NFL Picks, Week 9

As the NFL season hits the halfway mark, we have one of the most anticipated games of the year--Bills-Chiefs.  It's a national exclusive in the 4:25 doubleheader window.  Some people wrote articles and blog posts saying how they don't understand why it's not in prime time and how the NFL "missed an opportunity" with that game, but (A) you don't see CBS complaining, (B) each team only gets a certain amount of primetime games, (C) people will watch this one regardless of when it's on and (D) the national doubleheader late game often gets a similar (if not better) audience as the primetime games.  The odd thing about it is how all three primetime games this week pale in comparison to the doubleheader late game, which is clearly the game of the week.

Thursday Night: Miami (Loss)

Bears (4-3) at Bengals (3-5): Cincinnati-I wouldn't have thought it a month ago, but the Bengals have a real chance of getting back in the race.  At least they did before that loss to the Jets (congratulations Jets, you won't lose this week either!).  Which makes this even more of a must-win for Cincinnati.  If they're 4-5, they're in the discussion.  If they're 3-6, they're not.  Same applies for the Bears.  A 5-3 record will look a whole lot better than 4-4.

Vikings (3-4) at Lions (5-2): Detroit-Fortunately, it's not a long trip from Toronto to Detroit.  Because Kevin Burkhardt's gotta be tired after that incredible World Series finale!  You know John Smoltz will be watching too!  Anyway, this is a vastly different situation than the last time these two met in Detroit.  They aren't playing for the top seed in the NFC this year.  In fact, the Vikings are looking like they won't even make the playoffs.  Especially after the Lions beat them to go 6-2 and drop Minnesota to 3-5.

Panthers (4-4) at Packers (5-1-1): Green Bay-That one little blip in Cleveland aside, the Packers have been the most consistently solid team in the NFL this season.  Them having already had their bye and that tie have really thrown things out of whack, though!  After the Eagles and Bucs have their bye this week, things will be a lot less confusing!  Green Bay will be 6-1-1 and clearly leading the way in the NFC.

Chargers (5-3) at Titans (1-7): Chargers-Yes, you have the Jets and Saints, and the Dolphins are sure making a run for it.  But the Titans still, ever so slightly, hold the title of "worst team in the league."  (Getting fired in Tennessee sure worked out for Mike Vrabel, didn't it?)  The Chargers have had some puzzling results this season, but they know they can't lose to the worst team in the league.  Expect them to take care of business.

Falcons (3-4) at Patriots (6-2): New England-Atlanta's at it again.  Every time the Falcons get a big win, they go and lay an egg against a team that has no business beating them!  That's what makes the Falcons such a frustrating team to watch.  You never know which team will show up any given week!  Will it be the one that beat the Bills and dominated the Vikings?  Or the one that got shut out by Carolina and lost to Miami?  In New England, my guess is it'll be the latter.

49ers (5-3) at Giants (2-6): San Francisco-San Francisco laid an egg in Houston and is a half-game back in the division as a result.  They can't afford another bad performance against the Giants.  As if the loss in Denver wasn't enough for a Giants team finally starting to gain momentum, last week was so much more than just a loss to the rival Eagles.  Losing Cam Skattebo for the season was a big blow.  Just for the energy he brings.  I'm very curious to see how both teams bounce back.

Colts (7-1) at Steelers (4-3): Indianapolis-Who had the Colts having the best record halfway through the season?  Anybody?  Bueller?  Bueller?  You can't blame it entirely on their schedule, either.  Not after they went into SoFi and beat the Chargers.  Still, a trip to Pittsburgh is definitely their toughest test this season.  While a Steelers victory wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, I think Indianapolis is ready to make a statement.  And they'll do exactly that.

Broncos (6-2) at Texans (3-4): Denver-There's that one team every year where it seems everything goes their way.  Denver's giving off that vibe this season.  The Broncos are obviously good.  But they could easily be 4-4 instead of 6-2.  And their two actual losses were by a combined three points!  They've thrown a couple blowout wins in there, too, including last week against Dallas, so there's no reason to think they aren't for real.  The Texans will find that out this week.

Jaguars (4-3) at Raiders (2-5): Jacksonville-Jacksonville is actually a legitimate playoff contender.  There's even a shot they can catch Indianapolis if the harder part of the Colts' schedule leads to a few losses.  If they want that to matter and actually make the jump to the next level, the Jaguars need to win the games they're supposed to win.  A matchup with the Raiders falls into that category.

Saints (1-7) at Rams (5-2): Rams-The NFC West race is gonna be tight all season.  I think all three teams involved understand that.  Which is why you need to take advantage of games like this one.  The Rams know that they can't lose at home to the Saints.  One of the three will end up with a bad loss somewhere along the line.  That could be what costs them the division title.  That won't happen to the Rams here.

Chiefs (5-3) at Bills (5-2): Buffalo-This has become the NFL's marquee rivalry over the past few seasons.  Kansas City always finds a way to win their annual playoff meeting, but during the regular season, it's mainly gone the other way.  Last year, the Bills handed the Chiefs their first loss of the season (not that it mattered much in the end), and two years ago they won in Arrowhead.  Expect another battle.  And don't be surprised if the pattern repeats.  The Bills win, get the tiebreaker (if necessary) and knock the Chiefs to 5-4 at the midway point.

