Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: What’s Wright - Nick Wright’s NFL Playoff PREDICTIONS, NFC win totals + Rashee Rice suspension
Host: Nick Wright (with Damanza)
Date: August 29, 2025

Overview

This episode is a signature “gambling show” special for NFL predictions week on What’s Wright with Nick Wright. Nick and co-host Damanza deliver a detailed breakdown of their NFC win totals, playoff picks, and AFL over/unders, and dish out their favorite bets for the upcoming NFL season. They also react to Rashee Rice’s suspension and share thoughts on recent NFL news.

The show’s structure:

• Recap of previous AFC win total picks and bets
• Complete NFC over/under breakdown and division-by-division analysis with bets
• Discussion of notable league news (Rashee Rice, Travis & Taylor engagement)
• Playoff “Make/Miss” bets, reasoning, and value picks
• A heavy emphasis on honest take-keeping (no retroactively erasing bad takes!)
• Entertaining anecdotes about fan interactions and sports culture

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL News Updates

Rashee Rice Suspension (6 games)

• Nick calls it a “fair resolution,” saying it’s a tomato/tomato situation whether the suspension happens early or later (06:07).
• Shuts down conspiracy talk that the league would delay punishment to help the Chiefs, citing shifting narratives among fans and pundits:

  “The moment [a conspiracy] is disproven people act like it wasn’t ever a conspiracy theory.” (06:58)

Travis & Taylor Engagement

• Nick notes it's become a “publicity stunt” topic; likens their current public status to “America's royalty.”

  “Much like Travis and Taylor is a work; it’s a publicity stunt. ...We need take accountability in this world. That’s all I’m asking for. I have to own all my takes.” (07:13)

2. NFC Win Totals & Analysis (with timestamped highlights & quotes)

NFC East

• Cowboys:
  Nick is betting UNDER 8.5 wins (-145)

  • Expresses skepticism on both Micah Parsons’ health status and the team’s offseason moves.
  • Quote:

    “Even with Micah, I am not a believer in the Cowboys this year...Their defense with Micah is mediocre; without Micah, it’s going to be disastrous.” (08:33)

• Giants:
  Leaning OVER 5.5 (not an official bet)

  • Believes the team will eke out 6 wins due to stronger D-line and desperation.

  • "If they’re sitting at 5 and 10, [Brian Daboll] is going to want every single win imaginable." (11:44)

• Eagles:
  Taking UNDER 11.5 (no bet; expects exactly 11 wins)

  • Nick points to significant defensive snaps lost in the offseason and a tough schedule.

  • “I think that the defensive losses...They lost like 4,400 snaps from last year’s team to this year’s team, majority on defense. I think they’ll be really good, but not 12 or 13 wins good.” (16:09)

• Commanders:
  Picking OVER 9.5 (not a bet; strong lean, expects 11-6)

  • Likes offseason moves, isn’t as down on “skinny” QB Jayden Daniels as reported.

  • “I like the DK Metcalf—I’m sorry, the Deebo Samuel trade.” (16:31)

NFC North

• Bears:
  BETTING OVER 8.5 (+115)

  • Cites upgrade at head coach, tough luck last year, bounce-back for Caleb.

  • “They had an excellent offseason...Last year, they would have won 7 or 8 games with some breaks, so I will take—and I will bet—the Bears over 8.5.” (22:33)

• Lions:
  Leaning OVER 10.5 (+120), but stay away

  • Nick sees the division as tough and the team as high-variance.

  • “If there’s going to be a season from hell for Detroit...it’ll be because the playoff game screwed with Goff.” (26:35)

• Packers:
  UNDER 9.5 (not a bet; sees 9 wins as likely)

  • Cautious on Jordan Love establishing a safe “QB floor.”

  • “I’m not yet ready to say [Love] guarantees you a floor for your team.” (29:26)

• Vikings:
  BETTING UNDER 9.5 (-125)

  • Sees this as a reset/retool year with rookie J.J. McCarthy possibly playing, turnover luck unlikely to repeat.

  • “If they’re a double-digit win team again and JJ McCarthy looks really good...we have to elevate Kevin O’Connell.” (32:11)

NFC South

• Falcons:
  BETTING OVER 7.5 (-140)

  • Likes their schedule and division as a path to sneak into playoffs.

  • “This team is a sneaky playoff contender because of the schedule, not because they’re a great team but because of the division.” (41:02)

• Panthers:
  Picking UNDER 6.5 (not a bet)

• Saints:
  OVER 4.5 (not a bet; low bar, but no confidence)

• Bucs:
  BETTING OVER 9.5 (-120)

  • Nick’s strongest NFC endorsement:

  • “I think Tampa...is going to win a bunch of games. I’m all over the Bucs this season.” (45:54)
    “Baker [Mayfield], MVP—it’s not a terrible pick.” (46:14)

NFC West

• Cardinals:
  UNDER 8.5 (not a bet); sees them as potentially bottoming out and starting over soon.

