Team Previews: Oklahoma + Texas A&M + Penn State + Alabama + Tennessee

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2:00Visit spltitaro.com today and access your home's equity. No monthly payments, just cash in hand. Splitter-o. Oklahoma team preview, man. I'm excited to watch them. I'm about as excited with Oklahoma. As any team out there, because I have put my full-frozen score behind Jonathan Tear. Otherwise, you'll take it by the way. Proudly purchased in the spring. They feel about as steady as they've been under Britain Venables. I know some doubters out there, maybe even go as far as to say haters out there, point out a couple of six win seasons baked in there. Yeah, okay. I don't think we're headed back that direction. And that's even with them playing a tough schedule this year. Got a top 15 defense. I think locked in. I feel really good in hoping for an offensive jump.

3:02With John Matier, let's just start at quarterback as we often do in team previews. I know there are different philosophies out there. I don't want to rehash the injury thing, but I am a big believer in the pre-injury post-injury splits. I mean, guys, he had four games, first four games last year, 270 plus passing. 11 total touchdowns, three picks. And then when he comes back, six straight games under 225 passing, four touchdowns, four picks. Yes, the competition ramped up. Yes, I understand the questions about the decision making and the progressions and reads. I get all that. I also think that you could believe in a blend of both, but also believe, yeah, the injury had a lot to do with that. And even if it didn't, we get another year into the system here. And hopefully we get a better ground game. And we get a more complimentary supporting cast around him. So I am, I'm very, very bullish on John Matier this year. All right, some things that I think I know about Oklahoma, defense at stores on every level. Shouldn't come as a surprise. David Stone, Jayden Jackson, Taylor Wein.

4:03Those are all draftable talents up front defensively. You get Kip Lewis, Owen Heinecke, at Lyme Backer. Those are top-end players. In the secondary, Eli Bowen, Peyton Bowen, both back there. It has all the makings of one of the best defenses in the country. So when I talk about Oklahoma, I don't even talk about defense a lot. Not because they won't be good. It's the opposite. It's because they'll be really good. And I feel like it's a consistent year over year, really good. Kind of like Georgia. Like I just feel like I can take for granted that they're going to play at pretty high level defense. Another thing I think I know over on offense is they feel a little thin on weapons. Now that could change. College football every year has guys step up. But Isaiah Satania, Trill Harris, has had a really good fall camp. There's some guys there that could live up to the building. In fact, I don't doubt those guys will live up to the building. Parker Livingstone, I don't know that the contribution is going to match the headlines that it grabbed when he went to Oklahoma.

5:04But he'll be a depth provider there at the very least. But outside of that, I just, I don't know that I see established options. Again, that's what the games are for. That's what the seasons for. But wouldn't surprise me at all knowing what they haven't tied in to turn Oklahoma games on. And oh, look, there's three tight ends on the field. Another thing that I think I know, you know, not to go all special teams on you, but they got one of the best place kickers in the country. Tate Sandell returns. He hit almost 89% of his field goals last year, eight of nine last season on field goals in that 40 to 49 yard bucket. And 50 plus respectively. In close games, which they figured have a lot of, that's a huge edge. The things I want to know, I mean, let's be real. I want to know the same thing you want to know. I want to know if you fix the run game. Brent Vennibles wants to know if he fixed the run game. He's probably got a little bit of sense of it. Then I do right now. But this is clearly the lead story with Oklahoma. They were 113th in Rush Yards per game last year. Both of their lead backs.

6:04They're two lead backs, one or 500 yards total. So it was really, it was tough to watch. And yet, even though they were as flawed as they were, they still made the playoffs and hosted a playoff game. They still went on the road to Neelan and one. They still went on the road to Bama and one. Those are must win spots. They were in playoff mode for like the last month of the year. And I'm talking about tail backs there, but it just as much falls on the offensive line. And they're probably going to start three underclassmen there. Good ones potentially. Really good at left tackle, but still underclassmen. So I want to know that. I want to know who else emerges in the secondary. The Bowen brothers both studs. So I'm not questioning them at all. Cortland Gilroy has ascended other boundary corner, but I'm still looking, you know, nickel safety beside Bowen. Just it's one of the fun parts of college football every year. Like who emerges? When we've penciled in names and then we got the question marks. Who emerges? That's like a semi question mark for the defense.

