Clemson & Georgia in trouble? Notre Dame bounceback? Backyard Brawl revenge? College football picks

Summary

The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk

Episode: Clemson & Georgia in trouble? Notre Dame bounceback? Backyard Brawl revenge? College football picks
Date: September 12, 2025
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis

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Episode Overview

Doug and Bill go deep on a slate of the week’s most interesting college football games, blending analytical breakdowns with their signature blend of Northern pride and anti-Southern bias. This week’s picks include high-stakes showdowns and September "referendum" games for national giants like Clemson, Georgia, and Notre Dame. The hosts weigh playoff implications, coaching hot seats, and quarterback drama—while keeping Buckeye Nation’s interests front and center. As always, expect good-natured ribbing, legit expertise, plenty of memorable one-liners, and honest disagreement.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Records and Housekeeping (01:21–02:48)

• Both Doug & Bill are tied at 7-7 against the spread for the season; straight-up: Doug 7-7, Bill 8-6.
• “We’re here to entertain you and perhaps inform you; we are not really here to make you money.” – Doug (02:49)
• This week features 7 picks, with a heavy lean toward Southern games due to matchups.

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[CLEMSON at GEORGIA TECH]

Noon, ESPN | Clemson -3.5, O/U: 51.5
(02:48–10:24)

• Clemson at a Crossroads

  • Clemson hasn’t started 1-2 since 2014. Lost to LSU already; nearly stunned by Troy (trailed 16-0 before rallying).
  • The program faces scrutiny: “Is college football passing Dabo Swinney by?” – Doug (05:03)
  • If Clemson loses here: may fade out of relevance nationally (not a firing situation, but a "not worth paying attention" situation).
  • Bill’s preseason national title pick for Clemson now looks shaky, citing Cade Klubnik’s lack of progress: “Doesn’t seem like he’s gotten any better.” (06:17)

• Quarterback Battle

  • Clemson: Cade Klubnik (struggling vs. blitzes, 86th in passing efficiency).
  • Georgia Tech: Haynes King (tough, returning from injury, gritty), backup Aaron Philo looked good last week.

• Line Movement

  • Opened at Clemson -9.5, moved as low as -2.5, steadied at -3.5. “That is a ridiculous line move.” – Doug (10:05)

• Picks & Outlook

  • Bill: Georgia Tech 24-20
  • Doug: Georgia Tech 23-21
  • “If you are pining for the days where a highly ranked team could destroy itself in September... watch this game at noon.” – Doug (09:10)

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[WISCONSIN at ALABAMA]

Noon, ABC | Alabama -20.5, O/U: 46.5
(10:24–17:57)

• Rarity & Stakes

  • Rare SEC-Big Ten regular season matchup. Only Alabama’s second time hosting a Big Ten school since 2011.
  • Alabama’s all-time record against the Big Ten discussed; three Big Ten schools have winning records vs. Bama (Michigan, Minnesota, UCLA).

• Wisconsin’s Quarterback Chaos

  • Two transfer QBs: Billy Edwards (injured), Danny O’Neill (stepped in and looked decent vs. MTSU).
  • “Aren’t you worried Ty Simpson (Bama QB) will outduel Danny O’Neill? ... I’m good. Give me Danny boy.” – Doug (14:19)

• Realistic Assessment

  • Bill doubts Wisconsin can hang: “Wisconsin not running the ball well. I don’t know what to make of the quarterback thing... I don’t know that Wisconsin has much of a chance here.” (14:56)
  • Doug points to last year’s competitive first half and improved backup situation.

• Picks & Outlook

  • Doug: Alabama 27-21 (leans Wisconsin +20.5)
  • Bill: Alabama 38-14 (taking Bama -20.5)
  • “If Wisconsin shows up and looks starstruck and out of its league, I think it’s the beginning of the end for Luke Fickell.” – Doug (16:50)

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[GEORGIA at TENNESSEE]

3:30pm, ABC | Georgia -4.5, O/U: 49.5
(19:18–23:28)

• Quarterback Concerns

  • Georgia’s Gunner Stockton under scrutiny: “We just want him to look in games like he looks in practice,” quoting Kirby Smart. Doug’s skeptical.
  • Bill: “Saying we want Gunner Stockton to look like he looks in practice is both an indictment of Gunner Stockton and Georgia’s defense he practices against.” (21:17)
  • Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar (App State transfer) seen as a positive; “App State’s quarterback’s not beating Georgia,” jokes Doug.

• Historical Context & Matchup

  • Georgia has dominated Tennessee recently, last 8 games by two-plus touchdowns.

• Picks & Outlook

  • Doug: Tennessee 30-24 (calls out volatility of a first-year QB at top 15 programs)
  • Bill: Georgia 28-17
  • “If I can pick against Georgia, I’m going to pick against Georgia.” – Doug (23:15)

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[SOUTH FLORIDA at MIAMI]

4:30pm, CW | Miami -17.5, O/U: 57.5
(23:28–27:29)

• Channel Tangents & Miami Praise

  • Jokes about CW and its frog mascot (“Chester Wiggleton” – Bill, but real name is Michigan J. Frog).
  • Doug: “South Florida has been the story of the college football season so far.”
  • Miami’s looked “as good as anybody”: “Ohio State, Oregon, and Miami” are the country’s best so far (25:07).

• Picks & Outlook

  • Doug: Miami 33-21 (South Florida with the points)
  • Bill: Miami 35-7 (“true pumpkin time” for South Florida)
  • “I have Miami 35-7. True pumpkin time. That’s a good phrase...” – Bill (26:50)

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[NOTRE DAME vs. TEXAS A&M]

7:30pm, NBC | Notre Dame -6.5, O/U: 49.5
(27:31–30:50)

• Notre Dame Rebound?

