All 4 major sports are in season – you have to love October!
Baseball – MLB: Playoffs begin. Wild Wild Card games.
Basketball – NBA: Preseason. China chatter.
Football – College: 6 losses in the top 25 and UCF drops of the rankings. SMU wins in 3OT. Oregon RB tackles fan on the field to huge cheers.
Football – NFL: Brady #3 all-time in passing yrds. Redskins fire HC. Che ifs lose. Rudolph concussed so Steelers turn to 3rd string.
Golf: Na wins the Shriners.
Olympic Sports: Track Worlds and the drama that comes with it. Gym Worlds. Biles’ new move.
Baseball – MLB:
- Let the off season begin!
- The Nationals beat the Brewers in a thriller after trailing 3-0 after the first 2 innings and scoring the 3 runs to take the lead in the 8th.
- The Rays beat the A’s (I’m a poet and didn’t know it) 5-1 in the wild card game to move on in the playoffs to play WS favorites, Houston.
- The feel good story of the ‘Uber driver turned MLB star’ in rookie Randy Dobnak for the Twins was put on hold as the Yankees lead 2-0 in the series. The Yankee fans cheered “Uber, Uber” at him but he said his nerves as fine. Lets see if Dobnak and the Twins can get it together to rally in the series.
- Cardinals’ relief pitcher Ryan Helsley complained that the tomahawk chop chant is insulting after hearing it when he played the Braves in Game 1 of the playoff series. Helsley is a member of the Cherokee Nation and actually speaks the language. The Braves are taking this seriously. TBD if that’s for this series or forever. This is one of the many examples of controversial Native American culture that is used in sports today. Florida State you could be next.
- The Angels are considering Joe Maddon for their manager position that is currently open. Maddon is no stranger to the team having spent 13 years (nonconsecutive) with them as recently as 2005.
Basketball – NBA:
- Preseason has started! I will put the games on the schedule but no news unless it is significant. Season starts 10/22.
- Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted in support of Hong Kong’s protests. This comes at a crucial time with the NBA and China as the NBA has the Lakers vs Nets in Shanghai on Thursday…. Smart.
- Other NBA teams are playing against other country leagues this preseason as well. The Thunder play New Zealand, the 76ers at Wizards play Guangzhou to name a few. Melbourne, Haifa, San Lorenzo are also playing NBA teams.
- The Raptors have extended Kyle Lowry’s contract by 1 yr for $31MM.
Football – College:
- 6 teams lost in the Top 25 including undefeated #7 Auburn to Florida and #14 Iowa to Michigan. #18 UCF lost for the 2nd time this season and has now dropped out of the rankings – no claimed national title this year boys.
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Losses in the Top 25 |
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| Visitor | Home | Day | Time (CT) | TV |
Score |
| 7. Auburn | 10. Florida | Sat 10/5 | 2:30 PM | CBS | 13-24 |
| 14. Iowa | 19. Michigan | Sat 10/5 | 11:00 AM | 3-10 | |
| 15. Washington | Stanford | Sat 10/5 | 9:30 PM | ESPN | 13-23 |
| 18. UCF | Cincinnati | Fri 10/4 | 7:00 PM | ESPN | 24-27 |
| 21. Oklahoma St | Texas Tech | Sat 10/5 | 11:00 AM | FS1 | 35-45 |
| 25. Michigan St | 4. Ohio St | Sat 10/5 | 6:30 PM | ABC | 10-34 |
- SMU is still undefeated after barely squeaking by in a 3OT win against Tulsa. SMU was down by 21 points heading into the 4th quarter but managed to rally to bring the game to OT and won on the 3rd Tulsa missed 2 FGs in OT. The Mustangs are now 6-0 and have a bye week this week. The last time SMU was 6-0 was in 1982 when Eric Dickerson and Craig James played on the team.
- Kansas HC Les Miles fired OC Les Koenning after the 45-20 loss to #6 Oklahoma on Saturday. Kansas is 1-4 this season with their win coming against Boston College. The Jayhawks only scored 7 points in the first 3 quarters against the Sooner but they did score first making Oklahoma trail for the first time all year.
- Oregon RB Cyrus Habibi-Likio tackled a fan who ran out onto the field during a timeout from behind. The 54k people in attendance all cheered and Habibi-Likio believed it got his team back on track to beat Cal 17-7.
