Now that I’ve had a little time to process Michigan beating UConn in the men’s national championship game Monday night, ending the Wolverines’ four-game skid in title games and giving the Big Ten its first championship since 2000, I can start to at least picture the 2026-27 season. And to no surprise in the NIL era, it is the wealthy blue-bloods like Duke and the Wolverines who have opened atop the BetMGM board.

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Michigan was never close to an underdog in this this year’s tournament in becoming the first school all-time to start five transfers in a national title game. It was clearly the best team, finishing with a plus-114 point margin, the seventh-highest total ever by a national champion and sixth-best since the field expanded in 1985. 

Favorites went a whopping 49-18 SU in the dance (that’s NIL talking) — including one run of 22 straight wins — and 36-31 ATS. It finished as the highest-scoring tournament (averaged 149.7 PPG) since 1993 and featured the highest points-per-game differential (+14.4) since 1993. Freshmen totaled their most points ever.

Should Michigan return to the championship game on April 5, 2027, it would basically have home-court advantage because next year’s Final Four is at Ford Field in Detroit (though technically Michigan State is the host). The Spartans had been the last Big Ten school to win it all in men’s hoops, in 2000. How long ago was that? No current Michigan player was alive, and head coach Dusty May was Indiana’s student manager.

There already has been some decent futures movement at BetMGM even with the 2027 national championship odds not having been active long. Duke, the only non-Big Ten team to beat the Wolverines this season, opened +1100 but is now +800. So is Michigan, which was +1300 for next season entering the title game but has taken the most handle (34.3%) and tickets (14.9%) so far. Duke is second in both, with Florida third. 

I sure would have liked to have seen a Duke-Michigan rematch on Monday, but UConn of course staged that epic comeback in the Elite Eight. The transfer portal is currently open, so there’s not much point giving out any 2026-27 recommendations yet.

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I’ll also address the University of North Carolina, which hasn’t moved from its open of +2500 at BetMGM but is taking just 2.0% of tickets and 1.8% of handle. The Tar Heels were rejected by the likes of May, Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger for their head coach opening, so perhaps school officials panicked a bit in hiring Michael Malone. He is UNC’s first hire outside of the Tar Heels “family” since Frank McGuire in 1952. 

Yes, Malone won the NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets in the 2022-23 season but was fired in 2024-25 and has never been a college head coach — and not even an assistant at that level since 2001 at Manhattan. Malone is well-respected for his X’s and O’s acumen and has spent the past 10-plus months as an ESPN analyst. Such a baffling hire, as Malone had no formal ties to North Carolina other than his daughter Bridget being a sophomore on UNC’s volleyball team.

Reportedly, the Heels felt they had to make a move quickly with the transfer portal opening and could not wait on a decision from Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, a two-time national championship coach at Florida. Donovan wasn’t going to make a decision until the Bulls’ season ended on April 12, but the team just overhauled its front office so he likely leaves anyways.

Again, it’s not clear exactly what the Heels might look like next season with the portal currently open – a few UNC guys have already entered, led by former four-star freshman and starting point guard Derek Dixon. Malone has no modern-day recruiting experience (he does have a connection with prominent international agent Misko Raznatovic through Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic), but UNC surely will be a preseason AP Top 25 club on name alone.

Superstar freshman Caleb Wilson is a goner as a top-10 NBA Draft pick, but 7-footer Henri Veesaar is an All-America-level player if Malone can keep him around. UNC’s current recruiting class sits 29th nationally on sister site 247Sports’ composite rankings, led by four-star guard Dylan Mingo, who is ranked as the No. 8 player in the country.

When looking at the below odds, again notice no West Coast teams among the favorites (with the Pac-12 coming back). We still haven’t had a team from out West win the dance since Arizona in 1997, although the UCLA women won their first crown Sunday. 

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BetMGM 2027 national championship favorites

The NFL Draft is just about two weeks away for the Minnesota Vikings, and with nine picks, the club will hope to extract some prospects from later rounds to make up for mostly miserable drafts over the last four seasons. And if the team strikes gold, one of the draftees might be Wisconsin outside linebacker Mason Reiger.

Minnesota may have found another developmental front-seven option.

The Vikings spent a Top 30 visit on Reiger, usually a decent indicator that he could end up with the franchise in the draft’s late rounds or from undrafted free agency soon after.

