Burrow’s Back, Rams are Scary Good, and ACC Playoff Chaos
Ready to dive into the latest sports bar talk? Episode 241 of SMQBs delivers a killer mix of NFL hot takes, college football chaos, and a deep dive into the secrets of building a winning franchise.
From celebrating Joe Burrow’s triumphant return to practice to breaking down a viral, physics-defying catch in college ball, this episode has it all. We’re talking about which teams are “scary good,” which teams are secretly pretenders, and why your team’s draft history might be the one thing holding them back. Grab a drink and settle in, because you’re going to want to hear the full breakdown.
What’s Shaking at the Bar?
The episode kicks off with the traditional “Who are you bringing to the bar?” segment, and the invites were spicy.
- Nico Harrison is on Notice: Pope wastes no time calling out the Mavericks executive, putting him on the hot seat over the team’s “pathetic start.”
- The Celebratory Beer: Milk is buying a round for Joe Burrow, who’s back at practice, and settling any online rumors that he’d jump ship for Bo Nix (spoiler: “Burrow is my number one, always in my heart”).
- A Loud, Beautiful Rant: House brings in a legend—or rather, a legendary call. He delivers a passionate, theatrical, and slightly unhinged tribute to Gus Johnson’s commentary on an Indiana University game-winning catch. You absolutely need to hear the audio for the full effect.
- Pitchers and Catchers: Bison, already counting down to baseball season, spotlights Japanese power hitter Munetaka Murakami, a high-profile free agent who is likely headed stateside.
The NFL Deep Dive: Homegrown Talent and Scary Rams
The crew got granular on the state of the league after Week 10, and two teams earned the title of legit contenders:
- The Scary-Good Rams: Forget the Super Bowl-winning team—House argues this version of the Rams is better due to a vastly improved running game. They’re so good, one host claims “The Rams, I think right now will only be beat by themselves.”
- The Contenders/Pretenders Debate: The playoff picture is getting messy. Is the NFC finally shifting to a position of power, or are the Bills and other AFC teams just pretenders? The hosts debate whether teams like the Packers and Lions are legit threats or if the Chiefs and Ravens will ultimately push them out.
The Secret Sauce: Draft or Die
One of the most compelling discussions focused on roster construction. Bison dug into some research on “homegrown players” (drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent) and the results were eye-opening:
- Teams with the highest percentage of homegrown talent—like the Ravens (74%) and the Bucs (69%)—are consistently at the top.
- Teams with the lowest percentage, including the Commanders (Washington) and the Panthers, are predictably at the bottom.
The consensus? Poor drafting (and retaining) talent over time forces teams to constantly try to rebuild with expensive, older free agents, which is why some franchises find themselves stuck in mediocrity.Plaxico Picks & College Football Chaos
No SMQBs episode is complete without the Plaxico Picks, and this week’s lines were tricky. The boldest picks include the Ravens -8.5 at Cleveland and a confident pick for the Dolphins -2.5 to “whoop” the Commanders in Madrid.
On the college gridiron, the chaos is real:
- Indiana’s Impossible Catch: The unbelievable, contorted, game-winning catch that sparked Gus Johnson’s incredible commentary is declared one of the best in recent memory.
- Texas is Lurking: The hosts highlight the path for the Texas Longhorns. If they can knock off Georgia and Texas A&M, they have a legitimate shot at the College Football Playoff.
- The ACC Problem: The biggest storyline is the absolute mess in the ACC. With multiple one-loss teams like Pitt, Virginia, and Duke vying for the title, there’s a real fear the conference might shoot itself in the foot. The current scenario suggests that if the eventual ACC champion isn’t ranked in the Top 25, the conference could lose its automatic playoff bid entirely. Tune in to hear who the guys think will survive the chaos!