Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray was a Ray Lewis fan growing up

At the 2020 NFL Combine, Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray said Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis was his favorite player growing up.

One of the Baltimore Ravens’ biggest needs this offseason is at inside linebacker. After seeing C.J. Mosley leave in free agency last offseason and Patrick Onwuasor not live up to expectations, Baltimore is left still searching for a definitive starter in the middle of their defense. One such option could be Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray, who many mock drafts have the Ravens selecting in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

At the 2020 NFL Combine, Murray was asked who his favorite player was. As is often the case for linebackers, Baltimore’s Ray Lewis was the name that came up.

Murray is just 21 years old and Lewis retired after winning the Super Bowl following the 2012 season. Just in case you needed to feel any older, that means Murray last saw Lewis play when he was just 14 years old.

For many players entering the 2020 NFL Draft, Lewis was a larger-than-life player who already earned league-wide respect and praise by the time they were able to really watch and understand football. So it makes sense Lewis is still a favorite, especially among defensive players.

For Murray, it would be a fitting story if he ends up being selected by the Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft come April.

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Oklahoma softball set to host Courtyard Marriott Tournament, how to watch

Oklahoma softball has played 14 straight road games to start their season, but will finally open up at home today.

Oklahoma softball has played 14 straight road games to start their season, but will finally play their home opener today against Northwestern.

The Sooners (11-3) have had an up-and-down beginning to their season. Despite being the fifth-ranked team in the country, the Sooners are nursing two-straight losses, one to No. 2 Washington and the other to unranked Wisconsin.

After winning its first six games of the season, Oklahoma suffered its first loss of the season to Long Beach State. The Sooners rebounded with a win over then-No. 4 Arizona before heading to the Mary Nutter Classic.

In Cathedral City, California, Oklahoma finished 3-2, with wins over Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Seattle before losing to the Huskies and Badgers.

Next up the Sooners will host their first home-stand of the season, the Courtyard Marriott Tournament, playing five games over the weekend. They’ll take on Northwestern and Abilene Christian on Friday and North Texas on Saturday, with Saturday’s late game and Sunday’s game TBD.

After Tuesday’s practice, head coach Patty Gasso was extremely high on the level of competition Oklahoma will be playing this weekend.

“The teams that we have coming are playing very well. They’re tough.” she said. “They have very good pitchers and anything we do now we face the best pitchers from every team we play. You just can’t let not having the success you want get in your head. Being at home is gonna make a big difference for us, I believe.”

Here is where you can find this weekend’s matchups.

WHERE: Marita Hynes Field (Norman, Okla.)

WHEN: Friday: 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. CT

Saturday: 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 CT.

Sunday: 12 p.m. CT

HOW TO WATCH: SoonerSports.tv

HOW TO LISTEN: The Franchise 2 (1560 AM, 103.3 FM)

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Report refutes Colts’ meeting with Tom Brady’s representation

A report from The Athletic refutes the meeting between the Indianapolis Colts and Tom Brady’s representation.

There was a report Thursday that the Indianapolis Colts were among the teams that met with the representation of quarterback Tom Brady, but it seems that might not be the case.

Though we might not know the real truth on what happened, Stephen Holder of The Athletic refuted the meeting between the Colts and Brady’s representation.

Regarding New England quarterback Tom Brady, a report from NFL.com said the Colts were among several teams to meet with Brady’s representatives here in Indianapolis. But a league source strongly denied the Colts have engaged in any discussions with Brady’s camp. The source said such a story was “made up.” 

Brady’s speculation about leaving the New England Patriots this offseason has gained some steam after rumors that the 43-year-old quarterback is strongly considering hitting the open market.

However, that initial report could just be a ploy to get the Patriots to drive up the price for Brady. Whether he’s actually considering leaving is anyone’s guess with all the contradicting rumors.

The new league year begins March 18 so we will likely find out what actually is going on with Brady then. Until that, it’s best to take all of this with a grain of salt.

