The UCLA Bruins and UConn Huskies, who won the past two national championships, will both play in the third annual Coretta Scott King Classic this year.

The Bruins, who won the NCAA title last season, will face the Oklahoma Sooners in the opener on Jan. 18. The 2025 champion Huskies will face the Seton Hall Pirates in a Big East matchup in the second game.

“The Coretta Scott King Classic continues to bring my family’s enduring legacy into spaces where young people can see, experience, and embody the values my mother held so deeply,” said Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Coretta Scott King and CEO of The King Center. “Through the power of women’s basketball, this event creates an opportunity to celebrate excellence while encouraging the next generation to lead with courage, purpose, and a commitment to community.”

The games, to be played in Newark, New Jersey, will be nationally televised on FOX.

It’s the second time in three seasons that the Bruins are playing in the doubleheader. Cori Close’s team played in the inaugural one against the Baylor Bears two years ago. The timing works out well for UCLA, which will play Big Ten opponents Rutgers and Maryland later that week on the road.

“We are proud to return to the Coretta Scott King Classic this season. It is such a blessing to be part of an amazing event that honors the legacy of the King family and brings us together through sport,” Close said. “We always look to compete against excellent competition, and we know Oklahoma will bring out the best in us.”

It’s not the first time that UConn and Seton Hall have faced each other in Newark. The two teams last played each other there in 2010.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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There are several barnburners on tap for NFL Week 4. 

Here’s where I’m putting my money.

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Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy said he wanted to push the ball down the field more this year than the team did last year with Aaron Rodgers, and he has been true to his word so far. Rodgers’ average depth of target has been over 10 yards in two of the three games so far, including in a 30-27 win last week. I’ll go over the 38.5, as the Steelers take on a Browns team with some interesting young weapons and an underrated offense.

Hill’s Pick: Over 38.5

Don’t forget to set your alarms for this one, as we get our first 9:30 am ET kickoff of the season in London come Sunday. Both teams started 0-2 before winning in Week 3. With the winner getting to .500, I’ll take the 3.5 with the Commanders in what should be a close game.

Hill’s Pick: Commanders +3.5

It has not been pretty for the defending AFC champions, but it’s often a good idea to ignore the last thing you saw in the NFL to avoid overreacting. The Patriots will already be 3.5 games out of first place in the AFC East with a loss. They are desperate and getting 6.5 points. I’l bet on them to bounce back.

Hill’s Pick: Patriots +6.5

If the Titans aren’t the worst team in the NFL, they’re pretty close to it. At 0-3, their offense has been anemic, and I don’t expect it to improve this week in Baltimore.  

Hill’s Pick: Titans Under 15.5

The quarterbacks for this game are familiar with each other. Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow were picked first overall, respectively, in back-to-back years (2020 and 2021), and also played against each other in the 2019 college football national title game. The Jaguars look like a contender and could easily be 3-0. In a toss-up game, I’ll take the points.

Hill’s Pick: Jaguars +2.5

Panic time could officially hit the Rams if they lose again this week and fall to 1-3. The Eagles have had their number recently, winning all four meetings since the start of the 2023 season, and winning in Philadelphia isn’t easy, especially considering the onerous travel the Rams have endured already this season. 

Hill’s Pick: Eagles +3

The Giants are 2-1, but their offense has looked suspect since quarterback Jaxson Dart went down with a season-ending knee injury. With the total set at 44.5, I think we get a 23-20 type of game. I will go Under here considering the Giants’ lackluster offense.

Hill’s Pick: Under 44.5

The Cowboys’ defense was expected to be improved in 2026 after being dreadful in 2025, but we have yet to see that play out. The Cowboys’ elite offense and shaky defense make them a good Over team until proven otherwise.

Hill’s Pick: Over 48.5

The Jets lost and failed to cover last week vs. the Lions, but were tied with just a few minutes to go. Quarterback Geno Smith has played very well for the Jets, and I think they will keep it close this week against the Bears.

Hill’s Pick: Jets +3.5

Two desperate teams facing off here with each in dire need of a win. Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels will make his first career start for the Buccaneers, and I expect points to be hard to come by.

Hill’s Pick: Under 38.5

The Vikings look to improve to 4-0 and are heavy favorites to do so against the hapless Dolphins. While it’s been an impressive start for the Vikings, they have struggled mightily on offense, and aren’t well-equipped to exploit the Dolphins’ weak secondary. Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson might be sidelined for this one, and 10.5 points is a lot to lay for a struggling Vikings offense.

Hill’s Pick: Dolphins +10.5

Raiders’ tight end Brock Bowers is one of the best, and perhaps, still one of the most underrated players in the league. Coming off of 13 targets, 10 catches and 116 yards in his season debut, expect another big game from Bowers.

Hill’s Pick: Brock Bowers Over 76.5 Receiving Yards

The Chargers look broken offensively and could not defeat the Bills last week despite their defense forcing five turnovers. I don’t look for them to do much offensively on the road, in a hostile environment against an angry Seahawks defense coming off an upset loss to the Commanders.

Hill’s Pick: Chargers Under 17.5

The 49ers are undefeated and have been ultra impressive so far, but as usual, the injuries are starting to pile up. In what should be a close game, I’ll take the Broncos to keep it close.

Hill’s Pick: Broncos +3

The Lions have played three games and they’ve all gone Over. With an elite offense and very suspect defense, I like another Lions Over. 

Hill’s Pick: Over 51.5

The Saints gave up over 100 yards rushing last week and now face perhaps the most dynamic running back in the NFL. Look for Bijan Robinson to have another big game on the ground.

