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00:00Ah, yes, first full football Friday on Shine Time.
00:04The 49ers fried the flustered Rams last night.
00:08But Sean McVay's team not using their travel plans as an excuse.
00:13My guy, the great Todd Furman from Bet the Port,
00:17is going to join me for our first full edition of Shine's Lines of the season.
00:22Plus, do I take back everything I've ever said,
00:24destroying Anthony Volpe after his triumphant return?
00:27Find out right now on Shine Time.
00:38I didn't do nearly a good enough job.
00:40This is a humbling day for us.
00:42And this will define us only if we allow it to.
00:45And today was one of those days.
00:47And, you know, I always look inside out.
00:49I didn't do a good enough job getting us ready to go.
00:52There were some opportunities where maybe the game could have flipped.
00:54But they deserved the win.
00:56They were ready to go.
00:57This was a special experience, you know, just thinking about all offseason,
01:00the unknowns and stuff, having to come this far, a place none of us have ever been before.
01:04It was a great week.
01:05It took us a couple days to kind of get our mind right.
01:07But, you know, our hotel, the city, just the whole organization would bring in everything,
01:12the cooks, everything.
01:13It felt like home once we got here.
01:16I'm glad the guys went out and played like that, too.
01:17We didn't play well enough.
01:19Obviously, you know, never got into a rhythm.
01:21Only had probably two good drives, honest with you, the entire day.
01:25We've got to be better.
01:27Myself especially.
01:29We didn't execute as we wanted to.
01:30We got to be done all three phases.
01:32And, you know, we have to do more.
01:35You know, there's a lot more on this team that can be done and, you know, start with us as
01:42leaders.
01:42Game one for the NFL's dream team was an absolute nightmare.
01:48The San Francisco 49ers pancaked and punked the L.A. Rams.
01:53And, listen, we have to talk about it because it was a big topic on our show over the last
01:57few weeks.
01:59San Francisco looked like they were comfortable in Australia.
02:02The Niners looked well-rested.
02:04The Rams, who showed up the day before the game, looked like they were walking in quicksand.
02:11Absolutely fatigued.
02:12Absolutely fatutsed.
02:13San Francisco was ready to rock and roll.
02:16So do I think this is a relevant topic for discussion?
02:20Yes, absolutely.
02:21And we said that we would talk about it because, obviously, two smart teams, great organizations,
02:28had very different approaches when it came to how to get to Australia.
02:32Niners were there eight days before.
02:34They were accustomed to the time change and everything in terms of the pomp and circumstance.
02:39And the Rams, according to their sports science, they've done it before in London,
02:44albeit a very different scenario and different flight.
02:46They wanted to get there right before the game.
02:49San Francisco looked fresh.
02:51The Rams were a bitter, brutal disappointment last night.
02:55I truly think, before we get into the Rams, the story last night was all about the 49ers.
03:03The big take and the big story was the San Francisco 49ers after a tumultuous offseason.
03:10And in August, that was really chaotic and you're worried about injuries.
03:15They went out.
03:17Kyle Shanahan's team pitched the perfect game.
03:20The energy was great.
03:21The coaching was absolutely supreme.
03:23I thought Brock Purdy was sensational.
03:27Model of domination and efficiency.
03:30I thought Purdy was outstanding.
03:33Got the ball out quick.
03:34Shanahan called great plays.
03:36They utilized both running backs, McCaffrey and Black, and I thought that was a big deal.
03:42The Purdy touchdown to Robinson, the bomb, that was unbelievable.
03:47Dropping that in the bucket, just incredible.
03:50And clearly, Brock Purdy outplayed Matthew Stafford.
03:54It wasn't even close.
03:56This was arguably the worst game that I've ever seen Matthew Stafford play.
04:01I think he's the first Ballot Hall of Famer.
04:03Clearly the worst game he's ever played as an L.A. Ram.
04:07And that was a major credit to Raheem Morris and Nick Bosa and Fred Warner and the defense
04:14for the San Francisco 49ers.
04:17Purdy did a brilliant job spreading the ball around.
04:19I thought that throw to Robinson was fantastic.
04:23Debo Samuel's back.
04:25And I thought that made a huge impact.
04:28I thought that was fantastic.
04:30Debo Samuel involved in the offense was absolutely incredible.
04:34And you saw the six catches, the 48 yards, the touchdown.
04:39I loved what I saw from Mike Evans.
04:41And honestly, I mean, we've talked about it on Shine Time since the day he signed in San Francisco.
04:47Evans was going to make a monster impact.
04:50Mike Evans, to me, is a first Ballot Hall of Famer.
04:52And the way he's able to make those tight window catches, the incredible routes that he runs,
04:58six catches, 49 yards, have that great touchdown, what he did last night in pressurized situation
05:04in the red zone on third downs.
05:07This is what makes him a first Ballot Hall of Famer.
05:10This is why that signing in the offseason, superb.
05:14You factor George Kittle into the mix.
05:16He was healthy.
05:17He got in the action early.
05:19I referenced the two running backs, not only CMC running it, but Black running it as well.
05:24Christian McCaffrey catching it out of the backfield.
05:27Trent Williams was phenomenal on the offensive line.
05:31Miles Garrett was a non-factor because Williams was sensational.
05:34I just thought San Francisco was amazing.
05:37And listen, we talked about it all offseason on Shine Time.
05:42And I didn't pick the 49ers to make the playoffs.
05:45But we said that their upside, if they're healthy and if they're right, is to win the Super Bowl
05:51because their elite talent is unbelievable.
05:55Their coaching is sensational.
05:57And in case you forgot about all that, you got a reminder.
06:02Shanahan's a gem.
06:03Raheem Morris is the defensive coordinator.
06:05Brock Purdy's great.
06:06You know, the critics, the haters, the media elite, they say, well, he's a function of Kyle Shanahan.
06:11Who cares?
06:12He's playing for Kyle Shanahan and he executes that offense to perfection.
06:16Debo Samuel should have never left in the first place.
06:19Great to see him back in the San Francisco 49ers organization and really just popping in that uniform.
06:24The whole thing was just a reminder with an offseason, with noise, from the owner to Brandon Ayuk to the
06:32injuries to the Shanahan car accident, this 49er team is loaded.
06:37So I feel compelled in terms of how they got to Australia, when they got to Australia.
