The Sportsletter - Heis & Lows

BY JEFF YODER

DEC. 6, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

Four quarterbacks are heading to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, but there's one sitting in the driver's seat. We've got our first perfect picks of the year in our NFL Pick 'Em contest (only took 13 weeks). The wheels just came off in MLB free agency. And Tom Brady tossed a last-second touchdown to prove he still has late-game heroics.

Letter Rip!

NFL PICK 'EM

Congrats to our Week 13 winner, Mark S.! Mark was one of two readers to pick all 14 games perfectly in Week 13. Larry S. was also a perfect 14-0, but Mark nailed the tiebreaker with two points. Mark, expect an individual email today with details on claiming your prize.

We'll reset the points for Week 14 (below). Join the fun and make your picks in about 30 seconds.

CFB

The Heisman Finalists

Photo: Media NewsGroup / Pasadena Star / Getty Images

4 Quarterbacks Announced as 2022 Heisman Trophy Finalists

The end of the 2022 College Football season means it’s time for the most prestigious award in college sports — the Heisman Trophy. We now know the four finalists heading to New York on Saturday, but one is expected as the overwhelming favorite. All four nominees are quarterbacks, and three are in the CFB Playoff. The one who isn’t? It’s USC’s Caleb Williams, and he’s the favorite. Below is a stat rundown and odds for this weekend’s ceremony in New York.

2022 Heisman Finalists

QB Caleb Williams (USC)

Stats: 4,447 Total Yards, 47 TDs, 4 INTs

Odds: -2500

QB Stetson Bennett (UGA)

Stats: 3,599 Total Yards, 27 TDs, 6 INTs

Odds: +3000

QB Max Duggan (TCU)

Stats: 3,725 Total Yards, 36 TDs, 4 INTs

Odds: +2000

QB C.J. Stroud (OSU)

Stats: 3,414 Total Yards, 37 TDs, 6 INTs

Odds: +5000

Heisman Trophy Ceremony: Sat. 8:00 pm ET

Additional Storylines

B/R: List of Finalists for Coveted Trophy Announced

NY Post: Bryce Young & Hendon Hooker Among Heisman Trophy Finalist Snubs

WORLD CUP 🏆

Brazil Gives A Beatdown 👀

Photo: Michael Steele / Getty Images

Croatia Downs Japan in PKs (1-1, 3-1 PKs); Brazil Smashes South Korea (4-1)

The World Cup Group Stage is nearing to a close, but Monday’s action wasn’t without drama. Croatia and Japan needed penalty kicks after Ivan Perisic saved the Croatians with an equalizer before Croatia won in PKs (3-1). Brazil put a beatdown on South Korea with a 4-0 lead by the end of the first half thanks to early goals from Vinicius Jr. and Neymar. Two more matches will wrap up the Round of 16 today as we sprint toward the quarterfinals.

World Cup Highlights (Round of 16)

Croatia def. Japan (1-1, 3-1 PKs)

Brazil def. South Korea (4-1)

Today’s Schedule

Morocco vs. Spain (10:00 am ET)

Portugal vs. Switzerland (2:00 pm ET)

Full FIFA World Cup Bracket

Teams Advanced to Quarterfinals

Croatia, Brazil, Netherlands, Argentina, England & France

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Croatia Tops Japan in PK Shootout to Face Brazil

CNN: Brazil Dances Its Way Into World Cup Quarterfinals Thanks to Dazzling Display

MLB

MLB Free Agency Tracker

Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images

Mets Sign Cy Young Winner Justin Verlander to 2-Year Deal; Trea Turner Inks $300 Million Deal With Phillies

Fresh off an age-defying Cy Young season, 39-year-old Justin Verlander is making a move. The Astros ace signed a two-year deal with the New York Mets worth $86 million on Monday. The signing came just days after the Mets watched Jacob deGrom head to the Rangers in free agency. Verlander went 18-4 in 2022 with a sizzling 1.75 ERA and 185 Ks en route to a World Series title. He now rejoins former teammate Max Scherzer on the Mets pitching staff. The pair were teammates in Detroit from 2010-2014.

Breaking News: Trea Turner Signs 11-Year, $300 Million Deal With Phillies

Other MLB Free-Agent Deals

P Jacob deGrom (Rangers): 5 Years, $185M

P Mike Cleinger (White Sox): 1 Year, $8M

P Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers): 1 Year, $20M

Free Agents (Pending Qualifying Offers)

OF Aaron Judge (Yankees)

SS Trea Turner (Dodgers)

SS Carlos Correa (Twins)

Additional Storylines

SI: The Mets Had No Choice but to Sign Justin Verlander

Yahoo! Sports: Mets’ Aggressive Signing of Justin Verlander Was Right Move — Here’s What Should Be Next

NCAA

College Hoops AP Polls

Men’s Top-10

1. Houston (8-0) | —

2. Texas (6-0) | —

3. Virginia (7-0) | —

4. Purdue (8-0) | ↑1

5. UConn (9-0) | ↑3

6. Kansas (8-1) | ↑3

7. Tennessee (7-1) | ↑6

8. Alabama (7-1) | ↑3

9. Arkansas (7-1) | ↑3

10. Arizona (7-1) | ↓6

Full AP Top-25

Women’s Top-10

1. South Carolina (8-0) | —

2. Stanford (10-1) | —

3. Ohio State (8-0) | ↑1

4. Indiana (9-0) | ↑1

5. Notre Dame (7-1) | ↑2

6. UConn (6-1) | ↓3

7. Virginia Tech (8-0) | ↑2

8. North Carolina (6-1) | ↓2

9. North Carolina State (7-1) | ↑4

10. Iowa State (6-1) | ↓2

Full AP Top-25

🎥 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

🏈 NFL: Brady Brings Bucs Back in 4th (17-16)

The Saints had the Bucs on the ropes in an NFC South battle, but no deficit is too big for Tom Brady. The Bucs trailed 16-3 in the latter stages of the 4th quarter before Brady engineered back-to-back touchdown drives, including the game-winner to Richaad White with three seconds left, to steal the Bucs their second straight win (17-16) and sole possession of first place in the division.

🏀 NBA: Rockets Roll 76ers in 2OT Thriller

A night of regular season basketball saw the Rockets and 76ers deliver a double-overtime shootout where Houston came out on top. Joel Embiid had 39 points for the Sixers, but the Rockets handed Philly their third straight loss.

🏒 NHL: Canucks Rally Twice for OT Win

Among a handful of NHL games on Monday was an epic comeback by the Canucks. Vancouver trailed the Canadiens 4-0 before rallying with four goals, then overcame another 6-4 deficit to force overtime before Elias Pettersson struck the winner (7-6, OT).

THE STORYLINES

🏈 Scenes From Deshaun Watson’s Return

The Texans owner’s wife turned her back on him. The stands were half-empty. And his play? Shaky. What Watson’s first game back was like for those in attendance. (Sports Illustrated)

🏀 NBA Rookie Power Rankings

The 2022 NBA draft was considered relatively strong. Only a quarter of the way into 2022-23, it's too early to make too many sweeping conclusions. (ESPN+)

⚽️ World Cup Superstar Showcase

Just like that, the World Cup of upsets has morphed into the World Cup of superstars. How did that happen? And how did it happen so quickly? (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Panthers Waive Struggling QB Baker Mayfield (ESPN)
• Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei Expected to Enter Transfer Window (SI)
• Nike Drops Kyrie Irving Contract After Latest Controversy (B/R)
• Cincinnati Football Hires Louisville’s Scott Satterfield to Replace Luke Fickell (CBS Sports)

• UCLA Women’s Soccer Beats UNC for National Title on Wild Last-Second Goal (Yahoo! Sports)

Support The Sportsletter Team

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