Chad Millman (1:52)

I hit a bad note. Then I couldn't kind of recover, and I built up this idea that music and being a musician was my whole identity. I had to sort of relearn who I was. If you took this thing away, who am I? Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Sharper Square, presented by Hard Rock Bet. We are part of the Volume Podcast Network. This is the show that makes the squares sharper and makes the wise guys pay attention no matter what time of year it is. I am Chad Millman. I'm joined, as always, by my bff, my companion, my compadre, my co host, professional better Simon Hunter. Hello, Simon.

Simon Hunter (2:40)

Chad, how we doing?

Chad Millman (2:42)

Dude, wow, wow, wow. What an incredible Super Bowl. Truly incredible Super Bowl. People are complaining that it was boring. They didn't like it, whatever. For us, I think the second week in a row between the second football week in a row between the AFC title game, that was a slog, but we were on the right side. And this game, that was a slog, but we were on the right side. We've seen the most beautiful football we've seen in decades. We kind of nailed it right from the beginning. We love Seattle from the beginning. We loved Seattle alts from the beginning. We loved props. Tied to the Seattle narrative of dominating and New England having to come back. Our guests, Evan Abrams and Brandon Anderson nailed it. Brandon Anderson had the defensive special team touchdown moneyline parlay that cashed. We're going to go through all of it, all the categories or final picks. We have a contest winner. Thousands and thousands of contestants signed up. We had one man standing who won it with a 50 record to end the season. He's going to come on the show a little bit later before we get to all of it. Simon, I feel like you rarely go online and clap back, but you did on Sunday.

Simon Hunter (4:20)

Yeah, I'll never, I'll never, I never try to go up fans just because I get it, we're all irrational and emotional. But my God, we're the Patriots fans. Loud and obnoxious. And I, and I will admit we have Patriots fans that came to our live shows up in Hoboken. All class acts, very funny guys, great personalities. I mean Philadelphia, Boston, very.

Chad Millman (4:43)

Come on.

Simon Hunter (4:44)

Yeah. People say salt of the earth. I say scumbags of the earth. I mean just incredibly similar in many, many ways. And usually again, most teams, any normal people will have self doubt. These Patriots fans were so loud and so confident. Chirpy. I pretty chirpy. I, I immediately usually I won't call my shot. It was a build up of Saturday night when I'm out at the books and I have people coming up to me, Patriots fans running their mouths and then waking up to messages. That morning, yeah, I got on social media, I just said these guys are about to get blown out. They're frauds. And Chad knows people in media will never put themselves out on those type of, you know, sticks because it's a bad look when it goes the other way. If the Patriots would have blown them out by 20, would have looked like an idiot. I knew there was no world, no world that would happen. That's why I was so confident putting that out there, because it's in my mind, if the Patriots had a chance and maybe covering, in no world did I see them blow out the the Seahawks. And like you said, the game couldn't have gone more to a T of what we predicted. So obviously got very lucky on that. And yeah, had a couple of drinks, was feeling pretty good after winning a ton of money and yeah, hopped on social media and throw a video out there trolling these Patriots fans. And I meant every word I said of it. So I woke up next morning, rewatched it. I go, nope, not deleting it, no regrets. Meant every word I said of it. But yeah, really, like you said, really fun super bowl. And I'm excited to dive into it here.

Chad Millman (6:16)

You know, we loved that. We loved the Seahawks for the whole two weeks, right? Like, I battered immediately at minus three and a half the second it opened. And it's funny, you know, our contest winner, we've got an interview with him later in the show, ended up not jumping on the side partially because. Well, I don't want to spoil it because I wanted people to listen to the interview, but I was a little. I was a little bit concerned by Sunday morning when the line hadn't exploded to five, five and a half, even to six, as I thought it should because the Seahawks were just so much better. So I was a little anxious about it and I was actually on the road for the game. I was doing some book reporting and I was with someone who's like a market maker on the prediction exchanges for the game. And I was with this person during the game, and we were watching the pregame show and they had on. I think it was Kyle Shanahan. I think it was Fred Warner. Fred Warner and then Tony Duny and Rodney Harrison, and I think Fred Warner and Rodney Harrison went with the Patriots. And I forgot who Tony Dungy did, but Kyle Shanahan just dropped a little hint. I don't know if you saw this or not. I never watched the pregame shows, and I could give a shit what the people picking it say. Kyle Shanahan had a really interesting. He's like, I think Seattle could blow this team out. And then he was the only one who predicted the Seahawks by margin. It was 24:17. And if I wanted anybody to sort of give me irrational happiness in that moment, it was Kyle Shanahan, who, you know, I adore as a coach. And then it was fucking great. It was just. It was awesome. We're going to get into it. We're totally going to get into it. Don't forget. See, we can. You can get the shows. Little post super bowl fog rain here. You can get the shows at Sharper Square on YouTube. Subscribe and like the video while you're at it. Also download some Spotify Apple pods wherever you get your pods. Here's some roundups. We finished the contest portion of the season with 24 points. So that was the final. I think it was nine weeks, including the playoffs. That was good enough, Simon for 375th place. To put it in context, nearly 5,000 people signed up for the contest, which is miraculous in and of itself since it was a late in the season addition to our program. So that 375 was basically good enough for top 8%. I feel okay with that. Like we had, we had a tough run there in the playoffs. You know, we, we cratered in the conference final weekend and in the divisional round weekend. So I feel, I feel okay coming in where we did, considering how bad things turned there for a minute.

