Joel Klatt, Matt Leinart and Mark Ingram discussed who has the edge the rest of the way in the Big 12 conference. They discuss teams such as the Kansas State Cougars, Colorado Buffaloes and more!
Chelsea continue their 100% start to the WSL season under new coach Sonia Bompastor with a 2-1 win at Arsenal, to leave their London rivals with just one win from their opening four matches.
Point spread: Bears -1 (Bears favored to win by more than 1 point, otherwise Jaguars cover) Moneyline: Bears -118 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $18.47 total); Jaguars -102 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $19.80 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 44.5 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Packers -5.5 (Packers favored to win by more than 5.5 points, otherwise Cardinals cover) Moneyline: Packers -238 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $14.20 total); Cardinals +195 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $29.50 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 47 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Titans -3 (Titans favored to win by more than 3 points, otherwise Colts cover) Moneyline: Titans-148 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $16.76 total); Colts +124 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $22.40 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 43 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Texans -6.5 (Texans favored to win by more than 6.5 points, otherwise Patriots cover) Moneyline: Texans -278 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $13.60 total); Patriots +225 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $32.50 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 37.5 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Bucs -3.5 (Bucs favored to win by more than 3.5 points, otherwise Saints cover) Moneyline: Buccaneers -170 favorites to win (bet $10 to win $15.88 total); Saints +142 underdogs to win(bet $10 to win $24.20 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 42 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Eagles -9.5 (Eagles favored to win by more than 9.5 points, otherwise Browns cover) Moneyline: Eagles -470 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $12.13 total); Browns +360 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $46 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 42.5 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Ravens -7 (Ravens favored to win by more than 7 points, otherwise Commanders cover) Moneyline: Ravens -310 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $13.23 total); Commanders +250 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $35 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 51.5 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Chargers -3 (Chargers favored to win by more than 3 points, otherwise Broncos cover) Moneyline: Chargers -148 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $16.76 total); Broncos +124 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $22.40 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 35.5 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Steelers -3 (Steelers favored to win by more than 3 points, otherwise Raiders cover) Moneyline: Steelers -162 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $16.17 total); Raiders +136 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $23.60 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 36.5 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Lions -3 (Lions favored to win by more than 3 points, otherwise Cowboys cover) Moneyline: Lions -166 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $16.02 total); Cowboys +140 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $24 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 52.5 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Falcons -6 (Falcons favored to win by more than 6 points, otherwise Panthers cover) Moneyline: Falcons -258 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $13.88 total); Panthers +210 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $31 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 47 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Bengals -3.5 (Bengals favored to win by more than 3.5 points, otherwise Giants cover) Moneyline: Bengals -185 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $15.41 total); Giants +154 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $25.40 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 47 points scored by both teams combined
Point spread: Bills -2 (Bills favored to win by more than 2.5 points, otherwise Jets cover) Moneyline: Bills -135 favorites to win(bet $10 to win $17.41 total); Jets +114 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $21.40 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 40.5 points scored by both teams combined
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Get more from National Football LeagueFollow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip has announced his retirement from football aged 33.
The defender joined the Reds in 2016 from German side Schalke and went on to make 201 appearances for Liverpool, winning five major trophies.
Matip provided an assist in the 2019 Champions League final for Divock Origi’s goal in the 2-0 victory against Tottenham in Madrid, helping Liverpool win their sixth European Cup.
Advertisement
Injuries limited the defender to just nine appearances in Liverpool’s 2019-20 Premier League-winning side, which ended the club’s 30-year wait for a league title.
Matip left Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, having sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury which curtailed his final season at the club.
He earned 27 caps for his country and retires as a free agent, having failed to join another club following his departure from Liverpool.
In hopes of trying to increase the revenues and influence of NASCAR Cup Series teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed a lawsuit against NASCAR and Chairman Jim France.
The teams filed the lawsuit Oct. 2 in federal court in Charlotte, claiming NASCAR’s actions violate antitrust laws.
This story will be updated with the latest developments and analysis in the case. Information comes from documents filed in the case and through conversations with those knowledgeable on antitrust issues and NASCAR racing.
Advertisement
What is the latest happening in the suit?
23XI and Front Row filed a motion Oct. 9 for a preliminary injunction to allow them to race in 2025 as chartered teams — they have refused to sign the charter agreement, which was signed Sept. 6 by the 13 other Cup organizations — while the lawsuit proceeds.
To get a preliminary injunction, 23XI and Front Row primarily must show a likelihood of success on the merits of the case and irreparable harm if the injunction is not issued. They also must show that a preliminary injunction is in the public interest.
The teams claim that the guaranteed spot in every race (which a charter team gets) is critical to their business. The Daytona 500 alone is worth about 15% of the entire season’s purse, according to the teams’ court filings, and “there is a risk that irreplaceable sponsors and drivers could abandon [the teams] if they have to compete as open teams and do not qualify for all their races.”
