This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntire.

This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntire.

What is up, straight Fire Fan? It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight Fire for Tuesday, December twenty fourth. Christmas Eve is upon us. Shout out to everybody who celebrates Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Boxing Day coming up for the Canadians out there. I hope everybody is having a fantastic holiday season. Listen. I tried my best to put some extra change in your pocket with the college football playoff picks. It was a banner weekend last weekend. Let's see we can keep it rolling. We are obviously recording early this week. This will be the last pot we do until Friday. Yeah, we'll preview the weekend. I think although I know a lot of people down with the flu. Man my house, it hit us hard, It hit rob G. A lot of people are really sick right now. The flu's going around. Listen, you're traveling, it's cold, the weather, hanging out. We were in Vegas two weekends ago, and that's what we think our flu got it. But you know, I am a weirdo who doesn't touch door handles, and you know I don't drink that much and I try to stay healthy. And I keep getting fortunate and lucky. Maybe working out, going to the gym helps. But for whatever reason, I was able to dodge most of the illness that hit my fan. But here we are, Christmas Eve. A lot to be thankful for this holiday season. I'm going to quickly buzz through. I thought we would look at the college football playoff because I did get some pushback from some of you guys via DM on ig about my Boise State love and I'll get to that, but it's a weird setup. And I listen, I know Christmas historically has been the NBA's starting point, and that is allegedly day one of the NBA season, because hey, and it tips off in late October. Everybody checks in the opening week and then it's kind of a you know, hey, we got to go back to football, college football, NFL, and then Christmas. A lot of NFL teams have been eliminated. College football is down to eight teams. Christmas slate for the NBA is pretty tremendous. You get Wemby against my mix A. Knicks are starting to get things together. Nicks are eight and a half point favorites at home against Wemby. That's the early tip nine am Pacific, noon Eastern. Then you get oh yeah, oh no, wait, actually the second game is Timberwolves Mavericks. Ooh that's spicy. A rematch of the conference finals last year. Timberwolves kind of struggling. You then get Sixers, Oh, poor Sixers. They are going to Boston. It'll be the Tyrese Maxi Show. And I guess they'll have Paul George. I don't haven't even seen what the latest is with embiid. Sixers really on the struggle bus due to injuries. Then the main event, Lebron vus Steph Curry, possibly for the last time. If you want to get excited for this matchup, just go back and look at some of the Christmas games they've had. There was one where it was essentially Katie and Curry against Kyrie and Lebron. Just an amazing game. Those were like just spectacular stuff. I love those stack Warriors teams, and those Stacked Caps teams are pretty damn good with Kevin love, Kyrie and Lebron. The nightcap is the Denver Nuggets, who are reeling a little bit. You're starting to hear some potential trade chatter. They're going after my guy Zach Lavine against these sons who have their own issues. So listen, it's gonna be a great NBA slate. Fortunately, I think many of you have two televisions so you don't have to miss the action on the football front. And this is where we'll all pivot to the NFL. And I'm just gonna say, listen, I get it. The NFL is not afraid of any league. They don't care about college football, they don't care about the NBA. They're going ham And it's like, let me just take a step back and say, yes, last year, the NFL had major success on Christmas. The games I barely remember them. All I remember is the NFL was on Christmas, which was different, and it was good and you know whatever, we enjoyed it. But this year, Christmas falls on a Wednesday, so the NFL felt was so hell bent on keeping it going. Hey, we had a big ratings win. Let's do it. Let's win the day. It feels like an archaic way to look at things, But go off, guys, if you want to do that, fine, And there are some really good games this week. Now here's the problem with the Christmas Day games. First up, you've got the Kansas City Chiefs, because you've got to have them. I mean, the two time defending champs. You got Patrick Mahomes. You've got maybe Taylor Swift showing up at a game. You've got Travis Kelce, he's very well known. You've got Chief Steelers on Netflix at ten am. The Chiefs just played Saturday, as did the Steelers. Both these teams are walking wounded. Chris Jones is hurt, he's got a cash strain. He may not play. It sounds like three starters on the Steelers defense, including Porter, could be down for this one. Pickens expected back, but we still don't know. It's a Wednesday game. There has not been a Wednesday game this season. That's for a reason. It's such a short week, guys. And I know you gotta say, well, they played Saturday, so tech lak, there's just a Thursday game. Okay. You can argue that all you want. Next up is Ravens Texans, and that game is mildly interesting. It's a rematch from last ye's playoff game. The Texans do not match up well with the Ravens at all. If you go back to that. The Texans lost Tank Dell. I don't know if you guys saw the injury, gruesome ACL and a broken kneecap. I feel bad for Tank Dell.