Hill’s Pick: Bijan Robinson Over 85.5 Rushing Yards

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No. 5 Ohio State hits the road for the first time since its loss to No. 1 Texas, traveling to Kinnick Stadium to face No. 14 Iowa in this week’s Big Noon Kickoff matchup.

Mississippi State isn’t on sleeper watch anymore, and quarterback Kamario Taylor has played his way into the Heisman conversation, leading the Bulldogs to No. 16 in the AP poll. This week, the stage is bigger than ever as Mississippi State hosts No. 7 Alabama in Starkville.

Those matchups headline a slate packed with conference and playoff implications, but there are five sleeper games worth watching — and wagering on — in Week 4 of college football.

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Spread: Penn State -2.5

The Outlook: The Nittany Lions fell out of the Top 25 and saw their undefeated season end with a 24-20 loss to Wisconsin. The good thing for Penn State is that everything is still in front of it, but the road doesn’t get any easier from here, and the pressure is increasing. Penn State was held to three points in the second half, while quarterback Rocco Becht finished with fewer than 125 passing yards for the fourth time in his career.

Northwestern almost joined Oklahoma State in pulling off one of the most surprising upsets of the year. A failed onside kick attempt ended the Wildcats’ upset bid against No. 6 Indiana. The Wildcats held the Hoosiers to a season-low 29 points but gave up 271 rushing yards. Quarterback Aiden Chiles threw for 293 yards, the second-most of his career, and completed 75% of his passes in the loss.

Playoff Implications: If Northwestern can have the defending champions on the edge of their seats until the last minute on the road, the Wildcats can definitely give Penn State a fight until the final second. The Nittany Lions can’t let the Wildcats hang around and keep this game close, because that’s where the danger lies. If Matt Campbell wants to get Penn State back into the playoff conversation, the Nittany Lions must run the table.

Spread: Virginia Tech -3

The Outlook: These undefeated ACC teams kick off under the Friday night lights, and the winner could make its first appearance in next week’s Top 25.

Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel made history last week with his second game this season with at least six passing touchdowns. He became the first quarterback in ACC history to accomplish the feat and the first FBS player to do so since 2021. Heintschel ranks third in the ACC in passing yards with 1,191 and second in passing touchdowns with 13. Those numbers could be deceiving if you’re only looking at the stat sheet, though. In two games against Power 4 opponents, the Pitt quarterback has zero touchdowns, one interception and just 335 passing yards. In two games against non-Power 4 opponents, he has 956 passing yards and 13 touchdowns.

James Franklin has already accomplished something at Virginia Tech that hasn’t happened since 2017: starting a season 4-0. The Hokies moved to 4-0 after escaping Boston College with a 21-14 win, thanks in large part to running back Jeffrey Overton Jr.’s performance. Overton broke loose for a 76-yard house call, giving the Hokies the lead and helping him finish with a career-high 209 rushing yards.

Playoff Implications: After Louisville’s loss to Wake Forest, the ACC’s chances of sending a team other than Miami to the CFP got a lot smaller. The next-highest-ranked ACC team is SMU at No. 21. Pitt and Virginia Tech are two of the four remaining undefeated teams in the conference, and after this week, only three will remain.

Spread: USC -9.5

The Outlook: The hype around the Trojans has suddenly gone with the wind after their 41-24 loss to No. 15 Oregon. Now, talks and murmurs surrounding head coach Lincoln Riley’s tenure at USC are heating up, but that narrative can change with plenty of the season still left to play. The Trojans still have Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA on the schedule, but first, they have to take care of Washington. With senior quarterback Jayden Maiava leading the offense, the Trojans can be in any game. Maiava still leads the nation in passing yards (1,499) and passing touchdowns (14).

Head coach Jedd Fisch and Washington suffered their first loss of the season against Minnesota, and their path to the CFP just got a whole lot harder. The Huskies went 1-for-10 on third down and rushed for only 40 yards in the loss, and the run game has been a problem for them all year. Washington averages the second-fewest rushing yards per game in the Big Ten (107.3). It’s never a good sign when your quarterback is your team’s leading rusher, and that’s what Demond Williams Jr. is for the Huskies.

Playoff Implications: USC has shown an ability to bounce back from losses under Riley, going 10-6 in games following a loss, with an average margin of victory of 11.5 points across those 10 wins. But if the Trojans want to make a run at the CFP, they have to prove they can perform better against top competition. Since Riley took over the program in 2022, USC is 5-14 against AP Top 25 teams and 0-5 against Top 10 teams.

After losing to its first ranked opponent of the season, USC has three more current Top 25 teams on the schedule, two of which are in the Top 10. A loss to an unranked Washington team could completely derail the Trojans’ playoff hopes and make the hot seat even hotter for Riley.

Spread: Tennessee -7

The Outlook: The Vols were held to a season-low 17 points and 70 rushing yards last week, and a major part of that was freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon being sacked 10 times against No. 1 Texas. The Vols still had a chance to win at the end but ultimately lost by three points. The five-star quarterback had the worst game of his young career, completing only 58% of his passes while throwing for 145 yards and one touchdown in the loss. Brandon has the fewest passing yards among SEC starting quarterbacks, but the good thing for Brandon and the Vols is that this Auburn defense is among the worst in the SEC.

Auburn’s defense allows 365.8 total yards, 238.8 passing yards and 127 rushing yards per game, all of which rank among the top three in the SEC. Offensively, like Washington, Auburn’s top rusher is its quarterback, Byrum Brown, and that’s never a good sign. Despite all of that, the Tigers are 3-1, and head coach Alex Golesh earned his first SEC win last week against Vanderbilt. Golesh and the Tigers now head out for their first true road game, but these defensive struggles could rear their head despite their 3-1 record.

