Tag: Yahoo Sports

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Raiders?

Are analysts rolling with the Las Vegas Raiders or Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9?

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered a point favorite over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9 of the 2020 regular season. The over/under is set at 51.5 points, per BetMGM.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 51.5 points.

Our official score prediction for the game is a 30-27 win for the Bolts, with a combined total of 57 points. So if we were putting money behind our prediction, we’d bet the over.

As for game picks, the majority of analysts believe Las Vegas will come out on top while some still are optimistic about Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Raiders
Mike Jones (USA Today) Raiders
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Dan Graziano (ESPN) Raiders
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Raiders
Frank Schwab (Yahoo Sports) Raiders
Bleacher Report Chargers

Sunday’s game will begin at 2:05 p.m. PT and will be televised on FOX.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Panthers?

The majority believe the Los Angeles Chargers will pick up their second win of the season.

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered 6.5-point favorites to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3 of the 2020 regular season. The over/under is set at 43.5 points, per BetMGM.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 43.5 points.

Our score prediction for the game is a 24-14 win for the Bolts, with a combined total of 38 points. So if we were putting money behind our prediction, we’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts are leaning with Los Angeles to come out with the win.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Jones (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Sporting News Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Panthers
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Chargers
Frank Schwab (Yahoo Sports) Panthers
Bleacher Report Panthers

Sunday’s game will begin at 1:05 p.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.

Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Chiefs?

Can the Chargers pull the upset over the Chiefs?

The Los Angeles Chargers are considered 8.5-point underdogs to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2 of the 2020 regular season. The over/under is set at 47.5 points, per BetMGM.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 47.5 points.

Our unofficial score prediction for the game is a 28-17 win for the Chiefs, with a combined total of 45 points. So if we were putting money behind our prediction, we’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts are leaning with Kansas City to come out with the win.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chiefs
Mike Jones (USA Today) Chiefs
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chiefs
Sporting News Chiefs
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Chiefs
Frank Schwab (Yahoo Sports) Chiefs
Bleacher Report Chiefs

Sunday’s game will begin at 1:25 p.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.

Report: Thursday’s SEC coaches call became contentious

Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel reported that at least 5 SEC coaches have shown frustration with the league about new schedule. Details here

According to Yahoo Sports college football reporter Pete Thamel, at least five SEC coaches are frustrated with how the SEC chose the two additional opponents added to each team’s conference-only schedule released last week.

So much so, that in a call between the SEC and coaches on Thursday, sources stated the conversation became contentious.

The SEC’s revised 2020 schedule included two additional SEC opponents  added to each team’s schedule and some programs seemed to benefit more than others.

For example, Georgia added Arkansas and Mississippi State from the West, while Missouri added LSU and Alabama.

Missouri, new coach and all, will have to face two of the top-five programs in the country on top of eight more league games.

The rest of the schedules – besides maybe Arkansas who added Georgia and Florida from the East – are mostly balanced, so It will be interesting to see if reports of contention between the league and its coaches escalate or if things are stifled right before play starts in September.

 

Is Notre Dame the ACC’s Plus One as Yahoo Sports’ Thamel Suggests?

The newest report from Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel suggests that the Irish could join the ACC for the 2020 season.

With the Big Ten and Pac-12 making their decisions to play a conference-only schedule for the 2020 season, the logical choice for the Irish is to join the ACC. With six games already scheduled against ACC competition and a relationship outside of football, Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel’s report makes it seem like the most likely scenario.

Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick told ESPN’s Heather Dinich that he would like to see the season delayed. It looks like that could very well be the case as Thamel is reporting the ACC is debating a later start date. Swarbrick also wanted a shorter season, one that has 8-10 games, the other portion of Thamel’s report of what could be in store for Notre Dame Football in 2020.

If this is the case, then the schedule would take off the SEC’s Arkansas along with the MAC’s Western Michigan. That would leave Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Duke, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Louisville to face off against the Irish this year. Miami has said they would welcome a match-up with the Irish, in what is building up to be one of the oddest college football seasons possibly ever.

We are all awaiting an announcement of what might happen this year as more conferences make their intentions known, the Irish would hate to be left out of a season. Joining the ACC for the 2020 campaign makes the most sense, and it looks like that is going to be a reality, for hopefully just this year.

Yahoo!: “Only medical miracle can save college football”

College football playing at all this fall is feeling less likely by the day. Pete Thamel of Yahoo detailed why earlier on Monday.

