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- [00:00]
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- [01:08]
Chad Millman
Welcome to the Favorites, the podcast part of the Voluum Podcast Network. I am Chad Millman of the Action Network. Today I'm joined as always by my co host, my companion, my compadre, my bff Professional Better Simon Hunter. Hello Simon.
- [01:27]
Simon Hunter
Chad, how we doing?
- [01:29]
Chad Millman
Dude, we are. We got a lot to talk about because they've started posting Rookie of the Year odds in the NFL. There's already some Saquon Barkley props up. You and I are both loving the NBA playoffs, which we are going to talk about because my favorite betting theory that I have written about since I lived in New Jersey going back almost 20 years. The zigzag theory is in play and prices are moving off of the Knicks, Celtics and Thunder Nuggets. We haven't even gotten to the other games yet. As you know, we also here at the Favorites receive loads of listeners feedback and questions throughout the year. So like we did back in March, we're going to go through some of your very best questions. Let me remind everybody at Real Chad Millman, the YouTube page is live. We're going to be throwing up clips from the show, not necessarily the ones that we throw up on Action Network YouTube. We're going to have opinions on breaking news. We're going to have stories from the book. I'm reporting about old school gambling, new school gambling, all the good, good stuff from the betting world. Check it out. Subscribe like at Real Chad Millman. All right, Simon. NBA plays. Zigzag theory is in full effect. There's so much to unpack from last night. The Celtics blowing a 20 point lead to the Knicks. The Nuggets coming from 11 down with 4 minutes left. Last second shot by Aaron Gordon to beat the Thunder. The number one seeds in three of the four series now no longer have or the top seeds in three of the four series. Celtics, Thunder, Cavs, all lost home court advantage. Nuggets, Wolves still to be played. I'm loving the NBA class, you know, I love the NBA. I'm an avid watcher. I'm. I think I've watched just about every game I can stay up for, including those that I can't even. Tremendous.
- [03:50]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. I think Evan had an amazing tweet about it that it was the first time two teams in the NBA that were plus nine dogs both won outright on the same day in 25 years. Which is just. Even if you're not an NBA fan, you're going to be hearing about the NBA today because that's what people are going to be talking about because that's just something so rare and people watching it know how rare it is because it's like, okay, both those teams were kind of in bad spots playing teams that have been hyped up, that are very young and the grizzly vets won. And that's what's so fun about the NBA, right? It's like you think these young teams like you know, Oklahoma City getting all this love isn't the team. But you can't, you can't tap into the championship pedigree. So yeah, the, the Knicks, the Knicks, Boston series. Right now, Chad's the probably the hottest talked about series to betters. So I would say the masses, the chalk are all going to go heavy now on this Boston series. But surprisingly, professional betters, a lot of guys I respect are doing the same thing. Like it's moved now from obviously minus 900 to them being minus 240, minus 250. A lot of books. So I get why they're doing it. Like that's a lot of value to move off one game and historically bad shooting night. So it's, it pains me to root for Boston, but when there's money involved, Chad, we root for the money. So yeah, I'm gonna take a position on Boston in the serious price, but that just following the smart money and the guys I respect. But deep down I think we're all kind of rooting for this next team, right? This is a really fun story.
- [05:17]
Chad Millman
Yeah, I'm always conflicted. Like, I love watching Jalen Brunson. I love watching Josh hard. I've got a soft spot for Tibbs, for Tom Thibodeau, just because he's from New Britain, which is, you know, 20 minutes from where I live in Central Connecticut. He coached the Bulls and like got him back to respectability after that era, that post Jordan, post Pippin era with Derrick Rose, with Joaquim Noah, like with Luol Dang, that was a really fun era. And Tibbs was great for that team and had him playing really well and got him in the playoffs and made them contenders. So. And he's just so gruff and miserable looking. I love watching him when they were down last night by 20 and like, I've never actually, I've watched a lot of Knicks games, Bulls games, with Thibodeau as the head coach. And the fact like at one point he just threw up his arms after they were down 20. And I'm like, I've never seen the guy actually look exasperated because they were losing. I've seen him look exasperated because they weren't playing good defense or because they did something stupid. And the fact they turned that around. Look, I think the Celtics lost that game as much as the Knicks won that game. And as I was watching it last night, it's infuriating to watch it. And you could do a freeze frame of almost every single time the Celtics were down the court. And it's five guys standing outside the three point line, one guy trying to beat another guy off the dribble in a mismatch and then taking a step back three and banging it off the back of the iron. They had one play where Jrue Holiday cut to the basket, Tatum hit him, he got a layup that. That was like the only time Joe Missoula would stand on the sideline and they'd show him like doing his hand gestures and finger gestures, like he's calling a play. What fucking play are you calling? Everybody knows the only play is we're going to shoot a step back three after dribbling the clock down to five seconds left in the 24 second clock. It just makes no sense to me. It was actually infuriating to watch. And I don't even like the Celtics. It was just so frustrating.
