
It's Nebraska-USC, Cincinnati-Utah, Minnesota-Michigan State, North Carolina-Syracuse, Vanderbilt-Texas and Oklahoma-Tennessee picks on this episode as Bill and Doug bring you their Friday national show.
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A
Tis the season of gifting and holes to deck. And the who's in Whoville were in love with new tech. Where can we find Sonos and Samsung and Nintendo? They shouted. Would they find it in one place? This they questioned and doubted when suddenly a who yelled, walmart's the place to start. And each who added headphones, TVs and games to their carts with Walmart, their shopping was done in a flurry. They cried out, who knew? And ordered their gifts in a hurry. Shop the latest tech gifts in the Walmart app.
B
Scott Hanson, host of NFL Red Zone. Lowe's knows Sundays are for football. That's why we're here to help you get your next DIY project done. Even when the clock isn't on your side, whether that's a new Filtreat filter or Bosch and Cobalt power tools, Lowe's has everything you need to feel like the MVP of diy. So get it done and earn your Sunday Shop now in store and online. Lowe's official partner of the NFL. Welcome back to the Bill and Doug Show. National picks Douglas Maurice, along with Bill Landis. Landis, you wore a costume for our Thursday show, picking Ohio State today. You're just. You're just a. You're Philly Billy. That's what you're dressed as for Halloween.
C
I only have. I only have one costume because the thing I could do, I have these pair of, like, Paw Patrol sunglasses that my son wears that I could wear and pretend that I'm someone from Paw Patrol, but then I wouldn't be able to see my computer screen. Oh. Because I'd have to take my glasses off so I can either be informed or dressed like a police officer dog. Your choice.
B
Well, it's good you're informed, because I can't see the computer screen with my glasses on because these are actually, like, old prescription glasses that make me kind of look like Paul Fine Bomb, but I don't need them anymore, so everything's a little blurry. But I am dressed as Paul Feinbaum, dressed as Buddy the Elf. Greeny. Let me tell you, I'm a joyful elf. I find vomit. He's just. He's easy to imitate from a look. He's not quite as a distinctive voice as you would think, but also, my beard ruins my Paul Feinbaum costume. It.
C
Yeah, it does. But. But as I told you before we started recording, it's. You got to keep it.
B
So.
C
Yeah, that's what happens. That's what happens, Granny.
B
This is why the SEC should get eight teams in greeny so. But I always like being Buddy the Elf. But also that's Christmas time and it is Halloween. So we're going to make our national picks. We're going to pick six games. We were each three and three last week. Which for the season against the spread makes you 31 and 32 makes me 28 and 35. Holding steady at seven games under 500. Hopefully a little bit better this week. Bill Landis. And we're going to start with a Friday night game, a game that once upon a time I was theoretically very excited to attend in person which is Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels coming north to the dome to take on the Syracuse Orange. And then we have different jobs and then both these teams stink. They're both on four game losing streaks. One because their quarterback got hurt and one because they tried to recycle the greatest NFL coach of all time into a college football retread. And it's blown up in their faces a thousand times over. The Syracuse defense is bad. The North Carolina offense is bad. Syracuse on a four game losing streak since beating Clemson. The average score of their four game losing streak is 35:13. North Carolina on a four game losing streak, average score. Their game is 28:13. But North Carolina almost won last week. They lost in overtime to Virginia. They went for two, Virginia scored and kicked the extra point. Overtime. North Carolina scored and went for two and was like a yard short. So credit to Bill Belichick for trying. But I still think they kind of stink. Bill.
C
I don't think they kind of stink. I think they do stink.
B
Okay.
C
Yeah, yeah. There's no, there's, there's no kinda about it. The unfortunate thing is that Syracuse's defense is quite bad as you said and their offense is just unraveled without Steve Angeli a quarterback and the season has got, has really gotten away from them. Did you see what Fran Brown said this week about Ricky Collins?
B
I saw what he just said. Tell me, tell me, tell me what you're talking about.
C
Asked about playing two quarterbacks this week or, or whether or not he was going to roll with Ricky Collins still at starter, he said I can't do that no more. I love Ricky but he had a month straight with me sticking by him. He had a month of running the program. We were 3 and 1 with Steve Angelli. Under Ricky's time we went 04. You have to open that competition up and make sure you're giving an opportunity for us to go out and win.
B
Yeah.
C
Heck of a thing to Say about.
B
Your quarterback France shoots you straight man. So this was like the off season for Syracuse after losing Kyle McCord they brought in Ricky Collins who had been sitting as a backup at LSU as a big time recruit but kept having big time quarterbacks at LSU and I was like oh interesting. Like an interesting get by Fran Brown. And then after the spring portal they were like ah, you know what? We're not actually let's go get Steve Angeli was the backup at Notre Dame and then Angeli won the competition and played well played well in the win over Syracuse Got hurt. The winner of a Clemson got hurt late in that game and it's just falling apart since he became the starter Ricky Collins by PFF Grade From Week 6 on Ricky Collins is 72 of 76 qualifying quarterbacks. He has thrown four touchdown passes and six interceptions. He has completed 51% of his passes since taking over as the starter. Now Geo Lopez, the North Carolina quarterback is not much better. He's thrown four touchdown passes and five interceptions this year. Can I tell you my favorite bet? This is not a betting show. My favorite bet of the whole weekend is the under on this game. The total on this is 54 and a half during these com these two four game losing streets each of these teams is averaging 13 points a game Like I, I can't. I don't think they're gonna snap sniff a combined 54 point total. I. I think this game is like.
