Hour 2 - Is Duke a Vulnerable #1 Seed? Tournament Breakdown

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Why are we supposed to care as Americans about the world baseball classic?

If the San Diego Padres are dictating whether or not we win or lose.

Why are we supposed to care?

Why should I give such a damn next time if this is what it's going to be?

Figure it out.

We're don't.

And then we can we can dispense with all the pomp and circumstance next time around.

For what's a great event the world baseball classic?

Hey, could you imagine like the Dominican Republic like Venezuela making its decisions based on what the major leagues say?

Come on.

Really?

Stop it.

Stop it.

And let the show with the Jalen Waddle trade from the Miami Dolphins to Denver Broncos.

Why I like it for Denver skill still skeptical of Denver because you know,

bone X is their quarterback, but I think it's a worthy swing for the Broncos to take.

And you got to love it if you're a Miami Dolphins fan.

You take your medicine for one year and next year way more salary cap space.

And you can actually start building this out and trying to get a contender rolling at South Beach with new GM,

John Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hathley.

Three tremendous guest still to come all on the NCAA tournament.

Seth Greenberg from ESPN 20 minutes from now.

John Fanta from NBC sports 60 minutes from now.

And Joe Forton ball also in the final hour of the show ESPN sports betting analyst.

And let's start talking and see double a tournament right now.

We are 26 hours away.

Little more than 20 26 hours and 13 minutes away.

What's what's the tip the first tip tie? Oh, I was a TCU 1215 Eastern tomorrow.

Dun dun dun dun dun dun.

Oh, man.

Do you?

I'll lead the show with it tomorrow, but just man.

Try and convince me that this isn't the best.

The NCAA tournament round number one.

Honestly, it's enough to bring a grown man, a grown sports fan to tears thinking about it.

Dun dun dun dun dun.

Oh, oh, oh, baby.

So I'm thinking about it last night as one does.

You know, my, my wife is watching Virgin River on Netflix.

Like an actual, an actual like terrible show.

But I guess it's whatever.

I watch some bad shows also.

And she's watching Virgin River.

I got the baseball game on I'm you.

And I'm thinking about the NCAA tournament in bed as one does when you're laying in bed next to your wife thinking about the NCAA tournament.

And I'm not even saying that ironically.

I think that is what a lot of men think about this time of year when they're laying in bed next to their significant other.

And what I'm thinking about is, you know, my initial thoughts on the tournament.

On Sunday night after a selection Sunday.

And then what we talked about.

Both me in a solo fashion like I am right now or when we brought Tyler and Kenny on the show.

On Monday.

As to how I see the bracket playing out.

And I'm kind of you're relitigating it in my head because.

You know, we don't, I don't have to make a decision on Monday.

I don't have to make decisions right now.

I have to make my decisions in the next 26 hours.

So what do I feel differently about.

From Monday to right now.

And when I really, really considered that a couple things came to mind.

The first is in the South region.

And before I talk about what the difference is.

I want to give you our listeners and viewers.

The current top four.

The odds market at bed MGM to win the national championship.

And this is going to be like the old Sesame Street game.

Which of these things is not like the other.

I don't know if that's the tune that it carried.

That's how I remember it.

Duke is your favorite plus 325.

I actually think Arizona should be the favorite.

Which is not they're basically the same price.

Just saying like I think given Duke's Duke's got some injury stuff going on.

And I said like three or four to the point that the last time I said it on Monday.

I'm like I think I'm saying this word too much.

Unimpeachable was the word I kept saying on Monday.

That's a great political tie in there.

That Arizona is the most unimpeachable one seed.

Which doesn't mean that Duke thinks it just means Duke's got injury concerns.

Duke plus 325.

Arizona plus 350.

Michigan plus 375.

That's the one seed in the east.

The one seed in the west.

And the one seed in the Midwest.

And then Florida is next up.

The reigning defending national champion Florida Gators.

The one seed in the South region.

Seven to one.

And at other domestic sports books.

We're only going to tell you what Ben MGM has because they sponsor us.

And that's who we love.

We love Ben MGM.

The price is even longer for the Florida Gators.

So the betting opinion that has been developed.

