Sorry crybaby media types, the portal assures this won’t be the last underdog Final Four

My bylined national Final Four analysis is below but first, crybaby sportswriters need their diapers changed.

I used to hear some of this nonsense live but the social media era just shows how many sad, pathetic media types litter up the sports coverage landscape in 2023.

If you are a “journalist” crying about which teams are in the Final Four, maybe you should be covering NAIA basketball and not the big boy type.

If you are whining that there are zero No. 1 seeds in the Final Four, are you too dumb to notice that TWO of those teams (Alabama, Houston) were outplayed by San Diego State and Miami, respectively?

Do you freaking pay attention at all?

In other words, two of the teams you don’t want in the Final Four soundly whipped two of the No. 1 seeds. Criticism should be about Nate Oats and Kelvin Sampson coming up TWO WINS short with their star talent. Rip the underachievers, not the overachievers.

You scared one of Oats’ players might transport a gun in your direction?

This Final Four — which also includes Florida Atlantic and UConn — is no aberration. The transfer portal and NIL era are a major equalizer. You will see surprise teams crashing the Final Four moving forward.

The high seeds might be back in control next year and maybe they won’t. There is a reason why they PLAY the actual games. You’d think any media type would kind of know that the favorites don’t win 100 percent of the time.

Stellar national analysis here — https://fieldlevelmedia.com/analysis/party-crashers-usher-in-a-new-final-four-era-2/

San Diego State guard Matt Bradley wasn’t amused when a “reporter” asked Thursday if this was a boring Final Four since none of the big name programs were involved.

Looks like Bradley politely shoved humble pies in the faces of dozens of crybaby sports reporters.

Guess what — nobody cares whether you watch the Final Four or not. Nobody gives a damn if you watch Monday’s title game. Heck, we don’t care if you play esports in your basement, spend your whole afternoon on chess.com or dress up like Aquaman.

More importantly, nobody cares about your opinions about the Final Four. Nobody at all.

Oh, it’s time for your bottle.

San Diego State is America’s Team after eliminating Alabama Crimson Gunboys

No wonder Brandon Miller transported the gun instead of firing the fatal shots.

Having 3 of 19 shots on target is horrible accuracy.

But at least the most shameful college basketball program is going home before the Elite Eight even starts.

Fifth-seeded San Diego State outplayed, outhustled and even outshot the Alabama Crimson Gunboys, the top-seeded team that collapsed 71-64 in the Midwest Region semifinals on Thursday night.

“Wrong spot at the wrong time,” don’t you think Nate Oats?

Aztecs coach Brian Dutcher badly outmaneuvered Alabama coach Oats, who butchered the situation in which Miller transported the gun to then-teammate Darius Miles that was used in the shooting death of Jamea Harris on Jan. 15.

A person losing her life was an inconvenience to Oats’ championship hopes and the big bonus checks he receives for NCAA Tournament wins. Hard to believe Oats can get even three hours sleep a night — unless he has no conscious.

So the good guys won, and the Aztecs are in the Elite Eight for the first time in program history. That’s a much better development than seeing Alabama playing for a Final Four spot on Saturday.

And good-person coach Dutcher has the chance of a lifetime on Saturday. He is such a good guy that he would see me on the football practice field in the heat of August and regularly come down to chat with me for 5 to 10 minutes.

If you know someone who dislikes Dutcher, know this: That person is the problem.

I used to cover the Aztecs when they didn’t have a single NCAA Tournament victory. Any school without a single NCAA win is an embarrassment and San Diego State certainly was, once going winless in Mountain West play.

And, of course, you only needed to count to five to count all the people in the student section back then. Now the Aztecs have one of the best in the nation.

On Thursday, San Diego State was wilting before it overcame a nine-point second-half deficit to notch the biggest victory in school history. Partly why they got there was their defense being the silencer on gunner Miller, who had just nine points.

