Bussin' With The Boys — October 1, 2025

Episode: Josh Pate Picks Florida To Upset Texas + Will Compton & Taylor Lewan Split On Vanderbilt vs. Alabama

Main Theme and Purpose:
Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, joined by college football analyst Josh Pate, dive into this weekend’s biggest college football matchups, share bets and predictions, passionately debate key narratives, and embrace "Spooktober"—their lighthearted name for October. A highlight is Josh Pate’s controversial pick of Florida over Texas and the crew’s split opinions on Vanderbilt vs. Alabama, all delivered with the show’s trademark locker-room banter.

Spooktober & Betting Show Spirit

[00:00–06:48]

• Will Compton kicks off by explaining “Spooktober”: October is to be Spooktober, with a Halloween movie/show daily and weekend festivities.
• Quick look at pick records—Taylor is the only one with a winning season; Josh Pate is close behind.
• Underdog bets were hot last week: “All of our dogs won last weekend.” (Will, 00:29)
• The boys brag about hitting a massive college football parlay with over 7,000 people riding along and discuss parlay anxiety, big wins, and close calls.
• Josh introduces his infamous “ramen noodle express” picks.

“You just want to be in a spot where you got Oregon, Penn State alive, and you’re shitting yourself: do I cash out or do I ride?” —Will Compton [05:43]

In-Depth College Football Debates & Banter

Nebraska Playoff Scenario & The James Franklin Ceiling

[09:28–16:14]

• Discusses hypothetical: a one-loss Nebraska shut out of a playoff despite a strong year if not in the conference championship. Josh Pate ends the debate, insisting an 11-1 Nebraska wouldn’t be left out.
• The future of Penn State’s James Franklin: “Are you saying there should be no patience with James Franklin?” (Will, 12:21). Taylor muses that maybe Franklin needs a change—“maybe there's a place down South he can find better talent.”
• A rundown of brutal college football bye weeks and the misery after bad losses: “That is not a place you want to be in as a player.” (Will, 15:21)

This Week's Game Picks

Texas at Florida (Josh's Upset Pick!)

[19:16–30:23]

Spread: Texas -6.5 | O/U 41.5

• Josh ("Anti-Texas guy") advocates for Florida in an upset:

  • “Is there a massive gap between these teams? Point spread says yes. ...I’m asking—is there a massive gap in the quality of teams?” [19:42]
  • Believes Florida’s run game can be effective, expects a major philosophy shift coming off a bye.
  • “I am rolling the dice. ...I’m gonna take Florida to cover and win outright.” [23:23]

• Taylor & Will side with Texas:

  • Taylor focuses on Texas’s defense and coaching edge: “I gotta take the better defense. ...And they're going to go into a place where it's like, yeah, it’ll be a hostile environment. But USF didn't have an issue with that at all. So I will be taking Texas to cover...” [24:51]
  • Will points to Texas’s veteran defense: “They’re savvy, bro. ...I have no clue how Florida’s going to win this game outside of hope and a prayer.” [26:10]

• Cautions about home field and the danger if Texas scores first, killing the Florida crowd energy.

“All it’s going to take is for Texas to score first ...for the stadium to be taken out of the game.” —Will Compton [26:10]

Mississippi State at Texas A&M

[31:11–37:42]

Spread: Texas A&M -14.5 | O/U 55.5

• Will/Taylor pick A&M to cover:
  • Both expect a “get back” spot for A&M’s offense, but sense a possible “trap game” scenario if A&M overlooks Mississippi State.
  • “They got a chip on their shoulder because of Auburn. So I like A&M having a dominant win...” —Taylor [33:52]
• Josh Pate takes Mississippi State +14.5:
  • “I still think in principle they’re underrated ...people will look at it and say, ‘Man, we won,’ but I would look at that and say, you beat ...a pretty solid Mississippi State team. Not great ...just pretty good.” [35:04]
  • Emphasizes MSU’s improvement, argues it will be a close game throughout, not a late backdoor cover.

“You know what kind of bravery it takes to look at Billy Napier right now and say, yeah, that's my guy?” —Josh Pate [37:42] (on picking underdogs)

Texas Tech at Houston

[40:13–45:51]

Spread: Texas Tech -11.5 | O/U 50.5

• All three host believe Texas Tech is legit, expected to cover easily against Houston.
  • Taylor: “One team is clearly better than the other. I think it’s Texas Tech.” [41:20]
  • Josh highlights the success of Texas Tech’s portal building: “Did you really put a team together? ...Early results: yes, they did.” [43:42]
  • Will compares Tech to “The Expendables”: “A lot of mercenaries ...they’re accomplishing the mission.” [44:26]
• Banter about scoring trends, with Meemaw wisdom: “It ain’t under till it’s over.”

