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

Summary

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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.

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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]

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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)

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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]

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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)

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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.”

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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]

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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 |

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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

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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.

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Transcript

[Will Compton]

Ladies and gentlemen, happy Spooktober. Welcome to the greatest college football gambling show on the Internet. It is Will Compton joined with me as always, Tara Lawan, Josh Pate. If you're wondering what is Spooktober? Spooktober. The rules are simple. Number one, you refer to October as Spooktober. You watch a spook, a Halloween themed show or a movie per day. And then every weekend you embrace the spook by getting festive, going out to a pumpkin patch, going on a little hayride, going and picking up pumpkins. Whatever the case is, those are the rules of Spooktober. We are happy you're here. Let's talk about what's happened overall in the universe of the locker room with the boys. These are the overall records. You see Taylor, you see Josh, you see Will Taylor, the only guy with the winning season in the on the locker room right now, but also sneaking up on him. Josh Pate 2.0 with the bald head. He was 3 and 2 last week. We all won our dogs last week. So when we get to the underdog segment, make sure you tap in because all of our dogs won last weekend. Here are the games here. Here's the sleek that we are covering this weekend. Texas at Florida. We do have somebody Josh bait 1.0. He's anti Texas guy. We'll be talking about that game. Mississippi State goes to Texas A and M. Do we have a trap game for Texas A and M right now? Texas Tech at Houston, Miami at Florida State. The rivalry is here and is alive and well. And then Vandy at Alabama. Massive, massive, dramatic revenge game for Alabama and the Crimson Tide going against Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt Commodores. We're happy you're here, dude. If you love the boys and you love ball, this is the show. Make sure you're subscribed. Leave comments throughout the episode. We are happy you're here. Let's have a a day happy Spooktober.

[Josh Pate]

This is an I heart podcast.

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[Josh Pate]

I'm Scott Hanson, host of NFL Red Zone.

[Will Compton]

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[Josh Pate]

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[Will Compton]

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[Josh Pate]

And earn your Sunday Lowe's official partner of the NFL.

[Will Compton]

This is Rob Gronkowski from Dudes on Dudes. Applebee's just cooked up the ultimate option. Play with their new ultimate trio deal. You can choose from three of their delicious appetizers and pair them up with three sauces for just 14.99. Craft your perfect trio from over 80,000 different combinations in this flavor packed plate. Built for one or to share if. If you're generous, you can stick with the classic pairings like boneless wings and buffalo sauce. Or you can spice things up and try some unexpected pairings like dipping chicken won tacos in our honey Dijon mustard. It's time to head to your neighborhood, Applebee's or order online today. Now that's eating good in the neighborhood. Welcome to the locker room. The locker room is presented by the number one sports book in America, the Fanduel Sportsbook. Before we get into things, we we just want to remind you guys that gambling is for entertainment and FanDuel always has your back with tons of responsible gaming tools to make sure your play stays fun and stress free. Check out FanDuel.com RG or the responsible gaming section in the app to learn more about staying in control of your game.

[Taylor]

We just want to make sure you guys remember this simple equation. College football Saturdays plus boosting with the boys. Profit boost tokens equal bigger wins every week.

[Will Compton]

Every week FanDuel gives a 50% profit boost token on any college football game of your choice.

[Taylor]

You don't believe me? Boosting with the boys 50% profit boost token. Let me talk to you about this genius individual had a crystal ball. Maybe he does time travel a little bit. This person.

[Will Compton]

Timeout. 15 leg parlay.

[Taylor]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

You don't have to burn your time out. You can just ask.

[Will Compton]

I'm looking at it. Last week we had a monster one. We got another 84,700 odds one.

[Taylor]

Okay, you were.

[Will Compton]

I need in on these. Okay.

[Taylor]

Yeah. This is unbelievable. $10 15 leg parlay plus 84,761 14 moneyline picks. No, he's not really going to read it, is he? Yes, he is. Alabama over Georgia. Ole Ms. Over LSU. Southern Ms. Over Jacksonville State. Washington State over Colorado. State, Louisville, Louisiana over Marshall. South Carolina over Kentucky. Sorry JP Texas A& M over Auburn. Ohio State over Washington. Iowa State over Arizona. Tennessee over Mississippi State, Indiana over Iowa. Boise State over App State. Stanford over San Jose State, Kennesaw State over Middle Tennessee. Then there was one spread pick and I'm sure this individual was shitting their pants. It was Oregon to cover against Penn State.

[Josh Pate]

I got nervous reading it. I already know how it turns out.

[Taylor]

Right.

[Josh Pate]

I just saw the game go to overtime again.

[Taylor]

I. So every week I go on Fanduel and I just put together essentially a 15 leg parlay like this.

[Josh Pate]

Hopefully with similar the retirement special.

[Taylor]

And it's usually Old Yeller financial freedom by, by the first leg.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

And then the rest of them hit and I'm just like, man, at that one. That one that keeps coming back.

[Will Compton]

You, you just, you want to be in spot. You want to be in a spot to leg is you got Oregon, Penn State and you are shitting yourself like, do I cash out?

[Taylor]

Do I cash out?

[Will Compton]

Do I ride? I mean, 10 bucks to win 80. Almost eight. $500.

[Taylor]

It's. It's unbelievable. We had ourselves a little situation this weekend.

[Will Compton]

Perfect.

[Taylor]

Which I'll get. To make sure you head to fanduel.combustin Download the app, grab your boostin with the boys profit boost token and make those even sweeter. If you're wondering, by the way, where's my card at? Hey. Boosting with the boys. Busting with the boys. We put out a parlay every single week. Seven thousand people on our college football parlay rode with us this past weekend. That's over $300,000 of potential winnings and that parlay hit. Let's give a round of applause. Love you Fanduel.

[Will Compton]

Thank you Fanduel.

[Taylor]

Thank you fanduel. 300,000. Basically, we made the economy better.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, People got to get on the site. They gotta find the little bus with the boys parlay from the locker room that we put together and they gotta hit it along with the little Josh Pate tab.

[Josh Pate]

The little Josh pate tab.

[Will Compton]

The little Josh.

[Josh Pate]

Do not click the big one.

[Will Compton]

Don't click the big one.

[Josh Pate]

It's not the one you want.

[Will Compton]

You want to hit the NCAA F at the top. You want to see that little, that little line in that like top middle area. You want to slide it over, slide over until you see Josh Payton. You hit Josh Payton. That's where the, that's where the money's made right there.

[Josh Pate]

Choo choo.

[Will Compton]

That's the ramen noodle. Express.

[Josh Pate]

That's it.

[Taylor]

When we're on the. The idea of multiple leg parlays. We had a 10 leg parlay that you cooked up Saturday.

[Will Compton]

Yes.

[Taylor]

And we watched. We streamed Penn state versus Oregon. We're obviously rooting. Every single leg left.

[Josh Pate]

Every leg hit the last nine and 10.

[Taylor]

Nine and 10.

[Josh Pate]

Yes.

[Taylor]

And it was all. Not the first one. Died, all alive. The last one. It was Georgia to beat Alabama. And we sat there, what was it? The third quarter of that game and Will's sitting back. He had a little SIL1 situation going on with his back. So he's moving around, trying to keep active. I'm sitting there, I'm looking back at him like, this is your parlay. Do I need to. I'm gonna follow whatever he does. If he cashes out, I'll cash out as well. If not, I'll ride it out with the boy. I look back over my shoulder and he just goes, we're going, we're going. And we died.

[Will Compton]

Kind of have to at that. And there was a.

[Josh Pate]

It was dead real Thelma and Louise stuff there, though.

[Taylor]

And Garrett was over there screaming at the tv. I'm thinking to myself, I love the fact that my friend is happy, but my wallet would be a whole lot happier if my friend was really sad at the end of this.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Because you. You even had a. A decent cash out when they were down. What, down 7 in the fourth quarter.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And there's about like. They still had the two minute. They still had the two minute timeout.

[Josh Pate]

They're down three. They're down three point game.

[Taylor]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. So that was probably smart to. Because I'm sitting there, I'm like, man, the way this game is going, I don't see Georgia. I don't see Georgia scoring.

[Josh Pate]

Drop touchdown. Yeah, that was it. That was. That was. Take the lead. But see, Bama still scored a touchdown on their drive. Georgia drops the TD, doesn't score. That would have been 28, 24. They take the lead for I think the first time in the game. In the fourth quarter, total, total game changer. They drop it at that point, you're all you needed to have happen was a team that has not lost at home since pre Covid to win. Yeah, that's a tough time.

[Will Compton]

But again, the cash out in the fourth quarter was like Georgia had to punt. They punt it. Bama's got the ball. And it's like, all right, they might have just a little bit of time left with no timeouts if they stop Bama here. So I'M thinking I couldn't believe that they were giving me the cash out. I should have probably took it. Looking back on hindsight, it's 2020 always. But look, Bama won't and we have a great game now. Vandy going out to got a great game.

[Taylor]

Georgia wins that game is like is that exciting anymore?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Is it that exciting?

[Will Compton]

Josh, there was a conversation earlier this week that came up that would love your expertise. My man Taylor proposed had felt like he had.

[Taylor]

I knew this was coming.

[Will Compton]

There was a debate. He's like, hey, he's talking about Nebraska. Like let's say what was it if Nebraska wins out and goes 11 and 1 but Penn State now that they lost to Oregon, say Penn State lose to Ohio State and they lose another game. USC lost to Illinois. So of USC is just not very good. Just based purely on strength of schedule, it waters all the way down to its lowest level. Nebraska wins out, goes 11 and 1. No, they don't go to the Big Ten championship because Oregon and Ohio State are undefeated. They're playing in the Big Ten championship. So Nebraska would be sitting at 11 and one not playing in the championship game. In his mind they wouldn't get in the college football play.

[Taylor]

I said there's a conversation.

[Will Compton]

He says there's an actual argument that Nebraska could potentially not be in the college football.

[Taylor]

Now do you want. So that's how the conversation. Do you want to know how it ended or do you want to give your opinion first on that?

