5 biggest takeaways from Seattle Sounders’ MLS Cup win

Here’s everything we saw and learned from Seattle’s win over Toronto in MLS Cup.

Seattle Sounders FC won MLS Cup on Sunday afternoon, outlasting Toronto FC in a 3-1 win that saw the game break open in the second half. Every goal came after the 57th minute, as what started as a cagey affair soon turned into a thrilling, up-and-down match.

Let’s get to five things we learned from the game.

1. Seattle was deep, and depth is often the difference maker

For the first 55 minutes of MLS Cup, the two teams played each other basically to a stalemate. Toronto had more of the ball, but didn’t seem willing to throw too many men forward, and attack after attack fizzled out.

Seattle needed something to switch things up. First, they got a somewhat lucky deflection goal from right back Kevin Leerdam. (See what happens when you commit numbers forward?)

What blew the game open, however, was the introduction of Victor Rodriguez. Rodriguez came in during the 61st minute for Brad Smith (who didn’t have his best game) and broke it open with a phenomenal goal that doubled Seattle’s lead.

Rodriguez has struggled with injuries all season, but the fact that Seattle can turn to a Barcelona-trained attacker with years of La Liga experience off the bench shows how deep this squad is. The Sounders don’t have a Zlatan or a Rooney. They have a bunch of very good players, and that’s why they’re so successful.

2. Brian Schmetzer should be getting more attention than he is

Well the other reason that Seattle is so successful is that the team has a hell of a coach. Brian Schmetzer coached the Seattle Sounders back before they were in MLS, then served as an assistant for Sigi Schmid when the team entered the top flight of American soccer. He got the interim job when the late Schmid stepped down, and promptly won MLS Cup. He’s now been in three finals in four years, winning two of them.

Schmetzer doesn’t command the attention of other coaches in this league, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that, on resume alone, he might be the best.

The final was an example of his brilliance. The team was organized, defended well, but took their chances as the game moved forward. They shut down Toronto’s most potent attacker, Alejandro Pozuelo, and then relied on the pace of Jordan Morris and Ruidiaz going forward to wreak havoc when Toronto started to chase the game.

3. Toronto needed to force the issue in the first half, and it didn’t

Toronto FC couldn’t get a full 90 minutes from Jozy Altidore, though he did come in as a substitute and grab a late, headed consolation goal.

Without Altidore, Toronto only had one real target man in the attacking third — Pozuelo. With Seattle keyed in on him and tackling hard to keep him uncomfortable, Toronto needed other players to stress the issue and take chances. That … didn’t really happen.

When Auro pushed up from right back for Toronto, he was giving Brad Smith fits on that wing, and I assumed Toronto would start getting him to bomb forward and get men in the box. With the speed of Seattle’s Jordan Morris on that left wing, however, Auro was hesitant to commit too much.

That’s probably the right call, but Toronto had total control of the game for about twenty minutes at the end of the first half, and mustered one or two shots that didn’t really trouble Sounders keeper Stefan Frei. I know finals are cagey, but there were chances for Auro, Michael Bradley, or Marky Delgado to take chances and get in the box. They didn’t.

4. That crowd was an all-timer

Holy smokes, 70,000 people at CenturyLink Field was special. That final had real atmosphere, which is all MLS can ask for.

While the TV numbers will undoubtedly be disappointing for the league, and I thought there was an odd lack of marketing around the final, MLS’ move to a single-elimination format for the playoffs has made the tournament more exciting. Diehards may grumble that it leaves more up to chance, but this tournament has always been ridiculous, and might as well lean into it.

5. Ruidiaz is special

While watching this match, I couldn’t help but keep focusing on Ruidiaz, Sounders’ diminutive striker who, at 5-foot-7, still manages to physically dominate just about anyone who comes at him. He may not be the brand that Zlatan is, but Ruidiaz is a breathtaking player, all piss and vinegar and energy. Watching him occupy the Toronto defenders was incredible to watch.

And what a final goal:

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Hawai’i Quarterback: Who’s starting next week and beyond

Hawaii has switched around quarterbacks a few times this year, so who will head coach Nick Rolovich go with next week?

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Hawai’i QB’s: Who’s starting next week and beyond

Cordeiro or McDonald

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

What is going on with Hawai’s QB situation?

Chevan Cordeiro was 23-31, 309yds, 3 TDs in the win over San Jose State Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

In what was the biggest decision Hawai’i head coach Nick Rolovich has to make in his still young coaching career he decided to start the redshirt freshmen over his one and a half year starter Cole McDonald.

