Colin Cowherd Podcast - Betting NFL Playoffs + Ohio State vs. Notre Dame! Big Ten’s Advantage Over SEC, Caitlin Clark=New Stadium

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode Title: Betting NFL Playoffs + Ohio State vs. Notre Dame! Big Ten’s Advantage Over SEC, Caitlin Clark=New Stadium
Release Date: January 17, 2025

Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" delves into the most pressing sports stories of the day with insightful analysis and passionate discussions. In this episode, the hosts explore the intricacies of NFL playoff betting, the anticipated clash between Ohio State and Notre Dame, the evolving dynamics between the Big Ten and SEC conferences, and the significant impact of Caitlin Clark on the WNBA.

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1. NFL Playoffs Betting

Chad Millman initiates the conversation by evaluating the odds surrounding the NFL playoffs, focusing on key teams and betting strategies.

• Kansas City Chiefs vs. Commanders:

  • Millman expresses confidence in the Chiefs, stating, “I do think it's a little easier in the playoffs because you get greater quarterbacks and I kind of know, especially at home” ([02:08]).
  • The co-host adds, “Patrick Mahomes as a seven plus point favorite has been a losing bet,” highlighting Mahomes’ performance in cold weather ([04:25]).
  • They discuss the Chiefs' adaptability in harsh conditions, with Millman concluding, “So now all of a sudden it changes the formula a little bit. Makes me feel more comfortable betting on the Chiefs” ([04:25]).

• Commanders vs. Detroit Lions:

  • Millman shares his perspective: “Commanders are the rare team in a rebuild that's actually great late” ([05:59]).
  • The discussion emphasizes Michigan's strategic defense against mobile quarterbacks and the potential for a high-scoring game, with a probable Lions victory ([07:17]).

Key Insights:

• The importance of weather conditions on betting odds.
• Chiefs' strong performance as favorites in cold weather.
• Commanders' late-game resilience despite being in a rebuilding phase.

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2. Ohio State vs. Notre Dame

The hosts analyze the upcoming showdown between Ohio State and Notre Dame, assessing team strengths and betting prospects.

• Team Analysis:

  • Millman praises Ohio State’s offensive strategies: “Chip Kelly has given Ohio State an advantage in the NIL and NFL playoff-like tournament” ([24:18]).
  • He contrasts coach Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame to Sean McVay, emphasizing Freeman's effective culture and belief system ([22:32]).

• Betting Predictions:

  • Millman predicts, “I'll take the Buckeyes minus eight and a half” ([21:10]).
  • The co-host notes the potential for a defensive showdown: “There's a lot of data back up what you like about this. It feels like a defensive battle” ([22:32]).

Key Insights:

• Ohio State’s financial backing and strategic coaching give them an edge.
• Notre Dame’s strong defense positions the game as a tightly contested battle.
• Historical data suggests favorites often prevail in national title games.

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3. Big Ten’s Advantage Over SEC

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the shifting power dynamics between the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference (SEC), particularly in the context of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings and financial strategies.

• Financial Realities and NIL:

  • Millman asserts, “There are some financial realities. And this is not to say there's not money in the South... but Big Ten graduates... make great money” ([24:18]).
  • The co-host agrees, mentioning, “Teams that have huge alumni networks are going to get so much better” ([32:44]).

• Alumni Networks and Recruitment:

  • Millman discusses how Big Ten schools benefit from large enrollment and widespread alumni presence: “Big Ten schools are much bigger than SEC schools. Wisconsin, 40,000, Ohio State, 45,000” ([26:45]).
  • The co-host adds insights on regional preferences influencing recruitment and financial investments in NIL ([31:10]).

• Future Implications:

  • They speculate on the long-term effects of these financial strategies, with Millman highlighting how Big Ten’s expansive networks could provide a competitive edge: “There's something about youth, that confidence can ebb and flow... They are on fire” ([24:18]).

Key Insights:

• The Big Ten's extensive alumni networks and larger student bodies position them favorably against the SEC.
• Financial strategies, particularly around NIL, are pivotal in shaping conference dominance.
• Regional economic factors and alumni contributions significantly influence team performance and recruitment.

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4. Caitlin Clark and the WNBA’s New Stadium

The discussion shifts to the WNBA, focusing on Caitlin Clark’s transformative effect on the league and the recent investment in a new arena.

• Impact of Caitlin Clark:

  • Millman marvels at Clark's influence: “If you don’t think she has economic superpowers, you’re not paying attention” ([34:12]).
  • The co-host agrees, emphasizing her role in boosting WNBA’s visibility and profitability: “They are using Caitlin Clark to build a generationally great franchise and help the league grow” ([34:12]).

• New Arena Investment:

  • The hosts highlight the strategic move by the Indiana Fever to invest $90 million in a new arena, attributing it to Clark’s star power: “they’re going to take advantage of the moment in time when they have everybody’s interest” ([34:12]).

