Best of The Herd

Our division-by-division betting breakdowns will begin at the end of this month. But before we get to that, Action Network hosts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter do our annual table-setter episodes to prepare us for all things betting in the NFL for the 2025 season. Today we do some playoff prognostication with the help of our Action colleague Brandon Anderson. He did a similar episode on the Action Network Podcast with Anthony Dabbundo, and we loved the concept. Together the trio will predict this year’s 14 playoff teams, but Brandon has a little twist. Since NFL moved to 14 playoff teams, an average of 6 teams drop out of the playoffs from one year to the next. Over 40% have been new participants! Without telling them that, Chad and Simon submitted their predicted playoff teams. And in this episode, we go through where the trio agree (3 teams per conference) and where they disagree (4 teams per conference) to highlight the volatility of the playoff race. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thoughts on the All-Star Game tonight and people who are upset with Jacob Misiorowski being on the rosterColin discusses the LeBron James trade rumorsThe WNBA wasn't ready for the Caitlin Clark hypeGuest: Alex RodriguezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could Nick Saban be planning a return to college football?More on the ridiculous rules of baseball and why they need to changeGuest: Eric ManginiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of teams missed on QBs during "the COVID year"Sauce Gardner and the Jets agree to a new deal Guest: Anthony SlaterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin is back giving his thoughts on the relationship between LeBron James and the Lakers and why he doesn’t see the 4-time champion getting traded anytime soon. He argues Jalen Hurts getting ranked 9th by NFL execs is spot on and proves it based on how the Eagles played down the stretch on their way to winning the Super Bowl. Plus, he talks to Fox Sports MLB analyst Alex Rodriguez about the All Star game and why baseball is as good right now as it has ever been.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Middlekauff starts off by reacting to the New York Jets and star wide receiver Garrett Wilson coming to an agreement on a 130 million dollar extension. John speculates if due to the Jets volatile QB situation, the Jets wanted to lock up Wilson early to a long term contract.  Next, John discusses 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings requesting a more lucrative deal or a trade from the team and applauds Jennings for using his leverage to open up negotiations. John reacts to Cleveland Browns 2nd round pick Quinshon Judkins arrest over the weekend for alleged domestic violence charges and how it affects the team moving forward. Then, John reacts to ESPN Top 10 QB rankings discourse over Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, John wraps up with some takes coming from SEC Media Day, including the possibility of former Alabama coach Nick Saban making a return to college football. 04:55 - New York Jets Garrett Wilson receives massive extension 10:12 - DraftKings 11:24 - San Francisco 49eres WR Jauan Jennings 19:08 - Quinshon Judkins 27:31 - ESPN Top 10 QB rankings 33:14 - SEC Media Day 46:17 - Mailbag Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fat Joe and Jadakiss are joined by Pusha T and Malice, a.k.a. Clipse, to dive into their rap careers and their new album ‘Let God Sort Em Out.’ They discuss how they originally linked up with super producer Pharrell Williams and how he has been a huge part of their sound from the very beginning. Next, Pusha and Malice break down why they left Def Jam over the Kendrick Lamar track on their new album, explaining that in no way is it a beef record, but that politics and optics were the real reason Def Jam had a problem with it. They also thank Jay-Z and Roc Nation for stepping up to do the distribution and explain why they decided that the first track be "The Birds Don't Sing,” a tribute to their late mother and father, featuring John Legend. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason answers mailbag questions on topics including whether Victor Wembanyama will lead the San Antonio Spurs to a spot in the NBA playoffs, why the Washington Wizards might surprise some people after drafting Tre Johnson, how the Dallas Mavericks can be contenders with Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving, why Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are going to be towards the top of the West, what the Los Angeles Lakers outlook is after LeBron James eventually retires, and more. #Volume See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Cowherd is joined by John Middlekauff, host of “3 and Out”! They start with Colin recapping his vacation and the contents of his golf bag (3:30) and discuss why they LOVE traveling to Lake Tahoe and why the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament is amazing to attend (9:00). They share stories about meeting professional athletes out in the real world and why there’s a relatable quality to NFL players (15:00).  They pivot to a recently released Top 10 quarterbacks list and Colin laud it for being one of most accurate top 10 lists they’ve seen (24:00), and debate whether defensive coordinators will catch up to Jayden Daniels in year 2 (28:15). They also tip their cap to Lions HC Dan Campbell for creating a winning culture after years of futility in Detroit (33:00) and give their takes on Bears GM Ryan Poles after he received a three year extension (37:30).  They entertain the idea of the Steelers trading TJ Watt and argue that trading for DK Metcalf makes far less sense (47:00). They discuss the lack of parity in the NFL between top and bottom teams and point to the increased importance of a quarterback paired with a great offensive coach in the past decade (56:00) . They break down the 5-6 premium positions that are must-haves for teams wanting to compete for a Super Bowl and why players at traditionally undervalued positions are making big money (1:02:00). They rank their top college football programs based on staff, NIL, recruiting and their five year outlook, and discuss why the huge injection of money is creating a system of haves and have nots (1:08:00). Finally, they preview the Open Championship and debate whether John Rahm can carry over his momentum from the LIV Tour and what to make of Rory McIlroy’s chances playing on his home turf (1:28:00).  (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates!  #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason McIntyre fills in for Colin detailing the latest in the LeBron James saga as his relationship with the Lakers continues to deteriorate following the trade for Luka Doncic. He reacts to Jalen Hurts landing 9th on the list of quarterbacks ranked by NFL executives, coaches and scouts and why it’s ridiculous for the reigning Super Bowl MVP to be that low. He also talks to Chris Broussard from First Things First about Cooper Flagg dropping 31 in his final summer league game and if he’s clearly the NBA’s next superstar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.