7:06Not a full-throated question mark. Semi question mark. And another thing that I want to know is their offensive depth to withstand injuries. So outside of tied in and running back, there's not a ton of depth on the offense. Already mentioned them at wide receiver. I don't really know what QB2 would look like here. But then again, if anyone loses QB1 outside of Ole Miss last year, it's kind of a disaster scenario anyway. So wide receiver needs additional options to emerge. Offensive line, got some nice pieces, but if they get stressed at all during the season, that could up in the season. But look, it's kind of a headline with everyone. No one has elite depth anymore. What are the best units on this team? Defensive tackle. I think that goes without saying. Stone may end up being one of the best defensive tackles in the SEC. He kind of is already. He'll just have another opportunity to do that. At linebacker, again, this is so redundant with Oklahoma, but it's welcome redundancy. Heinecke and Lewis, good depth there. Cole Sullivan.

8:07That's a stout front seven against the run. They were third against the run last year. And they'll be really good again this year. The breakout player is Michael Fassousi. So he was pressed into action last year. Had to start at tackle as a true freshman. You don't often talk about offensive linemen as breakout players, but I think he qualifies. He's a guy with Sunday traits. He's had them since he arrived on campus. When you listen to coaches, even defensive coaches at Oklahoma, when they talk about him, they talk about him like he's a pro. They talk about him like he's a second year or third year pro player, instead of just a true sophomore, which he is. I think also if you wanted to go defensive here, Courtland-Gillery, I know Oklahoma fans know about him. I mean, he was tied for most passes defended last year, although no picks. So, you know, if that's something to grow on, if we're looking for that. But I think maybe nationally, you know, he becomes more of a household name this year. Schedule break down. It's always this way for Oklahoma. They hadn't had an easy schedule since joining the league.

9:09It's no different this year. We've got them with the second or the seventh strength of schedule in the country. Two games against G6 teams. So a lot of these big swing games are away from Norman. So they go to Michigan week two. We're going to be at that game. They go to Georgia a few weeks later. They've got Texas in Dallas. They go to the swamp later in the year. They do get Ole Miss and A&M at home in November. But there's just there's no stretch here where you say, oh man, it eases up there. Mississippi State South Carolina at Florida. Two of those three are on the road. So they got an early bioweat. They play seven straight SEC games down the stretch. Let's go record scenarios. According to the model here, the best case even with that schedule. The best case is 11 and 1. Because if they get an improved ground game, they will get improved QB play. At wide receiver room will just mysteriously fall into place. The way it's supposed to, by the way, if that happens.

10:09A defense will be what it needs to be. Special teams good. Mention the kicking already. They could be 11 and 1. Now, the flip side of that is because they're going to play on the margins. They're going to play a lot of tight games. I would say look, 4 and 8 sounds insanely unrealistic. That's only because if you consider them losing all their loosable games technically, 4 and 8 is in the cards. That's more a product of the schedule they play, rather than how bad a team they could be. But the most likely, the record I have them going is 9 and 3. And I think Oklahoma, rather, is one of those teams that if they go 9 and 3, could very well find themselves in the playoff. In fact, I've gotten them going to the playoffs at 9 and 3. Poor Dragonberry Emergizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so? Fire. Try them all only at McDonald's.

11:09With the Discover Cash Back Card, it's payback time when you earn cashback on everyday purchases. Activate and earn 5% cashback at different categories each quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases. That's 5% cashback at different places each quarter, like grocery stores, on gas, and at restaurants. It pays to discover. Terms apply. See Discover.com slash 5 for details. At long last, the Texas A&M team preview. Now look, the general feeling, at least with me, is that the arrow is still pointing up for the program. I think you can say that and also say, maybe they'll just miss out on the playoff this year. Maybe they'll squeak their way into the playoff this year. Either way, let's say for the sake of argument, they were to go nine and three and just miss out. Arrow could still be pointing up. I think it's like zero sum for some people. Either you make the playoffs or you're regressing if you made the playoffs the year before. I don't know. That's not the prism through which I view the sport.