Advertisement
Front Row owner Bob Jenkins in court filings stated: “Because of our love for the sport and our determination to maintain the race team we have built, we are determined to race next year even if we have to do so on an ‘open’ basis, but at some point, the losses may become so severe that we simply cannot continue — causing irreparable harm to our business, our employees, and the communities and fans we are associated with.”
NASCAR indicated in an Oct. 9 court filing on the scheduling for the hearing on the injunction request, why it opposes the motion. NASCAR says the case is more a contract case and not an antitrust case and the teams’ motion doesn’t meet the criteria for a preliminary injunction.
NASCAR argues that an injunction is not a necessary measure because if it ultimately loses the case, the court could determine monetary damages that would compensate the teams.
What is next?
Advertisement
NASCAR must file a response to that preliminary injunction motion by Oct. 16. The judge initially scheduled the hearing for Oct. 16 but NASCAR, with its offices in Daytona Beach, asked for it to be postponed because their offices were shut down for at least a couple of days because of Hurricane Milton. The hearing was moved to Nov. 4 with each side getting 30 minutes. The judge wouldn’t necessarily have to rule on the day of the hearing but typically would in the days following.
The teams also have asked for limited discovery to obtain documents and files from NASCAR that they believe could help them prove they will succeed on the merits of the case. The judge has asked for NASCAR to respond to that motion by Oct. 16 and then for any reply from the teams to be submitted by Oct. 23.
Who are the parties of the suit?
The 23XI Racing team is owned by driver Denny Hamlin (who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing), basketball icon Michael Jordan and Jordan business associate Curtis Polk. They field cars for Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, and plan to add a third car next year regardless of the lawsuit status.
Advertisement
The Front Row Motorsports team is owned by restaurant franchisee Bob Jenkins. It fields cars for Michael McDowell (who will be replaced by Noah Gragson next year) and Todd Gilliland. It plans to add a third car next year regardless of the lawsuit status.
NASCAR is owned by the France family, primarily Jim France and France’s niece, Lesa France Kennedy. Jim’s grandfather, Bill France Sr., founded NASCAR in 1948.
What are the basics of the suit?
The teams say that a premier stock-car racing series must have premier stock-car racing teams to have a premier stock-car racing product. They argue that because NASCAR owns the series and the majority of the tracks while also requiring the teams to purchase parts and pieces for their cars from a NASCAR-approved supplier, as well as prohibiting teams and tracks from participating in other racing (primarily stock-car racing) series without NASCAR’s approval, that they violate antitrust law by controlling the market where premier stock-car racing teams can compete. They view the new 2025 charter agreement as unfair when it comes to revenue distribution to the teams in combination with the restrictions.
Advertisement
What is the charter agreement?
The 2025 charter agreement is designed to be an extension of the charter system that was formed in 2016 as NASCAR attempted to address the team business model by defining the guaranteed revenues teams would get and guaranteeing a spot in every Cup race. It in many ways acts as a franchise but differs from other sports leagues in that the teams do not have ownership in the league itself. The teams and NASCAR had been negotiating a new agreement for a couple of years to replace the one that expires at the end of the 2024 season. On the late afternoon/early evening of Sept. 6, the teams were sent a final NASCAR proposed agreement and given until midnight to sign it.
What are the teams asking for?
The lawsuit isn’t too specific about what the teams are asking for. They are asking for any relief necessary to restore competition and unspecified monetary damages.
Advertisement
What does Michael Jordan say?
The basketball icon told FOX Sports on Oct. 6 prior to the Talladega race: “I did it for the smaller teams as well. It’s not just me. I think everybody should have an opportunity to be successful in any business. My voice is saying that it hasn’t been happening. … Hopefully we [at both sides] can come to our senses and figure out something that can make sense for everybody.”
Michael Jordan says he hopes for a quick resolution to the lawsuit with NASCAR
What does NASCAR say?
Jim France and NASCAR President Steve Phelps, when approached by FOX Sports during the Talladega race weekend on Oct. 6, declined comment on the lawsuit. The sanctioning body has yet to issue a statement other than what is in public court filings.
In a Sept. 18 letter to 23XI Racing, an exhibit in the court filings, Phelps wrote: “It appears after 2+ years of negotiations with Teams, both collectively and individually, compromise and concession on both sides up until the last minute, we firmly believe that we have come up with a document that is fair and equitable to the industry. … You suggest that NASCAR somehow has ‘monopoly power’ and that 23XI and other Teams ‘depend on [NASCAR] for a competitive opportunity’ and have been presented with a ‘take-it-or-leave-it offer.’ We feel — and our attorneys have confirmed — that this contention is misplaced — and similar types of claims have already been rejected by courts.”
Advertisement
What do other team owners say?
