SEC Week One Predictions, Florida Gators vs Miami, Billy Napier vs Mario Cristobal - SEC Squad

can LSU take it to USC is Georgia really going to blast Clemson by multiple scores there's a ton to look at in the sec's opening weekend time to get the squad together you are locked on SEC your daily podcast on the Southeastern Conference part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day what's up everybody welcome into Today's show today's episode is presented by 5H Hour Energy fixes tired fast with zero sugar and a convenient portable size it's the perfect pickme up for getting stuff done go to 5our energy.com use our promo code locked on CFB get 20% off your order that offer only valid until September 30th on one order again cannot be used with other promotions go to 5our energy.com today welcome in everybody it's our SEC Squad so sit back relax grab your favorite beverage and join us as we get you ready for week one of the CC which should be a wild week and we welcome in our panel of guests as they join us we've got Zack blackerby host of lockon Auburn Brandon Olsen host of locked on Gator Steven Willis host of locked on Miss John Miller locked on missou Jay Smith locked on Sooners Matt musona locked on LSU Jonathan Davis locked on Longhorns Clint chamblin locked on bulldogs and Chris maror host of locked on Gamecocks my goodness we have got a full house today and plenty to discuss gentlemen how are you great great all at once awesome yeah that's what I wanted in a uh a a full panel response all right guys we are we are going to jump into it and make some predictions just what's a prediction about your team and the game they're playing this weekend we're not asking for scores we're just give me a prediction of something that's gonna happen in your game this weekend Zach let's start with auburn because they got a cupcake yeah yeah hosting Alabama A&M not Payton Thorne starts his Heisman run no I'm kidding I'm kidding I I think we feel uh Hope on the planes for the first time in several years I think we get a feeling of hope uh what could look like a competent modernday college football offense returning to the ples Brandon olssen Florida Gators they got dead man walking and Billy Napier what's the vibe this weekend that the Florida Gator are going to start this year with a ranked win that that's they going to start off one and0 against top 25 teams who have thought would certainly be a uh A A huge feather in his cap knowing what's coming on the back end of shake your head know all you want boys shake your head know all you want that's fine you'll find out I got coin on that let's go you'll find out stepen Willis big year for Lan keff and the old Miss Rebels preseason ranked as high as they've ever been and man oh man a tough one against Ferman out of the gates yeah it's going to be great it's going actually going to really be great for the fan base because they get to see that number one transfer class on the field I do not think it's going to be a very tough game but it should be a whole lot of fun to see the RS because oh they haven't seen him since Penn State John Miller quick thought missou they get a a Thursday night opener against a cupcake but Eli drinkwitz the company they're feeling really good preseason number 11 and number 10's already taking a na that's right yeah we move up a spot haven't even played a game you got to love that but the thing with Missouri in week one I think Missouri has one of the best offenses in the country or it will in 2024 but they don't run at warp speed so this 47 and 1 half point spread let's not get too far ahead of ourselves I think Missouri wins easily but not by that much so take that advice for what you will maror over there in Colombia it's Old Dominion um couldn't even point out where Old Dominion is on a map but the Lenor sellers sellers error gets underway they're the monarchs so I'm pretty sure they are over in England but I could be wrong about that I haven't done a ton of research this week um no I I think the one thing I'm looking forward to the most outside of Lenor Stell is that defensive line and the edge rushers I think it's a it's a team it's a unit that struggled a lot last year but Old Dominion gave up like 61 or 63 sacks year ago so they might be able to reach like a quarter of their season output a year ago in game one it's gonna be uh interesting to see how good Lenor sellers is for the Gamecocks uh Clint man Georgia they just uh they're going to keep this train rolling and uh they get a tough opponent in Clemson and yet they are been sitting about two touchdown favorites over them and a really good Clemson team yeah that's right I think the thing we're looking forward to is Georgia regaining the defense that we had before the last two years we slipped last year according to Kirby standards I think we're going to see back to what two three four years ago defense was like for Georgia be excited for that Clemson doesn't have the offense that they should be having so I think this going to be a good time for Bulldogs fans everywhere to see the new and improved defense that Kirby Smart