Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of the Week" Release Date: April 5, 2025

Introduction "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, offers a vibrant and opinionated exploration of the week's top sports stories. In the "Best of the Week" episode released on April 5, 2025, Colin Cowherd, alongside co-host Jorge Ham, dives deep into major developments across college basketball's March Madness, the NBA playoffs, Major League Baseball innovations, and the NFL Draft outlook. This summary encapsulates the episode's key discussions, insights, and predictions, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

1. March Madness 2025: College Basketball Predictions

Colin and Jorge extensively analyze the ongoing NCAA tournament, offering predictions and dissecting team performances.

• Final Four Outlook

  • Colin Cowherd [03:38]: Emphasizes the dominance of SEC teams, highlighting Florida as potentially the best team due to conference depth.
  • Jorge Ham [52:13]: Predicts Duke to win the national championship, expressing confidence in Cooper Flag's leadership and Duke's consistent performance.

• Notable Predictions

  • Final Four Teams: Florida vs. Auburn and Duke vs. Houston.
  • National Championship Favorite: Duke, driven by Cooper Flag's exceptional play and the team's strategic prowess.

• Key Insights

  • SEC Dominance: Colin underscores the SEC's superior basketball quality compared to the ACC, mentioning, "It's a deeper, better conference. We've been saying this since early January on this show" ([03:38]).
  • Duke's Strength: Jorge praises Duke's defensive capabilities and depth, stating, "Cooper Flagg is too good. You can't hold him down that long" ([52:32]).

2. NBA Playoffs: Lakers vs. Warriors Analysis

The discussion pivots to the NBA playoffs, focusing on the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors' prospects.

• Lakers' Strategy and Performance

  • Colin Cowherd [16:28]: Highlights the Lakers' improved defensive efforts, noting their recent win against Houston: "When they play defense, it's a real team they've got now. And I've been very critical of the Lakers front office. But right now, offensively, they can match up with anybody in the league" ([16:28]).
  • Jorge Ham [54:46]: Predicts the Lakers will reach the Western Conference Finals, emphasizing their home court advantage and defensive improvements.

• Warriors' Dynamics

  • Colin Cowherd [29:55]: Discusses the Warriors' deep bench and the impact of players like Looney and Post: "The warriors have one of the better benches, like the Boston Celtics in the NBA" ([29:55]).
  • Prediction: Both hosts foresee the Lakers and Warriors making significant playoff runs, potentially meeting in the Western Conference Finals.

• Key Insights

  • Lakers' Home Advantage: The Lakers' stellar home record (29-9) versus their subpar road performance is a critical factor in their playoff success ([16:28]).
  • Warriors' Bench Depth: The Warriors' versatility and bench strength are seen as pivotal for their continued competitiveness ([29:55]).

3. Major League Baseball: Dodgers' Unprecedented Season

The conversation shifts to MLB, with a focus on the Los Angeles Dodgers' historic performance.

• Dodgers' Record-Breaking Stats

  • Colin Cowherd [04:30]: Applauds the Dodgers for their flawless season metrics, stating, "The Dodgers are the first team in baseball history to go 50 with 30 plus runs scored, 20 plus walks drawn, 10 plus home runs, 55 strikeout and 0 errors committed" ([04:30]).

• Innovations in Equipment: Torpedo Bats

  • Colin Cowherd [12:56]: Discusses the introduction of torpedo bats and their impact on the game: "They've just redistributed the bulk of the bat toward the label for a couple of batters. And it is working wonders" ([12:56]).
  • Quote: "It's like Harry Potter. The wand is choosing the Wizard" ([21:40]).

• Key Insights

  • Performance Without Star Players: Despite missing key players like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, the Dodgers maintain top-tier performance, illustrating their depth and talent.
  • Legal Enhancements vs. Steroids: Colin differentiates between innovative equipment like torpedo bats and performance-enhancing drugs, emphasizing the former's legitimacy and positive impact on the game ([04:30]).

4. NFL Draft 2025: Focus on Running Backs and Defensive Line

A segment featuring NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay provides insights into this year's draft prospects.

• Top Position Groups

  • Calvin Sampson [33:19]: Identifies running backs and defensive linemen as the strongest prospects: "Running backs and defensive line. Colin. I mean, I was looking at it the other day" ([33:19]).
  • Todd McShay [34:44]: Echoes the sentiment, highlighting the depth of talent in these positions: "I just, I love this class of running backs" ([34:44]).

• Notable Prospects

  • Running Backs: Ashton Jinty, Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, Omarion Hampton, Travion Henderson, Judd Kunchon Judkins, Caleb Johnson, Cam Scatterbo, RJ Harvey, DJ Giddens.
  • Defensive Linemen: A record number of interior and edge defenders projected to be drafted in the first three rounds.

• Key Insights

  • Market Dynamics: Calvin emphasizes the cyclical nature of NFL needs, pointing out the resurgence of running backs due to evolving defensive strategies: "You got to have a running back now to counter it, who's explosive" ([35:00]).
  • Quarterback Evaluations: Discussion on quarterbacks like Jackson Dart and Shador Sanders, with Calvin advocating for their respective strengths despite differing opinions on their athleticism and arm strength ([37:07]).

5. Additional Highlights

• Innovations and Trends

  • Torpid Bats in MLB: Colin explores how innovations like torpedo bats are reshaping offensive strategies and game dynamics.
  • Instagram Teen Accounts: Brief promotion of Instagram's new safety features for teens, emphasizing automatic protections for contact and content ([09:30]).

• Promotional Segments

  • Wendy's Partnership: Multiple mentions of Wendy's as the official hamburger of March Madness, offering special deals on their app ([00:00], [10:41], [25:04]).
  • Other Shows: Promotions for "Mind the Business" podcast, "Dropping Diamonds" with AJ Andrews, and "Levittown" podcast by Bloomberg and Kaleidoscope.

Conclusion

In this episode of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," listeners are treated to a comprehensive analysis of major sports events and trends. From the anticipated excitement of March Madness and the strategic depth of the NBA playoffs to MLB's groundbreaking season with the Dodgers and insightful NFL Draft projections, Colin and Jorge provide authoritative and engaging commentary. Notable quotes and strategic predictions offer valuable perspectives for sports enthusiasts navigating this dynamic week in sports.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd [03:38]: "It's a deeper, better conference. We've been saying this since early January on this show."
• Jorge Ham [52:32]: "Cooper Flagg is too good. You can't hold him down that long."
• Colin Cowherd [04:30]: "The Dodgers are the first team in baseball history to go 50 with 30 plus runs scored, 20 plus walks drawn, 10 plus home runs, 55 strikeout and 0 errors committed."

For More Information: Stay updated with "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" by tuning in live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio from noon to 3 PM Eastern, or stream the podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast platform.