After the game coach Rolo praised both quarterbacks with how they handled themselves both on and off the field. It’s not easy being on the sideline watching his backup run the run and shoot offense like Cordeiro has since his high school days at Saint Louis Schools. But being a good teammate McDonald is he is always the first to congratulate or give Coideiro some encouragement or insight when he comes off the field.

It looks like now coach Rolo has another tough decision going into the UNLV game next week in Las Vegas. While Coideiro has proven he can lead the team to many scores at Aloha Stadium we have not seen him start yet on the mainland. If Rolo wants to roll the dice again and start Coideiro next week this might be the one opponent to do it in a 2-7 Rebels team.

McDonald understood Rolo’s decision to start Cordeiro and told his head coach that he will work even harder next week to win back his job. So does this mean Rolovch can start McDonald again?

Absolutely. Look Hawai’i probably wouldn’t be in the situation they are in right now without Cole starting being 6-4 and having a slight chance to win the West Division and play for the Mountain West Championship. You have to give him credit for always believing he is “the guy” even when the local critics are hard on him.

So looking at the good situation Hawai’i has that they can start either quarterback and have a good chance of success. Let’s look at some facts to determine who should start:

  • Cole McDonald has the experience with 21 starts including a career record of 5-2 on the road against MW teams.
  • McDonald’s QBR is 68.0(47th best in the country) and despite throwing nine interceptions in the first four games McDonald has only thrown three on the last five.
  • Everyone can see that Cole is a confident guy whether through media interviews or on the field. He likes his chances of throwing into small windows in the secondary.
  • Cole’s tendencies still seem to be going through his progressions a bit slower than Chevan and his thought process of taking off is too late. Also, McDonald in the RPO gives the ball to the running back about 85% of the time instead of pulling it back and running with it.
  • Cordeiro albeit only started two games in his career has made the most of his time on the field with the two victories and also several comeback wins on his belt.
  • He has been in eight games in 2019 with a QBR of 84.1 and threw for six touchdowns to one interception.
  • Chevan can throw the long ball and connect with the highs of 71, 57, and 50 yards the last three games. But some deep passes can hang in the air and the receivers have to come back on it or it could easily be a pick but so far it hasn’t hurt UH.
  • He may be a quiet leader but he will boast about his teammates after the game every time.

It will come to if Cole McDonald can have stellar practices and prove he is still “the guy” for Coach Rolo. If Rolo is impressed and can trust Cole to make the throws he knows he can make he will start at UNLV.

After that week though we might see another change and start Cordeiro and give the San Diego State defense another thing to prepare for in his elusiveness. It will be like an MLB team having two-star pitchers and putting them against the team they know they have a better chance of winning based on personnel.

The future for Hawai’i football is with Cordeiro no doubt about it but the last three games (possibly four) can determine if McDonald will play in a Rainbow Warrior uniform next year. I’m thinking the future is now.

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Rockets-Pelicans odds: Houston slight road favorite

Previewing Monday’s Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans odds and lines, with NBA matchup analysis and picks.

The Houston Rockets (6-3) visit the New Orleans Pelicans (2-7) Monday at the Smoothie King Center for an 8 p.m. ET start. We analyze the Rockets-Pelicans odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

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

Rockets at Pelicans: Key injuries

Pelicans

  • PG Lonzo Ball (hip) out

Rockets at Pelicans: Odds, lines, picks, and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Rockets 127, Pelicans 120

Moneyline (ML)

The -189 line for the visiting ROCKETS is a bit of a concern given they are 3-2 away from home; however, New Orleans is just 1-3 at home with a penchant for not playing defensively sound.

Can New Orleans stop anyone? It allows nearly 123 points per game and goes up against a Houston team that can easily put up 120-plus points.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Rockets to win outright returns a profit of $5.29. This is a little chalky, but it’s better than risking this on a Pelicans team (+155) that cannot win anywhere – losers of seven of nine games to start the season.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The wiser idea for this contest is taking the ROCKETS with the -3.5 points at -125 odds. A Houston cover here (win by just four or more points) returns a nicer profit of $8.00.

Houston is 2-3 on the road against the spread. New Orleans is 1-3 ATS at home but is five points off of the projections. Houston has covered in its last two games.

