New York Yankees star right fielder Aaron Judge was pulled for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning Wednesday because of tightness in his lower right leg.

Judge, who was on the bench Tuesday for planned rest, struck out in both of his at-bats against Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews before being pulled for Heliot Ramos. Judge had to run to the gap to track down a double in the fifth, his last action in the field, but he didn’t show any sign of discomfort or slowness.

The three-time American League MVP is 4 for 26 with 13 strikeouts and one extra-base hit in seven games since returning last week from a broken rib.

Judge homered in the series opener at Minnesota on Monday, when the Yankees clinched a postseason spot. They entered Wednesday trailing AL East leader Tampa Bay by 3 1/2 games.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

Source

Manchester United blew a two-goal lead to crash out of the English League Cup after a 3-2 loss to Brighton on Wednesday.

Boos rang around Old Trafford at the final whistle as United fell to its third defeat of the season, and second in as many games following Sunday’s loss to Manchester City.

United led 2-0 after 10 minutes against Brighton through quickfire goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount.

But Brighton launched a stunning comeback with Charalampos Kostoulas pulling one back before halftime while Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper secured victory after the break.

Defeat means United has suffered elimination from the League Cup at the earliest stage for the second season in a row, after being knocked out by fourth-tier Grimsby last year.

It was more bad news for United coach Michael Carrick in what is becoming an increasingly troubled start to the campaign.

United has only won two of six games in all competitions and only once in the Premier League.

After leading a resurgence last season that secured a return to the Champions League, Carrick has not been able to maintain that moment. And jeers from the home fans underlined growing unrest.

Such scenes seemed unthinkable when United raced into an eighth-minute lead through academy graduate Lacey, making his first senior start.

Within two minutes Mount doubled the advantage.

But Brighton refused to buckle and Kostoulas halved the deficit from a tight angle in first-half added time.

Gross showed quick feet to create space in the box and fire past United goalkeeper Karl Darlow in the 65th. Four minutes later Brighton capitalized on sloppy defending as De Cuyper poked home the winner from close range.

Marcus Rashford had the chance to level when running through on goal, but couldn’t beat keeper Jason Steele when one on one.

United plays winless Fulham away on Sunday before the first international break of the season.

Villa beats Coventry

Aston Villa is still to win in the Premier League this season, but it’s a different story in cup competitions.

Victory against Club Brugge in the Champions League last week was followed by a 3-1 win against Coventry in the League Cup with Tammy Abraham scoring twice.

It was newly-promoted Coventry’s fifth loss in six games in all.

Charly Alcaraz scored the only goal of the game as Everton beat Wolverhampton.

Fourth-tier Fleetwood also won 1-0 against second-tier side Sheffield United.

Reporting by the Associated Press 

]–>

Source

It’s the game everyone circled when the 2026 college football schedule was released.

Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford, leading the No. 7 LSU Tigers against No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels. 

The weekend also begins with another ranked showdown Friday night, as No. 22 Houston visits No. 12 Texas Tech in Lubbock on FOX.

But beyond the marquee matchups, several games are flying under the radar and could offer intriguing betting opportunities.

With that, here are five of the best sleeper games to watch and wager on in Week 3 of the college football season.

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: Virginia Tech -3
Moneyline: Virginia Tech -148, Maryland +124

The Outlook: We have a Big Ten-ACC non-conference battle on our hands. Both quarterbacks enter this matchup after throwing for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns in their previous game. Virginia Tech’s Ethan Grunkemeyer is completing more than 70% of his passes and has thrown four touchdowns, while Maryland’s Malik Washington has also completed more than 70% of his passes with three scores through the air.

James Franklin’s first true test against a Power 4 opponent comes on the road against a familiar conference foe. During his tenure at Penn State, Franklin went 9-2 against Maryland, winning by an average of 25.9 points.

Can Franklin continue his dominance over the Terrapins, even from the other side of the Big Ten-ACC rivalry?

Player To Watch: Luke Reynolds has emerged as one of Grunkemeyer’s favorite targets and a true game-changer for the Hokies. The Penn State transfer leads the team through two games with 13 receptions for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Look for Reynolds to remain a major part of Franklin’s offense.

Spread: South Carolina -4
Moneyline: South Carolina -175, Mississippi State +145

The Outlook: Kamario Taylor has been unbelievable through the first two weeks of the season. Mississippi State has scored 100 points across two games, following up its historic Week 1 victory with a dominant 38-13 road win over Minnesota. Now, Jeff Lebby and the Bulldogs travel to Columbia for their SEC opener against South Carolina.

Shane Beamer has started 2-0 for the third consecutive season and is looking to lead South Carolina to its first 3-0 start since 2012. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has recorded more than 350 passing yards and 100 rushing yards through two games. He showed just how dangerous he can be on the ground last week, rushing for 119 yards on only seven carries.

These programs have met just 17 times, most recently in 2023. South Carolina has won 10 of those matchups, including eight of the past 10.

If Beamer and the Gamecocks want to continue that success, they’ll have to slow down one of the most explosive offenses in the country.

Player To Watch: It has been the Kamario Taylor show through the first two weeks, and everyone is starting to tune in. Taylor leads the SEC with 581 passing yards and ranks second with seven passing touchdowns. It will be fascinating to see how he and the Bulldogs handle the hostile environment at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Spread: Vanderbilt -3.5
Moneyline: Vanderbilt -166, NC State +140

The Outlook: Clark Lea had to turn to five-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis to lead a second-half comeback against FCS opponent Delaware. The Commodores trailed at halftime before Curtis entered and led the offense on two third-quarter scoring drives. With the QB situation seemingly settled, allowing 26 points to Delaware might now be Vanderbilt’s bigger concern.

NC State responded to a disappointing Week 1 performance by demolishing FCS opponent Richmond 73-0. The Wolfpack rushed for 428 yards and eight touchdowns, led by Jayden Scott’s 128 yards and two scores. Quarterback CJ Bailey also recorded his first two touchdowns of the season, throwing for one and running for another.

Through two games against non-Power 4 opponents, Vanderbilt has not looked like a team capable of reaching 10 wins again. 

Whether that is because of inconsistent quarterback play or early-season mistakes, the Commodores will need to clean things up with an ACC opponent coming to town. Meanwhile, NC State has an opportunity to secure a statement non-conference victory before beginning ACC play.

Player To Watch: Jared Curtis entered the season with plenty of hype as a five-star quarterback who flipped his commitment from Georgia, but he began the year as Vanderbilt’s backup. After leading the second-half comeback against Delaware, Curtis could take over as QB1 this week—and he has shown why he deserves the opportunity. The freshman has completed 21 of 31 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown while adding two scores on the ground.

Spread: Northwestern -3.5
Moneyline: Northwestern -175, Colorado +145

The Outlook: Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes followed up their Week 1 thriller against Georgia Tech with a drubbing of Weber State. The Buffs hit the road again, this time facing a Big Ten opponent in Northwestern.

Julian Lewis passed for 336 yards in the win against Weber State, the most yards by a Colorado QB since Shedeur Sanders’ 438 in 2024.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats found themselves in a fourth-quarter dogfight against FCS powerhouse South Dakota State in Week 1. Two late touchdowns in the fourth gave Northwestern a 34-18 win. The Wildcats had almost 500 yards of total offense but also gave up 432 yards of total offense.

A Week 2 bye gave the Wildcats two weeks to correct their mistakes and prepare for this matchup, while Colorado has started to find its offensive rhythm.

Will the extra preparation benefit Northwestern, or will the week off disrupt the offense’s momentum?

Player To Watch: With weather potentially making this another messy game, Colorado could find itself in a situation similar to its matchup against Georgia Tech. The Buffaloes responded by running the ball 49 times for 183 yards. If they lean on the ground game again this week, keep an eye on Micah Welch, Colorado’s leading rusher.

Spread: San Diego State -2.5
Moneyline: San Diego State -135, JMU +114

The Outlook: James Madison scored 87 points last week. Yes, you read that correctly. The Dukes defeated Wagner by 84 points, continuing their seamless transition from Bob Chesney to Billy Napier.

Speaking of Chesney, his UCLA Bruins needed a 21-point fourth quarter to pull away from San Diego State last week. The Aztecs were one of the Mountain West’s best teams last season, finishing 9-4. With 10 returning starters, they are looking to build on that success and now have a major opportunity against one of the nation’s top Group of Six programs.

San Diego State proved it could compete with a Power 4 opponent, so it should not be intimidated by JMU. The Dukes are unlikely to score another 87 points especially against this defense, giving the Aztecs an opportunity to make a statement against one of the best teams in the G6.

Player To Watch: San Diego State running back Lucky Sutton led the Mountain West with 1,297 rushing yards last season and has picked up where he left off. Sutton has rushed for 139 yards through two games, the fourth-most in the Pac-12, while his three rushing touchdowns are tied for the conference lead. If the Aztecs are going to beat JMU, he will need to play a major role in the offense.

Source

Indiana receiver Charlie Becker started last season by fighting three more experienced NFL prospects for playing time. He finished it as one of the most essential cogs in the Hoosiers’ improbable 2025 national championship run.

Now he’s back to do even more in his first full season as a starter.

The 6-foot-4, 208-pound Nashville native has emerged quickly as the new leader in Indiana’s receivers room by becoming the model of efficiency for a coach and program where that is regarded as the highest honor.

“There’s a lot of work that we put into it,” Becker said after Saturday’s 55-0 victory. “There’s a lot more left out there we can improve upon. In my route running, I think I can improve on all that to get more receptions, get open, be a better receiver for (quarterback) Josh (Hoover).”

Hoover already seems to have a great connection with Beck after just two games together. And Beck has certainly delivered on his promise.

Despite making early exits in two routs, Beck leads the team in receptions (seven) and yards (145) while being tied for the most touchdown catches (five) in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He’ll be back on the field Saturday when the Hoosiers host Western Kentucky (0-2).

Improving on last week’s performance won’t be easy for No. 4 Indiana (2-0).

— The Hoosiers scored TDs on seven of their first eight possessions, averaging 1.0 points per minute in a game the two coaches agreed to trim by five minutes after the third quarter.

— They pitched their first shoutout of the season, preventing Howard (1-2) from crossing midfield until it recovered a muffed punt with two minutes left in the third quarter.

— Four of Hoover’s six completions went for touchdowns and backup quarterback Grant Wilson’s only two completions also went for TDs.

— Running backs Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard both produced their first 100-yard games of the season, needing just 16 and 11 carries to hit that mark. Richard has three TDs this season.

Yet even in the midst of such an incredibly proficient all-around performance, albeit against a Football Championship Subdivision foe, Becker’s remarkable stat line — three catches, 81 yards, three TDs — elicited rare praise from Becker’s harshest critic, two-time Associated Press Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti.

“Hardest worker on the team, prepares as well as anybody, nobody prepares more,” he said. “Goes hard every play, goes hard in practice. He’s a really good special teams guy, too. It’s really important to him and he does everything he can to be the most explosive player. We’ve had quarterbacks here throw more touchdown passes than incompletions in games the last two years, right? He’s got almost as many touchdown catches as receptions.”

But it’s not numbers that fuel Becker. It’s the desire to be the best.

Becker’s big body allows him to shield defenders, giving him a better chance to win contested balls. His strong hands have helped him haul in 41 passes for 824 yards and nine scores in 18 games — without a drop.

Not enough?

Becker made the 51-yard catch that set up Indiana’s only TD against Ohio State in the 2025 Big Ten championship game and the 33-yard catch on third down to seal the win. Against Miami in January’s national championship game, he added two crucial 19-yard catches — one set up a fourth-quarter field goal, the other was a fourth-down conversion preceding Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza’s final TD run against Miami.

Soon Becker could find himself back in the same stomping grounds as Omar Cooper Jr., Elijah Sarratt and E.J. Williams Jr., who were all in NFL training camps this summer.

Many draft analysts project Becker to be a first-round pick — if he joins a class that could feature two Heisman hopefuls at receiver Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State and Malachi Toney of Miami.

Nobody is putting Becker in their company just yet. But Mendoza wasn’t the Heisman front-runner at this point last year, and if Becker continues operating this efficiently, the once little-known receiver could soon join a conversation Becker isn’t paying attention to either.

“My blocking isn’t great, and I think that’s an area where we can all improve because a great O-line leads to first downs and great wide receiver blocking leads to touchdowns,” said Becker, who is 11 TD catches away from the late James Hardy’s single-season school record.

“I think being able to get out on the field, it definitely helps boost your confidence and going against great teams like last year like Ohio State, Miami, all the teams in the playoffs, going against great corners like that it really helped boost my confidence.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

Source

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. 

Kalshi has you covered for any and every sporting event this weekend and new users can get a $25 bonus when you use promo code FOXSPORTS and trade $25.

The action starts in the NFL, where Thursday Night Football brings a major matchup to Buffalo. Josh Allen and the Bills welcome the Detroit Lions to their new stadium. Jahmyr Gibbs and Jared Goff look to spoil the home opener for Bills Mafia.

Now over to college football with two massive showdowns. Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford for the first time as the opposing head coach. Kiffin leads No. 7 LSU against his former program, including Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy. How will Kiffin handle his return to Oxford with a top-10 matchup on the line? 

Meanwhile, UFC 331 is nearly here, with Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja set for a flyweight championship rematch Saturday in Los Angeles. Van puts his 125-pound title on the line against Pantoja, while Arman Tsarukyan meets surging Mauricio Ruffy in a high-stakes five-round co-main event.

From the TNF showdown to a top-10 college football clash and a Octagon battle in Los Angeles, there are plenty of major events to follow this weekend. 

Use promo code FOXSPORTS on Kalshi to trade $25 and get a $25 bonus and don’t miss out on any sporting event starting with TNF.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page.

How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus

1. Click this ‘Claim Now’ link to visit Kalshi and start the signup process.
2. Create a new Kalshi account using your email address and basic registration details.
3. Enter Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS during signup, so the welcome offer is attached to your account.
4. Complete identity verification, which Kalshi requires before users can deposit and trade.
5. Deposit funds and trade at least $25 in prediction markets to receive up to $25 in trading credit.

Sports Markets on Kalshi

*Probabilities are subject to change* 

TNF: Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
BUF Bills	68%	68¢	33¢
DET Lions	32%	32¢	69¢

Week 3 CFB: No. 7 LSU @ No. 8 Ole Miss

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Ole Miss Rebels	42%	42¢	59¢
LSU Tigers	58%	59¢	42¢

Week 3 CFB: No. 22 Houston @ No. 13 Texas Tech

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
HOU Cougars	27%	27¢	74¢
T. TECH Red Raiders	73%	74¢	27¢

UFC 331: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Joshua Van	56%	57¢	44¢
Alexandre Pantoja	44%	44¢	57¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

Source

I played offensive line for eight seasons in the NFL, and before that I spent my Saturdays in Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, blocking for guys who ended up on lists like this one. So when I watch college football now, I watch for the stuff that signaled to me in the huddle whether a guy was for real.

I’m picking the 10 players who impressed me most during the previous weekend. Not just the gaudiest stat lines, but the performances that hold up when you turn the tape on. Some weeks, that’ll be a quarterback carving up a defense. Other weeks, it’ll be a lineman you’ve never heard of who didn’t lose a rep all afternoon. I have a soft spot for those guys. 

Week 1 gave us plenty. Let’s get into it.

In Missouri’s 38-21 win over Kansas, Simmons completed 19-of-29 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Tigers to a huge road win over their rival. Each mark was the second-highest of his career. It was also his first career start with at least 20 pass attempts and no interceptions.

Underwood still isn’t a complete passer, but as an athlete, he’s hard to beat at this position. He carried the ball 18 times for nearly 100 yards and had a back-breaking touchdown run to help Michigan upset Oklahoma. 

Mestemaker had a Power Four coming out party against Oregon this past weekend. His 317 yards and two touchdowns helped propel his Cowboys squad in their upset over the Ducks. Mestemaker made high-level NFL throws with pressure in his face all game and then finished his excellent performance with an incredible touchdown run, where he was flipped and hit hard as he tumbled into the end zone for a score.

Jackson had two monster plays for the Ducks defense. He showed off his 4.3 speed to catch Mestemaker on a 75-yard run. His ability to knock him out of bounds saved four points for the Ducks as the Cowboys couldn’t finish with a touchdown. Jackson later went nearly 100 yards for an interception return after catching a tipped pass. 

The freshman receiver had an amazing performance against Texas Tech on Saturday in the Beavers near upset of the Red Raiders. He finished with eight catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns with a long of 75 yards. He’s got nearly 400 yards in two games this season. Keep an eye on this budding star in Corvallis.

Taylor is quickly becoming a household name after the first two weeks of the season. After 354 yards in the opener, he started his first road game at Minnesota. He completed 16-of-22 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 86 rushing yards. His highlight video from Saturday shows Taylor throwing fastballs all over the field. He’s been extremely impressive so far.

The Oregon transfer has started fast this season for the Bears. In the Bears win over Syracuse, he had five tackles, three pass breakups and three interceptions, including a pick-six and the game-clinching play. He’s been all over the field for the Bears and appears to be a slam dunk addition for Tosh Lupoi.

Johnson is a beast for the Gophers and a fun watch each week. PFF graded him as the best offensive lineman in the game on Saturday, and it shows on the film. He’s an effortless mover who’s able to latch onto defenders and take them for a ride. 

THICC-SIX alert! 

In Idaho State’s 59-17 thrashing over San Diego, the 6-foot-1, 319-pound defensive tackle caught a tipped pass and took it back 28 yards for the score. You know I love my big-man scores!

It was a nightmare Saturday night for the Buckeyes, who suffered the largest blown lead by an AP No. 1 team ever and the biggest by Ohio State since at least 2003. But Smith still delivered another massive performance, finishing with eight catches for 164 yards and a touchdown. He now has five career games with at least 150 receiving yards, the most in the FBS since 2024. His 30 receiving touchdowns over that span are also seven more than any other player, with Elijah Sarratt ranking second with 23.

Source

Todd Boehly and fellow co-owner Mark Walter have sold their stakes in Chelsea, the English Premier League club said on Wednesday.

“Chelsea Football Club today announced affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group will acquire the ownership interest of Todd Boehly,” it said in a statement.

“As part of the transition, Clearlake will also acquire Mark Walter’s ownership interest and therefore acquire full control of the club.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Source

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. 

It’s another packed week of sports, starting with Thursday Night Football in Buffalo. Polymarket is giving new users another reason to follow the biggest events with promo code FOX to unlock a $50 bonus.

The Buffalo Bills are debuting their new stadium against the Detroit Lions. Josh Allen leads Buffalo into the spotlight at home, while Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions look to spoil the celebration in one of the most anticipated games in Week 2. 

College football also delivers a top-10 showdown as No. 7 LSU travels to No. 8 Ole Miss, with Lane Kiffin returning to Oxford to face his former program. How will Kiffin handle his former superstars Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy?

UFC 331 adds another major event to the weekend as Joshua Van defends his flyweight championship against Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch at the UFC’s return to Los Angeles. 

Use promo code FOX on Polymarket to unlock a $50 bonus and follow the biggest questions across the NFL, college football and UFC 331.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Polymarket promo code page.

How to Claim the Polymarket Promo with Code FOX

1. Click here to download the Polymarket app on iOS or Android.
2. Create a new Polymarket account using your email address.
3. Enter promo code FOX in the promo code or invite code field during registration.
4. Complete identity verification as prompted inside the app.
5. Deposit a minimum of $10 to your Polymarket account.
6. Your $50 trading bonus will be credited to your account automatically after the qualifying deposit.

Sports Markets on Polymarket

*Probabilities are subject to change* 

TNF: Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
BUF Bills	68%	68¢	33¢
DET Lions	32%	32¢	69¢

Week 3 CFB: No. 7 LSU @ No. 8 Ole Miss

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Ole Miss Rebels	41%	41¢	60¢
LSU Tigers	60%	60¢	41¢

Week 3 CFB: No. 22 Houston @ No. 13 Texas Tech

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
HOU Cougars	26%	27¢	74¢
T. TECH Red Raiders	74%	74¢	27¢

UFC 331: Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja

Teams	Chance	Yes	No
Joshua Van	57%	57¢	44¢
Alexandre Pantoja	44%	44¢	57¢

More markets available on Polymarket.

Source

In the NFL, the public betting masses love nothing more than scoring. And they got plenty of it in Week 1.

Fifteen teams scored 27 or more points, led by the Bears, who hung a 59-burger on the Panthers. 

That’s playing a big role in the mindset for NFL Week 2 odds.

“That’s the public’s focus — who is going to be able to score with ease,” Caesars Sports head of football trading Joey Feazel said. “So they’ll be eyeing this Thursday night Lions-Bills game, and Vikings-Bears and Saints-Ravens.”

Oddsmakers and sharp bettors serve up their midweek insights, as we dive into NFL Week 2 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.

Backing Buffalo

The Bills were also among the big Week 1 scorers, going on the road and outlasting the Texans 36-31. Ditto for the Lions, who blew a 21-0 lead at home, while barely outlasting the Saints 31-30 in overtime.

Buffalo went to 1-0 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) by covering as a 1.5-point favorite. Detroit is 1-0 SU/0-1 ATS, failing to cover as a 7-point favorite.

Caesars Sports opened the Bills -3 (-114) in NFL Week 2 odds, quickly went to -3.5 and on Wednesday evening was up to -4.5 (-115). Based on both teams’ offensive outputs, the total is on the rise, too, from 53.5 to 54.5.

“What we’re seeing is one-way action toward that Over and the Bills, as well,” Feazel said. “There are a couple reasons for that. First, it’s the home opener of a new stadium for the Bills.

“But on top of that, the Bills just went up against one of the NFL’s top defenses and really had no problem with it. That really adds to what the public is coming in on.”

Feazel expects no slowdown heading toward Thursday’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

“They’re on the Bills, and that will continue to be the narrative,” he said.

NFL Rocks on FOX — Part 1

America’s Game of the Week again includes the Commanders (0-1 SU/1-0 ATS), who last week gave the Eagles a scare before falling 24-22 in Philly. This week, Washington meets another NFC East rival on the road, traveling to Dallas for a 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday kick.

The Cowboys (0-1 SU and ATS) were less impressive in Week 1, losing to the Giants 28-20 as 3-point road favorites Sunday night.

The Cowboys faltered last week at the Giants, but that’s not stopping bettors (Getty Images).

–>

Last Sunday, before the Cowboys-Giants tilt, Caesars opened Commanders-Cowboys at Dallas -4.5. After the Cowboys’ lackluster Week 1 showing, that number dropped to Dallas -3.5. But by midweek, Dak Prescott & Co. are back at -4.5.

“That performance vs. the Giants is not stopping bettors here. They’re still betting the Cowboys in this spot,” Feazel said. “I think we’re gonna continue to see steady action on the Cowboys.”

NFL Sharp Side

Professional bettor Randy McKay was on the right side in Week 1, taking the 49ers +4 vs. the Rams. San Francisco ended up rolling to the upset, 27-7.

In Week 2 NFL odds, McKay is on Broncos -2.5 vs. Jaguars.

“Denver will bounce back at home after a stinker on Monday Night Football,” McKay said, alluding to the Broncos’ 31-10 road loss to the Chiefs. “I’m expecting Mile High magic. Early in the season, teams traveling to Denver usually gas out in the second half.”

Burrowing In

With Joe Burrow healthy, the Bengals (1-0 SU and ATS) were another high-flying team in Week 1, beating the Bucs 33-27 as 3.5-point home favorites.

As noted above, the Texans (0-1 SU and ATS) also put up points in Week 1. But Houston’s defense couldn’t contain Allen, and early bettors this week think Burrow will be a tough chore, as well.

Caesars opened at Texans -2.5 (-114) and visited -3 (-105) early in the week. On Wednesday evening, Houston was at -2.5 (-118), for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET start.

“We’ve seen mostly Bengals action. That’s not really a surprise, because there was a lot of Bengals love coming into the season,” Feazel said. “I’d expect that to continue — mostly Bengals money and then closer to kickoff, more Over money.”

The total is actually down 1.5 points, from 47.5 to 46. But the public will certainly load up on the Over by game day, per usual.

NFL Rocks on FOX — Part 2

At 1 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, the aforementioned Bears (1-0 SU and ATS) host the Vikings (0-1 SU and ATS).

During training camp, Chicago coach Ben Johnson put this on everyone’s bulletin board:

“I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever, which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos. I know how many points per game they scored (37.9), and I want to surpass them. I want shutouts. I want blowouts.”

The latter was certainly accomplished in Week 1, when the Bears were 3-point road favorites and pounded the Panthers 59-37.

Head Coach Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears wants to break offensive records in 2026 (Getty Images).

–>

In NFL Week 2 odds, the Bears are 4.5-point home favorites vs. the Vikings. Minnesota blew a 22-10 third-quarter lead vs. Green Bay last week, losing 39-22. And Vikes QB Kyler Murray is in concussion protocol, so it could be Carson Wentz on Sunday.

Midweek at DraftKings Sports, Chicago is a 4.5-point favorite, actually down notably from a -6.5 opener. But early action is solidly on the Bears, and even more so on the Over.

Chicago is taking 60% of early spread bets/76% of early spread money. The total surged from 46.5 to 49.5 by early Monday, then backed up to 47.5 by Wednesday. But the Over is attracting 84% of bets/74% of money as of Wednesday evening.

Not Sold Yet

Normally, when it comes to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, the public betting masses need very little convincing. But a blowout Week 1 win isn’t yet enough to win over the public, which still remembers Kansas City’s 6-11 SU/4-13 ATS debacle last season.

Mahomes & Co. — and by Co., that’s mainly running back Kenneth Walker III — routed the Broncos 31-10 on Monday night. In turn, Caesars opened Kansas City -6.5 (-117) vs. the Colts (0-1 SU and ATS) in an 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday clash.

But the line hasn’t budged at all.

“It doesn’t look like the win over the Broncos is carrying over,” Feazel said. “There really isn’t a belief in this Chiefs team just yet. Right now, we’re seeing balanced two-way action at 6.5.”

Big Blue Believers

The Giants (1-0 SU and ATS) were 3-point home underdogs to the Cowboys in Week 1. But New York never trailed and in fact dominated much of the game in a 28-20 victory.

On the flip side, the Rams (0-1 SU and ATS) got thumped 27-7 as 3.5-point favorites vs. the 49ers in far-flung Melbourne, Australia. Plus, Myles Garrett (knee) is out at least the next four weeks.

A week ago, on the look-ahead lines in NFL Week 2 odds, Caesars had Giants-Rams at L.A. -9.5. The line reopened Sunday afternoon at Rams -7.5, and after the G-Men’s strong showing, the number dipped to Rams -7.

Are Jaxson Dart and the Giants now a serious threat? (Getty Images)

–>

“We saw a different Jaxson Dart out there, and coach John Harbaugh making a clear difference. The public noticed that,” Feazel said. “The Rams were not what we expected. They were flat on both sides of the ball.

“So far, it’s been all Giants money, and I think that will continue. What I expect we’ll need by game time is that Super Bowl middle: Rams to win by 1-7.”

Giants-Rams kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday.

Source

There’s no better time to overreact than after Week 1 of the NFL season. 

Week 1 brought plenty of surprises around the league, giving us plenty of material to judge and make grand statements. Are the Los Angeles Rams not as good as we thought? Will the New England Patriots take a step back? 

We asked people around the league which overreactions they think are a figment, and which ones are legitimate. There was an overwhelming consensus that one overreaction is just that, while another might have some truth behind it. 

Here’s what we learned from our conversations around the league. 

  One L.A. Story Should Get Better, But Other Could Get Worse

Ralph Vacchiano: It’s hard to find two bigger flops in Week 1 than the teams that share a stadium in Los Angeles. Both embarrassingly lost their openers.

One will probably be fine. The other … maybe not so much.

“I won’t overreact to the Rams at all,” one NFL scout told me. “They’re still loaded, so I can chalk that up to the weird circumstances of a game in Australia. But the Chargers … that’s a team that looks like it has problems.”

“I really thought [Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel] would be the guy who would finally turn Justin Herbert into the star we all think he could be,” another scout told me. “But maybe we’re just wrong about Herbert. Or about McDaniel. But they were a no-show on offense against what I don’t think is a very good Cardinals team.”

Justin Herbert and the Chargers gained just 268 yards of offense in the first game of Mike McDaniel’s (right) tenure as offensive coordinator. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

–>

The Chargers, considered by some to be a playoff contender, gained just 268 yards and turned the ball over twice in their 26-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in L.A. That included just 81 rushing yards, and Herbert was 17 of 27 for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“How many years are we going to look at Herbert and yell about his potential, only to watch him be average or worse?” the first scout told me. “Maybe this is just who he is. And maybe this is who the Chargers are, too.”

As for the Rams, they were equally bad offensively in a 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, gaining just 290 yards. And now they’ll be without Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, for a month, too.

“The Rams will be fine,” the second scout told me. “Honestly, I’d feel bad for the Giants (the Rams’ next opponent). They’re going to be angry. Sean McVay is going to be determined to get this fix fast. That combination could be deadly.”

No Excuses, But The Rams Had Plenty Of Excuses

Vacchiano: The 49ers may have made a statement with their convincing Week 1 win, but it apparently wasn’t much of a statement about the team they beat. In fact, it was hard to find anyone around the NFL who was worried about the Rams after they lost to San Francisco 27-7 in Melbourne, Australia last Wednesday night.

“Not at all,” one NFL executive told me. “I didn’t necessarily believe in all that ‘Dream Team’ stuff, but they were one of the NFL’s best teams last season and they’re even better now. One game in Week 1 doesn’t change that.

“You’ll see. That’ll look like an anomaly in a few weeks. They’ll be fine.”

Matthew Stafford threw for fewer than 200 yards in the Rams’ loss to the 49ers. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

–>

“I don’t know what the right answer is on the travel, but arriving on a 15-hour flight the day before the game clearly was a mistake. They played like they were jet-lagged,” an NFC assistant coach told me. “It’s not an excuse that they’ll use, but it might be a real one. That had to be a hard game to prepare for, so I wouldn’t read anything into it.”

The Rams still have last year’s MVP in quarterback Matthew Stafford and weapons like receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. They still have a defense that’ll soon be anchored by the unretired Aaron Donald, and in a few weeks, Myles Garrett will be back too.

That’s why an NFL scout told me via text: “Ignore the opener. They’re still loaded. Chalk it up to [playing in] Australia. Besides, we all know strange things always happen in Week 1.”

More Evaluators Expect A Rams Bounce-Back

Eric D. Williams: It’s only one game.

That was the sentiment from league sources I spoke with about the Los Angeles Rams. The heavy favorite to win the Super Bowl at the start of the year, Sean McVay’s Rams stubbed their toe with a poor performance in Australia, a painful 27-7 setback to the team’s NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers.

Despite the poor performance in Australia, league sources I spoke to expect the Rams to rebound with extra time to prepare for Week 2 home contest on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants.

“Yessir,” a league exec responded when I asked if the Rams would perform better in Week 2.

“They underestimated the impact of travelling so far,” another league source told me. “Bad game. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. There’s a lot of football left for them to sort things out.”

The Rams take on an upstart Giants team in Week 2, but evaluators believe Los Angeles should be able to win that game. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

–>

Added another NFL talent evaluator: “Week 1 is a liar. Last year’s Super Bowl teams both lost at home in Week 1. The Patriots lost to the Raiders.”

The NFL talent evaluator went on to say Week 1 is the hardest to prepare for because there’s no film of your upcoming opponent to break down and evaluate in preparation for the game.

“As a quarterback, I really felt uncomfortable in Week 1 games because you really have no idea how to study the opponent,” the talent evaluator told me. “Everything is probably a Trojan horse. Teams show their hands of who they really want to be schematically after the first regular season game.

Speaking of quarterbacks, another longtime NFL scout I spoke with pointed to better play needed from reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

“Travel and neither side of the ball played to expectations,” the scout told me. “And the QB was just a guy.”

 

Source