ITG 135 - Bowl Special with Phil Steele
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:05 In the gun episode 135, it is Duke's Mayo Bowl Eve.
00:10 Happy holidays everybody.
00:12 I'm Skylar Callahan, that is the signal caller Jed Drenning.
00:15 We've got the guy, Phil Steel.
00:17 He's gonna be coming in with us one more time for the 2023 season.
00:21 He's gonna talk to West Virginia, North Carolina matchup along with a few other
00:24 bowl games that he wants to discuss.
00:27 So Jed, first off, I just wanna say it's been a lot of fun talking to Phil because
00:33 it's kind of unique that you get an expert's opinion on so
00:37 many games each and every week.
00:41 We're blessed with that opportunity every Friday or Thursday,
00:43 whatever day it is we record with him.
00:45 And to gain all the knowledge that we've gained from him is pretty cool.
00:50 So a lot of fun talking to Phil this year.
00:53 What do you think?
00:54 >> I completely agree.
00:56 It's been insightful, as you might imagine.
01:00 I think back to some of the big hits that he got right,
01:03 like he was way out in front of that Oklahoma State posse before anybody else was.
01:07 I remember when he called the Cowboys to knock off K-State and Stillwater,
01:12 and everybody was looking at him like he had two heads.
01:15 Well, he didn't know, or everybody else didn't realize what Phil did realize.
01:20 And that was that they were about to turn a corner and reinvent themselves.
01:23 So it's been fun, especially when he nails a couple of those down, right?
01:28 Because let's face it, this business, or
01:31 the business that he's in more specifically, is almost impossible.
01:35 >> Yeah. >> I mean,
01:35 it's almost an impossible ask when you deal with point spreads and
01:39 getting things right at a high percentage.
01:41 It's nobody's even close to perfect.
01:44 So the job that he does and the track record that he has is impressive.
01:49 >> Yeah, I mean, professional bettors, they looked ahead at 55,
01:53 56%, and they consider that successful.
01:56 I don't know that I've been 55, 56% on our ITG picks this year, but
02:00 I've been trying to make my way back.
02:02 So let's go ahead and get into our final round of ITG picks.
02:08 And we're here from our sponsor at BetOnline, where the game starts, and
02:12 that's where we're going to start here is with our picks.
02:14 So Jed, give us some spreads, some prop bets, actually, if you will.
02:19 >> Let's start with this one.
02:21 I think it's an interesting storyline in this game with all the opt outs and
02:26 the injuries, particularly on the North Carolina side.
02:29 They don't have a scholarship tight end coming into this game.
02:34 And they've been a pretty significant 12 personnel, one back, two tight ends team.
02:40 They even run, as we talked about in the preview with Wes,
02:43 even run some 13 personnel, but they're without a scholarship tight end.
02:47 Now, that doesn't mean they're without a tight end at large.
02:50 It just means their top kids are out.
02:52 And they've managed that position for North Carolina this year to catch 72 balls.
02:57 So their tight ends have been incredibly productive.
03:01 But that position group is going to be impacted in a big way in this game.
03:05 So let's keep it with the tight end theme and jump to the other side with Cole Taylor.
03:12 Cole Taylor is the first Mountaineer since the early 80s to lead the team and
03:17 receiving.
03:18 What I'm gonna ask here is, from a receiving yardage standpoint,
03:24 Cole Taylor over under 34 and a half receiving yards
03:31 against a North Carolina team that's dead last in the ACC and pass defense.
03:38 >> I like Cole's chances here because I think we said it last week.
03:43 This has a good setup for West Virginia to take some shots downfield.
03:47 And whether that be on the outside with perimeter guys or Cole Taylor up the seam,
03:52 I like his chances here.
03:53 So maybe just one explosive play could do it or get him close to that.
03:57 So I'm gonna go over 34.
03:58 >> I'm gonna go over as well.
