Month: November 2023

Jaguars’ updated 53-man roster after trade for Ezra Cleveland

The Jaguars have tinkered with their roster in the first two months of the 2023 season. Here’s where it stands at the beginning of November:

The Jacksonville Jaguars did some light tinkering with their roster in the first two months of the 2023 season, but made one last significant change just before the Oct. 31 trade deadline.

On Tuesday, the Jaguars acquired offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland in a deal with the Minnesota Vikings and waived former fourth round draft pick Ben Bartch to make room on the roster.

It certainly won’t be the last move the Jaguars make this season, but they probably won’t make a more significant one in the next few months.

With eight weeks of regular season action in the books and 10 left before the playoffs begin, here’s how Jacksonville’s roster stands at the beginning of November:

Poll Results: Which QB should the Falcons start in Week 9?

Poll Results: Which quarterback should start for the Falcons in Week 9?

The Atlanta Falcons chose to wait until Wednesday to name a starting quarterback for Week 9. Head coach Arthur Smith said the team wanted to evaluate Desmond Ridder‘s health after the second-year QB suffered a head injury against the Titans.

Taylor Heinicke came in for the second half and played well enough to create a quarterback controversy in Atlanta. Since the team has yet to name a starter, we asked our readers to vote for the QB they think should play in Week 9.

The results are in and Heinicke dominated with over 80 percent of the vote, as you can see below:

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Smith is expected to name a starting quarterback on Wednesday when he speaks to reporters. Check back this afternoon for updates and fan reactions.

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Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Milwaukee Bucks (2-1) and Toronto Raptors (1-3) meet Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Bucks vs. Raptors odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

Season series: First meeting; Milwaukee won last season’s series 3-1

The Bucks covered the spread as 7.5-point home favorites on Monday with a 122-114 win vs. the Miami Heat as the Over (226) hit. F Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points as the Bucks ended a 5-game against-the-spread (ATS) losing streak dating back to last season’s playoffs.

The Raptors failed to cover as 10-point home favorites — as we predicted — in a 99-91 loss vs. the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday as the Under (216) hit. F Scottie Barnes finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds as Toronto lost its 3rd straight game.

Milwaukee covered in the 1st 2 meetings last season, and Toronto covered in the final 2. The Over and Under each hit twice.

Bucks at Raptors odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:22 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Bucks -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Raptors +165 (bet $100 to win $165)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Bucks -5.5 (-105) | Raptors +5.5 (-115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 224.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Bucks at Raptors key injuries

Bucks

  • None

Raptors

  • C Precious Achiuwa (groin) doubtful

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Bucks at Raptors picks and predictions

Prediction

Bucks 115, Raptors 105

Moneyline

The Raptors are very thin at guard after letting G Fred VanVleet walk in free agency. The Bucks (-200) should win, but I’d rather lay the points.

PASS. Bet the spread and/or the total instead.

Against the spread

The Raptors have been struggling with G Dennis Schröder trying to fill VanVleet’s shoes. Toronto was 25-16-1 (61.0%) ATS at home last season, but the market may be undervaluing the loss of VanVleet.

The Bucks started the season 0-2 ATS before covering vs. Miami and are only going to get better as G Damian Lillard gets more comfortable in their system.

This is normally a spot where I would like the Raptors to bounce back, but they may be too thin at guard to compete with a top-3 team in Milwaukee.

BET BUCKS -5.5 (-105).

Over/Under

The Under is 3-1 in Raptors games this season, as Toronto is last in offensive efficiency and 3rd in defensive efficiency. Toronto’s style of play combined with Lillard still getting acclimated to the Bucks should help the Under hit.

LEAN UNDER 224.5 (-110).

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Commanders can’t help but take parting shots at Chase Young

On the day of Chase Young’s trade, we hear of negative stories from his time with the Commaders.

Chase Young hadn’t even had time to leave the DMV on Tuesday after the news broke that the Washington Commanders agreed to trade him to the San Francisco 49ers before the negative stories started coming out.

Shortly after Young’s trade, Ben Standig of The Athletic published an article analyzing Washington’s trades of Young and Montez Sweat, and one thing in particular stood out.

However, the team sees trading Young as a potential addition by subtraction, the source said. Even amid Young’s strong season, there are lingering concerns about his durability and on-field discipline.

Nothing Standig said was wrong here. There have long been concerns about Young’s durability and on-field discipline. However, it was the “addition by subtraction” excerpt that stood out.

Was this necessary on the day of Young’s trade?

Later on Tuesday, Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle covered the trade from the 49ers’ point of view.

Young, according to several Washington coaches and other organizational sources, was viewed as an undisciplined player who developed bad habits such as deviating from assignments in an effort to make splash plays. His off-the-field priorities and commitment to his craft were often questioned, and he was viewed internally as a player who plateaued as a rookie.

Again, none of what Silver said is wrong.

But, it should be noted that Silver is close friends with Washington head coach Ron Rivera. So, when Silver said he spoke to Washington coaches, it’s not difficult to imagine that Rivera could be one of those coaches.

So, were these quotes regarding Young really necessary on the day of his trade?