Simon Hunter (9:22)

Yeah, basically did nothing. You just saw the record there. Basically was 500 since the contest started. So, yeah, dug ourselves into a pretty horrible hole and crawled out. And yeah, luckily two biggest bets of the playoffs happen to be in the conference championship in the super bowl. So.

Chad Millman (9:40)

Yeah.

Simon Hunter (9:40)

Yeah. Got kind of lucky that it worked out that way.

Chad Millman (9:42)

Our contest picks were Seattle, minus four and a half cashed. The under 45 and a half cash. Ramondre Stevenson, under 53 and a half rushing yards, cash. Drake May, over 19 and a half completions that cashed. The one that lost. We had the Pats plus three and a half in the first half. So we finished four and one in the Super Bowl. Our total contest record for 2025 from the beginning of the season, five picks every week through the playoffs, 60 and 50, 55%, basically. You tell me as a professional, better you can go 55% in the season. You're taking that every time.

Simon Hunter (10:22)

Yeah. Yeah. But I would say we're both disappointed that, that the, the Tennessee. Tennessee Titans dictated our season. Yeah, we, we were in a contest for a lot of money. And I told Chad, if we had just gone the other way in the Titans, you'd both be sitting here with half a million dollars. So it's pretty sickening. We had a really good year, but that's how close the margins are. If you just lock in on the wrong team and you can't get it right, you crush yourself. And yeah, great year. But I, I am one of those people. I don't remember my wins. I remember Every loss. And that's what's going to hurt me in this offseason. I'm gonna be sitting there, it's going to be, I don't know, May 2, 11 o' clock at night, and I'm like the damn Tennessee Titans. Well, it's a ton of money.

Chad Millman (11:05)

It's funny you mentioned that because we're gonna, we're gonna get into that. And by every account, I should have been freaking thrilled with the Super Bowl. But all that's in my head is the two things that kept it from being Monster, Monster Sunday. Our name bets. Chad's choice was Seattle alt line minus six and a half. That one, Simon says was the first quarter under eight and a half. Barely a sweat. There was like a second where it could have been a sweat when, when the Patriots played at their best. And then it, you know, went exactly our way.

Simon Hunter (11:40)

A couple people ask about that why I blindly bet that every year and shout out to our guy, Evan Abram sent me the numbers since 2, the year 2000 in the Super bowl first quarter unders now 18, 7 and 2. So like I said, every year, people, you can bedside, you can do all this hard work. Like I said that Tuesday show put all your money into this bet every year because every year it's a winner. These you solved, right? The teams come out flat. It doesn't matter. I mean, my favorite stat ever, Tom Brady, the goat. What was he played in 11 Super Bowls. He has three total points in the first quarter in those 11 Super Bowls.

Chad Millman (12:17)

So now so does Josh McDaniels.

Simon Hunter (12:20)

Yeah, that's a Josh McDaniels step. But just to remember in the future, people, 18, seven and two first quarter unders in the Super bowl since the year 2000. It's a great bet every year.

Chad Millman (12:29)

Brass balls was New England's first drive being a punt. So we cashed on all these. You just mentioned Evan. I want to call out two particularly prescient clips from when Evan came on the show two weeks ago.

Evan Abrams (12:47)

Obviously, everywhere you look you hear Patriots strength of schedule. I think Seahawks strength of schedule is also just as important in this game. Only 11 of 120 Super bowl teams had a harder strength of schedule than the Seahawks. Those 11 teams went 8 and 3 in the Super Bowl. So I also kind of.

Simon Hunter (13:02)

I like that stat. That's a good stat.

Chad Millman (13:04)

Love that.

Evan Abrams (13:05)

If you look at the single postseason, I believe Darnold has the fourth highest passer rating of any quarterback all time. You look on the other side. Drake may 113 pass rating during the regular season, down to 84 in the playoffs. I don't really care why that's happened, but I also think that's baked into why the line maybe isn't three and it's even four and a half and five and getting juiced up at the moment. They've won nine straight. They've covered four straight. Only four other teams have even done that. Nine straight. And four straight. Nine straight wins, four straight covers. Entering a Super Bowl 2016, 17 Patriots barely survived versus the Falcons, but won the game and covered 2000. Ravens blew out the Giants. 1986. Giants blew out the Broncos 71. Cowboys blew out the Dolphins. So those teams, nine straight wins, four straight covers, four, zero straight up four zero against the spread in the Super Bowl. If you think Seattle's dominant, that's the stat you want to hear. Like, they're just going to roll away with this one.