12:10So you send 10 players to the draft and yet, Fandall didn't even drop them all that far from where they had been last year. I feel the same way. We'll see how it goes. Let's talk about Marcel Reed. Of course, that's where it begins with Texas A&M through for over 3100 yards last season. Ran for another 500. Had 31 total touchdowns. When he was at his best, he was one of the best quarterbacks in the country. You guys may not remember this. Feels like it's 10 years ago. He was one of the Heisman front runners at various points last year. And I should know, I bought some Marcel Reed Heisman stock during the season last year. Then we had the floor games. And those were in the basement. I mean, there were times there were extended chunks of game where he no showed. I think this year, if you rectify that, that's one thing. Also, better production in the short to intermediate areas. That's another thing. And if he raises that floor, Ball security is not an issue. There's more consistency.

13:11Again, he could be one of the best quarterbacks in the country. And that's even in a loaded quarterback year. Because that's how good he is. That's how talented he is. Some things I think I know about Texas A&M. I know I know this. Wide receivers a strength of this team. Mario Craver's still there. He's a 1,000 yard guy this year. He almost was last year. Isaiah Horton comes over in the transfer portal. Who probably is not a 1,000 yard guy, but he's a big play guy. He was at Alabama last year. Whenever they needed big plays, whenever they were down in the red zone, big bodied receiver, that's who they went to. Ashton Bethel Roman is still there. This is a room. Like, if you look past them, Terry Busseys there. There is depth here. I know that Jerome Miles got dismissed. He was going to be a guy that we circled. And even then, it's just, it's a deep room. It's not just one or two names. So they got size, they got speed, they got everything they need there. I also think I know that despite the defensive line departures, that unit will still end up, I think being a strength for this team. Three of four starters departed.

14:14Cash is how old departed. But DJ Hicks is there. And they think they hit it big with CJ Mems, who was the North Carolina transfer. They brought in Antosaka from Northwestern, and he's gotten incredible reviews. So they've added some depth there as well. I feel really good. This is a classic situation. Kind of like Miami on the old line. You lose a lot of guys. So a preview magazine culture just expects you to fall off. Check in December. I think the production will still be there. I also think the defensive back in has some juice, but they got to be better at changing the game. So if you consider yourself having ball-hawk types, if you got high level athletes in your secondary, they ought to be able to score. They ought to be able to take the ball. They ought to be able to pick balls off and put you in prime position. And so there's a question of whether that defense can make more game-changing place, because they were second in sacks last year, but they only had three picks, which is kind of an anomaly.

15:15Normally those are very heavily correlated. And in this case, they weren't for Texas A&M. All right, the things I want to know. How does the offensive line play after losing four starters? This is outside of Marcelli Reed. This has easily been the thing that's been talked about the most. Around there, the room looks different than it did last year. I think only their center returns. A&M opted to go to the portal for what figures to be three or probably four starters. And so I remember being there in the spring and a lot of that staff was pretty comfortable that they were going to end up being able to go seven, eight deep in guys that they trusted to be able to win with. They were kind of projecting still a little bit, because that was early in spring. So it's a work in progress. It consists of some unproven underclassmen. This again, if you believe in your evaluation and development and I do with Texas A&M, that's where you find it out. Also, I want to know with Ruben Owens, former five star tailback. Can he live up to that?

16:15It was Lavy on Moss, E.J. Smith, Amori Daniels, all gone. So you probably aren't looking at a situation where if Ruben Owens works out, that's cool. If not, that's cool. They need him. They need to be able to ride him this year. And it doesn't matter. We've seen time and time again in the past. A guy comes out of high school, highly touted. And one year, it's a hit and miss. Another year hit miss. It doesn't matter, man. You get one big year out of someone, especially if it's a really big year, which he's capable of, it's worth it. Best unit on this team. I'd say wide receiver. I'd say defensive line. I don't need to go too in depth there because I already mentioned those above. But if I'm going breakout player, I could go Terry Bussey. I'd go Ashton Bethel Roman. To deep receiver room, it's going to produce another breakout player in addition to Mario Craver. And so Roman, he's going to be on the field more like Terry Bussey. I can count on him at least being a special team.

