Brent (3:46)

Never blocked you.

David Pollock (3:47)

He said, I would have read you the whole game and you'd have been like this, like crap. And it makes you slow down. So now listen, as a defense, there's ways you can, you can change that mechanism and you can still be very aggressive. But Miami does not twist. They do not stun a lot. They don't have to because they're so good up front. So to me, it's Gus Bus. How does he use the Reed game and Tony to slow down Bane to slow down Mezador, who can wreck shop like. And those, those trick plays will be big. But getting Tommy on the ground is another different animal. But I think the Gus Bus reading those guys slowing. That the best defensive line in college football? Or is that a, Is that a debate with anybody or you? Are we good with that?

Brent (4:31)

Like, Texas Tech might have an argument.

David Pollock (4:34)

Texas, Texas.

Brent (4:35)

If you go four Deep best edge group. I think these guys got the best edge group mainly because Bane of what he's done. Mezor. I didn't realize he'll be 25.

David Pollock (4:45)

Yes.

Brent (4:45)

Before the draft.

David Pollock (4:46)

Yeah. He's a, he's, he's an adult. He's an adult already. Yes. But, but, but that, but that watching how that's orchestrated will be fun. So when you watch the game like watch 4 and 3 on the edges, they're the best two players from Miami. Like how does Gus use their speed athleticism against them? How do they read them? Like that would be a fun game within game that you'll be like oh yeah, I saw that. That's. That's pretty cool.

Brent (5:10)

Tommy hasn't been good. Castellanos hasn't been good against pressure. 63.3 pass grade which that's actually not terrible. But some of his term of the worthy plays is actually is there and against the blitz that's one where he's. His interceptions and his struggles have come against the blitz. Miami's one of the top 15 teams in the power four and blitz percentage and they're seventh in the power four and pressure percentage. So can Castellanos. Either one. You stay ahead of the chain so you don't have to worry about that and you stay in third and short or two. Can you handle that in the, in the drop back game. We talked about this earlier in the week though. Who can tackle better? Both of these teams are not great in terms of the power forward in terms of tackling grade.

David Pollock (5:49)

Yeah.

Brent (5:50)

And the number one question for me and I went and looked at sort of a lot of the, the players and, and I've watched the game against rewatch the game against Virginia. Who's going to cover Malachi? Tony, because they played that three safety look and everybody does now Lord move everybody around. But theirs are, they're bigger guys. I, you know, I think Joseph is the 1 number. His number is 3. He's the 1 that is in the slot a lot. But he's a 6 foot 200 pound kid. Like and Tony is, you know, little tiny jitterbug that's gonna jitter make every. Everybody, you know fake them out of their shoes. So which can. Which one there. And the other thing about Miami re watching the Florida game and then also two other games. We watched all three of their sort of big games. Carson Beck's playing okay to me. I don't. He's not playing great. He's not playing bad. So can he elevate in this game? And there were some things against Florida where some pressure come. The feet got a little happy.

David Pollock (6:53)

Yeah.

Brent (6:54)

In that return, the deep ball we.

David Pollock (6:56)

Talked about struggled in the deep ball big time.

Brent (6:57)

0 for 7 against Florida, throws over 10 yards. Can that happen? I don't know. I'm well.

David Pollock (7:06)

Outside of 10. Who do you, who do you think can really beat you to like that? That's. That. That's another thing, too. When I look at this offense, I will say this. When you look at Mark Fletcher, he's running the Rock and he's got a. He's got an interesting style to him. Like when you watch him run, it's kind of a, it's kind of upright and it looks like long stridey. But it.

Brent (7:25)

Yes, stridey was the word I was.

David Pollock (7:27)

Thinking, really good man. He's. He's a good player. But they've got a bunch of backs that they rotate in that they run physical, they run hard, they stay ahead of the sticks. It's going to be a great matchup. But, but, but here's the thing. I'll say I. It showed it again in this last game against Virginia. And that being said, they still had 46 points and they lost in double overtime. Like, they still scored a bunch. Tommy, when he has to throw it from the pocket, I don't like it. I don't, I don't think it's good enough. Don't trust.

Brent (8:00)

Maybe.

David Pollock (8:00)

Yeah, that's. That's a great way to say it. I don't think Tommy from the pocket is going to consistently beat me. That's what. So if you can stop the run game and you can make. Now listen, he scrambled to his left and made a great throw and to, to, to the game late, but it's all off script. It's very rarely like put the foot in the ground, read it, see it, trust it, feel it. Like timing, rhythm. Now you, you can tell, like there's some people, like with Deuce Robinson, like he has a good timing and a good feel with Deuce Robinson, like, that's the guy that is big, strong. Should have had that catch in the end zone that he dropped. That was reviewed that we got to hear with the, the ACC thing. That was pretty cool. But I just don't think Florida State up front is going to maul Miami. So I think we'll disagree on this one. But, but I got Miami. I think Miami wins in this football game. I think their lines of scrimmage take care of business. Now, I think it's a bad spot because I think Florida State's pissed and coming off a lost all attention like it's definitely coming back home to such a great atmosphere. But give me the number one team in the country. Give me the U30 24.

Brent (9:05)

I'm going Gus Bus Gus ghost team. Give me the home team. I went FSU 27, Miami 24. So I do think it's going to be a. And should I say that they kick a game winning field goal late and it just goes right down the middle.

David Pollock (9:22)

Wide right.

