Episode Transcript
[00:00:02] Speaker A: Good morning, everybody. This is Rome. Source from the sofa. We got a special episode for you today. It is national championship. Not Sunday, but Monday. It is Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish against Ohio State, Buckeyes. Me and the guys we recorded late last night after all the NFL playoff games, which we'll bring that to you in a couple days when we get that wrapped up. But beautiful Monday, it's Martin Luther King day, so some of you are working, some of you are not.
I have my daughter right now for a few more hours so she go back to her mom's. And it's also Trump's Inauguration Day. Man, who would have thought? You get convicted as a felon, you can't vote, but you still win the presidency. Only in America. Oh man, it's already great, isn't it?
Anyways, we have a really, we break down a lot of cool things here on the pod for the game. Some things to look for. Three key things to look for in a victory for both Ohio State and the Notre Dame side. Jason feeling a little nervous, but you'll be surprised who he picks to win. The Natty, you'll be surprised.
So don't go anywhere. Source on the sofa Special national championship college football edition right here, right now. Don't go anywhere.
This is Rome. We got Aaron and Jason tonight for a special college football final. The Natty, the preview. It goes all, it all goes down Monday night. Ohio State versus Notre Dame. Ohio State finished the season 13 and two. They're eight and a half point favorites.
They ranked eighth at the last ranking. Nor Dame just won above them at number seven. They finished at 14:1. The over under is 45 and a half.
Cool stats. Ohio State has looked unbeatable since Michigan took them down in the final game of the year, the regular season. And Notre Dame has looked impressive, I believe on a 13 game winning streak since losing to Northern Illinois. Is that, did I get the right school?
[00:02:25] Speaker B: Got the right school.
[00:02:26] Speaker A: Beautiful.
So there's lots of ways we could break this down. We could break down, you know, some interesting story lines going on in the background. Ryan Day, Marcus Freeman, rumors of who can go to the NFL, Chicago Bears. Man, if, if Notre Dame would have lost already. Who knows, Freeman could have been named the coach of the Bears already. So maybe that's a good thing for you, Jason.
We could talk about one of the most explosive offenses in the nation in Ohio State versus one of the top defenses in Notre Dame or et cetera, et cetera. Where should we start?
[00:03:05] Speaker B: I think so many good places to start with this you can start with Marcus Freeman. I know he downplayed it, but he's facing his alma mater where he played college football, seems to have a good friendship with Ryan Day and overall. So I mean the coaching matchup is very interesting. Where these two schools were at and the route they took to get there, both kind of internal promotes within the university on the previous coaches staff that were there. Ryan Day much maligned for his inability to beat the school's biggest rival. But outside of the Michigan rivalry, I don't know. Is he undefeated there? I don't even know if he's lost anyone but. But Michigan and maybe like one of the school in the playoff previously. So.
And then the other side with Notre Dame. We talk about Marcus Freeman a ton. In any Notre Dame, we're talking preview. We've done just the overall leadership that he has and the culture that he's built within the program post Brian Kelly era and just the ability of the players on the field. But also we talked about the heart a lot with this team where man like the injuries have been piling up in some of these games and they just been gamers out on the field. The biggest question then going into it at this point is like, does Notre Dame have anything left at this point? They laid it all on the field. Every single game guys have been hurt.
But to the coaches matchup, just a very intriguing coaches matchup. I would give Marcus Freeman the advantage in this. I think he just has.
Just has the alt.
[00:04:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:04:45] Speaker B: From an X's and O standpoint defensively. Yeah, whatever room.
But I mean if you went to the rest, we can go down the rest of the matchups. I think Ohio State has probably the rest of the matchups there. I think Notre Dame's got the coach, but I think skill wise Ohio State's got probably every other better matchup. If you're going to this livery, why it was such a big spread to begin with.
[00:05:06] Speaker A: When you go ahead, Aaron.
[00:05:09] Speaker C: No, I mean I was just going to touch, I mean give Notre Dame, the university and AD a lot of credit in hiring Marcus Freeman. I mean he just came over from Cincinnati where he was defensive coordinator. Never coach at the, you know, out of power kind of conference, league level.
So they deserve a lot of credit because obviously if he hadn't been promoted to head coach, he likely goes to Brian Kelly in LSU and is there as their defensive coordinator. Who knows how much better LSU would have been. Their defense was kind of their weakness the last few years. They had Jaden Daniels, the Heisman winner, maybe they would have gotten already back into a playoff or national championship. So, I mean, ton of credit there. You know, like Jason said, I mean, Marcus Freeman from day one when he took over that program, the players, the. The administration, everybody was behind him, and they've just kind of grown that family and grown that team, and they, you know, made a run here in the playoffs and, you know, would you. Would I give him the edge like Jason did over Ryan Day as far as head coaching? You know, it's debatable, but I think it's. I probably would. I think overall, as a staff, these staffs are both very, very good. You have competent defense and offensive coordinators on both sides, most definitely, you know, like Jason. And we've been talking about it's. It's going to come down to the players and execution. Obviously, X's and O's are big. If you just look at it from a talent standpoint, Ohio State, it's going to have that edge there. But, you know, execution, game plans, as we've been seeing throughout these playoffs, both in the NFL and collegiate, it's going to play a big role in this game.