17:16He's also being a gadget guy. And who knows, he may be more than that. But I know, unless he's hurt, Ashton Bethel Roman's on the field more. And so I just count on him to be able to make a bigger impact. Also at the edge position, Marco Jones, when you listen to Cassius Howell talk, and he was kind of saying, all right, I mean, I'm good now. Those weren't his words, but he was good. Here's the next guy. He'd circle Marco Jones. And it's his first full off season, being a solo sport athlete. Give up baseball. We all eventually have to. And Marco Jones football only now. Always love that. Always look catching guys the year after they fully dedicated to just football. Schedule breakdown. Think they play the number four strength of schedule overall in the country. They've got the SEC slate. Plus they play Arizona state. In out of conference play, it's a tough road schedule. It's backloaded. I do love that match up against LSU. Because they're likely going to be undefeated, but they will have already had two pretty good tests

18:18in Arizona state in Kentucky. But they go at Bama. They go to South Carolina. Tennessee at Oklahoma, Texas. Just brutality towards the end of the year. You got Citadel. And then can you imagine coming out of Citadel and turning your head and seeing Tuscaloosa, Colombia, and Norman as road trips. And then Tennessee and Texas come to you. So let's take a look at what the model thinks on best, worst, most likely record projections. I think at their best, this is an 11 and one team. I got a hard time seeing anyone go undefeated, even in the best of cases with this schedule. But 11 and one would be excellent. Who knows? They could be the number one overall seed. They could be headed to Atlanta. 11 and one would be excellent. I think five and seven, if they lose all their loseables, I think five and sevens probably if it totally bottomed out, how it would go for them. But their most likely record, I think is nine and three. And I don't think they'll be alone there. I think they'll be one of multiple SEC teams that are nine and three.

19:18And at that point, you have to ask yourself, was that strength of schedule difficult enough, is our strength of record, which it would be by then, at the end of the year? Is it strong enough to where we can crash the playoff party as a three-loss team? I think they'd be right on the bubble there, one way or the other. We did it. Matt Campbell's the head coach at Penn State. Now it's time for the season to start. So let's talk about it. It is a turn-to-page season. No one wants to remember all that from last year. All right? We've got relatively lower expectations. Or do we? We know the schedule dynamic here. There's whispers of playoff contention. Even in my control room. But let's talk about what we have on deck specifically. It's a known commodity at quarterback. So Rocco Becht is fourth years of starter. And he is walking into a situation where he's not having to learn a new system. Taylor Mauser comes over with him.

20:20I think one of the things that I'm excited to see with Penn State is just they're willing this to take more downfield shots. Or complete more downfield shots. Last year, there were 94th in 20 plus yard pass plays. And I know Rocco Becht had a little bit of a down year last season. But we went up there and watched him practice. He looks fully healthy. You can't tell anything was wrong with him. So I know they've still got to develop some at wide receiver. But I think he'll have a pretty good year here. The things I think I know speaking of that passing game is that a lot of this offense will probably orbit around the tight end position. To me with Penn State, it's all about how many tight ends could you possibly get on the field at the same time. I think they got weapons there. It's a good versatile room. They had a guy that would like Ben Brahm or just as an example. Is a guy that comes in. He's big like Birkle is big. They just got bodies that look like Penn State tight ends.

21:21And it's not the first time we've said that about that room. But I think in the absence of real good proven commodities at wide receiver, they're going to have to lean on that pretty heavily. I think the Penn State run defense should be improved. That's the thing I think I know because there were 56 last year. But there was a key shift in Danton Lynn coming over. I mean, that's a huge addition from USC. And then speaking of addition, they went to work on adding size in the transfer portal. They brought in four to five transfer portal defensive tackles, Kiana Williams. They got all of them were above 300 pounds. Like they added some serious size there. They got heavier at the edge position. And that's just a reflection of knowing what they got to deal with in Big Ten Play. I think the pressure from last season's gone. I mean, I don't think that. I know that. The only pressure here is, well, you're playing a manageable schedule. Can you get nine or 10 wins out of this? But the championship or bust stuff, that's gone. And I think it's a nice little palette cleanse to sort of rid yourself of that mentality.