06:42The San Francisco 49ers ass-kicking last night.
06:45The fact that they just drubbed L.A.
06:47That, to me, is how you start the show.
06:50That, to me, is the top take.
06:52The Rams were bad.
06:53If you're expecting me to jump off the bandwagon, there's no chance that's going to be the case.
06:57But I think it's important to start with how they were bad last night.
07:00And you heard that in the intro.
07:03Sean McVay saying that the Rams were humbled.
07:06Like, that's a strong word.
07:08That's a great job by Sean McVay saying that because this team put together, you can make the case, going
07:15into a season in the salary cap era, this is the most talented roster that we've seen in the NFL
07:20since they implemented the salary cap.
07:22And Sean McVay, to me, is the maestro in terms of being that head coach, that genius, the way he
07:28interacts with his players, and it's a big deal in terms of keeping it together.
07:32This board tells you everything you need to know.
07:37Zero.
07:38And literally on the screen, a big, fat zero.
07:43Miles Garrett did nothing.
07:46He couldn't get involved in the game.
07:49Couldn't make a tackle.
07:50Couldn't get to the quarterback.
07:52Zero.
07:53One big, fat zero.
07:55That was a mess.
07:56I thought the DBs, and I was all in on the defensive backfield.
08:00They bring in McDuffie.
08:00They bring in Watson.
08:01Defense did not play well.
08:03It was eerily similar to what we saw from Chris Shula's defense down the stretch of the season last year,
08:10and especially on Championship Sunday.
08:12I was very disappointed with the Rams.
08:14Very disappointed.
08:15You know, the run game was good.
08:16Other than that, I mean, if you're grading the Rams, an F on offense, an F on defense, an F
08:23for coaching.
08:24The whole thing was an absolute mess.
08:26By the way, I don't blame Sean McVay in terms of that quarterback sneak.
08:30No issue with that call in any way, shape, or form.
08:33Personally, I thought Stafford was in.
08:34Very surprised that that was not the case, that they didn't call it a touchdown.
08:38Also, did not matter in terms of the grand scheme of the game.
08:42Now, be careful riding off the ramps.
08:46I still think the L.A. Rams, when it's all said and done, they are going to be a team
08:51that is going to live up to everything that I said and a lot of people said before the season.
08:56San Francisco is great, and they always play great against the Rams.
09:01I think, and L.A.'s schedule, when you look at it, is very difficult in the first five weeks of
09:08the season.
09:08We talked about this.
09:10Very difficult in the first five weeks.
09:14Now, having said that, do I think with the time off and, you know, they'll get reacclimated to the Pacific
09:21time zone, do I think that they're going to take their frustration out of the New York football giants when
09:26they play game number two of the season on September the 21st?
09:30Yes, absolutely.
09:31Now, Denver-Philly-Buffalo, that's a tough stretch.
09:35Then you're going to get an easier stretch.
09:37Then all these teams are going to have to face the big, bad L.A. Rams.
09:41So, I thought last night was just terrible from a Rams standpoint, but in no universe am I backtracking on
09:50anything.
09:50I was dead wrong on last night.
09:52I thought it would be a great game, competitive game.
09:54You know, I said, don't bet it.
09:56I did pick the Rams to win.
09:57I think San Francisco is absolutely loaded.
10:00That game last night, to me, was more about the Niners and giving them love and them credit than it
10:07was killing the Rams.
10:08That's the low-hanging fruit.
10:09And it's accurate for last night, but I'm telling you, don't hurt your back jumping off the Rams bandwagon.
10:16I absolutely believe that this game will get the attention of everybody in that locker room, and I still think
10:24the L.A. Rams are going to be elites this upcoming NFL season.
10:29Meanwhile, the much-maligned Anthony Volpe made a triumphant return to the Yankees last night in the Bronx, hitting a
10:36grand slam on his way to a 5-RBI night, and the Bombers' 10-3 win to complete a sweep
10:43of the lowly Rockies.
10:45Here's what Volpe had to say after his performance.
10:49What was that curtain call like?
10:53Probably a little bit of blackout, so I couldn't really tell you.
10:57But, yeah, it'll definitely be something I'll remember for a long time.
11:01Nothing's guaranteed, obviously.
11:02I thought I was never going to be back up here.
11:05So I'm just trying to make the most of it.
11:08Yeah, I got all your tweets, all your Instagram posts, all the messages on Volpe because I lead the league
11:18on Volpe criticism and, frankly, being rights ahead of the curve.
11:22I mean, I didn't send them to the minors.
11:24The Yankees did because he was terrible at baseball, and his attitude was poor.
11:29His fundamentals were poor.
11:30Now, I'm happy for him that he had the moment last night, and I seriously mean that.
11:38The fact that he hit a grand slam playing second base for the Yankees and got a curtain call and
11:46blacked out when he got that curtain call and was filled with joy and jubilation talking to the press last
11:52night.
11:52I mean, it's great.
11:54He still is the kid who grew up as a Yankee fan and was the Yankees' first-round pick.
11:59He expected this to be easy.
12:02It wasn't.
12:02I'm thrilled for him.
12:04I'm absolutely thrilled.
12:06Grand slam, home run, curtain call, touched all the bases, played second base, which is a big question whether or
12:13not he would actually do that.
12:14I mean, it was awesome from a Volpe perspective.
12:19Fine.
12:20I'll say it.
12:22Volpe's not a big league player.
12:23He's a minor league ball player.
12:25He's a 4-A player.
12:27And last night, he hit the grand slam against the minor league Colorado Rockies.
12:33There.
12:34I said it.
12:37Who wants to fight me on that?
12:38Seriously.
12:40Anthony Volpe is not a Major League Baseball player.
12:43Now, the Yankees did exactly what they had to do, swept the Rockies.
12:47I hate calling for sweeps in baseball.
12:49It's not easy.
12:51But, you know, as Yogi once said, it's getting late, early.
12:54So you have to be able, and this is what we said on Tuesday's edition of Shine Time, sweep the
12:59Rockies, because what did I say then?
13:00Not just overreacting to Volpe, they're a minor league team, should be banished from baseball.
13:05They're going to get sold when the season's over.
13:08So sweep the Rockies, then have the ability to take two or three from the Mets.
13:13Go 5-1 this week.
13:14You have Arizona and Minnesota on the road next week.
