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  • Three games from each remaining week that will impact the College Football Playoff

    With just three weeks left in the regular season, the College Football Playoff picture is taking shape. The stakes are higher week by week, as one loss can eliminate many teams from contention.

    As we count down to selection day on Dec. 8, here are three games from each remaining week of the regular season that could have the biggest impact on the College Football Playoff.

    *All rankings are from the College Football Playoff poll

    12th week

    No. 7 Tennessee at no. 12 Georgia

    It’s time for the Bulldogs. After losing 28-10 to now-No. 11 Ole Miss, Kirby Smart’s team owns two losses – a third at home could certainly eliminate Georgia from playoff contention. This is a must win for the Bulldogs.

    Tennessee, on the other hand, has a chance to solidify its position in the 12-team playoff, and a win puts the Vols in prime position to play in Atlanta for the SEC title in December. However, unlike Georgia, a loss to Tennessee doesn’t necessarily eliminate the Vols from contention. It will just throw them back into the pot of two-loss SEC teams.

    Kansas at no. 6 BYU

    It’s a down year for the Jayhawks by preseason expectations. However, Kansas just spoiled Iowa State’s season and would love nothing more than to do the same to undefeated BYU. While the Jayhawks are 3-6, their record doesn’t tell the whole story. Five of the six losses were decided by six points or less. They are a competitive football team, as they proved last Saturday when the Cyclones lost by 45 points.

    The Cougars are coming off a close-to-consolation win against Utah last weekend, and unlike Kansas, four of their wins have come by six points or less. BYU ousted the Utes last Saturday and don’t be surprised if the Cougars play in another close contest in Week 12.

    Utah at no. 17 Colorado

    Right now, Colorado is in control of its own destiny. Win, the Buffaloes are in the Big 12 Championship and competing for a possible automatic bid to the CFP. The loss, however, shakes up the Big 12. We just saw Big 12 leader BYU struggle with Utah. Colorado certainly has more talent, with Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders leading Deion’s squad, but Utah will look to tarnish Colorado’s playoff hopes after opening the season as the favorite to win the Big 12.

    CFP: 2024-25 College Football Playoff schedule, dates, TV channel, websites

    13th week

    Army no. 24 at no. 8 Notre Dame

    Notre Dame players celebrate against Navy.

    The Navy couldn’t do it. Now it’s the army’s turn. Do the Black Knights have enough magic? It’s hard to say. But Northern Illinois is. Both teams need a ranked win to stay in CFP contention. Army, undefeated at 9-0 entering the game, needs this win to prove they can compete outside of the American Conference, which the Black Knights have trudged through to this point.

    Army and Boise State no. The Broncos impressed, only losing to No. 1 Oregon by a field goal, and it’s clear the CFP board values ​​Boise more, given the 11-point difference between the two teams. But if Army beats the Irish, it immediately has a much better win than any of Boise State’s resume wins.

    Notre Dame cannot afford to lose. They probably own the worst defeat of the season. Another loss to a powerless conference program isn’t a good look for a team eyeing a playoff spot, especially if the Irish don’t have a chance to compete for a conference championship.

    No. 5 Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State

    Is Indiana legal? He had his biggest win of the season last Saturday against Michigan, but the game against the Buckeyes is a much different test. A win here not only catapults Indiana into the driver’s seat for a CFP berth, but proves that this isn’t a one-and-done year for the Hoosiers. Curt Cignetti has a chance to rebrand what people think of Indiana football.

    Now before we get ahead of ourselves, on paper Ohio State should win this game. But with the way this college football season has unfolded, no win is a guarantee. The Buckeyes struggled in Week 9 against Nebraska — the same Nebraska team that lost by 49 to the Hoosiers. It’s a dangerous game to rely on head-to-head comparisons, but there could be some value in that.

    Ohio State needs this win to compete for the Big Ten Championship, and so does Indiana. You’ll have to watch this Week 13 matchup on TV.

    No. 4 Penn State at Minnesota

    Penn State is quietly creeping into the College Football Playoff race. The Nittany Lions don’t have a realistic path to a Big Ten championship, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Oregon will win, and the winner of Indiana and Ohio State will meet the Ducks in Indianapolis. All Penn State has to do is beat Purdue in Week 12, Minnesota and Maryland in Week 14. If that happens, James Franklin’s team should get the first seven seed in the playoffs. The Nittany Lions’ only loss was by a touchdown against Ohio State. That’s a strong enough resume for the playoffs.

    However, Minnesota proved competitive, beating Southern Cal by more than Penn State. It doesn’t mean much, but we’ve seen Penn State struggle at times this season. One loss against an unranked Gopher team could send the blue and white plummeting.

    14th week

    3 Texas at 15 Texas A&M

    Texas football celebrates against Vanderbilt.

    It’s the biggest game remaining for both programs and has a strong chance to decide who goes to the SEC Championship — just like Georgia vs. Tennessee in Week 12. The winner of this game will likely have one conference loss, and this season, that’s all it will take to get to the conference title game in Atlanta. If Tennessee beats Georgia, the Vols will face the winner of that matchup. However, if Tennessee loses, there will be a tie between a handful of SEC teams. But whichever team wins this Week 14 matchup, it will be in Atlanta with one conference loss.

    No. 8 Notre Dame at Southern Cal

    Let’s say Notre Dame beats Southern Cal. One would think that if the Irish have one loss, even to Northern Illinois, they are in the playoffs. But two losses? No. The Irish will fall. The Trojans have been poor this season, but all five of their losses have been by one score or less, and three of those losses have been by three points or less.

    Now, Notre Dame is on a roll since losing at Northern Illinois. It would be surprising, but it looks like the historic stars could align for the Trojans and spoil the Irish’s playoff hopes.

    No. 7 Tennessee at Vanderbilt

    Vanderbilt is out of playoff contention. Tennessee isn’t, and the Commodores would love nothing more than to spoil their in-state rivals’ postseason aspirations. Vanderbilt proved it can with a win over Alabama and a close loss to Texas. If the Vols enter this game with one loss, meaning they beat Georgia, Vanderbilt could eliminate them from the chance to go to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. If Tennessee enters this game with two losses, Vanderbilt could eliminate the Vols from playoff contention. It might not work out that way, but if it does, I’d watch the goalpost in Nashville.

    #games #remaining #week #impact #College #Football #Playoff

  • Alabama Football makes Friday about giving back with its Tide teammates

    TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — First-year Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has been under scrutiny from the moment he and his family landed at Tuscaloosa Regional Airport in January to replace legendary head coach Nick Saban.

    DeBoer immediately went to work recruiting, retaining Alabama’s roster and beginning to establish his culture and vision for the Crimson Tide program. The changes brought questions and scrutiny, as opponents wondered whether Alabama could maintain its dominance if DeBoer played practice music, allowed players and coaches more media access or shifted the practice schedule to the morning.

    At 7-2 with wins over the Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers and in the College Football Playoff picture, it’s safe to say it’s working. DeBoer and his staff have maintained a vision for the program since January, and as a result, Alabama has landed in the thick of the SEC title race and another playoff berth.

