, you know, it can string it together. Defensive line, I think, I mean, it was

East Tennessee State, but defensive line still continues to be kind of a game changer here. So I

“take Reynolds as in trouble. Like Clemson's offense of line, I think it's at a disadvantage against”

North Carolina's defensive line. So that's where you get to the, you know, if this thing gets into a 17, 16, a 20 to 17, that's something that could happen. Would either coach take 21 today. Today, like if I said, hey, Bill Belichon, I guarantee you score 21 on Saturday. I know Dabba would because they just put up 22 against Georgia Southern and take it. That less you. Yeah. If you promise me three touchdowns, either coach races to sign up for it.

Dabba wins the race because he's used to run it down the hill and he's got a 20 year advantage on Bill, but they do their best to race to go and grab three offensive touchdowns. I don't think either team will have three offensive touchdowns in this game. The total in this game's 43 and a half. Yeah, it's like an NFL total. Oh, Bill Belichon advantage. There you go. Right there.

Also, Bill Belichon against rookie quarterbacks. Bill Belichon against quarterbacks in their first

start. I don't know, man. It's, I don't know if North Carolina will be able to get in sync enough to go and win the game, but it's going to be low scoring and it's going to, it's going to be tense for sure. We'll see what happens in Death Valley. Anything else, you have the games you want to shout out? I'm going to do a little laps. Yeah, that's our high school. All right. Missouri Troy. App state Charlotte should be another good test. I know

Bud was big on the mountaineers last week. We'll see if they can keep their in-state run going. I say Charlotte will be we'll be a football game. It will be played. Yeah, state Charlotte. You toss when you toss state. I know that we saw you toss state look a little bit, you know, more spicy as they had to take on my gosh. But if that wasn't what happened, I think that's a Washington thing. So you know what happened? We have a graphic built for big

game breakdown. We have not talked about one of the games. No way. Oh, what? Michigan State, Notre Dame? Oh, God. Do you have no time for that? Like maybe we just don't think they're that good. Maybe they're not good enough for a big game breakdown. They don't have any

“playmakers. That's why. I think that Notre Dame was in the graphic. I will say this for”

the Notre Dame Michigan State game. I don't think Michigan State is going to win this game. But I do think that if like Wisconsin did, if Michigan State gives them some trouble, you might start sounding some alarm bells. I won't. Yeah, this one's in South Bend. I think it'll be a little different. So do I. But that's what I'm saying. If Michigan State kind of makes this one a little feisty shows up, Muddy set up a bit and kind of beaten like, doesn't get completely

outplayed along the line of the scrimmage. Like they've got a dude there, Eli Cohen, and he transferred from Illinois. He currently leads the big 10 and 6 through the first two games this season. If he starts having some, you know, success against this Notre Dame offensive line, the run game, even though they dominated rice last week, overall is a team. The run game did not

look incredible in that game. Like there are some kind of things that, you know, you've got to keep

an eye on here. I'm glad you'll be keeping an eye on it because I am not enthused by this game.

“I think that it'll, it'll have a hard time making its way, you know, into my top rotation.”

When you've got, you know, the, when you've got Florida Auburn going on, you've obviously got LSU Ole Miss and BYU Colorado State. You've got Virginia Tech Maryland trying to hold it down as a turtle pod, West Virginia Virginia for our upset alert. It's a busy night slate, you know. We'll see. And I tell you what, not in good news for Notre Dame. If everybody's having to scramble to see what is up and why they're on this highboard, you know, that's not what you want.

So we'll, uh, we'll, of course, let you know our very favorite picks for these games on Thursday when we do our locks. But before that, we are going to be on your television screens Wednesday, noon Eastern time on CBS Sports Network, having a little discussion, taking stock of what we've seen in the first two weeks, looking ahead and so much more. So check it out, CBS Sports Network, noon Eastern time on Wednesday, then back here on YouTube dot com slash cover three Thursday 11 a.m.

Eastern time for locks and you can follow him on Twitter, time for the, follow him at Danny Canal, follow him at Budway 3, follow me at Chip Under School of Patterson, gentlemen, thank you very much.

First, Drake May and the Patriots host Aaron Rogers and the Steelers, then the chags visit the Broncos while the Raiders face off with the chargers out west. It all kicks off at noon Eastern with the NFL today. Oh, wow, see you Sunday with the NFL on CBS and streaming on Paramount Plus.