13:18Then four-game series, which is going to be everything against Tampa Bay.
13:22So I'm thrilled for Volpe.
13:24I want that on the record.
13:25Seriously.
13:26That's a really cool moment.
13:27You know, he looked like Barry Bonds, playing in AAA.
13:31He's a 4A player.
13:33This picture is terrific.
13:35Love it.
13:36You know, Volpe, Lombard, you know, the old shortstop, the new shortstop, the real shortstop.
13:42And Volpe has his moment, and he carries the belt, and that's cool.
13:46I'm so happy for him.
13:48By the way, Jazz is hurt.
13:51Yankees are going to need him to play second base.
13:53That's just the deal.
13:55You dip into the minor leagues.
13:57You call up a minor league ball player.
13:59You have the advantage of facing a minor league caliber team.
14:02You step in, and you get it done.
14:04I give Anthony Volpe a ton of credit.
14:07There's no hate.
14:08There's no shade on my part.
14:11I'm thrilled that he got that opportunity.
14:13The crowd was giving him love.
14:15He's able to tip the cap, soak it in.
14:18I didn't think he was going to wear the pinstripes again.
14:20And he wouldn't have done it unless Jazz got hurt.
14:22So, he got an opportunity.
14:25Bam.
14:26Seize the moment.
14:27Still not going to be a Yankee next year.
14:28Let's not get nuts about anything with Volpe.
14:31But I'm absolutely happy for him.
14:33So, now, the Yankees take that momentum into the Subway Series against the Mets this weekend.
14:37And, listen, it is just absolutely imperative that the Yankees get this done.
14:44They have to be able to take two out of three.
14:48And when you look at the pitching matchups, obviously, they favor the Yankees.
14:53The ambiance on the anniversary of 9-11, it's going to be beyond baseball.
15:00It's going to be emotional.
15:02The Mets, to their credits, have obviously played much better since the trade deadline.
15:08I think you have to kind of collect yourself, right, the real baseball emotions, if you're
15:16a Yankee fan from last night, the real life, New York City, American emotions today on 9-11.
15:25And then when the Yankees hit the fields, I don't care what the order is, take two out
15:31of three.
15:31This is still a team in the Yankees that is much better than the Mets.
15:35Mets are not fighting for anything.
15:37The Yankees have to make them pay.
15:39No excuse for the New York Yankees.
15:42Maybe Volpe will hit a couple more home runs.
15:44I'll take the Yankees, as we predicted, to take two out of three, going up against the
15:49Mets.
15:50Coming up, my guy Todd Furman will join me as we break down our best bets for our first
15:55full edition of Shine's Lines for the football season.
15:58But up next, I'm going to get into the Giants and the Cowboys renewing their rivalry on Sunday
16:02night football, where streaking will not be on the mind of Dak Prescott.
16:07That streak's over with.
16:09Unfortunately, I started the last time we played them, and we didn't win that game.
16:12So according to the stat doers and all that, I'm pretty sure it streak's over with.
16:16So my point of that is I wasn't even thinking about that.
16:19That's the last thing in my head.
16:22Oh, yes, it's going to be a rivalry renewed on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.
16:27And it would suffice to say that Jackson Dart feels very confident in rivalry games.
16:32I feel like most rivalries I've totally dominated.
16:37Yeah, I don't know.
16:38I don't know if I've ever been on the other side of a rivalry.
16:41Mike, which ones you typically feel you've dominated?
16:46I mean, we lost one in college against Mississippi State, but I feel like Ole Miss has dominated
16:52that rivalry, dominated all my high school ones, and then, you know, just trying to stack
16:59them and build on that into the league today.
17:01I love the confidence and the moxie from Jackson Dart, who did play really well against the Dallas
17:09Cowboys, and technically they ended Dak Prescott's 14-game winning streak against them, but, you
17:14know, I'll say technically because Dak didn't play in the second half, and, you know, the
17:19Giants actually cost themselves a chance at a top-two pick with that win, but I digress.
17:25Listen, I love how confident Jackson Dart is, and this is, and let's not bury the lead here.
17:32This is game one of the John Harbaugh era.
17:36This is the beginning of the beginning, and I firmly believe that the Giants are going to be
17:43a really fun-to-watch football team.
17:46We even said that in a decade about the New York football Giants.
17:50I think they are going to be buttoned up, buckled up, explosive on offense, great on defense,
17:57especially getting to the opposition's quarterback.
18:00The Giants are going to be in it all year.
18:03I think they are a nine-win football team, and I think on Sunday night, this is going
18:08to be fun.
18:09When was the last time you were excited that the Giants were on national TV?
18:14When was the last time you were excited, if you're a Giants fan, to go to MetLife and
18:20watch the Giants play?
18:21They've not only been bad, they've been unwatchable.
18:24The offense, brutal, penalties all over the place.
18:27Leads blown.
18:28A total mess.
18:29Now, with John Harbaugh coaching this team, the Giants are back to being relevant, and
18:37I think sooner than later, they're going to be really good and eventually dominant.
18:42So, I am supremely excited for John Harbaugh's debut.
18:47You know, we've obviously seen all the press conferences, all the team meetings, all the hype,
18:52all the positive vibes, and I think the Giants are going to come out and really play with
18:59their hair on fire.
19:00I think Jackson Dart is going to have a really good night.
19:03I think Jackson Dart's learning how to slide, learning how to be available.
19:08I think Jackson Dart's moxie, his athleticism, his intelligence, his arm strength.
19:14Year two as an NFL quarterback, that goes a long way.
19:17We're going to wait and see about Malik Neighbors, my educated guests, especially after we had
19:23Paul Schwartz here on Shine Time, who's the best in the business when it comes to covering
19:27the Giants, and listen, he has been incredible in terms of the feel around everything Giants,
19:33especially this situation for the New York Post, all offseason, all preseason, all week
19:39long.
19:40You get the sense, nothing official, that Neighbors is going to play.
19:45And it sounds like Neighbors might be involved in that decision.
19:50I think Neighbors is going to play.
19:52I don't think he's going to play every single snap.
19:55I think he's probably closer, listening to Paul with us yesterday, to 80, 90%, and 100%.
20:03But this counts as a big game.
20:06This counts as a new beginning.
20:07And I think that means he's going to want to be out there.
