Takes

Texas will beat Nevada in their tournament matchup.

That's going to be one of their close, tight games of the day. And let's wade in on Texas to pull that one out... Jump on the longhorns.

The Chicago Bears are officially back because they signed Allen Robinson and have Kevin White returning

I think the Bears might be back. Yeah, I think the Bears are on their way back... They have their number one wide receiver coming back, Kevin White. And now they've got [Allen Robinson].

Butler is doomed in the tournament because live animals aren't allowed in the stadium

In the first two rounds of this tournament, there will be zero live animals allowed into the buildings. So there are going to be tons of teams that don't have their live bulldog mascots. Butler's fucked.

Davidson is the perfect team to upset Kentucky

Davidson over Kentucky, even though I really like Kentucky... Davidson's red hot... They feel like the perfect upset kind of team that they have upperclassmen and a lot of different guys who can score.

North Carolina will win the West Region

I think it's North Carolina's to lose. I think Gonzaga could give them a fun game in the Elite Eight, but I think Carolina's the best team.

Villanova will go to the Final Four if they survive the second round

Villanova got a great draw if they can just get over the second-round hump... If you're asking me, is West Virginia better than Villanova, the answer is clearly no. I think it's Villanova.

2018 is the year a #16 seed finally beats a #1 seed, likely Penn over Kansas

I'm going to say this is the year that a 16 over one happens because why not? ... Penn, Kansas seems to be the one... If Kansas played Penn in a seven-game series, they're obviously going to move on, but it's a one-shot deal.

Duke is going to win the national championship

Duke is winning it all... Them and Michigan State are the only two teams in college basketball that are top ten defense and offense in KenPalm. It just feels like a Duke year.

New Mexico State will upset Clemson in the first round

New Mexico State over Clemson is like the 12-5 I believe in the most... That's my one big upset.

Marshall will pull a first-round upset over Wichita State

I'll call my shot. I'm going to take Marshall over Wichita State.

South Dakota State will upset Ohio State in the first round

I'm going to take South Dakota State over Ohio State.

This is Tom Izzo's final year coaching at Michigan State

One of my who's backs is, this is Coach Izzo's swan song. I'm just going to say it. This is his final year.

Duke is 100% guaranteed to win the 2018 National Championship

We all know that Duke's winning the national championship, so we don't have to worry about that. ... Play one shining moment right now. Yes, it's over.

I am officially winning all my bets this year

This is the year I'm going to win all my bets. So it happens every year right before March Madness. I tell myself, give myself a little pep talk, but I think this is going to be the year.

The Duke Blue Devils will win the national championship

The Duke Blue Devils are going to win the national championship. All right. And this isn't a reverse jinx. I know you're thinking, Big Cat, you hate Duke... No, no, no. They're definitely going to win the national championship. You heard it here first. It's done. They shouldn't even play it.

Villanova will lose to Duke in the national championship in overtime

I think that Villanova is going to lose in the national championship to Duke in overtime.

Oklahoma is out of the NCAA tournament

Oklahoma, they're out. Out. They're out. I was just thinking that today.

Johnny Manziel's football comeback is for real

I talk to Johnny [Manziel] once a week, and I truly believe, like, you know, this is it. You know, it's a whole comeback season movement is a great movement... Nothing would be doper to see Johnny come back to the National Football League and just tear stuff up.

I have about 10 years left in the NFL

I probably got, like, 10 more [years]... I probably got, like, six or, like, seven, like, real years in me. Then the last three, I just steal. Just go to, like, just pass rush on third down.

Shaquem Griffin will translate successfully to the NFL

He's already proven that he can play. He's been playing football his whole entire life... He already has the measurables. He's already shown that he's gonna play that is gonna translate over into the National Football League... you definitely want a guy like that on your team.

Every state in the US will eventually legalize marijuana

Every state is going to be legalized. It's just a matter of time.

I won't be the play-by-play announcer for Thursday Night Football on Fox

[Are you going to do Thursday Night Football this year?] No. ... I think they want their own identity. ... We would have to do 11. And then I've got the baseball playoffs at the beginning when that whole thing kicks in. So I think it would be tough to do.

My people are saying Bryce Harper will sign with either the Red Sox or the Cubs

My people are saying... That he [Bryce Harper] is going to go to the Boston Red Sox. Or Wrigley. Yeah, my people are saying he's going to the Cubs. ... I'd like it on the crawl that I've reported. ... likely the Cubs or the Red Sox.

Tom Izzo is on the hot seat if Michigan State doesn't reach the Sweet 16

Final Four or bust, is Tom Izzo on the hot seat? You've got to say, if he gets bounced before the Sweet 16, he's on that hot seat.

It is obvious that the Bears will try to acquire a wide receiver this year

Are we going to get a wide receiver this year? I mean, I don't think we're — we try not to be overly transparent, but I think that's pretty obvious. Okay. All right. Breaking news. Bears are going to try to get a wide receiver.

