SAN FRANCISCO — Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Pick Six newsletter!
I don’t know how it happened, but the Super Bowl is now only three days away — at least, that’s what I’ve been told. I actually have no idea how far away it is because I’ve lost all sense of time out here in San Francisco. If I’ve learned one thing this week, it’s that nothing about the Pacific Time Zone makes sense. I never know what time it is. I wake up at odd hours and never know when to go to bed.
If you’re wondering what I’ve been up to over the past 24 hours, I got to go down to Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday and sample EVERY piece of food that’s going to be served at the Super Bowl — and that includes oysters. Yup, they’re going to have oysters at the Super Bowl, and someone will even be shucking them.
Let’s stop talking about food, though, and start talking about football. In today’s newsletter, we’ll be making some predictions for the awards being handed out at NFL Honors. Plus, we’ve got some Super Bowl picks.
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As always, here’s your reminder to tell all your friends to sign up for the newsletter. Let’s get to the rundown.
1. NFL Honors is here: Here are our predictions
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If there’s one thing that always seems to get lost in the shuffle during Super Bowl week, it’s the fact that the NFL hands out all of its major awards. That will be happening during the NFL Honors ceremony.
This year, that means if you want to know who’s going to win MVP, you’ll need to tune in to the NFL Honors show, which will air at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. During the two-hour ceremony, hosted by Jon Hamm, we’ll see every award handed out — from Coach of the Year to Offensive Player of the Year to Defensive Rookie of the Year and everything in between.
Show: 2026 NFL Honors Date: Thursday, Feb. 5 Location: Palace of Fine Arts (San Francisco) Time: 9 p.m. ET TV: NBC
Before the awards get handed out, our NFL crew here at CBS Sports voted on each award. Several tight races will come to an end at the ceremony. There are five finalists for MVP, but that race feels like it’s down to Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye. Coach of the Year is also up for grabs, and it feels like that will probably go to Mike Vrabel, Mike Macdonald, Liam Coen or Ben Johnson.
So who did we vote for? Let’s check it out.
We had 12 voters, and seven of them used their MVP vote on Maye while the other five voted for Stafford (I voted for Stafford). The Coach of the Year award was also a nail-biter, with Vrabel beating out Macdonald by two votes (6-4). The only other vote-getter was Kyle Shanahan, who received three votes. You can check out our full list of award winners here.
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2. Super Bowl LX picks: We’re all taking the Seahawks
I’ve basically spent half my week tracking down everyone’s Super Bowl pick here at CBS Sports. Pete Prisco claims he’s in San Francisco, but it’s been three days and I still haven’t seen him. The good news for me is that I didn’t need to see him in person to get his pick because he wrote it for the website on Wednesday.
Anyway, I have four picks here, and we’re all taking the Seahawks, which seems like a giant jinx waiting to happen.
With that in mind, let’s get to the Super Bowl picks for a game where the Seahawks are currently favored by 4.5 points.
Pete Prisco: Seahawks 27-10 over Patriots. “I don’t think Seattle’s offense will spend the game moving up and down the field, but the Seahawks will be able to feast on short fields given to them by the defense. I think Maye will turn it over a few times and the sacks will start to wear on him. This will be a day for the Seattle defense.” For a full explanation of Prisco’s Super Bowl pick, be sure to click here.
Tyler Sullivan: Seahawks 30-17 over Patriots.“It’s hard to imagine Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense suddenly turning the tide in this Super Bowl against a Seattle defense that was the No. 1 scoring defense this season. Moreover, the No. 1 scoring defenses that have squared off against All-Pro quarterbacks (like Maye) in the Super Bowl are 5-1 in the previous six matchups. Seattle wins this in a rather convincing fashion.” For a full explanation of Sullivan’s Super Bowl pick, be sure to click here.