[Josh Pate]

Can I just end it?

[Taylor]

Okay, good.

[Josh Pate]

So go ahead. I want to know what I want.

[Will Compton]

No, no, just end it. That's ultimately what happened. Like it just, it ended.

[Josh Pate]

There was a precedent set last year. Indiana did a version of this. Yeah, Indiana was clearly in the playoff and they played a softer net schedule than what Nebraska will have played in this scenario. And then also am I assuming it's Ohio State, Oregon, Big Ten title game?

[Taylor]

Am I assuming that if Michigan wins out, if Michigan's 10 and 1 going into Ohio State, you have to assum Michigan beats Ohio State.

[Josh Pate]

Ah, so there's an angle here. Okay, well that's actually better for Nebraska because their head to head loss, their only one is against now half of the Big Ten championship game participants. So your fortune actually works against your prediction because the better Michigan does, the better Nebraska's loss looks. So there's no world where they get left out at 11 and 1. Either way, I want to state that very clearly.

[Will Compton]

Any team, any team in the Balcony.

[Josh Pate]

Power four conference, in the power two probably in The Power four, definitely in the Power two, but it doubly, especially if Michigan makes the Big Ten title game. And that's. And it was a close loss, at least on the scoreboard. It was a close loss. I would. There was no way. There's no way they're leaving him out.

[Taylor]

This is also coming from a guy that went 2 and 3 last week.

[Josh Pate]

How'd you do last week, though?

[Taylor]

It's not important what I did. It is not important.

[Josh Pate]

You're the commissioner of college football. I asked the questions.

[Taylor]

The power's in the question.

[Josh Pate]

This is how we ended up with James Franklin coaching Texas Tech. I think at the end of last week's show, because you stuck to asking the questions. And then I think we triggered a Penn State loss.

[Taylor]

I think we did. I think the conversation that took place at the end of last week's show was, if James Franklin doesn't win this game and they're destined to always be 10 2, does James Franklin leave their job?

[Josh Pate]

Yeah. And then clearly you got under Lanning scan. Clearly, you affected the outcome of the game.

[Taylor]

I don't think Will did. Will was just a messenger and you.

[Will Compton]

Right. Yeah. I wasn't. I'm just.

[Josh Pate]

You burned a source. You burned a source.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

For the betterment of Dan Lanning.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Skoducks.

[Josh Pate]

Wow.

[Will Compton]

Skoducks. Yeah. The pen. The Penn State, James Franklin. It makes me laugh, too, because it's like, all right, do you have. Are you saying there should be no patience with James Franklin?

[Taylor]

No. I think the conversation is now going.

[Will Compton]

To be started of James Franklin.

[Taylor]

And I don't think it's like, maybe James Franklin knows he's hit a ceiling at Penn State as well. Maybe there's a place down south that he can maybe find better talent and get over that hump.

[Josh Pate]

You talking about 30A. Are you talking about just straight retirement or are you talking about a program?

[Taylor]

Talking about program.

[Josh Pate]

Oh, a program.

[Taylor]

Program.

[Josh Pate]

Thought you just meant a beach.

[Taylor]

38. Nashville's beach. Get down there. I'm just saying, how do we.

[Will Compton]

How do we know Penn State won't just win out here? They are, I believe, Nebraska. They're still. Yes. But if we're talking just about Penn State, they are still. What? They're still up there in the odds with fanduel to win the national title.

[Josh Pate]

Still fifth.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

Wow. Still gotta go to Ohio State.

[Taylor]

Right? I'm not a. Listen, I'm not a James Franklin hater. I'm a big fan of James Franklin.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah. You just ask the questions.

[Taylor]

I'M just asking a question. Yeah, I'm just asking a question. And maybe a conversation has gotten started. Maybe a conversation will start because you can't beat Oregon at home favored. How are you going to go to Columbus in a couple of weeks and win that?

[Josh Pate]

And if you can't go to Columbus and win, you're just 10 and two again.

[Taylor]

You're just 10 and two with your best team nine and three.

[Josh Pate]

Because Nebraska comes to town.

[Taylor]

Because Nebraska comes to town as well.

[Josh Pate]

If you're two losses already before you go to Ohio State, imagine that conversation.

[Taylor]

You know who throws the ball more than anybody in college football? Nebraska. You know his quarterback has what, the second highest percentage completion percentage in college football?

[Will Compton]

Talk to him.

[Josh Pate]

Nebraska sucks for Michigan State, you know.

[Taylor]

Sucks for Penn State too.

[Will Compton]

You know who had the greatest bi week practices that Coach Rule and Coach Holgerson have ever seen in their life? Nebraska.

[Taylor]

That's bad. We've been Baylor, Temple, Panthers who have a top 10 pickleball. We've seen a lot of bye weeks.

[Will Compton]

We've seen some bye weeks.

[Josh Pate]

What would you say has been the second toughest bye week practice session of the Matt Rule tenure? Any, any stop. Like they had some tough weeks at Temple. They had some tough weeks at Baylor. What do you think comes closest given that this past week that was the toughest bye week. But what would be second?

[Will Compton]

With coach rule? Yeah, with what I know. I only know Coach Rule at Nebraska. I know the one where they got. What was it? Did we play Illinois on Friday night after we got curb stomped by Michigan?

[Taylor]

I don't follow.

[Will Compton]

Was that a couple, a couple years ago? I believe after Michigan there was a loss that happened. They talked about it was a bloodbath, how it was just they were in pads on Sunday. But it sounds like this one was a very physical on Tuesday and Wednesday was a very physical week last week. It is hell when you lose going into a bye week. It just depends on what kind of mood the coaches is in.

[Taylor]

And also not to put salt in the moon the way you lose too. You lost the toughness battle.

[Will Compton]

Right.

[Taylor]

And so it's like, yeah, if you want to instill toughness, we got to put the pads on.

[Will Compton]

Like the, the bye week we had when we got Molly walked by Ohio State. My senior year was legendary. Those practices were brutal.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Talking take him to the ground. All of it, bro. And that is not a place you want to be in as a player.

[Taylor]

My senior year we, we didn't do very well. And during bowl practice was when hell Broke loose. Luckily for me, I got a couple rest days, but I had to watch. I had to watch hell unfold.

[Will Compton]

Some programs absolutely get after during bowl season. Yeah, it's like an early spring. It's like another iteration of spring.

[Taylor]

Right. You're throwing a lot of new guys, see what they can do. Think about next year, what's going to happen.

[Will Compton]

Yep.

[Taylor]

So, yeah, it can get bloody, especially in college football for sure. Before we get to our first game, I just want to congratulate you, man. Your hair is growing back fast.

[Will Compton]

Thank you.

[Taylor]

A lot of people that are sitting here watching the show right now thought it's not coming back.

[Will Compton]

A lot of doubters and a lot of haters out there.

[Taylor]

A lot of doubters and a lot of haters. Not at this. Not here.

[Josh Pate]

No. No. Frankly, there are some people here that thought it would be better not coming back. Like some people. I don't want to name names. Some people thought you look great. As you were.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I do feel good with the way I look. So much so that it's like, you know, maybe I do show up to my haircut appointment next weekend. Like, hey, let's buzz it off again.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Especially we go out, we whoop Michigan State. I think it's. It's here to stay at that point.

[Taylor]

Favorites in that game. 11 point favorites.

[Will Compton]

It's like 10 and a half or 11 and a half if you can move the line to 16 and a half.

[Taylor]

Okay, so if Nebraska loses. Nebraska loses.

[Will Compton]

We won't.

[Taylor]

Okay. This is a hypothetical. We're living in a fantasy world because I agree with you, you're not going to lose. Do you go to your haircut appointment on Tuesday next week? Still just waste $50?

[Will Compton]

I think if Nebraska loses, anybody who has me in their phone book should be calling me because this is scary hours. It is Spooktober.

[Taylor]

It is Spooktober.

[Will Compton]

Where's Will?

[Taylor]

I can't lose you the first week of Spookto. Yeah, I can't have that.

[Will Compton]

You gotta give it. If we lost to Michigan State, you probably give it 10 minutes on the timeline. If you see nothing on there, that's where you gotta start dialing, right?

[Taylor]

No. If I see that it's close in the fourth, I'll be driving to your house and I'll just tell you, listen, don't do anything drastic. Wait till November 1st. I need you for all of Spooktober. I need you for all Spooktober. Form energy delivers best in class taste with natural flavor and zero sugar. Form energy has natural caffeine derived from green tea. Form Energy comes in a variety of flavors. We're talking Screamin Freedom and that's Rocket Pop Inspired Grape Smash, Blue Blitz, Orange Fury. Perfect for those who put into work. Get up in the morning, have some fun, get a workout in, take a form, enjoy some ball. That's what life's all about. Form, Energy. We do the work.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Josh Pate]

Brought.

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[Taylor]

Spooky season for Texas and Florida. Texas is at Florida, Anti Texas Anti Texas.

[Josh Pate]

Notably anti Texas.

[Will Compton]

Notably anti Texas.

[Taylor]

Texas is favored. The team you hate the most -6 and a half. Total points in that game is 41 and a half.

[Josh Pate]

I want to just pull something out here.

[Will Compton]

Let's hear some paper poppers.

[Taylor]

I got some.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, you know what, let me get the iPad.

[Josh Pate]

Here's what I want to ask you guys.

[Taylor]

Lift your iPad up and just like down so it makes a noise.

[Josh Pate]

Is there a massive gap between these teams? Point spread says yes. If you're a nearly a touchdown favorite on someone else's field, that Means there's a really big gap between you and them.

[Taylor]

Right.

[Josh Pate]

There's a big gap in the records, there's a big gap in the rankings. But I'm asking is there a massive gap just in the quality of teams? You've watched both these teams play. So let's pretend DJ Lagway is not going to turn it over five times Saturday. Let's just assume against defense than he.

[Taylor]

Played when he turned over five times.

[Josh Pate]

True. Yeah, it's a tall but bye week they had tough practices.

[Will Compton]

You're saying Florida's defense is just as good as Texas's defense?

