Month: September 2020

Virginia Tech at Duke odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Virginia Tech Hokies at Duke Blue Devils sports betting odds and lines, with college football betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0) and Duke Blue Devils (0-3) square off at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C. for a 4 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday. Below, we analyze the Virginia Tech-Duke college football betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.

The Hokies are the No. 23 team in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

Virginia Tech at Duke: Betting odds and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. ET.

  • Money line: Virginia Tech -400 (bet $400 to win $100) | Duke +300 (bet $100 to win $300)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Virginia Tech -10.5 (-110) | Duke +10.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 53.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Virginia Tech at Duke: Three things to know

  1. The beginning of Virginia Tech’s season was postponed a couple of times due to COVID, including a coronavirus case spike in Blacksburg, VA, They finally got underway last week against N.C. State, and they were down 23 players due to COVID-19 concerns, including starting QB Hendon Hooker. They still were able to win handily, 45-24.
  2. With Hooker unavailable, QB Braxton Burmeister started. However, he was injured in the first half, so third-string QB Quincy Patterson II took the reins, tossing two touchdowns while also running for another score, showing off the team’s depth.
  3. Duke has really struggled, posting just 342.3 total yards per game, including only 88.3 yards per game on the ground. As such, they have posted 13.0 PPG, 67th in the nation. They also have a ridiculous 14 turnovers, including seven last week in a loss to Virginia, while posting an FBS-worst minus-9 turnover ratio.

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Virginia Tech at Duke: Odds, betting lines and picks

Prediction

Virginia Tech 34, Duke 16

Money line (ML)

Virginia Tech (-400) will cost you four times your potential return if they hit the road and pick up the victory against Duke (+300). It’s just not worth the risk, especially if Hooker isn’t cleared to play. He was in quarantine until last Friday before the Duke game, and he has reportedly missed extended practice time, so even if he does play, it’s unclear how sharp he will be. He could be eased into action. AVOID.

Against the spread (ATS)

VIRGINIA TECH -10.5 (-110) is an attractive play, even if Burmeister and/or Patterson see time under center. They played well against N.C. State, although Duke’s defense figures to give the Hokies a bit more of a test. Still, the Hokies will also have revenge on their minds after getting boat raced by the Blue Devils at Lane Stadium last September, 45-10.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 53.5 (-110) is worth a small-unit play, although Virginia Tech should be able to generate plenty of offense. The Under is 2-1 in Duke’s three games so far, and they’re averaging just 13.0 PPG. It won’t be a defensive slog, but it won’t be a track meet, either.

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MLB fans roasted Alex Rodriguez for his nonsensical opinions about bunts in Reds-Braves

Just … no.

The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves opened their National League Wild Card matchup on Wednesday with a historic show of offensive futility. It was the longest scoreless game in MLB postseason history. It had the most combined strikeouts in MLB postseason history.

And as both teams struggled to get anything going at the plate, ESPN’s Alex Rodriguez seemed adamant that the team that decides to sacrifice bunt would ultimately win the game.

He wanted to see Dansby Swanson — among the Braves’ more clutch hitters — lay down a sacrifice bunt to give way for the bottom of the lineup (he didn’t). He wanted Ozzie Albies, who has not had a sacrifice bunt this season, to do the same. The take didn’t just bother analytics-driven viewers, the repeated demands to bunt had fans openly mocking A-Rod during the broadcast.

Seriously, though, don’t bunt.

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What Buccaneers said about Chargers QB Justin Herbert, WR Keenan Allen

The Los Angeles Chargers offense will have a tough task facing a dominant Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense.

As the Buccaneers are gearing up to take on the Chargers, a lot of their focus will be put on wide receiver Keenan Allen.

Allen has been on a tear the past two weeks, totaling 20 catches for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Bay is aware of how well he is playing, and the team is looking to take him out of the equation this weekend.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis, who will get some matchups against Allen, was asked about the targets that the wideout is receiving, he said, “I love the action. I love the smoke.”

“He’s a really great player. I like his game a lot. He’s a dog out there, too. He’s a little bit smaller than me, but he’d be out there blocking and he plays real tough. So hopefully we can shut him down and get a W,” WR Mike Evans said.

The other player for Los Angeles who has been playing well is the guy who is distributing the wealth to Allen, rookie QB Justin Herbert.

HC Bruce Arians had praise for Herbert, saying that he is poised, and the biggest thing is that he’s athletic. “You got to maintain the pocket or else he’ll burn you for a run,” Arians said.

The 22-year-old Herbert is set to face off against 43-year-old Tom Brady, marking the first time since at least 1950 that there was an age gap of 20+ years between opposing starting quarterbacks.