Brent (9:22)

Oh no, I was thinking way down the middle. I mean three point difference that would be that. I mean that would be kind of fitting and fun at least for a Florida State fan perspective. There's always something heartburn games. So it looks good, tastes good, whole lot of stress and indigestion. Maybe, maybe not with this game but I think there will be mainly because of what happened last year because David, do you realize that we could potentially live in a world Saturday night where Caitlin DeBoer is two zero against Kirby Smart but oh and two against Clark Lee. Yeah, I don't see Vanderbilt at Alabama.

David Pollock (9:59)

Here's some cool numbers for you.

Brent (10:01)

All right.

David Pollock (10:02)

Vanderbilt's five and oh for the first time since 2008. Which is, which is awesome. Like obviously that's, that's fantastic. James Franklin was their coach, first time scoring 30 plus in each of their their first five games since 1915.

Brent (10:17)

Like you say 191 5.

David Pollock (10:21)

Yes. 1915 like second in the SEC in points. Man like this team is just, it's humming, it's playing so good. One of four quarterbacks in the country with 10 plus past TDs and averaging 50 yards a game is Pavia. This whole thing is Pavia. Like we can spin this however you want. He's got more help around him. But Diego Pavia is a frickin magician. He is the master of magician. Whatever it is like he just, he makes it happen. He buys time. He has no flinch in him whatsoever. Like zero flinch. The dude does not feel pressure. He is not worried about what you do. You could hit him in the mouth 16 times in a row and he's still going to be okay. Like and, and it's just been fun to watch him, you know do his thing. And we've talked about the weapons, we've talked about this on Vanderbilt. That's what makes them different this year. And I think they can score some points but can they stop the passing game of Alabama? Like I don't think that's a good matchup. I think that's knife to a Gunfight, like I don't think, I think they're going to really, really struggle. And so if you don't, if you don't stop them in the, in the back end, you better get to them and sack them. You better be aggressive, you better get turnovers. And last year the biggest difference in the ball game was getting the turnovers right. That, that was the, that was the game like that. And then Pavia being magical on fourth down and short like they're trying to run something and then he just turns around and he's just zing and just throws it deep and it's a, it's a touchdown. So it's just amazing that, that college game days at this game and that that Vandy's going for two in a row against Alabama. It's absolutely nuts.

Brent (12:02)

Can they. Like you said the explosives, but Alabama's explosives, like we talked about with the Georgia game, they live in the like 10 to 20 yard in the intermediate range. It's not like they're. It's 30, 40 yard bombs. It's dicing you up in the middle of the field and in that sort of intermediate area. But you talked about Pavia. What's the big difference for him? One, their offense has evolved greatly. It just added all a lot of different wrinkles to their run game. It's phenomenal to me to watch and just so much fun to watch their run game.

David Pollock (12:32)

But he's a defensive guy. It's annoying as piss because you're always in conflict. Like, yes, they're putting someone in conflict every single time. And what that means is like they're doing something new. It's literally like, okay, who's the guy? Like who's the guy that can't handle this? Who's the guy that we need to pick on this game? And that with Bama, like Bama's defense is not elite by any stretch. Like it's very, it's very average. And if, and if Vandy hadn't to beat them a year ago after the Georgia game, like this could be a sleepwalk city. This could be the perfect scenario. But man, oh man, did we hear about this game. This game kept Alabama out of the playoff last year. Like this was a big deal. So sorry to interrupt but yeah, no.

Brent (13:14)

You'Re the, the thing you talked about with. They just want to pick who to put in conflict.

David Pollock (13:18)

It's annoying.

Brent (13:19)

It made me think of the water boy when the guy's doing the on onside kick. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. That's the guy I'm kicking it to.

David Pollock (13:25)

Hit it to him, Bobby.

Brent (13:27)

But where is Pavia? Different this year is winning from the pocket without play action. His passing grade right now, no play action is 90.6. It's one of the best in the country. Last year it was in the mid-70s. Like he's even more so stepped up his own game and they have obviously the weapons to do it. Alabama 2, one of the worst teams in the Power Four in terms of explosive run percentage allowed. Vanderbilt's getting the number one team, the number one team in the power four and yards before contact. So their scheme and their offensive line like they're doing work and all that stuff. So can they control the ball again?

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Brent (14:34)

I think Bama makes one more. I so wanted to pick Vanderbilt just because of the whole conversation we had about Andy in the playoffs. But the home crowd being Bama being a home and the fact that they got beat against them last year. It's semi revenge game. Yeah, I go. Bama 34, Vanderbilt 31. I think it's going to be a nail bite.

David Pollock (14:54)

31.

Brent (14:55)

Yes.

David Pollock (14:57)

Yeah, I'm more. I'm more of a 31 to 24 kind of a guy. But like the score is obviously irrelevant. But I think that. I think when you look at the difference in the ball game, the difference in the ball game is the playmaking ability and the ease in which Alabama can score and make big plays. Vanderbilt, it's going to be drives, it's going to be drive, it's going to be long drives. Control the clock. But here's the problem. One holding penalty, one mistake, put you behind the sticks a little bit. Now they get a chance to be successful. So I think they. They make enough of those mistakes like. And Alabama has got too much speed, too much skill. Jeremy Bernard continues to play like an animal where he's completing passes, he's running passes, he's catching them like he's. He's kind of the guy that does every single thing for them. I'd love to see Kaden Proctor get another attempt because it wasn't a catch, it was technically a rush because it was behind the line of scrimmage. Oh, but I would love. I would love to See that again. That was fantastic.

Brent (15:58)

What if, what if they did like a jump ball fade route to him.