Over the last few days since selection Sunday.

Is that there is a separate and whether you listening or viewing watching the show.

Whether you bet or not.

I think this is valuable information and valuable context.

Because there is a bleep ton of money being bet into these markets.

It doesn't have to be right.

But it tells you what really smart people are thinking right.

And what they are thinking and what they are saying.

Not with their words.

But with their money.

Is that there is a difference between the top three teams in the Florida Gators.

That Duke or whatever order you want to put them in.

And honestly, I would have Duke three of three because of the injury concerns.

That's me.

And we'll talk about that in a little bit.

Arizona Michigan.

Draw line.

Florida Gators.

And do you have another team that you want to put in that grouping with Florida?

And maybe you disagree.

And maybe you think Florida is the best or Florida should be up there.

Which case you should bet Florida to win the national championship.

Because the price is way different.

Do you think Florida is as good?

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I'm on YouTube YouTube dot com backslash at the costos tweet me at the costos T H E K O S T O S.

After what we saw in the SEC tournaments.

When Florida got annihilated by Vanderbilt in the semifinal 91 74.

When Vandy's guard play absolutely outshine Florida's back court right.

I think it really.

Like laid eyes on the fact and shown light on the fact shown shine.

I have a college degree shine.

I think is is appropriate that like Sean Figgins shine the light on the fact that Florida's

back court is not nearly as good as it was last year.

When the Gators won the national championship like that is not an opinion.

What I am saying is fact.

That doesn't mean Florida can't or won't win the national championship.

But I think what it means is as we sit down with our brackets.

And we want to make bets.

And we conceptualize how this NCAA tournament is going to go.

If you're trying to answer the question.

Which one seed gets bounced first.

Of course it can be Arizona.

Of course.

Of course it can be Michigan.

Of course it can be Duke.

Crazy things happen every year in the NCAA tournament.

But what's the most likely.

Outcome there.

The most likely one seed to get bounced early.

It has to be Florida right.

Even if we're building in percent chances for the other three to get bounced first.

It's not a hundred percent.

Which is the most likely.

Both the betting market.

And kind of our own or my own at least intuitive reasoning as a gigantic college basketball fan.

Someone who watches a ton of games loves talking and thinking about the sport.

Leads you to the Florida Gators.

So if that's true.

Let's consider the teams in this region and teams that come potentially knock off Florida.

And Dan Turner if we could get the bracket put up that would be great.

The South region here for people that are watching the show to follow along.

So Vanderbilt is the five in this region right.

And they're in like the pod if we're going to call it like I know pods are generally just like groups of four teams.

But let's just group it into like the top half and the bottom half of the bracket.

Van D's on the top half with Florida as the five.

Nebraska's the four.

I'm not into Nebraska at all.

So even if Nebraska get gets past Troy and I'll have a bet on Troy in that game.

I like Van D to beat Nebraska.

So let's say Florida we get Florida Van D in the sweet sixteen.

Would it really really surprise anybody if Van D beat them again?

I'm not saying it's guaranteed.

But it would really would it really shock you if that happened.

So there's a potential upset alert for the Florida Gators.

And it's not like we're conjuring something out of thin air.

They literally lost to Vanderbilt last week.

Now like two months ago like last week they lost to Van D and got slammed by Van D.

And then there's the bottom half of the bracket.

And here's what I think I may have gotten wrong.

So I said on Monday.

I think Houston's gone to the final four.

And I don't really see a scenario where we don't get Houston and Illinois in the sweet sixteen to go to the regional final to play a likely either Florida or Vanderbilt, right?

North Carolina is the sixth.

North Carolina is without his best player Caleb Wilson.

North Carolina could lose to VCU.

But that could happen, right?

North Carolina think it's a pretty weak six seed.

St. Mary's an A&M. I would be stunned if either of those two teams beat Houston.

So I think we are very likely to get Illinois and Houston.

And I feel like after talking to a bunch of really smart people.

And I will give a tip of the cap to my old co-host on you better you bet Ken Barkley.

Not that like he thinks Illinois is guaranteed to be Houston or win the region like I respect Ken.

I respect many people in the college basketball space.