20:11I will say, though, as much as the Giants fans are pumped, I'm pumped for the new day
20:17and the new era with the New York football Giants.
20:20I think this is a nightmarish spot for Big Blue.
20:24I think the Cowboys are going to be truly great this year.
20:27I think the Dallas Cowboys are going to be in the mix for the Super Bowl.
20:31I think Dak Prescott owns the Giants.
20:36Forget about what happened last year with the winning streak being snapped, because there's
20:41an asterisk on that.
20:42He barely played.
20:43Dak Prescott always, always beats the New York football Giants.
20:49Dak Prescott is special, sensational.
20:52We ranked him on Shine Time going into 2026.
20:55Sixth best quarterback in the NFL.
20:57I think in a lot of places, he's vastly underappreciated, underrated.
21:01He has his contract.
21:03He has his weapons.
21:05I think C.D. Lamb is going to go off against the Giants' corners.
21:09I think C.D. Lamb, I'm talking about 8 to 10 catches, 100, 125 yards, touchdown or two.
21:18I think C.D. Lamb is going to have a monster game.
21:21I think George Pickens playing for the bag, playing for the ability to win games.
21:27I think Pickens is going to be really good coming up on Sunday night.
21:31No drama for the Dallas Cowboys.
21:34Brian Schottenheimer did an excellent job last year.
21:37I think he's going to be incredible again this year as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
21:41I love Williams running the football, Ferguson at tight end, and these are matchup problems for the Giants.
21:47Even as they improve their defense and their draft was outstanding and the pass rush should be good,
21:53the advantage is that Brian Schottenheimer's offense.
21:55They clearly have the advantage in every possible way, running the football.
22:00And as much as I like that pass rush for Big Blue, listen, the offensive line, even with a couple
22:06injuries,
22:06really good for Dallas, Prescott gets time.
22:10I wouldn't be surprised if Dak threw for 400 yards and 3-4 touchdowns.
22:15And on the flip side, as energized as I am for Jackson Dart year number two,
22:19I don't love the Giants at the skill position.
22:23The receiving core is more like a witness protection program after Malik Nabors.
22:28I don't think Cam Skadaboo is great.
22:31I think he's good.
22:33I think that he needs to learn how to stay healthy.
22:36I think eventually this is going to be Najee Harris in terms of being the number one running back
22:41for the New York football Giants.
22:43I think Dallas is absolutely loaded on defense.
22:47They were historically in that last year.
22:49Listen, I'd make the case.
22:52The ball player I think is going to have the, and I just gave you all these nuggets of domination
22:55in terms of my prediction here for the Dallas Cowboys on the offensive side.
23:00I think Quinn Williams, going back to MetLife Stadium, the former Jet, he's going to absolutely thrive.
23:07I think he's going home.
23:09He's going back to MetLife.
23:10He's going to New York.
23:11And I think on center stage, as his first full season for the Dallas Cowboys, he's going to dominate.
23:18Caleb Downs is my pick for Rookie of the Year.
23:20A lot of Giants fans thought he was perfect for New York.
23:24They passed on him twice.
23:25He goes to Dallas.
23:27Do I think that matters coming up on Sunday night?
23:30I do.
23:31I genuinely do.
23:33Christian Parker, the great new defensive coordinator.
23:35I think he's going to be fantastic.
23:38And I think he could find some holes and weaknesses with the Giants offensive line, with those aforementioned
23:44question marks at the wide receiver position and hypotheticals, really, when it comes to the
23:49running back position as well.
23:50So, I think the energy for the Giants, great.
23:54I think, if you look at the Giants' schedule, realistic chance they start the season 0-2 with Dallas and
24:00the Rams,
24:00and then they could win four straight.
24:02And I feel compelled to say that.
24:04Just for perspective here, big picture, if and when this does not go well for New York on Sunday night.
24:10Vibes should be high.
24:12Energy should be off the charts.
24:15But matchup-wise on Sunday, I don't see it.
24:19I can't stress enough how much I love the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott and former Jed Quinton Williams
24:26at MetLife Stadium to take care of business against the New York football Giants on Sunday night football.
24:32Another game I've got my eye on this Sunday.
24:34I think this is the game of the slate.
24:37My guy, Josh Allen, and the Buffalo Bills visiting, in my opinion, the best defense in the NFL, the Houston
24:45Texans.
24:47We understand what their defense is and has been.
24:50You know, they have a fantastic coach over there.
24:52Those guys are going to be ready to play.
24:55They got after us last year.
24:56There's no secret about it.
24:59But just trying to have a good week, prepare the way that we need to prepare to go out there
25:03and execute the way that we want to execute.
25:05And it starts with today.
25:07And I thought we had a really good day today, but still got a couple more.
25:09And ultimately got to go play our best football.
25:14Houston has been kryptonites for Superman.
25:18And you look at Josh Allen against the Houston Texans last year.
25:24Yikes.
25:24And Josh Allen has beaten everybody, everywhere.
25:29And in my opinion, he's the best quarterback in the NFL for 2026.
25:32He's never beaten the Houston Texans in Houston.
25:36In fact, the last time the Bills won in Houston, J.P. Lassman was the quarterback.
25:43J.P. Lassman.
25:45I will say this, though.
25:46The Buffalo Bills, as you know, my pick to win the Super Bowl.
25:49And I think the vibes are totally different when you look at it around this team.
25:53Sean McDermott needed to go, just like Tom Thibodeau needed to go.
25:59And they needed to bring in someone who would not only change the X's and O's, the vibes.
26:05I think Joe Brady's that guy.
26:07I think Joe Brady's going to be a fantastic head coach.
26:10I think that he's going to maximize Josh Allen.
26:25I think Josh Allen is going to have an MVP season and the best season of his life.
26:31If you're looking for signs from the universe that this year is going to be different, go on the road
26:36and beat Houston.
26:37It's literally never been done before.
26:39Everyone always talks about, accurately so, Bills has never won a championship.
26:43Josh has never won in Houston.
26:46And it's an amazing challenge going up against D'Amico Ryans and his defense.
26:50And D'Amico is an unbelievable coach, unbelievable defensive mind.
26:55I think the world of D'Amico Ryans, that defense is loaded.
26:59Will Anderson is my pick for the defensive player of the year.
27:02He presents major problems.
