Baseball: Updates from the week. Altuve gets full cycle. Acuna had a big week. Urias arrested.
Basketball: South Sudan and FIBA updates.
Football – NCAAF: 2 losses in Top 25. Other stories from the weekend. ACC adds Cal, Stanford and SMU.
Football – NFL: Kelce questionable.
Golf: Ryder Cup teams set.
Olympic Sports: Nebraska Volleyball sets record. Swim to allow RUS and BLR with strict rules. Lyles says fighting words.
Tennis: US Open sees success by Americans so far.
Coming up this month:
NFL kickoff 9/7, Solheim Cup 9/22-24, Ryder Cup 9/29-10/1
Baseball – MLB:
- This week’s updates: Yankees Judge finally ends 0-for-17 slide with his 249th HR to aid the Yanks win over Tigers on Monday. Brewers won their 8th straight beating the Cubs 6-2. They would lose the next two games though. The Rangers are trying to turn things around with their 2nd and 3rd win in 11 games over the Mets Monday and Tuesday. The Phillies had 5 HRs including Harper’s #299 in their win over the Angels 12-7. Harper hit his 300th in their game Wed but the Phillies would drop that game 8-10. The Yankees won 3 in a row over the Tigers, that was their first consecutive win in 4 weeks. They also won that series ending the 10-series winless streak. Cardinals C Contreras HR’d 2xs in their game against the padres to win in 10 innings by 1. Dodgers RF Betts hit his 36th HR of the season in their rout over the Diamondbacks. Braves DH Ozuna got his 30th this season adding to the 15 hits in their win over the Rockies. The Astros swept the Red Sox at Fenway, the first time all season that has happened. The Guardians won 5-2 after a 3-run HR in the 10th over the Twins. The Mariners won 21 games in August including their 5-4 over the A’s. The Marlins beat the Nationals in 11 on Friday to start Sept. The pirates also needed 10 innings to put away the Cardinals as they extend their win streak to 4 games. The Guardians had a 2-run 11 inning to take the W over the Rays, upsetting the 2nd place team in the AL. The Braves almost had the sweep beating the Dodgers 3xs but dropped the final game in the top NL matchup. Rangers may have started strong but still finished with 4 losses this week, dropping 2 to the Twins and ending with the Astros 6-13. The Royals not only upset the White Sox, they destroyed them winning on LDW Monday 12-1. But that wasn’t the craziest score on Monday, the Twins put up 20 runs against the Guardians winning by 14. That was helped along by rookie 3B Royce Lewis who hit his 3rd grand slam in just 8 games.
- Astros 2B Altuve completed the first cycle in his career with a 2-run HR to put the Red Sox away 13-5 on Monday. Strong start to the week for the Houston team. He is the first Astros to complete a cycle since 2013. He struck out to start, doubled in the 3rd, singled in 5th, tripled in 6th then ended with a 2-run homer in the 8th.
- Braves Acuna Jr had an eventful week. On Monday, 2 Rockies fans ran onto the field and made contact with him. They have both been charged with misdemeanor charges of trespassing and disturbing peace. Despite that, Acuna still had a good night tying his career high 4 hits and 5 RBIs. Then on Thursday, he got married in the morning and hit a grand slam against the Dodgers, winning 8-7. His grand slam broke the initial tie when the game was 1-1 in the 2nd That HR makes him the first 30-60 player in a single season (30 HRs and 60 stolen bases). The couple already have 2 sons together and yes will be postponing the honeymoon. Acuna then HRs 3 straight games in a row and tacks on another stolen base by the end of the Labor day weekend.
- Dodgers P Julio Urias was arrested on domestic violence felony charges on Sunday. This is the 2nd arrest in 4 years for Urias. He was not charged but will serve a 20-game suspension under the MLB policy. He is the first to be suspended twice since the policy was started in 2015.
- Eliminated: (AL) Royals and A’s
Basketball – NBA:
- South Sudan earned their first Olympic berth by being the highest finishing African country at the FIBA tournament. Same tournament that the US lost to LIT for the first time since 2004. We are still in though and beat ITA in the Quarterfinals to advance to Semis. We play the winner of GER/LAT on Friday.
Football – NCAAF:
- There were only 2 losses in the Top 25 this week.
- We had one ranked vs ranked game this weekend and it lived up to the hype. #5 LSU vs #8 Florida St was Sunday night and the Noles won 45-24. LSU frankly got pushed around after a killer first play that out then immediately in the red zone, Florida St had a great goal line stand for 6 downs. LSU and HC Brian Kelly made some questionable calls *cough* not going for the FG. But it didnt matter. Although LSU was up by 3 at half, the wheels came off in the 4Q when FSU put up 21 points.
