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ACCESS
PICKS FOR TODAY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 |
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NCAAF |
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9/26/2020 |
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FOUND
32
GAMES |
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020Quarterback Bo Nix will look to begin building on a solid first season when No. 8 Auburn opens the season at home against No. 23 Kentucky on Saturday in SEC play. Nix set school freshman records of 2,542 passing yards and 16 touchdown passes but the belief is his ceiling is much higher. "He's a different player right now and he should be," Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said. "He's got a year of experience. He's one of our leaders. . . . I think you'll see him definitely improve. " Nix certainly took care of the ball with just six interceptions. He enters the season with a school-record streak of 191 thrown passes without an interception, which is the second-best active streak nationally behind Clemson star Trevor Lawrence (276). The Tigers (9-4, 5-3 SEC in 2019) also reached the 50-point mark four times during Nix's initial campaign. That ties for second in program history behind the six 50-point outings Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton put on the board during the school's 2010 national championship season. Kentucky (8-5, 3-5 in 2019) will have senior Terry Wilson back behind center after he missed the final 11 games of last season after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee against Eastern Michigan in the second contest of the season. Wilson isn't a big thrower but the Wildcats primarily were a run-first operation that couldn't stretch the field without him. In 2018, Wilson completed 67. 2 percent of his passes for 1,889 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Coach Mark Stoops said he sees a quarterback ready to step his game up a level after dealing with the injury hardship. "He missed the year and that hurts but he's still older and wiser and has more understanding of the offense," Stoops said. "It comes with reps. We've got to have a great week and he's got to get out there and get started. We'll ease into it with a road game at Auburn. " Stoops laughed after the easing into it with Auburn comment because he knows the opener is no easy task. The Wildcats are just 6-26-1 all-time against the Tigers and 2-12 when visiting Auburn. The trip to Auburn is the first for Kentucky since 2009 -- before Stoops was coach -- and the end result that time was a rare Wildcats' victory, 21-14. Stoops sees this contest as the beginning of an ultra-tough schedule as the COVID-19 situation led to the conference pushing back the start of the season and going to a 10-game, all-SEC slate. "We've got a challenging schedule ahead of us," Stoops said. "It's brutal. Brutally hard. I just shake my head in amazement at how difficult and how well-prepared that each and every team we play is. That's a challenge. " Capacity for Jordan-Hare Stadium has been reduced to approximately 17,500 for the opener, and Auburn students will make up the bulk of the people inside the stadium. "If you look at it, the majority of our fans will be students. " Malzahn said. "Our students are the best in the country, so I really expect those guys to bring their A-game, make it loud as possible and make it a good home-field advantage. " Auburn's top returning defender is senior middle linebacker K. J. Britt, who had 69 tackles (10 for loss) while earning first-team All-SEC honors last season. Kentucky's defense is led by senior outside linebacker Jamar "Boogie" Watson, who has 13. 5 career sacks. --Field Level Media
 Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020UCF has had plenty of success lately, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel is a large part of the winning formula. After a strong season-opening win at Georgia Tech, the sophomore signal-caller leads the No. 13 Knights (1-0) on the road again Saturday to Greenville, N. C. , where the East Carolina Pirates will kick off their season with an American Athletic Conference clash. Gabriel passed for a career-high 417 yards and four touchdowns in last weekend's 49-21 road win over the Yellow Jackets, who had been riding the momentum of a season-opening upset at Florida State. "You saw what happened last week," chided Gabriel, whose previous best was 365 yards against ECU last year. "I guess you can say we're the best team in Florida. " UCF has won 36 of 40 contests since 2017, and the last 13 games with Gabriel at the helm have been stout. Last year the left-handed Hawaiian threw for a freshman-record 3,653 yards as the Knights went 10-3 and 6-2 in the AAC. "From where he started a year ago, his comfort level and understanding how to play the game, when it's the right time . . . He finished the season that way," UCF coach Josh Heupel said of Gabriel. "He started Week 1 further ahead than he ended last season. " The Orlando team, which lost three road games by a total of seven points last year, had a pair of injuries at important positions Saturday as top wide receiver Tre Nixon and running back Greg McCrae were hurt. Replacing NFL receiver Gabriel Davis as the No. 1 wideout, Nixon was injured while hauling in his second TD pass, and senior rusher McCrae suffered a lower-leg injury. Heupel offered no update Monday on Nixon, but receivers Marlon Williams and Jaylon Robinson stepped up big in place of Nixon after Georgia Tech cut it to 28-21 early in the fourth quarter. Williams -- second with 51 receptions and third in receiving yards last year -- tallied a career-high in catches (10) and yards (154) and had two scores. Robinson, a transfer from Oklahoma, also set career marks with six catches and 105 yards. True freshman defensive end Josh Celiscar forced a fumble and pounced on it on his first career play, and later added an interception. Linemate Noah Hancock blocked a field goal. ECU struggled to a 4-8 mark overall (1-7 AAC) last season, and second-year coach Mike Houston will look to build upon a dynamic signal-caller in junior Holton Ahlers and an offense that sizzled at the end of 2019. Already with one 300-yard passing game -- Ahlers produced 313 at UCF in last year's 41-28 loss last October -- he dissected Cincinnati's potent defense in a 535-yard, four-TD performance in November's first game and passed for 498 yards and six scores in a 59-51 loss at SMU a week later. Ahlers completed 264 of 442 passes for 3,387 yards and 21 touchdowns. He connected on just 59. 7 percent of his throws and had 10 interceptions but was also the second-leading rusher with 359 yards and six touchdowns. Houston said his group is anxious to get that first big win -- and beating the Knights would fit the bill. "You always remember that first signature win," said Houston, whose victories in 2019 were over Gardner-Webb, William & Mary, Old Dominion and Connecticut. "That first big win that validates what you're doing. It'll come. I don't know when it's going to come. I'd love for it to be (Saturday). " --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020The COVID-19 pandemic didn't change the fact that No. 5 Florida looks ready to challenge for a berth in the College Football Playoff. Ole Miss, meanwhile, remains a mystery under first-year coach Lane Kiffin. The teams are set to open their seasons against each other on Saturday in an SEC matchup in Oxford, Miss. "We haven't played in forever so I'm excited for us to play," said third-year Gators coach Dan Mullen, whose team is coming off an 11-2 season. "You keep asking, 'Hey, how are we going to be this year? ' I don't know, we're going to find out on Saturday. We've kind of had a weird training camp . . . so it'll be good to see what we look like against another team and a quality SEC team. " Florida's quest to at least end Georgia's three-year reign as SEC East champion is fueled by quarterback Kyle Trask, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound senior who was selected last week as preseason first-team all-conference by the league coaches. Trask stepped in early last season for Feleipe Franks and completed 66. 9 percent of his 354 passes for 2,941 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His passing efficiency rating of 156. 1 was the best at Florida since Tim Tebow led the nation in 2009 at 164. 2. "I don't really put that added pressure on myself," Trask said. "I don't read a whole lot on social media and get into things like that. I just worry about what is going on in this building and just doing the best that I can to make sure we have the best chance of winning. " Kiffin is returning to the SEC after serving as Tennessee's head coach in 2009 and as an Alabama assistant, including offensive coordinator, from 2014-16. He was 27-13 as the head coach at Florida Atlantic in the past three seasons, including a pair of 11-3 campaigns. Kiffin might have the element of surprise in the opener, schematically, as he takes over for Matt Luke (15-21 in three seasons) and juggles two quarterbacks. Matt Corral started four games last season and is the superior passer, while speedy freshman John Rhys Plumlee started eight games, gaining favor in then-coordinator Rich Rodriguez's zone-read attack and rushing for 1,023 yards and 12 touchdowns. Ole Miss is expected to be more pass-heavy under Kiffin -- the Rebels ran the ball 63 percent of the time last season. "One of them is going to start, and there's a good chance both of them will play," Kiffin said of his quarterbacks. Sophomore running back Jerrion Ealy (722 yards, 6. 9 per carry) is another threat and is a dangerous kick returner. Kiffin said he has been looking for more consistency at quarterback through preseason practice. "It has been interceptions and usually it has been the quarterback," he said. "Sometimes maybe a tipped pass or something like that, but these are either inaccurate throws or poor decision-making. So, we've got to get back to playing like we were initially, because the first scrimmage they were both really good. " Ole Miss quarterbacks will be facing a fast Florida defense that allowed only 15. 5 points per game last season. Marco Wilson and Kaiir Elam are top-notch cornerbacks. Trask's top target is potential All-American tight end Kyle Pitts (54 catches, 649 yards, five TDs last season). Florida's biggest question on offense is the line. Projected starting center Ethan White is out because of a knee injury. Attendance at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will be capped at 25 percent, about 16,000, due to COVID-19 protocols to begin the 2020 season. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020A year ago, Oklahoma came into Kansas State soaring. The Sooners were 7-0 and ranked No. 5 before the 4-2 Wildcats jumped out to a 48-23 fourth-quarter lead before holding on through a furious comeback to finish off the upset, 48-41. This year's meeting comes much earlier in the season, as the No. 3 Sooners host Kansas State on Saturday in both teams' Big 12 openers. Oklahoma is coming off a 48-0 win over FCS Missouri State, while the Wildcats fell to Arkansas State 35-31. The Sooners haven't lost their conference opener since 2012, when Kansas State knocked them off. Kansas State hasn't started 0-2 since 1989. The teams are much different this time around than in last year's game. No one on Oklahoma's current roster had a carry, threw a pass or had more than one reception in last year's game. Kansas State experienced significant turnover on the offensive line and across the defense. "The teams are totally different," Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said. "But the guys that played in the game, I hope, have some confidence that we had some success. " Sooners defensive back Tre Norwood missed last season due to injury but said that game is definitely leaving an impression this week as Oklahoma prepares. "It was just frustrating from the standpoint that it wasn't necessarily that they beat us. We kind of beat ourselves," Norwood said. "It was one of those type things that we didn't play good as a whole. "It was obviously frustrating. " Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler had an impressive opener last week, throwing for 290 yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-17 passing. Rattler's throws looked effortless at times in his starting debut. "He's a confident thrower," Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said. "He's got really sound mechanics throwing the football and . . . if you were to draw it up, start from scratch, it kind of looks the way you think it probably should look. " The Wildcats' quarterback, Skylar Thompson, returns after scoring four touchdowns against the Sooners a year ago, though Thompson didn't practice last week during the team's bye after being banged up in the opener. Klieman said he was confident Thompson would be 100 percent this week. While Thompson might be ready to go, how many other Wildcats will is unknown. Klieman said the Wildcats were close before their season opener to one of the position-group thresholds the Big 12 set for game postponements due to coronavirus quarantines. Klieman said Tuesday the Wildcats were close again at another position. Teams that have fewer than one quarterback, seven offensive linemen or four interior defensive linemen available can elect to postpone games this season. "But in the meantime, the guys that are out there, we have to keep rolling in and you may be the backup, but the backup knows that he's one day away from being the starter, the third-team guy's one day away from being the starter," Klieman said. "So it's stressful. It's anxiety, but everybody's dealing with it. " The Sooners also went down to the wire with those thresholds for their opener, though Riley said Monday he expected Oklahoma to be able to play this week. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020No. 21 Pitt looks for rare 3-0 start vs. No. 24 LouisvilleA pair of top-25 programs clash on Saturday afternoon when No. 24 Louisville visits No. 21 Pittsburgh in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup at Heinz Field. The Panthers (2-0, 1-0 ACC) get their third straight home game to open the season after wins over Austin Peay and Syracuse. They look to go 3-0 to start a season for the first time since 2014. Pitt held the Orange to only 170 yards of total offense, their defense leading the way with the offense losing two turnovers and missing three field goals in the 21-10 win. "I still think the best football is ahead of us. I don't think our kids are particularly happy as well after just watching the tape, seeing the situations we put ourselves in," Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said Monday. "That game could have very well been 30-zip or 42-zip. " Senior quarterback Kenny Pickett is in his third year as the starter, but it's the Panthers defense that has shined the most through two wins. Pitt allows only 26 rushing yards per game after two games, the top-ranked rushing defense in the nation. Overall, the Panthers have the third-best defense in the nation in terms of yards allowed, at 154 per game. Louisville (1-1, 0-1 ACC) looks to right itself after a 47-34 loss at home to then-No. 17 Miami, which dropped the Cardinals from No. 18 to No. 24 this week. The Cardinals play their first road game of the season at Pitt. Louisville's defense gave up several big plays against the Hurricanes last Saturday, a fact not lost on coach Scott Satterfield. But he took a number of questions on the Pitt defense this week in looking ahead toward Saturday's game. "They keep it pretty simple, what they do," Satterfield said of the Pitt defense. "They're going to put pressure on your offensive line with those (front) four. They're very aggressive. The linebackers are downhill. It's not complicated, but they're very good at what they do. " Junior Malik Cunningham threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns with an interception last weekend against the Hurricanes. Two of those went to wide receiver Tutu Atwell, who caught eight passes for 114 yards. Atwell had 69 catches for 1,272 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Running back Javian Hawkins rushed for 164 yards against Miami, on 27 carries. Pitt leads the overall series between the two teams 9-8, which includes a 45-34 win over the Cardinals in Pittsburgh in 2015. The Panthers, who will don black, silver and gold uniforms and helmets that pay homage to the steel industry and its history in Pittsburgh, are 6-5 all-time against the Cardinals at home. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020Syracuse hopes to continue its history of rebounding from lackluster starts when it hosts Georgia Tech in an ACC game Saturday at the Carrier Dome in New York. The Orange (0-2, 0-2 ACC) lost to current No. 11 North Carolina and No. 21 Pittsburgh and will be challenged by the Yellow Jackets (1-1, 1-1) in game that will be played without fans. In 2013, the most recent time Syracuse opened with back-to-back losses, the Orange finished 7-6. The prior season they were 0-3 but won eight of the final 10. The last time Syracuse played two top-25 teams to open the season, the Orange lost both games but finished 10-3 in 2001. "What we need to do is we've got to have faith," Orange coach Dino Babers said. Georgia Tech has been up and down. After a 16-13 win at Florida State, the Yellow Jackets were humbled 49-21 by No. 13 UCF last week. "This loss will not faze us; promise you it won't," Yellow Jackets defensive back Juanyeh Thomas said. The Yellow Jackets were missing six players vs. the Knights, including projected starters Jordan Mason (running back), Tre Swilling (defensive back) and Curtis Ryans (defensive line). Their availability for the game Saturday was not clear as of Tuesday. Georgia Tech was dogged by mistakes against UCF as Jeff Sims threw two interceptions and the Yellow Jackets lost three fumbles. The five turnovers were the most in a game since they had five at Virginia on Oct. 26, 2013. The Yellow Jackets twice drove deep into Knights territory when the outcome was still in doubt, but Sims lost the ball at the 8 to end one series and freshman Jude Kelley's 27-yard field goal was blocked on the other. Kelley has had three field goals and an extra point blocked in two games. "There's a great group of young men, a great group of coaches, and they'll be hungry, and they'll be determined to fix their mistakes and play at a high level and continue to build this program the right way," Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins said. A bright spot for Georgia Tech is running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who collected 219 all-purpose yards, including 126 from scrimmage, in his collegiate debut vs. UCF. On his first touch he returned the opening kickoff 75 yards to the Knights' 21-yard line. Georgia Tech's leaky defense may give the moribund Syracuse offense hope after UCF racked up 660 total yards, the most recorded against a Power 5 team this season. Syracuse has shown little creativity in losing 31-6 to North Carolina and 21-10 to Pittsburgh. In the latter game, the Orange had only 171 total yards and 10 first downs while running 58 plays. One area to watch is quarterback. Rex Culpepper replaced starter Tommy DeVito periodically and threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Taj Harris for an early 10-3 lead. DeVito was completed 9 of 15 passes for just 32 yards and an interception, while Culpepper was 4 for 9 for 88 yards. "The O-line has their issues, receivers have their issues, the quarterbacks have their issues," Babers said Monday. "We're trying to eliminate one so we can focus on the next two, and then eliminate two so we can get to the one, until we can finally get going. " --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020Iowa State visits unsettled TCU for Frogs' openerTCU's season opener turned into a false start. A couple of weeks later, the Horned Frogs are eager to get on the field. TCU was scheduled to open the season against SMU on Sept. 11. Positive coronavirus tests among players and staff members forced a postponement. Barring another setback, TCU will make its debut at home this Saturday against Iowa State. Last season, the Horned Frogs finished 5-7 and lost six of their last eight games. The return of quarterback Max Duggan from a troubling health issue should provide a boost. While being tested for COVID-19 in August, Duggan was diagnosed with a heart defect that he's had since birth. He was cleared to play earlier this month and has been practicing for two weeks. As a freshman, Duggan started most of the season and finished with 2,077 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. He was intercepted 10 times and completed 53. 4 percent of his attempts. It's not guaranteed he'll play. Another sophomore, Matthew Downing, has been taking first-team reps. He made brief appearances in four games last season. "I don't know who's going to start," TCU head coach Gary Patterson said. "Downing has been the guy since we've gone. He's slung the ball really well. Right now, we have three quarterbacks (including third-stringer Stephon Brown). All of them have a part of the package in the game plan and we'll go forward with it. " No matter who takes the snaps, the quarterback will have another talented target. Patterson has big plans for wide receiver and Nebraska transfer JD Speilman. "Number one, I think he has a chance to be our starting punt returner; he's a good specialist," Patterson said. "He gives us a lot more flexibility to go to more personnel groups. He loves playing the game. He's a very positive person. . . . He's been a great addition to the TCU Horned Frogs -- it's been a lot of fun for us to have him. " The Horned Frogs didn't have much fun playing Big 12 opponent Iowa State last season. The Cyclones rolled to a 49-24 victory behind a stellar performance from quarterback Brock Purdy, who completed 19-of-24 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 102 yards and two more scores. Purdy and the Cyclones were much less efficient in the team's opener. Iowa State lost 31-14 to Louisiana on Sept. 12. Purdy was held to 145 passing yards and completed just 16-of-35 passes with no touchdowns and one interception. He rushed for just 35 yards. "There was some really good growth in some things we really put our mind to this offseason," head coach Matt Campbell told The Gazette. "But again, we struggled in some of those critical areas and at Iowa State, you're going to have to win in the margins. And if you refuse to win in the margins, it's really going to be hard for us to have success. Tough way to learn it, but again, for us it's a great opportunity to take what we learned . . . get ourselves back (during the bye week) and get ready for Big 12 football. " 'Iowa State finished 7-6 overall and 5-4 in conference play last season, including a 33-9 loss to Notre Dame in the Camping World bowl game. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
2:30 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-171
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-3.5 (-107)
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Over 54.5 (-105)
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+147
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+3.5 (-107)
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Under 54.5 (-109)
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020Coming off almost indescribably tough losses last week, Tulane and Southern Mississippi will look to take frustrations out on each other in one of the south's more underrated college football rivalries. When the Green Wave (1-1) and Golden Eagles (0-2) play on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. , they will be in bounce-back mode. Tulane blew a 24-0 halftime lead last week in a 27-24 home loss to Navy in its American Athletic Conference opener while Southern Miss lost 31-30 to visiting Louisiana Tech on a touchdown pass with 14 seconds left. All losses count the same, but last week's defeats stung both teams hard. Making it worse for the Green Wave was that they lost their first game on ABC-TV since 1980 against a team that dropped its opener 55-3 to BYU. Tulane coach Willie Fritz, who recently received a contract extension through 2027, couldn't remember one of his teams blowing a 24-point halftime lead. "When we went to halftime, we were like it's 0-0," said running back Tyjae Spears to nola. com. "But our actions didn't show that. It's tough. We expected to finish and we didn't finish. " The result could be a change at the quarterback position. Keon Howard, a senior who coincidentally transferred from Southern Miss after two seasons, completed just 10 of 25 passes against Navy for 108 yards with an interception. He is only 24 of 55 in two games for 299 yards. Freshman Michael Pratt, who almost relieved Howard last week, might get the call in this one. Meanwhile, Southern Miss made some improvements in its first game under interim coach Scotty Walden. He took over from Jay Hopson, who resigned on Labor Day after a season-opening home loss to South Alabama. Walden's play-calling and sideline energy helped the Golden Eagles establish a 17-point, second-half lead, but their defense couldn't make it stick. They allowed three scoring strikes over the game's last 21 minutes and couldn't get off the field. Louisiana Tech converted 10 of 16 third downs and two of three fourth downs, including the game-winner. Still, observers of the Southern Miss program noted a change in attitude and aggression with Walden in charge. "At the end of the day, we're going to be aggressive," Walden said. "We're going to live or die by our own sword. We're not going to play scared or timid. We're going to lay it on the line and let the chips fall where they may. " This will be the 32nd meeting of the programs, which sit just an hour and 45 minutes apart. The Golden Eagles lead the series 23-8, although the Green Wave dumped them 30-13 last year in the Armed Forces Bowl. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
3:30 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+368
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+12 (-108)
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Over 44.5 (-102)
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-490
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-12 (-106)
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Under 44.5 (-112)
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020Cincinnati is off to a good start and expectations are rising for the Bearcats. Things have also gone well early on for Army, setting up a surprising Top-25 matchup in Ohio on Saturday. The undefeated No. 14 Bearcats host the 22nd-ranked Black Knights on Saturday. While much is unique and fluid amid this uncertain 2020 college football season, each program understands the importance of its strong start. Cincinnati, where the program has 16 starters back from 2019 and is eager to build on two straight 11-win seasons, felt strongly it would make some noise in 2020. "You believe you've got a really good opportunity with the guys you got," Bearcats coach Luke Fickell said. "You're kind of anxious to see what it's really going to look like. " Fickell liked the initial viewing of his squad in a 55-20 opening win over Austin Peay last week. Desmond Ridder went 13-of-19 passing for 196 yards with two touchdowns and also ran for 57, while senior running back Gerrid Doaks scored four touchdowns as the Bearcats amassed 525 yards. They also didn't allow a touchdown until the game was well out of reach in the fourth quarter. In all, 10 different Cincinnati players carried the ball while eight caught at least one pass. Though that's not surprising during a rout of an FCS squad, it was a pleasant sign for Fickell when looking at the big picture. "I truly do believe that these guys understand the unselfishness it takes to be a great team," Fickell added. Army (2-0) has looked much better than the team that finished 5-8 in 2019. In wins over Middle Tennessee and Louisiana-Monroe, the Knights posted a 79-7 scoring advantage. As per standard, Army dominated the ground game through the option attack with 779 rushing yards. Quarterback Christian Anderson and running backs Jakobi Buchanan and Tyrell Robinson have gained 408 of those rushing yards and totaled five touchdowns. Sandon McCoy has already scored four of Army's 10 touchdowns on the ground. Defensively, Army has yielded 384 total yards against two schools that are a combined 0-4. A greater challenge is ahead this weekend against a more complete team than the two the Knights have faced to this point in 2020. Army last started 3-0 during the 2016 season. "So there's things that (we've) done really well, but there's a lot of things that we need to do better, and we're going to have to do all of those things where we're feeling like we're falling a little short, a whole lot better against Cincinnati," Army coach Jeff Monken said. "(Cincinnati) is an outstanding football team, Top-25 team, well coached, veteran guys. " Since the 1996 season, Army is 0-20 against opponents ranked in The Associated Press Top 25. The Knights are also looking to avoid a fifth consecutive road defeat. Cincinnati has lost 15 of its last 16 games against ranked teams. The lone win for the Bearcats came over then-No. 18 UCF at home last season. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
3:30 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+437
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+14 (+100)