27:04I think he's going to lead the league in sacks.
27:06I wouldn't be surprised if Will Anderson set the sack record this year in the NFL.
27:10Daniel Hunter is outstanding.
27:11Stingley at cornerback is fantastic.
27:13Now, I do think the offensive line for the Bills is better.
27:17I think on the flip side, you know, Houston obviously has monster issues when it comes to their offensive line.
27:25I do think that they made three changes on the offensive line, and that will eventually be good for Houston.
27:31But not game one.
27:33It usually takes some time.
27:35Bradley Chubb, that guy is unbelievable.
27:37They gave him a contract, and I think he's going to have a monster impact on Buffalo coming up in
27:43this ballgame and all season long.
27:45And it's a big spot for C.J. Stroud.
27:48Let's be honest.
27:48Last time C.J. Stroud played football, it was the single worst game we've ever seen in the history of
27:54the NFL at the quarterback position.
27:56If they would have just taken a knee on every possession or punted on second down,
28:00the Texans would have knocked off the New England Patriots, and they would have gone to the Super Bowl.
28:04So, and obviously, the contractual situation hangs over C.J. Stroud's head.
28:10So, I think this is kind of a monster spot and a monster deal when you look at it for
28:15Stroud.
28:15A lot of pressure on him.
28:17I wouldn't be surprised if this game turned out to ultimately be a preview of Championship Sunday.
28:24I think that Buffalo wins.
28:27I think Buffalo and Josh Allen make a major statement.
28:29I think if they can win this game, it will be just an example of why this year is going
28:36to be different.
28:37With Joe Brady as the head coach.
28:39Jim Leonard taking over, calling the defense.
28:42Sean McDermott won a lot of games.
28:44Was terrible in-game as a coach.
28:47His defense has never produced when it mattered the most in the playoffs.
28:50I feel like this is the start of something big, something different, something new for the Buffalo Bills.
28:57And they could prove that week number one by beating the Houston Texans in Houston,
29:02which has been a house of horrors for Josh Allen and the Bills.
29:06The Buccaneers are going to visit the Bengals on Sunday with Baker Mayfield,
29:10fresh off of signing that three-year $165 million extension,
29:14a deal that he apparently didn't even know was being negotiated.
29:19Apparently they engaged in talks last week that I did not know about until Monday about 6 p.m.
29:24So that was, it caught both of us off guard when we were at dinner,
29:28just sitting down to eat and the agent said,
29:31hey, I think I need to give you a call.
29:32I need to update you on something.
29:34So, yeah, when something like that comes about, you, listen, it's, this is awesome.
29:39This is home for me.
29:41It's home for us.
29:42Really, really thankful.
29:44Man, I am thrilled for Baker Mayfield.
29:46And he is worth every single penny of that contract.
29:50I just think this is a rough spot for Tampa Bay opening up the season in Cincinnati.
29:57I think that the Bengals are different.
30:01I think this is going to be a year where the Cincinnati Bengals win the division.
30:06I think matchup wise, Dexter Lawrence, the former giant,
30:09is absolutely going to eat that offensive line for lunch.
30:13And I think that Joe Burrow is going to torture the defense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
30:20Historically, the Cincinnati Bengals under Zach Taylor, dreadful at the starts of season.
30:26Awful.
30:27I think the vibes are different.
30:29Lawrence is part of that.
30:30They brought in excellent defensive ballplayers all across the board on defense.
30:34They trade the first round pick for Dexter Lawrence.
30:37They paid Dexter Lawrence.
30:39That's not normally what the frugal Cincinnati Bengals do.
30:45Burrow has raised the bar in terms of accountability, expectation, conversation, everything that goes into that equation.
30:54I think Joe Burrow, Dexter Lawrence, Jamar Chase, Tee Higgins, and the Bengals make a monster statement.
31:03And I think they beat Baker and the Bucs by double digits coming up on Sunday.
31:08Up next, you see my guy right there.
31:10The great Todd Furman is going to join me for their inaugural 2026 season edition of Shine's Lines.
31:16All your best bets for the football weekend next on Shine Time.
31:26Ah, yes, it's time for Shine's Lines.
31:29My guest this week, he's the best.
31:32A former sportsbook odds maker in Las Vegas.
31:35The quintessential Vegas insider.
31:37Professional bettor.
31:39One of the industry's most trusted voices.
31:42He is the co-founder and host of Bet the Board Podcast,
31:46an analyst for CBS Sports HQ and Sportsline.
31:49He is the one, the only, Todd Furman.
31:52Todd, how are you?
31:54I'm doing well, Adam, but the only way I can go during this segment is down
31:58after all the effused praise you heaped in my general direction.
32:01So we're building the people up.
32:03Let's hope we don't finish rock bottom after we try and find some winners on the board for NFL Week
32:071.
32:08Oh, I am so amped.
32:09And listen, there was only one person that we could have for Week 1
32:13for the first ever edition of Shine's Lines.
32:15You know you're my guy.
32:16And let's get into all the picks and my favorite five games to pick this week.
32:21Listen, I think Bears-Panthers is going to be a terrific, terrific sporting event.
32:26I can't wait for it.
32:28Chicago is favored Todd Furman by three and a half points in Carolina.
32:32Who you got?
32:33I'm taking the dog here, Adam.
32:35I know there's a lot of optimism around this Bears offense and what Ben Johnson is going to do with
32:40another season of Caleb Williams.
32:42But the problem for the Bears is football, you have to be good on both sides of the ball.
32:45And while the offense has the potential to be top three, I have some major reservations about this stop unit.
32:51And while I'm a seller of Carolina, big picture, even in the wake of them winning the division a season
32:56ago,
32:57Bryce Young has been phenomenal as a home underdog.
33:00You look at the last 11 times he's been in this role, 10-1 against the number.
33:05You're going to give me the hook here.
33:06I'm going to bat Carolina, expecting them to keep it close in their season opener.
33:10I love Chicago.
33:11I love Caleb Williams.
33:13I love Ben Johnson.
33:14I think that you're going to see Caleb Williams being the MVP conversation when it's all said and done.
33:20And I think he's going to start out with a bang.
33:22Now, I do think you make some great points on Carolina.
33:25And they had a sneaky good offseason.
33:28Their defense is really, really solid.
33:31It's not going to be easy.
33:33But I think this number is low.