If you’ve noticed on this site I have paused the countdown on “days remaining until Notre Dame football returns” posts.  The reason for that is because of advice a neighbor offered me at the start of this pandemic we’re all living through.

That neighbor enlightened me over coffee on the driveway one Sunday morning to the Stockdale Paradox, something I previously knew nothing about.

Since we’ve seen the recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in the southeast, Texas, California and plenty of other places nationally I’ve been trying to really limit my excitement for the chance of college football going off this fall, just to avoid the potential disappointment.

Pete Thamel’s column on Yahoo today only poured more water on my withering flame of hope for college football in 2020.  It’s well-worth reading in full but he puts pen to paper on things I’ve fairly certain we’ve all been thinking for quite some time.

Some highlights:

  • With the MLS struggling in a supposed bubble, MLB officials botching the testing portion of its return and an increasing amount of pessimism about the prospect of an NFL season, only a medical miracle can save college football this fall.
  • Here’s the cruel truth about how college football leaders approached football this fall: The entirety of their plan to return was based on hope. Hope that the COVID-19 would go away. Hope that college campuses wouldn’t be a petri dish for the virus. Hope that they could figure out a way to play a contact sport in a time of mandatory social distancing. Hope for a vaccine to keep players healthy and seats full.
  • “Ultimately, no one is playing football in the fall,” said a high-ranking college official. “It’s just a matter of how it unfolds. As soon one of the ‘autonomy five’ or Power Five conferences makes a decision, that’s going to end it.”

There is plenty more in there and that’s why its worth reading in full but obviously a pretty picture is not being painted right now, not that it comes as a surprise to anyone who has opened a newspaper or turned on the news in the last couple weeks.

I’ll stay wishful that something changes and that miracle comes, giving us a lot more than just college football this fall, but I’m certainly not optimistic.

 

 

Bills, NFL could start return to facilities by next week with June minicamps

Update on potential NFL training camps starting via coronavirus/ Covid-19.

The Bills could be ready to hit the field, and soon.

According to a report from Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson, some NFL teams could return to facilities as early as next week — and that this action could lead the way to possible minicamps in June.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo already gave the green light for professional sports teams to start planning training camps last weekend.

“Starting today, all the New York professional sports leagues will be able to begin training camps,” Cuomo said. “I believe sports that can come back without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena, do it! Do it! Work out the economics if you can. We want you up. We want people to be able to watch sports to the extent people are still staying home. It gives people something to do. It’s a return to normalcy. So we are working and encouraging all sports teams to start their training camps as soon as possible, and we’ll work with them to make sure that can happen.”

But per Robinson, the key could be in California. One source told Robinson that if California Gov. Gavin Newsom opens the door to full team operations, that could lead the way for the NFL to start planning minicamps.

“If California is open for [team] operations soon, minicamps can still happen in June — probably late June, I’d think — but maybe even mid-June,” the report said.

Another source told Robinson that June 15 and June 27 have been identified as potential minicamp dates. Recently, Newsom did float the idea of pro sports returning to California sooner than later.

In terms of the Northeastern United States, New Jersey followed suit with New York, announcing their minicamps will be allowed to open one day after Cuomo.

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross recently said on CNBC that he anticipates a 2020 NFL season. However, Ross was less certain on whether or not fans would be in attendance.

“I think there definitely will be a football season this year,” Ross said on Tuesday. “Real question is, will there be fans in the stadium? Right now — today — we’re planning to have fans in the stadium. We all miss our sports. The NFL, I think, will be ready to go. I know we’re all looking forward to it. I know I am.”

It appears the soonest fans could get in the seats is the regular season, meaning things would be quiet from the sidelines during preseason and training camp activities.

 

 

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Report: NCAA to allow voluntary football, basketball workouts

According to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports, the NCAA voted Wednesday to allow athletes back on campus. Dates and details here

According to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports, the NCAA voted Wednesday to allow athletes back on campus starting June 1 for voluntary football and basketball workouts.

Thamel wrote:

“An NCAA vote Wednesday cleared the return of student-athletes to campus in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball on June 1 through June 30, multiple sources told Yahoo Sports.”

The decision ends the COVID-19 lock-down on athletic activities on campuses through May 31 and is, though just a small step towards normalcy, great news for sports fans and athletes around the country.

