FedEx Cup Update, In-Depth NFC West Outlook | The Early Line Hour 2, 8/20/24

What has happened what has transpired here at the first Bank center here in Denver, Colorado? It wasn't just a big night of fights. It was a big night of memorable moments. Conor McGregor with us here in Denver, Colorado. Good left hand from Rockhold. Right hand right back from Mike Perry. Now three and oh in BKFC. Can I get a face off with Conor McGregor? Man, that'd be. It's an incredible setup here. Incredible matchmaking, incredible storytelling. All you had to come here, all these fighters that step in here are warriors. And I all have my respect. And I'm into this game. Yeah, we'll be into this. Yeah And we are live here in the Maverik Center here in Salt Lake City, Utah, folks. What a night. It is going to be historic indeed for NC 56. Whoever's the king of violence right here. This is going to be a great fight. Carry on the tag for that right hand. Right hand for Mike. Who's the king of Thailand? I am calm now, fighting in its purest form. Bare knuckle fighting in the city of angels. 80s remaining round number one. We're talking about. What is it? We've got the biggest announcement in the BKFC history. We're about to mak. So let's make that announcement. What's up? Knuckle mania? The notorious Conor McGregor here. Ladies and gentlemen, the huge announcement that I have for you today. Conor McGregor, myself and McGregor. Sports and entertainment is now an owner of Bare knuckle Fighting Championship. Welcome to the big leagues, David Feldman. Baby. We did it. He's now an owner of BKFC with us. And we're going to take this thing all the way to the top. Now. Welcome to our number two live right here on this Tuesday on the Early line on Sports Grid. We are just five, five days away from the start of a new college football season. That is Saturday. It is week zero, and we get you set for it. In just a moment. We'll look at the PGA tour postseason. Our guy Keith Stewart on the road following all along with what is happening in the Fedex Cup playoffs. We'll look back at Memphis, preview the BMW Championship out in Denver. And then it becomes win total Tuesday to end out this second hour. A focus on the NFC West. Can the 40 Niners actually win a Lombardi Trophy. Will the Rams be back in the playoff hunt? What about Seattle with first year head coach Mike MacDonald? And can Arizona find its way back as well with a fully healthy Kyler Murray for the entirety of 2024? A lot to get into here, doctors in this second hour. Two more hours to go up until 11 a.m. eastern, and maybe the biggest question, Ben, you being a college football guy, you got to find this out like this. Would you tech bring the Ramblin Wrecr on the road to Dublin, Ireland? Like, are they going to be able to drive that bad boy out like they do at home in Atlanta? Like, those are some of the things I need to know, because that could be the difference in the game plan. We don't have a car today, Ben. We can't be outperforming Florida State here if that car is on the road and I see a drive out in Dublin, you're looking at maybe an outright victory for GT. I think they're launching it off of the port of the Gulf of Mexico, going around the Atlantic and up to Dublin, if I am not mistaken. Maybe, though, doctor says maybe somehow, some way the idea of the Ramblin Wreck car on the road or whatever Georgia Tech is brewing up at this moment is the reason for significant line movement for this week zero opener. The Irish opener, the Dublin debut in this ACC showdown between 10th ranked Florida State and Georgia Tech. Again, we mentioned this yesterday up until about a week ago, Florida State was a 13 .5. favorite, comfortably flirting with a two touchdown spread in favf a team we believed would be ranked in the top ten with one of the ten best prices to win a national championship this year, and confirmed by the AP poll last week that FSU was a top ten team in the country for whatever reason, the Yellow Jackets continue to see the line work in their favor. It was ten and a half last night. It's back up to 11 and a hook in favor of the Seminoles, but Donnie, I don't remember this much line movement for a week zero game. Maybe it's attention being paid to the spread as we get closer and closer to a college football season, but Georgia Tech is seeing the market favor the Yellow Jackets and getting this down. Still a two score number, but most much closer to single digits than it was just about a week ago. Look, the questions are going to come up with Mike Norvell. Some are saying Ben, he lost the program in that final game of the season last year, and they haven't yet been able to introduce this new football team to the country yet. Right. So a lot of question marks out there. It's very rare you get beaty 60 points in a competitive bowl game when you run your starters out there. Tough season for Florida State. That's why that line is dropping. Last time we saw Florida State, they were an embarrassment to the state of Florida. And college football. And if I was commissioner, I might have knocked them down to D2 or even D3 for a year or two for being that embarrassment here. So there you go. I mean, it's an idiotic approach, but perhaps it is what is moving the line at this moment. It is what casuals would say in college football. Looking at a 60 point score difference in that margin between Florida State and Georgia in the Orange Bowl. But maybe it is influencing the public mind. However, this was from John Ewing, who does some great work for Bet MGM about why the line is moving. There's a lot more sharp money than there is recreational play in all the sharp money has been on Georgia Tech that is at least the thought as of this moment. Maybe that Sharp Money believes in Haynes, King, who returns at the quarterback spot. Maybe it believes in Brant Key, who has done a great job as the head coach. First, an interim head man that had a four and four record in 2022. Then the permanent head coach that led the Yellow Jackets to a bowl game and bowl victory last year over UCF. For whatever reason, the line is working again as we shared yesterday, some early plays. And when those props become available, a full breakdown later this week, let's look at the three other games that also includes an ACC school on Saturday. That's SMU. Yes, southern Methodist University, located in Dallas, Texas, is now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They are nearly a four touchdown favorite against Nevada, who named its starting quarterback, Brandon Lewis, who has been a veteran and started ten of 12 games for the Wolf Pack as the starter this year. New head coach though in Reno, it's Jeff Choate who worked the last couple of years as the defensive coordinator or co, DC, at least in Austin for Texas, has head coaching experience as the head coach of Montana State, an FCS powerhouse that, as you saw there, plays on Saturday as well and is a double digit favorite as an FCS school over the FBS New Mexico. Yeah. Rhett Lashlee you kno, Miami fame