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Over 57 (-101)
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-608
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-14 (-115)
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Under 57 (-113)
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COMING
UP
3:30 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+208
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+6.5 (-102)
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Over 50.5 (+100)
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-250
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-6.5 (-113)
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Under 50.5 (-115)
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020During Mike Gundy's tenure at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys have been known as a team that could always put up points. Stopping opponents from doing the same is typically the challenge. In one sense, last week's season-opening 16-7 win over Tulsa had to be pleasing to Gundy. On a day where the offense sputtered almost all day after losing starting quarterback Spencer Sanders with an ankle injury, Oklahoma State's defense stopped the Golden Hurricane on all 12 third down plays and yielded only 278 total yards. "The defense was fabulous," Gundy said. "Zero for 12 on third down and 1 for 4 on fourth down is really the story of the game. We gave up a wheel route for a big play, but other than that, I thought we were really good, particularly against the run. " Can the No. 15 Cowboys be really good again Saturday when they open Big 12 Conference play at home against West Virginia? The answer could reveal something about their chances to threaten for a conference title. The Mountaineers (1-0) aren't expected to contend for Big 12 supremacy. Their offense was hit-and-miss last year when they suffered a rare losing season at 5-7, appeared sharp in their opener two weeks ago, a 56-10 rout of overmatched FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky. WVU has gotten the benefit of several weeks preparation for this game. Coach Neal Brown used the season opener as a glorified scrimmage, made easier by a 42-7 halftime lead that allowed him to play everyone. "We had September 26 penciled in as to when we really had to get our guys ready," Brown said. "That's no disrespect to Eastern Kentucky, but we were not going to be in tip-top football condition on September 12 - not after missing a whole summer program. "So we really targeted the 26th to be ready to play a whole football game like we normally would. " Jarret Doege threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns in a half against Eastern Kentucky, while Alec Sinkfield collected 123 yards and two scores on just 15 carries. The Mountaineers finished with 624 yards, split almost evenly between rushing (329) and passing (295). Oklahoma State's offense never found traction against Tulsa. The Cowboys not only used three quarterbacks, but are breaking in four new starters on the line. That might explain why junior running back Chuba Hubbard, who last year rushed for 1,936 yards, managed only 93 on 27 attempts to break a string of 11 straight 100-yard games. Hubbard and his teammates could draw inspiration from the induction of former OSU great Thurman Thomas into the school's Ring of Honor. Thomas, the first inductee, will be honored at halftime. For the second straight week, the crowd at T. Boone Pickens Stadium will be limited to around 15,000 to comply with social distancing protocol. --By Bucky Dent, Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
3:30 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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|
-749
|
-17.5 (-109)
|
Over 71 (-107)
|
|
|
+513
|
+17.5 (-105)
|
Under 71 (-107)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020No. 8 Texas is confident, but head coach Tom Herman cautioned the Longhorns not to buy into their national hype before Saturday's conference opener at Texas Tech. Herman anticipates a big test in Lubbock when the Longhorns visit on Saturday in the Big 12 opener for each team. The Longhorns, 59-3 winners over UTEP in their season opener, and the Red Raiders, who held off Houston Baptist 35-33 on Sept. 12, come into Saturday's game off an open week with matching 1-0 records. From here until mid-December, neither team plays an opponent outside of the Big 12. Texas coach Tom Herman reminded his team during the bye week that the Red Raiders will be a challenge. Erase all previous results, Herman told his club. The Longhorns (1-0) dominated UTEP in their easy win and Texas Tech struggled to put away Houston Baptist, which plays in the FCS. Herman described the UTEP game as a "scrimmage. " Texas starters played about 30 snaps. Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger threw for 426 yards and tossed touchdowns to five different receivers in the first half. "We understand this is a huge, huge test on the road," Herman said. "The level of competition ratchets up significantly. Just because a team won by two points in Week 1 doesn't mean they're not capable of beating you by 21 either. Let's not jump to too many conclusions here after one game and the craziest offseason in the history of college football. We haven't done anything yet. But our guys know what they're capable of. . . I do think there's a lot of confidence in (our) locker room. " The Red Raiders (1-0) have their own impressive signal-caller in Alan Bowman, who missed the second half of last season with shoulder injury. Bowman blitzed Houston Baptist for 430 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Texas Tech's season-opening victory. Texas Tech coach Matt Wells said his team used the open week to get a little more physical in practice in preparation for the Longhorns. "I like the response of our players - we came in and really put in some good work," Wells said Monday. "We've got to make some strides this week and obviously improve a lot between game one and game two. The Red Raiders had a more than a dozen players miss the Houston Baptist game because of COVID-19. Wells expects his team to be closer to full strength against Texas. Texas Tech running back SaRodorick Thompson was arrested Monday. He was charged stemming from a June 27 drag-racing incident in which he's accused of fleeing the scene while a fellow teammate was arrested. Thompson was the Red Raiders' leading rusher last season and in Texas Tech's season-opening win. He rushed 22 times for 118 yards and two scores against Houston Baptist. Tech announced Monday that Thompson will play in Saturday's Big 12 opener against Texas. Texas holds a 52-17 advantage over Texas Tech in the all-time series between the schools, and has won two of the past three matchups. The Longhorns have won five straight times in Lubbock, last losing in 2008. Outside of last year's meeting in Austin -- a 49-24 win by Texas -- the in-state rivals have gone to the wire over the past five years. Four of those games determined by a touchdown or less. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
3:30 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+288
|
+10 (-106)
|
Over 50 (+100)
|
|
|
-364
|
-10 (-108)
|
Under 50 (-115)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMING
UP
4:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-2735
|
-27.5 (-112)
|
Over 53 (-107)
|
|
|
+1267
|
+27.5 (-103)
|
Under 53 (-107)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020No. 4 Georgia enters Saturday's season opener at Arkansas as a big favorite, and there seems to be more talk about what the Bulldogs have coming up in the following five weeks than on the trip to Fayetteville itself. After taking on the Razorbacks, who are coming off a 2-10 season and have lost 19 consecutive SEC games, coach Kirby Smart's Bulldogs are home against Auburn and Tennessee, on the road at Alabama and Kentucky, and in Jacksonville for the annual tussle with Florida. It is a stretch that likely will determine their fate in the SEC East Division, but Smart insists his team's focus is clearly on the Hogs. "It's your first opportunity to create your identity and figure out who your leaders are, figure out who we're going to be on all three phases," he said. "You don't define that moment until kids have some adversity or go out and get some butterflies. " First-year Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who spent the past four seasons as Georgia's offensive line coach, doesn't expect his former boss to be looking past his team. "Kirby Smart, I promise you, is preparing for us as hard as he would prepare for Alabama," Pittman said. "That's his makeup. " The matchup against Georgia will mark the first time that the Hogs have opened the season against an SEC foe. The Bulldogs opened last year against conference opponent Vanderbilt. The meeting with the Razorbacks, of course, came about after schedules were juggled to accommodate adjustments brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Arkansas originally was scheduled to open Sept. 5 at home against Nevada. Georgia was to open against Virginia in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game Sept. 7 in Atlanta. As members of different divisions, the Bulldogs and Hogs weren't even scheduled to meet this fall. "Never in my wildest dreams when I took the job did I think that Georgia would the first opponent. But it is," Pittman said. "I'm very thankful and grateful to have the opportunity to coach at Georgia and coach under Kirby Smart. I learned a lot, and he was very, very good to me. " The Bulldogs have several new faces from last season's 12-2 East Division champions, perhaps the most notable at quarterback. Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman was ticketed to succeed Jake Fromm but earlier this month announced he was opting out to prepare for the NFL draft. Southern California transfer JT Daniels and redshirt freshman D'Wan Mathis are ticketed to play against Arkansas, though when the week began Daniels was still awaiting medical clearance after recovering from last year's knee injury. "We hope JT will be cleared by Saturday, officially," Smart said. The Razorbacks also will have a new quarterback with Florida transfer Feleipe Franks taking over. Franks was 0-2 against Georgia as a Gator but a knee injury sidelined him for last year's meeting. "I feel like we're going to be able to do some things in the passing game," Pittman said. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
4:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+163
|
+4.5 (-111)
|
Over 45.5 (-104)
|
|
|
-191
|
-4.5 (-103)
|
Under 45.5 (-111)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020After 12 weeks of workouts and several false starts on the schedule due to COVID-19 chaos, Virginia hopes to finally open its season Saturday against Duke in an Atlantic Coast Conference game in Charlottesville, Va. The Blue Devils (0-2, 0-2 ACC) have already played two games against Notre Dame and Boston College, whereas the Cavaliers' previously plotted contests against Georgia, VMI and Virginia Tech were all canceled or postponed. "It's a significant concern," Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall said Monday when asked about the discrepancy in real-game experience. "Playing is really the only real feedback and accurate feedback that you get. And after a game, it becomes so much clearer where your team stands, where your position groups are, and who's capable and consistent and finishing plays. " ". . . I would just say that we have more unknowns than Duke has unknowns. But that is just how it is. " The leading unknown for Virginia is redshirt sophomore quarterback Brennan Armstrong, making his first career start following the departure of Bryce Perkins. Perkins guided the Cavaliers to a 9-5 record, their first ACC Coastal Division title and a berth in the Orange Bowl last season. Armstrong completed 17 of 25 passes for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in 11 appearances over the past two seasons. The opportunity to get his feet wet against the Blue Devils can only help Armstrong, with a trip to No. 1 Clemson looming for Virginia on Oct. 3. The Tigers thrashed the Cavaliers 62-17 in the ACC Championship game last season. Not that Virginia is looking past the Duke defense, which already has nine sacks through two games. Junior defensive end Victor Dimukeje had 3. 5 sacks in Saturday's 26-6 loss to Boston College, tied for the second most in school history in a single game. "It wasn't me. It was my teammates doing a great job taking on double teams, (providing) pressure off the other edge," Dimukeje said. "It wasn't just me. It was the coaches making great calls. It was a team effort. I was just the one who ended up making the plays. " The Blue Devils turned the ball over five times against the Eagles, including four times in the red zone and a pair of interceptions by redshirt junior quarterback Chase Brice. Brice, who backed up Trevor Lawrence at Clemson the past two seasons, has completed only 54. 4 percent of his passes for 476 yards with no touchdowns yet this season. He does have one rushing score. "We have to take care of the ball," Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. "Chase, I've got to put him in better positions. I think the temptation that he's got to resist is trying to force plays. He's a playmaker, but you can't force plays. " Virginia has won the last five meetings with Duke, including a lopsided 48-14 win last season in Charlottesville. Neither school reported injuries this week. Blue Devils cornerback Mark Gilbert, who missed nearly two full years with a hip injury, recorded his first interception since 2017 last weekend against Boston College. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
6:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+675
|
+20.5 (-105)
|
Over 56.5 (-112)
|
|
|
-1081
|
-20.5 (-109)
|