And I think upon further review and reading and listening and watching because I love this stuff, right?

And not just because I love it.

And I love to watch and I love to talk about it like I like to bet.

And I love filling out brackets, right?

I think I may have been too dismissive of Illinois.

In Illinois's potential.

I'm never going to be the type of guy that like drags the show down with statistics.

Because you the listener and viewer probably don't care.

And you're unaware of it. It doesn't matter.

What I'll just say is this.

You'll hear Ken Palm, Ken Palm Roy is the guy's name.

He was like the godfather of college basketball analytics.

Ken Palm will get referenced a lot.

I'll just say Ken Palm has Illinois is the seventh best team in the country.

Illinois is a three seat, but the implication being Illinois is in between what?

Like nine and twelve, right?

So Illinois maybe like a little better than its seeding indicates.

So you have that right off the jump.

You have Illinois and they are boom bust, right?

Mr. Boom Bostick.

You Illinois is a boom bust team where they could.

If Illinois played Houston and scored and I know Houston's defense is good.

I understand.

If Illinois scored 85 points in that game, would anyone really be shocked?

In the same way, by the way, then it wouldn't be shocking if Houston.

They just couldn't make any shots from three the entire game.

We've seen that happen with Illinois over the course of the season.

How about this as far as Illinois is concerned?

So Illinois is a bunch of losses this year.

A couple of them are like worthy losses, right?

They kind of get their asses handed to them, right?

They lose by 15 to Yukon.

They lose by 15 to Michigan.

No shame in that, right?

A four point lost Alabama.

Over time losses to Michigan state.

Two to Wisconsin, including in the Big Ten tournament and to UCLA.

What if those games go differently?

What seed is Illinois?

This doesn't mean that Illinois is going to the final four or going to win the national championship.

But the thing that I'm saying is that I feel like upon further review,

I may have dismissed the alumni.

And when you lay bare these facts, these are facts that I'm giving to you.

It kind of makes me feel like Illinois is way more live against Houston than I've given them credit for.

And given the star power that Illinois had, that Keaton Wagler is an absolute stud.

Like we talked about Stoy Ockovich last March when he was playing for Cal.

You know, Pajosani actually is.

Let's just say, right?

I'm creating a scenario.

Let's say that Illinois beats Houston.

And let's say that Florida gets five Vanderbilt.

Illinois versus Florida.

You telling me Illinois can't win that game?

They absolutely can.

They absolutely can.

And if you're betting, you're filling out a bracket.

Ask yourself this question.

And this is more of a bracket question, right?

Can be a betting question, but especially for brackets, right?

And I think if I'm constructing a pie chart of our audience,

I'm guessing that more of the pie is constructed by brackets as opposed to betting,

even though I'm sure a lot of the audience bets, right?

Who do you think the majority of people in your pool are going to take to go to the final four out of the South region?

Probably Florida, right?

And if not Florida, then Houston.

It's a potential pivot point.

I'm not guaranteeing Illinois gets there.

But I am saying I think that I made a mistake on Monday by dismissing the Align Eye.

And Illinois's chances to either get to the elite eight or even get to the final four.

3108404910 YouTube dot com backslash at the costos.

Man, we got great guest talking college hoops on today's show.

John Fanta next hour.

Joe Fortenbaugh next hour, but coming up next as in five minutes from now.

Seth Greenberg from ESPN breaking down the NCAA tournament.

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Has the news been getting you down?

I'm Megan McCartle and I'm here to help.

I'm the host of a news show from Washington Post Opinion,

called reasonably optimistic.

And it's an antidote to the pessimism that's riddling America right now.

Every Wednesday, I'm going to talk to people who see a path forward.

It does seem to me that there is some awakening of a desire to act together

to solve problems where they are.

You know, I am a believer in America and it's worth fighting for.

Join me Wednesdays on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Now, back to you better you bet with Nick Costos on Westwood One Sports.

Oh, that's our guy, Brian Anderson.

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So Texas beats Xavier last night, 6866.

I had a couple bucks on Texas.

Isn't that funny that I win bets when I'm not on the show?

How about that rocket's bet on Monday night?

Oh, Texas beats NC State, excuse me.