David Pollock (16:01)

Just where he goes. No, no, no, that's back down the guy. That's too much. But when you give him the ball going downhill when he moves like that. I'm just telling. There is no way in hail any DB is going, yeah, I want that smoke. But now the interesting thing will be the creativity off of that because I can tell you this like Ryan Grubb with Kaylin DeBoer has always been special. And to watch him orchestrate offense last year, including last week, including to the last play with a guy like Ty Simpson that is a pass first but can run guy with that kind of a laser arm. That offense is in great shape. The defense has got to catch up, which is not what we're used to seeing in Tuscaloosa. But, but they'll get it done.

Brent (16:42)

Maybe he becomes their JJ Peggies. That I don't miss this big guy that runs last year. Maybe they just give it, start giving it to him and the shotgun go straight ahead.

David Pollock (16:52)

How do you not love jj? But, but, but see the, the masterful thing about what they did was they gave it to him outside out of the box. So the big guys were gone. You get. The big guys can get him to the ground, then little guys have zero percent chance.

Brent (17:06)

Or if they do, they're getting really. They're feeling it. If they do get.

David Pollock (17:10)

Yeah. Yeah. That hurts, bro.

Brent (17:11)

They hit that. They hit that shin, they might not wake up. All right, next heartburn game is actually the. I think the spread is maybe less than a touchdown. I forgot to put it on there. Texas at Florida. Two teams coming off of by DJ Lagways talking about his offense might is ready to pop. I mean this is nowhere to go but up.

David Pollock (17:34)

Let me, let me tell you something. This is the dream scenario for a Florida upset. Like this is. This is set up absolutely perfect. And why do I say that? Well, Florida struggled. They. They've, they've stunk. Well, let's, let's, let's say Florida's defense is good. Like Florida's defense is really good. So that side of the football can keep you in it. You're playing at home, bro. You have been told you are hot trash that needs to be set out on the corner. Your coach needs to be fired. And again, I go back to last year. That galvanized them. It doesn't work every year, but that galvanized them. So this has the recipe for me for Florida to win like Everything about this sets up for this to be a 1710 game going into the fourth quarter like a such a close game. Texas sweats it out. But here's the one reason that I'm taking Texas. Texas is defense. Like not only is is Florida's offense struggling, man, bet against Texas's defense at your own will. Like let's go back and remember they gave up 14 in Columbus to Ohio State. Like they didn't get ran out of the building. Like that's an elite defense. Anthony Hill Jr. Hasn't even played that great and they're.

Brent (18:49)

Still neither really for that matter.

David Pollock (18:51)

Yeah, I mean neither one really is played like to the level that we're used to them and accustomed to them playing. Does the bye week help Arch? Listen, the Sam Houston game didn't throw an interception. So that's building in a positive direction. What I've seen from Arch is better than what I've seen from Lagway. Like they both had their, their bad moments but. But Lagways has been more bad decision making consistently. Texas and Arch, I think you can work on some of those fundamentals and keep getting experience and slow the game down a little bit. But that Texas defense is so nasty and so good and they will travel and they will make it really hard on a Florida offense that downright stinks. Like they just stink. They haven't been good. They're ungood. Like any way you can possibly spin it, they haven't been good.

Brent (19:41)

And we had talked earlier in the week about Florida and their how we thought hey this would be a team that should run the ball a lot. Yet they're one of the lowest teams in the power four in terms of run percentage and Jaden Ball needs to get it more consistently. But I wanted to spin it to the other side of the ball as it relates to that. What did Texas do in the Portal in the off season? They went defensive line, heavy D tackle and hero. Canoe I think is how you say it from that came from Ohio State.

David Pollock (20:05)

Confidence. It's just like a word. It's like, it's like a name in the Bible. Say it with confidence. Nobody knows the difference.

Brent (20:11)

83.2 overall grade. He's got five quarterback pressures. Brevard, the guy who wears the great helmet like almost looks like a running back type face mask. From Purdue. 77.1 overall grade. 3 quarterback pressures. Travis Shaw has been not used as much the UNC transfer. But they're getting production and getting sort of return on that portal investment on that part. I do think Florida's offense struggles again. I'm going with the horns. 20, Florida 17.

David Pollock (20:39)

Okay, I got 24. 13. I got horns. Did you know that they've played five times, five times in the history of their school? What do you think the record is?

Brent (20:50)

I mean, Texas won last year really big. I have no idea, honestly.

David Pollock (20:55)

They tied once and Texas has won the other four. So Florida has never won a game in this meeting. Not like they played every year by any stress.

Brent (21:02)

But and speaking of last year, the other part, for this sort of upset, upset thing. Florida played this game last year with the third string or four string quarterback, like right after Lagway had got hurt. It was a blowout.

David Pollock (21:12)

So yeah, hey, Lagway and the offense went over 13 on third down versus Miami and they threw five picks against LSU. So like, if I, if I saw anything remotely decent on that side, like I could pull the trigger in this game. Like, if I saw anything deep ball.

Brent (21:28)

In the first drive. Are you in?

David Pollock (21:30)

Awesome. That would be awesome. And I'd be like, whoa, let's go baby. We gonna get something going. But they've averaged 2.6 yards of pass attempt. It's just been like, it's been reduced to like, okay, our defense is good. Don't fudge this up. Like, don't screw it up. Like, hey, Lagway, five stars, you're getting paid a lot of money. Throw it there or run it there like nothing else. And that's not, that's not good enough against a Texas defense that has an elite secondary, elite players in the, in the front seven. Like, that's, that's a bad recipe.

Brent (22:04)

One quick question before we move on. If they are, if they are inept, just absolutely inept again offensively coming off the buy and they, you know, double digit loss, do we have another opening job opening?

