The Victory Degree

In the latest episode of The Victory Degree, Nik sits down with NFL gambling industry expert, Ben Fawkes. Ben has covered the world of sports betting since 2010, working for companies like ESPN & VSiN. Additionally, he's planned and executed content for some of sports media's biggest names including: Chris Berman, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Matthew Berry & Adam Schefter. 

"Anyone who has followed the sports betting industry over the past several years is well aware of Ben and his great work. He was one of the architects behind ESPN’s sports betting coverage and continues to be one of the most respected and prolific voices in sports betting."

Please enjoy!

TIMESTAMPS:

(0:00) Ben's background and introduction 

(5:16) How did Ben get into sports betting?

(9:34) Has sports betting helped or hindered the final NFL product?

(12:30) Is referee bias real & the Adam Silver story

(21:23) How are betting lines set?

(25:24) What does it mean to be a "professional sports bettor?"

(30:20) Why do most people such at betting, the psychology of sports betting

(37:10) What is points betting?

(39:23) What is the future of sports betting?

(45:29) Ben's experience working with Todd McShay & Mel Kiper

(51:56) Why is it so hard to draft franchise quarterbacks?

(57:56) Ben's analysis of all 32 NFL starting QBs

(1:02:41) Ben's life advice for the next guest 

Connect with Ben:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BFawkes22

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bfawkes22/

Ben's USA Today Content: https://ftw.usatoday.com/author/bfawkes22

Connect with Nik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

Ben's Articles Referenced:

Ranking all 32 QBs: https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-quarterbacks-against-the-spread-worth-ranked-backups

Ranking NBA Players Against the Spread: https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-most-valuable-players-against-the-spread

In this episode of The Victory Degree, Nik sits down with the leading voice in NFL analytics - Aaron Schatz.

Aaron graduated from Brown University with a degree in Economics in 1992. From there, Aaron worked various jobs, including stints at a couple of radio stations, until ultimately starting FootballOutsiders.com in July 2003. He also found himself as an NFL Analyst at ESPN.com and is credited for inventing numerous football analytics such as DVOA and DYAR over the course of his 20+ years in the industry. 

TIMESTAMPS:

(0:10) Aaron's background, working in radio, and his relationship with sports

(4:09) The early days of football analytics

(5:03) Why was Football Outsiders started? Why get into analytics?

(6:07) What was Aaron's early competitive advantage?

(7:57) Aaron reflects on his journey and all the things that had to go right

(10:14) Best advice for people looking to get into NFL analytics

(10:53) What is the big data bowl?

(11:52) What is the role of analytics in sports?

(13:17) How are 4th down analytics computed?

(16:22) Going for it on 4th down and winning games, correlated?

(17:22) How are the Steelers good?

(18:48) How has analytics changed the game?

(20:42) What is DVOA?

(23:23) How do you balance analytics with the eye test?

(25:30) Has the game of football become less predictable?

(27:39) What Aaron bases his pre-season Super Bowl predictions off of

(29:30) What's wrong with the Patriots?

(33:01) Brady vs Belichick, who was more important for the Patriots dynasty?

(33:47) What is being on the MVP panel like? What do you consider when voting for MVP?

(37:20) Is Mahomes the most talented QB of all time?

(41:36) How do you get selected to be on the MVP panel?

(44:23) Special teams analytics talk

(46:03) Lucky vs. predictive plays

(46:39) Aaron's prediction for the future of analytics

(48:33) How would Aaron revive baseball?

(52:11) Aaron's hottest take on the NFL season thus far

(53:50) Aaron's Super Bowl prediction

(54:23) Frameworks that have helped fuel Aaron's success

(56:43) Aaron's advice for the next guest

Follow Aaron: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASchatzNFL

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aschatznfl/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@aschatznfl

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-schatz-74b644/

FTN Fantasy: https://www.ftnfantasy.com/dvoa

Follow Nik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

In this episode of The Victory Degree, Nik sits down with podcaster, creator, & NBA enthusiast Tray Edwards. 

Tray's journey starts in Compton, California and leads him to many interesting stops along the way. Everything from working at UPS, playing college basketball at Waldorf University, being a part of an NBA entourage, going to Drake's pool party, and covering the NBA for The Athletic, Tray has a wealth of experiences and stories worth sharing. 

TIMESTAMPS: 

0:00 Intro & Tray's life in bullet points 

1:10 Growing up in Compton & childhood 

6:40 Importance of youth sports

9:01 Drake's pool party 

11:04 Hanging out with athletes & celebrities 

13:28 Life as a school teacher 

16:25 Why athletes struggle post retirement 

19:01 Life in a NBA entourage 

21:48 How do athletes deal with fame? 

26:08 Creating a viral Twitter account during the NBA bubble 

29:27 Was the NBA bubble a success? 

30:55 LeBron icing his knees in the club & NBA players hanging out after games 

32:53 Where is LeBron in Tray's GOAT rankings? 

34:26 Experience as a NBA journalist and importance of relationships with players 

38:41 Most surprising thing about athletes 

40:49 Success in the NBA: mostly genetic or result of hard work? 

44:54 Tray's frameworks for success 

48:32 What legacy does Tray want to leave? 

50:25 Tray's advice for the next guest 

Connect with Tray: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Travonne 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travonneedwards/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tray-edwards-3882268a/ 

Count The Dings Podcast Network: https://linktr.ee/countthedings 

Follow Nik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatnite97/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic

In the first episode of The Victory Degree, Nik sits down with biographer and NBA savant, Roland Lazenby. 

Roland has written more than 60 nonfiction books and was a sports journalist for decades covering teams such as the 95-96 Bulls and early 2000s Lakers. Some of his most notable work includes biographies written about MJ ("Michael Jordan: The Life"), Kobe ("Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant"), Jerry West ("The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon"), & his newest title "Magic: The Life of Earvin "Magic" Johnson."

In this conversation, Roland and Nik discuss topics such as:

• The long road to success in sports journalism
• Why the Phoenix Suns wanted to ruin the triangle offense
• What made MJ & Kobe different?
• How much work goes into writing a good sports biography?
• Difference between today's players and players from the 90s & early 2000s
• Most important takeaways from studying the lives of Kobe & MJ

Follow Roland:

Twitter

Instagram

Watch the episode on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ZVN5g6CA2vg

Follow me:

Instagram

Twitter