Hudson Swafford celebrates first victory in 3 ½ years with ‘one, two or 12 beers. No one was really counting’

JACKSON, Miss. – How did Hudson Swafford celebrate earning his first victory on Sunday in more than 3½ years? “Not hard enough,” he said of an impromptu gathering with his caddie, wife, and fellow pros at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club …

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JACKSON, Miss. – How did Hudson Swafford celebrate earning his first victory on Sunday in more than 3½ years?

“Not hard enough,” he said of an impromptu gathering with his caddie, wife, and fellow pros at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship in the Dominican Republic. Caddie Benji Thompson, who was on the bag for cut-casualty Kevin Chappell, enjoyed some deep sea fishing earlier that day and caught a bunch of mahi mahi that the resort cooked up for a feast.

“We had one or two or 12 beers, no one was really counting, but we had a great time, and then my wife was in the middle of maybe 15 guys. I felt bad for her, but at the same time, she was enjoying it and having a good time, having a good laugh,” Swafford said.

He was the only player in the 144-man field to record four rounds in the 60s and overcame losing a three-stroke lead on the back nine before rallying over the final two holes to claim his second career Tour title.

Tee times, TV info | Fantasy | Odds, best bets

Swafford endured a few bumps in the road between his first victory at the 2017 American Express when he climbed as high as No. 75 in the world and beginning this year as No. 426. First, he suffered a rib injury and then just when that healed he required surgery to remove a small bone in the bottom of his right foot. He missed four months in the summer of 2019, during which time his wife gave birth to their son. Playing this season on a medical exemption, Swafford was down to two starts and needed to make something happen. The pressure was mounting, but he knew his game was sharp, as did his swing instructor, Scott Hamilton.

“He’s like, ‘I’ve got nothing for you, you’re playing great, you’re swinging it great. It’s just kind of mental,’ ” Swafford said.

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship
Hudson Swafford celebrates with his caddie Kyle Bradley after winning the 2020 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship on Sept. 27, 2020 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Ah, the mental game. That can be even trickier to mend than removing a small bone in his foot. Swafford called on an old friend, sports psychologist Bhrett McCabe, who changed his mindset by downplaying the importance of retaining his Tour privileges.

“He’s like, man, honestly, you keep doing this, you’re not going to keep your card anyway, so you might as well just go have fun and enjoy playing golf again and try to just be like a junior golfer; just go have fun and you’re just playing for a trophy,” Swafford recounted.

McCabe added: “You’re going to play golf the rest of your career. You’ve got a long career, two tournaments aren’t going to define you. He’s like, you’re going to be playing on the PGA Tour for a long time regardless. He goes, you’re going to play other events this fall, you’re going to play other events in the spring, so let’s just go and have fun these last two events and get out of your own way because you know your golf is good.”

It sure was on Sunday at Corales Golf Club as Swafford shot 5-under 31 on the front nine to lead by as many as four strokes. He let the field, in particular Mackenzie Hughes who tied him, back into the trophy hunt with a two-chip double bogey on the par-4 13th and a bogey at the 15th. Swafford never panicked and he stiffed a 6-iron at the par-3 17th for the go-ahead birdie before making a clinching 8-foot par putt at the seaside 18th. Some more of his work with McCabe proved vital down the stretch.

“You’ve got to stay in the moment. Got to stay in the present. We’ve been working on that and kind of just focusing on that and a clear thought before I hit a golf shot,” Swafford said. “Bad thoughts are going to creep in your head, obviously, with anything that you do, but it’s how you handle it and how you react to it is the big thing.”

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship
Hudson Swafford plays his third shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the 2020 Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Swafford closed with 3-under 69 for an 18-under 270 total and went from trying to satisfy his major medical to exempt on Tour through 2023. Healthy and wealthy and with grander ambitions, Swafford was asked whether his second victory was more meaningful to him given the injuries that had stalled his career.

“Your first one is your most special, I think,” he said. “I definitely didn’t want to be that guy who was like – that just had one PGA Tour win. I’m not saying you get lucky and just win once, but I want to win multiple times. That’s why I get up and grind and do what I do.”

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WATCH: Wisconsin football’s best September moments

A compilation of the best September moments from Wisconsin football

Despite no Wisconsin football this September, the Badger football staff is reminding us of some of the greatest moments from the month in UW history.

Wisconsin’s director of player personnel Saeed Khalif tweeted out a montage video of all the best September moments in recent Badger history. From upsetting LSU in 2016 to Jonathan Taylor running wild, we get a taste of what we were missing this month:

Thankfully next month is the month that we get to enjoy Wisconsin football once again.

Michael Thomas (ankle) returns to Saints practice on Wednesday

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas returned to practice two weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain against the Buccaneers.

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Here’s some potentially big news: when the New Orleans Saints took the practice field on Wednesday, they were joined by wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas missed two games after suffering a high-ankle injury in the season-opening win over Tampa Bay, and initial reports said that he was working with a two- to four-week timetable to return.