David Pollock (22:17)

But you just got to realize, man, like, the money is so big, like, and I know we talked about it on the pod the other day, like, Jimbo Fisher got 70 plus million to walk away. But like, in a time where you're trying to raise money as much as ever, I mean, I, I think you have to. I, I hate saying that. I don't, I don't like saying that about people at all. But like it's, if, if it's not happening now, then I, I just don't know when it's going to happen. Like, this defense is way better. The offense, which you're responsible for, bro. Yeah, that's the plays, man. And now be what it is, you know, I think people in Florida are like, like we're a rich tradition. Like we're a good squad. We've won Natties recently. Like somewhat recently. That's. We got to get back to some assemblance of that. We're not turning into Kentucky in the SEC in football. Like that's not going to happen.

Brent (23:06)

Yeah, I, I can. I, I concur less. Coach, coach, chips and dip game. Not the marquee games, but very much fired up to dig into them. First one big 12 fun. Texas Tech at 4, 0. Houston 4.

David Pollock (23:24)

And oh, they had to go into overtime to beat it doesn't matter.

Brent (23:28)

Oregon State doesn't matter.

David Pollock (23:30)

And that Oregon State game, you learned something about Houston too, because they're down 14 in the fourth quarter, like, and they come, you know, hauling back like that shows you something because they're not an explosive unit by any stretch. And when they have to pass, it's not a great look. Which not a good week to be you, Houston, but I got some fun.

Brent (23:49)

Like numbers and thing for that.

David Pollock (23:51)

Yeah, it's not good. It's their best start in nine years for Houston. So that's, that's fantastic. You've seen some good things like you said with Oregon State, but their first two years in the, in the Big 12, man, they were four and eight. So they're already at their win total. So that they're, they're showing Willie Fritz is a good coach. Like, he's a really good football coach. And to watch them play, they know who they are, they know what they are. They're not going to sit there and play stupid coverages on the back end that they can't play. They make you earn things. They make you drive the length of the field. They make you make mistakes on offense. They don't, they're not very good in the passing game. They don't protect up front. So they run their quarterback, they run their tailback. Like those are, those are things that winning teams do. Now here's the problem. You can do that against who they've played so far, but now you're going against the monsters. Now you're going against these guys. Hang the helmet up, up front, up and up in the back here. Very soon it's going up. And when you get in passing situations, what's our goal which are going to come? Like, they're going to come. Can you pass the football? And the guy who's there, I know you've heard his name before. His name's Connor Wigman. Like, I know you don't talk about him but he was in A and M a year ago to start the season. And so Connor Wigman is about to get. Listen, Texas Tech is still the South. Like, he might get baptized a lot. Like there might be some, some baptisms.

Brent (25:14)

So I had a little fun with this one because wegman is number two in the power four in terms of getting pressured. 43% of his drop backs, he's pressured. It was almost 60% against Colorado. So now that you play this front four, I was thinking, like, you know, Liam Neeson, good luck. So then I was thinking, what does this Texas Tech D line have a very particular set of skills, Skills they've acquired via the transfer portal. Skills that make them nightmares for offense. But if you try to run up the middle, if you dare drop back in the pocket, they will pressure you. They will sack you.

David Pollock (25:52)

They will.

Brent (25:52)

There's my Liam Neeson taken.

David Pollock (25:55)

Not terrible, not bad.

Brent (25:57)

I, I can't do the Voice, but.

David Pollock (25:59)

Still, so, so we both know what's going to happen. Like, this is gonna, I don't know, you might think this is closer than, than. I, I don't think this is close. I, I don't at all. I think Houston's defensive, they're smart. But there's one thing to watch in this football game. Morton starting at quarterback.

Brent (26:13)

Yeah, he's back.

David Pollock (26:13)

I saw these. That is the most interesting thing to me with Texas Tech. I, I, I have no problem saying Texas Tech's gonna win by 21 plus, like, they're gonna outscore him like that. I'm okay with that. But now you got Morton coming in at QB after what Will Hammond just did and showed you and showed you the explosive nature of the offense. Joey McGuire has been very clear. Like, very clear. This isn't like Lane and Ole Miss. Like, he's like, that's our guy. He's back. We trust in him. He's a leader. And by the way, that kid's made of all the right stuff. Like, Morton's here, like, he's a yes or no sir kid. He is a stud muffin of stud muffins. I get it. This week it might not matter, but in the future, it's going to matter. And I'm going to watch him against this, this, this Houston team that plays really good defense.

Brent (27:04)

Yeah, the defense actually played really well.

David Pollock (27:05)

Played really good. And I think he, I think this matchup, like, they're not going to pressure him a lot. And he does really well when you don't pressure him. He'll get the ball out, he'll get it in spots and holes and zones but down the road we gonna need to address that at some point that QB spot and Ole Miss has made the switch whether they've announced and for Texas Tech to get where they want to go they might have to make that switch which is going to be extremely hard to make. So I'll be watching.

Brent (27:32)

Pull the trigger qb. Yeah, they might have to pull the trigger in a certain in a game down the road kind of thing.

David Pollock (27:38)

That's the only thing I'm watching, homie. That's the only thing I care about. 31 to 10 beat down another big win for for Texas Tech but I just want to see the QB 3413.

Brent (27:49)

Is what I had to Virginia at Louisville have you checked out the ACC standings?

David Pollock (27:58)

No, but I bet they're.

Brent (28:00)

Do you know who the three teams that are 20 in the ACC and this is semi trick question.

David Pollock (28:05)

Well because Miami hasn't played two ACC games. Correct.