- [07:32]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, but it's interesting to see if they actually over adjust or they just stay the course because they had a lot of open threes, honestly, watching that game. So it's like, you know, that's basketball, right? Some Nights, it's just not. Doesn't bounce your way. And that's what it felt like to me. Watch the game. It feels like Boston is way superior in many ways compared to the Knicks. So once again, I, I bet it. I bet Boston. But like, deep down, I'm, I'm hoping what you're saying is true, Chad, that this is like just one of those NBA series where the Knicks just stay in at every game. And when it comes down to it, at the end of the game, we see it every time teams, some certain teams get tight, other players step up and you know, like you said, it feels like that momentum right now is on the Knicks side.
- [08:13]
Chad Millman
Well, look, the, the I mentioned in the intro, the zigzag theory, which is one of my favorite betting phrases, you know, as someone who loves the romanticism of the language and the, the Damon Runyon esque phrases of betting zigzag is as good as it gets. And I remember like when I was first introduced to the idea, you know, honestly, 20 years ago, I remember Bob Scoochie, you know, Scooch, Simon's predecessor as co host of the podcast subject of the odds, former bookmaker at the start us now overseeing board gaming bookmaking operations. He told me about the zigzag theory during the NBA playoffs one year and I was completely taken with it. Essentially the theory says you bet on the team that lost the night before or the game before in an NBA playoff series. The trick has always been that bookmakers know this. They know professional betters are going to do this. So even if the team lost, they would shade the line in their direction. So you weren't really getting any value as a better because the bookmakers knew everybody who's professional is going to pile in on the team that had just lost the game. So the Celtics now, and in this, by the way, in, in the first round, the NBA's zigzag theory, which was basically teams coming off a straight up loss in the first round, finished 23 and 12 against the spread in their next game. That is the best mark for any opening round in the past 20 years. So now we look at this game with the Celtics and the Knicks and also the Thunder and the Nuggets. The Celtics opened at 9. That number immediately got bet up, so the bookmakers couldn't shade it enough.
- [10:20]
Simon Hunter
The Cavs and Pacers number got better as well.
- [10:22]
Chad Millman
The Cavs and Pacers got better and the Nuggets and the Thunder got better. I don't think the Celtics will change one bit. Of their strategy because this is what they've done all year, shoot literally 53 pointers a game and they're going to look and say we make five of these three pointers. We're not having this conversation. They're going to rationalize and justify. I still might take the Celtics and minus 10.
- [10:53]
Simon Hunter
I mean, I'm with you. It's, it's, it's tempting because you just know there it's a game in which you just said it if they just make one basket. Right. That was the difference in that game. And that's why I love NBA in so many ways where it's this long ass game where it always comes down to one or two plays that decide the entire thing. It's great.
- [11:14]
Chad Millman
If they had drawn up one freakin play at the end of overtime or the end of regulation, they might have won that game. That was a big difference. Like Tibbs drew up a brilliant play on the out of bounds to get Jalen Brunson the ball and a wide open look. The Celtics couldn't get a shot off at the end of regulation and then their only option was a lob, a cross court lob that Nikhale Bridges basically bully ball Jaylen Brown and got the ball and ended the game. It was, it was a coaching bloodbath for the Knicks in addition to Jalen Brunson. Just being Mr. Clutch was great. Totally great. Loved it. Can't wait for the playoffs to continue. All right, here's the question. We're going to get into the questions a little bit. We've talked about this a lot on the podcast. So far, home field advantage has never been lower in the NFL. If you owned an NFL team, Simon, would you value home field advantage? That's the first question I didn't. Yes or no?
- [12:19]
Simon Hunter
Yes.
- [12:20]
Chad Millman
Okay, you would. What steps would you take to take full advantage to optimize home field advantage?