Seahawks (5-2) at Commanders (3-5): Washington-Washington's kind of like Atlanta.  You never know which Commanders team will show up.  If they want to make a serious playoff push, though, they need to actually start playing consistently good football.  Which is what the Seahawks have been doing.  Seattle's in a really good position, but needs to keep it going with how tight the NFC West is.  That cross country trip is always tough, but they already won in Pittsburgh this season and the Sunday night thing shouldn't be as jarring as an afternoon kickoff would be.

Cardinals (2-5) at Cowboys (3-4-1): Dallas-We've seen two very different Dallas Cowboys teams this season.  At home, they score 34 points a game.  On the road, they can't score at all (except for a win over the Jets).  And, please, stop whining about needing a pass rusher when you traded Micah Parsons for no reason!  Anyway, they're at home on Monday night, which means they'll actually score.  And the win over Arizona will get them back to .500.

This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 8-5
Overall: 79-42

The Town's Favorite Team

During the World Series pregame show the other day, they had Magic Johnson on the set and the FOX crew asked him whether LA was a "Dodgers Town" or a "Lakers Town."  Magic conceded that while the Dodgers are incredibly popular, especially with their recent run of success, LA is still primarily a "Lakers Town."  Which is probably true.  As much as Angelinos love the Dodgers, they LOVE the Lakers.

Which, of course, got me thinking about other cities and which of their teams they love the most.  For the Dodgers' World Series opponent, it's easy.  I was at a Blue Jays game in July one time and the guys sitting behind me flat out said that they were "just killing time until Leafs season."  So, in Toronto, it's very much Go Leafs Go.  But what about the other multi-team cities?  For some, it's obvious.  For others, not so much.  Let's give it a shot anyway, though.

New York: Yankees-Yes, there are plenty of Mets fans, but even they'll admit that New York is a "Yankees Town" and has been for a while.  The Giants are probably second, but it isn't even really a close second.  Sure, the Knicks get their due when they're good and people occasionally remember that New York has hockey teams.  None of that compares to New York's affection for the Yankees.

Boston: Red Sox-Ditto about the Yankees' biggest rivals.  The Celtics, Patriots and Bruins have all had their runs of success and hold a special place in the hearts of people in New England.  But, even while it's not the blowout it is in New York, that place in the heart is nothing compared to what New England feels for the Red Sox.  I think Fenway's charm has a lot to do with that.

Chicago: Cubs-Just as Fenway's charm gives the edge in Boston to the Red Sox, Wrigley's charm gives the Chicago edge to the Cubs.  Those two teams have similar histories, and a similar significance to fans in their home city.  Even though they're most known for losing, there's something about the Cubs that Chicago's other teams don't have.  Jordan's Bulls probably came the closest, but even then, Chicago was a "Cubs Town."

Philadelphia: Eagles-Even if the Eagles hadn't just won the Super Bowl, they still would've been the choice for Philadelphia.  There's just something different about the Eagles that the Phillies, Flyers and 76ers don't have.  Maybe it's the history.  Maybe it's the rivalries with the three NFC East opponents.  Whatever the reason, Philadelphia loves its football team at a slightly different level.

Detroit: Red Wings-Detroit fancies itself as "Hockey Town."  And they prove it by being the only American city with franchises in each of the Big Four where the hockey team can lay claim as the city's favorite.  They love their Lions, but that seems to be a fairly recent development with the team getting good.  The Red Wings don't need to be good for the fans to show up in droves.

Miami: Heat-The Dolphins have been there the longest and the Panthers have won consecutive Stanley Cups, but neither one has the same hold over South Beach as the Heat.  The Heat are the newest franchise to hold the title in their city, having only been founded in 1989.  They've had a hold over Miami ever since.  Consistently boasting superstars like LeBron, Shaq, Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning has certainly helped them gain and maintain that attention.  Miami's soccer team took a page out of that book and signed Messi, which has led to a massive surge in their popularity.

Washington: Commanders-"Hail to the Commanders" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but there's no question which team is the favorite in the nation's capital.  Remember the uproar about the name, then the name change?  For the longest time, it was just the Redskins and Senators in DC.  Then the Senators left.  Sure, the Capitals and Wizards are there now, and they eventually got the Nationals, but the Redskins/Football Team/Commanders are still the favorite son.

Dallas: Cowboys-Is there any more obvious choice than this one?  The Cowboys and their iconic silver helmet with the blue star are right up there with the Yankees and Lakers among the most recognizable and popular sports teams globally.  So, of course, they're THE team in Dallas.  And most of Texas.  And a good portion of the surrounding states.

San Francisco: 49ers-Steph Curry and the Warriors have made their case over the last decade and a half.  And the Giants have boasted beloved players like Willie Mays and Barry Bonds throughout their history.  Oakland's seen its two remaining teams.  The one constant in the Bay Area has always been the 49ers.  Even when they're bad.

Minneapolis: Vikings-Baseball and football both came to the Twin Cities in 1961, so this is really a two-horse race between the Twins and Vikings.  It's a close one, too.  It might be the closest of any four-sport cities.  I'll give the slight edge to the Vikings, though.  Mainly because they were founded in Minnesota and the Twins relocated there, so the Vikings' history is entirely in the Twin Cities.

Denver: Broncos-You could make a case that the Avalanche are Denver's favorite team.  They only arrived in 1996, though.  The Broncos have been there since 1960 and were Denver's only major league pro team for a while.  Their long history of extended success certainly helps, too.  So does the fact that they're the only football team in the entire Mountain Time Zone, which means their fan base reaches far beyond Colorado.