  • Notre Dame off a bye after Miami loss (“I think Notre Dame is fine. I think Miami’s really good.” – Doug)
  • RB Jeremiah Love’s usage discussed—the hosts question ND’s reliance on RPOs and call for more straight runs.
  • Bill: “You’re letting defense dictate whether or not you give the ball to your best player. Just give it to him.” (29:27)

• Game Quality

  • Both teams struggle tackling, which could mean big plays.
  • Marcel Reed (A&M QB) can be dangerous if ND defense isn’t careful.

• Picks & Outlook

  • Doug: ND 31-20
  • Bill: ND 31-28 (A&M +6.5)
  • “I think it’s a big Jeremiah Love game. Both these teams... not great tackling...” – Bill (29:55)

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[BACKYARD BRAWL: PITT at WEST VIRGINIA]

3:30pm, ESPN | Pitt -7.5, O/U: 57.5
(32:08–37:18)

• Rivalry Lore & Bad Blood

  • Reminiscing about the legendary 13-9 upset in 2007 (“Pitt fans just walk around and say ‘13:9’ to West Virginia fans and it makes their blood boil.” – Doug)
  • Pitt won the last matchup via dramatic comeback.

• West Virginia’s Struggles

  • Total roster overhaul; best player Jaheim White lost for the year.
  • QB issues unresolved; offense sputtered even after multiple turnovers last week against Ohio.
  • “West Virginia might be the worst team in the Big 12.” – Bill (36:34)

• Picks & Outlook

  • Doug: Pitt 35-21
  • Bill: Pitt 42-17
  • “Pitt is maybe substantially better... If this wasn’t a rivalry game, I think this feels more like a 10- or 14-point spread.” – Doug (35:23)

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[MINNESOTA at CAL]

10:30pm, ESPN | Minnesota -2.5, O/U: 42.5
(37:26–41:12)

• Underrated QB Duel

  • Minnesota: Drake Lindsay (true sophomore), Cal: Jaron Kiave Sanga-Pulatelli (true freshman—“the best freshman QB right now” per Bill).
  • Both can “rip it”—receiving praise for arm strength and upside.

• Program Stakes

  • “September referendum” for Minnesota: Must win to remain on playoff periphery.
  • Uncertainty over RB Darius Taylor’s health (a significant factor for Minnesota’s offense).

• Picks & Outlook

  • Doug: Minnesota 28-21
  • Bill: Cal 24-21 (“better quarterback,” lauds Cal’s run D and coaching)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Betting and Entertainment:
  “We’re not necessarily…here to make you money. So no, if you are here to make money, get out. And I’m not saying like get out, I’m saying like get out, run…flee for your own good.” – Doug (02:49)

• On Clemson’s Situation:
  “Is college football passing Dabo Swinney by?” – Doug (05:03)
  “Doesn’t seem like he’s gotten any better.” – Bill, on Cade Klubnik (06:17)

• On Line Movement (Clemson-Georgia Tech):
  “That is a ridiculous line move…” – Doug (10:05)

• On Quarterback Play (Georgia):
  “Saying we want Gunner Stockton to look like he looks in practice is both an indictment of Gunner Stockton and Georgia’s defense he practices against.” – Bill (21:17)

• On South Florida’s Magical Start:
  “South Florida has been the story of the college football season so far.” – Doug (23:45)

• On True Pumpkin Time:
  “35-7. True pumpkin time. That’s a good phrase. If you were on ESPN, they would have a graphic at the bottom that had a pumpkin and said Landis’ true pumpkin time.” – Doug (26:50)

• On Running Back Usage at Notre Dame:
  “You’re letting defense dictate whether or not you give the ball to your best player. Just give it to him.” – Bill (29:27)

• On the Backyard Brawl Legacy:
  “Pitt fans just walk around and say ‘13:9’ to West Virginia fans and it makes their blood boil because everybody knows exactly what that means.” – Doug (33:19)

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |----------|--------------------------------------------------| | 01:21 | Records, intro to the week’s picks | | 02:48 | Clemson at Georgia Tech deep dive | | 10:24 | Wisconsin at Alabama analysis | | 19:18 | Georgia at Tennessee breakdown | | 23:28 | South Florida at Miami, channel tangents | | 27:31 | Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M | | 32:08 | Backyard Brawl: Pitt at West Virginia | | 37:26 | Minnesota at Cal preview | | 41:12+ | Wrap, upcoming shows, end banter |

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Tone, Style, & Audience Takeaway

Doug and Bill maintain their signature wry, Ohio-centric tone, blending earnest analysis (“this is a September referendum game...”) with irreverence (e.g., recurring frog and pumpkin spice jokes, anti-SEC/pro-Northern football banter). The show is fast-paced yet thorough, making it both informative for serious fans and welcoming for those looking to keep up with the national picture.

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Bottom Line:
This episode is a map for a pivotal Saturday in college football, mixing keen observations, bold picks, and the usual Midwest snarl—all designed to keep Ohio State fans, and college football junkies, both informed and entertained.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Welcome back to the Bill and Doug Show. It's College Football Talk on this Friday. Bill, we're making picks in in seven games. We do it every Friday here. We go around the country, find the biggest games. We usually do six. There's enough interesting games that we're doing seven picks today and I initially had eight and it was so Southern heavy because there just are some south games that matter and you pulled us back from the edge and said we don't have to pick LSU Florida. So if you want LSU Florida content, go somewhere else.