[00:06:42] Speaker A: I was reading a really interesting expose and Marcus Freeman the other day, camera was the New York Times or the Post or something like that, or athletic. But it was talking about how when. When Kelly left Notre Dame, they just finished an 111 season, still in contention for the playoff, and everyone's like, what the going on? You know, there's like no one to kind of like write this ship. And then all of a sudden, you know, some players, there was actually no direction happening at the moment. And then all of a sudden, some players, like, well, why not Freeman, you know, he, like, he just had like that voice like that carry through more so than the other coaches. Then that kind of picked up steam. And even the other of the older guys that weren't coming back, they kind of vouched for him. And then all of a sudden that got word back up to. To the ad, and I think they actually transitioned out of the ad, right?
You guys have new guys that came in a year after he got hired. So it's not even the same regime, but they still had the same ethos of, like, you know, we still believe in what we're doing and they kept the truck going. Otherwise they could have cleaned slate after a year and a half, fired him. But no, they kept them along. And look at them. You know, I, I think Kelly, though, like I told you, I didn't, I didn't realize, like, they were still an 111 team, like, they were pretty good, so it's not like he left them a tattered ship. They're pretty solid and they've been a contention. But one thing that Freeman has definitely made is Notre Dame kind of likable all of a sudden. I think we've heard this in other media outlets, but I don't know too many Notre Dame fans, but I imagine a lot of them are kind of annoying. But I'm not really sure yet. I don't have enough of a big. Big enough sample size.
[00:08:17] Speaker C: Actually, all the Notre Dame fans I know outside of Jason, I know quite a few. They're actually pretty cool. Yeah.
[00:08:23] Speaker B: But outside of me, I'm the annoying one.
[00:08:27] Speaker C: But dang, I didn't mean it like dad.
They're all pretty cool. I was just saying excluding Jason as being in the cool subject there. But they're all pretty cool. But they're pretty used to losing. Like they already know going into big games they're going to lose because just typically speaking from a talent standpoint, that's where they've been lacking. And Jason's talked about a lot. They've gotten better talent wise and they've gotten better in the trenches, which has been kind of their downfall.
[00:08:55] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:08:56] Speaker C: Since they've kind of rose back to prominence in the last whatever, say eight, ten years under Brian Kelly, now Marcus Freeman, but they've definitely closed that gap. And no doubt about it, they deserve to be in this final against Ohio State.
[00:09:09] Speaker A: As far as coaches, Ryan Day always looks stressed out. He looks like he's about to have a heart attack. And Marcus Freeman, he always looks cool, calm and collected. So from that standpoint, and you know, he might be the better looking guy. I can't stand that goatee on Ryan Day. So, Jason, I'll give it to you, man. Marcus Freeman takes that one.
[00:09:28] Speaker B: Yeah. You mentioned the article expose you kind of written. I talked about this before, too. There, there was a video that trended around when he got the job and it's been around re more recently too. When he, When Marcus Freeman got that job, I'm pretty sure it was like the strength and conditioning coach that announced it to like the current team that was going to play in that bowl game, like upcoming up. And just the reaction of the team at that point, you knew this guy was, hey, he's an. He's an infectious leader that guys want to go play for.
[00:09:54] Speaker A: They loved him.
[00:09:55] Speaker B: Yeah, they loved him and they continue to build upon that. Yeah. No, no, no.
[00:10:00] Speaker C: Shade.
[00:10:01] Speaker B: As far as what Brian Kelly brought Notre Dame back to another level. But there was a time early in Brian Kelly's tenure where it was starting to go downhill pretty quick and he had to adjust and make some changes and his style is just completely different. And it just was. It's a. It's a wearing style, man. It's a lot of pressure. He gets criticized for, like the way he talks to people on the sidelines and stuff like that. Where you look at Marcus Freeman on the sideline, he' he's uplifting people rather than tearing people down. And everyone likes a different, you know, management style and the different way you coach and things like that. But this really fits the university and what you talked about that, you know, Notre Dame, Notre Dame is unlikable because of the history, because they were like the Yankees or the Lakers or, you.
[00:10:46] Speaker A: Know, I really don't know about that. I just know Nordame from Rudy, which is not a great movie. That might be an unpopular take, by the way.
[00:10:52] Speaker B: I don't think it is. If you go back like Rudy has become, you know, because of how.
How probably false to the truth.