- For a great video of the tacke see @tim_sanford or @lisacatto ‘s twitter pages
- This weekend we have some big games with 4 ranked match ups. The Red River Rivalry game is this weekend in Dallas between Oklahoma and Texas. Be ready for that game to be a tossup and it is always close.
- Gameday is in Baton Rouge, LA for the #7 Florida vs #5 LSU game. Back to back weeks for Florida. No I’m not salty – you’re salty.
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Top 25 |
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Week 7 |
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Top Games of the Week |
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| Visitor | Home | Day | Time (CT) |
TV |
| 6. Oklahoma | 11. Texas | Sat 10/12 | 11:00 AM | FOX |
| 1. Alabama | 24. Texas A&M | Sat 10/12 | 2:30 PM | CBS |
| 10. Penn St | 17. Iowa | Sat 10/12 | 6:30 PM | ABC |
| 7. Florida | 5. LSU | Sat 10/12 | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| *GameDay indicated in bold* | ||||
Football – NFL:
- The Redskins cannot find a win and now they have to find a new coach. Jay Gruden was fired after 6 seasons (35-49-1 record). Assistant HC and Offensive line coach Bill Callahan will be interim HC. Top picks are rumored to be Steelers HC Tomlin, Buccaneers DC Bowles and Chiefs OC Bieniemy.
- The undefeated Chiefs are undefeated no more after the Colts beat them 19-13 on Sunday. QB Patrick Mahomes tweaked his ankle during the first half but continued to play and will most likely play against the Texans this upcoming Sunday.
- Tom Brady moves up to the #3 spot for all-time passing yards in the NFL, passing Brett Favre. The only 2 QBs in front of him? Payton Manning (but only by 18 yrds) so that is likely to fall next weekend and Drew Brees who obviously is still active in his career. Brees has 74,845 so far and Brady has 71,923.
- Notable injuries:
- Mason Rudolph, one of the promising rookie QBs, was concussed on a hit when playing the Ravens. He managed to get the ball to his fellow OSU cowboy WR Washington but was out for the rest of the game. The Steelers will be forced to play their 3rd string QB for 4 weeks.
- Broncos CB De’Vante Bausby went out of the game against the Chargers after being tackled and was then briefly motionless. He recovers movement in his arms and legs and is doing better now.
Golf:
- Kevin Na, mostly known for his quick walk to pick up a putt in the hole, won the Shriners Open this weekend in Vegas. Na had a 3 stroke lead going into the back nine, blew that, made a 25 ft par putt on 17 and beat Patrick Cantlay in a playoff to take the title. Cantlay who had played well all tournament, 3 putted the playoff hole to give Na the victory.
Olympic Sports:
- The World Championships for Track & Field finished up Doha and the USA made its statement winning 14 golds, tying the best finish by the US – Get ready for Tokyo! The USA totaled 29 medals, just 1 short of tying their record set in London 2017.
- Another mother of a win: Nia Ali won the 100m hurdles 16 months after giving birth to her 2nd child, daughter Yuri. American Keni Harrison won silver giving US the 1-2
- Dalilah Muhammad won the the gold medal in the 400m hurdles in world record fashion, beating her own time set a couple of months ago. Sydney McLaughlin finished 2nd giving the US again the 1-2 in a hurdle event.
- The US men broke a 12 yr streak of no gold medal in the 4x100m relay in a World Championships/Olympic Games! Now lest see if they can repeat that next year in Japan. Jamaica didn’t make the final. Burt the Jamaican women won gold while the US settled for 3rd.
- If you saw the men’s 110m hurdle race with a stunning upset by US’ Holloway over Jamaica’s McLeod, get ready to be shocked again. Orlando Ortega, the Spanish hurdler, was hit by McLeod after he fell and veered into his lane on the ninth and tenth hurdles. Ortega was going to get the bronze before the interference and the Spanish committee submitted a formal protest which was initially denied. However after further deliberation, the ruling was overturned and Ortega would win an additional bronze medal.
- Cute story: he actually had to hail a cab to the medal ceremony as he found out only 15 minutes beforehand and was in bed when he got the news!