[C]

Yeah, no LSU Florida. I think we we could have maybe found seven or eight games. But you're right, it would have been a Southern heavy lean. I will say as two gentlemen who don't really give a crap about the sec, it will be a good weekend to find out some stuff about the SEC which I am looking forward to.

[B]

Yes, it's moving day a little bit in the sec. What is, who's real, who's not. And it's moving day in the south. So we do have a lot of Southern picks. Last week we are picking these games against the spread. So last week you were three and four against the spread. I was four and three. So we're both seven and seven for the season. Against the spread. Straight up for the season you are 8 and 6 and I am 7 and 7. So more often Than not. We want to pick games, try to pick games that are maybe within a touchdown. Unless there's a real reason, like we're picking Bama Wisconsin this week that's not within a touchdown. But we're okay. We're. We're okay. We're not 500, but we're okay.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

We're not necessarily. We're here to entertain you and perhaps inform you we are not really here to make you money. So no, if you are here to make money, get out. And I'm not saying like get out. I'm saying like get out, run. Not like get out of here, like flee for your own good. Although someone did say they, they, you know, we were okay with the Ohio State Grambling State pick last week. We were close on that. There were some people who said they put a, put, put a couple bucks on some things we said and it worked out okay. Let's get to our picks for this week. Bunch of noon games off the bat also which are kind of, kind of interesting and this is a moving time game. It's in the south. It's not in the SEC. It's Clemson at Georgia Tech, noon on ESPN. Clemson is favored by three and a half. The total is 51 and a half. Clemson has not started a season one and two since 2014 when it lost to Georgia and Florida State in the first three games of the year. They already lost to LSU. Clemson last week trailed Troy 16 to nothing before coming back to win. And everybody in college football is kind of on alert. That was in a lightning delay. It was like, oh my God, is Clemson gonna lose Detroit? They didn't, but Clemson's in trouble, man. And this could, I mean we, if Clemson loses Georgia Tech and then runs the table and makes the ACC championship game and wins the ACC championship, they're going to be in the playoff play. But if they lose to Georgia Tech, that would be a heck of an indication that's not going to happen. Is this potentially the end of Clemson season?

[C]

Oh yeah. I mean, without knowing what that rest of that ACC schedule looks like off the top of my head. Yeah, I think it, I think it could be. And then you start thinking like, well, I guess maybe the ACC might be a one bid college football playoff league with Miami in the driver's seat there. We'll talk about Miami in a second. Yeah, this, this feels like a pretty important sort of linchpin game in Clemson season that will I think drum up some interesting conversation about Dabo not not putting a two time national championship. Coach on the hot seat necessarily, but wondering exactly where this is going if Clemson doesn't win this game.

[B]

The conversation in the sport was is college football passing Dabo Sweeney by? And then they made the ACC championship game last year, won it, made the playoff and then coming into this year they were a popular national championship pick. They were a popular Heisman pick with Cade Club Nick. They certainly reviewed as one of the five best teams in the country. It was like, okay, Dabo actually is working the portal enough. But then they still are really good at maintaining the core of their guys. No, the world is not passing Clemson by. And now it might be, oh wait, yes. In fact, the world is passing Clemson by. It is a referendum. This is a September referendum. You don't get them a lot, but I think it is. And, and again, there's a difference between that guy's going to be fired. Which is not the case. But it might be the case of if you're not an ACC fan, if you're not a Clemson fan, you kind of don't have to pay attention to Clemson anymore. If you want to backdoor playoff bid in November, so be it. But we don't need to talk about you when coming into the year. When did you this offseason say you like Clemson?

[C]

March or probably earlier than that. It might have been whenever we started seeing the first stuff about returning production for 2025 and Clemson was like number one or number two with Arizona State. I and a lot of other people were like, yep, that's my national championship pick. And then we watched him play, play lsu like I don't know. I don't know. Kate Club book doesn't seem like he's gotten any better.

[B]

I pick Kate clubbing to win the Heisman. So like this is where people were is just a reminder and where they are now. Clemson offensively in the Formaux index, the Fromau ratings drive to drive 44th in offense, ninth in defense, which is still pretty good. They can't run the ball. Cade Clubnik can't handle the blitz teams seem to be covering coming after them. I think there's a lot of curiosity maybe Georgia Tech naturally doesn't blitz a lot, but LSU got after Cade Klubnick and he didn't handle it well. So are they going to get after him? And then on the other side, Haynes King, the Georgia Tech quarterback did not play last week. He got hurt in the opener when they beat Colorado. They played an FCS school last week. He didn't play. Brent Pry has said he's playing so he's good to go. But you have this contrast of Cade Clubnik, NFL prospect, Heisman candidate, and Haynes King is just viewed as this tough guy. Right. Haynes King is like, he'll do whatever it takes. Eight overtimes against Georgia last year, and you're really gonna have a showdown of that. Landis King coming back from injury, club Nick trying to come back from two rough weeks. It's quite a quarterback showdown too.

[C]

It is. And by the way, Georgia Tech's backup, Aaron Philo, is not bad. He threw the ball pretty well. Threw the ball pretty well last week. And you might even see him in. In this game, maybe. Right.

[B]

If.

[C]

If Georgia Tech wants to play both because, hey, Haynes King, he is what he is. He doesn't throw the ball very well, but he's tough as heck. And he'll. He'll carry it 25 times if that's what he has to do for Georgia Tech to win a game. So. Yeah.

[B]

And.

[C]

And Kate Clubnik, I don't know, with the way that he's throwing the ball, he's like 86th in passing efficiency right now. Might have to run it 25 times for Clemson's offense to do anything. So I don't know if it becomes that kind of game. I think you would have to go Georgia Tech a little bit. Right. Like, if, like this is a. A styles, makes fights situation, perhaps there is a particular style that Georgia Tech plays that I would not want to be dragged into if I were Clemson.

