Tag: gameday

Is ESPN College GameDay coming to Wisconsin vs. Penn State in Week 9?

Is ESPN College GameDay coming to Wisconsin vs. No. 3 Penn State in Week 9?

The Wisconsin Badgers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) exit Week 8 winners of three consecutive games — 52-6 over Purdue, 42-7 over Rutgers and a 23-3 triumph over Northwestern.

They return home to host No. 3 Penn State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) in Week 9. The game, which is a primetime national broadcast on NBC, has quickly become one of the biggest of the sport’s Week 9 schedule.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 8: Wisconsin makes a charge

Other notable matchups include Nebraska at No. 4 Ohio State, No. 12 Notre Dame at No. 24 Navy, No. 20 Illinois at No. 1 Oregon, No. 21 Missouri at No. 16 Alabama, No. 5 Texas at No. 25 Vanderbilt and No. 8 LSU at No. 14 Texas A&M.

College GameDay will not be visiting any of the listed matchups. It also won’t be in Madison, Wisconsin for the Badgers’ big game against the Nittany Lions.

GameDay announced on Sunday that it would be traveling to Bloomington, Indiana for No. 13 Indiana (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) against Washington (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten).

Indiana enters off a statement 56-7 victory over Nebraska. Starting QB Kurtis Rourke was injured during the win, and is now expected to miss the Washington game. But that storyline won’t overshadow Indiana becoming the talk of the college football world.

Head coach Curt Cignetti has the Hoosiers on the doorstep of College Football Playoff contention in only his first season on the job — that after taking over a program that went 3-9 in the final year under Tom Allen in 2023.

Wisconsin could potentially host GameDay in mid-November when No. 1 Oregon comes to town. The Badgers would need a win over Penn State or Iowa, or both, in order to generate sufficient hype before the matchup.

For now, the Badgers are still a step away from the national spotlight.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Tom Brady says Lions are ‘absolutely’ the best team he’s seen this year

FOX analyst and legendary NFL QB Tom Brady says Lions are ‘absolutely’ the best team he’s seen this year

Tom Brady got his first in-person look at the Detroit Lions in Week 6. The legendary NFL quarterback was part of the FOX broadcast crew along with Kevin Burkhardt, and the game in Dallas was Brady’s first time on the mic for a Lions game.

Brady witnessed one of the greatest games in Lions history. Detroit rolled to a 47-9 win over a Cowboys team that was missing some key players on defense but didn’t put up much of a fight. Detroit thoroughly outmatched Dallas in every phase of the game except kick returns, outgaining the Cowboys 492-251 and forcing five takeaways in the massive road win.

After the game, FOX analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long asked Brady if the Lions were the best team he’s seen so far this year.

Brady did not hesitate in responding, “absolutely.”

Then Brady continued to praise the Lions,

“I think their ability to play on offense with so many styles; they’ve got this two-headed monster at (running) back, creative playcalling. Everyone got involved–they got (Kalif) Raymond involved … they just have weapons, but it all starts with that offensive line. The way they dominate the line of scrimmage, you can’t get any pass rush on them. Goff back there, surveying the field, just seems like they’ve got everything rolling.”

Brady turned his attention to the defense.

“They’re up there challenging people. They’re playing aggressive man coverage, challenging every single play. It’s frustrating when you’re a quarterback and there’s no easy throws out there. They’re going to be tough to stop,” Brady concluded, noting the humility and team-centric attitude under head coach Dan Campbell.

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Lions and Cowboys: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions and Cowboys: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for the Week 6 game in Dallas

It’s been a few Sundays since the Lions played, what with the bye week and a Monday night game. It’s nice to have the Sunday morning coffee to sip in the chilly Michigan autumn and conjure up some thoughts on Detroit’s game in Dallas later this afternoon.

It should be a good game. Lions fans get their first taste of Tom Brady calling a game, and it’s the featured matchup across the country in the late window. What a great opportunity for Dan Campbell’s Lions to show their mettle coming out of the bye and prove they belong among the NFL’s elite at this juncture of the 2024 season.

Why I think the Lions will win

This one is simple: the run game. The Lions are a top-10 run offense, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Only three teams run the ball more frequently than the Lions do (32.9 attempts per game) with the talented combo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. It’s a consistent attack built around one of the NFL’s best offensive lines–one that returns All-Pro center Frank Ragnow in the middle after missing Detroit’s last game.

That matches up against a Dallas run defense that has not been good. In fact, the Cowboys have the lowest PFF team grade in run defense, and they also rank near the bottom in tackling grade, too. Their linebackers are very speed-based, and they play behind a dilapidated line that doesn’t make many plays. This sets up as a game where both Montgomery and Gibbs can top 75 rushing yards and each score a touchdown.