33:34I think Chicago is going to win by 7 to 10 points.
33:38Obviously, I have the Bryce Young, Caleb Williams, how they got here, and why connection.
33:43Back-to-back years, first-round picks.
33:45Number one overall pick, obviously, at the quarterback position.
33:48I think Chicago is going to win by 7 to 10 points.
33:52I think you're going to see Caleb Williams throw for three touchdowns.
33:55I think Loveland gets in the end zone.
33:57I think Burton has a big game.
33:58I am going to roll with Chicago and lay the points.
34:02How about the Atlanta Falcons and the Pittsburgh Steelers?
34:07The Atlanta Falcons are dogs in this one.
34:10You have Pittsburgh favored by 5.5.
34:13Todd Furman, take your pick.
34:15Talk about a storyline that has been changing by the moment all week long.
34:19We weren't sure who the Atlanta Falcons were going to name as their starting quarterback.
34:23There was speculation that Michael Penix, given how poorly Tua performed in the preseason,
34:28could be their guy.
34:29Earlier this week, we found out, nope, that wasn't going to be the case for Kevin Stefanski.
34:33And Tua went, you know what, Adam, hold my beer.
34:36I'm not going to be your starter either, because I'm not healthy enough to be out there against
34:39that Steelers defensive front.
34:41So in comes Cooper Rush, who, quite frankly, I don't think it's a drop-off whatsoever.
34:46But the betting market disagrees.
34:48We've seen this number go from 3.5 to 5.5.
34:50I have plenty of questions about the Pittsburgh Steelers and how they're going to look under
34:55Mike McCarthy.
34:56We didn't see a lot of their big-time playmakers offensively get reps in the preseason.
35:01Aaron Rodgers couldn't be bothered.
35:02And while I think the Steelers' defense should have a good day, would it shock you, Adam,
35:07with a franchise that isn't afraid to lose to anyone at home as a favorite, struggle
35:12to cover a number of this magnitude?
35:14Give me the ugly Atlanta Falcons to keep this close.
35:18And Adam, tell me why you disagree to make it two for two today.
35:22You know I disagree.
35:23And listen, Cooper Rush, Color Rush, I'm in a rush to pick against the Atlanta Falcons
35:30here, who, by the way, Cooper Rush knows Mike McCarthy.
35:32Mike McCarthy knows Cooper Rush.
35:34They were in Dallas together.
35:35Now, I think Kevin Stefanski having knowledge of the Pittsburgh Steelers matters to your point.
35:42I don't want to sit here and make you look good and prove your point.
35:45I just think Pittsburgh, though, at this stage, is ready to absolutely rock and roll.
35:51And I think Mike McCarthy's the right guy at the right time, right head coach, Pittsburgh
35:56guy.
35:56All he does is win.
35:58I think Aaron Rodgers is going to have a really good final season.
36:01I think Rico Dowdle is going to have a really good season.
36:04He was Mike McCarthy's guy in Dallas.
36:06He's coming off of that great season in Carolina.
36:09I think T.J.
36:10Watt is going to bounce back.
36:12I think Patrick Graham's a good defensive coordinator.
36:15The energy in that building is going to be off the charts.
36:18I think that the message was stale with Mike Tomlin.
36:21I think this is going to be a double-digit win.
36:24I think the crowd's going to be a factor here.
36:26I am taking the Pittsburgh Steelers to win and cover.
36:31I think it's going to be a bloodbath.
36:34And this is why you couldn't even sign Tua Tunga-Vailoa in the first place if you're
36:38the Atlanta Falcons.
36:39The Green Bay Packers are in Minnesota.
36:43The Vikings are favored by one and a half.
36:46Todd Furman, take your pick.
36:47I think this is one of the sneaky great games that we're going to get week one.
36:51Going to tell us an awful lot about two teams who no doubt have aspirations of competing
36:55in the NFC North right there alongside the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears.
37:00This is a Green Bay team who limped to the finish last year.
37:03And don't look now, but if they were to lose this game on Sunday, that would be six straight
37:07losses for this illustrious franchise, which would make the longest losing streak for
37:11Green Bay since the early 90s.
37:13And you know what, Adam?
37:14I do think they lose on Sunday to the Minnesota Vikings.
37:17I'm going to lay the short number with the home team and look for Kyler Murray to make
37:21a splash in his debut wearing purple.
37:24Look, Kevin O'Connell has done more with lesser quarterbacks during his time there.
37:28And I think while Kyler Murray no doubt has his limitations, they can utilize the element
37:32of surprise, whether it's him escaping the pocket to try and use his legs to extend plays,
37:37allowing Justin Jefferson to be a little bit more prolific than the guy we saw catch just
37:41two touchdowns a season ago.
37:43But maybe most importantly for Minnesota offensively is the return of a healthy Christian Derrissaw
37:48along that O-line.
37:49I think it's going to pave the way for Jordan Mason to give them some balance.
37:52And defensively, I have questions about what the Vikings stop unit will bring to the table,
37:56but I have even more about a new look Green Bay Packers offensive line with an unsettled
38:01backfield.
38:02And Brian Flores, as we know, has never seen a blitz he didn't like.
38:06I think they get after Jordan Love early and often.
38:08Look for the Vikings to ride the momentum of a new starting quarterback.
38:12They're 17th in the same time period that the Packers have started Jordan Love, Aaron
38:16Rodgers, and Brett Favre.
38:17I'll back the strength of the home field advantage.
38:19Give me the Vikings, minus that short number.
38:21We're on the same page, and I think the Vikings are one of the best bets.
38:24And sometimes in the NFL, on the injury front, the suspension front, the availability front,
38:30you catch teams at the right time.
38:32And this is one of them.
38:33I mean, the Green Bay Packers are not whole.
38:35There's no Parsons.
38:36There's no Jacobs.
38:37Kraft's on a pitch count.
38:38And I think the Vikings are better anyway.
38:41I think it's a monster spot for Kevin O'Connell.
38:44I love Kevin O'Connell.
38:46I think he's a terrific head coach.
38:48I think last year was a mess.
38:50It wasn't his fault.
38:50They botched the quarterback position.
38:51You know, I've never been a huge Kyler Murray guy.
38:55Perfect spot in Minnesota playing for Kevin O'Connell, quarterback whisperer.