    Regardless of Alabama’s record, though important, perhaps the most significant change DeBoer has made to the program’s routine comes on Fridays. The Crimson Tide do their thing on the field and in walk-throughs as they prepare for the next day’s game, then welcome various Alabama fans and their children to practice to share an inspiring moment with the team.

    «Yeah, we really started it back in Washington, more of a regular schedule, kind of every Friday, kind of format and we called it Husky Heroes there, now it’s Tide Teammates,» DeBoer said. «It just became a thing when you saw the joy you brought to people and there’s some good energy that even our players have and some excitement when we finish that Friday practice and get through it.

    «It makes you feel good when you do things for other people. People just love the game, they look up to these players as idols, they fight their battles in a lot of different ways and I hope they give our guys some perspective that the battle is what we’re going to fight on the court, it’s really nothing compared to the battles that some people fight, especially when it comes to their lives or the things that they’ve been dealing with all along .»

    DeBoer welcomes families with children in special circumstances and teaches players that their impact goes beyond what happens on the field. The Crimson Tide players see people struggling and put into perspective the blessings of playing SEC football.

    «Kids come in here and we let them score touchdowns and hear how they’ve gone through life,» Alabama wide receiver Kendrick Law said. «When I say ‘going through life,’ I mean some of these kids have issues and things that are wrong with them. I kind of like how we’re constantly working from week to week because it shows that their families and things like that the kids can come here, interact with us, we love them, they love us, they’re scoring goals, it just shows us the characteristics outside of football that a lot of the guys in the team have, not just me, for the kids and things like that I think it’s something special.»

    DeBoer came to Tuscaloosa and kept a winning program alive while the Crimson Tide was on the verge of making its second College Football Playoff appearance. He made several changes to policies, procedures and schedules, making the program his own in the process. Every change is put under the microscope as the program strives to maintain the standard, but Tide Teammates on Friday is undoubtedly a positive move that shows there is more to life than the wins and losses of the game.


    #Alabama #Football #Friday #giving #Tide #teammates

  • Fantasy football power rankings for all 32 NFL teams in November

    It’s a simple goal for fantasy managers – to get where the points are. Identify the NFL’s juiciest offenses and take as many of their players as possible.

    Now that we’re in the middle of November, it’s a good time to take stock of the offenses we trust and those we don’t. Here’s how I view all 32 teams in terms of the fantasy value they offer collectively.

    All fantasy weekly ratings are from FantasyPros using half-point PPR scoring.

    No, they are not the best team in the NFL or even the NFC. They might not even win their division. But Christian McCaffrey is immediately back to cash cow status, and Jauan Jennings is already a WR2 for fantasy purposes, settling into the X role vacated by Brandon Aiyuk.

    Jalen Hurts has become unfair with his success on the goal line, and there is more than enough left for Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown and DeVonto Smith.

    It’s hard to believe this is Derrick Henry’s age 30 season; he’s second in broken tackles and second in yards per contact (to be fair, there’s some double counting when you mention both stats). And the trend of Henry’s career shows that he usually gets better by the season. The Ravens have been slow to onboard Diontae Johnson, and even with Johnson getting more snaps, this passing game has several other legitimate options. I wouldn’t blame anyone who interrupted Johnson.

    The backfield has two easy games, but Amon-Ra St. Brown was the only constant in the passing game downfield. Jameson Williams is their x-factor, the guy who blossomed.

    The Bengals are the overwhelming leader in pass completion rate above expectations, so Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are poised to change fantasy seasons. Chase Brown will also make an impact; Acquiring Khalil Herbert was just a depth play.

    We’ve been wondering all summer who the right answer is in the pass-catching room. But sometimes there are no right answers.

    Sam Darnold consistently pushes the ball downfield and most of his passing metrics are well above league average. However, he falls short in two critical areas – his sack and interception rates are below code. When you can’t avoid downside plays, you’re playing with limited upside. Kevin O’Connell is a dream playmaker, but eventually Darnold’s error-prone nature will wear this team down.

    Green Bay passing pie always smells good, but this pie is cut into several pieces. Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Tucker Kraft and Christian Watson are all between 39 and 47 targets. Jordan Love has increased his touchdown rate and YPA this year, but he’s also seen a big jump in interceptions.

    If strength of schedule is one of your concepts, the Buccaneers could be your team. Tampa Bay has faced the toughest schedule in football to this point, and now it’s the easiest step forward. The Cowboys and Panthers await in the final two weeks of the fantasy playoffs.

    The Seahawks finally unlocked Jaxon-Smith Njibo, but the offense isn’t the same without DK Metcalf. Give Seattle credit for continuing to roll — they play at the second-fastest pace in the league.

    Kirk Cousins ​​has gone ballistic in his two starts against Tampa Bay. He has a QB20 average in other starts this year. For some reason, the Falcons gave Tyler Allgeier three straight touchdown passes last week — all unsuccessful — before Bijan Robinson finished the job.

    Could they get some consistency from Kyler Murray? Consider his weekly finishes: QB15, QB1, QB17, QB24, QB5, QB25, QB5, QB12, QB30, QB4. James Conner has been the most underrated player in football for several years now.

    In most rankings, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are close together each week, but Nacua’s edge is higher when you consider how often the Rams favor him in transition.

    Travis Kelce did very little the first three weeks and Rashee Rice was injured in Week 3. Kelce since then: TE5, TE7, TE30, TE4, TE3, TE1. The original plan was to save Kelce more for the playoffs, but plans have to be flexible when you hit a hole.

    Jayden Daniels was everything we dreamed of, and Terry McLaurin’s long-awaited career season was glorious. But surprisingly, there is no other receiver on this list who hits home runs.

    Joe Mixon has five 100-yard games and eight touchdowns and has survived despite Houston’s poor offensive line. Nico Collins is desperately needed back to fix the passing game downfield, but John Metchie III’s Week 10 breakout might be a bit sticky.

    The Steelers have the lowest pass completion rate in the league, meaning Najee Harris is an automatic fantasy starter this year and Jaylen Warren is something of a stretch. George Pickens has WR3 and WR5 rankings in his last three starts, obviously better now that Russell Wilson is Pittsburgh’s starter. Note that Pittsburgh has played an easy schedule to this point; it’s about to get a lot harder.

    Tua Tagovailoa came back, but it wasn’t much fun: QB22, QB19, QB22. The Dolphins don’t trust their offensive line and are concerned about Tua’s health, which shows in the play calling.

    The Colts have played the 11th-toughest schedule through the first 10 weeks, but face the third-easiest slate from that point forward. So it’s a good time to go back to Anthony Richardson, although that’s not the best news for anyone holding tickets to that WR room.

    The Chargers will never be a proactive passing team, but Justin Herbert’s efficiency stats are dreamy. As we wind through a busy offseason, Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey are both worthy of attention. TE Will Dissly too.