“We recruit and we say our goal is to win a national championship, so we can’t act surprised when we have an opportunity to advance to the Final Four,” Dutcher said afterward. “That’s what we tell them when we recruit them, and it’s just not words to get them to come here. It’s words we believe in.”

Guard Darrion Trammell was the hero with 21 points and made three 3-pointers. Alabama was 3 of 27 as a team — misfiring as if the wrong gun was transported to Louisville.

“We feel like we can beat any team in the country,” Trammell said. “We work hard and feel like we have the DNA of a winning team that goes far in March. We have experience. We have grit. This is what we’re supposed to do.”

Hard for this to sink in: San Diego State will be playing for a spot in the Final Four. And will have a real SHOT to make it.

Bang!

Weekly links — Alabama-South Carolina game displays that SEC schedule is a complete joke; maybe Andy Dalton fits

This reveals how ridiculous scheduling is in the SEC: Alabama and South Carolina play Saturday for the first time since 2010. Since Alabama lost that game, perhaps there is a reason.

Oh yeah, the next meeting isn’t until 2024.

So two teams in the same conference will play each other just once during a 13-season stretch. That is embarrassing.

But these same jokers don’t mind playing teams like Charleston Southern and Wofford every November.

The best part is that Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban – who hasn’t experienced a happy day since he was age 7 – loves to complain about the schedule.

Good thing he coaches in a conference that is just as backward as he happens to be.

Time to be a grown man Nick and tell your conference that the league’s scheduling policies are asinine.

If a conference can’t figure out how to make some of its members play each other more than once in a 13-year stretch, it is time to boot some teams out, pump up the number of conference games or cut out the November body-bag games.

Or perhaps do all three.

Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/ncaaf/alabama-crimson-tide-vs-south-carolina-gamecocks-preview-and-predictions/

 

OTHER COLLEGE FOOTBALL 

PORTLAND STATE at BOISE STATE

This game involves an FCS team and is on ESPN2. LOL. Perhaps ESPN’s schedule maker got his or her start in the SEC. Here is the stellar long form preview — https://fieldlevelmedia.com/latest-stories/?storyId=47945 — and the stellar capsule-like preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/ncaaf/portland-state-vikings-vs-boise-state-broncos-preview-and-predictions/

HAWAII at WASHINGTON

Hawaii is 2-0 against Pac-12 teams hoping to make it three straight. Either Hawaii is kinda good or the Pac-12 is once-again bad. Probably the latter. Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/ncaaf/hawaii-rainbow-warriors-vs-washington-huskies-preview-and-predictions/

 

NFL

49ERS at BENGALS

Some columnist ordered the Bengals to get rid of Andy Dalton a few weeks ago. Cincinnati ignored the advice. Interesting to see Dalton pass for a career-high 418 yards in his first game in coach Zac Taylor’s progressive system. Here is the stellar preview — https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-ponder-passing-attack-against-061052114.html 

BROWNS at JETS

Sam Darnold of the Jets has mononucleosis and most of us don’t want to know how he got it. Then there’s Baker Mayfield of the Browns doing a lot of yapping and his team loses its opener by 30. Here is the stellar preview — https://fieldlevelmedia.com/latest-stories/?storyId=48112

CHARGERS at LIONS

Melvin who? Holdout running backs can be forgotten quickly. Austin Ekeler made it harder for Gordon to get his cash. And hey, the Lions, the team that blew an 18-point lead in their opener and needed an overtime field goal to attain a tie. Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/nfl/chargers-vs-lions-preview-and-predictions/ 

SEAHAWKS at STEELERS

Pittsburgh sure won’t miss helmet-head Antonio Brown in the locker room but it remains to be seen if the offense will click without him. Seattle’s Russell Wilson tossed five touchdown passes against the Steelers in 2015. Here is the stellar preview –https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/nfl/seahawks-vs-steelers-preview-and-predictions/

Weekly links: Nailing the Alabama-Oklahoma prediction, Urban’s headaches, Bol Bol’s dad, Chargers will flop, Gilbride’s the worst

Figured it was a good time for a Weekly Links post so I will have it on record that I picked the correct winner in the College Football Playoff game between Alabama and Oklahoma.

