The Carla and Crappy Show

Carla and Crappy Show: The Yay Feetball! Edition

It’s Week 8 of the college football season, and yes, Ellie, “yay, feetball” indeed.
It’s here. The weekend that Carla and Crappy have been anticipating since … oh, the end of last season. 
Penn State. Ohio State. Drew Allar. Kyle McCord. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. And … Daequan Hardy? (Who?)
But before we get completely lost in that game, there are other matters at hand. Carla gleefully explains the Stanford Postulate (it lives!) and recaps an Oregon/Washington game that absolutely lived up to the hype. Crappy, meanwhile, offers his thoughts on USC/Notre Dame and takes some time to recap his (chilly and soggy) trip to Ithaca to watch Cornell (and, more importantly, starting RB Drew Powell) last weekend. The Big Red Bears host Brown this Saturday (Noon ET, ESPN+).
Then, AJ joins us with an absolutely loaded #GroupOfFiveAfterDark report that begins on Thursday and continues nearly non-stop through late Saturday night, including an after-dark FCS game that’s absolutely worth caffeinating for. (Shout out, Big Sky!) 
And then … to the games at hand. But not that one. We’ll save that one for last.
No. 17 Tennessee at No. 11 Alabama (3:30 ET, CBS): Bama is absolutely mortable this year … but the Vols haven’t been great on the road.
No. 16 Duke at No. 4 Florida State (7:30 ET, ABC): If this game was in Durham, we might have different opinions. Also, the line is real silly here.
No. 14 Utah at No. 18 USC (8 ET, FOX): They have a fantastic defense, but without Cam Rising, the Utes just aren’t quite the same team. USC might be done nationally, but not this week.
Finally … 
No. 7 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State (The Biggest of Nude Saturdays, FOX): It goes without saying that Carla and Crappy have lots of thoughts about this one. Carla’s pleased with her Nits’ confidence entering the Shoe, while Crappy boasts about his Bucks’ play last weekend against Purdue. The Fun Index on this game is silly low … but it might be on point. All we know for sure? One of us is going to be quite unhappy next week.
To wrap things up, Carla offers a reason to be interested in No. 2 Michigan at Michigan State (7:30 ET, ABC). Crappy’s too amped to have a final thought. Yep, really. That’s how big this game is. 
So, here we go. Enjoy the “feetball” this weekend … and come back next week to see whether or not we’re speaking to each other. (Ha!) Cheers, yinz!

Carla and Crappy Show: The Late-Night Exams Edition

It’s Week 7 – the midway point of the college football season (if you can believe that already). Which means only one thing: It’s time for midterms. In true academic fashion, Carla grades her performance after last week’s parity-filled picks. (She passed, but barely.) Crappy, on the other hand, doles out failing grades to the USC defense as well as the Miami coaching staff. (Take a knee! Like, for real!) In the Big Red Bears Report, while Cornell didn’t have a great time at Harvard, our favorite starting running back Drew Powell had a solid game, and Crappy previews the family’s upcoming trip to what will likely be a damp and chilly Ithaca this weekend as Cornell hosts Bucknell (1 ET, ESPN+). Then AJ joins the conversation, with a laundry list of really good #GroupOfFiveAfterDark games, beginning on Friday the 13th. Nope. Nothing ominous about that. And then it’s time for our next test: Can we all stay up late this week? Because the night slate is so good, we have to. AJ is even offering extra credit for watching San Diego State at Hawaii (11 ET, CBSSN). Ready? Caffeinate appropriately, friends. Let’s do this. No. 8 Oregon at No. 7 Washington (3:30 ET, ABC): This game should rank right up there in the top games so far this season. The difference here might be Oregon’s defense. (Yes, we just said that.) Texas A&M at No. 19 Tennessee (3:30 ET, CBS): The Aggies had Bama on the ropes last week. Is Tennessee good? We’re not sure … but the Vols do tend to play better in the comfy confines of Neyland. No. 10 USC at No. 21 Notre Dame (7:30 ET, NBC): So, yeah. About that USC defense. That should be a factor in this game as the Irish look to bounce back. No. 25 Miami at No. 12 North Carolina (7:30 ET, ABC): Carolina is legit good. The Canes are coming in after an inexplicable loss despite a really, really good rush defense. Can the Heels remain unbeaten? No. 18 UCLA at No. 15 Oregon State (8 ET, FOX): Congrats, UCLA. Your reward for last week’s big win? A night game at Corvallis against DJ U and the Beavs offense. Carla gives honorable mention to Missouri at No. 24 Kentucky (7:30 ET, SECN), as if you didn’t have enough already to pay attention to in the late window. Crappy, meanwhile, explains why road games at Purdue give him heartburn. So, there you have it. Stay up late. Get an afternoon coffee or tea or energy drink. Let’s finish midterms strong, friends! We’ll see you back here next week for … the game of the year. You won’t want to miss it.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Agree To Disagree Edition