    Audric Estimé was rightfully hounded in the free agent pool this week, a two-down rookie in Denver. But he had a limited receiving profile in college and has yet to catch a pass in the NFL, so understand we’re talking limited upside. Courtland Sutton is starting to click with Bo Nix, going WR7 and WR7 the last two weeks.

    Chicago’s offensive line is clearly a problem, but remember that sacks are more of a quarterback stat than an offensive line stat. Caleb Williams holds the ball too long without departing OC Shane Waldron doing him any favors. Chicago has played the second-easiest schedule to this point; in football the hardest thing is to move on.

    The coaches were fired. Playing cards have changed hands. Signature deals were concluded. There are no more cards to play. He folds his hand.

    There’s nothing really wrong with Tank Bigsby, but the situation around him is falling apart. Trevor Lawrence is not healthy, the team is losing games, too many game scripts are getting out of hand. The Jaguars don’t use Bigsby much in the passing game and Travis Etienne Jr. is back as well. Therefore, Bigsby could rightfully be demoted in some leagues right now.

    No one sees Drew Lock as a savior, but Daniel Jones probably deserves the bench when the Giants return from business. Tyrone Tracy Jr. pushed Devin Singletary out of the way, which is notable when you consider Singletary’s history with head coach Brian Daboll.

    Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers are fantasy, so is Alexander Mattison if you want some empty messenger. But there are no real answers in this quarterback room, and the Raiders’ defense has also been stomped on most weeks.

    I hope Jameis Winston beats New Orleans this week because this fantasy offense is much more interesting with Winston than Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Last three games for Cedric Tillman: WR14, WR3, WR12. Cedric the Entertainer.

    Calvin Ridley has shown he can produce with both guards, so welcome back to the Circle of Trust. Tony Pollard plays gallantly every week despite injuries keeping him out of training; watch out for Tyjae Spears.

    Their remarkable 2-0 start seems like 15 years ago. Alvin Kamara has been fantasy royalty all year, but his heavy workload is concerning given his stature and career resume.

    Drake Maye checks it all: athletic, competitive, precise. The average offensive line in front of him didn’t hold him back much. Rhamondre Stevenson has been a credible RB21 through the opening 10 weeks.

    It’s not fun to get pulled over for a foul, but we have no choice. Of course you play CeeDee Lamb and maybe hold your nose and use Rico Dowdle. Jake Ferguson plays tight end, so you might be stuck there. But this offense probably doesn’t stand a chance with Cooper Rush and Trey Lance.

    Chuba Hubbard was one of the fantasy steals of the year, but he’s the only player on the list. Imagine what Hubbard could do if he could face his defense, the biggest prize in the league.


    #Fantasy #football #power #rankings #NFL #teams #November

  • Pickens, Sutton among 4 receivers to start in fantasy football Week 11 – UPI.com

    Wide receiver George Pickens (right) and the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Pittsburgh. File photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI

    1 out of 5 | Wide receiver George Pickens (right) and the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Pittsburgh. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License photo

    MIAMI, Nov. 13 (UPI) — George Pickens and Courtland Sutton are among my four receivers to start in Week 11 of the fantasy football campaign.

    Amon-Ra St. Brown leads my Week 11 Top-50 rankings listed below. Ja’Marr Chase, AJ Brown and Justin Jefferson join St. Brown and Pickens in the top 5 on my list.

    Zay Flowers, Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel join those pass rushers in my Top 10. Calvin Ridley and Quentin Johnston join Pickens and Sutton as my four must-start players.

    Those who have Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman Jr. and other players with injuries should monitor their status before including them in the starting lineups.

    Players from the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are on the roster should be benched or potentially released.

    Players will also be removed or adjusted in the rankings based on injuries. My article on free agent targets for Week 11 is available here.

    George Pickens

    Pickens found the end zone for the second time in three weeks in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 10 win over the Washington Commanders. He totaled five catches for 91 yards for his third straight game with at least 74 receiving yards.

    This week, Pickens and the Steelers will host a Baltimore Ravens team that has allowed the most fantasy points, receiving yards (199.2) and receiving grades (1.6) per game to wide receivers through 10 weeks.

    They also gave up 264 yards and three scores to Ja’Marr Chase in Week 10, 122 yards to Courtland Sutton in Week 9 and 99 yards and two scores to Cedric Tillman in Week 8.

    Pickens is the WR1 in this juicy matchup. It is in 5th place on my list.

    Courtland Sutton

    Sutton is the 13th player on my Week 11 receiver rankings. The Denver Broncos veteran entered Week 10 with two straight 100-yard performances. Then he found the end zone for the third time this season in the Broncos’ close loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Kansas City, Mo.

    Sutton and the Broncos will now face an Atlanta Falcons defense that has allowed the ninth most fantasy points per game to wide receivers so far this season. They also surrendered 109 yards and two touchdowns to Marquez Valdes-Scantling in Week 10.

    Sutton’s 30 targets over the last three weeks is a testament to his increased involvement in the Broncos’ offense. He’s firmly on the low-end WR1/high-end WR2 radar for this matchup.

    Calvin Ridley

    Ridley, who got off to a glacially slow start this season, was third in fantasy football in Week 10 with five catches for 84 yards and two scores.

    The Tennessee Titans target had 10 catches for 143 yards in Week 8 and caught five more passes for 73 yards in Week 9.

    Ridley and the Titans will host the Minnesota Vikings this week. The Vikings did well against Indianapolis Colts wide receivers in Week 10, but were one of the most generous defenses against opposing wide receivers in the first half of the season, surrendering the second-most sacks (14.7) and third-most receiving yards (178) and fantasy points per game per position.

    Ridley, my No. 15 player, should eclipse 75 receiving yards in this favorable matchup against a vulnerable secondary.

    Quentin Johnston

    Johnston, who was among my top waiver targets in Week 11, can be included as a risk reward WR3. The Los Angeles Chargers pass catcher doesn’t earn a ton of targets, but he continues to find the end zone — with five touchdowns in seven games.

    The Chargers are set to host a Cincinnati Bengals defense that allowed three Baltimore Ravens wide receivers to score touchdowns in Week 10. They also gave up 105 yards to Jakobi Meyers in Week 9.

    For the season, the Bengals have allowed the 10th most receiving yards (150.5) per game to opposing wide receivers. Look for Johnston, my No. 1 player. 27 to get more red-zone targets than Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in what I expect to be a high-profile meeting.