You say that isn’t hard to do? Try doing it my way.

The No. 1 offensive player on my 2019 NFL draft board plays for Oklahoma. Some people think Kyler Murray will be fine with being just another player on the Oakland Athletics.

Not a chance — you will see him tearing up the NFL someday. But first you will see him roll up the points on Saturday.

That’s right, I’ve got Oklahoma winning the contest.

And the proof is right here in the stellar preview: https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NCAAF/oklahoma-sooners-vs-alabama-crimson-tide-preview-and-predictions/358719/

Remember, I’m the guy who picked Villanova to beat North Carolina in the 2016 college basketball title game when everybody else was picking the Tar Heels.

Not only that, I almost predicted the exact final score. Villanova won 77-74 on Kris Jenkins’ memorable game-winning shot. I picked Villanova to win 77-73.

That’s about as good as it gets when it comes to predicting college basketball scores.

Anyway, you can find the predicted score inside the preview link but don’t be the least bit surprised when Heisman Trophy winner Murray outduels Heisman runner-up Tua Tagovailoa (wow, just spelled his last name without looking it up for the first time ever).

And you will remember where you heard that the Sooners would prevail.

ROSE BOWL — Ohio State vs. Washington

Urban Meyer’s last game as a college coach. Ummm, sure. He’ll be back, headaches and all. I’ve got him going out a winner against Chris Petersen’s underachieving Washington squad.

https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NCAAF/washington-huskies-vs-ohio-state-buckeyes-preview-and-predictions/360497/

 

NFL

Chargers-Broncos

Unfortunately, the Chargers are going to the playoffs. Now comes the fun part. Is it better to have them collapse in the opening round or reaching the AFC title game before being sent home? Either way, the Super Bowl is for winners so there is no need for any people named Spanos to be in the building.

https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NFL/chargers-vs-broncos-preview-and-predictions/365804/

Seahawks-Cardinals

Seattle just gave coach Pete Carroll an extension through 2021 while Arizona is likely to fire coach Steve Wilks after one season on the job. You have to be highly overmatched to lose your job after one year so it must be clear to everybody in the front office that Wilks has to go. Even horrible Kevin Gilbride (worst NFL head coach I covered) got 22 games before being fired.

https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NFL/cardinals-vs-seahawks-preview-and-predictions/365809/

 

COLLEGE HOOPS

Kentucky-Louisville

I guess people in the state of Kentucky are excited but seems this game has lot a bit of his luster. Perhaps Rick Pitino can show up and do something stupid. If you see Kentucky freshman guard Ashton Hagans around, guard your stuff. He steals everything in sight and matched the school record of eight thefts in the Wildcats’ last outing.

https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/basketball/NCAAB/kentucky-wildcats-vs-louisville-cardinals-preview-and-predictions/366400/

Oregon-Boise State

Bad deal for the people in Boise as Oregon freshman star Bol Bol will miss the contest with a knee injury. Not much good to see from the Boise State side but at least the Ducks are evening things up with three injured players missing. Oh yeah, asked Manute Bol for some of his time before a CBA game once and he grazed the right side of my body and yelled “Right now, you’re crazy!”

https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/basketball/NCAAB/oregon-ducks-vs-boise-st-broncos-preview-and-predictions/366394/

 

Weekly links — Brewers haven’t been in World Series since 1982? Have co-workers who weren’t alive then; let’s move Steelers-Bengals into octagon, Crimson Tide rolling

Weekly links …

My research showed me that the Milwaukee Brewers haven’t played in the World Series since 1982.

Then it sinks in — I have co-workers who weren’t alive in 1982.

