The Sportsletter - NFL Picks & NBA All-Star Faves

BY JEFF YODER

JAN. 19, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

You made it, team. It’s another massive sports weekend coming in fast. The NFL Playoffs reach the Divisional Round and the Australian Open turns the corner into Week 2.

Countdown Tracker: We’re three weeks from Super Bowl LVIII, six weeks from March Madness, and roughly 12 weeks from MLB Opening Day, the NBA/NHL Playoffs, and The Masters. Give 👏 Us 👏 Spring 👏 Sports

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  NFL PLAYOFFS  

Divisional Round Decisions ✍️

Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images

The 4 Games to Decide the AFC & NFC Championships

Got your popcorn ready? Another weekend of NFL action is here. With the Wild Card drifters and late-season collapse teams out of the way (looking at you, Eagles & Cowboys), eight teams enter the weekend just two wins away from the Super Bowl. Four will come out alive. There are heavy favorites in the NFL’s Divisional Round. Only one game features a spread less than six points (Chiefs-Bills), and that game could be another instant classic. From historic matchups to weather forecasts helping us out, here are our picks for the Divisional Round.

NFL Playoff Picks (Divisional Round)

AFC: #4 Texans (11-7) at #1 Ravens (13-4)

(Saturday, 4:30 pm ET, ESPN)

The first game of the Divisional Round pits the team with the best record in the NFL against the underdog first-year quarterback and head coach duo. The Ravens host the Texans on a blistering cold Saturday afternoon in Baltimore, and those frigid temps could benefit the home team. Both teams have feared defenses who rip turnovers at a high rate, but Lamar Jackson’s legs could be the game-changer that negates C.J. Stroud’s arm. Wind, 15 degrees and the homefied advantage benefits the Ravens. Give me LJ and Harbaugh in a narrow win.

Spread: Ravens (-9.5)

✍️ SL Pick: Ravens def. Texans (27-24)

NFC: #7 Packers (10-8) at #1 49ers (12-5)

(Saturday, 8:15 pm ET, FOX)

The Packers gave the Cowboys a kill-shot last weekend, but Saturday night in the Bay should be a different story. This 49ers team has all the makings of a Super Bowl favorite, and it’s unlikely the Pack can slay two giants on back-to-back weekend. Jordan Love will be under duress from this San Francisco defense, and the Packers D will have its hands full trying to slow down the quartet of Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk. Let’s give the Pack some well-deserved points, but this is ultimately ‘Step 1’ of a 49ers revenge run.

Spread: 49ers (-9.5)

✍️ SL Pick: 49ers def. Packers (31-21)

NFC: #4 Bucs (10-8) at #3 Lions (13-5)

(Sunday, 3:00 pm ET, NBC)

The state of Michigan is riding a football high right now, and the only thing that could shatter the ceiling is Baker Mayfield. On the heels of Michigan’s national championship and the Lions’ first playoff win in 32 years, this Detroit team has some extra juice behind them. I like what the Bucs did last weekend to the Eagles, but that might’ve been more of a Philly problem than a Tampa takeover. Jared Goff has won over Lions fans, and Dan Campbell will have Detroit ready to roll. It’s tough to walk into the Lion’s den, especially when the Lions have been hungry for so long. I’ll take Detroit to run away after a tight first-half.

Spread: Lions (-6.5)

✍️ SL Pick: Lions def. Bucs (30-17)

AFC: #3 Chiefs (12-6) at #2 Bills (12-6) 

(Sunday, 6:30 pm ET, CBS)

Game of the year? Should be. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen go at it in the playoffs for the third time. Mahomes and the Chiefs won each of the previous two matchups, but those were both in Kansas City. These QBs have faced each other six times total, and the latest game was that memorable Week 16 matchup where Travis Kelce’s lateral to Kadarius Toney was called back for an offsides penalty. All in all, the two QBs have split the six matchups, 3-3. But this Buffalo team feels driven right now. And one month after a road win in Kansas City? The Bills have to believe this time will be different. Give me another overtime thriller that adds to the rivalry narrative, but Josh Allen walks it off in OT.

