Breaking Down Alabama vs. Western Carolina

Breaking down what both teams would have to do to win Saturday’s matchup in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

A few weeks ago, with Tua Tagovailoa back in as starting quarterback for Alabama, Western Carolina was simply viewed as a “cupcake” game, but with Mac Jones taking over as QB1, this matchup not only has the potential to not only prove that Alabama is still a bold choice for the College Football Playoff, but prove Mac Jones is more than capable to lead the Crimson Tide the rest of the season.

What does Western Carolina have to do to win? 

Western Carolina has never beaten an NCAA Division I FBS team, and would have to play an absolutely perfect game in order to beat the Crimson Tide. 

Offensively, quarterback Tyrie Adams has just under 9,000 career passing yards at WCU. If Adams can be smart and consistent and move the ball downfield, they have the chance to put up some points against Alabama. With only 5 interceptions for the season, Adams has continued to improve throughout his career with being more accurate as well as consistent. Also, with WCU’s ability to run the option, they could get some big yardage against this Alabama team who has historically struggled defending such teams, including Citadel, that ran 32 times for 149 yards and a touchdown in the first half of last season’s game.

Defensively, WCU will need to pressure Mac Jones out of the pocket, as well as shut down Alabama’s running game. If Western Carolina is able to force Alabama to create turnovers, the Catamounts may prevent Alabama from making it to the CFB Playoff. 

What does Alabama have to do to win? 

Alabama has to view Western Carolina as a legitimate opponent. Alabama cannot afford to come into the game comfortable, or they could see a Citadel 2.0 performance like last season. 

Offensively, Alabama has to settle into the running game early. If Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr. can move the ball for the Tide, not only will it help with Alabama controlling the time of possession as well as exhausting the Western Carolina defensive line, it would also open up big plays downfield.

Besides running the ball, Mac Jones has to have another performance like he did against Arkansas. If Jones can show consistency and accuracy with his ability to see down the field and make plays, not only will Alabama show they are still more than capable of winning with Jones as QB1, it could show how talented Jones truly is. 

Defensively, Alabama’s defensive line has to stop the option game WCU will play. If they can shut down the running game and make Adams throw the ball for WCU, this game could be over before it starts. This will be a good game for Alabama to continue working out the kinks in the defense and prevent busted coverage. 

Who do I think will win this game?

Alabama. Bama needs to win big to prove to the CFB Playoff committee that they’re still a team worthy of a playoff spot.

Score prediction: Alabama 52, Western Carolina 10

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Sixers coach Brett Brown praises Ben Simmons: ‘He doesn’t melt’

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown praises Ben Simmons for his mental toughness following another win.

The Philadelphia 76ers received contributions from just about everybody on Friday night when they knocked off the San Antonio Spurs 115-104 to remain undefeated on their home floor. Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, and Al Horford all had big games, but the All-Star point guard once again had a really solid night.

Ben Simmons poured in another triple-double of 10 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds and he made a lot of big defensive plays down the stretch. He also stepped up and made his free throws after the Spurs went with the infamous “Hack-a-Ben” strategy. It was another solid performance for Simmons following a good effort against the New York Knicks in the previous game.

Coach Brett Brown had a lot of praise for the team’s leader as he stated:

I see it in him, when he missed some free throws, it didn’t surprise me, like he was going to come back and make some. He doesn’t melt. Ben Simmons does not melt and I think that he, there’s an inner strength and confidence that I see at a young age that he bounces back.

Simmons ended up shooting 4-for-8 at the free-throw line after he missed three of his first four from the line. It showed off resilience and mental toughness to stay in it despite a tough start to the night from an area he’s got to improve in.

Brown added:

Whether it’s that or what I just said and many other instances that I can point to, I think that’s spirit, I think that’s his nature, that’s how he’s wired, and you have to be in this league if you want to attain the success that we and he hope to maintain and grow on.

Simmons’ next challenge is now taking on former teammate Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat on Saturday. [lawrence-related id=19870,19854,19845]

Redskins coaches are excited about the team’s budding offensive core

The Redskins like what they see from a young core.

This season might be lost for the Washington Redskins but hope for the future most certainly is not.

Thank the budding offense.

With breakout players like Terry McLaurin and workhorses like Derrius Guice in the backfield, it’s hard for coaches not to get excited about the years ahead.

Take offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, who wasn’t shy about his praise for McLaurin, Guice, Dwayne Haskins and even Kelvin Harmon, noting the following, per Kyle Stackpole of the team’s official website: “You could see a nucleus of young players here, and it’s fun to watch those guys.”

It’s hard to disagree. McLaurin is a No. 1 wideout. Guice clearly has the talent to be a feature back. And with Haskins, though things haven’t been perfect or perhaps as fast as some might have hoped, it’s clear he’s got massive upside.

While things are bad right now, compare this to last year when Guice was still an unknown and the team didn’t have an answer at quarterback or when it came to surrounding weapons.