for myself here. Very good offensive coordinator and a head coach. And also here's what you like when you take a look at SMU Ben returning your starting quarterback back. Obviously your coach is still in place with that offensive scheme. Got extra work in the off season. If you notice last year on that SMU schedule, when not playing up in competition and playing like competition or lower, look at some of those scores for SMU last year. And if you're taking a look at Nevada coming off a season where they were pretty porous last year, I do believe that SMU, do you want to lay 27, 27 a half on the road? Not necessarily, but I look at that 56.5 point total and say to myself, quarterback coming back for Nevada, SMU in gear and again those scores against like competition which yes they are an SEC excuse me, an ACC team. But this isn't an ACC game against Nevada. At this point. They should be able to roll up and down that field here. Not comfortable with the four touchdowns, but if you're taking some of those props from an SMU perspective, I expect them to get into the high 30s and low 40s in this game. Completely agree. I would look at a team total for the Stangs Preston Stone back at the quarterback spot, a ton of his weapons return offensively as well, and SMU was great defensively last year. One of the best rushing defenses in the country, a top 15 scoring unit as well. Rhett Lashlee has continued the standard in Dallas. SMU has long desired to be back in a power conference. Of course, we know the pony Express, the death penalty and all of that, but it has had ramifications. SMU is now back among the power four. Last year in the a C, an undefeated run to a conference championship, an 11 win season for the Mustangs and 78% of the production from a year ago returns. That's 11th most out of 134 FBS schools in all of college football. I cannot wait to see what the Mustangs do this year, doctors, because all of the conference realignment that we will see play out in 2024 is intriguing, but it's really been between power conference schools finding a new home. With the dissolution of the PAC 12, it is really SMU as the only school going from a group of five league to a power conference. We saw that in four spots last year in the big 12 UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, BYU. Look at the conference records. It was not bright for those four new members in the big 12. It is an elevation on a week to week status for SMU, but at a 12 to 1 price with a win total of eight and a half. I look forward to seeing what SMU can do this year. At least seven wins in the last five seasons in Dallas and again quickly to Montana State. What a run the Bobcats have had. They have made the FCS postseason. Each of the past three years under Brant Vegan, who is the head coacf MSU. They are a double digit favorite as an FCS school over the FBS school in New Mexico, and I think the line is correct. They are 32 and nine under vegan in his three years in Bozeman. Yeah, New Mexico, New Mexico State, certainly on hard times. At that point you can't be. And again, you're hosting a game and you're double digit underdogs to Montana State. But just let you know, like some of those teams outside of that Division one, a level per se or the FBS level, they're really good football teams. And they can challenge some of those bottom feeders and beat them and they're supposed to be favored by double digits here. No no doubt about it. And the nightcap midnight eastern time. Get ready for some week zero behavior. Hawaii 38.5 point favorite at home against Delaware State, an FCS school. Braden Schrager, the quarterback for the rainbow Warriors is back. And he is going to throw it all around the yard PGA tour postseason. Up next here on tell. All these preseason games often just come down to a team. We'll get inside the five yard line and they go for it like nobody's ever like in the real world. The Falcons want to kick the field goal and hit this thing right down the middle. We talked about these games being close. Decided maybe a tie like that's the whole t. You talked about it Merrill. These lines are moving like not just 1 or 2 points. Like this is significant stuff. Sports rage tonight only on sports grid. We look borderline unprepared to end of the game. We didn't know how to match up. We didn't know how to switch that at half court. And when Gabby Williams got the ball hit that long three to funnel her to the basket and keep that, that is that is on the staff. But it's also the fact that we did not think we were in that or going to be in that situation. Betting above the rim only on sports grid. Hey, let's say it comes down for Matt Kuchar in the Fedex Cup fall. Let's say he doesn't make a cut and it comes down to one shot. And that's a good point. He keeps his card for the top 125 because he he didn't make the jump from I think it was 113 to 103. So he made a ten spot jump. So he's got you know 17 or let's see that was not good math. He's got about 2020. The smiley show only on sports grid. It feels like everybody's running to Houston. And that worries me a lot. The expectations for this Texans team, given where they were a couple of years ago, is kind of scary. Is it not? I would say at least looking for a number. I think the best one I founs plus 850 and then Super Bowl wise, I think it was 16 to 1. I think if they make it, they would probably be the favorites. Game time decisions only on sports grid. Live right here on the early line on Sports Grid. Our producer Joe Friso. If you could I'm not sure what our technical capabilities are at this moment. Are we good? We are good. All right. You tell me, Joe. I think we're ready to go. Keith Stewart joins us live right here from the Mountain Time Zone in Denve, Colorado, for the BMW Championship this week, the second leg of the PGA tour playoffs. That is the Fedex Cup playoffs as we keep it rolling, Keith, as always, we appreciate the time. Last week in Memphis this week out in the Rocky Mountain State. We appreciate the time here on the Early Line. Ben. It is a beautiful morning out here in Colorado for the BMW Championship. Let's talk a little golf. We got two weeks to go right right now BMW 50 guys I think we're Keith. Our apologies I believe we're having a couple of technical difficulties here on the early line on this Tuesday. Just keep us abreast as we try to get this thing rolling. All right? We'll keep firing through. Keith, let's look back at Memphis last week in the Saint Jude Championship. Before we go forward to this week in the BMW Championship, the opening leg of the Fedex Cup playoffs, it wasn't easy for Hideki Matsuyama on Sunday, but he did hold on to win the Saint Jude Championship to start off the Fedex Cup postseason. What did you make of Fedex performance last week in Memphis? I tell you what, Ben Hideki, it was really it it was really something because you have to consider how he started his week, the story surrounding him and his team, the fact that he didn't have his regular caddie there, the fact that he didn't