    Week 11 receiver rankings

    1. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions vs. JAX

    2. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals at LAC

    3. AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS

    4. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings at TEN

    5. George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. BAL

    6. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens at PIT

    7. Davante Adams, New York Jets vs. IND

    8. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams at NE

    9. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks at SF

    10. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers vs. SEA

    11. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders at PHI

    12. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins vs. LV

    13. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos vs. ATL

    14. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets vs. IND

    15. Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans vs. MIN

    16. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys vs. HOU

    17. Nico Collins, Houston Texans at DAL

    18. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons at DEN

    19. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams at NE

    20. Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers at CHI

    21. Jacob Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders and MIA

    22. DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs at BUF

    23. Tank Dell, Houston Texans at DAL

    24. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS

    25. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars at DET

    26. Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns at NO

    27. Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers vs. CIN

    28. Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts at NYJ

    29. DJ Moore, Chicago Bears vs GB

    30. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins vs. LV

    31. Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens at PIT

    32. DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots vs. LAR

    33. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions vs. JAX

    34. Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers vs. SEA

    35. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, New Orleans Saints vs. CLE

    36. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills vs. KC

    37. Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons at DEN

    38. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks at SF

    39. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings at TEN

    40. Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs at BUF

    41. Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers at CHI

    42. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers vs. CIN

    43. Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams at NE

    44. Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys vs. LOVE

    45. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts at NYJ

    46. ​​Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears vs GB

    47. Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns at NO

    48. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers at CHI

    49. Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns at NO

    50. Noah Brown, Washington Commanders at PHI

    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stiff-arms Los Angeles Rams quarterback Cobie Durant at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Nov. 11, 2024. The Dolphins beat the Rams 23-15 Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License picture

    #Pickens #Sutton #among #receivers #start #fantasy #football #Week #UPI.com

  • The college football futures market has been rocked by the second release of the CFP rankings

    November 13, 2024, 11:30 a.m. ET

    The second release of the College Football Playoff rankings saw a major shift, with some teams moving up and others falling. Indiana made a notable jump to No. 5, continuing their impressive season, while BYU moved up to No. 6, further bolstering their playoff hopes.

    Miami, on the other hand, dropped five spots to No. 9 after a shocking loss to unranked Georgia Tech, and Georgia dropped nine spots to No. 12 after a disappointing loss at home to Ole Miss. With these moves in mind, the futures market has become a little murkier. Here’s a look at some of the changes and one bet to keep in mind.

    All odds are accurate to timestamp. Go to ESPN BET for the latest odds.

    The biggest lifters

    5. Indiana Hoosiers (+2500) and 6. BYU Cougars (+7500)

    Indiana’s rise to the top five is a significant accomplishment, especially since it marks the first time in program history that the Hoosiers have reached ten wins in a season. They kept their undefeated record alive with a close win over Michigan, showing their ability to compete in high pressure situations. That impressive performance, along with the chaos surrounding other top teams, including Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech, justified Indiana’s jump from No. 8 to No. 5. The committee acknowledged the strong season and the Hoosiers’ potential for continued success, especially as they continue to compete for place in the playoffs.

    Indiana is listed at -500 to make the playoffs, +340 to make the playoffs and +750 to win the Big Ten. These odds align with their current No. 5 ranking, reflecting confidence in their ability to make the playoffs if they continue their strong season. However, the +750 odds to win the Big Ten highlight some uncertainty about whether they can secure the conference title, possibly due to potential matchups with powerhouses like Ohio State or Michigan in the Big Ten game.

    Indiana was +900 to make the playoffs entering Week 6 and +1100 to win the conference entering Week 11, buying at the current +340 they can miss price makes for an interesting counter. If you think Indiana could struggle or fall in a critical game, this could be a smart way to lock in some gains or mitigate potential losses depending on how their season plays out.

    BYU also made a notable jump in the rankings after a hard-fought win against rival Utah. Going a perfect 9-0 overall and 6-0 in Big 12 play, BYU has put in consistent performances throughout the season. The commission rewarded their efforts not only to maintain their undefeated status, but also to capitalize on the misfortune of the teams ranked above them. As a result, BYU is now set as the third seed in the projected playoff bracket, strengthening their status as a contender in this year’s playoff race.

    BYU is listed at +100 to make and -130 to miss the playoffs, with +175 odds to win the Big 12 as the second favorite. While BYU’s ranking warrants optimism about their playoff chances, the odds reflect some caution due to potential future challenges. The Cougars have seen little change in their odds, going from +120 to the playoffs entering Week 11, suggesting that while they are in a strong position, the market remains wary of potential obstacles in their path to securing a spot.

    Biggest falls

    9. Miami Hurricanes (+4000) and 12. Georgia Bulldogs (+900)

    Miami’s odd drop from no. 4 on no. 9 is a direct result of their shocking 31-28 loss to unranked Georgia Tech. This loss not only ended Miami’s undefeated record, but also exposed significant vulnerabilities in their defense, which has been lacking in several games this season. The committee’s decision to drop Miami five spots reflects the severity of losing to an unranked opponent so late in the season, especially when other top contenders continue to win. The strength of Miami’s schedule has been questionable all season with zero wins against ranked opponents, and this loss adds to concerns about their ability to compete at the highest level. While still in the playoffs, Miami’s path has become much more challenging and they will need to win convincingly and likely need help from other teams to climb back into the top four.

    Miami is listed at -150 to make it, +120 to miss the playoffs, and +100 as the favorite to win the ACC, reflecting confidence in Miami’s ability to win the ACC and potentially secure a playoff spot. While Miami’s road has become significantly more difficult, they will need to win convincingly and will likely need help from other teams to get back into the top four.

    Georgia’s dramatic drop from No. 3 to No. 12 marks one of the most significant falls for a top-ranked team in recent CFP history. The Bulldogs’ unexpected 35-21 loss to Ole Miss at home was a major factor in that slump, but the committee’s harsh assessment goes beyond just one loss. That loss, along with questions about Georgia’s entire division, caused them to plummet in the rankings. The manner of the loss—outplayed on both sides of the ball at home—raised serious doubts about Georgia’s ability to compete with the nation’s elite teams. While Georgia’s playoff hopes aren’t completely dashed, this ranking shows they have a mountain to climb to get back into playoff contention.

    The playoff odds for Georgia at -450 to make it and +300 to get eliminated don’t seem quite right with their current 12th ranking. After falling nine spots following the loss, the odds are still heavily in favor of Georgia making the playoffs, likely due to facing the toughest schedule in the FBS. Oddsmakers believe they have a strong chance of bouncing back and securing a place despite their current position outside the top 10.

    Bet to Consider: SMU Mustangs to Miss Playoffs (-180)

    SMU to miss the playoffs at -180 could be a good bet for several reasons. SMU is currently in a strong position in the ACC, but their playoff chances are far from guaranteed, sitting at 38%. That’s assuming they win out and claim the ACC Championship. If the Mustangs lose one of their remaining regular season games (against the Virginia Cavaliers or Cal Bears) or the ACC Championship Game (likely against Miami), their road to the playoffs becomes very difficult.

    SMU’s only loss this season came against BYU, which doesn’t hurt them too much, but their overall strength of schedule (81st) isn’t as strong as the other Power 5 teams. If they finish the season with two losses (either in the regular season or in the ACC Championship), would have a hard time securing an at-large bid in a crowded field with one loss and undefeated teams from stronger conferences.