I have Xavier in my head because Sean Miller was a Xavier coach last year when they were in the first four.

My bet, Texas beats NC State last night.

Had last year's game on the brain.

So Texas wins and that sets up a first round dates with BYU.

And AJ DeBonza.

Now, I will be honest with everybody.

I would love to have BYU going very far in my bracket.

I would love to bet BYU to make a run in this tournament.

And just as sports fans, think about how much fun,

unless you're like a Gonzaga fan or like a Purdue fan,

which would imply the BYU beats your team.

How much fun it would be to have AJ DeBonza,

who we think is like maybe 51% right now,

to be the number one pick in the NBA draft over Kansas is Darren Peterson, right?

How much fun it would be if DeBonza put on a show over the next couple weeks, right?

Score is 35.

Score is 38.

And that carries BYU like deep in the tournament.

How much fun that would be.

But I think about the words of our friend Brad Evans,

who joined us a couple weeks ago on the show.

And I know he's been on a bunch recently as well,

even on shows that I haven't been on, right?

The words of Brad Evans ringing in my ears,

when I asked him recently about BYU's chances in the tournament,

even though DeBonza's great,

but without Richie Saunders and with the bad defense,

can BYU make a run?

And what Brad said was,

and we didn't even know who the matchup was going to be yet, right?

This is before the big 12 conference tournament.

He thinks that BYU is going to be a one and done in the NCAA tournament.

And I think that Brad might be right.

So BYU is a two and a half point favorite against Texas

in the first round.

And I think Texas is going to beat them.

And it gives me no pleasure to say that.

I would love for BYU to make a run.

I don't think it's going to happen.

I think their defense probably not good enough to get them over the hump.

And Sean Miller is a really good coach.

And you come up with a plan to try and like hold down DeBonza

or maybe the plan has let DeBonza score 40 and no one else scores.

I don't know.

I'm not in the basketball weeds grinding the film.

I think Texas will have something for AJ DeBonza.

So I am going to like the Texas long horns against BYU.

So as it stands right now, Seth Greenberg is on first take.

And we may be sticking around there for a while.

We're going to try and figure this out with Seth.

But if not, all good.

I will talk for a few minutes here about Duke.

You better, you bet on this Wednesday.

Westwood one sports Nick Costos and you 3108404910

youtube.com backslash at the Costos.

So started this hour talking about that I think Florida

is the most likely one seed to get bounced early.

And I absolutely feel that way.

And the betting market feels that way as well with Florida being plus 700

and 100 at Ben MGM longer and other domestic sports books.

The other three one seeds are all grouped very close together.

Duke Arizona and Michigan.

We'll talk about the Duke Blue Devils here.

Oh, and so Kenny and he has like a bunch of time for us here.

Or is this like four or five minutes?

Just like, let me know please guys exactly what's happening here.

And we can bring Seth on.

And if not, we'll talk about the Duke Blue Devils.

Okay, why don't we do this?

If Seth only has a few minutes and we're in the commercial break here,

just tell Seth like to do what he needs to do on television.

And we can catch up with him another time in lieu of like a five minute hit

with Seth Greenberg.

So please thanks Seth, thanks Seth.

And we'll go from there.

So listen, this is what happens sometimes.

Live television and live radio here and producing on the fly.

So Duke is the team that I have really liked for much of the season

to potentially win the national championship in college basketball.

And if Duke were fully healthy,

I think that I would really like the Duke Blue Devils here to win the title.

And I've been consistent on that for a couple months, right?

Love can boozer and I love Isaiah Evans.

And it's weird to me how people kind of think John Shire is this tournament choke artist.

And I get it.

You know, last year was really bad against Houston.

Also like he's not the guy on the court that can't make any shots.

I don't know how much I want to blame John Shire for that for losing to Houston last year.

I think Shire is an awesome coach.

And you like Caleb Foster and you like Gangba.

And Duke's awesome.

And Duke's losses are blowing at 18 point lead against Texas Tech when Texas Tech had JT top and no shame in that.

Also, we're up by 18 on the red raiders.

And then losing to North Carolina in a game where they trailed by zero seconds.

Carolina literally makes the threeest time expires.