Things look quite different now, even if it hasn’t shown up in the win column yet.

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Ohio State vs. Penn State: 3 reasons the Nittany Lions could give the Buckeyes problems

Ohio State is all set to play the most talented team it has to date. Here’s three reasons Penn State could create problems on Saturday.

And. Here. We. Go.

Penn State invades the ‘Shoe to try and pull off an upset over an Ohio State team that has looked about as dominant and complete as anyone in the country. It has a top ranked defense and offense, and has shown little signs of slowing down.

The Buckeyes are favored by as many as 18 points by some of the oddsmakers, but if there’s been any team that has provided some resistance to the flag-bearer of the Big Ten, it’s these Nittany Lions.

Despite losing quarterback Trace McSorely and other key parts to graduation last year, Penn State still comes in with just one loss, a top ten ranking, and intentions on ruining Ohio State’s chances at another Big Ten East Division crown, and shot at a third-straight conference title.

Here’s three reasons, the Nittany Lions could give the Buckeyes some fits on Saturday.

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Next … The run defense?

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Redskins like Geron Christian’s development progress

Geron Christian is impressing Redskins coaches.

In a perfect world, the Washington Redskins would find an in-house replacement for Trent Williams and use premium assets elsewhere.

Maybe that doesn’t happen, but it is worth keeping Geron Christian in mind.

Chrisitan, a third-round pick in 2018, joined the team as a developmental prospect and ended up working his way into a role as a backup swing tackle who could start in a pinch.

Now, the Louisville product is in his second season and in a tough spot with a struggling Redskins team. But he’s earning the praise of someone like interim head coach Bill Callahan, who has an interesting description for the second-year player:

Christian’s development was cut short last year with an injury but it seems like he’s steadily working his way into more time.

And with the Redskins in an evaluation mode now, Christian continuing to emerge indeed might mean the front office can go away from offensive tackle with big free-agent money or a premium draft pick.

Of the young Redskins in interesting long-term positions right now, Christian is quietly one of the most important.

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Tafon Nchukwi finishes UFC development deal signee William Knight in first round at CFFC 80

In the second fight of his UFC development deal, William Knight suffered a TKO loss at CFFC 80.

CFFC 80 was not [autotag]William Knight[/autotag]’s night.

In the second fight of his UFC development deal, Knight (6-1 MMA) suffered a TKO loss to [autotag]Tafon Nchukwi[/autotag] at 2:30 of round one. The fight served as the co-main event of the evening.

From the opening bell, Knight’s grapple-heavy gameplan was evident. Despite getting an early clinch, Knight was unable to drag Nchukwi (3-0 MMA) to the ground. Single leg and double leg attempts were unsuccessful – no matter how hard Knight strained.

After landing a hard spinning back elbow, Nchukwi further halted Knight’s momentum with two elbows and a knee. Muscling Knight to one knee, Nchukwi trapped his opponent’s arm. From there, Nchukwi landed four hard punches to Knight’s temple.

The referee saw enough and stepped in to waive off the contest. The stoppage was not to Knight’s liking, who profusely contested. Until the official decision, Knight argued with the referee – but did show good sportsmanship towards Nchukwi.

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The loss is Knight’s first as a professional. The Connecticut-based fighter earned a development deal on “Dana White’s Contender Series” in August. In the first fight of his deal at CES 59 in October, Knight defeated Jamelle Jones by strikes.

As for Nchukwi, the TKO is his third in as many professional MMA fights. The Cameroon-born fighter is only 25 years of age and went undefeated as an amateur before turning pro in March.

CFFC 80 took place Friday at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. The main card streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

Sixers star Joel Embiid on Heat forward Jimmy Butler: ‘That’s my guy’

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid says Jimmy Butler is still his guy ahead of a matchup with the Miami Heat.

The Philadelphia 76ers used a balanced effort to knock off the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night 115-104 as six players scored in double-digits. Tobias Harris led the way with 26 points and six rebounds and Joel Embiid added 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting with 14 rebounds.

Up next on the docket is an old friend making his first trip back to Philadelphia since the summer’s sign-and-trade. Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat will invade the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday as the Sixers will look to remain undefeated at home.

Butler recently praised Embiid calling him “special” and saying that he can be the best player in the league. Ahead of Saturday, Embiid won’t put any extra emotion into the game, but he will acknowledge that Butler is still a close friend.

Embiid said:

It doesn’t matter, we’ve got to get the win. That’s my guy, obviously we talk a lot, but we’ve got to get the win. They(Miami) have been doing pretty good. They’re a pretty good team, so it’s going to be a challenge. We’ve got to come out and be ready like we did tonight and not mess around. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning the game.

