![[SPORTS] GONZAGA TAKES DOWN DUKE IN MAUI](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8630.jpg?resize=1000%2C600&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 22, 2018 | SPORTS
No. 3 Gonzaga Survive No. 1 Duke in Hawaii
The Gonzaga Bulldogs understood if they were to reach the Finals of the Maui Invitational, the team standing across from them in all likelihood would be the Duke Blue Devils.
That’s a challenge they were up for.
In a entertaining thriller, the Gonzaga Bulldogs picked up a 89-87 victory over the Duke Blue Devils on Wednesday night at the Lahaina Civic Center to win the Maui Invitational.
Rui Hachimura led the Bulldogs with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks as he came up huge for Gonzaga, including a basket to give them the lead at 89-87 with 1:17 left to play.
Brandon Clarke made a game saving block on a driving RJ Barrett, who’s layup attempt was sent away in the final seconds before the buzzer sounded.
Gonzaga dominated throughout, holding a double digit lead at the end of the first half and then leading by as many as 16 points early in the second half.
Duke’s talented trio of Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish led the charge in the second half to draw Duke to a tied game in the final two minutes after the large deficit, but Gonzaga’s defense held serve to preserve a game they almost let slip away.
Both teams entered 5-0, with head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils getting much of the attention, with freshman phenoms Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett fueling a team that dominated Kentucky in their first game of the season in a 118-84 shellacking.
They met their match on Wednesday night in the now 6-0 Gonzaga Bulldogs, who should now leap frog the Blue Devils for No. 1 in the College Hoops Rankings.
What are your thoughts on Gonzaga’s victory over Duke? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] NFL WEEK 12 PICKS: COWBOYS TOP REDSKINS IN DALLAS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8629.jpg?resize=777%2C437&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 22, 2018 | SPORTS
Cowboys Will Feast On Thanksgiving
Week 11 Results: 7-6
Record this season: 101-60
I hope everyone out there has a great Thanksgiving and enjoys some Turkey as well as time with their family and friends on this special Holiday.
If you’re having trouble doing either, keep in mind we could be in for quite a meal on Thursday with three intriguing matchups in their own right.
Week 12 of the NFL season has no shortage of divisional drama as there will be a total of eight division games this week.
The headliner of the week is a Thanksgiving day NFC East showdown between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys, with the winner leaving with first place in the division.
Elsewhere, The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers renew their rivalry at U.S. Bank Stadium as the Packers look to avoid having their postseason hopes damaged in a make or break game.
Gobble, Gobble everybody and enjoy the games!
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Just two weeks ago the Chicago Bears defense harassed Matthew Stafford into two interceptions and sacked him six times in a 34-22 win. Mitchell Trubisky threw three touchdowns in that one, and while we don’t know what to expect on a game-by-game basis from him, Detroit’s opposing quarterbacks to throw for 10 touchdown passes over the past four weeks.
Prediction: Chicago Bears 27 Detroit Lions 16
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
The last time Colt McCoy played the Dallas Cowboys, he led a shocking upset in Dallas. But that was then and this is now, and as of right now it’s hard to foresee the Redskins winning a game without some absurdity in turnovers being forced, which in hindsight wouldn’t be surprising consider Washington is third in the NFL in takeaways.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys 24 Washington Redskins 17
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are peaking right now, and it’s due to one part of the team that often gets overlooked, the offensive line. The Saints offensive line is giving Drew Brees as much time as he needs while opening up holes consistently for the run game. These two aspects that the Saints are especially great at will be too much for the Saints, who m gave up 43 points to New Orleans in the first matchup.
Prediction: New Orleans Saints 45 Atlanta Falcons 23
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The San Francisco 49ers are 0-5 on the road, but if you look at which team has been playing better football, it’s the 49ers. Turnovers will determine this one, and no other team is better at giving the ball away than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Prediction: San Francisco 49ers 23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are struggling and seeing their season slowly but surely slipping away after a 4-1 start. Luckily for the Bengals, A.J. Green is set to return, a move that will bolster a Bengals pass offense in desperate need of a lift.
Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals 33 Cleveland Browns 27
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
We’ll learn a lot about the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday. The question is this, are they going to give up? The team is hampered with injuries and Carson Wentz doesn’t look as razor sharp as they are coming off one of the worst losses in franchise history last Sunday. Giants are playing well, but the Eagles should be able to rattle Eli Manning enough to squeak out a win.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 30 New York Giants 26
New England Patriots at New York Jets
The New England Patriots will be as healthy as they’ve been in a while on Sunday, but if they go out and let this be a competitive game, it’ll most likely be because Tom Brady looks all the more like a 41-year old quarterback should. Odds say that won’t be the case vs the Jets defense, and I agree.
Prediction: New England Patriots 31 New York Jets 17
Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills
Jalen Ramsey vs Josh Allen. The matchup we’ve all been waiting for since mid-August. The Buffalo Bills will surely try him in one way or another. At this point, it’s Buffalo looking to win and us questioning if Jacksonville has anything left to give after last week’s stinging 20-16 loss to Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Buffalo Bills 22 Jacksonville Jaguars 10
Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens
The Oakland Raiders were victorious last week in Arizona, but face a stiffer challenge here. Joe Flacco may miss another game here and Lamar Jackson may get another start, but no matter, the Oakland Raiders defense should provide Baltimore’s offense with a lift.
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens 27 Oakland Raiders 15
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are hurting after a tough loss in Detroit, and now return home to face a well-rested Seattle Seahawks team that’s shown they can win on the road.
Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 24 Carolina Panthers 22
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are coming off a loss, and a big reason why is because they lost the turnover battle 3-0. That isn’t likely to continue against a team that turns the ball over with as much frequency as Arizona. A rookie quarterback on the road vs an upset Philip Rivers?
Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers 30 Arizona Cardinals 9
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six straight, but they’re playing it particularly close on the road this season. They did that in Week 11 against a Jaguars team that was riding a five-game losing streak, Denver is much better team and Mile-High is particularly tough to play in for a team like Pittsburgh that relies on its pass rush.
Prediction: Denver Broncos 30 Pittsburgh Steelers 27
Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are going strong right now, and Andrew Luck is at the center of it all. Speaking of centers, Indianapolis’ offensive line is pass protecting for Andrew Luck as well as we’ve seen in his career. Against a Dolphins team short of a pass rush, that should mean a huge day for the Indianapolis quarterback.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts 30 Miami Dolphins 22
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers played to a tie back in Week 2, and a big reason why was because of special teams…and also a poor roughing the passer penalty. Now, the Vikings get the Packers at a low point, losers of three out of four. The pass rush of the Vikings hasn’t traveled on the road as much, but at home it’ll be the difference in another high scoring affair as they force Green Bay into a late turnover to seal the game.
Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 33 Green Bay Packers 27
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are winning because of their defense, which is one of the most underrated units in the league led by J.J. Watt. The Titans had trouble in pass protection last week vs Indianapolis as Marcus Mariota left with an injury in the first half. No matter if it’s Mariota or Blaine Gabbert, the Texans defense will make this a long night for both.
Prediction: Houston Texans 23 Tennessee Titans 14
What are your thoughts on this week’s slate of games? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] 9-7 AND IN? MAKING SENSE OF THE NEW YORK GIANTS PLAYOFF CHANCES](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8628-1-1.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 22, 2018 | SPORTS
A Giant Puzzle
Odell Beckham Jr. told everyone leading into the New York Giants Week 10 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers that the goal for New York was a 9-7 finish and making the playoffs.
While winning eight consecutive games isn’t farfetched considering their schedule, the making the playoffs bit is.
If the Giants are going to make the playoffs at 9-7, they’ll need some help getting there.