Then there’s the flip side. Detroit’s defense against running backs remains the NFL’s best; the Lions still give up a lot of yards to opposing QBs that run, but no team allows a lower yards per carry to RBs on first downs (2.9) than the Lions run defense. They face a Dallas run offense that barely tries. The Cowboys run the ball less than all but one team, and one reason might be their anemic 3.5 YPC, also 31st in the league.

Without their top three pass rushers, notably Micah Parsons, the Dallas pass rush isn’t nearly as foreboding. They still have some talent, but this is a game where Jared Goff should have some opportunities down the field on play action. Old friend Amani Oruwariye figures to match up against Jameson Williams, and it could remind Lions fans why the team gave up on Oruwariye and have a much better secondary for it, too.

Aidan Hutchinson has a great matchup today, too. The Cowboys offensive line has been rebuilt, and it’s a lot better on the interior than at tackle. Hutchinson leads the NFL in sacks even though he’s played one fewer game than almost everyone, and his pressure rate and pass rush win rate are off the charts. Tackles Tyler Guyton and Terrence Steele are eminently beatable. As a bonus, the Dallas tight ends are among the worst in pass protection, too. If the Lions get anything at all from the other side opposite Hutchinson, it’s going to be a long day for Dak Prescott.

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What worries me about the Cowboys

We’ll start where we just left off: Dak Prescott. He’s a very good quarterback, one who has played very well against Detroit. Prescott is 5-0 against Detroit, completing over 67 percent of his passes and throwing 11 TDs against just one INT. His career QB Rating against Detroit (118.6) is higher than against any other team.

Even though Dallas can’t run the ball, it’s still a dangerous offense around Prescott, too. The Cowboys seem aware they can’t run and often eschew it, which puts a lot of pressure on the opposing secondary. CeeDee Lamb is an elite receiver who can win all over the field, and he and Prescott are in lockstep. Tight end Jake Ferguson is a good receiver, too. Their backs can catch and turn it up quickly, as well.

I’d be negligent if I didn’t bring up the officiating. Too many Lions-Cowboys games have been impacted by controversial (read: bad) officiating, including last year’s game, where referee Brad Allen decided Dallas should win.

In a close game, kicking matters. It’s hard to trust Lions greenhorn Jake Bates at this point; the track record just isn’t there. His Dallas counterpart, Brandon Aubrey, has already made a 65-yard FG this year and is 7-of-8 from beyond 50 yards this season. He’s quickly become the NFL’s best distance kicker, and that can be the difference in the game.

Final score prediction

It’s hard to forecast a win in Dallas, even with the Lions favored. Once bitten, twice shy is an apropos theme song. Still, Detroit has the better offense and the better defense as the two teams meet today. Barring some unexpected bye-week rust or OC Ben Johnson outsmarting himself, the Lions should be able to outscore the Cowboys in Dallas and run away with an impressive road win over a likely playoff foe.

Lions 30, Cowboys 24

 

 

 

Watch: Lions surge out to 14-0 lead on Monday Night Football

Watch: Lions surge out to 14-0 lead on Monday Night Football

The Detroit Lions broke out their brand new black uniforms and blue helmets on Monday Night Football. They rewarded the Ford Field faithful with an offensive outburst in the new uniforms.

The Lions raced out to a 14-0 lead on the Seattle Seahawks thanks to some ground and pound and a huge play from the defense.

First up, the Detroit offense capped off a successful drive with a David Montgomery touchdown plunge on 3rd and goal:

Then a big play from the Lions defense set up the second score. Jack Campbell extricated the ball from Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, with cornerback Carlton Davis scooping it up and returning into the red zone. This time it was Jahmyr Gibbs breaking the end zone and pushing the Lions lead to 14-0, with Jake Bates nailing the extra point.

Ravens vs. Raiders: Top photos from Week 2 matchup at M&T Bank Stadium

The Ravens have gone from a Super Bowl hopeful, to a team searching for answers after a shocking 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.

The loss dropped Baltimore to 0-2 on the season, while creating more discourse centered on the offensive line, secondary, run-pass ratios, and Lamar Jackson. The disappointing loss also creates something of a hotseat for head coach John Harbaugh with a difficult matchup against the Cowboys looming.

Here are the top photos from Week 2.

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Lions vs. Buccaneers: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions vs. Buccaneers: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for the Week 2 matchup in Ford Field

It’s Week 2 of the NFL season, yet it still feels very much like summer around the upper Midwest. As I sit with my Sunday morning coffee just before 7 a.m., it’s already 62 degrees on the way to near 90.

