Two things (among many others, I’m sure) ended last night, and as those who believe in the concept of yin and yang would have it, one was joyous, and one was quietly sad.
The first was the Mariners’ playoff drought. For the first time since that incredible 2001 season, Seattle is back into the postseason, and it came on quite the moment, Cal Raleigh delivering the decisive, walk-off blow:
The second was the ending of Streak for the Cash, a fourteen-year-old contest run by ESPN in which contestants tried to make correct picks in various games and prop bets enough times in a row (or enough times in the course of a month, total) to win large cash prizes.
I was surprised to learn about Streak for the Cash ending. I’m still someone who goes in—or went in, rather—at the start of each month to try the streak anew. For a while, in college, I tried the monthly challenge. That was intense. But more than those memories, the institution comes to mind as a staple on the old ESPN homepage back in the days of family computer rooms and hours spent reading about sports on the internet. I guess that’s what got us all here.
So, to the Mariners’ drought: Good riddance. And to Streak for the Cash: Rest in peace.
Iowa State @ Kansas
What do the Cyclones need to do against Kansas? Play their game. And play it well. A lot is being made of Jalon Daniels, and deservedly so—the guy’s a sensation—but KU’s offense is only ranked 26th by SP+. That’s the best the Cyclones have faced, but they’ll face better by year’s end, and this defense should be good enough to keep it in line. If it doesn’t, the offense is going to have to make some plays.
**
Viewing schedule for today, second screen rotation in italics:
College Football (of interest):
- 12:00 PM EDT: Kentucky @ Mississippi (ESPN)
- 12:00 PM EDT: Michigan @ Iowa (FOX)
- 12:00 PM EDT: Purdue @ Minnesota (ESPN2)
- 12:00 PM EDT: Oklahoma @ TCU (ABC)
- 12:00 PM EDT: Texas Tech @ Kansas State (ESPN+)
- 12:00 PM EDT: Illinois @ Wisconsin (BTN)
- 1:30 PM EDT: Texas State @ James Madison (ESPN+)
- 2:00 PM EDT: Oregon State @ Utah (P12N)
- 3:30 PM EDT: Oklahoma State @ Baylor (FOX)
- 3:30 PM EDT: Alabama @ Arkansas (CBS)
- 3:30 PM EDT: Wake Forest @ Florida State (ABC)
- 3:30 PM EDT: Iowa State @ Kansas (ESPN2)
- 3:30 PM EDT: Rutgers @ Ohio State (BTN)
- 3:30 PM EDT: Northwestern @ Penn State (ESPN)
- 3:30 PM EDT: Virginia Tech @ North Carolina (ACCN)
- 3:30 PM EDT: Michigan State @ Maryland (FS1)
- 4:00 PM EDT: Texas A&M @ Mississippi State (SECN)
- 5:00 PM EDT: Wagner @ Syracuse (ESPN+)
- 7:00 PM EDT: Georgia Southern @ Coastal Carolina (ESPN+)
- 7:00 PM EDT: LSU @ Auburn (ESPN)
- 7:30 PM EDT: North Carolina State @ Clemson (ABC)
- 7:30 PM EDT: Georgia @ Missouri (SECN)
- 7:30 PM EDT: Virginia @ Duke (ESPN3)
- 8:00 PM EDT: Georgia Tech @ Pitt (ACCN)
- 10:30 PM EDT: Arizona State @ USC (ESPN)
- 11:00 PM EDT: Stanford @ Oregon (FS1)
MLB (of playoff race and home run chase significance, plus the Cubs):
- 1:05 PM EDT: Baltimore @ New York (AL), Voth vs. Cortes (MLB TV)
- 1:05 PM EDT: Philadelphia @ Washington – Game 1, Gibson vs. Sánchez (MLB TV/ESPN+)
- 2:20 PM EDT: Cincinnati @ Cubs, Lodolo vs. Smyly (MLB TV)
- 3:07 PM EDT: Boston @ Toronto, Bello vs. Stripling (MLB TV)
- 4:10 PM EDT: Oakland @ Seattle, Sears vs. Castillo (MLB TV)
- 7:05 PM EDT: Philadelphia @ Washington – Game 2, Syndergaard vs. Romero (MLB TV)
- 7:10 PM EDT: Miami @ Milwaukee, Cabrera vs. Ashby (MLB TV)
- 7:20 PM EDT: New York (NL) @ Atlanta, Scherzer vs. Wright (MLB TV)
- 7:20 PM EDT: Tampa Bay @ Houston, McClanahan vs. Javier (MLB TV)
- 8:40 PM EDT: Chicago (AL) @ San Diego, Cease vs. Clevinger (MLB TV)
Soccer (with direct impact on our futures portfolios):
- 10:00 AM EDT: Brighton @ Liverpool (Peacock)
- 10:00 AM EDT: Brentford @ Bournemouth (Peacock)
- 10:00 AM EDT: Chelsea @ Crystal Palace (USA)
- 10:00 AM EDT: Newcastle @ Fulham (Peacock)
- 10:00 AM EDT: Norwich City @ Blackpool (Peacock)
- 10:00 AM EDT: Queens Park Rangers @ Bristol City (Peacock)
- 10:00 AM EDT: Birmingham @ Sheffield United (Peacock)
- 10:00 AM EDT: Preston North End @ Sunderland (Peacock)
- 10:00 AM EDT: Swansea City @ West Bromwich Albion (Peacock)
- 12:30 PM EDT: Wolverhampton @ West Ham (USA)
