ACC, B1G, Pac-12 announce ‘historic’ allianceACC, B1G, Pac-12 announce ‘historic’ alliance
The Pac-12 has been the most aggressive in forming and encouraging the alliance with the ACC and Big Ten that was announced Tuesday, sources told ESPN.
Day: August 24, 2021
Marcus Smart’s top March Madness highlightsMarcus Smart’s top March Madness highlights
Before being drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 2014, Marcus Smart was an Oklahoma State Cowboy, making two appearances in the NCAA tournament. Watch his top 2013-14 March Madness highlights here.
The incredible story of the MLB pitcher who survived a lightning strike to finish a gameThe incredible story of the MLB pitcher who survived a lightning strike to finish a game
On Aug. 24, 1919, Cleveland pitcher Ray Caldwell was one out away from the most important win of his career. And then he was hit by lightning. Against all odds, Caldwell somehow survived — and tried to get the last out.
Sleeper Picks: BMW ChampionshipSleeper Picks: BMW Championship
NOTE: For the three events determining who advances in the FedExCup Playoffs, Rob is focusing only on golfers outside the latest bubble. In this last installment, all five below enter the BMW Championship outside the top 30 in points. Lucas Glover (+25000 to win) … If this looks familiar with FedExCup points quadrupled in a three-event series and with him slotted 41st entering the BMW Championship, then you need to audition for a game show testing memory. Indeed, it was two years ago when this format was introduced and he was positioned 41st upon arrival at Medinah. A T7 vaulted him to 29th and into the TOUR Championship. He’d call on that again at Caves Valley without hesitation as he’s just 1-for-4 with a T57 at the no-cut WGC-St. Jude since emerging with victory at the John Deere Classic last month. The long, ball-striker’s track is perfect for his skill set, just like Medinah, which was set up to stretch 7,613 yards. Cam Davis (+15000 to win) … Held steady at 36th in the FedExCup with a T31 at Liberty National. He lost over 3.5 strokes for the week from tee to green, but the Aussie gained more than six with the putter and signed for a red number after every round. That’s Playoffs grit for ya. As one of the longest hitters every time he pegs it, among the most aggressive scorers because he can fill up the cup (see: last week) and as the PGA TOUR’s leader in eagles (19), the confluence of factors at Caves Valley favors a relative surprise with an edge. And he’s not even two months removed from his breakthrough victory in Detroit. Cameron Champ (+10000 to win) … The theme continues with recent winners – he connected at the 3M Open. It fulfilled an attitude adjustment that itself proved that his skill set is off the charts when he’s whole. His current position of 49th in the FedExCup represents a jump of 91 spots in the last month, the last three notches via a T27 at Liberty National where he led the field in par-5 scoring. Do that again at Caves Valley what with its full set of four par 5s and he might be appearing in the full-field Power Rankings for the TOUR Championship. Cameron Tringale (+8000 to win) … It’s hard to reach the TOUR Championship without a victory, but he’s done it before (2014). Still winless in 307 PGA TOUR starts as a professional, he’s on the precipice of doing it again at 34th in points. That reflects a rise of seven slots after a T21 at THE NORTHERN TRUST where he ranked T9 in greens hit and sixth in Strokes Gained: Putting. He’s recorded 11 top 25s this season, including in three of his last four starts. Aaron Wise (+20000 to win) … At 58th in the FedExCup, he’s furthest outside the target to advance than the foursome feature above, but the 25-year-old has been playing on house money essentially since he was the runner-up at Mayakoba in early December. The devil-may-care approach has freed him up for another five top 25s since, including a T21 at THE NORTHERN TRUST. He’ll need something significantly better than that to return to East Lake since he advanced during his Rookie of the Year season of 2017-18, but his above-average length off the tee leads exceptional ball-striking and he’s getting a stage on which those assets can shine. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 7 a.m. ET. For live odds, visit betmgm.
