PMT DB
PMT DB
Blake Griffin on the Nets, March Madness Picks with Stanford Steve, and NFL Free Agency
March is finally here, and the energy in the studio is through the roof. Big Cat and PFT are buzzing with that specific nervous excitement that only comes when you're about to bet on 32 games in 48 hours. Before diving into the bracket, they took a look at the NFL landscape, specifically the quarterback carousel that landed Mitch Trubisky in Buffalo. Big Cat isn't mourning the loss; he's actually looking at it as a strategic retreat for the former number two pick.
Big CatMitch Trubisky will rehab his image in Buffalo and get another starting opportunity next year
If [Mitch Trubisky] spends a year as Josh Allen's backup, I think that the negative media around Mitch will dissipate. And then next year, he will be a name where it's kind of the Jameis Winston. It's like, oh, well, let's give him a try. He was a top pick. He was a No. 2 pick.
PFT is meanwhile convincing himself that the much-maligned NFC East is actually a sleeping giant ready to wake up and terrorize the rest of the league this fall.
PFT CommenterThe NFC East is going to be dangerous this year
The entire NFC East is getting dangerous. The Beast, baby... We're Joaquin Phoenix's Joker. You guys all laughed at us last year. Now we're about to just flip out and shoot everybody.
The conversation shifted to the massive new NFL TV deal, which sparked a classic Big Cat rant about the state of cord-cutting. What was supposed to save us money has turned into a fragmented mess where you need five different logins just to watch a Thursday night game.
Big CatStreaming services have just become a more expensive version of the traditional cable package
I can't believe no one is making a big stink about the fact that cord cutting, oh, I can cut all my costs. Now you just have to buy all of the streaming services, which is exactly what cable was... Now I have Amazon Prime. I have Hulu. I have Netflix. I have Disney Plus. And then you look at it all and you're like, wait, I just have a cable package.
The Bracket Breakdown with Stanford Steve
To get the people's minds right for the tournament, the guys brought on the heaviest hitter in the betting world, Stanford Steve. He showed up with a veteran's perspective on how to actually navigate the madness without losing your shirt. One of his biggest tips involves a psychological trick to keep yourself from falling for the "prisoner of the moment" traps that happen every year during conference tournament week.
Stanford SteveFill out a bracket when it comes out, then bet against it once the games start
As soon as the bracket comes out, you have to fill out a bracket and stash it away until right before the games are out... You just fill out a bracket without everybody saying right at that point. And then you put it away till Thursday and then you bet against it. It really works out a lot of the time.
Steve also pointed out that while everyone looks at the players, the real value is often found in the guys on the sidelines with the clipboards. He’s looking at coaches who have historically owned the spread when the lights are the brightest.
Stanford SteveBet on coaches who have high ATS (against the spread) records in the NCAA Tournament
How about coaches' records against the spread in the tournament? You know, I look at a team like Syracuse... But USC's head coach, Andy Enfield, you remember him back at Florida Gulf Coast, 7-0 all time against the spread in the tournament. 7-0.
Specific matchups were on the menu, and Steve is high on the Syracuse Orange. He thinks Jim Boeheim's legendary 2-3 zone is going to be even more effective this year because teams didn't get the usual non-conference reps to figure out how to crack it.
Stanford SteveThe Syracuse zone will be a nightmare for opponents due to the lack of non-conference play
Syracuse is a team, especially in a year like this, where nobody really played out of conference games, that zone can be an [motherfucker] to you... I think they have athleticism... Them and matching up with West Virginia in the second round is a really, really interesting game.
Big Cat, ever the Wisconsin optimist, found a way to talk himself into the Badgers pulling off an upset over North Carolina. It all comes down to tempo and preventing Roy Williams from turning the game into a track meet.
Big CatWisconsin will beat North Carolina because the Badgers won't let Roy Williams play in transition
I've talked myself all the way into Wisconsin beating UNC... As bad as they've been this year, I think that's like the one thing Wisconsin doesn't lose at is they will not let you beat them in transition, and that's what Roy Williams wants to do.
When it came time for the big trophy, Steve is fading the undefeated Zags in the final game. He thinks the depth and athleticism of the Baylor Bears will be too much for Mark Few’s squad to handle.
Stanford SteveBaylor will beat Gonzaga for the National Championship
I have Baylor beating Gonzaga [in the final]. I actually had a bet on Baylor. I think they were getting four against Gonzaga... I think when you watch Baylor, they just have it all to me.
Blake Griffin Double Crosses the Pod
Our good friend Blake Griffin stopped by to discuss his move to the Brooklyn Nets and his new prank show on TruTV, *Double Cross*. He actually started the interview by revealing he had already pranked Big Cat and PFT by naming *Armchair Expert* as his favorite podcast in a recent article. After the guys stopped crying, Blake opened up about his free agency process and the other contenders that were in the mix before he decided to ring-chase in Brooklyn.
Blake GriffinI considered Boston, Golden State, and Portland before signing with the Nets
I will tell you some of the teams... I really liked Boston. I really liked Golden State. I really liked Portland. There was a few other teams... but I had a tough decision. But ultimately, I had to do what was best for me and I think my ability to get a dunk.
Blake also addressed the "gravity" situation, noting that while the internet is obsessed with his lack of dunks over the last couple of seasons, it’s really only been a handful of games in actual basketball time. He seems ready to remind everyone why he was a Jordan Brand athlete for so long once he hits the floor with KD and Kyrie.
Final Four Picks and Fyre Fest
The episode wrapped up with everyone putting their reputations on the line with official Final Four picks. Big Cat is riding with a mix of chalk and some Big East loyalty.
Big CatMy Final Four picks: Gonzaga, UConn, Illinois, and Arkansas
I have Gonzaga, UConn, Huskies are back, Illinois. And Arkansas. That's my Final Four.
Even Billy Football got in on the action, though his picks were slightly hindered by the fact that he didn't realize certain teams were in the same region. Classic Billy.
Billy FootballMy Final Four: Gonzaga, Iowa, Michigan, and Texas Tech
Gonzaga... Michigan... Texas Tech... [Iowa]. Gonzaga, Iowa, Michigan, Texas Tech. That is your final four. All Big Ten, I love it.
In Fyre Fest of the week, Big Cat took aim at the future of the NFL broadcast booth. With Drew Brees heading to NBC, the forecast for entertaining color commentary is looking pretty bleak.
Big CatDrew Brees will not be a good broadcaster
I got a hot take. I don't think Drew Brees is going to be that good in the booth... There's going to be a wave of people being like, and as much shit as we give Tony Romo, he's objectively good... I don't think Drew Brees has a personality. I would sell all my stock on Drew Brees being good in the booth.
Good luck to everyone's brackets, unless you picked Wichita State, in which case we hope you lose everything.