[Josh Pate]

I'm saying close enough. I'm saying they can match.

[Taylor]

Okay, hold on. I think that's the argument he's putting up.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, that's not the argument.

[Will Compton]

We're comparing teams right now.

[Taylor]

We're comparing teams. He's saying assume DJ Lagway is not going to throw five interceptions versus a better defense than the team he threw five interceptions against.

[Josh Pate]

Okay, let's assume he's not even put in that position. All right. So my big beef in that LSU game was you've got Jaden Ball running the ball at nearly six yards per clip. And they ran him 10 times against LSU. They ran him 12 times against Miami. But in the LSU game, LSU is not pulling away from you. And you've got your quarterback throwing picks left and right, literally left and right, all parts of the field. There was no part of the field left. Uninterrupted interceptible by DJ Lagway. Why would you not just run the ball anymore? So anyway, this is more philosophical play. This is more like a theory based play for me because I think about a team that's already lost two games. I think about a coach that's beyond on the hot seat. I think about a quarterback that has not had it throwing the ball. And I think about a running game that when given time or when given an opportunity has been operating pretty efficiently. I don't want to throw the ball against Texas. I don't feel like with this O line and ground game I should have to. So anyway, when you suck, you've got the least incentive in the world to keep doing what you've been doing. When you go into the bye week, I don't know what changes to expect. I just know they got to change stuff. Like no stone is left unturned in that building. My suspicion is what they will change is they'll try and compact the game by running the ball. And the one thing that you can question about Texas coming into this year is back to back years. They've had to replenish interior defensive line. Now, Ohio State didn't run in a ton against them, but Ohio State did good enough to win the game. I think taking Texas on the road again. First road game since the trip to Columbus.

[Taylor]

Ptsd.

[Josh Pate]

Yes. We watched Arch Manning, we watched him struggle. I don't magically think he's a different player just because they come out of a bye week. I don't think Lagway is either. I just think they can mask his inefficiencies by using what should be the actual strength of the Florida offense anyway. And that's the ground game. That's part one. Part two is even doing that. You got a razor thin margin for error. But that's where I think home field matters. Like to me, there's not a massive gap. Both of these teams are in the 1/ hundreds in third down offensive conversion. So there's just not a massive gap. I think if Florida had played Texas, a schedule that have the same record as Texas, but since they haven't and they've lost a couple more games, there's just like thinking that Texas just go in there, make sure you don't get hurt, clean some things up and then come to the Oklahoma game. I don't think that's the way it goes. So I'm going to roll the dice that some stuff changes for Florida and it reverts back to what it should have been anyway. And they get this inexplicable win, they beat Texas outright, and then everyone's asking, well, what now with Billy Napier? What do we do? Just like last year, it was a foregone conclusion. He's going to get fired. But the thing about a guy is until you fire him, he gets to keep coaching. And his team didn't quit on him last year and I don't think they're going to quit on him this year. So I am rolling the dice. The line's only six and a half. We saw multiple games last week with these weird six and a half point spreads. Fsu, Virginia was one of them. And you say how could it happen? Usc, Illinois was one of them. How could it happen? Well, they both happen. So it's not the craziest concept in the world to me. I'm gonna take Florida to cover and win outright.

[Taylor]

So you're on the show. So you're saying Florida's gonna win?

[Josh Pate]

I'm gonna say Florida's gonna win.

[Taylor]

What are you reflecting your in your record next week?

[Josh Pate]

Yes.

[Will Compton]

You might mean, you might as well just take the points, right. For the show.

[Josh Pate]

No, actually, actually, I want Florida to win, but maybe I'll go Indiana, Illinois mode like you did. Maybe I'll take the dog to win outright, but the favorite to cover it.

[Taylor]

Seems to work out around here.

[Josh Pate]

Perhaps we go that route. You want spooktober? That's my spooktober part. I've tried and parlay that and fanduel just gave me a frowny face that said log off.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, you get the reminder you spent a little too much time.

[Taylor]

Reality check.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the reality check.

[Taylor]

I mean, in the words of Will Compton, the stick on his phrases, like if they. If the. The dog wins outright and then the favorites covers like they're onto something.

[Josh Pate]

They are.

[Taylor]

They're up to something.

[Josh Pate]

How do they know?

[Taylor]

Yeah. How do they get it? I love everything you said. No one speaks about college football more poetically than you do. I think you look at both coaching staffs, you give the edge of Texas.

[Josh Pate]

Yes.

[Taylor]

Early in the year, Sarkeesian is sitting there being like, you think Arch is hurt? Did he tell you that? He's having a big panic attack. Both. And then I start looking Arch and it's like, okay, he's hurt. We can assume he's hurt. They have a bye week. A lot of times that gets fixed. I wonder what DJ Lagway's up to. And I run across this like, Florida Gators podcast that gets like 130 views. They're just all about the Gators. They don't talk about anything else. And apparently DJ Lagway had a shoulder that he should have got surgery on this offseason. Didn't get it, according to them. Also has like a soft tissue or an ankle going on, which can be fixed in the bye week.

[Will Compton]

I think it's calf.

[Taylor]

Calf soft. Tish. Something going on. I got to take the better defense. I got to take a team that has stacked more wins consistently regardless of their good teams or not. 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 in this game.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I'm going Texas. It's like when you bang your head against the wall and figure out like, okay, you essentially hope this Florida team that we know to be shows up. Hope is not a strategy.

[Taylor]

No.

[Will Compton]

DJ Lagway is all of a sudden going to be the DJ Lagway preseason JP or Josh Pate Poll, one of the top quarterbacks in the country. I don't think it happens after, you know, even though he's coming off of a bye week, are they just going to run the football? They're still 100/7 the country running the football against a very good Texas defense. This isn't a veteran group that's played. That's just a veteran group that's played together. This is a veteran group that was a top five defense in the country last year, led the league in takeaways, top five and run top five in total yards, top five in points. They're still top five in yards and top five in points this year. And they're savvy, bro. Like, this is. This is a defense that all it's going to take. And you talk about home field advantage, all it's going to take is for Texas to score first or Texas to score or the ball to not bounce the correct way one time for the stadium to be taken out of the game.

[Josh Pate]

I agree with you.

[Will Compton]

This isn't like a, this isn't like a Napier pressure situation. This is an entire organization. They haven't started 13 since 1986. Like, everybody there is hopeful that Napier probably doesn't win this game. So they can just do away with them because the fan base is so fed up. I mean, again, it's like not to bring Nebraska into every conversation, but a program that's lost over and over and then the ball doesn't bounce their way. One time we got to witness it at Nebraska Mission a couple years ago after just a second series when Michigan school scores first and then, then they get an interception, the game's just done like the, the crowd doesn't even count anymore. And so if I'm just looking at this game, you also have to. It's like, do you believe that Arch? Because again, this line could be what it is. Because you saw the Arch Manning game against Ohio State. You haven't really watched a whole lot of Texas football, myself included. I'm sitting here watching the recap games and the way that it's like, do you think he's getting more accurate? Do you think he's getting more confident? Do you think the offense is finding a way to play more savvy, Getting wingo the ball in RPO situations and getting him the ball often and early in this game, which I think they need to do. They have a very good run game. I just think Texas has too much. I have no clue how Florida's going to win this game. Outside of a hope and a prayer that all of a sudden they find a run game overnight and be like, hey, dj, we're not going to. You're not going to be the main show. Which I don't think is going to happen. I think he is, and I think you put it on his shoulders, the same thing's going to happen. You're going to get the same outcome. So I like Texas here. I like Texas covering as a favorite. Was it six and a half on the road in Florida?

[Josh Pate]

I'm going to keep saying this. All right, so the rushing statistic you gave is accurate. They're in the 1/ hundreds in just rush y per game. Yeah, I would look at that if it were 3.2 yards per carry. And I would be concerned that they just can't run the ball. They're in like the five to six yards per carry range. They just won't run the ball. They're so. They're so intent on force feeding DJ Lagway. At least they have been that. Like my fundamental thinking is the shift will be, all right, we're done with that and we're going to play the game in a phone booth. It's going to be the ugliest, most hideous game imaginable. That's the way they win it. You said that's the. They need a prayer. That's the prayer. It's like a 13 to 9, 16 to 10 type game. The thing that's scares me the most about Texas is the pass rush. And so that's the way I neutralize it to some extent. Now, Texas's edge rushers is also really good run d. So it's not like I'm going to run it straight at them because they're one trick ponies. But.

[Will Compton]

And even in twos, I say you go to a primary run game offense for Florida, you're still going up. A defense that's only allowing a 22% conversion rate on third down, which is one of the best in the country. The Texas defense is for real. I know all the conversation around Arch Manning and everything else, but they returned six out of the seven on the back end from last year. They were a top five defense last year. They're still doing the same thing this year.

[Josh Pate]

See, to me, you got to have a Strategy. The total's 40, 41, something like that in this game. You got to have a strategy where 20 is good enough to win. Your defense got to know that going in. They've done that kind of stuff before this year already. You just you hate to put your guys in that position, but you got to have some kind of game plan here where 20 is good enough to win.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Agreed. Good luck to the Gators.

[Josh Pate]

Someone's life is about to change.

[Will Compton]

Someone's life is about to change.

[Taylor]

Because let's say Florida does come out and say, all right, we're going to run the ball over and over again. Texas is going to assume that DJ Lagway is still going to be the guy, the prominent guy in the role, throwing the ball over the field. If you get a couple series in that game and Florida's running the ball efficiently on you in the average, as you're saying, Sark and those guys, they're good enough to make in game adjustments before halftime and now take away the run and make DJ Lagway beat you with his arm, which he's proven he can't do right now.

[Josh Pate]

See, I think their passing game has to be really unconventional. Like their pass yardage. There's nothing. Probably very little underneath, probably very little intermediate. It is. Run the ball. Run the ball, Run the ball. We've been effective enough.

[Taylor]

Safeties are down.