Again, we’ve all heard and seen enough to believe many of these things are true. Washington’s disgust with Young began in the 2021 offseason when he chose to skip the offseason program. When Young struggled before his knee injury, this quote, directly from Young, really stood out.

For far too long, anonymous quotes trashing former players and coaches have been prevalent in Washington. Almost all of it was unnecessary, but with Daniel Snyder and Bruce Allen in charge, it was expected.

The Commanders have a new owner now. And while Josh Harris and his group had nothing to do with the negative quotes regarding Young, it’s just another example of the organization needing to get the last word.

Washington wasn’t wrong for moving on from Young. Rivera had plenty of reasons to move on. The team didn’t owe anyone an explanation. But the Commanders should’ve just wished Young well and offered “no comment” on why he was moved.

Even if everything said about Young was 100% true, was it necessary?

Tuesday’s moves are likely just the beginning of a massive overhaul for the Commanders in the offseason.

 

Bengals news: Tee Higgins trade deadline buzz, the Jonah Williams problem, more

The latest Bengals news items and notes to know.

The calendar turns to November for a Cincinnati Bengals team that elected to stand still at the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday afternoon.

That’s the big news item for a team that looked like it might want to make even a minor move as it attempts to surge out of the bye and turn a 4-3 record into another playoff berth.

Beyond the trade deadline news, we’ve got some items about the upcoming primetime “Sunday Night Football” showdown against the Buffalo Bills and even rumblings about Tee Higgins.

Here’s a look at the must-know Bengals news, notes and quotes for November 1.

UGA football social media reacts to College Football Playoff rankings

Georgia Bulldogs football social media responds as Georgia is given motivation from the College Football Playoff committee

The College Football Playoff rankings are out ahead of Week 10. The back-to-back defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs check in as the No. 2 team in the College Football Playoff rankings.

Georgia football is ranked behind the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State’s wins over Notre Dame, Penn State and Wisconsin gave the Buckeyes the edge over the Bulldogs.

No. 2 Georgia will have opportunities to play tougher opponents over the next several weeks starting in Week 10 against No. 12 Missouri. After Georgia, the selection committee ranks Michigan as the nation’s No. 3 team, Florida State at No. 4 and the Washington Huskies as No. 5.

How did Georgia football social media react to the first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings?

Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Atlanta Hawks (2-2) welcome the Washington Wizards (1-2) to State Farm Arena Wednesday. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Wizards vs. Hawks odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

Season series: First meeting; Atlanta won 3 of 4 games last season

The Hawks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-113 Monday for their 1st home win and 2nd cover of the season, closing as a 2.5-point favorite. Atlanta is 2-2 against the spread (ATS) and is on a 2-game win and cover streak. The Hawks are led by G Dejounte Murray, who is averaging 21.3 points per game.

The Wizards lost to the Boston Celtics 126-107 Monday, failing to cover as a 10.5-point home underdog. Washington is 1-2 straight up and ATS this season and is 2-1 O/U. The Wizards are led by F Kyle Kuzma, who is averaging 22.3 points per game.

Wizards at Hawks odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:08 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Wizards +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Hawks -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Wizards +8.5 (-110) | Hawks -8.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 238.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Wizards at Hawks key injuries

Wizards

  • C Daniel Gafford (ankle) questionable

Hawks

  • G Trae Young (Achilles) questionable

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Wizards at Hawks picks and predictions

Prediction

Hawks 123, Wizards 118

Moneyline

PASS.

Both of the Wizards’ loses have come by 15-plus points and they are 0-1 on the road. Washington doesn’t have the depth to keep pace with Atlanta and are a rightful underdog, but given the values on the moneyline, neither play gives great odds to back here.

Against the spread

BET WIZARDS +8.5 (-110).

The Hawks may be 2-2 ATS on the season, but they aren’t playing great basketball. Young, who has been the team’s consistent star the last few seasons, is shooting just 31% from the field, and he’s a liability on the defensive end as well.

The Hawks rank 23rd in defensive rating and may struggle keeping Washington at bay long enough to cover. Atlanta was just 19-25 ATS at home last season. The Wizards have scored at least 107 in every game and should have the firepower to keep with a potent Hawks attack.

Back WIZARDS +8.5 (-110).

Over/Under

LEAN OVER 238.5 (-110).

There’s no reason to believe defense will be played in this game. The Wizards rank 23rd and the Wizards rank 29th in defensive rating.

The Wizards gave up 143 in their lone road game and have given up 125-plus points in 2 of 3 games. Similarly, Atlanta has scored 127 in back-to-back games and given up at least 110 in each game this season.

Expect an offensive onslaught and take OVER 238.5 (-110).

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Nebraska’s Depth Chart Against Michigan State: Offense

Nebraska’s offense has been decimated by injuries this season.

Nebraska’s offense has been decimated by injuries this season. The Huskers have lost three starters on the offensive line, multiple wide receivers, and their top two running backs.

Head coach Matt Rhule has cited special teams coach Ed Foley as helping the team overcome the injuries in more ways than one.