Another underlying issue that could tip this game in Tennessee’s favor is that Auburn has allowed 14 sacks through four games, the most in the SEC, while Tennessee is tied for the most sacks in the country with 19.

Playoff Implications: Head coach Josh Heupel is trying to get the Vols back to the CFP for the first time since 2024, and a three-point loss to the top-ranked team in the country won’t eliminate them from contention. Heupel’s offense should get back on track against this Auburn defense and run the ball at will. Tennessee is one of two SEC teams with two rushers ranked in the conference’s top 10: DeSean Bishop and Daune Morris.

But if the Vols fall to an unranked Auburn team this weekend, they’ll have to climb Mount Everest just to get back into the playoff picture.

Spread: Houston -12.5

The Outlook: Houston has scored 30 or more points in three of its first four games, averaging 44.5 points per game, the most in the Big 12. Leading the way is quarterback Conner Weigman. The senior signal-caller is tied for the most passing touchdowns in the conference with 11 while ranking in the top five in passing yards with 947. Weigman is coming off a four-touchdown performance against Georgia Southern, marking the fifth time in his career he’s thrown four or more touchdowns in a game.

Even after losing their starting quarterback in the second game of the season, head coach Scott Frost and UCF have found a way to win two straight games, opening conference play with a win over TCU last week. The Knights held the Horned Frogs to 33 rushing yards and forced four turnovers, including on TCU’s final two drives. UCF’s defense has forced seven turnovers over the last two games, including four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The Knights have six interceptions this season, the most in the Big 12 and tied for fourth-most in the country.

Playoff Implications: The Cougars lost a heartbreaker to Texas Tech in Week 3, falling short after a failed two-point conversion, but they are still in the hunt for the Big 12 title. However, they can’t overlook UCF, even without its starting quarterback. With the Knights’ defense creating turnovers and giving their offense extra opportunities, Weigman and the Cougars will need to play a clean game to keep UCF from hanging around. Houston can’t afford another loss, especially to an unranked team, with two currently ranked teams still on its schedule.

Week 5 Parlay Slip

Bet $10 to win $202.82 if:

• Virginia Tech Moneyline vs. Pitt (-170)
• Penn State vs. Northwestern UNDER 45.5 (-110)
• No. 18 USC vs. Washington OVER 58.5 (-115)
• No. 17 Tennessee (-7.5) vs. Auburn (+100)
• UCF (+12.5) vs. No. 20 Houston (-114)

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Here’s how you know that the NFL drives the American sports betting bus: Steelers vs. Browns, which is not exactly a marquee matchup, will still draw plenty of eyeballs and action from the public betting masses.

“The NFL is still king,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. “Even as much as we complain about some of these Thursday night games, it’s still the NFL. We’re still all watching, and it’ll still be bet on.

“Being in a prime-time spot, Steelers-Browns should be in our top-three handle games of the weekend.”

Thankfully, there are a few more attractive matchups in NFL Week 4 odds, including Rams vs. Eagles on FOX and a Chiefs vs. Raiders battle of unbeatens.

Oddsmakers and sharp bettors serve up their midweek insights on those matchups and more, as we dive into NFL Week 4 betting nuggets.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

NFL Rocks On FOX, Part I

In Week 4, FOX gets a matchup perhaps worthy of the playoffs: Rams vs. Eagles, at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

Los Angeles opened the season as the Super Bowl favorite but is 1-2 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) through three games. Philadelphia is 2-1 SU, but 0-3 ATS, among six teams that haven’t covered the spread this season.

And while both are coming off losses, Philly’s was far more alarming — a 27-7 blowout as a 3.5-point Monday night favorite at Chicago. 

L.A. lost to Denver 30-26 in the Sunday night game, with a questionable pass-interference call going against the Rams late.

Will Matthew Stafford and the Rams bounce back against the Eagles? (Getty Images)

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Caesars Sports opened Rams-Eagles at L.A. -2.5, and on Tuesday, the Rams climbed to -3, where the line remained Wednesday afternoon.

“These two teams are coming off two different types of losses. The public perceived that the Rams were robbed,” Feazel said. “We’ve taken a lot of Rams money, and we’re gonna see more Rams money.

“And I anticipate Over money, too, especially with this Rams team being able to move the ball up and down the field.”

That said, after the total opened at 45.5, it’s down to 43, largely as a reaction to the Eagles’ lackluster effort vs. the Bears.

   Divisional Dust-Up

NFL Week 4 odds kick off with an 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday meeting between the Steelers and Browns, both 2-1 SU and ATS.

Caesars opened Pittsburgh a 2.5-point road favorite and on Wednesday morning moved to -3, where the line sat Wednesday afternoon.

“There’s nothing too crazy yet, but we are seeing more Steelers action. No surprise there, and I anticipate that continuing,” Feazel said. “People are gonna say Steelers -3 is easy money.

“I anticipate needing the Browns at home, and probably Browns outright. There’ll be a good amount of moneyline parlays associated with the Steelers.”

NFL Sharp Side

Professional bettor Randy McKay is among those involved with Steelers-Browns. He’s not shying away from the home underdog, taking Cleveland +3.

“On a short week, I’m taking the home team. I like what the Browns have done the last two weeks, winning close games,” McKay said.

In Week 2, the Browns were 8.5-point road underdogs and upset the Buccaneers 23-19. In Week 3, the Browns were 2.5-point home ‘dogs vs. the Panthers and won 21-18.

McKay also likes Cleveland due to the recent history in this AFC North rivalry.

“Cleveland has won the last four at home vs. Pittsburgh. So it’s been a home-and-home series,” McKay said.

Indeed, the two teams have split the last eight meetings, with the home team winning every time.

NFL Rocks On FOX, Part II

The Texans made the playoffs last year, going 12-5 after opening the season with three straight losses.

This year, the Texans are again out to an 0-3 SU and ATS start. 

Still, Caesars opened the Texans as 2.5-point home favorites vs. the Cowboys (1-2 SU/2-1 ATS), and the spread is up to Houston -3 for another 1 p.m. ET kick on FOX.

So the risk room seems to have some faith in Houston. But the masses, not so much.

Currently, the public doesn’t believe in the Texans. (Getty Images)

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“The market doesn’t seem to be selling yet on the Texans. But the public is not believing in the Texans,” Feazel said. “Action-wise so far, it’s more on the Cowboys. But I anticipate this being closer to two-way action by Sunday, on the spread and the total.

“There’s not much sharp action and not much movement. It seems like a must-win for the Texans.”

   AFC West Test

With Patrick Mahomes healthy and Kenneth Walker III running wild, the Chiefs are 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS. That’s not a huge surprise.

But the Raiders being 3-0 SU and ATS is certainly surprising. Something’s got to give on Sunday in Sin City, for a 4:25 p.m. ET AFC West clash.

Caesars opened the Chiefs -4.5 and briefly advanced to -5.5 on Sunday night, then returned to -4.5. As of Wednesday afternoon, it was still Kansas City -4.5.

But the ‘dog is getting early attention, in no small part due to regional betting bias, with Caesars Sports’ big presence in Las Vegas.

“We’re already building up pretty decent liability on the Raiders. Everybody is kind of buying in,” Feazel said. “There’s heavy action on Raiders moneyline, too. So we’re probably gonna need the Chiefs to win and cover.”

Interestingly, Feazel said the Raiders are currently Caesars’ largest liability in Super Bowl futures odds, as well.

   Sunday Night Fight

As noted above, the Broncos (2-1 SU and ATS) were the beneficiaries of a key pass-interference call late in the Week 3 Sunday night game vs. the Rams. Denver went on to a 30-26 victory as a 1-point home underdog.

The 49ers are out to a 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS start, including an impressive 27-7 Week 1 blowout of the Rams. In Week 3, San Francisco held off the Cardinals 36-30 but failed to cover as a 7.5-point home favorite.

In Week 4 NFL odds, Caesars opened the Niners -3, and as of Wednesday afternoon, it was Niners -2.5 (-120) for an 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday kick.

Will the 49ers keep rolling in Week 4? (Getty Images)

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“These are two teams getting action every week,” Feazel said. “This week, action is pretty much balanced so far, and I think it’ll stay the same. The only liability we’re seeing on this right now is on the Over.”

And movement reflects that liability, with the total climbing from 45.5 to 48.5.

Even with two-way play on the spread, Feazel anticipates the book will have a preference by Sunday night.

“We’ll probably need the Broncos come game time. But we’re definitely gonna need the Under. We’re gonna need this to be a low-scoring affair,” Feazel said.

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We have Game 3 in the Wild Card Series between the Braves and Phillies. The winner moves on, and the loser heads home. And if the NL East champions want to stay alive, they’ll be leaning on an unlikely starter. 

The Braves will have left-hander Ray Kerr make his first career postseason appearance as the opener against the Phillies in Thursday night’s decisive game.

Braves right-hander Grant Holmes (10-6, 3.44) is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind Kerr. On Sept. 25, Kerr threw three scoreless innings as the opener at Miami and Holmes allowed one run in four innings of a 3-0 loss.

Kerr, 32, was recalled by Atlanta on Aug. 16 and he made his first major league appearance in more than two years the following day. Kerr underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and didn’t pitch at all in 2025.

Kerr posted a 1.47 ERA in nine games with Atlanta. He made two appearances against the Phillies in September, with the most recent a three-inning outing on Sept. 13.

Veteran right-hander Aaron Nola is expected to start for the Phillies. Nola was 7-12 with a 4.67 ERA in the regular season.

The Phillies beat the Braves 4-3 in 10 innings on Wednesday to force the decisive game of the best-of-three series.

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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So you think the 3-0 Raiders are capable of doing more than just reaching the playoffs. That the “Trio in Rio” game shows that Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are coming for the Lombardi Trophy. And that there are better days ahead in Green Bay for the reeling Packers.

I hear ya, but that doesn’t mean I agree. Coming out of Week 3, NFL fans shared their passionate perspectives on our @NFLonFOX Instagram. I’m here to break down your top takes, provide analysis and, in the end, render a verdict on whether what you’re saying is fact or fiction.  

Let’s get into it: 

Raiders Can Make A Deep Postseason Run
– @b1g.ceaz

Fact or Fiction: Fiction

Look, the Raiders’ rebuild is off to an exciting start. New head coach Klint Kubiak looks like a slam dunk hire. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has been red-hot to start the season (nine touchdown passes through three games), allowing Las Vegas to stick to its plan of letting No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza sit and learn. The offensive line play has been competent. The team is strong at tight end (star Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer) and running back (rookie Mike Washington Jr.). Tre Tucker is emerging at wide receiver. 

On the other side of the ball, the revamped defense has been promising, led by new additions like free-agent linebacker Nakobe Dean and rookies Treydan Stukes (second round) and Hezekiah Masses (fifth round), the latter of whom was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2. 

You like that? Kirk Cousins and the Raiders are off to a fast start, giving fans of the Silver and Black hope that they’ll be a contender in the AFC. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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But this particular take is not just saying the Raiders will make the playoffs, but that they’ll go on a deep postseason run. And that’s going too far right now. 