[Josh Pate]

We. A couple of them. He could have. He could have like 130 passing yards on three completions, something like that. At some point in that game, it's just going to be. It's going to have to be a really, really unique. Pull it off the shelf one time per year. Unconventional type approach. Because there's no standardized Florida way that they're beating Texas. Because we've seen what the standardized Florida way this year brings.

[Will Compton]

And then if, let's say that happens, the whole world's gonna be like, why Florida? Why can't you. Why haven't you been able to figure this out from the jump?

[Josh Pate]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Then the next time they lose in bag. Odd Napier, he can't figure it. Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

And then meanwhile, Texas, two losses going into Red river, which would suck. Yeah.

[Taylor]

Yeah. And no Mater. Allegedly.

[Josh Pate]

We'll see.

[Will Compton]

Allegedly.

[Taylor]

Allegedly.

[Will Compton]

You hearing anything about Mater under the table?

[Josh Pate]

I think they wanna. I think their intent is to get him ready for that game, but I don't think even they know if he's gonna be ready. Then again, when your surgeon is on message boards giving updates, which I thought was a HIPAA violation, but it's 2025.

[Taylor]

Unless he signed something, you know, where.

[Josh Pate]

Are we as a society? You know, it's. Whatever it is. Spooktober, after all. So HIPAA violations. Hippo. Masculine version of HIPAA violation out the window.

[Taylor]

What's the next one Mississippi State at Texas A and M. Texas A and m is ranked 6 in the country. Texas A and M is favored by 14 1/2 points. Total points in the game is 55 1/2.

[Will Compton]

Man, to me, I think this is a give back spot for A and M's offense. They perform very poorly. They've been performing poorly on third down, especially last week against Auburn. I look at Mississippi State like to me this is where, you know, they went. Did they have a win last year in the sec? New year though, New year, new them, they beat them. And I think part of me is like, okay, this is the end of their year. Like they had a good year. They got off what, a 41 start. Now they're in SEC played, now it's over. Because when you watch the Mississippi State Tennessee game, it's like you got a muff punt, you get a. Tennessee gets a touchdown call back from an offensive PI call.

[Taylor]

Tip ball for Tennessee, fake punt.

[Will Compton]

Mississippi State pull out a fake punt. Yeah, two tip balls that were interceptions. A third and long that like, yeah, every now and then you're gonna, you're gonna, you're gonna convert on a third or long situation. But you just see how Mississippi State won. Hats off to them. They fought their ass off all this way. But going into A and M, this is like a, you know, this is a very good A and M football team. Their defense, that defensive line is very good. And it's like, I don't know, the line is what, 14 and a half.

[Taylor]

14 and a half.

[Will Compton]

And it's like, is this a trap game situation for A and M? You come off some big wins earlier in this, this first part of the year. You just ended with you beat Auburn, a gritty win. You got some big games coming up after Mississippi State. Is this a spot to where they overlook Mississippi State? And Mississippi State can still create some type of magic and energy. I personally think it's more of a give back spot for that offense because that offense can move the ball. They just put themselves in some bad situations, miss some field goals. I like A and M at home in this game, but I truly would not be surprised if this is a trap game situation.

[Taylor]

I don't disagree with you that this could be a trap game. If Tennessee doesn't have a game, they do against Mississippi State because Mike Elko can sit there and put the film on and be like, they took Tennessee, who's a high powered offense, into overtime and barely lost that game. They could beat anybody. That's the kind of conversation that's taking place in this locker room. I think the defensive line for Texas AM is better. And that Blake Shapen, that's the quarterback from Mississippi State, he was getting mopped all over, destroyed. Can't take that many hits. You're going to a hostile environment. Colt or not, Texas A and M, Colt or not, they go hard on game day. I think I agree with you when it comes, like, Mississippi State was in the game with Tennessee because it seemed like Tennessee, like, lethargically winning that game, thinking, oh, this is Mississippi State. Ignore the cowbells. Let's beat them by 40 points and get out of it.

[Will Compton]

And you let a bad team hang around, you muff a punt, they end up scoring off that.

[Taylor]

Right? Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And there's everything that could go wrong.

[Taylor]

For Tennessee went wrong. And that's what kept Mississippi in the game. But it's just enough for Elko to sit there and be like, these guys can play with anybody. And you can. You can bring that narrative to your players. You know, your offense has got a chip on their shoulder because of Auburn. So I like A and M having a dominant win over Mississippi State here.

[Will Compton]

I hope so. That's where I'm riding.

[Josh Pate]

So you're both laying the points here?

[Taylor]

Laying, yes.

[Josh Pate]

At 14 and a half.

[Will Compton]

14 and a half. I know it's a. It's a big lift, but I think we can do it.

[Josh Pate]

You said, is it a trap game? I don't know if it's a trap game. Like, I believe both of you, mentally, A and M will be fully checked in. It is a huge benefit to them that that game Mississippi State had went down to the wire. That's an attention getter. You're also in this really unique spot where A and M won last week. But everyone, like Elko had to chew the media out in the post game because they were just asking negative questions. So it's not like there's this lethargic hangover type vibe around them. They struggled against Auburn. They came off scoring 40. What? 41 at Notre Dame. Had a bye week and couldn't break 20 against Auburn. So I don't think it's a trap spot for A and M. I actually think it's a trap line. Like, I think FanDuel is begging someone to take state play 14 and a half. The reason I'm taking state plus 14 and a half is I still think in principle they're underrated as a team. Like, you. You remember last year or last week, Mississippi State plus the points was one of my favorite bets. Of the week because I, I think they're undervalued and I think they're still undervalued. So this is a game that, like if A and m wins by 7, 10, something like that, people will look at it and say, man, we won. But I would look at that and say you beat what the rest of the year will go on to prove. Is a pretty good Mississippi State team. Like a pretty solid team. Not great, not, not any other adjectives, just pretty good team. They got Florida coming in there next week, by the way. A and M does so in the preseason, this did look like a letdown spot sandwiched between Auburn and Florida. I, I just think State is a good enough team that they don't need crazy stuff to happen here to hang in the game. They got an experienced quarterback that can do good enough things. They got a tailback that can do good enough things. They got better SEC bodies up front that can hang good enough. The thing that worries me if I'm taking the points here is I'm a huge fan of teams that show early in the season they can win several different types of games. And A and M has now won a shootout and a slugfest. So they're comfortable no matter how this game starts to take shape. I think they're going to win. I think A and M will win. I think State covers especially with the hook. I will take the 14 and a half. I think it's a little too generous.

[Taylor]

This is a backdoor situation. It's good question.

[Will Compton]

Begging you to take it and you're taking it.

[Josh Pate]

They are begging me and I'm a friend. I'm a friend of fanduel. Yeah, you guys are enemies. I'm a friend. Yeah, you asked. You continue to ask the good questions. This is not a backdoor situation. This is a hard fought game. It's within that margin the whole time. This is not A and M gets up big and then it's all of a sudden 41 to 30 at the end of the day. Cause of Two late touchdowns. No. Although I would take still counts as a win for me if it happens that way. But no, I think State's just going to fight. I think they're that good. I think they're that improved year one to year two.

[Taylor]

Is there a world where Texas A and M takes an early lead and then Mississippi State realizes, oh, the only reason why we're in the game of Tennessee is because Tennessee didn't play well? The only reason why I beat ASU is because ASU didn't learn from their mistake against Texas in the playoffs and went zero at the end of the game. And that starts to creep in and be like, really? We're not.

[Will Compton]

See, I like that. I like that scenario more because this defense is going to beat the shit out of Mississippi State. The offense, A and M's offense, like they had over 400 yards of total offense they just didn't get. They're not converting on third down. They're not getting the points when the opportunities are there to get the points. Like, to me, this is such a get back spot for that offense to where I think it's a. I think it's a situation you're. You're laying out.

[Taylor]

So. So we're two games in.

[Josh Pate]

Yep. Disagreement.

[Taylor]

Our records are all pretty close right now.

[Josh Pate]

This is separation season.

[Taylor]

This is a separation week. This is spooky season.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And he's. He's. And by the way, Spooktober. Hey, Taylor. He's rocking with the dogs. We. We kind of seem like squares right now. We got both favorites.

[Taylor]

That's okay.

[Will Compton]

So you can call me whatever you.

[Taylor]

Want, but you have to call me a winner as well.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

You know, I love losers. I love losers. You know what kind of bravery, you know what kind of bravery it takes to look at Billy Napier right now and say, yeah, that's my guy. You know what it takes to say, Mississippi State? Yeah, I'll ride with him.

[Taylor]

I've been 2 and 14.

[Will Compton]

He got murdered last week, but he's good enough.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, they lost.

[Will Compton]

I think he's gonna make great.

[Taylor]

Great. Good. Oh, dude. Michelob Ultra. Will, they've got this fun idea where you play for an Ultra. It's all about these friendly little competitions. And there's always an Ultra on the line.

[Will Compton]

We can show em right here. Let's do rock, paper, scissors, shoot. Rock, paper, scissors, shoot. Two or three rock, paper, scissors, shoot.

[Taylor]

Just one.

[Will Compton]

Let's just do one quick one. Rock, paper, scissors, shoot. Ultra's mine. That's the point that everybody's trying to make Ultras taste better. When you have bragging rights, no matter if you're playing hoops, whatever game you're playing, whether it's the first Ultra or the last Ultra, Rock, paper, scissors. Any friendly competition? Bragging rights make it better.

[Taylor]

So what you're telling me is Superior is worth playing for?

[Will Compton]

Superior is worth playing for.

[Taylor]

Sure. Michelob Ultra, Superior Light beer.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Spooky season is quickly approaching, so time to stock up on all your favorite treats now through October 7th. You can get early savings on your Halloween candy favorites when you shop in store and online. Save on items like Hershey's, Reese's Pumpkins, Snickers Miniatures, Tootsie Rolls, Raw Sugar, Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Jack O Lanterns, Brock's Candy Corn Charms, Mini Pops and more. Offer ends October 7th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Lenovo Announcer]

In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock Elite gam [e-mail], dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't quit. So you can push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the Tech Search power [e-mail] Lenovo.

[Taylor]

Lenovo.