• Economic and Cultural Implications:

  • Millman discusses the broader economic benefits and how such investments can sustain the league’s growth: “It's a brilliant, brilliant idea” ([35:32]).
  • The co-host reflects on the defensive reactions from the WNBA, interpreting them as challenges to Clark’s unparalleled impact ([34:12]).

Key Insights:

• Caitlin Clark is a pivotal figure in elevating the WNBA’s profile and economic standing.
• Significant investments in infrastructure, like new arenas, are a testament to her influence.
• The strategic use of star players can drive long-term growth and cultural acceptance in women's sports.

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5. Broader Sports Landscape and Future Trends

Beyond the main topics, the hosts touch upon various aspects shaping the current and future sports environment.

• College Football Evolution:

  • Millman praises the transition to a 12-team playoff, likening it to MLB’s improvements: “college football’s in a really cool place” ([32:44]).
  • The co-host and Millman discuss the ongoing tweaks and potential expansion to 14 or 16 teams, emphasizing the need for structured governance similar to professional leagues ([46:10]).

• UFC vs. Boxing:

  • Analyzing combat sports, Millman commends UFC’s consistency and event management over boxing’s sporadic and often delayed matches: “UFC is so brilliant. They picked a day. It’s Saturday night” ([37:45]).
  • They reminisce about the golden eras of boxing, with Millman expressing a preference for classic boxing matchups over modern UFC events ([48:50]).

• NBA’s Event Strategy:

  • The hosts critique the NBA’s efforts to create event-like games through the NBA Cup, arguing that without dominant dynasties, these events lack the allure: “the Celtics won the title because they had the greatest depth” ([39:43]).
  • They discuss the importance of star players in enhancing fan engagement and viewership, noting current challenges in the NBA’s regular season viewership ([37:45]).

Key Insights:

• Structural changes in college football are positioning it for greater popularity and competitiveness.
• UFC’s strategic event scheduling offers a more reliable spectator experience compared to boxing.
• The NBA must foster dominant teams and charismatic stars to maintain and grow its fan base.

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Conclusion

In this episode of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," the hosts provide a comprehensive analysis of key sports topics, blending betting strategies with in-depth discussions on college football dynamics and the transformative impact of star athletes in professional leagues. Their insights not only reflect current trends but also anticipate future developments in the sports world, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of the evolving landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Chad Millman: “I think it's a brilliant, brilliant idea” ([34:12]).
• Co-Host: “They are using Caitlin Clark to build a generationally great franchise and help the league grow” ([34:12]).
• Millman: “College football's in a really cool place” ([32:44]).
• Co-Host: “This is a really good test case on how they defend a running quarterback” ([07:17]).

Listeners who missed the episode can gain a thorough understanding of the discussed topics through this summary, capturing the essence of the hosts' expert opinions and strategic insights.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption. Acquired card has no cash access and expires in six months.

[NPR Up First Host]

Experiencing the news each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day informed, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up First. Subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondents and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed, informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Adnan Virk]

What's up everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Virkin Demers, Jason.

[Jason Demers]

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[Adnan Virk]

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[Jason Demers]

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[Adnan Virk]

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[Chad Millman]

The Volume all right, everybody, Chad Millman. I'm relishing in a rare winning week. I went three and two. I've told you, I've had an absolutely terrible year. Bet I do think it's a little easier in the playoffs because I you get greater quarterbacks and I kind of know, especially at home, your better quarterbacks generally Play pretty well at home. So that said, Kansas City minus seven and a half. I know there's a hook warm weather team on the road after playing really well. C.J. stroud's home and away splits don't play in his favor. Andy Reid in a bye. Kansas City's going to win the game. The question is by how much. So I'm inclined to say I had a winning week last week. I lost one of those underdogs that everybody loved and that's what I did all year. So I do think the weakest team left in the playoffs, AFC or NFC is not the Commanders because I think their quarterback maybe better than Andrew Luck as a rookie. It's probably Houston on the road in cold weather. So I know it's wrong. But I'm going to take the Chiefs minus seven and a half. What say you?

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Yeah, at seven and a half I think it's the sharp side at eight and a half you're starting to get a little bit of interest in the Texans. And what you just said is exactly what the wise guys are seeing too. They're more interested in betting the Commanders, let's say as big underdogs than on betting than betting on the Texans right now. And there's one thing that you have to consider which is Patrick Mahomes as a favorite of three or more generally has been a losing bet. Patrick Mahomes as a seven plus point favorite, 52 and five straight up. So yeah, he generally wins those games.