Chad Millman (14:03)

That's basically what happened. Right? I mean, it was just glorious. So nice job. Evan. Nice job. Brandon. Nice job. Simon. Nice. John. Nice job. Chad, one online hater accused you of wearing a toupee last week. Because of all of our collective flaws, I feel like what you do have is an incredible nest of hair. So congrats on your new toupee that you were able to afford after winning so much money on the Seattle Seahawks.

Simon Hunter (14:40)

Yeah, definitely watch that clip. It just. I immediately missed that warmth of that hair. I'm not gonna lie, Chad. My ears are so cold. But, yeah, I, Chad knows I'm crazy superstitious. So if I win my biggest bet of the year on the Broncos, there's no chance I'm cutting my hair before the Super Bowl. I gotta let it ride. But, yeah, as soon as I woke up Monday morning, I went and got the haircut that the hair was. It was too much. It gotten too wild. But, yeah, I, I, this, this game, there's so many avenues to go. I did see the Cal Shanahan clip you saw. Just because I think Cow Herd put a video out talking about. Because I think Colin took the Patriots and he basically was just saying how much regret he had before the game had kicked off. Because when you hear a guy like Kyle say that, a coach will never say a team has a potential of getting blown out. Right? They're in the league.

Chad Millman (15:29)

That's what, that's what sort of. That's what shocked me. Like, you never hear a coach use the term blowout. That was really, really. I mean, these pregame shows are fluff, right? We talk about all the time, you know, where the show, the pregame show with the stuff, not the fluff. That was the most interesting thing I've heard in a pregame show in decades.

Simon Hunter (15:49)

And it's funny because I told Chad, I've been complaining to Chad about how the college football for the national championship game they had on, you know, Nick Saban, the head coach of Notre Dame. Like, they had on some really brilliant minds. And we've been lacking that, in my opinion, on football. Right. Like, not to hate on these talk shows. You're. You're putting on these dudes who are in their 70s who haven't played in the NFL in 40 years, and they're nonsensical. They, they literally give you nothing to gain from a guy like Kyle or Sean McVeigh. We all. Anytime you hear them speak, you need to listen. Like, they are the smartest minds in this sport. And yeah, Kyle had a great line as well. That he had. Who is he to say anything about the Seahawks? He hasn't scored a touchdown on them in the last two times they played. Which I love that line where it's like he can be that humble, where he knows he's one of the best minds of all football. He couldn't. He can't score on them right now. Like, he is in full tilt mode. So, yeah, going into this game again, I, I thought the Seahawks had a chance to, to blow them out. I really did base it on. I thought May would struggle. To me, we got luckier because Sam Darnold also struggled.

Chad Millman (16:59)

Yeah, those. Dude. Every single time he dropped back when it was still close, you know, in the first half, let's say, especially those first drives, because the way the, the Patriots were playing defense, they were jumping every route. I just thought, oh, my God, this is going to be a recipe for some kind of pick six for the first score. That's what it looked like to me. I don't know, like, you saw it the same way, but it was scary to me.

Simon Hunter (17:27)

You can tell right away when Sam's on or off and immediately could tell he was just off because all his throws were behind or leading. Nothing was on target the entire game, in my opinion, like, the entire game he didn't have any. I mean, Drake May, who played terrible, he had the best throws of the game, no doubt.

Chad Millman (17:44)

Like, yeah, for the touchdown.

Simon Hunter (17:48)

And I told you, going to this game, I knew Beth, both head coaches mentalities were the quarterback that's going to dictate who's gonna win this game because one of them is going to slip up and Make a mistake and a thrown over. Sam never was really put in the position for that, right. They had a couple at the very beginning. Kubiak let him kind of sling it. Eventually they just turned right to the run, right? And even when they got down the red zone, there was a couple times where they needed like a third and seven to pick up a first down. Sam was taking the third and four throw. So like he was taking the check down to get go on fourth, be on fourth and three or fourth and two because they were going to settle for the three. Just never put the ball in turnover. And you know, Christian Gonzalez did have a chance at a pick in the end zone right before half. That should have been a walk in touchdown. JSN had beat him easy on the route. The ball was terribly late and behind was almost a pick. So it's like Sam on his worst game still through for 200 yards, no turnovers. On the flip side, Drake May showed his inexperience. What we talked about coming in this, that's what I kept beating home was like I get a Thunder Pro is better is their whole point was I can't believe you're bet on Sam Darnold as a 4 point favorite in the Super Bowl. And my whole view was that I can't believe you're taking Drake May under seven point dog against the number one defense. You've seen him struggle now three straight weeks against defenses. This is the going to be the best defense he's faced and it proved that. I mean the way people are talking about the Seahawks now is ridiculous. Like yeah, it's getting 85 bears, it's.

Chad Millman (19:14)

A little over here.