That's all of the four-team cities.  But the multi-team cities that don't have all four obviously have their favorites, too.  In Cleveland, it's the Browns.  Pittsburgh has the Steelers.  Atlanta, the Braves.  Houston, probably the Astros.  And Phoenix is no longer a four-city team now that the Coyotes are gone, but the Suns get the nod there.  In Milwaukee, it's no contest.  Packers by a mile. 

Las Vegas is new to the game, but only one of their teams didn't relocate from Oakland.  The Golden Knights are THEIRS.  Seattle's choice would be the Sonics (and will be again when/if they return).  For now, though, I guess it's the Seahawks.  And that covers are two most recent additions to the three-team city club.

Among the two-team cities, it's a little harder since there's definitely enough room for both.  But, I'd say it's the Bills in Buffalo, the Orioles in Baltimore, the Chiefs in Kansas City, the Cardinals in St. Louis, the Bucs in Tampa, the Saints in New Orleans, the Predators in Nashville, the Panthers in Charlotte, the Reds in Cincinnati and the Pacers in Indianapolis.  Finally, we have Salt Lake City, the only two-team major league city that doesn't have a team in either MLB or the NFL.  It's just the Jazz and the Mammoth.  And the Jazz have been there significantly longer, so that's an easy call.

Who Didn't See This Coming?

With sports betting becoming legalized in more and more states and every major league entering into some sort of sponsorship agreement with the daily fantasy sites (seriously, how many different things can be branded "DraftKings" or "FanDuel" in a given broadcast?), it was only a matter of time before the influence of gambling reared its ugly head.  So, it shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone, then, that Terry Rozier of the Heat is among the figures who was arrested last week as part of an FBI raid that was the result of a multi-year investigation into illegal gambling?  The crime he's being accused of?  Conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  

Rozier played for the Hornets in 2023, and there was suspicious gambling activity regarding his stats in a game against the Pelicans that year.  Rozier removed himself from the game with an "injury," thus ensuring he'd hit the under in points, rebounds, assists, etc.  Because of the unusual amount of wagers coming in, some sportsbooks stopped accepting bets on Rozier that night.  The NBA investigated and didn't find anything that ran afoul of league rules, but this game also drew the FBI's attention and, in their eyes, seems to confirm his involvement in the illegal gambling ring.

There's obviously so much more to come out regarding this case, so I don't want to speculate.  But certain details have emerged.  Rozier and a handful of others allegedly shared non-public information about injuries or when players would be sitting out for other reasons.  That inside information was then spread to a network of bettors, who'd wager hundreds of thousands of dollars on the outcome.

Gambling and manipulating the results has always been a risk for the major sports leagues.  And the influence of gamblers trying to fix games goes back to the beginning of organized sports themselves.  Boxing matches in the early 1900s, and, of course, the Black Sox Scandal in 1919 are just two early examples.  The college basketball scandal in the 1950s.  It even impacted TV quiz shows in the early days of TV!  And, let's not forget, Pete Rose's lifetime ban for gambling.  

That's why partnering with the daily fantasy sites was always going to be a risky proposition.  From a business standpoint, it makes sense.  These are recognized as legitimate businesses that have a vested interest in the outcome, and they have plenty of money available for sponsorships and other opportunities, so working together made sense.  Especially since these sites were still going to do it anyway. 

The thing that makes it even tricker with the daily fantasy sites, though, is that they're so much more elaborate than just who'll win the game and whether they'll cover the spread.  You can make a bet on pretty much anyone or anything involved in the game.  Things like an individual player's stats.  So, they don't need to throw the game in such an obvious way that their team loses.  All they need to do is manipulate their own stats.  Which, frankly, is much harder to notice.  And what makes it all the more challenging to catch.

It isn't just pro sports where they keep an eye on gambling activity.  The potential influence of gambling has always been just as high, if not higher, in college, where athletes weren't paid for their services until recently.  NCAA policy has always been that any form of sports wagering is prohibited for both student-athletes and athletic department personnel.  That was set to change next month, though, when Division I voted to allow wagering on professional sports (while still not allowing it at the collegiate level).

If there's anything positive to come out of the Terry Rozier news, it's that his arrest caused the NCAA to reconsider that provision.  There were already a lot of people uneasy about it and the slippery slope they'd be creating (a lot of these guys will have friends on professional rosters and could just as easily get inside information), and that uneasiness led to the NCAA's decision to delay implementation by a month.  It's unlikely all of this will be settled by the end of November, but that extra month at least gives them time to consider all of the possible ramifications before it goes into effect.  And, by delaying the implementation, that gives them additional time to pull back the rule change.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey sent a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker flat out calling the decision "a step in the wrong direction" and imploring the NCAA to reconsider.  One of his major concerns was the removal of any guardrails regulating it.  While the NCAA's thought process in allowing gambling was to keep pace with the ever-changing environment, it seems they also caught people unprepared or off-guard (or both!).  Sankey's suggestion was to modify the existing policy rather than eliminate it, which sends the wrong signal and could compromise the integrity of college sports.

So, in a way, it's a good thing this came out now.  Because there are several active cases involving college basketball players, as well.  While the details of these individual cases haven't been made public, there are currently 13 players from six different schools under investigation for "integrity issues" regarding potential gambling violations.  Most of those players have been withheld from competition during the probe.  So, it's much bigger than just Terry Rozier.

In a separate but related FBI sting, Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested on the same day as Rozier.  Billups did disclose some information regarding Blazers games, but the FBI was more concerned about his alleged involvement in rigged poker games where players were taken for millions of dollars.  The set-up for these poker games, arranged by organized crime figures, looks pretty elaborate.  There were your typical things like marked cards, rigged decks, and players giving signals, as well as X-ray tables.