C
I don't think it's 45 and a half not 54 and a half.
B
Wonder was so good. So appetizing.
C
Yeah, I would have bet the mortgage if it was 50:54 and a half. I still like the under 45 and a half man.
B
Stupid typing things in wrong. By the way, someone also noted that apparently if something is minus 8000 in betting it doesn't mean that you bet $8000 to win $1 as I said the other day and somebody was like if you're gon do it the right way so that actually makes sense that that is not right but it's still overwhelming odds but it is not quite bet 8000 to win one was not what that means. Right?
C
It'd be funny if that's what I know. I'm sorry. I swear I was wrong.
B
Yeah, I'm just. I'm trying not.
C
I was. I was here for the joke. I'm not here for the facts.
B
No, that's true. I mean I am Paul Feinbaum dressed as Buddy the Elf. I think we are pretty clearly Communicating what people should be here for. Under 45 and a half, I still think is a good bet. I have North Carolina. As much as I don't want to pick this. North Carolina nearly beat Virginia last year. There's like a lot. Last week there's a lot of talk of like, here they come. Like, we're getting it together and it's like, I still think they're bad, as you said also, but Syracuse has been a mess. Luke Carney's the backup quarterback who's probably going to play. He's 2 for 3 passing for 10 yards so far this year, though he is a little bit a run threat. Like, they have just fallen off a cliff without Steve Angelli. So I actually think it's a spot for Bill Belichick to get his first ACC win. I have North Carolina 24 16.
C
I can't do it. I just can't do it.
B
I respect it. Thank you.
C
I'm rolling. Yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna roll with. With Syracuse and, and if I lose, I lose. I have Syracuse 2420.
B
Okay. I respect it. I'm gonna root against myself, but also I'm trying to get to.500 with my picks. So this is a 7:30 game on Friday night. That again, I probably would have been intrigued to watch it. Syracuse is a 2 1/2 point home favorite in this game. But I'll probably wind up like, hate watching this to see how, how nuts this can get because these are. These are two programs currently in a very bad spot. I, I think it's reasonable for Syracuse given how good last year was in year one of Fran Brown, given a quarterback injury. This is the kind of thing that happens and of course it's completely unreasonable for North Carolina, who decided to torpedo their entire program by doing this. Gonna hate watch this.
C
Although you.
B
Oh, well, no, you'll be tricking. You're not trick or treating Friday, you're trick or treating on Thursday. So. No, you might be treating Friday.
C
We are trick or treating Friday, but we'll get. When we get back home, we'll check it out. Yeah. Yeah. I hope, I hope the defenses get a little loose with it. It's at least high scoring and entertaining, even if it's not particularly Good.
B
Yeah. Okay. 2420 Syracuse for you, 2416, North Carolina for me. Next one we're going to do is Vanderbilt at Texas. This is noon on Saturday. Texas is favored at home by two and a half. Steve Sarkeesian on Thursday. Texas head coach said Arch Manning was quote making good progress in practice, but he did suffer a concussion last week. I don't know if anyone knows for sure if he's going to play. He, Arch Banding might have been like, played the, his best game of the season when they came back and beat Mississippi State, but after he went out, Matthew Caldwell threw the go ahead touchdown pass. I'm not sure that I'm super concerned in evaluating this game whether Arch Manning plays or not.
C
It did not really factor into my decision. I, I am, I'm curious to see if he plays and if he does, I want to see him if he can build on what I, what I agree with you was like probably the best half of football he's played this year in the second half against Mississippi State. But if the assumption is Arch is just sort of what he's been all year, that, yeah, I'm not sure there's much of a difference either way with, with Texas's quarterback play and that's probably not the thing that would decide it for Texas anyway. But I hope he plays. That was a nasty hit that he took. I was like, you could tell right away that that was, that was. He got knocked out and I'm glad that he's like back at it so quickly even if he doesn't play. Yeah. This week. Yeah.
B
No. Good luck to Arch Manning and his health. I actually think it might be good for Texas though that we're not talking about like sort of fake. Is Arch hurt? Nobody can tell. He's grimacing. And we're not just talking about like what's up with Arch, what's up with Arch. It's almost like this is a legitimate thing and the backup has to be ready. And when they needed the backup last week, he was ready. And this Texas defense is still pretty good. This is the highest by the Fermo Index that we like. This is the highest rated defense that Vanderbilt will have faced. Texas is ninth. They did face Bama, who was 10. That's the one Vandy lost. They didn't score a ton of points last week against Missouri. I actually would not be as far as efficient as Vanderbilt's offense has been. I'm kind of expecting the Vanderbilt offense to struggle a little bit in this one. Are you at all or do you think Diego Pave and the guys are going to move the ball?