[B]

I picked Georgia Tech to make the play. My two ACC teams to make the playoff in the preseason were Clemson and Georgia Tech. And that is not where I would be right now. But as with as good as Miami has looked, and we'll get to Miami in a second, this is a really important ACC game. It is. We are. We are out of the era of anybody destroying their season in September in college football. But Clemson is close. If you, if you are pining for the days where a highly ranked team could destroy itself in September, and that's what made you love college football, watch this game at noon because it might happen to the Tigers.

[C]

Yeah. You're all right. Yes. There are people who enjoy college football that way. Yeah.

[B]

So you believe in. In Dabo. Now, listen, the other thing too is maybe they just get it together and they're fine. It's like, oh, they had a rough start.

[C]

Yeah, they.

[B]

They played a good LSU team and they played a goofy half and then they were fine. That's certainly possible. They still have a lot of defensive talent and Kate Clubnik has done this before, but you're taking Georgia Tech. I know you are. You're taking Georgia Tech. Come on.

[C]

I am taking Georgia Tech. This. I think this line might have moved a lot.

[B]

This line moved a ton. This started off near nine, didn't it?

[C]

I think. Yeah, it was. I think it was over a touchdown, and now it's two and a half as we're picking it or three and a half as we're picking it.

[B]

I think it got as low as two and a half and it bounced back to three and a half. I think it went from nine and a half to two and a half, which is a ridiculous line move with.

[C]

Clemson favorite on the road. Yes, I'm picking. I'm picking Georgia Tech 2420.

[B]

Okay, this is good. We're off to a good start where we're not picking the exact same thing because I'm picking Georgia Tech 2321.

[C]

That's very different.

[B]

We're. We're at least one point off there. Okay, so we're both taking Georgia Tech. I will have eyeballs on this. I'm curious. Definitely. Definitely a curious game. I don't. I don't care, but I'm curious. Just send somebody up from the South. They're just playing to decide who's gonna play at Notre Dame in the first week of the playoff. So that's fine. I don't care who it is, whether it's Clemson or Georgia Tech, I don't care. But I'd like to know, and this will tell us something. All right, we're both taking the rambling wreck. Also at noon, Wisconsin at Alabama on ABC. Alabama is favored by 20 and a half. The over under is 46 and a half. I think this is right. The only time that Alabama has previously hosted a Big Ten school was Penn State in 2011. So this is a big deal. When. When Alabama went and played at Wisconsin last year in a game that I went to, it was the first time that Alabama had played at a Big Ten school since, like 1928. This is not normal. So this is a great home and home series. Ohio State, Alabama are scheduled to face each other in a great home and home series starting in 2027. We hope everybody hangs around for that to happen. So this remains a big deal. And is that this is even taking place? Bama all time, 41 and 19 against the Big Ten. Would you like to guess the three current Big Ten schools that have winning records against Alabama head to head, Ohio State? No.

[C]

Okay. I'm out of ideas.

[B]

Michigan is 4 and 3, Minnesota is 10 and UCLA is 2 and 1. So hang out in the locker room. Deshaun Foster.

[C]

Okay?

[B]

Deshaun Foster's like, we can't beat unlv, but bring on Bama, baby. Boy, I'd like to get fired up for Wisconsin to do something here. Boy, would I like to get fired up for Wisconsin to do something here. Kenya. Kenya.

[C]

You got any Danny o' Neill magic?

[B]

So listen. So listen. Wisconsin in the off season brought in two starting quarterbacks in the transfer portal. They got Billy Edwards from Maryland, and they got Danny o' Neal from San Diego State, who started last year as a true freshman. And it's like, well, why did they get two? That's not a common thing.

[C]

Because they're cursed.

[B]

They're cursed. And this is why. So Billy Edwards got hurt in the opener. He did not play last week. He is not expected to play this week. But they have a guy who started all of last season ready to be their quarterback, and he actually played okay Last week, Danny O' Neill against Middle Tennessee State was 23 of 27 for 283 yards, three touchdowns and a pick. Now, in that game, Wisconsin only led 14:10 at the half. And everybody was like, oh, God, I'm not sure. I'm not sure. Luke's getting October right?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And then they won 42 to 10. They scored four touchdowns in the second half. Got their stuff together a little bit. They're trying. They're trying. They're trying, Bill, but they feel better. Like, one of the things that happened the last two years for Wisconsin, along with the Phil Longo offense, not being a fit for anything they were doing is their starting quarterback got hurt and their backup quarterback wasn't good enough. They upgraded. Not only their starter, they upgraded their backup. So credit to them. This is what they were planning for. And they got to it in week two, which I don't know. Isn't Danny o' Neill as good as anything? Bama has a quarterback. Come on. Are for real. Are we worried that Ty Simpson's gonna out duel Danny o'? Neill? I'm good. Give me Danny boy. He's good.

[C]

I thought you said you like Ty Simpson. What you saw against you on Monroe.

[B]

It was not as bad as I thought it would be. When I went through it, I was like, against Florida State, he was just getting. He was getting chased around like a chicken with his head cut off. Partly his fault, partly not his fault. Last week, Ty Simpson, the first year starting quarterback, fourth year college player, first year starting quarterback By Alabama, I thought, like, sat in there and made a couple throws. Ryan Williams, the great Alabama receiver who's been battling some injury stuff, he is going to play, but, man, come on, Bill. Come on. A little something for the Badgers. Are you there at all?