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Brought to you by Progressive Insurance do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy. Just drop in some details about yourself and see if you're eligible to save money when you bundle your home and auto policies. The process only takes minutes and it could mean hundreds more in your pocket. Visit progressive.com after this episode to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Taylor]

Get back to this episode. This game number 11 Texas Tech at Houston, Both teams undefeated. Looks like this is a big, this is going to be a big deal game to me. This is not.

[Josh Pate]

Oh wow.

[Taylor]

This is. Texas Tech is going to blow the doors. All the points. By the way, if you're wondering, watching, watching the show, wondering what the points are, Texas Tech is favored by 11 and a half. It's not enough total points in the game. 50 and a half. I think Texas Tech points per game are at 52 right now. That's what their average points per game is, 52. They wouldn't. A couple weeks ago we talked about Texas Tech in Utah, Utah. And they had to go. And these are two of your teams you brought up in the Big 12. Texas Tech's quarterback gets hurt and they end up still in the fourth quarter putting up 21 points on Utah with none unanswered. Just absolutely pulled away in a big way. They spent more money or at least top five of anybody else in the portal. And then you look at the record of Houston and It's like, yeah, they're 5 0. They beat Colorado 36 to 20. Well, Colorado's 2 and 3 now and they beat Oregon State 27 24. Do you know what Oregon State's record is?0505.

[Will Compton]

And I kind of like them to get their first win this weekend, but that's for a different conversation.

[Taylor]

You like Oregon State. So to me, this is like we have a better team. Even though the records are the same, one team is clearly better than the other. And I think it's Texas Tech.

[Will Compton]

He just hit you with some math.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, it seems like. It seems like the side fanduel wants us to be on. Low double digit favorite here on the road. Houston undefeated. Lot of disrespect. That many points being given to the home dog. Unfortunately. Slash. Fortunately, depending on which side of the worldview you live on here, I think you're right. I think they could run it up on Houston. I mean, let's remember you were pointing out one side of the Utah game. Like we were standing on the field looking at the score and saying, I thought the backup was in. How are they running it up on Utah? Well, remember part two of the way they ran it up is because they held Utah to 10 points. So they suffocated Utah. I think they're going to do the same thing the Houston here. I actually think the. The fact that Houston's five and oh is what's keeping this line under two touchdowns, which is a blessing for at least two of us. Maybe three. We'll see in just a second. I think that they are going to continue to plant the flag and sort of separate themselves in the Big 12 as that one team that could not only win the Big 12, but maybe you're kind of scared of if they get in the playoff.

[Taylor]

Oh, you. That's the second time you brought that up. When we talked about Texas Tech, Utah, you're like, is this team, is one team going to blow the other team out to where we go, oh, there's a big team to be afraid of.

[Josh Pate]

And they did with their backup. But think about this.

[Taylor]

Are you afraid yet, though?

[Josh Pate]

We were doing so while I was doing my show last night, we pulled up the on three transfer portal team rankings and Texas Tech was number one. And I was going back and looking at some of the headlines and people were saying, oh yeah, they're number one, but that's just because they went and bought a whole team. Like, don't take that seriously. And Joey McGuire's the head coach there and I was talking to him in August and he was saying, folks are going to dismiss what we did. They're going to call it just mercenary shopping. They're going to act like we went to the grocery store and just threw a bunch of stuff in Supermarket sweep style. He said, now you're going to have to wait till the season to see. But this is the best group. It's the most cohesive group I've been around. I know it defies conventional wisdom. I know that's not how team building is historically supposed to work, but you'll see. All right, so we're seeing now. And then I think if they continue to do what they're doing, then the talent was never the question. The question was, did you go get a bunch of individuals or did you really put a team together? Did you fundamentally build a team out of the portal? And I think early results, September answer is yes, they did. Now we're into October.

[Taylor]

Spooktober.

[Josh Pate]

Dude, I think they're really good and I think. I think it could. You could absolutely make the argument they'll be the most gettable early in the season. Like, I would think they only get stronger as a team later in the season. And if we. I mean, I don't know if I've seen any truly elite teams out there yet. Maybe some of them become elite teams. But if we're just in a year where the best is very good and Texas Tech did what they did, absolutely. They could go win games in the playoff if they make it. But we need to stop talking about that because it's only October.

[Will Compton]

It's only October. What's the movie with the. What's the movie with the mercenaries? You got Sylvester Stallone, Ivan Drago, Jason Statham.

[Josh Pate]

The A team?

[Will Compton]

No, not the A team.

[Josh Pate]

Are you talking about dispensables, Spice World?

[Will Compton]

No, you're not talking about Expendables? That's what Texas Tech has built.

[Josh Pate]

The Expendables.

[Will Compton]

A lot of mercenaries. They're all jailing together. They're accomplishing the mission.

[Taylor]

Took us a while to get there, but we got.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, it took us a minute. I'm going with Texas Tech. I could sit here and elaborate. You guys all hit a lot of great points. I like Texas Tech in this game. Them just beating, going up, going up to Utah and winning that game big. Dropped a lot in the fourth quarter, which makes me a little. Gets me a little nervous. But I like the D line. The offense puts up a lot of points. I was kind of flirting with the over for a second, but you just talked me out of it. The way you, you know, you talked.

[Josh Pate]

About favorite in the under maybe like, like 38 to 10 type stuff, right?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Didn't we just talk about how Texas tech is averaging 52 points a game?

[Josh Pate]

Maybe they hit the over by themselves. You thinking Indiana vibes here?

[Will Compton]

I was thinking that, but then the way you talked about the suffocation and everything else and the expendables got in my brain. I'm like, I like that analogy of the expendables.

[Taylor]

Right.

[Will Compton]

Give Me Texas Tech -11 and a half.

[Taylor]

Okay, what about that? Points. We'll count for the record.

[Josh Pate]

Where's the total special?

[Will Compton]

I lean going over.

[Taylor]

I love. I hate over. Our unders. Hate it. You watch a game outside of his suffocation?

[Will Compton]

Outside of that. The comment about like, okay, maybe I don't take the under here. It's like, I also think Houston could can score points, but Texas Tech -11 and a half.

[Josh Pate]

You know what Meemaw said about totals betting?

[Will Compton]

Tell us.

[Taylor]

What did Meemaw say?

[Josh Pate]

She said it ain't under till it's over. And I never bet an under again.

[Will Compton]

It ain't under till it's over.

[Taylor]

That's beautiful.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, yeah. No dude's ever coming up with that. That had to be a Meemaw special.

[Taylor]

Had to be a meemaw.

[Will Compton]

The game. Well, not the game.

[Taylor]

A game.

[Will Compton]

A big game, massive game. A game that you will be going to this the fall tour right here. Fall don't lie tour going down to Miami at Florida State. The line on this game, Miami is favored by 4 1/2 at Florida State. Florida State dogs. The total on this game is 53 and a half.

[Taylor]

I'm terrified of this game.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Hey, so I think if Virginia Tech.

[Taylor]

Loses to Florida State, I'm not as terrified anymore. Virginia, I like Miami more, but something about a wounded animal at home been.

[Josh Pate]

Clipped an extra day to think about it. Yeah, I played that game on Friday.

[Will Compton]

Last week, dude, I was on Florida State all week. All week I was on Florida State. You know, I was sitting upstairs last night trying to put my final notes and thoughts together. I'm looking at stats and I'm kind of rewatching the. I went back to rewatch the Alabama Florida State game. I was watching the Virginia Florida State game a little bit. I was listening to your thoughts on Castellano's throwing down field. So that what. That's what got me going. And I kind of like watching tape on it. And I like Miami here. I'm taking Miami because in my head it's like, all right, if Miami is going to be this program that's going to be a national title contest. Then they're above everybody. They're in that tier that's above everybody else. Like this is only four and a half points. This isn't a very big line. So that's why I like Miami and because it's like, all right, so we see what Alabama's doing now since they tasted their blood in week one against Florida State. So how does Florida State upset Alabama and the creativity that they have in the run game? Because you're right, like Castellanos, he doesn't do very well throwing the ball downfield. They're not going to be able to win this game. Game through the year. So all eyes are going to be on stopping the run. Well, Florida State has. Florida State has a very creative offense. Remind me of the OC's name, Gus on Malzon. Very creative offense in the fact that, you know, there'd be checks when, when I was playing to where if you have a wide receiver in the backfield, we call it zoo. You have all these zoo alerts because they'll motion guys in the backfield. They'll have kind of a gun wishbone look at times. They did a couple end arounds against Alabama. They're going to have to get really creative to where Alabama seeing some of this stuff for the first time because you don't necessarily know how to prepare for how you might be attacked against Castellanos. Now that there's four games of tape on Florida State. That is where I like my odds with Miami here because they're going to have time to prepare and see what they can look to, what wrinkles, what window dressing, what concepts they're going to like to see. This is a big keep your eyes on your work type of game for Miami because again, even when they hit you with some big throws, it'll be a guy or a receiver coming out of the backfield based on these shifts and they're hitting them on a wheel route down the sideline. If this, if Castellanos happened to be an Underwood or a Diego Pavia or a Sorsby from Cincinnati. It's like if you had that threat of the arm in the run, then I would lean a little bit more on Florida State here. But I think the only way Florida State wins is through their run game. I think Miami has enough on them to prepare for this run game. And they have a very good defense. They have a very good defense. They hit the transfer portal hard. I had question marks on their secondary. They are playing very well. They're o line. They can run the ball really well with four and a half points. I really like Miami in this situation. That's your boy taking four favorites this week. I kind of hate it. I hate myself for it, but that's just the way I'm seeing it.

[Taylor]

The thing that I like about everything you said was, like, yeah, Miami runs the ball well. But also, like Carson Beck does a great job of utilizing the pass game as the run game, like where he can use the checkdowns to get himself five, six yards on first and second down, putting himself in third and manageables. You've really sold me in Miami because I kind of walked into this without a real choice. I mean, I wrote down here Miami, but I also was that. That was. It's in ink, but it could. Might as well have been in pencil because you.

[Will Compton]

All week, I'm like, I like the.

