The Carla and Crappy Show

Carla and Crappy Show: The All After-Dark (Even If It’s Not Actually Dark Yet) Edition

It’s Week Seven of the college football season, and our very own AJ is back as guest host, this time for his favorite show of the season: The All After-Dark (Even If It’s Not Actually Dark Yet) Edition; that’s when AJ has free reign to talk about his beloved Group of Five games as much as he wants, not that he doesn’t do that as a matter of course anyway. So following a brief look back -- AJ loved the noon slot and the primetime games and the finishes they all seemed to have, while Crappy is feeling guardedly better about his Buckeyes after seeing his second game of the year -- we forge ahead with Small Ball. Cornell’s Big Red played Harvard tough on the road, but a late score by the Crimson put the game out of reach -- so close, but Cornell returned to Ithaca at 0-4. The good part? Crappy’s nephew got his first play from scrimmage, as a blocking back. Up next for the Big Red is a night tilt at home against a tube of toothpaste. Rather than his standard #GroupOfFiveAfterDark report, AJ took a stab at naming three unranked G5 teams that we should be paying attention to. Hints: He totally cheated on one, and hit up Texas for the other two. *meepmeep* Games? We got games. No. 24 San Diego State at San Jose State (10:30 p.m., CBSSN) In his second stint at San Diego State, Brady Hoke has built a team that’s not especially West Coast-y -- but it would make most Midwestern football coaches envious. The Aztecs run the ball, play killer defense and win, to the tune of a 5-0 start. Who else is envious? We’re wondering about Jimmy Harbaugh. UCF at No. 3 Cincinnati (Noon, ABC) A few years back, this was THE marquee game on the G5 calendar, but with Knights struggling, this will amount to another chance for the Bearcats to amass the style points they’ll likely need to make the playoff. And they’re 21-point favorites in Nippert, so, uh, yeah. Hawaii at Nevada (10:30 p.m., CBSSN) This is literally the last game on the weekend schedule, and between the late-night kick and the 61-point o/u, it’s the kind of game AJ lives for. Hawaii struggles on the continent, but they did just beat Fresno State. Nevada pretty much doesn’t run the football ever. Crappy’s prediction? He’ll be cheering for the over. Thanks again to AJ for his above-and-beyond contributions over the last two weeks. Enjoy the games this weekend, everyone, and we’ll see you -- and a brand new guest host -- back here next week.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Ken Jennings Edition

It’s Week Six of the college football season, and our guest host rotation -- Hi, Ellie! Let Carla get a little sleep, OK? -- continues this week and next with the Ken Jennings of the Carla and Crappy Show: Our very own A.J. Kuftic. (How did we get so fortunate to get A.J. as a guest host for two weeks in a row? It has to do with Crappy not knowing how to work a calendar.) After a quick look back at last week -- we see you, Bo Nix -- and a discussion about Cincinnati’s win in South Bend, Crappy and A.J. turn to, uh, A.J. for this week’s CFB After Dark report. Crappy also wraps up Cornell’s disappointing trip to Bucknell and its pending road trip to undefeated Harvard on Saturday. Next up? This week’s featured games: No. 6 Oklahoma vs. No. 21 Texas in Dallas (noon, ABC): Yes, the Wed Wiver Wivalwy is the epitome of big-time college football, but it also consistently has the silliness that makes A.J. happy (example: Last year’s 4 OT 53-45 win for the Sooners). We’re expecting more of the same this year -- but that’s pretty much all we’re certain about. One of these programs is a complete puzzle, while the other seems to be heading in the right direction. And we think that’s what will make the difference. No. 13 Arkansas at No. 17 Ole Miss (noon, ESPN): After last week’s losses by these guys, we’re calling this the Not Quite Bowl. We know the Fighting Kiffins are going to score. Can Hoo Pig Sooey put up enough of a speed bump to keep Arkansas in the game? It’s the 3-2-6 to the rescue. No. 4 Penn State at No. 3 Iowa (4 p.m., Fox): This might be the game of the year in the Big Ten, which means it’ll be the kind of game Crappy loves … and A.J. won’t watch. Iowa doesn’t pass the ball much, and that’s OK. Penn State doesn’t run the ball much, and it would be much better for Sean Clifford if they did. The offensive flaws will be exacerbated by two of the best defenses in the country, which means this game’s over/under number of 41 seems awfully generous. Huge thanks to A.J. for stepping in on very short notice. Enjoy the games this weekend, everyone, and we’ll see you -- and A.J. -- back here next week.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Luck of the Ellie Edition