[Chad Millman]

They're going to win the game 22.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

32 and 3 against the spread. That's 41%. Normally I will not give you the exact numbers, I'll just give you the percentage because I'm not going to give you anything that is a data set of two. Right. I'm going to give you a sample size that is relevant so people understand we're not just sort of giving out really small numbers to make ourselves look good. 41% against a spread on a sample size that is 22 plus 32. What is that? And 357. Right. So that's a decent sized number at a point spread of seven plus. So dig a little deeper because don't forget this game is going to be played in very, very cold weather. Okay, Patrick Mahomes as a favorite of seven plus points in weather under 40 degrees he's 10 and six against the spread. Under 30 degrees he's four and one against the spread. So what did I just tell you? I just told you his record was 22 and 32 and three against spread as a seven plus point favorite. Nearly 50% of those wins against the spread have come in cold weather. So now all of a sudden it changes the formula a little bit. Makes me feel more comfortable betting on the Chiefs. So the wise guys have been betting on the Chiefs. They bet this up. It's about 50, 50 in terms of the, the feelings, the, the expectations on either side at eight and a half. I still like the Chiefs here.

[Chad Millman]

Commanders plus nine and a half is the side to me. A side note, my favorite part. Detroit's going to win the game. But since they have a pocket quarterback and they don't have a hyper mobile quarterback on the roster, the advantage here to playing against Jaden Daniels in this game is whoever they face next and in the super bowl is likely Jalen hurts Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen. So this is a really good test case on how they defend a running quarterback because they don't have one on their roster. So I think, I think it's instructive. This is a really good game for Detroit. I think they'll win the game. Jaden Daniels, however, has been so good and so good late. Now if it's a blowout, and that's certainly possible, we know one team's going to blow the other out. But the commanders are the rare team in a rebuild that's actually great late. That's usually veteran teams and veteran staffs. Very rarely are you like, like the, like the Chargers. You'd be surprised if they were great in close games because they have a new staff and kind of a new culture. I would take the points here. I think it's going to be a Detroit win. But if the Commanders get the opening snap, take it and score. I'm like, game on. Sixteen and a half points. I'm okay with that. Sharper square.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Well, there's no consensus here and this is going to be a little bit of a theme today. The Lions have been so dominant against the spread during the Dan Campbell and Jared Goff era. When I say dominant, I mean there are three and four year records against the spread are the best in the super bowl era. Jared Goff indoors, 34 and 13 against the spread. This is a team that doesn't matter what the number is. They cover the number. They're 18, 2 and 1 against the spread. Against teams averaging more than 24 points per game, the Commander's average, 28 points per game. There are pockets of professional betters who like the Commanders for exactly what you just said, they have won their Last five games on the last play of the game. I don't mean good comeback, last two minutes. I mean literally last play of the game. If you break it down, you see, okay, well, that was against New Orleans and they kind of underperformed and needed a miracle to win at the end. The next one that was against Philly, Jaylen Herz got hurt in the minute, in the beginning of the game and they needed a miracle to come back against a team that was a little bit banged up and didn't have its quarterback playing for him. Right. The next game, Atlanta and the coach Raheem Morris for the Falcons screwed up the timeouts and took the Falcons out of position to win that game. And then they one in the last minute, last second play against Dallas in a game that didn't really matter. And then last week was some flukiness from the Baker Mayfield fumble and then the field goal kick in the upright. So you can look at it either way and say, yeah, they're great in the end or yeah, they're getting lucky against inferior teams or getting fluky plays at the end. So you're, you're 100% right in that if they score early, this is a game that you can expect to be a shootout. Expect to go over the 55 and a half and because 16 and a half is a lot to cover when your defense for the Lions still isn't that great. And it's going to be playing against a very good running quarterback. But I can't give you like a strong opinion on, on the wise guys.

[Chad Millman]

So my favorite pick last week was Philly Grint's Green Bay to cover. And I don't even think Philly played well. And they did it. I like this game. Philly -6 as well for about 20 reasons. Number one, warm weather team that tends to perform very well on extra rest. Now at short rest flight across the country in cold weather, Kyron Williams is hurt. They played a perfect football game largely against Minnesota. They did earlier this year against Buffalo. How they look the next week. Even in the professional ranks, you do not play perfect football back to back weeks. And when McVeigh has extra time, it's like watching. It's symphonic. I mean they're just the first play of the game's like Puka, 27 yards. You're like, yep, it's gonna be a rough one for the Vikings. Philadelphia at home. You can always coach a team more harshly when they win and play like crap. I think one of the strengths of the Eagles that had previously previous years been a weakness is corner so Puka Nakua this Rams team is very Puka centric. They match up well with them. I also think the Rams offensive line and pass protection can be very inconsistent. They have a rookie center, a seventh round pick, six or seventh from Arkansas against Jalen Carter who is virtually unblockable for 20 reasons. I like Philadelphia -6 to cover sharper Square.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Yeah, totally sharp. I think you're finding real consensus here for a lot of the reasons you just said. And if you look at that game last week in reality it probably should have ended 29 to 10. Saquon took a dive to end the game and at 22 to 10 but everything you're saying and from front to back, even without Nakobe Dean this Eagles defense is so fierce and what they did to the packers is in making them look bad is the opposite of what the Vikings did to Matthew Stafford. And that offensive line that the Vikings had made the made the Rams defense look like the Eagles. The Rams defense is not the Eagles and the Eagles offensive line is not the Vikings offensive line. This is a team that is so completely dominant at the line of scrimmage on both sides. The wise guys are wondering why this isn't a little bit higher and they'd bet it up to seven. To be honest, if you look back to when these teams played earlier in.