It’s Week 6 of the college football season, and Carla and Crappy decide to attempt a fun exercise: Name the best five teams right now in college football.
It proved to be a much more challenging task than it originally seemed. We’re not sure Carla ever actually settled on five teams – it was more like six or seven – and Crappy had similar struggles.
Looking back at last weekend’s action alone, Carla questions Georgia and Notre Dame and their need for late-game heroics, while Crappy goes after USC’s lack of defense. 
There really aren’t any really clear frontrunners at this point. Parity is a real thing in 2023. Does anyone want to be No. 1?
What we do know for sure is that you can watch the Big Red Bears on national television on Friday night, as Cornell travels to Harvard (7 ET Friday, ESPNU). And AJ, as per usual, has an incredible menu of #GroupOfFiveAfterDark games for you to choose from all weekend long.
But when it comes time for our picks, for the first time in a really long time on this little prognostication podcast, Carla and Crappy have differing opinions in all but a couple of games. It’s a good slate, particularly in the first window. 
No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Texas (Noon ET, ABC): The Sooners have been quietly flying under the national radar … which means that this could spell trouble for Texas in the Elmer Fudd Invitational.
Maryland at No. 4 Ohio State (Big Nude, FOX): The Terps have high hopes in this one, but we agree (a rare thing!) that Ohio State should hold the upper hand in the Shoe. 
No. 23 LSU at No. 21 Missouri (Noon ET, ESPN): One of these Tiger teams is unbeaten … and it’s not LSU. 
No. 11 Alabama at Texas A&M (3:30 ET, CBS): Has Bama righted the ship? Or can the Aggie defense prevail at home?
No. 20 Kentucky at No. 1 Georgia (7 ET, ESPN): Hoo boy, do we both wish this game was in Lexington. But it’s not. Georgia isn’t mortable … yet.
No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 25 Louisville (7:30 ET, ABC): The brutal stretch for Notre Dame continues. As long as this isn’t a look-ahead game, we like the Irish on the road.
No. 24 Fresno State at Wyoming (8 ET, FOX): Laramie in primetime on national television? This is a must watch game. Seriously. Watch it.
Carla gives honorable mention nods to two Top 25 teams that need to be on alert: No. 13 Washington State at UCLA (3 ET, Pac-12) and Syracuse at No. 14 North Carolina (3:30 ET, ESPN). Crappy, meanwhile, is still boasting about that Ohio Bobcats defense.
So, will we get some answers to our parity issue this weekend? Perhaps. But we’ll definitely get an incredible weekend of college football. Enjoy the games, yinz. Cheers.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Not A Basketball School Edition

