Oddsmakers: Bills road favorite vs. winning Dolphins

Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins Week 11 odds

The Dolphins enter Week 11 as the winning team in their meeting with the Bills. At least in a “what have you done for me lately” sense.

Despite their best efforts to acquire draft capital and increase its value via losing, the Dolphins are winners of back-to-back games.

The Bills are fresh off losing as an underdog to the Browns, 19-16, in Week 10. The Dolphins recently beat the Colts 16-12.

Despite that, the Bills are the favored team this week over the Dolphins. Per BetMGM, the Bills open as 6.5-point favorites against the Dolphins in Week 11 on the road.

The Bills won 31-21 against the Dolphins earlier this year, but were assisted by a very random Micah Hyde score late in the game after he recovered an onside kick.

Buffalo opened as 15.5-point favorites in their first meeting.

The over/ under for the game is set at 39 points.

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NHL analyst Don Cherry fired after making a racially inflamed comment on air

Don Cherry has a long history of saying things that got him into trouble, but despite the controversy, he remained popular with many Canadians.

Don Cherry has a long history of saying things that got him into trouble, but despite the controversy, he remained popular with many Canadians.

Colts ‘encouraged and optimistic’ Jacoby Brissett plays vs. Jaguars

Pray that Jacoby Brissett practices in full on Wednesday.

The Indianapolis Colts (5-4) were embarrassed by the Miami Dolphins (2-7) on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium without the benefit of having their starting quarterback in Jacoby Brissett available.

Inactive due to an MCL sprain he suffered in Week 9, the Colts are still waiting to see if he will be ready to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11, but there seems to be some optimism he’ll be ready.

“Yeah, I mean if Jacoby (Brissett) is healthy – he is our starting quarterback obviously – he’ll go. We are optimistic that the rest was helpful,” Reich said in a conference call Monday. “We will get to Wednesday and see how he is doing, but we are encouraged and optimistic.”

The Colts had to watch veteran backup Brian Hoyer struggle incredibly during the dismal loss against the Dolphins. The 11-year veteran threw three interceptions and finished with a passer rating of 38.8.

He wasn’t the sole reason the Colts lost the game—the offensive line was brutal as well—but he didn’t elevate the unit around him. It was a ghastly performance that left many fans begging for Chad Kelly to enter the game.

Regardless, Reich maintains the mindset that if Brissett practices in full on Wednesday, he will resume his starting role under center against the Jaguars.

“I’m not going to try and make any secret about it, I’m really not,” Reich said. “If he is practicing and taking full practice – at that point we will say, ‘We are ready to go. He is our starter and we are going forward.’ But we will wait until Wednesday to make that determination.”

The Colts desperately need Brissett under center in what will be a crucial divisional matchup at home in Week 11, which means his status will be closely monitored throughout the week.

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Sportsnet finally fired Don Cherry but the real test is what happens next

Is this a symbol of change in hockey culture? Or just a corporation doing what’s best for its bottom line.

Late Saturday night, Coach’s Corner commentator and hockey institution Don Cherry went off on a toxic, anti-immigrant rant during his Hockey Night in Canada segment. In his baseless screed, Cherry targeted Toronto’s immigrant population for what he saw as a lack of support for the country’s veterans.

“You people that come here, love our way of life, love our milk and honey,” Cherry said. “At least you could pay a couple of bucks for poppies or something like that. These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada.”

Cherry has long been known for his inflammatory rhetoric, but his comments on Saturday, while not so different from what he’s said in the past, were the final straw. On Monday afternoon, Sportsnet, the network that employs him, announced that they had decided to part ways with the man many refer to as “Grapes.”

Following further discussions with Don Cherry after Saturday night’s broadcast, it has been decided that it is the right time for him to immediately step down. During the broadcast, he made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for.

And yet, Cherry’s firing, which seems to have been a long time in the making, doesn’t feel like much justice at all. For a long time, Cherry’s behavior has been deemed problematic and insulting, yet he has continued to enjoy a national platform. For decades, Cherry has been able to hide under the banner of populist hero and suffer little to no consequences for his divisive, racist rhetoric. It is not really justice if it arrives a few decades too late.

Who knows what finally forced Sportsnet’s hand in these matters, but it’s a good bet it wasn’t just moral outrage. Like it or not, Cherry is still a popular figure in Canadian media and does represent a large chunk of the Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada fan base.

Men like Don Cherry don’t get fired because networks finally grow a conscience, but because the bottom line starts to shift. As the NHL tries desperatly to attract new, diverse fan bases, the Don Cherrys of the culture need to move or be moved out of the way. Firing Cherry is, if anything, more a good business decision than anything else.

