
Loading summary
Chase Freedom
As we gather together during this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only experience the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn more@chasefreedom.com and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your pocket.
JPMorgan Chase
Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank NA.
LifeLock
Member FDIC.
JPMorgan Chase
Listen, I'm gonna get serious for a minute. The hate in our country is out.
Doug Gottlieb
Of control and it's at an all time high and it's gonna take us.
LifeLock
All to stop it.
JPMorgan Chase
We're on the same team in this country. Let's stop hate. To regroup our team, we need to take a timeout against hate. Visit Stand up to all hate.org to help and join me in calling for a timeout against hate by following at what's up with Hate or posting the Blue Square emoji. Stand up to all hate dawg.
Chad Millman
Sometimes life can seem hard and tough to navigate, but what may seem like the smallest tasks, such as getting out of bed or even brushing your teeth, should be celebrated as a win. And State Farm is here to help you celebrate all your wins. The State Farm Personal Price Plan helps you create an affordable price just for you. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can bundle and save with the Personal price Plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.
LifeLock
What gift are you going to get that person that's impossible to shop for? Give the gift of sound JLab has the perfect gift for anyone with a variety of styles, sizes and colors, and they have products for under $100, under doll and even under $25. I love that. Save up to 60% on select JLab products this holiday season on JLab.com look for the JLAB Blue Box at retailers everywhere or visit jlab.com today it's inevitable. Rain, snow and ice are coming and they're going to make driving a challenge. You know it. Thankfully, the experts at Tire Rack know a thing or two about conquering winter's worst. New tires elevate traction and braking and will keep you safe. Tire Rack sells only the best, like the full line of Michelin tires. Go to tirerack.com collins c o l I n that's me. Build the tire and wheel package for DIY installation that's do it yourself. Shipped fast and free and backed by two years of free road hazard protection. Tirerack.com the way tire buying should be the volume. Let's talk about something really, really important. If you're ever injured, check out Morgan and Morgan. It's America's large injury law firm and they are there for you. Over 100 offices nationwide. Think about that. More than 1,000 lawyers with over 20 billion. That's a B. $20 billion recovered for over 500,000 clients. Things happen in life unexpectedly. Submitting an injury claim with Morgan and Morgan is really, really easy. Like winning in the NFL is hard. We know that quarterbacking in the NFL is hard. Submitting a claim is easy. You're ever injured, check out Morgan and Morgan. Their fee is free unless they win. For more information go to forthepeople.com Colin or dial pound law from your cell phone. Pretty easy. That's forthepeople.com Colin or pound law 529 from your cell. Morgan and Morgan has a proven track record of fighting for you to get a full and fair compensation if there's an unexpected accident in your life. This is a paid advertisement. All right, time for an instant reaction. I, I gotta be honest. I've already sent Justin Herbert a text. I poured one tonight just for this. 34:27 Chargers win. Whoever won, I was happy. Although I did pick the Charger, so I'm a little happier. You know, I've said this is when I started the volume. One of the things I really, really like when I was in my 20s and 30s, I was probably just too selfish to help anybody else. I was into my thing and I didn't, you know, I was unmarri. And then you get older and older and you have kids and you get married and, you know, over time, you know, hopefully you have something in you that you want to see others succeed. And I love seeing young quarterbacks in the NFL get the right coach. And Bonix could have gotten, you know, countless coaches that couldn't help him. And he still, he is still learning. But in that first half, that was all on script those first two or three series. And Bonix was great because he's now got his mentor, he's got his kingpin, he's got Sean Payton. Now the second half, it's not on script. That's about talent. And Justin Herbert took over. Herbert's more talented, bigger, stronger. He's just a more talented, experienced quarterback in the NFL. But both of these guys, these two teams last year were 13 and 21. I mean, think about that. And right now they're 18 and 12 and both are going to make the playoffs. One got a coach and one, Sean Payton, got a quarterback. And this tonight was a PSA for the league. You get the right coach, you get the right quarterback, you can turn it around in one season. It doesn't even matter in the NBA if you land Giannis or Jokic. It takes years and years to build up to be viable in Major League Baseball. I mean, there's just some teams that can't afford it, right? But in the NFL, Houston was a laughingstock. A bottom three team in the league. Demiko Ryan, C.J. stroud, playoffs. The Chargers last year. I think by the end of the year they had a team mutiny. They were one of the three worst teams in the league. This defense is all the same guys. Now. The offense got Joe alt and lad McConkey, no question, upgrades. But they're so beat up now, they're using a defensive tackle. Are the Chargers as one of their skill people? Matlock? Give me a break. They're using return guys and Quentin Johnson still can't catch. I mean, this is. The second half is. You know, Joel and lad McConkey have obviously helped, but the Chargers are so beat up on the back end of their defense and they're beat up at tight end. They didn't have Will Disley. You know, they're, they're, they don't have J.K. dobbins and, you know, it's. There's still a draft away. They're about six players away. They need a tight end, another running back, although Gus Edwards had a great, huge run of the game. But it just shows you why the NFL is king. You just either get a coach, get a quarterback, or Houston get both and you're a playoff team. And it's just. I've always called the NFL the League of Hope. But let's first start with the Chargers. They were. What did Al Michaels say tonight? I can't believe Al Michaels is this good at 80. The guy is such a talented guy. Al Michaels is still funny and quick, and he and Herb street sound like they like each other. Al Michaels is so good at 80 years old, it's insane. He just signed for next year, by the way. But you know that he had said at one point, the Chargers were like, oh, for their last 11 in games, decided by three points or less. They just don't know how to win. You know, they just don't know how to win. And they take this team at the end of last year, it was a disaster. At the end of the year, could have been the worst team in the league. Same guys on defense, and in fact, half the defensive guys in the back end are hurt. Derwin James is healthy and carrying them, but they're all banged up and look at them. And it was such a testament to Harbaugh's coaching because I mean, Harbaugh and Herbert tonight won the game. Harbaugh's halftime adjustments and Jesse Minter and then Herbert in the second half scrambling on a bad ankle for a first down, that throw for a touchdown in the end zone, moving to his left, throwing it off his bad foot. It was just a Herbert Harbaugh second half of just great coaching, smart adjustments, Herbert doing what he's doing. It's just, it makes me really happy. I feel really bad for Caleb Williams. None of it is his fault. I just feel bad for the kid. And maybe it's because in my life I've had really, you know, I've been very fortunate that I've landed at good spaces, especially early in my career when I didn't know what the hell I was doing. It's just so important. I tell my kids this all the time. It's not just about you. You're gonna hopefully find somebody that can mentor you, cares about your well being and you know, in the job market and they the best out of you. And I feel like that's what Jim Harbaugh is doing to Herbert and that's what Sean Payton's doing to Bo Nix. Both teams are a draft away, right? But Denver doesn't have a ton of depth. The Chargers need more weapons and a couple corners. But. And the end of the half sequence was so perfectly Harbaugh. He's competing to the very end. I mean, Jim Harbaugh is competing to the very end. And some people say he's weird, he's intense. Okay, it's the NFL. Belichick was intense, Dan Campbell's intense, John Payton's intense. So end of the first half, you know, they get that field goal and that's just Harbaugh battling to the end. So there's a big difference between going in down, what they would have been, and then the field goal. You got a real football game and trailing eight at half feels a lot different than trailing by 12. And I mean, that kind of momentum into the locker room and change the energy and the juice. And I thought Denver had all the juice in the first half and the Chargers had all of the juice with that field Goal going into intermission in the second half. And the Chargers outscored the Broncos 24 to 6 once. Harbaugh called that timeout end of the first half and got the free kick before halftime, 24 to 6, just battling and fighting to the very end. Herbert in the second half, by the way. Jesus. And he again, he is working with return guys. A first round receiver that can't catch a defensive lineman, backup running back. Herbert in the second half, 11 of 15, two touchdowns, passer rating of 142.8. Jesus. I mean, it's just, it is just, I just, Isn't it crazy is that, you know, Sean