Kentucky. Kansas. Duke. Wait … did this become a college basketball podcast?
Nope. These are schools looking to shed their basketball-school reputations in some big time football games this weekend.
But before we get to the Week 5 action, Carla and Crappy recap the spectacularity (if that’s not a word, it should be) that was Week 4. Carla questions whether Florida State is as good as we initially thought, while Crappy gives us the details of his fantastic weekend in South Bend. Oh, and we throw in some shoutouts to Penn State and Robert Morris in there, too.
Then, Crappy gives us our weekly Big Red Bears report and we turn things over to AJ, who highlights all of the wonder that is the #GroupOfFiveAfterDark this weekend.
Now, back to those basketball schools … and some other really good games, too.
No. 10 Utah at No. 19 Oregon State (9 ET Friday, FS1): The Utes have been relying on their defense all season, while the favored Beavs are looking for some Pac-2 magic at home.
No. 22 Florida at Kentucky (Noon ET, ESPN): Are the Cats for real this season? Which Florida team will we get in this game?
No. 24 Kansas at No. 3 Texas (3:30 ET, ABC): Does Kansas have a chance in Austin? Maybe? 
No. 13 LSU at No. 20 Ole Miss (6 ET, ESPN): Are the Tigers the best team in the SEC West? We’ll get a good look this weekend. Meanwhile, Ole Miss looks to rebound.
No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 17 Duke (7:30 ET, ABC): The Irish look to bounce back on the road at Durham in what is absolutely not a “breather” game. Duke can win this one. 
Carla offers honorable mention to her MTSU Blue Raiders who travel to Western Kentucky (7:30 ET Thursday, CBSSN) for their annual rivalry game – this year on the Network of Champions! Also, the Friday night slate is really good this week. Don’t lose track of Louisville at NC State (7 ET Friday, ESPN) or Cincinnati at BYU (10:15 ET Friday, ESPN). To close things out, Crappy offers a final reflection on the early season success of his Ohio Bobcats.
With that, we have another fun weekend of college hoops, erm, football ahead of us. Enjoy all of the action. Cheers, yinz.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Multiple Screens Edition

It’s Week 4 of the college football season … and if you’ve taken a peek at the slate for this weekend, your head may be spinning as much as ours are. So. Many. Big. Games.
But we don’t want to jump ahead of ourselves. True to form, last weekend’s schedule was lackluster on paper but ended up full of crazy, causing Carla to question whether this is the most parity we’ve seen in college football in years. Meanwhile, Crappy takes the opportunity to bask in the MAC’s success against Big 12 opponents. Fly that flag!
We also get our second Big Red Bears Report, featuring Cornell starting running back Drew Powell.
Then, AJ takes over to give us just a taste of what awaits us in his #GroupOfFiveAfterDark report, including a true crosstown rivalry and trophy game and West Coast football in the middle of the afternoon. (Yes, AJ says we all can go to bed early again this week — unless you’re staying up for New Mexico State-Hawaii).
And then … it’s full speed ahead. Warning: You’re going to want to have multiple screens at the ready.
No. 4 Florida State at Clemson (Noon ET, ABC): This is the game the Noles absolutely need to have. But which version of FSU will we get here? And is Clemson still a national contender?
No. 19 Colorado at No. 10 Oregon (3:30 ET, ABC): Let’s find out what the Buffs are made of. The Ducks have a spectacular offense … and an almost equally spectacular defense.
No. 22 UCLA at No. 11 Utah (3:30 ET, FOX): Can the Utes defense get it done at home again? Are the Bruins for real?
No. 15 Ole Miss at No. 13 Alabama (3:30 ET, CBS): Here’s a question we weren’t expecting to ask this year: Can Bama lose two straight at home? If Lane Kiffin has anything to say about it, yes.
No. 6 Ohio State at No. 9 Notre Dame (7:30 ET, NBC): This game has blockbuster written all over it. Crappy, who will be in attendance, has lots of thoughts.
No. 24 Iowa at No. 7 Penn State (7:30 ET, CBS): Drew Allar and the Nits offense didn’t look sharp last week. But this is the Whiteout game. That should remedy things.
Carla gives honorable mention nods to BYU at Kansas (3:30 ET, ESPN) in a battle of Big 12 unbeatens, No. 14 Oregon State at No. 21 Washington State (7 ET, FOX) as what’s left of the Pac-12 goes head-to-head on the Palouse, and Colorado State at MTSU (7 ET, ESPN+) because it’s homecoming for Middle. (Go Blue!) Crappy is (not surprisingly) interested in Ohio at Bowling Green (3:30 ET, ESPN+) to see how his Bobcats fare in their first conference game of the year.
So, find as many screens as possible and enjoy the incredible weekend of college football that awaits us. Cheers, yinz.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Be A Family Person Edition