Brent (28:09)

They have yet to play any. This is their first this week against Florida State.

David Pollock (28:12)

That's obviously not them. They're not in the standings. Georgia Tech, Colorado. Yeah so they're two zero. Colorado's not in the acc. Syracuse obviously lost NC State.

Brent (28:29)

So Virginia lost to NC State. Correct, but it didn't count for something. I can't remember the reason but it didn't count as a conference game. So Virginia is technically 20 in the ACC and if they get this game at Louisville they're likely to be favored in the remaining. They're all of their remaining games. I mean maybe Duke.

David Pollock (28:56)

God, we had this before the season. We told you Virginia was going to be elite in the acc. I don't know why you don't listen to C ball get ball more but.

Brent (29:03)

Duke's the other two and O team in the acc.

David Pollock (29:06)

Yeah they only lost us to Illinois. They do put it on them last week too. That was, they were impressive last week. It was a, it was a runaway.

Brent (29:12)

But so Jamari Taylor for Virginia though the running back the story was awesome. I mean I, I, I didn't know the story they talked about on the broadcast but he's a walk on at North Carolina Central. Played four years there and is now there and talk about being a physical runner. He is looking to inflict pain on.

David Pollock (29:32)

Every run that he runs it like a kid that that is, that is h very happy with all of his opportunities which is very hard to find. Like that's, that's the best and that's the best thing you can say about somebody like it's Hard to keep that intensity the whole time unless you've been told, get the freak out, get the freak out, get the freak out. And you've got something so big to prove. But, but you're absolutely right. And that's, that's. You run it. He runs, he runs it like he stole it and like somebody's chasing him.

Brent (29:58)

To get it back all the time. And it's phenomenal to watch. And he didn't have the great like I think he was at 3.7 a carry against Florida State, a little under 100 yards. But just how he got those 100 yards was, was phenomenal.

David Pollock (30:11)

You want some pretty cool about, about Virginia real quick too before.

Brent (30:15)

Yeah.

David Pollock (30:15)

Let's get ranked in the AP for the first time since 19, eighth in the nation in scoring, which is obviously not what you think of for Virginia. Like that's, that's pretty impressive. 46 plus and all four wins and the third down mark, almost 60% at third down. Like last year they were half. They were almost 30%. So like they're extremely efficient. They've been good on fourth down too. Like in situational type football. Like they're seven for 12 on fourth down. Like that's what's been fun to watch about Virginia executing for them in the moment. Executing for them when they need to make plays in ot. Right. Like that was awesome to watch against Florida State. Like Chandler Morris had some ups and downs in that game. But, but, but you see the, that he can put it together and he can make things happen with his legs obviously throwing the football and he's been, he's been really fun to watch. But your boy Taylor has seven TD rushes too, seven rushing TDS and that's tied for, for the ACC lead. And so he had 15 last year at, at NC Central. But he's, he's been fun to watch and this offense has a lot of balance. They're good on third downs. They're good. They're good on fourth downs. Like I'm not sure they're going anywhere, but they're not upper end over here and when they turn the football over, they should lose. But fsu, they still found a way to make plays and win that football.

Brent (31:36)

Hang around.

David Pollock (31:37)

Yeah.

Brent (31:37)

Louisville, speaking of finding ways to make plays when it didn't go so well.

David Pollock (31:43)

They should have lost. There's no way they should have won.

Brent (31:45)

That game last week and they found a way to win. Yeah, their offensive line has been playing basically like one of the worst in the country. Miller Moss is constantly under pressure in terms of run block. It's even worse if you look at run block grade. They've been getting out of the quarterback at least.

David Pollock (32:01)

Yes. Yes.

Brent (32:05)

Number two in terms of edge rusher grade behind Reuben Bain and being at home and maybe a slight letdown from the, from the Cavalier side. I'm just, I'm going to go with Louisville as the home team grind it out. Victory 30 27.

David Pollock (32:25)

I got Louisville as well. They showed us something last week. But man, you're right about the offensive line for Louisville. And here's the thing. Can Virginia expose that? That that's. It doesn't matter. Like, there's. There's so many fun things about matchups and stuff that are really cool. And what you learn over the years after doing this for so long is like, okay, their line's not great. Okay, they're not going against Miami either.

Brent (32:46)

Like, that's next week.

David Pollock (32:48)

Yes. So like it's not, it's not really exposed as much, but man, do that. Bell is a superstar. Like at wide receiver, you're going to look up in the NFL draft, you're going to be like Chris Bell from Louisville. Like, why is. He's a first round pick. Like he's got a chance to do that with his size and his speed and the way he makes plays. Lacey's a good receiver. Don't get me started on my running back. Like, that was one of my favorite guys to watch last year. You start talking about Isaac Brown now. He ain't got a hole, bro. There is no hole. If you give him any hole whatsoever, he'll hit it and he'll score. Like he still had those big plays and he can still make those explosive plays. Miller Moss is, is. Is good enough, but he's not, he is not elite by any stretch. I love his toughness, I love his grit. But if they. It's also not great when you can't run it and you can't protect him. So like there's, there's a lot of things going against him. But you are absolutely spot on about, about Louisville's defense. So I got Louisville as well.

Brent (33:49)

If they lose this game though, it's going to be. They were just out physical because that started with JMU when the James Madison was the more physical team in that game against him.

David Pollock (33:58)

They lined up and pounded the rock like barely could throw it.

Brent (34:02)

And they found a way to win that game too. But.