04:03 It's almost gonna take in my estimation, try and
04:07 strike when they go with one of those cover one blitzes and
04:10 maybe get a favorable matchup.
04:12 Just think about it, a 23, 24 yard seam route.
04:17 That's really what it's gonna take to make this happen.
04:20 Because otherwise, he'll probably have a couple catches for five or
04:23 ten on some crossers or on a bootleg.
04:26 But I'm gonna say yes, I think that does happen.
04:30 So we're both saying yes on Cole Taylor's over 34 and a half yards receiving.
04:36 All right, let's jump into this one.
04:37 North Carolina has allowed the most ten plus yard plays in the ACC.
04:46 One of the bowl teams just passed them the ACC, but
04:48 at the end of the regular season, they'd allowed the most.
04:51 So they've allowed 183 ten plus yard plays,
04:56 which is an average of 15.3 per game.
04:59 We'll go back to that in a second.
05:02 West Virginia is averaging 15 a game, they have 180.
05:08 Now what's interesting with West Virginia,
05:09 we've split ours right down the middle, not many teams do that.
05:12 We're 90 on the ground and 90 through the air.
05:14 And when running the ball, Garrett, 28 of his 111 carries have been for
05:21 ten plus yards.
05:22 Matter of fact, Garrett leads all power five runners with the highest percentage
05:26 of his rushes that result in a first down, 44% of his runs have been for
05:30 a first down.
05:32 Jaheim, 27 of his 97 carries have gone for ten plus yards.
05:38 So those are the two that yank West Virginia's percentage way up in terms of
05:41 those ten plus yards.
05:43 As a team, West Virginia has 90 on the ground as we touched on and
05:46 90 through the air.
05:47 So here are the numbers again.
05:51 North Carolina is giving up 15.3 per game, ten plus yard plays.
05:57 West Virginia is averaging 15.
05:58 I'm gonna go with an over under.
06:01 Over under West Virginia, 15.5 plays of ten plus yards.
06:07 >> And this is run or pass.
06:12 >> It's run or pass, yeah.
06:13 >> I'm gonna go over again.
06:18 There's so many explosive plays to be out there for this team.
06:23 And I think between Jaheim White and Garrett Green alone,
06:26 you're gonna get close to double digits, I think.
06:29 And I'm talking on the ground, that's not even with Garrett Green through the air.
06:34 So I'm gonna go over 15 and a half.
06:38 >> I'm gonna go over 15.5 as well.
06:40 I'm very curious as to a guy who's got to see this kid playing some Monday night
06:47 football and a guy who's really seen this kid come along.
06:51 And he's gonna get his opportunity in DJ Oliver.
06:54 He's gonna get some touches in this football game.
06:56 So you mentioned Garrett, you mentioned Jaheim,
07:00 DJ Oliver of course, Jalen's on the table as well.
07:04 So I think the opportunities will be there.
07:07 I'm gonna go over 15.5.
07:10 I almost feel that needs to happen for West Virginia to have the type of game we
07:14 have to have to win this.
07:16 So I think optimism, I'm going with my heart and my brain there.
07:21 And then closing out, let's go to number three.
07:24 Interestingly enough, this is the third time that West Virginia has faced
07:30 the Tar Heels in a bowl game.
07:31 In 1997 in the Gator Bowl, West Virginia lost 20 to 13 to North Carolina and
07:39 Jacksonville.
07:41 And then of course, most fans will remember the swan song of one Pat White
07:46 in the Monteke Car Care Bowl at this very site.
07:48 West Virginia came from behind to win 31 to 30.
07:52 [COUGH] Excuse me, in front of the largest college football crowd in the history
07:56 of the state of North Carolina, 73,000 change.
07:58 So there's two scores, 20 to 13, 31 to 30.
08:03 The two score totals, 33.61 points.
08:07 What I'm asking for this third one,
08:10 the over under of this Duke's Mayo Bowl game
08:15 will be closer to which of those two?
