The Underdog previews the entire NBA Eastern Conference for the 2026–27 season, breaking down all 15 teams, every major offseason move, the numbers behind each roster, and the biggest questions heading into opening night.

Chris Horwedel starts in the Atlantic, where the defending champion **New York Knicks** face a radically reshaped landscape. Philadelphia adds LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, Toronto brings Kawhi Leonard back to Canada, Boston adjusts without Brown and Brooklyn continues building around a mix of veterans and young talent.

The Central features a 60-win Detroit team, James Harden alongside Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland, Tyrese Haliburton’s return in Indiana and Milwaukee beginning life after Giannis Antetokounmpo. Chicago’s young frontcourt and roster overhaul also get a closer look.

In the Southeast, **Giannis joins Bam Adebayo in Miami**, Atlanta moves forward without Trae Young, Charlotte begins replacing LaMelo Ball’s creation, Orlando tries to turn strong shot quality into better offense, and Washington builds around Trae Young, Anthony Davis and No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa.

The episode closes by weighing the contenders, challengers, rebound candidates and development teams before making division and Eastern Conference predictions for the new season.

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Chris Horwedel and Matt Crone dig into Ole Miss football and a rough stretch for Philadelphia sports, led by Lane Johnson’s retirement and breaking news that Cam Jurgens is being traded to Baltimore. They also look at the Flyers’ young-player usage, the Phillies’ playoff exit and uncertain future, and the Eagles’ increasingly depleted roster ahead of Jacksonville.

The conversation tracks how those storylines connect across the NFL, NHL and MLB, with added NBA, NFL and travel talk along the way. Listeners will hear the episode move from Ole Miss to the Eagles’ roster questions, then into the Phillies’ postseason disappointment and what comes next for a battered Philadelphia sports scene.

0:25 Opening — Weather, Chris’ upcoming trip and an expensive soccer-jersey purchase.
2:35 Lane Johnson retires — Johnson’s Eagles legacy, elite career statistics, Hall of Fame case and what his departure means for Philadelphia’s offensive line.
7:47 Eagles roster outlook — Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson retirement concerns, running-back depth and the increasingly thin offense.
8:20 Ole Miss/Adidas — Ole Miss leaving Nike, the Vanderbilt matchup and how Florida’s loss affects the Rebels’ season.
10:55 Ole Miss quarterbacks — Austin Simmons, Trinidad Chambliss, Deuce Knight and the program’s future at quarterback.
14:05 Ole Miss-Vanderbilt — Injury updates and touchdown markets from oddsmakers.
15:40 Flyers — Philadelphia’s expectations, playoff outlook and concerns about limited roles for young players such as Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov.
18:20 Travel/clothing — Scotland weather, the London West End trip and Chris needing a new wardrobe for the trip.
24:40 Jeans discussion — Matt’s preferred stretch-jean brand and Chris’ less comfortable recent purchase.
28:35 Phillies — Atlanta eliminates Philadelphia, Don Mattingly’s uncertain future and Alex Cora reportedly declining interest.
29:21 Breaking Eagles trade — Cam Jurgens is traded to Baltimore; Chris and Matt react to the compensation and Philadelphia’s suddenly devastated offensive-line depth.
33:00 Eagles offensive line — Willie Lampkin, Micah Morris and what the possible starting five could look like against Jacksonville.
34:55 Eagles-Jaguars — Philadelphia’s injury list, offensive limitations and the line from oddsmakers.
35:38 Phillies roster game — Which current Phillies could still be on the roster the next time the club plays, including Wheeler, Nola, Realmuto, Bohm, Stott, Turner, Harper and Schwarber.
38:28 Phillies manager debate — Whether Mattingly could return, analytics, bullpen usage and postseason pitching strategy.
42:00 Eagles touchdown market — Hurts, Shipley, Dontayvion Wicks, Darius Cooper and other scoring options from oddsmakers.
43:54 Buccaneers-Cowboys — Baker Mayfield’s status and Dallas’ matchup with Tampa Bay.
45:18 Eagles future — Whether Landon Dickerson will ever take another snap for Philadelphia.

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Chris Horwedel and Matt Crone open with cars, Tesla shopping, StockX mystery boxes, vacations and family stories before getting into a rough week across college football, the NFL and MLB. The sports half centers on Ole Miss–Florida, Oregon–USC, Eagles–Bears, the Phillies’ playoff matchup, the 76ers and the Presidents Cup. They also mix in snow and garage stories, baseball-rule ideas and a few quick NBA, soccer and golf detours.

0:25 Opening — Tesla and EV shopping, dream cars, the Porsche Taycan, rental-car temptation and the cost of luxury ownership.

8:33 StockX mystery boxes — Chris and Matt revisit the changing tiers, prices and value of the boxes.

9:30 Vacation and family talk — Matt’s upcoming trip leads into kids, adoption jokes and other life updates.