Hi friends! It’s Week 3 of the college football season and, well, let’s just say the schedule isn’t quite as enticing as the past two weekends have been. So much so that AJ has declared this weekend “Be A Family Person Weekend,” and given himself the week off.
Crappy and Carla are … kind of in agreement. So instead of a normal show this week, we shift into “Games We Care About” mode and get a little personal.
Before that, Carla recaps what was a fairly chaotic Week 2, thanks to a bunch of weather delays (Did Notre Dame/NC State ever end?) and a pretty impressive slate of evening games. Crappy, meanwhile, offers Carla a pop quiz. 
We also get our first Big Red Bears Report of the year as Cornell (and Crappy’s nephew, Drew Powell) kicks off its season this weekend. Hooray for the return of Ivy League football!
Here are the games that Crappy and Carla care about this weekend: 
No. 7 Penn State at Illinois (Big Nude, FOX): The Nits offense has been spectacular. This is a game to check the defensive side of the ball.
Iowa State at Ohio (Noon ET, ESPNU): A Power 5 school travels to Athens to face what has become a stellar Ohio defense. Raise that flag, Bobcats!
Cornell at Lehigh (Noon ET, ESPN+): Seriously, you want to watch Jameson Wang play football. He’s super fun. Go Bears!
Western Kentucky at No. 6 Ohio State (4 ET, FOX): A weird start time for this one, but the Bucks should get some good reps before a big game next weekend.
Murray State at MTSU (7 ET, ESPN+): Middle just couldn’t quite finish off Mizzou last week. They should handle Murray in their home opener. (Also, listen to Jake Rose call a football game!)
We’re also both always excited about the return of the Backyard Brawl – Pitt at West Virginia (7:30 ET, ABC). This game’s at night in Morgantown. Weird things are going to happen.
Other games that have Carla’s attention are No. 14 LSU at Mississippi State (Noon ET, ESPN),  No. 15 Kansas State at Missouri (Noon ET, SECN), and Minnesota at No. 20 North Carolina (3:30 ET, ESPN), as we’ll start to see which of these teams are for real this season. Also, just for fun, Wyoming at No. 4 Texas (8 ET, Longhorn), because this might be the last chance you have to watch a game on the Longhorn Network.
Crappy, meanwhile, is maybe a bit too interested in Central Michigan at No. 9 Notre Dame (2:30 ET, Peacock), as he starts to look ahead to a huge game in South Bend next weekend.
So, yeah, the schedule’s a bit lighter. But you should still watch college football. As we all know, it’s weeks like this when weird stuff happens.
We’ll be back to our normal programming next week. Cheers, yinz!

Carla and Crappy Show: The West Coast Is Best Coast Edition

We did it, everyone. We survived the mini-bowl week that the opening weekend of the college football season has become. And boy, was it a fun one. 
Carla had so many thoughts about Week 1 — including an undefeated uprising on the west coast — that she had to write about them. Crappy, meanwhile, was underwhelmed by — but not overly concerned about — Ohio State’s line play.
But, here’s the thing. There’s no rest for the weary. There are big games on the slate this weekend … and big questions to be answered. Was [insert team here’s] Week 1 performance a fluke? Is [insert team here] for real?
After noting the 13-0 start by the PAC 12, AJ runs us through his weekly slate of Group of Five and After Dark games, and then we take a look at this weekend’s intrigue. Let’s go.
Nebraska at No. 22 Colorado (Big Nude, FOX): This feels like two teams moving in opposite directions. Can the Buffs keep up their winning ways? Can Nebraska shake the yips?
No. 10 Notre Dame at NC State (Noon ET, ABC): The Irish get their first true test of the season, although NC State’s leading rusher last week was its QB. (Ooph.)
No. 20 Ole Miss at No. 24 Tulane (3:30 ET, ESPN2): Can Tulane beat its second-consecutive Power Five opponent? Spoiler alert: Carla and Crappy agree on this one. Don’t miss this game. Really.
No. 23 Texas A&M at Miami (3:30 ET, ABC): The Aggies appear to have fixed their offensive struggles. Can Miami keep up?
Iowa at Iowa State (3:30 ET, FOX): This game will be painfully stupid … but we’ll talk about it anyway. First team to 10 points wins?
No. 11 Texas at No. 3 Alabama (7 ET, ESPN): Last year, Texas put Bama on the ropes … until Quinn Ewers got hurt. The Horns looked good last week, as did new Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (much to Carla’s chagrin). Is Bama mortable this year? 
No. 19 Wisconsin at Washington State (7:30 ET, ABC): The Cougs won this matchup last year in Madison. At home, in the comfy confines of Pullman, against an all-new Badgers offense? This game should be lots of fun. Expect the unexpected. (And technically, it’s not After Dark. Watch this game!)
Carla gives honorable mention this week to No. 13 Oregon at Texas Tech (7 ET, FOX), because the line on the game makes absolutely no sense. Also, a quick shoutout to MTSU at Missouri (7 ET, ESPN+), because this SEC opponent feels like it might be conquerable (as opposed to last weekend’s monumental task against Bama). Crappy, meanwhile, expresses his displeasure with Ohio State’s opponent this weekend. (Stop playing FCS teams!)
So, there you have it. We’re on to Week 2. Enjoy the games, yinz. We’ll see you back here again next week.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Song Is Ours Now Episode

