No Kemba, No Problem

by Jacksonrboland, posted in Basketball

You would think having seven days between games would be a good thing for a Celtics team that just can’t seem to stay healthy. The top seven of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Daniel Theis, Marcus Smart and Enes Kanter have played together in about 10 games this year. So, coming out of the All-Star break, I was excited to see what a fully healthy team could do, only bad part is no one told Kemba. He was out of Friday night’s game with “left knee soreness,” which sounds a lot like load management. This really makes you think about why Kemba played 30 minutes in the All-Star game. Was this all an inside job by Nick Nurse to sabotage the Celtics?

Conspiracy theories aside, the Celtics had a real NBA game in Minnesota. The 127-117 win over the T-Wolves wasn’t the most impressive win of the year, not even close. But, I think it was very telling. Gordon Hayward is so back it’s not even funny anymore to think otherwise. When he’s in attack mode, he’s at his best and it showed Friday night. Dropping 29 points on 12-17 shooting, adding on 5 rebounds and 6 assists is a perfect Gordon Hayward game, and he’s starting to look a lot like the guy the Celtics paid for. Can you believe people wanted him traded for Drummond?

Same goes for Jaylen Brown, I don’t think anyone needed the All-Star break more than that guy. Brown last played on February 11th against the Rockets with two sprained ankles. I’ve always thought his game is similar to Russell Westbrook’s in that they’re most efficient when they go full speed to the basket, and that’s what Brown was able to do yesterday. 25 points with 8 boards on 10-17 shooting? I’ll take that every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Tatum’s game wasn’t the most efficient. He shot less than 40 percent from the field, but still added 28 points and 11 rebounds. He didn’t shoot well, but he was able to get to the free throw line. He went 8-8 and you just love to see it. That’s where Tatum’s growth this year has been tremendous. On the chance he has a bad shooting night, he goes to the basket looking get to the free throw line. Last year, he’d take the worst shots possible and try to shoot himself out of a slump. Spoiler alert: that never works.

We’re saving the best for last here, folks. Daniel Theis was incredible. This guy averages 8.7 points and 6.4 boards a game, and Friday night he went for 25 and 16. Now, I know this is more of an anomaly, but without Karl-Anthony Towns on the court, there was a huge hole in the middle and the Celts were able to take advantage.

And I know what you’re thinking, the three seeded Celtics beat one of the worst teams in the league, who cares? As a pessimistic Celtics fan who still has PTSD from the 2018-2019 season and the Kyrie era, I always expect them to lose these kind of games. So, it’s nice to see the Celtics beat the teams they’re supposed to and do it convincingly. You can probably tell, I’m really fun to watch games with. Anyway, starting Sunday, the Celtics head west for three games in four days and are closing out the month against three of the top five teams in the Western Conference. There couldn’t be a tougher way to close out February, but this stretch will show us how much potential these guys have come playoff time. It all starts Sunday at Staples Center. Beat L.A.

Fade Fernando’s Picks from God 2/22/20

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Action

Howdy everyone and welcome back to another edition of Fade Fernando’s Picks from God. If you took my advice last week, you either made one dollar or hundreds depending on your unit size. Bottom line: you made my money. This week’s slate of college basketball isn’t as great, however we get a great matchup of top 5 teams as the 3rd ranked Kansas Jayhawks travel to absolute worst place on earth, Waco, TX, to take on the top ranked Baylor Bears. Time to make some money… here are the picks:

Tennessee +6.5 vs. Auburn: While the Volunteers haven’t been great this year and nearly lost their last game at home to underwhelming Vanderbilt, the Auburn Tigers have dropped two straight to unranked opponents thanks in large part to the loss of freshman phenom Isaac Okoro. The forward is likely out for tomorrow’s matchup which could spell trouble for the Tigers. Tennessee Forward John Fulkerson has been great of late and could have another big game with Okoro out. 6.5 is a big number and with the Tigers skidding as of late, I like the underdog here.