That doesn’t feel so good. Where the heck did the last 36 years go?

Hopefully the Brewers will return to the World Series this year. Because that will mean that the Dodgers won’t.

Doesn’t seem all that long ago that a powerful Milwaukee offensive team — think Cecil Cooper, Paul Molitor, Ben Oglivie, Ted Simmons, Gorman Thomas and Robin Yount — lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in a stellar seven-game  series.

Yikes, that was so long ago that the Brewers were in the American League.

Milwaukee has another great offensive team this season — led by probable MVP Christian Yelich — but the Dodgers probably have a more complete team. Should be a good National League Championship Series.

Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/baseball/MLB/dodgers-vs-brewers-preview-and-predictions/320805/

 

NFL

Rams at Broncos — The Los Angeles Rams are fun and exciting and one of two remaining undefeated teams in the NFL. This after being a boring lifeless team just two seasons ago under Jeff Fisher. And even better, “Los Angeles” fits nicely with their team nickname. The Broncos are on their way to a fourth straight loss.

Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NFL/rams-vs-broncos-preview-and-predictions/320864/

Steelers at Bengals — Perhaps they ought to put these two teams in the octagon and let them go wild on one another. Some recent meetings have been more vicious than a UFC bout. Who can forget the way Pittsburgh wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster laid out Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict last season on Monday Night Football? Seems the Steelers always win the game and Cincinnati claims the penalty yards’ title.

Here is the stellar preview — http://fieldlevelmedia.com/latest-stories?storyId=20122

Chargers at Browns — Who can forget the last time the Chargers visited Cleveland on Christmas Eve during the 2016 season? The lowly Browns defeated the Chargers for their lone win over a two-season span. That was the type of embarrassment owner Dean Spanos deserved on his way out of San Diego. The Browns are much better now so perhaps there will be a repeat.

Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NFL/chargers-vs-browns-preview-and-predictions/320846/

 

College football

Missouri at Alabama — The Crimson Tide have looked so good you have to wonder if anyone can beat them. The offense has been explosive and the defense keeps scoring touchdowns (four off interceptions). Missouri is one of those programs that might stun a Top 20 program but has little chance to beat a powerful top-ranked team. And yeah, the Tigers are 0-14 all-time against No. 1 teams.

Here is the traditional stellar preview — https://www.gwinnettprepsports.com/sportsxchange/no-alabama-rolls-into-second-half-with-mizzou-up-next/article_eeb9eec7-5583-55b9-9c20-6f02090b3219.html

Here is the broken into team sections stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NCAAF/missouri-tigers-vs-alabama-crimson-tide-preview-and-predictions/320276/

Minnesota at Ohio State — Urban Meyer feels great now because he no longer is facing questions about his questionable handling of the situation in which assistant coach Zach Smith was accused of domestic violence. He won’t face much distress this Saturday when his team faces Minnesota either. The Golden Gophers have no chance of beating the Buckeyes.

Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NCAAF/minnesota-golden-gophers-vs-ohio-state-buckeyes-preview-and-predictions/320279/

Weekly links — Yes, I sometimes have to write about the ‘C word,’ mouthy Josh Rosen gets his chance, Saban loves cupcakes

Weekly links …

Sometimes I have to write about the “C word.”

There is just no avoiding it unless I want to get a boring, mundane job doing something else.

Objectivity always wins out since I am paid well to be a professional.

But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy this tweet that came across my Twitter feed.

Just left @Vons in La Jolla where I spotted a C word Poster. I kindly let the supervisor know that they should take the poster down and that people on Twitter are boycotting them for it. She said I’m right and she’s going to contact the store mgr about it 🤣.

— Candice (@candice61812) September 26, 2018

Oh yeah, the C word. … Chargers.

What a C word it is. A poor one when San Diego isn’t in front of the team name.

The Chargers are 1-2 but get the good fortune of facing C.J. Beathard at quarterback this Sunday after the San Francisco 49ers lost starter Jimmy Garoppolo last week. But hey, we all know how often that franchise has lost games it should win over the years.