08:18 Closer to the 33 total points of 97 or closer to the 61 points of 08.
08:26 And I'll say it right now, the total is 47, which is dead center in the middle.
08:30 I'm gonna give us both credit, but what's it to you?
08:33 Which one is it closer to?
08:35 >> I'm leaning towards more of the highest scoring game.
08:38 Because actually my prediction I think is like 63 or 64 for the total.
08:43 I just think there's gonna be a lot of points scored in this game.
08:45 Like even with the backup quarterback, I still think that that offense can still
08:49 make things happen for Carolina.
08:51 And Connor Harrell, I don't know what we're really gonna get out of him.
08:56 But he's a dual threat quarterback.
08:58 And for whatever reason, dual threat mobile quarterbacks have given West Virginia
09:03 fits over the years, and especially on a kid that you don't have a whole lot of
09:05 tape on, I think he can have some success.
09:08 And we've seen in the very little plays that he was able to get in,
09:12 he's got a pretty good arm on him.
09:14 So I think they're gonna be able to do some stuff and
09:17 get this thing into where it's a track meet to some extent.
09:20 And I think it's gonna be in the low 30s for both teams.
09:23 So I'll go closer to that 60.
09:26 >> Yeah, if Drake May would have played as a slam dunk, right?
09:33 >> Yeah.
09:33 >> But I keep wondering, what impact is this going to have on Carolina's game plan?
09:39 With yes, the backup quarterback, who I've seen him make plays with his arm and
09:45 his limited opportunities.
09:47 But I haven't seen him been asked to scan the field and
09:51 make any kind of even quasi advanced read.
09:54 That's not to say he can't, we just haven't seen him be asked that.
09:56 Their tight ends are out.
10:00 Their center is out, which is absolutely much like West Virginia,
10:03 the anchor is off the line.
10:05 We haven't seen outside of that final drive at Baylor,
10:09 this West Virginia offense without Zach Frazier.
10:13 And I don't think that's being discussed nearly enough.
10:15 >> Yeah. >> I might be inclined to lean
10:17 towards saying the over and agreeing with you because my score prediction,
10:20 I even went on a limb in the preview at West 2821,
10:23 West Virginia just because we've never had a 2821 game.
10:27 But to make it interesting, I'll tell you what, I think that Carolina with
10:32 Harold is gonna try and take the air out of it, missing those tight ends,
10:36 missing their center.
10:38 I think they're gonna try and shrink the game and not ask him to do too much.
10:42 They will ask him to pop it down field with some play action opportunities.
10:46 And I also think they'll go empty with the quick game and
10:49 ask him to get the ball out fast with some decisive quick reads.
10:52 But I'll go ahead and say under, or excuse me, closer to the 33,
10:56 I guess is what we're saying.
10:58 We're saying which over under which point total will this be closer to in this game?
11:03 The 33 points to the 97 Gator, the 61 points of the 2008 Monica Carcare goal.
11:10 I'm gonna go ahead to make this interesting and
11:12 say it will be closer to the 33 points.
11:15 It's not to say it's gonna be close to 33.
11:17 That just means it has to be closer than it is to 61.
11:20 >> Yeah, it'll be interesting.
11:21 And it looks like we're gonna have decent weather now cuz I think a couple days ago
11:25 there was rain in the forecast and- >> It's been raining in Charlotte.
11:29 We've been walking around the city the last couple days and
11:32 I'm, yeah, I'm ready for a dry day.
11:35 >> Yeah, it's been bad here.
11:36 So hopefully we get some good weather, which it looks like we will.
11:41 And it should make for an interesting game.
11:43 I really do think this has a chance to get to be into one of those back and
11:47 forth affairs.
11:48 And I actually just looked up my score prediction cuz I was curious and
11:50 I had 33, 31, so very close to that Monica Carcare bowl score.
11:55 So we're gonna go ahead and take a break.
11:57 And on the other side, we're gonna go ahead and bring in Phil to talk some bowl
12:01 games and West Virginia, North Carolina.