The unseasonably hot weather reminds many folks around Michigan of Florida. That’s a fitting sentiment as the Detroit Lions welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Ford Field later this afternoon. The fans packing the rafters in the home of the Lions will not give the visitors from Florida a warm welcome as the two teams renew a rekindling rivalry.

Detroit beat the Bucs in the NFC Divisional Round, 31-23. Both teams are gunning to go 2-0 and maintain their supremacy in their respective NFC divisions. It’s a big game for the early season.

Why I think the Lions will win

It’s normally considered trite to lead with injuries to the opponent, but the loss of safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in the middle of the Buccaneers defense cannot be overstated. He’s their best player and Winfield plays a position that is hypercritical to stopping Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta from exploiting the middle of the field in the passing game.

Pair that with injuries at outside cornerback, where the Bucs will be quite shorthanded even if Zyon McCollum is cleared from his brain injury to play. Tampa’s secondary might remind some Lions fans of Detroit’s own inadequate patchwork in the early Dan Campbell years. Tyrek Funderburk and Tavierre Thomas each playing significant roles against a Lions passing attack that is looking to bounce back from a subpar overall Week 1 is a recipe for Goff and St. Brown to get right quickly.

I also like the scheduling quirk. After playing the Rams last week, the Lions draw a Bucs team with new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. He’s a progeny of the Sean McVay/Rams offensive system. A familiar system, one the Lions played against just last week.

Tampa Bay is very talented, no doubt about it. But the basic scheme and style of play the Bucs bring isn’t much different from what the Lions played in Week 1. No radical changes of approach, no real divergent attack. Both offenses are based on having two very skilled primary outside wide receivers, a quarterback who makes quick, good decisions, and a run game that is meant to be a good complementary weapon, not a feature. Game prep for Aaron Glenn and the Lions defense was fairly easy this week.

Contrast that with Tampa Bay. Last week the Bucs played Washington, a team led by rookie QB Jayden Daniels operating Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Daniels was a bigger threat with his legs, taking off 16 times out of the pocket and almost topping 100 yards on the ground. He only threw for 184. Washington’s leading receiver amongst wide receivers was rookie Luke McCaffrey, who caught three passes for 18 yards.

Now they’ve got to play Goff, St. Brown, LaPorta, Week 1 star Jameson Williams and an offensive line that shines in pass protection. That’s not even bringing the lethal power ground game of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs into the equation. Tampa Bay is a very well-coached defense between head coach Todd Bowles and co-DCs in Kacy Rogers and Larry Foote, but having to uproot everything they did in Week 1 to prep for Week 2, and doing it without several key pieces, yeah–that’s a very difficult assignment.

What worries me about the Bucs

Let’s go back to the Bucs offense. Baker Mayfield leads the NFL in touchdown passes, and he looked very sharp last Sunday. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are as good of a 1-2 wideout tandem as the Lions will see all year, and that includes Kupp and Nacua. It’s great that Lions CB Carlton Davis has years of experience practicing against those guys, but there’s only so much that can help.

The Lions pass rush has to impact Mayfield. He’s more mobile than Matthew Stafford last week, but he’s also prone to lapses of judgment when he’s pressured. Losing Marcus Davenport is a rough break for the Lions, and someone else must step up to help Aidan Hutchinson, who draws perhaps his toughest assignment of the year in Tristan Wirfs. Mayfield, with those receivers, with a more promising run game that the Bucs showed in Week 1, that’s an offense that can win this game.

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The middle-of-the-field defense in Tampa Bay is designed to stuff the run. Nose Vita Vea is one of the best at it, and LB Lavonte David is still great. Even without Winfield, David and his fellow LBs are swift and savvy in the middle of the field and can complicate the intermediate passing game like the Rams did so effectively against the Lions in Week 1.

Final thought and score prediction

During the week, I predicted the Lions to win 31-25. I still like that basic margin of victory, but I do see how the score could wind up being a little lower–even with the defensive injuries on both teams.

Lions 27, Buccaneers 21

ESPN ‘College GameDay’ picks for Wisconsin vs. Alabama

ESPN College GameDay picks for Wisconsin vs. Alabama

The entire ESPN “College GameDay” staff picked No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide to roll against the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday.

The extended panel included Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Desmond Howard and guest picker South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.

Related: Wisconsin leaves two key players off pregame injury report vs. Alabama

There is a common thought that when the entire GameDay panel picks the same team to win, it gives the other team a better chance. That is one of the weird superstitions related to the sport. In this case, it favors the Badgers.