have his coach there because they had got robbed over in London when they had stopped over from Paris, heading to Memphis, and those guys lost their visas and their passports in order to come to America. So Hideki, with a new caddie, goes out and he wins and holds on. On Sunday, an impressive performance. And you know what? A good course fit and a good course fit again this week. We've seen a lot of multiple winners over the years in the playoffs. I think Hideki is still pretty alive this week, guys. Keith, the top 50 move on here to the advance to the next round. But let me take a look at some of the guys that didn't finish there, particularly in Rory McIlroy. Back to back 74 on the weekend. What happened to his game and not advancing? Well that's an upset right there doctors. How about the bottom of that leaderboard. You got T 68. You got two guys Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. And then 70th place Max Homa. I mean three huge names. And these guys are well out of form I don't see how they you know, they even get it back. I mean I was there all week. Rory was hitting the driver everywhere. It was one of the worst ball striking weeks of his career. And I just don't see how he flips a switch, which is a shame, because out here at Castle Pines, par 72, 8130 yards on the scorecard, it's a perfect fit for Rory Jack Nicklaus golf course. He loves those two. But man, I tell you, it looked rough last week. And not not so much. Just the game, Donnie. It was his body language. He looked like he was just done for the year. He actually looks like he's been done since Pinehurst, and he walked out of that scorer's tent and didn't want to talk to the media anymore. I think Rory needs a reset, boys. A difficult performance in Memphis, but it should be stated that Rory McIlroy is still there at the BMW Championship. He ranks fifth in the Fedex Cup standings, did enter the postseason at third overall. Scottie Scheffler still in front. Hideki Matsuyama makes the big move up the board to number three in the Fedex Cup standings, and Xander Schauffele, the two time major champion this year, checks in at number two. So as we see these odd, this is not for this week's event at the BMW Championship, but just the Fedex Cup winner. When all is said and done. Keith, how do you evaluate these odds at the moment? Well Scotty is for sure still the man to beat. You can't forget guys that next week when we take the top 30 to the Tour Championship, we have that staggered start. So Scotty is not only going to be in first place, but he's going to get a couple extra strokes on the field. You know, last week he wasn't great with the putter, but everything else was. He finished his tee for this week. He's coming to a place where we're not on Bermuda greens anymore. So I feel like the putter is going to work a little bit better. But it's a ball striker's Paradise. You have to cover the fact that I'm at 6400ft of elevation here at Castle Pines Golf Club, there's a huge adjustment to be made 7.5% of carry. So that means when Donnie's hitting his driver 300 out here, he's hitting it 23. So all of a sudden, that 8100 yard golf course gets down to 7500 yards for par fives. This is the perfect spot for Xander and Scotty. I think Scotty still easily maintains his lead going in and with a brand new redesigned East Lake, I'm not sure that Xander has as much of an advantage over Scotty like he would anyone else. We take a look at the FanDuel sports book here for the odds for this weekend's BMW Championship. No stranger to Scottie Scheffler to plus 330 price, followed by Xander Schauffele at plus 550. But how about this Rory McIlroy third in line at a 12 to 1 price, followed by Morikawa, Cantlay and Matsuyama. Give us some looks there at the top of the leaderboard for this weekend here Keith I think the big two are really impressive. You just go to Xander. He won at Valhalla, the PGA Championship, his first major of his career and the first major of his two. This year. That's a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, big golf course, just like this one that I'm at this week. And of course, you have Scotty, who's still striking the ball. Unbelievably, he doesn't like the putt on Bermuda. We're back on Bentgrass greens. I feel like Scotty is going to have a little bit of a bounce back. Both of those guys are going to be a huge part of this conversation. I won't bet them at single odds. I'll have to wait till the live market. I did bet Scotty on Sunday morning in Memphis when he was seven back, because he was over 10 to 1. I mean, I'm betting Scotty anytime live he goes over 10 to 1 and he's not in a jail cell. Guys, I mean, he is that good and he's that impressive. So at the end of the day, I think that either one of those guys, they're a live bet play. I would not bet them pre-tournament at 6 or 3 to one. Scottie Scheffler still finishing in fourth in Memphis in the opening leg of the Fedex Cup playoffs, Sandra Schauffele firing a seven under in his final round on Sunday. Keith, the top 30, make it to Atlanta and East Lake for the Tour Championship for the guys on the horizon of getting to the third and final stop in the Fedex Cup playoffs, give us some names to pay attention to this week out in Denver. All right. My early leans on the early line Viktor Hovland. He's back from the dead. He won the BMW last year. He was great last week. Top five in approach top five off the tee. And we know the guy can score. And the other guy is a hometown hero Wyndham Clark. Yes he's from Denver. If you're talking about a guy who knows all about altitude adjustments, here's your guy. He played very well last week T7 there at the Saint Jude. So I love Wyndham Clark. The bombs it off the tee and he'll understand about these greens Jack Nicklaus all sorts of levels. It's going to be one of those complicated courses to scor. Keith Stewart we appreciate the time. Enjoy the week at altitude. More on the early line up next. These preseason games often just come down to a team. We'll get inside the five yard line and they go for it like nobody's ever. Like in the real world, the Falcons want to kick the field goal and hit this thing right down the middle. We talked about these games being close. Decided maybe a tie like that's the whole thing. You talked about it Merrill. These lines are moving like not just 1 or 2 points like this is significant stuff. Sports rage tonight only on sports grid. We look borderline unprepared to enter the game. We didn't know how to match up. We didn't know how to switch that at half court. And when Gabby Williams got the ball hit that long three to funnel her to the basket and keep that, that is that is on the staff. But it's also in the fact that we did not think we were in that or going to be in that situation above the rim only on sports grid. Hey, let's say it comes down for Matt Kuchar in the Fedex Cup ball. Let's say he doesn't make a cut and it comes down to one shot. And that's a good point. And he keeps his card for the top 125. Because he he did make the jump