Here is my guide to the G-Men making a return back to the postseason in 2018.
9-7 It Is, But What Will They Have To Do To Get There?
They’ll have to take care of business first this Sunday vs a Philadelphia Eagles team at a personal low coming off a 48-7 massacre last Sunday vs the New Orleans Saints.
After that, the schedule sees them having to face the division leading Chicago Bears, two teams also fighting for a playoff birth in the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis, and their NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.
That’s a tough task, and the FPI thinks so as well. Of the Giants remaining six games, they are only favored to win their Week 15 matchup at home vs the Tennessee Titans.
Winning the NFC East Is The Best Avenue
Of course with what I mentioned already, the Giants are a long shot to get a NFC Wildcard birth at 9-7 (I’ll get into that in just a bit).
Any chances of realistically making the playoffs this season will have to be by winning the NFC East. By taking care of the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday, the Washington Redskins on the road in 14, and the Dallas Cowboys at home in Week 17, they’ll finish 3-3 in the division.
Oddly enough, they need the Dallas Cowboys to win on Thanksgiving vs the Washington Redskins, and they’ll also need Dallas and Washington to either finish 8-8 or worse or finish 9-7.
Regarding the latter, Dallas has to lose their remaining conference games after this Thursday as they are currently 4-3 vs the conference, which means they’ll have to finish with a 5-7 conference record.
The Giants with a tiebreaker in the season series and a 6-6 conference record — should they win out — would have a better record than Dallas if it comes down to a tiebreaker.
It would take Washington 2-4 in the NFC East to win a tiebreaker with them at 9-7.
Is The Wildcard Possible?
It would take a miracle for the Giants to rise to the sixth and final playoff spot. Consider that the Seattle Seahawks, for instance, play the San Francisco 49ers twice and the Arizona Cardinals once down the stretch.
That puts Seattle at eight wins should they take care of business and they play the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers — each vying for playoff spots as well and in front of them. Due to a 6-6 conference record, it’ll be take teams in front of them completely nosediving for New York to get in.
What are your thoughts on the Giants playoff chances? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] JETS OPEN AS 9.5-POINT HOME UNDERDOGS VS PATRIOTS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8626.jpg?resize=850%2C566&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 21, 2018 | SPORTS
That Might Be Too Low, Son
Todd Bowles’ New York Jets are coming off their worst defeat of 2018, and unsurprisingly they are expected to continue their losing ways this Sunday vs their familiar foes.
The New York Jets are listed as +9.5 home underdogs at MetLife Stadium this Sunday when they welcome in the New England Patriots.
New York (3-7) are coming off a abominable 41-10 destruction at MetLife Stadium to the Buffalo Bills back in Week 10.
It was bad from the beginning, and got worse as the day went on as Matt Barkley, fresh off the street, threw for 232 passing yards and two touchdowns while LeSean McCoy snapped out of his season-long funk with his first 100-yard day to go along with two scores for Buffalo.
Depleted as they were, with Josh McCown starting in place of the Sam Darnold due to an ankle sprain, the New York Jets looked like a team that quit before the game started, allowing one of the worst offenses in NFL history to that point to score 41 points with their fourth starting quarterback this season.
The New England Patriots (7-3) are coming off an equally as porous loss to the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium as they were drubbed 34-10.
The Patriots defense was carved up by Marcus Mariota and the Titans while Tennessee’s defense shut down the Patriots, holding them to their season-low of 10 points.
Tom Brady struggled with pressure in his face most of the day, finishing the game 21-for-41 with 254 passing yards and no touchdowns, while being sacked three times.
These two teams last met back in Week 17 of last season as the New England Patriots cruised past the New York Jets 26-6 at Gillette Stadium.
Tom Brady finished with 190 passing yards and two touchdowns while Dion Lewis finished with 133 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns for New England.