Simon Hunter (19:15)

They're not even last year's Eagles team. I honestly think was more impressive because they did against Mahomes and that Chiefs team like this Drake May, he looked totally out of it from the get go. Like not like happy feet, bad throws, late throws. We talked about that shoulder injury. I knew as soon as the game ended something would come out that he was shot up. I knew right away as soon as he missed that week of practice, it's like they're gonna baby and try to keep it cool. He's obviously got a big injury. And then you saw, you know, Will Campbell who's been dragged through the mud, you know, 14 pressures, NFL record in the super bowl, basically is playing on apparently a torn ACL or mcl. Like he's going to get surgery or something like that with his knee. I don't, I don't know the exact injury, but you Knew this guy whose whole draft thing coming out was he has short arms but he is so strong he's impossible to push through every play that you just get bull rushed. He could not put any weight on that one leg. So between the May injury, the Campbell injury, like everything about that, I just, I think we were both in sync of. We just couldn't find a reason to back the Patriots where me and Chad, we want to bet the dogs. We talk all the time. That should always be alarms to people. We're so heavy into a favorite when we're such heavy dog betters. Especially that trend we gave out. Right. It was like 10, one the last 11 Super Bowls where the spread was above four and a half.

Chad Millman (20:35)

Yep.

Simon Hunter (20:36)

And not that we thought it was due to go the other way, but it was just like, well, this is. I talked about it. I think I'd gone the other way. The dog had gone too much value that we were getting two free points on the favor. That's why me and Chad both took the. The Seahawks team minus six and a half. Right. That's where the value to us was, where this line just felt way off. And you know, when Sunday morning came, I really did load up on the Seals because I just kept. And the more I thought about and looked into it, it's like this is such a bad matchup for this Patriots team. But I'm not gonna lie, I really did think there was a chance there for them to come back because of all those field goals. Like it was never more than a two point score game. Right. And you saw Drake May the arm talent, he can strike fast. But you know, we talk all the time. The game changer. The thing that decides these games with the quarterbacks are the turnovers and Drake May, two picks, one fumble. You know, it's just they were in an impossible scenario. And at the end of the day, I don't know about you, but I am one of the people that I do blame. Vrabel and Josh McDaniels, I think they totally got out coached scheme wise. They failed. And I hated how variable was playing this game where he was playing to keep it close rather than try to win. Like I get it, you're not going for it on 4th and 1 in your own 39 because it's a 9 nothing game or a 12 nothing game. But that, that 12 nothing, I don't know about you watching at home, it felt like that was 40 to nothing. It's like you can't get a field goal. Let it go to touchdown. So I really do question Rabel the most coming out of that game where I hated the way he coached it. He just, he played too, too, too soft and kept thinking, Sam Darnolds will make the mistake. I'm going to be able to get back in this game where I just thought the other way. The Seahawks were never, never going to let Sam, don't make that mistake. And, you know, that's where he messed up.

Chad Millman (22:20)

Well, that was the flip side of why we loved Seattle so much. We truly believed that what we had seen over the previous three or four weeks, in the way Seattle was calling the games, they really weren't going to let him be in a position to screw it up. They had to win big against the Rams, but they had really started to figure out how to get Sam Darnold to not be making mistakes. I agree with you.

Simon Hunter (22:50)

Quarterback started because your first quarterback in NFL history, zero turnovers through the playoffs.

Chad Millman (22:55)

He was amazing. Yeah, he was totally amazing.

Simon Hunter (22:57)

He tried to make the regular season zero in the playoffs.

Chad Millman (23:01)

He tried. He tried to make some turnovers in the Super Bowl.

Simon Hunter (23:04)

He really did collage like, he's a real gunslinger. It's like, please stop saying that.

Chad Millman (23:09)

Colin Christian Gonzalez was out of his head that game. I mean, yeah, he was like Lester Hayes just knocking.

Matt Mitchell (23:15)

He was the best.

Simon Hunter (23:16)

Other than Walker.

Chad Millman (23:18)

He was. He was unreal. The. The. And there was one play, I think it was towards the end of the first half where the Seahawks could have gone up 12 nothing with a field goal. And to your point, 12 might as well have been 40 in this game. And they did let Sam Darnold try to throw like a short out that if he was a little bit behind on that throw, that's a pick six. And so Kubiak did let him stretch a little bit. For the most part. It was, you know, give it to Kenneth Walker because they had found some kind of success where they were able to run against this Patriots defense. He was. He was amazing in this game. Like you, I loaded up on the Seahawks, but. But I loaded up on the Seahawks. Not all at three and a half or four and a half, which was available. I did three and a half. I did four and a half. I did six and a half. I did nine and a half. I did 13 and a half. I did 16 and a half. I did 21 and a half and 25 and a half. So, like, my line of demarcation for break even on all of those bets was, I think, 10. If they won by 10, I was at least making Money on those bets. And then it escalated from there. They ended up winning 29 13, I think it was 16. So I ended up getting the 13 and a half as well. And to your point about like what you remember, you know, they were up 29 7. They were up 22 points. It ends like that. If the Patriots don't get that garbage touchdown. I'm having maybe the best weekend I've ever had as a better in my entire life because. Well, just because like everything was compounding, right. And by the time it got to like Seattle -21 and a half or something, I think it was like plus 600, right. And so like the, the biggest one was Seattle -25 and a half at 1200, which I wasn't going to get. But then after they have that touchdown, Kenneth Walker breaks it for a long run. They're up 3613 and it gets called back for a holding penalty. And it crushed me because now all of a sudden like what could have been a miraculous, amazing, glorious. Never had a day like this in my life. I took a side, I went all in on that side. I used all of our lessons and some guy held someone and it just cost me that extra, you know, the final two legs of that ladder, which was rough. I'm not gonna lie.

