Tag: Charlotte

Notre Dame/Wake Forest still set for Charlotte, for now

Despite what Brian Kelly told Mike Tirico earlier this week, Notre Dame and Wake Forest is still set for Charlotte per the Wake Forest AD.

Earlier this week Brian Kelly made the media rounds.  On his stop with Mike Tirico on NBCSN, he mentioned that Notre Dame’s neutral site games in NFL stadiums may be moving back to college campuses in 2020.

That’s not the case for at least one of those games.

At least not yet.

Notre Dame’s contest at Wake Forest is scheduled to be played September 26 in Charlotte instead of at Wake’s home field.  Despite what Kelly told Tirico, Wake Forest’s athletic director says otherwise.

From the Winston-Salem Journal:

“We’re all ahead on Charlotte, excited about the opportunity,” Currie said. “Candidly, the demand for tickets would far exceed what we can fill at BB&T Field, especially if we have to take — as we would assume now — some sort of social distancing parameters.

“We’ll continue to evaluate the situation and obviously be in communication with (Athletics Director) Jack Swarbrick and the Notre Dame department.” – John Currie, Wake Forest Athletic Director

Bank of America Field in Charlotte has a capacity of nearly 2.5 times that of Wake Forest’s home, BB&T Field.  Even if only half capacity at games is allowed this football season the game would likely draw a larger crowd in Charlotte with those restrictions than it would on a regular game day at Wake Forest.

Swarbrick, Kelly and the rest of the Notre Dame athletic department might be trying to move games back to college campuses but it certainly doesn’t seem like that’s happening.

At least not yet.

WATCH: Highlights of new Jets OT Cameron Clark

Here are highlights of new Jets offensive tackle Cameron Clark at Charlotte.

The New York Jets have taken their second offensive tackle of this year’s draft in Charlotte’s Cameron Clark.

Clark is another large offensive tackle at 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds. He ran a 5.29-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in February. While Clark played left tackle at Charlotte, he may be better suited at guard. He showed flashes of being really dominant, but not consistently. At Charlotte in 2019, Clark was named first-team all-conference in Conference USA.

Here are some highlights of Clark in 2019 in a game against Clemson:

Report: Chiefs met with Charlotte offensive line prospect Cameron Clark

A C-USA offensive tackle prospect is piquing the interest of the Kansas City Chiefs and several other teams.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to show interest in offensive linemen ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. This time they have their sights on an under-the-radar prospect out of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, according to The Draft Network’s Jordan Reid.

A three-year starter for Charlotte, Cameron Clark is listed at 6-4 and 308 pounds. The 22-year-old played left tackle for the 49ers and is the school’s career record holder for games started with 49. Clark was recognized by his teammates as a leader in 2019, being voted in as a team captain during his senior season.

While Clark played in the C-USA, he’s seen a lot of action in the pre-draft process, meeting with a total of 12 teams according to Reid.

Clark has shown some impressive ability in both the run game and the passing game during his college career. He was a stalwart run-blocker on an offensive line that helped RB Benny LeMay to back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. In 2018, Clark was the top-graded pass-blocking offensive lineman in the C-USA according to Pro Football Focus.

What is perhaps most intriguing about the Chiefs’ interest is that Clark plays the left tackle position. Kansas City has shown some interest in players widely considered developmental left tackles like Houston OT Josh Jones and LSU OT Saahdiq Charles. In 2021, the Chiefs can save over $11 million in cap space if they release starting LT Eric Fisher. Could they be looking to groom a potential replacement for Fisher in 2020? Keep an eye on these types of offensive tackle prospects throughout the 2020 NFL Draft.

Former Georgia football star Thomas Davis buys arena football team

Former Georgia football and Carolina Panthers star Thomas Davis teams up with Ted Ginn to a buy a Charlotte arena football team.

Georgia great Thomas Davis announced on Instagram that he and former Panthers teammate Ted Ginn have purchased the Charlotte Thunder arena football team.

This year, the team changed its name from the Carolina Energy to the Charlotte Thunder. The team competes in the American Arena League, which was formed by a merger in 2018.

Davis played for the Carolina Panthers from 2005-18, where he and his family made Charlotte his home. Ginn was Davis’ teammate in 2013 and then again in 2015 and 2016.