C
No, I think they're going to struggle a little bit too. It has been a very good offense. Right. I want to give credit where it's due but. But a lot of that work was done pre SEC schedule and it's not been bad against the sec, but you have seen the efficiency slip some, even in the LSU game where they ended up putting up 31 points. Like it was a struggle at times in that game too. That's a pretty good LSU defense. But this Texas one I think is by far the best one they're going to see just even from like a talent standpoint. So I'm not expecting Pavia to like kind of keep it rolling. And also like we, we did a Heisman show and I think we, we talked about Pavia a little or maybe wrote a Heisen story where we included Pavia in there. Like, I don't think the discussion about Diego Pavia and the Heisman is totally unwarranted. But to ask him if he thinks he should win the Heisman Trophy after he throws for 129 yards in a super low scoring game against Missouri is ridiculous. So I, I'm just done with it. I don't want, I don't want it to keep happening. So I'm going more vibes and emotions here than I am like technical ball. I, I hope that Vanderbilt doesn't keep it rolling in this game.
B
Yeah, I agree. I also put in the cigarette because I feel like I kind of look like down on his luck. Buddy the elf now.
C
Yeah. Sleeps in the refrigerator box. Yeah. Yeah.
B
Didn't shave down to my last cigarette. Buddy the elf. I have Texas 24 17.
C
I have Texas 28 14.
B
If Big Ten fans who want a shot at a fourth Big Ten team should root for Texas because we're. It's a good spot for Vandy to lose. And I still think Texas is not going to beat Texas A and M. So that would give Texas three losses. If, if Vandy wins this, you're starting to run out of spots for Vanderbilt to lose and they only have one loss. So this, this would be a, this would be a. I think this is a somewhat significant game. If Vandy wins this, they still have. They finished the season with Tennessee, but if Vandy wins this, they are, they are legitimately looking like pretty stinking solid for a playoff spot because again, for everything that Texas is not, this would be a road win at Texas. Like, I think the committee. Texas is not the number one team in the country, but Texas isn't terrible. This would still be like a pretty dang solid road win for the Commodores. So like, this is.
C
Yeah, this is big.
B
This is big for Vandy.
C
10 and 2. Vanderbilt with a win at Texas is in. So they play at Texas. They play Auburn, Kentucky and then as you said, they finish at Tennessee.
B
Yeah. So like if you, if you're trying to get Vanderbilt out and they still could lose one of those goofy games in the middle, but it's like get Vanderbilt out, it's like lose to Texas, lose Tennessee, three loss. Vanderbilt's probably not getting in.
C
Some things in life are just made for each other.
B
Peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese.
C
Modelo and College Football College football season.
B
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A
Tis the season of gifting and holes to deck and the who's in Whoville were in love with new Tech. Where can we find Sonos and Samsung and Nintendo? They shouted. Would they find it in one place? This they quickly questioned and doubted when suddenly a who yelled Walmart's the place to start. And each who added headphones, TVs and games to their carts. With Walmart their shopping was done in a flurry. They cried out who knew? And ordered their gifts in a hurry. Shop the latest Tech gifts in the Walmart app.
B
Next one is Michigan State at Minnesota. This is 3:30 on Saturday. Minnesota at home is favored by three and a half and I want to talk about Michigan State first Bill. That's kind of why I put this game in the picks this week. Jonathan Smith I think started to get asked about job security and that kind of thing this week. Overall in his second year at Michigan State he's 8 and 12. He's 311 in Big Ten play. Michigan State this year is 05 in the Big Ten. They started off 3 0. Now they've lost five straight. I, I don't know. I mean like it was quite a mess when he when he got there and he really had been a pretty darn good coach at Oregon State for the last three seasons there. How much does he need to win?
C
He a big time. I don't. You can't, you can't be worse in year two than you were in year one and that's kind of what they're trending toward. Especially because if you look at the remaining games. They could lose all of them. Minnesota, Penn State, Iowa, Maryland. Yep. Can win them too. Like I think could win this week. I think, you know, could be down on its luck. Penn State after Penn State plays Ohio State and Indiana. I wouldn't pick with the win at Iowa, but could, could beat Maryland too. I'm not saying it's a foregone conclusion, but lose, lose the rest of your games. We'll find out about that. Job security. I think it's just, it was a, it was a rebuild and I think everyone sort of respects that and is aware of it. But you got to show progress in year two and they haven't. And, and the best way, even in kind of a lost season that Jonathan Smith could have still like engendered hope with his fan base would be if, if Aiden Childs had made a jump. And that doesn't really seem to have happened either. So I as Michigan State, the kind of place is going to get rid of a new head coach after, after two years. I don't know. But the coaching carousel is pretty insane right now and it seems like everyone's trying to get their stuff, stuff together so they could feel some pressure to want to do that if a lot of other guys are going to get locked up this cycle.
B
A lot of people have theorized that if you're kind of on the border of maybe making a coaching change, now is not the year to do it because there's already so many big time jobs already open. But I've also, I mean it's just, it's just media members like us being ding dongs and writing and saying things in passing. But now that Brian Kelly's on the market and you're throwing things out there, it's like I've seen people throw out like Brian Kelly. And if Michigan State comes open because Brian Kelly does have roots, successful roots coaching in the state of Michigan and that I think it would be pretty crazy for Michigan State with where they are, what they're trying to get to. Jonathan Smith I think was a pretty smart, a little bit out of the box higher when they made it from Oregon State. And then you've got to give that guy a little bit of time. So I think even if they go.09 in the Big Ten, that's more. Jonathan Smith opens 2026 on a very hot seat. Not Jonathan Smith is actually fired. But you open the door. If you don't win a Big Ten game, you open the door for some booster, boosters getting antsy. And then when There's a guy sitting there. If they're like, we can get Brian Kelly, we can get Brian Kelly. Right? That amplifies things. And it like a win or two would really go a long way towards calming that because it's still like the Aiden child's development hasn't. Hasn't fully happened the way I think a lot of people, including you and I expected. And so I think there's reasonable questions around Michigan State, but I just don't know that Michigan State wants to be in the business of getting rid of a guy like this after two seasons.
