Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode: Colin Cowherd Podcast - Who Should Draft Shedeur? Best NFL Over/Under Win Totals, College Football Is Better Than Ever
Release Date: April 3, 2025

1. Introduction

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd sits down with former NFL scout John Middelkoff to dissect the latest happenings in the NFL Draft, evaluate the best NFL over/under win totals for the upcoming season, and explore the evolving landscape of college football. The conversation delves deep into quarterback prospects, team strategies, and the transformative changes within college football influenced by figures like Deion Sanders.

2. NFL Draft Analysis: Should Teams Draft Shedeur Sanders?

Discussion Overview: Colin and John initiate their discussion by assessing the prospects of Shedeur Sanders in the NFL Draft. They analyze his potential impact compared to established quarterbacks and evaluate whether drafting Sanders aligns with team strategies focused on exceptional offensive play.

Notable Points:

• Shedeur Sanders' Positioning: Colin posits that Shedeur Sanders would likely be the third-best quarterback in his division, lacking the exceptional athleticism or arm strength to rival stars like Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson.

  Colin Cowherd [04:39]: "If you're Cleveland, if you draft him, he is at best the third best quarterback in that division. He'll never be as good as Burrow. He's not that kind of prospect."

• Comparative Analysis: John draws parallels between Sanders and quarterbacks like Andy Dalton and Jimmy Garoppolo, suggesting that while Sanders may not be a franchise game-changer, he could serve as a solid starting quarterback if paired with a robust team.

  John Middelkoff [06:11]: "If Sanders is in that mold, it's really on the organization. And if you're the Browns, Andrew Barry's pretty good GM, Stefanski's pretty good coach. They got a lot of talent on the team."

• Organizational Impact: The conversation highlights that a quarterback's success is heavily dependent on the surrounding team infrastructure, coaching, and support systems.

3. Best NFL Over/Under Win Totals

Discussion Overview: Colin and John examine various NFL teams' projected win totals, debating whether to bet over or under on these predictions based on team performance, injuries, and strategic changes.

Notable Points:

• Kansas City Chiefs (Over/Under: 11.5 Wins):

  Colin Cowherd [26:34]: "I think the division is going to be improved. The quarterback play between Geno second year bow again."
  John Middelkoff [26:36]: "They've won over 12 games. I think every year Mahomes has started beside one."

• San Francisco 49ers (Over/Under: 10.5 Wins): Both agree on taking the under, citing defensive losses and inconsistent performance.

  Colin Cowherd [28:14]: "Yeah, listen, they're one of my unders too at ten and a half."
  John Middelkoff [28:19]: "I think the 49ers likely to win nine or 10 games."

• Miami Dolphins (Over/Under: 5.5 Wins):

  John Middelkoff [27:46]: "I could see them struggling to win four or five games. I think they're going to be terrible."

• Tennessee Titans (Over/Under: 5.5 Wins):

  Colin Cowherd [30:04]: "I think Cam Ward is one of the only players in the draft that can equal wins."
  John Middelkoff [31:38]: "Any team with a pretty good defense, when your offense is that crappy, they can't maintain that level of play."

• New England Patriots (Over/Under: 7.5 Wins):

  Colin Cowherd [32:46]: "They are now up to eight and a half. So the Patriots look like one of my overs."
  John Middelkoff [33:54]: "Jim Harbaugh has been making the playoffs consistently, expecting a good draft to bolster the team."

• Los Angeles Chargers:

  John Middelkoff [35:45]: "Jim Harbaugh is now coached in the NFL five years and made the playoffs in four of them."

Insights: The pair emphasize the importance of assessing team depth, quarterback performance, and recent injuries when determining over/under bets. They also consider the impact of draft picks and free agency moves on a team's potential success.

4. College Football Evolution: Deion Sanders' Impact

Discussion Overview: The conversation shifts to college football, particularly the influence of Deion Sanders at Colorado. Colin and John explore how college football is adopting more NFL-like structures, including the introduction of general managers and salary caps.

Notable Points:

• Deion Sanders' Commitment:

  Colin Cowherd [37:12]: "Deion Sanders is all in on Colorado, stepping back as a dad to focus on coaching."
  John Middelkoff [37:12]: "Deion Sanders is financially secure and committed to coaching for years to come."

• Innovations in College Football:

  John Middelkoff [39:43]: "Deion's buddies like Warren Sapp and Marshall Faulk are part of his coaching staff, making Colorado a formidable team."
  Colin Cowherd [55:16]: "College football is starting to look more like the NFL with strategic management and player payments."

• Shift Towards Professionalism:

  John Middelkoff [53:36]: "General managers in college football are now high-paying roles, attracting top talent and creating a more competitive environment."

Insights: The discussion underscores a significant shift in college football towards professional management practices, enhancing competitiveness and player development. Deion Sanders is highlighted as a pivotal figure driving this transformation at Colorado.

5. Future of College Football and NFL

Discussion Overview: Colin and John speculate on the future trajectory of college football, drawing parallels with the NFL's structure. They discuss the potential for super conferences, standardized scheduling, and the implications of these changes on teams and fan engagement.

Notable Points:

• Super Conferences and Scheduling:

  Colin Cowherd [62:16]: "College football is moving towards super conferences, creating more competitive and balanced schedules."
  John Middelkoff [57:28]: "An AFC/NFC model for college football seems inevitable, focusing on major conferences like SEC and Big Ten."

• Playoff Expansion and Competitiveness:

  Colin Cowherd [60:46]: "With playoff expansions, more teams will have a chance to compete, similar to the NFL's postseason structure."
  John Middelkoff [58:58]: "The playoff system will likely include more teams, ensuring that even three-loss teams have opportunities."

• Economic and Logistical Considerations:

  Colin Cowherd [55:44]: "The financial dynamics of super conferences will pool resources, enhancing revenue but potentially sidelining smaller programs."
  John Middelkoff [63:08]: "Maintaining competitive balance while expanding playoff structures will be a challenge, but necessary for growth."

Insights: The duo anticipates that college football will increasingly mirror the NFL's organizational structure, promoting greater competitiveness and fan interest. However, they also acknowledge the challenges in balancing revenue with maintaining diversity and competitiveness across all programs.

6. Conclusion

In this comprehensive episode, Colin Cowherd and John Middelkoff provide an in-depth analysis of key developments in both the NFL and college football. From scrutinizing quarterback prospects like Shedeur Sanders to evaluating team performance through over/under win totals, and exploring the evolving landscape of college football management, the discussion offers valuable insights for sports enthusiasts and bettors alike. The episode underscores the dynamic nature of football at both professional and collegiate levels, highlighting the strategic decisions that shape the future of the game.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd [04:39]: "He'll never be as good as Burrow. He's not that kind of prospect."

• John Middelkoff [06:11]: "If he can just become that Andy Dalton, Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr, yeah, you're not going to beat, you know, if Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow are on, they're going to beat you."

• John Middelkoff [27:46]: "I could see Miami struggling to win four or five games. I think they're going to be terrible."

• Colin Cowherd [37:12]: "Deion Sanders is all in on Colorado, stepping back as a dad to focus on coaching."

• Colin Cowherd [60:46]: "With playoff expansions, more teams will have a chance to compete, similar to the NFL's postseason structure."

This summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting the critical discussions and insights shared by Colin Cowherd and John Middelkoff. For listeners who wish to delve deeper, tuning into the full episode is recommended.