Under 56.5 (-102)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020South Florida will visit Florida Atlantic in a nonconference game Saturday in Boca Raton, Fla. , one week after the teams faced adversity of different types. USF suffered the worst loss in program history with a 52-0 trouncing at then-No. 7 Notre Dame. At least the Bulls (1-1) reached the field. The Owls' scheduled season opener at Georgia Southern was postponed after FAU players tested positive for COVID-19. FAU head coach Willie Taggart, who replaced Lane Kiffin in December, said about 25 players would have been unable to play last week. On Monday, Taggart told media members he remained optimistic this week's game would be played. "It's kind of like any other week -- we prepare the guys that we have here and get ready for South Florida," said Taggart, who will face USF for the first time since coaching the Bulls from 2013-16. "With COVID, there are no certainties each and every week. You have to prepare with the guys you have. And as you prepare, there's no guarantee they'll still be there on Saturday. " FAU entered the season having lost 15 starters from last year's 11-3 team. The most glaring offensive departure was that of quarterback Chris Robison, who passed for 3,701 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. Redshirt junior Nick Tronti, a dual threat, has been tabbed to start. Freshman Willie Taggart Jr. is among the QBs. Junior Malcolm Davidson, who rushed for 711 yards (7. 0 yards per carry) last season, headlines a veteran group of runners. Redshirt senior John Mitchell leads a receiving corps that includes three graduate transfers: receivers TJ Chase (Clemson) and Aaron Young (Duke), and tight end Michael Irvin II (Miami). Coordinator Jim Leavitt, USF head coach 1997-2009, coaches an Owls defense that lost 11 of its top 13 tacklers from last season. The top returnees include senior cornerback Zyon Gilbert and redshirt junior linebacker Ahman Ross, who moved from safety. South Florida, which opened the season beating The Citadel 27-6, will be aiming to improve on both sides of the ball after being outgained 429-231 at Notre Dame. Head coach Jeff Scott is in his first season after five years as Clemson's co-offensive coordinator. "They're a fast football team. They can really run on both sides of the ball," Taggart said. "They're very aggressive, especially on defense. " Sophomore Jordan McCloud was the most productive (8 of 14, 64 yards) of three Bulls quarterbacks who played vs. Notre Dame. Alcorn State transfer Noah Johnson also got significant time, and freshman Katravis Marsh played, too. North Carolina transfer Cade Fortin could return after being unavailable the first two games. "It's still open," Scott said of the QB competition on the USF football weekly radio show. "Overall, we have just not been consistent enough at the quarterback or wide receiver position -- that's the most frustrating thing for me through two games. "I really believe what I see in practice, that we have the ability to be explosive through the air. " Sophomore Johnny Ford (six carries, 70 yards) led the Bulls' ground attack last week. Defensively, the Bulls sport a secondary that returns four 2019 starters: senior cornerbacks KJ Sails and Mike Hampton and junior safeties Nick Roberts and Bentlee Sanders. The USF defensive line has had to replace ends Greg Reaves and Kirk Livingstone, who were stalwarts the past three seasons. "We just try to communicate efficiently and go in with the mindset of grinding it out every single day," said defensive tackle Thad Mangum, a graduate transfer from Wofford. "We know we have to learn and continue to grow each day to get better and better so we're the anchor of the team. " --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Sep 22, 2020South Florida will visit Florida Atlantic in a nonconference game Saturday in Boca Raton, Fla. , one week after the teams faced adversity of different types. USF suffered the worst loss in program history with a 52-0 trouncing at then-No. 7 Notre Dame. At least the Bulls (1-1) reached the field. The Owls' scheduled season opener at Georgia Southern was postponed after FAU players tested positive for COVID-19. FAU head coach Willie Taggart, who replaced Lane Kiffin in December, said about 25 players would have been unable to play last week. On Monday, Taggart told media members he remained optimistic this week's game would be played. "It's kind of like any other week -- we prepare the guys that we have here and get ready for South Florida," said Taggart, who will face USF for the first time since coaching the Bulls from 2013-16. "With COVID, there are no certainties each and every week. You have to prepare with the guys you have. And as you prepare, there's no guarantee they'll still be there on Saturday. " FAU entered the season having lost 15 starters from last year's 11-3 team. The most glaring offensive departure was that of quarterback Chris Robison, who passed for 3,701 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. Redshirt junior Nick Tronti, a dual threat, has been tabbed to start. Freshman Willie Taggart Jr. is among the QBs. Junior Malcolm Davidson, who rushed for 711 yards (7. 0 yards per carry) last season, headlines a veteran group of runners. Redshirt senior John Mitchell leads a receiving corps that includes three graduate transfers: receivers TJ Chase (Clemson) and Aaron Young (Duke), and tight end Michael Irvin II (Miami). Coordinator Jim Leavitt, USF head coach 1997-2009, coaches an Owls defense that lost 11 of its top 13 tacklers from last season. The top returnees include senior cornerback Zyon Gilbert and redshirt junior linebacker Ahman Ross, who moved from safety. South Florida, which opened the season beating The Citadel 27-6, will be aiming to improve on both sides of the ball after being outgained 429-231 at Notre Dame. Head coach Jeff Scott is in his first season after five years as Clemson's co-offensive coordinator. "They're a fast football team. They can really run on both sides of the ball," Taggart said. "They're very aggressive, especially on defense. " Sophomore Jordan McCloud was the most productive (8 of 14, 64 yards) of three Bulls quarterbacks who played vs. Notre Dame. Alcorn State transfer Noah Johnson also got significant time, and freshman Katravis Marsh played, too. North Carolina transfer Cade Fortin could return after being unavailable the first two games. "It's still open," Scott said of the QB competition on the USF football weekly radio show. "Overall, we have just not been consistent enough at the quarterback or wide receiver position -- that's the most frustrating thing for me through two games. "I really believe what I see in practice, that we have the ability to be explosive through the air. " Sophomore Johnny Ford (six carries, 70 yards) led the Bulls' ground attack last week. Defensively, the Bulls sport a secondary that returns four 2019 starters: senior cornerbacks KJ Sails and Mike Hampton and junior safeties Nick Roberts and Bentlee Sanders. The USF defensive line has had to replace ends Greg Reaves and Kirk Livingstone, who were stalwarts the past three seasons. "We just try to communicate efficiently and go in with the mindset of grinding it out every single day," said defensive tackle Thad Mangum, a graduate transfer from Wofford. "We know we have to learn and continue to grow each day to get better and better so we're the anchor of the team. " --Field Level Media
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020Houston has been champing at the bit to get on the field and will finally get the chance Saturday when it hosts North Texas in a nonconference game. While the Mean Green (1-1) already have two games on their resume, the Cougars are preparing for the delayed opening of their truncated 2020 campaign. Houston has been affected by multiple schedule changes, with its Sept. 3 season opener against Rice postponed in August and its Sept. 12 matchup at Washington State canceled in July. Then Houston's American Athletic Conference matchup at Memphis (set for Sept. 18) was postponed on Sept. 12. The Cougars then agreed to a road matchup at Baylor on Sept. 19, but that contest was nixed on Sept. 18 due to COVID-19 issues within Baylor's program. "It (hasn't been) difficult -- we've had four games canceled, so we're kind of used to that," Houston coach Dana Holgorsen said Monday. "It's okay to be upset, but you can't hang on to it like that. We buried it yesterday. "There's a lot ahead of us, and we're ready. We will stay ready. It's game week and we are in there prepping for North Texas. " Houston returns its 2019 statistical leaders in passing yards and touchdowns (Clayton Tune), rushing yards (Kyle Porter), receiving yards and touchdowns (Marquez Stevenson), tackles (Grant Stuard), interceptions (Damarion Williams) and field goals made (Dalton Witherspoon). North Texas plays its second consecutive game against an AAC opponent after losing at home to SMU 65-35 on Saturday night. Austin Aune passed for 276 yards and two touchdowns and added another score on the ground for UNT. Oscar Adaway III rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries while Jaelon Darden racked up 66 yards and two TDs receiving. The Mean Green had 517 yards of total offense in the loss. Their defense was behind the eight-ball from the start against SMU. Starting linebackers KD Davis and Tyreke Davis were ruled out for medical reasons just before kickoff, and starting safety Keelan Crosby went down with an injury on UNT's first defensive play of the game. North Texas allowed 710 yards in the loss to SMU and gave up scores on the Mustangs' first four possessions and six of seven during one span that began in the second quarter. "It certainly doesn't help to miss your two best players on defense," North Texas coach Seth Littrell said. "But we're not making excuses. You just have to get better. We just have to settle into our system and figure out what we're good and not good at. " Houston and North Texas are meeting for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in a decade. The Cougars lead the all-time series 8-7, have won five consecutive meetings in the series and scored 40-plus points in their last three games versus the Mean Green. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Sep 22, 2020Houston has been champing at the bit to get on the field and will finally get the chance Saturday when it hosts North Texas in a nonconference game. While the Mean Green (1-1) already have two games on their resume, the Cougars are preparing for the delayed opening of their truncated 2020 campaign. Houston has been affected by multiple schedule changes, with its Sept. 3 season opener against Rice postponed in August and its Sept. 12 matchup at Washington State canceled in July. Then Houston's American Athletic Conference matchup at Memphis (set for Sept. 18) was postponed on Sept. 12. The Cougars then agreed to a road matchup at Baylor on Sept. 19, but that contest was nixed on Sept. 18 due to COVID-19 issues within Baylor's program. "It (hasn't been) difficult -- we've had four games canceled, so we're kind of used to that," Houston coach Dana Holgorsen said Monday. "It's okay to be upset, but you can't hang on to it like that. We buried it yesterday. "There's a lot ahead of us, and we're ready. We will stay ready. It's game week and we are in there prepping for North Texas. " Houston returns its 2019 statistical leaders in passing yards and touchdowns (Clayton Tune), rushing yards (Kyle Porter), receiving yards and touchdowns (Marquez Stevenson), tackles (Grant Stuard), interceptions (Damarion Williams) and field goals made (Dalton Witherspoon). North Texas plays its second consecutive game against an AAC opponent after losing at home to SMU 65-35 on Saturday night. Austin Aune passed for 276 yards and two touchdowns and added another score on the ground for UNT. Oscar Adaway III rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries while Jaelon Darden racked up 66 yards and two TDs receiving. The Mean Green had 517 yards of total offense in the loss. Their defense was behind the eight-ball from the start against SMU. Starting linebackers KD Davis and Tyreke Davis were ruled out for medical reasons just before kickoff, and starting safety Keelan Crosby went down with an injury on UNT's first defensive play of the game. North Texas allowed 710 yards in the loss to SMU and gave up scores on the Mustangs' first four possessions and six of seven during one span that began in the second quarter. "It certainly doesn't help to miss your two best players on defense," North Texas coach Seth Littrell said. "But we're not making excuses. You just have to get better. We just have to settle into our system and figure out what we're good and not good at. " Houston and North Texas are meeting for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in a decade. The Cougars lead the all-time series 8-7, have won five consecutive meetings in the series and scored 40-plus points in their last three games versus the Mean Green. --Field Level Media
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-2940
|
-29 (-103)
|
Over 55.5 (-107)
|
|
|
+1327
|
+29 (-111)
|
Under 55.5 (-107)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020Nick Saban was hired at Alabama in 2007, and the Crimson Tide hasn't gone three years in a row without a title since his arrival as head coach. The No. 2 Crimson Tide are chasing a sixth title under Saban this season and open their 10-game all-SEC regular-season slate on the road Saturday night against Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Alabama hasn't lost a season opener since 2001 and is 13-0 in "week 1" games under Saban. Unranked Missouri, a four-touchdown underdog, is entering the game short-handed, but not as much as originally feared. It had been reported previously that 12 Missouri players would not play after either testing positive for COVID-19 or being contact traced to a player who did. On Tuesday, first-year coach Eliah Drinkwitz said that inconclusive tests that came back negative would allow five of those players to compete. The identities of the players involved were not disclosed. Missouri defensive lineman Chris Daniels and wide receiver Maurice Massey each opted out recently. According to ESPN, the Tigers still have 69 scholarship players available, which is above the minimum threshold of 53 listed in the SEC's guidelines for postponements and cancellations. "We just adjust our roster and this is who's available," Drinkwitz said. "We've adjusted the way we practice. " Alabama ranked second in the nation in scoring (47. 2 points per game) and third in passing yards per game (342. 2) in 2019. Saban's choice for his starting quarterback, redshirt junior Mac Jones, started four games last year when Tua Tagovailoa was injured and threw for 1,503 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions with a 68. 8 completion percentage and a 186. 8 passer rating. "We've just got to keep working as a team and focus on this upcoming game because you've got to go in there and execute and do your job, and that's for everybody, not just the starting quarterback," Jones said. Missouri lost a potential starting quarterback recently when redshirt junior Taylor Powell decided to transfer. Drinkwitz said he won't name a starter ahead of Saturday's game, but redshirt junior Shawn Robinson and redshirt freshman Connor Bazelak are believed to be the frontrunners. Robinson, a transfer from TCU, started seven games in 2018 and passed for 1,334 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. Bazelak completed 15 of 21 passes for 144 yards in three games last year. "The person who's going to play us first has no idea if they're going to scout Washington tape, UAB tape, TCU tape, App State tape, N. C. State tape," Drinkwitz said. "They don't know which quarterback to prepare for. Whether they're going to watch high school tape for a kid, watch the Arkansas game from last year, the Georgia game from last year or a TCU game from two years ago. So, poor GAs and QCs. " Missouri ranked No. 14 in total defense last year and still sports a formidable secondary led by senior safeties Tyree Gillespie and Joshuah Bledsoe. Alabama's top offensive playmakers include receivers Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, and its defense is led by cornerback Patrick Surtain II and linebacker Dylan Moses -- all of whom are projected 2021 first-rounders. Moses hopes to bounce back after missing the 2019 season with a torn ACL. "One of the reasons it was so important to us is for the players to be able to play and come back and create value for themselves," Saban said. "For Dylan, even more important to be able to gain confidence and show people he's healthy and the same kind of player or better than before. " --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:30 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+522