Mississippi State vs. Texas A&M +4.5: Yes, I am telling you to take Aggie Men’s Basketball. Early on it was free money to bet against the Ags. Now, however, it is a different story. The man Buzz Williams has turned this group of misfits into a respectable bunch who have some fairly solid road victories under their belts, including Wednesday’s 6 point win at Alabama, a game in which they were 11 point underdogs. Mississippi State is undoubtedly the far superior team in this matchup and all logic points to them as being the safe bet here. Having won 5 of their last 7, they come into this matchup with plenty of momentum. Yet, that old Reed Arena magic has me thinking the Aggies are going to make a game out of this and could absolutely pull off the upset. Take the home dogs in this one.

North Carolina +9 vs. Louisville: North Carolina can’t win a game if their lives depended on it and even Coach Roy Williams knows his team stinks. That being said, while they aren’t getting the victories they are keeping games close. The Tar Heels have looked like a completely new team with Cole Anthony back from injury and nearly knocked off those Dukies 2 weeks ago. Louisville does possess one of the best players in college basketball in Jordan Nwora and UNC’s defense will be put to the test. However, the Cardinals have been sputtering recently and a pesky UNC team could keep it close. While Louisville definitely wins the game, I think the Tar Heels keep it close enough to cover.

Kansas v. Baylor -2: It is incredibly difficult to beat a team twice in a season, especially an elite program like Kansas. This really does pain me to say this as I am no way, shape or form a Baylor fan, but this Bears team is cooking up something special in that God-forsaken place of Waco. Last week they fairly easily took down a very good West Virginia team and then on Tuesday took down OU in Norman. In a world of “one and done’s” in college hoops, it is refreshing to see a veteran group such as the Bears. This is the biggest game in Baylor Men’s Basketball history and those Baptists in the crowd at the Ferrell Center surely will not disappoint as the coffee flows freely through the student section. Give me the Bears in a close one. For a more in-depth look at this game, be sure to check out Brady Vaughan’s stellar preview.

* Grad School Sports reminds you to please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-522-4700.

Jayhawk by Birth, Bear by Choice

by Brady Vaughan, posted in NCAA Basketball

In case you have not heard about it yet, this weekend marks the biggest game in the history of the Baylor Men’s Basketball program, and that is not an exaggeration. Baylor has NEVER hosted a top 5 opponent WHILE being ranked number one in the AP Poll.

Baylor also just recently broke the record for most consecutive wins (23 wins) by a Big 12 team in the existence of the conference, surpassing the 1996-1997 Kansas Jayhawks (22 wins).

Nobody in Waco expected this year’s Baylor basketball team to be THIS good this season. We thought they’d be good, but a Final Four contender? Given Baylor’s past in basketball I think you’d be insane to expect a Final Four run coming into this season.

Kansas has always had a giant bullseye on its back during basketball season, but Baylor is slowly becoming one of those teams. Scott Drew is gaining the national attention he deserves for being one of the better and more consistent coaches in the sport over the last decade. This game has much more importance to Baylor than it does for Kansas, but its up to Baylor to go and take advantage of that opportunity.

Baylor fans are on the edge of their seats and cannot wait for Saturday to arrive. They don’t just believe they CAN beat Kansas (again); they absolutely believe they WILL beat Kansas for the second time this season, and they have every right in the world to believe they will. The winner of this game will then have the inside track to win the conference regular season title.

Furthermore, College Gameday is coming in town for the second time in the Men’s Basketball Program’s history (only other appearance was 2011 vs Texas, a game in which Baylor lost 60-54). I always have loved that show, especially guys like Jay Bilas and Rece Davis, as they have been there since the show’s inception in 2005.

Since I am a sophomore at Baylor, I am obviously super-pumped for the game this weekend, but being from Overland Park, KS, I have a gigantic interest in this specific game in particular because of one thing: I grew up a diehard fan of the Kansas Jayhawks.

Now if you know me well, you know I was on edge this entire January/early February because of the Kansas City Chiefs and their Super Bowl run. I absolutely adore the Chiefs, but as improbable as this sounds, I am a much bigger Kansas Jayhawks fan than Kansas City Chiefs fan. I don’t even know if my roommates can fathom that but it’s the truth.