Uncle Crappy <yourcrappyuncle@gmail.com>
3:54 PM (1 minute ago)
 
 
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This is the week of a lot of exciting beginnings. Five straight days of college football. Teams and conferences on new television channels. (The 3:30 CBS song is ours now, thank you very much.)
We get to see new offensive schemes. New quarterbacks. Heck, Colorado is going to show us a whole new roster.
Fun times. And to say we’re excited is probably an understatement.
So, we waste no time getting into it. We take a quick look back at the handful of games in Week 0, including impressive wins by Jacksonville State and … UMass? Also, Sam Hartman might be good, while USC’s defense … eh, might not be.
Then AJ gets us ready for all of the #GroupOfFiveAfterDark action with an absolutely loaded report (be sure to tune in every week, Boise State fans). You should have absolutely no reason to be bored this weekend. None.
And then … let’s go. 
Florida at No. 14 Utah (8 ET Thursday, ESPN): Lots of questions this year for the Gators. Traveling to Salt Lake to face a stealthy Utes defense? That’s a big ask. 
Nebraska at Minnesota (8 ET Thursday, FOX): B1G football lovers? This one’s for you. Matt Rhule gets a heck of a first game as the Huskers head coach. Meanwhile, Minnesota is rowing (see what we did there?) out a whole new offense. 
Miami (OH) at Miami (7 ET Friday, ACCN): This one’s fun to talk about. (Ha!) We like the Canes … but wouldn’t be shocked to see the RedHawks hang around to make this interesting. The line is real dumb.
Colorado at No. 17 TCU (Big Nude Saturday, FOX): Coach Prime gets the prime TV treatment … but the Horny Toads have the upper hand.
West Virginia at No. 7 Penn St. (7:30 ET Saturday, NBC): Our first look at the new Penn State offense as the Drew Allar show begins in Happy Valley. Carla’s pumped. Crappy? Not so much. Meanwhile, WVU likes to run the ball. A lot. 
No. 21 North Carolina vs. South Carolina in Charlotte (7:30 ET Saturday, ABC): Lots of intrigue here in what should be a stellar QB matchup between Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler. Take the over.
No. 5 LSU vs. No. 8 Florida St. in Orlando (7:30 ET Sunday, ABC): On paper, this is the best matchup of the weekend. This game last year was an instant classic. We expect more of the same this year.
No. 9 Clemson at Duke (8 ET Monday, ESPN): Oh hey. Duke’s actually pretty good at football now. Is this a Clemsoning opportunity? Perhaps.
If that’s not enough for you, Carla gives honorable mention (of course) to MTSU at No. 4 Alabama (7:30 ET Saturday, SECN), while Crappy is (obviously) focused on No. 3 Ohio State at Indiana (3:30 ET Saturday, CBS) and his mild concern about the Bucks potentially having two quarterbacks. (That would not be a good development.)
So, there you have it. An absolutely packed weekend of college football. Enjoy the games … and maybe even some bad movie theater popcorn. Cheers, yinz.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Finally Mostly Football Edition