Simon Hunter (26:26)

If it makes you feel better, that was like a 6k, not 6k, six figure swing for me because I had a ton of parlays tied to the under. And yeah, I basically, I'm pretty sure I get on the show. Mack Hollands, anytime touchdown hit, which was really lucky. And obviously Seattle defense, I always parlay the defenses that I bet on the teams with. And yeah, that was a nice payout as well. So yeah, for me, you know, between Denver and the super bowl, close to a 7 figure into the season and between my clients and my group, a nice 10. I mean eight figure, I should say end of the season and gonna get a really nice bonus. Hopefully we'll see what that'll be. I need gold's at all time high. So I'm probably not gonna get any gold. But yeah, having fun trying to figure out what I'm gonna get paid out. And just because, you know these, these are long seasons, few form between great seasons. And yeah, to end that way in the last two games obviously is a great feeling. And especially a game like this where, you know, confidence can always leak, especially when you have two weeks leading up to a game. And yeah, neither of us really wavered, honestly, like even talking about the sharp calls and how I, I was shocked to hear some of professionals. The most shocking thing was to watch from that show, which was Thursday to Friday to Saturday to Sunday, how the money came flowing in on the Patriots. And basically by kickoff, I think it was like 56, 50, 57 of the bets and money were on the seahawks and obviously 43% was on the Patriots, which blew my mind that that many people late came in on the Patriots and we're feeling so confident about them. And yeah, you were, you said you were worried about how the line hadn't budged. I was the other way, where it's like a couple books had gone to five here in Jersey and I immediately was just like, okay, money's pouring in here on this Patriots team and I still know other groups like me taking positions on the Seahawks team. And now the numbers moved against it as moved up as well. This is like alarm bells because I told you the books were stuck. They could not go to six and a half, in my opinion, on the seal because they would have shown their ass. They would have shown this is potential to be a blowout if they would have moved it. And yeah, the, the books are going to say they didn't do great. I think that's a lot to do. The predictive markets and them being dinosaurs and being slow to adjust to the new current market. But overall, you know, that was a great, I'm assuming a great super bowl for the books because you didn't get the, you know, you didn't, you didn't get all the big touchdown guys, right? Like JSN didn't score. I know Walker hurt him, obviously, but. And the total went under and you had a blowout. So, yeah, it's like we always say, the public does win and they got smoked the regular season. They got their revenge for sure here in the playoffs and especially on this game where this was definitely. We talked about it was the. It was a very public side. We knew that going in. And yeah, props to us. We didn't let it bang us off, Chad. We stayed, stayed to it and stayed. My God, we reaped the rewards from it.

Chad Millman (29:32)

We totally stayed focused. Good for us. Hope everyone listened. Let's hear from our friends at Hard Rock Bets. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock bet, Florida's sportsbook. I know it's tough with no football, but like the song says, I bet I will survive with Hard Rock Bet. There's always something to bet on every night. Hoops, hockey, and so much more. Plus all the great same game parlay, live betting and player prop options you're used to. If you haven't signed up with Hard Rock Bet yet, there's never been a better time. New signups can double their winnings on their first 10 bets, max $50 that's right. If you would have won a hundred bucks on your bet, make that 200. The hard rock Bet Sportsbook app is the only legal sportsbook for whenever you're in Florida, and it's also live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indian, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan. Coming soon to more states, too. Plus, Hard Rock Bet offers new promos daily, so whenever you're listening, just open the app and check out what you've got. Any day of the week, download the Hard Rock Bet app and make your first deposit. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC in all other states. Must be 21 or over and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. To play terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1-833-Playwise in Indiana, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-809 with it gambling problem, call 1-800- Gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and.

Simon Hunter (31:20)

Virginia this month, iHeartRadio is celebrating the.

Matt Mitchell (31:23)

Stars of the 2026 Winter Games. Michigan natives Madison Chuck and Evan Bates are the undisputed leaders of American ice dance. As reigning world champions, they arrive in Milano Cortina with a reputation for storytelling.

Simon Hunter (31:35)

And seamless chemistry that captivates judges and fans alike.

Matt Mitchell (31:39)

After years of climbing the ranks, the duo is poised to cap their illustrious careers with the ultimate prize.

Simon Hunter (31:44)

They take the ice with one bringing Olympic gold home for more Winter Games.

Matt Mitchell (31:49)

Gold Search olympics on the iHeartRadio app.

Bowen Yang (31:52)

I'm Bowen Yang.

Chad Millman (31:53)

And I'm Matt Rogers.

Bowen Yang (31:54)

During this season of the Two Guys Five Rings podcast in the lead up to the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, we've been joined by some of our friends.

Simon Hunter (32:03)

Hi Bud. Hi Matt.

