

The Favorites Sports Betting Podcast
iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Every NFL season, Action Network Chief Content Officer Chad Millman and professional sports gambler Simon Hunter analyze every matchup to select their best bets from the NFL slate. Utilizing Action Network's data-driven analysis, the latest injury news and insider info from Simon's network of professional bettors, together they craft their betting card for the weekend, along with moneyline parlays, totals, survivor pool picks and so much more. For the 2023 NFL season, The Favorites will have new episodes every Sunday night, Tuesday and Thursday. Proudly presented by bet365, the world's favorite sports book brand.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 6, 2024 • 1h 4min
Chris Long on NFL Win Totals, NBA Finals and more
Friend of the program Chris Long returns, joining Action Network hosts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter to discuss NFL season win totals and the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Mavericks. The 2-time Super Bowl champion and 11-year NFL veteran also plays a game of Explain These Coaching Cliches, and explains why players don't care about their teammates' personal lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 4, 2024 • 45min
MLB Scandals & The Aura of Clayton Kershaw with Andy McCullough
Major League Baseball is embroiled in another betting scandal, with yet more players implicated in illicit baseball betting behavior. Joining Action Network hosts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter to discuss the latest MLB storylines and his new book on Clayton Kershaw is Andy McCullough of The Athletic, one of the most respected journalists in baseball today. Together they cover the idiocy of violating MLB's betting policies, the greatness of Clayton Kershaw, and so much more.And be sure to check out Andy's excellent new Clayton Kershaw biography THE LAST OF HIS KIND: CLAYTON KERSHAW AND THE BURDEN OF GREATNESS available wherever books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 30, 2024 • 42min
NFL Sharp Calls & NBA guest Josh Richardson
What is a "Welcome to the NBA" moment? Our guest Josh Richardson of the Miami Heat has two of them, as he explains to our hosts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter of Action Network. The trio discuss the looming NBA Finals, his time on the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, life as a NBA veteran and the most competitive environments in the league.Plus, later in the show Simon shares the Sharp Calls he received from our NFL Week 1 episode, including some surprising love for Chad Millman's favorite bet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 28, 2024 • 48min
Rebirth of an NFL City with Author Rustin Dodd
With a preeminent quarterback and a host of recent titles and Super Bowl appearances, the Kansas City Chiefs have grown to become the epicenter of today's NFL. Here to discuss the incredible resurgence of Chiefs and the town of Kansas City is author Rustin Dodd, whose new book is titled KINGDOM QUARTERBACK: Patrick Mahomes, The Kansas City Chiefs and How a Once-Swingin’ Cow Town Chase The Ultimate Comeback. With Action Network hosts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter, the trio covers the raucous mafia and gambling history of Kansas City, the impact of Taylor Swift, and what makes Patrick Mahomes a special figure even among elite NFL quarterbacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 23, 2024 • 53min
NFL Week 1 Lines
Kickoff of the 2024 NFL season is 105 days away. But despite such a distant time horizon, Action Network experts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter are happy to go up and down the NFL Week 1 slate to see what opening value remains. And while it is never fun to tie your money up for months, it IS fun to dive into the same matchups we'll all be drooling over after Labor Day. How much has Pittsburgh improved? How easy a pick are the Philadelphia Eagles? And is now the buy low moment on the Arizona Cardinals? All of these answered and more as the NFL offseason marches on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 21, 2024 • 53min
NFL Schedule Deep Dive with Warren Sharp
Did the NFL hand the Baltimore Ravens a huge advantage this season? Will the San Francisco 49ers' schedule hamstring them? Fresh from his exhaustive annual deep dive into the NFL schedule is friend of the show Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, who joins Action Network hosts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter to talk all things NFL schedule. With 101 games this season featuring one team on a distinct rest disadvantage, schedule equity is at an all-time low. Together this trio talks about the NFL's drive to sell sizzling matchups across an expanding variety of broadcast and streaming partners, while maximizing interest and minimizing competitive inequalities. Can they succeed in this effort? And has Taylor Swift and her army of followers become a new factor the NFL must consider? As Simon Hunter points out, "this feels like the first time they are selling quarterback matchups more than team matchups."And for more NFL schedule information and to pre-purchase Warren's annual book at a huge discount only for our listeners, be sure to check out SharpFootballAnalysis.com and use promo code SHARPBOOK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 16, 2024 • 45min
The Business of the NFL with Joe Pompliano
How has the NFL become a 12-month-a-year business? How big are American sports betting partnerships going to become? Was the Jontay Porter scandal a good thing for the NBA? Today's guest is Huddle Up newsletter kingpin and social media maven Joe Pompliano, a sports business expert with strong opinions on all these questions and more. He joins Action Network hosts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter to talk NFL schedule release, the booming financial pathway of pro sports leagues thanks to private equity, the global reach of American sports leagues and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 14, 2024 • 44min
WNBA Tip-Off with Debbie Antonelli
Can you make 2400 free throws in one day? Today's guest can! Action Network's Chad Millman and WNBA betting enthusiast Simon Hunter talk to Indiana Fever play-by-play voice and legendary women's basketball figure Debbie Antonelli about her impression of the WNBA's development, the increased exposure that's come from Clark, and her absolutely Herculean fundraiser for Special Olympics this weekend. Antontelli was a key part of the 1984-1985 NC State basketball team that went undefeated in the ACC regular season and tournament, and she'll be making 2400 free throws in 24 hours as part of her 24 Hours Of Nothing But Net effort.A favorite among inveterate gamblers for almost 30 years, the WNBA tips off tonight. It will be the professional debut of Caitlin Clark for the Indiana Fever, and Antonelli talks Caitlin Clark, her own career as a beloved basketball broadcaster, her longtime passion for Las Vegas, and more.And those interested in donating to Antonelli's Special Olympics fundraiser, all of us here at the Favorites encourage you to visit 24HoursNBN.com now to support this wonderful cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 9, 2024 • 60min
NFC Offseason Update
Are the Philadelphia Eagles bound to rebound? How badly will the Dallas Cowboys disappoint? And are the Chicago Bears destined for glory with Caleb Williams? Joining hosts Chad Millman and Simon Hunter to answer questions like these across the NFC is a beloved Chicago media figure, and holder of "the only job Chad wants more than his own." Guest Danny Parkins is the drive-time kingpin at 670 The Score on Chicago's airwaves, and has strong opinions across the conference for gamblers and non-gamblers alike. Together they also touch on the preponderance of D3 veterans in the NBA, the chances Chicago has a superstar quarterback, and the value left on the New York Giants.And for fans of the NBA, be sure to check out Danny Parkins' terrific new book PIPELINE TO THE PROS: How D3, Small College Nobodies Rose To Rule the NBA, available now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 7, 2024 • 59min
AFC Offseason Update
"Hey Patriots fans: welcome to hell!" Action Network's Simon Hunter starts the show with a bang, as he and host Chad Millman run through the betting status of every team across the AFC. Are the New York Jets ready to soar? Are the Tennessee Titans preparing for rock bottom? And can the Bengals rally behind Joe Burrow and make another Super Bowl run? Our dynamic duo answers all these questions and many more, including a dive into the AFC South and a dissection of the Chiefs' biggest adversaries out west. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.