I think his ability all day long to talk to players one-on-one and to make sure guys understand what to do – even last week, the impact of the offensive line injuries, now Dylan Parrott goes out to be on the field goal team for the first time ever. It’s his first reps playing and to know that, ‘hey, I’m going to get live reps on Tuesday’ helped him. I think Ed does a phenomenal job of doing those different things and managing those players.

You can find an entire breakdown of Nebraska’s offensive depth chart against Michigan State below. The Huskers will face the Spartans on Saturday in East Lansing. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

DJ Rodman earns praise from college basketball insider

This is such an important piece of the puzzle for USC.

The USC Trojans men’s basketball team is ranked in the top 25 to begin the season, and the status of Bronny James is still up in the air. But, the return of Boogie Ellis, the addition of five-star recruit Isaiah Collier, and so many other moves have the Trojans in position to achieve at a high level.

Washington State transfer D.J. Rodman is a big piece of the puzzle, and Jon Rothstein of College Hoops Today and CBS Sports mentioned Rodman as one of his top glue guys to watch for this upcoming season.

“The Trojans haven’t had a classic ‘Glue Guy’ in recent years, but Rodman should fit the bill,” Rothstein wrote. “The son of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, DJ Rodman has the requisites to be a missing piece for USC at power forward. A transfer from Washington State, the 6-6 Rodman averaged 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds last season.”

Rodman should give a big boost to the Trojans. He is familiar with the Pac-12 from his Washington State days, and he is the son of Dennis Rodman.

But, with all of the pieces the Trojans have, it will be important for Rodman to find his role and be a glue guy.

*

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Oklahoma fans were right about Lincoln Riley, at least for this specific season.

USC assistants need to be coaching for their jobs.

Lincoln Riley did not assemble an elite 2023 roster, which surprised us and a lot of other observers.

Is USC ready to win in 2024 with Miller Moss or Malachi Nelson at quarterback? Lincoln Riley has to be honest about how he answers that question.

Brent Venables is coaching Oklahoma far better this year than Lincoln Riley is coaching USC. It’s up to Riley to change that reality.

Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Buffalo Sabres (4-5-0) play the first game of a home-and-home set with the Philadelphia Flyers (4-4-1) Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Sabres vs. Flyers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Sabres posted what is easily their best win of the season last time out, beating the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 on Sunday at KeyBank Center as heavy underdogs (+171) on home ice as the Under (7) cashed. Buffalo has managed a 1-2-0 record in 3 games on the road, suffering a 5-4 loss in New Jersey on Friday night.

The Flyers were on the short end of a 3-2 home loss against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night, and Philly has dropped 2 straight on home ice after winning its 1st 3 at WFC.

The road team has won 3 of the past 4 meetings in this series, including 2 of 3 last season, with the underdog cashing in 6 of the past 8 meetings overall. The Over is on an amazing 9-1 in the past 10 in this series.

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Sabres at Flyers odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:56 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Sabres -111 (bet $111 to win $100) | Flyers -108 (bet $108 to win $100)
  • Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres +1.5 (-255) | Flyers -1.5 (+205)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -142 | U: +116)

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Sabres at Flyers projected goalies

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (3-2-1, 2.72 GAA, .905 SV%) vs. Carter Hart (3-1-0, 1.33 GAA, .961 SV%)

Luukkonen turned aside all 23 of the shots he faced against the Avalanche on Sunday, and it’s hard to imagine Sabres coach Don Granato turning to Devon Levi (lower body) if he is ready. UPL has done a good job steadying things in the crease while Levi and Eric Comrie (lower body) have been on the shelf.

Hart kicked aside 29 of the 32 shots he faced against the Hurricanes last time out, but the offense provided him with just 2 goals of support, all in the 1st period. He has allowed 3 or fewer goals in each of his past 5 outings, and all 4 starts on home ice.

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Sabres at Flyers picks and predictions

Prediction

Sabres 3, Flyers 2

Moneyline

The SABRES (-111) are worth playing in the front end of the home-and-home set. The road team picked up 2 victories in 3 meetings last season, and Luukkonen is brimming with confidence after posting a shutout against the high-octane Avalanche last time out.

The Flyers (-108) have been quite consistent, with Hart alternating losses and wins in each of his past 4 starts.

While the Sabres are just 6-16 in the past 22 skates in Philly, Buffalo is a healthy 6-2 in the past 8 meetings overall in the series.

Puck line/Against the spread

The Sabres +1.5 (-255) will cost you over 2 1/2 times your potential return if you would like a little insurance. That’s way too much risk for not enough reward. If you like Buffalo, or Philadelphia, for that matter, just play it straight up.

PASS.

Over/Under

UNDER 6.5 (+116) at plus-money is worth a look, although know you’ll be going against some serious trends.

The Over has cashed in 9 of the past 10 meetings in this series. The Over is also 3-1-1 in the past 5 games on the road for the Sabres, while going 9-4 in the past 13 when playing on 2 days of rest.

For the Flyers, the Over has hit in 4 in a row against the Atlantic Division, although there is a slight 5-4 edge to the Under overall this season.

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