FOX 2 Sports Wrap: November 5 College Football & NFL Picks

Thanks for staying with us. We're taking a break from politics because we need to talk some football. James Paxson and I are neck and neck. He's got one game on me, but the question is, will I be able to gain some ground or will he widen his lead? Clap it up. Hold on. Clap it up. Clap it up? Okay. Both of us were 5-1. Yeah, we were. Both of us, I believe, were 3-0 in the college ranks. That's impressive. I think I went 3-0 NFL. You went 3-0 college. I lost one last week with... Northwestern not covering or winning or anything last week. My only miss was the Cowboys, so I got to enjoy them losing. Yeah. Even though I picked them to win. How about them Cowboys? Well, okay. Why do we do this? Why do we think they're ever going to be anything but the bad Cowboys that they are, that they've been for our whole lifetime? Their last Super Bowl, I think, was the Clinton administration, so they've never been good in 30 years. But we think they're going to their Cardinals team that are terrible. They end up having a backup quarterback. They end up having one running back left. A fourth stringer because everyone else gets injured, and they still can't win. So they deserve to lose, and I hope they lose this weekend against the Colts, but it's the Colts, so they probably won't. Breaking news, James really does not like the Cowboys, apparently. I don't. I don't. That angered me. Yeah, I mean, I don't blame you, though, because that, I mean, that was a tough game to watch, just with the fact that they should have had the game. They didn't. Lions last week, obviously. The Jack Campbell news was awful last week, hoping for a recovery just for him as a person. Mm-hmm. Obviously, a big win against the Vikings as well. One truly doesn't matter as much as the other, for sure. But a big win against the Vikings. They play the Miami Dolphins this week. Yes. Which, I mean, I know is normally a survivor pick. We'll hold off on that until we get into picks. Sure. Michigan, Michigan State this weekend. I don't know if there's been less energy in this rivalry in quite some time. I think you're going to have to tell Kyle Whittingham Michigan State is Michigan's rival. I don't think he knows, and I don't think he cares. And he's had a couple of bulletin board material sound bites this weekend that I think someone should have took him aside and said, hey, you know who you're playing this weekend? I only say that because, yes, we're going to get into the picks, but I don't think Pat Fitzgerald's a guy to just... Act like you don't care about this game. Right. And he's going to take it personally. He probably has taken it personally. So this should be a close football game because it's a rivalry. But on the Kyle Whittingham Michigan side, they just don't seem like it is. Well, and the problem is, like, they brought in a guy in Whittingham, and the comparison's there with Jonathan Smith for Michigan State. It's a good comparison. Yeah, the guy comes from the West Coast, really hasn't been outside of the West Coast his entire career. Mm-hmm. You have a guy who doesn't really get the rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State. The comments about, well, you don't have to hate your rival, that's not really going to ingratiate you with Michigan or Ohio State fans, for that matter. And then Jonathan Smith really didn't seem to get the rivalry either, comparing it to the Oregon-Oregon State rivalry, which... I mean, it's just, each rivalry is so unique, you can't compare it to another. Yes. We'll talk about that game more in a second, but if you can give me a quick 30 seconds. Okay, go for it. Let's get you on camera. We're going to square you up here. Cool. I'm on camera. I am. None of us picked Notre Dame-Miami. No. Because I think we were too afraid to, based on the Malachi Tony, who's a Heisman front runner, wide receiver for Miami, and just because of how tough the game is. Clearly the game of the weekend, but does it hurt at all that it doesn't seem like it matters? Because I think either team could lose and probably still get maybe a bye in the college football playoff. Probably, and I'm going to pull up the rankings here because I know that was a source of controversy all week too, Jimmy, and the fact that Miami was going to be the clear number one, no problem with Georgia being two. Utah being three was kind of a surprise to me. They're undefeated, they're going through all of their competition, They have a prove-it game this week. The reason I like it is you mark a team that high. If it wasn't Utah-BYU for three more weeks, I wouldn't like it. You go beat BYU, you deserve to be three. If you lose to BYU, you drop them real far. And that's what'll happen. Right. So you put them that high on a prove-it week, so that's why I'm okay with it. And if there's anything we've learned about the rankings throughout the year, but especially these first college football playoff rankings. Yes. They don't end up