What is up, straight Fire Fan? It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight Fire for Tuesday, December twenty fourth. Christmas Eve is upon us. Shout out to everybody who celebrates Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Boxing Day coming up for the Canadians out there. I hope everybody is having a fantastic holiday season. Listen. I tried my best to put some extra change in your pocket with the college football playoff picks. It was a banner weekend last weekend. Let's see we can keep it rolling. We are obviously recording early this week. This will be the last pot we do until Friday. Yeah, we'll preview the weekend. I think although I know a lot of people down with the flu. Man my house, it hit us hard, It hit rob G. A lot of people are really sick right now. The flu's going around. Listen, you're traveling, it's cold, the weather, hanging out. We were in Vegas two weekends ago, and that's what we think our flu got it. But you know, I am a weirdo who doesn't touch door handles, and you know I don't drink that much and I try to stay healthy. And I keep getting fortunate and lucky. Maybe working out, going to the gym helps. But for whatever reason, I was able to dodge most of the illness that hit my fan. But here we are, Christmas Eve. A lot to be thankful for this holiday season. I'm going to quickly buzz through. I thought we would look at the college football playoff because I did get some pushback from some of you guys via DM on ig about my Boise State love and I'll get to that, but it's a weird setup. And I listen, I know Christmas historically has been the NBA's starting point, and that is allegedly day one of the NBA season, because hey, and it tips off in late October. Everybody checks in the opening week and then it's kind of a you know, hey, we got to go back to football, college football, NFL, and then Christmas. A lot of NFL teams have been eliminated. College football is down to eight teams. Christmas slate for the NBA is pretty tremendous. You get Wemby against my mix A. Knicks are starting to get things together. Nicks are eight and a half point favorites at home against Wemby. That's the early tip nine am Pacific, noon Eastern. Then you get oh yeah, oh no, wait, actually the second game is Timberwolves Mavericks. Ooh that's spicy. A rematch of the conference finals last year. Timberwolves kind of struggling. You then get Sixers, Oh, poor Sixers. They are going to Boston. It'll be the Tyrese Maxi Show. And I guess they'll have Paul George. I don't haven't even seen what the latest is with embiid. Sixers really on the struggle bus due to injuries. Then the main event, Lebron vus Steph Curry, possibly for the last time. If you want to get excited for this matchup, just go back and look at some of the Christmas games they've had. There was one where it was essentially Katie and Curry against Kyrie and Lebron. Just an amazing game. Those were like just spectacular stuff. I love those stack Warriors teams, and those Stacked Caps teams are pretty damn good with Kevin love, Kyrie and Lebron. The nightcap is the Denver Nuggets, who are reeling a little bit. You're starting to hear some potential trade chatter. They're going after my guy Zach Lavine against these sons who have their own issues. So listen, it's gonna be a great NBA slate. Fortunately, I think many of you have two televisions so you don't have to miss the action on the football front. And this is where we'll all pivot to the NFL. And I'm just gonna say, listen, I get it. The NFL is not afraid of any league. They don't care about college football, they don't care about the NBA. They're going ham And it's like, let me just take a step back and say, yes, last year, the NFL had major success on Christmas. The games I barely remember them. All I remember is the NFL was on Christmas, which was different, and it was good and you know whatever, we enjoyed it. But this year, Christmas falls on a Wednesday, so the NFL felt was so hell bent on keeping it going. Hey, we had a big ratings win. Let's do it. Let's win the day. It feels like an archaic way to look at things, But go off, guys, if you want to do that, fine, And there are some really good games this week. Now here's the problem with the Christmas Day games. First up, you've got the Kansas City Chiefs, because you've got to have them. I mean, the two time defending champs. You got Patrick Mahomes. You've got maybe Taylor Swift showing up at a game. You've got Travis Kelce, he's very well known. You've got Chief Steelers on Netflix at ten am. The Chiefs just played Saturday, as did the Steelers. Both these teams are walking wounded. Chris Jones is hurt, he's got a cash strain. He may not play. It sounds like three starters on the Steelers defense, including Porter, could be down for this one. Pickens expected back, but we still don't know. It's a Wednesday game. There has not been a Wednesday game this season. That's for a reason. It's such a short week, guys. And I know you gotta say, well, they played Saturday, so tech lak, there's just a Thursday game. Okay. You can argue that all you want. Next up is Ravens Texans, and that game is mildly interesting. It's a rematch from last ye's playoff game. The Texans do not match up well with the Ravens at all. If you go back to that. The Texans lost Tank Dell. I don't know if you guys saw the injury, gruesome ACL and a broken kneecap. I feel bad for Tank Dell.