- On Monday of LDW, #9 Clemson went down to unranked Duke. That is the first time Duke beat a top 20 ranked team since 1989. The final score was 28-7 after Clemson missed 2 FGs and had 4 turnovers. Needless to say they rushed the field.
- #17 TCU took on Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffs. It was a movement that had their entire CFB world talking and they pulled it off! Colorado wins 45-42. This win by Colorado ties their entire season win record last year and snaps a 27 road losing streak vs T20 teams. QB Sanders (yes same last name as the HC – it’s his son) had 510 yards of passing. Do you believe?
- Other stories from the Top 25 games this weekend:
- The Pac 12 is 13-0 so far this season.
- Do not doubt the transfer portal. Because the top 2 teams with the most transfers both has big upsets. Colorado were underdogs by 20.5 points and 27 point dogs for Texas State over Baylor.
- South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler ran his ass off because his OL collapsed big time under the pressure from an impressive UNC D-Line. UNC HC Mac Brown got his 100th win with his 2nd team (Texas being the first). The Chapel Hill team had 9 sacks this game vs 17 all last season.
- Iowa scored their first possession for the first time since 1991.
- In the battle of the stats. Wyoming was 0-11 against Big 12 teams. Texas Tech had no wins with season openers outside of the state of Texas. But Wyoming pulls it off in 2 OT after Texas Tech had a 17 point lead. Also to make this funnier, the game was initially delayed due to dust storm which is called a haboob.
- New rankings. After just 1 win, Duke and Colorado both make their appearance in the poll. TCU dropped from 17 out and Clemson fell from #9 to #24. Florida St jumped up to #4.
- The ACC finally had the votes so it is official now, SMU, Cal and Stanford will join the ACC for the 2024 season. This brings that conference up to 17 members. Originally Florida St, NC St, UNC and Clemson were ‘no’ votes but one changed making it possible to pass the action. SMU will have a 0% TV share for 9 years and Cal and Stanford will take a reduced rate believed to be ~30%. Now that just leaves Oregon St and Washington St left in the Pac 2.
Football – NFL:
- Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee today so he is questionable for Game 1. This is a blow for those people who drafted him in Fantasy as he is the top TE in the league.
Golf:
- The Ryder Cup teams have been set! And LIV golfer Brooks Koepka is among the US team captain picks by Zach Johnson. So the question you should be asking is why is he allowed by Ian Poulter (a EU staple on their team) is not? Because Koepka is still a member of the PGA of America through June 2024 with a grace period, thus making him eligible. EU players like Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood had to forfeit their DP World Tour membership thus making them ineligible. Koepka’s inclusion seemed like an easy one after winning his 5th major championship at the PGA Championship and tying for 2nd at the Masters this season. Justin Thomas might be a bit more controversial as he has struggled all season and failed to make playoffs yet was included in the captain’s picks. He missed 3 of 4 major championship cuts and only had 3 top-10 finishes this season. Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Sam Burns finished out the picks. Team USA won last time by a lot but Team Europe does well when it is in Europe.
Olympic Sports:
- Nebraska set a world record for the most people in attendance for a women’s sporting event ever. It was their W Volleyball game vs Omaha and 92,003 people were there. Nebraska is ranked #4 and won in straight sets (3).
- World Aquatics is considering letting RUS and BLR athletes compete in the Pars 2024 Olympics however they would only get 1 per event which means no relays, synchro swimming, water polo, etc. They would also be forced to wear a plain white uniform with no national symbols. The athletes cannot be connected with military or security forces as well. Realistically that means we wouldn’t see nay athletes til February next year due to the complicated vetting process.
- Noah Lyles is stirring things up on social media stating the NBA are ‘world champions’ but they don’t compete against any other countries. And while I agree, those are fighting words.
Tennis:
- US Open is in full swing and we are already at Quarterfinals.
- On the men’s side, for the first time since 2005, we have 3 American men in the quarterfinals. We are trying to end a 20+ year drought. Djokovic is the only man through to the Semis so far. He finished off USA Fritz. One American down. Then we are guaranteed to have another as Taifoe and Shelton play each other with the winner taking on Djokovic. #1 Alcaraz takes on GER Zverev and then the RUS have a match up Medvedev vs Rublev finish out the Quarterfinals.