Let’s remember that Las Vegas has had a soft schedule to this point. Its 3-0 start came against the Dolphins, Chargers and the Saints. We’ll get a much better feel for exactly how good the Raiders are in the coming weeks, when they face the Chiefs (Week 4), Bills (Week 6) and Rams (Week 7). 

Also, what happens when opposing defenses key in on two-time Pro Bowler Bowers? Yes, the Raiders went 2-0 before he made his season debut last week, but that’s a small sample size against teams that are a combined 0-6 right now (Dolphins, Chargers). Bowers is Vegas’ only true receiving threat at tight end. And Las Vegas is still unproven at wide receiver outside of Tucker, who is averaging a career-high 63.0 receiving yards per game. No other wideout on the roster is averaging more than 17.3 yards. 

Even more concerning, Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2025 draft, hasn’t been running the ball efficiently, averaging only 3.3 rushing yards per carry. 

Again, I love what Kubiak has done in Vegas so far, and the Raiders are far exceeding expectations to this point. They’ve given themselves a nice cushion to start the season. But it’s too early to say they’re an AFC contender. 

Fact or Fiction: Fact

I’m on board with this! 

Purdy has been the NFL’s best quarterback through three weeks, playing ridiculously efficient football. He leads the league in passer rating (133.1) and expected points added per dropback (+0.63), and is tied for first with nine touchdown passes. He’s second in yards per attempt (9.5), third in completion rate (72.2%) and eighth in passing yards (789). The 2023 Pro Bowler has been picked off only once so far and has yet to be sacked. 

He’s carrying a 49ers team that has already been ravaged by injuries. 

And that’s actually what could threaten Purdy’s MVP bid. MVPs are historically high-level quarterbacks on the league’s best teams record-wise, and injuries have a chance of derailing San Francisco’s season. Wide receiver Mike Evans (ribs), left tackle Trent Williams (shoulder stinger) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad) all didn’t finish Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. 

The Niners also have multiple defensive linemen dealing with multi-week injuries on their active roster, including Pro Bowl defensive end Nick Bosa (calf), plus six other D-linemen on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list. 

The good news, though, is that the injuries to Evans, Williams and Greenlaw aren’t long term, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. And if anything has come out of the Niners’ injury hell over the past several years, it’s that they’re now very experienced at dealing with them. Under Shanahan, San Francisco has always found a way to stay relevant in the NFC contention conversation despite who may or may not be available, which is great news for Purdy’s MVP candidacy.

The Ravens Are Super Bowl Bound
– @thatkidloobiday

Fact or Fiction: Fiction

Star quarterback Lamar Jackson is off to a great start in new OC Declan Doyle’s offense, and we know that the Ravens are always in the mix as long as the two-time MVP is healthy. But I’m already getting concerned about their long-term prospects. 

We don’t know if it’s anything serious, but Jackson wasn’t seen during the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to the media. Baltimore’s engine is the run game, and injuries upfront are already piling up. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe) didn’t play in Brazil, and his status for this week is uncertain. Starting center Jovaughn Gwyn is expected to miss a few months with a fractured fibula. It’s looking like backup Ethan Pocic (knee) will be out at least a week as well. Rookie guard Olaivavega Ioane is trending toward making his first career start at center, a position he didn’t register a start at in college. 

That’s a good amount of uncertainty early in the year for the offensive line, which is a bummer. The ageless Derrick Henry has been eating to this point — and 55.9% of his yards have come before contact, the highest rate among 36 running backs with at least 25 carries, per NGS.

Giving up 31 points to the Cowboys last week wasn’t great, but Baltimore’s defense overall has shown promise under first-year head coach Jesse Minter, a defensive guru. The walk-off, game-winning field goal in Brazil — the so-called “Trio in Rio” — was potentially a sign that the 2026 Ravens will be better in high-pressure situations. But the injury outlook offensively gives me pause about the Ravens’ title chances. 

The Packers Will Still Make The Playoffs
– @_re9an_

Fact or Fiction: Fiction

I’m sorry, I’m not buying it right now. The Packers have been that bad — they’ve lost two of their first three games by three scores, the first time they’ve lost multiple games by 17-plus points since 2017, according to Next Gen Stats. 

No offensive line in the NFL has been worse, and Green Bay lost its best O-lineman — right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele — for the rest of the year with a knee injury. The Packers are averaging an atrocious 48.7 rushing yards per game, by far the league worst (second-lowest is 81.0, by the Broncos). Quarterback Jordan Love has already been pressured 56 times, second-most in the league. 

The Packers in recent days have signed a trio of former first-round guards to stabilize the interior offensive line — Kevin Zeitler, Laken Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton — but O-line chemistry isn’t created in a microwave. Continuity is built over months, even for the most talented of offensive lines. And we don’t even know what kind of individual production to expect from Zeitler, Tomlinson or Becton, none of whom has played in a regular-season game this year. 

Elsewhere on the offense, I actually really like what the Packers have going on at wide receiver. Losing Jayden Reed to season-ending neck surgery is a big loss, but Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are both in the top eight in receiving yards entering Week 4. Tight end Tucker Kraft, who’s coming off a torn ACL last season, should get his feet back under him as the season wears on. 

On the other side of the ball, superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons can be activated off the physically unable to perform list after this week, so the defense could get substantially better. But I don’t see it being so much better than it makes up for a largely ineffective offense. Coach Matt LaFleur himself said, “I don’t know what we’re doing well offensively.” 

Unless the O-line additions turn out to be a magical solution, I’m not buying a rosy outlook for this team over the next few months. 

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In Year 7 under manager Torey Lovullo, the Arizona Diamondbacks won the National League pennant. In a 7-11 charm, will they also win the NL pennant in his 11th year at the helm?