22:24It's sort of a start over. But the beauty of starting over there is you don't have to start over in the classical sense. You get to start over and also think, wow, there's no reason we can't win in year one. Some things that I want to know. Firstly, can the offensive line hold up for an entire season? Is the way I would classify or categorize that offensive line. Is when they're healthy, there were guys hitting misderm fall camp. But when they put their starting five out there, first few weeks of the season, if those guys can stay healthy all year, I feel fine about Penn State's offensive line. It's the depth behind that starting five. If there is injury concern that concerns me a little bit. So that's a tight rope walk. Obviously, you can't forecast injuries. Another thing that I want to know, are there any elite wide receiver options on this team? Or just high level, just plus receiver options.

23:25Because they'll have a top five tight end unit. But that wide receiver group is sort of its own mystery. You have some Iowa state transfers coming over. None of them went over 550 receiving yards last year. Their existing wide receiver room essentially boils down to Kobe Howard. And so there's a bunch of names. But there's not one that you would point to is saying thousand yards and 875 yards. Pennsylvania and right now. I think the best units on the team mentioned tight ends, linebacker certainly. I didn't mention the DB group. I don't think so yet. No, I didn't mention the DB group yet. Zion Tracy returns. Very good fifth year senior. I think this room's deep. It's multifaceted enough to be good against run and pass. So I would say, danton Lynn, like if you're looking past one position group, I feel good about the defense of back group. I think the breakout player on this team, if there is one, would be Kobe Howard. I just talked about him a second ago at wide receiver.

24:25He bulked up some. He's someone Rocco Beck said he could see. As a thousand yard type receiver, he's probably the best athlete of the bunch. So 511, little over 200 pounds now. I'd say him. And then maybe on defense, max grandville. It could easily be Darius Dixon, I think, but we already talked about him. So people forget last year, max grandville was slated to start right next to DDS actually, but he suffered a season ending injury. So maybe not deferred just delayed here on him being a breakout player defensively. Let's talk about the schedule. To everyone's favorite conversation right now. Hey, man, what you think about Penn State? Oh, did you see that schedule? I didn't ask you about their schedule. I asked you about the team. Yeah, that's what I said. They're schedule. But no one's really talking about the team. Well, we just talked about the team. So we did our due diligence, but the schedule, there's nothing in the way of out of conference challenges. Or if there is, we got much bigger problems. Well, Jesse has much bigger problems.

25:27I don't overlook that Wisconsin game at all, because I think that's an improved team. But frankly, that's a game Penn State should win, especially at home. They go to Northwestern, New Stadium, but can't tell you much else about Northwestern. USC and At Michigan, that's clearly the meat of the schedule. And then I'm the last person that's going to tell you to overlook a trip to Washington. But that USC games a whiteout game, going to be amazing. Let's take a look at what the old trusty model here thinks about Penn State's record possibilities. So the best case here is 12 and 0. Is 12 and 0. They there will be no situation here, where they will be a double digit underdog all year, unless something crazy happens. Well, they'll be favored of as majority of these games. So 12 and 0 is the best case. I think seven and five is the worst case, which is an insanely high floor for your worst case. But again, lose the Wisconsin USC Michigan, Washington game.

26:29You still got to lose another one. It's just very, very unlikely that the bottom falls out any further than 75. There is an argument to be made that eight and four is the floor. But again, this should be a disaster scenario. So 75 is the disaster. I think their most likely record is 10 and two. And that would be regular season, obviously, 10 and two. And so I don't know what that would do in the playoff picture. My guess is that that would leave them just on the outside looking in. But that's us talking in August. So first off, we don't know how crazy the rest of the country was. Number two, who's to say that their strength of schedule doesn't look a lot more impressive at the end of the year? Like who's to say Minnesota randomly, that can go on around or something like that? So 10 and two put me down for Double Digit Wednesday year one of the Matt Campbell era. Alabama team preview. Is this an inflection point for Kaelin DeBourg? Kind of feels like it is. I feel like we're far enough removed from the Nick Saban era that I don't feel it around

27:32this team anymore. Like this is Kaelin DeBourg's team. It's the first time they start outside the preseason AP Top 10 since, wow, that says 2008. Is that relevant? I guess it's as relevant as you make it. I think they've got an opportunity to do some pretty special things this year. But there's a lot of unknown with this team, thus the beauty of preview season. So Kaelin Russell has just been named starting quarter back there within the past week. He forced them to make that call. Kaelin Russell is at his high end a phenomenal player. Experience can only come when you gain it on the field. But I thought if you if you considered the possibilities, if you considered putting yourself in Kaelin DeBourg's shoes, you got Austin Mack, who admittedly is challenging for the starting job, might it be safer to start the season with him knowing that you could go to Russell if it gets bad. I think that was in the cards and yet Kaelin Russell made it so obvious of a decision that they had to go with him. He opens up a ton of potential with this offense.