C
Yeah, I don't. My guess is that they wouldn't either. Unless. Unless they identify to someone they think is like a real slam dunk. I don't even know who that would.
B
Be.
C
Just like more of a natural fit for. For Michigan State in the Big Ten. Then maybe Jonathan Smith, a West coast guy, you know, is or is or will turn out to be. But there's nobody like suit like I know like Brian Kelly got fired and everyone said bring it back to the state of Michigan. It's like, I don't think Brian Kelly's the answer for what Michigan State's looking for right now. So I'd imagine he gets another year. And like they can, as much as I said, like the season, get away from. They could also win a couple games and get to a bowl. Right? So like, it's not. It's not lost entirely, but this is a pretty big swing game, big pivot.
B
Game for Michigan State, for Minnesota, after getting its doors blown off at Iowa last week. 41 3. PJ Fleck up appropriately upset with that quote. That was unacceptable. I never questioned how hard we play in our toughness, but we executed very poorly. When you execute poorly, that comes down to the coaching staff. That comes down to me. They were down 17. Nothing really quick in that game. Drake Lindsay did not play well. Iowa blissed them, offense, defense, special teams. But they're oh and three on the road and they're five zero at home so far this season. Minnesota is. And they are coming back home to lick their wounds. And I do think PJ Fleck is a pretty good coach and I think there is real talent in spots on that team. The last time they were home, they blitzed Nebraska, only it's not a gambling show, only giving three and a half. I actually like Minnesota bouncing back with purpose kind of a lot here because I think Minnesota is pretty good. They. They got killed by Ohio State. They kind of gave that Cal game away. And then Iowa just Took them to the cleaners. We get it. But I especially think at home I expect them to play like a pretty good football team. Darius Taylor left the Iowa game with an injury. His status is uncertain, but they're kind of used to dealing with that with Darius Taylor. I kind of like Minnesota a lot in this one.
C
I do as well. But I hesitate to say that because of what happened last week when you and I kind of liked Minnesota, not kind of like did like Minnesota in that spot and we were very wrong. I like, I do think, I, I think very highly of BJ Fleck. I think if you want to compare like these two coaches and where they're at with their teams and just sort of kind of like having their finger on the pulse and, and getting them turned around, I, I definitely trust PJ Fleck more to, to do that than I do Jonathan Smith right now. So I'll, I'm gonna pick Minnesota at home too. I think fairly comfortably. I guess if the tail, the Taylor thing is worth, is worth considering maybe to pick a closer game or a lower scoring game. But I have Minnesota winning 2817.
B
Oh, that's a ridiculous pick because I have 2717. Okay, so Minnesota again three and a half point favorite at home. Like not scared of the half point. I, I, I, I think this is, I think this is like a pretty solid two score Minnesota win where they just look like the better team for the entire night. So that's why we pick basically that same score. This one I actually don't care about and I'm not sure I like I didn't want to, I didn't want to have us pick Florida, Georgia. It's always kind of like what two SEC weird SEC games do you want to talk about? Oklahoma at Tennessee, 7:30 Saturday night. Tennessee at home, favored by three and a half. Oklahoma, now in its second year in the SEC, has not scored more than 26 points in any SEC conference game. Tennessee is second in the nation in points per game at 46 points per game. And this year they scored only 20 in a loss to Alabama and has scored at least 34 in every other game. There was a time when people were really liking the combination of the Oklahoma defense and the way John Mattier was playing at quarterb. Then John Matiere got hurt and hasn't been the same and I'm not so sure about the Oklahoma defense anymore. I don't think Oklahoma has a chance in this.
C
Oh, interesting. I don't really know how good Tennessee is like that. I think this is the Best scoring offense in the SEC against still the best scoring defense in the SEC. Tennessee has six wins against teams whose combined records are 18 and 29.
B
Hold on. Are you talking about how mid an SEC team is?
C
The three SEC teams that Tennessee has beaten are a combined 0 and 13 in SEC play. They've just beaten the bottom of the conference, so that. Does that mean they're bad? No, it probably means they shouldn't be ranked as high as they are.
B
But.
C
I'm just a little uncertain about them. Like, I haven't really been tested the same way Oklahoma has. I have. I have a lot of questions about Oklahoma's offense, but I'm gonna trust Tennessee not being quite as prolific against a good defense. So I'm picking Oklahoma on the road.
B
Okay.
C
What do you think? 720.
B
Okay. I'm picking 31, 21 Tennessee. I. I actually think so. Like, again, trying to think of it, if you're a Big Ten fan, from a Big Ten perspective, what would you want to have happen here? I actually think the idea of maybe Tennessee emerging as the 10 and 2 sec team who's in the playoff battle is, like, the kind of team, because of what you just said, that. That a good 10 and two Big 10 team would actually have a good case against. So I'm not necessarily, from that standpoint, afraid of 10, 10 and 2 Tennessee, but also, I don't think Oklahoma is gonna. Oklahoma. They're both six and two.