Jordan Dajani: Seahawks 20-13 over Patriots.“This is the seventh Super Bowl since 1970 between an All-Pro quarterback (Maye) and the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense (Seattle). The No. 1 scoring defense is 5-1 in the previous six matchups. … They say defense wins championships, and I think that will be proven Sunday.” If you want to read Dajani’s full pick, be sure to click here.
John Breech: Seahawks 34-20 over Patriots.“For me, the deciding factor in this game is going to be Mike Macdonald. Since being hired by the Seahawks in 2024, Macdonald has absolutely dominated young quarterbacks, and now he gets to face the second-youngest starting quarterback in the history of the Super Bowl (Drake Maye). In his two seasons on the job, Macdonald has coached six games against first- or second-year quarterbacks, and he’s gone 6-0 in those games. Those wins have come against good quarterbacks like Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams. Not only is he undefeated, but the six quarterbacks have averaged just 168.8 yards passing while throwing nine interceptions compared to just two touchdowns. If Macdonald forces Maye into a bad game, the Seahawks will likely win big.” For the rest of my pick, be sure to click here.
3. Super Bowl on Madden: We simulated Seahawks-Patriots and here’s what happened
Madden NFL 26 (EA Sports)
Alright, now that we’ve got the writer picks out of the way, let’s move on to the Madden simulation. We had Tyler Sullivan simulate the entire game on Madden — and yes, this means Sullivan got paid to play video games for two hours, and yes, I’m jealous — but the important thing here is that if his simulation turns out to be correct, then we now know who’s going to win the Super Bowl.
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Here’s what happened:
Sam Darnold takes a beating in the first half, but keeps Seahawks in the game. The Seahawks QB took a beating in the first half, getting sacked five times. Seattle’s offense sputtered for most of the half, but Darnold bounced back with a touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10 heading into halftime.
Drake Maye has the longest pass of the game. The second half opened with one of the biggest plays of the game when Maye hit Hunter Henry for a 64-yard touchdown pass to give the Patriots a 17-10 lead in the third quarter.
The game comes down to a field goal. The Seahawks mounted a comeback thanks to Darnold and Kupp, who connected for a second touchdown in the fourth quarter. In the end, though, the game was decided on a Jason Myers field goal. The Seahawks kicker drilled a 20-yarder to give Seattle a 23-20 win.
This is the sixth year Sullivan has done a Super Bowl simulation, and the sim is 4-1 so far, which would seem to bode well for the Seahawks. Last year, the simulation predicted a three-point win by the Eagles, who ended up beating the Chiefs, 40-22.
If you want every detail on how the simulation played out, plus watch highlights from the game, then be sure to click here.
4. Super Bowl injury report: Seahawks could be missing a key player
There usually aren’t too many surprises on the injury report during Super Bowl week, but there was definitely one on Wednesday.
Here’s the latest on the health of both teams:
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Nick Emmanwori dealing with an ankle injury. The Seahawks rookie safety, who has been a key part of their pass defense this year, injured his ankle at practice while trying to defend a pass. Mike Macdonald didn’t offer many details. “He had an ankle today,” Macdonald said. “We brought him in to look at it, and we’ll kind of go from here and figure out what are the next steps.” On Wednesday night, video surfaced of Emmanwori returning to the team hotel, and the positive news for Seattle is that he wasn’t using crutches or wearing a boot. It’s still unclear if he’ll be able to play Sunday, so this will be a situation to monitor.
Sam Darnold’s oblique feeling better. The Seahawks QB was listed as a limited participant Wednesday, but he sounds ready to go. “It feels really good,” he said. “Definitely the time off has helped a little bit. I’m always just going to take it one step at a time, do my rehab and do everything I need to do to make sure it feels great going into practice and the game.”
Drake Maye’s shoulder improving. Maye was a full participant in practice, so the Patriots are confident in the health of his shoulder. He said Wednesday that it “feels great.” Maye was one of just five players on New England’s injury report. LB Robert Spillane (ankle) was the only player who didn’t practice.
5. Ranking all 59 Super Bowls: Two Giants wins are at the top
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There have been 59 Super Bowls played in NFL history, and Bryan DeArdo decided to rank ALL of them this week. Since he took the time to rank every Super Bowl ever played, it only makes sense for us to take a look.
I don’t want to spoil the entire list, so here’s his top 10 — plus the game he ranked last:
1. Super Bowl XXV:Giants 20-19 over Bills 2. Super Bowl XLII: Giants 17-14 over Patriots 3. Super Bowl LI: Patriots 34-28 over Falcons (OT) 4. Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots 28-24 over Seahawks 5. Super Bowl XLIII:Steelers 27-23 over Cardinals 6. Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots 20-17 over Rams 7. Super Bowl XXXIV: Rams 23-16 over Titans 8. Super Bowl LVIII: Chiefs 25-22 over 49ers (OT) 9. Super Bowl XXXII: Broncos 31-24 over Packers 10. Super Bowl XXIII: 49ers 20-16 over Bengals … 59. Super Bowl XXXV: Raven 35-7 over Giants
With the Patriots and Seahawks set to meet again, we should probably cross our fingers for another classic. I absolutely agree with DeArdo that their first meeting was one of the five best Super Bowls of all time. It had everything, and of course, it gave us the longest-running NFL debate ever: Should the Seahawks have given the ball to Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line?
6. Extra points: Most expensive ticket at the Super Bowl
It’s been a busy 24 hours in the NFL, and since it’s nearly impossible to keep track of everything, I put together a quick roundup for you.
Super Bowl’s most expensive seat. I was inside Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday, so I decided to look up the most expensive ticket on the secondary market and check out the view. The priciest seat is going for $30,000, and if you want to know what the view looks like, I’ve got you covered here.
49ers will likely play an international game in 2026. The 49ers have only played one international game over the past 12 years, but that number could be going up in 2026. During an interview this week, owner Jed York said the team will likely be leaving the country for one game this year, and he already has a spot in mind for that game. “We will most likely give up a home game this season to play abroad, and Mexico is always No. 1 on my list,” York said. The NFL is playing a total of nine games abroad this year, and so far, we already know five teams who will be leaving the country (Rams, Saints, Commanders, Lions and Falcons). If York is right, the 49ers will soon be joining that group.
Lions fan files $100 million lawsuit against DK Metcalf and others. In Week 16, Metcalf got into it with a Lions fan while the Steelers were in Detroit, and now, that fan has filed a $100 million lawsuit against multiple parties, including Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ford Field Management LLC, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Shay Shay Media LLC and All Time Sports LLC. The man is seeking monetary damages because he claims he was physically harmed and that he was also falsely accused of making racist comments towards Metcalf. If you want the full details of the lawsuit, we’ve got those here.
Maxx Crosby might be ready to move on. There are always interesting rumors during Super Bowl week, and here’s one more: During an interview Wednesday, Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer was asked if he thought Crosby was done with the Raiders. His two-word answer: “I do.” That doesn’t mean a trade is imminent, but he’s certainly a player to watch this offseason.
India and Pakistan are schedule to play the match on February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo
NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wrote a letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday, urging it to reconsider its decision to boycott the India vs Pakistan fixture at the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.TimesofIndia.com is in possession of the two-page letter written by SLC, in which it reminded the PCB of Sri Lanka’s past support to Pakistan during challenging times and urged the board to reconsider its stance. The letter also highlights significant financial, logistical and reputational consequences for the co-hosts if the game does not go ahead as planned.
