The Sportsletter - Midweek Mix: New SBLIX Favorites

BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 20, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

Wednesday already? It’s the midweek mix. From CFP Rankings to NBA Cup games and Rafael Nadal's last match, we’ve got it all. Plus, another NFL executive is shown the door, and the Detroit Lions are… Super Bowl favorites?! That's never happened before.

Letter Rip!

PICKS

The Sportsletter’s NFL Pick ‘Em (Week 12)

Picks Take Approximately 60 Seconds

CFB

CFP Rankings (3 of 6)

Photo: Name / Getty Images

Welcome to the Party, Boise State! Broncos Join 12-Team Outlook After BYU’s Upset

Episode 3 of the College Football Playoff projector looks a lot like it did a week ago. Even still, it’s become a staple of sports news to hype the playoff every Tuesday after the rankings shed light on who’s where and what’s to come. Two games tweaked the overall bracket outlook last weekend. Alabama’s win over Tennessee knocked the Vols down from No. 7 to No. 11, but they’re not out. No. 6 BYU fell to Kansas, and ultimately out of the top-12. That made room for one newcomer. Welcome, Boise State! The Broncos and Heisman hopeful running back Ashton Jeanty control their own destiny in the Mountain West. Win their last two games — against Wyoming and Oregon State — and Boise State is in.

CFP Rankings (3 of 6)

1. Oregon (11-0)

2. Ohio State (9-1)

3. Texas (9-1)

4. Penn State (9-1)

5. Indiana (10-0)

6. Notre Dame (9-1)

7. Alabama (8-2)

8. Miami (9-1)

9. Ole Miss (8-2)

10. Georgia (8-2)

11. Tennessee (8-2)

12. Boise State (9-1)

Other Teams to Watch: Don’t count out No. 13 SMU if one of the two-loss SEC teams falls. There’s also still hope for two-loss Texas A&M (#15) and Deion Sanders’ Colorado (#16).

ESPN+: What We Learned From the Third CFP Rankings, Plus Bubble Teams & a G5 Stack

NBA

The East Belongs To...?

Photo: Winslow Townson / Getty Images

Celtics Hold Off Cavs' Rally (120-117) to End Cleveland’s 15-0 Start in Night of NBA Cup Games

Another round of NBA Cup games took center stage on Tuesday night. Court designs aside (I can’t tell if I love ‘em or hate ‘em), the mean green machine in Boston was ready for the undefeated Cavaliers. The top two teams in the East put on a show. Cleveland entered the game 15-0 with a chance to keep chasing history, but Boston had other plans. The Celtics led by 21 in the first half before the Cavs came roaring back. Jayson Tatum (33-12-7) and Donovan Mitchell (35-8-3) went punch-for-punch, but the C’s held on in the end to give the Cavs their first loss of the year. Both Boston (12-3) and Cleveland (15-1) already have a significant three-game lead over the rest of the Eastern Conference. No other team has ten wins.

Watch: Celtics Snap Cavs’ Win Streak in NBA Cup Group Play (120-117)

🏀 NBA Cup Scores & Highlights

Lakers def. Jazz (124-118)

Dalton Knecht Scores 37 Points (Nine 3s)

Nuggets def. Grizzlies (122-110)

Jamal Murray (27 Points)

Mavericks def. Pelicans (132-91)

Luka Doncic (26 Points)

Spurs def. Thunder (110-104)

Keldon Johnson Scores 22 Off the Bench

Nets def. Hornets (116-115)

Cameron Johnson (34 Points)

MLB

Skippers of the Year

Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images

Stephen Vogt (Guardians, AL) & Pat Murphy (Brewers, NL) Named MLB Managers of the Year by Wide Margin

Awards week rolls on, and I doubt there are any surprises here. After Paul Skenes and Luis Gil won the Rookie of the Year awards on Monday, Tuesday was for the skippers. Manager(s) of the Year, Stephen Vogt (Guardians) and Pat Murphy (Brewers), exceeded expectations and made the playoffs in their first seasons. We’ll find out who wins the Cy Young awards later today.