Los Angeles Wildcats at New York Guardians odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Los Angeles Wildcats at New York Guardians sports betting odds and lines, with XFL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Los Angeles Wildcats (1-2) will travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Guardians (1-2) Saturday of Week 4 in the XFL. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET. (on FS1). Below, we break down the Guardians-Defenders Week 4 matchup, with XFL betting picks and tips.

Wildcats at Guardians: Week 4 preview, betting trends and notes

  • The Wildcats had an offensive explosion in Week 3, scoring 39 points in a home win over the DC Defenders. It was the most points scored this season in the XFL.
  • Wildcats QB Josh Johnson had a monster performance in Week 3, throwing for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the game with a passer rating of 148.
  • For the third straight week, the Guardians struggled on offense as they had three different quarterbacks attempt at least five passes in a 29-9 loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks.

Get some action on this XFL matchup or other games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Wildcats at Guardians: Key injuries

Wildcats

  • RB Martez Carter (hip) doubtful
  • WR Nelson Spruce (knee) out
  • DB Mike Stevens (thigh) questionable
  • TE Brandon Barnes (knee) probable
  • DE Latarius Brady (knee) questionable
  • QB Josh Johnson (thigh) questionable
  • QB Chad Kanoff (shoulder) questionable
  • DB Harlan Miller (thigh) questionable
  • RB Larry Rose (foot) probable
  • DB Jaylen Dunlap (ankle) probable
  • WR Tre McBride (thigh) probable

Guardians

  • QB Matt McGloin (thorax) out
  • OL Avery Young (shoulder) probable
  • LB Garret Dooley (ankle) probable
  • LB Jawuan Johnson (head) probable
  • OL John Kling (shoulder) probable
  • RB Darius Victor (ankle) probable

Wildcats at Guardians: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated 12 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Wildcats 26, Guardians 16

Moneyline (?)

Both of these teams are looking to win their second game of the season and get back to .500. The Wildcats (-333) are big moneyline favorites despite being on the road. This actually says more about the Guardians (+260), who have been pathetic on offense all season long. PASS on a moneyline bet and look to the spread for proper value on the Wildcats.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Wildcats to win outright returns a profit of just $3.

Against the Spread (?)

The WILDCATS (-7, -125) open this game as more than a touchdown favorite over the Guardians (+7, +105).  After a dominant Week 3 game against the DC Defenders, the Wildcats offense looks like it’s back on track after two subpar games to start the season. Meanwhile, the Guardians have scored just nine total points over their last two games as they have struggled to find any consistancy at quarterback. Trust the Wildcats offense to continue to put up points and to cover the 7-point spread Saturday.

Over/Under (?)

The total for this Week 4 XFL matchup is set at 39 points, which feels about right given how bad the Guardians offense has been this season. For the Over to hit in this game, the Wildcats will need to do most of the heavy lifting, but they have proven that’s not a problem as long as Johnson is healthy. Don’t expect this to be a high-scoring contest, but for the OVER 39 (-115) to hit in MetLife Stadium.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson will try to cash in on $100k Kyle Busch bounty in Truck Series

Kevin Harvick offered a bounty on Kyle Busch, and NASCAR drivers are chasing after it.

Welcome to FTW’s NASCAR Feud of the Week, where we provide a detailed breakdown of the latest absurd, funny and sometimes legitimate controversies and issues within the racing world. This is not a serious feud at all, but it is one of the more fun and entertaining things to happen in NASCAR.

Kevin Harvick offered a bounty on Kyle Busch, and their fellow NASCAR Cup Series drivers are chasing $100,000.

After Busch won NASCAR’s third-tier Truck Series race last weekend at his home track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway — he also extended his win streak in the series to seven races dating back to the 2018 season — Harvick offered $50,000 to any full-time driver in the premier series who can beat Busch in the Truck Series. And then Marcus Lemonis — the CEO of Gander Outdoors, which is the Truck Series title sponsor — matched it.

Because of Busch’s experience, the reigning Cup Series champ is limited to just five Truck Series races. So anyone who wants to try to beat Busch has four remaining chances to do so: Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 14, Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 20, Texas Motor Speedway on March 27 and Kansas Speedway on May 30.

So far, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson are in.