has yeah it's it's uh but you know they give up like 20 something points a game and suddenly they were slipping defensively there at Georgia Jonathan Longhorns they get Colorado State not the toughest opponent to open up with but a good kind of easy way to start the season one and0 yeah a couple bold predictions I don't think Texas will go to double overtime with Colorado State like Colorado and Deion Sanders did last year and the most popular player on the team Arch maning will score his first touchdown in a Texas Jersey this Saturday couple Bowl predictions Texas will have a lot of fun on the field in DKR this weekend before things get tough next weekend at Michigan Matt musona LSU I've got a prediction uh this will be one of the rare cities where the LSU faithful will not drink the city dry before the game starts maybe not the city but the stadium I wouldn't rule that out um yeah I think uh for all the talk about Garrett nus Meer and the receivers I think LSU is going to run the ball more than they throw it this weekend uh you want to protect a bad defense and try to get them off to a good start you run behind your your big very talented offensive line I think LSU tries to short in the game and they run it a lot on Sunday night yeah everybody expecting a a shootout there with certainly be uh Lincoln Riley wouldn't like that if elu plays keep away and just eats the clock and runs the ball under uh Jay Smith Oklahoma they got a Friday night Affair against Temple not the greatest opponent but first first time we're going to see that SEC logo on the field at Oklahoma absolutely so from me I'm expecting a couple of things one the defense to score more points than temple in this game since you know that's the one thing it's the main focus of shout out to Brent vinales trying to pull off what he did at and then the next expectation is that we run for more yards than we pass kind of proving that that offensive line is going to be SEC ready does anyone have a prediction about another team this week in the SEC they want to share man everybody got quiet you know I like Brandon's prediction actually that the Gators take down Miami I think for the last few years it just seems like hey Mario Chris Ball hey this is the year it seems like everybody's discounting the Gators because of that schedule I'm telling you in the swamp opening week not exactly hard to imagine an upset there that's not even much of an upset 33 straight wins there I like it I like the call I I think I think the SEC kind of sticks its chest out a little bit and says you know we're still the team on top I think Florida takes care of business against Miami and I think LSU makes a statement against USC this weekend let me add to the hate and be a hater here right I think LSU goes out there and blows the doors off of USC um and as much as Matt even said that the defense isn't that good I think they show that are a lot better than people anticipate I think they'll be better than they were a year ago no doubt but that don't take much when you're the worst defense in the history of the program tou tou tou tou they'll be better but but yeah how much better one spot better is still better no doubt they'll be better than one spot better but um I don't know man the Lincoln Riley thing still I think Spooks a lot of people here because his offenses have always gone I mean you know you look back at ever since he showed up at Oklahoma he's never he's in he's at one season where his offenses have averaged less than 40 points per game and it was his last year at Oklahoma they averaged 39 so they score um but you got to run the ball and control the clock the good thing there is that he's got he's breaking in a new quarterback so we don't know what m is he whiffed on his Five Star Quarterback so we got to see what that's actually going to look like I don't think he's going to be able to dance the same way that cayb Williams was last I'm just curious you said that Oklahoma's going to run the ball against Temple proving their SEC ready what the hell you GNA learn running the ball against Temple just running the ball against Temple John chy defense they run Matt hey man you never know Z yeah they they may pull out the mat rule version of Temple in that game all we know is DeMarco Murray won't be on the sidelines because he's been out here cheating texting recruits when he wasn't supposed to be hey man if you ain't cheating you ain't trying okay let's I was Oklahoma or Texas saying something like SEC ready at some point I was just it was a drinking game to see who was going to do it first and the Run game for right there Texas only talk Texas so it wasn't gonna be them for sure Fair Point that's a great drinking game for this weekend watch the Texas game watch the Oklahoma game and how many times the broadcast says oh these guys are SEC ready you'll be dead by the first change of possession only yeah I say first drive you're you're done you're cooked how how much of a trap am I having right now looking forward to the Vandy Virginia Tech game I I think that would be the one that we could stick our chest out the most