Tight end Antonio Gates says they don’t select Super Bowl teams in the first four weeks of the season. True. They select them in mid-January.

And think, the Chargers were selected all of ONE time. And certainly won’t be this season either.

So yeah, let’s talk about the “C word.”

Here is the stellar preview — http://fieldlevelmedia.com/latest-stories?storyId=19137

Seahawks at Cardinals — Josh Rosen has done a lot of bragging about how he is the best quarterback of the 2018 draft class. Only time and results determine that, not someone’s mouth. But know this — the Cardinals have scored 20 total points in three games. Rosen can’t be worse than Sam Bradford. Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NFL/seahawks-vs-cardinals-preview-and-predictions/313133/

Lions at Cowboys — Ezekiel Elliott wants more carries. Hard to argue when he is getting only 16 per game but is tied for the NFL rushing lead with 274 yards. Plus, quarterback Dak Prescott isn’t as good as his strong start to his NFL career. Hasn’t reached 200 yards this season and has cracked the mark just twice in the past 11 games. Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NFL/lions-vs-cowboys-preview-and-predictions/313103/

 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Louisiana-Alabama — The Crimson Tide are once again playing the biggest cupcake available. The only suspense is whether coach Nick Saban calls off the dogs when his team leads by six touchdowns or waits until the advantage moves over 50. The coach at Louisiana — Billy Napier — used to be the receivers coach at Alabama so you can see the payday favor is in play. No other reason the Ragin’ Cajuns would show up. Here is the stellar preview — http://fieldlevelmedia.com/latest-stories?storyId=19050

Or if you prefer the type of preview that breaks it down into team forms, here is your stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NCAAF/ul-lafayette-ragin-cajuns-vs-alabama-crimson-tide-preview-and-predictions/312440/

Boise State at Wyoming — It was pretty humorous Wednesday afternoon when I was out getting exercise that Boise State was pumping crowd noise into practice. Even more hilarious when I got back in the area 75 minutes later and it was still going on. Thought they must have been playing an opponent with an 80,000-seat stadium. Nope, playing at Wyoming and its cozy 29,181-seat stadium. I covered five games at Wyoming and only once was the attendance more than 20,000. The lowest three were 15,661, 14,012 and 13,757. Sorry, crowd noise isn’t deciding this game. Here is the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NCAAF/boise-state-broncos-vs-wyoming-cowboys-preview-and-predictions/312446/

 

Can’t find anyone to root for in CFP title game but since they pay me to make predictions …

Good thing I took that vow of objectivity a quarter century ago and don’t have to root for teams.

Because it would be really hard to choose a team to cheer for in Monday’s College Football Playoff title game.

Pretty sure most people who don’t live in the South are tired of having how great the SEC teams are. Unfortunately, the conference will be able to claim a national championship no matter who wins Monday when Alabama and Georgia meet in Atlanta.

It will be the SEC’s ninth national championship in the past 12 seasons.

The Crimson Tide are striving to win their fifth title during Nick Saban’s 11 seasons as coach.

Hey, not impressed? How about this: They beat Mercer by eight touchdowns.

Of course, most major-college programs wouldn’t play Mercer. (Wait, we LOVE Mercer, the basketball program that sent Duke home in 2014!)

And what about Georgia? The Bulldogs beat Samford by four touchdowns this season. OK, so nobody knows if Samford (and Son?) has ever accomplished anything big on the athletic stage.

But yeah, they still pay me to make a prediction so I do have a winner for you. Right here inside the stellar preview — https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NCAAF/alabama-vs-georgia-preview-and-predictions/232916/

Both Georgia and Alabama lost one game this season and it was to the same team — Auburn.

That makes things a little dicey because Auburn lost to FOUR other teams.