[C]

No, I don't think I'm there. Wisconsin not running the ball well. I don't know what to make of the quarterback thing. I. I think that the discussion of Alabama's demise may have been a bit premature. I'm not. I'm not like, all the way back in on them because they beat you on Monroe. I'm more curious to see what it looks like against the team now that, like, I think Wisconsin has a pulse at least. But no, I don't. I don't know that Wisconsin has much of a chance. Chance here.

[B]

All right, I'm gonna give him a chance. I'm gonna say Bama, 27, 21. And I actually. Not just with my northern heart, but with my northern brain. I do like Wisconsin. Plus the points a little bit. Three touchdowns. I. I don't know that this is a. Was a Bama team that's going to chuck it all over the place. And I will say again, last year, cursed Bama and Wisconsin in Camp Randall. Last year, Wisconsin was hanging around a little bit, and then Tyler Van Dyke got hurt and was out for the season. And while he was still in the game, they. They gave up, like, a stupid touchdown at the end of the half on a. On a gigantic play. But, like, other than that, Wisconsin kind of hung in for a half, and then they were playing their backup quarterback and it was over. So I think they can hang a little bit, but. You do not.

[C]

I do not. I have 38. 14 Alabama.

[B]

Okay. So you were taking. Minus the points with Bama. Okay. Okay. That's okay. Do you think I. I don't want it to be just wishful thinking. I don't want to come on here and just wave a sword around and be like, I think the north is great.

[C]

I think it's worth pointing out. I think it's worth pointing out what the game was last year when. When Wisconsin, or excuse me, Alabama was significantly better at quarterback with Jayla Miller because not. It wasn't even that the quarterback got hurt. Like, it wasn't. Weren't they. Weren't they, like, moving it and he got hurt? And if they scored on that drive, like, it would have been like a. It would have been tied maybe, or at the very least, one possession. Yeah.

[B]

And then instead they didn't and then Bama hit the quick strike and then like it got away from him right at the point where it's like, ah, like, like Wisconsin's okay here. So, okay, Luke Fickle's got to have him ready. This is a test. This is. I mean, every Luke about Luke Fickle is being evaluated on every step he takes on campus right now by everybody, I'm sure in the administration and in the fan base. But how you go about your business down here, if Wisconsin shows up and looks starstruck and out of its league, it's. I think it's the beginning of the end for Luke Fickle. If Wisconsin shows up and Bama has more talent, duh. But Wisconsin gives him a fight, I think that would bode very well for Luke Fickle. And yes, moral victories. Whatever, man. Wisconsin would take a moral victory this weekend.

[C]

I think so. Also, if you approach it from the narrative standpoint, like, I don't know that the north has a ton to lose in this game, but it has a lot to gain. Yeah. And this and the SEC in the south have a lot to lose because people still believe in Bama even though they lost to Florida State. So if Wisconsin could go even, even like if it's competitive, I think that would not be great for the Alabama SEC narrative.

[B]

Yeah, no, that's good. Root for a competitive game.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

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[B]

Georgia at Tennessee this is an SEC showdown. It's one of the moving day games you talked about. Bill 3:30 on ABC. Georgia on the road is a 4 1/2 point favorite. The over under is 4:49 and a half. If you were drafting quarterbacks from this game, would Gunner Stockton be the third pick or the fourth pick among the quarterbacks here?

[C]

So here's my, here's my, my complication with this game because I think you're right. I maybe would draft Joey Aguilar, Tennessee's quarterback over Gunner Stockton. But also my mind I'm just like App State's quarterback's not beating Georgia so.

[B]

I know, I know, I know. But he's off to a good start and everybody knows this. Joey Aguilar, the quarterback at app State last year transferred to ucla. Then Nico Yamal from Tennessee transferred to ucla. So Joey Aguilar transferred from UCLA to Tennessee. It's a swap. He's played well in the first two games and I covered this on our on my Tuesday show about these first year starting quarterbacks at some blue bloods there I think are real concerns around Gunner Stockton at Georgia and Kirby Smart is saying we just want him to look in games like he looks in practice. I think he's, he's run a little bit. The throwing has not been there. I this is a gigantic game for Georgia and I think Tennessee is good enough. Right. Tennessee is not an easy place to play and if Georgia's not themselves, if there's something up with Georgia then they go lose this game. If Georgia's Georgia and it's just been like Gunner figured it out, it's all good, then Georgia will go take care of business. But I think it's possible there's, there's something rotten in Athens. I think it's possible.

[C]

I. Yes, but I don't know about on the defensive side. I think, I think quite possibly on offense like something, something, something reeks a little bit there. Also saying we want Gunner Stockton to look like he looks in practice is both an indictment of Gunner Stockton and George's defense who practices against.

[B]

Every Ohio State guy is like our practices are tougher than our games. So yeah, Gunner Stockton is tearing Georgia's defense apart and then can't handle it when he gets to actual games. That's not great. Can't handle Austin P.

[C]

Georgia by the way has won its last eight games against Tennessee and they've all been by two plus touchdowns.

[B]

But what was the game? I'm no expert on the sec. The year Tennessee was good like three years Ago with Hendon Hooker.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And they went, didn't they go, didn't they go to Georgia? And didn't he get hurt in that game or something?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And that, that, that was like a huge opportunity for Tennessee and then it just got away from him. So.

[C]

Yeah, that was, I think that game was in Athens, 2022.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Georgia ended up winning 27 to 13. But it was close and the weather was bad.

[B]

Right. So anyway, maybe Tennessee's got a little something for him. I think there are real, very reasonable question marks around Gunner Stockton right now.

[C]

So. Yeah.