Man.

Man.

That guy started off awesome and then he got hurt. Remember he was blocking at like the goal line, in the middle of the line and just got rolled up on. It was ugly. And then he comes back and he's starting to emerge. And now he gets the torn ACL and the meetcap and he's gonna be down for a while. Unlikely the Tank Dell will even start next season playing football. He's probably gonna start on the on the pup list. And I don't like the Texas here. I'm looking strongly at the Ravens. The only problem is if for the contest, if you uh, if you take Baltimore, You've got to have all your picks in. So I'll be betting the Ravens individual. I just I know the Texans fight really hard at home. They showed well against the Lions and a loss. They beat the Bills that was a long time ago. I just Baltimore seems to be peaking and after like a little dip, and I just I don't know that the Texans have the bodies to hang. So I will go Ravens and down.

That guy started off awesome and then he got hurt. Remember he was blocking at like the goal line, in the middle of the line and just got rolled up on. It was ugly. And then he comes back and he's starting to emerge. And now he gets the torn ACL and the meetcap and he's gonna be down for a while. Unlikely the Tank Dell will even start next season playing football. He's probably gonna start on the on the pup list. And I don't like the Texas here. I'm looking strongly at the Ravens. The only problem is if for the contest, if you uh, if you take Baltimore, You've got to have all your picks in. So I'll be betting the Ravens individual. I just I know the Texans fight really hard at home. They showed well against the Lions and a loss. They beat the Bills that was a long time ago. I just Baltimore seems to be peaking and after like a little dip, and I just I don't know that the Texans have the bodies to hang. So I will go Ravens and down.

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to listen live.

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to listen live.

The earlier game. I just have no read on that. I'll be rooting Pittsburgh Steelers, and as I said on the Herd, I am looking into ordering a terrible towel in case the Steelers play the Chiefs in the playoffs, I will be I'll be needing that because I'll be rooting for the Steelers. And then here's the other thing. So two games in the NFL Wednesday, then you get one the day after Christmas, because you got to keep your Thursday game, you know, Seattle at Chicago. Seattle just the tough loss of the Viking. Don't not really quite sure how they bounce back from that one. I would lean Bears at three and a half, but no play for me yet. And then the NFL got really greedy. Hey, everybody's home, it's the holidays. Let's go with three games, three on Saturday. Now, I do recall they had Saturday games in the spot in the past. I'll give the NFL credit. These three games Saturday are huge. They're enormous. You get Chargers at Patriots, huge game for the Chargers. They try to lock up the six seed and avoid the Chiefs or Bills in the opening round. Patriots have not quit. They keep fighting hard. Drake May looks good. I am a little nervous for the Chargers in this one. Then you got Broncos at these all three around NFL Network. Broncos at Bengals is fascinating because the Bengals are trying to catch the Broncos. And this is where this gets interesting. If Cincinnati wins, Denver faces the Chiefs in Week eighteen in a game where they will need to win to get into the playoffs, I'm not so sure that the Bengals are the are the definite side here. I just remember anybody who's telling you, oh, well, they need to win and the other team has done that to play for, Well, that doesn't totally apply to this game. But like Chargers Patriots, it does. Chargers have something that'll play for you gotta bet them here. Patriots have nothing though, that's already baked into the line, and that's why you're paying a higher premium. Chargers minus four and a half on the road now Bengals Broncos. Everybody knows the Broncos are reeling. Bengals offense is cooking. Bengals defense actually played decently against the Browns, although the Browns shot themselves on the foot thanks to dt are Cincinnati laying three and a half at home. That's a tough one. That's going to be a great game. Joe Burrow fighting for his playoff life. The NFL needs Joe Burrow in the playoffs. No disrespect to Peyton and Knicks. They've had a great run. I would much rather see Joe Burrow in the postseason than bow Knicks. Now. I don't know that the Bengals would have any shot in Buffalo. I do know that Burrow will be able to move the ball in that defense. I just don't think the Bengals can get any stops. The nightcap Cardinals at Rams is interesting because the Rams, I believe, can lock up the NFC West with a win, and that would then render their yeah. That would then render their Week