[00:10:59] Speaker A: A lot of that movie came out.
[00:11:01] Speaker B: Yeah, probably the Restoration. But no, I think, I think pre. Probably, you know, us because Notre Dame hasn't won a championship since, you know, we were toddlers or most of people were born. So we haven't, you know, we haven't grown up with Notre Dame being the national powerhouse. You know, before they were, hey, the, you know, founded college football, the College Football hall of Fame was in South Bend, Indiana, you know, where I went to like 30 years ago. That is it. And that was like. It was. It's not anymore. I think it's. I think it's in Georgia now. But at that point, you know that during, you know, the last century, Notre Dame was the center of college football, but just haven't been relevant as the game kind of evolved in the last 30, 40 years, you know, just hadn't been as relevant. But now, you know, the fans of Notre Dame's change. I think different people like myself have a different story and why they were a Notre Dame fan, but they haven't been. They're not Alabama. They haven't been winning a national title every single year. So the hatred for them is just a little bit different.
[00:11:58] Speaker A: The only thing they bad to say.
[00:11:59] Speaker B: About Notre Dame is the point, oh, they're independent, they don't play in a conference and they have their own NBC TV deal. But you know what, every team is on TV now. So it's like not that big a Deal that like most people hold out.
[00:12:09] Speaker A: That kind of thing kind of makes me feel like, oh, like they're like that independent girl, you know, like, oh, I'm a bad bitch. I'm single, you know, that sort of day. Like I'm a bad, you can't touch me. And they're always going to stay single because they're too bad of a to, you know, get with anybody. That's like a weird analogy for a conference, but take it or leave it.
Ohio State though has not been to a title game since 2020. This is their third time in the College Football Playoff era. And Notre dame, it's been 12 years since 2012, so long time.
Let's talk about the quarterbacks. Will Howard against Riley Leonard. Both of them got recruited by both schools, as is what I read, and we're pretty close to signing with the opposite schools. This is the first time we're going to have first time quarterbacks with their, with their programs facing off for a natty, which is kind of impressive. We're, we're going to probably see this from here on out, right? With a new nil and transfer and all these unofficial whatever. This is like the new professional league for college football.
Will Howard has a gang of offensive weapons. Riley Leonard, not a super strong arm, but he's pretty elusive, can run the ball pretty effectively and you know, pretty calm guy as well, pretty chill all around. What are you guys takes on both those quarterbacks?
[00:13:34] Speaker B: Yeah, well, Will Howard's got the weapons advantage obviously. He's going to have guys in the outside, skilled players to get it to him. Going up against Al golden, the defensive coordinator for Notre Dame and where that matchup is at. Notre Dame secondary is one of its strengths inside these matchups. And we talked about that Penn State game, no wide receiver had a catch. You know, they had them on lock. This is obviously a better Ohio State receiving corpse. But you know, Will Howard has been, has been pretty good all year, but it's going to be a different matchup for him. On the flip side, for Riley Leonard during the Penn State game, his, the mistakes he made versus Northern Illinois were coming out and almost cost them. That game versus Penn State specifically, you know, we're talking through the turnovers and him trying to fit a ball in where, you know, he doesn't probably have the arm strength or accuracy, you know, to hit those passes and it really relies on his legs and he had to really in the last two games carry a lot of the Notre Dame offense with his legs. So I will be very Concerned if Notre Dame gets down, they have to start throwing the ball. That's going to leave a lot of opportunity for throws that probably are not ideal and trying to force the ball. Notre Dame's got to stay within it. And Riley Leonard play within his game, which is the ability to run. Having that threat out there and taking the easy passes into the playmakers for to get big plays like they did in the late fourth quarter versus Penn State.
[00:15:09] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, touching on that. I mean for Notre Dame, key is for Riley Leonard and those guys get off to a strong start. Don't fall behind early. Two scores, three scores, it could get real ugly. Notre Dame wants to run the ball and then like Jason said, short passes and then take chances when they have to. One on one matchups. You know, Al golden with Notre Dame's defense, we know he likes a blitz, we know he likes to play pressure. We know I like to play a lot of man to man. Typically that's been a recipe of not success against Ohio State. So we'll see how that. You know, Jeremiah Smith was shut down. Texas shut them down by always doubling them. So are they going to let him go one on one? If you do, you know, Ohio State is going to take a shot early and maybe they connect and then Notre Dame gets out of that kind of defense. But I think Notre Dame is going to do what they've been doing all year defensively. They're going to get after Will Howard because if you do get after him, he'll turn the ball over. Texas got a turnover to Michigan, obviously Penn State. So in the big games, Will Howard has turned the ball over. If you can get after him and put pressure. So both quarterbacks, the key will be can they get a run game going and can their offensive lines hold up. Well, I'm sure we're going to touch base on offensive line, but that's a real concern of Notre Dame with injuries along that front. And then they got, you know, a lot of skill players right now for Notre Dame are banged up. The running backs are banged up. They're all lines banged up. Ohio State relatively is pretty healthy. They got hurt towards the end of the year when they lost their all American center, but their offensive line has been great. So for quarterback wise, it's a pretty even matchup.
