The Herd with Colin Cowherd: Sharp or Square – SHARP NFL Week 8 Bets and NBA Betting Scandal Reaction (October 24, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode of Sharp or Square, hosted by Chad Millman (Action Network) and professional bettor Simon Hunter, dives into two intertwined pillars of the sports world: the explosive NBA gambling scandal involving coaches and players, and their sharp and square picks for a chaotic NFL Week 8. The first half delivers in-depth, an insider’s take on recent indictments involving high-profile NBA figures and organized crime, the implications of legalized betting, and the vulnerabilities of player prop markets. The second half pivots to a lively, stats-driven breakdown of the week’s best NFL bets, drawing a sharp line between pro logic, public perception, and “brass balls” spots.

Headline: NBA Betting Scandal Rocks League (00:57 – 21:29)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Breaking News:

  • Chad opens with the bombshell news that NBA head coach Chauncey Billups, ex-player Damon Jones, and player Terry Rozier have been indicted in two linked scandals: one involving rigged illegal poker games (with Billups and Jones luring “whales” for the mafia), the other a player-prop, info-sharing betting ring (with Rozier, connected to banned player Jontay Porter).
  • “The U.S. attorney in the press conference referred to Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones as the face cards of the operation…” (01:22, Chad)

• Inside the Poker Room:

  • Simon, an avid (clean) poker player, isn’t shocked: “There’s always gonna be house games… but you hear of these games with dirty tables and fixed games, and you might get away with it on one or two millionaires… but some of those guys are really smart. It’s really about the names.” (04:07)
  • Chad details the tech used to cheat: x-ray tables, contact lenses/glasses to read marked cards, and cameras—enabling off-site cohorts to relay hand info. “The real action, and the real cash, is in these under-the-radar, high-stakes private games.” (06:18)

• Implications of Legalization:

  • Both argue legalized betting is surfacing, not causing, scandals:
    • “Things have just changed now and it’s a good thing. These guys should see the light of day. …before, this would be handled off the radar.” (05:38, Simon)
    • “I don’t believe legalization is the cause of these issues. I think legalization is part of why we are learning more and more about these issues.” (11:00, Chad)

• Player Prop Market Dangers:

  • Chad notes prop bet markets, especially for NBA bench players, are almost impossible to police—making the league uniquely exposed: “The premise has always been that a lot of these leagues are protected because the money’s so high… But the props change that. …It’s not about the game anymore, it’s just about your individual performance.” (13:30)
  • Simon: “They’ve been trying for years… We never talk about it, but between the ref scandals, the player scandals, it’s been there in this league for a long time.” (15:30)

Notable Quotes

• Simon: “It’s like Walter White and Breaking Bad. You did it for you.” (05:01)
• Chad: “The amount of money that is wagered every year gets bigger and bigger. Only now we have a much better understanding of what that money is and where that money is going.” (11:52)
• Simon: “You’re naive if you think this is something new.” (12:39)
• Chad: “[Prop bet manipulation is] the real insidious, dangerous part of what we’re talking about here… I don’t know how they fix it.” (15:20)

Memorable Moment

• The hosts highlight the surreal moment when, during a Bulls game, the broadcast team discussed a gambling investigation into Malik Beasley—and immediately after, read a live-read for the team’s betting sponsor promoting in-game props (18:26-18:50).

Headline: NFL Week 8 – Sharp or Square Bets & Market Insights (22:59 – 70:15)

Segment Start: Sharp Calls – What the Pros Like (24:26)

Overall Week 8 Themes

• Weird week: Bye-mageddon, few big line movements, and market uncertainty with all the off-field news (22:59).
• Simon: “I love these kind of weeks… people view it as boring… all I see is there could be a lot of madness.” (24:33)

Key Games & Market Analysis

1. Baltimore Ravens -6 vs. Bears (Brass Balls Bet of the Week)

• (28:06 - 33:36)
• Both love the Ravens in a classic “buy low” spot, contingent on Lamar Jackson’s health.
• Trend noted by Chad: “Since 2003, teams with 20% or fewer wins as favorites of three or more, 68% ATS.” (31:53)
• Simon: “We are simply betting on the known here—which is scary." (32:10)

2. Giants +7.5 at Eagles

• (33:36 - 36:52)
• Square looks to Giants for the “hook,” divisional familiarity, and because “the Eagles just haven’t proven they can close teams out. They haven’t played two good halves of football this year.” (35:24)

