They’re getting ready to throw parades, and the balloons are up. But here’s a message to the Vegas Golden Knights. You really haven’t accomplished anything until you’ve had some boos to go with the cheers.
Sports Columns
Saturday offers an NFL doubleheader featuring two playoff contenders that are facing teams out of the postseason mix. But bettors, be careful. There could be a trap out there.
The Golden Knights’ 2-1 win over the two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena proved that they will not be intimidated by the big boys.
You have to love teams that are giving their best effort. Sometimes that’s not good enough, as in Thursday night, when Drew Brees forced his final pass into coverage and Atlanta held on for a 20-17 win over New Orleans.
Legendary broadcaster Brent Musburger, now with the Vegas Stats Information Network, looks at Saturday’s conference championship football games.
Sunday’s featured attraction has the Rams hosting the Saints, who have won eight straight. Based on points per game, this matchup features the league’s most improved offense vs. the most improved defense.
There is no shortage of good games, but the best matchup takes place in Minneapolis, where the Vikings are a 2½-point favorite against the Los Angeles Rams.
The more I look at this game, the more it looks like a throwback to that game in 1988, when defensive back Pat Terrell batted down a 2-point conversion pass in the final minute to seal a 31-30 Notre Dame victory.
For the past three weeks, oddsmakers at the South Point have told me they’ve taken in a bigger handle on college football than the NFL. Think about that. That might be the biggest upset this season.
College football’s Final Four committee will be playing close attention to what unfolds Saturday at Ohio State, Notre Dame, Clemson and Iowa State.
This is a solid Notre Dame team that is favored by 3½ points with an over-under of 65. The Irish are 5-1 straight up and against the spread. The Trojans’ only loss came at Washington State, but they are 1-6 ATS.
It’s a rematch between the Cubs and Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. But their roles have been completely reversed.
Neither Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith nor Redskins QB Kirk Cousins captures the public’s imagination, but they are in the top five of the NFL’s passer ratings this season.
It’s clear Rams coach Sean McVay has been able to get the positive results out of quarterback Jared Goff that Jeff Fisher, who was fired after last season, could not.
The Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals gave us a perfect example of why the NFL is hurting its product. They played a game that featured 16 punts and one touchdown Thursday night.