in the SEC if Vandy beats vek yeah well look Diego Pavia got the he got the big win over Auburn last year I mean anything what are we doing why do we always got to bring that up when we talk about forget does anybody think Vanderbilt's G win that game no okay all right just just making sure clarky is calling the plays on defense now so I don't know if that helps at all Virginia Tech returns 21 starters they got five start senior starters on their offensive line like that's a sleeper in the ACC top five in the country and returning players so yeah they're definitely one team to keep your eyes on you got a bunch of juice in that bet right there for season win totals as well way to go Stephen sorry for everyone else's response I was on board all right fellas we've got some other big some big games in the conference we are going to dive a little bit deeper into so let's dive deeper into Georg and Clemson and LSU and USC the SEC Squad talking more more ball next quick reminder today's episode brought to you by friends over at 5H Hour Energy and look let's be real you're going to be sitting around the house watching a lot of games all weekend long grab yourself a 5H Hour Energy Shot to stay alert to watch all your favorite games or if you stayed up late to see that intense overtime game you're going to need that 5 Hour Energy Shot in the morning to start your day so look stock up on 5H Hour Energy with zero sugar and a convenient portable size it is the perfect pickme up for getting stuff done the 5our Energy website has flavors Galore like watermelon tropical burst grape Berry there's a flavor for everyone you could try them all and on their site even have the option to build your own 12 pack or 24 pack you could choose the flavors and is delivered right to your door go check them out right now go to five hour energy.com that's the number five 5our energy.com get some 5our energy product today you can use our promo code locked on CFB that's going to get you 20% off your order this offer is only valid until September 30th on one order and cannot be used with other promotions the code is not good on subscription orders but go to 5our energy.com today and get started continue on here getting ready for a big week one in the SEC and we're going to dive a little bit deeper to some of the bigger matchups this weekend and we got to start with the early one this is the one we'll get at 11:00 a.m. Central 12 Eastern it is Georgia and Clemson from Atlanta any other year this would be an awesome matchup the line would be like six and a half and you'd be like hell yeah brother let's lock it in rip the knob off but georg's been dominant the last few years Clemson maybe been not as dominant so uh George has been sitting as a two touchdown favor Clint uh give us a a breakdown here are you nervous after watching Florida State lose to Georgia Tech as a double- digit favorite a week ago are you nervous at all for this one look there there are two things that are true Davos Sweeny is not a good coach and that doesn't mean anything at Clemson because you can still win games there with a good defense and a good running game this is what travels well in college football and they got rid of the Lesser running back via graduation and draft and they actually I think improved in running back and they have a talented offensive line a couple of unknown wide receivers and a defense that returns a lot of very very high caliber high ceiling players so yes nervous is the case because all of a sudden you look at Georgia and uh what two running backs one being Cass Jones might lead this team in rushing attempts this uh game and that's not a joke and I'm not being factious and I'm not like that that might be real if that's the case holy gez yeah Carson Beck on your shoulders right away you said you want to go to New York go out and prove it all of a sudden things get a little sideways and get really weird with a good very very talented defense and a good running game that can Propel so of of course every single game uh any other season six and a half something like that is true this is point spread I'm not touching because I don't like it to begin the season we saw what happened last time Clemson and Georgia played um it was a very very close Affair went to turnovers and DJ angay not knowing how to throw the football which continued uh even into this year but yeah of course of course I'm looking out for this game and I'm not taking Clemson lightly at all msota the uh are we getting too much Georgia fatigue because it's like every poll has been Georgia number one Georgia's pick Georgia like are we overrating this Georgia team a little too much no they deserve it until proven otherwise I mean it's they've they now see if they can maintain it for as long as Alabama did but they're at the Alabama standard where it's just default put him in there until someone beats him I mean if do do any of us believe that if Georgia had gotten in the playoff last year that they wouldn't have won it I mean I do I think they would have won it so um no I it's fatigue is the conversation you have about Notre Dame