It’s Week Five of the college football season, and while we spend a good bit of time discussing Notre Dame, we need to begin by acknowledging the newest member of the #CnCShow team: BabyFox -- you can call her Ellie -- has arrived. Carla and David are both doing well, with the exception of the not-much-sleeping thing, and we’re hopeful that Ellie will be picking games by the end of the season. The Irish come up a couple times in deference to this week’s Jeopardy guest host, newly minted Notre Dame alum Gabby Biltz. She’s a big college football fan and an even bigger fan of chili dogs, which means she gets along famously with Crappy, with whom she worked as an intern a couple years ago. An Irish-centric show will obviously begin with a look at last weekend’s Notre Dame-Wisconsin game, which Gabby, a resident of Chicago, could have attended BUT DID NOT. We reach some conclusions about ND and the Badgers, and Crappy throws in a bonus prediction about Michigan-Wisconsin on Big Nude this week. AJ not only takes us through his slate G5/P12 football fun but manages to provide the show with its best tagline ever. And then after lamenting Cornell’s 0-2 start -- and the Battle of the ‘nells this weekend -- Gabby and Crappy turn to this week’s feature games: No. 8 Arkansas at No. 2 Georgia (noon, ESPN): Arkansas is the surprise school of the 2021 season, and Hoo Pig Sooey could add to its already impressive resume by beating the Bulldogs on the road. Will they? Let’s just say both Gabby and Crappy wish this game was in Fayetteville. No. 7 Cincinnati at No. 9 Notre Dame (2:30 p.m., NBC) This will be Gabby’s first ND football game since she graduated in the spring (and, not unimportantly, her first tailgate party since her junior year -- thanks, COVID). Will she see her beloved Irish win, as they always seem to do when these games are in South Bend? Spoiler alert: The Bearcats are better than Wisconsin. No. 12 Ole Miss at No. 1 Alabama (3:30 p.m., CBS): This is not your father’s SEC game. It’s going to get, as AJ says, pointsy. And if Alabama’s defense is in fact as shaky (by Bama standards) as it appeared in the Swamp two weeks ago, the Fightin’ Kiffins could give Nick Saban a massive headache by the end of the afternoon. Huge thanks to Gabby, for joining the #CnCShow guest host program and for making sure she had something other than Bud Light in her beer glass. Enjoy the games this weekend, everyone, and we’ll see you back here next week.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Carlaless Edition

It’s Week 4 of the college football season, and things are a little different around here. Crappy’s still filled with angst about the starts of his Bobcats and Buckeyes. AJ still wants you to watch the fun games. And Jimmy Harbaugh still makes us giggle (even though Michigan might actually be improved). No, things have a different feel starting this week because Carla has begun her maternity leave from life, which includes the #CnCShow, at least for the duration of the regular season. In the meantime, we’re going to attempt to make up for Carla’s absence. Not with Crappy going solo, because just no, but with a series of guest hosts sitting in her chair. First up? An Actual College Football Expert: Nubyjas Wilborn, the Penn State beat writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Nubyjas saw his first in-person white out last weekend; he has some thoughts about that and about the state of the B1G East (Spoiler alert: It’s not the forgone conclusion it has seemed to be in recent years). AJ isn’t on maternity leave, and he has a slate of G5 and West Coast games you should be playing attention to this week. And Crappy weighs in on Cornell’s first game, a 31-21 loss to VMI at home. Next up for the #BigRedBears: at Yale, in the league opener for both teams. And then, there were the games: No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 18 Wisconsin at Soldier Field (Big Nude, Fox): Which Wisconsin quarterback will roll in this game, the one who used to play there or the one who still does? 7 Texas A&M vs. 16 Arkansas at Jerryworld (3:30, CBS): The Hoo Pigs are playing excellent defense. Can Jimbo figure out a way to keep the pressure off his inexperienced quarterback? West Virginia at No. 4 Oklahoma (7:30, ABC): We’re not saying the Mountaineers are going to win in Norman. But if the game is tight in the 3rd quarter, you might want to turn it on -- because we’re still not sure who the Sooners are. Thanks again to Nubyjas for filling in this week -- my friend, we’ll get you hooked on Midwestern football before it’s all said and done. And thanks for watching and listening, boys and girls -- we’ll see you back here next week.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Cats And Babies Are Better Than Football Edition

