Show Notes
Griffin Warner and Lonte Smith talk 1st round of the college football playoffs. Plus, the guys also discuss Army vs navy and best bets. Griffin Warner and Lonte Smith open the show with quick banter before reviewing their 2-0 best-bet week, noting Ohio State–Indiana unfolded exactly as anticipated: low scoring, defenses strong, offenses vanilla by design, and neither team revealing much ahead of the postseason. They discuss how little the matchup changed their power ratings and then touch on Texas’ playoff snub, criticizing the committee’s logic and the incentives it creates. Turning to Army–Navy, they view the number as fair, lean to the under and the dog based on service-academy tendencies, and expect a slow, clock-draining, defensive game where Navy may win but Army should stay inside the number. They move to Oregon vs. James Madison, where Oregon is a large favorite at home. Lonte argues JMU’s trench issues against Troy signal major problems in Autzen, though he prefers Oregon team-total overs due to their explosive home scoring. He expects Oregon to blitz early, build a big lead, and possibly allow a late backdoor if backups enter, while JMU’s QB Barnett is dangerous enough to score in garbage time. Griffin agrees the over makes sense given Oregon’s likelihood of dominating early and easing late. Next is Texas A&M vs. Miami, with A&M a small home favorite. They discuss Miami’s strong close to the season, its road wins under pressure, and its argument for playoff inclusion. Both hosts criticize the ACC’s decision-making but see Miami as undervalued. Lonte highlights Miami’s defense, pass rush, and success vs. mobile QBs; he sees A&M as overrated, weakened late in the year, and fortunate in several wins. Griffin questions A&M’s offense under Marcel Reed and doubts he can exploit Miami’s secondary. Both lean Miami plus the points. They then cover Ole Miss vs. Tulane, a playoff rematch the committee could have avoided. Ole Miss, breaking in a new head coach but retaining its staff and play-calling continuity, already beat Tulane 45–10 and has major motivational edges: first playoff appearance, first home playoff game, and desire to prove stability post-Lane Kiffin. Tulane’s coach is outbound, and its offense lacks firepower. Lonte expects another decisive Ole Miss win and sees them as undervalued relative to Oregon’s larger spread. Finally, they analyze Alabama at Oklahoma, with Alabama a small road favorite. Lonte expects Alabama to close as the favorite, believing sharp money will land on the Tide despite their poor showing vs. Georgia. He argues Oklahoma’s offense is limited, over-dependent on QB Mateer’s legs, and unlikely to exploit Alabama vertically, while Alabama’s run defense and preparation time favor a tighter, more disciplined Tide performance. Griffin questions how OU’s home field and Alabama’s inconsistency factor in, but both see Alabama as the higher-rated team despite the earlier head-to-head loss. They close with best bets: Lonte on Ole Miss −17.5, projecting another blowout; Griffin on Miami +3.5, citing matchup advantages and skepticism of A&M’s offense. Promo code information and closing remarks follow, encouraging listeners to engage on social channels and look ahead to more bowl-game analysis.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from RJ Bell's Dream Preview
RJ bell and Munaf Manji talk betting for NFL Week 7. RJ Bell and Munaf Manji deliver a true hour of power for NFL Week 7, building a nine play betting card at Pregame.com with Dave Essler joining on Sunday Night Football. At 0:05, RJ opens with the early bird NBA All Access package using coupon code DUNK, plus a bulk dollars special where 200 dollars gets you 400 to spend on anything at Pregame.com, and Munaf shares an 11 and 5 basketball run and a 15 and 1 stretch over his last 16 NFL picks. At 2:48, RJ sets the tone with a lesson in honest handicapping, arguing that bettors should state the real reason they like a game, whether it is weather or anything else, rather than a supporting stat that only sounds good. At 4:37, the hosts marvel at the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers combining for two wins, and Munaf runs through a Rams injury list that includes Davante Adams out six to 10 weeks, Puka Nacua dealing with a calf issue and no sign of Myles Garrett returning soon. At 7:03, RJ makes Carolina his 5 unit best bet against Tampa Bay, calling it a rare emotional spot for a team that beat Philadelphia without playing its best and now gets a chance to make a real statement, while Munaf credits Bryce Young and Dave Canales for a season of 11 touchdowns against two interceptions. At 11:04, Munaf takes the Green Bay Packers team total over 25.5 at Detroit, explaining that Green Bay struggled against four top 11 defenses before scoring 31 on Chicago and 23 on Dallas, with Josh Jacobs returning and the