12:03 Stay tuned, we'll be right back with Phil Stewart.
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13:47 [SOUND] >> Let's go, Mountaineer fans.
13:52 You're tuned in to in the gun with Wes, the runaway beer truck, and
13:56 the signal caller.
13:57 [SOUND] >> We're back with our favorite guy,
14:01 that is Phil Steele.
14:02 We're gonna talk some bowl games here, a little college football playoff.
14:05 Get Phil's thoughts on the four teams that made it and
14:08 some of the teams that didn't.
14:10 Most notably, Florida State and Georgia, and
14:12 then I'll wrap things up with the Dukes Mayo Bowl.
14:14 As Jed just showed off Tubby there, I think is the guy.
14:18 I don't know if we're nicknaming him that or not, but
14:20 it's a unique little mascot there, Jed, that you got, so.
14:24 >> Phil can't see it, but we have a very venerable,
14:29 the late great Mickey Ferfari, sports writer in West Virginia circles.
14:34 That he kind of bears, somebody pointed out on Twitter,
14:36 he kind of bears a resemblance to Mickey Ferfari, his Mayo, his Dukes Mayo mascot.
14:41 So that's a good thing when you look like Mickey, right?
14:43 But anyway, Skyler, you have the floor.
14:47 >> Yeah, so let's go ahead and start with some of these New Year's Six games here,
14:52 Phil.
14:53 And let's go with the Cotton Bowl here with Missouri and Ohio State.
14:57 Obviously, tremendous season for the Tigers.
15:00 And Coach Drinkwits, Ohio State, they've had a lot of guys head to the portal,
15:04 including their quarterback Kyle McCord.
15:06 So a lot of these games are gonna feel like who really wants to be here and
15:11 who, and I think the edge is probably gonna go to the teams that actually do
15:14 have interest in being here.
15:17 I mean, just looking at this one here, Phil, I would think Missouri has that edge,
15:21 but what do you think about this game?
15:22 >> Yeah, I think as far as the players that are gonna be there,
15:27 Ohio State will have more opt outs than Missouri, and
15:29 they've already lost their quarterback.
15:31 But I think there is some pressure on Ohio State.
15:35 I mean, Ryan Day has lost three straight games to Michigan.
15:38 And now if he was to lose the bowl game,
15:40 I think he'd have two games down losing streak in the bowls as well.
15:46 So I think there's a little bit of pressure on Ohio State.
15:48 They actually opened up the underdog in this game,
15:50 which I think will help them out a little bit.
15:51 They're now a slight favorite.
15:53 But I think Missouri's excited to be here.
15:55 But Ohio State coming off that loss to Michigan, third straight time they've done
15:59 it, didn't qualify for the playoffs.
16:01 A bowl loss would be tough for them in this one as well.
16:05 I think Ohio State's clearly a more talented team.
16:08 My computer had Ohio State 30 to 19 in this one, so
16:13 they're definitely more talented, played the tougher schedule.
16:16 I've got a lot of things going for them here.
16:18 And Devin Brown started getting some action late in the year.
16:21 I think Devin Brown will have a decent game at quarterback.
16:25 Probably Marvin Harrison won't play, but they're so deep at receiver,
16:28 it's ridiculous.
16:29 So I'm actually gonna go with Ohio State, minus the one in that one.
16:34 >> Well, we'd be remiss if we didn't ask you what we had you on here, Phil.
16:37 And here in a minute,
16:38 Skyler's gonna ask you about your thoughts on the playoffs.
16:40 But this whole situation with the Orange Bowl,
16:43 you talk about drawing the short stick.
16:46 You have the Georgia Bulldogs pitted against the Florida State Seminoles.
16:51 And the old way of doing things, this would have been one heck of a marquee
16:55 matchup and a great get for that Orange Bowl.
16:58 But the way things stand, I mean,
17:00 you have kids parachuting off that Florida State roster at every turn.