Players would get lured into these games by the opportunity to play with sports figures.  Billups was one of those sports figures.  His alleged involvement beyond that is unclear, but Billups did bring people in and did play in the games, knowing they were rigged.  That alone is enough to charge him for conspiracy.

What Billups is accused of doing is bad, obviously.  But it's far different than what Rozier allegedly did.  And it needs to be treated as such.  Because, personally, I feel what Rozier did is far worse.  Yes, there were unwitting "marks" who got swindled out of millions in the poker games.  There were far more innocent victims of any stat rigging or other manipulation that was done in those NBA games.  More importantly, it puts the integrity of the entire league at risk.  That's the far greater problem.  And it's one that the NCAA is leaving itself wide open to if they do allow the rule change that permits gambling.

Daily fantasy sports aren't going away.  I agree that it's tough for the leagues to strike a balance.  Sports betting is legal, so you want to have that relationship.  But you also want people to be confident that the games are being played fairly.  Right now, that's a question.  And it'll only get worse if the NCAA does go through with their plans to allow it.  So, perhaps the Terry Rozier situation can serve as a learning experience.  And, if that's the case, maybe some good did come out of it. 

NFL Picks, Week 8

Before I get into this week's picks, I need a minute to talk about this year's newest NFL trend...teams turning into the University of Oregon and having a different uniform for every game!  It's seriously becoming the NBA with the amount of different jerseys and helmets each team is wearing.  Throwbacks are always welcome.  Pat the Patriot and Bucco Bruce will always have a place.  These alternate ones though?  Each new one is worse than the last!

Where do I start?  There are so many bad ones, it's hard to pick.  There's that all-brown monstrosity Cleveland wore.  The Chargers' all-yellow getup.  The Dolphins' homage to the Miami Marlins.  The Lions with that ridiculous blue helmet!  Purdue, I mean the Saints, and whatever that was in Week 1.  They at least make those horrible all-white ensembles some teams have slightly more tolerable.  Anyway, now that I've gotten that off my chest, on to the picks!

Thursday Night: Chargers (Win)

Dolphins (1-6) at Falcons (3-3): Atlanta-Atlanta is turning back to Kirk Cousins this week.  Talk about a quarterback carousel!  That lack of consistency is one of the issues that plagues this team, which looks phenomenal one week, then completely lost the next.  The good news for the Falcons is they're playing a Dolphins team that's as lost in the wilderness as they are.  Expect changes in Miami after (or maybe during) the season.  As for the Falcons, they'll somehow claw their way back over .500 with a win here.

Jets (0-7) at Bengals (3-4): Cincinnati-Trading for Joe Flacco might've saved the Bengals' season.  Because, after that win over Pittsburgh, there's suddenly a real chance.  They don't leave Cincinnati for a month.  They're in the middle of a three-game homestand heading into their bye.  Talk about favorable scheduling!  I was talking with some people this week about when the Jets' first win might come and how many they'll ultimately end up with.  It won't come here.  But, the good news is, they can't lose next week!  (It's their bye.)

Browns (2-5) at Patriots (5-2): New England-Mike Vrabel's really got the Patriots rolling!  They've won four straight and just swept a three-game road trip.  Now, their first home game since Week 4 is against a Cleveland team they should beat easily.  Although, both of New England's losses this season were at Foxboro, including against the Raiders in Week 1.  So, they need to take whatever's been working on the road and translate it into home success if they want to maintain this good start.

Giants (2-5) at Eagles (5-2): Philadelphia-It was just two weeks ago that these two met on a Thursday night and the Giants shocked everyone by blowing out the Eagles.  It looked like that just might be the game where the Giants turned the corner.  Then they went to Denver.  Philadelphia knows all about the Broncos and the fourth quarter.  They rebounded from those back-to-back losses by going into Minnesota and winning last week.  It wasn't pretty, but it got them back on track.  And you know this is a revenge game for them.  Especially since that 34-17 loss at MetLife Stadium is still fresh in their memory.

Bills (4-2) at Panthers (4-3): Buffalo-Did any team need their bye as much as the Bills last week?  They were 4-0 and the last undefeated team in the NFL.  Then they lost two straight and suddenly found themselves in second place.  We'll see if the bye week fixed the problems that New England and Atlanta exploited.  This won't be an easy game, either.  The Panthers have won three straight and are over .500 for the first time in forever.  Sure, two of the wins were over the Dolphins and Jets, but they've been tough at home all season and that seems unlikely to change against Buffalo.

Bears (4-2) at Ravens (1-5): Chicago-I can't believe I'm picking Chicago on the road against Baltimore, but here we are.  It's been that kind of a season for the Ravens.  Everything that can go wrong has.  They have no Lamar Jackson and a porous defense.  The Bears, meanwhile, have won four straight after starting 0-2 and suddenly look like a very legitimate wild card contender.  They haven't exactly played the toughest schedule so far (their schedule is incredibly backloaded), but they should pick up another win here.

49ers (5-2) at Texans (2-4): San Francisco-Like their friends in Baltimore, the Texans are just having one of those seasons.  The 49ers had one of those seasons last year.  But, in true San Francisco form, they've bounced back nicely, and are a surprising 5-2 despite having so many injuries.  The Rams and Seahawks are both off this week, so that three-way tie will be broken with San Francisco either a half-game up or a half-game down and in third place.