game total sitting at 53.5. At 14:13, RJ backs the Las Vegas Raiders for 4 units against a Rams team in disarray, pointing to motivation, a competitive Klint Kubiak team that covered two of three losses to the Bills, Chiefs and Patriots, and a fan base ready to rock. At 18:20, Munaf plays Ja’Marr Chase over 78.5 receiving yards against Baltimore, noting at least 112 yards in each of the last four meetings and a Bengals team coming off a bye. At 21:06, RJ takes Kenneth Walker III over 3.5 receptions in his return to Seattle, reasoning that the Seahawks will sell out against the run while ranking in the mid 20s against running backs as receivers, and Munaf adds that opposing backs average 5.33 catches per game against Seattle with Kansas City thin at wide receiver. At 23:59, Munaf goes under 37.5 in Browns vs Titans, an eye test call on Cam Ward, Deshaun Watson and two offenses stuck in low scoring games. At 26:20, Dave Essler takes the Chiefs plus the field goal at Seattle, citing a better coach, a better quarterback, a better defense and the edge of Walker knowing the Seattle defense from the inside. At 29:01, RJ adds a 2 unit play on the Miami Dolphins against a Jets team built to lose close games, and at 30:47 he closes with Christian McCaffrey over 41.5 receiving yards after Mike Evans exited last week. At 32:38, the hosts recap the full card, with RJ on the Panthers, Raiders, Walker receptions, Dolphins and McCaffrey yards, and Munaf on the Packers team total, Ja’Marr Chase and the Browns vs Titans under.
RJ Bell and Munaf Manji talk betting for NFL Week 6. RJ Bell is back from the injured list and ready to attack the NFL Week 6 board alongside Munaf Manji, Sleepy J and Uncle Dave Essler on this edition of the RJ Bell Dream Podcast from the Pregame.com Podcast Network. The show opens at 00:05 with RJ celebrating the return of the NBA and explaining why basketball is the ultimate volume sport, with Dream Podcast listeners able to get every NBA and college basketball play from their chosen Pregame.com handicapper through mid June 2027 for 777 dollars with code LUCKY, and at 02:03 Munaf recaps an 11 and 5 NBA playoff run worth 11.43 units. At 04:27 RJ delivers his five weight best bet, Tampa Bay plus two and a half at home against Pittsburgh, arguing that Vita Vea and a dominant Bucs run defense erase the play action game that makes Aaron Rodgers dangerous and force the Steelers into obvious passing downs. At 07:44 RJ lays out his quarterback tiers, separating the few passers who can carry a team from the group that can still win when the defense knows a pass is coming, and the crew debates whether Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson belong at the top. At 12:38 Munaf runs through a Steelers injury report that leaves Rodgers without Roman Wilson, Michael Pittman Jr. and Ben Skowronek. At 13:32 Munaf names his best bet, the Giants plus one and a half at home against the Saints, pointing to a New Orleans offense that has lost the turnover battle three straight weeks and a New York front seven built to force Tyler Shough into mistakes, and at 16:23 RJ explains why roughly 70 percent of turnovers are luck while the other 30 percent reflects repeatable traits. At 19:12 RJ grades his four weight play, Browns and Ravens under 41, citing the Cleveland home defense, a less than healthy Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore knowledge of head coach Todd Monken, and at 22:41 Munaf backs it with an 18 and 9 and 2 under record for the Browns as home underdogs since 2018. At 23:36 Munaf takes the over 53.5 in Bills and Raiders, noting Buffalo is 4 and 1 to the over and Las Vegas allowed 75 points over its last two games, but at 26:37 RJ pumps the brakes on small samples and makes the Raiders his one weight play, betting that Josh Allen saves his reckless best for true must win moments. At 31:33 RJ backs Carolina as his three weight against a travel weary Eagles team without Jalen Hurts, with a bonus sprinkle on Carolina minus 17.5, and at 34:16 Munaf takes Cam Skattebo over 58.5 rushing yards against a Saints defense allowing 5.09 yards per carry to running backs. At 35:47 RJ adds the Titans team total over 17.5 as Cam Ward and rookie Carnell Tate fight to prove the rebuild is on track, and at 39:56 RJ breaks down the shrinking window for young quarterbacks. At 41:56 Uncle Dave Essler delivers his best bet, Houston plus two and a half over Jacksonville, citing the luck behind the Jaguars record, a Jacksonville pass defense ranked 30th, Marvin Harrison Jr. reuniting with C.J. Stroud, DeMeco Ryans calling the defense again and a 13 of 16 Houston run in the series. The episode closes at 46:24 with RJ performing a one man improv scene starring DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio, proving once again that this crew brings sharp numbers, honest records and plenty of fun every single week.