- [12:32]
Simon Hunter
I mean, there's a lot of ways you can attack it, but the biggest one to me will always be attacking what the strength is of your home field with the players you're looking at and bringing in. And you know, you can say what you want about why the Bills drafted Josh Allen from Wyoming, but a lot of the stuff you heard is he's big like Ben Roethlisberger, had big hands. He was used to playing out in the elements like he did in college. Did well playing out in those type of elements. And the Bill's mindset was we're bringing him in here because he kind of fits what we need in this. The Location we play at. Like, we need a guy who can throw through these strong winds late in the year and, you know, holds onto the ball in bad element, bad weather and is big and strong just like Ben Roethlisberger was. So, you know, it's certain teams attack it. You know, another one that jumps out to me will always be Drew Brees. Bringing him down to the Saints in New Orleans. Like, he is the perfect type of quarterback to play indoors, right? Not the strongest arm when there's no wind, no type of rain, anything like that. And he's indoors, he's perfect. Payne Manning, think about those years of the Colts. It was. It was perfect. Like, he hated playing outdoors, playing with the wet ball. So, yeah, I just think it's interesting. There's certain teams that do adjust to and attack it in different ways. Where, you know, my view of it is, I agree with that. Home field's dying in many ways. And there are certain teams, though, that it feels like it's not right. I feel like the Eagles have an advantage at playing at home. I feel like the Lions had an advantage of playing at home. There's certain teams, I do think that does matter to where. I think we both agree, right, Chad, that the Rams and the Chargers, do they really have any type of home field? No. So I do agree with a lot of this stuff that there's some certain teams that. Yeah, there is literally zero difference playing on the home or on the road for those teams.
- [14:16]
Chad Millman
Well, look, I feel like their strategic value that you're talking about, and that's, to me, what makes the real difference. The ability to control your crowd, to play to your advantage. The Saints did it with Drew Brees. Peyton Manning did it with the Colts. The stadium would be so quiet when they were on offense. You could hear in the press box Peyton Manning calling the plays. Right. Because he understood and the crowd understood. Like, they were very knowledgeable football fans. They had been trained. And I think that you cannot intimidate football players with noise anymore. I would say, you know, create the kind of environment that Steve Ballmer has created at the new stadium arena that the Clippers play at, because he's got all the fans that are basically standing the whole time, but that's real intimate. And you're in the player's grill while they're shooting free throws. I don't think you're going to be able to do that in a football environment if you turn it into something that is akin to soccer. You go to the stadiums in the EPL and, you know, You've got the flags that unfurl that are going from top of the stadium to bottom of the stadium and people are standing the whole time. You're never going to get Americans to do that, like stand the entire time. There's too much sitting, there's too much dead time. Like there's not enough sort of discipline to get an entire stadium to do what they do in the epl. But I also think football players just aren't going to be intimidated by that. Like it's just not part of the culture. They're not going to care. It's not going to matter.
- [16:07]
Simon Hunter
They're not. I mean you hear more players get intimidated by the moment than more so than the stadium. Right. They talk about that a lot. And yeah, like, you know, I don't think anyone, when Dallas built that new stadium, I don't think anyone went down there when they're at all struck right there weren't not playing well because they had a bigger screen in the middle of the field to look up at. Jumbotron. So I'm with you, Chad. It's. Times have changed though. But like my. I still do think there is advantages of certain teams where, you know, Buffalo build an indoor stadium. It just feels like it's sacrilege. Like I just thinking of the games we've had of them having these January games or these late December games up in Buffalo. My favorite game ever always be that Patriots game where Belichick ran the ball 50 times. I think Mac Jones threw it twice and it was just. Yeah. I hope they're not building indoor stadium, Matt. I hope you're right. It's just. It just seems like every day I hear different stories about what's going on Buffalo and it's just to me, Buffalo outdoors in the cold. I love everything about it. It's just one of my favorite football venues that and you know you have the same thing with the Bears. Like the Bears never having a guy throw for over 4,000 yards has a lot to do with their stadium and just the way the location of it is where their team, they're a team that's never drafted that big arm quarterback they always just lend it to. We're a running back first organization. We've been that way for our whole history because where we play so a lot of teams do lean into that what they've been historically.
- [17:29]
Chad Millman
Yesterday I was procrastinating and so I went on TikTok, which is what I like to do. And in my TikTok feed maybe the longest TikTok I've ever seen was a rebroadcast basically of Pat Summerall and John Madden calling the first round playoff game. The first playoff game between the in 1985 season. So it was January of 1986 between the Bears and the Giants and It was about 20 below at soldier Field that day. I was at the game, it was like January 5, 1986 and it was glorious how much fun it was. And we, and like in the broadcast, Brett Musburger is opening it and talking about the weather and showing the, the scoreboard saying don't let frostbite bite you. Go to these stations if you feel uncomfortable for relief. And I remember being bundled up. I remember like where I was sitting. I remember the plays that were happening in front of me. It was magical. Totally, totally magical. That's the advantage, like handling the elements. I don't think there's anything a crowd can do. I think it's about strategically drafting. Right. I think it's about how a quarterback can control the crowd and I think it's about the elements. Those are the things, those are the things I would try to build into home field advantage.