fatigue is the conversation about a team that's a program that's not really a contender that everyone tried Miami I'm so sick of hearing about Mario crisal in Miami like he's these stinks I watched him win one game at FIU like that's what I'm sick of like do something and then I'll talk about you but Georgia deserves to be talked about like they beat everyone and they're the standard so if you if you want to win you got to beat them maror I know you hate both these teams so your thoughts well I just I'm still trying to move past you saying rip the knob off um I'm I'm scared to Google what that means later um I I will say I I think there's still time for cl this line to come down because Georgia could lose at least two to four five more players before the the the weekend if they're still behind the wheel of a car so we never know um I think that Clemson is going to be good defensively I think they are going to be very very average offensively and and like I think that Georgia goes into this place which is a house of horrors for them with they when they play one specific team but it hasn't been otherwise and they are going to have a massive chip on their shoulder and honestly do what Florida State I think we all thought they were going to do a week ago but but probably worse to this Clemson team because like nobody motivates their team better or more than Kirby Smart and you've had they know that in that building eight nine months ago they were three points away from having a three Pat and they are going to come in there I think and beat the breaks off Clemson let's get John Neighbors in here host of locked on Razer backs John you you got a basketball program that's uh taking advantage of recruiting and nil and all this uh why is dbo not done you know the whole nil thing is you made a mistake because Clemson it feels like they've been knocked down a peg here the last couple years well when you don't have uh the chicken man and John Tyson like Arkansas does you know you you got to improvise I guess but uh yeah it's it's kind of funny because you know as we get closer to the season just being actually two days away for Arkansas or just a couple days away for Arkansas it's kind of at the point now where people are tired just of talking about everything but they're also not excited about this game it being in war memorial stadium in lit Rock LSU knows all about that dump and so it's uh it's it's a tough spot so it's like people are kind of just hoping that this game gets over with quickly with no injuries and they win and then they can just move on to the other really great City of Stillwater the next weekend yeah and the good news for AR saww is you you play on a Thursday night so you got all weekend to watch all the other games and kind of get a scouting report on some of these other teams that you guys are going to play uh Stephen Willis quick thought on uh on Georgia I mean you guys play Georgia later this year so little little scouting report for you guys yeah you get to see exactly what they have and what they have is a top 100 ranked defense on the back all top 100 players all over the field and they're going to be scared for anybody scary for anybody watching them the one thing that I know about this game though is Tyler from spart andberg kind of broke s Tyler bro broke him in half bad Spencer you Spencer mclin host of Lockton college football quick thought on Georgia Clemson is this is this one close at all in your mind you're the you're on unbiased uh objective person here yes I I think I am the least biased person here on uh this particular matter apparently because Clint has got some strong statements about the only coach other than his own who has two national championships because apparently that guy's not any good as a football coach which is incredible so I wonder what Kirby Smart is at this point but I I think that for for George they have been my number one team for a long time I have not seen anyone make a move to knock them off of that preseason pedestal because this is one of the best rosters in the country you have got an incredible coach you've got a great quarterback maybe the best in all of college football and Carson Beck and the reason I continue to buy into Georgia Chris is the last time I picked a champion for this reason is the only time I've ever correctly picked a national champion in March Madness North Carolina 2016 goes to the national championship game mens basketball beat by Villanova and Chris Jenkins at the buzzer they return most of their core and their head coach they were so close and they came up just short and then they went back and they rolled and they won the National Championship I think that's Georgia this year so you give me the team the roster the coach the motivation they've been there before I love the Bulldogs and I I like them against Clemson who I think is fine I don't think Clemson is going to win the ACC this year I think they're a good team but i' take Georgia to cover that number all right quickly Gord if I can one quick point about that Spencer I said the same thing about Alabama three years ago