Those are Duke's only two losses this season.

So I kind of felt like Duke, the best team in the country.

But as we enter this tournament right now, and this is not to say that Duke can't win.

But again, look, we're trying to project this out before it starts.

Duke has actual legitimate injury concerns.

Caleb Foster is probably not going to play.

He's on a scooter.

I'm going to repeat that.

Caleb Foster is on a scooter.

Which is cool if you're in like seventh grade.

I don't know if it works when you're the starting point guard of the team that's favored to win the national championship.

And the tournament starts, you know tomorrow.

And he probably is not returning for the entire tournament.

Even if Duke makes it to the national championship game, it feels like Caleb Foster is not going to play.

Now, Big Man Patrick Gangba seems to be a little bit more optimistic.

Like he has not been ruled out for the whole tournament.

He's back for Duke's second round game against either Ohio State or TCU.

Maybe he's back for the sweet 16.

It's a little more optimistic on Gangba.

But still, like he's not 100% healthy.

Like doesn't feel great, right?

We can acknowledge that, right?

This is not what you want if you're a Duke fan.

This is not what you want if you're someone that wanted to bet on Duke to win the NCAA tournament.

To have two of your five players hurt entering the big dance.

So I think what we should consider to Duke get bounced early.

Is it possible that Duke's injury concerns and being down even though even if we think Campus is tremendous and he is.

And as I have him tremendous and he is and Shire is tremendous and he is even if that's true.

Could they potentially be upset a little early in the tournament?

Ohio State, I think, has the upside to potentially do it.

And I know a lot of people like TCU in that first round game.

I like Ohio State.

I talked about that on Monday, like in the buck eyes over TCU.

Ohio State definitely has the offensive firepower to get like nuclear for a game and beat Duke.

Then we go to the sweet 16.

And let's say Duke makes it, right?

Which to be fair.

Even if we're saying they could be on upset alert because of the injuries.

They are still the favorite to win the title.

So I'm not saying Duke sucks here.

That's not the point of this.

Just that we have to handicap with the situation we have with a couple injuries.

Now is it possible that it's North and Iowa or Cal Baptist that Duke would play in the sweet 16?

Yes.

Like all things are possible.

It is possible.

But it's exceptionally unlikely.

What's way more likely is that the second round in the top half of the bracket in the east will feature a round of 32 game.

And this makes your mouthwater.

And we said that on Monday.

With Bill Self and Kansas multiple time national championship coach against multiple championship winning head coach Rick Patino and St. John's.

Now I said this on Monday and I'm going to stick with him.

I am really going to like St. John's.

If that's the matchup, St. John's to beat Kansas.

While acknowledging Kansas could one down Peterson could go nuclear.

He's apparently going to be playing in these games.

We think he's going to play in the games.

Kansas to me is way too up and down.

They've been that way all season.

And I have way more confidence in St. John's.

Floor at least even if the ceiling might be higher with Kansas.

St. John's floor in a one game scenario to be able to beat Kansas and advance to the sweet 16.

If Duke's not fully healthy in the sweet 16, here's Rick Patino with a week to prepare.

Here's who be edge of four.

Here's St. John's.

Whoever sent Starling got inserted into the starting lineup following the miserable 42 point effort in the loss in stores against Yukon.

Ever since that.

St. John's back court has been better and St. John's hasn't lost a game.

That's pretty interesting, right?

St. John's against Duke if that's the matchup.

Then we can go to the bottom of the bracket, right?

And again, this is if Duke is not fully healthy.

If Duke's healthy, like your Gungba comes back, even if they just get Gungba back, I think Duke beats every team in this region.

But what if he doesn't come back?

All right.

What if it's Michigan State?

Here's Iso in March.

I don't like Michigan State a lot this year, but you have to acknowledge that their upside is to go to worst Michigan State teams have made runs than this Michigan State team.

And then there's Yukon.

It's the two.

And yes, Yukon lost to Marquette at the end of the regular season.

And yes, Yukon got whipped by St. John's in the Big East title game.

Like Yukon, a UCLA over Yukon will be a popular second round upset.

Yukon will be favored in that game.

