The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Hour 2) – Episode Summary

Date: October 24, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Segments: Blazin' 5 Picks, NBA/FBI Investigation Discussion, Interview with Rachel Nichols, NFL/College/NBA Updates

Overview

In Hour 2 of The Herd, Colin Cowherd delivers his new Blazin' 5 NFL picks, breaks down the latest details about the FBI's investigation into gambling in the NBA, and is joined by Fox Sports analyst Rachel Nichols for an in-depth discussion on the league’s brewing scandal. The episode navigates the blurry lines between legal and illegal betting, the distinction between active and passive involvement of players and coaches, and the existential challenges facing the NBA in the modern betting era.

Key Segments & Analysis

1. Blazin' 5 NFL Picks (04:05–13:00)

Colin shares his top five NFL bets for the weekend, including matchups, reasoning, and score predictions:

• Ravens -6 vs. Bears

  • "Lamar returns... and it's a must win game. Total urgency for the franchise, guys. Lamar has eaten the NFC for lunch: 24-3 in his career."
    Prediction: Ravens win 28–21

• Patriots -7 vs. Browns

  • "Drake May has been outstanding since week two... Cleveland's defense not as good on the road. Dylan Gabriel is going to have to be really good to keep up.”
    Prediction: Patriots win 28–17

• Falcons vs. Dolphins (Over 44.5)

  • "Their defense allows big, big plays. Atlanta at home delivers big plays. Dolphins' defense not good. Atlanta's offense at home very good. Take the over."
    Prediction: Falcons win 30–24

• Texans +1.5 vs. 49ers

  • "The Texans' defense is great. The Niners are still beat up... I'm gonna take the Texans 27–23."

• Broncos -3 vs. Cowboys

  • "Broncos have won eight straight at home... Their big play defense is atrocious. So the Broncos are going to win—and cover."
    Prediction: Broncos win 28–24

Notable Quote:

"I generally don't love [favorites]. Favorite bet: Ravens minus six at home. ... It's a wonky week for numbers." – Colin Cowherd (12:30)

2. The NBA’s Gambling Scandal & FBI Investigation (13:33–17:00, 18:46–31:21)

Colin introduces Rachel Nichols, discussing the current storm surrounding NBA players and coaches entangled in gambling scandals, and the gravity of new federal investigations.

Key Discussion Points

• Active vs. Passive Involvement

  • Rachel Nichols (18:46):
    “There’s two categories... Terry Rozier is accused of being active, throwing performance in a game... Shante Porter has pled guilty. Then you have guys like Chauncey Billups, named for giving inside info, but it's unclear if it was purposeful or reckless.”
  • Players like Damon Jones openly gave betting info for money, whereas others, like Billups, may just have been careless among the wrong crowd.

• NBA vs. FBI Investigations

  • Rachel Nichols (21:38):
    “The NBA doesn’t have subpoena power... They can only get people to talk who want to talk... The NBA has been cooperating, but the optics are difficult. Not the league's fault—but it is their problem when a guy is cleared and later faces jail time.”

• Damon Jones / LeBron Connection

  • Colin (22:07):
    “The Damon Jones one troubles me because it involves the face of the league and the Lakers.”
  • Rachel (23:14):
    “Damon Jones was very close to LeBron... has inside info on a lot of different guys... Cash Patel from the FBI said this is just the beginning. More is coming.”

• Chauncey Billups’ Surprising Role

  • Rachel (24:59):
    “Chauncey is extremely well-liked, known as a leader... It shows at least incredible bad judgment, and, per the FBI, possibly worse.”

• Deeper League Challenges

  • Betting has become integral to NBA’s revenue and fan engagement, making full withdrawal impossible—even as it raises risks.

• Legalization & Regulation

  • Colin (27:41):
    “David Stern was really anti-gambling. Adam Silver was the opposite... I am a believer in legalized sports gambling, because it’s regulated.”

• Tip of the Iceberg?

  • Rachel (29:02):
    “I think it might be an iceberg only because there are so many places this could crop up... Hope is, as players see you can go to jail, they’ll stop.”

Notable Quotes:

“Crime is going to happen. You’re never going to have zero crime, but you can’t have too much... right now the NBA has to deal with a lot.”
— Rachel Nichols (19:50)

“The NBA isn’t going anywhere… These scandals aren't going to take down the league. But it is an issue.”
— Rachel Nichols (20:35)

3. Assessing NBA’s Current Issues & Business Outlook (41:00–end)

Colin expands on broader trends in the NBA and business resilience.

• NBA’s Headwinds

  • Ongoing gambling scandals
  • All-star talent being international with less American draw
  • Lack of dynasties with new cap rules
  • Fan complaints about game aesthetics and three-point volume
  • Yet, the league is secured by mega media rights deals.

• Parallels to Other Leagues

  • MLB successfully addressed pace-of-play and fan engagement issues.
  • "It's just hard to run a big business. Adam Silver's finding it out..."

Notable Moments & Quotes

• On NBA’s Relationship to Sportsbooks:
  “The NBA was estimated to make around $170 million directly from betting companies. ... Fan engagement is estimated to be another $200 or $300 million.” — Rachel Nichols (26:00)

• On Gambling Temptation for Players:
  "Every NBA player in every room they walk into is the biggest star, right? ... You almost have to hide before a game." — Colin Cowherd (30:40)

• On the NBA’s Future Despite Scandal:
  “The NBA has been around for nearly 80 years. ... These scandals are not going to take down the league.” — Rachel Nichols (20:28)

• Summary on Regulation:
  "I don't believe you should eliminate prop bets because then it goes to the unregulated market... I want it supervised." — Colin Cowherd (31:22)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 04:05 — Blazin’ 5 NFL Picks Start
• 13:33 — Rachel Nichols Segment Begins
• 18:46 — Deep Dive: FBI/NBA Gambling Investigation
• 21:30 — NBA vs. FBI Investigations
• 22:07 — The Damon Jones/LeBron Discussion
• 23:14 — "Tip of the iceberg" and Future Fallout
• 24:59 — Chauncey Billups' Reputation at Risk
• 27:41 — Legalization and Regulation of Sports Betting
• 29:02 — "Iceberg or Ice Cube" Analogy
• 30:40 — The Realities for NBA Players & Liability
• 41:00 — NBA's Challenges as a Business & Historical Parallels

Conclusion

This episode offers a candid look into Colin’s NFL picks, followed by an unvarnished, expert exploration of the NBA’s present turbulence with sports betting and the consequences for players, coaches, and league integrity. With Rachel Nichols’ insider perspective, listeners gain insight into both ongoing investigations and the systemic pressures contributing to the scandal.

The tone remains direct and conversational—reflecting both hosts’ comfort discussing tough industry truths and their optimism for pro sports’ ability to adapt and thrive through adversity.