mattering. The final rankings almost never are what we think they're going to be. Well, teams got to play each other and people get healthier. People get injured. You know, you have the Miami Notre Dame game this weekend. You have Alabama LSU this weekend. You have Kentucky Tennessee this weekend. Yeah. All of those games can change based on whoever wins. Yeah. So that's why it's always different. But I wanted to ask because we didn't pick Miami-Notre Dame because, frankly, I wouldn't know who to pick. I wouldn't either. Because it probably is the game of the weekend. And, unfortunately, it's the same time as Michigan-Michigan State. Yep. And I'll actually be at the Big House for that game this weekend too. At enemy territory. Yeah, in enemy territory. Yeah. Yeah, it'll be an interesting. Don't tell Kyle Whittingham. He won't care. I got nothing for that one, but just the Malachi-Tony thing, I have to wonder if that affected the line in this game, though, too, because Notre Dame right now is a seven and a half point favorite. Yeah, when you lose Malachi-Tony, you know, I know Woody Woodruff says it doesn't matter. How's he holding up, by the way? He says it doesn't matter. Really? Yeah, so he's delusional. So that's why that happens. You know, I was glad he had the Miami jacket tonight on the sports office, though. That's an iconic look for Woody. Oh, without a doubt an iconic look, but unfortunately I have to work with him Saturday, so that's not going to be good. So I was going to say, is it going to be either ridiculously jubilant if they win, or quiet or just angry if they lose, do you think? No comment. Okay, fair enough. I mean, I know how I would be. I'm asking because when State loses, especially... games they've lost. It's a Miami game. What do you think is going to happen? Fair enough. I'm generally pretty quiet after a state loss, but let's just get into the picks here, James, because we're going to start with Michigan and Michigan State. Michigan, a 13.5 point favorite. I can't do it. It's going to sound like a homer pick. I recognize that. I got to go Michigan State 13.5. Michigan just hasn't shown me that they can cover a spread like that. And I know Michigan State is not good, but... I'm going to be quick here. I will agree with you. I'm going to take the 13.5. I think Fitzgerald and State are going to take this personally. And also, a very mean thing to say, they're not going to be in or anywhere close to another game this year. So as much as the joking comment that's kind of stupid to say is this is their Super Bowl, it is. I don't see them winning very many more games. Their schedule is not going to be great. I'll take the 13.5. I think they have, I'm trying to think off the top of my head, I know they have Rutgers and Washington and Oregon. There might be one in there. I don't remember. Their bad football team is very injured. Yeah. So I. It's a double win. I think it's close. I do. I'll take the 13.5 with you. All right, I'm going to go, we're going to go with our next pick. Possibly another really good game this week. Pons a good game. Alabama and LSU. I'm going to take Alabama. Plus six. I just got a feeling about Alabama. They're a physical team. Really, I mean, we've seen even after they've lost that the team that plays them the next week loses as well because they're just so beat up after the game. This is actually my second pick. I'm going LSU simply because you don't go to the swamp and win. And this rivalry, I think home field is incredibly important. And I think Kiffin. You don't want to lose three games before Thanksgiving in your first year at LSU. So I'm going to take LSU to cover. That would be a very bad start for the Lane-Kiffin era there. Quickly, I will go Georgia over Ole Miss. I really like what I've seen with this Georgia team. I know the last time I really said that, they ended up losing. But that was, again, after they played Alabama. They were just beat up. That was a weird Auburn loss. I'm going to still give him the benefit of the doubt. Kirby Smart always puts a really good team up. I like it. And then for you, BYU and Utah. Yes, we just talked about this a little bit. Wild, though, too, that this is on the West Coast in a noon game, too. Yeah, I guess so. Yeah. Mountain time, so that'd be a 10 o'clock start. Oh, it would be mountain time, yeah. So not Pacific time, but still. Okay, regardless. Either way. Right. I'm huge on Utah this year. I think they look like a very strong, great defensive team. I think they hold BYU to a very low-scoring game. They cover the four and a half. They stay undefeated. They have a chance to be the number two or three team in the country next week, still undefeated. I think the Utes cover the four and a half. That's a solid pick. That's going to be a good game, too. All of the slates have really good games on Saturday. Yeah, it's a great week. Real quick, even though I'm wearing my central, fire up. We won yesterday. Kentucky-Tennessee week, so go Big Blue. Oh, yeah. Okay. Go