when they lost the national championship they came back and being a lot of us I know we're at SEC media days and talking to guys like Will Anderson and Bryce young those guys were pissed and it looked like they were ready to go wreck stuff and that didn't happen they lost in bat Rouge they lost in Knoxville um I I'm just saying sometimes you think that's the motivation I thought that was the case for Bama that year and it they just didn't have they just didn't have the dudes to get it done the way they did in the past so u i i I hear I hear you I hear you on that point and I think it could be more applicable with georg's schedule because it is so unbelievably brutal I think georg's schedule is the only reason their win total isn't 11 and a half according to our friends at FanDuel it is among the most brutal in the country I think they're going 11-1 and anyway but if you took out the Alabama Road game or the Old Miss Road game they might have a win total of of 11 and a half you gave them a Missouri schedule I think their win total might be just set it 12 it's just you you could you could just bet them to go 12 and0 or or or nothing else I think this team is that good and they're ready for it well hopefully we've scared Clint a little a little bit and he's got a lot to think about Matt let's touch on the other big game this weekend it is LSU it is USC you will be out there in Vegas I'm actually going to be out there for that one as well so rev we'll have cocktails yeah let's let's let's do it um lost my ass last time I went to Vegas so let's hope Brian Kelly doesn't lose his ass in Vegas give me a give me a quick primer you kind of gave me a thought earlier about more Run game but uh a little bit deeper thought on this game it's man these two teams are interesting because they really are mirror images i' I've joked all offseason it's kind of like the Spider-Man GIF where they're pointing at each other the same the Spider-Man I mean that's really what this is is I mean you're talking about teams that that lose Heisman winning quarterbacks they're replaced by guys that were that are fourth year players that started for the first time in their bowl game threw for over 300 yards in the bowl game even their profiles are similar both quarterbacks were 62 200 lbs both teams had historically bad defenses replace their entire defensive staff I mean it's I mean it all you could have a you could go look at any preseason conversation about USC or LSU redact the names of the players the teams and just read the the context and you wouldn't be able to tell if it was LSU or USC so you have two teams that are very similar the one like gigantic difference really is LSU's offensive line I think is the best unit that either team has on the field and so if they decide to to line up behind that offensive line and run the ball and play some ball control I I think that's probably LSU's best advantage in this ball game um boy if they try to get into a score Fest that's that's dangerous territory with the Lincoln riy offense and I I don't know that that's too favorable for LSU if they try do that yeah they were able to do it last year with the Heisman Trophy winner Jane Daniels it's it's a big challenge to try to do that again this year uh John neighbors you almost you guys almost beat LSU last year you were in that game till the very end against the Tigers in Death Valley um quick thought on this LSU team do you think that this is maybe a little bit more of a vulnerable LSU team or do you think they bounce back this year you know I love how it just gets introduced as he he almost beat that team one time I mean you know one then times they're actually going to end up winning but you are you know that well that's what's weird is about like the the greatest rivalry in the history of college football the battle for the Golden Boot uh has of course been a three-point margin for the past four years Arkansas's only won one of those and granted it was down in Baton Rouge when Edward Jon was a lame duck coach but last year down in Baton Rouge a three-point game year before that uh a really high scoring Affair 13-10 and you know it was just kind of been weird like that so I I don't think even if I felt like LSU was the best team in the country number one I always feel like that game is going to be weird and Arkansas they may not win but they're going to keep it close because they really care about that boot and I know LSU doesn't except for T-Bob he's the only one that really does so yeah I I feel like they're guu is gonna be a good team are they going to be a national championship Contender no I don't think so I don't think they're going to be even a playoff Contender but they're still going to be a really good team that probably gets that n910 win range all right real quick as we wrap up here guys just show of hands do you have uh you have Georgia beating Clemson raise your hand okay uh seven and0 real quick do you have LSU beating USC raise your hand okay Spencer taking USC we shall see uh Spencer you're not invited back thanks for uh coming on well it was fun while it lasted fellas