12:49 Ole Miss–Florida — The loss in Gainesville, Ole Miss’ offense without Kewan Lacy, Florida’s rise and the SEC schedule/playoff picture.

15:03 Oregon–USC — Dante Moore’s injury leads to a broader discussion of quarterback slides, targeting and player safety.

18:28 Cars, garages and snow stories — Matt works through a Tesla purchase while both hosts trade stories about garage mishaps, snow emergencies, towing and brutal commutes.

25:44 Eagles–Bears — Case Keenum’s performance, Philadelphia’s pass-rush and turnover problems, and an early look at the Rams matchup and the view from oddsmakers.

28:28 Phillies–Braves — Philadelphia’s wild-card series, pitching options and postseason path, plus a hypothetical rule for retiring players joining playoff teams and Justin Verlander’s farewell.

33:20 Baseball rule ideas — Metal bats, extra bases, women’s baseball equipment and ways to make the sport stranger.

34:47 Manchester City — A quick detour into the developing financial case surrounding City.

35:45 76ers and Knicks — The preseason matchup opens a broader look at Philadelphia’s roster, LeBron James, Joel Embiid’s conditioning, bench depth and backup-center concerns.

40:41 PGA/golf calendar — Chris tries to make sense of why the golf season is still going and the Utah Championship comes up.

41:34 Presidents Cup — Team USA’s Sunday comeback, Jackson Koivun, how the event differs from the Ryder Cup and the decision to rest Scottie Scheffler.

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The Underdog mixes college football, MLB, NFL, and plenty of side conversation as Chris Horwedel and Matt Crone work through a busy sports week. Ole Miss-LSU and the Rebels’ trip to Florida drive the college-football discussion, while the Phillies’ playoff outlook and the Eagles’ uneven start lead the pro-sports talk. The episode also touches on NFL Week 3, travel, TV, crypto, and an unexpectedly chaotic sneaker washer.

0:25 Opening: clay shooting, shoulder pain, movies and the week ahead.

4:28 TV and random life stuff: The Traitors, mystery Coinbase deposits and Chris’ Kickstarter sneaker washer.

13:57 Ole Miss-LSU: Lane Kiffin’s return, Trinidad Chambliss, Pete Golding, the late interception and Ole Miss moving to No. 4.

16:04 Ole Miss-Florida: Kiwan Lacey’s injury, the Rebels’ backfield, Chambliss’ Heisman buzz, Florida’s challenge and Ole Miss’ difficult remaining schedule.

23:44 Vanderbilt-NC State: the bizarre final-play touchdown, Vanderbilt’s 3-0 start and upcoming Ole Miss ticket prices.

25:22 MLB sidebars: Justin Verlander’s final start, Comerica Park’s name change and the origin of Fifth Third Bank.

27:09 Trinidad Chambliss: his NFL potential, size and what another strong season could mean.

30:01 Phillies: playoff expectations, possible roster changes, Bryce Harper, the Dodgers and Brewers, World Series discussion and Philadelphia’s rare 100-win seasons.

34:13 Eagles-Titans: Saquon Barkley’s injury scare, extreme heat, Philadelphia’s offensive-line and safety problems and early Super Bowl conversation.

36:48 NFL early reads: Buccaneers, Titans, Falcons, Dolphins and Saints after two weeks.

37:19 Falcons-Packers: Michael Penix Jr.’s return, Green Bay’s shaky start and the changing line from oddsmakers.

38:15 Eagles-Bears: Caleb Williams’ hamstring, Chicago’s backup-QB situation and the Monday-night matchup.

41:27 Travel: the upcoming Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England trip, including Wrexham.

43:18 Week 3 wrap: Ole Miss-Florida, Packers-Falcons and Eagles-Bears lines, plus Case Keenum vs. Chase Daniel career earnings.

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The Underdog opens with Chris Horwedel and Matt Crone mixing entertainment, travel, and sneaker talk before moving into a heavy sports episode. The centerpiece is Ole Miss-LSU, followed by Phillies/MLB discussion and NFL Week 2. They also touch on fantasy football, betting specials, the Chiefs, PGA Tour, and the Solheim Cup.

0:25 Opening: NFL Week 1, Ole Miss-Charlotte and the week ahead.

1:21 TV: The Traitors, Slow Horses and other current shows.

4:08 Travel, golf purchases, sneakers and international shipping costs.

12:21 College football setup: Ole Miss, the Week 3 slate and broader early-season reactions.

15:48 LSU-Ole Miss: Lane Kiffin’s return, the atmosphere in Oxford, Ole Miss’ offense and key players to watch.

22:02 Texas, Michigan and Oklahoma, plus a discussion of in-game coach interviews.

24:10 Phillies/MLB: Philadelphia’s playoff outlook, Jesús Luzardo and the late-season race.

27:21 MLB labor: salary-cap and salary-floor proposals, competitive balance and how high-payroll teams could adjust.