Buccaneers (5-2) at Saints (1-6): Tampa Bay-Well, Tampa finally lost.  It took going to Detroit for it to happen, and they were completely outclassed by the Lions.  Their division lead is now down to only one game, but they're still the best team in the NFC South by a wide margin.  They've got a tough stretch coming up after their bye, so it's imperative they take care of business in New Orleans.

Cowboys (3-3-1) at Broncos (5-2): Denver-Suddenly, Denver is the comeback team!  Last week was the Broncos' second crazy fourth quarter comeback to win a game they had absolutely no business winning.  And it's got them at 5-2 when they could (and maybe should) just as easily be 3-4.  Why should we expect that to stop this week?  After all, both of the comebacks came against NFC East opponents.

Titans (1-6) at Colts (6-1): Indianapolis-Daniel Jones and the Colts just keep winning.  And you can't use, "Yeah, but they play in the AFC South" as the reason when they've only played one division game so far.  This is their second, as they complete the season series with the Titans.  The Colts blew them out in Nashville in Week 3.  Why should we expect things to be any different a month later?  Indianapolis is flying high, especially after a dominant road win against a good Chargers team.  Now they get, arguably, the worst team in the league at home.

Packers (4-1-1) at Steelers (4-2): Pittsburgh-Aaron Rodgers is a confusing individual.  He considered Week 1 a "revenge" game even though the Jets really did nothing to him except give him everything he wanted (he also technically wasn't cut since his contract expired).  Meanwhile, he holds no ill will towards the Packers even after whining his way out of Green Bay three years ago.  This is his first time facing the Packers since.  It would certainly be different if this game was in Lambeau, but you know he'll still get all sentimental about it.  And he'll probably have a great performance in a Steelers victory.

Commanders (3-4) at Chiefs (4-3): Kansas City-Don't worry, America!  It was just a one-week break.  The Chiefs are back in a national window!   I kid, of course, but this is the Chiefs' seventh game out of eight either in prime time or the 4:25 doubleheader slot.  It's like the NFL's obsession with putting the Jets in prime time last season.  Anyway, they look like they, just maybe, have finally gotten it going after that shaky start.  As for Washington, I have no idea what's going on, so I won't even venture a guess!

This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 12-3
Overall: 72-36

America vs. Canada

Last year, the Dodgers' starting pitching in the postseason was so thin that they had to do a staff game in the World Series.  They won the series anyway.  This year, their rotation isn't only healthy, it carried them in the NLCS.  So, while last year they went into the World Series hoping their starting pitching would hold up, this year, it's been a strength.  And it's why nobody would be surprised if the Dodgers become the first repeat World Series champion in a quarter century.

They went into the season as the favorites to repeat, but there were definitely times when they didn't look like the Dodgers.  A baseball season is long, though, and the team they've been in October is very much the Dodgers.  They aren't just healthy, they're firing on all cylinders.  Just ask the Reds, Phillies and Brewers about that.  This is the team everyone expected them to be.  And they're playing like it.

As a result, the Dodgers are the first defending champions to get back to the World Series since the 2009 Phillies.  They're looking to do something that hasn't been done by a National League team in 50 years.  Not since the Big Red Machine in 1975-76.  Of the four major men's sports, baseball's the only one that hasn't had a repeat champion this century.  That very well may change within the next 10 days.  Because the Dodgers enter the World Series as favorites.

By "favorites," I, of course, mean the betting favorites.  Since they're the Dodgers and they're here for the sixth time in nine years, most of America has gotten sick of them.  Which means the Blue Jays, who already have all of Canada rooting for them, will be the favorite team for many fans on both sides of the border.  (Just to be clear, I am NOT one of those fans!)

Against the Yankees and Mariners, Toronto did the same thing it's done all season.  The Blue Jays refuse to get out, fouling off pitch after pitch before finally dropping it in for a single.  Then they get the big hit and suddenly they've put up a three-spot.  They're relentless, too.  There are no easy at-bats or easy innings.  And it's 1-9.  The bottom of the order sets the table, then Springer or Guerrero delivers.  And when they get the lead, they just keep adding on.  They're a very frustrating team to play against.

The question mark surrounding the Blue Jays is their bullpen.  In the ALCS, it managed to hold up well enough.  Although, the difference in their bullpen ERA between the four wins and the three losses was pretty staggering!  It shouldn't be a surprise, then, that Toronto relied on starters Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman out of the bullpen in Game 7 before turning it over to Jeff Hoffman, who's anything but automatic.  And they rely so much on Louis Vreeland and Mason Fluharty that there's a definite risk of those guys being overexposed...especially against a lineup as stacked as the Dodgers!

Which means that, much like it will be for the Dodgers, starting pitching will be a key for Toronto.  Since the bullpen is their biggest weakness, they need to get length from the starters.  It's no coincidence that when they got it in the ALCS, they won.  After seeing what the Dodgers did against Milwaukee, the Blue Jays' starters know they'll need to match that (assuming the Dodgers rotation does it again).  If they can't, this might be a short series.

One of the craziest stats about this World Series is how the Dodgers played an extra round, but have actually played fewer games during the postseason.  The Dodgers are 9-1 in the playoffs and have been just as dominant as their record indicates.  The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are 7-4 and coming off an intense seven-game ALCS where they never actually led in the series (they were down 2-0 and 3-2).  Although, they did win four out of the last five against Seattle and may have history on their side.  Every time one LCS was a sweep and the other went the distance, the team that went seven games won the World Series.