eighteen game against Seattle not that important because even if they lose, they still won the opener and the best I can tell, they have the tiebreaker over Seattle. So if the Rams beat the Cardinals. That's a rap. And by the way, frankly, the Rams will know what the situation is because Seattle plays the night before. So Seattle somehow loses to the Bears and the Bears are taking money. Boy that is that would be wooh. That's a bitter pill to swallow for Seattle, which looks so good. But as I told you guys, I submitted my mock draft to Fox. I have Jalen Milroe going to Seattle. I just Gino smith Man. It's like groundhog Day with that guy. He's always making the critical mistake in the red zone in a big spot. As such, I just I can't get behind Gino. So so I think the Rams win that game. Now that's a big spread six and a half. Again, this is one where it's like, hey, the Rams have everything to play for. The Cardinals have nothing to play for. Sometimes when you have nothing to play for, you're free and loose. So maybe consider a first half Cardinals bet. Cardinals come out. I know they're coming off an overtime game in the East Coast game and now they got to travel again to so Far. But there's not like a huge home field advantage of so far I would consider first half Cardinals. I don't know a full game because the rams off is gonna cook and probably run through Carolina this sorry Arizona the same way Cuba Hubbard, Cuba Chubba ran through Arizona and that defense. And oh, by the way, James Connor got hurt in that game. But the problem is, so I just rattled off. So there's two Wednesday, one Thursday, three Saturday. So that right, there is six games that leaves a really pedestrian Sunday slate. Guys, it is not the prettiest Sunday slate and it's disappointing. You know, Listen, it's late in the year. I know a lot of people have travel family. So maybe the NFL is like, you know what, let's just let's shoot our shot with a bunch of Saturday games. I'm looking at the Sunday games. Okay, Jets Bills is total crap, double digits spread, Raider Saints, completely irrelevant. Colts Giants. I would say that's completely irrelevant. By the way, I love the Colts, and a teaser there they're minus eight. If you tease the Colts down to win by one, we know the Giants are actively trying to lose. That that's obvious at this point. And then you tea say the Rams down to pick them or or what have you. And then what was the other game? I liked, Oh, Ravens to just win? Well, no, no, no, no, it wasn't Ravens. It was Denver teasing up. I do believe Denver can hang with the Bengals because of that defense. So you get another three team teaser and teasers have been gold guys, or you could you could sub in Buffalo take them down to three. Obviously you'd rather get under three. But I think that's a really good spot for for the UH, for the Colts to to get a win on the road in New York and the Giants just aren't good. Then you've got Cowboys at Eagles that that game has kind of lost some interest. We'll see if Jalen Hurts even plays. Unclear how bad the concussion is, but I would not be shocked if Jalen Hurst didn't play. Since the Eagles kind of sort of are locked into the number two seed. Cowboys are fighting. I gotta give McCarthy credit. Good good fight from those guys, and it's one of the big surprises it's sounding like McCarthy will return to Dallas next year, maybe because there's no other options. Then you've got Panthers Bucks, which is kind of blase, although there is playoffs on the line. If you're including teasers, I would definitely take Tampa down eight is way too high. Carolina is fighting like hell against everybody, and that Tampa defense on a short week, they did not look particularly sharp against Cooper Rush. Bryce Young's showing. Well, yeah, that's a dicey one that you got Titans Jags. One of those two is gonna screw themselves out of a draft pick. Dolphins Browns is a crap game. Miami somehow favored by six and a half on the road, but it doesn't look like weather's going to be an impact in Cleveland. Then you've got Green Bay Minnesota, which is the best game on a bleak Sunday slate, and then after that you've got the night game is Falcons at Commanders, and uh, I guess it looks good on paper, but I'm a little nervous about Michael Pennock's first road game that early. But that you know, it's not a bad game and the Falcons obviously need it for playoff purposes, Washington in a good spot, and then the Monday night game is Detroit at San France. So we'll dig into some of these other games if we do the Friday podcast. But I'm just saying this, This NFL lineup pretty pretty good, specially Saturday. I think there's some really good stuff on Saturday in the NFL. But so NFL Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, that is a lot. Five days of NFL action this week, guys. Five and you got the NBA on Christmas. You got family to entertain.