29:49 Lions-Bills: Detroit’s opener, Buffalo’s Week 1 performance and the Thursday night matchup.

32:28 Eagles-Titans: Philadelphia’s offensive-line concerns, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Saquon Barkley and Tennessee.

36:54 NFC South and fantasy football: Bryce Young, Carolina’s offense and Matt’s AJ Brown-Jalen Coker trade.

39:11 Betting specials: Ole Miss-LSU and Giants-Rams multi-leg markets from oddsmakers.

40:48 NFL takes: Jalen Hurts vs. Justin Herbert, Dallas concerns and Kansas City’s upgraded running game.

42:45 PGA Tour: Biltmore Championship discussion and players on the board.

43:03 Solheim Cup: Matt’s reaction to the event and a broader appreciation of women’s sports.

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The Underdog opens with Ole Miss’ Week 1 escape, the proposed 24-team College Football Playoff and what comes next against Charlotte and LSU. Chris and Matt also get into the NFL’s Australia opener, the Phillies’ frustrating loss to Houston and Week 1 Patriots-Seahawks. Off the field, they cover The Traitors, streaming ads, YouTube Premium and StockX mystery boxes. The provided transcript ends when the connection drops during the Patriots-Seahawks discussion.

0:25 Intro and Ole Miss-Louisville reaction, plus what the result means for the season.

1:02 Proposed 24-team College Football Playoff expansion, ESPN rights and the future postseason format.

2:24 Ole Miss-Charlotte preview, Top 25 reaction, Charlotte’s outlook and a look ahead to LSU.

7:24 NFL opening week, 49ers-Rams in Australia, unusual kickoff logistics, Aaron Donald and overseas player taxes.

10:14 TV talk: Paradise, The Traitors Ireland, upcoming U.S./UK Traitors seasons, Phaedra-CT rumors and the Weasley twins.

18:02 Phillies-Astros: Brandon Marsh and Edmundo Sosa baserunning, Andrew Painter, World Series odds and concern about Philadelphia’s aging core.

20:53 MLB labor concerns, The Paper, streaming commercials, YouTube Premium and ad overload.

27:45 StockX $300/$400 sneaker mystery boxes, buybacks, shoe value and whether the $200 tier remains the better gamble.

32:24 NFL Week 1: Patriots-Seahawks, A.J. Brown, New England’s outlook, fantasy football and Mike Vrabel discussion.

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0:25 Intro, Matt’s surprise calendar meeting and the week’s show setup.

3:57 Sneaker releases: Kobe Eagles Proto 5s, Eagles quarterback history, Donovan McNabb and Mekhi Becton.

9:13 Lane Kiffin, college eligibility rules and the controversy surrounding NFL-to-college returns.

10:44 Crypto talk: random token deposits, Dogecoin and past gains.

13:19 Oddsmakers recap, recent golf wagers and BMW Championship results.

16:07 Ole Miss-Louisville: spread discussion and the show’s wager, plus Ole Miss’ early-season outlook.

18:32 Food tangent: oysters, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, local pizza spots and late-night restaurant nostalgia.

27:56 College football’s return and the start of September.

28:29 Harry Potter HBO reboot, the new cast, Ilvermorny and expanding the Wizarding World.

37:44 Ole Miss-Louisville revisited, with Charlotte and LSU next on the schedule.

The Underdog covers Kobe Eagles sneakers, Donovan McNabb, Lane Kiffin and college eligibility, golf wagers, Ole Miss-Louisville, the return of college football, Ole Miss’ upcoming Charlotte and LSU games, plus crypto, pizza and the new Harry Potter series.

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0:25 Chris Horwedel and Matt Crone open with birthday talk, PR pitches and last week’s soccer bets.

4:48 Ole Miss football: 2025 stats and the 2026 schedule, including Louisville, Charlotte, LSU, Florida, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Wofford, Mississippi State, Texas, Auburn, Oklahoma and Georgia.

16:28 Wrexham travel, the Wrexham-Sunderland trip to Subaru Park and soccer analytics through X Genius and Moneyball.

20:43 Ole Miss national-title and Heisman talk centers on Trinidad Chambliss, CJ Carr, Arch Manning, Darian Mensah and other contenders, followed by NIL, eligibility and transfer rules.

25:10 GTA 6, home-office setups, TV prices and an Army reenlistment incentive lead into a LeBron James tangent.

34:39 Eagles season tickets spark an NFL-in-person vs. TV debate, plus hockey, basketball and baseball viewing.

39:25 Eagles-Patriots joint practices and reactions to A.J. Brown and Milton Williams.

41:04 BMW Championship at Bellerive: Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Åberg, Rory McIlroy, Sam Burns and Matt Fitzpatrick headline the oddsmakers markets.

43:48 TV talk on Widow’s Bay and Reacher.

47:45 Final BMW Championship wagers and the close.

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