- The World Championships were considered a huge success for the US and were a great spectacle to watch on TV. However, rumors have now been confirmed that Qatari organizers did give away free tickets just to get people in the stands at the stadium in Doha. Not a good look at Doha hopes to host an Olympic games one day.
- If you saw the men’s 110m hurdle race with a stunning upset by US’ Holloway over Jamaica’s McLeod, get ready to be shocked again. Orlando Ortega, the Spanish hurdler, was hit by McLeod after he fell and veered into his lane on the ninth and tenth hurdles. Ortega was going to get the bronze before the interference and the Spanish committee submitted a formal protest which was initially denied. However after further deliberation, the ruling was overturned and Ortega would win an additional bronze medal.
- In other track news, former US national team coach George Williams was hit in a car accident at the World Championships in Doha. He is recovering and is expected to be ok. Williams coached >40 Olympians and the US Olympic team in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
- The World Championships in Gymnastics is also going on.
- What you might be hearing this morning: Simone Biles debuted her double-double balance beam dismount at the World Championships on Friday. She landed this for the first time at US Nationals and if she landed it at an international competition, it would be named after her. She did land it on Friday. However the International Gymnastics Federation lowered the risk rating on the move, still a whole grade higher than any other dismount in the Code. However Biles was frustrated as most people (herself included) think it should’ve gotten an even higher risk rating (remember this translates into more points). FIG knocked the move down a rating due to the risky-ness of the move which is supposed to encourage gymnasts to do harder but safer moves. USA Gymnastics agreed with Biles.
- Russia leads the men’s side of the competition ahead of Taiwan then Brazil.
What to watch this week:
Baseball – MLB:
- Mon 10/7
- American League – Game 3
- Astros at Rays @ 12:05pm
- Astros lead 2-0
- Greinke vs Morton
- Astros at Rays @ 12:05pm
- National League – Game 4
- Braves at Cardinals @ 2:07pm on TBS
- Braves lead 2-1
- Keuchel vs Hudson
- Dodgers at Nationals @ 5:40pm on TBS
- Dodgers lead 2-1
- Hill vs Scherzer
- Braves at Cardinals @ 2:07pm on TBS
- American League – Game 3
- Yankees at Twins @ 7:40pm on FS1
- Yankees lead 2-0
- Severino vs Odorizzi
- Yankees at Twins @ 7:40pm on FS1
- American League – Game 3
- Tues 10/8
- American League – Game 4 if necessary
- Astros at Rays @ 3:15pm on FS1
- Yankees at Twins @ 7:07pm on FS1
- American League – Game 4 if necessary
- Wed 10/9
- National League – Game 5 if necessary
- Cardinals at Braves @ 4:02pm on TBS
- Nationals at Dodgers @ 7:37pm on TBS
- National League – Game 5 if necessary
- Thurs 10/10
- American League – Game 5 if necessary
- Twins at Yankees @ 4:07pm on FS1
- Rays at Astros @ 7:37pm on FS1
- Twins at Yankees @ 4:07pm on FS1
- American League – Game 5 if necessary
- Fri 10/11 – National League Championship – Game 1 – TBS
- Sat 10/12
- American League Championship – Game 1 – FOX/FS1
- National League Championship – Game 2 – TBS
- Sun 10/13
- American League Championship – Game 2 – FOX/FS1
Basketball – NBA preseason:
- Tues 10/8
- Mavericks at Thunder @ 7pm on ESPN
- Nuggets at Trailblazers @ 9:30pm on ESPN
- Wed 10/9 – Pelicans at Bulls @ 7pm on ESPN