- [19:05]
Simon Hunter
Agree.
- [19:06]
Chad Millman
All right. Offensive and rookie, offensive and defensive. Rookie of the year markets are up at FanDuel at least. I'm going to lift a couple of them for you. Offense. Ashton Genty plus 270. Cam Ward plus 380. Travis Hunter plus 7 50. I have an immediate opinion.
- [19:31]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, I've only made two bets. I immediately. You obviously know I love Cam. Like Ward. I'm all about Tennessee. I, I, I grabbed that one immediately. I just think he should be the odds on favorite in my opinion. The next one might check a little bit. Hampton, I grabbed him for the Chargers. I just, I love the, I love the spot, the opportunity and the fact that you know, it's, it's never the one that everyone thinks is coming. Right. There's always sometimes the outside guy and this feels like a nice spot for him and our run first type of offense that, you know if he hits this could be an absolute mega player for them going forward. Like he just seems like it's a horrible guy and he, he's going to try to feed this running back even though I know they have other guys there. The fact they took him in the first round, that pick that they did, historically guys taking the first round are usually the guy coming right out. So I like that. I like that value at 14 to 1.
- [20:23]
Chad Millman
Yeah. I mean look, it makes sense. It's what Harbaugh is trying to build in Los Angeles with that team. I saw this great clip the other day. I think it might have been on Rich Eisen show. Harbaugh said he shot up in the middle of the night and said to himself, I've got to get Justin Herbert into the hall of Fame. He said, if I get Justin Herbert into the hall of Fame than everything we were hoping to do, we did. If he's going to get into the hall of Fame, he's probably got to win a couple of Super Bowls. If we're going to win Super Bowls, we've got to build a team like X, Y and Z, right? And so he is thinking so big picture and so intensely about Justin Herbert. He's waking up in the middle of the night to get this guy into the hall of Fame. And I think you're not wrong. It starts with running a much better offense and controlling the ball and not putting in a position where he has to be scrambling at the end of a game with a shitty offensive line and trying to get the ball downfield. But I immediately saw Cam Ward and was like, if he's not the shortest odds, then I'm betting him.
- [21:34]
Simon Hunter
And I also go back to the Herbert point. I think Harvard just needs to get that first playoff win then, then maybe start thinking getting Herbert to the hall of Fame. All right, that's. That's pretty insane that Herbert hall of Fame talk. The guys in year five or have a playoff win yet. But yeah, for me, Chad, I'm. I'm with the. Ward just feels like the easy bet right now, right? This is such a QB award, like for anyone else to get it. It really has to be a down year for the quarterbacks. And I just. Like we talked about why I love Tennessee at +808 to 1 to win their division. It's like a weak division on a team that has a pretty good defense, that has weapons offense. The offensive line improved every week last year. It's. It's all there. If game work can come in and just take that next step. Like we've seen these, you know, we've seen C.J. come out and do. We saw Jane Daniels do it. I get it. Like we're not going to have one of these guys every year. But this just lines up with Cam Ward here where it's like he's fallen into a nice spot. If he's comfortable like you just said, this is. This feels like crazy odds. So I really like that we're getting him not as number one. It's the number two in the value.
- [22:40]
Chad Millman
Yeah. I actually started to like the idea of Tennessee a little bit more.
- [22:47]
Simon Hunter
Yeah.
- [22:48]
Chad Millman
To win that division.
- [22:49]
Simon Hunter
Look at that division.
- [22:50]
Chad Millman
But it also lines up. You know it's funny someone commented in the YouTube comments on @ Real Chad Millman at Real Chad.
- [22:59]
Simon Hunter
It's a dark place you're going. YouTube comments.
- [23:02]
Chad Millman
Well you know what I get like alerts when people comment.
- [23:05]
Simon Hunter
Oh God.
- [23:05]
Chad Millman
And so I looked at it but they were, they were coming after us because we said we liked the Patriots as value to win the AFC east. And of course like it might have been Matt Mitchell like just coming after me but you know we said the top.
- [23:20]
Simon Hunter
The Bills deserve to be the big huge favorite. They're by far the best team in that division.
- [23:24]
Chad Millman
Yeah. The Bills, you know, defensive line is improved. What. Whatever it was. And I was like look, I'm not saying the Bills aren't great. I'm just saying if you look back every year there is always a surprise division winner and the formula tends to be first or second year quarterback, first or second year coach. Right. Think about the Giants with Brian Dabel. Think about what the Texans with C.J. shroud and D'Amico Ryan. Think about the Bengals a few years ago right when it was Joe Burrow thinking think and Zach Taylor think about like every single year there is always a surprise and it always ends up being something in that pattern. We liked it for Vrael and Drake may but just easily be Cam Ward and and Brian Callahan which in a much weaker division.