[Taylor]

Because we always do the whole, who you got here? Who you got here? And it always changes.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Would you like to sell me on Florida State?

[Josh Pate]

No, I would like to.

[Taylor]

I'm with Miami.

[Josh Pate]

I would like to make the argument for how they would do it. So I think that it's so imperative their ground games got a scale. It's the number two rushing offense in the country right now against the top 10 rushing defense. And I think even at number eight, Miami's run D is probably low because they face better competition. So it's got a scale. I've watched Malzahn in the past in the sec. Like, if he has a decided disadvantage in the box running the ball, he's really good at getting it on the perimeter quick. That's where Miami has, I think, four of five guys as new starters. They went to the portal, they kept O.J. frederick, and then they just overhauled their secondary. You got to make those guys prove they can tackle. You got to make those guys prove they can defend the run. That's the first thing they'll find out. If that doesn't scale, Florida State's in huge trouble because of what you said. You can't trust Tommy Castellanos to throw the ball. You want a paper popper here?

[Will Compton]

I want a paper popper bad.

[Josh Pate]

Josh Pete, when he throws for 240 plus yards, which sounds like a good thing, he's one in five in his career, so it's actually a bad thing the more he throws the ball.

[Taylor]

Eagles.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah. Not great. Not great at all. Miami just asks a simple question. It's just, can you handle it? Like, are you man enough? Can you defend the run? If you can't, it's really academic. And Beck doesn't even need to do a whole lot. Even if you do ask him to do a lot, though, he can.

[Will Compton]

So you got the guys on the.

[Josh Pate]

Outside, so you start stacking. Just the pancakes stack up in front of you. The ways you can win. There's like one pancake over here on the FSU plate. There are two or three of them on the Miami plate. The second pancake, if you want to sell me or if I want to sell you on having one on the Florida State plate is Miami hasn't left home. So there's a lot that you find out about an organization and a program when you take it on the road. We do have the whole wounded animal theory, home dog in play here. We've watched it happen all over the country so far this year. In the past, Miami has been victimized by in game decision making that's been a little suspect and we really haven't seen that have an opportunity to crop up this year. It kind of did in the Notre Dame game, but they didn't have to pay for it. So there's a lot of intangible. I don't know how to quantify that, but that's the way it would go. Florida State's direction. I'd have to see it to believe it and consequently I will because I'm going to go down there. First game I've been at in Tallahassee since 2016 when a guy named Deshaun Watson came in there and beat him 35 to 31. By my math, that final would lead Florida State to cover. But I don't think Florida State's going to score 31 on Miami. So I'm going to take Miami to win and cover as well.

[Will Compton]

And Miami coming off a bye week, too, they are. It's like you're sitting back and you have, you know, you're probably working on some of these run game fits and some of these different looks and motions that Florida State gives you to be creative in the run game. And then you get to kind of sit back and look at whatever extra wrinkles to confirm your notes against Virginia. Then Virginia ends up beating them and then you're kind of. You're kind of dialing.

[Taylor]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

They might have showed these couple other looks to where you just implement them even more to confirm it in practice because this is big. Like be very good and disciplined with your eyes if you're on the. If you're on Miami's defense. And then I think to myself, it's like the whole overreaction on week one thing. Nobody had Florida State being like the, a dominant ACC team coming off the season that they had last year. I'm not saying that they're not going to be very good. They very much are trending that way even if they drop this game here. But it's like you, there's such an overreaction. Oh, Florida State for real knocking off. You know, a lot of people had Alabama's national champions and they knocked them off in a bad weather game and everything else. Then they go off take care of business against these little Ducks now that they've, now they've gotten humbled or lost to Virginia. It's like, okay, are, you know, where is, who is Florida State? And I just think that there's, there's enough now there's enough of a sample size to study. There's enough to kind of dial in on the, on the run game that they have because they do have a very good run game.

[Taylor]

Can only have so many forms, so.

[Will Compton]

Many shifts, so many end arounds. Like that's, they're gonna need some of those work.

[Taylor]

And it's like you've had four games.

[Will Compton]

To show us like, hey, now we've stopped the run. Now we gotta, now we're gonna have to win through the air. And the paper popper that you gave, it's like, you know, we don't want.

[Taylor]

Him to win through the air because he doesn't win through the air.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah. One in five throwing for 240 plus.

[Will Compton]

And I'd like to see a team too, just not be a clear number one but clear. Just saying this is a, this is a national championship.

[Taylor]

Yeah. Because as we get deeper into October, it's like we'll realize who's who in the zoo. And you'd like to have someone from each conference, the standard that you're like North Star. I can't wait to watch them against.

[Will Compton]

Other conferences, Ohio State and Oregon. You got Miami, Texas Tech.

[Taylor]

If they do what they're supposed to do in Houston.

[Will Compton]

People are always. People question Texas Tech though, until it gets closer to.

[Taylor]

I loved, I loved you saying like they should be their worst in September because the cohesiveness and the fact that they've been amazing in September proves to me like Texas Tech could be a little. It could be nasty boys.

[Will Compton]

The reason I think we're onto something too is we just, we just keep getting closer.

[Taylor]

Yeah, you can feel it a little more. It's becoming more intimate. You forget about the cameras and the People watching.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, maybe we'll Flyhouse sitting in the.

[Taylor]

Corner wondering if he's having a good time. True Classic game of the week. Now, I don't think any of us should speak first about this game after it's been given out to the public. I think G should have a moment if he'd like to. What's going on, guys? We're gonna talk to you about real quick about the True Classic. True Classic game of the week's taking place right now. You can find True Classic on Amazon and Costco, Sam's Club, Target nationwide, or you can go [e-mail] Bussin look good, feel good, play good. But look at these pants, dude. And also these Chuck T's I'm kind of obsessed with right now. These pants right here. Look at this.

[Will Compton]

Show them the mobility.

[Taylor]

Waist. Are you kidding me?

[Will Compton]

Look at this bottom zone.

[Josh Pate]

36.

[Will Compton]

Great flexibility.

[Taylor]

36. 36. 6. That's a squeeze you can get. You can do any sort of activity you possibly want in these things. True Classic. And also the Pima shirts as well. They have a nice little curve to it. Shoulders, arms, chest, the whole thing.

[Will Compton]

He's right here.

[Taylor]

Those are them right there.

[Will Compton]

Looks good. You look like a blocking tight end, bro.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Taylor]

Let's get back to this episode. That's not me, but the game of the week. Every Saturday's got game. But only one fits just right. This is the true classic game of the week. True classic. Pants on. Busting with the boy shirt here. Vanderbilt number 16. Vanderbilt at number 10. Alabama. Clark Lee versus Calen DeBoer. Last year, Vandy won 40 to 35 when Bama was number one. Alabama's favorite in ten and a half total points. That game is 55 and a half. Garrett.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, it's. It's a big week. You know, last year the same thing happened. You take down the, the Bulldogs, you get a little high, they put you at number one. You think you're going to walk into Nashville and do what you always do to Vandy and it doesn't happen. That sucks. This team this year is a lot different than last year. Ty said it himself. Vandy is also different. They're better. So you have to stay focused. It's just another game. Do not worry about what happened last year. Take care of business. And I have a quote. Never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God. And God is in crimson this weekend.

[Taylor]

He hit us biblically. Yeah, that's Old Testament. Yeah, that's old Testament.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, that's job stuff.

[Taylor]

She went hard too. You hear whispers in the crowd right now. By the way, this is filmed in front of a live audience. Oh, all right. I like everything he said. I like everything he said. Oh, Kaylan DeBoer is 0 and 1 versus quarterbacks that talk shit about him in the offseason.

[Josh Pate]

Oh, trend. Trend forming.

[Taylor]

There's a trend forming. And Diego Pavia, as big of a wrestler brain as he is, he puts fucking points on the board. Had six touchdowns counted for six of them last week when it was kind of like close against Utah State. Vanderbilt selling out. There's traffic in Nashville on Saturdays now. Like Vanderbilt's different. I'm going to take Vandy to cover because I promised Cade I would trust them until I can't. And a piece of me hopes I get this wrong this week because Cade sat in my pool in the summertime and he's like, we win the national champ, we win the SEC in the national championship. Will you take me the O line and Diego to Vegas and play with us? And I'M thinking I looked him in the eyes, I said, I've been in locker rooms.

[Will Compton]

Will you take us to the tunnel?

[Taylor]

Yeah, we think it's a total of chaos essentially. And I told him, I was like, buddy, you guys just don't have the team.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, we'll go to Tupelo or something.

[Taylor]

You don't have the team. And I'm not trying to be disrespectful to you, but I said to his face like, you guys are not. They're not a national championship caliber team and they look good. If they win this game, I'm gonna start shitting myself a little bit. I don't want to pay for that. But I'll take Vandy to cover. I'll take Vanity to cover. And there's a. If Vandy wins this game, I'm not safe.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Safe.

[Taylor]

I'm not safe. That's all I have to say about that.

[Josh Pate]

You might have to call me.

[Taylor]

Yeah. And listen, anybody who needs to be checked on after this week, you and you, like just wait till November 1st. Please don't up my spooktober. Like I need this. All right? It's a big year for me. November 1st, it's your guys, you guys do what you want.

[Josh Pate]

I just want to draw the attention back over here because you and I just had a moment and you had a look in your eye like you're about to do something really irresponsible. You had an October 1st. It's a new day that I haven't seen in your eyes since last week when you had a new haircut type look in your eye. And I just want to know what's going on up here, not in here. Don't pick with that. I want to know what's going on up there.