RCR owner Richard Childress: “I didn’t have a choice. We had to sign. I have over 400 employees, OEM [manufacturer] contracts, contracts with sponsors. I’ve got to take care of my team.”
Trackhouse owner Justin Marks: “It’s a wait-and-see game. It’s going to take a long time to take to get to any sort of point where we know what the future looks like. … For us, we just have to focus on Trackhouse. Ultimately, we got to a place where I was comfortable signing the contract. We did a great job the last couple of years building a viable business under the current arrangement and the new one will continue that in our standpoint.”
RFK Racing owner (and driver) Brad Keselowski: “We’re always going to be fighting over a piece of the pie. … I just want peace. I want our entire industry to become laser-focused on growing the sport and creating incentives where we all win when that happens.”
Advertisement
What do drivers say?
Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports): “We’re probably one of the only sports, if not the only sport, that athlete salary has gone down in the last couple of decades. Where you look at, clearly, most athletes’ salaries are going up — not just athletes but coaches, staff members, everybody. Obviously we would love to see it trend upward instead of the opposite, which it’s been, but I think with that, the teams probably have to make a lot more money to make it viable to pay the people that are working for the organizations.”
Joey Logano (Team Penske): “Does it affect me? I’m sure someway, somehow, someday, it probably will. But at the moment, there’s nothing I can do either way. So I’m just kind of letting it roll and see how the cards fall and see what happens.”
Michael McDowell (Front Row): “Bob Jenkins is so dedicated to this sport. … He has spent millions and millions and millions and millions and millions of his own dollars to be in this sport and to be competitive. Nobody does that unless they’re insane or super passionate. Bob is very passionate.”
Advertisement
Kevin Harvick says Kyle Larson is a better all-around driver than Max Verstappen!
Who are the lawyers?
The teams’ main attorney is Jeffrey Kessler, who is known for representing NCAA athletes in their quest to earn money from their name, image and likeness. He also has represented U.S. women’s national team players in their quest for equal pay. He also represented Tom Brady during “Deflategate.”
NASCAR is represented by Chris Yates, a noted attorney who has represented the U.S. Soccer Federation, the UFC, World Aquatics, Fanatics, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Who is the judge?
The judge is Frank Whitney, who was appointed to the bench in 2006. He is a former Army reservist, a military intelligence officer, and spent 15 years as a federal prosecutor in North Carolina. As far as racing cases, he currently is the judge in a Video Privacy Protection Act class action lawsuit against NASCAR. He also has presided over BK Racing owner Ron Devine’s lawsuit against the bankruptcy trustee over whether he owes money to the former team’s bankruptcy estate. Magistrate judge Susan Rodriguez, who would handle certain motions in the case, is the magistrate for the data privacy case and also recently presided over a breach of contract trial between Front Row owner Bob Jenkins and Devine and BK Racing co-owner Michael DiSeveria over who was responsible to pay for liens on a charter FRM bought from BK.
Advertisement
How long could this take?
This case could settle at any time. But it could take two years or more if it went to trial. And then any appeal could take a year or more. And if there are decisions that could merit an appeal before the case continues toward trial, it could take even longer.
Will the teams win?
There is no question NASCAR controls many aspects of the sport. It has faced antitrust actions twice over the last 25 years, but those complaints came from racetracks that wanted Cup races (NASCAR prevailed in one, settled the other). The key for the teams is to get past what most likely will be a motion to dismiss (where NASCAR would ask the judge to rule that it didn’t violate the law even if everything the race teams allege is true) before discovery occurs. If NASCAR fails to persuade the judge to throw out the case, the teams would get to look at NASCAR’s books and emails, which would then give them the opportunity to find any egregious acts that discourage competition. It is possible that alone would push NASCAR to settle.
Advertisement
Will NASCAR win?
NASCAR leadership could argue that they gave teams a charter agreement to help them and were under no obligation to do so — and that there could be more competition if there was no charter agreement whatsoever because no one would be guaranteed a spot in the field. They could argue that they don’t stifle competition because there are other stock-car series, albeit on a smaller scale (such as the CARS tour), or other racing series that teams could compete in. And they could argue against the premise that they are legally required to have premier racing teams competing in their events.
And what would be the potential outcomes?
That is the biggest question. The teams appear to want their preferred terms of the charter deal — they would like to see permanent charters, more of a say in the governance of the sport and more control of their intellectual property than what is in the 2025 charter agreement. But there could be other/different changes that address the antitrust issues. Could NASCAR be required to sell the tracks, and if so, who would buy them, and how would that address the teams’ issues? Could NASCAR change clauses in the charter agreement that don’t necessarily deal with revenue awarded to the teams but which satisfy the legal issues and would then force the teams to potentially see if another major stock-car series could be developed? That is what gives this case the potential to have a major impact on the future of the sport.
Advertisement
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Get more from NASCAR Cup SeriesFollow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
You must be logged in to post a comment Login