The earlier game. I just have no read on that. I'll be rooting Pittsburgh Steelers, and as I said on the Herd, I am looking into ordering a terrible towel in case the Steelers play the Chiefs in the playoffs, I will be I'll be needing that because I'll be rooting for the Steelers. And then here's the other thing. So two games in the NFL Wednesday, then you get one the day after Christmas, because you got to keep your Thursday game, you know, Seattle at Chicago. Seattle just the tough loss of the Viking. Don't not really quite sure how they bounce back from that one. I would lean Bears at three and a half, but no play for me yet. And then the NFL got really greedy. Hey, everybody's home, it's the holidays. Let's go with three games, three on Saturday. Now, I do recall they had Saturday games in the spot in the past. I'll give the NFL credit. These three games Saturday are huge. They're enormous. You get Chargers at Patriots, huge game for the Chargers. They try to lock up the six seed and avoid the Chiefs or Bills in the opening round. Patriots have not quit. They keep fighting hard. Drake May looks good. I am a little nervous for the Chargers in this one. Then you got Broncos at these all three around NFL Network. Broncos at Bengals is fascinating because the Bengals are trying to catch the Broncos. And this is where this gets interesting. If Cincinnati wins, Denver faces the Chiefs in Week eighteen in a game where they will need to win to get into the playoffs, I'm not so sure that the Bengals are the are the definite side here. I just remember anybody who's telling you, oh, well, they need to win and the other team has done that to play for, Well, that doesn't totally apply to this game. But like Chargers Patriots, it does. Chargers have something that'll play for you gotta bet them here. Patriots have nothing though, that's already baked into the line, and that's why you're paying a higher premium. Chargers minus four and a half on the road now Bengals Broncos. Everybody knows the Broncos are reeling. Bengals offense is cooking. Bengals defense actually played decently against the Browns, although the Browns shot themselves on the foot thanks to dt are Cincinnati laying three and a half at home. That's a tough one. That's going to be a great game. Joe Burrow fighting for his playoff life. The NFL needs Joe Burrow in the playoffs. No disrespect to Peyton and Knicks. They've had a great run. I would much rather see Joe Burrow in the postseason than bow Knicks. Now. I don't know that the Bengals would have any shot in Buffalo. I do know that Burrow will be able to move the ball in that defense. I just don't think the Bengals can get any stops. The nightcap Cardinals at Rams is interesting because the Rams, I believe, can lock up the NFC West with a win, and that would then render their yeah. That would then render their Week eighteen game against Seattle not that important because even if they lose, they still won the opener and the best I can tell, they have the tiebreaker over Seattle. So if the Rams beat the Cardinals. That's a rap. And by the way, frankly, the Rams will know what the situation is because Seattle plays the night before. So Seattle somehow loses to the Bears and the Bears are taking money. Boy that is that would be wooh. That's a bitter pill to swallow for Seattle, which looks so good. But as I told you guys, I submitted my mock draft to Fox. I have Jalen Milroe going to Seattle. I just Gino smith Man. It's like groundhog Day with that guy. He's always making the critical mistake in the red zone in a big spot. As such, I just I can't get behind Gino. So so I think the Rams win that game. Now that's a big spread six and a half. Again, this is one where it's like, hey, the Rams have everything to play for. The Cardinals have nothing to play for. Sometimes when you have nothing to play for, you're free and loose. So maybe consider a first half Cardinals bet. Cardinals come out. I know they're coming off an overtime game in the East Coast game and now they got to travel again to so Far. But there's not like a huge home field advantage of so far I would consider first half Cardinals. I don't know a full game because the rams off is gonna cook and probably run through Carolina this sorry Arizona the same way Cuba Hubbard, Cuba Chubba ran through Arizona and that defense. And oh, by the way, James Connor got hurt in that game. But the problem is, so I just rattled off. So there's two Wednesday, one Thursday, three Saturday. So that right, there is six games that leaves a really pedestrian Sunday slate. Guys, it is not the prettiest Sunday slate and it's disappointing. You know, Listen, it's late in the year. I know a lot of people have travel family. So maybe the NFL is like, you know what, let's just let's shoot our shot with a bunch of Saturday games. I'm looking at the Sunday games. Okay, Jets Bills is total crap, double digits spread, Raider Saints, completely irrelevant. Colts Giants. I would say that's