17:04 You really don't know what to anticipate out of Georgia.
17:06 What do you see playing out down in this Orange Bowl game?
17:10 >> Yeah, and as far as Florida State goes,
17:15 you just have to take a look at their offense the last two games without Jordan
17:18 Travis.
17:19 224 yards against Florida, a game that they were very fortunate to win by nine.
17:25 I thought they were outplayed in that game.
17:28 The Louisville game, 219 yards, so they've struggled.
17:32 Tate Rodemaker now not gonna play, so
17:34 they're down to their third string quarterback, Brock Glenn,
17:37 with 10 of 25 passes against Louisville.
17:41 They're taking on a Georgia team that didn't qualify for the playoffs.
17:44 Pretty tough for them, but I think when you look at Georgia,
17:48 they're a team that's off a loss.
17:50 And I think you're gonna see Georgia play their A game.
17:53 The line on this one, all the way up at 16, and I think that's accurate.
17:58 I think Georgia's the much better team with Florida State not having Jordan Travis.
18:03 And I think Georgia's gonna be motivated for this one.
18:06 And as you mentioned, Florida State losing a lot to the transfer portal.
18:09 So I like Georgia to win this one comfortably.
18:11 >> Yeah, Phil, this is just a tough situation for Florida State fans.
18:18 And you could arguably say the same thing for Georgia,
18:20 because they were the number one team heading into Conference Championship
18:23 weekend, their only losses to a team in the college football playoff.
18:28 And all this debate about a four team playoff versus a 12 team playoff or
18:31 even an 18 playoff, this is one of those years where you look at and say, well,
18:35 this is exactly why they're expanding the CFP format.
18:39 And I think this is something that's been needed for a long time.
18:42 But with this being the final year of the four team,
18:45 I don't know that they got it right.
18:47 I mean, I've said from the very beginning of this thing,
18:50 when this started to become a conversation, if Florida State won the game,
18:54 they needed to be in.
18:55 I don't care what it looks like, those guys deserve to be there,
18:59 because they went undefeated, are a Power Five Conference Champion, and
19:02 they won with their second, third string quarterbacks.
19:04 What do you think about that whole situation and
19:08 how the committee made their selections in leaving Florida State and Georgia out?
19:12 >> Well, we'll probably disagree a little bit on that.
19:16 I think if I was in the committee and they tasked me with putting the four best
19:20 teams on the field, you go back to a few years back,
19:25 Ohio State was down to their third string quarterback in the Big Ten title game.
19:29 But they showed, they won that thing like 60 to 7.
19:33 I mean, they showed, hey, there's no difference with the Ohio State offense.
19:37 This is the same team, even with a third string quarterback.
19:41 We did not see that with Florida State.
19:43 Florida State's offense struggled to get first downs, struggled to get points,
19:47 struggled to get yards.
19:49 I mean, when you average 221 yards per game in two games,
19:53 had they put up 400 yards against either Florida or Louisville,
19:56 I thought they would have been competitive.
19:58 And look at the line on this game.
19:59 I mean, Florida State's a 16-point underdog to Georgia.
20:03 And Georgia, you can make an argument that they should be there, but
20:07 heck, they lost to Alabama.
20:09 So if I was the committee, I would have picked the same four teams to be in there.
20:13 And this is the first time that the 14 playoff didn't work,
20:16 because these two teams probably deserve to be in the playoffs.
20:20 It'll be corrected in the future.
20:21 But of all the years of the 14 playoff, I think it's the first time that we've
20:24 really had something where, hey, you're leaving out an undefeated conference
20:28 champ, or you're leaving out the team that won the last two national championships.
20:32 But like I said, if I was the committee, right now I would have picked Alabama
20:36 because they beat Georgia, Texas, and then of course Michigan and
20:40 Washington, the undefeated teams that are full strength.
20:43 >> All right, let's go ahead and jump down here to Charlottesville.