    The committee favors teams from stronger conferences with better resumes, and SMU would need a lot of chaos among the other top teams to sneak into the playoffs as a two-loss team. While I was initially thinking of betting on Miami to miss the playoffs at +120 for the odds, given that SMU has a tough road and is in a win-or-lose scenario every week, I’m betting on the Mustangs to miss the playoffs at -180 offered more value.

    #college #football #futures #market #rocked #release #CFP #rankings

  • HOK and Snow Kreilich raise a thin canopy over the St Louis football stadium

    Global design studio HOK and Minnesota-based Snow Kreilich Architects have teamed up to create the Citypark urban sports campus and stadium for the Major League Soccer club in St Louis, Missouri.


    Designed for the St. Louis City Soccer Club, Citypark spans 25.5 acres in downtown St. Louis. Louis, near the iconic Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River.

    HOK Stadium and Snow Kreilich Architects
    HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects created an urban sports campus and stadium

    «[The venue] it shifts the narrative of an MLS stadium from an enclosed unique space separate from the city to a public space that brings all of St Louis together to become part of the civic soccer experience,” the team said.

    Completed in November 2022 by HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects, the complex includes a 22,500-seat stadium, team headquarters and training facility, and features a structural system made primarily of recycled steel.

    The city pavilion building
    The stadium was built on a former highway branch

    The stadium was built on a former freeway ramp and parking lot with elevated topography that allowed the field level to be set 17 feet (5.1 meters) below the concourse at street level and reduced the height of the building relative to the building’s surroundings.

    The team submerged operational and support spaces underwater – accessed via tunnels and buried loading docks – to create a 360-degree seamless fan experience that connects to the surrounding street grid.

    St Louis City Stadium
    The ground floor of the rectangular stadium is surrounded by light gray brick and glass

    The ground floor of the rectangular stadium is surrounded by light gray brickwork and glass, which allow a view of the venue and from it.

    In addition, an elevated upper concourse wraps around the building with a drink rail along the facade, opening the stadium to game day festivities on the outside of the stadium.

    Urban sports campus and stadium
    Different beam sizes to make the edges of the canopy look thinner

    The 120-foot-wide, trellis-like canopy is supported by two rows of columns—an inner row of robust, compression columns and an outer row of delicate, tension columns—to balance over a steeply sloped concrete seating bowl.

    «It acts as a front porch to the city and creates connections between the city and the activity of the stadium,» HOK said.

    HOK and Snow Kreilich Architects wanted to create a modernist structure reminiscent of the Gateway Arch while providing shade for fans and amplifying the sound of the cheers.

    Indoor event space
    A flexible indoor event space is at the heart of the complex

    «Citypark represents a seamless fusion of civil engineering and architectural planning,» say the studios.

    «Through a coordinated system that showcases steel in a variety of ways, structural engineering complements architecture, creating open, interconnected spaces and fluid exterior forms.»

    Lightweight span girders were combined with an invisible lateral system that concealed the seismic support. Meanwhile, the canopy’s shallow console is supported by a pull-out system and various bracket sizes that allow the canopy’s edges to appear slimmer.

    HOK Stadium and Snow Kreilich Architects
    The pull-out system supports the shallow canopy console

    Opening its inaugural season in 2023, the venue has billed itself as “a zero-waste venue: with 100% recycled structural steel – which can be dismantled and reused – low-energy LED lighting, low-water-flow fixtures and high building performance controls.

    «Urban Stadium is as connected and focused on the city as it is on football,» the team said.

    An additional 17,000 square feet (1,580 square meters) of flexible indoor event space sits at the center of the complex, offering views of the field to the north, the practice fields to the south and the Mall to the east.

    Meanwhile, 70,000 square feet (6,500 square meters) of outdoor space on the east side of the complex provides public infrastructure for civic events, food and performances – further connecting the stadium to its context.

    HOK and Stadium by Minnesota-based Snow Kreilich Architects
    The stadium is in St Louis, Missouri

    Other professional sports facilities HOK is currently working on include Major League Soccer’s first all-electric stadium for the New York City Football Club in Queens and the renovation of the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars’ deep-dome stadium in Florida.

    Photographed by Michael Robinson.

    Project credits:

    Subscriber: Louis CITY SC
    Design Architect: HOK
    Design Architect: Snow Kreilich Architects
    Architectural support: KAI companies
    Architectural support: WA, Inc.
    Landscape architect: HOK
    Support for landscape architecture, irrigation: DG2 design
    Grass design: Kimley-Horn
    Construction manager: MAK Joint Venture (Mortenson Construction, Alberici Construction, Keeley Construction)
    Steel manufacturer: Hillsdale Fabricators
    Steel details: Esskay Structures Inc
    Steel fitter: Auburn Constructors, Inc
    Owner’s representative: Kwame Building Group + Unlimited number of partners
    Static: HOK
    Support for construction and high-rise construction: David Mason & Associates, Inc
    MEP engineering, fire protection and technology: ME Engineers
    Plumbing engineering support: Custom engineering
    Sustainability consultant: HOK
    Interior equipment: HOK + Snow Kreilich Architects
    Architecture/Internal Support, FF&E: Arcturis
    Markings and wayfinding: Kiku Obata & Company
    Light designer: ME Engineers
    Code: Code Consultants, Inc
    Wind studies: CPP Inc
    Availability: Ed Roether Consulting, LLC
    Technology design support: Faith Group, LLC
    Food service: S20 Consultants, Inc
    Vertical transport: Van Deusen & Associates, Inc

    #HOK #Snow #Kreilich #raise #thin #canopy #Louis #football #stadium

  • Fantasy Football Panic Meter: Caleb Williams and the Bears are bad

    It can be so easy to panic in fantasy football. After all, we have very limited time to monitor and analyze a player’s performance. But never fear – Dalton Del Don is here to assess exactly how worried you should be – if at all.

    Hill is WR41 in fantasy points per game this season and the return of Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t helped as expected. The Dolphins surprisingly have the second lowest WR target percentage this season (49.1%). Running back De’Von Achane led Miami to its first target % read on Monday night when Hill was tied on third down with tight end Jonnu Smith.

    Hill has four times as many games with less than 25 receiving yards than he had in the last two seasons combined. Tagovailoa ranks 36 in deep throw attempts (7.7%). He recently passed Patrick Mahomes for the fewest average projected air yards (5.4) of any quarterback this season. Hill has taken a side seat in an offense that no longer throws deep (or scores as many points), and a wrist injury could explain that.

    Hill’s wrist has reportedly been bothering him since training camp (and worsened during his arrest), and an initial MRI showed a torn ligament. That could contribute to his declining road win rate this season. Hill’s fantasy managers must be panicking given the new strikeout and injury news.

    Lamb has been able to maintain fantasy production with Cooper Rush in the past, but his first game this season was a disaster. The Rush gave up as many tackles (2.0) as they gained yards per attempt. It was the fewest passing yards in a game with at least 20 attempts since 2015. The Rush finished with an above-expected completion percentage (-13.5) in the eighth percentile despite an average depth of target of just 6.4 yards (18th percentile). Lamb’s 10 targets resulted in 21 scoreless yards, including a touchdown loss in the sun.