|
+17.5 (-112)
|
Over 62 (+102)
|
|
|
-766
|
-17.5 (-102)
|
Under 62 (-117)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020After a few false starts, the Baylor Bears open their 2020 season on Saturday by hosting the Kansas Jayhawks in a Big 12 Conference contest in Waco, Texas. Baylor was originally set to open its revamped schedule on Sept. 12 against Louisiana Tech, but the game was canceled on Sept. 8 due to a Louisiana Tech COVID-19 outbreak. An impromptu matchup with Houston was added that same week, set for Sept. 19, to replace Houston's canceled game with Memphis. But Baylor was unable to meet the Big 12 threshold of available players, announcing another cancellation a day prior to the scheduled date. The conference requires its members to have at least 53 players total, with a minimum of one quarterback, seven offensive linemen and four interior defensive linemen. Max Olson of The Athletic reported Tuesday that Baylor lacked a sufficient offensive line depth chart due to contact tracing. "It was a hard Friday," said Baylor coach Dave Aranda on Monday. "It was a lot of emotion in that call. It left me with a great appreciation of our guys and just the character that they show continually. " Aranda added that despite the disappointment, seeing the "character" was important in his ongoing feeling-out process as a first-year head coach. Aranda was hired to replace Matt Rhule, now with the NFL's Carolina Panthers. "Generally, you get to know your people playing games," Aranda said. "On the field, you can get a read of them and the type of character they have, and how they handle the good and the bad. " Of those in McLane Stadium on Saturday, the one with whom Aranda has spent the most time on the field will be on the opposite sideline. Kansas head coach Les Miles hired Aranda as defensive coordinator at LSU in 2016. Miles was dismissed four games into that season, and Aranda remained for four seasons, culminating with last season's national championship. Kansas (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) hired Miles ahead of the 2019 season aiming to turn around a staggering run of misfortune. The Jayhawks have not finished over . 500 since 2008, and last won more than three games in 2009. Year 2 of the Miles era opened inauspiciously with a 38-23 loss to Coastal Carolina on Sept. 12. The Jayhawks dug an early hole, falling behind 28-3 in the first half, and never recovered. "Offensively, we have to start fast," Miles said Monday. "It's pretty simple. " Miles also pointed to Kansas' three turnovers, which Coastal Carolina converted into 21 points. Kansas used three quarterbacks in the loss: Miles Kendrick, who passed for two touchdowns, Thomas MacVittie and Jalon Daniels. "We'd like to move in the direction of one (quarterback), but we want to make sure that one is the best one," Miles said. "I don't think that's necessarily an easy decision. " The Jayhawks seek immediate offensive improvements against a Baylor defense that last season ranked No. 19 in the country in points allowed, No. 7 in sacks and second in turnovers forced. While this Bears group features new faces playing for a new staff, Aranda's LSU defense was similarly outstanding with 37 sacks and 22 turnovers forced. Aranda said he anticipates Kansas will "test a 3-4 front with their run game. " Jayhawks ball-carriers Velton Gardner and Pooka Williams combined for 148 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown in Week 1. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:30 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+316
|
+10.5 (-102)
|
Over 54 (-101)
|
|
|
-392
|
-10.5 (-110)
|
Under 54 (-114)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020Unranked Florida State heads into Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night trying to beat the Miami Hurricanes for the first time in four years, but the Seminoles will be unranked, playing without their head coach, and trying to impress in the storied rivalry as 10-point underdogs to the nation's 12th-ranked team. Miami is already 2-0 and looking for a second consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference victory after going on the road and drilling 18th-ranked Louisville last week 47-34. Florida State (0-1, 0-1 ACC) will be without first-year coach Mike Norvell, who tested positive for COVID-19, and will be away from the team at least through Monday. Norvell, who led Memphis to a 12-1 record and a berth in the 2019 Cotton Bowl before leaving for Tallahassee, will participate fully in pregame preparations, albeit remotely. Once the game starts, however, he will be watching from home. "It hurts not being able to be around our guys for 10 days," Norvell said of the quarantine period. "It's extremely disappointing. This is one of the greatest rivalries in college football. " Norvell previously had missed not so much as a practice, but he'll be replaced Saturday by Chris Thomsen, who was Abilene Christian's head coach from 2005 to 2011. Thomsen, a low-key type who is normally in the press box as the tight ends coach, will now be on the field. Norvell normally calls FSU's plays, but that duty now falls to Kenny Dillingham. Florida State, after losing its home opener to Georgia Tech 16-13, was idle last weekend. FSU scored 10 points on its first two drives before going cold. The Seminoles lost two fumbles (both by quarterback James Blackman), had an interception, and turned the ball over on downs twice during their remaining possessions. For Miami (2-0, 1-0 ACC) and second-year coach Manny Diaz, everything is clicking so far, as he and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee have the Hurricanes playing up-tempo ball. Against Louisville, Miami scored on a pair of 75-yard plays -- one on the ground and one in the air -- during which Lashlee set up the defense, using an identical formation that previously had gone elsewhere. "We knew these plays were going to be open," Miami tight end Brevin Jordan said. "We were just waiting for the right time to call them. " Miami, which disappointed last season at 6-7, has been revitalized by several transfers, including quarterback D'Eriq King, kicker Jose Borregales and defensive ends Quincy Roche and Jaelan Phillips. King has emerged as a team leader as a dual-threat player. In a 31-14 season-opening win over UAB, King ran for 83 yards and a TD. Against Louisville, he showed off his arm, passing for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Borregales has been a revelation, scoring 17 points against Louisville, including field goals of 57 and 48 yards. The Hurricanes certainly could have used his leg last season, when their kickers missed eight of their 20 field goal attempts as Miami lost five games by a touchdown or less. Roche, meantime, has brought a speed rush to the 'Canes, after recording 13 sacks for Temple last season. Phillips, a former UCLA Bruin, has already shown to be been effective against both the run and pass this season in the Miami defense. The other big improvement for Miami is its offensive line, which allowed just three sacks in two games under new line coach Garin Justice. Last year, Miami quarterbacks were sacked 51 times. FSU's most dangerous weapon is wide receiver Tamorrion Terry. The 6-4, 210-pound junior. He caught 60 passes last year for 1,188 yards and nine TDs. But with Cam Akers off to the NFL, the Seminoles' running game appears to be diminished. Texas A&M transfer Jashaun Corbin was held to 18 yards on six carries against Georgia Tech, although he caught eight passes for 55 yards. Injuries have hurt FSU, and three starters are questionable for Miami, affecting the Seminoles offensive line, defensive line and secondary. One key factor, potentially, is the Seminoles' ability to block kicks. Against Georgia Tech, they blocked three kicks -- two field goals, both by All-American defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, and an extra point. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:30 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-183
|
-4 (-109)
|
Over 44.5 (-105)
|
|
|
+160
|
+4 (-103)
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Under 44.5 (-109)
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020With great anticipation, a most unusual late-September season opener awaits No. 16 Tennessee and South Carolina on Saturday. No. 16 Tennessee is set to begin the season with lots of familiar parts in place. South Carolina is trying out some newcomers of note on its depth chart. There has been little familiar for either side in the buildup to a Southeastern Conference game Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S. C. The Vols are not only in the national rankings but hold a decided leadership edge they consider a major advantage on the road. "I feel like we've got really good leadership all over our team," said Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt, whose team was 8-5 a year ago in his second season. "There's lots of unknowns until you go out there and play together. I think there's a willingness there to fight and find a way. " Because of a strong finish to 2019, the Volunteers enter the season with glowing expectations. They hold a six-game winning streak, including four straight SEC victories, entering Saturday. The winning streak began last Oct. 26 with a 41-21 romp past South Carolina. The Gamecocks don't have that type of momentum after a 4-8 season, including losses in their last three outings. So there have been plenty of roster questions. "You've got to have a lot of depth," South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said. "We're headed into the unknown as far as the season is concerned, so we've got to create depth on our football team and have a bunch of guys ready to go. " The Gamecocks announced Colorado State graduate transfer Collin Hill as their starting quarterback. Hill beat out 19-year-old Ryan Hilinski, who started the final 11 games of the 2019 season as a true freshman. Muschamp said there "wasn't any one thing. It was the totality of the competition. " Hill played in 18 games (23 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions) with 11 starts at CSU. But in some ways, Hill was way ahead of the curve at South Carolina. First-year Gamecocks offensive coordinator Mike Bobo was Colorado State's head coach for the past five seasons. South Carolina could be breaking in a new running back. ZaQuandre White, a transfer from Iowa Western Community College, drew rave reviews and looked strong in workouts. He seems to be shaking off a hamstring ailment from earlier during preseason camp. Kevin Harris has been the most consistent running back, Muschamp said, though he missed the final scrimmage to attend his sister's wedding. South Carolina's defense created concerns in September scrimmages. Muschamp said mistakes in the secondary in particular need to be cleaned up. Tennessee has a clearer picture at the outset. Jarrett Guarantano is the first-string quarterback. He threw two touchdown passes against the Gamecocks last year and the Vols are in their second season under offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. "I would suspect that (Guarantano) has got to have a lot more confidence heading into this season, as opposed to the previous season because the terminology is the same and the people around him are the same," Pruitt said. "I feel like he has demonstrated that at practice. " Tennessee has won its last three games away from home. With only about 20,000 fans to be permitted for this game because of the coronavirus pandemic, South Carolina's homefield advantage will be reduced. "We're not playing in front of 80,000 people this year," Muschamp said. "You can't rely on anything externally to get you excited. It has to come from within. " The only other opener between the teams came with a 0-0 tie in 1942 in Columbia, also played on Sept. 26. Tennessee leads the series by 26-10-2, including a 9-7-2 record in Columbia. This is Tennessee's latest date for a season opener since 1962, and it's the first time the Volunteers begin with an SEC game since 1988. --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:30 PM EST |
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|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+1993
|
+31 (-105)
|
Over 45.5 (-109)
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OFF
|
-31 (-109)
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Under 45.5 (-105)
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|
COMING
UP
8:00 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+196
|
+6.5 (-102)
|
Over 57.5 (-107)
|
|
|
-234
|
-6.5 (-112)
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Under 57.5 (-107)