[Chad Millman]

The fourth, dominant Eagles totally dominated the second half.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Destroyed them. The line in that game was three. Okay, the Eagles were favored by three. Now the Eagles are favored by six. Even if you say okay, I'm discounting the home field advantage for the Rams and it's really not worth that much. And then you translate all that like home field is usually worth three. Right? So in reality what the bookmakers would be thinking is, well, shouldn't the Eagles be favored by nine? Right, because it's they're by they're three on the road at a neutral field, they're six. At home, they're nine. Say that the Rams at home is not worth anything. It still isn't worth zero. So there's a little bit of value here. It shop this line should probably be seven. I would not be surprised if it gets there. Wise guys will definitely be betting it at six.

[Chad Millman]

So I like the Bills plus one and a half at home. Zay Flowers is the only Ravens player who has not practiced. In fact, it's been a while since he did practice. So if he plays he'll be, you know, this is kind of rocking on the field and going I understand the Bills run game The Bills defense is susceptible to the run game and, and, and I don't doubt that Baltimore will have some success. Whether they have success in the red zone, we'll see. And there have been teams that beat the Bills. The Rams played a perfect football game, but this Buffalo team, really, between an elite offensive play caller, left tackle, quarterback, running back. I really like their wide receiving and tight end group. You may not have a superstar, but it's B plus stuff. I, I think, you know, there's a sense that Lamar gets tense in big games. Lamar also doesn't like cold weather and it's going to be 24 degrees. I don't get the line getting Josh Allen's best team at home plus points. I don't know what the analytics say. It just feels wrong. I think the Bills are going to win the super bowl, so. Wow. Yeah. So I'm taking Buffalo here. Sharper Square.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

So the line opened. Ravens plus two. And it moved very quickly with wise guy money to Ravens minus one. It was less than 24 hours before the Ravens went from underdogs to favorites. It got up to one and a half. The wise guys have started buying the Bills back from one and a half. It's down to one in a lot of places like the wise guys. Like generally, whoever the underdog is in this matchup, that's, that's what they're betting. So if they're, if you like the Bills, you can get him as an underdog. Get him as an underdog. I am. I would not. I don't like either side in this game. If I have to bet, I'm going to wait as long as I can, try to get the Ravens at pick and hope that this line comes back down. As much as Lamar doesn't like playing in the cold, he still has succeeded. He's four and oh, in games when it's, you know, less than when it's 30 degrees or less, he's 26 and nine against the spread as a favorite of three or less or as an underdog. I get what Josh Allen is. I think Lamar Jackson is the mvp. This is a more well rounded team. I think you're playing with fire if you're betting the Bills, but the wise guys are liking him as an underdog. But there's also plenty of wise guys who still like the Ravens to win this game.

[Chad Millman]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Chad Millman]

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[Chad Millman]

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[NPR Up First Host]

Experiencing the news each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day in front, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up First. Subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,000 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else you can find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say. I I texted you and you texted me back. Now I don't know if you have the update but like all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, stuff like it's all colored. They changed it and the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm gonna be honest, it was a little pink.

[Chad Millman]

There was something sentimental when you, like when you send it. It was like, do I send the heart now?

[Bobby Bones]

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[Chad Millman]

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[Bobby Bones]

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[Chad Millman]

