About this episode
RJ Bell, Steve Fezzik and Mackenzie Rivers focus on the wiseguy QB draft for the upcoming NFL season. Best bets as always. The Dream Podcast kicked off with RJ Bell celebrating the return of football season and unveiling Pregame’s Labor Day promotion: a free $30 best bet plus entry into a no-cost college football contest with a $1,000 prize on the line. From the opening minutes, listeners were reminded this show is equal parts strategy, competition, and entertainment. By the five-minute mark, RJ dug into NFL power ratings, explaining how he stripped out misleading drives such as kneel-downs or possessions inside the two-yard line. His refined numbers surprised the panel: Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, and Buffalo led the league, while Carolina and Cleveland sat at the bottom. Steve Fezzik and McKenzie Rivers debated the shock placements, noting injuries and coaching trends that shaped outcomes. Around the 15-minute timestamp, discussion turned to quarterbacks who skipped preseason snaps. McKenzie’s data showed those QBs historically underperform in Week 1, with unders cashing heavily when both starters sit. That trend fueled bets on marquee matchups like Cowboys-Eagles and Ravens-Bills. At the 20-minute mark, RJ spotlighted Dak Prescott’s sharp decline, citing rankings that placed him last among 24 qualifying passers. His reduced rushing numbers since his major injury led RJ and Fezzik to eye team total unders and passing props. The stage was set for the annual quarterback draft, run snake-style with auction bidding for position. McKenzie opened by taking Josh Allen, Fezzik countered with Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts, while RJ landed Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes. Later rounds brought bold choices like Jayden Daniels, Brock Purdy, Jordan Love, and Baker Mayfield. Side bets flew as each analyst pounced on weak spots: Geno Smith over Prescott, Purdy over Hurts, Bo Nix over Dak. By halftime of the draft, RJ had built a star-heavy lineup, Fezzik leaned on proven veterans, and McKenzie gambled on upside. Just before the hour mark, RJ teased a Monday night special dedicated to season win totals, including a collaborative Pregame entry in a Las Vegas contest. This naturally led into the industry segment, where Fezzik vented about DraftKings raising six-point teaser prices from –120 to –135 and reserving the right to void bets when “unpriced information” breaks. Both he and RJ criticized the moves as hostile to sharp bettors and warned listeners to watch how operators tilt toward casual action. At 1:18, Fezzik gave his Week 1 best bet: Atlanta +2.5 at home against Tampa Bay, citing divisional home dogs’ long-term profitability. McKenzie reinforced his unders, while RJ added context on why Week 1 remains rich for value despite heavily bet lines. The show closed with lighter banter—Vegas nostalgia, classic TV, even collecting vintage casino ashtrays—but the backbone remained the same: sharp football analysis, humor, and actionable advice. From refining drive metrics to debating quarterback ceilings, the podcast delivered insights that bettors can immediately use. The message was simple: in a season full of hype, Pregame focuses on value, discipline, and knowing where the real edges lie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices