Couch and The Rube

We talked MSU football with MLive's Matt Wenzel at Big Ten Media Days (8:00), then talked with The Athletic's Scott Dochterman (22:00) – on Big Ten expansion, teams like MSU and Iowa competing in the new Big Ten and more. Then our favorite Big Ten season win-total over-unders (35:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on why this is actually a big season for Michigan State's basketball program, on hopes for Frankie Fidler and optimism for Jeremy Fears Jr., on Jonathan Smith's track record with the transfer portal, on the Tigers and Tarik Skubal, on Michigan football, CFB 25 video game frustrations, squirrel attacks, pillow warranties and more. Plus a couple stories worth telling.

We answered your questions – on Michigan State basketball and what happens if the Spartans lose 13 games again, on MSU football and whether the Spartans can ever be among the top few teams in the Big Ten, on Tarik Skubal and what trade packages would be worth dealing him, and more.

We opened with the latest on Michigan State basketball after Tuesday night's Moneyball Pro-Am, including thoughts on Gehrig Normand, Coen Carr and the center position. Then a good conversation with The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen on the Detroit Tigers' recent surge, the state of the organization and what might happen with Tarik Skubal (12:45). Followed by our best British Open bets and two smart college football season wins bets to make now, including on MSU (34:30). And then a fun segment on our and your most loathed and frustrating athletes of all-time (42:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on why this Michigan State basketball team has the makings of a group that's less frustrating than some others, on the surging Tigers and whether they're suddenly worth our time, on MSU football, the Lions, a fiasco at Copa America, disagreements in America and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling.

We answered your questions on MSU basketball and what we can rightfully take away from performances and comments at the Moneyball Pro-Am, on Frankie Fidler, Xavier Booker, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr and top statistical performers next season, on MSU football and whether to trust Jonathan Smith's recruiting and fair expectations for Aidan Chiles, on worst movies and best sports documentaries we've seen and more. Plus a couple stories actually worth telling.

We opened talking Michigan State basketball and substantive takeaways from Tuesday night's Moneyball Pro-Am games, including the play of Frankie Fidler and how he impacts the rest of the roster. Then a good conversation with Detroit Free Press columnist Shawn Windsor on the Pistons' big bet with Cade Cunningham, where the Lions are headed this season, the move the Tigers should make to engage fans and the hope for MSU basketball this season (29:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the Michigan State football arguments that make sense for why MSU might have a better season than expected, on Tarik Skubal and whether the Tigers should keep him, sign him to a big contract now or trade him, on the Euro and Copa America soccer championships, the state of the USMNT, bad storytelling on dates and more.

In our last show before a two-week summer vacation hiatus, we answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – Michigan State football and Jonathan Smith's recruiting philosophy, on MSU basketball and a Frankie Fidler comparison, our dream Pistons offseason, weird things couples do, pet peeves, life advice and more.

We talked what's next for the Detroit Pistons with The Athletic's James Edwards on the day Monty Williams was fired (17:00) and then dug into the uneasy direction of the Detroit Tigers with Chris Castellani (37:00).