Early NFL Trades to Watch + Spurs Survive Game 3 and Another Loss in Court for the NCAA
Plus ranking the 12 teams that haven't won a Super Bowl
In Today’s Issue: Victor Wembanyama, Maxx Crosby, Gilberto Mora, Brendan Sorsby, Gerrit Cole, Slade Cecconi, Angel Reese, Rod Brind’Amour, John Tortorella, and Mike Brown.
WHAT TO READ
The Spurs kept their championship hopes alive despite being outscored by 18 in the second quarter, winning Game 3 at Madison Square Garden 115-111. San Antonio held New York to just 20 points in the fourth quarter, handing the Knicks their first loss since April 23rd after 13 playoff wins in a row. Read about the key takeaways from the back-and-forth contest (Victor Wembanyama scored 32 on 11-18 shooting), and where the 2-1 series goes from here.
The NFL’s trade deadline isn’t for five months and the first preseason game isn’t until August 6th, but it’s never too early to look at who could end up on a new team this season. The first potential trade on ESPN’s list of 10? Raiders Edge Maxx Crosby, again. Check out the rest of the analysis to read about who might move and why. (Dan Graziano, ESPN)
Co-host Mexico kicks off the World Cup with the first match of the tournament, facing South Africa in Estadio Banorte (formerly known as Estadio Azteca) on Thursday. Mexico, currently ranked 14th in the world, was eliminated in the group stage four years ago and hasn’t made it to the quarterfinals since 1990. Read a preview of Mexico’s Group A to see why the “cursed” team is favored to advance despite relying on 17-year-old Gilberto Mora to do far too much for his age. (Tales Azzoni, Associated Press)
The Rams are heavy Super Bowl favorites (+550 at FanDuel), and a win would extend a streak dating back to 2014 — when the Seahawks became the last first-time champion in the NFL. Twelve teams have never won a title, including the Bills, who are tied with Seahawks with the second-best odds right now (+1000). Read about the 11 other franchises without a Super Bowl win to see their chances of lifting the Lombardi Trophy for the first time next Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles. (Eric Edholm, NFL.com)
Texas Tech got a huge boost from a retired Judge, who ruled transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby couldn’t be declared ineligible by the NCAA. Instead, the judge decided to suspend Sorsby for two games despite the quarterback’s sports betting history, which led to his ineligibility. Read about the outrage the decision caused across college sports, the impact it could have on Texas Tech’s future schedule, and the concerns athletic directors have about enforcing the rules going forward. (Ross Dellenger, Yahoo Sports)
WHAT TO WATCH
6:40pm — Yankees vs. Guardians on TBS: If it feels like we highlight the Yankees a lot in this space, it’s true, but only because MLB’s still meager national schedule features the Bronx Bombers so often (there’s no other game on national TV again today). This matchup features Yankees lefty Gerrit Cole, who has started just three games so far this season and has a 2.00 ERA, against Guardians starter Slade Cecconi, who is struggling with a 3-5 record and 4.92 ERA across 13 starts. (NYY -131, CLE +109)
7pm — Dream vs. Sky on ESPN: Angel Reese gets a Commissioner’s Cup matchup against her former team tonight. The third-year star leads the WNBA with 11.7 rebounds per game to go along with her 13.3 points, and Atlanta is tied for the third-best record in the league at 7-3. Chicago continues its ongoing struggle, as only three teams have a worse record — the Sky are 4-7 after losing six of seven. (ATL -7.5, Total: 164.5)
8pm — Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights on ABC: Vegas can take a commanding 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals by winning its fifth home game in a row. The Golden Knights have won eight of nine overall, while the pre-series favorite Hurricanes had been 12-1 in the postseason before facing off against the 2023 champions. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour still hasn’t announced who he’s starting in goal. (CAR -115, VGK -105)
WHAT TO TRACK
Carolina is the ever-so-slight favorite to win Game 4 on the road at 51% on Kalshi, while FanDuel gives the Hurricanes and Golden Knights equal odds to win (-110 moneyline). The prediction market gives Vegas a 63% chance to take the title, and FanDuel agrees, with the Golden Knights at -188 to hoist the Cup and give coach John Tortorella his second championship, 22 years after winning with the Lightning. It would also be Vegas’s second Stanley Cup in just its ninth season of existence.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I tell the guys, it’s a seven-game series for a reason. They are a great team. They are well-coached. They have an iconic player. It’s not going to be easy.”
— Knicks coach Mike Brown after his team’s Game 3 home loss, in which they had a 8-24 disadvantage in free throw attempts in the second half.
See you tomorrow,
Abe