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020North Carolina State and Virginia Tech were delayed but the ACC matchup will not be denied. Scheduled to open the season in the head-to-head conference meeting on Sept. 12, the Wolfpack and Hokies were postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests and the quarantining of student-athletes at N. C. State. Two weeks after that originally scheduled meeting, the Wolfpack and Hokies are set to hook up Saturday for a nighttime kickoff at Virginia Tech. The meeting is the first between these programs since 2015. The host Hokies finally arrive at their season opener after two delays. Not only was Virginia Tech's Sept. 12 game against N. C. State postponed for COVID-19 reasons, the Sept. 19 game versus Virginia -- since rescheduled for Dec. 12 -- was also scratched. The Hokies are back on the field for gameday for the first time since losing two games in a row to end 2019 -- at rival Virginia and then to Kentucky in the Belk Bowl. Virginia Tech junior quarterback Hendon Hooker, who accounted for 1,911 yards and 18 total touchdowns in eight starts last year, takes the lead for the Hokies in 2020. He threw two interceptions, both coming in the loss to Virginia, last season and has the luxury of being protected by an offensive line returning all five starters, including all-ACC players Christian Darrisaw and Lecitus Smith. Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente said he's been pleased with how resilient his players have been through the offseason and having to deal with two postponements, and is cautiously optimistic the routine of a season can finally be established this week. "We will not have a full roster," Fuente said. "I'm hoping we are able to play. We still have more tests this week. We have one on Wednesday and one on Friday. We are taking it day by day. " On the other side, it will be the second game of the season for N. C. State, which is coming off a 45-42 home win over Wake Forest last weekend. Coming off a 4-8 season in 2019, getting a season-opening win was a good morale boost for the Wolfpack heading into their trip to Blacksburg. N. C. State head coach Dave Doeren unveiled a surprise right before the Wake Forest game, naming junior Bailey Hockman as the team's starting quarterback for the game instead of sophomore Devin Leary, who was named the starter going into spring practice. Hockman went 16-of-23 passing for 191 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He was aided by a strong running game. Junior Ricky Person rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, while sophomore Zonovan Knight ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries for N. C. State. Hockman was listed as the starter earlier in the week on the team's depth chart, but Doeren wants Leary to be ready for action also. "We're going to need both of them," Doeren said. "We're one injury or COVID test away from having a different player at every position. I'm proud of Bailey and what he did. Devin did practice last week and he'll practice this week and continue to get better. " --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:00 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
OFF
|
+11 (-115)
|
Over 55 (-115)
|
|
|
OFF
|
-11 (-115)
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Under 55 (-115)
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 22, 2020No. 18 BYU returns to action Saturday night after a layoff of almost three weeks while dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. The Cougars host Troy in a nonconference game in Provo, Utah. The Cougars (1-0) opened their season with a stunningly lopsided 55-3 victory at Navy on Labor Day, bolting to a 48-0 third-quarter lead while rolling up 580 total yards, including 301 rushing. After a bye week, the Cougars were supposed to host Army last Saturday but that contest was postponed after the Salt Lake Tribune reported about 10 players had tested positive for COVID-19 and as many as 22 had to be quarantined. Some practices were canceled while others were broken into groups of 10 or fewer players. BYU coach Kalani Sitake said Monday that "everyone is still in play" to see action against Troy (1-0), which comes in off an impressive 47-14 victory at Middle Tennessee last Saturday. "We still have a few more tests to go this week, but everyone is still in play right now as we approach the game," Sitake said. "What's difficult is when guys test positive, their whole apartment has to shut down and quarantine. Aside from keeping our masks on even at home, I don't think anything could have been done differently other than moving guys to studio apartments at the beginning of the year. " One player Sitake hopes he doesn't have to worry about missing the game is quarterback Zach Wilson. Wilson earned the Manning Quarterback of the Week Award for his performance against the Midshipmen, completing 13 of 18 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He revealed to reporters on Monday that he had contracted COVID-19 in late June. According to the Center for Disease Control, the likelihood of reinfection is "not yet understood," but it has been only rarely clearly identified. "I think I got it from me and some of my buddies having a little neighborhood, we had a bunch of football guys over and we were just having a little gambling, you know? " Wilson said. "Having some fun. And somehow a bunch of us got it. " Wilson said he experienced symptoms for about four days. "For me, and the other guys that had it, it was just like a cold," he said. "Minor symptoms. Just tired, fatigued, all that kind of stuff. So, for us, it was nothing crazy. " The long hiatus since the win at Navy shouldn't be a problem according to Wilson. "I feel like those three weeks went by pretty quick," Wilson said. "We were really only off from practice last week and we still had our groups to go and throw with," he said. "So, I still got exactly what I get done in practice except the live reps of going against the defense. Once we get that in this week, I think the guys are going to be ready to go. " Wilson can also lean on an experienced BYU offensive line that has combined for 120 starts and dominated Navy up front. Sophomore Tyler Allgeier gained 132 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, while junior Lopini Katoa carried 10 times for 80 yards and two more touchdowns. Troy also romped to an easy win in its opener, scoring 40 unanswered points in its victory over former Sun Belt rival Middle Tennessee. Sophomore quarterback Gunnar Watson led the Trojans by completing 26 of 37 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns. "We were excited to get off to a good start," Troy coach Chip Lindsey said. "It was probably the most complete game we've played in all three phases since I've been here. . . . We're excited for this opportunity to play a storied program like BYU. " --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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NBA |
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|
9/26/2020 |
|
FOUND
1
GAME |
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|
COMING
UP
9:05 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+185
|
+5.5 (-103)
|
Over 214.5 (-110)
|
|
|
-209
|
-5.5 (-107)
|
Under 214.5 (+100)
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|
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GAME PREVIEW
Sep 25, 2020For the third consecutive series in the NBA playoffs, the Denver Nuggets are down 3-1 and they will try to keep their season alive when they face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday near Orlando.The Lakers put the Nuggets on the brink of elimination in a 114-108 victory on Thursday. Anthony Davis scored 34 points, while LeBron James had 26 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers, who can advance to their first NBA finals in 10 years.The last time the Lakers reached the title game, Kobe Bryant led them to the championship with a Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics in 2010.Against the Nuggets, Davis said the Lakers' ability to execute on both ends of the floor was the difference."We played great down the stretch; we played great overall," Davis said. "There's still some things we've got to fix if we want to put this thing away." Davis played through an ankle injury in the second half. He believes treatment will allow him to be ready for Saturday."I'm good enough to play," Davis said. "I rolled it pretty bad but not too bad. I'll be fine." Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 13 points and Dwight Howard, who started for the first time in this postseason, contributed 12 points and 11 boards, six of those on the offensive end for Los Angeles. Rajon Rondo also delivered a solid outing with 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds, including one late that extended a Lakers' possession.Jamal Murray had 32 points and eight assists for the Nuggets, who rallied from 3-1 deficits in their previous series wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz. Murray converted 12 of 20 shots from the floor and hit several acrobatic shots to keep the Nuggets close.Jerami Grant added 17 points, Nikola Jokic, who was limited by foul trouble, collected 16 points and seven rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. had 13 points and eight boards. Monte Morris chipped in 12 points.The Nuggets rallied from double-digit deficits throughout the contest but failed to convert offensively when it mattered most. Morris' floater with 3:28 left cut the Lakers' lead to 105-101 before Denver failed to make another field goal.Second-chance points also were a factor with he Lakers dictating the category 25-6."It was a huge number and it was like that the whole night," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "Obviously, Dwight Howard had six (offensive rebounds); nobody touched him at all in the first quarter. He did whatever he wanted." Said Murray, "We had so many breakdowns throughout the game. We just got to be better. We can't give them that many second-chance points while we're having breakdowns. We just got to be better ourselves to give ourselves a chance despite how bad we played." The Lakers attempted 35 foul shots, hitting 28 of them, to 20 of 23 for the Nuggets."I think late in the game, I thought Jamal Murray attacked the basket a few times where there appeared to be contact," Malone said. "So we'll watch the film and we'll send our clips in and reach out to the NBA and kind of make our points noted." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MLB |
|
|
9/26/2020 |
|
FOUND
17
GAMES |
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GAME PREVIEW
Marlins, Yankees thinking playoff prep as series continuesNumbers tell quite a story for the Miami Marlins in this most unique season: 18 players sidelined with coronavirus early on, seven doubleheaders, 167 transactions since Opening Day and 62 players used.Even with the pandemic-induced schedule changes and frequent roster moves, the Marlins are playoff-bound and can focus on playoff preparation Saturday afternoon when they continue a three-game series with the host New York Yankees."When you go through anything that we've been through, I think it hardens you," Miami manager Don Mattingly said. "When you have that idea that you have to win every day and you prepare yourself to win play every day and you put games behind you, good or bad, that gets you ready for a playoff situation." The Marlins (30-28) clinched a postseason berth for the third time in team history Friday when pinch runner Monte Harrison slid home after ditching his helmet on a sacrifice fly by Jesus Aguilar in the 10th inning to give them a 4-3 win."It really means a lot, especially coming out, having the tough time at the beginning of the year," Marlins third baseman Brian Anderson said after the game. "Our guys have been so resilient fighting back through all the coronavirus stuff, dealing with our tough schedule. I'm so proud of our guys. Our guys just kept fighting and fighting, and now the real fun begins.Miami secured the playoff trip after arriving in New York around 5:30 a.m. following a 4-2 win in Atlanta that lasted more than 3 1/2 hours on Thursday. And that came after a weather delay of more than an hour and a half before the game.On Friday, the Marlins blew an early three-run lead but wound up celebrating on the field and then took a team picture in the infield shortly after the Yankees hit into a game-ending double play."I can't contain the tears, because it's a lot of grind, a lot of passion," said shortstop Miquel Rojas, who started the double play. Rojas missed nearly a month recovering from COVID-19."It wasn't just the virus. Last year, we lost 100 games. But we came out this year with the hope everything was going to be better. When we had the outbreak, the guys who got an opportunity to help the organization, thank you for everything you did," Rojas said.While the Marlins are enjoying overcoming their obstacles to get into the expanded postseason field, the Yankees are trying to finish up strong and avoid falling into the eighth slot in the American League and a matchup with the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays, who beat the Yankees eight of 10 times this season.New York vaulted up the standings with a 10-game winning streak Sept. 9-19. That much-need boost followed a 5-15 skid that knocked it out of first place in the AL East. The Yankees enter Saturday having been outscored 44-24 while losing five of their last six games.The game-ending double play was the fifth the Yankees hit into on Friday, and they committed four errors and did not homer for a fifth straight game, their longest streak since April 1-5, 2014.New York already will open the postseason on the road but could still drop to eighth as it enters with a one-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays for third place in the AL East."We just haven't played clean enough baseball, and obviously we're going to have to do that if we're going to reach our goal," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "We got to play better and tighter." A pair of rookies will start Saturday when Miami's Trevor Rogers (1-2, 6.84 ERA) opposes Deivi Garcia (2-2, 4.88).Rogers has a 12.60 ERA in his last three starts and last pitched Monday in Atlanta, having allowed five runs in four innings. Rogers is pitching in New York for the third time after allowing two runs in nine innings in his first two starts on Aug. 25 and Aug. 31 against the crosstown Mets.Garcia is coming off his worst start. In Boston on Sunday, he surrendered six runs on eight hits in three innings in a 10-2 loss. Prior to that start, Garcia pitched seven innings in back-to-back outings, allowing five runs on 11 hits with 12 strikeouts and two walks.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
3:05 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-143
|
-1.5 (+151)
|
Over 5 (-103)
|
|
|
+131
|
+1.5 (-168)
|