C
No.
B
Tennessee has one loss and Oklahoma has two losses. Right. That's what we're talking about here so far. Right. So we're talking about here.
C
Tennessee. Yes, that sounds right. Yeah.
B
I don't think Oklahoma's getting out at 10 and 2. So, like, if they beat Tennessee, I think they'll lose somewhere else along the way just because they're kind of screwy. So I think you could root for Oklahoma, give Tennessee the second loss and assume that Oklahoma is going to screw it up at some point. But I also, like, I'm not afraid of the Tennessee win here. I don't. I don't.
C
Tennessee is 6 and 2, and Oklahoma is 6 and 2. Yes.
B
Oh, Tennessee. They're both 6 and 2. Okay.
C
Yeah.
B
Oh, that's good. So a third loss. Regardless. Everybody wins.
C
Tennessee lost to Georgia and Bama.
B
Oh, everybody wins because that's the. Everybody wins. Just kick back and. And root for section. Root for. For weird, chaotic, unimpressive, close play, and then everybody will win. So we're split on this. That's enough of that talk.
C
This one, by the way, in the three SEC wins they have against three terrible SEC teams, Tennessee gave up 34 to Mississippi State and won an overtime 31 to Arkansas one by three and 34 to Kentucky, who was terrible.
B
Talk your talk, Bill Landis. Speak your truth. Speak your truth.
C
But let's put them in the top world.
B
Tell the world, Tell the world. Ring the bell, run through the streets telling everybody how mid mid Tennessee is. God, I love you, brother. That was great stuff.
A
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B
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A
Barbie, Tony's and Lego.
B
Gifts that will make them all cheer. Do you mean they have all the brands I adore?
A
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B
What?
A
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B
Are you ready to get spicy? These Doritos Golden Sriracha aren't that spicy. Sriracha sounds pretty spicy to me. Um, a little spicy, but also tangy and sweet. Maybe it's time to turn up the heat. Or turn it down. It's time for something that's not too spicy. Try Doritos Golden Sriracha. Spicy but not too spicy. USC at Nebraska. Nebraska at home is a six and a half point underdog at home 7:30 on Saturday night. This is a big number and I think it's wrong because all, almost all these close games in the Big Ten, the home teams won. We talked about the cycle of death where all the home teams won. I'll say it one more time, see if I can remember it right. USC beat Michigan, Michigan beat Washington, Washington beat Illinois and Illinois beat usc. Right. The home team won all those games. We just talked about Minnesota, Iowa. The home team won that game. We talked about Minnesota, Nebraska. The home team won that game. Given all of that, why is the home team a six and a half point underdog in this game?
C
Because USC's offense is really good. Nebraska's offense is not very good and Matt Rule can't beat ranked teams.
B
Is it? What's USC ranked?
C
23. I think.
B
Matt Rule just got a two year contract extension on Thursday afternoon. He didn't get a raise, but he got more incentives for making the playoff. I. You. You. You tweeted a thing about when Matt Rule signed an extension at Baylor and still took the Carolina Panthers head coaching job. In January, like four months later. Do you actually think that this doesn't mean he's not taking Penn State?
C
I don't think it means that, no. I think they needed to do something to not have this Nebraska season go off the rails. But I'm not saying he's going to be Penn State's head coach, but I don't think this is something that would keep him from being. It's like a 15 million dollar buyout, which is no small sum of money. Yeah, I think a place like Penn State could pay it or they could figure out a way to work it into the deal, maybe if they really want Matt Rule. So, yeah, I don't think it's prohibitive if, if he would want to move.
B
I think it is prohibitive because I thought it's like this is, it's, this is in response to a specific situation. When Baylor gave him a contract extension, they weren't thinking like, we don't want you to go to Carolina Panthers. It was like, Matt Rules, a hot coaching commodity. He didn't know what was going to be out there. And he's like, yeah, it's like, it's like, like a decent NFL job. And this is Baylor. I think I'll take that. This was like. It feels like a direct response to me that it would be like, just. I think it is. I think it means he's not going to be the Penn State head coach, but we don't have to decide that right now. Do you think it quiets the noise enough to matter? Because we sort of were talking about, hey, Matt Rule might be the Penn State coach. Hey, Matt Rule has a podcast, hey, Matt Rules juggling in the streets and then you go get destroyed at Minnesota. It's like, what's wrong with this guy? And they, they did not. They barely beat Northwestern at home last week. But do you think this focuses Nebraska, the program, the coach, the fan base in any kind of way that matters for what's going to happen on the football field Saturday night?
C
Yeah, I think it can. I think it does. It probably eliminates some of the uncertainty that could be distracting. I, I don't know. Is that the reason the game against Northwestern was close, or was it close just because Nebraska tends to play close games against everybody? I, I don't know. I don't, I don't want to give them too much of an excuse for not winning that game by more than they should have or for getting their butts caked by Minnesota in the game before that, but it probably does matter. Some I, I, I took the perception of stability into consideration when making my. Okay a little bit. By the way, when, when, when Matt Rule left Baylor to go to the Carolina Panthers, the buyout was six million.