    Trey Lance was no better, taking two sacks and being sacked on six pass attempts as Dallas finished with 32 net passes. Dak Prescott is officially out for the season. A move to Lance would be a disaster for Lamb’s fantasy value, but Rush remains the Week 11 starter.

    Lamb’s «expert consensus rank» this week is WR15, as it’s hard to go too much lower on a player who leads the NFL in target share from Week 4. But Lamb’s new situation (and the tap on the shoulder) has forced fantasy managers to tackle the corner (he’s now a WR2).

    Subscribe to the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

    Williams probably isn’t in many starting fantasy lineups these days, but managers are still hoping for life from Chicago’s pass catchers. And from a broader perspective, there is serious concern about the future of this year’s No. 1 draft pick. Williams is coming off one of his worst QB seasons in recent memory, ranking last among 106 quarterbacks in catchable throw rate since 2021. It also ranks last in this range in pressure-to-bag ratio.

    Chicago’s offensive line has been average in pass blocking, while Williams has the highest average pressure time in the league. When not under pressure, Williams ranks 31st in passer rate. He has the worst completion percentage of 15+ yards among 468 QBs over the past 15 years. Williams’ first nine career starts haven’t been as bad as Bryce Young or David Carr’s, but he’s right in their territory.

    Williams faced the third easiest QB adjusted schedule ever! And it gets the eighth hardest progression. When not facing Jacksonville or Carolina’s defenses, which rank third last in EPA/passing this season, Williams has averaged 179.3 passing yards (5.3 YPA!) in seven games with just three passes for touch. The Bears fired general manager Shane Waldron and even the discussion of putting Williams is shocking for someone with his college resume. Some veteran teammates are reportedly calling Tyson Bagent.

    The Bears offense ranks last in yards per drive, EPA/return, sacks allowed and touchdowns since their Week 7 run. Chicago hasn’t produced a top-20 performance at wide receiver since Week 6, and DJ Moore has just one all season. D’Andre Swift also suffers from Williams’ issues, as his shares in wins (108.6 scrimmage yards, 0.75 TD) and losses (72.0 YFS, 0.2 TD) are dramatic.

    Williams clearly has plenty of time to improve, and a complete coaching overhaul during the season could help. But his start in the NFL has been very concerning and there is no way New England or Washington trade a QB now.

    Thomas Jr. has seen his targets cut in half while averaging just 17.0 receiving yards through two games since suffering a pectoral injury. He also suffered from Mac Jones taking over at QB last week, which will happen again this Sunday and could end the season with Trevor Lawrence out with a serious shoulder injury. Jones managed a modest 4.5 YPA against Minnesota’s defense last week, allowing the seventh-most passing yards. Jones threw 59% of his passes to tight ends, which isn’t ideal for a rookie wide receiver. While Lawrence hasn’t been the prince we were promised, he still leads the league in end zone targets (after a missed game) and Jones is noticeably downgraded.

    Thomas ranks in the top 10 in rushing yards and sixth in fantasy points per target as a rookie, but his leap to fantasy stardom may have to wait until next season.

    Dobbins’ weighted chance share dropped to 56.5% last week with the return of Gus Edwards. He and Edwards both had 10 carries before Dobbins scored the final five. On the plus side, Dobbins posted his highest route participation rate (74%) and target percentage (17%) of the season while logging 18 touchdowns.

    Dobbins also had no luck last week when he was beaten at the one-yard line and watched Justin Herbert and Hassan Haskins punt on short field goals. But Edwards (or Haskins?) could be a problem on the goal line, and Dobbins has only gotten 3.5 YPC since Week 3 coming back from Achilles surgery. Dobbins remains the RB2, but Edwards’ return is a hit to his fantasy value.

    #Fantasy #Football #Panic #Meter #Caleb #Williams #Bears #bad

  • Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer: 5 players to target, 5 to deal ahead of deadline

    With Yahoo’s default fantasy football trade deadline set for Saturday, Nov. 16, now is the time to optimize your rosters for a potential playoff run. In the final trade article of the year, Sal Vetri lays out five players you should target in trades and five players you might consider moving while their value is high.

    The entire Bears offense struggled in Week 10. Chicago averaged just 3.9 yards per play Sunday against the Patriots defense. That bad day hurt everyone, including Swift, who managed just 65 yards and no touchdowns in Week 10. But the good news was that Swift still had a strong role to play. He played 68% of the snaps and posted 17 touchdowns in that game. Swift has now scored 17 or more touchdowns in six straight games.

    Now is the time to get a bargain at Swift. In Week 10, Swift scored 14 or more points in five straight games, including four games of 100+ yards and a touchdown. There is a possibility that the Bears will change the play caller, and if that happens, it could shake up the backfield usage. But that would just be looking at the weaknesses. There is also an outcome where the new play caller helps fix this offense and continues to feature Swift. Swift is a buy-low before facing the Packers’ 24th-ranked defense in Week 11, according to PFF. If you can, trade someone like Tony Pollard or Darnell Mooney for Swift.

    Stevenson continues to see one of the best roles in football in the final month of the season. In the last three games since recovering, Stevenson has played 75% of the Patriots’ snaps and averaged 20 snaps per game. That’s a quietly powerful use for the Patriot’s three-down back. Stevenson recently took over the long-distance job from Antonio Gibson, according to Fantasy Life. Stevenson has run almost five times as many courses as Gibson in the past three weeks.

    Stevenson is coming off a bad week, going 77 yards with no scores on 21 touches. But that ineffective day opened a window for him to buy low. The Patriots’ offense hasn’t been sexy for most of the season, but Drake Maye has given them life. He leads sustained drives that get into the red zone more often than Jacoby Brissett. That helped Stevenson, who finished in the top 10 twice in four games with Maye. Stevenson faces strong matchups against the Rams, Colts and Cardinals. Try signing Calvin Ridley or Jakobi Meyers for Stevenson.

    Nabers had a relatively quiet last month of the season. He hasn’t topped 75 receiving yards or 15 fantasy yards since Week 4, despite some great games against the Commanders and Panthers in that stretch. Naber is coming off another slump where he scored just eight fantasy points against the Panthers in Germany. But it’s hard to put all the blame on Nabers; Daniel Jones completed less than 60% of his passes in Week 10 and now ranks 30th in QB efficiency this season according to Player Profiler.

    The good news for Nabers is that his target range has remained elite. Nabers has earned 10+ targets in six of his last seven games and has had at least seven targets in every game this season. Nabers still ranks first in expected fantasy points (that’s how good his role is), but he ranks second in unrealized air yards because Jones struggles to complete passes downfield. Poor QB play creates an opportunity to buy low on Naber. Right now is the time to attack as Nabers enters a bye week and will face the Bucs in Week 12. The Bucs are allowing the second most passing yards per game this season. Try trading George Pickens or James Conner for Nabers while you still can.