- [24:19]
Simon Hunter
Yeah. And let it be known now I'm going to have 10 times the amount of money on Tennessee divisional odds and I will on the Patriots odds. We're just saying in that spot we thought the Patriots are good value because what Chad just outlined year two jump quarterback head coach that combo.
- [24:36]
Chad Millman
We're hope.
- [24:36]
Simon Hunter
We're hoping for the best. If you want to play it safe we said it throw the Bills and whatever type of parlay you want to make. Divisional odds. There's. There's nothing wrong with throwing the Bills in there. They're by far the best team in that division and they should be minus 250 wherever the hell they were at the when we were talking about them.
- [24:52]
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- [26:03]
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- [26:35]
Chad Millman
All right, question about Defensive rookie of the year.
- [26:38]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, this one's fun.
- [26:40]
Chad Millman
Abdul Carter plus 250 Jalen Walker plus 700 Travis Hunter plus 1000 and then it goes on and on and on. Anyone on the board that I didn't mention just now because I've got an.
- [26:53]
Simon Hunter
Opinion like Mike Green and Jihad Campbell could be guys that could be great. Like you know Mike Green is someone that has a ton of talent, obviously a ton of baggage. You can google look it up. Why he did fall to the Ravens. We've seen the Ravens do this all the time, right? They take a guy who's got issues, tons of talent, straighten him out, he's going to fit right into that defense. He could be an absolute stud and a steal for that team. And same with Campbell. Man, if this kid is legit playing number two linebacker for the Eagles or if he ends up being an edge, he could be a stub. But for to me Chad, just the value. How do you not take Walker? Like this kid is an absolute stud on a defense that has zero pass rush ability in Atlanta. They're one of the worst, worst DN groups in all the NFL. They're instantly getting a guy who could have been a top 10 pick ton of raw talent. If he goes in there and he's incredible. I get why he's at number two. Like him being the second odds on favorite ahead of Travis Hunter. To me that's priced right by the sportsbooks, but I think there's still value there. I have a closer plus 500 plus 700 plus 750, a couple different books. Well, I'll take that value on walker.
- [28:00]
Chad Millman
Travis Hunter, 10 to 1. Dude, come on, think about it. Think about it. Jaylen Walker will have to be so brilliant. He'll need double digit sacks and he'll need to be in a position where that team is getting so much spotlight and playing in a marquee game at least once or twice. And his highlights are all over social media.
- [28:29]
Simon Hunter
He's in the right division for it though, you'd agree, right? The Saints, the Panthers and the Bucks.
- [28:34]
Chad Millman
Well, what I would say about that is that he's not. Because he's not a guy who automatically his team is going to be playing in primetime games.
- [28:44]
Simon Hunter
Right, Right, right.
- [28:45]
Chad Millman
So he's going to need a viral campaign where every week it's like when Micah Parsons was blowing up and you're like, oh my God, look at what this guy is doing. Oh my God, look at what this guy is doing. Travis Hunter, if he plays 25% of the time on defense and let's say he gets four picks, all right, all of those are going to be all over social media. All of those are going to lead SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt. All of those are going to be discussed. Everybody wants to see. It's a narrative award.
- [29:23]
Simon Hunter
Don't. Do not bet Travis Hunter for defense.
- [29:26]
Chad Millman
Travis Hunter at 10 to 1. People are going to want that.
- [29:30]
Simon Hunter
There's no way. I just don't think he's going to play enough for you. I get what you're saying, but it's just, I don't know, I get, I like from, from your point of view though, this is going to probably be the most bet guy and the fact that the books are just keeping him at plus a thousand should scare you off because this, he's got a really die hard fan base that are betting him right now. And you know, it's going to be interesting to see where we're at in August, where the, the books report where the money is on these different spots. I, I really think the public's going to hammer that from your same point of view of just, you know, he, he could win this award. But yeah, someone just said in our chat they cornerbacks just don't win it. And he really has to be, you know, one of the most hyped up unicorns we've ever had coming to the sport. I mean, like I told you, I, I will forever hold. I don't want to badmouth the people because they come on our show, but comparing him to Ohtani, to me was the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. Like one guy is built like the biggest freak I've ever seen in person. I, I don't think people understand how huge Ohtani is now. Jacked he is and he's playing a non contact sport. Travis Hunter is, you know, skinny as hell playing a contact sport, trying to play both sides again. It's just not going to happen. I'm telling you, it's not going to happen. So yeah, I get where Chad's coming from. I just, I wouldn't do it. There's just so much has to go your way and it just never happens. Cornerbacks never win this award because the jump from college, let alone the Big 12 to being in the NFL playing corner, it's so extreme. I just, I can't see him winning this award.