- On the women’s side, Coco Gauff is the only one in Semifinals so far! #1 Swiatek got upset losing to LAT Ostapenko. Caroline Wozniacki made her comeback but that Cinderella story was ended by Coco Gauff. Top rated American #3 Jessica Pegula lost to fellow USA Madison Keys. #5 TUR Jabeur also fell all in the 4th round! All the women left are ranked inside the top 30. #17 Keys and Gauff are the Americans still in and #2 BLR Sabalenka is also rolling. Sabalenka has made every GS quarterfinal this year, a feat that hadn’t been done since 2016 Serena Williams.
What to watch this week
Baseball – MLB:
- Tues 9/5
- Giants at Cubs @ 7pm on TBS
- Fri 9/8
- Cardinals at Reds @ 5:40pm on Apple TV+
- Padres at Astros @ 7:10pm on Apple TV+
- Sat 9/9
- Mariners at Rays @ 3:05pm on FS1
- Sun 9/10
- Rockies at Giants @ 7pm on ESPN
Basketball:
- Tues 9/5
- FIBA: USA vs ITA @ 7:40am on ESPN2
Football-NCAAF:
| Top 25 | |||||
| Week 2 | |||||
| Top 25 Games | |||||
| Visitor | Home | Day | Time (CT) | TV | Line |
| 10. Notre Dame | NC St | Sat 9/9 | 11:00 AM | ABC | -7.5 |
| Nebraska | 22. Colorado | Sat 9/9 | 11:00 AM | FOX | +3.5 |
| 20. Ole Miss | 24. Tulane | Sat 9/9 | 2:30 PM | ESPN2 | -7.5 |
| 23. Texas A&M | Miami | Sat 9/9 | 2:30 PM | ABC | -4.5 |
| 11. Texas | 3. Alabama | Sat 9/9 | 6:00 PM | ESPN | +7 |
| *GameDay indicated in bold* | |||||
Football-NFL:
- Thurs 9/7
- Lions at Chiefs @ 7:20pm on NBC
- Sun 9/10
- 8 games @ 12pm on FOX/CBS
- FOX: Panthers at Falcons – Jaguars at Colts – 49ers at Steelers – Cardinals at Commanders
- CBS: Bengals at Browns – Buccaneers at Vikings – Titans at Saints – Texans at Ravens
- 5 games @ 3:25pm on FOX/CBS
- FOX: Packers at Bears
- CBS: Raiders at Broncos – Eagles at Patriots – Dolphins at Chargers
- Cowboys at Giants @ 7:20pm on NBC
- 8 games @ 12pm on FOX/CBS
- Mon 9/11
- Bills at Jets @ 7:15pm on ESPN and ABC
Motorsports:
- Sun 9/10
- MotoGP: San Marino GP @ 12pm on NBC
Olympic Sports:
- Thurs 9/7
- NCAA Volleyball: Arizona vs Wisconsin @ 7pm on FS1
- Sun 9/10
- Track & Field: Diamond League @ 11am on NBC
Soccer:
- Thurs 9/7
- UEFA Euro Qualifying: FRA vs IRE @ 9pm on FS1
- UEFA Euro Qualifying: SRB vs HUN @ 11pm on FS1
- Sat 9/9
- UEFA Euro Qualifying: Georgia vs ESP @ 1am on FS1
- UEFA Euro Qualifying: TUR vs Armenia @ 6am on FS1
- UEFA Euro Qualifying: AZE vs BEL @ 7:50am on FS1
- Sun 9/10
- UEFA Euro Qualifying: ALB vs POL @ 1:30pm on FS1
- UEFA Euro Qualifying: UKR vs ENG @ 4pm on FS1
- UEFA Euro Qualifying: GER vs JPN @ 8pm on FS1
Tennis:
- Tues 9/5
- US Open Quarterfinals
- @ 11am on ESPN
- @ 6pm on ESPN
- US Open Quarterfinals
- Wed 9/6
- US Open Quarterfinals
- @ 11am on ESPN
- @ 6pm on ESPN
- US Open Quarterfinals
- Thurs 9/7
- US Open: W Semifinals @ 6pm on ESPN
- Fri 9/8
- US Open: Men Semifinals
- @ 2pm on ESPN
- @ 6pm on ESPN
- US Open: Men Semifinals
- Sat 9/9
- US Open: Women’s Championship @ 3pm on ESPN
- Sun 9/10
- US Open
- Women’s Doubles Championship @ 12pm on ESPN
- Men’s Championship @ 3pm on ESPN
- US Open