A Wisconsin Sleeper Has Entered the Vikings’ Draft Orbit

Get to know some possible late-rounders.

Reiger to Meet with MIN

Every team is allotted Top 30 visits, and the Vikings usually use them on players from all rounds, even if the player won’t be drafted.

Late last month, NFL draft insider Ryan Fowler tweeted, ‘Source: Wisconsin EDGE Mason Reiger has a 30 visit scheduled with the Minnesota Vikings. 6’5″, 250 lbs pass-rusher was named the Defensive MVP of the Shrine game after recording three sacks & a FF. Also had a private workout with New Orleans.”

The meeting turned heads because Minnesota could use some help at EDGE, especially youthful options, as Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel headline the position (both age 28 or older), with Dallas Turner (not old) at OLB3.

The Bio

Reiger is undersized as an outside linebacker but right on point as an off-ball linebacker. The kicker? He plays more with an EDGE’s skill set. His speed is phenomenal for his position, his length outstanding. The spin move is also there. It’s just that he’s not the best tackler in the Big Ten, and that will need significant refinement in the pros.

He logged 10 sacks in the last two years at Wisconsin and Louisville.

NFL Draft Buzz on Reiger: “The pass rush ability is real. His first step and closing burst are uncommon, and the inside spin move is already a weapon. When he’s operating as a designated rusher on third down, working off the ball in a two-point stance, he can collapse the pocket in a hurry.”

“The 45 pressures he racked up at Wisconsin, plus the Shrine Bowl destruction, tell a consistent story about a guy who can get after quarterbacks. His grade as a pass rusher backed that up all year, and the arc of his development from a mid-60s graded player in 2021-22 to an elite-level rusher by 2025 suggests a player who is still ascending.”

Reiger may look older for his age, but he’s still 23. A bit old — not ancient rookie age.

NBD added, “The fit is clear: a 3-4 outside linebacker or a wide-nine edge rusher in a defense that can use him situationally as a rookie and gradually expand his role as he develops. Reiger is not a three-down starter on Day 1, but he absolutely can be a productive rotational rusher who gives offensive tackles a different look.”

“The former walk-on story, the injury comeback, the Shrine Bowl dominance, the steady improvement year over year, all of it paints a picture of a player who will maximize every opportunity he gets.”

Minnesota’s Current OLBs

The scouting report suggests Reiger would latch onto the back end of the Vikings’ EDGE depth chart, hoping to work his way up over the duration of a rookie contract.

With the draft 15 days away, here’s Minnesota’s OLB corps:

• Jonathan Greenard
• Andrew Van Ginkel
• Dallas Turner
• Bo Richter
• Tyler Batty
• Chazz Chambliss

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Reiger to former NFLer Kyler Fackrell and noted, “He doesn’t look like a pro pre-snap, but he certainly plays like one after the snap. He lacks the size/anchor to consistently set the edge and can be controlled when tackles latch on, but he’s unusually talented to work off contact for quick wins at the point of attack.”

Where in the Draft?

This is the fun part. The Vikings won’t have to spend precious draft capital to obtain Reiger. Right now, he’s listed at No. 219 on the Consensus Big Board, and conveniently, Minnesota has three 7th-Round draft picks in that territory.

It’s not unreasonable to assume that Minnesota will leave the draft with an extra EDGE rusher, and Reiger perfectly blends draft placement and a style that defensive coordinator Brian Flores might enjoy.

Former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made a flurry of strange trades last summer. The 7th-Rounders on tap are a result.

The Vikings haven’t drafted a player from the University of Wisconsin in 21 years.

Hall of Famer Steve McMichael, a key member of the dominating defense that helped the 1985 Chicago Bears win the Super Bowl, has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the Concussion & CTE Foundation said. McMichael died last year at 67 after a five-year fight with ALS. “Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death,” his wife, Misty McMichael, said in a statement released by the foundation. “I donated Steve’s brain to inspire new research into the link between them.” CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in athletes in contact sports, combat veterans and others exposed to repetitive head trauma. It has been known to cause violent mood swings, impulsive behavior and depression. It can only be diagnosed after death.

According to a 2021 study by the Harvard Medical School and the Boston University CTE Center, NFL players are more than four times more likely to develop ALS than other men. Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, said about 6% of individuals with CTE in the brain bank also have ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS,” McKee said.

