The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk

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.

1. North Carolina at Syracuse (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

Main Talking Point: Two programs in freefall searching for relief
Breakdown:

• Doug and Bill riff on Halloween, costumes, and their subpar picking records, setting a jocular tone.
• Both teams are on four-game losing streaks, offenses faltering, and coaching decisions in question.
• North Carolina (with Bill Belichick as head coach) struggling to find footing; Belichick attempted bold plays, but Doug quips:
  • “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.” (03:00)
• Syracuse’s defense is “quite bad,” and after losing QB Steve Angeli, the offense unraveled under Ricky Collins.
• Notable coaching quote from Fran Brown, signaling QB change:
  • “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 Angeli. Under Ricky’s time we went 0–4. You have to open that competition up.” (04:32)
• Both hosts expect a sloppy, low-scoring affair. Doug’s favorite bet is the under at 45.5 points:
  • “During these two four-game losing streaks, each of these teams is averaging 13 points a game... I can’t. I don’t think they're gonna sniff a combined 54 point total.” (05:00)
• Picks:
  • Doug: North Carolina 24, Syracuse 16
  • Bill: Syracuse 24, North Carolina 20

2. Vanderbilt at Texas (Saturday, Noon)

Main Talking Point: Is this Vandy’s derailment, or are they legit?
Breakdown:

• Texas favored by 2.5, with QB Arch Manning’s status uncertain due to concussion. Both agree it doesn't dramatically affect the pick.
• Doug thinks it's “good for Texas though that we're not talking about like sort of fake 'Is Arch hurt?'... It's almost like this is a legitimate thing and the backup has to be ready.” (10:24)
• Both think Vandy’s high-octane offense will struggle against Texas’s strong defense (ranked 9th nationally).
• Bill, on Diego Pavia’s Heisman hype:
  • “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.” (11:09)
• Picks:
  • Doug: Texas 24, Vanderbilt 17
  • Bill: Texas 28, Vanderbilt 14
• Playoff implication: If Vandy wins, their playoff path solidifies. “This is big for Vandy,” says Bill. (13:32)

3. Michigan State at Minnesota (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.)

Main Talking Point: Jonathan Smith’s job security amid a second-year slump
Breakdown:

• Michigan State is 0–5 in Big Ten play, showing regression; discussion focuses on whether Smith’s job is safe.
• Bill: “You can't be worse in year two than you were in year one and that's kind of what they're trending toward.” (16:10)
• Doug thinks even a winless Big Ten mark won't get Smith fired yet, unless a “slam dunk” replacement emerges—namechecked Brian Kelly, but both dismiss him as a true fit.
• Minnesota coming off a blowout at Iowa (41–3), but undefeated at home.
• Doug, on Fleck’s home bounce-back: “The last time they were home, they blitzed Nebraska... I actually like Minnesota bouncing back with purpose kind of a lot here.” (20:35)
• Picks:
  • Doug: Minnesota 27, Michigan State 17
  • Bill: Minnesota 28, Michigan State 17

4. Oklahoma at Tennessee (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.)

Main Talking Point: SEC mid-tier teams battling for relevance, possible playoff implications
Breakdown:

• Tennessee favored by 3.5, but Bill questions their strength of schedule:
  • “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.” (23:33)
• Doug is skeptical of Oklahoma’s chances but finds the Big Ten playoff calculus interesting.
• Picks:
  • Doug: Tennessee 31, Oklahoma 21
  • Bill: Oklahoma 27, Tennessee 20
• Bill’s “speak your truth” breakdown of mid-level SEC competition is a memorable moment, with Doug showering mock admiration:
  • “Ring the bell, run through the streets telling everybody how mid mid Tennessee is. God, I love you, brother. That was great stuff.” (26:02)

5. USC at Nebraska (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.)

Main Talking Point: Can Matt Rhule finally get a marquee win after a (possibly meaningless) contract extension?
Breakdown:

• Nebraska is a home underdog (+6.5), despite the “home field dominance” trend in Big Ten.
• Matt Rhule received a 2-year extension (with playoff incentives), but Bill is unconvinced it locks Rhule down:
  • “It’s like a 15 million dollar buyout, which is no small sum of money... but a place like Penn State could pay it.” (28:45)
• The Matt Rhule narrative: “Matt Rule is 2 and 23 against ranked teams... 0 and 18 since leaving Temple.” (31:45)
• Lincoln Riley’s road struggles in the Big Ten are highlighted:
  • “Lincoln Riley is 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?” (31:45)
• Fun on Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola: “He lives on the edge, probably in a way that's not good. I think it is a net negative... he 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.” (33:28)
• Picks:
  • Doug: Nebraska 26, USC 24
  • Bill: Nebraska 31, USC 30
    Both call for a Nebraska upset, predicting a raucous celebratory environment in Lincoln.

6. Cincinnati at Utah (Saturday, 10:15 p.m.)

Main Talking Point: Undervalued Cincinnati tries to prove itself on a national stage
Breakdown:

• Utah favored by 10.5, which shocks both hosts given Cincinnati’s strong season.
• “This line is trapping me in the same way that the... point line with Minnesota at Iowa trapped us Bill and ate us alive.” (37:12)
• Detailed look at Cincy QB Brendan Sorsby—a legit Heisman contender if he wins in Salt Lake City, per Bill:
  • “He’s played really well... he's sixth in the country in passing efficiency... he runs really well.” (41:03)
• Utah has two “screwy” losses, but has generally played well. Turnovers were key to their defeats, as Bill notes:
  • “Turned it over four times against Texas Tech and two times against BYU... six of them were in their two losses.” (42:48)
• Picks:
  • Doug: Utah 34, Cincinnati 33
  • Bill: Utah 31, Cincinnati 28
    Both expect a close, high-quality, late-night battle: “This is the game that I am most excited to watch this weekend.” (43:50)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On picking games as “Paul Feinbaum dressed as Buddy the Elf”:
  • “I find vomit. He’s just. He’s easy to imitate… but also my beard ruins my Paul Feinbaum costume.” – Doug (01:41)
• Bill’s frank QB analysis:
  • “I'm done with it. I don't want it to keep happening. So I'm going more vibes and emotions here than I am like technical ball.” (11:09)
• On how mid-tier Tennessee is:
  • “Ring the bell, run through the streets telling everybody how mid mid Tennessee is.” – Doug (26:02)
• The show closes with Halloween antics: Should Doug dress as a scarecrow to spook trick-or-treaters? Bill: “It’s a little more strange when you’re just by yourself… It’s potentially illegal.” (46:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:32] Fran Brown on QB change at Syracuse
• [05:00] Favorite pick: Under 45.5 in UNC-Syracuse
• [13:32] “This is big for Vandy” – On playoff impact
• [16:10] Michigan State job security
• [23:33] Tennessee’s weak SEC resume
• [31:45] Matt Rhule/Lincoln Riley record against ranked teams/on the road
• [41:03] Brendan Sorsby's emergence
• [43:50] “This is the game that I am most excited to watch”

Tone and Style

• Irreverent, honest, and ball-focused. Frequent tangents into personal Halloween plans, Ohio State fan meta-discussion, and “fighting Southern CFB bias.”
• Picks and analysis are well-reasoned, but the show stays conversational—“I was here for the joke. I'm not here for the facts.” (07:07)

Summary Takeaway

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)