The Sportsletter - Midweek Mix: NBA Cup, Heisman & UCL

BY JEFF YODER

DEC. 11, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

It’s a mixed bag of sports in the midweek edition as we wait for playoff football. Two star guards sizzled in the NBA Cup knockouts, and I'm starting to enjoy the early-season tournament. It breaks up the drag of an 82-game season. It’s growing on me. Cheers to NBA commish Adam Silver.

We’ll also break down the four Heisman Trophy finalists, a pair of soccer players made history in the Champions League, and the Yankees made a splash in free agency.

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PICKS

NFL Pick 'Em (Week 15)

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NBA

NBA Cup: 1-Seeds Sizzle 🔥

Photo: Joshua Gateley / Getty Images

Bucks & Thunder Advance in 1st Set of NBA Cup Knockout Games as Star Guards Take Over

’Tis the season for one-and-dones! The NBA Cup’s knockout stage is back with eight teams playing a set of one-game series. Win three straight and become the second ever NBA Cup champs. The action began last night with a pair of games that featured two guard takeovers in the second half — Damian Lillard (Bucks) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder). Let’s run it.

EQF: #1 Bucks def. #4 Magic (114-109)

The Magic may be a great early-season story in the NBA, but no Paolo Banchero was a problem on Tuesday night. The Bucks hit the Magic with a heavy dose of Giannis Antetokounmpo (37 points) before Damian Lillard (28 points) took over late. The Magic actually led (102-101) before Lillard scored 11 of Milwaukee’s 13 points in the final two minutes. The Bucks will head to Vegas to play the winner of tonight’s Hawks-Knicks game.

WQF: #1 Thunder def. #4 Mavs (118-104)

Two of the most exciting young teams in the West gave fans a star-studded showdown. It wasn’t the best night for Luka Doncic (16-11-5). And even though Kyrie Irving (17 pts) and Klay Thomspon (19 pts) hit a bunch of 3s to keep the game close, the Thunder struck in the second half. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (39-8-5) proved why he’s the league’s overall scoring leader. OKC will head to Vegas to play the winner of tonight’s Warriors-Rockets game.

Tonight’s Schedule (NBA Cup QFs)

EQF: #3 Hawks at #2 Knicks (7:00 pm ET, ESPN)

WQF: #3 Warriors at #2 Rockets (9:30 pm ET, TNT)

CFB

The Heisman Hierarchy 🏆

Photo: Don Juan Moore / Getty Images

Hunter, Jeanty, Gabriel & Ward Head to NYC for 2024 Heisman Trophy Ceremony

The four finalists for the Heisman Trophy have been announced, but is there really any drama at this year’s ceremony? The most iconic award in college sports, maybe in all of sports, gets awarded at a red-carpet banquet in New York City on Saturday night. One player has the edge... A huge edge. We wrote about him after Week 1 in an article called “The Heisman Hunter.” Sure enough, Colorado’s two-way star Travis Hunter should be a lock for the hardware. Here are the nominees:

The Heisman Hierarchy 🏆

1. WR/CB Travis Hunter (Colorado)

Not only was Travis Hunter the ultimate weapon for Deion Sanders in the passing game (92 catches, 1,152 yards, 14 TDs), he was one of the premiere cornerbacks in the nation. He had 22 tackles, 4 INTs and 1 forced fumble on defense, and the game-changing stat that makes Hunter rise above the field is his two-way status. He played 1,044 snaps (519 offense, 525 defense), and he's a massive favorite to lift the Heisman. Spoiler: He will. (-4000 Odds)

2. RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

In almost any other season, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty would be the odds-on favorite. He rushed for 2,497 yards and 29 TDs. That’s just 130 yards shy and eight TDs short of Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing records set in 1988 with Oklahoma State. Jeanty is a powerful 5-foot-9, and his game resembles a little bit of Maurice Jones-Drew (throwback, anyone?). His unstoppable ground attack helped send the Broncos to the CFP. (+1100 Odds)