[B]

And I don't know, it's like Ryan Puglisi, right. Is the backup, is the, is the young guy who's the future starter there? Probably. I, I, you know, we'll see who's.

[C]

Ryan Montgomery is also there. Luke Montgomery's brother.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Ohio native brother. The Ohio State offensive lineman. I, I just think having run through those eight first year starting quarterbacks for teams who were top 15 in the preseason, somebody's gonna have a goofy year. So this might be it. And there's going to be plenty of those guys who are going to be fine. Dante Moore at Oregon, Julian Stan at Ohio State. Plenty of those guys are going to be fine, but not all of them. I don't think you're going eight for eight on that, Landis. And so this might be my leading candidate for it gets away from a little bit. I'm taking Tennessee 30 24.

[C]

Oh, okay. We'll differ there. I'm taking Georgia 28. 17.

[B]

I mean, come on. Right? I mean, this is a real college football show. It's not just a, a screaming maniac college football show. But what am I, I mean, if I can pick against Georgia, I'm going to pick against Georgia.

[C]

Sure.

[B]

Right. If I can. And I think it's a reasonable thing. You can. It's basically a field goal game. All right, Give me the balls. Love the Vols. No, I don't. South Florida at Miami. This is at 4:30 Eastern Time on the CW.

[C]

What? What a get for the frog. Yeah.

[B]

What does CW stand for? Conventional wisdom. What does it stand for? I don't even know.

[C]

I don't know. It's. For me it's always going to be the wb, so I don't care what, what it stands for.

[B]

Oh, yeah, because he's the. Hello my baby, hello my dollar. That frog. Hello my ragtime girl. Yeah. What if that frog. Yeah, the, the big pelican from Miami goes over and eats that frog?

[C]

Oh, I'm trying to figure out why it's called the cw. You can talk about the game if you want.

[B]

South Florida has been the story of the college football season so far. South Florida, with wins over Boise State and Florida, probably deserves to be ranked in the top 10. Miami is a 17 and a half point favorite. The over under is 57 and a half. Miami, really nice win over Notre Dame to open the year. And they looked great. We have said on this show we think the three teams in the country that have looked the best so far, Ohio State, Oregon and Miami. I can just, I cannot almost imagine this scenario where South Florida keeps this rolling. It's one thing to be Boise. It's one thing to beat Florida, but to roll in to Miami and do this seems almost impossible. But I think right now, we. On Tuesday, we did it. We think both these teams are College Football playoff teams. So we think these are two of the 12 that will be around at the end of the year and they happen to be playing each other in week three.

[C]

Yeah, I think the. The interesting conversation there is is does use USF have to keep it competitive for that to be as confident a pick as we expressed, I guess early earlier in the week? And I don't know, it obviously depends on how much how the rest of the G5 race shakes out. But they already have the Florida win kind of on your. On your ledger. Does. Does a lot for them. But I. It is asking an awful lot of South Florida, which has done a great job and now Alex Golish is a great coach to do this again. I'm not sure they will. By the way, cw, so called because it's a combination joint venture of CBS and Warner Brothers.

[B]

It's kind of lame.

[C]

Yeah, I thought maybe the Frog's name was like.

[B]

Oh, oh, I think it might be.

[C]

Chester Wiggleton or something.

[B]

Yeah, no, I think, I think. I think the Frog's name is CW Something. Now we're disrespecting the Frog. All right, So I just like. God bless South Florida. Good luck, man. You watch Miami on both sides of the ball up front.

[C]

And as a.

[B]

That is a tall order, brother. So you're on mute. Who you got? What do you got for the Frog?

[C]

Sorry, I don't know why I muted myself, but his name is Michigan J. Frog. But I agree with you that, yeah, South Florida cannot hang up front with. With Miami.

[B]

You know, I frankly, I prefer Chester Wiggleton Frog. I think you're onto something there. And if his name is Michigan J. Frog, why has Michigan not adopted him more? Why Is this guy not walking around with a top hat and a cane on the sideline at Michigan games? I have Miami 33 21. So I am taking South Florida with the points.

[C]

I think it's true pumpkin time. I have Miami 35 7.

[B]

35 7. True pumpkin time. That's a good phrase. If you were on espn, they would have a. They would have a graphic at the bottom that had a pumpkin and said landed Bill Anderson's true pumpkin time.

[C]

And then Ryan Clark would tell me, I can't talk about football because I didn't play.

[B]

Yeah, that's true. Also true pumpkin time. Also, you could get a pumpkin spice sponsorship for that, which is just a win win for Bill Anders across the board.

[C]

That's true. Yeah.

[B]

Although there is a difference between true pumpkin time and pumpkin spice time. It's actually after you turn into a pumpkin, then Bill Landis will take that pumpkin and turn it into a delicious flavoring for his coffee.

[C]

Correct? You got it.

[B]

Notre Dame, Texas A M. This is a great one in prime time. If you're watching Ohio State, Ohio on Peacock, you can also have a second screen with Notre Dame, Texas A and M. A and M on NBC at 7:30. Notre Dame at home is favored by six and a half. The over under is 49 and a half. Notre Dame opened the season last year at Texas A and M with the win that sort of like propelled their season. Notre Dame's off a bye week. So they got there. They got themselves together after the Miami loss. And I think Notre Dame is fine. I think Miami's really good. They were on the road with the first time starting quarterback and they lost by three. They got down, they rallied, and then they. They couldn't hang on. I think they're fine. I might have not changed my mind on Notre Dame.

[C]

I haven't changed my mind on Notre Dame either. But do you think during the bye week they discussed perhaps giving the ball to Jeremiah Love?