Of course, Georgia got revenge by defeating Auburn in the SEC championship game but the Tigers lost their Peach Bowl matchup with Central Florida.

Unbeaten Central Florida … a school that has declared itself national champions and will hold a parade on Monday afternoon.

Might as well name yourself the national champion when you consider the fact that the chairman of the CFP committee is the athletic director at Texas Tech.

Um, yeah, nobody who is serious about identifying who the best college football teams are would ever choose the Texas Tech AD to play the leading role. Doesn’t look like Kirby Hocutt knows football that well when his own program has experienced three losing campaigns in the past four seasons.

Just think, Kirby’s committee lists Central Florida at No. 12. Yes, No. 12!

So the school that named itself national champs wouldn’t even have been part of an eight-team playoff. Now that is ridiculous.

But on Monday night, we put all this nonsense aside.

And we wait to see if playing Mercer helped prepare Alabama to win another crown. Or if that tussle with Samford was that piece of the puzzle Georgia desperately needed.

Hard to root for either team when you break it down like that.

Weekly Links — Did I pick the Turkeys (Chargers) to win? Remember the 5-5 tie! Iron Bowl, Fox-Ball, Screwy Rule says Self

So I haven’t done Weekly Links in a while but the night before Thanksgiving seems like a perfect time.

It is a little bit foggy outside and I sure have no interest in hitting up any retail stores that think “Black Friday” started two, three or four days before FRIDAY.

Plus, it is also a good time to talk about turkeys.

Oh, I think I spelled Chargers wrong … um, yeah, turkeys equal Chargers.

You can upgrade that to buffoon if we bring Dean Spanos into the conversation.

But bad news for all San Diegans, I see the Turkeys defeating the Dallas Cowboys in their first Thanksgiving game since 1969.

People knew Dallas would miss Ezekiel Elliott during his girl-punching (allegedly) suspension but it appears that the team’s true MVP is left tackle Tyron Smith. The Cowboys have allowed 12 sacks during his two-game injury absence and Smith might sit out Thursday too.

Since you can’t double-team both Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, common sense dictates that Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott will be running for his life a few times.

Don’t tell anyone I picked the Chargers … of course, the proof is in the stellar preview: https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NFL/-chargers-vs-cowboys-preview-and-predictions/220578/

 

I had one goal when I got the national preview assignment for the Apple Cup showdown and that was this: To get into print that Washington State and Washington played to a 5-5 tie in 1900.

No typos there … a 5-5 football game. Now that is crazy.

Of course, I’m the same guy who covered the first 11-10 score in NFL history in 2008 when the Pittsburgh Steelers kicked a late field to defeat the Chargers.

But who has ever seen a 5-5 football score?

Funny thing about this game is that it is Washington State playing for a berth in the Pac-12 title game. Washington can only be spoilers. If the Huskies win, Stanford gets the berth.

That means Washington is currently only the third-best team in its division and fourth best overall in the Pac-12. And coach Chris Peterson is getting a bit touchy that some people aren’t thrilled that the very well-paid coach isn’t going to have his team in the conference title game.

But there was a moment in a press conference this week that defies all logic and it pertained to the Huskies scoring 10 points in the final minute to defeat Utah.

Q: Was that finish Saturday as exciting a finish as you’ve been a part of?

ME: Apparently, the media person never heard of the Fiesta Bowl between Boise State and Oklahoma.

Wow … here is the stellar preview:    http://www.espn.com/ncf/preview/_/id/400935330

 

The Iron Bowl is Saturday and Auburn needs a victory over Alabama to keep alive its College Football Playoff hopes.

Seems odd that a two-loss team can still have an opportunity to be one of the last four teams standing but there are different rules for SEC teams than the other leagues.

Kind of like nobody wants to make SEC commissioner Craig Sankey mad in case they want to take an athletic director’s job at an SEC school sometime. Or risk receiving a phone call from an irate Nick Saban.

