Four years ago, we began honoring radio legend Steve Czaban — who was surprisingly booted from the SB Nation Radio morning lineup in 2016, despite having perhaps the most engaging program in the radio marketplace — with a “You Are Looking Live!” preview of each NFL weekend.
The bit was so well-received, so roundly praised by media pundits (including a few SB Nation writers) and Czabe’s legion of fans alike, that we decided to make You Are Looking Live! a permanent Friday staple of the BATSBY Sports Network programming.
So, without further ado, here’s a print doppelganger to the best 60 minutes in sports radio — Hour #3 of Czabe’s NFL-heavy Friday show (heard daily from 3-7 p.m. in Washington D.C).
As such, it makes perfect sense to include Brent Musburger and Joey Porter into the presentation, via YouTube:
WEEK 8
SUNDAY
PITTSBURGH (6-0) @ BALTIMORE (5-1)
TIME: 1 p.m. EST
LINE: Ravens (-4) … Over/Under: 46.5
REFEREE: Brad Allen
TV ANNOUNCERS: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson (CBS)
BETTOR’S HUNCH: The Steelers (No. 6 in scoring offense) and Ravens (No. 8) may be elite scoring teams this season, but there’s still no guarantee of the clubs toppling the ‘over’ tally of 46.5 points.
Charting their last 11 head-to-head encounters in Baltimore, the Steelers and Ravens posted a combined average of 36.7 points; and during this stretch, the total points scored never exceeded 43 points.
LAS VEGAS (3-3) @ CLEVELAND (5-2)
TIME: 1 p.m.
LINE: Browns (-2 1/2) … Over/Under: 50.5
REFEREE: Bill Vinovich
TV ANNOUNCERS: Kevin Kugler, Chris Spielman, Laura Okmin (FOX)
FUN FACT: Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (five straight games of multiple touchdowns) should be a starting asset in every fantasy league this week.
The Browns rank in the bottom-5 with passing yards and touchdown passes allowed.
What’s more, opposing quarterbacks are enjoying a completion rate of 67 percent against the Cleveland defense.
NEW ENGLAND (2-4) @ BUFFALO (5-2)
TIME: 1 p.m.
LINE: Bills (-4) … Over/Under: 41
REFEREE: Clete Blakeman
TV ANNOUNCERS: Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn (CBS)
BETTOR’S HUNCH: If possible, go ahead and make two bets with the boys (and girls) in Vegas:
One on the Bills and Patriots surpassing 41 total points … and then Buffalo carrying the 4-point advantage before kickoff.
INDIANAPOLIS (4-2) @ DETROIT (3-3)
TIME: 1 p.m.
LINE: Lions (+2 1/2) … Over/Under: 50
REFEREE: Clay Martin
TV ANNOUNCERS: Andrew Catalon, James Lofton, Michael Grady (CBS)
MODEL OF CONSISTENCY: The Colts have surrendered the fewest passing yards this season (1,263 through six games), along with the second-fewest touchdowns passes to opposing quarterbacks.
Should this scare Matthew Stafford owners, in advance of Sunday’s sneaky-good clash?
Citing his two career encounters with the Colts, Stafford owns rock-solid averages of 312 yards passing and 2.5 touchdowns; and overall, Detroit’s offense enjoyed stealth averages of 36 points.
MINNESOTA (1-5) @ GREEN BAY (5-1)
TIME: 1 p.m.
LINE: Packers (-6) … Over/Under: 51
REFEREE: Alex Kemp
TV ANNOUNCERS: Kevin Burkhardt, Darryl Johnston, Pam Oliver (FOX)
DAVANTE’S INFERNO: There are three certainties in life: Death, taxes … and Davante Adams posting stellar numbers against the Vikings.
On the heels of last week’s 13-catch, 196-yard, two-TD demolition of the Texans, Adams has notched seven straight outings of 100 yards receiving and/or one touchdown versus Minnesota.
And during this prolific stretch, Adams averaged eight catches, 87 yards and 0.9 TDs against the rival Vikings.
N.Y. JETS (0-7) @ KANSAS CITY (6-1)
TIME: 1 p.m.
LINE: Chiefs (-19 1/2) … Over/Under: 49
REFEREE: Land Clark
TV ANNOUNCERS: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins (CBS)
NAME YOUR SCORE … AND VICTORY MARGIN: It’s extremely rare to see spreads of 19.5 points in the NFL; and yet, that number seems a tad ambitious for those believing the Jets will cover on Sunday.
Here’s why:
a) The Jets possess the league’s worst scoring offense, at 12.1 points per game.
b) The numbers are even worse in enemy territory, with New York averaging eight points in three road outings.
c) New York has already scored 13 or fewer points five times this season.
d) The Chiefs have exceeded 32 or more points four times this year, including last week’s 43-spot in a veritable snowstorm in Denver.
e) The Jets hold bottom-7 rankings with rushing yards and rushing touchdowns allowed to opposing tailbacks.
f) Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has endured just one multiple-game streak of zero or one touchdown in his decorated career. So, don’t expect a clunker against the Jets.
L.A. RAMS (5-2) @ MIAMI (3-3)
TIME: 1 p.m.
LINE: Dolphins (+3 1/2) … Over/Under: 46
REFEREE: John Hussey
TV CREW: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Shannon Spake (FOX)
SAY HELLO TO … Tua Tagovailoa’s NFL debut, taking on a Rams which has yielded the fourth-fewest passing touchdowns.
TENNESSEE (5-1) @ CINCINNATI (1-5-1)
TIME: 1 p.m.
LINE: Bengals (+6) … Over/Under: 52.5
REFEREE: Scott Novak
TV CREW: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta (CBS)
L.A. CHARGERS (2-4) @ DENVER (2-4)
TIME: 4:05 p.m. EST
LINE: Broncos (+3) … Over/Under: 44.5
REFEREE: Carl Cheffers
TV ANNOUNCERS: Greg Gumbel, Rich Gannon, Jay Feely (CBS)
BETTOR’S HUNCH: Here’s Reason #1 for taking the ‘over‘ on 44.5 points. There’ll be no repeat of last week’s winter wonderland in Denver. The preliminary forecast for Sunday afternoon — a life-affirming, fantasy-friendly 63 degrees and sunny.
SAN FRANCISCO (4-3) @ SEATTLE (5-1)
TIME: 4:25 p.m. EST
LINE: Seahawks (-3) … Over/Under: 54
REFEREE: Craig Wrolstad
TV ANALYSTS: Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth, Lindsay Czarniak (FOX)
NEW ORLEANS (1-5) @ CHICAGO (1-4)
TIME: 4:25 p.m.
LINE: Bears (+4 1/2) … Over/Under: 43.5
REFEREE: Tony Corrente
TV ANNOUNCERS: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews (FOX)
DALLAS (2-5) @ PHILADELPHIA (2-4-1)
TIME: 8:20 p.m. EST
LINE: Eagles (-9 1/2) … Over/Under: 43
REFEREE: Jerome Boger
TV CREW: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michelle Tafoya (NBC)
MONDAY
TAMPA BAY (5-2) @ N.Y. GIANTS (1-6)
TIME: 8:15 p.m.
LINE: Giants (+12 1/2) … Over/Under: 45
REFEREE: Brad Rogers
TV CREW: Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters (ESPN)
HELLO, MOJO: Bucs QB Tom Brady has been on a certifiable roll over the last five weeks, averaging 291 yards passing and 3.2 touchdowns during this span (4-1 for Tampa Bay).