When I say diehard Jayhawks fan, I mean going to basketball and football games every Saturday for as long as I can remember (yes, football games too). I mean going to almost every senior night basketball game since 2009. I mean having my mother make me a homemade “Pay Heed All Who Enter; Beware of the Phog” sign that still hangs in my room back in Overland Park. I mean attending Bill Self’s basketball camp for much of my youth. I mean getting a basketball signed by some of my favorite Jayhawks of all time in Tyrell Reed, Marcus Morris, Tyshawn Taylor, Thomas Robinson, Andrew Wiggins, and Joel Embiid. I mean blocking out the first weekend of April every year just on the off chance that the Jayhawks make the Final Four so my family and I can travel and show our support for our beloved Jayhawks.

Me and one of my good friends Lucy at the Baylor vs Kansas game Allen Fieldhouse in March of 2019. I don’t know if I could ever summon the strength to wear an opposing team’s shirt in that building ever again.
This is me during my senior year of high school in San Antonio to support the Jayhawks in the 2018 Final Four.

I feel confident saying that my fandom for the Jayhawks is honestly unrivaled by anything in my life. I still text a lot of my friends that go to KU about anything and everything going on the world of sports pertaining to Kansas Athletics. I listen to a multitude of podcasts about Kansas sports, including my favorite one called the “Ain’t No Seats” podcast (Shoutout the hosts Ryan, B-Turn, and AB. You guys are amazing). I listen to every one of their episodes the minute it drops.

But because I do so and because I actively follow Kansas athletics so much from so far away, I am often ridiculed for doing so by my fellow classmates, fraternity brothers, and friends down here in Waco. My Baylor friends could call me a traitor for not cheering 100% for our school.  Some of my family members have called me a traitor for not staying 100% crimson and blue.

I fully support Baylor athletics and Kansas athletics at the same time. But because of this weekend, I am caught in an extreme internal conflict.

If I could draw out any particular scenario for how this season finishes, it would be for Baylor and Kansas to win the rest of their games this season and meet in the national title game.

On one hand, I have my current university’s team, who is 24-1 on the season and ranked number one in the AP Poll, vying for their first conference championship in basketball since 1950. On the other hand, I have my childhood team who will always have a special place in my heart, who is ranked number three and just behind Baylor in the conference standings, coming off a season in which it was the first time that they DIDN’T win the conference in the last 15 years.

Both teams are special. Plain and simple. Both teams absolutely can cut down the nets come March, and I will be there every step of the way for both teams until they are either eliminated or win the national championship.

Ever since coming to Baylor, the number one question I have gotten is “Well who are you going to root for when Baylor plays Kansas?” I have always told people I will root for the home team whenever these two teams play, but I would be lying if I said it won’t be extremely hard to do so for this Saturday’s game.

I am a Baylor Bear through and through, but I will never, EVER forget where I came from.

If I had to give a prediction for the game, I will say Baylor wins by a final score of 70-67. Key matchup to watch for will be Baylor’s Jared Butler vs Kansas’ Marcus Garrett.

Given the situation, it seems as if I can’t win no matter what happens on Saturday!  But maybe, just maybe, that means I can’t lose…

As always, I’d love for you to support my #brand and follow me on twitter @bradyvaughan30 for more sports related content.

Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick!

by andrewcline33, posted in MLB

Theodore Roosevelt once said the iconic phrase: “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. While this phrase was talking about foreign policy, it may just be the perfect motto for the Houston Astros moving forward. In what has been one of the darkest and most ruthless off-seasons baseball has ever seen, the Houston Astros come limping into Spring Training, and they have not even played a single game yet. Their cuts and bruises do not come from hit by pitches or slides into second base, but rather verbal and electronic attacks from opposing players, media, and fans. Rightfully so, as we found out this offseason that this team, which had been the victors of over 300 games in the past 3 seasons, had been using an in game sign stealing operation to gain an unfair advantage on their competition. In dictionary terms…they cheated.

When the news broke in November, the baseball world went into a fury. When the commissioner released his report detailing the punishments, that fury really started to heat up, and hit what probably was the boiling point when Jim Crane gave his contradictory press conference last Thursday. This situation is a fiery mess and unfortunately for everyone, the Astros have just poured gasoline on the fire the entire time. From the Altuve and Bregman’s scripted Fan Fest answers to AJ Hinch beating around the bush and trying to explain his, now discredited, leadership techniques instead of just answering the questions to Carlos Correa calling out Cody Bellinger. The team has handled this situation poorly. With Spring Training here and Baseball games to begin starting soon, the Astros have missed their window to speak.