Chad Millman (32:05)

Hey Elmo.

Simon Hunter (32:06)

Hey Matt. Hey Bowen.

Chad Millman (32:08)

Hi Cookie. Now the Winter Olympic Games are underway and we are in Italy to give you experiences from our hearts to your ears. Listen to Two Guys Five Rings on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Foreign.

Simon Hunter (32:29)

What do you do when the.

Bowen Yang (32:30)

Headlines don't explain what's happening inside of you? I'm Ben Higgins and if you can hear me is where culture meets the soul. A place for real conversation. Each episode I sit down with people from all walks of life, celebrities, thinkers, and everyday folks, and we go deeper than the polished story. We talk about what drives us, what shapes us, and what gives us hope. We get honest about the big stuff. Identity when you don't recognize yourself anymore. Loss that changes you. Purpose when success isn't enough. Peace when your mind won't slow down. Faith when it's complicated. Some guests have answers. Most are still figuring it out. If you've ever felt like there has to be more to the story, this show is for you. Listen to if youf Can Hear me on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Simon Hunter (33:27)

Everyone needs to take care of their mental health, even running back Bijon Robinson. When I'm on the field, I'm feeling the pressure. I usually just take a deep breath.

Matt Mitchell (33:35)

When I'm just breathing and seeing what's.

Simon Hunter (33:37)

In front of me, everything just slows down.

Matt Mitchell (33:38)

It just makes me feel great before.

Simon Hunter (33:40)

I run the play. Just like Bijan, we all need a strong mental game on and off the field. Make a game plan for your mental health at loveyourmindplaybook.org Love your mind. Brought to you by the Huntsman Mental Health foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Family foundation, and the AD Council.

Mandy B (33:56)

Crook and Chase Nashville chats with the coolest cat in country music.

Chad Millman (34:00)

He is edgy.

Mandy B (34:01)

He's fun. He is Chase Matthews.

Matt Mitchell (34:03)

Keith Urban helped make him a global sensation last year, but it's his recent number one hit, Darling, that put Chase on the map and launched a full.

Simon Hunter (34:10)

Fun and difficult conversation about lovers who cheat and lie. That's why I'm scared to get married. You give me trust issues, brother. Crook and Chase Nashville chats with Chase Matthew. Listen and subscribe on the iHeartRadio app.

Chad Millman (34:22)

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. All right, Producer Matt Mitchell, he's gonna join us right now because he has. While we are giving ourselves so many bouquets of flowers for our brilliant super bowl analysis and the courage to go with a dominant team at multiple levels, Matt Mitchell has a Super bowl bad beat to bring us back down to earth.

Matt Mitchell (34:53)

Chad I had a great Super Bowl. It was absolutely my most profitable game of the entire NFL season, which is not common. Usually. Super bowl is not the payload that I want it to be. It's always a mixed bag, right? It was great. I got everything I needed, right? Except for the two lottery tickets that I scratched, which are so stupid and so easy to understand because I don't. I don't Usually love bad beat stories. I love turning the super bowl into a game of roulette by picking exact outcomes. So I took Seattle to win by exactly 12. And I took Seattle to win by exactly 22. Oh, very uncommon. And they both paid 100 to 1. I bet on both of them. And I got to experience the absolute torture chamber of seeing not one of them, but both of those differentials in the fourth quarter of a Super bowl blowout in which basically after each, after each one was established, no team had a real either possibility or incentive to score first at 19 7. And I thought, boy, this could really be the. That could be it. And then I'm like, okay, the last. All the other bets I needed, I go, what would really be great is a Seattle defensive touchdown, regular extra point. And then I'll get to 22, it'll be 29 7. And the next play I got exactly that. Nobody caught him. I felt like my soul left my body and I was watching myself watch that play from above. I gamble a lot. I gamble ever. I've been on six Olympic women's hockey games already. I gamble a lot. That experience of being like, I feel like I'm being lifted above towards heaven. And then the God damned Patriots are like, oh, now we're pulling out all the stops. And I do I want to call out Drake May, who's goddamn shouldered. Didn't hurt with four minutes to go in the fucking Super Bowl. And fraught former Buffalo Bill Stefan Diggs, who had a much worse night than I did, holding on to a ball in the red zone after getting rocked and spinning the ball as if only to me to set up the touchdown. So to Drake May and to Stefan Diggs for helping to ruin a 100 to 1, 297 perfect final score. I want to send to you this message.

Mandy B (37:39)

I would like to rear up and.

Chad Millman (37:41)

Jackknife my legs and kick you both.

Mandy B (37:43)

In the jaw with my foot bone. I wish my foot would go right through your skull. Did you drink before you came here?