Whatever quarterback falls behind, I think it's going to be in trouble and lead to turnovers. If they both can stay pretty even, pretty close game both ways, I think they'll both play well. But as far as weapons, yeah, Ohio State has The weapons. So I would give Will Howard the edge there just because he just has the better outside weapons with the wide receivers.
[00:17:06] Speaker B: If we're going to bigger matchups in the game, I think the, the matchup that it could make or break Notre Dame to me is going to be the Notre Dame running backs versus the Ohio State linebackers because that is where Notre Dame has to score points offensively. With Jeremiah Love and you know, Price. Yeah, and Price, you know, what can they do? Ohio State's got some good linebackers. Cody Simon, Sonny Styles. They got, you know, close to 200 tackles on the season. When Notre Dame has had big game breaking plays in the running game where they, you know, they catch a linebacker or defensive end out of assignment and had some huge stuff that has catapulted them forward, you know, they need those plays in this game. Jeremiah loves them playing at, I don't know what percentage, but the knee brace and everything on hasn't been there yet. One of the great runs at the goal line. But they're gonna need some game breaking stuff out of them too because that, that'll just be more playing into Ohio State of having to have to throw the ball. So I, that is the match I'm going to watch early. Probably that will dictate the pace of the game. Notre Dame has to be able to get the running game going and that'll be the key matchup to me.
[00:18:13] Speaker A: You guys brought some interesting points.
So Leonard has one of the top rushing offenses, Whereas Ohio State 1, one of the best receiving cores you got Love, Price and Leonard, they all ran for 700 plus yards this year and seven touchdowns. That's some elite company shit. And then you're dealing with the three headed behemoth, you know, with Jeremiah Smith and Mbuka and Carnell Tate, all fast guys. Texas did a really great job in that game.
They lost for their own reasons. But you imagine Notre Dame might follow some things, but they do less, you know, zone, right? They do more man to man. They led a nation in man to man coverage. And one thing interesting about this though, you have, I think Notre Dame, right? They're like number one in defensive touchdowns and also in the turnover ratio. Like that's where they actually get at it. Like Aaron's a big special teams guy. I got it right here somewhere. Plus 17 on the turnovers for the season. Just creating points off that, that's gonna be so key. And then, and then Ohio State, man, you have elite running on Notre Dame. Ohio State's one of the best elite run stopping Defenses in the country as well. They were third in the nation with, it was like a 89 something average per game. Pretty crazy. It's like, it's like the best of the best. Colliding at like different scopes, man. It's kind of like what you want to see. It's gonna be epic.
So many things to look for of like what finally breaks the game open. Right. You imagine this can be a tight battle. But the, but the line, though, like, if you're looking in between all these notes, it looks like it's gonna be a closely. What's the right phrase here? I can't think right now.
Close matchup. Maybe that's it.
[00:19:59] Speaker B: It's good enough.
Yeah, I, I, I agree.
[00:20:03] Speaker A: Like there's, but then people are expecting a blowout though.
[00:20:06] Speaker B: So I, I think the blowout is because I think if you look at the individual matchups, everything's either a push or they're identical or Ohio State has, you know, a slight, you know, slight advantage. You're talking about, you know, hey, wide Receivers, Ohio State vs. Notre Dame defensive backs, is that around, is that around a push? It's been a strength, but does Ohio State potentially have a little advantage there? You know, Ohio State running backs versus Notre Dame linebackers, you know, who's, what's the advantage there? We talked, you just talked about the O line D lines in that situation being tight. But, you know, where does Notre Dame's linebackers keep up against the skill, position players? If the running backs get through that first level, you know, that could be a skew to Ohio State. The special teams in defense that Notre Dame is going on and the turnover aspect is what Notre Dame is going to need to be in this game. If they turn the ball over like they did in Penn State, they're going to lose like it's, it's not, it's not going to happen. They're not going to be able to stay in the game that way. They're going to need to play probably close to perfect and ball control the offense in order and then induce Ohio State to make those mistakes for Notre Dame to win it.
[00:21:15] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, I think if Notre Dame loses the turnover battle, there's no chance they win. And I honestly, they probably need to win that turnover battle by two or more to win this game. I mean, special teams, Notre Dame has been great. They're one of the best teams that faking punts and all that. Wouldn't surprise me if they have a few of those up their sleeve. I think I talked about it a week ago. They're going to need at least five to six plays of 20 plus yards in our name. They're going to have to create big plays, whether that's in the past game, the run game, trick play on special teams, a trick play on offense where, you know, they do a, you know, a running back pass, whatever trick play. They're going to have to come up with something because they're going to have to generate points in offense. You know, talking about love being able to run the ball, he's probably playing honestly, 70, 75% it looks like to me. Maybe he's a little bit healthier because he had the flu. Then he has a knee injury.