- Sat 10/12 – Lakers at Nets (in China) @ 6:30am on ESPN2
Football – NCAA:
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Top 25 |
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Week 7 |
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Top Games of the Week |
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| Visitor | Home | Day | Time (CT) |
TV |
| 6. Oklahoma | 11. Texas | Sat 10/12 | 11:00 AM | FOX |
| 1. Alabama | 24. Texas A&M | Sat 10/12 | 2:30 PM | CBS |
| 10. Penn St | 17. Iowa | Sat 10/12 | 6:30 PM | ABC |
| 7. Florida | 5. LSU | Sat 10/12 | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| *GameDay indicated in bold* | ||||
Football – NFL:
- Mon 10/7 – Browns at 49ers @ 7:15pm on ESPN
- Thurs 10/10 – Giants at Patriots @ 7:20pm on FOX
- Sun 10/13
- Panthers at Buccaneers @ 8:30am on NFL – being played in London
- 6 games at 12pm on CBS and Fox
- Seahawks at Browns
- Texans at Chiefs
- Redskins at Dolphins
- Eagles at Vikings
- Saints at Jaguars
- Bengals at Ravens
- Falcons at Cardinals – or – 49ers at Rams @ 3:05pm on FOX
- Titans at Broncos – or – Cowboys at Jets @ 3:25pm on CBS
- Steelers at Chargers @ 7:20pm on NBC
- Mon 10/14
- Loins at Packers @ 7:15pm on ESPN
Golf:
- Thurs 10/10 – Houston Open – Round 1
- 2-6pm on Golf Channel
- Fri 10/11 – Houston Open – Round 2
- 2-6pm on Golf Channel
- Sat 10/12 – Houston Open – Round 3
- 3-6pm on Golf Channel
- Sun 10/13 Houston Open – Round 4
- 3-6pm on Golf Channel
Hockey:
- Mon 10/7 – Sharks at Predators @ 8pm on NBCSN
- Tues 10/8
- Devils at Flyers @ 7:30pm on NBCSN
- Kings at Canucks @ 10pm on NBCSN
- Thurs 10/10
- NCAA Hockey: Air force at Notre Dame @ 7pm on NBCSN
Olympic Sports:
- Mon 10/7
- Gymnastics: World Championships @ 8:30am on 8:30am on NBCSN
- Tues 10/8
- Rugby World Cup: ARG vs USA @ 12:30am on NBCSN
- Cycling: Tour of Croatia: Stage 1 @ 12pm on NBCSN
- Gymnastics: World Championships @ 3pm on NBCSN
- Wed 10/9
- Gymnastics: World Championships @ 10am on NBCSN
- Replay @ 7pm and 9pm
- Gymnastics: World Championships @ 10am on NBCSN
- Thurs 10/10
- Gymnastics: World Championships @ 9:30pm on NBCSN
- Fri 10/11
- Rugby World Cup: NZ vs ITA @ 12:30am on NBCSN
- Rugby World Cup: Samoa vs IRE @ 6:30am on NBCSN
- Triathlon: Ironman World Championships @ 12pm on NBCSN
- Sat 10/12
- Rugby World Cup: USA vs Tonga @ 1:30am on NBCSN
- Rugby World Cup: JPN vs SCO @ 6:30am on NBCSN
- Chicago Marathon @ 11am on NBCSN
- Triathlon: Ironman World Championships replay @ 2pm on NBCSN
- Gymnastics: World Championships @ 11pm on NBCSN
- Sun 10/13
- Rugby World Cup: USA vs Tonga replay @ 1am on NBCSN
- Marathon: INEOS 1:59 Challenge @ 2:30pm on NBCSN
Soccer:
- Wed 10/9
- USL: Hartford vs Birmingham Legion @ 7pm on ESPNNEWS
- Thurs 10/10
- UEFA Euro Championship Qualifying: NED vs NIR @ 1:45pm on ESPNNEWS
- NCAAW: LSU vs 6. Arkansas @ 6pm on SEC
- NCAAW: 7. South Carolina vs Kentucky @ 6:30pm on SEC
- NCAAW: Texas A&M vs 19. Alabama @ 6:30pm on SEC
- NCAAW: Ole Miss vs 11. Florida @ 7pm on SEC
- Fri 10/11
- UEFA Euro Championship Qualifying: ICE vs FRA @ 1:45pm on ESPN2
- Sat 10/12
- NCAAM: 20. UNC vs Syracuse @ 6pm on ACC
- Sun 10/13
- UEFA Euro Championship Qualifying: Wales vs CRO @ 1:45pm on ESPN
- NCAAW: 11. Florida vs Kentucky @ 12pm on SEC
- NCAAW: 19. Alabama vs LSU @ 1pm on SEC
- NCAAW: 6. Arkansas vs Mississippi St @ 1pm on SEC
- NCAAW: 7. South Carolina vs Vanderbilt @ 2pm on SEC
- NCAAW: Auburn at 21. Texas A&M @ 4pm on ESPNU
