
About this episode
Griffin Warner and Lonte Smith get you ready for the CFB 2025 season.
šÆ Pittsburgh over 6.5 wins: Pat Narduzziās defensive core, featuring Kyle Lewis and Rasheem Biles, plus RB Des Reidās 1,500+ yards of production, sets the foundation .
š Arizona State under 8.5 wins: Losing Cam Scadabooās 2,300+ yards and facing a schedule with Mississippi State, Baylor, and Utah makes sustaining success unlikely .
š Oregon under 10.5 wins: QB Dante Mooreās inexperience and just one returning O-line starter threaten offensive stability .
š South Carolina under 7.5 wins: Despite elite athletes like Sellers and Dillon Stewart, poor O-line play and defensive losses spell regression .
š Miamiās playoff value: Carson Beck thrives in a less demanding ACC, backed by strong protection and weapons .
š SMUās high-ceiling schedule: Early matchups vs Baylor and TCU provide resume-building chances despite roadblocks like Clemson .
š Louisville as a sleeper: Offensive system continuity and favorable home games against top teams make them a playoff dark horse .
š Playoff odds snapshot: LSU (+130), Miami (+175), Ole Miss (+170), and Louisville (3-1) stand out as potential value bets .
š¢ Critical stretches: South Carolinaās brutal LSU-Oklahoma-Alabama-Ole Miss-Texas A&M stretch likely defines their season .
š§ Coaching & system insights: Dan Lanningās first season without a veteran QB at Oregon raises big offensive questions, while Kenny Dillinghamās Arizona State faces depth challenges .
Pittsburghās Path to 7 Wins (0:32ā12:00) ā Griffin and Lonte outline Pittās 7.35 projected wins, highlighting Pat Narduzziās defensive focus and RB Des Reidās Darren Sproles-like dual-threat ability. QB Eli Holsteinās leash may be short with Cole Gonzalez waiting .
Arizona Stateās Regression (13:23ā20:13) ā With Cam Scadabooās 24-touchdown production gone, Lonte foresees a major offensive dip. Defensive pass rush remains a huge weakness against pass-heavy Big 12 offenses .
Oregonās QB Transition (22:14ā28:22) ā New starter Dante Moore faces Big Ten defenses with only one O-line starter returning. The Ducksā WR group also lacks proven playmakers, raising major concerns .
South Carolinaās Harsh Reality (29:45ā38:53) ā Elite athletes like Sellers and Dillon Stewart canāt offset O-line deficiencies (40.1% pressure rate allowed) and defensive attrition from five drafted players .
Miamiās Playoff Dark Horse (40:12ā43:05) ā Carson Beck steps into a loaded Miami offense with top-tier O-line support, benefiting from an ACC schedule lacking Clemson .
SMUās Resume-Building Schedule (43:05ā44:52) ā Early showdowns with Baylor and TCU could propel SMU into playoff talks despite the challenge of a Clemson road trip .
Louisvilleās System Advantage (45:58ā47:29) ā Jeff Brohmās quarterback-friendly system makes Louisville a reliable value pick, with pivotal home games vs Clemson and Miami .
SEC Brutality for South Carolina (35:45ā38:53) ā A grueling five-game stretch against LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M is likely to derail the Gamecocksā season .
Value in Longshot Playoff Bets (40:12ā47:29) ā Teams like LSU, Miami, SMU, and Louisville emerge as attractive plus-money playoff bets .
Promo & Contest (20:14ā49:05) ā The episode ends with details on pregame.comās āBeat Greg Shakerā contest and a 20% promo code for listeners .
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