On March 13, 2019, Davis signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Davis was a monster at Georgia, and though he made his NFL earnings as a linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, he actually played safety in Athens before becoming a first round pick. One of the hardest hitters in school history, Davis was a two-time All-SEC selection, making the second team in 2003 and the first team in 2004. Also, if that’s not enough, the dude has come back from three torn ACLs in the same knee. And you know who he credits his perseverance to? UGA.

Early offense propels Diamond Vols past Charlotte, 8-2

Tennessee defeats Charlotte.

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee baseball team used some early offense to keep its perfect record intact in the first midweek game of the 2020 campaign.

The Volunteers scored two runs in each of the first two innings en route to an 8-2 victory over Charlotte on a rainy Tuesday afternoon before a sparse crowd at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Jake Rucker, the Volunteers’ sophomore third baseman, opened the scoring when he smacked a two-run home run off 49ers’ starter Trae Starnes in the bottom of the first inning. Max Ferguson led off the frame with a double and scored on Rucker’s round-tripper.

The Vols (4-0) added to their advantage with two more runs in the second, and it was Daniels, Tennessee’s right fielder, who delivered the big blow with a two-run double to make it 4-0.

Charlotte (1-3) scored twice in the top of the third on an RBI single by leadoff hitter Carson Johnson. David McCabe knocked in another run with a sacrifice fly.

The Vols made it 5-2 in their half of the third when Liam Spencer drew a walk with the bases loaded and two outs. Starnes was able to avoid any further damage when he caught Ferguson looking to end the frame.

Daniels had a solo shot in the fourth to make it 6-2.

The Vols made it 8-2 in the bottom of the eighth when pinch runner Christian Stewart scored on a wild pitch and Alerick Soularie drove home Ferguson with a sacrifice fly.

Soularie, a preseason American, is still looking for his first hit of the 2020 season.

Pitcher Elijah Pleasants, making his second career start, went five innings and picked up the win. He surrendered two runs (one earned) and six hits. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out three.

Sean Hunley, Will Mabrey, Christian Delashmit and Redmond Walsh each pitched an inning of scoreless relief for the Diamond Vols.

Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said that he is pleased with his team’s effort out of the gate this season.

“I think with young kids, anytime they have success, it builds confidence,” Vitello said. “You’re not going to go through 56 games without getting punched in the mouth, in the gut, or whatever you want to call it.

“But for now, they’re excited about finding out what they can and can’t do. That’s what good competition will do and I think we had that tonight.”

Belk Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Belk Bowl between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Kentucky Wildcats, with NCAA football betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Virginia Tech Hokies (8-4) and Kentucky Wildcats (7-5) do battle in the Belk Bowl Tuesday, played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET (ESPN). We analyze the Virginia Tech-Kentucky odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky: Three things you need to know

1. The Wildcats will be making their first-ever appearance in the Belk Bowl. They’re looking for a second consecutive bowl victory after upsetting Penn State in the Citrus Bowl last season by a 27-24 count.

2. Kentucky ranks fourth in the country with 274.8 rushing yards per game, while Virginia Tech ranked 27th against the rush defensively, yielding 123.4 yards per outing. That will be where this game is won or lost.

3. The Under is 4-1 in Kentucky’s past five bowl games, while going 6-2 in its past eight neutral-site games. The Over is 6-2-2 in Virginia Tech’s past 10 neutral-site contests.

College football season is almost over! Place your bets on this game, or others, at BetMGM now. Place your bets and win, win, win!

Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Virginia Tech 31, Kentucky 17

Moneyline (ML)

VIRGINIA TECH (-134) was humming along until a loss to Virginia in the regular-season finale. Still, the Hokies are the play here, as Kentucky (+110) is just too one-dimensional. That’s fine against the likes of Vanderbilt or Tennessee-Martin, but it won’t fly against a more seasoned team like the Gobblers.

Against the Spread (ATS)

VIRGINIA TECH (-2.5, -115) is a strong play against Kentucky (+2.5, -106). The Hokies have cashed in five of their past six, and as mentioned, they’re just more balanced. If the Hokies can shut down, or at least limit the likes of Swiss Army Knife Lynn Bowden Jr., who led the team in rushing and receiving yards, they’ll shut down Kentucky and hoist a trophy.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 45.5 (-110) is worth a small-unit play, but don’t get crazy. The Over has dominated for the Hokies in neutral-site games, going 6-2-2 in the past 10, and 7-3-1 in their past 11 as a favorite on a neutral field. The Over is 7-3 in Kentucky’s past 10 against winning teams, and 20-7 in its past 27 non-conference tilts, too.

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

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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