[Will Compton]

I think about this game. I think you can throw. Who's doing well in this situation? Who's doing well in that situation? Vanderbilt's five zero. I think this game, this is personal for Alabama. I think last year, what happened, they were in a spot where you come off a win against Georgia and you drop a game against Vandy. Vandy celebrates. This wasn't a humble win. This was a, you know, what did Pavia say after the game when he's like, he's like in the. Yeah, we're fucking turn. And they've had to sit back and watch this team take victory lap after victory lap after victory lap over ultimately one game. But Vandy did slap him in the face. The feeling for Alabama after the game was embarrassment. Vanderbilt embarrassed you. They Slapped you in your face. And not only slapped you in the face, they also spit on your shoes. And they've been doing it throughout the offseason. They've had to sit back and watch any given Saturday and watch Diego Pavia talk shit. And they've. They've done nothing but hear about this. I think last week against Georgia, that was a game to where they've clearly bounced back from Florida State. And that is a massive hats off to that staff, to that team. Because when a moment like that happens and it's like the impossible job for a coaching staff, like why they, they were never going to win at a place like Alabama coming after Nick Saban, everyone is as loud as possible talking about messages and tweets of guys dming getting doordash at night. Maybe they're getting there with women. Whatever it is, when shit like that happens, it can do one of two things to a team. The noise either continues to happen inside the building and nobody really addresses anything, or you lock the doors and you get tighter. And this team clearly has gotten tighter. You watch last week, any negative play or turn of event that happens, the staff is out there on the field waving the players that come back. You see coordinators at times on the double move, touchdown coordinator. That's on me. Don't even fucking worry about that because they're locked in for 60 minutes. DeBoer said it even at halftime. We didn't come here to play 30 minutes, we came here to play 60 minutes. Like this team is tight and they're motivated and they're hungry and they needed, they needed the Georgia game. They needed it. They want this game. There is no trap game. There's no. There's no nothing. They fucking want this team. They want them at home and they want to beat their ass. And Ty Simpson ball high and tight.

[Taylor]

As he's wheeling and dealing great mechanics.

[Will Compton]

I like Bama here. This game is weirdly personal for Bama and I've really made it personal for myself too. Like I'm rooting for the crimson tide to beat their ass because it's like I see the product that they had against Georgia and see the way that they've galvanized the staff, the players, everybody. And I've loved watching it. I've loved watching it. And I'm fired up for them to play vantage.

[Josh Pate]

Buddy. This is a model special for me because the model loves Vandy plus the points as one of its favorite bets of the week. So I don't argue with the model. I learned my lesson a Million times over. Already doing that. So I'm putting it out there right now. I'm taking Vandy plus the points. Vandy plus ten and a half. I just want to share anecdotally what you just said last week. I'm on the field for that game at Georgia and I watched Bama do what they did. I'm around them a fair amount. So vibe totally different from the time they walked in the building. Everyone saw the game. What I want to make sure people know is I did exactly what we did with Michigan. You walk off the field, you head in the locker room, you're around the players, you're where cameras can't go. They're talking about Vanderbilt. They're talking about Vanderbilt.

[Will Compton]

It juices me up because farming's like, you know, they didn't celebrate that win for a second. They fucking want this team coming in.

[Josh Pate]

That'S going into Georgia, winning at Georgia and people are happy. But it's, it's 15, 20 minutes. Vanderbilt.

[Will Compton]

I think Vandy's in a dangerous spot. I think they're 5, 0 right now.

[Josh Pate]

The model's taking vanity cover.

[Taylor]

And so you're taking what happened to your relationship with the model when Nebraska was playing Michigan?

[Josh Pate]

I divorced myself after that. I can't do that. So I'm legally bound to the model. The model's taking Vandy. The model just thinks Vandy's a good team. So, like Bama could be wired the right way.

[Will Compton]

Vandy is a good team.

[Josh Pate]

Bama could be wired the right way here and win by eight like that. That could happen. It's not an indictment if they only win but don't cover. Which I guess from the model's perspective it's hoping happens. But dude, it wouldn't surprise me if Bama because what happened last year is Vandy's Lethal on third down. Vandy 42 to 18. Time of possession edge in this game last year, Bama lost the turnover battle. All right, well, Bama just owned time of possession against Georgia. Bama was razor sharp on third down, like historically sharp. Georgia hasn't given up that many third down conversions in 30 years and Bama just did that. Bama hasn't turned the ball over yet this year. So a lot of what worked for Vandy last year, just as a team talent profile, Bama has flipped. We don't question Bama at home. We question him on the road. And even they answered that bell last week. So there's a lot of indicators that make me want to go Bama. If it was just Me picking Hart, that's my national champion. I got to roll with him. But I went with the model plus the points. I have no clue how it's going to go.

[Taylor]

I know, man, he's always playing for a minute from start to finish. Like, the clock is at, like, the play. Clock's at like two.

[Josh Pate]

We saw Castellanos give that defense fits. We have not seen them face a quarterback with that kind of unique ability since week one. So this is as much as last week was just a test of that overall team's mentality. And can you. Can you nut up on the road? One false start. I think the whole game, like, they answered all those questions. All right, now it's Kane 1 defensive coordinator. He's got to answer the bell. They. They. They lost edge contained like five times against Georgia last week, but they didn't have to pay for it in the form of a loss. If that happens again this week, they may have to pay for it in the form of a loss because Vandy, truth be told, probably more capable of making you pay for it in terms of points even than Georgia was.

[Will Compton]

This is going to be an exciting game.

[Taylor]

I can't wait to watch it. It. I can't wait to.

[Josh Pate]

Don't have to wait till nighttime either. 2:30 kick.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I think, too, it's like Vandy being 5 and 0, like, clearly the high last year is the win against Bama, but they lost to Georgia.

[Taylor]

Was it Georgia State? Yeah. Week two in Atlanta kind of like caught him off guard, but now like, yeah, like, vanity's a whole lot better.

[Will Compton]

The way they talk and feel, too. Like, I love the confidence, but there's a part of me too, that's like. They've also never really been in this world of being, quote, unquote, the best. You're five and oh, like, are you feeling as locked in as this team who enjoyed the win for 15 minutes and they're already saying like, hey, we got Vandy next, or are you enjoying a few drinks on the weekend? I don't know. I don't know what kind of team Vandy is.

[Josh Pate]

When's the last time we just watched Vanderbilt have true game of the week spotlight on them against. Against one of the big boys. Yeah, because this game last year, like, I'm not. You don't have to denigrate Vandy or devalue the win to admit Bama's in year one under a new coach. They just beat Georgia. Total biggest letdown spot of the entire season. I mean, I remember the Talk they were 22 point favorites. They were talking about who they could arrest. I'm not talking about the team. I'm saying like the fan base was almost talking about. All right, what didn't work against Georgia? What do we need to work on against Vandy? They talked about him like a joke.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

They just had no idea what Vandy was. All right, so all that's erased now. That's the etch a sketch vibe. All that's erased. You have a really good team at home's full attention. So if you pull it off this year, it's no smoke and mirrors. It's no fluke. It's just you were good enough to hang with them. I think Vandy's good enough to hang with them. So, like all the stuff we're talking about doesn't matter once the ball's kicked off. I think once the ball's kicked off, Vandy's just good enough to hang with Alabama. But everything you said about Bama's true, true.

[Taylor]

Vandy wins this game. What does that mean for Clarkley in your mind?

[Josh Pate]

It means there's no ceiling because they already shattered everyone's ceiling of belief about what they're capable of anyway. And then if they go into the second sort of second year of the Diego Pavia era and they go beat Bama on the road, when you didn't sneak up on them like it's one thing. I mean, a 10 year old boy could sneak up on you and hit you in the back of the head with a baseball bat. You're defenseless. You didn't know it was coming.

[Taylor]

He didn't get me.

[Josh Pate]

But then you turn around, does he get you again? Does he get you a second time?

[Will Compton]

And it's in front of a Taylor and it's in front of everybody to where you can't like swing on the kid and he's just been doing victory lap after victory lap talk.

[Taylor]

All these. Get his dad. Yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

Because you know, this is a spot too. Bama's happy that they're five. They want all the success Vandy's had in the world because it's like they're. They're. So I'm assuming, which you're helping me, you're helping confirm. It's like I'm assuming this mentality of. I bet they didn't enjoy that Georgia game for very long because they. This is a game they want. Like they needed that Georgia game. This is one that they've circled like eight times, bro.

[Taylor]

You should flip it. Like, they wanted Georgia, but They knew. They've had so much success in the past with Georgia. They need this one versus Van.

[Will Compton]

No, this is like a personal.

[Taylor]

You don't get this one versus Vandy. It's like what's happened. We know what Alabama's kryptonite is now, and that's a moment.

[Will Compton]

Well, if they say they have a close loss against Vandy, I think it's just. I think they're both very good football teams. And Vandy, again, there's. There's no ceiling like this team is for real. And I'll be there. Mizzou comes to Vandy. LSU doesn't matter. I'll be wearing that V proudly on my shirt.

[Josh Pate]

I just want to remind everyone. So the Georgia game had its baked in meaning for Bama. The Vandy game has its baked in meaning. Do you know what Missouri's doing this weekend?

[Taylor]

What are they doing?

[Josh Pate]

Sitting at home, resting, waiting for Alabama to come to them next week.

[Will Compton]

Hey, Mizzou. Mizzou sneaky.

[Josh Pate]

Now don't tell them that. They know. Yeah, tell Alabama. I'm already worried about that game for them.

[Taylor]

Alabama, yeah.

[Josh Pate]

Too emotional coming off. Coming off two really emotional games. Tennessee, game on deck. Big rivalry game for Bama and you go to Missouri. Missouri off a bike. We're ahead of ourselves. But still.

[Will Compton]

And you might be giving, you know, you know, bam is tuned in right now. Like maybe like, oh, yeah, we do need to be ready to go for next week.

[Josh Pate]

You guys didn't absolve all your road issues just because you went and beat Georgia. It could creep right back in there. Yeah, we may need to do a full Eli Drinkwitz xxx Anonymous DM to you for Kaylin DeBoer. We may need to go down that road next week.

[Will Compton]

I don't know, though. Coach Drink, he's a friend of for the dads. He sent me a long DM about it for the dads. So I don't know if I can. I don't know if I can go that way. See, I don't have the same relationship with coach Franklin as I do with coach Drink, so.

[Josh Pate]

Gotcha.

[Will Compton]

Maybe a part of me would like to take Mizzou next week. We'll see what the line is. We'll see where we're at.