20:47 We wanna get your thoughts on this matchup in the Duke's Mayo Bowl between
20:52 West Virginia and North Carolina.
20:53 Two teams that stand at eight and four took different paths to get here.
20:58 And what's interesting about this is you've seen,
21:01 you talk about roster attrition, well, you've seen quite a bit of that on
21:04 the North Carolina side, and not just at the quarterback spot with Drake May.
21:10 I think the line stood around what,
21:12 two and a half points or so before Drake May made his announcement.
21:16 But you also have other considerations,
21:18 they have basically seven starters out, North Carolina does.
21:21 Now granted, West Virginia is without Zach Frazier for the first time in four
21:25 years at center, which is the straw that really stirs that drink for
21:29 us offensively.
21:30 But North Carolina is without their starting center,
21:33 they're without a scholarship tight end in this game.
21:35 They're without Drake May, they're down a lot of guys.
21:38 Now that means opportunity for a lot of excited youth.
21:41 But what do you see unfolding here in Charlotte with West Virginia and
21:45 North Carolina facing each other in a bowl game for the third time?
21:48 >> Yeah, well, first of all,
21:51 I wanna point out that bowls used to be a lot of fun for me.
21:55 >> [LAUGH] >> But now,
21:56 it's just a pain in the butt.
21:58 You're like, okay, you turn the TV on, they're like, well, guess what?
22:02 These four guys are not gonna play today.
22:04 You're like, I didn't even know that, and it's just a mess.
22:08 I hate all these opt outs, but I digress.
22:10 Let's talk about this game.
22:11 As you mentioned, West Virginia, I think, is the stronger team,
22:15 especially with Drake May being out for this.
22:17 I like West Virginia's defense.
22:20 I think they've shown at times this year they can be strong.
22:24 And while Omari and Hampton is a very dangerous running back, but to me,
22:28 the key matchup here is that West Virginia run game against a North Carolina rush
22:32 defense that has struggled at times this year.
22:35 Four different times this year, they gave up over 200 yards rushing.
22:38 It seemed like their defense the last four weeks went downhill.
22:43 They allowed 39 yards above the season average.
22:46 I think if you're looking for motivation,
22:48 West Virginia is the more motivated team.
22:51 You guys pointed out the crowd edge.
22:52 It's not gonna be, even though it's in North Carolina, it's gonna be fairly even.
22:56 So I think when you add it all up, West Virginia is the team to get the victory
23:01 here, and that'll be good, very good for Neil Brown.
23:04 So I'd like the Mountaineers to come out on top in this one.
23:07 >> Yeah, Phil, some of these things just don't make a lot of sense.
23:11 And the ESPN-FBI is one thing that never really seems to make a whole lot of sense.
23:15 It's not very accurate.
23:16 That's why people should go to your site and check out your predictor.
23:19 But the Mountaineers, for most sporting books, are six and
23:23 a half to seven point favorites.
23:25 The ESPN-FBI, I think, is having North Carolina as the heavy favor.
23:30 West Virginia's only getting like 38, 39% chance to win this game.
23:35 Is that just a miscalculation or something that you don't think that they've
23:40 reconfigured since all these opt-outs?
23:43 I mean, what could be the explanation for something like that?
23:46 And what's yours?
23:47 >> Yeah, it is strictly the opt-outs.
23:51 And I'll tell you what, I've had meetings with, I've worked at ESPN for
23:55 three years, and I would always, every time I went there, I talked to the folks at
23:58 FBI, because we're very similar as far as I'm a numbers guy, they're numbers guys.
24:04 And basically, how do you equate, how do you change your ratings based on opt-outs
24:10 and injuries, and they just can't do it.
24:12 So basically, it's whatever happened during the season.
24:16 Like my computer, for example, has North Carolina 3735,
24:21 just based on the computer numbers, which doesn't reflect that Drake made.
24:25 So you have to put your personal thing in there.
24:27 But they just can't do that.