39:00I think Justin Jefferson is going to light this team up.
39:04I think, and I'm going to play Justin Jefferson in Daily Fantasy.
39:07I think he's going to have a fantastic game.
39:10I think that Flores' defense is awesome.
39:12They've got a great matchup going up against the no-name running backs and, you know,
39:17receivers who, frankly, are not that good, not that consistent.
39:20I love the Minnesota Vikings.
39:23I think they take care of business coming up.
39:25How about the New York Jets, Todd Furman?
39:27Going up against the Tennessee Titans, you have Tennessee favored by one and a half.
39:33Take your pick.
39:34This has been an interesting game to kind of monitor the way the betting market has responded
39:39all offseason.
39:40We saw Tennessee get all the way out to being a full field goal favorite.
39:43But then folks watched the preseason.
39:45They saw Cam Ward really struggle to get on the same page as the top five overall pick
39:50in Carnell Tate.
39:51Maybe not necessarily taking like a fish to water in Brian Dable's offense.
39:55But I think that's a little bit much ado about nothing.
39:58Because until rubber meets the road and you start playing for keeps, you always want to
40:02temper some of those expectations.
40:03I don't think the Titans are going to have a chance to be a surprise team contending for
40:07a division title this year.
40:08But I do think they're going to be improved, not just because of Brian Dable taking over
40:12offensive play calling responsibilities as the new O.C., but you add Wandale Robinson
40:17gives you a nice one-two punch.
40:18I think their backfield is a little bit underrated.
40:21And while I have questions about the O-line, I'm not sure the Jets are the team to exploit
40:25it.
40:25This is a Jets team, Adam, that I am a little bit of a buyer on big picture.
40:28I think they're undervalued by the betting market.
40:31But I just get the feeling that Robert Sala has had this game circled since the schedule
40:36was released.
40:37He's going to get his team fired up, and you're going to see the Tennessee Titans at
40:41their absolute best.
40:42I'll take the home team and lay that thin number, but I do think we're going to have
40:45plenty of opportunity to buy the Jets in weeks going forward.
40:48Todd Furman, I'm buying the Jets here, and I love their over-big picture in terms of win
40:52total on the season.
40:54I think the Jets can be good.
40:57Seven, eight, nine win team.
40:59I don't think that's impossible.
41:01Now, this to me is a must win for Aaron Glenn, because I thought he was, you know, Jim Tomsula
41:07-esque
41:07last year, replacing Robert Sala, and that's supposed to be the greatest insult I can give
41:13any head coach ever.
41:14I mean, he was Rich Cotide-esque, you know, just as bad as it gets.
41:18Listen, I think that Glenn is actually a really good coach.
41:23Last year was too much.
41:24As a head coach, I hope you learn from it.
41:26Sounds like he did.
41:27I also think the Jets have dudes.
41:30Geno Smith is a real quarterback.
41:32Garrett Wilson, I think, is going to have a monster game.
41:35I think Brees Hall is solid.
41:37The line is really good.
41:39And I think the Jets' defense is going to be able to take advantage of Cam Ward, at
41:43least in this spot.
41:45I would be surprised if the Titans won this game.
41:48I really, I don't know if I'm going to get to say this often, I love the Jets.
41:52I think the Jets are going to smack around the Tennessee Titans coming up on Sunday in
41:57Nashville.
41:58And how about the Dallas Cowboys, Todd Furman?
42:00They are favored by three points in New York, which is technically New Jersey, going up against
42:05the Giants on Sunday night football.
42:07Who you got?
42:08It's been so hard to try and make a case for road favorites early in the season in divisional
42:13games.
42:13But Adam, it feels like every year we get the Cowboys and Giants playing on either Sunday
42:18night or Monday night football.
42:19People talk about how this Giants team is going to be different, and I understand the
42:23optimism with a young quarterback in Jackson Dart, a healthy Cam Scadaboo, Malik Neighbors
42:28we do believe is going to be out there, and an adult in the room in Coach Harbaugh.
42:32The last I checked, the Giants offensive coordinator is, checks notes, Matt Nagy, and the Kansas City
42:37Chiefs didn't want to keep him around.
42:39Bears fans couldn't get him to pack his bags fast enough, so Giants fans need to be a little
42:44bit more realistic in their expectations.
42:46I think this Giants defensive front is good, but I have questions in the second and third
42:50levels.
42:51And here comes this Cowboy team that was significantly better down the stretch on the defensive side.
42:57Offensively, there are a lot to contend with, even with Javante Williams as the bell cow
43:00back, but George Pickens, and of course, CeeDee Lamb, I think Ryan Flournoy is the player
43:04to watch working from the slot.
43:06And the one thing we have seen from Dak Prescott during his time as a starting quarterback in
43:10Dallas, he loves to beat the New York football Giants, he loves to beat NFC East opponents,
43:16and I think that trend continues here in a building that I'll say has one of the lowest
43:20home field advantages in the entire league, until Giants fans start showing up for a better
43:25product.
43:25Give me the Cowboys to win and do so by margin.
43:28I think they take care of the G-men by seven plus.
43:30I think the Dallas Cowboys, one of the best bets of the week, and I'm high on the Giants
43:34in general in terms of improvement and the fun quotient and Harbaugh and adult in the
43:39room.
43:40Not for this game, not for this week.
43:42I think Dak Prescott owns them.
43:44I think Prescott's going to throw for 400 yards, three, four touchdowns.
43:48CeeDee Lamb always has the chops.
43:50Lamb has the chops for the big moment, the big game.
43:53Wouldn't be surprised if he catches a touchdown or two.
43:56Eight catches, 100 plus receiving yards.
43:59Quinn Williams returning to MetLife Stadium.
44:02I think his Dallas defense is going to be really good.
44:05Caleb Downs, who I thought the Giants should have drafted.
44:07He's my pick for rookie of the year.
44:09I think he's going to be shot out of a cannon on Sunday Night Football.
44:12I can't stress enough how much I love the Dallas Cowboys to take care of business.
44:19Now, I want you to take a look, Todd, at the rest of my picks for the slate week number
44:24one in the National Football League.
44:26Again, I want to get your take on what we're doing here because I love the Cincinnati Bengals.
44:32I know that they struggle when you take a look at week number one historically in the
44:37NFL.
44:37But I love the matchup for reasons we documented earlier in the show.