I would also like to say I I'd pick LSU with an extreme degree of caution and skepticism like I do not think that that's a runaway I I think this is like a field goal game I line is coming down it's like one of the only ones that's moved it's moved like late money is sharp money friends well I want to see how LSU uses Harold Perkins that that is my number one question in that game I want to know why that that boot trophy weighs 175 pounds if you just play a 4-H hour football game and you got to go lift that damn trophy that's a tough tough scene got don't give me a chore the Magnolia bows wood shop so yeah remember when they broke it a couple of years ago the the damn flower fell off they broke the tropy and no one gave a damn no one cares about these trophies what we do give a damn about is two other big games happening in the conference this weekend does Billy Napier's path to getting fired continue this weekend in a must-win game against Miami and Mike Elco has his hands full with Notre Dame OU and Texas they get things going the secz squad talking more right after this today's episode presenting to you by friends over at FanDuel look you've heard us talk a lot about FanDuel all throughout this summer and they are America's number one sports book we got something a little different for you guys going on now through 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conference and a couple of big ones uh happening this weekend we already touched on a couple but how about Notre Dame at Texas A&M it is the big one on Saturday night and I just know this cyfield and College Station are going to be rocking but how good is Notre Dame we kind of don't know Marcus Freeman was thrust into this job two years ago he quickly lost to Marshall much better season last year but Mike Elco in year one coming over from duke Zack you're an Auburn guy uh Texas A&M is it's always giving you guys a uh tough games but what do you make of A&M and Notre Dame yeah I mean it depends on the day you asked me about how I feel about the hire of Mike Elco but but right now I think A&M I like them against Notre Dame and I don't know if that necessarily means anything about Notre Dame I just like the talent that's on A&M's roster I think uh you know the the best team money could buy for several years and I think this roster is still really really talented so I'm going with Mike Elco to to get his first big win as a as the coach for the agies Jonathan as our Longhorns offici andado I know you never root for the agies but Notre Dame there's a lot of folks on the SEC side here saying we got a root for the A&M agies because we don't want Notre Dame coming in and stealing in at large bid at the end of the year so where do you fall here Jonathan not saying you're going to root for the aies but maybe more roote against Notre Dame yeah something like that you know I think Zack is right when you look at this you know team they did lose you know four players that were ranked you know in the top 30 in the transfer portal but still a ton of talent this could be one of the best defensive lines in the country I think they're still strong on the offensive line as well in the trenches and Conor Wegman was playing really really good football before he got injured last year I expect him to be one of the top quarter backs in the country so you know I guess this weekend I can you know root for the SEC even if it's the Aggies at cyfield that building is going to be rocking I'm with Zack I think Texas A&M wins this game Mike Elco gets his first big win at& Spencer where do you fall on this one I know they announced this week Notre Dame's going to start two freshman and three sophomores on the o line I'm looking at that A&M defensive line big Nick scorton coming in from Purdue uh you got Shamar Stewart Shamar Turner like are the agies defensive line just going to wreak havoc on the Notre Dame o line well it's certainly possible and when you go in with that sort of Youth into that environment it doesn't instill a lot of confidence on the Notre Dame Notre Dame side of things I am still going with the Irish here I'm once again the the contrarian pick course you are because because I've got a year three head coach against a year one game one head coach continuity versus everything is brand spanking new and I do feel better about A&M's chances because Conor wigman's there so you're not working in freshman quarterback or a brand new transfer he's got some experience but Colin Klein comes in as the offensive coordinator and and I think Klein is incredibly capable oh by the way who did Notre Dame higher as their offensive coordinator th this offseason That's Mike Den Brock who just coached Jaden Daniels to Heisman Trophy I'm a big Riley Leonard fan I think Marcus Freeman year three over Mike Elco game one year one if you put this game in week three I might lean A&M but first game there are going to be some nerves on the Texas A&M sideline I think compared to what you have on Notre Dames can I just jump in here real quick I I just think Texas A&M is perennially one of the most overrated programs in the entire