Welcome to the debut episode of the Hlastradamus Odds Pod, The Gazette's sports betting podcast with Mike Hlas and Tim Sullivan. Every Friday we'll discuss the college football games of the week, including Iowa and Iowa State, and make our picks. Also on this episode: Special guest Jay Rood, the chief risk officer for Bet.Works.

Hlastradamus Odds Pod: The debut

Gazette sportswriter Mike Hlas — Hlastradamus — talks sports betting in Iowa, joined by other sports experts in the state. Produced by The Gazette in Iowa.

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“The Last Dance,” the Michael Jordan documentary on ESPN every Sunday night for five weeks got me thinking I’d like to talk about this.

You can listen to Jordan talk and “The Last Dance” talk any place. 

But I wanted to see how it touches people who aren’t my age. To me it’s a trip down memory lane and I love it, but it’s not telling me a whole lot I don’t already know.

The Gazette’s Nathan Ford and I are both NBA fans, but Nathan didn’t see Michael Jordan play.

On this podcast, we talk about our different perspectives watching this documentary, how the NBA has changed, why basketball lends itself to personality-driven stories like these and more.

Michael Jordan, the NBA and ‘The Last Dance’ from 2 different perspectives

It's bowl season! On this year's final episode of the Hlastradamus Odds Pod, Mike Hlas and Tim Sullivan make their picks against the spread for Iowa-USC and Iowa State-Notre Dame. How many confidence points should you assign the Holiday and Camping World Bowls? More picks on the show include the College Football Playoff semifinals, other bowl games involving Big Ten teams and locks of the week (year).

Iowa-USC, Iowa State-Notre Dame and more bowl picks against the spread

It’s rivalary week in college football, which gives the Hlastradamus Odds Pod plenty of intriguing games to pick.

Listen as The Gazette’s Mike Hlas and Tim Sullivan pick Iowa-Nebraska, Minnesota-Wisconsin, Ohio State-Michigan, and Iowa State-Kansas State against the spread.

As always, locks of the week are included as well.

Rivalry Week picks and locks

No longer in the Big Ten West, does Iowa really have "a lot to play for" this week against Illinois, as coaches and sportswriters like to say? Mike Hlas and Tim Sullivan discuss as they make their picks against the spread (Iowa -15).

It's a similar situation in Ames, where Iowa State is a 24.5-point favorite Saturday against Kansas.

Plus, other Big Ten picks, including Ohio State-Penn State and the locks of the week.

Does Iowa have "a lot to play for" against Illinois?

Iowa and Iowa State are both favored at home this week vs. ranked opponents. The 20th-ranked Hawkeyes host No. 8 Minnesota while the Cyclones take on No. 19 Texas. Will either (or both) cover? Mike Hlas and Tim Sullivan make their picks on the Hlastradamus Odds Pod, plus give their locks of the week in college football.

Hlastradamus Odds Pod: The debut

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