Over/Under (O/U)

Lean slightly to the OVER 243.5 (-106). There expects to be a ton of offense as the Pelicans have allowed fewer than 110 points to an opponent just once this year. Houston figures not to be the second.

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

Chris’ NBA betting record: 19-15

Follow @ChrisWasselDFS 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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Report card: Bills lose 19-16 to Browns

The Buffalo Bills fall to 6-3 after their loss to the Cleveland Browns. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will be called into question.

The Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns had a slug-fest on Sunday, where the Browns won 19-16 It was an ugly game where both defenses played physical, and forced mistakes.

Neither offense looked impressive, but the *outcome* did enough to give the Browns a victory.

The Bills fall to 6-3 on the year, and here’s how Bills Wire graded things out for Buffalo in Week 10:

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Quarterback: C-

Josh Allen had 41 passing attempts on Sunday, and completing just 53 percent of his passes. That is not very good. Allen throughout the game looked flustered, which lead to plenty of throws going over the heads of his receivers or landing at their feet.

Allen had some moments where he was elusive in the pocket making defenders miss, but he couldn’t find the right the pass in those crucial moments. Allen finished the game with a respectable 266 yards, and didn’t throw an interception but, he didn’t throw a touchdown, either. He was effective with his legs in the redzone though, scoring twice.

Ultimately, Allen had an underwhelming performance that cost Buffalo the victory in Cleveland. Bills fans will be looking for Allen to bounce back next week in Miami.

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Two new teams enter Week 12 Super 25 Football Rankings

Check out the Week 12 Super 25 Football Rankings! Which teams made the list?

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The two new teams in the Super 25 Football Rankings went down different paths to make the list this week.

McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia) has been nearly perfect so far. The team escaped a close game in which Hillgrove (Powder Springs, Georgia) appeared to have scored a decisive touchdown, only to have it not count.

FULL RANKINGS: Super 25 Football Rankings, Week 12

But other than that, the team has looked impressive, especially of late. McEachern has routed in-state opponents three consecutive weeks. Before that, the team earned a close 14-12 win over Marietta (Georgia). All that success in Georgia boosted its resume to the point where McEachern was too hard to deny. It came in ranked No. 24 this week.

St Joseph’s (Philadelphia) season has looked a little different. The team started off with out-of-state opponents in the Super 25. It lost two of its first three games to tough teams: Marietta and IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida). However, the team also defeated St. John’s (Washington D.C.) during that slate, which at the time ranked fourth in the country. 

A battle-tested St Joseph’s went on to win seven consecutive games and notched its record to 8-2. During that streak, the team has put up at least 42 points in all of its victories. Most recently, it defeated La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania) 52 – 7. St Joseph’s was ranked No. 25 this week.

There were very few changes other than those two making the ranks. Other teams moved up a spot in the rankings, like Muskegon (Michigan) going from No. 17 to No. 16, but there were no major moves in the ranks this week.

Titans-Chiefs: a look at offensive snap counts

Here’s a complete look at the offensive snap counts from the victory.

The Tennessee Titans (5-5) entered Sunday’s contest against the Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) as heavy underdogs, but pulled off the 35-32 win in dramatic fashion in Nissan Stadium.

The Titans did a good job of feeding Derrick Henry the ball, and the rusher totaled 37 snaps.
Rookie A.J. Brown led wide receivers with 49 snaps, while Tajae Sharpe had 42 snaps, Adam Humphries played for 34 snaps and Kalif Raymond saw action for 10 snaps.
Raymond was also very involved on special teams, on the field for 47%, with tight end MyCole Pruitt next in line at 38%.

Here’s a complete look at the offensive snap counts from the victory.

The Titans face the Jacksonville Jaguars next at 3:05 p.m. CT on Sunday in Nissan Stadium.

New Bears center Cody Whitehair promises to ‘get better as we go’

As the Bears switched Cody Whitehair back to center against the Lions, he had some ups and downs in his return to center.

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The Chicago Bears made some adjustments on offense prior to Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. Whether that was benching tight end Adam Shaheen or a switch on the offensive line, Matt Nagy was determined to shake things up.

After switching Cody Whitehair to left guard and James Daniels to center during the offseason, the team decided to switch them back after Daniels struggled at his new position over the first eight games this season.

When Whitehair snapped for the first time Sunday against the Lions, it was his first snap to quarterback Mitchell Trubisky since the pair played in the Pro Bowl back in January.