B
Okay.
C
That was an NFL team paying it. Obviously not a college program worth it.
B
Oh, wait, no. It blew up in their face. Sorry. Nebraska. I'm picking Nebraska. I'm pricking picking NE NEBRASKA 26, 24. And I can, I can see this coming down. The last play of the game in Nebraska kicking a game winning field goal. Just like it came down to usc, Illinois and Illinois kicking a game winning field goal. USC is one and two on the road. They lost Notre Dame, they lost to Illinois and they, it wasn't a close game against Purdue, but they didn't just like they didn't beat him 60 to nothing. And this is one of those where I completely get not trusting Matt Rule in a game like this. But do you trust Lincoln Riley in the game like this on the road?
C
That's the thing you need, you need to decide which trend will be bucked here because they, they can't tie. Because I kind of want to pick a tie. Matt Rule is 2 and 23 against ranked teams with the two wins coming when he was at Temple the Last 1 in 2016. He is 0 and 18 against ranked teams since leaving Temple. Lincoln rallies 2 and 5 on the road in the Big Ten since joining the conference last year. So which one of those do you feel a little more comfortable hitching your wagon too?
B
Ranked teams at all has never beaten a ranked team at Baylor, Nebraska.
C
No, he's too. No, but his ranked wins were. Yeah, he beat East Carolina and his last game at Temple, I think they beat a ranked Navy team in the American championship game.
B
What is happening? What's happening? I didn't know it was that bad. I still don't believe in Lincoln early though.
C
Pretty bad.
B
This would be the time like, like, oh my God, this extension was so worth it. This is the beginning of the new Matt Rule era. He's recommitted to Lincoln. Lincoln's really recommitted to him. Oh plus Lincoln Riley's playing in a city that's his name. That can't be good vibes.
C
No, I'm, I am generally in favor of fading the coach who just got an extension. But it's really tough when it's Lincoln Riley. It's, it's tough when it's Lincoln Riley on the other side on the road to the Big Ten. Plus it could be kind of cold in Lincoln on Saturday night, which I think does not bode well for the California boys. Since I can't pick a tie, I'm going to pick Nebraska to win by 131 30.
B
I respect it. Okay. Yeah, it's time again. Also, like, it's, it's. Dylan Raiola can be hard to trust also because he one moment is flipping a behind the back pass to a guy for 17 yards and the next moment is dangling the football out there to get it swatted away for a fumble by any defender who wants to swat it. And it's all the same thing. It all comes from the same place. He lives on the edge, probably in a way that's not good. I think it is a net negative. Like the style with which Dylan Raiola plays. I think if he pared it down, did not look like Patrick Mahomes at all, never had that comparison made and just played, played ball and threw the football, he'd probably be a better quarterback, but we can't wish that away either. But this, this is like an opportunity. This is. This is really. And it's like, I don't know. I don't know that people aren't like Nebraska in the playoffs and basket the playoffs. Like, just go, like, win a game that matters. Try to have a good season. Your coach signed an extension, whatever. Just go win a good football game at home in front of your crowd. Beat USC in a way that mattered. I think this should be, I think a very good headspace for Nebraska. There's no reason for it not to be. This should be Nebraska celebrating, not what it's not. Not what it might not be celebrating what it is, which is a football team that's played pretty well at times and has an opportunity. So seize the day, Nebraska. Seize the moment. It's not about playoff discussions. It's about having a great night in Lincoln and beating a ranked team on tv.
C
I think it'll be an awesome scene. Like, I'm pretty. I'm pretty fired up to watch the game. Lincoln at night in a game that matters, coming off of an extension for your coach. People feeling pretty good about the trajectory of the program. Like, yeah, it should be. It's a tough game to win. It's not, you know, it's not. It's not a gimme. But there's a chance for this to be like a real celebration in Nebraska football if they can pull it off. Yeah, I agree.
B
Like, subscribe, Tell a friend about the Bill and Doug Show. If you're watching and you haven't subscribed if you stumbled across this because you just you have your YouTube algorithm is set for ELF content and you're like what is this? Subscribe to this. We talk about college football and we have a good time doing it. We also have a good time talking about roback.com r h o b a c-k.com Fall is clearly here. You need a cool thing that reps your team. And the game day collection@roback.com has all kinds of stuff. Whether it's polos, whether it's hoodies, whether it's quarter zips. Like a high quality clothing with like that represents your team. But it's not necessarily overwhelming like for high state fans. Got like a little buckeye leaf here or like one stripe. Really cool. I always talk about it as like you know, get the best piece of clothing that will be part of your team collection. I love to wear my team's clothes. If you get something from roback.com, it's going to go right to the top of the list of your favorite stuff and we'll get you 20% off your first order. B A D 20 bad 20 20% off your first order. Use that code. Roback.com.
A
The who's down and who Newville were making their list but some didn't know Walmart has the best brands for their gifts.
B
What about toys? Do they have brands kids have been wanting all year? Yup.