• Rams:
  OVER 9.5 (not a bet); hinges on Stafford’s health.

• Niners:
  BETTING UNDER 10.5 (-130)

  • Worried about defensive depth, injuries, and lost receiving threats.

  • “This is the least talent they’ve had on defense since Shanahan’s first year there...All those reasons—and the fact they could win the division, make the playoffs, and the under still comes in...” (51:16)

• Seahawks:
  Leaning UNDER 8.5

  • No strong take, non-committal.

3. Summary Table: NFC Best Bets (Win Totals)

| Team | Over/Under | Line | Bet? | Comment | |---------------|------------|--------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Cowboys | Under 8.5 | -145 | BET | Micah concerns, don’t trust coaching/offense | | Giants | Over 5.5 | -130 | Lean | Not a bet | | Eagles | Under 11.5 | +120 | Lean | Not a bet, expect a slight regression | | Commanders | Over 9.5 | even | Lean | Not a bet, slight schedule optimism | | Bears | Over 8.5 | +115 | BET | Offseason upgrade, improved outlook | | Lions | Over 10.5 | +120 | Lean | Not a bet, too much variance | | Packers | Under 9.5 | even | Lean | Not a bet, questions on Love & RBs | | Vikings | Under 9.5 | -125 | BET | “Reset”/rookie QB risk | | Falcons | Over 7.5 | -140 | BET | Faded division, schedule opens a path | | Bucs | Over 9.5 | -120 | BET | Favorite “over,” high confidence | | Niners | Under 10.5 | -130 | BET | Defensive regression, injury concern |

4. Make/Miss Playoff Bets (Playoff Value Picks)

To MAKE Playoffs

• Jaguars (+180)
• Chiefs (-380)
• Raiders (+340, half unit)
• Giants (+500, quarter unit; Nick: “there has to be the shock playoff team!” 63:15)
• Buccaneers (-170, “You’ll see the Bucs all over my gambling card this year.” 64:25)

To MISS Playoffs

• Steelers (-140)
• Colts (-260)
• Broncos (+130)
• Cowboys (-210)
• Vikings (+100, two units! “I’m going to fade the Vikings to the tune of betting their under and a two unit bet.” 67:26)
• Cardinals (-140)

Miss Playoffs Parlay (2 units, -135)

• Saints / Jets / Browns / Colts all to miss playoffs

“Adding New Orleans to miss the playoffs or Cleveland to miss the playoffs to any preseason bet you make just to give yourself a little extra juice...it feels like impossible to lose.” (68:53)

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Accountability for Takes:

  “We need take accountability in this world. That’s all I’m asking for. I have to own all my takes.” (07:13)

• On Fan Interactions:

  “I might start [saying no] under very specific circumstances. The next [expletive] person that comes up to me and says...something about the Eagles Super Bowl, I’m gonna—It happened twice at the US Open.” (14:00)

• Commanders “Skinny QB” logic:

  “I am not a jayden skeptic. I am a skinny quarterback skeptic. There is a difference.” (16:48)

• On over/under approach:

  “There’s nothing worse than being right on a bet and losing it. That’s why I hate exact record bets.” (24:38)

• On Niners risk:

  “Christian McCaffrey and/or Trent Williams missing six weeks [and]...that defense, so they could smash it.” (55:20)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment/Topic | Start Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | AFC recap & Rashee Rice Suspension | 02:08 | | NFC East: Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Commanders | 08:27 | | NFC North: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings | 22:17 | | NFC South: Falcons, Bucs, Saints, Panthers | 39:11 | | NFC West: Cardinals, Rams, Niners, Seahawks | 49:16 | | Full recap of NFC bets | 54:30 | | Make/Miss Playoff bets, including long shots | 60:40 | | “Miss Playoffs” Parlay & logic | 68:08 | | Final housekeeping, tease for next episode | 70:00 |

Overall Tone & Style

Nick brings both energy and self-deprecation, letting loose with spicy bets and opinions but also repeatedly demanding “accountability” from himself and other takesmen. The episode is fast-paced, irreverent, and full of candid banter, sharp analysis, and justified skepticism—particularly toward public darlings like the Cowboys and the Niners.

A highlight for football fans who want betting strategies with fewer “hot takes,” more honest evaluation, and plenty of odds and betting lines to consider.

Quick-Reference: Nick’s Official NFC Bets

• Cowboys UNDER 8.5
• Bears OVER 8.5
• Vikings UNDER 9.5
• Falcons OVER 7.5
• Bucs OVER 9.5
• Niners UNDER 10.5

Don’t miss next episode—Nick and Damanza promise their final division winner picks, parlays, and preseason “best bets,” with even more NFL preview content!