24:29 So it's just numbers based on the season,
24:32 based on what the team's done this year.
24:34 And I don't think they're able to reflect that the fact that Drake may, and
24:38 numerous other players are out for North Carolina.
24:40 So that's the reason for the percentage on that one.
24:43 >> You know where my mind keeps racing to?
24:45 I think we all remember, a lot of us do, a handful of years ago in the Champs Bowl,
24:52 you had a Baylor team that for the better part of the season, I think it was 2015.
24:56 The better part of the season was ranked among the national leaders in just about
24:59 every key category.
25:01 But they got so banged up, and they lost their top couple quarterbacks.
25:04 They were facing, ironically enough, North Carolina in that Champs Bowl.
25:08 And what they did was with Art Bryles, they came out and
25:11 reinvented themselves offensively in a span of three weeks.
25:14 He went back to his high school roots.
25:16 They ambushed North Carolina with strictly an option offense,
25:21 ran the ball 80-some times for 600-and-some yards.
25:24 My mind keeps racing to that game for one reason.
25:27 The offensive line coach on that Baylor staff was one Randy Clements.
25:32 The offensive line coach on this North Carolina staff,
25:35 who just lost his starting quarterback, who just lost his starting center,
25:38 who just lost all his tight ends.
25:40 It just has a weird feel to it.
25:42 >> Yeah, and what we've seen in these bowl games, let's go back and
25:47 take a look at that South Alabama bowl game, for example.
25:50 South Alabama's without their starting quarterback.
25:53 They lost their thousand-yard rusher.
25:55 They lost their top receiver.
25:57 And yet, they blew them out.
25:59 I mean, people overreact sometimes to the players that aren't there, but
26:02 it's a chance for other players to step up.
26:05 And I remember that Baylor game.
26:06 Baylor was up like 49-31 in the fourth quarter.
26:09 North Carolina got a late touchdown, only lose by 11.
26:13 It was all Baylor.
26:14 It was a fun game to watch, especially for what you mentioned.
26:17 So that's the thing that makes these bowl games so tough.
26:20 You don't know what's going on.
26:22 As far as the coaching staffs, are they gonna change stuff?
26:25 And who's gonna be motivated for the game?
26:27 And that possibility clearly exists.
26:32 >> Yeah, and a possibility for a ninth win is on the table here for
26:37 West Virginia, again, something they haven't done in quite a while.
26:41 Phil, just real quick, get your last thoughts on this.
26:44 Your total 50,000-foot view of this West Virginia program under Neil Brown now,
26:50 winning nine games is a possibility here in the next 24 hours or so.
26:54 If they get that ninth win, you talk about all the pieces that they have
26:58 potentially coming back, Garrett Green, Jaheim White, C.J. Donaldson,
27:01 the list goes on.
27:02 Could this be a team that gets votes or potentially even finds a way to sneak
27:07 into the back end of that top 25 next preseason?
27:10 >> Absolutely, especially with what they have coming back.
27:14 And you look at the fact that in the Big 12 next year,
27:18 you take out Oklahoma and Texas.
27:20 They're going out.
27:20 So West Virginia, I think, will garner a lot.
27:24 I personally, when I write the magazine,
27:27 I tend to slam the teams that can run the ball.
27:30 They have a great offensive line this year.
27:33 And I think they'll develop a good offensive line next year.
27:35 And it's a team that's got the defense, the run game.
27:39 And I think Neil Brown is one of the better head coaches.
27:43 It concerned me that he was on the hot seat coming into the year.
27:46 Very thankful, and hopefully he picks up that ninth win here.
27:49 Because I have a lot of respect for Neil Brown.
27:53 I think he's one of the better head coaches.
27:54 >> Well, Phil, we appreciate you coming on each and
27:58 every single week throughout the season and
27:59 doing this bowl special here with us as well.
28:02 Couldn't thank you enough.
28:03 It's been a lot of fun this season.