But he participated in Wednesday’s practice session, and reporters on the seen said he moved well in the portion of work open to the media. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport pointed out that the main concern for New Orleans is a risk of reinjury; if Thomas is ramping up his activity level before his body is ready for it, he could miss a more extensive time. But he’ll have three days of practice to prove he can handle it.

Obviously, adding the reining Offensive Player of the Year to a Saints offense that’s sputtered with too many stops and starts would be huge. Drew Brees hasn’t been able to get away with as many off-target throws to wideouts Emmanuel Sanders, Tre’Quan Smith, and Deonte Harris, which is the sort of margin for error Thomas can widen. The Saints currently rank twentieth in first down conversions on offense, which is far beneath their usual standards with Thomas on top of the depth chart.

We’ll know exactly how active Thomas was in practice when the daily injury report is released, so check this space often for updates.

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Detroit Lions Wednesday Week 4 injury report: Desmond Trufant returns to practice

Examining the Detroit Lions injury report for Week 4 as the team prepares to take on the New Orleans Saints.

The Detroit Lions returned to the practice field on Wednesday as they prepare to host the New Orleans Saints in Week 4. While a new name was added to the injury report this week, overall it is their smaller injury list of the season.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ injury report, with the updated changes in injury status listed in bold.

Injured reserve/PUP list

No Practice

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
C.J. Moore Groin No Practice

After dealing with a hamstring injury the first two weeks of the season, Moore injured his groin last week on Thursday, was unable to practice on Friday, given a questionable designation, and ruled inactive at game time. It’s not overly surprising that he is unable to practice to start the week, but if there is any chance he will be available on Sunday, he will probably need to return to practice tomorrow.

Limited Practice

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Hunter Bryant Hamstring Limited Practice
Da’Shawn Hand Chest Limited Practice
Desmond Trufant Hamstring Limited Practice

Trufant has been trending in this direction since last week, and while he was downgraded for the game last weekend, he appears to be on the path to the playing field today.

Hand has not been on the injury report this season and it’s unclear if he suffered his chest injury on Sunday or if it happened today. If he was injured on Sunday and limited today, it would point to him most likely being capable of playing on Sunday, but if he suffered the injury today, his status for the weekend would be a bit more in doubt.

On the surface, Bryant returning to the practice field today is encouraging, but it’s worth remembering that he was also able to practice last Wednesday before being downgraded in the later parts of the week and unable to play in Week 3. He will likely need a full week of practice before he is ready to make his NFL debut.

Full Practice

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Full Practice

There are no players listed in this section at this time.

Texas offers 2022 four-star small forward from Kansas

UT has offered SF Aidan Shaw from Stilwell, Kansas. A four-star prospect, Shaw is the fifth SF the Longhorns has offered in the 2022 class.

Texas has offered small forward Aidan Shaw from Stilwell, Kansas. A four-star prospect, Shaw is the fifth small forward the Longhorns have offered in the 2022 class.

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Lakers vs Heat: Predicting the NFL Finals

This is going to be a fun one.

Its been a long wait, but the NBA Finals are finally here.

There have been plenty of bumps in the road along the way, but we’re here. Its not the exact matchup we expectedly but it’s still a great one.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the last two teams remaining, as expected. But what we didn’t expect was for Jimmy Butler the 5th seeded Miami Heat to make it to the end.

But they’ve been straight up dominant in their playoff run, going a blistering 12-3 along the way.

Now that we’re here, it’s clear these were the best two teams in the NBA. This will be a matchup for the books.

Our NBA experts Charles Curtis and Mike Sykes are here to break down the series.

Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving’s jerseys among top-sellers during NBA restart

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving didn’t log a single minute in the Disney bubble, but they still made the league a lot of money.

After playing in 20 games for the Brooklyn Nets before the 2019-20 season went on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March, Kyrie Irving didn’t log a single minute of action throughout the NBA’s restart.

Like Kevin Durant, who didn’t play at all this season as he rehabbed his surgically repaired right Achilles, Irving was unable to travel to the Disney bubble.

Yet both of Brooklyn’s superstars were still among the NBA’s top-selling jerseys throughout the NBA restart.

The league announced the top 15 selling jerseys from the end of July to the end of September, along with the top 10 “most popular team merchandise” during that same period, per Ian Begley of SNY.

Durant finished with the seventh-best selling jersey, trailing Golden State’s Steph Curry, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Los Angeles’ (Lakers) Anthony Davis, Dallas’ Luka Doncic and Los Angeles’ (Lakers) LeBron James.

Irving came in at No. 12, with Boston’s Kemba Walker, Miami’s Jimmy Butler, Los Angeles’ (Clippers) Kawhi Leonard and Portland’s Damian Lillard finishing between him and Durant.

The Nets did not finish among the top 10 in “most popular team merchandise.”