- [31:04]
Chad Millman
Travis Hunter, 10 to 1 I honest to God he gets four picks and makes, you know, three highlight worthy plays on defense. People are fucking suckers. They just are true. They, the voters are suckers. Everyone wants to be validated for saying I'm with you. I think it's idiotic to be saying this guy, to be having conversations about this guy playing aggressively both ways. But they took it so seriously in the draft coverage. They talked about it so much. One guy was saying, I forgot who it was. Was like it's actually easier to do it in the NFL because there's fewer plays. It was like people are trying to will this to be a thing. Travis hunter, like at 10 to 1 someone wants to make this happen. And when someone wants to make something happen in the NFL happens, it's true. Favorite stadium arena you've been in and the stadium you've never been in that you would love to travel to for a game.
- [32:09]
Simon Hunter
I mean, I'll be biased like Citizens Bank Park. I just, it's a very special place for me and you know, I'm a big Phillies fan and obviously the Vet would be number one as an old Eagles fan. Great memories being in the vet in the 90s, tons of losing. I was there for that Tampa game in the freezing cold as well where it was guaranteed we're going to beat Tampa. They don't win in the cold and A pick six by Barber and it was all downhill from there. So, yeah, for base being a fan base, you know, Eagles fan, I would say that's. That's really special for me. A team. I can't believe I'm going to say this. It's. It's probably the best ballpark I ever went to. Just being nostalgic as a little kid was Yankees ballpark. Like when I was a kid going there, you know, knowing all the history, I feel like there was a wall with all the different players, pitchers on it and there was like some hall of Fame walkthrough in there and just all the history.
- [33:02]
Chad Millman
It's called Monument Park.
- [33:04]
Simon Hunter
Yeah.
- [33:04]
Chad Millman
Yeah.
- [33:05]
Simon Hunter
So that was in the old Yankee Stadium. It was just crazy thinking back to that and then I guess stadium I want to go to. Chad knows Cubs. I wanted to go there when we were in Chicago. I wanted to catch a game. It's always been on my bucket list. I'm just never in Chicago when the either Cubs are playing at home or like it just doesn't line up right. So that's. That's still my number one. I just got to get the Wrigley at some point in my life.
- [33:27]
Chad Millman
You know what? You and I, we got to go to a day game at Wrigley.
- [33:33]
Simon Hunter
Seriously, because this in Chicago will make it work.
- [33:37]
Chad Millman
The, the, you know, I'm going to talk right about this in the book, but the guy who invented the point spread lived in Chicago and spent so many days at Wrigley Field for day games betting with his neighbors that he was sitting next to. And so, you know, and now the Cubs, They've got a DraftKings sportsbook at Wrigley and I want to go to the game and sit in the stands. You should come with me as a better. It would be really fun. Wrigley for sure. I feel like you can answer this question without count accounting for sort of the emotional elements.
- [34:26]
Simon Hunter
Yeah.
- [34:26]
Chad Millman
So look Wrigley in the World Series when they beat the Indians and it was. They were down 3, 2 and heading back to Cleveland. That's going to be as good as it gets, right? Being a Soldier Field for the playoffs, for the 85 season, for that Giants game and then the Rams, like, that's brilliant. It's never going to be topped being at the old Chicago Stadium when Michael Jordan would have it rocking. Of course, like other people might not feel that way, but I'm going to feel that way. I would say the best one I've ever been in, not emotionally connected, has to be Death Valley at lsu. Easily the most electric, exciting in stadium experience I've ever had. I will say.
- [35:19]
Simon Hunter
What was it a night game? Who were they playing?
- [35:22]
Chad Millman
2012 night game. Saturday night against Alabama. Bama was 1, LSU was 5 or something.
- [35:31]
Simon Hunter
Was the final score 9 to 6. Those were like the 9, 6, 12, 10 years.
- [35:35]
Chad Millman
Bama won like on. On the last Dr. Of the game. A comeback. I had been there for ESPN the Magazine. We used to do these issues called One day One game where we would cover. The whole issue would be dedicated to everything it takes to pull off this huge event. So we were at the tailgate, we were in the locker room. We were in the. The Crimson Tide locker room when they're hanging up the uniforms. We've got a sort of photo booth set up with fans who come through. Actually behind me on the wall you can see like some of the pictures that we took from that. I'm right in front of it. But that one right there is from the very end of the game after LSU had lost. That was two fans just sitting there alone at the top of the stadium because they were so dejected. That was the last page of the magazine for that issue. But geez, that was. That was insane. And the stadium. I'd want to go to Wembley for a. For a football match. How do you not want to go to Wembley for a football match?