David Pollock (34:05)

But it's the same way with Louisville. They can create explosives and then they did it in special teams last week. But when you've Got those guys when you've got home run hitters at the running back spot and receiver spot that like, they're not like threats to go 10, they're threats to go 90. And so one drive just like that, you know, you make a play on special teams. Just like last week, you know, they make a play on special teams, bam. Next thing you know, you look up, it's a touchdown. The next play is a touchdown pass for, for Bell. Like that's. They can hit you in flurries and.

Brent (34:34)

With those big plays, another sort of chips and dip game that's actually a one and a half point spread as last time I looked. Iowa State is an underdog at 5, 0. Iowa State. Are you surprised by that at Cincinnati? Not really. No, not at all. And because if I told you the highest graded quarterback in the Power 4 is playing in this game, which one would you pick?

David Pollock (35:00)

Soursby.

Brent (35:01)

Brendan Sorsby is the only quarterback in the country with a passing and a rushing grade over 80. And it's, it's because of the running just as much as the throwing that.

David Pollock (35:10)

He'S such a good. He's. He's a better runner than he is a. He's probably a better runner than he is a quarterback. Like, he's good with the ball. He's fast. If you watch the Nebraska game, week one, like, yeah, they had a, they had a chance to win that football game and it was because of his athletic ability. Like, his athletic ability. It really is a problem. So Sorsby's good. Allen and Goody out wide are solid at wide receiver. Make it. They make plays. To me, man, like, it's interesting because these defenses are very similar. They both like to play that three down, three safety look. They're going to, they're going to look very, very similar each other. Which one cannot give up big plays. And I don't know if you saw this earlier today.

Brent (35:55)

Speaking, speaking of that, the Williams kid for Iowa State, best corner, one of the better corners in the country out I think for the season. Maybe I want to say that's all. Let me check that just to see if that's true.

David Pollock (36:09)

That absolutely sucks. That's a big deal because he's really Dante Williams. Their passing defense is solid. Iowa State too. Back to back five, five and O to start the season. Like that's really. And this program, they've taken that next step. They went to the Big 12 championship game last year looking like it now. And to do it in the fashion here, here's why I love Iowa State to Do in the fashion that they're doing it is what's amazing. Because last year, everything. You've got two guys out wide. Let's run the football. Let's throw it to him. Let's throw it to him. Right receiver, wide receiver. Run, run, run, wide receiver, right receiver. Now it's run, run, tight end. Run, run, tight end. Run, run, tight end.

Brent (36:48)

Like four tight ends, three tight ends. How many tight ends can we play?

David Pollock (36:52)

But that's called great coaching. Like that. That's what a great coach does. A great coach takes. What do I have? Okay, let's build the offense around it. And Matt Campbell has shown that every year he's been at Iowa State. Dude. Going back to using 16 quarterbacks in one season and still winning. Like. And I'm being facetious with that number, but like. And that's where. That's where I. Cincinnati. At home. Defenses are similar. Offenses are both similar. Rocco Beck, I got you with your Shoresby. I like that guy. I want. I want that guy. I think the defense with my. My boy up front on the defensive line. Orange, not Corleone. Don Corleone plays for. For Cincinnati. He's been banged up. And that's really his name. But I'm not lying. Like, that's his name, which is so fantastic. Give me Iowa State in a high scoring, fun freaking game. But, like, I'm going 31, 27 with the upset because they're not supposed to win it.

Brent (37:47)

Yeah, they're. The road underdog is even there. Yeah, I'm. I'm going with the home team.

David Pollock (37:53)

That's what I figured.

Brent (37:54)

And how can you pick against the Bearcats? I mean, that. I mean, the Cincinnati Bearcats. I mean, you're.

David Pollock (38:00)

My wife graduated.

Brent (38:01)

My wife's an alum. I mean, that's.

David Pollock (38:03)

That's.

Brent (38:03)

And you're picking against them, so. Yeah, I'm going with the Bearcats. 27, 24.

David Pollock (38:08)

All right, where we headed? Let's go, veggie tray.

Brent (38:10)

You might skip this game because it's a night game. Florida State, Miami Bombs.

David Pollock (38:15)

Come on, dude. Veggies are the best.

Brent (38:17)

Mississippi State at Texas A M. And there's one thing watching Texas A M cut, two things. They've won different styles of games. Oh, shoot out against Notre dame. Grind out 21, 40.

David Pollock (38:34)

Yep.

Brent (38:35)

But Marcel Reed's efficiency. They're making big plays. They are number one, the power four in terms. Or number six, I think, in terms of explosive pass percentage, great receivers, big plays galore. But he's less than 60% completion.

David Pollock (38:50)

Don't care.

Brent (38:51)

They are, they are throwing it down the field. I don't care.

David Pollock (38:56)

I don't care if I'm efficient. If I go 90. I don't care if I'm efficient if I go 80. Like, just get a little better. Just get a little better. Yeah. Okay. Okay.

Brent (39:05)

Don't push it down the field as much. Be a little more efficient.

David Pollock (39:07)

So then that's your offensive coordinator brain in you because Brent called plays for years. I understand that. But you know how dangerous that is to play. And here's, and here's, and here's the part that, that I, that because I'm in lockstep with you on this, I love what you said, but here's the part that's really good. They also showed you a multitude of ways to win. And Moss pounding the rock last week, Craver being an absolute mia. He was number one in the country. And last week I think he had like 24, 34 yards, I think on the game. And they're like, guess what? Still win. Like, I can still beat you. My defense is getting better. The defense. Now listen, everybody gets better when you play Auburn's offense. I get it. I know, like, that's not.

Brent (39:48)

It's a good confidence voter game.