And I like if it's Yukon Michigan State, I like Connecticut in that matchup if that's the matchup.

Why can't Yukon beat a less than 100% Duke team in the elite eight?

None of this is to say that Duke's going to get bounced early, right?

But the point of this is when you look at the other side of the bracket, right?

The West and the Midwest.

You better you bet on this Wednesday, Nick Costos here with you.

And you see Arizona as the one in the West.

Is Purdue really an assuming health?

Is Purdue beating Arizona?

I say no way.

And I love Purdue.

I think Purdue's upside is to get to the elite eight and maybe even give Arizona a game.

But is Purdue going to beat Arizona?

I think the answer to that question is unequivocally not.

It's just no.

I don't think BYU is making it out of the first round.

Ergo, I don't think BYU could beat Arizona.

Could Gonzaga beat Arizona?

You know, if Gonzaga gets huffed back, maybe you want to make the case that they could.

I'll take Arizona in that game against Gonzaga.

That would be a little scary for Arizona.

And I do like the Zags.

But I'll take Arizona.

Arkansas has Darius Acuff and like, you know, his ceiling is to go for 40 points in the game.

So of course, in a one game scenario, Arkansas can beat Arizona.

Arizona's way better than Arkansas.

I don't see Arizona getting tripped up.

They could.

I just think it's less likely, right?

For the reasons I've laid out than Duke, most notably health.

And then in the Midwest with Michigan is the one.

Even with Michigan closing the big 10 tournament with, you know, the really close win against

with against Wisconsin with the, with the, uh, the Landaborg 3 and getting blown out.

Not, not blown out, but losing pretty comfortably to Purdue in the big 10 title game.

Even with that, Michigan's the best team in this region, right?

Okay.

Iowa State's a really good two.

I'm, I'm saying right now.

If it's Michigan, Iowa State in the regional final, I am 100% taking Michigan, 100%.

And I like Iowa State, but I'm going to take the Michigan Wolverines.

I think Kentucky's got some serious upside here.

I do, but they've been so inconsistent all year.

It's tough to imagine that they're going to put it all together.

Virginia is a good three seed.

They are.

And if it's not going to be Michigan, maybe Virginia's the team you would look at in this region to make the final four.

I don't think Virginia's in Michigan's class.

Tennessee is the six.

And like I, I like Tennessee.

And I think you can easily say that Tennessee is the best of all four six seeds with, with North Carolina, without Caleb Wilson.

Louisville with Mike Al Brown, his health being an unknown and BYU.

Tennessee is the best six.

But like I don't think Tennessee's ever beating Michigan.

Also Rick Barnes is Tennessee's coach.

Alabama's second best player just got arrested for having like 15 for being so smoke a lot basically from half baked.

Like the biggest marijuana dealer in Tuscaloosa.

So we don't think he's playing in the NCAA tournament.

That hurts the tide.

Texas Tech is without its best player, J.T. Toppen and Christian Anderson.

One of their other best players is also nursing an injury right now.

They're on upsets alert against Akron.

And Georgia or St. Louis in the eight nine are not beating Michigan.

Right.

It's not happening.

I don't think so at least.

So if I'm ranking the one seeds that I think have the best chance to get to the final four.

Arizona and Michigan in whatever order you want to put them in are one and two.

Florida's last because I think Florida's got issues in its back court.

And you know that guard play is a huge thing in the tournament obviously.

And Duke is third.

And that sucks for Duke.

And it sucks for Duke fans.

And it sucks for the Duke players and it sucks for for Caleb Foster and it sucks for Gungbun.

It sucks for John Shire.

It does.

And I wanted to bet Duke.

I've been saying for months that I think Duke's going to do what they should have done last year.

With one of the best teams ever to not win the title.

And I think I thought that Duke would make up for that and win the national championship this year.

And maybe they do and look like.

Here's the beautiful thing about this right.

Like we can all reserve the right to change our minds as the tournament goes on.

So let's say Duke beats Duke crushes CNN in the first round right.

And Duke's getting ready to play Ohio State or TCU and Gungbun comes back.

Okay.

Like yeah, like I'm going to have a different opinion about Duke.

I am.

But as it stands right now.