Cats. Going to go to the NFL now. Detroit favored by seven over the Miami Dolphins. I'm going to go, we've talked about this being the survivor pick for weeks now, unfortunately. I'm out of all of my survivor leagues, but I'm going to take Detroit to cover the seven over Miami. So weirdly, I just have a weird feeling about this week. I'm going to take Miami plus seven. I think the Lions win the game, but I think it's a really close game simply because it's a big catch-em spot for the Lions. They just won two really hard-fought division wins at home, knocking off Minnesota for their first loss of the year, beating Green Bay in a game that was neck-and-neck through most of the contest. I think Miami does have a... decent offense. If you've watched them the last couple weeks, Malik Willis has gotten better. Yeah, he has. And they have a couple rookie receivers who could have success against a Lions team that is going in there pretty injured. We know the Jack Campbell situation. I do think that is affecting this team. But I don't think you'll have DJ Wanham, who's been your second best pass rusher and a really good complement to Aiden Hutchinson this year. I don't think you'll have DJ Reed. Kirby Joseph will not be back in time. Jimmy Roelder's out for the year. No Campbell, so you're linebacking first. Is Brian Branch playing this week? He was full practice today. Okay, good. But with concussion, you've got to clear. I think he will play. Regardless, too many injuries. I still think the Lions win, but I've got to take the points with Miami. All right, and your first wild card pick is Cincinnati Bengals versus the Atlanta Falcons. Since he's in a really good spot right now, Burrow had a rough start, but a great end to the Titans game. Atlanta played one of the worst football games I've ever seen in my life against Tampa last week. Since he covers the three, I think they won by two touchdowns. I did not see that Falcons and Bucs game. From what I understand, I'm really, really glad I missed it. We're going to go next to my first wildcard pick. Denver Broncos favored by two and a half over the Panthers. Denver's defense is just really, really good. And I really want to see it from Bryce Young against a truly good defense before I start believing in that Panthers team. It's hard for me to pick a lot of times with these NFC South teams in general, just because that's. That and the AFC South are just such bad divisions right now. They win games they're not supposed to. They lose games they should win. Exactly. And simply put, I'm going to take the Denver Broncos and the points in this one. I like the pick. Next one for you, L.A. Rams versus the Commanders. Four and a half for the Rams. Rams have gotten back to a better vibe, I think, at Washington. Stafford can have a really good game. Puka Nakua can have a really good game, and they'll be able to run the ball successfully. Rams cover the four and a half. And my last wildcard pick is Houston Texans versus the Los Angeles Chargers. I know. This is gross. You're a better human being. I know. I'm kind of stooping to a level here. I'm going to take Houston with my four and a half over the Chargers. Chargers fall to 0-8. They got to win eventually. They do. I'm not saying you're going to be wrong, but they have to win eventually. And this is where I was wrong a few weeks ago when I took, I believe it was Tennessee over the Miami Dolphins. Yes, yes, yes. I don't remember who, but Miami ended up getting the win a couple weeks ago. It was the Jets, you're right, you're right, it was the Jets, thank you. I probably am walking into a buzzsaw with this one, but to heck with it. I'm going to take the risk. I'm going to take the Texans over the Chargers. Chargers fall to 0-8. That team is... Horrible this year, and just surprisingly bad. We've only got like 30 seconds left. What do you do with Herbert? Do they trade him before Tuesday? I don't necessarily see a world where they trade him unless they get some sort of wild offer for him. Maybe one of these teams that had a quarterback get hurt. You hear Minnesota in these conversations about getting a quarterback because they're just... Their offense hasn't been good. Their defense is incredible. Right. But I don't necessarily see a scenario where the Chargers get the haul that they want for Herbert at this point. And I feel like they might want to run it back with him as well. I think there's a chance. I don't think he gets traded this year. Okay. And it'd be interesting to see, too, because you don't normally see starting quarterbacks get traded like that. At the deadline, no. Not like that. Jonathan Taylor, I think, has a really good chance to get traded, especially since he requested one. I'm really scared because I think the Minnesota Vikings scrape for him. Yikes. Yeah. It'd be great for teams who haven't been fantasy, though. Correct. All right, James Paxson, thank you so much for joining us, as always, and thank you for watching. Have a good rest of your night.