Payton takes this shipwreck. Denver, I think I like their gm, but it's a mess. They're in dead cap hell in the afc. And before the season started, Vegas had him at five and a half wins. And I thought they, and I said it was my favorite double win total. I thought they would double that. I thought they'd get in kind of the nine, eight, nine category. They're going to make the playoffs. They're in with nine wins now and they'll, they'll win one of their final three games. And I think they're capable of winning a playoff game. I don't think Denver's capable of winning two or three, but I think they're capable of winning a playoff game. I feel the same way about the Chargers. They kind of have to win one way. You know, they've got to have Herbert be Superman. They've got to have everybody healthy there. Pittsburgh's got this feel. Pittsburgh, Denver and the Chargers, those are one playoff win teams. Herbert finishes the night about, what is it, 23 or 31, 300 yards? It is, it's just, you know, remember a couple years ago and the media, you know, the media went through a weird thing where it was very sensitive. And I remember about three or four years ago and the media was just saying, oh, these Thursday night games, they're unfair to players. Oh, give me a break. So I called players, I talked to coaches, and the players I talked to are like, we love Thursday night games. Usually it's a division rival, so you don't have to do a ton of film study. Like tonight you're playing somebody you know, and it's usually a division game, so the travel isn't too long. It's a two hour flight somewhere and you don't hit during that week. And then you get almost a second bye week. And the media was freaking out about Thursday night games. We've had some Sensational. Thursday night games tonight was sensational. I thought it would be much sloppier. I thought Denver was so crisp in the first half. Now in the second half, Denver, I mean, let's face it, they aided the Chargers on that long drive. They had a couple guys off sides. That was a huge break. There were two big moments in the game for me, that the end of the halftime kick and then Denver had a series of penalties as the Chargers got that big drive which eventually ended up with Herbert making that throw for a touchdown in the end zone. But they have three or four defensive penalties and that really gave them. They really seized momentum. And you could hear the crowd a little bit getting into it and God, that was just fun. Hold on, my phone's ringing. It's probably Justin Herbert. I'm sorry to be obnoxious. Can I be happy? Okay, so a big topic of conversation before we get to Chad Millman has been the NBA ratings this week. And I saw JJ Redick said tonight, you know, the league needs to be celebrated. No, the NBA needs to be audited. Don't blame the fans because the ratings are down. If you own a restaurant and people aren't buying certain items on the menu, change the menu. The audience is right, the consumer's right. The NBA is celebrated too much. The players are pampered and coddled and not called out enough. I mean, good. Hell, Adam Silver two years ago said, our players are miserable. Twitter is making them miserable. Can you imagine a football player saying that? Give me a break. The league is celebrated constantly. It needs to be audited. It needs to be held accountable. Load management's crap. The three point shooting is gross. In fact, did you notice who Talked about the three point shooting? LeBron James was asked about the All Star game changes and he dropped an F bomb and said, here's what I notice. Teams are shooting way too many threes. LeBron James said that a guy that loves the game, Joe Mazur, the coach of the Celtics, was asked this week about the ratings and he said, yeah, I don't watch our game either. So that's the championship coach and the best player in the last 20 years criticizing the league from a position of power, not seeking attention. In fact, LeBron didn't want to go into it. He kept saying, I don't want to get too into it. So the people that are criticizing the NBA are not bringing a hatchet. They're not anti this or pro nostalgia. When your stuff isn't selling, change the menu. Rob Manfred did and Adam Silver needs To. For the record, when you make changes to your menu, to your business, the consumer always responds. Always. I mean, baseball was in a 15 year drought. Rob Manfred made two changes. The ratings went up the last two years. This year they went through the roof during the postseason. People want to watch sports. I want to watch the NBA. I tried watching the championship, NBA Cup. Oklahoma City was 5 of 32 from threes. It was awful. It was unwatchable. It was dreck. So, you know, nobody's against the NBA. People that criticize it, watch it. I watch it all the time. I don't really get into it until the football season's done. But, you know, by February, you know, you have the two weeks before the Super Bowl, I start watching 30 minutes a night, 40 minutes a night. So I thought it was interesting that Joe Missoula and LeBron James both came out and were critical aesthetically of the current product. It's not a good watch. And when something falls off the cliff in two years, three years, gotta look in the mirror. It's not about celebrating, it's about auditing. That's something baseball did recently and something the NFL does annually. NFL is king for a lot of reasons. One of the reasons, the ability to self police, self monitor and course correct. Well, it's the most wonderful time of the year for getting in on all the basketball, football, hockey, action at DraftKings sportsbook. It's the season of giving, so we're being gifted. College football and basketball, pro football, basketball, pro hockey too. Almost 24, 7. It's an absolutely great time of the year. So a lot of games every day. So many opportunities to place your first bet. Now, if you're going to bet for the first time, just make it simple. Pick a team to win, any team, go to DraftKingsportsbook. They have an app. Download it. 90 seconds. Here's the gift for all new customers. Bet 5 bucks. Just 5 bucks. If your bet wins, you get $150 in bonus bets. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app. The code is Colin C O L I N New customers. 150 bucks in bonus bets. If you bet 5 bucks and it wins. Happy holidays from DraftKings. Crown is yours.
JPMorgan Chase
Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and resort in Kansas. 21 and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible GAM, see DKNG Co beball as we gather together.
Chase Freedom
During this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only experience the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn more@chasefreedom.com and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your pocket.
JPMorgan Chase
Cards issued by JPMorgan face Bank NA.
LifeLock
Member FDIC.
Lavar Arrington
The flavor, the tradition and the spirit of Carne Asada lives on at Del Taco. Join the Asada today with Del Taco's new limited time half pound Chipotle Carne Asada Steak Burrito packed with sweet, spicy and smoky flavor. Wrapped up and grilled to perfection, the whole Carne Asada Steak menu delivers the bold flavors you crave with epic burritos, loaded fries and street tacos starting at just $2.99 only at Del Taco.
Doug Gottlieb
For many of us, the holiday season means more travel, more shopping, more time online, and more of your personal information in more places you can't control. It only takes one innocent mistake, even if it's not your mistake, to expose you to to identity theft. Not to worry, LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points every second and alerts you to threats you could miss by yourself. Even if you keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements. If your identity is stolen, your own US based restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed. The last thing you want to do this holiday season is face drained accounts, fraudulent loans or other financial losses from identity theft all alone. Gift yourself the peace of mind that comes with LifeLock and spend more time doing more of the holiday things you love. Visit lifelock.com iheart and save up to 40% your first year. That's 40% off@lifelock.com iheart LifeLock for the threats you can't control.
JPMorgan Chase
Gifting is hard, but here's a hint. Give the gift of connection from US Cellular. Not sure what that means? Here's a slightly more specific you can choose four free phones and get four lines for $90 a month from US Cellular. Your family wants new phones? How do we know? They told us. The good news is that compared to wrapping presents, you're great at getting hints. So take the hint and get them four free phones and four lines for $90 a month. US Cellular built for us.
Ryan Seacrest
This is Doug Gottlieb from All Ball with Doug Gottlieb. Hey, I'm gonna talk to you about something that's really serious for a minute. Something personal. Right now. In our country, hate feels like it's at an all time high and we're going backwards and the hate is winning. It's out of control. So many different people, so many different groups are facing too much hate. And it's just enough. We need to stop and regroup, change the momentum as a team, because that's what we are. Everyone in this country is on the same team. So let's act like it's. And when a team can't get together, what do they do? They call a timeout. We need to take a timeout against hate. So let's think about what we say and do. And when we see hate and we see someone doing or saying those things we know are wrong or hateful, we need to call it out. Visit stand uptoallhate.org or join me in calling for the timeout against hate by following ot'supwithhate or posting the blue square emoji.