I wonder if part of that is the whole rest vs. rust factor that's always talked about while the No. 1 and 2 seeds are sitting around for a week waiting for the Division Series to start.  (Remember when that discussion was a whole thing the first few years of the current format?  Yeah, the No. 1 seed has won the AL pennant the last two years.)  Still, though, seven intense games with coast-to-coast travel has to take something out of you.  Fortunately for the Blue Jays, they didn't have to travel again and got to stay in Toronto after Game 7.

This World Series will be one dominated by stars.  People's biggest problem with the Dodgers is how they've built such a high-priced team, but the reason they're spending the money on those guys is for moments like this.  And Ohtani certainly delivered in Game 4 of the NLCS!  That was a performance unlike anything anyone has ever seen before.  Then there was Freddie Freeman with his home run-per-game in the World Series last year.  And Mookie Betts looking for his fourth World Series ring.  It's also funny how half of the Dodgers' postseason rotation pitched against them for Tampa Bay in the 2020 World Series.

Toronto, meanwhile, has George Springer, a proven postseason performer and the 2017 World Series MVP.  You just knew he'd do something when he came up in the seventh inning of Game 7, and he ended up hitting the Blue Jays' biggest home run since Joe Carter.  As well as their own superstar, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  They came into the season with his pending free agency hanging over the organization.  His decision to sign a 15-year extension is what set this entire season in motion.  And he's been on the same otherworldly level as the Dodgers' stars during the month of October.

When the stars play like stars, it really can be a joy to watch (except when you really dislike one of the teams and badly want them to lose).  And with so many stars on both teams, all of whom have been doing their thing and then some, we could see something really special in this World Series!  After all, the best player in the game is literally leading off the World Series!

For all the stars on both teams, it could be the depth that makes a difference.  We've seen this with the Blue Jays throughout the playoffs.  It's impossible to get Ernie Clement or Addison Barger out, and every rally is started by Andres Gimenez!  Don't count out the Dodgers' role players, either, though.  Yes, they have Ohtani and Betts and Freddie, but how many times has Kike Hernandez authored a postseason moment during this run they've been on?

While the strength of each team is its lineup, I have a feeling it'll be the pitching that decides the series.  When Toronto's bats get going, it's a blowout.  When they don't, the Blue Jays are completely shut down.  That's what the Dodgers did to the Brewers.  The Blue Jays have much more thump and are deeper 1-9 than Milwaukee.  But the Dodgers' 1-9 is also deeper than Seattle's (the bottom half of the Mariners order did absolutely nothing in the ALCS).  That's why, ultimately, it'll come down to the pitching staff.

And the pitching is why I give the edge to the Dodgers.  The rotation's postseason ERA is microscopic!  The Brewers scored exactly one run in each game of the NLCS.  Will they hold the Blue Jays to one run per game?  Probably not.  But, as long as they can avoid those crooked numbers that Toronto loves to put up, they have the advantage.  Especially because the Dodgers have a better bullpen than the Blue Jays.  Toronto only uses the same handful of relievers.  The Dodgers' hitters will figure them out.  That's why their starters need to go deep into the game.

Having home field advantage is huge for the Blue Jays, who play so well at home.  I'd say stealing one of the first two games in Toronto is a key for the Dodgers, but the Mariners won both of the first two games and still lost the series!  Ultimately, it may be the Dodgers holding serve at home in the middle games that matters more.  If they can do that, they'll head back to Canada and finish off the series in Game 6.

Best Available Jobs

After making what looks like it was a serious pursuit of Albert Pujols as their next manager, the Angels have instead hired former catcher Kurt Suzuki, who has no previous managerial experience.  The Angels are the second team to officially fill their managerial opening this offseason.  The first was their AL West rivals the Rangers, who pounced early and locked up former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker a few days after the season ended.

And, while it isn't official let, the Giants also appear close to hiring their new manager.  San Francisco is also closing in on someone with no previous professional managerial experience--University of Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello.  We've seen it work in the other three men's major sports, but nobody has successfully made the jump right from college baseball to Major League manager before.  It's a bold move by Buster Posey, who's definitely trying to make his mark as GM.  Whether it'll actually work remains to be seen.

Even though the Angels have moved in a different direction, there's still a chance we could see future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols back in a Major League dugout--this time as a manager--in the 2026 season.  He's set to manage the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, but he obviously won't be able to do that if he gets a Major League job.  And that seems to be a real possibility.  Pujols is interviewing with the Padres.  And that San Diego job is one of the most attractive managerial openings remaining.

Not counting the Giants, there are six openings that are yet to be filled.  Some are definitely better than others, both the situation and the ability to be competitive.  None of the interim managers who completed the 2025 season are in the running for the permanent job with their current team, either.  Those teams are obviously looking for a fresh approach from somebody new.  But those are the jobs that won't exactly be easy.  In fact, they might be the four hardest jobs out there.

Only 30 men have the job of "Major League manager."  So, it's not like they're in a position to be picky.  If they were, though, which job would be the one you wanted if you did have the choice.  Here's how I rate the nine managerial jobs that will be occupied by someone who didn't end the 2025 season in the position with that team.  (For the sake of the rankings, I'm including the 2.5 that have already been filled since they do still represent managerial changes.)

9. Rockies: Bud Black was sacrificed in May, but he wasn't responsible for Colorado's historically bad season, nor was there anything he could do about it.  Whoever takes the Rockies job will be in a similar boat.  They aren't going to be any good next season, so their new manager better be prepared to lose a lot of games.  The front office needs to be prepared for that, too.  Let the new manager build something.  Don't expect success right away.