So whether it's young fighters or young football teams, there is something about youth, that confidence can ebb and flow. Based on your most recent date success fight game. Ohio State's in this. I don't know if Vortex is the right space but they are on fire. Their self belief is unbelievable. They are making good teams look awful. They made Oregon look like, like you know, a third tier team. They humiliated physically, Tennessee and I mean again, Texas was arguably for most of the year everybody's sort of belief until they lost to Georgia for the second time. Texas was the team and you watch them line up with Ohio State. And you're like, yeah, nil money. You can see who spent the most money. It's Ohio State. I also think Chip Kelly has given Ohio State an advantage in the Nil and NFL playoff like tournament where it's a great team after great team after great team. You hide some stuff, you unveil some stuff later. I think what they've done to their offense, the pacing, the tempo, delivering kind of new sets and looks, I think it's a really smart football team. And this is the first time in college football you've had an NFL style playoff. And I think Chip Kelly has helped. Notre Dame has one five star athlete. I do think the game will be close in the first half because I think Marcus Freeman is my Sean McVay in college. I think culture and belief. But you know, Sean McVay in his career has lost when he has faced better teams, when he faced the Niners for years, when all these shine hands, when Shanahan's players were all in their prime, he had great game plans. And by the third quarter late, you're like, San Francisco's got better players. I, I love Marcus Freeman. I think they're outmanned here. I think it gets, I think it's a very competitive, low scoring game early. I don't think it is late. I'll take the Buckeyes minus eight and a half, Sharper square.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Well, at this point there's, there's no real dominance on either side, right? The line opened at nine and a half, got bet down to eight and a half. It's kind of in that no man's land between 7 and 10. The real interest from professional betters is on the under right now in this game. I think it's at 45 and a half right now. These defenses as much as the Buckeyes offense is so good. Notre Dame's defense has been phenomenal and Al golden has been creating incredible game plans. And if you look at sort of every single metric, they're just about even. Either one is number one at one and the other one is number five or vice versa. The only real differences are Ohio State is not nearly as good at stopping teams on third down and Ohio State's not nearly as good at converting turnovers as a defensive team. But on the flip side, Notre Dame has things where they're not as good, so they're not as good at getting sacks as Ohio State. So there's definitely this game feels like a defensive battle and the wise guys are looking at the under. There is a lot of data. Back up what you like about this. There have been 24 national title games in the BCS era.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah, favorite Crush.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Twelve of those have been won by the favorites by more than a touchdown. So if you do like Ohio State, it is likely they will cover this game. So if you're thinking that they're going to win, bet them to cover because that's usually how those things go with the favorites. International title game for college football.

[Chad Millman]

I will tell you though, it's funny about college football. There are some suggesting that the SEC's run is over and then others are saying it's a one off. But there is some advantage to this if the NIL never has a cap. Schools like Alabama are begging boosters like it's a bake sale to give money. Notre Dame's got more money than SEC schools outside of Texas, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, a lot of these, Oregon, a lot of these northern tier teams. There's a lot of CEOs from those schools and there's a lot of money in the North. And when Alabama is basically saying we need help, $100 50 bucks will help. That's a car wash. That's a plea for help. And you're getting that from some of the sort of SEC fan bases. Which is one of the great things about the SEC has been the tribal nature of it. The Big Ten, although there is some parochialism to it, Big Ten graduates go to the coast and they make big money. SEC graduates largely stand the footprint of the south to a large degree. Big Ten graduates, they go to LA, San Francisco, Seattle Tech, Jobs, Boston, Minneapolis, New York, D.C. overseas and they make great money. And I just look at like Notre Dame, I'm like, I know like six Notre Dame guys. They're all rolling in it, they're all doing well. So I think there's something to be said about. There are some financial realities. And this is not to say there's not money in the South. Georgia's got a lot of money, but when Alabama's coming out and begging for it, it's like, wow. And Alabama is sort of the Bentley, you know, it's sort of the standard of the South. I do think SEC will still be the deepest conference for a while. But remember this year, Washington was in a rebuild. USC was in a rebuild. Michigan was in a rebuild. They're not in rebuilds next year. And Penn State brings everybody back. And Ohio State's Ohio State and Oregon with their money is Oregon. I think it's inches, not feet now. I think these conferences are Going to go toe to toe Ohio State. I mean, we don't even count Oregon because they got blown out by Ohio State. I think Oregon would have beaten everybody except Georgia in the sec.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

I'm so glad you brought this up. I saw that same story about Alabama and I wasn't shocked at all to see that they were having a hard time with NIL money. And granted, everyone should take this with a grain of salt. We're two east coast, west coast media dudes who have not spent an extraordinary amount of time living in the South. But I think your theory and your thesis is spot on and we're seeing it in different ways. I don't think of the University of Miami as a Southern school. The University of Miami is a school where a lot of people with a lot of money from the east coast, from really wealthy communities in the Midwest send their kids to school. And those kids then go out. Maybe they live in Miami, but they usually go back to their hometown, whether it's New York or Chicago. And they end up working in huge corporate environments making a ton of money. They can funnel a lot of money in NIL for Miami, where Carson Beck is going, right. Think about Duke, Duke in basketball. Duke has some of the wealthiest alumni in the country. How did Duke get money so quickly for nil? Partially because their program is amazing and that's where they're going to focus. But they're getting nil money for football. And so I think you're 100% right. Nil is going to even the scales a little bit. And it's not going to be one of those things where, oh my God, Alabama's going to get so much better. They didn't get so much better. And now we're seeing what's happening. It's teams that have huge alumni networks that are going to get so much better. I agree 100%.