completely irrelevant. By the way, I love the Colts, and a teaser there they're minus eight. If you tease the Colts down to win by one, we know the Giants are actively trying to lose. That that's obvious at this point. And then you tea say the Rams down to pick them or or what have you. And then what was the other game? I liked, Oh, Ravens to just win? Well, no, no, no, no, it wasn't Ravens. It was Denver teasing up. I do believe Denver can hang with the Bengals because of that defense. So you get another three team teaser and teasers have been gold guys, or you could you could sub in Buffalo take them down to three. Obviously you'd rather get under three. But I think that's a really good spot for for the UH, for the Colts to to get a win on the road in New York and the Giants just aren't good. Then you've got Cowboys at Eagles that that game has kind of lost some interest. We'll see if Jalen Hurts even plays. Unclear how bad the concussion is, but I would not be shocked if Jalen Hurst didn't play. Since the Eagles kind of sort of are locked into the number two seed. Cowboys are fighting. I gotta give McCarthy credit. Good good fight from those guys, and it's one of the big surprises it's sounding like McCarthy will return to Dallas next year, maybe because there's no other options. Then you've got Panthers Bucks, which is kind of blase, although there is playoffs on the line. If you're including teasers, I would definitely take Tampa down eight is way too high. Carolina is fighting like hell against everybody, and that Tampa defense on a short week, they did not look particularly sharp against Cooper Rush. Bryce Young's showing. Well, yeah, that's a dicey one that you got Titans Jags. One of those two is gonna screw themselves out of a draft pick. Dolphins Browns is a crap game. Miami somehow favored by six and a half on the road, but it doesn't look like weather's going to be an impact in Cleveland. Then you've got Green Bay Minnesota, which is the best game on a bleak Sunday slate, and then after that you've got the night game is Falcons at Commanders, and uh, I guess it looks good on paper, but I'm a little nervous about Michael Pennock's first road game that early. But that you know, it's not a bad game and the Falcons obviously need it for playoff purposes, Washington in a good spot, and then the Monday night game is Detroit at San France. So we'll dig into some of these other games if we do the Friday podcast. But I'm just saying this, This NFL lineup pretty pretty good, specially Saturday. I think there's some really good stuff on Saturday in the NFL. But so NFL Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, that is a lot. Five days of NFL action this week, guys. Five and you got the NBA on Christmas. You got family to entertain.

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.

And oh, by the way, we'll just dip briefly, very so briefly into college football. When I said Boise, I like them and I'm considering them on the money line, I had some of you guys DM me, dude, you're crazy. Penn State's got this. Now. Some of these guys are Pennsylvania people who I've known and correspondent with for a while. I'm not just be careful getting high on your own supply there in Penn State. Now, the line's currently at eleven, so I said ten and a half yesterday up to eleven. So somebody's buying Penn State. And the argument against Boise is their strength of schedule is the weakest by far of all the playoff teams. Boise played Oregon and then they basically played nobody else. They had like a cushy schedule. And I saw something one of these I don't know if it was ESPN Plus, but they had Boise as like the thirty second best team in the country simply because they didn't play a difficult schedule. I mean again, I'm not out here to blast Georgia Southern and Portland State, but basically they played UNLV twice and Oregon. That's it. A lot of those other teams are garbage, And some people say, well, that's why genty had such a huge season setting all these records, because they're playing crap teams. Okay, I'll just point out he had a buck ninety two on the ground against Oregon in Eugene, and Oregon is the only undefeated team in the country. Nobody depants the Oregon defense like Ashton genty one hundred ninety two three touchdowns. He was fee nomenal. They did not quit Boise State, by the way, in that game nine of nineteen on third down three hundred and seventy yards of offense. Now, the passing game was not there seventeen to forty yuck, but they kept hung around because of the ground game six point seven yards per carry and then two Oregon turnovers kind kind of kept kept Boise in it. But let me see when the turnovers were. Oh, they were both interestingly in Oh, Boise gave up a punt return touchdown to Oregon. Boise missed field goal. You had to Oregon fumble in this, say, oh, for Oregon fumble back to back possessions. That's how Boise went touchdown touchdown to take the lead with like what is like ten minutes