It's Week 3 of the college football season ... and we'd just like to point out that this little show, now in its 10th season, has featured unplanned cat appearances long before the one that made national headlines last weekend at Hard Rock Stadium. And we start there, because we've already reached the (usually) annual episode when Crappy hates college football. Needless to say, in our look-back on Week 2 action, Crappy has thoughts about his beloved Buckeyes' first-ever loss to the Ducks. Carla, meanwhile, is baffled by an S-E-C chant in Fayetteville and thrilled that the Stanford Postulate not only exists, but is thriving in 2021. As we look ahead to this weekend's matchups, we first yield the floor to AJ for yet another stellar #GroupOfFiveAfterDark report. (Seriously. We're starting to get jealous.) We also introduce our first ever Big Red Bears segment, as Cornell opens its season at home against VMI. And then, we get to our three featured games of the week: No. 1 Alabama at No. 11 Florida (3:30 ET, CBS): Florida has a new offense, featuring two dual-threat quarterbacks. If you've been with us for a while, you know how we both feel about this situation, and it's not good. Alabama's rolling (pun intended) already ... and we don't see that changing in the Swamp. No. 19 Arizona State at No. 23 BYU (10:15 ET, ESPN): We go out of order chronologically to discuss ... two teams we really don't know much about. What we do know is that BYU is 2-0 with wins over two Pac-12 opponents, while the Sun Devils are ... cupcaking. No. 22 Auburn at No. 10 Penn State (7:30 ET, ABC): Carla's just a wee bit excited about this one, although it's hard to overlook Auburn's early prolific offense. But, asterisk ... those wins came against cupcakes, and Penn State appears to be much improved. Add a Happy Valley whiteout (which you're NOT ready for, Bo Nix, trust us), and you've got a recipe for a good one on Saturday night. We wrap up this week by giving honorable mention to Tulane at Ole Miss (8 ET, ESPN2), which should get pointsy real quick ... and bid a temporary adieu to Carla, who begins her maternity leave next week. So, enjoy the college football this weekend, yinz. Be sure to come back next week to see just how wrong we were ... and for the cats and a new baby. We're trendsetters, you know. Cheers.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Tiny Sample Size Edition

It's Week 2 of the college football season and, well, we'll be honest. This weekend isn't loaded with marquee matchups like our five-day opening holiday bonanza was. So, Carla and Crappy take this opportunity to do one of their most favorite things, which is to make very broad generalizations based on a very limited amount of data. Welcome to the first overreaction episode of the 2021 season. We look back at some of the key moments in Week 1 and tackle some very important questions: Is Georgia's defense good enough to win the SEC East? Is Clemson's offense in trouble? Was 2020 a mulligan year for Penn State? Are we doomed to another "Bama versus the field" season? What the heck happened to Indiana? Is Oklahoma's defense still a problem? While the Week 2 slate lacks the big matchups on the Top 25 side of the conversation, AJ is overrun with a bunch of good #GroupOfFiveAfterDark games. And then we break down the two (yes, just two) games that have our attention. No. 12 Oregon at No. 3 Ohio State (Big Nude Saturday, FOX): Crappy is super excited to be attending his first live college football game since 2019. Carla's a wee bit concerned about the 400+ yards that the Bucks gave up on defense against Minnesota, but this isn't the Duck offense that we're used to either. No. 10 Iowa at No. 9 Iowa State (4:30 ET, ABC): Iowa steamrolled Indiana last weekend, while the Cyclones struggled against a directional Iowa. Iowa State has been a team trending upward over the last several seasons, but the Hawkeyes have won five straight in this series. Is this the year Matt Campbell finally gets his win in the Cy-Hawk game? Finally, Carla gives an honorable mention nod to Stanford at No. 14 USC (10:30 ET, FOX), while Crappy introduces a new weekly segment on the #CnCShow. Enjoy the football this weekend, yinz guys. Cheers.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Let’s Goooooo Edition