Under 5 (-109)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Mets in must-win (and then hope) scenario vs. NationalsMichael Conforto acknowledged Friday afternoon that the New York Mets needed assistance to reach the postseason.It took nine hours, but the Mets received a tiny bit of help that has them mathematically live. It came from Trent Grisham and the San Diego Padres.The Mets will possess the faintest of postseason aspirations Saturday afternoon, when they face the host Washington Nationals in a doubleheader necessitated by a rainout Friday night.The Nationals will start Max Scherzer (4-4, 3.67 ERA) in the opener and Anibal Sanchez (3-5, 6.80 ERA) in the nightcap.The Mets have not announced the order of their pitchers, but they are likely to go with the pitchers who were slotted to start Friday and Saturday -- Rick Porcello (1-6, 5.46 ERA) and Jacob deGrom (4-2, 2.14 ERA).The Mets, who won Thursday's series opener 3-2, stayed in contention at the last second when, late Friday night, Grisham hit a walk-off three-run homer to lift the Padres past the San Francisco Giants, 6-5. The Giants had already won the first game of the twin bill over the Padres.The wild card is the only path to the playoffs for the Mets (26-31), whose chances of finishing second in the NL East evaporated earlier Friday when the Miami Marlins beat the New York Yankees, 4-3, in 10 innings.To stay in contention heading into Sunday, the Mets need to sweep the doubleheader while two of the three teams ahead of them in the race for the final wild card -- the Giants and Philadelphia Phillies, need to lose both of their remaining games. The third of those teams, the Milwaukee Brewers, would have to lose at least one of their remaining two."We're still in this thing," Conforto said during a Zoom call Friday afternoon. "We need a little help. But I know these guys are going to do their best until the end, and we'll see what happens." The Nationals (23-34) will take the field on what is likely to be a memorable birthday for manager Dave Martinez, who turns 56 Saturday. Washington reportedly agreed with Martinez, who steered the team to the first championship in franchise history last fall, on the terms of a three-year contract extension Friday.The Nationals had a 2021 option on Martinez, but general manager Mike Rizzo said upon signing his own extension earlier this month that his "priority one" was to ink Martinez to a new long-term deal."My plan is and my preference is to not pick up the option and go well beyond that," Rizzo said.Porcello is 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals. DeGrom is 8-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 19 starts against Washington.Scherzer is 11-5 with a 2.63 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) against the Mets, whom he no-hit in a doubleheader on the penultimate day of the season on Oct. 3, 2015. Sanchez is 5-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 18 starts against New York.The presence of Porcello and deGrom ensures there will be a battle of former Cy Young Award winners in one of the games. Porcello won the AL's award in 2016 while Scherzer won in the AL in 2013 and in the in the NL in 2016 and 2017. deGrom then won the next two in the NL.Porcello has been involved in all four battles of former Cy Young winners this season. He and Scherzer opposed each other on Aug. 5 and Aug. 11. Porcello also faced the Philadelphia Phillies' Jake Arrieta, the 2015 NL winner, on Sept. 4 and Sept. 15.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
4:10 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+120
|
+1.5 (-179)
|
Over 6.5 (+122)
|
|
|
-130
|
-1.5 (+160)
|
Under 6.5 (-137)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAME PREVIEW
A's face Mariners, looking for wave of momentum into playoffsThe Oakland Athletics are looking to build some momentum going into the postseason.Maybe the 10th inning Friday night will help.Ramon Laureano doubled home the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, and Mark Canha followed with a two-run homer as the A's defeated the visiting Seattle Mariners 3-1 in the opener of a four-game series that wraps up the regular season.The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday, with the Mariners (25-32) the home team in one of the games because a three-game series Sept. 1-3 in Seattle was postponed because of a positive COVID-19 test in the A's organization."We have a lot of guys that are clutch. Ramon's one of those guys, and I consider myself one of those guys," Canha said. "The moment's never too big for us as a team. We have that kind of special ability to win in dramatic fashion. It's a good thing to have." The A's (35-22) moved past Minnesota in the chase for the second seed in the expanded American League playoffs.Before Friday, the A's were hitting .218 in 22 games this month. They didn't exactly break out against the Mariners, failing to score in the first nine innings."You give us a chance late and we've shown that we can win games like that here at home," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "It's a little different on the road when you don't have the last at-bat." It was the sixth walk-off victory of the season for the A's, who are 21-8 at the Coliseum.A's hitting coach Darren Bush said the team's problems at the plate stem from "a lot of indecision." "Guys want to have success and are being a little indecisive and passive, which makes you miss pitches," Bush said. "Then you try to get a little aggressive by expanding the zone and miss pitches you should hit. ..."We just talk about picking a zone and staying in that zone to look for the pitch you want to hit instead of going up there trying to find the baseball. Get up there, have a plan and stick to your plan. Fight to get that pitch," Bush said.Coming into the series, the A's had been held to six hits or fewer in 10 of 11 games. They finished with nine Friday, including the two in extra innings."We're one out away from walking off there with a big W on the road," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "Give Oakland credit. They've won a few games like that this year, and they've got outstanding pitching. They really shut us down offensively." The Mariners are scheduled to send left-hander Justus Sheffield (4-3, 3.75 ERA) and right-hander Justin Dunn (3-1, 4.20 ERA), to the mound for Saturday's doubleheader.Sheffield faced the A's on Aug. 3 and took the loss when he surrendered four runs and four hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings. In two starts in his career against Oakland, Sheffield is 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA.Dunn has not gone up against the Athletics this season but made one start against them in 2019, striking out three and walking one in two scoreless innings.The A's will counter with left-hander Mike Minor (1-6, 5.92) and right-hander Paul Blackburn, who will be making his first appearance of the season.Minor got his lone victory of the season Sept. 14 at Seattle, when he pitched a seven-inning shutout in a doubleheader. He allowed two hits and struck out eight. Minor is 5-5 with a 4.09 ERA in 15 appearances against the Mariners, including 12 starts.The 26-year-old Blackburn has made 17 starts among his 20 appearances in three seasons with Oakland. He is 5-6 with a 5.18 ERA. In his one appearance against Seattle, a start in 2017, he picked up a win by going 7 2/3 innings, allowing one run on eight hits with one walk.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
6:05 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-145
|
-1.5 (+134)
|
Over 7 (-104)
|
|
|
+133
|
+1.5 (-149)
|
Under 7 (-108)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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GAME PREVIEW
Mets in must-win (and then hope) scenario vs. NationalsMichael Conforto acknowledged Friday afternoon that the New York Mets needed assistance to reach the postseason.It took nine hours, but the Mets received a tiny bit of help that has them mathematically live. It came from Trent Grisham and the San Diego Padres.The Mets will possess the faintest of postseason aspirations Saturday afternoon, when they face the host Washington Nationals in a doubleheader necessitated by a rainout Friday night.The Nationals will start Max Scherzer (4-4, 3.67 ERA) in the opener and Anibal Sanchez (3-5, 6.80 ERA) in the nightcap.The Mets have not announced the order of their pitchers, but they are likely to go with the pitchers who were slotted to start Friday and Saturday -- Rick Porcello (1-6, 5.46 ERA) and Jacob deGrom (4-2, 2.14 ERA).The Mets, who won Thursday's series opener 3-2, stayed in contention at the last second when, late Friday night, Grisham hit a walk-off three-run homer to lift the Padres past the San Francisco Giants, 6-5. The Giants had already won the first game of the twin bill over the Padres.The wild card is the only path to the playoffs for the Mets (26-31), whose chances of finishing second in the NL East evaporated earlier Friday when the Miami Marlins beat the New York Yankees, 4-3, in 10 innings.To stay in contention heading into Sunday, the Mets need to sweep the doubleheader while two of the three teams ahead of them in the race for the final wild card -- the Giants and Philadelphia Phillies, need to lose both of their remaining games. The third of those teams, the Milwaukee Brewers, would have to lose at least one of their remaining two."We're still in this thing," Conforto said during a Zoom call Friday afternoon. "We need a little help. But I know these guys are going to do their best until the end, and we'll see what happens." The Nationals (23-34) will take the field on what is likely to be a memorable birthday for manager Dave Martinez, who turns 56 Saturday. Washington reportedly agreed with Martinez, who steered the team to the first championship in franchise history last fall, on the terms of a three-year contract extension Friday.The Nationals had a 2021 option on Martinez, but general manager Mike Rizzo said upon signing his own extension earlier this month that his "priority one" was to ink Martinez to a new long-term deal."My plan is and my preference is to not pick up the option and go well beyond that," Rizzo said.Porcello is 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals. DeGrom is 8-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 19 starts against Washington.Scherzer is 11-5 with a 2.63 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) against the Mets, whom he no-hit in a doubleheader on the penultimate day of the season on Oct. 3, 2015. Sanchez is 5-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 18 starts against New York.The presence of Porcello and deGrom ensures there will be a battle of former Cy Young Award winners in one of the games. Porcello won the AL's award in 2016 while Scherzer won in the AL in 2013 and in the in the NL in 2016 and 2017. deGrom then won the next two in the NL.Porcello has been involved in all four battles of former Cy Young winners this season. He and Scherzer opposed each other on Aug. 5 and Aug. 11. Porcello also faced the Philadelphia Phillies' Jake Arrieta, the 2015 NL winner, on Sept. 4 and Sept. 15.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
6:37 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
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+134
|
+1.5 (-143)
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Over 9 (-117)
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-145
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-1.5 (+129)
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Under 9 (+104)
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GAME PREVIEW
Blue Jays line up rest, pitching while facing OriolesOne reason the Toronto Blue Jays have qualified for the playoffs in this pandemic-condensed season is their success against the Baltimore Orioles, and they will look to continue that domination Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Buffalo.The Blue Jays (31-27) defeated the visiting Orioles (24-34) 10-5 Friday night in the series opener and are 7-1 in the season series between the teams.Toronto still has a chance to finish second in the American League East and improve its seeding. The second-place New York Yankees had their lead over the Blue Jays cut to one game after they lost to the Miami Marlins in 10 innings Friday.The Blue Jays are scheduled to start right-hander Matt Shoemaker (0-1, 4.71 ERA) in his second outing since coming off the injured reserve list. The Orioles will start left-hander John Means (2-3, 5.02).Shoemaker is a candidate to start the third game (if necessary) of the three-game first-round playoff series.He allowed one run in three innings Monday against the Yankees in his first start since Aug. 21 because of shoulder inflammation.This will be Shoemaker's seventh start of the season and his first against Baltimore. He is 3-1, with a 2.25 ERA, in five career starts against Baltimore.Means allowed two runs in four innings against Toronto in a no-decision start Aug. 28. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against Toronto.The Blue Jays are using the weekend games to prepare for the postseason that starts Tuesday.Regulars Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. were rested Friday and two more position players will be given a break for the games Saturday and Sunday.The Blue Jays would finish second in the AL East with a sweep of the Orioles and two losses by the Yankees."We're going to go out there to play to win but my main goal right now is to give guys days off because they need it," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "It's been a grind. Try to keep them healthy for the playoffs. Whoever needs to get some rest will get rest." Another objective will be to set up the pitching staff for next week.Taijuan Walker was limited to three perfect innings Friday as a tune up for next week. Rookie Nate Pearson came off the IL (elbow) to pitch 1 2/3 innings in relief Friday to earn his first major league win. His 100-mile-an-hour fastball could be valuable in relief during the playoffs."Of course, we're still playing to win," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said. "But depending on how this weekend goes, make sure that we put ourselves in a good position from a pitching standpoint, we should have more flexibility on that front, to consider carrying another position player or two, especially in a shorter series." Meanwhile, the Orioles are winding down their season and looking forward to next year. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that he began exit interviews on Thursday and they are continuing this weekend in Buffalo. Baltimore has lost eight of its last 11 games."These last few weeks have been tough," Hyde said. "Our guys' numbers have dropped, pretty significantly, a lot of them. We're going to talk about that and continue to try to get these guys better, discuss things they can work on in the offseason." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:05 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
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+118
|
+1.5 (-161)
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Over 9.5 (-109)
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-128
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-1.5 (+145)
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Under 9.5 (-103)
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GAME PREVIEW