Munaf Manji and SleepyJ talk betting for NFL Week 5. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Munaf Manji and SleepyJ talk betting for NFL Week 4. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
RJ Bell and Munaf Manji talk NFL Betting for Week 3. RJ Bell comes into NFL Week 3 riding a perfect 5 and 0 Week 2, and he and Munaf Manji waste no time building a sharp betting card on the Pregame.com Podcast Network. At 0:04 RJ opens with the Pregame.com Weekender offer, every pick from a chosen pro through Monday for just 10 dollars with code WEEKEND10, spotlighting hot runs from Goodfella and Stephen Nover. At 1:40 the recap begins, with RJ celebrating his sweep and Munaf reporting that his Panthers best bet cashed. At 4:25 RJ unveils his five unit best bet, the second half under 22.5 in Kansas City at Miami, arguing that for the first time in years the Chiefs are set up to protect a halftime lead and take the air out of the ball. Munaf backs the angle at 8:27, crediting Kenneth Walker III and the return of Eric Bieniemy, and at 9:41 RJ explains why a Chiefs team laying double digits on the road has exceeded expectations with Patrick Mahomes looking sharper each week. At 11:03 Munaf makes his best bet, the Saints minus 3 against the Raiders in the New Orleans home opener, pointing to Tyler Shough, strong halftime adjustments under Kellen Moore, and a 9 and 1 run against the spread over the last 10 games. At 14:14 RJ pushes back, calling the Raiders somewhat for real and explaining why roughly 11 games are needed before the priors from last season stop mattering, before flagging the Brock Bowers injury as the key variable. At 18:48 RJ goes four units on Jacksonville minus 2.5 against a tired, banged up New England team, and at 22:40 Dave Essler, Uncle Diamond Dave, lands on the same side, citing injuries to Mike Onwenu, Carlton Davis and more, plus the absence of A.J. Brown. At 25:17 Munaf likes the over 52.5 in the Cowboys and Ravens game in Brazil, but at 26:49 RJ counters with a telling trend, Dallas 28 and 23 against the spread on turf and 8 and 14 on grass since 2022, and the pair land on a Ravens team total over 28.5 as the smarter play. At 30:26 RJ backs the Titans against a Giants team reeling from the loss of Jaxson Dart, with Brian Daboll facing his former team. At 36:01 Munaf pairs his prop with the RJ best bet, Kenneth Walker III over 17.5 rush attempts after back to back games of 23 and 24 carries. At 39:56 RJ takes the Broncos plus 2.5 against a Rams team without Myles Garrett and likely Puka Nacua, making a trip he calls Australia to altitude, and Munaf adds that Denver is 16 and 4 straight up at home since Bo Nix arrived. At 46:17 RJ closes with a contrarian look at the Buccaneers, a team nobody wants to bet, which is exactly why he likes the price. It is a tight, sharp episode packed with best bets, player props, line value and honest debate, the kind of Week 3 preparation every serious bettor needs before kickoff, and RJ and Munaf promise to be back next week with another full card.