Wisconsin and Alabama will kick off at noon ET (11 a.m. CT) on Fox. The Badgers are in search of the first signature win of the Luke Fickell era, while the Crimson Tide are looking to start 3-0 under new head coach Kalen DeBoer.

The college football world is focused on Madison, Wisconsin, this afternoon. The Badgers have a chance for a program-defining upset.

 

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Lions highlight: Jahmyr Gibbs scores Detroit’s first TD of 2024

Lions highlight: Jahmyr Gibbs scores Detroit’s first TD of 2024

The Detroit Lions have scored their first touchdown of the 2024 season. It was running back Jahmyr Gibbs who did the honors of breaking the end zone seal for Detroit in the Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

Gibbs lurched up the middle on 2nd-and-goal from the 1-yard line just after the two-minute warning.

The play was correctly changed to a touchdown upon official review. Gibbs kept his body from touching the ground until the ball eked across the goal line just as Gibbs’ shoulder hit the turf. It gave the Lions a 10-3 lead over the Rams.

Here’s how it looked:

https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1832954287413960928

Oklahoma expanding taligating for inaugural season in the SEC

The Oklahoma Sooners are getting ready for year one in the SEC by expanding tailgating options on campus.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the City of Norman have endeavored to make both the campus and the city SEC ready. Leaders from the community visited campuses last fall to get an idea of what a gameday environment looks like in the SEC.

Well, it appears the University of Oklahoma have heard the cries of Sooner Nation to expand tailgating for gameday in the fall and will heed that advice. With SEC media days ongoing in Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma Athletic Department released detailed plans for gameday festivities this fall, which includes expanded tailgating areas.

According to the release, tailgating will be available throughout campus, including Boyd Lawn and along Asp Avenue.

Oklahoma also announced a new route for the pregame “Walk of Champions.”

The team buses will drop off at the corner of Jenkins and Brooks and the team will walk through the “Party at the Palace” before entering through gate six.

Full Release from the University of Oklahoma

OU Sets the Stage for Inaugural SEC Season With Expanded Public Tailgating

NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma today announced a significant expansion of its public tailgating options ahead of its debut football season in the Southeastern Conference. Beginning this fall, OU is establishing new public tailgating areas at prime locations on campus, including the Boyd Lawn, along Asp Avenue and near Oklahoma Memorial Union.

“Game day in Norman has always united generations of Sooners, and as we gear up for our first football season in the SEC, we’re excited to make enhancements that will take the OU tailgating scene to the next level,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “With more fans than ever expected to join us this year, the energy and passion of the OU Family will make this season unforgettable, showcasing the unrivaled spirit of Sooner Magic as we enter this thrilling new chapter in the SEC.”

OU invites fans to tailgate anywhere on campus except for a limited number of areas marked as restricted on the university’s tailgating map. For the best experience, OU encourages fans to set up in the recommended tailgating spaces marked on the map at the Boyd Lawn and north Asp Avenue area, Brooks Street, Lindsey Street and Duck Pond. Public tailgating areas are free and available on a first-come basis. Other campus areas designated for public and private tailgating will remain the same as last season.

“Our first season in the SEC will be like no other – from opponents to stadium energy to the level of play we’ll all enjoy – and we’re so excited to see how our fans meet the moment with their enthusiasm and support,” said OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. “Tailgating, of course, is a huge part of the game day experience, and these changes will continue to ready us by creating an environment for both OU and visiting team fans. We appreciate the university’s efforts to expand our tailgating locations. We know a raucous tailgating scene is a huge pride point in our new conference, and we want Norman to show the rest of the SEC what Oklahoma is all about. We’re also eager to share information on other fan amenities we have in store for this inaugural season, as we know they will elevate the game day experience even more.”

Discover the new tailgating areas on campus, as well as the university’s tailgating policies, at ou.edu/tailgating.

Set-up Times

Fans wishing to set up tailgate equipment at any of the designated areas, not including Lindsey Street, will be permitted to begin at 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding a home football game. Space may be occupied starting at noon, but stakes may not go into the ground until 5 p.m.

Out of respect for students who reside on campus, fans setting up tailgate equipment at the Lindsey Street area will be permitted to begin at 7 a.m. on the day of a home football game. Space may be occupied beginning at 5 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the game, but stakes may not go into the ground until 7 a.m. on game day.