    Subscribe to the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

    Metcalf is coming off a bye week and is likely to return this week from a knee injury. Metcalf sat out the Seahawks last two games with that injury. That, along with his bye week in Week 10, opened up a nice window to buy low on Metcalf. Metcalf stars in an offense that currently throws 41 times per game, the third most in the NFL, and let’s not forget how dominant his role has been this season. Despite not playing a game the last three weeks, Metcalf still ranks sixth in explosive plays and first in deep targets of 20+ yards, according to Player Profiler.

    Metcalf is a true alpha receiver and his schedule for the rest of the season is strong. In the next four games, he will face the Cardinals secondary and a struggling Jets defense twice. Submit a trade offer for Metcalf before he returns in Week 11. Trade Jayden Reed or Marvin Harrison Jr. if you can. for Metcalf.

    Cooper has been a frustrating player on the roster the past few weeks. He was inactive for the last two Sundays, although he participated in training all week. Cooper was last seen in Week 8, when he posted just one catch for three yards before injuring his wrist against the Seahawks. There’s a good chance you can get Cooper at a discount right now, especially given his tough Week 11 matchup against the Chiefs.

    Cooper is shopping hard right now because the Bills and Josh Allen desperately need him. Allen has struggled the past two weeks without Cooper. In Week 9, Allen averaged just six yards per attempt, his second-worst of the year. In Week 10, Allen had a softer game against the Colts, but still struggled, completing less than 60% of his passes. Expect Cooper to immediately perform as the team’s top receiver when healthy. Now is the time to trade for him before his potential return in Week 11. Trade Kareem Hunt for Cooper if you can. Speaking of which…

    Hunt has been one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy since taking over the Chiefs backfield in Week 5. He earned 58% of the snaps during that stretch and averaged a whopping 23.5 chances per game. As of Week 5, Hunt ranks fifth in fantasy points per game among all RBs. During that time, he produced better fantasy production than Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara and Kyren Williams. This is all great; Hunt has been a league winner for his fantasy managers, but now it’s time to trade him.

    Isiah Pacheco is close to returning for the Chiefs. He is expected to return to training in the next one to two weeks. Pacheco could be back on the field by Week 13, meaning you may only have one or two more games of Hunt seeing a starring role for the Chiefs. Hunt has been through this season in a big way; his efficiency remains poor, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. Now is a good time to sell high on Hunt after his 100 yards and seven catches in Week 10. Try splitting it away for Jakobi Meyers or Ladd McConkey.

    Harrison is coming off a quality performance where he averaged 13.9 fantasy points on five targets. He has now produced a serviceable fantasy week in two of his last three games. That opened up a nice window to sell high to the Cardinals’ first-round rookie.

    Over his last five contests, Harrison is averaging just five targets per game and ranks 48th in points per game by a wide receiver. TE Trey McBride leads the team in target share during that stretch, and Harrison has been typecast as a mostly undersized, up-or-down receiver. He ranks seventh in deep targets, but many of those are elusive as he ranks 57th in catchable targets this season, according to Player Profiler. Now is the time to sell Harrison if you can. Try trading him for DeVonto Smith or George Pickens.

    Irving has been great this season. He might be the most exciting returner to watch every week. Irving ranks second in breakaway rate and top 10 in explosive run rate. He’s a fantastic player and he’s coming off a great performance with 87 total yards on 16 carries against the 49ers.

    Irving now enters his bye week. In fact, he also has a strong schedule, taking on the Giants, Panthers and Raiders. I can understand if you’d rather hide it, but there’s one big problem.

    Irving still works behind Rachaad White.

    In Week 10, White played 59% of the Bucs’ snaps and completed 100% of the goal-line shots and 100% of the two-minute offensive snaps. That limits Irving’s upside. His fantasy value right now depends on him making explosive plays at high speed. If I could deal Irving for Jakobi Meyers or Brian Robinson Jr., I would.

    This one might surprise you, but now is a good time to test the market on trading Samuel Sr. He had a nice game in Week 10, going 76 yards with no scores on eight touches. It goes without saying that Samuel is a rare and elite talent, but this 49ers offense now has a lot of weapons.

    Christian McCaffrey returned in Week 10 and immediately earned 20 carries, and George Kittle continued his strong season with 57 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. But the more important takeaways from Week 10 come from the 49ers’ wide receiver usage. Jauan Jennings acted as the X team’s receiver. It was Brandon Aiyuk’s old role, and it led to Jennings leading the team with 93 yards on 11 carries. Freshman Ricky Pearsall also contributed with 73 yards and a score on six carries. Samuel’s production may not be as consistent as we once thought with the increased involvement of Jennings and Pearsall. If you can offer Samuel for DK Metcalf or James Cook, you should.

    Ekeler has been great in place of Brian Robinson Jr. the past two weeks. He has managed to average 14 carries over the last two games and has scored three touchdowns in that span. But Ekeler hasn’t just been productive in the last two contests, he’s been good all year. Ekeler has scored 10+ fantasy points in seven of his nine games and is quietly leading the NFL with a 6.8 yards per touchdown average.

    Ekeler is a strong piece of the roster, but there is potential to upgrade him to a weekly fantasy starter. Brian Robinson Jr. is leaning toward playing in Week 11, so now is the time to trade Ekeler after his season-high 17.6 points in Week 10. Try trading him for Courtland Sutton or Romeo Doubs if you can.

    #Fantasy #Football #Trade #Analyzer #players #target #deal #ahead #deadline

  • France prepares for Israel soccer match after violence in Amsterdam

    Paris, France – Thousands of extra police are being deployed in and around Paris ahead of Thursday’s France-Israel soccer match, a week after violence erupted on the streets of Amsterdam.

    Pro-Palestinian groups are urging France not to host an Israeli sports team while it is waging wars and deadly attacks in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon, claiming similar measures have been taken against Russia over its massive invasion of Ukraine.

    Meanwhile, few people snapped up tickets for the match at the Stade de France, north of Paris, leading some to question the need for a large-scale police operation.

    Officials say security will be heavily beefed up at the match. Police officers will be deployed at the Stade de France and on public transport networks.

    The measures have been stepped up in part to prevent clashes like the one that broke out in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, before and after a soccer match between Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax of the Netherlands.

    Leopold Lambert, an editor and architect in the French capital, said: «The atmosphere in Paris, at least for people who have Palestine and football in mind, is a desire for strong solidarity action, which will probably have to take place outside the stadium given the huge police apparatus. «

    Pro-Palestinian protesters plan to gather in front of Saint-Denis City Hall, about a 20-minute walk from the stadium, on Thursday evening to voice their opposition to the match.

    «Israel’s involvement in sports, its involvement in everything else, is what they want us to stop talking about Gaza or genocide,» Nadim Smair, a Jordanian Palestinian restaurateur and event producer in Paris, told Al Jazeera.

    «Europe should censor Israeli athletes»

    French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Michel Barnier plan to attend Thursday’s match as «a message of brotherhood and solidarity following the intolerable acts of anti-Semitism that followed the match in Amsterdam this week,» Macron’s office said in a statement sent to AFP.