country and you're not making that up and what I totally agree with Spencer you're telling me that oh Mike Elco maybe it'll work in the long run but oh game one with all these new transfers hey all systems go give Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame a little more credit than that I'm a little bit shocked maybe this is my bias from the 12 again College Station it's not exactly like playing in Tuscaloosa guys I mean let's calm down a little bit I I like Notre Dame too sure and I think that's an argument no question about it but if we're going to say overrated programs we got to put Notre Dame in that conversation too how many playoffs has Texas A&M made compared to Notre Dame though like either of them are Elite programs right I'm there with you farther along if they would join a real conference maybe they could be tested a little bit more but this whole Independence thing you just get you know get in if you have a good season schedule is incredibly favorable this year Notre Dame beats Texas A&M this Saturday they will be a college football playoff team you can Sharpie that in if they win this game if they lose then it's a little bit testier but if they win this game they were going 10-2 at worst and they have a great chance to go 11- one they have about a six week stretch in the middle of the Season where they don't play a true Road game which is which is why but that's the way they've made it work this is what I want to ask Spencer and you know I guess John Miller obviously you know we know Mike Elko is in you know game one at Texas A&M but what exactly has Marcus Freeman done at Notre Dame that just makes us think that he's gonna dominate this coaching match up on Saturday totally fair question I just think if you're giving me the couple two and a half points you're giving me plus 126 I'm going to go that way that's kind of the way I'm looking at it I I I don't look at at Notre Dame over the last couple years yeah it would it got off to a terrible but last year would you describe Notre Dame as some horribly awful no good very bad team did it feel like they were a disaster chaos no it felt like they took a step forward from Marcus Freeman's first year and when you are a young unproven head coach that's what I look for to have confidence in you to make a pick like this so I saw improvement from year one to year two I love the offensive coordinator hire love the quarterback move I stick with the Irish Jay Smith so me personally I'm riding with Texas A&M on this I feel like we overlooked this portion of it Mike Elco is returning back to Texas A&M this isn't his first stint there right he had a two-year stint at Duke as a head coach cool but a lot of those recruits at Tex ADM he recruited them there so he knows a lot more of the players than a lot of us are giving him credit for he's going to walk in there refine things back to when he was there even though I mean Jimbo Fischer you know did what he does best but he's going to be able to have that continuity or at least some type of rapport with these players because he brought a lot of them in so I'm on Texas A&M actually surprising everybody that they're a lot better their first game than expected and I'll say this John Miller I've been the college stage cyfield is way better now than it was maybe 10 years ago it's a lot louder they've added more seating so I'll give them that it is more of a rocking atmosphere and look they're gonna have college game day you got all the you know it's going to be a huge to-do on campus all day long and those fans will be uh fired up they'll bring out Lassie or re rry as we call her and uh it'll be a lot of fun the other big game um and again I don't think we're talking enough about Florida hosting Miami guys but for Billy Napier this is a must win for him he has to win this game knowing what's on the backstretch of the schedule and I feel like we're Miami's gotten all this hype look they've bought recruits they've bought guys to the transfer portal cam Ward at quarterback but are we talking enough about what Florida's got Graham MZ is back at quarterback they got the five-star DJ lagway behind them they got Montell Johnson at running back like I feel like Florida's going maybe we're being a little bit disrespected here that everybody's talking about us having the toughest schedule in the world but we actually got a pretty good team I agree with you I think that's a great take and to me if you're looking at anybody who's a a slight Underdog at home especially in a place like the swamp against a traditional rival like Miami you don't think the the Gainesville is going to be popping that night that is going to be a tough place for anybody to play and in this modern world of college football of course traditionally every first game is weird I think it's even weirder in a world where you have so much roster turnover so I like the Gators in that spot I really do for me yeah I was gonna say I think for me what's going to be most interesting about this game is they both have a very high as you would say Blue Chip ratio I think Florida's sitting here at 63% Miami