In the Need for Screens College Football Podcast Week 10 episode, hosts Griffin Warner and Big East Bend cover a slate of games, offering in-depth insights on matchups, betting strategies, team trends, and player performance. Below is a structured breakdown of their discussions, with quotes and timestamps.
Introduction and Recap (0:31 - 2:31)
Warner kicks off by welcoming listeners and reflecting on recent picks, highlighting Big East Bend’s solid 4-2 performance, though Illinois’s game was described as a “disgusting” display that was lost early on. Warner humorously frames their bets as "flip a coin," aiming for a strong end-of-season performance to finish in the black. The segment concludes with the introduction of five featured games, starting with Ohio State vs. Penn State.
Ohio State vs. Penn State (2:32 - 5:39)
Warner presents Ohio State as a 3.5-point favorite against Penn State in Happy Valley, with a total line of 45 points. Big East Bend laments the noon kickoff, feeling it compromises Penn State’s traditional home-field advantage, especially for a game he believes would have benefitted from a "night whiteout." He notes Ohio State’s dominance over Penn State, having won 11 of the last 12 games, calling it “a very lopsided rivalry.” Big East Bend flags Penn State’s quarterback Drew Aller’s knee injury as a crucial element, noting that while backup “Pugalusa” performed adequately, Ohio State represents a tougher challenge. Warner, agreeing with Big East Bend’s confidence in Ohio State, opts for betting under 45 points, believing a competitive game is possible but doubting an Ohio State upset.
Oregon vs. Michigan (5:40 - 8:12)
Oregon is a 14.5-point favorite against Michigan. Bend reveals that Michigan’s starting quarterback, Jake Tuttle, announced his retirement, leaving the team with backup options Alex Orji or Davis Warren. This significant change leads Bend to question the line, feeling Michigan’s weakened state makes Oregon's odds “a joke.” Warner performs a quick line breakdown, estimating a difference between Michigan and Illinois in oddsmaker expectations. Warner finds Michigan’s season disappointing, stating that the losses of key players—including Tuttle—have had an adverse impact. Bend confidently backs Oregon, while Warner places his bet on the under 45.5, doubting Michigan’s offensive potential against Oregon’s strong defense.
Texas A&M vs. South Carolina (8:13 - 10:56)
Texas A&M enters as a 2.5-point favorite against South Carolina. Big East Bend praises Texas A&M’s performance against LSU, describing the second half as “immaculate.” However, he warns of a potential “letdown spot” after this emotional high. He recalls previous matchups where South Carolina held its own, even suggesting that if they’d won, South Carolina might be a top-10 team and a 6-point favorite in this game. Warner and Bend agree on backing South Carolina, highlighting their solid home-crowd support as a possible factor for an upset.
Louisville vs. Clemson (10:57 - 12:49)
Louisville, a 10.5-point underdog, faces Clemson, with a high total at 63 points. Bend discusses Clemson’s season trajectory, noting their strong performances against weaker “N.I.T. teams” such as NC State and Wake Forest, propelling them to eighth in the country. He believes Louisville will provide a “real pulse,” citing their history of tight games against both strong and weak teams, including narrow losses to Notre Dame and big comebacks against Boston College. Bend feels Louisville’s offensive power will challenge Clemson, picking Louisville to cover the spread. Warner joins Bend, predicting a close game and choosing to bet on over 63 points given Louisville’s competitiveness.
Pittsburgh vs. SMU (14:29 - 18:32)
SMU enters this game as a 7.5-point favorite over Pittsburgh. Warner humorously reflects on SMU’s current popularity compared to its earlier years. Bend praises Pittsburgh’s defense, which recently forced five interceptions against Ohio State’s Kyle McCord, likening the quarterback’s performance to “Nathan Peterman.” He critiques SMU’s weaker schedule, favoring Pittsburgh to cover the spread. Warner opts for over 58 points, referencing the “spinny wheel of points” characteristic of SMU’s games.
Best Bets (18:33 - 22:52)
Big East Bend’s best bet is on Nebraska at -6.5 against UCLA. He expresses confidence in Nebraska’s potential, especially after “blowing out” Colorado earlier in the season. He describes UCLA’s two wins as inconsequential, dismissing them as “trash” wins. Warner, in contrast, selects South Carolina +2.5 over Texas A&M, emphasizing the strength of South Carolina’s home-field advantage.
Closing Remarks
In the final segment, Warner shares a promo code “CATCH10” for listeners to enjoy a discount on Pregame.com picks. Bend also takes a humorous moment to apologize for the previous episode’s audio quality, describing himself as a “drunken sailor” and showing off his background of artificial wedding flowers, adding a personal touch to close out the episode.