Josh Allen might go number one overall because of our draftjoshallen.com campaign

I said it on Wednesday's show, but I think with what we're doing for Josh Allen, he might sneak in and get all the way up to number one. He might. Just from us.

Get Out will win Best Picture at the Oscars

I'm going to go with Get Out. [for Best Picture winner]

Dunkirk will win Best Picture because the Oscars love movies about British history

I'll go with Dunkirk because I feel like the Oscars loves picking movies there no one talks [about]. God they love picking those. I'm going Dunkirk as well.

I will win at least one Super Bowl before I retire

[Big Cat mentions Pete Prisco predicted Bortles wins one Super Bowl] Wow. Yeah. You heard it from Pete first. [Bortles agreeing with the sentiment of the conversation].

I am going into the rematch with Triple G with the mindset of knocking him out

I'm going with the same mentality as he is. I'm going in with the mentality of knocking him out. So we can only wait and see.

Josh Allen will break the NFL by throwing the ball 90 yards at his pro day

Somebody on the NFL Network just said that Josh Allen is going to throw the ball 90 yards at his pro day... You know what? Is he going to break the NFL? Yeah, don't even let receivers run routes for him. Just have him stand back and just throw the ball as hard as he can like 10 or 20 times in a row.

Josh Allen will be the number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft

I think [Josh Allen] might go number one because of us. ... Four and a half million people are debating whether or not to take Josh Allen first.

Kyle Schwarber is going to be a Hall of Famer

That's me with Kyle Schwarber. He's going to be a Hall of Famer. I've said it before. And this is the first step.

I will hit a home run (or at least reach the warning track) in my professional baseball debut

I plan on hitting a home run. ... I'll hit one at least at a warning track. ... I'll go $10,000 to a charity if I don't get one.

Blake Bortles is a lock to be the Jaguars' starter next year

So I guess Blake is, I guess, a minute as a starter next year. Yeah. So Kirk Cousins, one less spot.

The New Zealand Breakers should draft Josh Allen with their first pick

With our first pick, we're drafting Josh Allen. I don't think we're allowed to do that... We've offered Josh Allen a spot on the roster. Yes, we're going to do a lot of stuff even though I don't think we're allowed to do that either.

Curling, lacrosse, and rugby will be the only sports left by 2050

In the year 2050, those [curling, lacrosse, and rugby] are going to be the only three options of sports that you have.

The Philadelphia sports winning streak will end when baseball season starts

I mean, I don't know when this run is going to cease. Probably baseball season. Hopefully. Definitely baseball season.

Indiana is a sleeper to make a run in the Big Ten tournament

Indiana. Indiana is a sleeper to make a move. They don't have a bad draw as it sits right now... I like the way they guard... I think Indiana has a chance to be a sleeper.

Michigan will likely win the Big Ten tournament

Well, Michigan's playing better than anybody... I'll say they're playing the best... Back to the Big Ten term, don't be surprised if Michigan doesn't win it. Michigan's damn good right now.

Josh Allen will be the number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft

We now have a place for all you Josh Allen fans out there to learn more about Josh Allen at draftjoshallen.com. I, for one, feel bullish about where we're going with this website... [Mel Kiper] putting Josh Allen at number one on his big board. Twice, though.

Kansas and Arizona are the two schools most at risk in the FBI scandal

The FBI scandal, the thing that no one talks about is I think Kansas and Arizona are the two schools most at risk, but your boys down at Duke, I'd be nervous if I were them because Jeff Capel kind of buddies with those with these dudes that are implicated in the FBI.

Virginia will not win the championship because their style of basketball is too terrible

I can tell you the team that's not going to win. I guarantee you Virginia won't win because God does not allow that terrible form of basketball to win a championship.

Ryan Tannehill is awesome and will take the next step next year

Yeah, I think Ryan Tannehill is awesome. [He will] take the next step.

The Blackhawks core will be fine after a full summer to recharge

That core group of players has played a lot of hockey over the last eight or nine years... they're not getting that summer, the proper summer training... I think they're going to be okay.

The Nashville Predators or Pittsburgh Penguins will win the 2018 Stanley Cup

If I had to go gun to your head... safe bet, I'd probably pick Nashville. East is going to be tough. Let's go, I'll say Pittsburgh again.

Josh Allen will be the number one pick in the 2018 NFL Draft

So Josh Allen, the tallest quarterback that's ever played football, also going to be the number one pick in this year's draft.

Gonzaga is currently undervalued and capable of a deep tournament run

My initial reaction to that question [dark horse] would be Gonzaga. I think they are really good. I think they can go to the bench. I think Rui Hachimura is a potential breakout star... I really like their team.

Virginia Tech is a dark horse to make a deep run in March

You know who I like? Because I think they're deep enough. I like Virginia Tech... I like their team because they can beat you different ways. Now, they've got to defend better... I think they can do that. So that would be a team just off the top of my head in that realm that I would look at.

Villanova will be a championship threat once they get Phil Booth back

When they get [Phil] Booth back, and now that the freshmen have been able to play these minutes... I wouldn't want to have to deal with them. They can beat you so many different ways.