from I think it was 113 to 103. So he made a ten spot jump. So he's got you know 17 or let's see that was not good math. He's got about 2020. The Smiley show only on sports Grid. It feels like everybody's running to Houston. And that worries me a lot. The expectations for this Texans team, given where they were a couple of years ago, is kind of scary. Is it not? I would say at least looking for a number. I think the best one I found was plus 850 and then Super Bowl wise, I think it was 16 to I think if they make it, they would probably be the favorites. Game time decisions only on sports grid. Another edition of Win Total Tuesday live right here on a Tuesday on the early line on sports grid and all across that space Grizz network. He is Donny right side I am Ben Stevens. Our focus on this Tuesday now and for the second half hour of this second hour on t e l is the NFC West. So let's set the stage right here by looking at the four teams in this division. The San Francisco 49 ers a -190 favorite to win the divisional crown once again as they did a season ago. And the season prior to that. Looking for three consecutive divisional championships in 2024. The second best price of any team to win any of the eight divisions around the National Football League, only the Chiefs have a better price to win the A, F C West at -230, but just because San Francisco is such a strong favorite to win the divisional title does not mean we are not expecting some postseason contenders from the rest of this crew. The LA Rams, a playoff team once again, a season ago, win total is eight and a half minus or plus four minus. Well, I don't even know what I'm looking at. Plus 330 here. Excuse me to win the NFC West this year around Seattle at 7 to 1. And the Arizona Cardinals yes a long price to win the NFC West at 13 to 1. But still maybe they may be able to make some noise within the division. And their overall record doctors overall you look at the NFC West big picture. What's your first thought. It's the Niners I mean that's the first thougt that comes to mind. They should win this division. But again it is a football season. You're going to have injuries other teams are going to step up and also just take a look at the quarterbacks here right. Brock Purdy for the 40 Niners playing for a contract this season. We expect big things from him Los Angeles Rams Matthew Stafford veteran guy. We thought he might have been out of gas just 2 or 3 years ago, but looks like revived in that offense. Gets a couple of good young wide receivers and away he goes. But starting the year maybe with some hamstring injuries on an already banged up guy, we know how that typically s out in some equations here. The Seattle Seahawks Geno Smith. We'll see if he can still find his way and be a competent quarterback. But maybe the biggest question mark is the Arizona Cardinals. And Kyler Murray from what we're hearing is and here's what I liked about last year, Ben, we knew when he got injured that season wasn't going anywhere. Right. But you wanted to see him get back late in the season. We thought maybe it was going to be, hey, play and see if we can trade you. If you're healthy enough. But he played his way back into the starting lineup, which gave you that chance to see him on the field and get those rehabs. The rehab is not the right word, but almost like rehab snaps, if you will, saying, you know what, let me just get some plays here before I hit my off season and head into it. Now we're looking at maybe we're finding out the Kyler Murray of old, the quickness, the speed is back, which is so hard to defend during a National Football League season. On a week to week basis. You see it week to week there with the Baltimore Ravens, those guys that can get out of the pocket, you're saying, okay, Tuesday, put in the game plan Wednesday, Thursday and you see him Sunday. Then you go back to a pocket quarterback the following week. But you are expecting big things out of Marvin Harrison. So I guess my wild card to watch out for would be the Cardinals, because if we can get a good version of Kyler Murray, why can't they compete with the Seahawks and the Rams here? Ben. Yeah. Donny I think it's a really good point. Right. And I think it speaks to the strength of this division overall Arizona is 13 to 1 not expected by the oddsmakers to win the NFC West this year. The NFC favorites in San Francisco at a 3 to 1 price spearhead this division. The 40 Niners are a co favorite alongside Kansas City to win Super Bowl 59 at a 6 to 1 number. When those are the expectations in the odds outlook for a team atop your division, it's hard to think of actually contending for a divisional crown, but Arizona has a win total of seven and a half. And yes, the under has the hefty juice at -152. But it goes to show you the flaw in this division is not all that low. When you look at the Rams eight and a half is the win total for LA over heavily juiced for Seattle seven and a half. The win total over heavily juiced. I think one of the biggest wild cards is actually Seattle, and not so much the cards, but I think it overall speaks to how good this division can be and not a cakewalk by any means. For the San Francisco 40 niners, a lot of challenging pieces to get in the way of the Niners this year. But we'll talk about San Francisco up next. And until otherwise proven, the 40 niners should be that heavy odds on favorite to win the NFC West. Exactly. And we'll get to the points where you know what showing up in winning a Super Bowl and getting that mojo back the next season usually works out well. Showing up to the Super Bowl and taking a loss. Usually that lingering hangover tends to drift into the next season. We'll see if that happens for the 40 Niners, but it should be an entertaining West with now you're looking at typically it's like, you know Seahawks can be good maybe with the Rams. But the Arizona Cardinals the bottom feeders if you're the bottom feeders winning seven games that means you got a competitive division which also means if you're hunting for home field advantage in the NFL playoffs and you have no layups in your division, that makes things even tougher. On the San Francisco 40 Niners. The 40 Niners are no stranger to postseason contention and deep runs in the playoffs, but will it result in a Lombardi Trophy? Finally, this year we'll talk about it. Up next on the early line. These preseason games often just come down to a team will get inside the five yard line and they go for it like nobody's ever like in the real world, the Falcons want to kick the field goal and hit this thing right down the middle. We talk about these games being close, decided maybe a tie like that's the whole thingu talked about it Merrill. These lines are moving like not just 1 or 2 points like this is significant stuff. Sports rage tonight only on sports grid. We look borderline unprepared to end of the game. We didn't know how to match up. We didn't know how to switch that at half court. And when Gabby Williams got the ball hit that long three