Royals looking for third straight win over TigersWith the retirement of long-time left fielder Alex Gordon, the Kansas City Royals will have a big hole to fill in 2021 and beyond. Gordon, who won seven gold gloves after switching to the outfield during the 2010 season, announced his retirement Thursday.There are several players who could earn the nod as next year's opening day left fielder, including power-hitting Franchy Cordero, who was acquired from San Diego on July 16, along with right-handed pitcher Ronald Bolanos, for left-handed pitcher Tim Hill.The Royals and the Detroit Tigers will play the third game of a four-game, season-ending series Saturday. Left-hander Matthew Boyd (2-7, 6.96 ERA) will get the nod for the Tigers (22-34), while rookie righty Carlos Hernandez (0-0, 3.46) gets his third start for Kansas City.The Royals (25-33) have won two one-run games in the series so far, including a 3-2 victory behind Brad Keller on Friday. Adalberto Mondesi continued his torrid hitting with three more hits. He has a seven at-bat hitting streak, with 10 hits in his last 12 at-bats.Boyd has struggled in 2020, with his ERA above 6.60 all season. But he's done well against the Royals. The Tigers have won both of his starts, including Sept. 15 when he pitched 5 2/3 innings in a 6-0 Detroit victory. He allowed just two hits, walking four.In 2019, Boyd threw at least six innings in 21 of 32 starts. He's reached that total only twice in 11 starts this season. That has created a problem for the Tigers."It can be very challenging, because we have so many young kids in our rotation, and our bullpen has had to eat up a lot of innings," interim manager Lloyd McClendon said after Boyd gave up five runs in five innings in his most recent start. "One thing I know about a bullpen: if they're out there too much, you're not going to like them at some point, because they're going to be overworked."We need our starters to step up and give us a few more innings." For his career, Boyd is 6-9 with a 6.41 ERA in 21 starts against Kansas City. His career WHIP is 1.56 against the Royals.Hernandez has been pretty efficient, allowing only five earned runs on 12 hits in 13 innings. But keeping the ball in the yard has been his problem, as he's allowed four home runs.Cordero has played just 14 games for Kansas City, largely because of injuries. He has seven starts: four in right, two in center and one in left. Fast enough to play center in spacious Kauffman Stadium, he projects offensively more like a corner outfielder -- if he can stay healthy.On Wednesday, Cordero was reinstated from the injured list, where he had been with a sprained right wrist since Aug. 9, and all he did was record his second career multi-homer game, hitting a three-run shot in the sixth inning and adding a solo blast in the seventh for a career-best five RBI.But his health has been an issue. Cordero has only played in 63 games (out of a possible 382) the last three seasons."I remember when we were first inquiring about Franchy," manager Mike Matheny said. "I went straight to (Matheny's former teammate and recent San Diego Padres coach) Mark McGwire. Mark just couldn't say high enough things about the talent that he has. He said, 'The problem is we just can't keep him on the field.'"As soon as we acquired him, we looked into what we could do to keep him on the field. You can't predict a structural bone issue, but we'll try to attack what we can and hopefully get Franchy every opportunity to stay healthy and show the talent. Because we've all seen that the talent is pretty exceptional." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:05 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-130
|
-1.5 (+121)
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Over 9.5 (+103)
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+120
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+1.5 (-133)
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Under 9.5 (-116)
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GAME PREVIEW
Astros face changing plans vs. Rangers after clinching playoff spotHouston manager Dusty Baker announced early on Friday a contingency plan for his weekend rotation, with right-hander Chase De Jong in line to start Saturday in the event the Astros clinched a postseason berth on Friday night against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.The Astros (29-29) failed in their bid to secure the final American League postseason bid on their own accord, falling 5-4 in 10 innings after closer Ryan Pressly surrendered a game-tying solo homer to Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman with two outs and two strikes in the ninth."We were so close to clinching it," Baker said. "He (retired) the first two hitters and was 0-2 (on Guzman) ... sheesh, that hurts. There's nothing we can do now. We've got to come back (Saturday) and play hard." The Astros opted not to wait out the result of the game between the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers knowing they could back into the playoffs with an Angels loss. Instead, Baker was left lamenting an opportunity to schedule a day off for his regulars on Saturday."Sometimes the opposition has something to do with messing up your plans," Baker said. "They messed us up (Friday)." Baker's plans may have been saved anyway. The Angels lost on Friday, and that means the Astros clinched a postseason spot. Houston will be slotted in as the No. 6 seed in the American League playoffs and will finish as the second-place team in the AL West.Per Baker's announcement, De Jong (0-0, 14.73 ERA) could be expected to make the start on Saturday. However, right-hander Lance McCullers (3-3, 4.24 ERA) was originally scheduled as the starter for Houston on Saturday. McCullers is 1-4 with a 4.65 ERA over eight career starts against the Rangers. He twirled seven shutout innings at Texas on Sept. 16, allowing two hits with eight strikeouts as Houston lost 1-0. De Jong has one career start against the Rangers; he gave up one run over six innings in that 2017 appearance.No matter who Houston puts on the mound, they'll be opposed by Texas right-hander Kyle Gibson (2-6, 5.87 ERA), who will make his 12th and final start of the season. He is 1-4 with a 7.03 ERA over his last seven starts, his ERA ballooning from 3.74 to the highest among qualified pitchers.Gibson suffered the loss in his previous outing against the Angels on Sept. 21, allowing a career-high-tying eight runs (seven earned) on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts over four innings. His lone victory during his current stretch of futility came against the Astros at Minute Maid Park on Sept. 16, with Gibson recording a four-hit shutout with three walks and nine strikeouts in a 1-0 win. He is 4-2 with a 2.90 ERA over eight career starts against Houston.Texas (20-38) was hopeful that second baseman Rougned Odor had finally shown signs of recovery earlier this month when he hit .276 over an eight-game stretch. But Odor finished 0-for-4 on Friday, his fourth consecutive hitless game, and is batting just .153 for the season."There's still some inconsistency there that I would like him to (rectify)," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said of Odor. "If he's going to be a true everyday guy that's a reliable middle-of-the-lineup bat, he's got to have more consistent, quality at-bats. It's something that he talks about a lot now, he works on it."He's been better but he still needs to improve more. There's still a lot of room for improvement from a consistency standpoint." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:07 PM EST |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-112
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-1.5 (+147)
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Over 7.5 (-109)
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+104
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+1.5 (-163)
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Under 7.5 (-103)
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GAME PREVIEW
Brewers still have something to play for against CardinalsThe visiting Milwaukee Brewers will try to keep their slim postseason hopes alive when they face the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday.The teams split their doubleheader Friday, with the Brewers winning the first game 3-0 and the Cardinals winning the nightcap 9-1.The Brewers (28-30) are on the brink of elimination in the National League wild-card race. The Cardinals (29-27) are still in the chase for the NL Central's second-place playoff slot.The Brewers have been playing catchup all season, since they have never reached the high side of .500. They must win their last two games to have any chance of reaching the bracket."We know everything now is do-or-die, and if we don't go hard, our season will be over," Brewers infielder Eric Sogard said. "We're absolutely going to go at it 110 percent and give it everything we have and leave it all on the table. That's what we have to do and that's all we can do." The Cardinals will start Adam Wainwright (5-2, 3.05 ERA). He struck out nine batters in seven innings during a 4-2 doubleheader victory on Sept. 16 in his one start against the Brewers this season.He allowed those two runs on just four hits and one walk while going the distance in that game."It's almost hard to describe what Waino does for us. He does so much," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said after that game. "He goes down 2-0 in the first after a rough night and just bears down. Just went out and dominated, was in complete control. Displays yet again the art of pitching, and displays yet again what it means to be an ace with all caps." Wainwright is 18-10 with a 2.45 ERA in 43 career appearances against the Brewers, including 36 starts. But Keston Hiura is 3-for-8 with a double, homer and four RBIs against him.The Brewers will start Brandon Woodruff (2-5, 3.43 ERA). He lost his only start against the Cardinals this season, which came in that doubleheader game against Wainwright.He allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits in seven innings. Tyler O'Neill and Brad Miller hit homers off him in that loss."I wasn't as sharp as I was last week but that's part of it," Woodruff said after that game. "The fact I was able to go deep in the game and help save that bullpen, I think was huge. If I could have a couple pitches back, it would be a different story. That's how it goes sometimes." Woodruff is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA in three starts and two relief appearances against the Cardinals in his career. Paul DeJong (3-for-9, double, homer, three RBIs), Kolten Wong (2 for 4, double, RBI) and Miller (2-for-6, double, homer) have hit well against him.The Cardinals placed reliever John Gant on the 10-day injured list with the groin muscle strain he aggravated during Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader. The team recalled reliever Nabil Crismatt to replace him.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:07 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
-108
|
-1.5 (+149)
|
Over 7.5 (-108)
|
|
|
-101
|
+1.5 (-166)
|
Under 7.5 (-104)
|
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|
|
GAME PREVIEW
Phillies need win at Rays to have playoff chancePhillies pitcher Zack Wheeler was acquired by Philadelphia to pitch in big games, and his club's matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday certainly fits that description.Philadelphia (28-30) will try to keep its slim playoff hopes alive against the American League East champion Rays (38-20) Saturday night in St. Petersburg, Fla., in the regular-season's penultimate game.The season will wrap up Sunday in a matinee affair, but all eyes Saturday will be on Wheeler, an offseason acquisition in December after pitching five seasons with the National League East rival New York Mets.The Phillies know a couple of things: They won't finish any better than third in the NL East this season, and they need to win and have help out West.Their loss combined with Miami's 4-3 win over the Yankees in New York in 10 innings meant the Phillies can only finish tied with the Marlins, who hold the tiebreaker edge and are guaranteed second place and a playoff spot for the first time since 2003.That puts the pressure squarely on Wheeler, and Philadelphia has lost the right-hander's last two starts.Wheeler (4-1, 2.67 ERA), who has never faced the Rays, needs to turn in a strong outing and go deep because Philadelphia's bullpen has been downright horrendous. In fact, the Phillies have lost eight games when leading by at least three runs this season -- the rest of the division has combined to lose eight total."I know (a collapse) has happened to other bullpens, but I've personally never been part of one that's struggled," said first-year manager Joe Girardi, whose team's 6-4 loss to the Rays assured the Phillies of their ninth consecutive non-winning season.The team finds itself in a push for a wild-card spot with San Francisco, and the best case is winning the final two games and hoping the Giants lose out against the San Diego Padres this weekend.Tampa Bay left Tropicana Field unsure of its status in the AL's postseason.The club entered Friday's contest with a magic number of two to clinch the junior circuit's top seed in the eight-team playoff.The Rays accomplished the first part in Friday's win over the Phillies to open the three-game series, but they needed an Oakland loss against Seattle in a late start on the West Coast to secure the No. 1 spot. Instead, the A's defeated the Mariners in 10 innings.Joey Wendle provided the heroics in the team's 19th come-from-behind win -- half of its overall win total. Batting leadoff, Wendle laced a two-out single to right to score Yoshi Tsutsugo and Hunter Renfroe to break a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the eighth.Four Rays relievers spun four scoreless, hitless innings with two walks and five strikeouts at Philadelphia after the visitors grabbed a 4-1 lead against starter Charlie Morton.Nick Anderson earned the win with a scoreless eighth, and John Curtiss -- making his first career appearance against the Phillies -- fanned the side in the ninth for his second save.Curtiss will serve as the opener in Saturday's game, joining Andrew Kittredge as the second Rays pitcher this season to finish a game and start the following night. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA this season, and he will be making his third start and 17th appearance of the year.Manager Kevin Cash said Morton would start Game 3 of the playoffs on an extra day of rest."He fought himself a little bit," Cash said of Morton's five-inning start that yielded three earned runs. "We all know in this clubhouse that when Charlie needs to find an extra gear, he can find it." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
7:10 PM EST |
|
|
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
+143
|
+1.5 (-143)
|
Over 9.5 (+103)
|
|
|
-155
|
-1.5 (+129)
|
Under 9.5 (-115)
|
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