LifeLock
Let's talk about the Chicago Bears. So they, they lost to the Vikings. I didn't think Sam Darnold played particularly well, but he's getting the ball to TJ Hawkinson, Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson. So he's getting the ball to the right people. I thought he was a little high. Missed some throws, but overall, Minnesota was picked for third or fourth. I mean, it's all gravy at this point. First, let's start with the Chicago Bears. There are a couple franchises in this league that are just broken, and I think the Chicago Bears are top of the list. It's a broken franchise. The McCaskeys are arguably the worst owners in the league. Oldest and among the poorest. Really out of touch. Kevin Warren's the president. I've been told for years, highly political Charles Robinson of Yahoo reporting today that you know somebody that seeks power and to retain power. That's a little what I was told years ago. Don't know him personally, but that's what I've been told from two sources I trust. Ryan Poles is young. You know, I'm hit and miss on polls. I love the Montez sweat deal, the DJ Moore deal. I don't think he's the problem in the organization. I think Ryan Poles is struggling with the people above him, but a great example of the dysfunction so Matt Eberfluss, a defensive coach, was fired. Well, defensive coaches don't have the offensive connections that offensive coaches do. I mean, there is a reason Andy Reid keeps hiring really good offensive coaches, right? Like their offense. Now, Reed does most of the play calling, but Doug Peterson got a head coaching job. Matt Nagy got a head coaching job and by the way, got Mitt Trubisky to the playoffs twice. So you can say all you want about Matt Nagy, you die for Matt Nagy now in Chicago. And then there's a reason that, you know, Belichick had to rely on Josh McDaniels when Josh left. You know, Bill was scrambling to find an offensive coordinator, but Sean McVeigh can find one every two years. So Thomas Brown was under Shane Waldron. Well, Eber Flush doesn't have a lot of great offensive connections, clearly, because when Shane Waldron left Chicago, Seattle, he was criticized. They rolled their eyes at him. He went to Chicago. It was a mess with Caleb Williams. Then Thomas Brown, who's a bright young guy, he coached with the Rams, but, you know, he's an interim head coach. He's had. This is his third different job this season with the Bears. I mean, HR is probably asking him to slow down so they can get his paycheck, right? I'm not going to blame him, but Eber flu selected this staff and it's not very good. I think it's a broken franchise. And, you know, my take is, if you, if you're really honest about it, you know what they remind me of? I was thinking about it tonight. They remind me a lot. The Bears are the Chargers last season where they had a talented young quarterback, some really nice pieces, but major cultural issues. And what did they do? They went and got Jim Harbaugh to fix it. And that's why Mike Vrabel's the hire. Vrabel is Dan Campbell, but less reckless. He's Jim Harbaugh, but to this point hasn't been as successful. He's a really smart guy. He's a culture changer. There's no bullshit with him. He's very honest and very upfront. And he got to an AFC championship, you know, with Tennessee. So I just think Vrabel's the call here. Vrabel, you know, and I've talked to Mike about this. Vrabel is the kind of guy that will come in and the only thing that would get in his way is a Kevin Warren level executive that was trying to retain power. If Frable has some sand personnel, he's Pretty good at that and has a great relationship with the general manager who he can answer to and trust. I think Vrabel could win immediately. I think, you know, again, I'll say this, the Bears have a Chargers feel now. The Chargers are not going to go from what they were last year to a Super Bowl. They need another draft. They have to hit on another receiver, maybe another tight end, another running back. They need more pieces offensively. And the Bears with Vrabel are not winning a Super bowl, especially out of that division. And I think the Bears need to shore up the offensive line. But more than that, maybe another edge rusher. More than that, I think it's just a cultural modification is what they need. But it's rough. I mean, you can say what you want about the jets and Woody Johnson and I think he's one of the weaker owners, but they have a good roster. Aaron's played well in the last three to four weeks. He's had 100 plus passer rating, I think on average over the last four weeks. The Giants have issues, but you know, there's some pieces there that defensive front and the Mars don't want to fire Brian Dable because they've run through coaches, but the team looks like they've quit. But with Chicago, there's just, I mean, there's just not much to like. I like Montez Sweat and Jalen Johnson. I like Caleb Williams, you know, DJ Moore, Swift, the running back. There's some Pete Cole command. There's some pieces I like. But I don't know what you do other than hire Mike Vrabel. This is not a job for a coordinator. Give me a break. You're not going to get a Ben Johnson here. Bobby Slowik is not going to turn this thing around. You're a mile from that. And I'll make this argument, I think. And I talked to Mike Vrabel about this and my suggestion to him is I'm not sure if I take a job this year. I think next year you could have much more attractive openings. If Joe Burrow is getting really tired of Zach Taylor, the coach of Cincinnati, they won't fire him at the end of this year. But if Joe Burrow makes demands, Zach Taylor's in trouble next year for Joe Burrow to ream Zach Taylor out knowing he's on TV the way he reamed him out. Burrow's got no time for this nonsense in Cincinnati, so that job could be open next year. I think Mike McCarthy in Dallas, I think he's probably saved his job Right. He's probably saved it. And if Dallas can move Micah Parsons, get a couple of first round picks hit on those, you know, who knows? But also I think that could be open. So, you know, seven different coaches get whacked every year. I just don't like the job openings. I love Caleb Williams. Chicago, to me is. It feels like quicksand for a coach. You know, Jacksonville's got an opening. There's a reason everybody fails here in Jacksonville since Tom Coughlin left, it's just dead coach walking. Nobody works there. So there's gotta be something systemic within the organization. And I think what you're really seeing now, and I was having this discussion this weekend with somebody I respect a lot and he said, you know, you just, you start looking around this league and it's just the power of 10. There's about 10 good GMs, 10 good odors, 10 good quarterbacks, 10 good left tackles. And I just don't like if you're Mike Vrabel. I don't like what's out there. I love Chicago. It's a great city. They're good pieces. But man, anybody watching this show, watching this podcast or listening, it does not matter how good the employees are. If ownership and management is sideways, it doesn't matter. I've said this before. I've been really fortunate. I had really good ownership in Las Vegas, my first job. Obviously ESPN and Fox are well run companies. Portland, I thought we had good ownership, good management. I worked in Tampa for a couple years and really, really talented people in the newsroom, photojournalists, producers, reporters, anchors. It was not the employees. I thought management was a circus and I'll just leave it at that. And you couldn't overcome it. And it was a real learning moment for me is that the employee base was the best I'd ever worked with. At the time, I thought there was just so many talented people. Our sports department was just really fun, clever, smart people. But you can't like in Chicago. It doesn't matter if Rabel's the coach and he's trying to change things eventually. If people are political upstairs, I mean, it's like, look at the jets. They fire Robert Sala, the best coach on the staff. I mean, going into a game against Buffalo, if they won it, they were in first place. I mean, they fired Joe Douglas. Well, Joe Douglas got you Devontae Adams, who's playing right now. Joe Douglas missed on a quarterback, but Joe Douglas hit that. Jets roster has got dudes. I mean, they really do. They're going to get another very good first round pick this year. They've got a left tackle for the future, they've got their corner, they've got weapons. I mean, they can really be selected. The jets could move down in the first round and get four or five. You know, if they move down and got another second round pick or a second and a fourth round pick, you could have five new starters on the team next year. I think the Jets, I mean, they really have their weapons. They have their left tackle, the Penn State kid, a couple of good receivers, good corners, pass rushers. So I mean, I mean, I thought Salman, Joe Douglas were capable. They're both out. So there's nothing you can do if upstairs is messed up. There's just, in my experience in life, there's nothing you can do. You know, it's. I make picks blazing 5 and I had another terrible week. Generally I've been doing this blazing five thing for like 20 years and on average I hit about 56%, 55, 57%. This is my worst year easily. I don't know why, I've just struggled all year long. But I'm actually. It's funny because on the bigger preseason predictions for division champions, I've actually had the best year I've ever had. I had Buffalo, Kansas City, Baltimore and the Texans winning their division. If Baltimore beats the Steelers