8. Angels: Suzuki will be the Angels' fifth manager since Mike Scoscia's 19-year tenure.  Frankly, Albert Pujols caught a break here.  Because you don't want this to be your first managerial job.  The Angels have been a mess ever since Arte Moreno bought the team, and it seems like he's very Jim Dolan-esque (which isn't a compliment).  No matter who the manager is, this team consistently fails to meet its own high expectations.  Angels managers are seemingly set up to fail.  Is it just so their inevitable firings can be justified?

7. Nationals: This can be a good job when the Nationals are invested and trying to win.  Right now, they aren't.  It could still be a good opportunity for a young manager, who can develop the talent and still be there when they get good, assuming the organization has the patience for that.  Problem is, with the exception of the Marlins, the rest of the NL East is really good.  And it doesn't seem like that'll be changing anytime soon.  So, there will probably be a lot more losing in Washington for a little while.

6. Twins: Rocco Baldelli had a decent run in Minnesota, but it was definitely time for a change.  This was a tough one for me.  Because the AL Central is such a crapshoot and the Twins have so much talent that it isn't crazy to envision their new manager finding success right away.  After all, we usually see a first-year manager take his team to the playoffs.  Or, they could have a season like this one.  Either way, though, the Twins organization generally shows patience, so whoever it is won't have to worry about immediately being shown the door if they don't win right away.

5. Orioles: Another tough one.  In one respect, Baltimore is a very attractive job.  They were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in 2023 and have the type of young talent that would make anybody jealous.  It's not crazy to think they can turn it around.  But, they're in the AL East, a division in which each of the other four teams has faced the Dodgers in the World Series since 2018.  Three of those division rivals are big market teams that will always be willing to invest financially in their team, and the fourth is Tampa Bay and miracle-worker Kevin Cash.  Still, though, the Orioles have shown they can win this division, so there's no reason to believe they can't do it again.

4. Rangers: In a lot of ways, Texas is like Baltimore.  The Rangers aren't too far removed from winning the World Series, and they have very talented core group.  Winning in a division that also includes Houston and Seattle won't necessarily be easy, though.  And this does seem like one of the jobs where results will be expected immediately.  Schumaker was the NL Manager of the Year in 2023, when he took Miami to the playoffs.  If he can take the Marlins to the playoffs, that will be the bare minimum the Rangers front office and fans expect.

3. Giants: Beating the Dodgers will continue to be a tall order for the next few years.  The rest of the NL West needs to understand that and adjust their expectations accordingly.  Still, though, this is a great job.  The Giants have shown that they aren't afraid to spend money and go after stars (of which they already have a few).  They'll go all-in.  That also means there'll be pressure to win right away.  Which means Vitello (assuming it's him) will have his work cut out for him.

2. Padres: San Diego rates one spot higher simply because the Padres' recent success with a core that'll remain mostly intact makes this an extremely desirable opening.  This has been a playoff team, and there's no reason to believe they won't be again.  Just making the playoffs might not be enough, though.  Not for a team that's consistently there, but has only one NLCS appearance to show for it.  Whoever comes in will be expected to do something about that.  Which actually sounds like a pretty fun challenge.

1. Braves: It was an easy choice for the most appealing managerial opening.  Everything is set up for Atlanta's new manager to be successful.  The Braves' 2025 season was one of those where everything that could go wrong did, and Brian Snitker paid the price.  His was a mutual parting, though, and he'll remain with the organization in a front office capacity.  Snitker's successor is well-positioned to get the Braves to the playoffs, assuming they have just a little bit better luck in 2026. 

NFL Picks, Week 7

The NFL's crazy start to the season continues.  The Eagles and Bills were the last two undefeated teams in the league.  Now they've both lost two straight.  And the teams with the best record in each conference are Tampa Bay and Indianapolis.  Who could've seen that coming in Week 7?  (The Bucs maybe, but certainly not the Colts.)

And the craziness has already carried over into Week 7.  Joe Flacco beat Aaron Rodgers in the Ben-Gay Bowl, which suddenly has Cincinnati back in the mix.  The Bengals aren't the only random team that's in it, either.  And with how nuts this season has already been, I wouldn't be surprised to see the wackiness continue well past this week.

Thursday Night: Pittsburgh (Loss)

Rams (4-2) vs Jaguars (4-2): Rams-Who would've figured that the final London game would be such a big matchup?  But that's exactly what we've got.  The Rams are in a three-way tie for first, and the second-place Jaguars have wins over San Francisco and Kansas City.  Can they add the Rams to the list?  I don't think so.  The Rams' defense is too good, and staying in Baltimore all week after playing the Ravens was such a smart move.

Saints (1-5) at Bears (3-2): Chicago-Everybody in the NFC North is above .500.  That's how things have been for the Bears in recent years.  They're 3-2, and they're still in last place!  That win over Washington (their second straight 25-24 victory) is really encouraging, though.  They started 0-2 and have now won three straight.  Make it four straight.  With Baltimore, Cincinnati and the Giants coming up, will we actually be talking about the Bears as contenders in the second half of the season?

Dolphins (1-5) at Browns (1-5): Miami-Two teams that badly need a win take on each other.  Miami has at least been competitive outside of its Week 1 loss to Indianapolis.  The Browns, meanwhile, are the Browns (who somehow randomly beat the Packers).  With the game being played in Cleveland, that's the one thing that might give the Browns an advantage.  The Dolphins are the better team, though, and they know this is their chance to get their season back on track.