A two-time All-Pro and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, McMichael was known as “Mongo” and “Ming The Merciless” while playing in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games from 1981-93. He ranks second to Richard Dent on the Bears’ career sacks list with 92 1/2.

McMichael played his final NFL season with Green Bay in 1994, and then went on to a career in pro wrestling.

In 2021, McMichael revealed he had ALS, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. He followed the research seeking a link between ALS and CTE and pledged his brain to be studied, according to Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation.

“Steve McMichael was known for his strength, toughness, and larger-than-life presence, but his final act was to give a piece of himself back to the sports community so that we might have a chance to save ourselves,” Nowinski said. “I appreciate all the former athletes, including many of Steve’s ’85 Bears teammates, who are raising funds and volunteering to participate in CTE research so we can create a brighter future for athletes everywhere.”

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Teams that have a good shot at meeting in the first round of the playoffs clash when the Atlanta Hawks take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Atlanta is coming off a 108-105 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday, while Cleveland downed the Memphis Grizzlies 142-126 that same night. The Hawks (45-34), who hold down the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, are 22-17 on the road this season. The Cavaliers (50-29), who are the fourth seed in the East, are 25-14 on their home court.

Tipoff from Rocket Arena in Cleveland is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Hawks lead the all-time series 133-115, and have won four of the last six meetings. The Cavaliers are a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Hawks vs. Cavaliers odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 235.5. Before making any Hawks vs. Cavaliers picks, check out the Hawks vs. Cavaliers predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered Week 25 on a sizzling 47-20 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Now, the model has simulated Hawks vs. Cavaliers 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Cavaliers vs. Hawks:

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Top Hawks vs. Cavaliers predictions

After 10,000 simulations of Hawks vs. Cavaliers, SportsLine’s model is going Under on the total (235.5). The Under has hit in six of the last 10 head-to-head matchups. The Under has also hit in three of the past four Atlanta games, and in 40 of 79 games this season. The Under has also hit in 24 of Cleveland’s last 39 home games.

The SportsLine model is projecting the Hawks to have just two players scoring 18 or more points, led by Jalen Johnson’s 19.8 points. Donovan Mitchell, who is questionable with an ankle injury, is projected to lead the Cavaliers with 25.8 points scored, but only two other Cleveland players are projected to score more than 15 points. The teams are projected to combine for 235 total points, making the Under the value play. See the spread pick at SportsLine.

How to make Cavaliers vs. Hawks picks

After simulating each possession 10,000 times, the model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks. 

So who wins Cavaliers vs. Hawks, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Hawks vs. Cavaliers spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.

According to sources at WSL clubs, Bompastor’s comments are widely agreed with.

At the leading English clubs, players are developed by Professional Game Academies (PGA), funded and operated by the Football Association.

The FA first awarded 20 initial PGA licences to clubs in England’s two top tiers in 2023 as part of a major revamp.

From the 2028-29 season, WSL Football – the company that operates the Women’s Super League – will take over full responsibility.

As well as the PGAs, lower-tier clubs often create partnerships with schools and colleges to form a local talent pool. They can also set up their own youth teams and academies but would not be part of a professional league.

The FA has linked up with Women’s National League clubs – the third tier – to provide funds and resources for developing young talent, as well as building connections with WSL sides who want to loan players out to clubs at that level.

Some academies have also been involved in the Women’s National League Cup and Plate competitions, and they can enter local Senior County Cup tournaments.

The maximum number of matches teams can play in a PGA league – competitions set up for age groups up to Under-21 level – has increased from 19 to 27 in the past five seasons.

In summary, England’s youngsters are getting more game time and playing in a wider range of competitions – but it is not at the elite level.

There are gaps in the data but both the FA and WSL Football have confirmed the number of minutes played in the top tier by English academy graduates has dropped dramatically in recent seasons because of the increased competition for places.

Manchester City manager Andree Jeglertz told BBC Sport it is “the biggest step a young player will take” when they break into a WSL squad.

“I can only look at our own academy and it is a big step to go from there to being a senior player, especially for clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City – teams who want to be competing in Europe,” he added.