[Chad Millman]

And think about this. I don't think people realize this Big Ten schools are much bigger than SEC schools. Wisconsin, 40,000, Ohio State, 45,000. SEC schools may fill their stadiums, but these Penn State, I mean, if you folks, if you're listening to this, go look it up. Big Ten schools often have double the kids and they spread out over the country or internationally. I know a lot of SEC kids that do go to New York City. I'm not saying they don't. But whereas the south, economically, there's a lot of jobs. The south is still growing. The Midwest isn't necessarily growing and has bad weather. So a lot of Big Ten students flee to better weather, whereas A lot of SEC students say, like, listen, I like the winters down here. I love Atlanta. You know, my friends, my family. So I. And this is just anecdotal, but in my life, the one city SEC students go to outside of the south is New York City. You know, a lot of financial majors, economy majors, accounting majors or whatever. But I do think that the fact that the south, the economy is pretty good in the south, cities like Nashville are fun, cool and growing. Atlanta, same thing. Not a lot of places outside of Chicago, in the Midwest are economic powers. I mean, a lot of Indies and St. Louis and. And so a lot of Big Ten kids, they flee after they graduate. Detroit, you know, a lot of these kids, they want to go. They want to go to school there.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

They don't want to live there, I think. Well, number one, let me tell you, that Penn State student body, I think it's close to 60, 70,000 people. Like, it is a massive student body. Right. It is much, much bigger than when you're going to get in an SEC school. Don't disagree with you at all about kids wanting to go to the SEC schools and then leaving the SEC schools. Right. I'm going through it right now. It is so hard to get into SEC schools. Georgia, Auburn, Florida, those are some of the most competitive state schools in the country right now. I'm seeing it. And. And partially it is because kids from the Northeast, like my kid, kids from the Midwest, they're tired of the weather. They're tired of the weather, and they're seeing it on social media every single.

[Chad Millman]

And the girls are beautiful. And it's your. Everybody's wearing sundresses all year.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Everyone's going to football games, having the time of their life, partying in the Grove. And they're like, why would I want to go to somewhere where it's gray? Eight months out of the year, of.

[Chad Millman]

The top 23 school enrollments, 13 are in the Big Ten.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Yeah.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

So that's the whole Big Ten.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah. So, you know, remember, USC's private. They're Big Ten. Now Northwestern's private. They're Big Ten. So of the 16, two of them are private, small privates. Now, Vanderbilt's also private, so I'm sure their enrollment's smaller. Privates usually are, but, no, I think. I think our points are valid that, listen, if you grow up in warm weather, it is hard to go cold. If you grow up in cold weather, it's much easier to go warm.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Yeah. It'll be fascinating to see how this develops over the next five Years, right, Because. Or even longer because we are seeing so many kids from the east coast and the Midwest who are going to these SEC schools. And over, say a generation from now, as these kids maybe decide to stay in the Southeast, is there more money in corporate culture? Is there more nil money that gets funneled into these SEC schools that otherwise would have gone to a Michigan, that would have gone to an Ohio State, that would have gone to a Penn State? Because those are the places where those kids were going and they're no longer headed there. And so there's a lot more corporate money that can flow into the SEC schools to your point from earlier. But it's going to take. It might take a while, right?

[Chad Millman]

So listen, all I know is here's something else that jumped out to me before we go is that I always love kind of where sports is going, not just where it is. And so college football, I think between transfer portal, nil and playoff has made a lot of changes. And I tend to love change in sports and where it's going. I think college football's in a really cool place. I just need some guardrails on the nil and transfer portal and I think the 12 team playoff will become 14 or 16. But did you see last couple of days it was announced that Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever are spending $90 million on a new arena. And so there's something about the wnba, It's a league that got very defensive when you suggested that Caitlin Clark was driving a lot of their ratings growth, Almost all of it. What does it tell you that a WNBA team, this is a league that hasn't made a profit, is spending 90 million in Indiana on a basketball arena. And it's the right move. The year after Caitlin Clark arrives, if you don't think she has economic superpowers, you're not paying attention. That is nothing against any other WNBA player. The league is better. She is a supernova. She is a comet.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Why would anyone ever get defensive about saying when someone says that their success is defined by this singular moment, this singular person. Did the NBA and the Bulls really suffer because Michael Jordan came out of nowhere and took the mantle from Larry Bird and Dr. J and turned the Bulls into a global franchise? Are the owners of the warriors thinking to themselves, man, it was so much more fun before Steph Curry when our franchise was worth about $350 million instead of the $7 billion it's worth today with our brand new arena, the Indiana Fever, the Warriors with their arena, they're doing exactly the right Thing they're taking advantage of the moment in time when they have everybody's interest, can funnel a lot of revenue into new projects and get attention for it. And then all of a sudden it makes everything they're doing more valuable down the line. They're using Caitlin Clark to build a generationally great franchise and help the league grow because there is so much interest in women's sports right now. It's a brilliant, brilliant idea.