[Josh Pate]

Do you want to bet it ahead of time?

[Will Compton]

Do we know what it is?

[Josh Pate]

I have no idea.

[Will Compton]

We'll have to hit up fanduel.

[Taylor]

They probably have it. It's not on there.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I don't think it's on there. This game's got to happen this game, this game with Vandy. Alabama's got to have going back to.

[Taylor]

What Josh was saying, like how Vandy.

[Will Compton]

Hasn'T had the spotlight. When was the last time game day.

[Taylor]

Went to a Vandy game?

[Will Compton]

I think JP Was saying earlier this week, the last time they started five, zero was what, 2008. They ended up seven and five, obviously.

[Taylor]

What happened in 2008?

[Will Compton]

What happened?

[Taylor]

Massive real estate crash.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

So election year.

[Taylor]

Vanderbilt keeps winning. Our economy keeps. Be something to think about.

[Will Compton]

Also for the Mizzou Alabama game, I guess the line is out.

[Taylor]

It's Alabama minus six and a half right now.

[Josh Pate]

There's six and a half again.

[Will Compton]

Six and a half.

[Josh Pate]

There's that six and a half. It's just seven and a half. That's what this dude's name is. That is Mr. Six and a half.

[Taylor]

That is Mr. Six and A Half. Get one back there. You guys read Dog of the Week or weekly?

[Will Compton]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. I was ready to say, hey, great show today because I'm juiced about these games.

[Taylor]

Dog of the week. I got a made dog of the week. I'm taking Iowa State State money line against Cincinnati. That the lines one and a half days ago. Yeah, but I love Rocco Becht. I love Matt Campbell. I think Cincinnati is fantastic. But this is.

[Will Compton]

This is. Honestly, the line has it like. It's. This is kind of a pick. I'm like, this is an exciting game.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Cincinnati can really put themselves, like in the conversation for a Big 12 contender. If you take down Iowa State, who's handled their business thus far.

[Josh Pate]

Down two corners now, Cincinnati. No, Iowa State down two corners for the year.

[Taylor]

Well, their quarterback can't really throw it.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, yeah, he can run.

[Will Compton]

Sworesby Sorsby can throw the ball.

[Taylor]

He's got lucky.

[Josh Pate]

He says, no, bro.

[Will Compton]

Sorsby can throw the rock, man.

[Josh Pate]

I'm telling you, the pff Luck stat says Sorsby number one in the country, throwing just pure luck.

[Taylor]

Yeah, it's all luck.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah. Pure luck.

[Taylor]

That guy needs to go to Vegas. He needs to play Bachelor.

[Will Compton]

He's been slinging the rock. Obviously he didn't get Nebraska, but honestly.

[Taylor]

Watching, that's the game I saw.

[Will Compton]

I know.

[Taylor]

That's the game I watched.

[Will Compton]

I know.

[Taylor]

Don't need to watch any others. Go ahead and take it.

[Will Compton]

When the game's that close with your Huskers where you think, all right, this shouldn't have been as close as it was. It's made me keep an eye on Cincinnati and that's where it's like, okay. Seems to be like a pretty good football.

[Taylor]

Who has Cincinnati playing.

[Will Compton]

Nebraska.

[Taylor]

No.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I watched that game, Kansas last week.

[Josh Pate]

No, no.

[Taylor]

Yeah. Muffins. Give me Iowa State.

[Josh Pate]

Just luck.

[Taylor]

Rocco Becket. Way better quarterback.

[Will Compton]

Listen, I'm just going. I'm going. Fran Brown here got their ass whipped against Duke. I'm sure he had all those boys sitting in the sauna as a team together for all of 60 minutes. Give me Syracuse +17 and a half. You know, at SMU, that's the only scary part is they're going to have to travel. But you know, 17 and a half points.

[Taylor]

Oil money. SMU.

[Josh Pate]

I would like to ask why Maryland is getting six and a half at home against a Washington team traveling cross country.

[Will Compton]

I saw that you had that pick in there. I was bummed I didn't get to jump on it. But I do like that pick.

[Josh Pate]

Like coast to coast. Washington was terrible on the road last year. They really haven't had to go on the road coast to coast this year yet. There's a noted struggle amongst Big Ten teams in general doing that cross country stuff. Except for Oregon. I'm going to take Maryland plus six and a half. They could win the game outright. And I'm not like low on Washington. I just think it's a really weird spot. Maryland's playing halfway decent football too. Got a pretty good quarterback. I love getting any points with them in this game.

[Will Compton]

A part of me almost took Cal dogs at home against Duke just because Duke's got to travel across the country after winning, you know, after beating the Boston College. Beating the hell out of. Was it Boston College or series?

[Josh Pate]

We got to win 28, 24 over beating DC last week.

[Will Compton]

And then I saw Cal put up a zero burger against somebody San Diego State. Are they going to be able to just.

[Josh Pate]

They rectified it all though. It's model of cow last week.

[Will Compton]

Model of Cal.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah. Didn't take it.

[Will Compton]

How does the model feel about Cal this week? Do you know?

[Josh Pate]

Model's indifferent on Cal this week.

[Will Compton]

So it said in the same spot. It's like.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, it said just kind of you. You do you on Cal. We got better value on the board.

[Will Compton]

Bet responsibly.

[Taylor]

Right with Cal.

[Josh Pate]

Which brings us to our parlay weekly parlay.

[Taylor]

Let's take a quick break to let you know about booster with the boys. If you haven't. If you don't already know. The boys have a 50% profit boost token every college football Saturday. That's 50% boost on any college football Saturday bet. Just Open up the FanDuel Sportsbook app this Saturday and look out for the boosting with the boys. PBT Illinois minus nine and a half versus Purdue.

[Will Compton]

Nebraska minus eleven and a half.

[Taylor]

It's Purdue.

[Josh Pate]

It is. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But a massive get back win against usc.

[Taylor]

Massive, massive.

[Josh Pate]

Storm the field.

[Will Compton]

Storm the field. We were there at Purdue. That's a little sleeper.

[Taylor]

Is that USC showing their true colors or is that the travel?

[Josh Pate]

Maybe both.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I think Columbia column.

[Josh Pate]

Maybe that's just. Maybe they're just not ready for big time yet. Yeah, shame. I think Wake Forest is. That's a lie. They're not. But they're going to Virginia Tech and they're getting six and a half. We all know what the most dangerous number in betting in the modern era is is in this society. It is six and a half. So I believe in him. Therefore, I'm not laying the points. I am taking the points with Wake who got absolutely jobbed out of a win last week against Georgia Tech. I'm told ACC officials will be on this one again. But you want to talk about get back. It's get back for Wake. It's get back for ACC officiating. I need him to get all the breaks. I love wake plus 6 and a.

[Will Compton]

Half and it's like what since the firing be VTEC is 2.

[Josh Pate]

Zero luck.

[Will Compton]

Right? This is where. This is where it starts to balance out. They had their two wins. Wake Force is in a get back spot.

[Josh Pate]

Yeah, I think so.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Obviously I'm taking the Huskers.

[Taylor]

So can we talk about your pick for a second? Mine bet the bus slips and picks this show last year. Anytime Huster's got into a bad spot, I tend to see Huskers more on Will Compton's card. So by you picking Nebraska -11 and a half makes me more nervous about this game than if you didn't pick them.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. What I'm hearing is you're talking about the past. This is a different ball.

[Taylor]

I'm talking about history.

[Will Compton]

It's a different story and how it.

[Taylor]

Tends to repeat itself. I get worried with my boy when he sees Michigan State dual direct quarterback.

[Will Compton]

Not great. My fault. This should be Nebraska minus 16 and a half. Let's move the line alt. Let's make it bigger.

[Taylor]

These are all my points. These are all my points. Go ahead. Come on in. Play Matthew's friend of the show.

[Josh Pate]

Studio audience.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I'm with you on that though. I will be betting Nebraska -11 and a half. I just get nervous when I see you bring it on the show. Because anytime you bring Nebraska on the show.

[Will Compton]

I know, but like, I'm sitting here looking at all these other games because we, we've, we've talked about all the really good ones and then you're looking at dogs and everything else and there just wasn't like Nebraska to me, it's like, okay, I know this game. I feel very comfortable picking this game. Like, there wasn't any that were, like, jumping out at me that I needed to get on. Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

You can't live in the rear view. You got to live in the windshield.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. And what I'm again, you watch the press issue, though.

[Taylor]

That's the problem. That's what I'm talking about, the rear view. I look back and I see that's the same thing in my windshield.

[Josh Pate]

Carnage.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Josh Pate]

Oh, no.

[Will Compton]

There's a different belief right now.

[Taylor]

You're bald because of your beliefs.

[Josh Pate]

I don't care if the studio audience didn't love it. It's one of the better lines of the year.

[Taylor]

Yeah. You have no hair because of your beliefs.

[Josh Pate]

You're bald because I'm bald for my beliefs. You are bald because of your beliefs.

[Taylor]

And that's what makes me nervous. Cause we're friends. I will be betting Nebraska -16 and a half now. I'm willing to lose money for you. Great show.

[Will Compton]

Great show.

[Taylor]

Appreciate you guys. Remember, subscribe Unsubscribe resubscribe Comment thank you. Thank you so much. Big hugs, tiny kisses.

[Will Compton]

Happy Spooktober.

[Taylor]

Happy Spooktober.

[FanDuel Announcer]

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[Josh Pate]

Thursday Night Football is on and it's.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

Only on Prime Video.

[Josh Pate]

Going deep this week. This week it's a California showdown. Division rivals lock horns when the 49ers meet the Rams.

[Taylor]

What a great job.

[Josh Pate]

Coverage begins Thursday at 7pm Eastern with football's best party TNF tonight presented by Verizon.

[Taylor]

Not a Prime member?

[Josh Pate]

Not a problem.

[Taylor]

Simply sign up for a 30 day free trial.

[Josh Pate]

49Ers rams Thursday at 7pm Eastern only on Prime Video.

[Taylor]

Restrictions apply.

[Josh Pate]

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