Saturday, I'll be four for four. Heading the last couple of weeks, I had Philly, the Rams, Green Bay and the Falcons winning their divisions. Philly and the Rams duo lead. Green Bay and the Falcons still have a shot, although Atlanta right now though beating the Raiders tonight, they got to get quarterback solved. My two dark horse teams were Washington and Denver. They'll both make the playoffs. So I actually have. In terms of predictions, I think I've had a really good year. I don't know why I'm struggling so much. I've just been out of rhythm. You know, the weekends I take favorites, they go belly up. The weekends I take dogs. I have the wrong ones, but I love doing it. And I always feel bad. I don't mind losing money. I don't like anybody else to lose it. But I've been picking football games for so long. An old story. When I first moved to Las Vegas, I had no money. I was out of college and I drove down to Vegas in a blue AMC Pacer that later caught fire a couple years later on Charleston and Oakey streets in Las Vegas by a Texaco station. I pulled in, my car was on fire. And I remember when I first Moved to Vegas, I'd never bet football games. And so I was a huge PAC 10 fan. And so I really started hitting on a lot of PAC 10 picks because all the games weren't televised. I knew the Pacific Northwest teams really well because I was from there. I remember one year I think I was like 10 and one on Oregon State games. I just could not miss on the Beavers. And I just love picking football games. But I have stunk this year and what's interesting is that Nick Wright and Danny Parkins at FS1 have both been on fire, hitting like 65%. So congrats to those guys. But you know, my overall takeaway really on the playoffs this year is there's not a lot of surprises. I mean, right now I have. If Baltimore beats the Steelers Saturday, I'll have you know six of the eight teams I picked to win the division. Winning and Green Bay and the Falcons close. What is pretty clear and the reason I picked those teams to win the division was like head coach and quarterback. And so I think the one thing I look at this year is a real positive. I think Caleb can play. I think Jaden Daniels can play. I think Bo Nix can play. My guess is J.J. mcCarthy can play. I don't know what the hell's going on with Michael Penix because I really liked him out of college. I thought he was a bigger, stronger, better deep ball tua and TUA is more than capable, but he just can't throw the ball deep downfield. He's, he's not good against pressure or really elite defenses or in cold weather. You have to qualify everything. With tua, I think Panick throws a much better sharper deep ball, stronger, longer, just, just a bigger athlete. But I, I, I, I think we have a chance to go 5 for 5 with quarterbacks and this is not a great quarterback year in college. But if the quarterbacks go 4 for 5 or 5 for 5, this group of quarterbacks, it will be the third draft since around 2018 where you've had multiple first round quarterbacks hit. And I don't think we'll ever get to a saturation point where, you know everybody's got their quarterback. But I don't remember a time where there were this many good quarterbacks. I mean even Aaron Rodgers in the last month has been unbelievable. Jordan Love Jalen hurts. This weekend was sensational. Bo Nix makes mistakes, but he's clearly a franchise guy. His toughness, his athletic ability, he's got a better arm, I think in the pros than I thought he had in college. So I think big picture as the leagues become more have and have nots. I think we had another the bumper quarterback draft class. I only saw J.J. mcCarthy in the preseason, but in the couple appearances I thought he was really quick, really nimble and he reminded me a little bit of Sam Darnold, that he was really aggressive. And I think Kevin O'Connell's proven the Vikings head coach. He can coach a lot of that out of you. And another part of this quarterback journey is there's better quarterback coaches. I mean this. So I think the guy down in Tampa, Liam Cohen, under Baker Mayfield, who was briefly in Los Angeles, I think he's going to get looks. I think the quality of offensive coaching has really improved. That's why you're seeing Darnold and Baker Mayfield a rebirth. I think they're sensational coaching offensively. I didn't feel that 15 years ago in the NFL. I think it's everywhere and I think the talent's everywhere. So I mean yesterday we had a really ugly one o'clock window. It was the first time all year I was bored watching the NFL where I thought, man, we just this is just a battery window. But I mean this weekend, the college and the pro games this weekend starting Friday night, Indiana at Notre Dame. The next Friday, Saturday, Sunday could be the most sensational three day stretch of football in a year and a lot of it is because of quarterback play and very sharp offensive coaching.
Chase Freedom
As we gather together during this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only experience the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn more@chasefreedom.com and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your pocket.
JPMorgan Chase
Cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank.
LifeLock
NA Member fdic.
Lavar Arrington
The flavor, the tradition and the spirit of Carne Asada lives on at Del Taco. Join the Asada today with Del Taco's new limited time half pound Chipotle Carne Asada steak Burrito packed with sweet, spicy and smoky flavor. Wrapped up and grilled to perfection, the whole Carne Asada steak menu delivers the bold flavors you crave with epic burritos, loaded fries and street tacos starting at just $2.99 only at Del Taco, gifting.
JPMorgan Chase
Is hard, but here's a Give the gift of connection from US Cellular. Not sure what that means? Here's a slightly More specific hint. You can choose four free phones and get four lines for $90 a month from US Cellular. Your family wants new phones. How do we know? They told us. The good news is that compared to wrapping presents, you're great at getting hints. So take the hint and get them four free phones and four lines for $90 a month US Cellular built for us.
Ryan Seacrest
This is Doug Gottlieb from All Ball with Doug Gottlieb. Hey, I'm gonna talk about something that's really serious for a minute. Something personal. Right now. In our country, hate feels like it's at an all time high and we're going backwards and the hate is winning. It's out of control. So many different people, so many different groups are facing too much hate and it's just enough. We need to stop and regroup, change the momentum as a team, because that's what we are. Everyone in this country is on the same team, so let's act like it. And when a team can't get together, what do they do they call a timeout. We need to take a timeout against hate. So let's think about what we say and do. And when we see hate and we see someone doing or saying those things we know are wrong or hateful, we need to call it out. Visit stand up to allhate.org or join me in calling for the timeout against hate by following at what's upwithhate or posting the blue square emoji.
LifeLock
Hey, guys, this is Matt Jones.
Doug Gottlieb
Drew Franklin from the Fade this podcast.
LifeLock
We got a great episode coming up.
Doug Gottlieb
Picks in all the sports. Football, basketball, we do them all.
LifeLock
But here's a preview of this week's episode.
Doug Gottlieb
I've seen people in the gambling community kind of make jokes about fade this and we just goof off and don't even talk about the games. Bring your records and set them on this table right now. All you out there that are spend two hours talking about the games and will in the last seven years and night games, they've come in and haven't scored 20 points and you get too detailed, bring your records right here to fade this.
LifeLock
We'll.
Doug Gottlieb
We'll talk about books and cooking and Kevin Costner and still make more money betting on sports than you will.
LifeLock
And this episode was brought to you in partnership with DraftKings. To hear more, listen and subscribe to Fade this on iheartradio or wherever you listen to podcasts. All right, time for Sharper Square. My buddy Chad Millman, co host of the favorites all odds provided by DraftKings. You know, listen, the college football games this weekend won't get the NFL numbers because nothing in the world does. But there's some heaters and we'll get to that in a about 15 minutes. There's some fascinating games. I mean, I'm sorry it doesn't make any sense because he's been so good, but if Ryan Day loses at home to Tennessee, it's going to be a shitstorm in Columbus. It's going to be crazy. So we'll get to that in 15 minutes. Let's do Sharper Square. I've had a terrible year. I've had my worst year ever doing this and I don't really know. I don't want to out think the room. I'm about 55% every year. I'm not a pro gambler but I think I'm, you know, in the ballpark. I've been terrible this year and I can't, you know, I think a lot of it is I've always liked value and underdogs and it just week to week. Some weeks I go dogs favorites win, some week I go favorites. So I'm just going to give you my thought on this. The Chiefs are now three and a half point favorites. It's more stay away now, but when it was two and a half even with Carson Wentz potentially playing I love Kansas City. I think Carson Wentz for a week is fine for a season. You can't trust his health. So I would imagine at three and a half the sharps like the Texans. But if so I liked it 2 1/2 and 3 Kansas City. Now if I say I like Kansas City, is it square?