It's here. The 2021 college football season is upon us, and Carla and Crappy are just a wee bit excited to get things underway. (And no, that's not just because we're celebrating a big anniversary of this here show, but that certainly doesn't hurt.) Our first "official" show of the season kicks off with a discussion on conference expansion and this thing called the "Alliance," which sounds official but apparently is still super secretive. (As in, no one really knows what it is yet.) Then, as is tradition, we pick our College Football Playoff Final Four teams. (Spoiler alert: There aren't a lot of surprises here.) We also hear from our friend AJ, who returns for another season of frivolity and silliness in his #GroupOfFiveAfterDark report. And then, after what seems like an eternity, we dive into what should be a spectacular Week 1 of football. (Did we mention that we're excited?) No. 19 Penn State at No. 12 Wisconsin (Big Nude Saturday, FOX): It seems only appropriate that our first game of the year is on Big Nude ... and once again has Carla very nervous. Bucky brings back a lot of talent; Penn State hopes to erase the memory of the 2020 season. No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 14 Miami (3:30 ET Saturday, ABC): Alabama has a new QB, new RB, and mostly new receivers ... but we're not sure any of that is going to matter. We are excited about watching D'Eriq King again, though. No. 17 Indiana at No. 18 Iowa (3:30 ET Saturday, Big Ten Network): Indiana arguably overachieved in 2020, while Iowa started last year very slowly before rattling off six-straight wins. We're both very intrigued by this one. No. 23 Louisiana at No. 21 Texas (4:30 ET Saturday, FOX): Welcome back to head coaching, Steve Sarkisian. Here's a trap game for you. Louisiana is a very good team. Can the Cajuns pull off the upset? No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 3 Clemson (7:30 ET Saturday, ABC): DJ U has already shown that he might be an even better QB than Trevor Lawrence (which is saying something). With a solidified offensive unit behind JT Daniels, is this finally Georgia's year? Honorable mentions go to Boise State at UCF (7 ET Thursday, ESPN), Michigan State at Northwestern (9 ET Friday, ESPN), Stanford at Kansas State (Noon ET Saturday, FS1), and Syracuse at Ohio (7 ET Saturday, CBSSN). Our advice: If you made plans this Labor Day Weekend, cancel them. Instead, spend five days enjoying the wonder that is Week 1 of the college football season. Yep, we're excited. Cheers, yinz.  

Carla and Crappy Show: The Is It Football Time Yet Edition

Apparently, we've decided that kicking off a new season of this here podcast in late July is going to be a new tradition. For the second year in a row, Carla and Crappy are back with an offseason update, although we promise this one won't be nearly as depressing as last year's pandemic preview. Instead, what better way to begin our 10th anniversary season (yes, we've officially been doing this now for a decade, boys and girls), than with one of the topics we all love to discuss the most — conference realignment possibilities! We also dive into the proposed playoff expansion and the new NIL and transfer rules, and we tackle some fun questions along the way: - Will the Big 12 survive all of this? - What's going on with the ESPN cease and desist request? - What are the implications for the Big Ten? - Are Texas and Oklahoma actually making things harder on themselves in the SEC? - Is playoff expansion good news? Or great news? - How will the new Name, Image, Likeness and transfer rules impact the college football landscape? Oh, and one of us has some pretty big personal news to share as well. So, grab a beverage and enjoy some offseason banter as we prepare for another (hopefully closer to normal!) college football season. Cheers, yinz guys.