28:34A few things I think I know, scratch of the head I think I know about Alabama, is that this is one of the deepest secondaries in the country. And certainly the longest secondary in the country. I would probably say in all of football in America, there's no longer secondary in the country than Alabama pro or college. Now does that mean high level production? I actually think it probably will. But they got multiple corners on this team that are 6'4", or taller, Zebian Browns back, Dijon Lee still there, Bray Hubbard still there. What's fun, Keon Sab is still there. What's funny is you watch them practice? I think two of their most impressive defensive players are Jyra Edwards, who is a true freshman safety who got injured a little bit. He'll be back soon. Ivan Taylor is another safety on that team. And they're not even penciled in as starters. So they got really good depth. Carmella O'Neill's a kid. They got from Mercer, just another 6'4", freak show. So I feel really good about the secondary.

29:38I think the wide receiver room should take a step forward. And I'd really feel confident saying that had no erudgers not gotten hurt in the spring. But it sounds like he's well ahead of his recovery schedule. In fact, I can confirm he is because they told me he was last week. So Ryan Williams is the key here. Ryan Coleman Williams recently married. As he goes, so will go this wide receiver room. And by all accounts, he's had a phenomenal spring and fall camp. So if I've got him and I've got a healthy lots of Brooks, maybe Rico Scott takes a step. Derek Meadows is a guy who has all the physical tools in the world. Man, if he could ever make the ball his when it's in the air, he could be an all SEC caliber player. But no erudgers they really important key to this room aside from Ryan Williams. He was really good in the spring forum, transfer from mincee state. So I got my eye on him. And also I think they found a lot of quality of quantity in the portal. So the small portal class, I think all make contributions. Delgati

30:45is a guy they got out of a no name school out in California that'll start at center for them. Javan James, I believe came there from Mississippi state. He's been running with the runs at right tackle mentioned no erudgers. Devon Tompkins is a rock up front for them. Caleb Woodson will green dot for them at linebacker. He came there from Virginia Tech. So they went in the portal and were selective, but we're very effective. And the guys they picked up now for the things I want to know about Alabama. Of course it's offensive line. Of course it's that. They were subpar last year and now have to replace four. And so it's the age old question. If you have to replace a lot of production off a subpar group, is that additive by default? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I just think it relies a lot on unproven talent. So Jackson Lloyd at left tackle. There is a world

31:46where based on what they want to do offensively, he's an upgrade even though they just lost a first round left tackle. It's all very specific to the system, but there's a world where you'd say that. There's a world where you'd say man, racing Delgati, where did he come from? He's playing really good at center. We don't have that big a fall off from who we had there last year at all. I think the right side of the offensive line specifically, like I'd look at that and I'd say Javan Jamey, all right. I mean they say he looks good. Michael Carroll, former five star guy, should be good. It's a lot of should be and could be is the point, but it has to turn into is. And then of course you start talking about the ground game. I think another thing with Alabama that I want to see is the concept of talent versus youth in today's landscape. They got a lot of really good players. They're also underclassmen. It's one of if not the youngest teams in power four, which would normally just lead you to say, all right, you'll get them down

32:47the road. Now this team could win this year. It's got around into form pretty quick. They've got a hit on that offensive line. They've got to have young tail backs come through for them. But if a lot of those things, if those ifs turn into pluses, could be a really good team this year. I also want to know outside of Yonsei Pierre, how effective are they at rushing the passer? They were 54th and sax per game last year. And now Yonsei Pierre is there behind him. I really wonder, you know, who who pops? Who shines like London semis of their desoulos. There are a lot of guys whose names get mentioned. We'll see if anyone really, really steps up. But if they can pair and improve pass rush with that secondary and a linebacker room that I don't think is nearly as big a concern as some people, including me thought it would be in the spring. That could be one of the top defenses in the country. Break out player. I think it's EJ Crowell. The tail back, true freshman five stars, immediate game changing impact type talent.