44:41I think the New Orleans Saints are going to cover that spread.
44:45I have the Saints plus seven.
44:47I am rolling with the Buffalo Bills.
44:49I think the Colts are going to keep it close.
44:54Big game from Jonathan Taylor.
44:56Even though I do love big picture, the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson with Declan Doyle.
45:01I wouldn't be surprised if Baltimore won, but I'm going to take Indy, especially when you
45:05look at three and a half.
45:07I think Jacksonville covers.
45:09We talked, obviously, about the Jets.
45:11We talked about the Pittsburgh Steelers.
45:13I think the Miami Dolphins are going to win the game outright.
45:15You know, this Brock Bauer situation is absolutely problematic.
45:20And I genuinely think that's a big deal.
45:23And I love the Clint Kubiak hire.
45:26But now I am out.
45:27Give me the Arizona Cardinals to cover that nine and a half point spread.
45:32I'm going to take the Arizona Cardinals at plus nine and a half.
45:36Listen, I think Jacoby Brissette's one of those quarterbacks.
45:39We saw it last year.
45:40Game looks over and then, bam, he finds a way with the old backdoor cover.
45:45Hits McBride.
45:46Hits Wilson.
45:47Gets it done.
45:48The Eagles, to me, one of the easiest picks.
45:51Give us some of the takes on my picks for the rest of week number one.
45:54Well, I think the most fascinating game that we didn't break down in the five that we had
45:58a little bit of a deep dive is that Bills-Texans game.
46:01Because you look at both of those teams, Adam, and I think both would try and tell you, honestly,
46:05that if they don't get to the AFC Championship or, in the case of the Bills, win the AFC,
46:09this season is a disappointment.
46:11So what does the marriage look like out of the gates with Joe Brady and Josh Allen
46:15instead of being that father-son-mentor-mentee relationship with Sean McDermott,
46:20this feels a little bit more buddy-buddy.
46:22So I think we're going to see Josh Allen throw the ball all over the yard a little bit more
46:25than we've grown accustomed to while they preserve his legs.
46:28But he has struggled in his career against the Houston Texans.
46:31Wasn't good last year on a Thursday night.
46:33Had a 30% completion percentage two years ago in this very same building.
46:38And on the other side, I'm not sure what Jim Leonard's defense is going to look like week one.
46:42Some major reservations about that secondary.
46:44But it's not like the Texans are loaded at the receiver position.
46:48But I am curious to see if David Montgomery gives them an element they desperately lacked a season ago
46:53with Nick Chubb kind of working at about 60%.
46:55So that is no doubt for me the marquee game in the AFC on Sunday.
47:00And you know what, Adam?
47:01Just to be consistent, I lean the Houston Texans plus one and a half.
47:04So I'm happy to go head-to-head with you there as well.
47:06Of course. I mean, that's what makes Todd Furman great.
47:09Todd, you are the best.
47:10And thanks so much for joining us on this edition of Shine's Lines.
47:13And I encourage you, if you love sports, sports betting, entertainment,
47:17and just an overall great guy, make sure you follow our guy Todd Furman on X.
47:22Todd Furman. F-U-H-R-M-A-N.
47:25That's how you spell Furman. Memorize it.
47:27It's unbelievable.
47:28And make sure you do what I do.
47:30Catch the Bet the Board pod wherever you get your podcasts.
47:33Todd, you're the best. We appreciate it.
47:35Always a pleasure, Adam. 11 years running, my friend.
47:39Here is this week's Shine Post Parlay.
47:43Every single week, I'm going to give you a parlay
47:46based strictly on the New York Post and the California Post teams.
47:51We're talking Jets and Giants and Rams and Chargers and 49ers.
47:57Here's what I have for this week.
47:58Oh, Marion Hampton, 70-plus rushing yards.
48:03I think he is going to be incredible going up against the Arizona Cardinals this weekend.
48:09Justin Herbert.
48:11He's got Mike McDaniel.
48:13He's got Madison Beer.
48:14He's got his left tackle, Rashawn Slater, back.
48:18And the Cardinals don't play a lick of defense.
48:20240-plus pass yards.
48:23I think our guy, Herbie, can have a monster day.
48:27I love the Jets to destroy the Titans.
48:31I'll take the Jets to win that football game.
48:35And I love Garrett Wilson in general and specifically for this conversation.
48:40Garrett Wilson, 50-plus receiving yards going up against a weak Tennessee Titans defense.
48:47I am going to roll with Garrett Wilson.
48:50So go parlay this.
48:51O'Marrion Hampton, 70-plus rushing yards.
48:56Justin Herbert, 240-plus passing yards.
48:59Give me the Jets.
49:00I think they're going to win the game outright.
49:03And Garrett Wilson, 50 or more receiving yards.
49:07I think he's going to have a monster game.
49:10I love that we're doing a shine post-parlay.
49:13Last but not least, I couldn't end this show without my pick on one of the biggest college football games
49:19on the entire slate.
49:21Number one, Ohio State's heading into Austin to square off with number four, Texas.
49:25And listen, I love Texas.
49:28And I think this is going to be the signature moment so far in Arch Manning's college football career.
49:35Arch talked about it all week in terms of what happened last year when he and Sark and Texas started
49:41the season at Ohio State.
49:43And honestly, it wasn't pretty.
49:45I expect Texas to win this game.
49:47They're at home.
49:49It's a big spot for Sark, who historically does not coach well and win these kind of big games.
49:55I think Arch is going to outplay Sane.
49:57I think that Ohio State is loaded.
50:00I think Ohio State, with Ryan Day and Arthur Smith calling the offense and Matt Patricia calling the defense,
50:06they are obviously a well-coached team without question, which gives them an advantage,
50:12which goes back to the home field for Texas.
50:15I think the crowd's going to be amazing.
50:17I think the roster is terrific.
50:19And if not now, when?
50:22When it comes to our guy Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian,
50:25this is the game that gets me going week number two in college football.
50:30I'm going to take Texas, as a minor upset, to beat Ohio State.
50:36That's a Football Friday show.
50:38If you missed any portion of the show, just do what I do and re-watch the show over and
50:41over and over again.
50:42Go to our new YouTube page, at Shine Time.
50:46We're going to see you Monday on Shine Time.
50:48We're going to see you Monday on Shine Time.
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