David Pollock (39:50)

Not something to write home about. But like, they're also. And so you have the defense getting better. Rushing, the patch, the creativity of Elko, the different ways to now run beat you. Short passing, deep passing. Well, here's another thing, too. One of four teams in the nation to be ranked in the top 20 in kickoff return and punt return. So, like, listen, I'm, I'm really excited.

Brent (40:11)

About my special teams aficionado. That warms my heart.

David Pollock (40:14)

I like that. And I'm really excited. There's not a lot of picks that I'm excited about for my preseason. I'm excited about my A and M playoff pick. Like, I feel very good that this team's going to continue to grow, continue to get better, because we've seen it. And Moss getting going is only going to be a problem for this team like that, for everybody else, because if I can do this and now do this and now do this and, and I have special teams like it can be, it can be impressive. But Marcel Reed, second fastest in the history of Texas A and M football to get the 3,000 yards passing, who was number one?

Brent (40:50)

I mean, Johnny Football.

David Pollock (40:51)

Johnny Football he did in 11 games. So Reed's done it in 17. He did it in his 17th game. So that shows you how good Johnny was.

Brent (41:00)

Pretty. So I'm Assuming you're going A and m in this game.

David Pollock (41:04)

3121. But I do. But, but Mississippi State, to give them credit and what I've liked about them is a couple things. They, they get their hands on the football, they turn people over. Like tied for fifth in the nation with seven interceptions. And by the way, seven different players have an interception. That's one of the cooler stats in the country.

Brent (41:23)

Yeah.

David Pollock (41:23)

Seven different players. Like, that's. So it's different guys making plays. They found guys in the transfer portal that have come in at receiver and play solid. Yeah, fluff. Like you got a guy fluff if, if you got, if you got fluff. Like, usually it's a bad thing, by the way. Like, you're, you're, you're soft, you're fluffy. But shaping has done a great job. They lost to Tennessee last week by seven. Like, that was a great game in overtime. Here's the problem, though. They got to go at A and M. That's an issue. This is not, this is not more cowbell. This is, this is at A and m. Give me 31. 21 for the Aggies.

Brent (41:59)

I wrote 3120, so we are in lockstep there. Speaking of feeling good about pre. Some preseason predictions, others, not so much. I mean, I feel good about my Ole Miss prediction as, as a, as a playoff team right now.

David Pollock (42:13)

Did you put them in the playoff?

Brent (42:15)

Yes, I did.

David Pollock (42:16)

Oh, that is a really good one. Should feel.

Brent (42:18)

And then also I said, hey, Mississippi State's not. They're going to get one or two sec at least one and that. So they're. I think they're on track to do that.

David Pollock (42:28)

The Arizona State game was obviously big time. Like that was. That was also big time.

Brent (42:32)

All right, so there's a Illinois's at a trap game at Purdue. That's, you know, watch that Duke and Cal, that's ACC after dark, late night. If you want to stay up and watch football because they got great quarterbacks, watch those. But the last one to talk about, and this one I think is, I got some questions here is Boise State at Notre Dame. Kind of put this in the cooler game category. Might be on ice pretty early, but.

David Pollock (42:53)

No respect for Boise.

Brent (42:56)

I mean, they've played better. Gaines and Riley, running back, nice little one two combo. Mad dogs.

David Pollock (43:02)

Hey, Riley's got it rolling like 140.

Brent (43:05)

Or 160, something like that.

David Pollock (43:07)

Last week he didn't last, but two weeks ago he had two weeks ago 171. And then he had like a 75 yard touchdown reception. Like looking like Aston Genty out there.

Brent (43:16)

So, but, but, but, but, but here's Notre Dame's defense. That's what I was gonna ask you about. What did you see?

David Pollock (43:23)

Well, they played better. They played better versus Arkansas.

Brent (43:26)

So that was, that was the question. What, what did you see that was maybe a little bit different in that game? Outside of just making plays and making tackles was fantastic.

David Pollock (43:35)

Like that was, that was a different deal. They actually got people on the ground. Like they didn't miss tackle after tackle. And even without Leonard Moore it's like, so that's who their best player is. And in Arkansas you can, you can talk about Pittman getting fired and stuff. That offense is, is spicy. Like that offense is very hard to stop with with Taylor Green. But, but the thing about Boise that I, that I like now as the season's gone on is they, they, they are now able to have balance. And that's Mad Dog has to have balance. I love the kid. Like, I love, yes, all the intangibles. I love that he, he fought off all these five stars like Taylor Green who we just talked about. Like he fought these guys off because of the way he commands an offense. His, his moxie, his toughness. Like he runs it a little bit, but he's not like an elite runner but, but just great decision making, team leader type of guy. So Dylan Riley getting that going and having some balance gives them a chance to be successful. Like that's what. So that's why I think Boise is better than they were in the beginning of the year. When they had to pass. They were like, oh crap, they can't get by. And listen, USF jumped all over him. There's no way to defend that game. So. But Notre Dame has been on a tear. Like they've been on a. Not surprisingly, they've been on a tear because they've played Purdue and Arkansas and.

Brent (44:51)

So CJ Carr is getting better every week.

David Pollock (44:56)

He's good.

Brent (44:56)

And if I'm looking forward and projecting long term, I just had this weird. I saw somebody tweeted the national championship odds and I think Notre Dame had maybe the 12th or 13th best odds or something like that. I just got a weird feeling that we're going to look into the playoff and down to the road and we might see a national championship game rematch.

David Pollock (45:20)

Wow.