“What is the best solution to that? I don’t know. There definitely has to be some way to bridge that gap, whether that’s how they are training or [the] professional [environment].”

Deontay Wilder re-established himself in the heavyweight division by outpointing Derek Chisora on Saturday night. Just days later, a route to becoming two-time world champion has presented itself.

In a hectic affair, two of the three judges ruled that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ had done enough to spoil Chisora’s farewell fight and pull off the upset, securing a first win on the world stage since losing his WBC heavyweight title to Tyson Fury in 2020.

Prior to the fight, Chisora was ranked as the IBF’s number 2 heavyweight contender and Wilder is expected to benefit from that rating, opening the door to a clash against the victor of Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr – who fight in a final eliminator next month.

However, it is with the WBA where Wilder could become a two-time titleholder, as he has been offered a fight by Al Siesta, promoter of WBA Regular heavyweight champion, Murat Gassiev, on X.

“Congratulations to our brother in IBA ‘The Bronze Bomber’ for his victory over the legend Chisora.

“Deontay you are a great champion and it would be our honour for you to compete for Murat Gassiev’s WBA title next. We are ready for anyone.”

Whilst Gassiev – who has also called out Moses Itauma – currently holds the WBA ‘Regular’ title and Oleksandr Usyk remains the recognised ‘Super’ champion, the situation within the sanctioning body could soon shift.

Unified champion Usyk is set to face former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven next month, with the WBC already confirming its belt will be on the line for that bout. However, as of writing, the WBA and IBF have yet to clarify their positions. Should either body refuse to sanction the fight, Usyk could be forced to vacate or be stripped of one or both titles.

That uncertainty is what makes the WBA route particularly relevant for Wilder. If Usyk relinquishes the belt – whether immediately or as part of his planned run of final fights – the ‘Regular’ title picture involving Gassiev could quickly be elevated, creating a clearer path to full championship status.

Several WWE Superstars, including Liv Morgan, recently attended a wild costume party hosted by Alexa Bliss and her husband, Ryan Caberara. Little Miss Bliss’ friend and popular hair & makeup artist Ian Maxion posted about the party.

Both Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan will be in action at WrestleMania 42. Little Miss Bliss is set to team up with Charlotte Flair to lock horns with The Irresistible Forces, The Bella Twins, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria in a Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Match for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. Meanwhile, Morgan will face Stephanie Vaquer for the WWE Women’s World Championship.

Ahead of this year’s Show of Shows, Bliss and her husband, Ryan Cabrera, threw a wild 18+ costume party. Hair & makeup artist Ian Maxion recently took to Instagram to post a video of the party in which Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Alexa Bliss, and CJ Perry were spotted dressed up as different characters. In the post’s caption, Maxion seemingly revealed the party’s name was “The Greatest Sh*t Show.”

“@alexa_bliss_wwe_ and @ryancabrera present ‘The Greatest Sh*t Show.’ And we got all dressed up for the circus! 🤡🎪🤹‍♂️,” he wrote.

Check out the Instagram post by clicking here.

Liv Morgan and CJ Perry reacted to his post by leaving comments on it. The Miracle Kid called the party “iconic,” and Perry wrote that she had a lot of fun.

“So iconic,” Morgan wrote.

Check out screenshots of their comments below:

Liv Morgan could miss WrestleMania 42 after an injury on WWE RAW

On the latest edition of Monday Night RAW, Liv Morgan was shown talking to Roxanne Perez in a backstage segment before Stephanie Vaquer came out of nowhere to push Morgan into Perez. La Primera then threw The Miracle Kid onto a television. This spot has since been doing the rounds on social media, as Morgan and Perez’s heads collided, and both stars were put in a concussion protocol. The former WWE Women’s World Champion even got a nasty bump on her forehead.

Bryan Alvarez revealed on Wrestling Observer Live that Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer could have been canceled if WrestleMania 42 was this weekend, but the match could take place as scheduled because there is still time in ‘Mania. However, this wasn’t a 100% guarantee at the moment, as it is a head injury.

“They were both put in concussion protocol. It’s wait and see. I was pretty much told, if WrestleMania was this weekend, that match probably ain’t happening. Two weeks from now, I guess we’ll see if it happens,” Alvarez said.

It remains to be seen if Liv Morgan and Stephanie Vaquer will lock horns for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 42 as scheduled.