AL: Stephen Vogt (Guardians)

Big shoes were filled this season in Cleveland. Stephen Vogt took the Guardians to an AL Central title in his first year at the helm after Terry Francona's retirement. The Guards (92-69) were a case study in defensive efficiency, ranking top three in ERA (3.61) and saves (53). Vogt received 90 percent of the first-place votes. 2nd: Matt Quatraro (Royals), 3rd: AJ Hinch (Tigers)

NL: Pat Murphy (Brewers)

Baseball fans remember the day when Craig Counsell spurned the Brewers to head to Chicago. That made for some interesting storylines this season, but it was actually the Crew, with Pat Murphy in charge, who won the division. The Brewers (93-69) did a lot with little, finishing top six in both hitting and pitching. Murphy also received 90 percent of the first-place votes. 2nd: Mike Shildt (Padres), 3rd: Carlos Mendoza (Mets)

🗓️ MLB Awards Week (Schedule)

Wednesday: Cy Young Awards

Thursday: MVP Awards

NFL

NFL Midweek Mix

Firings, Rankings & Super Bowl Favorites — NFL Enters Make-or-Break Holiday Season

Jets Fire GM Joe Douglas

After five years, zero winning seasons and an abundance of roster moves to swing for the fences, Jets GM Joe Douglas has been fired. The news comes just over a month after the team fired head coach Robert Saleh. New York (3-8) has tons of talent and little excuses. So what’s next for the Jets and 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers?

New Super Bowl LIX Favorites

For the first time ever (yes, ever), the Detroit Lions are Super Bowl favorites in the eyes of oddsmakers. After trouncing the Jaguars on Sunday (52-6), Detroit has scored the most points in the NFL (336) despite playing one less game than the Bills, Ravens and Commanders. Their 33.6 ppg is more than a field goal better than 2nd place — Ravens (30.4 ppg).

Week 12 Power Rankings

1. Lions (9-1) | —

2. Bills (9-2) | ↑1

3. Chiefs (9-1) | ↓1

4. Eagles (8-2) | ↑1

5. Steelers (8-2) | ↓1

6. Vikings (8-2) | ↑1

7. Ravens (7-4) | ↓1

8. Packers (7-3) | ↑1

9. Commanders (7-4) | ↓1

10. Chargers (7-3) | ↑1

Teams 11-20: 11. Texans (7-4) | ↑2 / 12. Cardinals (6-4) | — / 13. Broncos (6-5) | ↑5 / 14. Seahawks (5-5) | ↑3 / 15. 49ers (5-5) | ↓5 / 16. Falcons (6-5) | ↓2 / 17. Buccaneers (4-6) | ↓2 / 18. Dolphins (4-6) | ↑1 / 19. Rams (5-5) | ↑1 / 20. Bengals (4-7) | ↓4

Teams 21-32: 21. Colts (5-6) | ↑3 / 22. Bears (4-6) | — / 23. Saints (4-7) | ↑4 / 24. Cowboys (3-7) | ↓1 / 25. Patriots (3-8) | ↓3 / 26. Jets (3-8) | ↓1 / 27. Panthers (3-7) | ↓1 / 28. Browns (2-8) | ↑1 / 29. Raiders (2-8) | ↑1 / 30. Jaguars (2-9) | ↓2 / 31. Giants (2-8) | — / 32. Titans (2-8) | —

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

🏒 NHL

Oilers def. Senators (5-2)

Connor McDavid (2G, 1A)

Lightning def. Penguins (3-2, OT)

Brayden Point (2G) Wins it in Overtime

Jets def. Panthers (6-3)

Mark Scheifele Nets Hat Trick

Full NHL Scoreboard

🏀 NCAA Basketball

M: #15 Marquette Upsets #6 Purdue (76-58)

Kam Jones (17-13-10) Records 1st Triple Double by Marquette Player Since Dwyane Wade (2003)

STORYLINES

🥊 Netflix’s Tyson-Paul Viewership

Even though the fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was an eight-round bore, Netflix’s first foray into live sports set records with 108 million global viewers worldwide. (B/R)

🎾 Rafael Nadal’s Last Match

Rafa Nadal announced his retirement last month. He played in (likely) his final match on Tuesday, falling in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup. (ESPN)

⚾️ Juan Soto’s Free Agency

Soto is expected to get a historic contract, likely between $400-$700 million. Here’s every team that has met with the superstar so far in November. (Sports Illustrated)

NEWS 📰

🥊 Paul vs. Tyson $18.1 Million Gate KOs Combat Sport Record for Event Ouside Vegas (ESPN)

🏒 Bruins Fire Head Coach Jim Montgomery After Ugly 8-9-3 Start (ESPN)

⚽️ Inter Miami Head Coach Tata Martino Reportedly Leaving Team for Personal Reasons (Yahoo! Sports)

🏀 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey Reportedly Ripped Joel Embiid for Being Late to ‘Everything’ (B/R)

🏒 Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin ‘Week-to-Week’ With Leg Injury Amid Chase for NHL Goals Record (NBC Sports)

🏀 Division I Kansas City Basketball Sets NCAA Record With 100-Point Win (CBS Sports)