The time to speak and say sorry was back in November when the news broke. The time to speak and say sorry was in December when the investigation was happening. The time to speak and say sorry was in January when the report came out, or fan fest, or before Spring Training. The last chance to speak was this past Thursday. The team spoke and said sorry, but it was too late. So now they must speak softly, which basically means they can’t speak. Nothing they can say will make the situation any better. They can only make it worse. Everywhere they will go this year they are public enemy number one. No one will care what they say, yet everyone will be dying to hear what they say. Attempts for empathy are pointless and a waste of time. Along with attempts of empathy, expectations of the Astros apologizing from fans and opposing players are just as pointless. If you are a fan and waiting for an apology, it ain’t happening. And while they must speak softly they will be asked more questions now than ever before. Not only will they have the pressure of performing on the field in 2020, but they will also have to answer questions about the last 3 years and what was going on inside the clubhouse. The firing squad waits for the Astros outside the clubhouse every day ready to grill the team for what they did. If there is a team who is capable of speaking softly and being able to overcome the noise, it is this team. That will discourage many fans of other teams, but the truth of the matter is the Astros are a really good team. With a rotation that still has the reigning AL Cy Young winner, a veteran Zack Grienke, a healthy Lance McCullers Jr., and a lineup that returns 5 All Stars, 2 Rookie of the Years, 2 MVP finalists and a MVP, this team has what it takes to win it all. They will just need to be able to carry the big stick.

Carrying a big stick means to be strong and produce if you say you are going to do something. In the case of the Astros, they will need to do that this year more than ever. The reason is because this season is a lose-lose situation for the team. On one hand if the team goes out and wins 85 games and misses the playoffs, the fans will say that the only reason they won is because they cheated. On the other hand if they go out and win 100 plus games and cruise into October as the American League West champions for a fourth straight season, the people will say that it was stupid to cheat since you didn’t have to because your team was good enough to win already. There is no winning in this situation. However, the backlash and hate will be much more severe if they do not produce. They have to go out and show the world that they are an elite team. They have to do that for their team legacy and their individual legacies. With players like Altuve, who is on a hall of fame pace, he will have to show that he is a good hitter and can produce without the aid of a trash can. Alex Bregman, who has stepped into a spotlight role since 2017 and has branded himself as one of the faces of the game and a perennial MVP candidate, has to have another MVP caliber season to show he is for real. Even players like Yordan Alvarez will have to perform at an elite level or else the questions of whether cheating took place last season will only intensify and increase. The list goes on and on. The first 2 months of this season are crucial for the Astros to get off to a good start, because come the dog days of August, when they are bound to hit a rough patch, the Astros fans hope they have enough of a cushion in the standings to last until they start producing again. While this scandal will not go away for a long time, it sure can help their cases if they can swing the big stick to another AL west title and another lengthy October run.

Speak softly and carry a big stick! This will serve the Astros well as they tread the murky waters of the 2020 season. If you ask the author what he thinks about this team and the situation. He believes they have dug themselves a hole that cannot be climbed out of this season, but they have the talent and the manager to navigate this season. This is still a very good team, one that can still win the World Series. They have an uphill battle ahead of them, but if they stay the course by speaking softly and swinging a big stick, they could end up raising a certain piece of metal known as the Commissioner’s trophy.

Jim Crane: Even Billionaires can Lack Utter Competence

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in MLB

“Our opinion is this didn’t impact the game.” – Astros owner Jim Crane.

Please try telling that to the 3 teams the Astros beat that year in the playoffs: the Red Sox, Yankees, and Dodgers. Lest we forget, in game 1 of the 2017 ALDS at Minute Maid Park the Astros lit up Red Sox starter Chris Sale who finished 2nd in AL Cy Young voting that year. In game 2, also at Minute Maid, they smacked around Drew Pomeranz who was 17-6 with a 3.32 ERA that season. While they won game 3 in Fenway to sweep the series, the Astros offense seemed much more out of a sync and was actually held in check by Sale who was on 3 days rest. But no. The Astros cheating scandal did not impact the game at all.