The two young and talented Cup Series drivers tweeted Thursday that they’re each running one of the truck races on Busch’s schedule. Elliott will compete at Atlanta, while Larson will race at Homestead.

Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon are among the other drivers who have expressed an interest in running one of these Truck Series races, but neither has announced a ride yet. Hamlin implied he has the money, but he can’t find a ride and is looking to his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Busch, to give him a hand.

For his part, Harvick is pretty pumped too. He also previously clarified that a full-time Cup driver has to beat Busch fairly and can’t wreck him to win.

In a release from GMS Racing, both drivers explained they’re competing at one of their favorite tracks, making this bounty even more enticing. Via GMS Racing:

“When I heard about the $100,000 bounty I wanted in!” said Larson. “I’m thankful for GMS and Chevy giving me this opportunity, Homestead is one of my favorite tracks so looking for to the challenge!”

If no full-time driver beats Busch in the Truck Series this season, Harvick and Lemonis agreed to donate the money to Kyle and Samantha Busch’s Bundle of Joy Fund, which helps couples cover costs associated with infertility.

And while Busch surely doesn’t think anyone can beat him, he also explained that he sees Harvick’s bounty as a “huge compliment”.

And in his quintessential Kyle Busch manner, he’s having some fun with the many, many haters who are tired of him winning truck races, which contributed to this whole bounty thing in the first place.

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Pittsburgh Penguins at Anaheim Ducks odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Pittsburgh Penguins at Anaheim Ducks sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins (37-19-6) continue their road trip with a date against the Anaheim Ducks (25-30-8) Friday at Honda Center at 10 p.m. ET (on ESPN+). We analyze the Penguins-Ducks sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Penguins at Ducks: Projected starting goalies

Matt Murray vs. John Gibson

Murray should get the call after All-Star Tristan Jarry started and lost in Los Angeles Wednesday. Murray is 17-9-5 with a 2.84 goals against average and .901 save percentage in 33 starts. While his only shutout of the season came on the road, he has a 3.08 GAA away from home as opposed to a 2.55 GAA in the Steel City. Murray allowed just one goal on 32 shots in a 2-1 home win over the Ducks in the first meeting Oct. 10.

Gibson has posted an 18-24-5 record, 3.01 GAA and .903 SV%. He allowed two goals on 28 shots in that Oct. 10 loss at Pittsburgh. Gibson is a respectable 11-11-2 with a 2.85 GAA and .905 SV% in 24 starts on ‘The Pond’ this season.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Penguins at Ducks: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Penguins 4, Ducks 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Penguins (-189) were dumped in Los Angeles as a -196 favorite Wednesday, showing why it is always risky to lay more than -180 on any single game. Nothing is a sure thing, and there is no sense risking nearly two times your potential return. AVOID a ML play in this one.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Penguins ML returns a profit of $5.29 if they win, while a $10 wager on the Ducks (+155) results in a profit of $15.50 if the home team prevails.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The PENGUINS (-1.5, +140) are more attractive on the puck line. Yes, they won the first meeting 2-1, and they were dropped in L.A. two nights ago, but the Ducks (+1.5, -167) are a mish-mash of AHL and NHL players, having been sellers at the deadline. They’ll simply be playing out the string. Don’t expect the Pens to lose two in a row against pretenders.

Over/Under (O/U)

Go lightly on the OVER 5.5 (-125). It’s hard to imagine the high-octane Pittsburgh offense getting shut down twice in three nights. The Over is also 5-2 in Ducks’ past seven games overall, and 6-2 in the past eight against winning teams. Look for the Pens offense to come alive against them. The Over is 4-1 in the past five skates on The Pond between these two clubs.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Texans had an informal meeting with Tulane DB Bopete Keyes

The Houston Texans have met informally with Tulane Green Wave defensive back Bopete Keyes at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Houston Texans are in a predicament with their cornerback group. Starters Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby are currently without a contract and are set to hit free agency on March 18.

The Texans are looking to the 2020 NFL Draft for depth, and one of the defensive backs they met with informally was Tulane’s Bopete Keyes.