A
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B
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A
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B
Are you ready to get spicy? These Doritos Golden Sriracha aren't that's spicy. Sriracha sounds pretty spicy to me. A little spicy but also tangy and sweet. Maybe it's time to turn up the heat or turn it down. It's time for something that's not too spicy. Try Doritos Golden Sriracha. Spicy but not too spicy. Cincinnati Utah this line is trapping me in the same way that the eight and a half or nine and a half point line with Minnesota at Iowa trapped us Bill and ate us alive. Cincinnati at Utah Utah at home is Getting is a 10 and a half point favorite. Cincinnati as good as Cincinnati has been, they lost by three to Nebraska when they had the ball at the end of the game with a chance to tie or win in the opener. They've won every game since. They are absolutely at the top of the mix in the Big 12 title race. They have a game with BYU in a couple weeks that they currently are two undefeated Big 12 teams. We really liked Utah in the off season, but Utah's kind of dorked around and lost two conference games. Why is this line ten and a half that Cincinnati is getting that many points? 10:15 Saturday night at Utah.
C
Yeah, I don't, I don't know you like you. You certainly account for Utah being at home at night and the advantage that that is. I don't know like from a power rating standpoint. Well, I guess I don't do my own power ratings, but I'm surprised the gap would be that large between these two teams with how well Cincinnati has played, with how well Brendan Sorsby has played. They're a balanced team, they run it well. The defense is pretty good, but I guess it could be like Cincinnati's rushing defense is sort of like fine but not great. And Utah obviously runs the ball really well. So that's probably it. Just the thought that, that Cincinnati's defense to this point has not been tested and it's run defense specifically like it's going to be tested in this game on the road and that could make the difference. But I was surprised to see that this was a 10 point spread.
B
I do think Utah is probably the best team that Cincinnati has played, but they haven't beaten only cupcakes. They have a nice win at Kansas. They beat Iowa State. Now their last three games, Central Florida, Oklahoma State, Baylor. Right. Maybe not the same quality. Baylor's okay. As we said, they have BYU at home on the second to last weekend of the regular season on November 22nd. And those, those teams are at the top of the Big 12 right now. Like this is, this is a gigantic game. Bill and Devin Dampier, who has been battling some injury stuff is supposed to be plans to be back at quarterback for Utah. That is obviously a really big deal. But Brendan Sorsby, as you said, has been awesome this year. He's thrown 20 touchdown passes against one interception, completing 65 of his passes. He's thrown for 1843 yards. He's also run for 425 yards. And even like last week last time out, like he didn't throw for a ton of yards against Baylor, but then he ran for a bunch. He ran for 85. And then they also have like a two headed monster at tailback and Evan Pryor and Tawi Walker, there's a. There's a lot like this is you. And I have been having a lot of conversations about Julian Saying, the Ohio State quarterback in the Heisman race. I think we might start. We should start having conversations about Brendan Soaresby, the Cincinnati quarterback in the Heisman race. If Max Duggan can finish second the Heisman for TCU a couple years ago, why can't Brendan Sorsby is propelling this for Cincinnati and we thought the Big 12 was going to have a bunch of good quarterbacks this year and Brendan Soresby has played as well as any of them.
C
If Sorsby goes to Utah and like balls out and Cincinnati wins, I think he will be in the Heisman conversation. Okay, I'll be banging. I'll be banging that drum. He would need to be. I think if you look at like we were looking up Julian saying stuff, just looking at the PFF grades or whatever, a lot of times you're like, oh, Julian sayings first. Who's second? Oh, it's Brendan Sorsby. He's six in the country in passing efficiency. But like under pressure, like overall passing grade and stuff is just. Yeah, he's played, he's played really well. Like not pro, not pro run threat. Yeah, he does have games where he like, he doesn't really like, put up big passing yard numbers, but he's been efficient the entire year and he runs really well. Yeah, I, and I think like, he's. It's a, it's a. It's pretty good Utah defense. It's a really good Utah passing defense. Not quite as good against the run, but I think there, there's a chance here that Source B like leads Cincinnati to would be a gigantic win for that program. Not picking it though, you.
B
Utah has two losses. They. Their game with Texas Tech. They scored to make it 13:10 early in the fourth quarter in a game where Utah had trouble scoring. But they finally scored a touchdown to make it 13:10 and it completely fell apart and gave up three Texas Tech touchdowns the rest of the game and lost 34:10. But that game was closer than the score would indicate. And then they BYU because Kyle Whittingham just went for it on every fourth down. And if he had kicked a couple field goals, they probably would have won. It was like the success rate. They dominated his success rate against BYU and just gave that game away with Kyle Whittingham. Like, I don't know. That was like a, that was like an old guy trying to, to dress like a new kid's clothes. It's like Kyle Whittingham just, like, be who you are. Like, what are you doing? I thought it was so weird.
C
They turned it over. Turned it over four times against Texas Tech and two times against byu. They have eight turnovers all year and six of them were in their two losses.
B
So. So this is hard because Cincinnati, I think, deserves. Cincinnati is probably underrated for what they've done. I certainly did not think they would be very good this year. They've been awesome. I did think Utah would be good, and they have a couple screwy losses. So before the season, I definitely thought Utah would be a lot better than Cincinnati and a 10 and a half point line would have made total sense to me. But now I think Cincinnati, with only one loss is probably disrespected and Utah with two losses is probably maybe a little better than people think. But ten and a half's a lot. Isn't ten and a half so many points?