to funnel her to the basket and keep that, that is that is on the staff. But it's also in the fact that we did not think we were in that or going to be in that situation above the rim only on sports grid. Hey, let's say it comes down for Matt Kuchar in the Fedex Cup ball. Let's say he doesn't make a cut and it comes down to one shot. And that's a good point. And he keeps his card for the top 125. Because he he didn't make the jump from I think it was 113 to 103. So he made a ten spot jump. So he's got you know 17 or let's see that was not good math. He's got about 2020. The smiley show only on sports Grid. It feels like everybody's running to Houston. And that worries me a lot. The expectations for this Texans team, given where they were a couple of years ago, is kind of scary. Is it not? I was at least looking for a number. I think the best one I found was plus 850 and then Superl wise, I think it was 16 to 1. I think if they make it, they would probably be the favorites. Game time decisions only on sports grid. We're talking NFC West football right here on the early line. And we cannot wait obviously for the first week of the NFL season to really hit the ground running. And the San Francisco 49 ers that we're going to focus on right now. They go up against the Jets night. Number one I believe it's a Monday Night Football game which would be absolutely fantastic to watch that play out. Now if we are taking a look at the 40 niners expectations are high. They're one of the most talented teams in the NFL. But question marks are going to arise as you see that schedule up there. Certainly when you finish at the top of your division and one of the better teams in football, typically you get a first place schedule that's supposed to be much harder than a second, third or fourth place. We get that, but we think on a week to week basis the 40 niners are going to be favored a heck of a lot more than they're underdogs, right? What, maybe three four games maximum on the road if that's even possible that they will be dogs for. But let's take a look at the San Francisco 40 niners entering into the season. Because on paper if everybody is there week number one and healthy, this team probably should win the NFC. But we have question marks starting at left tackle Trent Williams. He wants more money. He hasn't practiced yet here Brandon Aiyuk, who was thought to be possibly on the trade block with a deal already worked out with multiple teams with draft compensation and also player compensation, looks like he's probably going to stay with the 40 Niners, but he hasn't practiced yet. Christian McCaffrey, you're all world running back that you re-upped with an extension in the off season for big money because of how talented and how well he's produced for you. Already injured with a calf injury to start the season now he should be ready by week number one. Isaac, if he signs, he should be there. Week number one Trent Williams, the same thing. But you're missing a lot of time in training camp to bond with those players to get in form for game number one, because it's not as if you have a layup like, hey, the Carolina Panthers are coming to town week number one. No, it's the New York Jets, one of the more talented teams in the country. And also from the National Football League perspective, if you have a healthy Aaron Rodgers, that game is going to be interesting and so much fun to watch. But if you are looking at the Niners outlook on the season itself, if we're trying to make the playoffs, yes, they're going to do that at a minus four 20 price. If you're going to have a win total, it's 11.5. It should be that high. And keep in mind 12 and four back in the day was a sensational record. Now you have the 17th game. So 12 and five certainly doable for a team as talented as the San Francisco 40 niners. And to win the NFC it's at a 3 to 1 price. Now Ben and I were talking before the break on the 40 niners because there is something to this. A team that has woa super Bowl gets the lift in that off season into next year where the defending champions let's do it again. But the team that lost looks like it. And the way the 40 Niners lost the Super Bowl. We should have had that. Maybe that lags into the off season. Maybe that lags into training camp and needed a wake up call early in the season. We'll find out if that takes place, but overall, that defense should still be really good. Fluid and bolts are rushing the pocket. You take a look at on the opposite sides. For the cornerbacks, they have a solid secondary. Now the question mark to me for the San Francisco 40 niners coming into the season is that offensive line and how good it's going to be, because let's just say Trent Williams is still holding out into the season. You get the Jets week number one. That is a really good defense here. And we always know if you can't protect the quarterback, that offense won't be able to surgically strike down the field like we're used to here with a Shanahan system. But if you are being optimistic and let's just say the 40 Niners show up week number one, Deebo Samuel on one side, Brandon Aiyuk on the other. You take a look at the tight end. It's George Kittle. Brock Purdy who's a very good quarterback. And Christian McCaffrey maybe the best overall running back in the sport at this time. That's kind of wild to line up. So Ben as we're looking at the 40 niners there's not a lot to dislike. But if you are starting to poke holes in this team it comes from losing a Super Bowl and then having maybe not your best players in the lineup for week number one dollars. It's such an interesting point about San Francisco because talent wise, on paper, with the consistency we have seen out of the 40 niners, the last half decade in the National Football League, everything should be pointing up in a positive manner for the Niners entering 2024. Once again, I will never forget seeing San Francisco lose its second Super Bowl to the Chiefs in the last five years and still somehow, some way, when the markets became available early for 2024 NFL campaign, San Francisco was favored to win Super Bowl 59 in front in front of Kansas City, a 40 Niners team that was favored in all 20 games, including Super Bowl 58 last season in Las Vegas. The oddsmakers love the 40 niners, and they are justified in thinking so. San Francisco Two Super Bowl appearances in the last five years four NFC Championship Game appearances in the last five years, and they have won the division two consecutive years in the NFC West. All four times they have reached the NFC title game. They have won double digit games three of those four times over their win total that they enter this year with at 11.5, there was a lot to like about the 40 niners and yet whether it's the pessimism with some of the roster maneuvers that have happened this offseason, at least the guys that are not there at this moment, Brandon Aiyuk or Trent Williams or just the lack of Super Bowl winning pedigree, we have seen out of the 40 Niners in the last three decades. Something holds