Everyone knows what happened in the ALCS the next week when the Yankees took the cheating Astros to 7 games. In that series, the Astros didn’t win a game at Yankee Stadium. In fact, in the 3 games in the Bronx the Astros only managed to score 5 runs, whereas in the other 4 games at home they plated 15. But once again, there was no impact on the game. Just take a look at these splits. Absolutely laughable. The Astros organization is a joke and they continue to show their cowardice with each press conference.

Fade Fernando’s Picks from God: Valentine’s Day

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Action

Howdy to all the gamblers out there and a happy Valentine’s day. We all can agree this is probably the dumbest holiday there is (except New Years Eve), however to all you who have significant others, specifically girlfriends, this is the night they will be expecting a big dinner and a special gift. But who can afford all that? That’s why after reading this article, you head to the local sportsbook or get in contact with your bookie to make some picks that will help with some of those V-day expenses. Without further ado, here are Fade Fernando’s Picks from God, blessed by St. Valentine himself.

* Grad School Sports reminds you to please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-522-4700

U154.5 Buffalo v. Toledo:

This number started at 153.5 but the public has driven that number up a point over the last few hours. This is why we fade the public. In their last 4 games, the Rockets have averaged around 69.3 ppg. The Bulls have averaged a little over 70. Now, both teams are notoriously bad on defense (ranked in the bottom half of the NCAA), but 154 is a lot of points. The Rockets are 27th in the country in 3 pt. % so there is cause for concern if they get hot from downtown. But, with the way both of these offenses are performing I like the under in this MAC battle.

Davidson v. St. Bonaventure -4:

Davidson is terrible this year having lost to equally bad teams such as Wake Forest and Vanderbilt. Meanwhile, the Bonnies come into this game having won 5 in a row. While they aren’t a great shooting team, they play consistent defense which should bode well against a fairly bad Wildcats offense. Take the home favorite.

Monmouth +1 v. Canisius:

While I typically don’t like betting road teams in virtual PK games, the last time these two teams met Monmouth won handily 84-65. Both teams are coming off back to back losses as neither looks to be playing good basketball. That being said, I’m basing this pick off each team’s record as Monmouth is 13-10 whereas Canisius is 9-15. Take the road dog in this one.  

Can Cowboys Fans Get Any More Delusional?

by Ethan Myers, posted in NFL

If you’ve talked to a Cowboys fan any time over the last 10 years, you’ve heard the sames lines out of them:

“This year’s going to be different!”

“[Top free agent] is definitely coming to Dallas, Jerry always gets his guy!”

“The ‘Boys are Super Bowl bound!”

You’d start to think that after so many years of delusional expectations culminating in yet another disappointing season, Cowboys fans would start to sober up and get real. But nevertheless, like gluttons for punishment, the next year they’re back for more. And this off-season proves no different.

Tom Brady is hitting the free agent market this year, causing a great amount of buzz throughout the league. Thanks to the latest rumor from Cowboy legend Michael Irvin, Dallas fans have been chugging the Kool-Aid nonstop. Irvin recently had an interview with a New England radio station, where he stated that he had heard from “significant people” that Tom Brady had interest in signing with Dallas. With Dallas QB Dak Prescott hitting the market and looking for a contract extension, the Cowboys have to make a big decision on who is going to lead their team, and getting the greatest QB to ever suit up can never be the wrong solution.

Here’s the sobering reality for Dallas fans: Tom Brady will never sign with Dallas. There is no way he will leave the best run franchise in the NFL and the GOAT coach in Bill Belicheck to head to JerryWorld and play for the egomaniac Jerry Jones. Dallas is going to have no choice but give Prescott a massive contract north of $30 million/year, hamstringing the team by having their signal-caller be an overrated stat-padder. The Cowboys will struggle to a mediocre record in a terrible division once again, and if by some act of God they make the playoffs, a first round exit is inevitable. Signing Super Bowl-winning coach Mike McCarthy is a step in the right direction, but with Jerry at the helm there is no hope for this team. And thus the cycle will continue: after the disappointing season, the bad takes of “next year will be different” will be right around the corner.