Whitehair struggled with his snaps, including one that could’ve been a disaster as a fumble that Trubisky managed to turn into a 3-yard gain. There were a few others that were high or wide that Trubisky had to adjust to.

“It went OK for me, but I wish I could have a couple [plays] back …” Whitehair said, via the Sun-Times. “It’ll get better as we go.”

Neither Whitehair or Daniels had played their former positions prior to switching during practice last week.

“It’s not easy switching positions within seven days,” Daniels said, “but [offensive line] coach Harry [Hiestand] believed in me.”

The switch comes after some struggles on the offensive line, where Nagy wouldn’t blame Daniels, just like he wouldn’t focus on Whitehair’s snapping issues.

“I think sometimes when, whatever sport it is — if it’s golf and a golfer has the yips or you get into people, pitchers or whatever — the less you talk about it, the better it gets,” he said.

We’ll see if that’s the case when the Bears travel to Los Angeles to play the Rams on Sunday Night Football, where defensive star Aaron Donald awaits.

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Cowboys’ 7 plays that changed the game in 28-24 loss to Vikings

A look back at the 7 biggest plays from the Cowboys’ 28-24 loss to the Vikings using EPA and WP metrics from nflscrapR.

The Dallas Cowboys might have suffered their worst loss of the season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. The final score was 28-24, but the biggest takeaway from the game was the plethora of questionable play-calls and mismanaged opportunities. The Cowboys were clearly the better offensive team from a passing standpoint. However, the rushing attack they heavily relied on in the past was a non-factor against the Vikings, and ultimately, it might have been the driving force behind the daunting loss.

It was a game that featured plenty of explosive plays from both offenses. Here are the biggest plays that stood out in the game as measured by Expected Points Added (EPA) and Win Probability with data via nflscrapR. EPA measures the value of a given play based on down, distance to first downs, field position and time remaining in the game.

The Plays

No. 1: Kirk Cousins pass short right to Dalvin Cook for 27 yards

EPA: 2.1. DAL WP Shift: 42% -> 35%

The Vikings’ first big play of the game came on simple screen pass to Cook. He managed to turn the short pass into an explosive 27 yard catch and run. Cousins was not asked to throw deep against the Cowboys, his average pass on Sunday traveled seven yards through the air. Instead he relied on Cook to generate yards after the catch. Cook totaled 109 yards after the catch and his ability to break tackles and create extra yardage was crucial for the Vikings.

This play would end with a facemask penalty from cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. The resulting catch and 15-yard penalty gave the Vikings field position at the Cowboys’ 10-yard line. They would eventually end the drive with a score, putting them up 7-0 early.

No. 2: Cousins pass short left to Cook for 30 yards

EPA: 2.1. DAL WP Shift: 21% -> 16%

Once again Cook showed why he is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He turned another short screen pass into a huge gain, this time for 30 yards. And much like his first big play this one also ended with a penalty for the Cowboys. A 14-yard roughing the passer call on DeMarcus Lawrence would result in a 44-yard gain for the Vikings.

The Vikings would end the drive with another touchdown. It was tight end Kyle Rudolph that would pick up his second score of the game with linebacker Sean Lee in coverage. The score was now 14-0, but the Cowboys have developed a reputation this season as a team that rallies later in games. This game was no different.

No. 3: Cousins sacked for a loss of 9 yards by Robert Quinn

EPA: -2.3. DAL WP Shift: 13% ->17%

To start the second quarter the Cowboys found themselves in a dire situation. The defense had struggled to contain Cook throughout the first quarter and they desperately needed a stop on third down. So it is no surprise that Quinn came up big for his team when it mattered most. The team needed momentum and Quinn was able to give it to them following this sack.

No. 4: Prescott pass deep right to Amari Cooper for 20 yards

EPA: 2.5. DAL WP Shift: 14% -> 19%

Due to some questionable play-calling on early downs the Cowboys faced plenty of third-and-long situations. Luckily for the Cowboys the combination of Prescott and Cooper has turned into on of the most dependable QB-WR tandems in the NFL. The duo consistently lifted the team in these tight situations, and on this play Cooper displayed his elite awareness skills with a toe drag catch.

No. 5: Prescott pass short left to Michael Gallup for 23 yards TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 2.9. DAL WP Shift: 19% -> 27%

The Cowboys’ offense finally got back on track in the second quarter. After an impressive 20-yard catch from Cooper, it was Gallup that would give the Cowboys their first score of the game. The Vikings were in zone coverage here, but it was a well designed offensive play that had linebacker Eric Kendricks covering Gallup down the middle of the field for the easy score.