Spread: Bills (-3)

✍️ SL Pick: Bills def. Chiefs (33-27, OT)

Read More

AP: Mahomes vs. Allen 3rd Playoff Showdown Features A Twist in the Setting

NFL: 4 Things to Watch for in Packers-49ers NFC Divisional Round

Yahoo! Sports: Ravens Add RB Dalvin Cook to Active Roster, Release Melvin Gordon

  NBA  

All-Star Vote: The Fan Favorites ⭐️

Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

LeBron James & Giannis Antetokounmpo Still Fan Favorites as NBA All-Star Voting Returns Revealed

The NBA’s All-Star Weekend is just one month away (Feb. 18). This year’s festivities take place in Indianapolis, and the city has already started promoting the event(s) with awesome ideas — they put a full-length court in the middle of the airport. I mean, c'mon. As for the All-Star players, they’re still (sort of) up in the air. The third returns from fan voting came out yesterday, and they should be somewhat indicative of the final rosters next month. Fan votes account for 50 percent of the overall vote. NBA players and a media panel will account for the other 50 percent (25% each). Giannis Antetokounmpo’s international gravitas has him at the top of the voting tally with LeBron James leading the Western Conference. James has been the leading vote-getter in each of the past seven seasons. Here’s a look at the top-10 vote-getters from each conference.

NBA All-Star Fan Voting (Top-10)

Western Conference All-Star Voting

1. LeBron James (LAL): 3.9 Million

2. Nikola Jokic (DEN): 3.5 Million

3. Kevin Durant (PHX): 3.5 Million

4. Luka Doncic (DAL): 3.2 Million

5. Stephen Curry (GSW): 2.6 Million

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 2.3 Million

7. Anthony Davis (LAL): 2.0 Million

8. Kawhi Leonard (LAC): 1.4 Million

9. Alperen Sengun (HOU): 1.3 Million

10. Paul George (LAC): 830K

Eastern Conference All-Star Voting

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 4.3 Million

2. Joel Embiid (PHI): 3.7 Million

3. Jayson Tatum (BOS): 3.7 Million

4. Tyrese Haliburton (IND): 2.7 Million

5. Trae Young (ATL): 1.8 Million

6. Damian Lillard (MIL): 1.7 Million

7. Donovan Mitchell (CLE): 1.3 MIllion

8. Jimmy Butler (MIA): 1.3 Million

9. Tyrese Maxey (PHI): 1.1 Million

10. Jalen Brunson (NYK): 1.1 Million

View Full Fan Voting Totals

Cast Your Fan Vote (Open Through Saturday)

Read More

Sporting News: NBA All-Star Voting: Takeaways From Final Fan Vote Returns

CBS Sports: 2024 ASG Voting: Trae Young Widens Gap on Damian Lillard, SGA Chasing Steph & More

  TENNIS  

Gauff Outing: No Stopping Coco

Photo: Shi Tang / Getty Images

#4 Coco Gauff Speeds Into 4th Round, #3 Elena Rybakina Suffers Next AUS Open Upset in 22-Point Tiebreaker

Still swinging! No. 4 Coco Gauff is into the 4th Round after slicing fellow American Alisha Parks on Thursday. Gauff enters the first weekend of action at the Australian Open after a blistering hot start this week. She hasn't dropped a set in her first three matches — nearly tripling her opponents’ game count in the first week (36-13). But it hasn’t been so smooth for other top players in the women’s draw. No. 3 Elena Rybakina fell on Thursday to mark the second major top-5 upset in Melbourne. Her defeat came via 22-point tiebreaker in a wild third set with Anna Blinkova. No. 5 Jessica Pegula was ousted on Wednesday, and No. 8 Maria Sakkari has also been eliminated.

In the men’s draw, No. 8 Holger Rune was the first major men’s upset victim after falling to Arthur Cazaux. The first weekend of the Australian Open is about to take some names.