33:55Now he's missed some time so far, which probably speaks volumes that they think so highly of him and his ability to contribute this year, even having said that. Tracey on Brown is a much lower rated prospect out of high school. I think he'll be a huge contributor in their running back room. I think both of those true freshman running backs were the best talents in that room. The moment they set foot on campus. Crowell is a really, really big difference maker though. So the schedule for Alabama as SEC schedules go. This is about as good as it gets for you. You open and your first two conference games are at Kentucky and South Carolina and then at Mississippi State. There's no one sitting here telling you those games are easy. I am telling you that if you stack up this conference, those teams are towards the bottom half to bottom third of the league. And if you got to play them, that's when you want to play them. You want to play them early. Then you settle in and then

34:57you start to get your feet under you and then eventually Georgia comes to town. You're going to go to Tennessee, A&M, AdLSU. That stretch there. Georgia at Tennessee, A&M, AdLSU. It's just boom, boom, boom, boom. But if they can take care of that schedule may loosen up a little bit on the back end too. So what do we think? What does the model think about the record projections for Alabama? I think if all that youth comes together in Keelan Russell is a breakout star at quarterback and they can run the ball halfway decently. 11 and one is the high end for this team. I think the low end, the absolute worst it could go would be six and six. And man, that would be that would be probably getting stunned at Kentucky. At Georgia, Tennessee, A&M, AdLSU, beaten you. Maybe you drop the iron bowl. Just gulp on that one. What's the most likely record here? They're over under win total. It fandals eight and a half. And I've got some action on that because I actually think Alabama is going to go 10 and two. I think they're one of three teams in the SEC that are going to have

36:01double digit wins this year. And I think that puts them squarely in the mix to go to Atlanta. But I think it puts them in the college football playoff. Tennessee team preview. Let's be honest, just you and I talking here in spring. I looked at Tennessee and I said, I feel like this is a gap year for Josh Hyple. And there's still an element of that in me. But I don't know. The closer we get to the season, I'm a resident of the state of Tennessee. Maybe I'm getting pulled in a little bit. Here's how I'm sending Tennessee up in my mind. I expect huge things from them in 2027. But I am not punting on 2026 them having an opportunity, especially with how in tune I think they'll be on what their style of play's got to be offensively. So the general feeling is maybe it's a gap year, maybe it's a bridge year, or maybe it's not. Maybe they're a quote unquote year ahead of schedule.

37:03So Faeson Brandon's been named starting quarter back there. I know Tennessee fans are tied to here in the stat. But for those of you who are not Tennessee fans and you're acclimating yourself with this team, that's the first true freshman to start at Tennessee for a season opener at that position. Since 04, he's a unit 6 4 2 25 strong arm great mobility 35 and one in his career in high school. He'll be behind an experienced offensive line. So he's not being thrown to the wolves per se. Time will tell with him. Bryce Underwood last year had a lot of hype about himself at Michigan. I thought he was thrown into a much more unwinnable position. That is not the position. Faeson Brandon's being thrown into. So some things I think I know about this Tennessee team. I think they'll be built around offensive line in Dishonned Bishop. That's an opinion I haven't come off of since spring. The offensive game plan. I think he's got a center around that. Bishop ran for a little over a thousand

38:03yards last year. 16 touchdowns. David Sanders is a guy who has all the upside in the world multiple underclassmen in the running to fill that left guard position. Right side maybe a little unsettled but I feel like they've got guys they can win with. I think they've got several guys that they can rotate with and find the right five and win. So I feel good about Tennessee's offensive line. I think they've had some bad luck this off season as well. You had the Joey Aguilar thing. Even as everyone else is filing lawsuits to get eligibility out there. Joey Aguilar denied eligibility. Okay. So then you have Chas Coleman who's going to be a different maker of a transfer coming in from Penn State and then that goes the way it went and I'll just leave it at that. So he's not there. And then Edries Farouk suffers a season ending injury. So there goes one of your starting safeties. Ari and Carter. I mean the NCAA has adjusted his suspension three times and he's still got to serve time. That should be an afterthought after the first game but still Ethan Davis by the way.