Chad Millman (37:50)

No, but I'm gonna start drinking and then I'm gonna come back and light you on fire. We remember the bad beats. We just do. It was a glorious game. I'm glad we got to watch it. We want to bring on right now. We want to do actually one quick word from our friends at Zbiotics and then we've got an interview with our contest winner. Matt. The football season is over. No more getting up early on Sunday mornings to record a show. Looking forward to free and easy Saturday nights enjoying Some cocktails with our friends and family. Despite our incredible grit and resolve, we don't bounce back like we used to. And you've got kids to deal with every morning. That used to mean choosing between a great night or a great next day. But that was before we tried pre alcohol zebiotics. Pre Alcohol Probiotic drink is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Here's how it works. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct. And in the gut it's a buildup of this byproduct, not dehydration that's to blame for rough days after drinking. Pre alcohol produces an enzyme to break down this byproduct. Just remember to make pre alcohol your first drink of the night. Drink responsibly and you'll feel your best tomorrow. Matt, you've got a special occasion coming up this week. Tell us about how you're going to manage this.

Matt Mitchell (39:30)

Well, Chad, as you know, at the end of this week I turn 41 and so I'll be going to a fancy restaurant enjoying cocktails with more than two ingredients, all the fanciest things. And I'm definitely going to make pre alcohol part of my routine. You just open up the fancy little box comes in these little airplane bottles. I just knock one back about an hour before I start and the next morning, which is Valentine's Day for me, a lot of obligations there. I feel great. I'm able to do all the things I want to do. I've got loads of energy. It's going to be great. And I know it's just a few weeks before your, what I assume is, you know, 65th, 75th birthday at the end of this month too. So I would highly recommend it.

Chad Millman (40:16)

Yeah, I'm in training as we speak. Listen, I'm excited you're going to be do that, enjoy the best nights of the football season without sacrificing a great morning. Start your night with Zbiotics Pre Alcohol. Wake up clear headed, focused and better than ever. Go to zbiotics.com sharpersquare now. You'll get 15% off your first order when you use Sharper Square at checkout. Plus it's backed by a 100% money back guarantee so there's no risk. Subscriptions are also available for maximum consistency. That's zbiotics.com sharper square and use the code Sharper Square at checkout for 15% off. As promised, a very special treat. We're being joined by the grand prize winner of the Sharper Square Pro Football Pick Them contest presented by our friends at Hard Rock Bat, who are so appreciative of, by the way, that they were willing to organize this contest and put together the prizing very late in the season because we know longtime listeners of the show have enjoyed doing it. And that includes our winner, Kingston Chen from the great state of New Jersey, the Bayonne Brother. I love New Jersey. Kingston, how you doing, buddy?

Kingston Chen (41:40)

I'm doing great. Thank you guys for this interview.

Chad Millman (41:43)

I'm so glad you did the contest. I'm so glad you are the grand prize winner. You went five and oh in the last week of the contest. Tell us how you did it.

Kingston Chen (41:53)

A lot of the credit has to go to the Sharpen Square podcast. I don't have my own models, I don't have research trends. So a lot of my insight and rationale behind those picks come from you guys.

Chad Millman (42:07)

Damn straight.

Kingston Chen (42:09)

Yep.

Chad Millman (42:10)

What did you end up doing for your final five?

Kingston Chen (42:14)

If I remember, I think I picked the totals under. I did the first half under. I also had Sam Darnold throwing for under 1.5 touchdowns, JSN having no receiving touchdowns, and Ramondre Stevenson under for the rushing yards.

Chad Millman (42:33)

Wow. So you didn't even do one of the sides.

Kingston Chen (42:36)

In my heart, I felt that Seattle was the better team and I honestly felt they were going to blow out the Patriots. But then the episode leading up to the super bowl, you guys were talking about how a lot of the Sharps were on the Patriots, so that gave me some doubt and ultimately I just decided it was better just avoid who was going to cover or who was going to win the game altogether.

Chad Millman (43:01)

Simon, you talked him out of the easiest bet of the day.

Simon Hunter (43:07)

Well, he did take a sharp sign taking the under. Right. So at least he. He did follow some of the sharp with taking the under, and he didn't follow the Sharps by taking the Patriots. So I feel like he. He did. He did well. He picked his spots. That's what it's all about, right, Chad? Picking your spots.

Chad Millman (43:19)

You pick your spots. He. All in all, he made some very sharp choices. Right. Like you and I had debated the Jackson, Smith and Jigba under half a touchdown, so basically no touchdowns. We had talked about the Sam Darnold like the under. Those were the sharp sides. We were with him on the under and the Ramondre Stevenson under his total rushing yards too. Here's what's interesting to me, Simon. I'd like Kingston to explain himself here. You say you don't do Models, you don't do a ton of research. You mainly just listen to me and Simon throughout the year and that's how you come up with your five picks. And congratulations again on winning. How is it that you're gleaning from whatever we're saying? Better intel and information than Simon and I are getting from whatever we're saying.

Kingston Chen (44:10)

I mean, it comes down to luck, right? I went 5 and 0, but easily could have just went 3 or 2 or 2 and 3. You know, the game could have easily went over on the totals if that Kenneth Walker touchdown wasn't called back to a flag. If Sam Darnold didn't miss JSN on that throw where I think he got a step on Gonzalez. As easily as I won the contest, I could have just also easily lost. Just thank you to Hard Rock Deck for sponsoring this contest. And it was super fun. Even if I didn't win, I still think it was really, really fun. And I hope moving forward that they would do more contests like this.