me back from fully buying in, or at least betting the short numbers on San Fran entering a new NFL season. Yeah, and there is something to be said about that, because look, injuries are going to happen during the season. Devastating injuries to the 40 niners to any other team that's going to derail the season. We get that. But we can only play with the deck that we're looking forward to coming into the season. So if you are putting into perspective of the NFC West as a whole, like I understand like McVay is a very good coach and Matthew Stafford is a very good quarterback. But they're not nearly as talented overall as the San Francisco 40 Niners. Now granted you got to play the 40 niners away. But you get the 40 niners at home. And as I talked about also the Arizona Cardinals I think are going to be much improved from what you saw last year. Because why does Kyler Murray being back at a healthy level makes for a dynamic offense. And you drop in one of the best young wide receivers of the past 15 years that we've probably seen in college football, that is going to help. And the Seattle Seahawks are always tough, but I like the move from Pete Carroll to getting a new head coach and defensive minded guy that maybe that defense is going to spring into action and be even better than it was last year. So there are a lot of counterparts here and also been talking about how much fun that opening game is going to be against the New York Jets, where we're sayio ourselves, what happens if McCaffrey isn't 100% for that game or something happens with Brandon Aiyuk where things haven't gotten worked out, or maybe just not worked out four days before the game? The same thing with Trent Williams. Those guys haven't been the practice all season long. Just being dropped back in now. Granted, same team, same locker room, same house. You're not moving. Same playbook I understand it, but there's something about getting those hundreds of reps in the off season, which includes the training camp era that you need to be there before game number one. So I'm high on the 40 Niners. Do I think they win the NFC? They probably do. But there's not one of those things where you're entering the season like you know what, they're untouchable at this point. They should be able to run away with it. You know I talk about Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes. Hey who's on that team. Is Patrick Mahomes there. Yeah they're going to win the AFC. It's obviously not to that level in San Francisco. Even though I thought they should have beat Kansas City last year in the Super Bowl. We'll see how it plays out this year. But I'm pretty high on the Niners to say the least. You know, it's really interesting. Doctors. We give the Cowboys a lot of flak and rightfully so. They won their last Lombardi Trophy in 1995. They have not even reached the NFC title game in the 28 NFL seasons since that point. San Francisco last won a Lombardi Trophy in 1994. Of course, the story of the NFC in the 80s and the 90s was that rivalry between the Cowboys and the 40 Niners. San Francisco last won a Super Bowl in 1994. Now, three decades ago, they have reached the NFC Championship game eight times. So that's much better than Dallas. They have played for three Lombardi Trophies, but they have come up short since that last Lombardi Trophy in 1994. It is not the same failure to that certain level that we have seen out of Dallas, but San Francisco has not been atop the mountain top in the National Football League. In 30 years. That is always the hope for the 40 niners entering this season. Am I going to buy into that idea? I'm not entirely sure, but San Francisco's win total of 11.5 or the -190 price to win the NFC West, or the strongest number at this mot to even see the postseason around the National Football League at minus five 20. That I do believe in, San Francisco will have another golden opportunity this year. It's just a question on if they can capitalize on like a season ago. Exactly. Correct. And we might know game number one how for real the 40 Niners can be we understand it's a long season. But if they beat the Jets here and beat them in convincing fashion like a touchdown or more, watch out for the Niners. But something in me says, you know what? The Jets show up and able to knock out the 40 Niners. How much fun it will be on that Tuesday morning to talk about the New York Jets and where they're going this season. And same thing with the Niners elsewhere around the NFC West next. These preseason games often just come down to a team. We'll get inside the five yard line and they go for it like nobody's ever. Like in the real world, the Falcons want to kick the field goal and hit this thing right down the middle. We talk about these games being close, decided maybe a tie like that's the whole thingu talked about it Merrill. These lines are moving like not just 1 or 2 points. Like this is significant stuff. Sports rage tonight only on sports grid. We look borderline unprepared to enter the game. We didn't know how to match up. We didn't know how to switch that at half court. And when Gabby Williams got the ball hit that long three to funnel her to the basket and keep that, that is that is on the staff. But it's also the fact that we did not think we were in that or going to be in that situation above the rim only on sports grid. Hey, let's say it comes down for Matt Kuchar in the Fedex Cup fall. Let's say he doesn't make a cut and it comes down to one shot. And that's a good point. And he keeps his card for the top 125. Because he he didn't make the jump from I think it was 113 to 103. So he made a ten spot jump. So he's got you know 17 or let's see that was not good math. He's got about 2020. The Smiley Show only on Sports grid. It feels like everybody's running to Houston. And that worries me a lot. The expectations for this Texans team given where they were a couple of years ago, is kind of scary. Is it not? I would say at least looking for a number. I think the best one I found was plus 850 and then Superl wise I think it was 16 to 1. I think if they make it, they would probably be the favorites. Game time decisions only on sports grid. One final point on the 40 niners before we move elsewhere on win total Tuesday around the NFC West division. There are three games right now for the regular season where the 40 Niners have a price and a spread associated with it. The week one opener at home in Santa Clara Monday night Football to end out week one against Aaron Rodgers in the New York Jets. The 40 Niners at five and a half point. Favorite week seven. They host Kansas City in the Super Bowl 58 rematch between the two. Super Bowl9 Co-favorites San Francisco a short 1.5. favorite, but still the home favorite against KC. And then the week following against the Dallas Cowboys, a four and a half point favorite against Dallas. All of that to say, Donny, that much like last year when the 40 Niners were favored in all 20 games, including the Super Bowl 58 defeat in Vegas to Kansas City, I expect the 40 Niners to be favored in all in each and every game the Niners play this season. Yeah just about. And also you look at that later in the season Ben. Right. Right around like Thanksgiving time you play at the green Bay Packers. A week later you're at the Buffalo Bills. Then you get that week later at home but is against the beas but also a rookie quarterback. That's had multiple starts under his belt, maybe careening towards the playoffs there. Then you take on a divisional opponent, the Rams. Then you go on the road to take on the Dolphins, then home against the Detroit Lions. Like we're going to know what this team is made of. Obviously early with game number one with the Jets. But I'm really looking forward to that mid November to late December stretch here to see what the 40 niners still have left in the tank. So when we say parity really means business in the NFL, it's true. First place team gets that first place schedule and you're seeing some quality opponents on that list. Yeah no doubt about it. Now let's go elsewhere in the NFC West. The Los Angeles Rams a playoff team, a double digit win team a season ago because Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp were healthy in the emergence of Puka Nacua as well. Can the Rams replicate that success once again? The win total is eight and a half, albeit the over does have the heavy juice. In fact, LA has moved slightly in front of Chicago for the seventh best playoff price of NFC teams. What does that mean? Of course, there are seven teams that now make the postseason in each conference. The Rams, based on the oddsmakers, would have that slight edge over the bears. Donny what is your expectation for Los Angeles in 2024? It's a tough one for me, and not to say I don't think they can be a good football team. Like, no, not even a devil's advocate needed here. Let's just say they're all healthy, which includes Matthew Stafford all the way through for 17 games. That's a playoff football team. And the Rams that might even be able to change the San Francisco excuse me challenge. The San Francisco 40 niners. But the same way I'm talking about the Niners, who I do think they have a quality football season and quite frankly, maybe the most talented, but they're entering the season with a lot of question marks, some through injury, which is Christian McCaffrey and some through players holding out. You never want to get those that animosity like behind the scenes. They don't respect me. They don't. We still don't know what's going to happen with Brandon Aiyuk. But again talking about their left tackle Trent Williams, we expect him to be back in camp. Let's just say everything goes right for the 40 niners and Matthew Stafford's hamstring injury. Bent is not an issue. Week number one and moving forward, if you have a health. And again Puka Nacua is banged up in training camp as well. Let's just say you get to the starting gate healthy. Matthew Stafford hamstring is fine. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp and Williams that like you have the tendency here with Sean McVay to have a high octane ready to rock offense which is half the battle in the NFL. It is a younger defense and you lose Aaron Donald I understand that. But I'm not talking about the Rams on the stage of they can make a run to the Super Bowl. The expectations for me are competitive team week to week. When it's all said and done, three games left in the regular season, they're still vying for a playoff position and maybe it even is for the NFC West. But there's a lot of question marks right now for me on an aging quarterback and a team that might not be as talented overall as the San Francisco 40 Niners. That's who I head into the season with the Los Angeles Ram. Yeah, the Rams are a very compelling team. Seven years under Sean McVay, still regarded and rightfully so, as one of the best head coaches in the National Football League. They have gone over eight and a half wins, winning at least nine games in six of the seven years. Double digit wins in five of those seven. They won a Super Bowl on home turf inside SoFi to end out 2021. But then injuries. A huge story of the 2022 campaign Matthew Stafford injured, Cooper Kupp injured. They were just five and 12 last year. Donny I expected positive regression. If health could be maintained for a team that won a Super Bowl the year prior to get back to things in 2023, the win total worked against me. I bet the over of six and a half it closed at five and a half. The oddsmakers not overly optimistic on Los Angeles of course. They went ten and seven and earned a playoff spot. You would have to assume Matthew Stafford will be healthy, but there are questions because of where he is in his career and the injury concerns from 2022. I still believe in this. Rams team. I think they're going to be a winning football team. I think they will contend for a playoff spot more than likely in a wild card scenario around the NFC. I still expect the Rams to be a postseason team come 2024. And how about the Seattle Seahawks new head coach and Mike McDonald? Of course, it is no longer the Pete Carroll era up in the Pacific Northwest. 14 seasons under the man that loved to chew some gum, they now go to Baltimore's former defensive coordinator in Mike McDonald, seven and a half the win total for the Hawks. The over has the juice again, flirting with . Do you think that's the reality for Seattle this season? I do think it is the reality. And also one of my favorite wide receiving cores in the NFL by a long shot man Lockett Smith and Metcalf I mean three dominant wide receivers. If you can just get time in the pocket. The reason I bring that up is it's not really a knock on Geno Smith. He's an average quarterback that has the tendency to sometimes play above average. And that's what you're looking for. Give me a quarterback. Top 15in the NFL. Top 20 with a decent defense. And away you go. You'll probably make the playoffs. But here's where the question marks pop up Connor Williams solid center. That's going to be a good benchmark for them this season. But outside of that, there are a lot of questions at guard and at tackle. And if you're having those issues, you know how that usually turns out. That means you can't protect the quarterback. The wide receivers can't run the routes and the running game with two quality running backs in the backfield. If you're just looking from a skill position layout, I love the Seattle Seahawks, but we know where games are won and lost. It's in the trenches. That's my only knock on the Seahawks, but I do expect them again to be competent on a week to week basis. Do I think they win that division? Ben? Probably not. But in the last couple weeks of the season they're fighting for a playoff spot. I think we have them slotted appropriately here. They won nine games each of the past two years. In 14 seasons under Pete Carroll, only less than seven and a half wins three times. That means 11 times over seven and a half in the last decade and a half, virtually up in the northwest in the three