We’re a couple of months into both the NFL and college football seasons and as we look ahead to see what teams have the advantage and what teams are true underdogs and which are actually bad. Peter Keating, co-host of the Underdogs podcast, stopped by on Friday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to discuss that and also gives insight on which team will cause a stir to the top 12 in the college football playoff rankings.
To fully understand where teams are at this point in the season Mike Golic Jr. asked Keating for his help sorting through things, alluding to Keating and co-host Jordan Brenner’s new segment, Scrappy or Crappy. The segment dives into first-half performances to determine which teams are legitimate surprises and which are simply disappointing. Peter explained that at this point in the season, teams now have a body of work to evaluate. For instance, nine NFL teams currently have just two wins, creating a tie for last place. According to Peter, some of these teams are scrappy underdogs with hidden value, while others are simply, as he put it, bad.
GoJo asked Keating which teams would lead his “bad team brigade” this season. Keating didn’t hold back, starting with the Carolina Panthers, who he described as needing help EVERYWHERE on the field. He added they have been outscored by 146 points while there are teams in the league who haven’t SCORED 146 points, joking that Carolina even has talent needs at peanut vendor at this point. He shared that the Giants, despite defensive improvements and the emergence of a potential Defensive Player of the Year, only further exposed how bad the defense is this season. Additionally they also have a struggling quarterback in Daniel Jones who everyone knows won’t return next season. So what would Keating call this weekend’s Panthers-Giants matchup in Germany? How about the Toilet Bowl.
Rounding out his terrible trio was the Las Vegas Raiders, whose struggles, he said, began on draft night when they missed out on their desired quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. Despite having one of the league’s best tight ends in Brock Bowers, Keating pointed out that Las Vegas has no answer at quarterback and a defense that has already allowed 251 points. While other struggling teams like Jacksonville or Cleveland show potential in specific areas, Keating believes the Panthers, Giants and Raiders are falling short across the board. Even New England, he said, appears to be building toward something, unlike these three.
So having identified the worst of the worst, Mike Golic Sr. wonders if Jacksonville, with young veteran quarterback Trevor Lawrence at the helm, is the most disappointing of the two-win teams. Keating thinks so, pointing out that many had higher expectations for the Jaguars coming into the season, and for good reason. Lawrence is capable of making incredibly difficult throws, excelling at deep passes that most quarterbacks struggle with. However, Jacksonville’s glaring offensive line issues have left Lawrence without the protection he needs to showcase his abilities, with Keating noting that the Jags made the mistake of prioritizing skill players over building a solid line. For example, Jacksonville’s top-rated tackle is ranked 52nd in the league, and former standout guard Brandon Scherff is no longer performing at his peak.
Out of the teams that are struggling, GoJo asked Keating which underperforming teams might turn things around in the second half. Keating highlighted Miami as a top candidate, pointing out that the Dolphins’ offense is vastly different with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. While Tua’s health remains a question mark, Keating criticized Miami’s lack of a capable backup who can complement their system, emphasizing the need for better depth at the quarterback position.
Miami’s struggles, he noted, stem from issues that often correct themselves over time. Despite a high pressure rate, their sack numbers rank near the bottom of the league, a disparity that typically balances out. Additionally, they’ve suffered several unlucky losses, including games decided by record-breaking field goals. With Tua back and their bad luck unlikely to persist, Keating believes Miami could pull off some surprising wins in the second half.
So, is Miami is the only two-win team with playoff potential? While Keating acknowledged that a playoff push might be a stretch, he did want to add the New Orleans Saints to the conversation. Despite their 2-7 record, the Saints have a point differential of only -22, suggesting they’ve been more competitive than their record shows. Early in the season, they had two blowout wins and a one-point loss to Carolina but were hampered by injuries. Keating credited the Saints for retaining key free agents and noted that Derek Carr is underrated and now a bit more healthy. Given the weakness of their division, he could see the Saints turning things around, though he admits others might not share his optimism.
Moving to the college gridiron, which teams outside the initial top 12 does Keating think have the best chance to shake up the CFP picture. He pointed to Ole Miss at No. 16, noting that analytics rank them as a top 10 team when accounting for strength of schedule and margin of victory. Quarterback Jackson Dart leads the nation in both completion percentage and yards per completion — an impressive achievement considering their tough recent opponents.
On defense, Ole Miss ranks second nationally with an 11.7% sack rate, making them a balanced and dangerous team. Despite close losses to Kentucky and LSU, they recently showcased their potential by putting up 63 points against Arkansas. Keating believes Ole Miss could challenge any top 12 team, and their upcoming home game against Georgia will be a defining moment. Some advanced metrics even suggest Ole Miss and Georgia are nearly equal in overall strength, setting the stage for an exciting matchup.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: Lamar Jackson’s Ravens Barely Beat Joe Burrow’s Bengals, G.O.L.I.C. Week 10 Acrostic & NFC-AFC Wild Cards
Hour 2: CFB Week 11 Preview — Eliminations, Title Hopes & Sound Bite Shoots + Peter Keating on NFL and College Dogs
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic LIVE every weekday from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr and the show on X at @GoJoandGolic and Instagram at @GojoandGolic.
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