So maybe he comes in this game 80, 85%. But they're going to be without one of their offensive linemen. I don't know if the other one's playing. Jason might be able to know or he might be a game time call, but they're going to be about one of their tackles. Ohio State's defense, Romy mentioned this defensive line has gotten better as the playoff has gone on. They shut down Texas, they shut down Oregon. Made those teams one dimensional and it's when you're one dimensional against a team like Ohio State, that defense, like Jason mentioned, the linebackers are good, they got good safeties and corners and their D line gets after you. They're real tough. It's real tough to generate points. So big plays are going to be real key for them and it's going to be difficult, definitely going to be difficult for them to establish those big plays. But if they can get in and win the turnover battle, then this game is Notre Dame's for the taking if they can win those two sides.
[00:23:00] Speaker A: Good points, guys.
Man, I totally lost my train of thought. You met, you mentioned something Aaron, and I was going to answer back, but he kept on going.
Jason, you got anything else?
[00:23:14] Speaker B: No, I don't think, I don't think of the matchups.
I think going back to the special teams and where things are at, you know, Ms. Jeter I think was pretty important in the kicking game for Notre Dame versus that Ohio versus the Penn State win. You know, does it come down to like, hey, are they in three, four field goals that he's got a nail and not miss one and in the red zone, can, can Notre Dame capitalize and not make it so much as of a, you know, a field goal game? You got to score touchdowns where Ohio State has a big playability that you got to be wary about and not Just have hey, touchdown and, and field goal response type thing. So I think, I think it'll be tight either way.
But from a matchup perspective, I think I think we covered it all.
[00:24:00] Speaker A: So outlying it like each one of you guys lay like three things must things that they must do first for Ohio State to win or should we start with Notre Dame to win?
Let's start with that. Let's start with Notre Dame win. What are three things Notre Dame should do in order to win for them to win?
[00:24:21] Speaker B: Number one, we talked about turnovers already so they, they cannot turn the ball over. I think if they lose the turnover battle, they're going to lose the game as we already talked about. I think that's number one.
Two, the time of possession is going to play huge into this game for them too. They got to be able to control the ball and keep Notre Dame's defense off the field because if Ohio State's going to be able to wear them down, you know, if they're out there all the time and they're going three and out, that's, that's not going to be good. So Notre Dame has to be able to do what they've done with the running game with a three headed monster. You talk about control the ball, have long sustained drives, you know, keep the defense fresh because you want to be able to have those good defensive backs you have running with Ohio State's wide receivers.
I think secondly it's going to be in the secondary for Notre Dame it's been a strength. They got to be able to go toe to toe with the Ohio State wide receivers and not allowed to have some big game breaking play get. You got to make them earn it and you know, Ohio State was able to spread the ball around a ton versus Texas versus you know and didn't let hey their number one guy take over the game like they did versus Oregon.
So I think it's going to be a lot on those defensive backs to make sure hey, we are, we are, we are locking them down and not allowing them to have a busted whatever game. That'd be the three off the top of my head.
[00:25:41] Speaker A: Man. You nailed like everything I have listed. I have a stout defense, secondary versus Ohio's receivers. I have Riley Leonard and running the ball and controlling the clock. That was my second one. And then playing the trenches just like Michigan did. So like I'm not gonna, I, I think you did a great job explaining all that, man. That was awesome.
[00:26:00] Speaker B: All right, well we didn't, no, no prep and we nailed it. We're just literally just, you know.
[00:26:04] Speaker A: That's awesome right there. That is so awesome.
[00:26:07] Speaker C: I mean, we've been prepping all year for three, four months for these games, so we know a little bit about these teams. I mean, yeah, I mean, turnover battle, definitely. Notre Dame has to win the turnover battle, not turn it over and force Turnovers. That'd be one, two. I talked about it. They got to get five to six plays of 20 plus yards. They got to generate big plays. Time of possession, that's great. But they've got to generate big plays in third. I would say stay ahead of the chains. Like, if they're going to be third down, make sure it's third and 1, third and 2, third and 3. If it's third and long, they're going to be in for a long night, and that's going to force them into a lot of mistakes and turnovers. If they can keep it third and second, third and three, that gives them the option to run it. The quarterback run it. And the short pass game, if they're third and six, seven and eight throughout the game, they've got no chance. They'll have three or four turnovers and get blown out. So those are my big three keys for Notre Dame.
[00:27:04] Speaker A: Nice. Now on to the other side, Ohio State.