[B]

See running back. Is that right?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So apparently what happened, just listening to some of the Marcus Freeman news conferences and we've seen this happen before, Landis is they have a bunch of RPOs called and then the look from the defense says, run, pass, option. The option here should be pass. And then you're optioning yourself into passing, passing, passing, passing all the time. When you have the best running back in the country who's not getting the ball. So Marcus Freeman talked this week of maybe we need to take the O out of that. Yeah, if. Because if you take out the O, then you take out the P and then you just got the R. So they call some Rs, call some Rs, just run the ball with Jeremiah Love. So I think they understood that they got and we. But I feel like we've seen teams get trapped in that before and the defense traps you. It's like oh, you're reading it here. Let's. Let's have the second year quarterback who's never started a game. Let's have the option be him instead of the best running back in college football. And then the offensive coordinator is like well I don't know what to do. That was the read. And it's like you're in charge.

[C]

You're letting defense dictate whether or not you give the ball to your best player. Just give it to him.

[B]

So lesson learned. So thankfully like you'd be like I can't believe they did that. But it's like okay, at least they realize they did that. I think I got, I mean and then Jadarian Price as you said all along, when I like Jeremiah Love for the Heisman, he's a great second back. So I don't know. I put the over under on carries for Love and Price together. Probably at least I'd probably put it 30.

[C]

Yeah, I think that sounds right. I think it's a big or a big Jeremiah Love game. Both these teams by the way. And this is I guess an early season thing that happens sometimes. Not great tackling in the early going two of the worst tackling teams in the country which you probably like if you Jeremiah Love. But it's also worth keeping in mind with Marcel Reed, the Texas A and M quarterback who, who can get loose too if you let them. So I think there could be some big plays in this game and obviously whoever it's more of them will probably win. I would like Jeremiah Love to do that maybe a little more like an. Like an angry Jeremiah Love getting involved as much as he should. I think is probably the difference here.

[B]

You think Notre Dame wins?

[C]

I have Notre Dame 3128.

[B]

I have Notre Dame 3120. So a little more comfortable for me. You are taking Texas A M with the points though. In that case I am so six. Six and a half point spread. You have Notre Dame by three. Okay.

[A]

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[B]

Let'S get to the Brawl because it's going to be Brawley Pit and West Virginia. We love the Backyard Brawl. It's at West Virginia on 3 3rd at 3:30 on ESPN. Pit on the road is favored by 7 1/2. The over under is 57 1/2. It's the 108th edition of the Backyard Brawl. Pitt came back last year behind Eli holstein and won 38.34. Rich Rodriguez back at West Virginia coaching in the brawl for the eighth time. He's 4 and 3, but this is his first time in it since 139 2000. Also season.

[C]

What do you the last time Pitt won in Morgantown?

[B]

Oh for real? Oh, so I think a lot of the audience Here knows that 13Nine West Virginia is set up to play in the national championship game in 2007. There's chaos at the end of the college football season, including Pitt upsetting the mountaineers in Morgantown. 139 and it was Rich Rodriguez's last game as the coach of the Mountaineers before we went and took the Michigan.

[C]

Job as four touchdown underdogs, upsetting the number two team in the country with 28 and a half point underdogs.

[B]

If you don't know this, this is just one of those things where pit fans just walk around and say 13:9 to West Virginia fans and it makes their blood boil because everybody knows exactly what that means. So this is the revival of 13:9. And the other thing that's interesting about this is it seems like so far West Virginia still stinks.

[C]

Not only that, Jaheim White, their best player out for the year, running back, got hurt last week against Ohio. But yeah, we, we had some conversations coming into the year right About West Virginia and Purdue, the two teams that remade their rosters more than anybody in the off season. It kind of seemed likely one of them might be okay and one of them might go in the dumpster. And it seems like West Virginia could be the one heading for Dumpsterville, especially if their best player is injured. I didn't know this I so I knew last week that when West Virginia lost to Ohio that Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro threw three interceptions. He threw three interceptions on three consecutive possessions the third and fourth quarter in that game. And here is a reading of what West Virginia did with those three possessions when Ohio gave them the ball three times while they were down 17 to 10 in the second half. 3 play 0 yards punt 3 plays 7 yards punt 3 plays negative 14 yards punt.

[B]

They'Re searching. It is certainly not convincing evidence that Nico Mario is the answer. At quarterback they have Jalen Henderson, the transfer who got I think a little look last week and nothing really happened there. Rich Rodriguez I don't think has committed to who's going to play in this game again. They have like 70 or 80 new players. They completely revamped the roster and then beyond the revamp, they now don't know who their quarterback is as their their best players out for the year. That is not much of a brawl recipe. Meanwhile, I think Pitt looks decent so I I this is unless the only thing working for West Virginia is avenging.

[C]

139 Eli Holstein's got three picks on him because he does well I I.

[B]

Know well but he also might be we know what's up with Eli Holstein. Like there's the peaks and there's the valleys but Pitt's better. Pitt's better right now I and I think like pit Pitt is maybe substantially better I if it's not a rivalry game just based on rosters and results so far I actually think this maybe feels like more more like a 10 or 14 point spread than seven and a half. I think maybe, maybe the odds makers are too afraid to just get out over their skis in a rivalry game because anything can happen. But West Virginia does not look good that having looked at Ohio West Virginia and Ohio beat West Virginia in order to get ready for the Ohio State Ohio game. I think that no offense to Ohio, that game last week was much more about West Virginia not being good than Ohio being a power four giant killer.