Arizona has retained its skipper on a two-year deal, multiple outlets reported on Thursday afternoon, including FOX Sports MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal.

Lovullo just concluded his 10th season as the D-backs’ manager (2017-26), that being an 86-76 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season. Arizona has made the playoffs just twice over that span.

Lovullo’s stint is, of course, highlighted by the D-backs winning the 2023 NL pennant. The other playoff appearance came in 2017, with the team’s 93 regular-season wins in that year standing as their most under Lovullo.

Moreover, Lovullo is far and away first in Diamondbacks’ history with 750 managerial wins. Kirk Gibson’s 353 managerial wins are second.

Prior to becoming Arizona’s manager for the 2017 MLB season, Lovullo was the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox from 2013-16 and the first-base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2011-12; both coaching positions were under manager John Farrell.

Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen have each been in their respective positions since the 2017 season. As for this coming offseason, Arizona starting pitchers Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Mike Soroka, reliever Taylor Clarke and catcher James McCann, among others, are set to hit the free-agent market. 

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A year ago, the quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft were all the rage. Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl and was the MVP runner-up. Caleb Williams also helped the Chicago Bears win a division title, and Jayden Daniels was a year removed from a surprise NFC Championship Game appearance with the Washington Commanders.

Now, not even a month into Year 3 for the six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2024 draft, some cracks have emerged. Williams and Daniels have been sidelined due to injuries, while Michael Penix Jr. just returned from an ACL tear.

The bigger focus this past week, though, was on Maye and J.J. McCarthy. Maye has arguably been the worst starting quarterback in the NFL through the first three weeks of the season, with the Patriots getting out to an 0-2 start. The Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, ripped the band-aid off the McCarthy experiment and traded him to the New York Giants for a fifth-round pick. 

Why is Maye performing so badly, and are his problems fixable? What should we make of the Giants’ trade for McCarthy? We asked those questions to people around the league, and many expressed concern for both quarterbacks. 

Here’s more from what we learned about Maye and McCarthy from our conversations with league insiders. 

Ralph Vacchiano: The New England Patriots have a lot of problems, but they never imagined Drake Maye would be one of them. Their third-year quarterback has been terrible so far this season, and fixing him will be a lot easier said than done — just ask some people around the league.

“He looks like a rookie, and not a particularly good one,” one AFC scout told me. “If he were anyone else, based on those three games, the [coaching] staff would say, ‘He’s just not ready yet.’

“But how do you say that about a guy who nearly won MVP?”

And that is the problem the Patriots are facing when they try to figure out what’s gone wrong with their 24-year-old quarterback, who has thrown six interceptions and just one touchdown pass this season, while losing two fumbles and failing to throw for more than 208 yards in any single game. They know he can do it. He dragged them to the Super Bowl last season. He was basically one vote away from beating Matthew Stafford for the MVP.

Now, this season, “He looks lost,” another scout told me. 

“His confidence is completely gone, and you can see why,” the scout added. “He’s making comical errors — like real rookie stuff. The ball popping out of his hand, lofting it towards tightly covered receivers with no zip on the ball, not seeing any of the coverage in the area and thinking a guy is open, not stepping up in the pocket to avoid the rush, or stepping up into it.

“It seems like every other decision he makes is wrong.”

So what’s the solution? It might be, as one NFL assistant coach told me, the one thing the Patriots really can’t afford to do.

“That’s the problem. You can’t bench him, even though he looks like a guy who needs a few weeks on the bench,” the coach told me. “What are you going to do, pull the guy who took you to the Super Bowl, the MVP runner-up, so he can watch Tommy DeVito play? That doesn’t do any good. You might lose him even more.

“They have to let him play through it. That’s all they can do. The problem is, right now he doesn’t look like he can.”

Talent Evaluator Second-Guesses Patriots

Eric D. Williams: It seems like a long time ago, but New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was the MVP runner-up last season for a reason.

Maye finished first in the NFL in passer rating (112.9), third in passing touchdowns (31) and fourth in passing yards (4,394). Maye also led the league in completion percentage (72%) and yards per attempt (8.9).

But his 47 sacks during the season and New England’s easy schedule should have been a sign of things to come. Maye was sacked 21 times and finished with four turnovers in four postseason games.

As Ralph mentioned, Maye has thrown a league-high six interceptions and just one touchdown through three games, and his 58.6 passer rating is the worst among qualifying passers this season. And one talent evaluator told me that some of New England’s moves this offseason might be to blame.

“Maye carried this offense last year,” a senior NFL personnel executive told me. “He also had Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. With the A.J. Brown injury, he now has no one. Another reason why I don’t like trading depth.”

Drake Maye had a strong connection with Stefon Diggs last season, with the receiver logging a team-high 85 catches. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

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Brown, who the Patriots surrendered a first-round pick to get, is on the injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury in Week 1. New England released Diggs, who was its leading receiver in 2025, at the start of the offseason to clear cap space. Kayshon Boutte, who had six touchdowns in 14 games last season, was traded toward the end of training camp, with head coach Mike Vrabel saying that he would’ve likely been a game-day scratch had he remained on the roster.

But while the people Ralph spoke with weren’t sure how Maye and the Patriots get out of the hole they’re in, another talent evaluator I spoke with offered a solution to get the quarterback back on the road to playing good football.

“Simplify the offense like last year,” the talent evaluator said. “Get A.J. Brown healthy. And tell Drake to stop trying so hard. He is pressing.”

Vacchiano: The Giants’ decision to trade a fifth-round pick for quarterback J.J. McCarthy was clearly an act of desperation in the wake of the season-ending injury to quarterback Jaxson Dart. Their hope is that McCarthy might turn out to be at least an upgrade over their current starter, Jameis Winston.