Howdy, boys and girls. It’s time.
There are Actual. College. Football. Games. on the schedule for this weekend. And that means the gang’s all here to make Season 12 of the Carla & Crappy Show officially official.
But first, we have some housekeeping to take care of, including a quick update on the Pac-4 and conference realignment situation … which, of course, changed shortly after we recorded this show. (Typical.) On Wednesday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the possible move of Cal, Stanford, and SMU to the ACC was back on the table. (Surprise!)
So after attempting to predict the future of conference realignment – and failing almost immediately – as is tradition, we each take a shot at prognosticating this year’s College Football Playoff participants. While we agree with AJ’s assessment that this year might be the most unpredictable playoff that we’ve had in recent years – and as such, our final four selections vary quite a bit – we are in consensus on this year’s top Group of Five team.
And then, after all of that … there are seven games on the schedule this weekend. We’re so amped, we talk about all of them.
Navy vs. No. 13 Notre Dame (2:30 ET, NBC): We agree that this year’s Dublin game makes way more sense than last year’s Northwestern/Nebraska tilt. Enjoy the spectacle … and an Irish win.
UTEP at Jacksonville State (5:30 ET, CBSSN): The first game of the season on the Network of Champions welcomes Jacksonville State (and HC Rich Rodriguez) to FBS football. 
UMass at New Mexico State (7 ET, ESPN): The Minutemen went 1-11 last season … and open this year’s campaign on the road on ESPN proper. Ah, welcome back, college football.
Ohio at San Diego State (7 ET, FS1): Crappy’s especially amped for this game. SDSU is looking for an offensive spark. The Bobcats have one on their side and his name is Kurtis Rourke. Fly that flag.
Hawaii at Vanderbilt (7:30 ET, SECN): Vandy won this game handily last year on the islands in a tiny stadium. The Beloved Rainbow Warriors should make the rematch closer … in a partial stadium in Nashville. 
San Jose State at No. 6 USC (8 ET, P12N): It seems somewhat appropriate that Caleb Williams begins his repeat Heisman campaign … in a game no one will see, because, you know, that whole media rights Pac-12 Network thing.
FIU at Louisiana Tech (9 ET, CBSSN): A CUSA (no hyphen) doubleheader in Week 0? Yes, please! FIU’s rebuilding (yet again). Give us the Bulldogs at home.
So … there you have it. Use this week as your warmup. Find your channels. Figure out your setup. Locate all of your remotes. Because Week 1 starts in full force on Thursday night. And then … it’s on.
Welcome back, college football … and yinz guys. We missed you. Cheers.

Carla and Crappy Show: The 2023 Super Emergency Surprise Summer Realignment Edition

For the third year running, college football has blown up with some big news as the season approaches — and even though we’d already done a summer show, the demolition of a century-old storied conference nudged AJ, Carla and Crappy to get back together and assess the new lay of the conference land. 
 
The migration of Oregon and Washington to the B1G and Utah, Arizona and Arizona State to the Big 12 apparently came together with blinding speed, but its roots, as AJ points out, were planted by the PAC-12 a decade ago. 
 
We then take a spin around the country, assessing what the latest change means for conferences around the country; the group also considers the recent outburst from Tallahassee … and the crickets we’re hearing — and will continue to hear — from South Bend.
 
How do we save the soul of college football? How do we address the role of TV money while preserving regionalism, traditions and rivalries? AJ has an idea, and it involves going back to the future with the NCAA.
 
Look, we’re not happy about the path that college football is apparently taking — it threatens everything that makes Sautrday football better than the Sunday version. And the changes all have been done without any real consideration for the student-athletes — and not just football players — who will have to cope with the changes. What’s ahead? It’s hard to see what the long-term impacts will be, but for 2023, we have one more glorious season of PAC-12 After Dark as we know it — so fire up your coffee maker and and join us for one more season of fun.