Suryakumar Yadav press conference: on the India vs Pakistan clash, T20I world cup preps & Washington Sundar injury
“We wish to place on record that Sri Lanka is highly anticipating the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, particularly in its capacity as a host venue for matches assigned to Sri Lanka. All commercial, operational, logistical and security-related arrangements in respect of these matches have already been finalised. This includes, inter alia, hospitality planning and the sale of match tickets,” the letter read.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“It is pertinent to note that ticket sales for the matches scheduled to be hosted in Sri Lanka, in particular the India versus Pakistan fixture, have already been finalised and have recorded exceptionally strong demand, with tickets being sold fast, reflecting unprecedented public interest and significant commercial expectations for Sri Lanka Cricket. Any non-participation in a scheduled marquee fixture of this nature would therefore have wide-ranging implications, including substantial financial exposure for SLC and the potential loss of anticipated tourism inflows and broader economic benefits arising from heightened international interest in the tournament.”The board pointed out that tickets for matches in Sri Lanka, especially the India–Pakistan fixture, have been sold amid exceptional demand, underscoring unprecedented public interest and significant commercial expectations.SLC cautioned that non-participation in a marquee fixture of this scale would have far-reaching consequences, exposing the board to major financial losses while also impacting tourism inflows and the broader economy.“The Government of Sri Lanka is attentive to the potential impact of a boycott, given the significant economic benefits expected from hosting these matches. Any change to the scheduled fixtures would therefore affect not only Sri Lanka Cricket but also the wider range of stakeholders involved in ensuring the successful conduct of the tournament.” Six Sri Lankan players were wounded in March 2009 when gunmen opened fire on their team bus as it was driving to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for a Test match.The incident led to international teams staying away from Pakistan for nearly a decade. That streak was broken when Sri Lanka became the first to play a Test match in Pakistan after a 10-year gap (in 2019). “In this context, we respectfully recall that Sri Lanka Cricket and the Sri Lanka National Team have, on several occasions, toured Pakistan and participated in international fixtures notwithstanding exceptionally challenging and sensitive circumstances, including serious security-related incidents. These have included, inter alia, the attack on the national team convoy, as a result of which certain Sri Lankan players and officials sustained injuries, some of whom continue to carry physical impacts from those injuries to date, while others were left with profound and lasting psychological trauma. In more recent instances, further security incidents, including bombings in the region, placed additional emotional and professional strain on team members, with some compelled to contemplate withdrawal from ongoing engagements,” SLC said in the letter.Newswire, a Sri Lankan media outlet, has reported that Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality sector has already felt the impact of Pakistan’s reported decision to skip the February 15 match in Colombo, with widespread hotel booking cancellations across several Colombo-based properties.“Notwithstanding the gravity of these circumstances, Sri Lanka Cricket, in close coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka, remained steadfast in its support of Pakistan and the Pakistan Cricket Board, and continued to honour its commitments to international cricket in the broader interests of the game and international solidarity, at times when several other cricketing nations were hesitant or unwilling to tour Pakistan,” the letter read.“In light of this longstanding support and cooperation, SLC respectfully expects the same spirit of reciprocity and mutual respect to prevail, particularly where the matches in question are scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka, a country that has extended every assurance with regard to security, neutrality and professionalism.“In view of the foregoing, and if any decision has indeed been taken to boycott or abstain from participating in the India vs Pakistan match scheduled for February 15, 2026, we respectfully and earnestly request the PCB to reconsider such a decision. We urge you to take into account the exceptional circumstances, the enduring relationship between our two Boards and the broader interests of the game of cricket.“We humbly request that the Pakistan team participate in all scheduled matches in Sri Lanka, including the aforesaid fixture, in the true spirit of sportsmanship and without selective abstention, for the benefit of the tournament, its stakeholders and the millions of cricket fans worldwide.“We thank the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Government of Pakistan for the highest consideration given to this matter and respectfully look forward to receiving a positive response at your earliest convenience.”
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On Sunday, the Pakistani government announced that its men’s cricket team will not take the field against arch-rivals India on February 15, without stating the reason behind the decision.“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on February 15 against India,” the Pakistan government said in a post on X.Also Visit: England Under-19 vs India Under-19 Final: Match Details, Teams, Date and Venue
Thursday’s NBA trade deadline came and went with no deal reached for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee appears ready to keep the two-time MVP for now and has informed teams of its decision, sources told ESPN shortly before Thursday’s afternoon deadline. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors were reportedly among the teams that explored a potential deal for Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo expressed openness to a change of scenery months ago, either at the trade deadline or this offseason, according to an ESPN report last week.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks in action against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center on Feb. 16, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Although Antetokounmpo has spent his entire 12-year career in Milwaukee and led the franchise to its first NBA title in 50 years, trade speculation has followed him for months. Until recently, the Bucks showed little willingness to engage in serious negotiations involving the 10-time All-Star, though the front office has not signaled urgency to make a move.
Antetokounmpo appeared to address his status shortly after the trade deadline passed, writing in an Instagram post, “Legends don’t chase. They attract,” which was accompanied by an expletive-laden scene from “The Wolf of Wall Street” in which Leonardo DiCaprio’s character enthusiastically declares he is staying at his job.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on Jan. 19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Antetokounmpo, his representatives and the Bucks are expected to revisit potential deals after the season. Barring a miraculous post-All-Star break turnaround, Milwaukee appears unlikely to reach the postseason. The Bucks entered Thursday at 20-29 and No. 12 sport in the Eastern Conference standings.
This fall, the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo will become eligible for a contract extension. He also has a player option for the 2027–28 season, meaning there will be significant financial implications tied to where Antetokounmpo ultimately lands.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on Jan. 19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
A calf injury will keep Antetokounmpo sidelined for several weeks. The star forward appeared to suffer the injury during a recent game against the Denver Nuggets. He had a similar setback in December, which caused him to miss more than three weeks. Before that, a groin issue forced Antetokounmpo to sit out for 11 days in November.
In 30 games this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28 points and 10 rebounds.
While Antetokounmpo stayed put at the deadline, the Bucks did make another move, picking up Ousmane Dieng as part of a three-team trade. The Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns were the other two teams involved in the deal, ESPN reported.
France sent a clear message in their Six Nations opener, overpowering Ireland 36–14 at the Stade de France to collect a bonus point. Five tries, led by Louis Bielle-Biarrey, put the champions in firm control early, before Ireland’s late rally proved too little, too late on a rain-soaked night as their title defence began in emphatic style.
Alabama center Charles Bediako is scheduled for a court hearing on Friday wherein a judge will determine whether the NCAA may enforce its eligibility rules against him. Ahead of what could be a groundbreaking determination in Circuit Court, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey signed an affidavit asking judge Daniel Pruet to deny Bediako additional eligibility.
“I respectfully ask the Court to uphold the NCAA eligibility rules challenged in this case,” Sankey said in the affidavit obtained by CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, “which are essential to the integrity of college sports, to the educational mission they serve, and to the opportunities they provide for current and future student-athletes.”
Bediako, 23, went undrafted two years ago after starting on an Alabama team that earned a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. He had two years of eligibility remaining but declared for the 2023 NBA Draft. After signing a professional contract — including a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs — and appearing in multiple G League games, he is back with the Crimson Tide as a result of a temporary restraining order against the NCAA’s eligibility rules. The 7-footer has appeared in four games and made two starts for Alabama over the last two weeks, averaging 9.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest.
The temporary restraining order expires on Feb. 18, but if Bediako is granted a preliminary injunction at Friday’s hearing, he could continue to play for the Crimson Tide deeper into the regular season and perhaps into the NCAA Tournament.
Sankey argued in the affidavit that permitting former professional athletes to return to college competition creates a “competitive disadvantage and fundamental unfairness” for athletes who remain within their eligibility windows. He said it is also unfair to the programs that continue to operate within the NCAA’s framework and have not added former pros to their rosters.
Sankey noted the impact that Bediako’s return — and the extension of eligibility clocks for other athletes — has on high schoolers who seek college athletics opportunities. Since roster spots are zero-sum, for every former professional player who returns to school and for every current athlete who is granted an additional year, a high school athlete loses a chance to play in college.