Carla and Crappy Show: The 2020 National Championship Edition

Well, somehow, someway ... we made it. We're here. A national title is on the line ... maybe on Monday night? Yes, the "we-have-no-idea"-ness of 2020 continues even into the new year. So before we get into the final game, we take time to look back at the best and worst of this crazy season, including conversations on the emergence of the Group of Five (or, as Crappy calls it, "the year of the Kuftic") and its lack of representation in the post-season, bowl game silliness, and the well-done and not-so-well-done return to play plans by multiple conferences. (We tip our hats to you, #MACtion.) And then, we get to the game that maybe we didn't expect ... which could happen Monday night ... or possibly January 18. #WeHaveNoIdea No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Alabama (8 ET Monday, ESPN Megacast): Alabama did exactly what we thought it would against Notre Dame. Ohio State ...was clearly motivated against Clemson and shut down the Tigers potent run game. We have lots of questions — including the health of both Justin Fields and the Buckeyes' defensive line — but we predict a super competitive game, whenever it happens. We make opposite picks ... you can probably figure out who picked whom. Before we say goodbye to the 2020 season, we conclude our show with our traditional "outrageous predictions" for 2021 ... and interestingly enough, our thoughts are trending in the same direction. Hmm. As always, we thank AJ for his #GroupOfFiveAfterDark insights all season long ... and you all for continuing to hang out with us each week during the college football season. We couldn't do this show without you, and our ninth season is certainly one that we'll always remember. Enjoy the football ... and we'll see you in a few months for Season 10 of the #CnCShow. Cheers, yinz guys.

Carla and Crappy Show: The Big Boy Bowl Edition

he college football bowl season continues on, and as we get ready to bid 2020 a not-so-fond farewell (good riddance!), that means it's time for the "big boy bowls." Yep. We're talking about the New Year's Six ... erm, Four, plus two playoff games. Whatever. You know what we mean. Carla and Crappy begin by running through some of their favorite early moments from this abbreviated Bowlapalooza season, including our beloved Chickens falling short, the game that only a Midwesterner could love in Buffalo/Marshall, a surprisingly good showing by UTSA against Louisiana, and the overall ridiculousness of the New Mexico Bowl (in Frisco, in a soccer stadium, with two also-ran coaches, fa la la la la). So, don't forget about Bowlapalooza. There are still some silly games yet to be played. But, it's time to get serious. Sorta. Here we go. Cotton Bowl: No. 7 Florida vs. No. 6 Oklahoma (8 ET Wednesday, ESPN): On paper, these two teams are pretty even. In reality, the Gators are missing a bunch of offensive pieces, and the Sooners are actually maybe sort of good at defense. Peach Bowl: No. 9 Georgia vs. No. 8 Cincinnati (Noon ET Friday, ESPN): We ring in the new year with this dandy. Georgia's looked different since JT Daniels took over the offense, but the Bulldogs are missing key defensive pieces for this game. And the Bearcats have a statement they'd like to make, ahem. Fiesta Bowl: No. 25 Oregon vs. No. 10 Iowa State (4 ET Saturday, ESPN): OK, so maybe not everything is serious in this almost Bowlapalooza-worthy matchup. The Ducks backed their way into this game after not winning their division. It's been a long time since the Cyclones have been on this stage, but don't let those three losses fool you. Orange Bowl: No. 5 Texas A&M vs. No. 13 North Carolina (8 ET Saturday, ESPN): We cap off bowl season with this game that has the potential of ranking high in entertainment factor. The Heels offense is for real (see: Miami). The (possibly still cranky?) Aggies defense will have its hands full in this one. And finally, it's time to discuss the playoff. Rose Bowl-ish (in Arlington): No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 1 Alabama (4 ET Friday, ESPN): The Irish have to hang early to have a shot. But honestly, we're just not sure that's going to happen. Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Clemson (8 ET Friday, ESPN): Is the Ohio State defense ready for this? Crappy's not so sure, but he also questions why Dabo gifted bulletin board material to the Buckeyes. So, if you're not already settled in, plan on doing so for the next several days as we wind down the college football season with some great matchups. Cheers, yinz.