Josh Allen holds second-best odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year award

After a solid rookie campaign, Jacksonville Jaguars pass-rusher Josh Allen will head into the weekend of the NFL’s annual Honors awards with pretty good odds to be crowned Defensive Rookie of the Year. In fact, according to Sports Betting Dime, only …

After a solid rookie campaign, Jacksonville Jaguars pass-rusher Josh Allen will head into the weekend of the NFL’s annual Honors awards with pretty good odds to be crowned Defensive Rookie of the Year. In fact, according to Sports Betting Dime, only one player has better odds and that’s Nick Bosa with odds of 1/50.

As for Allen, he currently shares the second-best odds with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush as both currently have odds of 10/1. That said, it appears both rookies will need an upset at Saturday’s award show, which will start at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Bosa has been the guy leading the charge for the award in the eyes of oddsmakers for quite some time. He started in all but two games in the regular season and managed to accumulate 47 total tackles, nine sacks, a forced fumble, and a pick. His contributions to the San Francisco 49ers’ defense is a huge reason they had regular season success and will be playing in Super Bowl LIV Sunday.

As for Allen, he came just short of Bosa in tackles with 44 but beat him out in the sacks category this regular season with 10.5. He also registered one more forced fumble than Bosa. As a result, he was voted into the Pro Bowl and became the Jags’ first rookie to achieve the feat.

Most tend to think Bosa should be able to hold off Allen and Bush Saturday, however, if there is a case to be made for Allen it’s the fact that he only started in four games to Bosa’s total of 16 and still managed to register nearly the same amount of tackles and more sacks.

Regardless as to what happens in terms of the award, fans can be happy about what the future holds for Allen. In 2020 he should be even more polished, and if he starts, he could be a 14-plus sack type of player.

See Usher’s incredible performance of ‘Amazing Grace’ before Lakers-Blazers game

Usher sang ‘Amazing Grace’ in tribute to Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

The Lakers celebrated the lives of Kobe and Gianna Bryant on Friday night before their first game since the tragic accident that claimed nine lives last weekend. The team arranged a special musical performance during a tribute video on the scoreboard, and LeBron James delivered a moving speech prior to tipoff. Usher opened the ceremonies with an unforgettable performance of “Amazing Grace.”

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Three more Celtics-76ers questions with Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin

The Boston Celtics face the Philadelphia 76ers for the fourth and final time this season on Saturday, February 1st, so we touched base with Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin to get the goods on what the Cs should be looking out for.

Can the Boston Celtics come away with a win this time?

After three straight losses to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics are hungry for a win against the Sixers — but given they couldn’t seal the deal even when center Joel Embiid was out with a torn tendon, is it unrealistic to expect them to take a game on their home court?

With the trade deadline looming, the contest could be the last, best chance for the Celtics to see if the bench has anything to contribute against a potential postseason roadblock — but what else should we know about the 76ers?

As the Celtics host their Atlantic Division rival 76ers for their fourth and final meeting of the 2019-20 NBA season, we caught up with Ky Carlin, the editor of our sister site Sixers Wire to see what’s been going on with the Sixers since they last played the Celtics.

What’s changed since these two East rivals last squared off?

As always is the case for this Sixers team, injuries. It seems like they’ve been dogged by nagging injuries for a majority of the season and now they’re dealing with an issue to Josh Richardson who will miss the game. He played a key role in the team’s win in Boston on December 12. So Shake Milton will most likely start in his place for a fourth straight game.

How does each team win?

For Philly, it’s the same story. Pound Boston inside and play bully ball. The Celtics are a smaller group so that gives Joel Embiid a chance to put up big numbers and Al Horford to go to work down low.

For the Celtics, they can use that size to their advantage in a way. All-Stars Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum can get by the bigger and slower Sixers to get to the bucket while Jaylen Brown can produce from the perimeter as well. However, when the Sixers can respond with elite defenders like Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle, that makes life tough for Boston.

What else should we know about the Sixers for this meeting?

That they’re incredible maddening. They have three wins over Boston plus wins over the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Indiana Pacers, but they also have head scratching losses to the Orlando Magic, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Atlanta Hawks.

They’re supremely talented, but they’re so inconsistent and it’s hard to tell which Sixers team will show up. Time will tell how far they go in their future.