Brent (45:21)

I think Notre Dame's just gonna, they, they now can with, with their schedule. I mean, they've got SC at home, NC State at home or NC State home, SC at home, at Boston College, Navy, Pit, Syracuse, Stanford.

David Pollock (45:34)

They gotta win them all. They gotta win them all. They don't. They. They've gotten rid of their mulligans early in the season. They. They. The USC game is probably going to be the game where you go, okay, USC has speed that can, that can take advantage of their lack of speed on defense or their deficiency on defense because they haven't been able to affect the quarterback like they should. Like, they, they should be better. Both lines of scrimmage struggled to start the season. They also played Miami. So now you're starting to see it's getting easier, it's getting better. That's what I want to see against Boise. Like, can. Can they get back on the line of scrimmage? Yeah, like that. Because they should. Like, love is a, is a mismatch nightmare. And, and that was fun to watch him. Like, it's, it's fun to watch him, like, kind of welcome to the season. Like that, that was, that was big time last week. Like catching two touchdowns running. What you think of the, the catch.

Brent (46:22)

That he had on the check down where he caught it one way and then felt the guy and spun it instantly.

David Pollock (46:27)

It's, it's.

Brent (46:28)

There's not many humans that can do what he did.

David Pollock (46:30)

He. He doesn't have to see it. He. He feels it so well, which is just. It's insane. But Faison's getting, getting his play. Like Fields is the, is the perfect complement, the perfect boundary guy that you can throw that use the big physical body with it. Like, Price is still toting rock, but Carr, yeah, I mean, he leads all freshmen in pass yards per game. Like he's 273 a game. Like, he's the first Notre Dame quarterback to have 354 touchdown passes in the same game since Jack Cohen. Like Wisconsin. Jack Cohen via, via Notre Dame. So, like, it's, it's. He does the car looks well. He. First of all, in the, in the Miami game, he showed you that what he had in here. Like, yes, there was no quit. There was no back down.

Brent (47:16)

There was fight the whole game.

David Pollock (47:17)

I'll fight, I'll kick. And I would argue too, like, you know, you watched Arch and you watched other guys that we've talked about this season, Club Nick & Co. To start the season. You're like, that guy's playing with better poise. Like he's playing with better moxie. I trust him maybe a little bit more than I trust a lot of the other guys. So, yeah, this is a big one for, for Notre Dame to back it up with another defensive performance. Dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides and, and to continue to use that speed that they got. Because they got some speed, bro.

Brent (47:46)

So how, what's, what's your pick?

David Pollock (47:48)

I got 34, 17. I got, I got Notre Dame winning pretty good, pretty comfortably. I don't know what this spread is because I never do.

Brent (47:54)

It's like I had it in front of me. I think it was like 14 and a half, maybe seven. Oh, 20 and a half. Okay, 20. And I went 45. 14. I think they're just going to keep lighting up the scoreboard, I think.

David Pollock (48:06)

Frying pan to head. Yep.

Brent (48:08)

And Jackassaw is going to come back at some point. Moore's going to come back at some point. Did you see what Spencer Danielson said about CJ Carr?

David Pollock (48:18)

No. What'd he say?

Brent (48:18)

Looks like a future first round pick is what he said. I think is what it was. But yeah, I, I think Notre Dame is going to get on a roll, get their confidence, and then the talent will show. They'll get better. The coaching part gets better. You can tell them probably that Coach Freeman had a little bit of a hand, maybe in some things, come to defensively, you know, coaching the coaches a little bit. But yeah, I think the Notre Dame is about to go on a roll.

David Pollock (48:44)

Well, we will. They should. With that, with that schedule. They. They should. They absolutely should. And last year, to their credit, they got better and found their identity as the year went on. Because we started to see that late in the season when we started talking about them, that they could win a national title, like, and not a lot of people thought that. Not a lot of thought people thought they were even good enough to win a playoff game. They're like, yeah, no Notre Dame.

Brent (49:06)

But historically, though, this weekend is kind of like a weekend that somebody that shouldn't get beat gets beat.

David Pollock (49:13)

You know why? Because you get to the middle of the season and people are beat to heck. Like your body's beat down. You start to lose a little bit of concentration, a little bit of focus. Like, this is what happens. These are 18 to 22 year old kids, or sometimes 25 if you're Mezador. But, like, these kids lose focus and they, they lose. They, they need a break a lot of times and, and they get tired of kind of going at. And I know it's, it's their job and they're getting paid to do it, blah, blah, blah. But you do lose like a little bit of bite and a little bit of Focus. But I'll say this. If you're paying attention and you're looking around college football, you shouldn't because I don't think anybody's beyond getting beat.

Brent (49:50)

Like, no.

David Pollock (49:51)

And that's that. We're going to have Reese Davis on the show. And I'm excited to talk to Reese because just some of the landscape and he's been around for so long because he's so old. Like, so old. I mean, the dude is old. We're also going to talk about his wedding the other day, his daughter's wedding. It was fantastic. So Reese describes me as his little brother. He never wanted. That's what he describes me as. So we'll have him on, pick his brain, maybe get some picks, you know, talk about the season thus far. Because we're right in the middle. I mean, we're kind of. Kind of right in the middle. He's one of the best at it. So we will see you guys again. Hope you enjoy the picks. We'll be back here to, to ridicule each other on who missed the picks and who made the picks. Right. And you guys enjoy, enjoy college football when it comes because it's coming. It's coming right around the corner. But we'll get with Reese Davis tomorrow. Tomorrow, maybe the next day. Tonight, Wednesday night, maybe night, Wednesday night, whatever night. We'll have Reese Davis and he'll be fantastic. See y'. All.

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