Other Game Day Events and Gatherings

Game Day Traffic, Road Closures and Parking

To promote efficient traffic flow and pedestrian safety, certain roads near campus are closed or restricted on game days. Public parking on campus is limited on game days but is available in certain parking lots for $30 – cash and cards are accepted. Fans may park at Lloyd Noble Center for free and ride the game day shuttle for $5 roundtrip, per person.

Game day traffic, parking and ADA game day shuttle information is available at ou.edu/tailgating

More information for Fans and Visitors

Kickoff for the first OU football game against the Temple Owls is set for 6 p.m. on Friday Aug. 30, at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets at SoonerSports.com/tickets.

Lions vs. 49ers: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions vs. 49ers: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for the NFC Championship game

We’ve made it to the NFC Championship game! For just the second time in the Super Bowl era, the Detroit Lions are playing with a Super Bowl appearance on the line.

Sunday night’s game against the top-seeded 49ers in San Francisco figures to be a great one. As I anxiously mull about on Saturday night before an early-morning trip to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, here’s what I’m thinking about the matchup between the Lions and 49ers and how the game might play out.

Why I think the Lions will win

  • Jared Goff is playing some seriously inspired football. His confidence and mastery of the Lions offense is exemplary, and Goff’s play has risen when the stakes have gotten higher. He’s got big-game experience from his Rams days, and he won’t be fazed by playing a team he’s seen many times over the years.
  • The 49ers defensive front is designed to get pressure on the QB, not stop the run. Not that Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, et al, aren’t capable against the run, but it’s not their forte. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have both been among the NFL leaders in yardage on first-down carries and red zone success rate. Moreover, the Niners aren’t used to a team sticking to the run even when San Francisco holds a lead. Detroit won’t abandon it and that can be very effective.
  • The Lions played a stylistically similar type of opponent last week, notably on defense. Tampa Bay and San Francisco do a lot of the same things defensively from the same base formations. The Lions won’t have to adjust the game plan of attack to accommodate a divergent style of defense. Meanwhile, the 49ers defense faced the Packers, who do a lot more deep throwing and quarterback movement than Detroit does. They’ll need to do more to adapt to the more diverse weaponry, power/gap run scheme and superior offensive line the Lions are bringing to the table.
  • Aidan Hutchinson is riding a heater, and he will primarily match up against 49ers right tackle Colton McKivitz. That’s the weakest right tackle in pass protection he’s faced in weeks. With Brock Purdy vulnerable to making mistakes under pressure, if Hutchinson stays hot, the Lions pass defense could get chances to make plays. They’ve been better at making those than the Packers defense that couldn’t corral Purdy’s mistakes last week.
  • Dan Campbell told his team in the locker room after last week’s win (paraphrasing here) that they’re too young to know they’re not supposed to keep winning. There’s no pressure on them. For the 49ers, there is considerable pressure to not lose the NFC Championship game for the third year in a row. Campbell knows how to coach that plucky underdog type of team, whereas I don’t trust Kyle Shanahan to wear the front-runner hat all that comfortably.

What worries me about the 49ers

  • They’re the No. 1 seed because they’re a very well-rounded team. Top five scoring offense. Top five scoring defense. They don’t need one unit to thrive to win. Detroit doesn’t need that either, but the 49ers have more margin for error built in.
  • Brock Purdy throws the most accurate deep ball (over 20 air yards) in the league, completing 70 percent of his deep downfield passes per SIS. He pulls that off in part because he’s got several targets who can get open deep, from Brandon Aiyuk to Deebo Samuel, George Kittle to Jauan Jennings. The Lions pass defense is infamously terrible at covering the deeper throws against inferior quarterbacks to Purdy with fewer quality options.
  • The injury situation on the Lions offensive line could be a lot worse, but it’s still suboptimal to face the 49ers rush without starting left guard Jonah Jackson and with Frank Ragnow nursing injuries to more body parts than a trainer learns exist on the first day of med school. As good as Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and the run game are all playing, it all functions because the offensive line is great. Kayode Awosika was rough in pass protection in relief of Jackson last week, and there is zero depth behind anyone else. There could be some negative blocking impact from losing TE Brock Wright, too.
  • The fact I made it this far in talking about how good the 49ers are and didn’t even mention Christian McCaffrey, the NFL’s best all-around running back, is telling. Detroit’s decline in tackling of late must end, or else McCaffrey will prove why he deserves more MVP consideration.

Final score prediction

I think the 7-point line favoring the 49ers is way too high. I think the Lions would win about 46 of 100 matchups between these two current teams in San Francisco. Here’s hoping it’s one of the 46! But I can’t in good faith pick against the NFC’s top team at home with how good they are on both sides of the ball. 49ers 32, Lions 28.