What are three things they must do in order to secure the Natty? Aaron, you go first this time because Jason's gonna struggle with this one. He's not gonna want to say.
[00:27:20] Speaker C: For Ohio State, offensively, control the. Control the trenches and then be able to basically control the trenches and pick up blitzes. You know, your algorithm is going to blitz a lot, and you got to be prepared for it, whether it's picking up the blitzes, quick passes, quick game. They've got to be ready for the pressures that Notre Dame is going to bring.
Jeremiah Smith, get him the ball. Give him the ball early. Only three targets, one catch last game. I'm going to him. I'm giving him at least five, six targets on the first two or three drives. Get him involved in the game. Make him a presence. Make Notre Dame fill him. They want to play man to man. Make them feel his presence. That's 6, 4, 220 pounds out there. Make them feel them. And then number three for me, for both teams, when the turnover battle, you win the turnover battle, you're likely going to win the game.
Ohio State can generate that with their secondary. The linebacker play. Turnover battle is going to be a key for them as well.
[00:28:23] Speaker A: You know, this has been a weird year of Football. Because I used to believe in that. And we've seen so many games this year in the NFL as well where teams are still able to win. Turning the ball over.
[00:28:32] Speaker C: Well, let me put this stat out there, Rome. Teams that have won the playoff turnover battle in the NFL this year, seven to no. So just you got to win the turnover battle. It's important.
[00:28:44] Speaker A: Jason.
[00:28:47] Speaker B: I agree with Aaron when it comes to the wide receiver and what they need, you know, wide receiving course, what they need to do, they need to. They go at Notre Dame. What's his proceeds as an advantage to blow the game open.
He talked about targets to. Who are we talking about? Aaron?
[00:29:04] Speaker C: I forgot Smith data.
[00:29:06] Speaker B: Smith. Yeah, targets in the last game to Smith. I mean, you saw they blew the game wide open in the first half versus Oregon when they were getting the ball to Jeremiah Smith. The Texas game was a little tighter. I think Texas had a good game plan for it. Notre Dame is going to be able to watch it too. But if they're able to get him going early, they. With some big plays and Notre Dame's playing from behind, you know, that, that could, that could spark some trouble there.
And then you talked about or I talked about Ohio or Ohio State's run running backs versus Notre Dame's linebackers. If you're looking from a linebacking corpse perspective, you know, Notre Dame's pretty good, but it's not their strength. Their strength. They're good up front, they're good in the secondary in the middle is where the potential weakness is. So you know, what can the wide receivers of running backs do? Getting to the second level into the linebackers. There's some mismatches they can do. Getting the wide, the running backs open in space or wide receivers mismatch on a linebacker, I think that could be a big piece.
I think lastly, I don't think it's fresh in Ohio State's mind. But you got to look at that Michigan game and if they lose themselves from a coaching staff perspective, you know, in game in you know what they're doing and lose their way and you let the. The game go a certain way, that's kind of still out there too. So they got, they got to, they got to remember they have the horses in this game, Ohio State and to attack Notre Dame and not let happen with, you know, in the Michigan game where they were trying to do something different. You know, Chip Kelly needs to know he's got the guys offensively. And I think they figure that out definitely in the playoffs in the last three games. But you get to a big game situation, you can't freeze up for the coaching staff style. And I think that that could be a, that could play in the game as well.
[00:30:48] Speaker A: Yeah, you guys nailed it. I, I put, you know, stuff in the run, especially showing Notre Dame that they are tough as well. Ohio State, they got some fast linebackers, so make that apparent. They also have the Ferraris drive. The Ferraris don't put in the garage like they did it in Michigan. Put them out, go downhill and expose them. Take advantage of the man to man. I think that's really key.
Yeah, really interesting. This game also features two excellent freshmen. We already talked about Smith, he had what, 1200 yards this year, receiving, bunch of touchdowns. And then Leonard Moore with Notre Dame cornerback, national freshman defensive player of the year. So I think we nailed everything of it. I guess it's time for like final predictions. My favorite part, unless you guys got any other 10 cents to add or. Now, is it like 20 bucks because of inflation, is that the new phrase?
[00:31:54] Speaker B: Or are we talking in cryptocurrency, potentially? Cryptocurrency, that's all over the thing now, which cryptocurrency is going.
[00:32:01] Speaker A: I love cash, man, but yeah, Aaron, who you got?
[00:32:10] Speaker C: Well, you got what we got an 8 and a half, 45 and a half spread on this game.
[00:32:15] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:32:19] Speaker C: I came out preseason, took Ohio State to win the Natty. Now they're here in this game.
[00:32:26] Speaker A: Did you really?
[00:32:28] Speaker C: Yeah, I gotta go back.
[00:32:29] Speaker A: I gotta go.
[00:32:29] Speaker C: I don't, I don't know if we have that recorded, but yeah, I did have Ohio State winning the Natty. I won't say their opponent because that's.