- [36:49]
Simon Hunter
That's pretty good. I mean, I've been to Manchester for a match. Like that was obviously life changing. But yeah, it's. As an American, I tell anyone that ever asked me if you can get to a football match, any club really does not matter. Just get in there, get with the fans, have a couple drinks and get singing. It's just. It really changed your perspective as an American fan going over to England, seeing a match.
- [37:15]
Chad Millman
Oh, our listeners will like this one. What is one food you'd love to make your co host eat? Are you ready? Do you want to know what mine is? Yeah, I think you'd love it. I'd like you to have cottage cheese.
- [37:32]
Simon Hunter
I'm already out with, but I think I can. Was it made in some type of cottage? Why is it.
- [37:37]
Chad Millman
I think I can make it completely edible for you. Okay. It's cottage cheese and there's like a brand called good cottage cheese and it's delicious. It's thicker so it's not like runny like your 1970s cot that comes with peaches. You put some date caramel in there. You know what date caramel is?
- [38:00]
Simon Hunter
No.
- [38:01]
Chad Millman
Oh my God. Date caramel is the Best. You take the dates, you take out the pits. You pour boiling water over the dates. You let them sit for 15 minutes, you take them out, you put them in a blender. You put in half a can of coconut milk, a little cinnamon, a little vanilla. You blend it and you've got like this creamy, delicious, healthy sweetener. You put a spoonful of date caramel in there and you take some roasted nuts and you. And then you put like an apple or some blueberries or raspberries, any kind of fruit you like, and you mix it up. Simon, it's, it's freaking heaven. It's so good. And it's a very healthy breakfast.
- [38:44]
Simon Hunter
All right, so I'm gonna go the complete opposite way. I was trying to think what, like I have a couple different foods that are my go to. As a guy who's a bigger guy. We have every bigger gu is sad food food we go to when we're sad. So whenever we have a bad losing day on this show, especially when we do our Sunday night shows, as soon as I hop on here, this is seriously the low of lows. I'll door dash from Cinnabon and I will get a Cinnabon. And that's what I would love to see chad eat an 800,000 calories cinnabon with just pure sugar. Nothing, nothing healthy in it. Just cooked by some 17 year old in some mall somewhere. That's just terrible. I would love to see you eat a cinnamon bun, which I absolutely love, by the way.
- [39:23]
Chad Millman
You know, it's crazy you just mentioned it was your sad food. It was my sad and lonely food too, back in the day. So when I, when I was writing the Odds, which was the best selling book I did about sports betting, you know, in the early 2000, I would be in Vegas for multiple days on end and then I'd take a red eye back from Vegas to New York. I usually on Sunday nights at the I'd like go straight from the sports book to the airport and I'd hop on the plane, but it would be getting late and there weren't a lot of things that were open then. And so the saddest food you could have is the Cinnabon on the way to your gate. Just getting through security at McCarran Airport and I would sit there in the, under the fluorescent lights two hours before my plane left because I like was stuck in no man's land and it's a red eye and I'm having this Cinnabon and it's just filling me up and Making me sick. And then I got to go take out my contacts and walk onto the plane blind and I got to try to fall asleep. And the next day I got to go to work. I land and have to go right to work. Take a bus from freaking Newark Airport into the city. That was my saddest meal. You're right. I'm with you.
- [40:55]
Simon Hunter
So you've never hit rock bottom until you're trying to eat a cinnamon bun. Your plastic fork just snaps in half because it's such an old cinnamon bun cooked in the heater for three days.
- [41:04]
Chad Millman
Why can't they just make the fork stronger at the Cinnabon?
- [41:07]
Simon Hunter
I don't know.
- [41:08]
Chad Millman
It's so true. All right, there are some season long Saquon Barkley markets available. Simon, specifically you any thoughts on any markets that are available? You know, can he break the season rushing record? Anything that you want to take a look at?