Power Rankings: BMW ChampionshipPower Rankings: BMW Championship
Unscheduled Monday finishes present a handful of challenges to everyone they touch, but if there’s a positive to the loss of one day between THE NORTHERN TRUST and this week’s scheduled Thursday start of the BMW Championship, it’s that the next host is as close to a neutral site as the field of 69 will tackle. (Patrick Reed, who is seeded 26th, withdrew due to a bout with pneumonia. For an introduction to Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland, the format and more, keep reading beyond the expanded ranking of projected contenders. POWER RANKINGS: BMW CHAMPIONSHIP Louis Oosthuizen, Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan Spieth, Alex Noren and Rory McIlroy will be among the notables reviewed in the Fantasy Insider. Situated in Baltimore County, Caves Valley GC is about a dozen miles to the northwest of downtown Baltimore as the oriole flies. It’s significant not only as the host of the top 70 in the updated FedExCup standings for the penultimate tournament of the 2020-21 season, but neither the City of Baltimore nor Baltimore Country has hosted the PGA TOUR since, well, before the PGA TOUR was the PGA TOUR. This marks the first visit to the region since 1962 when the final edition of the Eastern Open Invitational was contested at Mount Pleasant Golf Club in Baltimore proper. Doug Ford prevailed by one over Bob Goalby. Caves Valley has hosted a handful of competitions since it opened in 1991. For men only, in addition to a pair of events of note for seniors, the 2005 NCAA Division I Men’s Championship and the 2007 Palmer Cup were staged on site. Of those who participated in the more recent, Dustin Johnson (22nd seed), Billy Horschel (27th), Brian Harman (39th), Webb Simpson (52nd) and Chris Kirk (60th) are back this week. But again, it’s been 14 years since they were here and when they were amateurs. Suffice it to say that the statute of limitations for relevant course history has elapsed. At 7,542 yards, the stock par 72 designed by Tom Fazio is a bigger ballpark than most. The full complement of four par 5s serves as default scoring opportunities on unfamiliar greens that, in turn, will reward ball-strikers until the field finds the pulse for the bentgrass greens. Furthermore, because the targets average just 5,200 square feet, the approach game likely will determine the final leaderboard. The combination fescue-bluegrass rough has been allowed to grow to four inches on the perimeter, so with putting surfaces stretching to 12½ feet on the Stimpmeter, Caves Valley sets up as a first- and second-shot track. That, of course, brings us back to the ball-striker model. There’s so much more at stake at the BMW Championship than the official victory, the membership extension through at least 2022-23 for the winner and official earnings. Golfers inside the top 30 of the FedExCup standings at the conclusion of the tournament not only will advance to the TOUR Championship but each will receive an exemption into the 2022 editions of the Masters, the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. Consider that even winners of some tournaments rewarding the full allocation of FedExCup points don’t qualify automatically for the last two. With no cut at Caves Valley, it’ll be a 72-hole race for all the spoils. There will be physical sweating in addition to the mental variety. Daytime temperatures will eclipse 90 degrees on Thursday and Friday before a gradual cooling occurs, albeit with highs still ranging into the mid- to upper-80s on the weekend. Juicy air will promote the development of clouds, rain and possibly storms every day. Wind will not be a factor, which means that every bit of the elevated heating will be felt, but unlike the course, that’s something that all have experienced. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. TUESDAY*: Power Rankings; Sleepers; Fantasy Insider SUNDAY: Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Rookie Watch * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.
Preseason NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus who’s on the hot seat for every teamPreseason NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus who’s on the hot seat for every team
Kliff Kingsbury needs a playoff berth. Odell Beckham Jr. needs a healthy season. Aaron Rodgers needs a little respect.
‘That dude — he’s fun’: Rams DC Raheem Morris brings energy, jokes‘That dude — he’s fun’: Rams DC Raheem Morris brings energy, jokes
Morris is keeping things loose as he takes over a unit in Los Angeles that excelled under former defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
Harbinger or mirage? Closer look at Jets’ Zach Wilson and his fast startHarbinger or mirage? Closer look at Jets’ Zach Wilson and his fast start
The rookie quarterback has been every bit as good as advertised this preseason, but those optimal conditions won’t be present starting Week 1.
Can rookie Pat Surtain II be the Denver Broncos’ Travis Kelce slayer?Can rookie Pat Surtain II be the Denver Broncos’ Travis Kelce slayer?
Opposing tight ends have racked up 22 TDs and seven 100-yard games in the past five seasons against the Broncos. Surtain has the talent to change that.
Quizzes, lamps and Novocaine: Inside Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and his Hurts-ismsQuizzes, lamps and Novocaine: Inside Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and his Hurts-isms
Philadelphia’s second-year QB is showing more of himself as a player and person, offering quirky and profound sayings the team has adopted.