But some around the league think that might be a little too much to ask.

“There’s no doubt McCarthy has talent,” one scout told me. “He’s probably a good fit for what they want to do, too. But honestly, if the Vikings were willing to dump their one-time franchise quarterback for a fifth-round pick, you really got to wonder what they know. Teams don’t usually dump young quarterbacks like that, especially ones they took 10th overall.”

J.J. McCarthy threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) over 10 starts last season. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

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To be fair, McCarthy has had injury issues. He missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury. Then last season, when he was finally the starter, he missed seven games with an ankle sprain, a concussion, and a fracture in his throwing hand.

Somewhere along the line, though, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell lost complete faith in him. Because rather than give McCarthy his job back for 2026, the Vikings instead signed free agent Kyler Murray, a reclamation project, and even brought in veteran backup Carson Wentz.

“Think about that,” one NFL assistant told me. “He couldn’t beat out Murray or Wentz. That doesn’t happen to a high first-round pick. That’s what happens with late-round and practice squad-type guys. So that tells you everything about what Minnesota thinks of him.

“Maybe a change of scenery will help. But O’Connell is pretty good with quarterbacks. If he couldn’t get anything out of the kid, I don’t know if anyone on the Giants can.”

Williams: Two longtime NFL scouts I spoke with didn’t mince words when asked where they evaluated J.J. McCarthy when he entered the 2024 NFL draft.

“Third round,” said one.

“Fourth round,” said the other.

Of course, McCarthy was one of six quarterbacks taken in the first 12 picks, the fifth one taken by the Minnesota Vikings with the 10th overall pick. McCarthy won a national title at Michigan under head coach Jim Harbaugh, who said he was the best quarterback in the draft. But Harbaugh also said Justin Herbert will be the greatest quarterback in NFL history, so we can take what he says with a grain of salt.

One scout was skeptical McCarthy could turn things around with the New York Giants after the Vikings traded him for a fifth-round pick.

“If Kevin O’Connell couldn’t do what he did with Sam Darnold and Joshua Dobbs filling in for Kirk Cousins — and it looks like he’ll do the same thing with Kyler Murray — then I don’t think Giants OC Matt Nagy can,” the longtime NFL scout told me. “Matt doesn’t have the kind of resume that Kevin has – no slight to Matt.”

Jameis Winston is the Giants’ current starting QB after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Another NFL quarterback evaluator was more optimistic about a turnaround for McCarthy, considering Harbaugh’s older brother, head coach of the Giants John Harbaugh, should have all the intel on him from his time at Michigan.

Along with that, McCarthy will have lowered expectations, serving as the backup to Jameis Winston, with Jaxon Dart still considered the quarterback of the future in New York.

“A fresh start with people that chose him is a good thing,” the talent evaluator told me. “The Harbaugh history helps, too. Matt Nagy, I would think, knows what he’s doing, too.

“It reminds me of when guys like Mac Jones, Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield go somewhere to back up and hopefully become a starter somewhere else someday.”

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Jon Scheyer is at it again. Known for locking down elite talent, the Duke Blue Devils head coach made a major splash on the international trail by securing a commitment from one of the world’s premier young recruits.

First reported by ESPN, point guard Luke Paul has committed to the Blue Devils for their 2027 recruiting class. The 6-foot-6 Australian guard is highly regarded as a potential lottery pick in the 2028 NBA Draft.

Paul delivered a standout performance at the U17 FIBA World Cup in Turkey with Team Australia. He averaged 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game alongside his play with the Cairns Taipans.

Not only is Paul a unique talent, but he marks the second commitment in the Blue Devils 2027 recruiting class. He will now join four-star forward Kager Knueppel in the program’s early commitments, with plenty of other top targets still in the mix.

Knueppel is the younger brother of Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, following directly in his brother’s footsteps.

Paul was named to the All-Tournament Team at the FIBA U17 World Cup over the summer, where future Duke teammate Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje took home MVP honors. By expanding his recruiting footprint internationally, Scheyer has secured two high-upside talents for Duke. 

While Scheyer has built Duke into a perennial power since taking over the program, a National Championship still eludes him. With consecutive elite recruiting classes and an influx of top international talent, pressure is mounting to see if they can finally get over the hump.

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When Justin Herbert threw a costly interception in the Los Angeles Chargers’ loss to the Buffalo Bills last week, Tom Brady was more than blunt when he assessed the quarterback’s errant throw. 

“There’s a safety in the middle of the field. Poor awareness, poor decision, throws him a meatball sub,” Brady said of Herbert’s throw, which landed right in the arms of Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. 

Brady’s quote quickly went viral. FOX Sports’ video of the quote generated over 300,000 likes on Instagram, while a handful of posts on X about Brady’s comment garnered several thousand likes and views. 

But how did Brady learn about the term that’s become popular on social media for whenever a quarterback throws a bad pass? In the latest edition of #AskTom, Brady let everyone know that his kids have helped keep him hip to popular social media vernacular. 

“Chill, chill. Relax.Everyone’s got to remember, I’ve got three kids, OK? So, that should just point you in the right direction,” Brady said when asked who told him to say “meatball sub.”

Brady’s “meatball sub” remark was the second straight week that he said something on a broadcast that quickly made the rounds on social media. A week earlier, he called one of Dak Prescott’s passes a “piss missile” in the Dallas Cowboys’ victory over the Washington Commanders. 

Brady apologized for the “piss missile” comment in last week’s edition of #AskTom. But he isn’t apologizing for his “meatball sub” quote, although he admitted that some of his passes were meatball subs.