[00:32:35] Speaker A: The only thing I didn't, I, I didn't go back to review is our college football takes.
[00:32:39] Speaker B: Did you, did you put Florida State as their opponent or what?
[00:32:42] Speaker C: No, I put another SEC school.
[00:32:46] Speaker A: All right, what'd you put?
[00:32:47] Speaker C: So Bama.
But yeah, I mean, Ohio State, Ryan Day, I mean, the pressure's on them to win. I mean, given what's gone on with their rival winning the title last year, him losing four straight there, the pressure is really on Ohio State here to win this game.
[00:33:11] Speaker A: Even if he wins it, they still want him gone.
I mean, that's the crazy part. That's the crazy part.
[00:33:17] Speaker C: Rome, you mentioned earlier in the show, like, he's always stressed out. That's why, like, it's like literally, you win. You don't win over everybody. Like somebody's still going to put up a sign like, oh, you want a Natty but you're owing four against Michigan.
[00:33:27] Speaker A: It's unrealistic. Yeah.
[00:33:29] Speaker C: So I, I think given Notre Dame's injuries up front in the trenches, they're about one of their best tackles, maybe both. They're about their best D lineman who got hurt in the opener in the playoff. Ohio State's healthy. They just got the playmakers. I like Ohio State to cover the eight and a half. I like them to win. And I. I've got the Buckeyes winning this one. I'll go 3117 over Notre Dame.
[00:33:57] Speaker A: All right.
Who's MVP?
[00:34:04] Speaker C: That's a good question.
I'll say it's either gonna be. I'll say it's either Smith or maybe one of the running backs, either Henderson or Jenkins. One of those two, I think is going to be the mvp. So one of the running backs or Smith?
[00:34:19] Speaker A: We didn't really talk about them too. That's a good duo as well.
[00:34:24] Speaker C: I mean, I mean, Jason brought it. Jason brought it up as that could be an advantage against the linebackers. But just, you know, we saw, you know, Trayvon henderson had that 75 yard screen pass against Texas that turned that game in that first half. So one of those two guys.
[00:34:40] Speaker A: Okay, Jason.
[00:34:45] Speaker B: Been dreading picking this game.
I said before the semifinal, Ohio State was the best team of the remaining four.
And I still think from a talent perspective, they are.
Depending which sports book you look at, I'll go against the one that gives more favor. Notre Dame's 132 against the spread or against the spread this year. Some others have it like a 12, 2 and 2. But against the spread, Notre Dame is tied, I think, for the best in college football. I think with like Arizona State so far this year, and in the 13 consecutive games they won, they're basically like 121 or 1111 against the spread. So I think Notre Dame covers in this game. So if it's at eight and a half, they definitely cover.
However, I don't think Notre Dame is going to have enough at the end to pull it off. So I'll pick Ohio State for the win, but Notre Dame's gonna cover.
I will gladly be wrong on this. On the next pod, though.
[00:35:48] Speaker A: You gotta. You gotta will these things. You gotta put it out there, you know, you gotta manifest a win.
That Shane thing, I didn't like that Shane post man. Having Shane. What's his name?
[00:36:00] Speaker B: Shane Gillis?
[00:36:01] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't know, I. I kind of like him, but I kind of don't.
[00:36:05] Speaker C: What'd he say?
[00:36:06] Speaker A: Under Armour sponsored him and he's doing like, a whole prayer to God, like, oh, you're on our side, obviously.
[00:36:12] Speaker B: He's in. He's in the. He's in a church and praying to God and everything like that. It's. It's good. I'll send it to you.
[00:36:18] Speaker A: Yes, yes. Good.
[00:36:19] Speaker B: Good Under Armour commercial for that.
[00:36:23] Speaker A: I feel like it jinxed him.
Any final score predictions, MEP or. That's already tough enough. Just already saying Ohio State wins, dude.
[00:36:35] Speaker B: I. Yeah, I'm not gonna give you a score. I. I'm already saying Ohio State's gonna win. I feel bad about it, but.
But I'm gonna give it the good reverse jinx because I. Like I said, I'm happily wrong on this, that I'm gonna give you the reverse jinx.
[00:36:48] Speaker A: I don't regret picking against Kansas City, by the way. It almost. I feel like it still had a pretty good chance. Texas played pretty. Took the L again. All right.
You know, I was actually leading up to a Notre Dame upset before I saw that Shane commercial. I feel like that jinxed the whole thing. I. I really did. So I'm okay with either team winning. I. I don't like Ohio State fans. Can't stand them. They're all obnoxious.
Trying to think, like, what's, like, the NFL equivalent to, like, Ohio State fan? And it might be, like, Cowboys.
[00:37:33] Speaker B: Could be. That could be Bama as well. Ohio State's one, but they haven't won a ton.