“I know what I said and I meant it,” Cherry told the Toronto Sun about leaving Sportsnet. “Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy to honour our fallen soldiers…I speak the truth and I walk the walk…I cannot be turned into a tamed robot.”

It’s clear that Don Cherry was never going to change, and it was folly to think so. There was going to be no magical reckoning or moment of enlightenment from him, just the regurgitation of the same old talking points about “good Canadian boys” and the rest of the outside world. As Sportsnet pointed out in their release, Cherry was synonymous with hockey and the stringent, narrow culture it represented.

If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that more hockey fans are less willing to dismiss this kind of old guard, everyday racism and that they’re willing to prove it with their pocket books.

Don Cherry getting fired is a good first step in the right direction, even if Sportsnet had to be dragged there.  With Cherry gone, is Hockey Night in Canada ready for a new, diverse voice that speaks for a new, diverse fan base? Or will it be more of the same old boys club? What happens next will be the real litmus test on how far hockey as a sport is willing to move in a new direction.

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Texas opens up as underdogs against Iowa State

The Texas Longhorns have opened up as underdogs for their game against the Iowa State Cyclones

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After an unfortunate few weeks for the Longhorns, Texas finally was able to steer the ship and get back in the win column. They did so by defeating the No. 16 Kansas State Wildcats by a score of 27-24.

Heading into week 12, Texas will look to continue the momentum on the road against a tough Iowa State squad. The Cyclones have opened up as early 6.5-point favorites over the Longhorns.

Iowa State is coming off a one-point loss to the Oklahoma Sooners, so we know they can compete with the best. Inconsistency has been Iowa State’s biggest issue.

You can catch the game this upcoming Saturday, November 16th, at 2:30 PM CT on FS1.

Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated 11/11 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

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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Stipe Miocic wants to fight boxer Tyson Fury, not interested in Daniel Cormier trilogy

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic expressed an interest fighting former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury.

Despite their series being tied at one fight apiece, UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] isn’t interested in a trilogy against former champ [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag].

Instead of facing Cormier (22-2 MMA, 15-2 UFC) for a third time, Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) wants to taken on a different former champion – one outside of the MMA bubble.

In an interview with ESPN on Monday, Miocic made it clear he wants to fight boxing superstar Tyson Fury upon his return.

“I saw Tyson Fury is coming into the mix now here,” Miocic said. “I like a new challenge… With DC, I didn’t fluke knock him out – I beat him. I decisively beat him. Our first fight, congrats to DC. But he caught me with a punch in the first round.

“There was a lot going on in my mind that night. No excuses, but he beat me. The second fight I won. There’s no taking it away from me. I didn’t get lucky, I just straight outworked him.”

Throughout the interview, Miocic praised’s Fury’s abilities calling him a “good fighter” and a “good dude.” However, Miocic believes he has what it takes to defeated him inside the cage – or the boxing ring.

“He’s a talented fighter, so he’s definitely going to have good striking,” Miocic said. “But anyone can make a (30-second) highlight reel. It’s still good, but I can do that too.”

“… Definitely if he wants to step into the Octagon, I’ll love it. I’ll step in the ring. I’d love to box him. I would love to box him. He’s a great fighter. He’s a good dude and we’d put on a good show.”

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In fact, Miocic said the prospect of fighting Fury inside the ring was more intriguing to him than inside the cage. A new challenge, Miocic said, is what he’s striving for.

“It’s something new – something different,” Miocic said. “In mixed martial arts, there’s a lot more to go with. You’ve got a bunch of martial arts to work with. In boxing, we’d just go toe-to-toe and slug it out.”

Since he defeated Cormier at UFC 241 in August, Miocic underwent eye surgery. Miocic said he procedure was done to repair a retinal tear as a result of eye pokes sustained in the first two matchups against DC. He’s not sure exactly when, but he’s planning on a 2020 return.

“Probably multiple eye pokes from my last two fights,” Miocic said of why his eye was damaged. “Yeah, I mean it didn’t help my cause, but getting punched doesn’t help either.

“I got done with the fight seeing spots in my eye. I (saw things) I’ve never saw before. It just didn’t feel right. We actually went to the retinal doctor. He’s like, ‘Yeah, you have a tear in your retina.’ A little procedure will fix it up, so hopefully it’ll heal up and stay that way.”