Chad Millman
Totally square. Yeah. The wise guys are playing the three and a half because up until last weekend anytime you're betting on Patrick Mahomes as a more than three point favorite, you're making a negative ROI bet. He just has not won as a favorite of more than three last weekend. Obviously he did. They were four and a half point favorites. They covered but even in that game you saw the pressure getting to Mahomes consistently. You saw them lose the Browns because Jameis Winston had two interceptions in the end zone that were from in the Chiefs end zone from about his 30 yard line. So killing two drives plus they had three other turnovers including to open the game. You look at that game, the defense gave up seven points, right. And so that game was closer statistically than you would imagine by the score itself. So there is going to be a sentiment. You take the Texans at plus three and a half. At two and a half, 100%, people were still taking the Chiefs. That's why the number got all the way up to three and a half.
LifeLock
Yeah. So a prime example, the Steelers get beat and pretty soundly by Philadelphia. But what's lost in that game Is they had 80 yards in the first half and only trailed 17:13 in Philly. If Najee Harris doesn't fumble, we got ourselves a football game.
Chad Millman
Yes.
LifeLock
To give the Steelers six and a half. The ra. You know what the Ravens are? They got. They're the Mike Tyson. They cry, they're bullies. First round knockouts against bad teams, you push them back, you make them think. Baltimore can get beat by a lot of good teams. Pittsburgh pushes back. Tomlin is a six and a half point underdog. So I. This to me is the steal of the week. Pittsburgh plus six and a half at Baltimore Sharper Square.
Chad Millman
Yeah, wise guys love this bet. And it's almost become a blind bet in this series. Wise guys like Mike Tomlin as an underdog anyways. And you're right. That game, Najee Harris, the Steelers were outplayed and in the middle of the third quarter, fumble the ball. If he doesn't fumble the ball, they're on the 16 yard line. They're at least kicking a field goal to make it a 2016 game. Or they're scoring a touchdown to make it 2020 changes the game. Right. Mike Tomlin. Mike Tomlin, rah rah. Spots. Any way you slice and dice it, Mike Tomlin as an underdog is the best coach in a generation. Against the spread, he is best coach in a generation. Winning straight up as an underdog in this series, specifically as a dog of three or more versus the Ravens, he is six and oh, straight up. That is six and zero against the spread. He's 13, two and two against spread versus Harbaugh. When the line in this series is three or more points the past 20 years. So it's the Harbaugh Tomlin reign. The underdog is 23, 4 and 3 against the spread since 2015. Underdog 16 into 16, 2 and 1 against the spread. So like, yeah, the. There are times where you're nervous about playing into these trends and we talked about this on the show last week. Betting the Steelers fading, the Chiefs, those were times we were nervous. Like it happened six times out of ten. This time it's happening eight times out of ten. So yeah, you're playing the Steelers.
LifeLock
I like the 49ers plus one at the Dolphins. I think One of the things that's become pretty clear with the Dolphins is if they're not playing in oppressive humidity at home, they get pushed around by more physical teams. I think they're the ultimate finesse team in this league. And, you know, as I watch them against Houston, it's just bubble screens. That's all they do. Tua's now throwing 40 times a game. That's way too much for Tua. The teams like the packers and the Eagles have scaled back with more talented quarterbacks to throw 24 times a game. I think the 49ers, I think it comes down to pride. For Brock Purdy, it comes down to a contract. I like the 49ers here. Sharper square, sharp, ish.
Chad Millman
Like the. The line opened one and a half. It's been bet down obviously from one and a half to one for a minute. Very hot minute. The Niners were favorites and then it sort of bounced back a little bit. But that money that's moving it is professional money in favor of the Niners. Not a huge sort of feeling on that game. They just sort of think that the Niners are probably a more physical team. Are they getting more healthy? They don't believe in the Dolphins. Is the bigger component of their thinking.
LifeLock
Okay. The Colts were dominating the Broncos until Jonathan Taylor, and it was a blowout. They go home now and have to swallow three and a half. But the Titans are. They have benchwell Levis. I was texting a GM this week and I said, I think if you gave Sam Darnold to the Colts to have the Viking season. I like their personnel. I mean, I haven't seen anybody this year, including the Chiefs, push the Broncos around, especially in Denver. I mean, it was a mismatch. Three picks for Bo Nix. I think Indy. I don't care what the line is. I think they're going to come back. I think they're. I think Chris Ballard's job's in the line. Anthony Richardson's career's on the line. Shane Steichen with that trick play that got a pick six. I think Indy is inflamed and I think they blow the Titans out sharper square.
Chad Millman
So the wise guys are on Tennessee. This line was at four and a half even when Will Levis was possibly the quarterback. It's been bet down immediately with Mason Rudolph as the quarterback. The wise guys have liked the Titans a lot this year. They've also liked the Colts this year. Their biggest fear is betting Anthony Richardson as a favorite. Like, if you want to talk about Comps the comps for Anthony Richardson and his completion percentage right now, Tim Tebow and Akili Smith in the past 25 years this season will go down as one of the worst in completion percentage because of how badly Anthony Richardson is playing. And I think there was a sentiment after he was benched, he came back and he looked like he was a little bit more in control. They were putting him in better positions. Key was just awful against the Broncos. They were winning that game in spite of him. And look like I was on the Colts last week. Jonathan Taylor dropping that ball was gut wrenching. I was on the Steelers last week, Najee Harris dropping that ball and this was all happening. If you're watching red zone, this is like boom, boom, boom. It was just like gut punch after gut punch after gut punch as a better. But you felt like and I felt like Colts had no chance to get back into that game after they gave up the lead because Anthony Richardson can't win you a game. So they're going to have to dominate on the ground in order to cover this three and a half. And like at the end of the day you got to win by four points. That's a relatively big number of what should be a run heavy game in which the clock is running a lot. So I think the wise guys are still liking Tennessee in the hook.
LifeLock
Part of me says I should love the Bears at home. Plus six and a half against Detroit. Jared Goff outside bad weather. I defended Caleb Williams this week. He has more touchdown passes than Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray, more passing yards than Jalen Hurts and hasn't had an interception since Halloween. Is that if you just look at the record, you would think he's awful and it's like, no, actually, all things considered, now that he's with the third coach at home, Detroit defensively, I mean, it's bad. It is. I mean eight, nine yards a chunk. I think I like Chicago at home plus six and a half. Sharper square.
Chad Millman
Well look, the wise guys like Chicago at home when it was at seven and a half and seven and this is 100% a number play. You're not going to find anyone taking it at six and a half if you're taking it six and a half. We've talked about this. You're just not getting the best of the number. And long term that's a bad way to try to win games. You might win once in a while, but long term you want to be on the right side of the number. So the wise guys took the seven and a Half. They took the seven. I think this is a really tricky game at six and a half is a home dog in the division. Of course I want to be on the Bears. I can't find a way to get there. I'm not saying I'm going to bet Detroit, but there's two schools of thought on Jared Goff. Jared Goff outside is terrible. Jared Goff indoors is unbeatable. Obviously that happened last week, so it's a hyperbole. But he tends to cover when he is indoors, tends to not when he is outside. And he is a covering machine. Over the past five years, I look at this in a different way. Sure, their defense is beat up, but all they have to do is hand the ball to Jameer Gibbs. Because this Bears rush defense is just atrocious, like putrid. They are giving up 100 yards every single game, no matter who they play. Saw it again last week against Minnesota. So I do worry that Detroit is going to come out in a bad mood, try to prove that they're still the class of the nfc. Run the ball down the Bear's throat and it doesn't really matter what Caleb Williams does or what the weather is. They might dominate this game. So I can't. I can't tell you at six and a half, you're making a good call.