times under seven and a half, never less than seven, there has been consistent success in Seattle. Will a contender continue under Mike McDonald? We'll continue the conversation up next. These preseason games often just come down to a team. We'll get inside the five yard line and they go for it like nobody's ever. Like in the real world, the Falcons want to kick the field goal and hit this thing right down the middle. We talk about these games close. Decided maybe a tie like that's the whole thing. You talked about it Merrill. These lines are moving like not just 1 or 2 points. Like this is significant stuff. Sports rage tonight only on sports grid. We look borderline unprepatch thatf Williams got the ball hit that lonto the basket and ke fact that we did not think we were that or going to te the rim only on sports grid. Hey, let's say it comes to n spot jump. So he's got you know 17 or let's see that was not good math. He's got about 2020. The smiley show only on sports Grid. It feels like everybody's running to Houston. And that worries me a lot. The expectations for this Texans team, given where they were a couple of years ago, is kind of scary. Is it not? I would say at least looking for a number. I think the best one I found was plus 850 and then Super Bowl wisI think it was 16 to 1. I think if they make it, they would probably be the favorites. Game time decisions only on sports grid. The Seattle Seahawks have a win total of seven and a half. The over has the juice. The Arizona Cardinals have a win total of seven and a half as well, albeit the under juiced. I think as we have said Donny, it speaks to the overall quality within the NFC West. This division is no cakewal. Each and every time you play your divisional mates. How does it impact the overall records for all four of these clubs? This season? Seattle is a compelling team under Mike McDonald. Of course. The defensive coordinator in Baltimore under John Harbaugh after he worked under Jim as Michigan's d c the years prior. He turned Baltimore into one of the best defenses in the national football League each of the past two years. He will hope to reinvigorate the defensive side of the ball. Up in Seattle. Jonathan Gannon enters his second year as the head coach in Arizona. Not much was expected. A season ago. The win total four and a half the under had the juice. The Cardinals had the lowest win total entering 2023. Their franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray might miss the entirety of the year. At least that was the discussion he came back to play eight games. The Cardinals won a few of those. They ended up four and 13 a season ago, and although the overall win loss record nothing stellar to write home about for Jonathan Gannon in his rookie campaign as the head man in the desert, they were booked as an underdog. Donnie were the cards in all 17 games a season ago. They were nine and eight against the spread, much more competitive than anybody anticipated around the national football League. How does competition carry over to wins and losses in 2024? Jonathan Gannon is a defensive coordinator. He's going to have to have to have that defense playing good football. Why? Because it just doesn't have the playmakers like so many othr teams, particularly in the NFC West, have on defense. It's not a good secondary quite frankly. That's being nice. They're really a bad secondary pass rushing ability here. Questionable at best. Average linebackers okay. Now let's move it over to the offense for the Arizona Cardinals. Thank goodness they have Kyler Murray who coming off the knee injury last year took him some time to get back into the NFL games and getting it under his belt right now you head into the off season, he should be back up to the speed we've always seen Kyler Murray. He's going to need it because the offensive line been flat out stinks. So I find myself looking at the Arizona Cardinals. Is it one of those teams that I want to bet on a week to week basis to say, let's just say they can cover a spread and or just win a football game? Not necessarily, but my goodness, if this isn't one of these teams that you're going to tee up on a week to week basis to say, I want quarterback props on the opposite team quarterback, excuse me, wide receiver, props and running back props to the opposite team. Yes. And also from an offensive perspective passing the football for the Cardinals. I love James Conner, but how many times are we going to be running in the fourth quarter when we're losing football games? You know, I do love in that offense. It's going to be Marvin Harrison Jr and Trey McBride. That tight end. McBride I mean that guy is a man child and he's going to get a ton of targets this season. So from a betting perspective, once again, I'm not sure if I'm taking the spreads essentially on the Arizona Cardinals for good or bad. But if you want to look at totals and team totals against, this might be your landing spot right here, because I expect Kyler Murray to put up decent numbers because they're going to be losing football games. The same thing with the tight end, the wide receiver, but more importantly, the defense. They're going to give up a lot of points. Man, this is one of those teams you need to be circling on a week to week basis to get some money back on. It's one of my favorite things though, Donny, when you look for positive growth among a football team, for instance, take Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions in his rookie year in 2021, they were expected to win about three games. They were an underdog in all 17. They were the best cover team in the national football League that season. They were 11 five and one against the spread Arizona, an underdog in all 17 last year, not the number. And this is for me, a guy that had an alternate win total under three and a half for the Cardinals, eight games started for Kyler Murray. Arizona won three of those eight, so three of the four wins came with Kyler back at the quarterback spot. But to Donny's point, keep an eye on the totals for the cards early this year. In the eight starts that Kyler Murray made a season ago, six of the eight games featured 40 or more points, all eight featured at least 30 for Arizona is a 6.5. underdog for their season opener on the road in Buffalo, but it's part of the reason, Donny, that I think you can look at either points out of Arizona better play out of Arizona, or at Marvin Harrison Jr plus 654 to win Offensive Rookie of the year to lead all rookie wide receivers. It is a plus 150 price in terms of yardage 1050 and a hook. That is his season long receiving yards prop that you would expect for the fourth overall pick to make an immediate impact, with Kyler Murray delivering him the football. I do not think Arizona makes the postseason. I do not think the Cardinals can contend for that playoff spot, but I do think they will be able to keep games competitive and make the NFC West all that much more difficult. Hour three comes your way up next live right here on this Tuesday. On