That the SEC commissioner is on the record standing against eligibility extensions is especially notable because two of his conference’s most prominent quarterbacks from the 2025 college football season are also in search of an additional year. Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss and Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar both filed lawsuits against the NCAA seeking injunctions that would allow them to play in 2026 despite having already completed four years of competition.
We’ll break down three plays for the Thursday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the sides and totals market is constantly changing.
Here are the free college basketball picks for Thursday, February 5.
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Best college basketball plays today — Odds Courtesy of DraftKings
Penn State/Michigan Over (162.5)
West Virginia (+5.5) at Cincinnati
Memphis (+1.5) at UAB
Penn State/Michigan Over (162.5) — 6:30 p.m. ET
In the first matchup between these clubs, Michigan edged Penn State, 74–72 on January 6. Not only did the Wolverines fail to cover as 24.5-point road favorites, but the game stayed Under the total of 169.5 points.
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Tonight’s total drops six points from the first meeting, as the two teams combined for 16 3-pointers in last month’s matchup. Penn State rides a five-game Over streak, although this is the highest total the Nittany Lions have seen since the last game against Michigan.
The Wolverines busted out for 83 points in last Friday’s victory over rival Michigan State, snapping a two-game streak of scoring 75 or fewer points. Michigan has finished Under the total in four of the last five home games, but look for a huge offensive effort from Dusty May’s team against PSU.
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West Virginia (+5.5) at Cincinnati — 7:00 p.m. ET
The Mountaineers held off the Bearcats in the first meeting, 62–60 in Morgantown on January 6. WVU is coming off a 10-point home loss to Baylor last Saturday, but the Mountaineers are 6–1 this season off a defeat.
Cincinnati has dropped three of their last four games, capped off by a 76–54 rout at the hands of Houston last Saturday. The Bearcats have won three consecutive home contests, including shocking Iowa State as a 5.5-point underdog on January 17.
In Big 12 play, Cincinnati ranks last in offensive efficiency and the Bearcats shot a miserable 10-of-27 on 2-point attempts in the first matchup with WVU. Three of the Mountaineers’ four road losses in the league came against Iowa State, Arizona, and Houston, the top three teams in the Big 12. Let’s look at West Virginia as a road underdog to cash at Cincinnati.
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Memphis (+1.5) at UAB — 9:00 p.m. ET
In one of the more quirky stats you’ll ever see, UAB is 5–0 in the AAC on the road, but 0–4 at home. The Blazers seek their first home conference win tonight against Memphis, who was tripped up by Tulane on Sunday.
The Tigers look for their second conference road victory after losing at FAU, Tulsa, and Wichita State. Memphis has won four straight meetings with UAB since 2024, including capturing all three matchups last season.
The Blazers are coming off road wins at UTSA and North Texas, but UAB has been held to fewer than 71 points in three of four home conference defeats. Let’s look at Memphis to continue their domination of UAB.
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Tantrums at the ice skating and rows over helmets at the skeleton might have been more predictable, but sometimes you just want the reassuring sounds of curling to remind you the Games have really begun.
It’s sport’s ultimate ASMR – the echoing shouts of “hurry hard” as stones rumble across the pebbled ice, the scratching and scrubbing of brooms, followed by the hollow clank of granite on granite.
If leather on willow is the sound of summer, then close your eyes at the curling and winter is coming. However, whisper it quietly: something is brewing over at the roarin’ game.
Four years ago, it was Great Britain’s curlers who bailed the wider team out, claiming the only two medals of the Beijing Olympics – a men’s silver and a women’s gold – both secured on the final weekend.
Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat have three wins from three so far (REUTERS)
A hard-fought victory over the Czech Republic was the latest triumph (REUTERS)
The pair admitted they were still smarting from their medal miss in the mixed event in 2022, the childhood friends from Edinburgh having thrown away a lead in the semi-finals before being soundly beaten in the bronze-medal match.