[C]

Correct. I mean that's not even you can make the argument that West Virginia has a Power 4 logo, but isn't really a Power 4 team based off how their roster is built, Right? That's very true. Yeah. So this is not West Virginia is just. Just bad. Like West Virginia might be the worst team in the big 12.

[B]

Agreed. All right, I'm increasing my pick. I had 31, 21 pit. I'm gonna make it 35, 21 pit because I actually kind of like pit minus the six and a half. What is it, six and a half or seven and a half?

[C]

Seven and a half. Yeah. Is what we're using.

[B]

Once upon a time it was six and a half. That would have been good to get on at the time.

[C]

Can I tell you, I bet this on Sunday and I got four and a half value.

[B]

Yeah, you're buying lunch. Okay. I think I. I still would take PIT -7 and a half, but if you can somehow find pit under a touchdown. If this line shifts at all before kickoff, I would jump that. I'm 35, 21 pit.

[C]

I'm going to change my score just to have a different number than you. 4217 pit. Because I had 35 originally.

[B]

For real. We. One of us could just take the week off and just go for a walk and not have to do this show because one of us doing the show versus two of us doing the show is the same thing. All right, the last game that we are picking Minnesota at Cal 1030 on ESPN. Minnesota on the road is favored by two and a half. The over under is 42 and a half. And sneaky. Awesome quarterback battle here, Landis.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, really fun. I think this is, this is a. A sneaky, just very interesting game with these two teams. But Drake Lindsay at Minnesota, first year, starting second year player, true sophomore starter, and Jaron Kiave, Sanga Pulatelli, true freshman starter for Cal, both have played pretty well to start the season. And Sanga Pulatelli is probably. I mean, I know people were really impressed with what Bryce Underwood did in his first game, but I would think you'd have to say that Sanga Politelli is the best freshman quarterback right now with how he's played in Cows 2 games. So, yeah, I'm pretty fired up to watch a little bit of this because like this are. These are. I mean, Minnesota in the Big Ten, I think is. Is a team that can push itself to being maybe on like toward the top end of that second tier in the conference. And like I have. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert top to bottom in the ACC, but if Cal can get its way to 8, 9 wins. Like it'd be in that position too in that conference. So this is a big game for both of them.

[B]

Minnesota 2, 0, 66 nothing over Northwestern State last week. It's not like Lindsay went crazy in that game. They took him out pretty early. It was 8 of 9 for 139 yards and a touchdown. But again, he's at times has looked like a young quarterback, but he also can rip it. These are two QBs that can rip it. Watch these guys throw the ball.

[C]

Two big arms.

[B]

Yeah, two big arms. Really good. And Minnesota, to their credit, Minnesota just does a really good job. They, they schedule the exact kind of non conference games you should schedule. You know, North Carolina, that was their series last year. Cal this year, like they just have a hang.

[C]

Colorado before that.

[B]

Yeah, this is just like, this is like what Minnesota count. It's like, yeah, Minnesota, Cal. Give me some of that.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So a field goal game. If Minnesota wins this, then they have Rutgers at home before they come in a bye week before they come to Ohio Stadium. So this is absolutely Minnesota with a chance to be 40 coming into the horseshoe. So this again, this is a little bit. I, I'll call this a referendum game. September referendum on. Is Minnesota actually a team who deserves to be on the fringes of a playoff conversation? Because to do that in the Big Ten with what Minnesota is and the schedule they're going to play and just how the committee is going to view them, they've got to be 10 and 2. They can't be 9 and 3. They've got to at least be 10 and 2. So if you lose to Cal, you're not going to go 10 and 2. But if you beat Cal and then it's a tall task at Ohio State, but then you have that one and then wiggle. September referendum. Is Minnesota. Can they be the peak of. Of what? Can they be at the top of that middle tier of the Big Ten? We'll find out. Late night, 10:30.

[C]

We. We will. Who you picking?

[B]

I'm gonna take Cal. No, I'm not. My God. I'm taking Drake. Lindsay to throw for like seven touchdowns. I'm taking Minnesota. 28, 21.

[C]

Okay, we're gonna differ here too. Cal's run defense has been very good through two games and their head coach, Justin Wilcox is a pretty good defensive coordinator who I think will have some junk to throw at Drake. Lindsay and I don't know that they'll be able to handle it. So I'm going to take Cal because I think they have the better quarterback. 24, 21.

[B]

And Darius Taylor, the great Minnesota running back is like maybe not going to play. He has some health stuff that is a little bit of a mystery and that would be a huge loss if he can't go. But Draco got it done. No, just like really good. This is exactly what this kind of game should be. So stay up late and watch this thing on Saturday night. All right. We will be back on this channel with an Ohio State post game show right after the game on Saturday. Then you'll have breakdowns here on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcast on Monday morning off Ohio State. This more national kind of thing. We hit this on the Friday picks and we also hit it on Tuesday evenings in your podcast fades here on YouTube where we do our playoff brackets each week. And so we get into that. And so obviously this is a lot of Ohio State talk on this channel, but we also want to keep our feet wet when it comes to the Northern national college football picture. So. And we'd like to stay at least around 500. So I like that you lowered the bar for us. 500 and betting against the spread. 500 is great. We'll lose.

[C]

I was so bad. I was so bad straight up last year. That 500 against the spread sounds great.

[B]

Yeah, great. We'll take it. We do. We do disagree a lot this week, so we'll see what happens. Thanks as always to you guys for being here. I'm sure we'll see you soon. Man, we're rolling. Like we're here. We're rolling. I think you're getting the hang of what's going on here and we're just so grateful that, that you guys are letting us ride with you through this college football season. For now. He's Bill Landis. I'm Doug Lee Maurice and that was the Bill and Doug show.

[A]

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