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00:00Live right here on the early line on sports grid for most of this show in fact for the entirety of it up until
00:06This very moment our focus has been on football
00:09But professionally in the National Football League soon that is going to change in fact
00:15It does right now because Joe we are just three days away
00:19from history in college football for the first ever time a
00:2412 team college football playoff the largest ever field in
00:29Competition for a national championship and for the first ever time in the now
00:3411 year history in total of the CFP on
00:39campus
00:40Playoff games what a beautiful sight to behold that starts on Friday night the in-state
00:47showdown between the seven seed Notre Dame
00:50hosting the ten seed
00:52Indiana the Fighting Irish a seven-and-a-half point home favorite in South Bend
00:57under the watchful eye of touchdown Jesus a total that is just barely above 50 at
01:04This moment Joe. Where do you begin your breakdown for the first ever on?
01:10campus college football playoff game in the history of the sport I
01:14Look, I love it Ben because it also ended up
01:17We got the four best defenses in the country and for the top six
01:22Offenses in the country in this playoff so we legit have
01:26The best of the best in college football in this 12 team playoff
01:31And I think you'll see it on display here with Notre Dame and Indiana listen
01:36We've seen Indiana try to step up in class. Okay. It didn't work out all that well
01:42However the one thing we know about this team is they're extremely well coached they got a very experienced quarterback in Curtis
01:49Rourke nobody's played more football than he has in college
01:53So I don't think that and I think that lost Ohio State is actually going to be a pretty good learning
02:00experience for them
02:02Because experience matters in these spots here
02:06Everyone seems to think it's going to be all about Notre Dame here
02:11I think it's gonna be all about the defenses however
02:14I chose to look at the under in this game, Ben
02:17I don't believe especially keep in mind Ben these early games
02:21They all have to play more games after this so nobody is emptying the tank if a game is out of hand here
02:2928 to 7 Notre Dame would take that all day long, but that's gonna put us well under 51 and a half points
02:36Which is what I think happens here
02:38And that is where the total stands right now the 30th all-time matchup in the Hoosier State
02:44Between the Hoosiers and the fighting Irish Notre Dame has won 23 of the previous
02:4929 Indiana's last win over the Irish way back in
02:541950 the only IU win in South Bend in history
02:59over a century ago in
03:0118
03:0398 Joe, of course as you documented IU has only been an underdog once this year
03:09It was against Ohio State
03:10It was in that step-up spot for a team that many looked at in Indiana and frankly some still do that was not tested
03:18Anywhere else in their schedule except against Ohio State and they did not pass that test. They failed it
03:24They did not cover and they did not cover as a double-digit dog by nearly two touchdowns
03:30But you mentioned Kurt Cignetti. He is a guy that I believe in
03:34I know that Indiana believes in and of course, he is winning multiple and numerous coach of the year awards
03:40And Joe, he has been very frank about that game in Columbus
03:45It was not Indiana's best, but they learned from that atmosphere. They learned from the environment
03:51We'll see how much they learned on Friday night against Notre Dame in South Bend
03:56Joe an Irish team that against teams not from the mid-american conference has been dominant this year. Notre Dame is 9
04:04Oh and 1 against the spread against non-mac foes with an average victory margin of
04:1129 point 2 points per game Notre Dame scoring 43 point 6
04:16Points per game in those 10 matchups against non Mac foes
04:21That would be the second best scoring offense in all of college football
04:25They have also gone over in seven of ten games in Joe
04:29I would agree that this game should trend to the under Indiana best rushing defense of the country
04:34Against the top ten rushing offense in the Irish
04:38But if Indiana's offense looks as stagnant as it did against Ohio State
04:43They're not coming close to keeping this game within that seven and a half point margin
04:47Yeah, I don't think so here Ben
04:50I mean and don't forget the Hoosiers did gift 14 points on special teams, Ohio State
04:55In that game, it probably would have been a little bit closer
04:59But the reality is outside of that opening drive against that Ohio State defense adjustments were made
05:06And then they went MIA that offense there
05:10And I think Ben that is going to be a problem in this game against this
05:15Notre Dame defense who again is just as good as the Ohio State defense. This is going to be very similar in that aspect
05:24Except a lot more running by Notre Dame, I think
05:27The Irish the third best passing defense in college football the Irish
05:32The third best scoring defense in college football one of five teams allowing fewer than 14 points per game
05:39Who's the sixth best scoring defense in college football?