[00:37:39] Speaker A: Yeah, Cowboys, but. But, like, they're overly arrogant about it.
Ohio State, I will say 35 to 28.
That's my prediction.
[00:37:58] Speaker B: You got. So you got them covering, too?
[00:38:01] Speaker A: I guess so.
[00:38:01] Speaker B: Or.
[00:38:02] Speaker C: Or no, he's got Notre Dame covering.
[00:38:03] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, sure.
[00:38:07] Speaker C: It's a lot of points.
[00:38:08] Speaker A: A lot of points. Yeah, it's a lot of points.
[00:38:11] Speaker B: I think Notre Dame keeps it close.
[00:38:13] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, I'm looking at it. Yeah. Notre Dame's 13 and two against the spread. Ohio State nine and six. Both teams 500, basically, on the over, under eight and seven and seven and eight.
[00:38:23] Speaker A: So I probably went a little too high, actually.
And all I'm still throwing off from that Detroit game. Man.
[00:38:38] Speaker B: I think a lot of people are. Are thrown off by that Detroit game.
[00:38:45] Speaker A: Here. I think I'll go. I think I'll hit 50 points. Let me adjust the score a little bit.
[00:38:52] Speaker B: You think this game hits 50 points?
[00:38:54] Speaker A: I do.
[00:38:55] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:38:57] Speaker C: I mean, if it hits. I mean, for me, for this game to hit 50 points, then you got to think Ohio State's scoring a lot. Yeah. A shootout Game does not favor Notre Dame at all.
[00:39:11] Speaker A: No, it doesn't. I think Norden will stay competitive. You're only two points away from 50 point game, Aaron.
[00:39:18] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:39:22] Speaker A: Or one point. Is it one point?
[00:39:23] Speaker C: Well, I said about 31.17, so like two.
[00:39:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
All right, cool.
[00:39:29] Speaker C: Over, under is 45 and a half. I mean. Yeah, I mean, I could see, I could see it. I mean, I think Jason probably has a score like 27, 23, 22. Somewhere in that range is what he's probably thinking.
[00:39:44] Speaker A: 27, 22. That seems pretty plausible.
[00:39:48] Speaker C: Yeah, it does.
[00:39:49] Speaker A: Over.
[00:39:50] Speaker B: I gotta, you gotta think about.
I think there'd be, there'd be an opportunity where Mitch Jeter probably has two to three field goals. You know what, in that game, how.
[00:40:00] Speaker A: Bad is he like, I know they, they're, they're one of the worst field goal kicking teams, but it, Was it that bad?
[00:40:06] Speaker B: No, he was hurt.
[00:40:07] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:40:08] Speaker B: That's why, that's why they were, he came back and that's, that's why they've, they've been, they've been better because he.
[00:40:13] Speaker C: Was, he, I believe he was a transfer from South Carolina where like, he was like the, one of the best kickers in the nation.
[00:40:19] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:40:20] Speaker C: And then he had a growing injury and then his dad's a chiropractor, worked on him and then got him right. And that's why he's been kicking good again. That's the story.
[00:40:28] Speaker A: Interesting.
[00:40:30] Speaker B: Yeah. I think you put in a situation where, you know, Notre Dame's got, I mean, they get two touchdowns and maybe three field goals, so they're at like a 22, 23, like Aaron said, and Ohio State's maybe at 27, 28.
I, I, the biggest thing, I think, I think Notre Dame is going to keep it close. That's the big. I, I think the plus, I think eight and a half is a lot of points. I know Aaron's going there, but that's, that's where I think Notre Dame is going to keep this close. It'll just kind of come down to like the end of some, some big plays, whether defensively or special teams.
[00:41:03] Speaker A: So.
[00:41:03] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, I 100 hope I'm wrong about Notre Dame actually losing the game, but I think they definitely cover.
[00:41:12] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, I'm, it's, for me, it's kind of how Notre Dame starts. Like they were down 10, 0. What, against Penn State? They can't afford that against Ohio State. And Ohio State has started on fire against everybody. First drive against Texas, scored. First four drives against Oregon. Scored. First four drives against Tennessee scored.
So Notre Dame, we really haven't seen them play from behind. Well, they came back against Penn State, so that's what worries me. I think if Ohio State jumps out to like, 10, 14 point lead, then Riley Leonard's just, they're gonna get crazy wild and the game's gonna get away from him. The closer it stays, the later it gets, the better. I like Nordre Dame's chances, and I could see him upsetting them and for sure covering. But the just my feeling is both these teams that have won, they've covered every game in the playoff. And I feel it's going to be the same way whether it's close and Ohio State gets a late turnover to cover again.
We'll see. But yeah.
[00:42:11] Speaker A: All right, we'll see what happens. I'm excited.
I'll do it.