Informal meetings include the position coach, in this case, Texans secondary coach D’Anton Lynn. Teams are not limited to the number of informals they can hold with the 337 attendees. The only limitation is they can only have 45 formal interviews, and those meetings are limited to 18 minutes.

Keyes stands at 6-1, 200 pounds and would be more along the lines of Lonnie Johnson, who the Texans took in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The senior from Laurel, Miss., says that he looks up to a former Texans safety both on and off the field in Tyrann Mathieu, who made All-Pro with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 as part of their Super Bowl run.

If the Texans could get Keyes and he produces Mathieu-level production on his rookie contract, Houston would have made a nice transition from the Joseph era to a younger one.

Redskins are on unstable ground flirting with Tua Tagovailoa in front of Dwayne Haskins

The Redskins are just doing ‘due diligence’ by looking at Tua in the draft, but it could be detrimental to their relationship with Haskins.

Ron Rivera and the Washington Redskins made headlines on Thursday when they announced that the team would meet with both Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa ahead of the NFL Draft, possibly looking to draft one of them to take over the team going forward.

Whether you think it’s a good idea or not for the Redskins to consider this possibility, you have to consider what that notion says to Dwayne Haskins, the QB Washington picked in the first round of last year’s draft. In essence, Haskins is the current girlfriend who just opened up the boyfriend’s phone to find the Tinder app placed prominently on the home page. It may not mean anything, but it can’t be a fun discovery to have.

Rivera wants to be clear; he didn’t mean to cast doubt on Haskins, and he doesn’t think that the young QB will take it that way either.

“I think Dwayne is smart enough to understand,” Rivera said, via NBC Sports Washington. “I really do. It’s been a neat development of a relationship right now between he and I. I think the one thing that I really do appreciate is his hard work already. And I think that’s what everybody needs, to just take a step back and understand that all we’re doing is our due diligence.”

If it is just due diligence, and Haskins is aware of that, then no harm, no foul. However, that much isn’t completely clear. It was reported on Friday that the meetings were more than just due diligence, and the Redskins were actually kicking the tires on Tua Tagovailoa. ESPN’s Mel Kiper went as far as to suggest Washington pit Tua and Haskins in a QB battle this summer, trading away whoever doesn’t come out on top. We think this would be a mistake. 

“I think if this is something that’s bothering him, he’ll say it,” Rivera said. “But he’s a mature, young man who’s just growing in his role. I just think that everybody needs to just relax and let us go through our process.”

Regardless of what happens, the Redskins will be left dealing with Haskins, and how he feels he was treated through it all could have major ramifications going forward. Rivera says their relationship is solid, and he “was just chatting” with the girl at the coffee shop. Haskins may buy it, but his recent social media activity could say otherwise…

It could mean nothing, or it could mean everything. We’ll probably never know.

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A large crane collapsed at Rams’ SoFi Stadium in Inglewood

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

A large crane at the construction site of SoFi Stadium – the future home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers – collapsed on Friday morning. The crane was positioned outside the stadium, not on the interior.

It’s unclear what caused the accident, but according to the L.A. County Fire Department, no injuries were reported.

The $5 billion stadium is more than 85% complete and is set to open in July for a Taylor Swift concert. The Rams and Chargers will both play preseason games there in August before the regular season begins a month later.

“We’re on a really tight schedule to deliver the building for July 25, yet everything remains on schedule,” said Jason Gannon, managing director of the stadium project at Hollywood Park.

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Charlie Woerner runs 40 yard dash at NFL Combine

Former Georgia football tight end Charlie Woerner clocks in for his official 40 yard dash time at the 2020 NFL Combine on Thursday.

Former UGA tight end Charlie Woerner ran his official NFL Combine 40-yard-dash this Thursday.

The 6’5″ 245lb Woerner ran an impressive time for a tight end of his size.

Woerner clocked in for an official second time of 4.78 seconds.

Woerner then moved to the “over the shoulder” drill and blocking sled, in which he performed very well, according to sources.

Other tight ends clocked between 4.66 and 4.96, placing Woerner right in the middle of the mix.  Woerner also had an impressive bench press performance at 21 reps, giving him a very solid day overall.