Sources reportedly told Yahoo Sports that the Division 1 council will vote on other sports besides football and basketball as soon as possible.

As far as testing procedures, it will be up to the individual school’s and state’s procedures and guidelines, according to Yahoo Sports’ sources.

“It will be up to the schools and political decision-makers to develop protocols on the tests, which cost approximately $100 each,” Thamel added. ““No one wants to get into that,” said a source. “They want to leave it to your own campus and state.””

The 2020 college football season is set to begin August 29 and Georgia football is scheduled to start its season in Atlanta versus Virginia on Sept. 7. What that will look like remains to be known. Last week, NCAA President Mark Emmert said:

“All of the commissioners and every president that I’ve talked to is in clear agreement: If you don’t have students on campus, you don’t have student-athletes on campus. That doesn’t mean [the school] has to be up and running in the full normal model, but you have to treat the health and well-being of the athletes at least as much as the regular students. … If a school doesn’t reopen, then they’re not going to be playing sports. It’s really that simple.”

If the season does go on, most likely there will be a very limited number of people involved and judging by Emmert’s comments and the NBA’s reported plan of resuming their season without fans, we could also see a start to the football season without people in attendance.

Bears named ‘most logical fit’ for QB Jameis Winston

Chicago is searching for a veteran QB to challenge Mitch Trubisky. Jameis Winston is set to hit free agency, but would he be a good fit?

There are only 10 days left until the legal tampering period opens in the NFL, where teams can talk freely with free agents. But it’s still anyone’s guess as to where many of the free agent quarterbacks will end up when the dust settles.

When it comes to the Chicago Bears, who only have quarterback Mitchell Trubisky under contract heading into free agency, they’re expected to be active in the market and will add at least one veteran via signing or a trade. But who makes the most sense to bring in? According to one NFL analyst, it’s Jameis Winston.

Matt Harmon of Yahoo Sports recently released a list of the most logical landing spots for 20 free agents, and he believes Winston donning the orange and navy makes the most sense for both parties.

Harmon explains below that Winston may not be the savior the Bears are looking for, but he would bring a new dynamic to the offense.

It’s hard to sell Jameis as a clear upgrade for any of the teams searching for a quarterback this offseason. Perhaps if the quarterback market wasn’t set to be so flush in both the draft and free agency, he would be more of a desirable piece. Alas, he’s found himself in the wrong year. No matter where he goes, he’s going to have to compete for a job. The Bears cannot possibly sell their fanbase on Mitchell Trubisky as the lone option behind center. Winston won’t be their savior either but if Trubisky flops again, he’d at least bring a totally different vibe to the offense. 

Winston had one of the most up-and-down seasons in recent memory for a quarterback, throwing for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. His passing yards are the eighth-most in a single season in NFL history, while his 30 interceptions are the most for a quarterback since 1988.

While Winston did play through a broken thumb, a torn meniscus and had LASIK surgery to improve his vision, questions remain on if he can cut down on his mistakes to become a true franchise quarterback.

Winston would certainly push Trubisky, however, who did not come close to any of those numbers in 2019 after flashing his potential just one season prior. Just one year removed from a division title, general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy will be more motivated than ever to return to the playoffs with their defensive core still mainly in tact.

Can Winston be the person to push them over the edge? Or would he make the situation worse given his turnover mistakes?

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WATCH: Joel Embiid says shutdown of Giannis shows he should be Defensive Player of the Year

Joel Embiid told Yahoo Sports, “The whole season I’ve been humble, but I want to be Defensive Player of the Year, and I feel like tonight showed it.”

Joel Embiid is ready to speak it into existence.

The 25-year-old was the star on Christmas Day as the 76ers (23-10) limited reigning NBA Giannis Antetokounmpo and took down the Eastern Conference-leading Bucks (27-5).

Embiid told Yahoo Sports postgame, “The whole season I’ve been humble, but I want to be Defensive Player of the Year, and I feel like tonight showed it.”

Embiid was one of four 76ers to defend Antetokounmpo, who still put up 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. But the reigning MVP made just 8 of 27 shots from the floor and fell quite short of his average 31 points per game.

Embiid himself scored 31, showing up on offense and defense. He blocked a pair of shots in addition to grabbing nine defensive rebounds. Embiid’s performance served as a reminder despite his relatively reduced minutes and six games missed this season. According to CBS Sports, he added after the game “A lot of people have forgotten who I am.”