- [41:31]
Simon Hunter
Yeah, like again, this is my job, people. As a fan, obviously I want Saquon to have great things happen to him. He crossed the most dangerous number in all football, Chad. He crossed the 2k number. And we have historical data to back it up where it's, it's never good. And you know, my mindset of it is this guy's the freak of freaks. He left some yards on the field that he could have easily got way more yards than he even did. And he's only going to get better year two behind this offensive line. And it should be great. But we've seen the numbers like if you want to bet against it, you're gonna make money long term betting against the player after rushing for 2k. So my mentality of it, I mean it sucks to be negative, is I'll take all of his unders. It's just, it's just the way you have to do it. It's all of it's gonna be peak value at this point. It's going to be an easy bet for most public betters. But I would say just viewing it from far away, it's just going to be, you know, a number bumped up too much. Ever have value on it? So yeah, I hate to be the negative one, but I'm down obviously on Saquon. Coming to this upcoming season, breaking news.
- [42:39]
Chad Millman
Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby, will not be running in the Preakness. I don't have any other information. I only have what's in the chat from what I assume is Gifford, who was also telling me that the game I referenced LSU, Alabama, AJ McCarron to TJ. Weldon I think it was a screen to win the game. 21:17. I'll also say my other sad food. When I was in high school and my girlfriend broke up with me a week after prom because she wanted to date a dude who she had always had a crush on, who had just broken up with his girlfriend and she always wanted to date him before they graduated. She was a year older, little frozen Sarah Lee cheesecakes. And I was eating them on top of my covers on a trundle bed in my tighty whities watching Saturday Night Live when my parents came home from being out and my dad walked into my room and saw me and looked at me and said, she dumped you, huh? He said, yeah. He said, well, that was like. That looks like it hurts. And then he left.
- [43:55]
Simon Hunter
God, I wish Barry was my dad.
- [43:57]
Chad Millman
Dude, you know Barry. You know Barry.
- [44:00]
Simon Hunter
He's the best.
- [44:01]
Chad Millman
Oh my God. Barry, also in that room, stayed with me all night after I was puking while drinking Jack Daniels to celebrate getting into Tulane University and then made me get up at 6am to go work at the pharmacy where I had a weekend job and I had a 7am shift and they sent me home about two hours later because I couldn't keep anything down.
- [44:27]
Simon Hunter
Oh, God.
- [44:28]
Chad Millman
Oh, yeah, Barry, he was one for the work ethic. All right, last question before we get out of here. Hold on. Where did. I lost it here for a second. Oh, this was the best one. Should we Sanders. Will Shador Sanders be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns?
- [44:48]
Talkspace Sponsor
Really?
- [44:48]
Chad Millman
The market is. Who will be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns? Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett? Dylan Gabriel? Shador Sanders. Who are you betting on right now?
- [45:00]
Simon Hunter
I mean, how do you not bet Flacco? It just feels like he's the type of guy who's played the offense before, knows what to do and he'll have a step up on all these young kids fighting for, you know, the position behind him. I feel like as much I want to make it Sanders that I just. He would really have to wow them right away, Chad. So yeah, for me, I'll go born. I'll go. Joe Flacco just feels like he's gonna have a leg up on all them because, you know, he's just seen it all like, and that's just. That's a big deal, especially where, you know, these guys, not only are they playing for, you know, the number two, number three job, someone's gonna lose their job, right? They're not carrying four guys into the season. So, yeah, it's I can't see Kenny Pickett beating out Flacco, but I could see Sanders give him a run for his money because I do think he has a ton of talent.
- [45:45]
Chad Millman
Oh, I think this is Shador Sanders job to lose. He is going to come in.
- [45:52]
Simon Hunter
You see the video of the team when they drafted him, the GM and.
- [45:55]
Chad Millman
The coach, they didn't look happy. No, but they're going to be. Shadow Sanders is coming in. He's going to fight for that job. He's going to win that job. He's going to be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. They got nothing to lose. They're not going to win anything with Joe Flacco. They're not going to win anything with Kenny Piggy. Might as well find out now. Is Shador Sanders going to be the guy or are you going to tank immediately to go into the next year and get one of these quarterbacks that everyone says is sort of going to make up a much better quarterback class? I think it's going to be Shador Sanders.
- [46:25]
Simon Hunter
Love it.
- [46:25]
Chad Millman
I think Kenny Pickett's going to get cut. All right, Simon and I will return with our next episode of the Favorites Thursday on the Action Network YouTube page. Download us from Spotify, Apple pods, wherever you get your pods Rate. Review Subscribe Leave us. 5 stars. Say whatever you want. Feedback is a gift. Until next time.
- [46:41]
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- [46:48]
Chad Millman
Action Network reminds you Please gamble responsibly.
- [46:52]
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- [46:54]
Chad Millman
Has a gambling problem, help is available 247 at 1-800-GAMBLER.
- [46:59]
Simon Hunter
Okay.
- [47:00]
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