Run. The. Ball. Please.

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NFL

A good friend proposed a scenario to me after 49ers head coach Beto O’ Rourke (does anyone else see the resemblance?) flat out forgot how to coach.

The scenario is: You’re up by 3 in the Super Bowl with 6 minutes to go. You’ve been averaging 8 yards a carry on the ground. On 1st down, your RB runs for 5 yards making it 2nd and 5. Are you going to run the ball again or throw it?

Still fuming from last night’s ending, I replied with a few expletives then said “even if I had Jesus Christ as my QB I’d still run the ball.” Everyone and their mother knows pretty boy Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t exactly God’s gift to QB, however after watching the 9ers play calling in the 4th quarter I’m starting to question whether Kyle Shanahan actually did think he had our Lord and Savior under center.

For the first 3 quarters, the Niners found themselves with a 20-10 lead mainly due to a balanced offensive effort which featured a rushing attack that averaged over 6.4 yards per carry for the game. Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, and Deebo Samuel were providing a potent rushing attack and Jimmy G was making the throws he needed to make. Through this offensive scheme, the Niners offense was keeping the vaunted Chiefs offense off the field. By consistently gaining yards by running the football, the Niners were controlling the game by chewing large chunks of time off the clock each possession.

Yet, with a 10-point lead with 11 minutes to play in the 4th quarter and the Lombardi Trophy within arm’s reach, the 49ers ran 5 plays: 2 runs and 3 passes. After a 1st down run for a yard, Coach Shanahan called a pass play which wound up incomplete, stopping the clock in the meantime. After a false start which made it 3rd and 14, Shanahan was forced to call another pass play which wound up with Jimmy G scrambling for 3 yards. After a Niners punt, Patrick Mahomes and Co. marched right down the field and promptly scored a touchdown making the score 20-17. With 6 minutes to play and the ball, the Niners gained 5 yards on a 1st down rush from Mostert. Now, any human being with half of a functioning brain would run the ball the next play. But not Shanahan. No, that clown decided to call a pass play on 2nd and 5. On a day when the Chiefs hadn’t shown they were capable of stopping the run, Kyle Shanahan decides to pass the ball on the most important 2nd down of the game. A fun fact for the crowd out there, the Niners had 1 negative rush and it was their 1st play of the game for -1 yard. Why for Heaven’s sake would you throw the ball on 2nd down? In the words of the great Sandra Bullock in the movie The Blind Side “Enough with the trick plays Burt! Run the dang ball!!!!”

Run the freaking ball and watch the clock just keep ticking. Honestly, the worst thing that could happen is Mostert rushes for no gain. That sets up a 3rd and 5 but keeps the clock running. And where the heck was Deebo Samuel in all of this? A pivotal part of the 1st 3 quarters, the most athletic man on the Niners was simply taken out of the game plan in the 4th quarter. I would honestly wonder if Shanahan had taken the Chiefs -1.5 but then I remembered he has another total 4th quarter meltdown on his resume. Lest we forget he was the offensive mastermind behind the 2016-2017 Atlanta Falcons, the team that would go on to blow a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl. Even in that game, Shanahan completely abandoned the game plan when he needed to stick to it the most. By refusing to stick to the rushing game in the 4th quarter, head coach Kyle Shanahan frankly cost his team a Super Bowl.

The 49ers have a great young core and will most certainly be back in the big game soon. However, as a rental fan for the night Kyle Shanahan completely pissed me off last night with his abhorrent play calling in the 4th quarter.

Fade Fernando’s Picks From God: Super Bowl Edition

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Action

Howdy everyone! It is Super Bowl Sunday here in the great states of America. In just under 2 hours, the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs will be battling it out for the Lombardi Trophy and I know the folks at home are eager to know just who will walk away victorious. Lucky for them, I have my famous Picks from God. Typically, I release 4 picks at a time. However, today I am going to keep it short and sweet as kickoff looms near.

* Grad School Sports reminds you to please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-522-4700.