The Tigers are currently No. 6 and if they beat Saban’s Crimson Tide, they would face No. 7 Georgia (one loss) in the SEC title game. You can kind of see what is on the horizon.

An Auburn win in the SEC title game gets the Tigers in as the No. 4 seed in the CFP. And a Georgia win just may get the Bulldogs in at No. 4 because then they split two games with Auburn.

That means the loser of the ACC title game between Clemson and Miami is in line to get shafted. So is Wisconsin unless it is 13-0. Being 12-1 with the loss to Ohio State isn’t going to do it for the Badgers.

Anyway, Alabama and Auburn should be a good game and here is the stellar preview: https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NCAAF/-alabama-vs-auburn-preview-and-predictions/220799/

 

Lonzo Ball and De’Aaron Fox squared off for the first time as NBA players on Wednesday night and their matchup was a draw.

Fox got to walk off the floor with a smile as the Sacramento Kings posted a 113-102 victory over Ball’s Los Angeles Lakers. But the statistical matchup favored Ball.

Ball had 11 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and four turnovers, while Fox had 13 points, three assists and five turnovers.

Their first matchup received a lot of attention because of the way Fox terrorized Ball in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last March when he scored a career-best 39 points. That performance paved the way for Fox to rise all the way up to the fifth overall pick. Ball, of course, was selected second.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Fox will be the better NBA player. Check back with me in 2023.

Anyway, this was the stellar preview that was published before the game was played: https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/basketball/NBA/-lakers-vs-kings-preview-and-predictions/220583/

 

Can’t do a weekly links without this quick mention. Kansas is playing Oakland on Friday — that’s the Golden Grizzlies, not the Raiders — and a player named Jalen Hayes will be making his season debut for Oakland.

You see, Hayes received a four-game academic suspension from the NCAA for not making “satisfactory progress toward a degree” after he received a 2.5 in a class in his major last spring when Oakland requires a 2.8.

Oh, but Hayes is slated to graduate in December. Sounds like he is making a lot of progress toward his degree, doesn’t it?

But the same group of people who closed their eyes to academic fraud at North Carolina — a money-making school — penalized the star player from a lower-echelon university. Quite the joke — and count Kansas coach Bill Self among the folks who think the situation was poorly handled.

“They get him back,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said of Hayes. “He was ineligible the first four games for a screwy academic rule.”

Screwy academic rule says it all. Thanks, Coach.

Here is the stellar preview:    https://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/basketball/ncaab/oakland-vs-kansas-preview-and-predictions/220737/

Weekly links — Will regular season Kershaw show in World Series?; Brett Hundley is no Aaron Rodgers; Chargers-Broncos; no competition for Alabama

Well, hey, Weekly Links is making a surprise appearance. So busy with the paid work this time of year that it is hard to fit in free ventures (sure hope you don’t think I am making millions on my cozy website!)

So here goes … a little baseball, a little more NFL and a little college football. Sorry, not posting NBA as the preview shelf life is limited and who knows where you might end up after you click.

 

The World Series starts on Tuesday and the main storyline will revolve around perhaps the greatest pitcher of this era.

But as we all know, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw hasn’t stood up well under the playoff pressure during his career.

So will be it regular season Kershaw or “Postseason Kershaw” when the Dodgers play in the World Series for the first time since 1988?

Kershaw was seven months old and sleeping in a crib the last time the Dodgers were part of the Fall Classic.

How long has it been since the Dodgers played in the World Series? Well, consider the San Diego Padres’ drought was 10 years shorter.

That’s pretty sad when you consider all the money the Dodgers spend.

But this is their time with a team that won 104 regular-season games … and they definitely need “Regular Season Kershaw” taking the mound … see stellar story here — http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/story.asp?i=20171020172054085065710&ref=rec&tm=&src=MLB

 

Tom Brady might get the most praise but I feel Aaron Rodgers is the most “valuable” quarterback in the NFL.