What are your thoughts on the New York Jets’ Week 12 matchup? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] GIANTS OPEN AS 6-POINT ROAD UNDERDOGS VS EAGLES](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8625-1.jpg?resize=1000%2C600&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 21, 2018 | SPORTS
Las Vegas not buying 9-7 Talk For G-Men
Odell Beckham Jr. and the New York Giants are enjoying their first winning streak of the season, but that’s not enough to sway Las Vegas into thinking they’ll topple one of their division rivals this Sunday.
The New York Giants are listed as +6 underdogs for their Week 12 road visit to Lincoln Financial Field with the Philadelphia Eagles.
New York (3-7) is coming off a 38-35 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday that saw the G-Men put together their best offensive showing of the season to this point.
Eli Manning tossed two touchdowns on a efficient day at chilly MetLife Field while Saquon Barkley rushed for 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The defense allowed their share of big plays, allowing Tampa Bay back into the game in the fourth quarter, but the Giants four forced turnovers and a stop on a 4th and 1 in the red zone were huge in New York’s first home win of the season.
The Philadelphia Eagles (4-6) are coming off an embarrassing 48-7 shellacking at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to the red-hot New Orleans Saints.
Doug Pederson’s Eagles were run roughshod over by the Saints offense, which put up 546 total yards and averaged 7.9 yards per play.
The offense wasn’t any better, as Carson Wentz tied a career-high three interceptions and was held without a touchdown in the worst performance of his young career.
These two teams last met in Week 6 of this season when the Philadelphia Eagles pounded the New York Giants 34-13 at MetLife Stadium.
Carson Wentz went for 278 passing yards and three touchdowns and the Philadelphia Eagles defense lived in the opposing backfield for much of the game, offsetting a spectacular performance by rookie running back Saquon Barkley, who went for 229 yards from scrimmage.
What are your thoughts on the New York Giants Week 12 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] RUSSELL, NETS FINISH STRONG IN MIAMI FOR ROAD VICTORY](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8623-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 21, 2018 | SPORTS
Back At Cha’!
Eager to play a team that they were walloped by just a week ago at home, the Brooklyn Nets visit to Miami was all about returning the favor and getting a bitter taste out of their mouth.
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Miami Heat 104-92 on Tuesday night at American Airlines Arena to get back into the win column.
D’Angelo Russell scored a team-high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds, six assists and a career-high four steals in Brooklyn’s win. Russell scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half. It’s the the fifth time the Brooklyn Nets guard has scored 20 or more points in the past seven games.
A low scoring affair in the first half, the scoring ramped up in the second half for both teams as they each scored 35 points in the third quarter.
Brooklyn trailed 78-74 after three, but turned up the intensity on defense against the Miami Vice laden Heat in the fourth.
The Nets would take a eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter behind D’Angelo Russell’s strong push and would shutdown the Heat the rest of the way, outscoring them 30-15 in the period.
Brooklyn had their troubles finding the basket in the first half, but with off-ball action and moving bodies, they would slowly start finding better shot attempts and looks, particularly in the paint where they scored 58 points and got to the free throw line 26 times.
Hassan Whiteside finished with 21 points and 23 rebounds for the Miami Heat, as he was active on the glass and as a scorer with 21 shot attempts.
Miami scored 70 points in the paint last Wednesday when these two teams clashed in Brooklyn, an absurdly high number for Nets to allow.
That game was without Jarrett Allen, who recorded his third straight double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds tonight and played a role in holding the Miami Heat to only 50 points in the paint.
Brooklyn’s defense redeemed themselves from last week’s 120-107 loss to the Miami Heat as they limited Miami to 36 percent shooting from the field and 21.9 percent from beyond the arc.
It’s their third straight victory in Miami over the Miami Heat dating back to last season.
They’ll look to continue their winning ways on the second night of a back-to-back as they visit the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Wednesday night.
What are your thoughts on Brooklyn’s victory on Tuesday night? Leave your comments below!