05:42That's Indiana allowing just a little bit less than 15 points per game at 14.7
05:49So it's that game on Friday
05:51Then it's the opening deck game of three on Saturday a triple header of college football playoff action in
05:59Happy Valley. It's going to be cold in both of
06:03Those spots. How will the team from Dallas the 11 seed SMU deal with that against the six seed?
06:11Penn State the Nittany Lions Joe in eight and a half point home favorite in State College
06:16Total stands at 53 and a half. What do you expect in Happy Valley on Saturday afternoon?
06:24I
06:25Expect this to be a better game than I think most do I are I do think that they are going to be able
06:33To hang around the Mustangs. I think they they fell behind quickly against
06:39Clemson in that ACC championship band, but that was a different team in the second half, wasn't it?
06:44And I think that to that experience there in the ACC championship game
06:50I think that's going to bode well for them not a great place to play
06:55But I wouldn't be looking at 53 and a half points in this one either
07:00SMU over in a big way in that ACC championship
07:04Against Clemson the stains have been an underdog twice this year winning out right against both Louisville and TCU
07:11Over in both of those we'll talk more about this game at State College and our final cue on Saturday the CFP
07:19One final thought on our first game of three on Saturday in the first ever 12 team college football playoff
07:26Penn State and SMU Joe
07:29There will be many narratives that follow around the college football playoff and these programs
07:33Each and every game each and every round all the way up to a national championship
07:39For Penn State the idea is that in the 11 years under James Franklin?
07:43He can't win the big one
07:45Well is this game going to change that the Nittany Lions as a favorite since the start of?
07:522022 the last three college football seasons
07:5532 and one straight up
07:5823 and nine and one against the spread Joe
08:03Well, this is the minds of Penn Staters in terms of James Franklin's ability to win marquee matchups
08:10If they win in the opening round of the CFP as more than a touchdown favorite at home
08:16Yeah, no, I don't think anything other than a trip to a national championship is going to
08:23You know fulfill these Penn State fans dreams here
08:27They are no matter who he plays and again. We know his record against top five teams right Ben, but I guess the good news is
08:35SMU is not a top five team is it?
08:37Coming in at number 11 there, so I do think listen Penn State at home is always going to be dangerous
08:44That crowd is going to be unlike anything SMU is seen all year long
08:49Weather doesn't appear to be great Ben heading into this game
08:55but this is a game Penn State should win can win and probably will but winning and
09:02Covering by more than eight and a half is a different animal in a tournament style where it doesn't matter
09:09There's no point differential here. Just win and advance and that's the only thing that matters here
09:15James Franklin very aware of point spreads at least throughout his time in
09:20State College
09:22however
09:22Our second game of three on Saturday is in Austin the five seat top at-large team in this CFP
09:29bracket that would be Texas plays host to the big stealer in the ACC champs of
09:36Clemson the 12 seat ranked 16th by the way in the final CFP poll if that's any indication of where Clemson
09:44Stacks up Joe. This is the largest spread of our opening round CFP games
09:49It is 11 and a half in favor of the Longhorns. How does if at all possible?
09:55Clemson keep this game within margin
09:59I'd think very easily. I mean
10:02I'm dead betting this game
10:04The market is betting this game been like they know what the final score is already like the game's already over
10:10There is no way at this point in the season
10:13Anybody should be an 11 and a half point favorite over anybody else
10:17They won the ACC were they supposed to be there?