There will no doubt be an extra charge in the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday when Butler makes his return to Philly, but there is still work to be done. The Sixers are still trying to work out a lot of kinks and work out a lot of different issues on their team. It offers another opportunity to grow as a unit. [lawrence-related id=19854,19845,19823]

Kyrie Irving ruled out for next 3 games, including return to Boston

After Friday night’s victory over the Kings, the Nets announced that Kyrie Irving would be out for the team’s upcoming three-game road trip.

Even without Kyrie Irving, the Nets were able to secure a 116-97 victory over the Kings on Friday night, and hopefully, the team will have to strength to continue to win without the young superstar, as Irving has been ruled out for the team’s next three contests.

Following Friday night’s contest, the Nets announced that Irving would miss each of the club’s next three games, which includes a Nov. 24 contest at the Knicks, Nov. 25 at the Cavaliers and Nov. 27 at the Celtics.

As a result, obviously, Irving won’t suit up in Cleveland or Boston — the two cities he called home prior to landing in Brooklyn.

Without question, the fans in Boston will be disappointed about with their inability to serenade Irving with boos after he proactively announced his intentions to re-sign with the club last season, only to renege.

Fortunately for those fans in Boston, the Nets and Celtics are both in the Atlantic Division, so they’re guaranteed to play one another four times each season, which each team hosting two games.

In other words, Irving and the Nets are scheduled to play at Boston’s TD Garden on March 3. Celtics fans will simply have to wait until then to exercise their lungs at Irving’s expense.

With his being ruled out, the former Duke Blue Devil will have missed at least seven consecutive games in the early goings of the season. Through four contests, the Nets are an impressive 3-1.

Don’t be surprised if they managed to win at least two of the next three for which Irving has been ruled out.

Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris lead balanced effort in win over Spurs

Led by Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons, the Sixers handled business against the Spurs Friday night.

The Philadelphia 76ers earned their third straight win with a 115-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs Friday night.

The Sixers established a seven-point advantage at the end of the first quarter and were able to hold off the Spurs the rest of the way. The lead remained at seven at both halftime and at the conclusion of the third quarter, and San Antonio got within a possession several times. But the Sixers never relented, taking control down the stretch and building the lead as high as 13 late in the fourth before taking the 11-point win.

It was a wonderfully balanced effort from the Sixers as all five starters reached double figures, as did James Ennis III off the bench. Tobias Harris was the star Friday night, while Ben Simmons did an excellent job making the Sixers go despite having a tough night shooting the ball.

Harris finished with a team-high 26 points, shooting 10-for-16 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc. He added six rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal. He displayed a nice all-around offensive game, scoring from all three levels. It was the kind of performance the Sixers and their fans have been wanting to see from Harris.

As mentioned, Simmons struggled from the field, shooting just 3-for-10 and scoring 10 points. But he finished with a triple-double, adding 13 assist and 10 rebounds. His distribution was a big factor in the win.

Joel Embiid and Al Horford made an impact as well. Embiid finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. He was 9-for-13 from the field. Horford had an excellent game as well with 18 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Despite struggling in a starting role on Wednesday, Furkan Korkmaz was again awarded the start in Josh Richardson’s absence and responded nicely with 17 points, four rebounds, and two steals. He shot 4-for-7 from deep.

It was a quiet night for the bench, but Ennis III had 13 points. Trey Burke struggled, shooting just 2-for-9, but he made a couple nice plays while contributing four points and two assists.

The Sixers were dominant on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 51-32 while pulling down 13 offensive rebounds. They had 32 assists on 46 made baskets (and moving to 5-0 when they have 30+ assists). The shooting was also good, with the Sixers connecting on 51.7% from the floor and 38.5% from deep.

All-in-all it was a solid performance and the Sixers took care of business in a game they were expected to win. They improved to 10-5 on the season and a perfect 6-0 at home. It will be a quick turnaround for the team, as it hosts old friend Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat Saturday night. That game is scheduled for a 7:30 PM tip.

Josh Allen currently second in fan votes for AFC at DE position

While Josh Allen may not be getting the respect he deserves in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation, he’s been a hit on the Pro Bowl ballot. In fact, the Jacksonville Jaguars revealed that the rookie is currently second in terms of total …

While Josh Allen may not be getting the respect he deserves in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation, he’s been a hit on the Pro Bowl ballot. In fact, the Jacksonville Jaguars revealed that the rookie is currently second in terms of total fan votes for the AFC at the defensive end position.

Allen’s success on the Pro Bowl ballot comes after the rookie has put together a solid rookie campaign, accumulating 27 tackles, nine tackles for loss and eight sacks. Despite just having four starts to his name, his eight sacks are good for the most on the Jags’ roster, which is saying a lot as he plays alongside Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue. That figure is also good for the most of any rookie, even Nick Bosa who is the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year and has twice as many starts.

Allen was a player the Jags weren’t expecting to be available for the No. 7 overall pick in April’s draft, so when he fell to them it was an easy decision. With the team planning to get him even more involved, it’s possible he’ll continue to garner the support of Pro Bowl voters as his increased snaps could lead to more production.