Football Is Weird, Part Infinity
In our last Hot Takedown, the team looks at NFL chaos from this week and college basketball chaos to come. Plus: a Rabbit Hole with a curse.
Nov 09, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Hot Takedown
Hot Takedown is the weekly sports podcast from FiveThirtyEight. On it, the crew uses numbers to dissect the week in sports, taking down some silly hot takes in the process.
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Episodes
Analytics, But From The Gut
Hot Takedown discusses the World Series and a new college football playoff format. Plus: a Rabbit Hole that has all of the sports.
Nov 02, 2021•53 min
It's Anybody's World Series
Hot Takedown discusses the World Series and the Chiefs' woes. Plus: a RATPOR Rabbit Hole.
Oct 26, 2021•51 min
Why Our Model (Still) Hates The Lakers
Hot Takedown discusses our NBA predictions and the MLB playoffs. Plus: a Rabbit Hole all about first (and second) wins.
Oct 19, 2021•52 min
Championships, Random-ships
Hot Takedown discusses this last week in the NFL, MLB, WNBA and College Football and previews the NHL. Plus: A Rabbit Hole for losers.
Oct 12, 2021•49 min
The Dodgers Need A Reseed
Hot Takedown discusses the MLB playoffs and Cincinnati's CFB playoff chances. Plus: a special guest joins us for a family-themed Rabbit Hole.
Oct 05, 2021•47 min
Brady vs. Belichick: Round Whatever
Hot Takedown discusses Tom Brady vs. Bill Belichick and the chaos in college football. Plus: a Rabbit Hole on what's wrong with match play.
Sep 28, 2021•47 min
Math Nerds (And The Ravens) Win
Hot Takedown discusses the Ravens' win over the Chiefs and the WNBA playoffs. Plus: a Rabbit Hole that's quite the catch(er).
Sep 21, 2021•46 min
Actually, Week 1 Does Matter
Hot Takedown discusses Week 1 in the NFL and the latest no-hitter in MLB. Plus: a Rabbit Hole that messes with Texas.
Sep 14, 2021•51 min
How We See The NFL Season
Hot Takedown talks through our NFL predictions. Plus a WNBA at 25 Rabbit Hole.
Sep 07, 2021•50 min
Nebraska's Frost Is Melting
Hot Takedown surveys the college football landscape and the results at the Paralympics. Plus: an immaculate (inning) Rabbit Hole.
Aug 31, 2021•51 min
Turns Out 500 Is A Lot Of Home Runs
Hot Takedown discusses Miguel Cabrera's 500th home run, the Little League World Series and the fall of Topps in our all-baseball extravaganza.
Aug 24, 2021•47 min
Our Expectations Aren't Being Met By The Mets
Hot Takedown discusses the NL East and the NFL preseason. Plus an interview with author Greg Larson.
Aug 17, 2021•53 min
A Messi Situation
Hot Takedown looks back at the Tokyo Games and looks ahead to Lionel Messi at PSG. Plus: a Rabbit Hole on the comeback of the eephus pitch.
Aug 10, 2021•51 min
Simone Biles Beams Back
Hot Takedown looks at the MLB trade deadline and Olympic Gymnastics. Plus a record-setting track Rabbit Hole.
Aug 03, 2021•50 min
Big Trouble For The Big 12
Hot Takedown discusses the latest college football conference realignment and mental focus in the Olympics. Plus: a team name Rabbit Hole in honor of the Cleveland Guardians.
Jul 27, 2021•48 min
So The Olympics Are Still Happening?
Hot Takedown discusses the Tokyo Olympics and the NBA Finals. Plus: an expansion draft Rabbit Hole.
Jul 20, 2021•53 min
All NBA Finals Takes Are Possible
Hot Takedown looks back at Game 3 of the NBA Finals and the MLB All-Star break. Plus: A rant about English soccer, as a treat.
Jul 13, 2021•51 min
The Suns vs. The Bucks vs. Injuries
Hot Takedown previews the NBA Finals and the controversies ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
Jul 06, 2021•54 min
MLB Tries To Get A Grip
Hot Takedown discusses MLB's crackdown on sticky stuff and the NBA conference finals.
Jun 29, 2021•50 min
SCOTUS 9, NCAA 0
Hot Takedown discusses the implications of the Supreme Court ruling in NCAA v. Alston and the NBA Conference Finals.
Jun 22, 2021•51 min
The Enemy Of My Enemy Roots For The Islanders
Hot Takedown looks at the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Brooks-Bryson rivalry ahead of the U.S. Open.
Jun 15, 2021•49 min
A Fair Trade For Julio Jones
Hot Takedown looks at Julio Jones's move from Atlanta to Tennessee and checks in on the NBA Playoffs.
Jun 08, 2021•48 min
Everyone Lost In The French Open Fracas
Hot Takedown discusses Naomi Osaka's exit from the French Open and the NBA playoffs.
Jun 01, 2021•50 min
Can You Have Too Many No-Hitters?
Hot Takedown looks at no-hitter trend in MLB and the success of older athletes like Phil Mickelson.
May 25, 2021•50 min
Playoffs And Play-Ins
Hot Takedown looks at the start of the NHL and NBA playoffs. Plus: a Rabbit Hole that puts age before beauty in MLB.
May 18, 2021•50 min
It's Hard To Leave MLB Gracefully
Hot Takedown reflects on Albert Pujols exit and previews our WNBA predictions.
May 11, 2021•51 min
Draft Grades Are Meaningless But Also A+ Fun
Hot Takedown reviews NFL draft grades and discusses the NBA play-in tournament. Plus a Rabbit Hole about the past (and future) of tanking.
May 04, 2021•53 min
This NFL Draft Class Still Has Some QB Questions
Hot Takedown discusses the top quarterbacks, after Trevor Lawrence, in the NFL draft as well as the hype around the Knicks.
Apr 27, 2021•49 min
A Super League Super Fight
Hot Takedown looks at how a Super League would change European soccer and the state of the NBA MVP race.
Apr 20, 2021•53 min
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