[Chad Millman]

By the way, I had Adam Silver on for kind of a wide ranging 30 minute interview this week. He was really, really good. He's really good. And most of what he says, I gave him a platform for it and I agree with it. But I got into where he said it and I thought about it and I was driving into work today is that, you know, he and I think the league is saying, listen, we've had six champs in six years. And I think what has happened, we're a much more distracted nation. A lot of it is we're on our phones more than we watch TV and that it's hard to get us to watch stuff that's not special. You have so many platforms, so many streamers, so many networks, so many cable channels, so many subscriptions to so many different platforms that to get me to watch something and I'm a sportscaster, there's gotta be a special. A UFC fight on a Saturday is special. College football playoff special. World cup special. Olympic special. NFL once a week special. Caitlin Clark games occasionally special. Ohtani playoff games special. All of those that I just mentioned were rewarded this year with big ratings. I think hockey, most of baseball in the NBA in volume sports. I think it's gonna be increasingly difficult for the rest of my lifetime to get ratings in the regular season unless you create special. This is what Fox did to baseball. They said, how about a game in a cornfield? How about Mets, Phillies in Europe? You need more special events. We're becoming an event society and the dynasties feel special. When Kevin Durant went to the warriors, though it felt lopsided. Their games were events. Shaq and Kobe events. The problem in the NBA now is the events are maybe the finals. A Knicks Celtic Eastern Conference final would feel like an event when you combine load management where many stars miss big games. With the new reality of a distracted populace, I think, I think baseball, hockey and the NBA are going to struggle in the regular seasons going forward.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Well, the NBA is trying to fix that right with the NBA cup, the midseason tournament and the NBA Cup. Trying to make something that feels more like an event. And to me, those games are a little bit more intense. I, I love the NBA. I love NBA. You talk about Knicks, Celtics, Eastern Conference, Finals. That is must see tv. The intensity level, the level of defense. And I think obviously, and I know Adam talked about this with you on the show, and the three point shooting, like there is a level of intensity that is missing from the regular season. And trying to create that with the NBA cup is one way to do it. But it's also hard when you don't have a dynasty. And I am a massive, massive fan of dynasties. I want sports dominance. I want to see history. I want to see teams do it again and again and again. And I want to see them annihilate their opponents. And I want to see them do things that can be compared in history, not just on a season to season basis. And it's getting harder and harder to do that with the NBA. And also look, the best athletes, Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama, they are, they are Shay, Gilders, Alexander, they are so much fun to watch. Only one of them really has anything close to the charisma of a Steph Curry. Yeah, Anthony Edwards. Of a LeBron James. Anthony Edwards. But he's still growing up and like he's not connecting with the fans in the same way that these guys did. Right. There's something that isn't, that isn't translating for fans. Even though I think he's phenomenal and he's so much fun. That's. The challenge is they need, they need dominance right now. And the Celtics, you know, they're not dominant. Jayson Tatum isn't a guy that fans are getting behind. Jaylen Brown.

[Chad Millman]

The word. The word special. The Celtics won the title because they had the greatest depth. 1 through 8. They were easily the best team in the league. Tatum was disappointing in big games. In fact, Jaylen Brown was getting the mvp. So even on that team, like Shaq and Kobe both felt generational. Brown and Tatum feel really good. So our championship team now, even, even on Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell's very good. We don't think he's Jordan or Kobe or LeBron or Steph. And so right now, Luka is great, but his game isn't flashy. It's like Dirk. It's not a flashy game. Hi, it's Colin. JLab audio is changing the audio game.

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[Chad Millman]

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[Chad Millman]

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[NPR Up First Host]

Experiencing the news each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day in formed, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up first. Subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,000 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else you can find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say. I I texted you and you texted me back. Now I don't know if you have the update, but like all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like it's all colored. They changed it and the the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you I'm going to be honest, it was a little pink.

[Chad Millman]

There was something sentimental. When you like when, when you send it, you, it's like, do I send the heart now?

[Bobby Bones]

I don't like the color edition.

[Chad Millman]

It's extremely pink.

[Bobby Bones]

Listen, lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Chad Millman]

I'll give you this question. You get five things in sports, Everything else leaves. So mine would be NFL, college football, sports, gambling, NBA playoffs, ufc. You can't count World cup and the Olympics. Those are every four years. You have to go through all of sports. You got to keep five things. NFL, college football, gambling, NBA playoffs, ufc. I like the World Cup a lot too. What would your five be? What would you get rid of? What would your five? And I say this. I loved the baseball playoffs. Yeah, I loved it this year, especially in the National League.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

I would add World Series. I would take off UFC because I love playoff baseball. It is so intense. It is every pitch. And it's the same context we're just talking about during the season. I'm not going to watch that many baseball games. I'm going to keep track of what's going on. I'm a stat geek, so I love reading about how teams are performing and how certain players are developing and. But I'm not going to watch a mid season game with the same intensity and the same joy that I'm watching a World Series game. Even the past World Series that was essentially a blowout. That last game was so intense and you couldn't turn it off no matter how late it was going to go. I feel the same way about the NBA playoffs. I would not get rid of anything for the NBA. I love the NBA all year round. I'm going to watch the Thunder in the Cavs. And even though nobody knows who any of those players are, I love the game of basketball that they're all playing and the way they pass amongst themselves, I think is amazing. Obviously, I'm not going to get rid of sports betting. That to me has to be number one. Sports betting. You know, sports betting is the invisible hand influencing the current and future state of sports, I think, more than anything else. And so that to me is the umbrella that all of this lives under. The NFL. I wouldn't get rid of a second of the NFL. I cannot live without it. I love it so much. And college football, here's my problem with college football. The games are just too long. I don't need four and a half hours of college football games. And I think they're great, they're fun, but I can't, I can't sit for that long. So if it's going to stay, I need to.