28:04 We hope you come back next year.
28:05 But if you wanna go ahead and plug any of your stuff here as we wrap up the bowl
28:09 season, the floor is yours.
28:10 >> Yeah, I appreciate that, guys.
28:14 We put out a newsletter called Inside the Press Box,
28:19 which gives you a complete write up on every game, my computer's forecast,
28:22 my forecast.
28:23 Computer best bets are on a run.
28:25 They're 18 and 7 the last 11 weeks.
28:28 You can check that out at philsteel.com.
28:30 Also, when you go to philsteel.com, I've got the Phil Steel Plus Tour with
28:33 selections, shows you a little bit of what we have on the Phil Steel Plus site.
28:37 And also gives you some free selections.
28:39 So make sure you check that out each and every week.
28:41 I'll have a fresh one up for you on Tuesday.
28:44 >> There it is.
28:45 There's where you need to go.
28:47 Phil Steel.
28:48 Thank you so much, Phil.
28:49 We're gonna go ahead and take another break and wrap up the show here on
28:53 In the Gun.
28:54 Hear from this word from Johnson's Equipment.
28:56 [MUSIC]
29:00 >> If you work the land, you just gotta be a jack of all trades type.
29:04 There's just too much to do.
29:05 So if you gotta be a welder, or a farmer, or a ditch digger,
29:10 that's just who you are that day.
29:12 Then tomorrow, you can be somebody else.
29:15 [MUSIC]
29:22 Get your coyote at the new location of Johnston Equipment,
29:25 between Weston and Buckhannon.
29:26 >> Fun as always talking to Phil Steel.
29:29 Looks like he's got the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Duke's Mayo Bowl,
29:32 like Jed and I.
29:33 And there's Tubby or Mickey.
29:35 [LAUGH] My goodness, I'm never gonna get past that thing.
29:40 I've gotta find a way to steal one somehow.
29:43 And I know that they're gonna have the Mayo jars with the logos on it.
29:47 And I think Chris is gonna grab me one, but we've gotta get one to Wes too.
29:50 So a lot of fun.
29:52 And Jed, you and Wes actually did the preview on Christmas Eve for
29:57 the bowl game.
29:58 It's up there now.
29:59 It's a little Christmas theme, so make you feel like you're in the season.
30:02 But you guys broke this one down as the final one of the year.
30:06 But in case they haven't checked it out yet, go ahead and
30:10 kinda give a little plug here.
30:12 Give them some insight of what they're missing out on if they haven't checked
30:15 it out yet.
30:16 >> One of the big things we wanted to do was dive into, and
30:19 we just discussed it with Phil, but all the opt-outs and the injuries,
30:22 especially on the North Carolina side.
30:24 Because I almost felt like we were wasting people's time to give you the numbers
30:28 that North Carolina had amassed throughout the course of the season.
30:31 Because in so many ways, it's a fundamentally different team.
30:34 So we did what we could to vet that and
30:38 talk about all the players that North Carolina has now to do some projecting in
30:43 terms of what we think North Carolina might do from a game planning standpoint
30:47 to compensate and adjust.
30:48 But yeah, we threw a lot into it.
30:50 We threw a lot into it, guys.
30:52 We got out in the weeds on that one.
30:53 >> [LAUGH] So make sure you go check that out before the game tomorrow
30:58 at In the Gun Podcast on YouTube.
31:00 You can follow us on X there as well.
31:03 And we'll be back sometime here in the next week or so.
31:06 We're gonna keep these things going.
31:08 We'll try and nail down a schedule so
31:10 you can kind of get an idea as to when to expect some new episodes.
31:13 But that'll do it for us here today.
31:15 For Jed Drang, The Signal Caller, I'm Skylar Callen.
31:18 You've been watching to and listening to the In the Gun Podcast.
31:21 And as always, be in here and
31:22 tell in here about your new favorite WV football podcast.
31:26 You've been in the gun.
31:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]