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They have responded in style, with a perfect three wins from three. It hasn’t been flawless, though, as Mouat and Dodds narrowly overcame former world silver medallists Estonia’s Mari Kaldvee and Harri Lill 8-6, with an end to spare, before edging past the Czech pair Vit Chabicovsky and Julie Zelingrova.
They took an early advantage and seemed in control before conceding a fifth-end triple and needed Dodds to keep a super-steady hand to cling on for an 8-7 win. Zelingrova spurned a chance to clinch victory as the shot clock hurried her into a final-stone mistake.
It leaves Team GB joint top of the early standings alongside powerhouse Canada, who beat world champions and favourites Italy’s Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini in a statement of intent.
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The Canadian pair secured an impressive win over Italy and appear to be Team GB’s main challengers (REUTERS)
Those two teams will clash on Saturday morning, while Mouat and Dodds’ Friday opponents in the ten-team round-robin stage are winless Korea and Sweden. Two wins there and a place in the knockouts will be odds-on.
“You have to win ugly sometimes and that was probably that game,” admitted Dodds of the Czech victory. “In mixed doubles, you’re never safe, even when you’re up three in the last end, and it was getting a bit nervy at some points.
“I’m here to support Bruce as much as possible. There are times that I don’t play well and Bruce is absolutely amazing, but this was vice versa.
“You’re a team and you’re in it together; we’ll figure out whatever Bruce needs to help step it up a little.”
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Dodds has been somewhat carrying the team so far, with Mouat admitting he needs to improve (REUTERS)
Mouat, who is favourite for gold in the men’s event after guiding Scotland to world gold last year, admitted he is still adjusting to the ice.
“It’s exactly how we wanted to start the event,” he said. “We just wanted to put a better foot forward, but three wins is exactly what we need at this point.
“We’ve got some tough games ahead and we’re going to have to perform a little better. Jen’s playing amazingly; it’s just that I need to help her a little.
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“I wasn’t playing my best and I can’t blame the ice – I can only blame myself. There were some tricky spots in there; I think it’s manageable. It’s just that I’ve not figured it out yet, so I’m going to have to figure it out faster.”
TNT Sports on discovery+ will be the go-to destination in the U.K to watch everything of Milano Cortina 2026 live all in one place, with over 850 hours of action from every sport, venue, and medal event.
After the summer deadline day defined by the striker Liverpool bought and the defender they did not, the January transfer window ended with the centre-back they recruited and the right-back they did not.
And so Dominik Szoboszlai, who played as a false nine against City a year ago, is likely to line up at right-back against them on Sunday. Liverpool have conducted their transfer business for the future, but not for the present. Slot may be one more defensive injury away from seeing Liverpool’s season condemned to disappointment. As he admitted, it is a task simply keeping his remaining options fit.
Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are out for the season, Jeremie Frimpong for a while yet. The injury-prone Joe Gomez may be able to be on the bench on Sunday, but he will not start. Ibrahima Konate volunteered to return early from compassionate leave after the death of his father to face Newcastle last week. Three different midfielders have operated in the back four in the last two games. Liverpool stand accused of neglecting the immediate issues and leaving Slot short-staffed.
“I’m very happy with the squad, let that be clear,” countered Slot. “But it’s all clear and obvious that we have three long-term injuries. That’s why we’ve tried to strengthen the squad in winter and the player you mentioned [Geertruida], in the end, wasn’t available. But that we’ve tried to strengthen the squad; that is clear. And that tells you that we think that it would have helped us. But it should be possible that we’re not going to sign players that are not good enough to play for this club.”
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Of course, Liverpool did think Guehi was good enough. They bid £35m in the summer; yet they left their move so late that Crystal Palace pulled out when they could not get a replacement. They did not intervene when City bought the England international for £20m in January, although there was a case that their need for him was greater, with Konate enduring a distinctly mixed campaign.
Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi to Man City (Getty)
Ibrahima Konate has endured a mixed campaign for the Reds (AFP/Getty)
City could fund bigger wages in addition to a transfer fee. Liverpool shifted their attention to next season and the next generation. Jacquet will cost £55m, but is just 20. “A very big talent,” said Slot. Jacquet is still older than Leoni; when you include Noah Adekoya, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Liverpool are bringing in five centre-backs under 21. They are searching for Virgil van Dijk’s successor even as Slot suggested his captain could stay for “maybe even longer” than the remaining 16 months of his deal.
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“This club is not stupid,” he said. “We do know somewhere in the upcoming years, there is life for this club after Virgil.” Yet life now is ever more reliant on Van Dijk. The 34-year-old has played every minute of all 32 Premier and Champions League matches this season. “What a compliment to him at his age to play every three days,” said Slot.
What a relief for Liverpool that he can. The alternative could make Slot’s job all the harder. “But it’s clear and obvious that if we have an injury crisis, even more than we already have, then that makes things even more difficult,” he said. “So we know what the situation is, but this squad is able to do better and more than we’ve done until now, in my opinion. But then they all need to stay available, and that’s going to be a hell of a challenge because we have three games in seven days coming up.”
Virgil van Dijk has played every minute of all 32 Premier League and Champions League matches for Liverpool this year (Reuters)
There is a contrast with City who, when John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias were sidelined, swooped for Guehi. The England international was a long-term target for both clubs. He is also 25, experienced in the Premier League, able to slot in straight away.
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Like Leoni, Jacquet will come from another country, earlier in his career, perhaps needing time to adjust. They could be the successors to Van Dijk and Konate.
For different reasons, Slot can call upon neither now. He nevertheless insisted he buys into Liverpool’s strategy. “I have always worked the same. I always want the best for the club, even if in the short term it is not ideal for me,” he said. “I knew which club I went into; this club has a model of signing talented players younger.”
In the short term, though, his life may be easier if he had Guehi and Geertruida, the defenders who Liverpool missed out on at the end of either window.
Rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s new home have fans impatient as the Bucks keep their dealings under wraps with only hours to go before the deadline.
On Thursday, the Bucks’ X account posted a single emoji on their timeline, a yawning emoji. The cryptic message may be a hint at Antetokounmpo’s decision to stay wiith the Bucks, who are valued at $4.3 billion by Forbes.
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The trade deadline closes at 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, and it appears Milwaukee has convinced the two-time MVP to stay with them for another ride. ESPN’s Shams Charania backed the speculation about Antetokounmpo staying in Milwaukee a few hours before the deadline.
“The Milwaukee Bucks believe they can build a contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo this Summer and get him on board with remaining with the team long term,” Charania said on NBA Today on Thursday.
However, Charania revealed that Antetokounmpo was convinced that he needs to leave to expand his legacy, which forced the Bucks to listen to offers. However, Milwaukee believes that they can build a roster good enough around their superstar to compete for another championship.
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The Bucks (20-29) are not good enough to compete for a championship this season. They are 12th in the Eastern Conference standings.
Giannis Antetokounmpo reaffirms his belief in the Milwaukee Bucks
Reports in the last few weeks have suggested that Giannis Antetokounmpo has lost confidence in the Bucks and wants to move to a new team. While they may be right about the two-time MVP’s aspirations, they forgot to cover the love he has for the city that drafted him.
On Wednesday, Eric Nehm of “The Athletic” published an article featuring an interview with the Bucks star, in which he expressed his desire to play for the Bucks forever.
“Brother, if you ask me deep down what I want today, I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career,” Antetokounmpo said. “I want to win here, another championship.”
“Let’s put the Bucks on the side for one second. Let’s talk about the city itself, the memories that I’ve created here. When you open my kids’ passports, it says Milwaukee, Wisconsin.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the world when he is healthy and in his groove. The Bucks superstar has proved in 2021 that he can lead a franchise to a championship if he has the right pieces to support him.
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The Bucks now have a last chance to show their superstar that they can help him get another championship. Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game on 64.5% shooting.