C
It's. Yeah. And unless, like, you know, Cincinnati is about to become a pumpkin, which I guess is possible, but does feel like a lot.
B
Yeah.
C
Yeah.
B
This is the game that I am most excited to watch this weekend.
C
Me, too.
B
Because I am most curious about these. This matchup. What. What's the real deal here? And I do think both teams are good. And for that reason, I can't imagine not taking Cincinnati with the points. But this is tough on the road, man, So I am going to have it go down to the stinking wire barn burner. Utah 34, Cincinnati 33.
C
Okay, we're. I think we're of similar minds here. This game is also the reason why I don't want to do a late night post game show because I want to watch this game.
B
Oh, that's true.
C
Just to be transparent, you don't.
B
You don't want to talk about Lincoln Riley and Matt rule for 90 minutes while Brendan Soaresby and Devin Dampier are bawling out in the background.
C
No, I do not know. One thing that I find interesting in this game. Cincinnati is 130th in the country with only 61 plays per game, and Utah is 19th in the country with 74 plays per game. So I'm interested to see. Both want to run the ball, but Utah runs the ball and plays tempo. So I'm interested to see, like, kind of which style might win out there. But I have. I have Utah winning, but I have Cincinnati covering 31, 28. And what I really hope is an excellent football game.
B
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right, we're on the same page there. We appreciate you guys being here. Have a happy Halloween. That's come straight from Buddy Fine. Bomb your jolly college football elf greening. That's why eight teams from the SEC should get in. Happy trick or treating, Bill Landis.
C
Happy trick or treating to you as well. I think we might stop by your house for trick or treating too, so.
B
Yeah, please do. So I'm gonna be eating chili and handing out candy. I have been debating whether. So we have like stuffed scarecrows that we keep in our garage all year long and then we put them out on our porch for Halloween. I have been debating whether I should try to dress up like in the clothes and of one of the stuffed scarecrows and then sit there and try to be a scarecrow and scare the bejesus out of little kids. But my wife thinks I shouldn't.
C
Because you're gonna be by yourself, right? Yeah. Yeah.
B
It's.
C
It's a little more strange when you're just by yourself. Like, if there are other people there be. I think it'd be because it is fun. I've done that before. It's pretty fun. But when you're by yourself, it's a little strange.
B
I'm an old man eating chili dressed as a scarecrow to scare seven year olds. It's. It's iffy. It's. It's potentially illegal, like the cops could be called, depending on the circumstances. So I probably won't do. I'll probably just hand out candy like a normal person. But we hope you guys have a great Halloween. We appreciate you guys hanging out and watching the Bill and Doug Show. We do a playoff show on Tuesday nights. We do these national picks on Friday. I do rants on Monday usually that are kind of about national college football. We check in with a lot of Ohio State coverage here, obviously on the Bill and Doug show, but we're just happy that you guys are along for the ride and you let us hang out with you. So have a great weekend. Enjoy these college football games. We'll catch you soon. For now, he's Bill Landis. I'm Doug Lemarise. And that was the Bill and Doug Show.
A
The who's down and who. Newville were making their list, but some didn't know. Walmart has the best brands for their gifts.
B
What about toys? Do they have brands kids have been wanting all year? Yep.
A
Barbie doll, Tonys and Lego gifts that.
B
Will make them all cheer. Do you mean they have all the brands I adore? They have Nintendo, Nespresso, Apple and more.
A
What about so the who answered questions from friends till they were blue? Each one listened and shouted From Walmart? Who knew? Shop gifts from top brands for everyone on your list in the Walmart app.
B
Are you ready to get spicy? These Doritos Golden Sriracha aren't that spicy. Maybe it's time to turn up the heat or turn it down. It's time for something that's not too spicy. Try Doritos Golden Sriracha Spicy but not too spicy.
Episode: College Football Picks: Nebraska’s Matt Rhule finally gets a ranked win? Vanderbilt derailed?
Date: October 31, 2025
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises (“B”) & Bill Landis (“C”)
Main Theme:
This episode is dedicated to national college football picks and big-picture analysis, with a focus on six intriguing matchups across the college landscape. Doug and Bill break down the games, discuss coaching narratives, and inject the banter and wry humor that longtime listeners love, all while keeping Ohio State fans in mind.
Main Talking Point: Two programs in freefall searching for relief
Breakdown:
Main Talking Point: Is this Vandy’s derailment, or are they legit?
Breakdown:
Main Talking Point: Jonathan Smith’s job security amid a second-year slump
Breakdown:
Main Talking Point: SEC mid-tier teams battling for relevance, possible playoff implications
Breakdown:
Main Talking Point: Can Matt Rhule finally get a marquee win after a (possibly meaningless) contract extension?
Breakdown:
Main Talking Point: Undervalued Cincinnati tries to prove itself on a national stage
Breakdown:
Doug and Bill deliver a sharp, data-infused, but playful look at the national CFB slate, poking at coaching narratives, team trajectories, and conference power plays—all while keeping Ohio State and playoff implications in focus. Big themes: struggling programs seeking a spark, the realness of sudden contenders, and the sometimes thin line between winning vibes and job searches.
— “We appreciate you guys hanging out and watching the Bill and Doug Show. For now, he’s Bill Landis. I’m Doug Lesmerises.” (45:08–47:15)