3. QB Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)

It wouldn’t be a Heisman ceremony without the top quarterbacks. And while other names may boast better stats, Gabriel’s Ducks are the undisputed, undefeated, top team in the land. There’s the leadership factor, which can’t be ignored, but Gabriel still has impressive QB numbers (3,558 yards, 35 TDs, 6 INTs). Most of all: 12 wins, 0 losses. He won’t win the Heisman, but he owns the all-time FBS touchdown record with 183 TDs in his college career. He also has the best odds to lift the natty one month from now. (+40000 Odds)

4. QB Cam Ward (Miami)

He's perhaps my favorite NFL-ready quarterback. Cam Ward was robbed of a spot in the CFP… by his own defense. The Hurricanes’ offense was lights-out in 2024, but that defense hurt them repeatedly. Ward — an athletic 6-foot-2— has all the NFL tools. He threw for 4,123 yards, 36 TDs (40 total) and just 7 INTs. Expect him and Hunter to be two of the top five players off the board in the NFL Draft, but Ward won’t be winning the Heisman or playing in the CFP. Shame. (+50000 Odds)

B/R: Travis Hunter Speaks on Heisman Trophy: “You’ve Never Seen a Player Like Me”

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

50-50: Mbappe, Salah Make History

Photo: Marco Luzzani / Getty Images

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) & Mo Salah (Liverpool) Each Score 50th Champions League Goals — Liverpool Remains Perfect

Another level in the League Phase of the UCL was reached on Tuesday as Matchday 6 (of 8) brought history in pairs. Both Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) and Mo Salah (Liverpool) notched their 50th career goals in Champions League play. Mbappe’s milestone is a bit more impressive considering he’s 25 years old, seven years younger than Salah. Either way, the pair of superstars are now tied for 10th in all-time UCL scoring. The trio of Ronaldo (140), Messi (129) and Lewandowski (101) are 1-2-3 with more than 100. Mbappe will likely eclipse the century mark before his career his over.

As for the matches themselves, both clubs recorded one-goal victories in a crucial stage of league play. Liverpool’s lone goal by Salah came on a second-half PK, and the Reds are the only perfect team left (6-0-0) through six matches. Mbappe’s strike was one of three from Real Madrid’s incredible trio — Mbappe, Vinicius and Jude Bellingham. More matches on the way today!

⚽️ UCL Highlights (Matchday 6)

Liverpool def. Girona (1-0)

Bayern def. Shakhtar Donetsk (5-1)

PSG def. RB Salzburg (3-0)

Real Madrid def. Atalanta (3-2)

Aston Villa def. RB Leipzig (3-2)

League Phase Table (Match 6 of 8)

Today’s Schedule: Bottom of the Newsletter

NBC Sports: Mo Salah Keeps Liverpool Perfect in Champions League Run

STORYLINES

🏀 NBA Trade Rumors

Miami is reportedly open to trading its franchise player, Jimmy Butler. Plus, Brandon Ingram, the Warriors moves, and much more. (CBS Sports)

🏈 Week 15 NFL Power Rankings

We have arrived at the final four-week stretch of the 2024 regular season, and with it, we’ve got movement among the mid-tier teams. (The Ringer)

⚾️ How the Mets Won Soto

Talk about a New York City robbery. It wasn't just the top free-agent jewel that the Mets stole from the Yankees; Steve Cohen hijacked the crown. (FOX Sports)

NEWS 📰

⚾️ Yankees Answer Soto Miss by Landing LHP Max Fried for $218 Million (ESPN)

🏀 Caitlin Clark Named TIME’s Athlete of the Year (TIME)

🏀 A.J. Dybantsa, Projected Top Pick in ’26 NBA Draft, Signs With BYU (ESPN)

⛳️ Tiger Woods to Team Up With Son Charlie at PNC Championship (B/R)

🏈 Star Michigan DL & Projected Top-5 Pick Mason Graham Declares for NFL Draft (CBS Sports)

⚾️ Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg Says His Cancer Has Relapsed & Spread (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 Eagles DL Brandon Graham Apologizes for Radio Show Comments on Eagles Drama (NBC Sports)

⛳️ Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund to Acquire Share of PGA Tour Enterprises (SI)

🏈 Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown Suffered 3 Torn Ligaments on MNF (CBS Sports)

🏈 Bengals QB Joe Burrow Has Home Broken Into During Monday Night Football (ABC)