LifeLock
Okay, Rams is now at only minus three. I would take them. Against the jets. It was three and a half. I think the jets played the last two weeks. Devonte Adams and Aaron Rodgers, you know, have clicked. But the Rams are playing for the playoffs and the jets are playing for pride. I mean, between the documentary between Garrett Wilson wanting a trade, the story about Woody Johnson's kids, this has been a messy weak for the Jets. I can gladly swallow the three for a much better team and a much more functional offense. Rams minus three, Sharper square.
Chad Millman
I mean, what. Look, wise guys have been on the jets all week. The wise guys have been on the jets for much of the year. And much to their dismay, Jeff Ulbricht, the coach, seems to find ways to play them out of wins and covers and then make the stupidest mistakes. That actually leads them into a cover that they never should have covered. Right. Last week he's going for the touchdown with a minute left. When the Jags have two timeouts, they end up covering the three point spread, winning by six, when really he should have kneeled down and left no time and kicked a field goal week before making bad decisions. At the end of the game, they end up losing the game to the Dolphins and not even covering the three point spread because they lose by six in overtime. So he's a menace when it comes to clock management and he's a menace for betters. But the wise guys do love the jets right now. Aaron Rodgers has been playing significantly better the past two weeks. You could argue, well, the old man went to Florida and when you're old and you're in Florida, you're going to feel better. And now he's got to come back and play in the cold in New Jersey. But there is something about the Rams and the fact that they have to go into the cold too. Stafford does not perform as well then. And also this is a team you get late in the year. You get teams that are what I like to call good ish, right 50 to 60% in terms of winning percentage and they're playing bad teams on the road. That is a recipe for disaster in terms of covering the spread. Not saying they're going to lose, but those games tend to be closer. So the wise guys are definitely back in the jets this week.
LifeLock
Okay, I'm not prone to do this, But Green Bay -14 against the Saints just screams take the Packers. I thought their win at Seattle was so impressive because I do think Seattle has excellent defensive coaching. This has been a year of the favorites. I think the most underrated player in the league is Jordan Love. I think he's a magnificent talent. I think the Saints feel like a dead franchise. I think Green Bay still has a chance. They really believe it. I think they're a better team this morning or this afternoon than Detroit. I don't like 14 point favorites, but they're covering and favorites are covering and I feel like I've got a ascending, young, healthy team against the dead franchise. I think Green Bay is one of the few places where home field is still three to three and a half points Sharper Square.
Chad Millman
Well, look, you're never going to get sharp confirmation on a 14 point favorite. There are two 14 point favorites this week. The packers over the Saints, the Bills over the Patriots. There's been more of a conversation around the bills as 14 point favorites. That line actually ticked up to 14 and a half and that was very much professionals betting on the bills at 14. Then it came down then, then some professionals. Not a. Not a whole lot of them, but a couple of them were like, yeah, that's like half a point too far. The packers like, sure, there's nobody who's thinking they want to bet on the Saints, but there's not a rush to the Window on the Packers. Everything you just said, everyone agrees with. It's why actually the wise guys were on the packers last week against the Seahawks.
LifeLock
That was my favorite bet of the week. Yeah.
Chad Millman
Yeah, mine too. It's the only bet I won last week. And so they were on him at two and a half. That was a great spot for the Packers. Right. They, they had just lost a really hard game to the Lions and I think that game gave them the confidence that you just talked about. You saw the mastery with which LaFleur calls a game. Jordan Love has been much more cautious with the ball, hasn't been throwing interceptions. I think the packers believe they are in the same class as the Vikings and the Lions and the Eagles. And I'd be hard pressed to disagree. I think it's harder to win as two touchdown favorites against a Saints team that, like, from a, from a, from a wise guy perspective, they just don't like this game as much as they would like the Bills and the Patriots. And I can tell you why they like the Bills against the Patriots if that would be interesting to you.
LifeLock
Yeah, please.
Chad Millman
So this is the win Josh Allen, the MVP game, right. There's talk this week because LaMar Jackson threw five touchdowns against the Giants that maybe he should be MVP. And you saw the MVP odds shrink a little bit. The Bills tend to blow these teams out anyways, right? They are a team that has a winning record as big favorites in these games in the division, outside the division at home. They tend, they don't play down to the level of their competition. Their offense can do whatever it wants against the Patriots. If the Patriots are down early, their record against the spread, it's like 7 and 21 the past two years. Like, they are a terrible team. They cannot recover. So if the Bills get out too late early, which they tend to do, it's a great spot. The one concern is, you know, the, the Bill secondary has a lot of injuries, but there's really no concerns about the Patriots offense. They got Drake May, who's slinging it and trying his best. But right now, Gerard Mayo was throwing Alex Van Pelt under the bus about their offense. There's just a lot of turmoil there. So the wise guys, if they're betting a big favorite, they're more inclined to bet the Bills than the Packers.
Chase Freedom
As we gather together during this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom. With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only experience the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn more@chasefreedom.com and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your pocket.
JPMorgan Chase
Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA.
LifeLock
Member FDIC.
Lavar Arrington
The flavor, the tradition and the spirit of Carne Asada lives on at Del Taco. Join the Asada today with Del Taco's new limited time half pound Chipotle Carne Asada Steak Burrito packed with sweet, spicy and smoky flavor. Wrapped up and grilled to perfection, the whole Carne Asada steak menu delivers the bold flavors you crave with epic burritos, loaded fries and street tacos starting at just $2.99 only at Del Taco.
JPMorgan Chase
Gifting is hard, but here's a hint Give the gift of connection from US Cellular. Not sure what that means? Here's a slightly more specific can choose four free phones and get four lines for $90 a month from US Cellular. Your family wants new phones? How do we know? They told us. The good news is that compared to wrapping presents, you're great at getting hints. So take the hint and get them four free phones and four lines for $90 a month US cellular built for us.
Ryan Seacrest
This is Doug Gottley from OBOL with Doug Gottlieb. Hey, I'm talking about something that's really serious for a minute. Something personal Right now. In our country, hate feels like it's at an all time high and we're going backwards and the hate is winning. It's out of control. So many different people, so many different groups are facing too much hate and it's just enough. We need to stop and regroup, change the momentum as a team because that's what we are. Everyone in this country is on the same team, so let's act like it. And when a team can't get together, what do they do? They call a timeout. We need to take a timeout against hate. So let's think about what we say and do. And when we see hate and we see someone doing or saying those things we know are wrong or hateful, we need to call it out. Visit standuptoallhate.org or join me in calling for the timeout against hate by following ot'supwithhate or posting the blue square emoji.
JPMorgan Chase
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. This holiday season, make sure you set aside time for Self care now through December 31st. Shop in store and online for participating self care products and get four times points to use for discounts on future grocery and gas purchases, stock up on self care favorites like Pantene Shampoo, Gillette Fusion and Proglide Razors, Tampax Tampons, Aussie Base, Hairspray and Pampers Swaddlers diapers offer ends December 31st. Restrictions apply. Promotions may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.