[Chad Millman]

The reason the NFL is king and so much greater than college football is because it has a commissioner and it's constantly tweaking. It's the same reason UFC is better than boxing. It has a central voice and is constantly tweaking, is that college football is like a really good product, poorly run. I mean, essentially the 12 team playoff happened and Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC and the PAC 12 folding and four teams moving into the Big Ten. All that happened because Fox and ESPN wanted it to happen.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Yeah, totally.

[Chad Millman]

That's it. They just got tired of college football wasting so many monetization opportunities that Fox and ESPN said, guys, we're going to take it over.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Boom.

[Chad Millman]

And that's what Dana White said. Boxing, you're ridiculous. I'm going to create something. The Fertitta family and Dana White. And so college football and boxing, which I loved growing up, have just been poorly managed my entire life. And so Dana White and TV networks changed both and for the better. I mean, college football now like a 12 team playoff. You're like, why aren't we. And it's not even done. They're going to keep tweaking it. But why didn't this happen 25, 30 years ago?

[Unnamed Co-Host]

It's interesting the way you talk about UFC, because I know the sport well. You know, I wrote Chuck Liddell's autobiography with him and I've watched more UFC fights than I can count. I would still take a heavyweight boxing match over UFC with the pomp and circumstance any day. Like Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Tyson, Evander Holyfield.

[Chad Millman]

I used to be like that. And Dana White. I asked Dana about that because Dana grew up with boxing and so did I. I used to be like that. And I still love a great boxing match, but they're so infrequent now. There's like one every other year. I mean, you got, you know, Logan Paul is like one of the attractions. Hey, let's put Conor McGregor and boxing gloves.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Yeah, it's gimmicky now. It's not this. It's not the same thing. But I'm saying, historically, if I could have back a, a brilliant heavyweight boxer or if I could even have Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in their prime, I would rather have that than ufc. It's just more interesting to me. I just like, I just like it more. I'M not, I'm not anti ufc, but if I could have boxing at its height, I would take boxing at its height over UFC at its height.

[Chad Millman]

Yeah, I used to be like that. I'm not anymore. And I also think, I mean, I'm in the UFC business at the volume. And the one thing I think UFC is so brilliant. They picked a day. It's Saturday night. You know what you're getting? You don't get bad cards. You get either sensational cards or good cards. Boxing was a coin flip whether you were pissed off at the end of the night for buying the pay per view and selling nothing for three hours. And by the way, and then the fight would start an hour and a half late. It was like watching Guns n Roses going to a concert. They're going to hit the stage two hours late. Just, just smoke another bowl and enjoy your night, dude.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

I remember getting together with my buddies in high school and we one guy would buy the Tyson fight and we'd be all sitting around, we'd be jacked. We're like, this is what we're doing tonight. It's going to be amazing. We don't have to be going, we don't have to go look for a party. We were such losers. We weren't going to find a party anyways. You're like, this is it. We're in. We're doing this tonight. And then Tyson would knock the guy out in 30 seconds. We're like, oh fuck, what do we do now? We get in some guy's minivan, cruising around town, listening to the Smiths and hoping we can find something to do.

[Chad Millman]

Chad Millman, Sharper Square. All odds provided by DraftKings. He's a CO host at the Favorites. Good seeing you, buddy.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Good to see you too, brother. Have a great weekend. Go Football.

[Bobby Bones]

The volume.

[Chad Millman]

Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, UberEats has the best deals for me on game day food, no matter what I'm craving from two for one pizza. To buy one, get one wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day terms and conditions apply. See app for details.

[NPR Up First Host]

Experiencing the news each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day informed, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up first subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jon Stewart]

Catch Jon Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners, like in depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Adnan Virk]

What's up everybody? Adnan Vir here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Virgin Demers, Jason.

[Jason Demers]

Demers here, And after playing 700 NHL games, I got a lot of dirty laundry to air out.

[Adnan Virk]

I got a lot to say here too.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay?

[Adnan Virk]

Each week we'll get together to chat about the sport that we love.

[Jason Demers]

Tons of guests are going to join in too, but we're not just going to be talking hockey, folks. We're talking movies. We're talking tv, food, and Adnan's favorite wrestling. It's all on le Tablet.

[Adnan Virk]

Listen to NHL Unscripted with Vir and demers in the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.