This go-round, Philly will have their prized center fully available, with Embiid having since recovered from that tendon tear and subsequent surgery. They will be without starting shooting guard Josh Richardson, however, as he continues to recover from a strained hamstring.

Former Celtic Al Horford may also miss the contest, having missed the Sixers’ prior tilt due to knee soreness.

Boston will continue to be without centers Robert Williams III (hip) and Enes Kanter (knee), and starting point guard Kemba Walker is questionable with knee soreness.

With three wins to their credit already this season, it shouldn’t surprise that most online sportsbooks grant the 76ers a +4 spread, but it ought to be a winnable game with some luck.

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UNLV vs Colorado State: Game Preview, Livestream, Odds, & More

The Rams host the Rebels in CSU’s annual Orange Out game. Which team can get a firmer grasp on second place in the Mountain West?

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UNLV vs Colorado State: Game Preview, Livestream, Odds, & More


The Rams host the Rebels in the annual Orange Out


Contact/Follow @J0shFr3d & @MWCwire

With second place up for grabs, who can grab the momentum?

WHO: UNLV Rebels (11-11, 6-3 Mountain West) vs. CSU Rams (15-8, 6-4 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, February 1 — 2:00 PM MT/1:00 PM PT

WHERE: Moby Arena; Fort Collins, Colorado (8,083)

Livestream: ESPN3

SERIES RECORD: UNLV leads the series 40-16

ODDS: Rams -6.5 per VegasInsider.com

The Colorado State Rams host the UNLV Rebels in the Rams annual Orange Out game that celebrates the history of CSU with throwback pumpkin and alfalfa colored uniforms. This will be the third Orange Out matchup between the Rebels and Rams. The teams have split the previous two games.

The fabulous freshman are leading this Rams team this season. Isaiah Stevens and David Roddy have been the big contributors, but Dischon Thomas and John Tonje have each played their part. Roddy has really stepped into his starting role and Stevens is coming off a buzzer beater shot to beat Nevada.

Don’t forget about the seniors. While they’ve stayed in the shadows of the freshman at times, they can be just as dangerous. Hyron Edwards is a tenacious defender. Kris Martin can hurt you from deep. And Nico Carvacho will punish you on the boards.

The UNLV Rebels were called the biggest overachievers in the Mountain West this season by ESPN. They were predicted to finish ninth in the conference. Yet, new coach T.J. Otzelberger has this team competing at a high level after a slow start. They even took San Diego State to the limit, only losing by four points in the Rebels last game.

The Rebels are led by guards Amauri Hardy and Bryce Hamilton with both of them averaging over 14 points per game. The Rebels also get significant contributions from Elijah Mitrou-Long, Donnie Tillman, and Cheikh Mbacke Diong. Everyone will need to be on their game against the Rams.

Prediction

This is going to be a dogfight. Both teams don’t shoot it that well from deep, but neither are they afraid to keep shooting it from deep. They also like to battle on the boards. With the Rams having momentum coming into this game, expect them to pull it out in the end.

Rams 76-67 Rebels

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Stephen Curry remembers the first game he played against Kobe Bryant

Stephen Curry shared his first memory of playing against the fallen NBA legend, Kobe Bryant.

Since the passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash that claimed his life, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, there has been an outpour of emotion across the league.

Teams have been honoring the fallen champion by taking eight and 24-second violations at the start of games. Beyond that, pregame ceremonies have been held, along with players changing their jersey numbers away from No. 8 and No. 24 in respects to Bryant.

For the Golden State Warriors, players have shared their reactions to the loss of Bryant on social media, with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and D’Angelo Russell all posting tributes to the “Mamba.” Warriors swingman, Alec Burks, swapped out of his No. 8 jersey to No. 20 to honor Bryant’s legacy.

Against the Boston Celtics, Curry spoke publicly for the first time since Bryant’s death. The Golden State Warriors two-time Most Valuable Player spoke to TNT reporter, Allie LaForce, about his first memory of playing against Bryant.

I remember the first game back at the forum in the preseason my rookie year like how amazing of a moment that was — you’re sitting there asking questions to yourself, ‘why does he mean so much?’ — he has a presence that I think we all just understood how much basketball meant to him, and he pushed the game to new heights, and we are all the better for it.

The preseason game Curry references took place on October 9, 2009, in the Los Angeles Forum. Golden State won the preseason exhibition, 110-91.