Chad Millman (44:44)

As long as we have a show, there's going to be a contest. I'm holding our sponsor to it. I think they saw how great it was. They saw how many people signed up. Literally many, many thousands. That's what's interesting here. Kingston, look at us. Simon. Sharper Square. Just bringing joy and happiness to Kingston Chen's life. Kingston, congratulations on finishing number one in the Sharper Square Pro Football Pick em contest. Great job finishing 50 on the year. Great job on listening to me and Simon and figuring out what we were saying better than Simon and I actually figured out. Thanks for playing, brother.

Kingston Chen (45:20)

Thank you so much. And I just want to thank you guys. Like I said, I've been following the podcast for, like, two years, and every new episode, I always learn something new. Wish you guys continued success moving forward.

Chad Millman (45:31)

You're welcome back on the show anytime. You're much nicer than most people. Thank you, brother.

Kingston Chen (45:37)

Thank you, thank you.

Chad Millman (45:39)

All right. Thank you. Kingston Chen. Brilliant, brilliant season. Congrats to you. I hope you enjoy the free trip to Hard Rock in Florida. I was just there. Amazing property. For those wondering about the upcoming schedule, especially those new to the show, we got a lot of new listeners. We still have new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. It's a lot of NFL talk, a lot of NFL off season, free agency, draft futures. We do do other sports. We're going to have special guests. It'll be great. Stick around. It's still going to be me and Simon talking about all the fun things that we like to talk about related to the betting world. This has been Sharper Square part of the Volume Podcast Network. We do want to thank everybody from a wild beginning where we went from deciding we were joining the Volume Podcast Network to launching a new show in the span of about 96 hours volume before the opening week of the NFL season to now, what is it, six months later, we're through a Super Bowl. Thanks to everybody who found us, who stuck with us, who joined us, who came along for the ride. It was a glorious, glorious season. We hope you'll stick around for the rest of the offseason when we talk about all these things that I just talked about. A lot of NFL futures talk. We will be back on Thursday morning with a special NFL off season mailbag episode. Watch or listen on YouTube at Sharper Square like this video. Subscribe to the channel, download some Spotify, Apple Pause wherever you get your pause rate. Review. Subscribe. Leave us five stars. Say whatever you want. Feedback is a gift. Until next time. Love you. So one's a bad call and I.

Simon Hunter (47:34)

Was upset at that bad call over.

Chad Millman (47:36)

There until I saw your bad call. Your bad call. They both trumped that bad call. What the hell's the problem?

Mandy B (47:45)

This is Sophie Cunningham from Show Me Something. Arby's just dropped a meal deal that actually goes crazy.

Chad Millman (47:51)

The meat in three box for 7.99 is loaded with the Arby's favorites that people actually want.

Mandy B (47:56)

You start with your choice of a sandwich, classic roast beef or crispy chicken sandwich.

Chad Millman (48:00)

And then they don't stop there.

Bowen Yang (48:01)

You get melty mozzarella sticks, crispy curly.

Mandy B (48:05)

Fries and a peach cobbler roll. I'm telling you right now, do not skip the dessert. Arby's is best for last.

Chad Millman (48:11)

Plus you're getting a small drink.

Bowen Yang (48:13)

So yeah, it's called the meat in.

Chad Millman (48:14)

Three, but that's five items for 7.99.

Mandy B (48:16)

Available for a limited time at participating locations. While supplies last, prices may vary. Get your Meat in three bucks at an Arby's near you today.

Chad Millman (48:25)

I'm Bowen Yang. And I'm Matt Rogers.

Bowen Yang (48:27)

During this season of the Two Guys Five Rings podcast. In the lead up to the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, we've been joined by some of our friends.

Simon Hunter (48:36)

Hi Bo. Hi Matt.

Chad Millman (48:38)

Hey Elmo.

Simon Hunter (48:39)

Hey Matt. Hey Bowen.

Chad Millman (48:41)

Hi Cookie.

Simon Hunter (48:42)

Hi.

Chad Millman (48:43)

Now the Winter Olympic Games are underway and we are in Italy to give you experiences from our hearts to your ears. Listen to Two Guys Five Rings on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bowen Yang (48:59)

You can scroll the headlines all day and still feel empty. I'm Ben Higgins and if youf Can Hear Me is where culture meets the soul. Honest conversations about identity, loss, purpose, peace, faith, and everything in between. Celebrities, thinkers, everyday people. Some have answers. Most are still figuring it out. And if you've ever felt like there has to be more to the story, this show is for you. Listen to if youf Can Hear me on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Mandy B (49:29)

Over the last couple years, didn't we learn that the folding chair was invented by black people because of what happened in Alabama? This Black History Month, the podcast collective Ignorance with Mandy B unpacks black history and culture with comedy, clarity and conversations that shake the status quo. The Crown act in New York was signed in July of 2019, and that is a bill that was passed to prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles associated with race. To hear this and more, listen to Selective Ignorance with Mandy B. From the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Chad Millman (50:02)

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.