left, and then Oregon was able to uh get a field goal, get a field goal and win the game. But I thought, listen, man, it's just a really really fun game. If you go back and watch that on YouTube has like a condensed version, it's Poise teams plucky. But obviously they've played nobody. Now. The other thing that is very difficult to handicap, and I did a good job of this last week is the layoff, Like, how do you judge the Boise coach? What do they was Boise smart enough in their preparation to say, you know what Smu ain't doing, Jack, let's go all in. Let's plan for Penn State. And they essentially have had three weeks to prepare for Penn State, four weeks of rest. Anybody injured, four weeks you get to be back in action. This I believe this comes down a lot to coaching this long time off. And oh, by the way, these games aren't this weekend. Their next Tuesday, New Year's Eve. Hello, I'll be in front of the TV for that one, and then New Year's Day and the New Year's Day games will be excellent. But I really do think Boise's gonna be love. I just I'm not a huge buyer of Penn staying eight, Penn State being able to just run away and hide from good teams. And then the question is, well, was Smu good? And my countter would be at times, is Boise good? I think they have the best player left in the playoff in Ashton genty and I'm fascinated, totally fascinated to see how Oregon, not Oregon. How Boise State plays in what will be their toughest games since September, And no disrespect to NLV at all. But the other note I got from you guys was this Georgia team. It seems like a lot of you guys are leaning Notre Dame, and I kind of might be with you. I was looking at this situation in Georgia with the backup quarterback and I'm like, okay, so you know, we don't have much tape on him. He seems like he's probably good if he's at Georgia, and Georgia is the place where Stetson Bennett won a couple national championships. But this kid, Stockton, Gunner Stockton is going to get to start. I mean, they haven't officially announced it, but the elbow injury to Beck means it's almost certain that Stockton will start. Now, if Beck's does start, that would be a bit of a surprise, a bit of a curve ball. But this kid, Stockton's only he's only a sophomore, and it's like he doesn't have a lot of there's not a ton of tape on him, and I'm just the Notre Dame defense is gonna know what's coming, okay, because this guy in that game against Texas was twelve of sixteen for seventy one yards. You don't need to do the math. Sixteen pass attempts seventy one yards. It's all dink and dunk. It's bubble screens, it's swing passes to the running at it's running back screens, tight end screens, all that fun stuff. They do not have the skill position players to open this up, and I think they will struggle to get margin against anybody. And I mean he is, this kid, Stockton is a running quarterback, so maybe he can pull out you know, fifty sixty yards scrambling would be huge. But I don't I think Notre Dame. I do believe Notre Dame will come out and you know you play single high safety, say go ahead, I double dog. Dare you to beat us over the top and you stack the box and be ready for anything. And I you know, I'm sure Georgia will come with a with a trick play or two here because Penn State, sorry not Penn State. Notre Dame is going to crowd the line of scrimmage and dare this young quarterback with very little experience to beat them, and I'm starting to lean Notre Dame here. I know they did just play. They got away, no injuries, at least none that I've been aware of, and I think the Irish will be certainly live to pull that upset, which probably get some SEC people just a little bit upset. All Right, That is a lengthy Christmas Eve podcast that's going to do it for me. Happy Holidays to you and yours, Merry Christmas to all. Will hopefully be back on Friday, back in the mix, preparing for the NFL weekend

And oh, by the way, we'll just dip briefly, very so briefly into college football. When I said Boise, I like them and I'm considering them on the money line, I had some of you guys DM me, dude, you're crazy. Penn State's got this. Now. Some of these guys are Pennsylvania people who I've known and correspondent with for a while. I'm not just be careful getting high on your own supply there in Penn State. Now, the line's currently at eleven, so I said ten and a half yesterday up to eleven. So somebody's buying Penn State. And the argument against Boise is their strength of schedule is the weakest by far of all the playoff teams. Boise played Oregon and then they basically played nobody else. They had like a cushy schedule. And I saw something one of these I don't know if it was ESPN Plus, but they had Boise as like the thirty second best team in the country simply because they didn't play a difficult schedule. I mean again, I'm not out here to blast Georgia Southern and Portland State, but basically they played UNLV twice and Oregon. That's it. A lot of those other teams