No. 6: Prescott pass deep right to Randall Cobb for 22 yards TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 4.4. DAL WP Shift: 36% -> 49%

Late in the first half the Cowboy were presented with a scoring opportunity. From the 22-yard line the expected points from this part of the field was 2.6. Even so, the Cowboys were not looking to enter half-time with a field goal. The team would even the score at 14-14 on a free play as the defense was called for an offside penalty.

Prescott’s improvisation skills came in handy on the explosive pass play and Cobb showed great focus in making the catch. Cobb had his best game as a Cowboy as he accounted for 106 yards, six receptions and a touchdown.

No. 7: Prescott pass deep right to Cooper for 12 yards TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 2.4. DAL WP Shift: 44% -> 51%

The duo of Prescott and Cooper connected on plenty of immaculate catches on the night, but this one by far was the most impressive. This play was a pass with some jet-action from RB Tony Pollard. Prescott rolled out to his right as Cooper ran a comeback route. The ball placement essentially left Cooper in a spot that was impossible to defend. But the accuracy from Prescott was also uncanny.

Where do Cowboys go from here?

It was a tough loss for the Cowboys as Prescott put on another MVP-caliber performance. They lost to a good team, but it did not have to be that way. There were plenty of opportunities to seize the game, but it was the coaching staff that came up short with a game plan that featured plenty of runs on first-and-10. All night the Cowboys had struggled to establish the run. Passing on the other hand was a completely different story. Much like they have all season, the Cowboys have possessed on of the best passing offenses in the league through 10 weeks of football.

Right now the biggest question marks come from the Cowboys’ defensive side of the ball. What has been concerning is the team’s never ending battle  against the run despite being at full strength on the defensive front. Even the pass defense has suffered as of late, as Awuzie has failed to take a major leap in his game now in his third year in the league. Overall, the Cowboys do have the talent and the right personnel to compete for a Super Bowl, but reality has not lined up with the expectations for the 2019 season.

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Coyotes-Capitals odds: Washington big favorites again

Previewing Monday’s Arizona Coyotes at Washington Capitals odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis and picks.

The Washington Capitals (13-2-3) entertain the Arizona Coyotes (9-6-2) at Capital One Arena Monday at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Coyotes-Capitals odds and lines while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.

Coyotes at Capitals: Projected starting goalies

Antti Raanta vs. Ilya Samsonov

Raanta is projected to start on the front end of a back-to-back. He has posted a 2-1-2 record so far with a 3.12 goals against average and .912 save percentage. He has allowed four goals in consecutive starts but faced 79 shots as well.

Samsonov is 5-1 in six decisions with the Capitals this year. He has a 2.38 goals against average and .915 save percentage. He stopped 25 of 27 shots in his last start on November 3 versus Calgary.

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

Coyotes at Capitals: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Capitals 4, Coyotes 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Capitals (-182) are not as heavily favored as one may expect on a Monday night at home against a team traveling almost cross-country. Arizona is also struggling of late. This number is still too low for comfort so AVOID.

A $10.00 bet with Washington results in a $5.49 profit with a Capitals’ win Monday night.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The CAPITALS (-1.5, +150) carries much better value and this team covers well against the spread. Washington has done so in 13 of its 18 contests this season which leads the entire NHL. Take the risk with a $10 bet returning a profit of $15.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 5.5 (-143) causes some risk but is worth a small bet. Washington is also a league-best 13-4-1 when it comes to the Over. 

With this number at 5.5, the Over is the play and Washington has connected on the Over in 11 of its previous 12 games.

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

Follow @ChrisWasselDFS 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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Locked On Wolverines Podcast (Ep. 253): Rivalry Fodder and SEC Bias

Discussing matters pertinent to both of the Wolverines’ rivalries and why the Alabama – LSU game’s result should matter.

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It’s predictable: Alabama loses to LSU, and already, the media shills want to see the rematch in the College Football Playoff. Why that’s ridiculous, tying it back to what they said about Michigan in a similar scenario some time ago.

Then, why Michigan fans should want Chase Young to return for Ohio State, and why we see just about zero reasons why the Spartans have a chance against the Wolverines on Saturday.

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You can subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio or Stitcher.

Or you can listen right here on WolverinesWire!

LISTEN below:

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