10:20No
10:20But you know why they were there because they were given a chance by Miami to be there and what they do with that chance
10:25Then they ended up being in the playoff against all odds. You've got Davo Sweeney and a Clemson team
10:32This is always a top five recruiting team Ben. So Clemson has got players
10:38They have an experienced quarterback and they're playing with house money Ben
10:42Which makes them the most dangerous team in this tournament. There is zero
10:49Expectations of Clemson all of the pressure is on Texas this Texas win
10:54Sure, they could win but are we really thinking they're blowing out Clemson because I don't
11:01nobody in this 12 team field has more college football playoff experience and Davo Sweeney or as a
11:08Program in clubs. This will be the seventh trip for the Tigers in the 11-year history of the college football
11:15Playoff, I would keep an eye on that Tigers team total of 19 and a half
11:20It would almost go to me be a necessity for Clemson to make this a high-scoring game in the offense to be operating
11:26Well to stay within this number. We weren't sure Ryan Day was going to coach
11:32Ohio State in the college football playoff
11:34But the Buckeyes will welcome Tennessee in the 8-9 matchup on Saturday night in
11:40Columbus at the shoe seven and a half point spread lowest total of our opening round CFP games
11:4746 and a half for an area tell the people. What do you like in CBUS on Saturday night? I
11:53Think this game is all about the defenses
11:56And I think you are gonna struggle to get points in Columbus on this one at 46 and a half that Tennessee defense
12:04Extremely underrated. That's a real
12:07Defense. We already know Ohio State is gonna bring it the rookie quarterback for Tennessee
12:13They're the the freshman Josh Heifel has slowed the tempo down this year here Ben
12:20Making it a little bit easier for the kid to digest it. I think this thing's a dead under in this matchup
12:26I mentioned the five teams allowing fewer than 14 points per game
12:30None better than Ohio State best scoring defense in the country
12:34Tennessee also in that top five
12:39Live right here on the early line on sports grid a fun Tuesday night of
12:44Sports because as we have shared beginning today
12:48Bowl season truly ramps up starting today over the next 19
12:5216 of those 19 days will feature at least one
12:56FBS college football game that could be a ball game or a college football playoff game leading up until January 4th
13:04We've got 41 games in the next 16 days
13:07Let's get ready for it and Joe a really good matchup early on in ball season on this Tuesday night
13:14Memphis takes on West Virginia at 9 p.m. Eastern Time tonight in the Frisco Bowl
13:21Five and a half point spread in favor of the Tigers now check in at number 25 in the final
13:28CFP rankings after the upset over Tulane to end out the regular season on
13:34Thanksgiving West Virginia
13:36Not a successful season based on what the hope was after a 9-win campaign a year ago
13:42Neil Brown was fired, but they're feeling pretty good
13:46They're in Morgantown because country roads have taken rich Rodriguez back home
13:52Total stands at 58 and a half Joe a fun game in the Frisco Bowl to truly get bowl season underway
13:59What do you make of it? I?
14:02Mean listen, I think it's intriguing that you know, Rich Rod is coming and all of that good stuff there
14:08But you I don't know you got an interim head coach
14:11You've got opt-outs all over the place and in the meantime
14:15I get a quarterback an experienced quarterback and Seth Hennigan from Memphis
14:20Who was looking to finish his career tonight, and he's already won what two bowl starts here in his career
14:27He is from the area. I believe
14:31And I do think in Frisco, Texas where they're playing this I call me crazy
14:36I think this has got Memphis blowout written all over it here. Memphis throws the ball better than anybody West Virginia
14:43Couldn't defend the past this year in the big 12 against anybody and it's not gonna get any better here tonight
14:51Too much uncertainty and too much consistency with Memphis
14:55This is to me. It's got blowout written all over it. It's Memphis have passed for me
15:00In the line is working that way for the Tigers when you talk about Memphis Joe entering this matchup
15:07And really just where they have been the last few years
15:10One of the most successful group of five programs that you will see there in the American what Ryan?
15:17Silverfield has done in his five years at the helm
15:20Taking over and continuing the success of Mike Norvell who took over and continue the success of Justin Fuente in Memphis
15:28This team in the grind city back-to-back seasons of double-digit wins
15:33So Silverfield has led his team to what would have been bowl eligibility in at least all five seasons
15:40Memphis did not play in a bowl game in
15:442021 this Memphis team in the last decade has had a double-digit win season in
15:52now four of those ten years
15:55Including 2024 Memphis is a powerhouse in the American and a really good rushing defense as well
16:0211th best in the country
16:03That's where West Virginia will still look to dominate on the ground a lot on the horizon
16:10For Rich Rod's offensive scheme where he led Jacksonville State to the second-best rushing offensive numbers this year
16:16Garrett Green should return might we see a lot of that success on the ground Chad Scott the interim head coach for the Mountaineers is
16:23The offensive plate caller for WVU. She so you wouldn't expect a drop-off there
16:28But I do agree Joe said Hennigan one final game a really good Memphis offense
16:33Mario Anderson was great this year for the Tigers on the ground West Virginia's
16:39Defense not great over a ton this season. I believe in eight of
16:4412 games