“I threw a lot. I probably threw over 200 interceptions in my career. I would say somewhere between 25 and 50 [were meatball subs],” Brady said. “And, believe me, Coach [Bill] Belichick, he never let me forget those.” 

That led Brady to express his appreciation for the coaching he got from Belichick over his career as he touched on that topic and more in this week’s #AskTom. Here’s what Brady had to say about Case Keenum’s surprising performance, Sean Payton’s gutsy calls in the Broncos’ win over the Rams and how cleats can make a difference in a quarterback’s throw. 

Tom Brady Threw Meatball Subs?! Bears’ Case Keenum Goes Vintage + Hilarious Belichick Impression

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Case Keenum is 38, third on the depth chart and hasn’t started since 2023, but he helped the Bears beat the Eagles on Monday night. What does a week like this look like for a veteran thrust into the spotlight?

Brady: Well, there’s definitely some nerves and anxiety as you prepare for the week. It’s been a long time since you’ve been the starter. It’s been a long time since the team really needed you to step up and play well. 

But, look, when you’re a veteran quarterback and you’ve got a lot of years of experience, as that ball’s kicked off and you run your first play, you settle in very quickly. There’s a lot of experience you can rely on and he’s really well-coached. I love this Ben Johnson offense. There were a lot of great throws out there and he made a lot of great decisions. 

That’s what it takes. That’s why you’re the backup. That’s why you pay ya to deliver for your team. 

Sean Payton went for it twice in the third quarter to tie the game in the Broncos’ win over the Rams. How much of that is a coach’s decision vs. the QB potentially going and fighting for the chance to win there?

Brady: In the end, it’s all about the head coach’s decision. What I think a lot of people need to understand is that the head coach needs to be accountable for every decision — offensively, defensively or special teams. It all comes down to one guy: the head coach making the decisions. He’s the one responsible in those big moments to make the call and put his team in the best position to win. 

Sean Payton’s 2-point decisions helped the Broncos get a comeback win over the Rams in Week 3. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Who told you to say meatball sub? Also, can I get an exact number of meatball subs that you threw during your career?

Brady: Chill, chill. Relax.Everyone’s got to remember, I’ve got three kids, OK? So, that should just point you in the right direction. 

And I threw a lot. I probably threw over 200 interceptions in my career. I would say somewhere between 25 and 50 [were meatball subs]. And, believe me, Coach [Bill] Belichick, he never let me forget those. 

Was Bill calling them meatball subs? Was that where that lingo came from?

Brady: No, [Belichick would say]: “Brady, you bum.” And I just took it like a man. I learned from it, and hopefully I didn’t go out there and repeat them too often.

Actually, I’m glad you brought that up, because I think, and what I notice so much in the NFL is there’s so many people telling everybody how great they are all the time. I don’t think a lot of young people understand that the best way to learn is by getting outside their comfort zone and learning from coaches who are really pushing them. Coaches are the ones who should be telling you the truth every day. 

I was very fortunate. I had the greatest coach in the history of the NFL. He never let me forget when I threw an interception. He never glazed over it. He didn’t move on. He let me know about it, created awareness about it and he let me sit in the pain of letting the team down for a day or two before moving on. 

Tom Brady credited Bill Belichick for coaching him up when he was asked about meatball sub throws. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

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I think it was great learning for me, even though it was painful. It let me grow up. It helped me toughen up. It let me gain the respect of my teammates and coaches when they saw that, and I was able to move on and put it behind me.

Did you have that perspective in the moment, or was that something that came afterwards?

Brady: All of it’s learned. I think the great fortune for me is, being retired for four years, I look back on all the things that allowed me to be the player I wanted to be. I’m so grateful for everybody that was on my journey and all the coaches that pushed me and pushed me every single day, when they had higher expectations for me and they knew I could achieve them and they pushed me to do that. 

That’s what every great athlete should want. You should want a coach that’s demanding and calls you out when you’re not playing up to your standard, because that’s going to elevate your game. Yeah, it may sting in the moment a little bit, but when you reflect back at the end of a long career, you’re going to be appreciative and respectful of the coaches that did just that.

How much attention did you pay to a field and the cleat choice going into a game and what did that have to do with your throwing mechanics?

Brady: It was always important that you had to know the surface that you were playing on. But, listen, I loved grass fields. I hated turf fields. What we’re doing to kids at turf fields in high school, college and, ultimately, when they get to the pros, the wear and tear on those bodies over time really takes a toll. I really love the grass fields. So what, it’s a little bit slick? So what, it’s a little bit muddy? I’d much rather fall on a grass field than not. 

I think the most important point when you have a field that’s a little bit slick is you wear a longer seven-stud, so it digs into the surface. A lot of guys actually didn’t like playing with the long seven studs. But I always felt as a quarterback, if I was able to drive the ball, I would need a really firm base in the pocket. And when I plant on the back foot of either a three-step, five-step or seven-step drop, the back cleats really allowed me to dig into the surface to transfer my ground force going backwards into going back into my hitches. If I was hitching into the throw, I could create a lot of ground force going into my target, the right amount of torque with my body — my shoulder-hip dissociation — and then, when I released the ball, I still maintained the whip. 

The field conditions for Sunday’s Ravens-Cowboys game were less than ideal, with players taking extra steps to prepare for the field at Rio de Janeiro. (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images)

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The problem is, if you lose your ground force because you’re slipping on the surface, your whole mechanics shift to only using your torque and this really relaxed whip in your arm. So, I would say you become much stronger with your throw. The whole point, I would say, is to get the ground force from your legs into your torque into the whippy arm. That’s how you generate the maximum force throwing a football.

Equipment managers everywhere are scrambling this week after that, Tom.

Brady: Hey, go figure it out, young equipment managers. You have to figure it out, too. 

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