It’s odd to say this, but I’m surprised we aren’t hearing more about the Cowboys. I love Brock Purdy as much as the next guy (more than the next guy, probably, given he was my favorite team’s quarterback for four years), but the Cowboys finished one game behind San Francisco while playing a way more competitive division, and the Niners have a still-unproven player under center while the lights keep getting brighter. I hope we get great Purdy on Sunday evening. I’m nervous about whether or not we will. I’m curious if great Purdy would even be enough.
Quick thoughts on the other three games, then a couple basketball hits:
Jacksonville vs. Kansas City
The Jaguars played one great half of football on Saturday and one terrible half of football, and the great narrowly edged the terrible but I don’t see Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes letting them hang around. It should be all gas for the home team.
NY Giants vs. Philadelphia
The Giants, along with the Jaguars, are the only team left who didn’t win twelve games, and that’s not meaningless. The Giants are not as good as the rest of the playoff field. They’ve been playing better lately, but against whom? The Vikings, who everyone blasted as being all luck all year? The Colts, who won four games while conducting Indianapolis’s first soap opera? The Commanders, whom they only beat by one score? This feels too simple. The Eagles should roll. Maybe there’s something giant I’m missing.
Cincinnati vs. Buffalo
I’m surprised this line has stretched as far as it has (seeing it at 5.5 in favor of the Bills right now), and it makes me think the Bengals aren’t getting enough love. Is this a reaction to last week, when the Ravens gave Cincy more of a game than they should? Is this a preaction to the atmosphere in Buffalo, or some bet on Damar Hamlin magic? We don’t publish single-game NFL bets because we aren’t confident enough in any approach to them (yet), but the Sunday underdogs look as good as the Saturday favorites.
Ok. Basketball time.
Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State
What a trap game. You’ve been rolling through the Big 12. You’ve won a few on the road. You just won your most emotional game of the year. Now, you go play a 10-8 team on the road that’s eminently capable of beating you?
It’s about finding good shots against Oklahoma State, but it’s mostly about focus and edge. Iowa State cannot afford to get comfortable tomorrow. They need to take the most aggressive mentality they can muster down to Stillwater. Especially with Kansas and Kansas State both big favorites at home.
Down Go the Zags
It’s better to win than to lose. But. This Gonzaga team might have needed a kick in the ass, and they got it, and at least now we have something to use to focus in on them. Is this a turning point, or do they keep looking vulnerable against mediocre or bad teams not named Saint Mary’s in the WCC? Our national categories are unchanged from Monday, but we may be eliminating Gonzaga in short order.
**
Viewing schedule for the weekend, second screen rotation in italics:
College Basketball (The Big Game)
- Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: UCLA @ Arizona (ABC)
College Basketball (Quality Games)
- Friday, 11:00 PM EST: Boise State @ New Mexico (FS1)
- Saturday, 12:00 PM EST: Miami @ Duke (ESPN)
- Saturday, 1:00 PM EST: TCU @ Kansas (CBS)
- Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: Iowa State @ Oklahoma State (ESPN+)
- Saturday, 2:00 PM EST: Iowa @ Ohio State (FOX)
- Saturday, 4:00 PM EST: Marquette @ Seton Hall (CBSSN)
- Saturday, 4:00 PM EST: Baylor @ Oklahoma (ESPN2)
- Saturday, 5:00 PM EST: N.C. State @ North Carolina (ACCN)
- Saturday, 6:00 PM EST: Texas @ West Virginia (ESPN)
- Saturday, 6:00 PM EST: Alabama @ Missouri (SECN)
- Sunday, 12:00 PM EST: Michigan State @ Indiana (CBS)
College Basketball (Time Fillers, National Contender Action)
- Friday, 7:00 PM EST: Villanova @ St. John’s (FS1)
- Saturday, 4:00 PM EST: Tennessee @ LSU (ESPN)
- Saturday, 8:00 PM EST: Santa Clara @ Saint Mary’s (NBC Sports Bay Area)
- Saturday, 10:00 PM EST: Gonzaga @ Pacific (ROOT)
- Sunday, 12:00 PM EST: Butler @ UConn (FOX)
- Sunday, 1:00 PM EST: Maryland @ Purdue (FS1)
- Sunday, 2:00 PM EST: Virginia @ Wake Forest (ESPNU)
- Sunday, 3:00 PM EST: Temple @ Houston (ESPN)
NFL (Divisional Round)
- Saturday, 4:30 PM EST: Jacksonville @ Kansas City (NBC)
- Saturday, 8:15 PM EST: NY Giants @ Philadelphia (FOX)
- Sunday, 3:00 PM EST: Cincinnati @ Buffalo (CBS)
- Sunday, 6:30 PM EST: Dallas @ San Francisco (FOX)
NBA (best game by day)
- Friday, 7:30 PM EST: Miami @ Dallas (ESPN)
- Saturday, 5:00 PM EST: Boston @ Toronto (League Pass)
- Sunday, 8:00 PM EST: Memphis @ Phoenix (League Pass)
NHL (best game by day)
- Friday, 7:00 PM EST: Ottawa @ Pittsburgh (NHLN)
- Saturday, 10:00 PM EST: Colorado @ Seattle (ESPN+)
- Sunday, 2:00 PM EST: Pittsburgh @ New Jersey (NHLN)
Premier League (best game by day, plus filling open time slots)
- Saturday, 7:30 AM EST: Chelsea @ Liverpool (Peacock)
- Saturday, 10:00 AM EST: Brighton @ Leicester (Peacock)
- Sunday, 9:00 AM EST: Brentford @ Leeds (Peacock)
- Sunday, 11:30 AM EST: Manchester United @ Arsenal (NBC)
EFL Championship (best game by day)
- Friday, 3:00 PM EST: West Brom @ Burnley (ESPN+)
- Saturday, 7:30 AM EST: Norwich City @ Coventry City (ESPN+)
- Sunday, 7:00 AM EST: Middlesbrough @ Sunderland (ESPN+)
Australian Open
- Friday, 7:00 PM EST: Coverage starts on ESPN+
- Friday, 9:00 PM EST: Coverage starts on ESPN2
- Saturday, 7:00 PM EST: Coverage starts on ESPN+
- Saturday, 8:00 PM EST: Coverage starts on ESPN2
- Sunday, 7:00 PM EST: Coverage starts on both ESPN+ and ESPN2
