Author: Eternity Lab

The Gold Cup soccer tournament – which features squads like the U.S. men’s national team and Mexico’s men’s national team – will shift from a four-group format of 16 teams to a two-group structure starting with its next edition, the North American governing body known as CONCACAF said Thursday.

Through last year’s tournament, the Gold Cup featured 16 national teams divided into four groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. Under the new format, the two groups will consist of eight countries each, with the top four teams from each advancing. The new structure guarantees all participating teams at least four matches instead of three.

“We are really excited about what this new format will bring to the tournament’s group stage,” CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani said. “Every match will matter, with teams facing a balanced mix of opponents and competing for a place in the knockout rounds.”

The 2027 tournament, which is expected to have at least some games in the United States, will kick off on June 17 and conclude with the final on July 11. The draw will take place on April 8.

The next Gold Cup will feature 15 countries from the region qualifying through the Nations League, alongside guest nation Saudi Arabia. The 2025 edition saw Mexico beat the USMNT, 2-1, in Houston. 

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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The back-half of the NFL season has arrived. 

Here’s where I’m putting my money ahead of this weekend.

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Undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano will be making his first career start for the Ravens. Fagnano struggled mightily in relief duty last week, going 10 for 21 with 91 yards and an interception. I expect more of the same on Thursday night.

Hill’s Pick: Ravens Under 14.5

The Bengals are coming off a game in which they scored 41 points, had 510 yards of offense and averaged an impressive 7.3 yards per play vs. the Titans. The Falcons have been inconsistent on defense, and I think getting stops will be a challenge against the high-powered Bengals.

Hill’s Pick: Bengals Over 27.5

The Jets have gotten accustomed to being near the bottom of the AFC standings, and while they find themselves there once again, they have been competitive in nearly every game. With a 1-5 record in one-score games, the Jets aren’t good, but perhaps a bit underrated. I’ll take them getting 10 here.

Hill’s Pick: Jets +10

The Lions got a big division win last week against the Vikings, but suffered a number of key injuries on defense. The Dolphins have been feisty as an underdog all season. I’ll back them getting seven points here to keep it close.

Hill’s Pick: Dolphins +7

The Giants are threatening to run away and hide in the NFC East, as they take on a beleaguered Eagles team. I’m looking at a rushing prop here, and betting against a beat-up Saquon Barkley, who ran for just 30 yards last week and is clearly nowhere near 100 percent healthy.

Hill’s Pick: Saquon Barkley Under 57.5 rushing yards

There are whispers of a Matthew Stafford shoulder injury, and last week he only threw for 157 yards and was hesitant to throw the ball deep. I’m betting on another quiet day for the reigning MVP.

Hill’s Pick: Matthew Stafford Under 256.5 passing yards

Last week, the Broncos won a game where they trailed by double-digits in the fourth quarter. After a big comeback win against the Chiefs, I think they get tripped up against a Panthers team that is hungry off two straight losses, as well as rested, having not played since last Thursday.

Hill’s Pick: Panthers +7

The Cowboys had one of the more embarrassing losses a team can have last week, blowing a 17-3 home lead to the Cardinals. The Cowboys are favored by 5.5 here, and can’t be trusted to win by that many points against anyone with their lack of defense.

Hill’s Pick: Colts +5.5

It looks like it will be Shedeur Sanders getting the start at quarterback for the Browns on Sunday. The Saints are home and off a bye. I think they have too much offense and will get by what is a limited Browns offense.

Hill’s Pick: Saints -3

The 49ers are off a bye and should be getting healthier going into this game with the Raiders. The Raiders have been dreadful defensively in recent weeks, including last week, when they allowed 33 points and 439 yards to the Jets. I expect the 49ers to light up the scoreboard.

Hill’s Pick: 49ers Over 30.5

The Chargers are winless as the calendar hits November and have yet to cover a point spread this season. I’m sure they’ll cover one at some point, but I’m not backing them until they give me a reason to.

Hill’s Pick: Texans -4.5

The Packers simply cannot run the ball with any effectiveness, but running back Josh Jacobs catching the ball out of the backfield has served as somewhat of a substitute. Jacobs has 11 catches for 68 yards in two games this season since returning from suspension. I like his over 22.5 receiving yards.

Hill’s Pick: Josh Jacobs Over 22.5 receiving yards

“Minshew Magic” helped propel the Cardinals to a comeback win last week in Dallas, but there’s a reason Gardner Minshew has spent much of his career as a backup. I’ll bet on him throwing one to the other team this week, as he draws a tough road matchup against the tenacious Seahawks defense.

Hill’s Pick: Gardner Minshew Over 0.5 interceptions

The Bears look the part of a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but they’re off of a short week and being showered with lots of hype and praise after their Monday night win in Seattle. The Buccaneers have a stout defense and are very good against the run. They are top five defensively in yards per rush and rushing yards allowed per game. I’ll back the road team to keep it close.

Hill’s Pick: Buccaneers +6

The schedule ramps up for the previously undefeated Vikings, as they turn to Carson Wentz at quarterback. It didn’t hit last week, but backing Vikings star kicker Will Reichard to make over 1.5 field goals has been a solid bet all year. I’ll go back to it again this week.

Hill’s Pick: Will Reichard Over 1.5 field goals

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This weekend, we’ve got the Holy War and just another SEC battle. 

Here is how I’m wagering college football Week 10.

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This Holy War might be the holiest of them all: Utah hosting bitter rival BYU, with the winner in the driver’s seat for a Playoff spot. 

It’s the first time both teams have been ranked in the top 10 for this matchup, and I can’t wait to start the day with this one.

I think BYU might win outright. It has been tested with its win over Notre Dame just a few weeks ago. Yes, it lost to UCF the following week in a typical trap game — big home win followed by a road conference game. Otherwise, the Cougars have handled business, even though the scores don’t seem that impressive. 

BYU is built on defense. It is 13th in yards per play and it limits explosives. It does not rush the passer all that well, but against Utah’s rushing attack, that might not be needed. BYU’s defense already faced a high-powered offense in the Irish and limited it to a negative EPA rushing day. 

Utah’s offensive production slowly ticked down when conference play started, but it did bounce back last week against a poor Cincinnati defense. Utah has played one defense in the same realm as BYU and that was Houston. Utah struggled to score, only putting up 21 points with seven of those happening super late after forcing a Houston turnover. 

Will the BYU offense find a groove against Utah? (Getty Images)

It’s fair to also believe BYU’s offense might struggle in this game. However, it appears the Cougars are getting stud running back LJ Martin back, and they are much better when Martin is on the field. He’s averaging almost eight yards a carry with 20% of his rushes going for 10+ yards. 

Utah’s defense is the typical physical front against the run, but BYU is the best offense the Utes have faced all season. Utah’s pass rush concerns me. It is 80th in pressure rate and unless it blitzes, it isn’t able to get to the quarterback. 

Seems less than ideal against BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier.

I see these teams as even. They are both defensively based with an offense that wants to run the ball. That’s too many points in a game like this. I’ll take BYU to cover.

Schwartz’s Pick: BYU -4.5

In the newly-released CFP rankings, Alabama is fifth and is an underdog at LSU by almost a touchdown. I do lean towards LSU at -6, but that number feels big. 

Instead, I’m going to fade Alabama’s offense in this game.

Alabama is facing its fourth straight difficult defense, and in the first three games, we’ve seen the offensive efficiency drop. Quarterback Keelon Russell is nearing the end of his first season as a starting quarterback, and he’s been mostly excellent for his age. However, he has struggled the last three weeks outside the end of the Texas A&M game. Against Georgia, Tennessee and A&M, he completed only 60% of passes with just four passing touchdowns and three interceptions. 

Alabama’s beat-up offensive line has allowed 11 sacks in the three previous games. Now, the Tide play an LSU defense that’s first in sacks per pressure and 11th in pressure rate. The Bama offensive line and Russell were noticeably affected by the environment in Tennessee, and now they are at LSU. 

I feel most comfortable with Alabama not scoring much in this game.

Schwartz’s Pick: Alabama Under 23.5 points

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By the time Cristiano Ronaldo was 12 years old, the decision had been made for him to leave his home on the island of Madeira and move to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. Here was a boy, who shared a bedroom with his three siblings, the son of a hospitality cleaner and a father who was a war veteran and struggled with alcoholism, ready to take his first main step into the unknown.

There were obstacles when he arrived at Sporting CP’s youth academy. Plenty of them. Ronaldo, in fact, struggled with school so much that he was once expelled for throwing a chair at a teacher. He eventually persuaded his mother on the unthinkable – that education was not a priority and, essentially, he pleaded with her and his Sporting tutor to allow him to quit and focus on football alone. It was obviously a gamble.

He has even said it before. Had he not become a professional footballer, due to leaving school so early, Ronaldo had probably envisioned a life as a local fisherman.

Then there was the heart problem. At 15, he was diagnosed with tachycardia – a condition that caused an abnormally fast heart rate – even whilst he rested. This prompted surgery and was a terrifying situation for a young kid to deal with. But the surgery was successful and from that moment on, Cristiano Ronaldo’s full story began.

Here’s the other fact that most people forget. Ronaldo is not his last name. It’s Dos Santos Aveiro. Ronaldo was a name given by his father in honor of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

Cristiano Ronaldo

By the numbers

146

International goals

Men’s world record

Portugal

• Appearances2003-26 · Men’s world record

  234

• World Cup appearances2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026

  6

• World Cup games playedMost by a Portugal player

  27

• World Cup goals scoredFirst man to score in six World Cups

  11

Ronaldo announced his retirement from international competition on Nov. 5, 2026.

I presume it’s only right for Cristiano to have the name as Ronaldo, because like Reagan, he is known for being deeply disciplined with a slightly detached strategy against opponents. Like Reagan, a former actor, Ronaldo has also never been one to shy away from the limelight.

And that’s essentially what turned him into the player he ultimately became.

(Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)

There is a perfection to Ronaldo’s football that is both inspiring and overwhelming. His search for an omnipotent identity has always been his greatest strength and, at times, his Achilles heel. Whilst Lionel Messi’s diminutive stature and introspective personality captivated fans from one dimension, Ronaldo’s focus was a flawless pursuit of impeccable athleticism and force. His training regime and eating habits are ludicrous to you or me, but it’s his obsession with discipline that gave him this 23-year career on the international stage. 

With regard to his actual game, I have always said that Ronaldo, to me, is the greatest goalscorer and finisher the men’s game will ever witness. And this, my friends, is the hardest job in football. To score goals. 

His 146 goals for Portugal, each one of them, were gigantic statements. Even the penalties. It’s why he celebrates with “SIUUUU” – an exaggerated expression of “si” — the Spanish and Portuguese word for yes. The celebration is an acceptance of grandiosity. A door of pomposity where the stadium, in unison, coronates him after landing on the ground after the 180 degree jump.

The entire notion of the celebration, now glorified and globalized around the world, is Ronaldo’s way of telling the opponent, the stadium, the world, that – at this very moment – he is the one in charge.

The longevity of his career is also something to truly respect and appreciate. When he played his first European Championship, Lamine Yamal was three. Ronaldo is the only player to have featured at six Euros. It’s almost inconceivable to believe that the one he led Portugal as champion (after a 1-0 win over then-host France) came in 2016.

Alongside Messi and Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, he has also appeared in six World Cup editions (though Messi and Ronaldo were the ones to play in each one). Across the two marquee competitions (Euros and World Cup), Ronaldo also scored 25 goals. No other player has that record. Since 2004, Ronaldo has scored at least one goal for Portugal for 23 straight calendar years. He also holds the record for most men’s international appearances with 234 and his quest to score 1,000 goals will continue during his time with his club Al-Nassr.

These are incredible numbers.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will retire from Portugal, however, without a World Cup. And this will undoubtedly remain a ghost that he will never be able to scare away. His recent altercation with national team manager Jorge Jesus after leaving camp in the previous window, followed by a lengthy statement on social media, was the reluctance of a once-complete specimen admitting that his powers are dwindling. He just didn’t want to come to terms with it. 

In the same way Narcissus died because of being too enamored with his own reflection, I think Ronaldo’s supercilious personality often became his own worst enemy. 

vs.

Ronaldo vs. Messi

International careers

146

International goals

126

234

International appearances

208

27

World Cup games played

34

11

World Cup goals scored

21

Messi won the 2022 World Cup and lost two finals (2014, 2026).

But this truthfully is what made Ronaldo and why, as I said, he will go down as the greatest finisher in the history of the sport. It’s his selfish, vindictive hunger for goals that built this transformer. Goalscorers, by nature, have to be selfish. They need an ego if they are to succeed and there has never been a higher example of goalscoring success than Ronaldo.

So there you have it. Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal as the nation’s greatest player and alongside Messi, there is obviously a conversation about his legacy as the greatest in history. It’s not up to me to tell you otherwise, either or, but to remind you that in their heyday, we were all blessed with having witnessed the greatest rivalry in football history — perhaps in any sport.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the boy from Madeira who needed to literally slow down his heart, finally accepts that it’s time to put on the brakes and close the curtains on the international stage.

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It’s been a heck of a week for the College Football Playoff selection committee.

As much as we all like to argue about the rankings — and the first batch released on Tuesday brought plenty of consternation — this week felt particularly questionable.

For those who aren’t as familiar with the process, I went down to Dallas earlier this month to participate in a mock selection exercise that mimics the CFP’s own process. Give it a read if you haven’t already. It’s a good parallel for how this will continue to play out over the next month.

But enough about that. Let’s get into some numbers!

The Main Event: How Much CFB Players Are Making

If there’s one complaint I hear from every corner of college sports almost weekly, it’s the lack of information and transparency about what people are paying athletes.

Behold! We actually have data to discuss.

The College Sports Commission — the entity created out of the House settlement that’s responsible for effectively vetting athlete compensation — released a new-look database on Friday that revealed revenue share and third-party NIL payment information.

“Everyone, to some degree or another, has probably been flying blind as far as what the market is actually bearing,” CSC Head of Operations and Deputy General Counsel John Bramlette told me. 

“People have tried to construct reports about that — and very, very valiantly. But we felt like if there was a way that was legal, equitable and under the various legal considerations where we could present information that would be useful to everybody — schools and student athletes — we felt like it was a good opportunity to do it.”

The data provided is admittedly a bit dense, so I did my best to simplify it and make it a little more digestible, while also diving into a few of the numbers that stood out.

Here’s a sampling of the median payment figures for football players that includes how much they are receiving directly from their schools (revenue share) and how much is coming from outside marketing deals (NIL): 

• Quarterback: Power Four $230,000 revenue share + $65,550 NIL = $295,550; Non-Power Four $31,000 + $1,570 = $32,570
• Defensive line: Power Four $150,000 revenue share + $26,500 NIL = $176,500; Non-Power Four $18,000 + $1,570 = $19,570
• Offensive line: Power Four $133,000 revenue share + $21,600 NIL = $154,600; Non-Power Four $17,500 + $1,560 = $19,060
• Wide receiver: Power Four $112,500 revenue share + $27,785 NIL = $140,285; Non-Power Four $15,000 + $1,560 = $16,560
• Defensive back: Power Four $115,000 revenue share + $25,000 NIL = $140,000; Non-Power Four $15,000 + $1,560 = $16,560
• Running back: Power Four $108,500 revenue share + $26,050 NIL = $134,550; Non-Power Four $16,000 + $1,500 = $17,500
• Linebacker: Power Four $112,500 revenue share + $21,500 NIL = $134,000; Non-Power Four $17,500 + $1,550 = $19,050
• Tight end: Power Four $93,000 revenue share + $20,000 NIL = $113,000; Non-Power Four $14,000 + $1,560 = $15,560

                                  What college football players earn

Average compensation by position

          Power Four              Non-Power Four

 Revenue share NILBar = total

•            QuarterbackRev. share $230K · NIL $65.5KRev. share $31K · NIL $1.6K

    

          $295,550       $32,5709.1× less

•               Defensive lineRev. share $150K · NIL $26.5KRev. share $18K · NIL $1.6K

    

          $176,500       $19,5709.0× less

•               Offensive lineRev. share $133K · NIL $21.6KRev. share $17.5K · NIL $1.6K

    

          $154,600       $19,0608.1× less

•              Wide receiverRev. share $112.5K · NIL $27.8KRev. share $15K · NIL $1.6K

    

          $140,285       $16,5608.5× less

•               Defensive backRev. share $115K · NIL $25KRev. share $15K · NIL $1.6K

    

          $140,000       $16,5608.5× less

•             Running backRev. share $108.5K · NIL $26.1KRev. share $16K · NIL $1.5K

    

          $134,550       $17,5007.7× less

•           LinebackerRev. share $112.5K · NIL $21.5KRev. share $17.5K · NIL $1.6K

    

          $134,000       $19,0507.0× less

•          Tight endRev. share $93K · NIL $20KRev. share $14K · NIL $1.6K

    

          $113,000       $15,5607.3× less

           Tap to play 

                                 Tap Non-Power Four to see the gap

                                                           Power Four players earn 7 to 9 times more at every position

Quarterback

• Power Four — Revenue Share: $230,000 | NIL: $65,550
• Non-Power Four — Revenue Share: $31,000 | NIL: $1,570

Running Back

• Power Four — Revenue Share: $108,500 | NIL: $26,050
• Non-Power Four — Revenue Share: $16,000 | NIL: $1,500

Wide Receiver

• Power Four — Revenue Share: $112,500 | NIL: $27,785
• Non-Power Four — Revenue Share: $15,000 | NIL: $1,560

Tight End

• Power Four — Revenue Share: $93,000 | NIL: $20,000
• Non-Power Four — Revenue Share: $14,000 | NIL: $1,560

Offensive Line

• Power Four — Revenue Share: $133,000 | NIL: $21,600
• Non-Power Four — Revenue Share: $17,500 | NIL: $1,560

Linebacker

• Power Four — Revenue Share: $112,500 | NIL: $21,500
• Non-Power Four — Revenue Share: $17,500 | NIL: $1,550

Defensive Back

• Power Four — Revenue Share: $115,000 | NIL: $25,000
• Non-Power Four — Revenue Share: $15,000 | NIL: $1,560

Defensive Line

• Power Four — Revenue Share: $150,000 | NIL: $26,500
• Non-Power Four — Revenue Share: $18,000 | NIL: $1,570

Again, these are the median figures and might seem a touch low relative to some of the reporting that’s out there around athlete compensation.

Take quarterbacks, for example. On3 reported in August that at least 13 signal-callers were being paid $3 million or more this fall. That tracks. The CSC’s data showed quarterbacks in the 90th percentile of earners are making a combined $2.6 million between NIL and revenue-share dollars. That group includes Miami’s Darian Mensah, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and Indiana’s Josh Hoover.

The report also included other sports, such as men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, etc.

In men’s basketball, the data showed that the gap between high-end spending in the Power Four ($662,000) and non-Power Four ($250,000) in revenue sharing was dramatic, while the 90th percentile of compensation within the Power Four ranged from $559,500 in the Big Ten to $662,000 in the Big 12.

Miami QB Darian Mensah is among the highest-paid players in college football this season. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The hope with the data released last week is that it will help arm schools with more insightful information that can inform decision-making heading toward another December transfer portal window.

“Maybe this data can play some role as trying to help student athletes have some sense or semblance of what the market might bear, which might inform decisions about transferring and might inform other decisions, whether it’s going pro or transferring or whatever else,” Bramlette speculated. “Hopefully, there’s some value to student athletes, and then hopefully there’s value for schools.  

“Practitioners at schools feel like they’re in the dark when negotiating or when discussing with kids, with athletes what compensation they might be being offered in other places. If nothing else, hopefully it closes an information gap and maybe yields to ‘better’ outcomes for both sides.”

Best Quote I Saw This Week

“This is entertainment, right? So we figured we’d bring some entertainment value.” — Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti

I genuinely cannot remember an end of a game quite like what Indiana and Minnesota displayed last Saturday, trading a pair of 60-yard field goals to push the game into overtime.

I hope everyone in greater Bloomington got in with their cardiologists during the bye week this week. Hoosiers football hasn’t exactly been for the faint of heart this fall.

Best Deal I Saw This Week

If you’ve ever spent more than about five minutes in downtown Indianapolis, you have undoubtedly seen the enormous complex occupied by Eli Lilly near the city’s heart.

Well, now the company is getting into college sports.

The pharmaceutical giant announced on-court logo deals with Indiana and Purdue ahead of the start of the college basketball season.

Short of John Mellencamp, that’s about as Indiana as a sponsorship deal can get.

College Football Related Stories

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The baseball season is done, and college hoops is beginning. 

Still, this week, I’m all about football.

Here’s what I’m looking at for my five-leg parlay.

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.

Minnesota +7.5 (-166)

Minnesota vs. UCLA has a point total of just 39.5, with points expected to be at a premium. While UCLA is unbeaten and a great story, it has played a very favorable schedule and might struggle to pull away from the feisty Gophers.

UConn +7 (-110)

Last week, North Carolina covered as a big underdog against the No. 1 team in the nation, nearly beating Miami. While Bill Belichick’s squad has had some success as an underdog this season, being a road favorite against a non-conference opponent this week has the makings of a let-down spot.

Ravens Under 14.5 points

Speaking of UConn, it will be third-string quarterback and Huskies alum Joe Fagnano making his first career start against the Jaguars on Thursday night. I expect the beleaguered Ravens’ offense to struggle mightily with the undrafted rookie under center.

Jets +10.5 (-135)

The Jets have improved on offense despite not having many wins to show for it this season. They rarely get blown out and have been unfortunate in close games, sporting a 1-5 record in one-score tilts. I’ll say New York keeps it close in Kansas City.

Bears Moneyline (-290)

The new-look Bears were ultra-impressive in their win over the defending champion Seahawks on Monday night, and look like a legitimate title contender. I expect Chicago to notch another win, this time against the Buccaneers.

Hill’s Pick: 5-Leg Parlay +1256 (bet $10 to win $135.60 total)

 

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It was hard to find five sleeper games in Week 10 with all the massive matchups this weekend. Almost every top-25 team will fight to keep its Playoff hopes alive.

Even with all these ranked clashes set to kick off, here are five sleeper games worth watching and wagering on in Week 10. Also, see how much you could win with this week’s parlay slip at the bottom.

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.

Spread: SMU -6.5

Why This Game Matters: SMU’s Playoff chances took a big hit with a 30-27 loss to Syracuse last week. The Mustangs now sit fourth in the ACC standings, just above the Hokies, making this game critical for both teams.

The Outlook: Virginia Tech has gotten back on track with two straight wins, keeping itself in the ACC mix. Coach James Franklin and the Hokies have a huge showdown with Miami in two weeks, but first they have to get past a high-powered SMU offense. Led by quarterback Kevin Jennings, SMU averages 35.3 points and 318 passing yards per game, with the latter ranking second in the ACC. 

Spread: Northwestern -2.5 

Why This Game Matters: Iowa and Northwestern each have two losses and are still in the Playoff conversation, making this game critical to keeping those hopes alive. The Hawkeyes have won four straight against the Wildcats.

The Outlook: Iowa earned its way back into the Top 25 with a dominant 30-0 shutout of Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes are allowing just 12.5 points per game, the second-fewest among Power 4 teams. At 6-2, Kirk Ferentz’s team is still right in the mix for a Playoff spot. Northwestern had won four straight before losing to Oregon last week. 

Spread: Tennessee -6.5

Why This Game Matters: Tennessee has dominated this rivalry, winning 23 of the 26 meetings since 2000. The Vols have won five straight, averaging 41.2 points per game during that span. 

The Outlook: With three straight ranked opponents left on its schedule, Kentucky controls its destiny in the race for the SEC Championship. The Wildcats are averaging 33.5 points per game during their six-game winning streak. Tennessee is coming off a bye week, giving the Vols time to regroup after their loss to South Carolina and prepare for Kentucky. Coach Josh Heupel’s squad has one of the best defenses in the SEC, leading the conference in sacks (35) and ranking third in points allowed per game (16.3).

Spread: Texas Tech -17.5

Why This Game Matters: Texas Tech sits third in the Big 12 standings and could move into second, depending on the outcome of the Utah-BYU showdown this weekend. 

The Outlook: West Virginia has two of the Big 12’s top five rushers, helping the Mountaineers average 261.6 rushing yards per game. Running back Cam Cook has 923 yards on the ground, while quarterback Michael Hawkins has added 836. Texas Tech bounced back from its stunning loss to Cincinnati with a 34-26 win over No. 22 Arizona. The Red Raiders held the Wildcats to their second-lowest scoring output of the season despite giving up 417 passing yards to quarterback Noah Fifita.

Spread: UNLV -5.5

Why This Game Matters: Both teams are 5-3 overall but have just one conference loss apiece, placing them second and third in the Mountain West standings.

The Outlook: Wyoming is riding a three-game winning streak, with its defense allowing just 16.7 points per game during that stretch. The Rebels rank second in the conference in yards per game (383.4), led by Jai’Den Thomas, the Mountain West’s leading rusher with 657 yards. 

Week 10 Parlay Slip

Bet $10 to win $235.32 if:

• Virginia Tech (+6.5) vs. SMU (-110)
• Northwestern Moneyline vs. No. 21 Iowa (-135)
• Kentucky vs. Tennessee UNDER 49.5 (-108)
• No. 15 Texas Tech vs. West Virginia OVER 65.5 (-108)
• UNLV (-5.5) vs. Wyoming (-110)

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College football Week 10 odds have a host of huge games attracting bettors’ attention. But the matchups don’t get any bigger than Miami vs. Notre Dame.

Last year’s meeting — won by the Hurricanes at home (27-24) in Week 1 — was ultimately pivotal to the College Football Playoff. This year, with the Fighting Irish at home, both teams aim to stay on track for the CFP.

To say Miami-Notre Dame will be well bet is an understatement.

“We’ve had this game circled for weeks on our calendar,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. “By Saturday evening, it would not be surprising to see this become one of the biggest-bet college football games of the season.”

Bookmakers and sharp bettors serve up their insights on that matchup, along with unbeaten UCLA vs. Minnesota on FOX, the SEC showdowns of Alabama vs. LSU and Georgia vs. Ole Miss, and more in college football Week 10 betting.

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Saturday Night Fight

Notre Dame ended up the odd man out in last season’s CFP, failing to make the 12-team field. Miami made the Playoff and ultimately got all the way to the title game before losing to Indiana.

This year, the first CFP rankings of the season landed on Tuesday night, and the Fighting Irish are No. 11 — which means they don’t really have any wiggle room.

Notre Dame is 7-1 straight up (SU) and 4-4 against the spread (ATS), having lost at BYU 28-24 in Week 7. On the flip side, Miami (8-0 SU/5-3 ATS) is No. 1 in the CFP rankings and can take a huge step toward locking in its Playoff spot with a road victory in this 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

And it would be an upset if that happened. Caesars Sports opened Notre Dame -4.5, got to -5.5 in short order on Sunday, then Wednesday made stops at -6/-6.5/-7 on the way to -7.5 (-102).

One key reason for the Wednesday moves: Miami wideout Malachi Toney, who was among the top contenders in Heisman Trophy odds, is out Saturday — and likely much longer — after suffering an ankle injury in practice.

“We’re still seeing decent two-way action,” Feazel said on Thursday afternoon. “They’re taking Notre Dame on the spread and Miami on the moneyline.”

That includes sharp play on Notre Dame -4.5.

“Our best-case scenario right now is Notre Dame winning by 1-5, but we anticipate that being 1-7 by game day. We’re hoping for that Super Bowl middle on our side,” Feazel said.

CJ Carr will look to make a Heisman and NFL Draft statement against Miami (Getty Images).

Oh Say Can You SEC

The SEC has four matchups with CFP ramifications on Saturday. The two biggest are No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 14 LSU and No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 10 Ole Miss.

Alabama (6-2 SU/4-4 ATS) has the higher ranking, but LSU (6-2 SU/4-4 ATS) is approaching a touchdown favorite in this 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The Tigers opened -4.5 at Caesars and were up to -6 on Thursday afternoon.

“Our customer base in Louisiana has consistently taken LSU this year,” Feazel said. “So we’re seeing more LSU action here, and more Over action. But we never don’t see Alabama money. There are a few takers on Alabama moneyline.”

With that in mind, it’s possible Caesars will want another of those Super Bowl middles: LSU winning and Alabama covering. The need on the total is already much more certain.

“We’re definitely gonna need the Under,” Feazel said.

The total is at 52.5, up a tick from the 52 opener.

At 7:30 p.m. ET — going against Miami-Notre Dame — No. 2 Georgia (7-1 SU/6-2 ATS) visits No. 10 Ole Miss (6-2 SU/4-4 ATS). Caesars opened the Bulldogs as 3-point road favorites, and it’s been Georgia -3.5 almost all week.

“These are two heavily-backed public teams,” Feazel said. “Action is pretty much balanced up to this point. A little bit more on Georgia and a little bit more on the Over.

“Our need will mostly be the Under, but probably Ole Miss, too.”

The total hadn’t moved from 56.5 as of Thursday afternoon. But with the public masses still to come on Saturday, don’t be surprised if that number climbs.

College Football Rocks On FOX

UCLA is money in the bank for bettors this season, going 8-0 SU and ATS so far. That’s got the Bruins at No. 8 in the initial CFP rankings, heading into a noon ET Saturday meeting with Minnesota (5-3 SU/6-2 ATS).

Make no mistake, the Golden Gophers are a threat. Two weeks ago, Minnesota was a 7.5-point home underdog and upset Iowa 13-10. Last week on the road, the Gophers took Indiana to overtime before losing 23-16 as massive 20.5-point underdogs.

Caesars opened UCLA as a 6-point favorite and initially nudged up to -6.5. But the Bruins went to -5.5 on Monday and remained there on Thursday afternoon.

“There’s some sharp action on Minnesota, with how the Gophers have been playing. And overall, it’s been mostly Minnesota action so far,” Feazel said. “But I’d anticipate this being more balanced action heading into kickoff.”

First-year head coach Bob Chesney will aim to keep the Bruins undefeated this week (Getty Images).

On-Campus Sharp Side

College football betting expert Paul Stone nailed Florida-Georgia last week. The Bulldogs were 11.5-point favorites and rolled 27-8.

Stone is keeping it in the SEC for college football Week 10 odds. No. 7 Texas (6-2 SU/3-5 ATS) visits No. 18 Missouri (6-2 SU/4-4 ATS) at noon ET Saturday, in what could serve as a CFP eliminator.

Stone noted that this is only the second true road game of the season for the Longhorns. Missouri is a 2.5-point underdog, but Stone likes Mizzou moneyline +120, eyeing the outright win.