39:07One of their big time tightness hasn't really practiced a whole lot. So these are things you have to overcome. These are the things that by mid season you hope you're looking back on saying, man, remember when we were worried about that. Glad that didn't matter all that much. We'll see. Also another thing I think I know about this team. I trust Josh Hyple to develop phase on Brandon is a thing I think I know out of all these years Hyples been there. He had hidden hooker Joe Milton, Joey Aguilar. This is his first attempt at a real homegrown talent. Now it kind of is another portal guy but the difference here is phase on Brandon portal to Tennessee from high school. So yeah, it's his first year starting there but at least we're finally going the homegrown route here. I trust Josh Hyple and I trust especially the the situation they're putting him in this year. They won't ask him to do things they shouldn't ask him to do. That's what I'm saying. Some things I want to know. Year one under Jim Knowles. Big higher defensive coordinator.

40:12The book on him has always been at it takes at least a year or two. Maybe that still tracks but he did bring in some staffers and three Penn State players who were expected to start could have been more but you know folks get tired of football sometimes. So I want to see like is a year one really a year where it can click for them defensively. Another thing I want to see defensive lines sturdiness and depth. So there's a clear top four. Defensive tackle you got Hobbes you got Gilliam the Penn State transfer whether be at edge I trust the front four. They're a little smaller. There's no defensive tackle over 300 pounds. Whether be had a good fall camp but only one sack last year. It could be a group that maybe struggles to rush opposing quarterbacks and maybe one that can get moved around with a power ground game. Maybe so that's something that remains to be seen for me. Also at wide receiver

41:13people keep saying I question them or I've been saying wide receivers a weakness. No I'm not saying that at all. There's a very clear one to it receiver Mike Matthews. Braille and Staley no problem. I believe in them wholeheartedly. I want to know past them who really steps up here and I don't look at this the same way maybe like a hardcore Tennessee fan does because I know that you read practice reports you read message board posts and you're willing to buy into a ton of upside with players. I got no problem with that. What I'm saying is if I take off orange and white glasses maybe and I just look at it and I'm more a show me kind of person. You got to show me. I need a wide receiver three option to emerge as a pack of underclassmen there from which that option can emerge but I want to see it. The best units on this team I think running back. I know some people doubt the depth there past bishop but I think Javin Gordon has been

42:14impressive. Dwayne Morris. Speedy number three option. I feel okay. Maybe I shouldn't. Who knows but I feel okay about them at running back. Linebacker two. I mean three of four seniors. I feel good about that room but the breakout players the one I want to talk about so David Sanders started six games at right tackle. He was a freshman all-American. He'll kick over to left tackle. 66310. Looks like a prototype tackle. I expect a big year from him. Tyree Weatherzby also someone who needs to emerge in the pass rush department. He's had a good fall camp. He is the number one at an important position. Circle that name on defense. The schedule breakdown for Tennessee. Really good week two test at Georgia Tech. Really good. They should go down there and win that game candidly but that's a really good week two test and then they get three of the bottom four teams in the SEC in Arkansas and Kentucky and Vandy. Look at the home games. Imagine being a Tennessee season

43:19ticket holder this year. Texas Auburn Alabama LSU all come up there somehow the Texas games a noon kickoff but whatever that's going to be a huge scene there. So what does the model think about the record projections for Tennessee this year. Best case for Tennessee that ground game hums they get the pass rush they need they stay healthy phase on brand and continues to develop week over week they avoid the critical mistakes ten and two would be sort of on the high end but not out of the realm of possibility. Now if it crashes and burns the absolute worst case would be five and seven. That's a tough schedule there are a lot of loosable games there. The most likely record for Tennessee I've kind of gone back and forth on this. I got him at eight and four which is kind of a blend of what you would expect in a bridge year but also a year where man they were really really competitive. They a couple of bounces go the other way they're right there on the playoff bubble that's kind

44:19of how I feel a little bit for Tennessee this year. So right now what is it late August give me eight and four. Must be 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas, Starkisino or 18 plus and present in DC first on my real money wager only $5 first deposit required bonus issued as non with robber bonus bets which expire seven days after receipt restrictions apply see terms at sportsbook dot fan dual dot com gambling problem call 1 800 gambler or visit fan

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