With the information that we've been presented with right.

This is what we're working with right now.

We don't know how healthy Gungb is.

We think Caleb Foster is done for the season.

Behind Florida.

Duke is the one seed that I think has the best chance of being upset.

And if you agree with me and I don't know how you don't.

If you agree with me.

Who do you like in the East to make the final four?

Because I guarantee you this.

The people that are in your big office pool.

Unless you're in like a really sharp pool.

And I think most pools are not which is fine.

Right.

I was filling up pools when I was seven eight years old.

Yeah, I knew I knew what I'm grinding big 10 basketball.

Picking Indiana and Calpher Cheney in 1993.

I had no idea.

Most pools are like that.

And that's cool.

It's totally fine.

Right.

They're going to take Duke.

Right.

And if not Duke, who are they going to take?

They're going to take Yukon.

Okay.

Yukon lost the market in the regular season finale.

Yukon got blown out by St. John's.

In the biggest championship game.

Just like we talked about in the South region.

Potential opportunity for you to kind of.

Get some distance in between you and the people in your pool.

I think you also have that potentially in the East region.

If you want to be cavalier enough to go away.

From Duke.

And looking if you're a better.

And people way smarter and way better.

Bet tours than me.

And I'll shout out again, my old co-host on you better.

You bet Ken Barkley who has an amazing betting guide,

which I read for the NCAA tournament on his Twitter account

at Locky Lockerson.

People way smarter than me.

Think this as well.

As it concerns the betting market and Duke.

Not that Duke can't or won't win.

But that Duke has injury questions coming into the tournament.

You can be mad about that if you want.

In the same way you can be mad that grass is green.

It's a fact.

And it's our job as fans.

If you're filling out a bracket.

If you're placing bets.

If you want to be smart when you're talking about sports with your friends.

To deal with the facts that you have to work with.

And that's just the way it is.

3108404910 youtube.com backslash at the costos.

Oh, man.

I got to tell you.

I was fired up yesterday.

Because we got a series of NFL mock traps from reputable insiders.

And a number of them had the same thing happening in the top 10.

And it's not Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders.

I'm going to tell you what it is on the other side.

And why the team in question could not will.

But could be this years.

New England Patriots.

That's coming up next to wrap up our number two on a Wednesday.

You better you bet Westwood one sports with Nick Costos.

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You're my woman of spin!

Here he goes!

There am I alone!

Now, back to you better you bet,

with Nick Costos on Westwood One Sports.

Joe Tessator with the call,

last season on ESPN.

We'll talk a little NFL draft

and what was very no worthy yesterday

from the notable mock drafters

and draft analysts nationwide.

We'll do that in just a second.

But we've got to tell you about our show sponsor, Ben MGM,

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So yesterday,

we saw mock drafts,

new NFL mock drafts,

and the NFL draft is coming up like five weeks from now.

Like it's on the way.

Help, the draft is on the way, dear.

Shout out to the late,

great Robin Williams,

as Mrs. Doubtfire.

Yesterday,

we got fresh mock drafts

from Daniel Jeremiah,

a NFL media,

who's going to join us

coming up in the next couple weeks on the show.

Mel Kuiper from ESPM,

and notable friend of the show,

Connor Rogers from NBC Sports.

Now, all of them

have Fernando Mendoza going first over all to the Raiders.

Like, we know that that is going to happen.

That is what the Latin would refer to as,

there are no Latins.

There are Latin Americans.

People don't speak Latin anymore.

Fade a complete is Latin, right?

Am I embarrassing myself right now guys?

Can we look that up?

Anyway, it's a given.

It's a lock.

Fernando Mendoza is going first over all to the Raiders,

so everybody's got that.

The only other thing

that they had in common,

and in the top 10,

that all three of these prominent mock drafts,

Connor Rogers,

Dan Jeremiah,

Mel Kuiper Jr.

It's French,

so I'm a dope.

As the French would say,

I am lesan competum.

The only top 10 match

that they have outside of Mendoza

is Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love

going fourth overall to the Tennessee Titans.

Now, remember what I said on Monday?

That I am hearing here in New York

that the giants are into Jeremiah Love

if he's there at five.