“Texas has been wildly inconsistent and additionally figures to be without a handful of key players due to injury,” Stone said. “I’m looking for Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons to outplay Arch Manning.”

Especially since, as Stone noted, the Longhorns could be quite shorthanded. Running back Hollywood Smothers (shoulder/knee) is out, and wideouts Cam Coleman (shoulder) and Ryan Wingo (quad) are questionable.

“Missouri defeated Florida and Texas A&M by a combined 49 points in its past two home games. I believe the Tigers get it done Saturday against the Longhorns,” Stone said.

Holy War

Saturday’s BYU vs. Utah clash will have a big impact on which of those Big 12 teams gets a CFP boost.

No. 3 Utah is among the best bets on the board this season, at 8-0 SU/7-1 ATS. No. 9 BYU is a money-maker, as well, at 7-1 SU/6-2 ATS, including that aforementioned Week 7 home win vs. Notre Dame.

Caesars opened Utah -6, then made stops at -5.5/-5 while dipping to -4.5 by Wednesday night. And the Utes remained -4.5 on Thursday afternoon. Feazel noted BYU drew sharp action at +6.

“But there’s more action on Utah thus far, on the spread and the moneyline. I’d anticipate that continuing. The Utes have been good to bettors,” Feazel said.

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Tom Brady earned three NFL Most Valuable Player awards with the New England Patriots. 

That gives him more than enough credence to assess the candidates for that award now that he’s retired from the league and is an NFL broadcaster. So when posed with the question on FOX Sports’ “Ask Tom,” Brady shared a few candidates for the 2026 MVP. 

Most of Brady’s candidates aren’t surprises. However, he’s throwing a running back into the MVP race through the first half of the season, as a non-quarterback hasn’t won the award since 2012. 

Here are Brady’s top four MVP candidates, and their odds to win the award, according to FanDuel. 

Josh Allen’s 20 total touchdowns are tied for the second-most in the league. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Brady: “Josh Allen is playing great football. And that quarterback position we know impacts Josh is throwing it in, running it in. He’s doing a great job.”

Stats: 1,793 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes, five interceptions, 101.1 passer rating; 270 rushing yards, nine touchdown runs (through seven games). 

Odds: At +165, Allen is the clear MVP favorite. So, it’s no surprise Brady listed him first. 

Brock Purdy’s 110.1 passer rating is third in the league. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Brady: “The 6-1 49ers — I don’t think they would be in that position without Brock’s steady, dependable, consistent play. He’s done so many great things.”

Stats: 1,748 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 110.1 passer rating (through seven games).

Odds: Purdy is third on the odds board at +500, proving his week-in, week-out leadership in San Francisco is being recognized by more than just Brady.

Jared Goff didn’t throw an interception in the first seven games as he holds a 15-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Brady: “Jared Goff. I’ve covered him now in back-to-back weeks. Total command of the offense. Doing such a great job distributing the ball, deep to Jameson Williams, to Amon-Ra [St. Brown]. He’s got it all going.”

Stats: 1,964 passing yards, 15 touchdown passes, one interception and a 110.0 passer rating (through seven games).

Odds: At +2700, Goff holds the seventh-best odds. Goff has never finished higher than five in MVP voting, but this season, he’s on track for a career-high 4,770 passing yards. 

Jahmyr Gibbs leads the league in scrimmage yards (1,058) and scrimmage touchdowns (10). (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

Brady: “Jahmyr Gibbs. 150-plus yards last week against the Vikings defense. He takes up like 92% of the rushing yards for Detroit. He’s a threat to go the distance on any play.”

Stats: 773 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns; 34 catches, 285 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns (through seven games).

Odds: Gibbs is at +6000, which is the 10th-best odds. It’s an impressive place to be given how hard it is for running backs to win MVP. The last to do it was Adrian Peterson in 2012. Gibbs is on track for 1,880 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. 

Tom Brady’s Week 8 NFL Power Rankings

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Week 9 of the NFL season gets underway with Thursday Night Football as the Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens. New Kalshi users can claim a $55 bonus with promo code FOXSPORTS55 and trade on tonight’s matchup.

Jacksonville enters at 5-2 after a dominant 42-7 win over Indianapolis, with Trevor Lawrence throwing three touchdown passes. Baltimore is looking to snap a three-game losing streak while navigating a major quarterback shakeup. The Ravens acquired veteran Jacoby Brissett from Arizona, but undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano is still expected to start. 

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How to Watch Jaguars vs. Ravens

• When: Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD
• Stream: Amazon Prime Video
• Follow Live: FOX Sports

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