3. Bills at Panthers (Fading Andy Dalton)

• Panthers home dog trend, but Simon pointed out Dalton is “1-5 ATS coming in as a backup,” and stats now lean Bills. (37:46 - 40:31)

4. Texans -1 vs. 49ers (Simon Says Bet)

• (40:46 - 44:28)
• Public loves Niners, but Simon cites long-running Shanahan trend of ATS failure after wins (1-13 since Dec 2023). 49ers’ injuries and Houston’s defense a key angle. Chad: “None of us are immune to recency bias…” (44:28)

5. Jets +6.5 at Bengals

• Both admit it’s gross, but “long-term winner” for teams in this spot; will likely end up in their contest/money lines. (44:38 - 46:12)

6. Saints -3.5 vs. Buccaneers

• Line dropped 2 points; pros on Saints despite the “ickiness,” while public piles Bucs.
• Baker Mayfield as a favorite: “7-14 ATS vs. division as favorite… worst among 82 QBs since he was drafted.” (48:56)
• Simon: “You just don’t force this one in this week. Either play the Saints or don’t play at all.” (50:23)

7. Patriots vs. Browns

• Both lean Patriots; Simon shares trend: “Teams off four ATS/Straight-up wins, but no playoffs last year, are 1-14 ATS in this spot since ‘22.” (54:07)
• Chad: “I don’t know how the Browns are getting any points. Dylan Gabriel is not an NFL QB.” (53:57)

8. Broncos -3 vs. Cowboys

• Denver is a pro-side; both worried about betting Bo Nix as a favorite but trust Denver’s defense. “We’re betting on Bo Nix here, Chad, but I will stay with you…” (59:04)

9. Steelers +3 vs. Packers

• Pure trend/Tomlin spot. Tomlin after allowing 30+ points: “29-12-1 ATS, 71%.” (61:04)
• “Historically, Pittsburgh at home against GB—they haven’t lost since 1970.” (62:00)

Simon’s Biggest Bets/Leans (64:02)

• Big position on Houston/Texans; likes Steelers as contest play.
• Parlaying heavy ML favorites—Patriots, Bills—rather than spreads due to QB uncertainty.

Best Bets, Moneyline Parlays & Survivor Picks Summary

Favorites Parlay: (67:41)

• Patriots, Bills, Chiefs (alt-line), Colts (alt-line), Denver.

Underdog Parlay: (66:13)

• Steelers, Jets, Saints, Giants. (If Lamar’s ruled out, add Bears)

Survivor Pick:

• Simon: Colts, but “don’t hate Patriots.”

Sharper Square Picks:

• Simon: Steelers +3 (or 3.5)
• Chad: Jets +6.5 (“Feeling lucky!”)

Notable Quotes

• “Of all the leagues, I have the least amount of trust in the NBA right now… The ambay [NBA] stuff, it’s not funny, it’s not cute. This is scary stuff.” (16:02, Simon)
• “It is time immemorial. It is not going to stop people from betting… Only now we have a much better understanding of what that money is and where that money is going.” (11:52, Chad)
• “The books have gotten really sharp with these lines. …To me, Denver -3, I’m going to take a position on. … Now, I much rather have a ton of money on Hertz money line and Josh Allen’s money line than Bo Nicks on the spread.” (64:02, Simon)

Memorable/Lighthearted Moments

• Playful banter about the struggles of backing bad teams in the weekly contest: “We’re gonna get burned by everything this week.” (61:20, Chad)
• Simon calls betting the Jets a “long-term winner” despite the “grossness,” and then Chad takes them as his main contest play: “I’m doing it. I love it. Look at you!” (70:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NBA Betting Scandal Breakdown & Legalization: 00:57 – 21:29
• Sharp Calls: Pro vs. Public Betting Sides: 24:26 – 28:06
• Game-by-Game NFL Week 8 Picks/Discussion: 28:06 – 61:04
• Simon’s Biggest Bets & Parlay/Survivor Segment: 64:02 – 69:54
• Sharper Square Picks (closing): 69:54 – 70:15

Final Takeaways

Sharp or Square delivers a rare, nuanced inside look into a seismic NBA betting scandal, arguing that transparency (though ugly) is net-positive for sports. The show’s second half offers a data-rich, unvarnished run-through of the NFL’s trickiest betting week—with plenty of stat nuggets, betting psychology, and tongue-in-cheek misery over ugly betting spots. Both hosts, while seasoned, admit there’s no avoiding variance: sometimes the grossest picks are the sharpest.