Australian Open Highlights

W: #2 A. Sabalenka def. #28 L. Tsurenko (6-0, 6-0)

W: #4 C. Gauff def. A. Parks (6-0, 6-2)

W: A. Blinkova def. #3 E. Rybakina (6-4, 4-6, 7-6)

W: E. Avanesyan def. #8 M. Sakkari (6-4, 6-4)

M: A. Cazaux def. #8 H. Rune (7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3)

M: #4 J. Sinner def. #26 S. Baez (6-0, 6-1, 6-3)

Upcoming Match Schedule

*#1 Novak Djokovic in Action This Morning (3:00 am ET)

  HIGHLIGHTS   🎥

🏀 NBA: T-Wolves 2nd Team to 30 Wins

Timberwolves def. Grizzlies (118-103)

Pacers def. Kings (126-121)

Knicks def. Wizards (113-109)

Bulls def. Raptors (116-110)

Thunder def. Jazz (134-129)

🏒 NHL: Oilers Win Streak Hits 12
Oilers def. Kraken (4-2)

Bruins def. Avalanche (5-2)

Lightning def. Wild (7-3)

Capitals def. Blues (5-2)

Golden Knights def. Rangers (5-1)

Maple Leafs def. Flames (4-3)

Flyers def. Stars (5-1)

🏀 NCAA Basketball

M: South Florida def. #10 Memphis (74-73)

W: Miami def. #4 NC State (73-59)

⛳️ PGA Tour

Zach Johnson (-10) Tied for Lead at The American Express

  STORYLINES  

🏈 The Super Bowl LVIII Pregame

Usher was announced as the Super Bowl LVIII halftime performer in September, but the lineup for the Super Bowl pregame just dropped. It includes Reba McEntire, Post Malone and Andra Day to appeal to a mix of genres and audiences. (Yahoo! Sports)

🏀 LeBron’s Legendary Longevity Stat

LeBron James is certainly one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. However, one new statistic of his comes across as absolutely mind-boggling. He has now played against 35 percent of all players in NBA history. (CBS Sports)

⚾️ Best Landing Spots for Top MLB FAs

With only weeks remaining before teams begin reporting to camp, plenty of top free agents are still on the market. Cody Bellinger? Blake Snell? Where does everyone end up? Here are 11 top free agents to watch. (FOX Sports)

  NEWS   📰 

• Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy to Return for 2024 Season (B/R)
• Arizona Cardinals Layoffs Includes CFO & 2 VPs (ESPN)
• ACC Claims Florida State Should Be Excluded From Conference Business in Lawsuit (SI)
• Ravens Add RB Dalvin Cook Ahead of Playoff Game, Release Melvin Gordon (Yahoo! Sports)
• ‘Ted Lasso’ Helps Announce News of Christian Pulisic’s 4th U.S. Soccer Player of the Year Award (USA Today)

  WEEKEND SCHEDULE   🗓️

The Weekend Must-Watch List

🏈 NFL Playoffs (Divisional Round)

AFC: Texans at Ravens (Sat. 4:30 pm ET, ESPN)

NFC: Packers at 49ers (Sat. 8:15 pm ET, FOX)

NFC: Bucs at Lions (Sun. 3:00 pm ET, NBC)

AFC: Chiefs at Bills (Sun. 6:30 pm ET, CBS)

🎾 Australian Open

Full Upcoming Match Schedule

🏀 NBA

Nuggets at Celtics (Fri. 7:30 pm ET)

Suns at Pelicans (Fri. 8:00 pm ET)

Mavericks at Warriors (Fri. 10:00 pm ET)

Thunder at Timberwolves (Sat. 8:00 pm ET)

🏒 NHL

Avalanche at Flyers (Sat. 1:00 pm ET)

Maple Leafs at Canucks (Sat. 7:00 pm ET)

Lightning at Red Wings (Sun. 7:00 pm ET)

⛳️ PGA Tour

The American Express (All Weekend)

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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