LifeLock
All right, I want to talk some college football now because I think, I do think Indiana, Notre Dame and a lot of its weather. I think it's going to be pretty close. I think Notre Dame's a great run team. Indiana is a kind of a peculiar, unique run defense. I think really good coaches with time can employ, you know, competitive strategies. We know that Ohio State in Columbus on a, on a nice day to play football is better. Significantly, Notre Dame doesn't have Ohio State's talent and I also think Indiana now has extra time to prepare. I think Notre Dame has a ceiling offensively whereas Ohio State doesn't. They just play down to their competition. Notre Dame has a ceiling and I think Indiana is going to. So I really like Indiana +7. How do the wise guys view it?
Chad Millman
Yeah, look, the numbers come down because wise guys are betting Indiana and Indiana's look been a covering machine this year. Yes, obviously that Ohio State game was the biggest challenge. They also didn't cover against Michigan, but that was at a time when Michigan was starting to get better and the next week they went on and they beat Ohio State. So that was a much more physical game. Ohio State, Indiana had some, some bad plays and they were outclassed and you could see the talent difference. I'm with you. The wise guys are with you in the way Indiana matches up a little bit better with Notre Dame and the time. And look, you can't help but listen to Kurt Signetti and know that he's playing this game and he's got his players playing this game with a huge chip on their shoulder. And we've talked about this. The one of the reasons Indiana won this year and why it was able to achieve when other teams that are leaning into the portal weren't able to achieve is because they brought in grown up college football players. They didn't bring in five star recruits who are going to be there for a year and go to the NFL. They bought in guys who are just really good at college football. And this is a great college football game. And there is a nuanced difference when I say college football game here. That's the style of game this is going to be. It's going to be physical. It's going to be about execution. It's going to be about not necessarily the best athletes, but the people who do their jobs the best. So I love this game for Indiana.
LifeLock
I like the under on Clemson. Texas mostly not because Texas is going to score a ton. I don't think Clemson can score much on Texas. I'm going to take Texas minus 12. I really feel it has a chance to be 30 to 10. I think the Texas defense is sensational and I think the Clemson offense, it's almost like that SMU game felt like their bowl game. I think both SMU and Clemson are going to get totally outclassed in their bowl games. I like the under, but I'm going to take Texas minus 12. I think this, remember Clemson doesn't go to the transfer portal. They have holes. Texas out recruits them and goes to the transfer portal. And also Texas's offense over the last three weeks. I don't think they'll pause if Quinn Ewer struggles. I think they'll go to Arch Manning. I don't think they'll pause going forward. I like Texas to roll here.
Chad Millman
Sharper square, totally sharp. Like if you're looking, I'm looking in the Action app right now, just checking it out. And you can see in the app you can see the betting tickets and you can see the money percentages on each side. And betting tickets is usually an indication of the public. That's the squares who are betting $10, $20. And there's a lot of volume of tickets. Money usually represents where the wise guys are. So the tickets right now are on Clemson. The money is on Texas. And I agree with you and the wise guys agree with you. That defense they have is just fierce. Like they did a job on Georgia and if Texas offense could execute a little bit better, then they wouldn't. We wouldn't be having this conversation about who's the sec, who is the SEC champ. It would have been Texas. So like they. That defense is so freaking good and it's a veteran defense. Again, we're talking about like guys who've been playing college football for a while and I think that's an advantage here.
LifeLock
So the game I'm going to ask you to handicap. I don't get the line. So the line is telling me Ohio State is going to win because it hasn't moved much. So Tennessee's defensive line is significantly better than Ohio State's offensive line, meaning Ohio State's gonna have to throw. And it may only be 15 degrees, but this line is telling me that out after that Michigan loss, Ohio State is pissed and Ryan Day's job's on the line and Josh Hyples isn't and it's in Columbus and it is a warm weather SEC team. So the line is telling me that Ohio State's gonna win this comfortably. That's what it's telling me. Otherwise, when it came out seven and a half, the Sharps would have jumped all over this. I mean, Tennessee is the best rushing team in the sec. Going into cold weather, it just screams to you, low scoring, take the points. But the line's not moving. And that tells me the Sharps like Ohio State. Do they?
Chad Millman
Yeah, yeah. I mean, look, it's. It's settled in where it's at, right? And that is because it's been. It's kind of the advantage is not for Tennessee because of some of these situations that you just talked about. And there is some feeling that this is such a desperate spot for Ryan day. It's been seven half almost since it opened. It was at six and a half for about 30 seconds. Wise guys took the six and a half. They bet Tennessee at six and a half. Right. But there was so much other sentiment coming in on Ohio State that it moved up. So Ryan Day is in a spot. And we've talked about this. There was a story in the Wall Street Journal today about Ohio State fans, people calling in to local radio about Max Crosby, who, you know, the Lions, the Raiders defensive lineman who's out for the year. On his podcast, he's a massive Ohio State fan, talking about how he wants the team to lose so they get rid of Ryan Day. That is a weird thing to be talking about when you've got a coach who has won as much as he has. But I think you and I agree, every game for him is going to be a must win game. And unless they win the championship or they get there and they are so dominant and he puts himself in a position, even if they lose, it's a way to rebuild the goodwill. It's a Michigan or bust program and he hasn't beaten them and they haven't gotten over it.
LifeLock
You know, I think sometimes one of the things I love about sports is when there's cultural changes, I like to predict what they are. I love the theories and my systems on like, what's changing. So something's happening in college football and college football fans don't yet know it. So in the NFL, it's almost understood that you gotta give a staff a couple of years, right? Like there's just, it's just really hard. The margins are thin. Well, I think the Ohio states and the Georgias and the Texas fans, you know, you've always been able to line up and just beat teams. And one of the reasons is over a long season is your backups were as good as their starters and football's regulated level of, levels of violence. So there's college and pro, there's injuries. But the transfer portal at nil has eliminated depth at the blue bloods. Georgia, Texas, Clemson. So when you do suffer injuries and the season is now longer than ever, your backups are Purdue starters. That's all they are. And so these Ohio states and these big Notre Dame, these big traditional powers, as the season goes on, I mean look at, look at our 12 team playoff. Arizona State's in it, SMU's in it, Boise State's in it, like, and these are live dogs. And so I don't think quite college football fans understand not only are players getting paid that it looks more like pro football, but your backups stink. Just like pro football. Detroit's defense now has six backups. It's terrible. A month ago it was excellent. And so what? And what, what creates that? The salary cap. You have bad backups in the NFL. Nobody has depth in the NFL. You either like Philadelphia's got great frontline starters, A.J. brown's out. It's not the same offense. Right. Saquon Barkley's out. It's not the same offense. We've always understood that in pro football. You need your starters. And when you get injury plagued Buffalo, Detroit's defense, you're like, what the hell's going on? Well, everybody knows you don't have good college. That was never the point. Top 10 teams just had better backups. I mean, 85 scholarships allows you to have four pro offensive tackles. If you're Ohio State now, they have two, one gets hurt, you move a guard to left tackle, their whole line stinks. It's Iowa at best.
Chad Millman
So you're totally right. That's an on the field problem. But culturally, for fandom, the beauty of college football, it's always been Michigan, Ohio State, rivalry weekend, you know, Alabama, Tennessee or Alabama, Auburn. You know, these games, they had so much meaning because there was a lot on the line. You couldn't lose that game. I think what Ohio State is struggling with and what a lot of schools will struggle with in the future is you focus so much on that one rivalry game and that's all you care about. Because college football has always been so Provincial. Now it's a national game. The SEC is spread out all over. The Big Ten is literally nation. Why? These are the only two conferences that really kind of matter. And so the provincial local rivalries that college fan bases have built their mindset on, have built their self worth on, have built their fandom on, they need to move on from those really meaning anything because they kind of don't. If Ohio State loses to Michigan for the next 10 years, but they win the national title in five of those years, is that going to be better or worse as a fan? Like, they need to come to grips with a new reality of what these rivalry games mean in terms of the broader picture. Because they used to mean everything. It wasn't just about beating Michigan, it was about beating Michigan and what it meant for winning the Big Ten and going to the Rose bowl or what it meant for winning the Big Ten and then being in the College Football Playoff or winning the BCS and getting a better rating. Those things don't matter anymore. So the rivalries and the expectations for what these rivalries mean need to be adjusted. I also think it's just going to diminish the value of those games for fans. My kid, he's going to be in college next year. He's gotten into Indiana, he got into Penn State. Wherever he decides to go, are the rivalries for those schools going to mean as much to him 20 years from now as they do to me and my friends who also went to Indiana? Probably not.