1. San Francisco 49ers ML vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The 9ers come into the game as 1.5 underdogs because the whole world is obsessed with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. No one believes old Richard Sherman can guard Tyreek Hill (which is probably true) and everyone has their doubts about QB Jimmy Garoppolo. However, this man was born for games like this. Jimmy G is known for delivering under pressure as evidenced by a TMZ article a couple years ago and I see no reason why he won’t come up big again (no pun intended). The Chiefs defense is better than people give them credit for but they are nothing to write home about. If the 9ers can control the clock with their powerful run game and keep Patty Mahomes off the field I really like their chances to win their 6th Super Bowl. This game will be a nail biter and should be much better than last year’s abysmal game.

2. U54 Total Points Scored

Yes, I am the schmuck who is going to bet the under. While I was in Vegas last weekend I met a local at the Caesars Sportsbook who probably wasn’t a sharp but I’d like to think he was. Anyways, he repeatedly told me he likes to bet ‘dogs and unders. Thus, I’m taking both today. I think both teams come out relatively slow offensively. The 9ers have done a great job all year of mixing up their defensive schemes as the game goes which I’d like to believe will keep Mahomes and company off balance offensively. Pair that with a run game that will chew up a ton of clock and I think we’re looking at a 28-24 9ers win which gives us the under. While in recent years (besides last year) the Super Bowl has gone over, I’m going to fade the public and advise people to take the under.

Contributor NFL Position Rankings

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NFL, Top 10

As Super Bowl weekend draws near, our contributors at Grad School Sports put together a list of their NFL position rankings. Please voice both your agreements and disagreements in the comments section. As always, please email us at gradschoolsports@gmail.com if you wish to be a contributor. Let’s start with the most important position on the field, the Quarterback.

QUARTERBACKS

NAME12345
Gerritt JonesWilsonMahomesWatsonLamarRyan
Cole WestMahomesWilsonLamarWatsonRogers
Mason WaldenMahomesLamarWilsonDakWatson
Alec MurrayMahomesWilsonLamarBreesWatson
Christian JuliusMahomesLamarWilsonBreesWatson
Jeremy FernandoMahomesWilsonLamarWatsonBrees
Brady VaughanWilsonMahomesBreesRodgersLamar
AnonymousMahomesWatsonRodgersBreesLamar
Ethan MyersBradyRodgersWilsonLamarMahomes
Noble QuyMahomesWilsonLamarWatsonBrady

Player (1st votes)Points
1Mahomes (7)44
2Wilson (2)35
3Lamar26
4Watson16
5 (tie)Rodgers10
5 (tie)Brees10
Brady (1)6

RUNNING BACKS

NAME12345
Gerritt JonesCMCBarkleyCookZekeHenry
Cole WestCMCZekeBarkelyCookKamara
Mason WaldenCMCBarkleyZekeKamaraCook
Alec MurrayCMCBarkleyCookKamaraHenry
Christian JuliusCMCHenryZekeCookBarkley
Jeremy FernandoCMCHenryCookBarkleyZeke
Brady VaughanCMCHenryBarkleyZekeKamara
AnonymousBarkleyCMCCookHenryZeke
Ethan MyersZekeBarkleyCMCChubbKamara
Noble QuyBarkleyCMCKamaraCookZeke
Players (1st)Points
1CMC (7)46
2Barkley (2)35
3Zeke (1)22
4Cook18
5Henry16

WIDE RECEIVERS

NAME12345
Gerritt JonesHopkinsThomasEvansJulioHill
Cole WestThomasHopkinsJulioAdamsHill
Mason WaldenThomasHopkinsJulioAdamsHill
Alec MurrayThomasHopkinsAdamsJulioEvans
Christian JuliusThomasHopkinsJulioAdamsCooper
Jeremy FernandoThomasHopkinsEvansJulioAdams
Brady VaughanJulioThomasHopkinsAdamsHill
AnonymousThomasJulioHopkinsEvansGodwin
Ethan MyersBrownThomasOBJJulioHopkins
Noble QuyJulioThomasHopkinsEvansGodwin
Players (1st)Points
1Thomas (6)46
2Hopkins (1)35
3Julio (2)31
4Adams12
5Evans11