are garbage, And some people say, well, that's why genty had such a huge season setting all these records, because they're playing crap teams. Okay, I'll just point out he had a buck ninety two on the ground against Oregon in Eugene, and Oregon is the only undefeated team in the country. Nobody depants the Oregon defense like Ashton genty one hundred ninety two three touchdowns. He was fee nomenal. They did not quit Boise State, by the way, in that game nine of nineteen on third down three hundred and seventy yards of offense. Now, the passing game was not there seventeen to forty yuck, but they kept hung around because of the ground game six point seven yards per carry and then two Oregon turnovers kind kind of kept kept Boise in it. But let me see when the turnovers were. Oh, they were both interestingly in Oh, Boise gave up a punt return touchdown to Oregon. Boise missed field goal. You had to Oregon fumble in this, say, oh, for Oregon fumble back to back possessions. That's how Boise went touchdown touchdown to take the lead with like what is like ten minutes left, and then Oregon was able to uh get a field goal, get a field goal and win the game. But I thought, listen, man, it's just a really really fun game. If you go back and watch that on YouTube has like a condensed version, it's Poise teams plucky. But obviously they've played nobody. Now. The other thing that is very difficult to handicap, and I did a good job of this last week is the layoff, Like, how do you judge the Boise coach? What do they was Boise smart enough in their preparation to say, you know what Smu ain't doing, Jack, let's go all in. Let's plan for Penn State. And they essentially have had three weeks to prepare for Penn State, four weeks of rest. Anybody injured, four weeks you get to be back in action. This I believe this comes down a lot to coaching this long time off. And oh, by the way, these games aren't this weekend. Their next Tuesday, New Year's Eve. Hello, I'll be in front of the TV for that one, and then New Year's Day and the New Year's Day games will be excellent. But I really do think Boise's gonna be love. I just I'm not a huge buyer of Penn staying eight, Penn State being able to just run away and hide from good teams. And then the question is, well, was Smu good? And my countter would be at times, is Boise good? I think they have the best player left in the playoff in Ashton genty and I'm fascinated, totally fascinated to see how Oregon, not Oregon. How Boise State plays in what will be their toughest games since September, And no disrespect to NLV at all. But the other note I got from you guys was this Georgia team. It seems like a lot of you guys are leaning Notre Dame, and I kind of might be with you. I was looking at this situation in Georgia with the backup quarterback and I'm like, okay, so you know, we don't have much tape on him. He seems like he's probably good if he's at Georgia, and Georgia is the place where Stetson Bennett won a couple national championships. But this kid, Stockton, Gunner Stockton is going to get to start. I mean, they haven't officially announced it, but the elbow injury to Beck means it's almost certain that Stockton will start. Now, if Beck's does start, that would be a bit of a surprise, a bit of a curve ball. But this kid, Stockton's only he's only a sophomore, and it's like he doesn't have a lot of there's not a ton of tape on him, and I'm just the Notre Dame defense is gonna know what's coming, okay, because this guy in that game against Texas was twelve of sixteen for seventy one yards. You don't need to do the math. Sixteen pass attempts seventy one yards. It's all dink and dunk. It's bubble screens, it's swing passes to the running at it's running back screens, tight end screens, all that fun stuff. They do not have the skill position players to open this up, and I think they will struggle to get margin against anybody. And I mean he is, this kid, Stockton is a running quarterback, so maybe he can pull out you know, fifty sixty yards scrambling would be huge. But I don't I think Notre Dame. I do believe Notre Dame will come out and you know you play single high safety, say go ahead, I double dog. Dare you to beat us over the top and you stack the box and be ready for anything. And I you know, I'm sure Georgia will come with a with a trick play or two here because Penn State, sorry not Penn State. Notre Dame is going to crowd the line of scrimmage and dare this young quarterback with very little experience to beat them, and I'm starting to lean Notre Dame here. I know they did just play. They got away, no injuries, at least none that I've been aware of, and I think the Irish will be certainly live to pull that upset, which probably get some SEC people just a little bit upset. All Right, That is a lengthy Christmas Eve podcast that's going to do it for me. Happy Holidays to you and yours, Merry Christmas to all. Will hopefully be back on Friday, back in the mix, preparing for the NFL weekend