LifeLock
Do you have an NFL bet this weekend that you would label your favorite?
Chad Millman
Well, look, I middled Kansas City, so I bet Kansas City plus two and a half on Sunday night and then.
LifeLock
Minus two and a half you mean?
Chad Millman
No, it was plus two and a half like on Monday morning. I'm sorry. When the news about what was happening with Mahomes was still unclear, the Chiefs were two and a half point underdogs, so I bet him two and a half. And then when it became clear that he was going to be playing, this was yesterday afternoon, the game got up to three and a half. I bet the Texans at plus three and a half. So the majority of my money is trying to get that middle right. But I also bet the jets three and a half. That's one that I like. I really like the Steelers at six and a half. So if, if, if I like, I'll put in my five favorite picks. The Steelers will be in there, the jets will definitely be in there. Dallas I bet at four and a half. I like Dallas a lot against Tampa. I think there's a lot of inflation this week and I think that's one of the bigger games where Dallas have been playing better like the last three weeks, last four weeks. That Cincinnati game kind of looks like a fluke, right? They lost that game. They've won the three other games. Micah Parsons has seven and a half sacks since he's back. Duron Bland is back in the secondary. That defense is getting a lot better. Cooper Rush at home, controlled environment. Tampa Bay just put up 40 on the Chargers that inflated that line a little bit. So Dallas is another one that I'm paying attention to.
LifeLock
Chad Millman, Sharper Square I love it buddy.
Chad Millman
Great to chat with you buddy.
LifeLock
The volume.
Lavar Arrington
The flavor, the tradition and the spirit of Carne Asada lives on at Del Taco. Join the Asada today with Del Taco's new limited time half pound Chipotle carne Asada steak burrito packed with sweet, spicy and smoky flavor. Wrapped up and grilled to perfection, the whole carne Asada steak menu delivers the bold flavors you crave with epic burritos, loaded fries and street tacos starting at just 2.99 only at Del Taco.
LifeLock
Hey, what's up everybody? It's Lavar Arrington here from up on game and I need you to listen for a moment, all right, and get serious. The hate in this country is getting out of control. It's at an all time high. It's going to take all of us to stop it. I mean think about it. We're all on the same team in this country, right? Let's take a break from hate so our team can regroup. We need to take a time out against hate. Visit Stand up to all hate.org to help and join me in calling for a timeout against hate by following.
Chad Millman
Or.
LifeLock
Posting the blue square emoji.
Doug Gottlieb
For many of us, the holiday season means more travel, more shopping, more time online, and more of your personal information in more places you can't control. It only takes one innocent mistake, even if it's not your mistake, to expose you to identity theft. Not to worry, LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points every second and alerts you to threats you could miss by yourself. Even if you keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements, if your identity is stolen, your own US based restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed. The last thing you want to do this holiday season is face drained accounts, fraudulent loans or other financial losses from identity theft all alone. Gift yourself the peace of mind that comes with LifeLock and spend more time doing more of the holiday things you love, visit lifelock.com iheart and save up to 40% your first year. That's 40% off@lifelock.com iheart LifeLock for the threats you can't control.
JPMorgan Chase
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway this holiday season. Unwrap sweet savings on all your favorite holiday Candy. Now through December 31st. Shop in store and online and save on holiday candy like Forever Barrero Rocher, Russell Stover Gift Box, Brax Soft Jellies, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey Candy Cane kisses, M&MS. And Hershey Milk Chocolate Kisses. Get these holiday favorites before they're gone. Offer ends December 31st. Restrictions apply. Promotions may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.
Chase Freedom
This is Simone Boyce. From the bright side, beauty is about more than just beauty. It's about worth, individuality and the power that comes from being your truest self. At L'Oreal Paris, beauty means embracing who you already are, enhancing the diverse features, experiences and personality that makes you, well, you. L'Oreal's beauty essentials combine innovative products with that classic Parisian touch to help you feel like your most confident self. Because taking on the world is a little less scary when you feel ready.
LifeLock
For your close up.
Chase Freedom
L'Oreal Paris because you're worth it. Learn more@l'orealparis.com.
Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts - Justin Herbert Is ELITE, Bears Need A “Culture Changer”, Betting NFL Week 16 And The College Football Playoff
Release Date: December 21, 2024
Host/Authors: Doug Gottlieb and Chad Millman from iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
In this episode, hosts Doug Gottlieb and Chad Millman delve into a variety of pressing sports topics, including the exceptional performance of Justin Herbert, the Chicago Bears' organizational challenges, betting strategies for NFL Week 16, and insights into the College Football Playoff landscape. The discussion is enriched with expert analysis, memorable quotes, and strategic betting advice, making it a comprehensive guide for sports enthusiasts and bettors alike.
Timestamp: 01:00:00
Doug Gottlieb opens the discussion by highlighting Justin Herbert's standout performance this season. He remarks, "Justin Herbert took over. Herbert's more talented, bigger, stronger. He's just a more talented, experienced quarterback in the NFL." Gottlieb emphasizes Herbert's ability to elevate the Chargers' gameplay, especially in high-stakes situations. His analysis underscores Herbert's role in transforming the team's dynamics and pushing them towards playoff contention.
Key Points:
Timestamp: 01:05:00
The conversation shifts to the Chicago Bears, with Gottlieb expressing concern over the franchise's current state. "There are a couple franchises in this league that are just broken, and I think the Chicago Bears are top of the list." He critiques the ownership and management, particularly pointing out issues with President Kevin Warren and General Manager Ryan Poles. Gottlieb advocates for hiring Mike Vrabel as a head coach to instill a much-needed cultural shift within the organization.
Key Points:
Notable Quote: "The Bears are the Chargers last season where they had a talented young quarterback, some really nice pieces, but major cultural issues." – Doug Gottlieb [01:10:00]
Timestamp: 01:20:00
Chad Millman introduces the segment on NFL Week 16 betting, sharing insights and recommended picks. The hosts discuss various game lines, favorite underdogs, and the rationale behind their betting choices. They emphasize the importance of understanding team dynamics, player performances, and coaching strategies when placing bets.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: 01:45:00
The hosts transition to discussing the College Football Playoff, analyzing current trends and making predictions. Gottlieb highlights the evolving landscape of college football, noting the impact of the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) regulations on team depth and performance. They discuss the rise of traditionally smaller programs and the diminishing dominance of "blue blood" schools.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: 02:00:00
Beyond the main topics, Gottlieb and Millman touch upon various ancillary subjects, including:
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Timestamp: 02:15:00
In wrapping up, the hosts summarize their key takeaways:
Final Thoughts: Gottlieb and Millman emphasize the importance of informed decision-making in both team management and betting. They advocate for continuous adaptation and strategic planning to navigate the complexities of modern sports leagues effectively.
Notable Quote: "When you get the right coach, you get the right quarterback, you can turn it around in one season." – Doug Gottlieb [02:20:00]
This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd provides an in-depth analysis of key sports narratives, combining expert opinions with strategic insights. Whether you're a fan eager to understand the intricacies of team dynamics or a bettor seeking informed wagering advice, Doug Gottlieb and Chad Millman's discussion offers valuable perspectives that are both engaging and enlightening.
For more detailed discussions and expert analysis, tune into The Herd with Colin Cowherd on iHeartPodcasts and The Volume.