    His words echoed the sentiments of many Western leaders after the match in the Netherlands, calling the chaos in the Netherlands anti-Semitic while appearing to downplay any damage caused by Israeli soccer fans.

    On the eve of the match in Amsterdam, Israeli fans burned a Palestinian flag and destroyed a taxi. On the way to the match, videos showed Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab slogans. After the soccer match, people on scooters attacked Israeli fans and others threw fireworks at them. Five Israelis were hospitalized, and 20 to 30 were slightly injured.

    Other prominent political figures are also planning to watch the match, including former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy, Francois Hollande and former Senate president Gerard Larcher.

    «We all know what Macron’s position is [on Israel]in a sense, even though they move back and forth where they stand,” Smair said. «To be honest, the game that is happening in France and all the news around it is distracting from the reality in Gaza.»

    Lambert said that while Macron has made some «performative moves» regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, «none of those moves would lead us to think that he doesn’t fully support the genocidal siege. And going to the stadium just shows that even more.» «

    Sabine Agostini, a French-Lebanese cheerleader for the French national football team, believes the match should be cancelled.

    «First, for political reasons: Europe has censored Russian athletes and should do the same with Israeli athletes. And also for security reasons. «Football and sports in general convey positive values, which is not the case for this match,» she told Al Jazeera.

    It’s a shame that politics interferes with sports

    Of the 80,000 available seats at the Stade de France, only 20,000 tickets had been sold at the time of publication – the lowest attendance since the stadium opened.

    The previous worst attendance was 37,000 for a French team match against New Zealand in June 2003.

    Rodrigue Flahaut-Prevot, a Paris lawyer who holds season tickets to the Parc des Princes and Stade Velodrome in Marseille, said politics and sport must remain separate.

    “I am very much in favor of respecting the law and today, like all citizens, I deplore the fact that one community is attacking another. Above all, I find it sad that this issue has become politicized,» said Flahaut-Prevotova. «In France, secularism means keeping religion out of the public sphere…political debate should be the same, excluded from sports.»

    The violence in Amsterdam was the exception rather than the norm for football fans, he believed.

    «If we don’t incite hatred between communities, I think people can live completely peacefully, especially in stadiums. Because it’s just a sport. And it’s a shame that politics interferes with sports.»

    According to Paris police prefect Laurent Nunez, 4,000 police are expected to be mobilized for the match between France and Israel, compared to the usual 1,200-1,300 when the stadium is sold out.

    Israeli authorities advised fans against attending the game in France and warned Israelis abroad against wearing recognizable Israeli or Jewish symbols.

    MPs from the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party, which sympathizes with the suffering of Palestinians, joined the calls for a boycott.

    «This game is being actively boycotted and many of us, despite our love of football, will not be watching it,» Lambert said.

    Global opposition to Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza is increasingly visible at football events.

    Last week, Paris Saint-Germain fans unfurled a «Free Palestine» banner during a Champions League match at the Parc des Princes stadium. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau criticized the move, saying the banner «has no place in the stadium».

    #France #prepares #Israel #soccer #match #violence #Amsterdam

  • NFL DFS, Eagles vs. Commanders: DraftKings, FanDuel daily fantasy football picks on Thursday Night Football

    Terry McLaurin has had to adjust to new quarterbacks every season of his five-year NFL career. Still, he remained one of the league’s most productive and consistent receivers, recording over 900 receiving yards each season, including four consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. Washington appears to have found its quarterback of the future in Jayden Daniels, which has McLaurin coming off a career year. The 29-year-old is third in the NFL in receiving yards (711) heading into Thursday Night Football against the Eagles, so is he a must-list for NFL DFS lineups?

    The Eagles recently destroyed the opposing team’s No. 1 receiver. No WR1 has reached 55 yards in the last five games against the Eagles, despite Philadelphia facing the likes of Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers. McLaurin is not a cheap option in an NFL DFS draft, is wasting him a smart NFL DFS strategy? Before you lock down any NFL DFS picks on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel for Commanders vs. Eagles, check out SportsLine fantasy expert Mike McClure’s NFL DFS tip, strategy and picks.

    McClure is a legendary professional DFS player with over $2 million in career winnings. It uses a powerful prediction model that simulates every NFL action, taking into account factors such as matchups, statistical trends and injuries. This allows him to find the best DFS values, which he shares only with members at SportsLine. His methodology has led to huge amounts of money on FanDuel and DraftKings. Last year, he won the DraftKings Millionaire Maker twice and the FanDuel Million once. Whoever followed him is way up.

    Now, McClure has turned his attention to the Eagles vs. Commanders on Thursday Night Football and just locked in his top fantasy football picks of the day. His picks and analysis can only be seen on SportsLine.

    The best NFL DFS picks for Commanders vs. Eagles

    One of McClure’s top NFL DFS picks for Thursday Night Football is Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. After drama over his contract dominated the conversation surrounding Barkley in previous years and this offseason, highlighted by portions of it airing on HBO’s Hard Knocks , it appeared the 27-year-old running back worth every penny of his new business. Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles this offseason and has helped elevate a top-10 rushing attack to a top-two rushing attack with Philadelphia’s 176.1 rushing yards per game, trailing only the Ravens.

    Barkley is averaging 110.1 rushing yards per game, second most in the NFL. It’s the first time Barkley has averaged over 100 yards per game, as it’s clear that a defense that has to focus on containing players on offense besides himself has helped him find running lanes. The Commanders can’t give up stopping Barkley with a passer like Jalen Hurts and receivers like AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith on the field, and McClure expects Barkley to have another productive night.

    Part of McClure’s optimal NFL DFS strategy also includes Commanders top receiver Noah Brown. The 28-year-old had just three receptions for 33 yards last week but was targeted seven times, including a touchdown drop in the end zone. He’s had at least six targets in three straight games, and that usage makes him a strong player for his price for McClure.

    The Eagles have been effective in containing the opposing team’s WR1 in recent weeks, forcing defenders to find other options. CeeDee Lamb had 21 yards for the Cowboys, Brian Thomas Jr. had 22 yards for the Jaguars and Ja’Marr Chase 54 yards for the Bengals over the last three weeks. Neither of those receivers led their offenses in yards, so if the Eagles can contain WR1 Terry McLaurin, Brown could see an increase in production. See who else McClure loves here.

    How to set NFL DFS lineups for Thursday Night Football

    McClure is also targeting another underrated player who could explode for huge numbers on Thursday Night Football. This choice can be the difference between winning tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. Only at SportsLine can you see who it is and the rest of McClure’s NFL DFS picks.

    So who has Mike McClure included in his optimal NFL DFS lineups for Thursday Night Football, and which under-the-radar player offers great value? Visit SportsLine now for optimal NFL DFS picks, NFL DFS standings, NFL DFS tips and NFL DFS streaks, all from a daily fantasy expert with over $2 million in winnings, and find out.


    #NFL #DFS #Eagles #Commanders #DraftKings #FanDuel #daily #fantasy #football #picks #Thursday #Night #Football