We start to see if that is assessment is correct when the Green Bay Packers host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Rodgers is out for at least eight weeks due to a broken collarbone and former UCLA star Brett Hundley will start in his place. Hundley has excelled in each of the past three preseasons but he wasn’t so hot when replacing Rodgers last Sunday as he threw three interceptions in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Hundley is a stellar athlete so it will be interesting to see how he fares. But no matter how he performs, we know this: He’s no Aaron Rodgers.

Here is the stellar preview — http://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NFL/saints-vs-packers-preview-and-predictions/212295/

 

It was pretty fun to have the Week 1 assignment when the Chargers and Broncos played in Denver.

It was even more entertaining to watch the Chargers have their game-tying field-goal attempt blocked in the final seconds.

The Chargers lost their first four games after relocating from San Diego and their running defense is so poor that I’m thinking Terrell Davis could suit up this Sunday and threaten the 100-yard mark.

The Broncos haven’t played well lately — what a gag job that was against the woeful New York Giants last Sunday night — so that unfortunately means the Chargers have a chance to win a third straight game.

Sure don’t want that … seeing the Chargers fall to 2-5 and on the way to their consecutive double-digit loss season would be much more fun.

Here is the stellar preview — http://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/nfl/broncos-vs-chargers-preview-and-predictions/212300/

 

I’ve been kind of wondering why we have to continue playing the college football season and having all this debate about which four teams should be part of the College Football Playoff.

Can you find three teams in the nation that can beat Alabama? How about two? OK, one?

Penn State, Georgia and TCU are the teams ranked 2, 3 and 4. How about we take the best players off those three teams and see if they can give Alabama a game?

None of those three teams will win the national championship. The list of teams that can ends at one: Alabama.

The Crimson Tide get to pound Tennessee this Saturday. Apparently, people around Tennessee have finally figured out Butch Jones isn’t an SEC-caliber coach. Things could really get ugly against the Crimson Tide.

Here is the stellar preview — http://www.scoresandstats.com/previews/football/NCAAF/-tennessee-vs-alabama-preview-and-predictions/212112/

“Roll Tears” — the world is a better place after Clemson rallies to slay mighty Alabama

The world is a better place tonight because Alabama didn’t win the College Football Playoff’s national championship.

Yeah, imagine that. Alabama didn’t win.

That means Nick Saban lost.

Even better.

Clemson scored the winning touchdown with one second left when quarterback Deshaun Watson tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow to give the Tigers a 35-31 victory over the Crimson Tide.

Instead of “Roll Tide,” it is “Roll Tears” for Alabama.

The Crimson Tide never trailed in the contest until one second remained. At times, it felt like Clemson was destined to come up short.

Even the winning drive was a little shaky as the Tigers squandered time and almost had to settle for a tying field goal.

But Watson capped off a 420-yard, three-touchdown passing performance with his game-winning throw to give Clemson its first national title in 35 seasons.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney couldn’t stop crying in the postgame interview and Watson kept thanking God and it just kept feeling surreal that someone other than the powerful Crimson Tide won the national title.

Alabama is loaded with talent but there was Saban’s defense crumbling in the final quarter. Clemson rolled up 21 fourth-quarter points as four different receivers finished with more than 90 yards receiving.

The Tigers ended up with 511 offensive yards against a defense that allowed an average of 244 through its first 14 games. The Crimson Tide totaled 376 yards and we learned that receiver ArDarius Stewart has a much better throwing arm than quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Hurts sure has the potential to be an NFL running back once his body matures and he spends more time in the weight room but he didn’t look much like a solid passer for the second consecutive playoff game.

Clemson avenged last season’s loss to Alabama in the title game and this contest will long be remembered.

Primarily because of Clemson’s impressive fourth-quarter dash.

And partly because of this — Nick Saban was on the losing end.

This was the first time one of Saban’s teams lost a national championship game in six attempts.

Roll Tears, indeed.