Patriots (4-2) at Titans (1-5): New England-Their win over the Bills has the Patriots sitting in first place.  With Buffalo on its bye week, New England has a chance to make that a half-game lead.  And you know Mike Vrabel has extra motivation to get the win in his return to Tennessee.  The Titans have actually gotten worse since he left and are so bad that they just fired his replacement.  Meanwhile, Vrabel moved into a much better situation with a Patriots team that's on the rise.

Raiders (2-4) at Chiefs (3-3): Kansas City-It took until Week 7, but the Chiefs are finally playing a 1:00 game!  Yes, that's right, Kansa City's first six games were in national windows!  You've gotta think they might be relieved to be out of the spotlight and be just another Sunday afternoon game.  They haven't been above .500 all season.  That's certainly not what they expected.  Here's their chance to do something about that.

Eagles (4-2) at Vikings (3-2): Philadelphia-After giving up 18 fourth-quarter points against Denver, the Eagles allowed 34 to the Giants in that Thursday night upset.  They've had 10 days off since then to hopefully right the ship.  As for the Vikings, welcome back!  This is their first game in the United States in almost a month!  They haven't played in this country since Week 3!  They at least got a well-deserved bye after back-to-back games in Ireland and England.  I'm sure they were hoping for a better welcome home present than the Eagles, though.

Panthers (3-3) at Jets (0-6): Jets-Can the Jets finally get that first win?  They thought they had it last week in London, but the Broncos kicked that late field goal to drop them to 0-6.  I actually think they have a decent chance of pulling this one out, though.  Sure, Carolina is a surprising 3-3.  But, let's look further into it.  The Panthers are 3-0 at home and 0-3 on the road.  In their last road game, they got their butts kicked by the Patriots.  Clearly they aren't the same team away from Charlotte.

Giants (2-4) at Broncos (4-2): Denver-What is it about the Jets-Broncos matchup that makes for absolutely terrible football games?  And will traveling from London to Denver without a bye week affect them at all?  I don't see how it can't!  Meanwhile, New York's other team has had 10 days to bask in that upset of the Eagles.  The Giants are suddenly relevant and exciting again.  If they can pull this one out and get to 3-4, they'll also be worth paying attention to.  That might be a tall order, however.  The Broncos are 4-2 for a reason.  They know how to win ugly if they have to.  Case in point: last week.

Colts (5-1) at Chargers (4-2): Indianapolis-I bet CBS wishes they had the doubleheader this week so that they could've made this the national game.  As it is, the matchup between the top two teams in the AFC will have a very limited regional audience.  Which is a shame.  Because it deserves a bigger stage than it's getting.  This is the Colts' biggest test to date.  And they can show us that they really are as good as their record indicates if they go into SoFi and beat the Chargers.  Which, just as importantly, would give them the head-to-head tiebreaker should it come into play.

Commanders (3-3) at Cowboys (2-3-1): Dallas-Washington losing to Chicago suddenly has Jerry Jones feeling all optimistic.  The Cowboys are still an incredibly flawed football team, but the Eagles and Commanders are letting them hang around in the NFC East, which is all Jerry wants with the trade deadline approaching.  As bad as Dallas has been on the road, they've been just as good at home.  They've scored 40 points twice in their two games at Jerry World this season.  If they make it three, they'll move ahead of Washington in the division.  So, Jerry's right.  It is right there for the taking.  As long as they win this week.  (And don't forget how the tie essentially takes them out of any tiebreakers with anybody except the Packers.)

Packers (3-1-1) at Cardinals (2-4): Green Bay-Will the plane issue that delayed the Packers' travel to Arizona have any impact?  I can certainly see them getting off to a sluggish start if nothing else.  And this game does have "trap" written all over it.  So, a Cardinals win wouldn't totally surprise me.  I think the Packers will do what they've done all season, though, and find a way to pull it out in the end.

Falcons (3-2) at 49ers (4-2): San Francisco-Atlanta continues to be the most confusing team in the NFL!  The Falcons crushed the Vikings in Minnesota, so naturally they lost 30-0 to Carolina the following week, only to follow that up with back-to-back wins over playoff teams from last season.  On Sunday night, they head to San Francisco, where the 49ers lost to Jacksonville the last time they were at home.  They've picked up two good road wins since then and sit in a three-way tie in the NFC West.  Whoever wins here will make a statement that they're a team we need to watch out for the rest of the season.

Buccaneers (5-1) at Lions (4-2): Detroit-People started to question/worry about the Lions after they lost to the Packers in Week 1.  As it turns out, it was nothing more than a road loss against another good team.  Detroit is fine.  They reeled off four straight wins after that before their loss in Kansas City last Sunday night.  See where I'm going with this?  The Lions have no reason to panic after losing to the Chiefs.  Tampa Bay might, though.  Because Detroit may take it out on them.

Texans (2-3) at Seahawks (4-2): Seattle-Game 2 of the Monday night doubleheader is a 10:00 Eastern time start in Seattle.  And you can bet Seahawks fans are hoping the Mariners get it done in Game 6.  Because otherwise the start of the Seahawks-Texans game will be going right up against Game 7.  The NFL obviously couldn't have anticipated that when they made the schedule, but what would've happened if the Mariners were scheduled to potentially be at home?  Anyway, the Monday night doubleheaders are done after this week.  This is the game that got moved from ESPN+ to regular ESPN when ESPN bought NFL Network.  That streaming exclusive is, fortunately, a thing of the past.  Just like these Monday night doubleheaders will be next season.

This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 9-6
Overall: 59-34-1