We just saw the Saints sign newly,

newly named Travis HN.

You want to go by,

that's the real pronunciation of his name.

God bless him.

Travis HN.

The Chiefs just signed Kenneth Walker.

Those two teams pick at the end of the top 10.

The thought is that Jeremiah Love

won't be available at the end of the top 10.

And when all the mock drafts,

and they're like calling the mock drafts

kind of like,

they're a great draft analyst, right?

When they all say something,

it doesn't mean it's a lock to happen,

like in the way that Mendoza's

turned the Raiders as a lock to happen,

but it should raise your antenna

a little bit, like,

whoa, they all think this,

that Love's going to Tennessee.

Here's the exercise for everyone.

Here's what I want everybody to think about

as a concerns the AFC South, right?

So, Cam Ward's entering year two.

Let's say it's possible, right?

That Cam Ward takes a big step forward.

Maybe he's not like second to MVP voting

the way Drake May was in year two,

but Cam Ward,

how could he not take a step forward?

The team is light years better now

than it was a couple of weeks ago.

Like, I think Wondale Robinson

might not be a great,

maybe they overpaid for me.

Good wide receiver,

good receiver.

They have a whole new secondary,

like good new members of the defense of line,

a new coaching staff that is way better

than it was last year with Robert Sala and Brian Dable.

Can't be worse than it was last year, right?

Now, consider the rest of the division.

And of all the teams that made the playoffs last year,

Buffalo, Denver, New England,

the Chargers,

the Texans,

let's leave the Steelers out of it.

The only team that got worse, definitely,

no question about it,

is the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars are worse today

than they were a couple of weeks ago.

Fact doesn't mean that they're not going to win a million games.

They are not as good.

They've lost players.

They are not as good now as they were a few weeks ago.

Daniel Jones is coming off a tour in Achilles,

the cold truck out on Trey Hendrixson.

What if CJ Stroud stinks this year for the Texans?

Like, that's a possibility.

Now, imagine that we can think

that the Titans should not draft a running back in the top 10.

And I think that that's actually true.

I would hate it from a team building perspective.

But if you squint,

you really think about it.

Can you see it

for the Titans

with the remade defense,

better coaching staff,

hamward year two,

better receiving corps,

and Jeremiah Love,

being a surprise team this year in the AFC,

and a factor in the AFC South.

If and when,

the Titans take Jeremiah Love,

I will hate the pick again.

I will hate it from a team building perspective.

While also acknowledging

that there could be legitimate excitement this year

around the Tennessee Titans.

And with that,

as we always do at the end of our number two here on Do You Better,

you bet on Westwood One Sports,

let's discuss the game.

What should we call it?

I think it's going to be the biggest game of the night

in the world of sports.

So Kenny, how do we refer to that here on the show?

The game of the night.

I have an idea for a bit.

The idea for the bit is I just call it the game of the night

and then everyone cracks their mic on the show crew.

And says game of the night one after another.

That's my idea for the bit.

So tonight's game of the night

is in the first four in the NCAA tournament

where we will have Miami of Ohio

playing what is basically a home game for them against SMU.

The Mustangs are seven and a half point favorites.

The total in the game is 162 and a half.

That total has been bet down over the course,

literally, of this morning.

Miami of Ohio took its first loss of the season last week

and the Mac tournament to UMass, not even to Akram.

And we're the last team in like 68 of 68 into the field.

And everybody hates Miami, Ohio.

And everyone's done talking about Miami, Ohio.

And all the sharps are on SMU.

Joey Canish on our show Monday.

Prosports better saying that the public,

the morons, the squares,

will be on Miami, Ohio.

Well, as Huey Lewis famously said,

it's hip to be square.

Home game for Miami.

Travis Steel.

Only lost one game this season.

Forget about the points.

I'll take them.

But I'm back in that son of a bitch up.

Give me Miami, Ohio on the money line.

Oh, yeah.

To beat SMU tonight in the game of the night in sports.

Power our final hour coming up next,

all our bets for tonight.

Joe Fortenbaugh, ESPN sports betting analyst

on the NCAA tournament.

But we will kick things off.

John Fanta, NBC sports on the big dance.

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