is 61% so it's going to be a lot of good players playing especially with all the pressure on both coaches back this game is kind of critical for both of them I think the the loser of this game is going to have the trajectory of getting fired by around you know the second by week because we all know that both of those seats are very hot because they've got too much talent to be as bad as they've been the last couple of years now I'm picking Miami in this game because I just think cam Ward is really good I think it he's probably one of the better quarterbacks out there he's probably one of the best ones to come out of the portal and whenever he's hot he's on point now now it's going to be about Florida trying to force the turnovers which he's you know kind of susceptible to doing but if Miami does a really good job of controlling a turnovers and controlling the time they should win this game I I don't think I agree on the level of pressure being equal between the two head coaches Mario Chris Ball has less pressure though certainly there is a hope a desire for him to win going into year three I think it is a much higher pressure gauge on Billy Napier because of how his record is going look at the end of the year making a bowl game would be a tremendous accomplishment whereas Miami is looking at Conference Championship college football playoff appearance that's the standard so a bad year for Miami is 8-4 a bad year for Florida is 4-8 8-4 would be a second straight year of improvement for Mario Chris Ball and Coral Gables and I don't think gets him fired though it would be disappointing relative to their to their season expectation with that pack 12 backfield that they've got but why is not F I mean crystal ball went five and seven and seven and six I mean they're basically it's a mirror image of what Billy gap's kind of done and you know oh by the way Miami you know blew blew a monster game what was that uh the last year or the year before where they uh didn't deci not to kneel yeah decide not to KNE was last year that yeah that was that was last year that to me adds to his pressure and him being kind of on fire because this is the second time that's happened in Mario Chris Ball's career as a head coach you that's unexcusable if you know you for bringing up that wonderful memory J I appreciate that my apologies I'm just saying if that's the thing that's to me is what adds to the fire of his seat is that people are starting to believe that he's incompetent and so yes Conference Championship should be in their radar but if they go seven and five maybe eight and four there's a good chance like you know what it doesn't feel like you've got a good grasp of what you need to do to win here he got a big contract I think he would be pretty solidly set into having one more year I I think what he does this year affects the Warmness of his seat going into next year I don't think there's a world barring a three and9 season which is not going to happen where Mario Chris Ball gets canned well at least Miami they've got John rues might write in the the checks he how many more Millions do you need to buy a quarterback in Florida they're getting sued because they didn't follow through with pay and they they Rec Curt so uh quite the different worlds there at Florida Miami all right real quick guys show of hands do you have A&M beating Notre Dame put your hand up okay so we got about four- two uh on the other side uh Miami and Florida you have the Florida Gator beating Miami okay five to one so pretty good there it should be a good weekend for the SEC and to be honest guys the SEC needs this we started off on a on a rough sour note out of the gates last year Florida loses to Utah LSU loses to Florida State everybody's going what's wrong with the SEC they need to come out strong this weekend final thoughts Zack as we wrap up yeah like I said at the top of this I think it's going to be a huge huge weekend for uh for the SEC I don't know if they go you know four and0 in these big games that we've talked about but I do think I do think it's three or three in one or better John Miller you know I just want to say even though I pick Notre Dame as a Missouri fan I hope Texas A&M wins because I'd like to see basically anybody outside of the conference including Miami maybe that's the bias toward Florida if I'm going to be on The Fringe of the playoff I want all these other Fringe teams to look mediocre in the ACC and the Big 12 get them out of here that's my thought it is a real life Game of Thrones and we're all everybody down we're all trying to CL up and get that 12 team playoff it's going to be a lot of fun guys always fun to talk all things SEC with you guys and appreciate you guys taking the time all right thanks again to our panel of hosts and our SEC Squad as we call it a reminder to follow And subscribe to your favorite SEC team we'll be covering your favorite teams every day throughout the season do not forget I'll have you covered on the entire conference every day with locked on SEC part of the lock on podcast Network 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