The Warriors will have the chance to honor Bryant on their home floor against his former team when they return to San Francisco to host the Los Angeles Lakers on February 8.

10 best bets for Super Bowl 54: Game, Totals, Half, Quarters and more

Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports The Super Bowl is the last gasp to bet on football – outside of the XFL – and this is the time with most bets possible. People love player props – and books like them too since fans usually lose money on them …

Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The Super Bowl is the last gasp to bet on football — outside of the XFL — and this is the time with most bets possible. People love player props — and books like them too since fans usually lose money on them — and we’ve already taken a look at some Chiefs’ play props as well as the Niners’ player props. Now, it’s time to take a look at the game. We’re talking about all aspects of the game. The team totals, quarters, halves, game totals, and obviously the Super Bowl pick.

Spreads and lines come from our friends at BetMGM. Let’s start with the obvious. The first quarter.

First Quarter Lines

San Francisco 49ers v. Kansas City -0.5 points

Over – Under 10.5 points

As aforementioned, we are running out of time here so betting the game and walking away simply isn’t an option. It’s crazy to think that this game which has an over-under of 54 has a first-quarter over-under of ten points. The obvious bet would be to take the over and count the cash. That’s a quick way to start up on the night.

Well, we are taking the under for a few reasons. The first quarter is generally when teams are testing each other out. These two teams haven’t played in two weeks. There will be some rust. These two quarterbacks haven’t ever played in a Super Bowl. The lights are brighter. The speed is faster. It will take time to settle. So under it is. It’s crazy, I know. Also, sprinkle a bit on the Niners plus a half a point. The Chiefs have started out slowly the past two games. There’s no reason to expect less in this game.

LeBron James gives speech, wears wristband on forearm to honor Kobe

LeBron James put it upon himself to give a speech to the fans after the passing of Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

The emotional process of getting back to the basketball court for the Los Angeles Lakers continued on Friday night as the squad returned to an NBA floor under the lights for the first time since the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi, and seven others in a helicopter crash on Sunday. As part of the healing, LeBron James put it upon himself to give a pre-game speech to Lakers fans everywhere after having lost the player they had loved more than anyone else in their franchise’s history.

LeBron was emotional during various musical tributes to Kobe, including a rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’ from Usher.

LeBron then gave an emotional speech to the Staples Center, where he threw away his pre-written notes.

LeBron promised to continue Kobe’s legacy and several of his Lakers teammates were moved emotionally during the pregame ceremonies. Things in the NBA, and with the Lakers, will never be the same. But LeBron made a commitment to lead the Lakers and the league into whatever what is next, something that Kobe would certainly appreciate.

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Watch LeBron James’ moving speech before Lakers-Blazers game

“Live on, brother.”

The Lakers celebrated the lives of Kobe and Gianna Bryant during an emotional pregame ceremony on Friday night before a game against the Trail Blazers, and LeBron James delivered a speech to the crowd before tipoff.

James began his speech by reading the names of the nine people who lost their lives in the tragic crash, and then threw out his script for the speech and spoke from the heart.

“The first thing that comes to mind is all about family. And as I look around this arena, we’re all grieving. We’re all hurt. We’re all heartbroken. When we’re going through things like this, the best thing you can do is lean on the shoulders of your family.

…. I want to continue along with my teammates and continue his legacy, not only for this year, for as long as we can play this game of basketball that we love, because that’s what Kobe Bryant would want.”

The Lakers played a emotional tribute video to Bryant during the pregame ceremonies.

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Greg Olsen will talk to teams after Super Bowl

Could Greg Olsen be the answer the Redskins need?

Greg Olsen to the Washington Redskins is one of the more interesting ideas floating around out there for a few reasons.

Olsen and the Carolina Panthers agreed to part ways recently, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Olsen “is still interested in playing and I will be in communication with other teams after the Super Bowl,” per his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Now about the factors making the Redskins a perfect fit.

One, Olsen has a longrunning history with new Redskins coach Ron Rivera. And two, the Redskins have a serious need for consistency at the position as they bring along Dwayne Haskins — Jordan Reed isn’t often available and the rest of the depth chart doesn’t have big upside.

But would the interest be mutual? Olsen might have a future in broadcasting and is going on 35. If he’s going to keep playing, he might want to go all-in with a win-now contender.

Either way, the Olsen idea is yet another reminder tight end is one of the team’s biggest needs.

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