Miami at Florida State

[46:01–54:15]

Spread: Miami -4.5 | O/U 53.5

• Unanimous pick: Miami to cover and win.
  • Will: “If Miami is going to be a national title contender, this is a statement spot.”
  • Taylor: “You've really sold me on Miami...” [49:47]
  • Josh details Miami’s run defense, portal upgrades, and FSU’s dependency on their run game:
    • “I think even at number eight, Miami's run D is probably low because they face better competition.” [50:13]
• Cautions about Miami’s lack of road tests, home underdog “wounded animal,” and the unpredictability of in-game decisions.
• Fun stat: “When [Castellanos] throws for 240+ yards, which sounds like a good thing, he's 1-5 in his career, so it's actually a bad thing.” —Josh Pate [50:46]

Vanderbilt at Alabama (True Classic Game of the Week)

[57:21–70:40]

Spread: Alabama -10.5 | O/U 55.5

• Deep, fiery debate—split staff:

  • Garrett (guest): Brings the biblical heat: “Never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God. God is in crimson this weekend.” [58:35]
  • Taylor picks Vanderbilt +10.5: “I promised Cade I would trust them until I can't ...if Vandy wins this game, I'm not safe.” [60:02]
  • Will strongly on Alabama:
    • “This is personal for Alabama ...Vanderbilt embarrassed you. Not only slapped you in the face, but spit on your shoes.” [61:13–63:40]
    • Praises Alabama’s response and togetherness after adversity: “They want this team ...and they want to beat their ass.”
  • Josh Pate (“the model”) picks Vandy +10.5 on model’s advice, but underscores Bama’s form:
    • “If it was just me picking heart, that’s my national champion. ...But I went with the model plus the points. I have no clue how it's going to go.” [65:10]
    • Points to Bama’s laser focus post-Georgia and Vandy’s efficiency on third down.

• Fascinating “what if?”: If Vandy wins again, “there’s no ceiling for Clark Lea.”

• Cautions about emotional letdown for Alabama and the “spotlight” challenge for Vandy, rarely here before.

Underdog & Parlay Picks

[72:50–79:29]

• Dog of the Week:
  • Taylor: Iowa State ML vs. Cincinnati — trusts Rocco Becht and Matt Campbell.
  • Will: Syracuse +17.5 at SMU — “Fran Brown had all those boys sitting in the sauna ...60 minutes.”
  • Josh: Maryland +6.5 vs. Washington — “Like coast to coast. Washington was terrible on the road last year.”
• Parlay segment (FanDuel “boosting with the boys”):
  • Illinois -9.5 vs Purdue
  • Nebraska -11.5
  • Wake Forest +6.5 at Virginia Tech
  • Emphasis on living in the present and not the rearview after nervy Husker picks.

“You can’t live in the rearview, you got to live in the windshield.” —Josh Pate [78:58]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Hope is not a strategy.” —Will Compton, on picking Florida to upset Texas [25:11]
• “The ball doesn’t even count anymore ...if Texas scores first.” —Will Compton [26:10]
• “You are bald because of your beliefs.” —Josh Pate, ribbing Will about going all-in on Nebraska [79:24]
• “You just want to be in a spot where you got Oregon, Penn State alive, and you’re shitting yourself...” —Will Compton [05:43]
• “Never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God. And God is in crimson this weekend.” —Garrett [58:35]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|----------------| | Spooktober intro & records | 00:00–06:48 | | Parlay/cashout anxiety | 05:23–09:00 | | Nebraska playoff & James Franklin rumors | 09:28–16:14 | | Florida vs. Texas full preview | 19:16–30:23 | | Mississippi State @ Texas A&M preview | 31:11–37:42 | | Texas Tech @ Houston preview | 40:13–45:51 | | Miami @ Florida State preview | 46:01–54:15 | | Vanderbilt @ Alabama deep dive | 57:21–70:40 | | Underdog & Parlay picks | 72:50–79:29 |

Tone and Style

• Relatable, high-energy, locker-room vibe
• Equal parts playful and football-nerd serious
• Friendly competition, good-natured ribbing, and “for the love of the game” passion throughout

Perfect episode for college football fans who want sharp insight, wild predictions, big laughs, and a rundown of the weekend’s crucial games—plus betting tips and a lot of Spooktober swagger.