Monday’s interview wasn’t the first we heard of Miocic wanting Fury in MMA. After Fury posted a video training elbows, knees, and takedown defense alongside former UFC title challenger Darren Till, Miocic issued a statement on Twitter.

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Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is seeing improvement with Tyler Herro

Tyler Herro has been among the top rookies so far this season and his head coach believes he is improving each time he steps onto the court.

Miami Heat first-round pick Tyler Herro has been among the top rookies so far this season and his head coach believes he is improving each time he steps onto the court.

Herro is currently averaging 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in nine games this season while he is shooting 37.2% from 3-point range. He ranks seventh in scoring among first-year players and ninth in 3-point percentage among players logging at least 10 minutes per game.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his game is his level of confidence. Despite being a rookie, Herro has not backed down from an opponent yet and has shown a willingness to guard the best player on defense, such as Devin Booker on Thursday.

Erik Spoelstra believes Herro is improving in the early going.

He’s working at it. I’m not condemning any of our players for miscues, that’s going to happen; that’s basketball. He is learning the league, he’s learning our system, he’s learning what he can do in this league versus college or high school. He spends time working to get better. I’m seeing improvement.

As is the case with each rookie, there will be a learning curve as the season progresses. Some players have shown an ability to pick things up quickly and others have needed more time. It appears as though Herro has learned the system pretty well for the most part as his play indicates.

The Heat return to action on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons.

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Alabama PG Jahvon Quinerly’s appeal denied by NCAA

Alabama transfer point guard Jahvon Quinerly will not be suiting up for the Crimson Tide’s basketball team this season. On Monday, the former five-star prospect had his appeal for eligibility denied by the NCAA. Michael Casagrande with AL.com shared …

Alabama transfer point guard Jahvon Quinerly will not be suiting up for the Crimson Tide’s basketball team this season. On Monday, the former five-star prospect had his appeal for eligibility denied by the NCAA.

Michael Casagrande with AL.com shared the statement made by the University of Alabama in response while also giving an appropriate rebuttal about the lack of transparency from the NCAA:

In addition, several people, including Quinerly’s mother, took to Twitter to share their displeasure with the NCAA for this decision:

It’s obviously a tough situation for Quinerly, his family and the Alabama basketball program, which was already dealing with multiple season-ending injuries before the season even started.

Quinerly originally signed with Villanova out of high school, but chose to transfer after only one season. He was the nation’s No. 29 overall player, No. 7 point guard and No. 3 player from the state of New Jersey, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Alabama will play its second game of the season on Monday night against Florida Atlantic, which is set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. CT at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.

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Jon Gruden lays out Raiders top nickel option(s) should Lamarcus Joyner be unable to go

Jon Gruden lays out Raiders top nickel option(s) should Lamarcus Joyner be unable to go

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Following the Raiders’ Thursday night win over the Chargers, Jon Gruden was initially most concerned about the apparent hamstring injury suffered by nickel cornerback Lamarcus Joyner. He pulled up without contact on the Chargers’ final possession. Those non-contact injuries are often the worst ones.

As it turned out, it was fellow defensive back Karl Joseph who had the more severe injury, and he was placed on the injured reserve list two days later.

While Joyner’s hamstring injury is not season-ending, he may still miss some time. The Raiders signed free agent DJ Swearinger to try and fill the void left by the loss of Joseph, but at cornerback, they recently traded away one of their starters, leaving them with some serious depth issues now that Joyner is a question mark.

So, who replaces Joyner at the nickel cornerback spot? Well, that depends…

“Nevin Lawson is a guy that can play inside,” said Gruden. “Worley can play inside. Isaiah Johnson can play outside, so we have some options. But we’ll see where Lamarcus is here in the next couple days.”

Lawson is the first option. Worley had been tried out at safety and nickel earlier in the season as the Raiders explored their best five options for the secondary. Moving to safety may have been an option had Joyner not been injured, but now Worley is desperately needed at the cornerback spot.

Whether Worley could be tried at the nickel spot is dependent upon where rookie Isaiah Johnson is in his development. Johnson was activated from the injured reserve list just last week and plays exclusively outside.

“We’ll see where Isaiah is with a full week of practice. Remember last week was his first full week active, and we didn’t even have a full-speed practice before the Charger game. So this will be really the first time we get a chance to see him on the practice field for a full week.”

Experience is undoubtedly a concern with Johnson, while Lawson is a veteran cornerback with 54 NFL starts in 66 appearances under his belt. So, it would seem there is a very good chance the cornerback trio will be Worley and Trayvon Mullen on the outside, Lawson in the slot, and Johnson and Keisean Nixon off the bench.

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