Month: November 2023
Reports: UCLA QB Dante Moore decides to enter portal
UCLA freshman quarterback Dante Moore is planning to enter the transfer portal, per multiple media reports Thursday.
A top prospect in the 2023 class, Moore committed to Oregon out of high school before switching to UCLA.
Moore, a Detroit native, threw for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine games with the Bruins.
The Bruins used three quarterbacks this season, including redshirt junior Ethan Garbers (984 passing yards, nine TDs, three INTs in 10 games) and transfer Collin Schlee (139 yards, one TD, two INTs in six games).
–Field Level Media
Seahawks activate OT Abraham Lucas, place OG Phil Haynes on IR
Seattle activated right tackle Abraham Lucas from injured reserve before the Seahawks’ game Thursday night at the Dallas Cowboys.
In a corresponding move, Seattle (6-5) placed right guard Phil Haynes (toe) on injured reserve to make room on the 53-man roster.
Lucas went on IR after sustaining a knee injury in the season opener. He returned to practice two weeks ago and was a full participant this week.
“He’s back to where we’re counting on him to be able to help and contribute,” coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday before the team left for Dallas. “… Abe had a good week. Everything’s kind of on schedule as we planned it out quite some time ago aiming for this week. He did his part.”
The Seahawks made Lucas, 25, a third-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Washington State. He started 16 games last season and this year’s season opener, a 30-13 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10.
Haynes, 28, missed practice this week because of the toe injury and was ruled out Wednesday for the game against the Cowboys (8-3). He will have to miss at least the next four games.
A fourth-round draft pick by the Seahawks in 2019, Haynes has played in eight games this season (all starts) and 31 total (13 starts) in five seasons.
The Seahawks also elevated wide receiver Cody Thompson from the practice squad on Thursday. Thompson, 27, has appeared in six games this season, primarily on special teams, and has one reception for 10 yards.
–Field Level Media
Panthers place WR Laviska Shenault Jr. (ankle) on injured reserve
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. is out a minimum of four weeks after being placed on injured reserve Thursday because of an ankle injury.
Shenault had one reception for eight yards last Sunday in a 17-10 loss at the Tennessee Titans before injuring the ankle. He played only two snaps in the game.
Shenault has played in eight games for the Panthers (1-10) this season, missing three games after sustaining a high ankle sprain against the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 15. He has a total of 10 receptions for 60 yards, and 12 rushing attempts for 55 yards.
He also has returned six kickoffs for 167 yards, a 27.8-yard average.
Shenault, 25, was a second-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Colorado. He was traded to the Panthers in August 2022. In four seasons, he has 158 receptions for 1,551 yards and six touchdowns, and 50 carries for 252 yards and one score.
In other moves Thursday, the Panthers signed guard Deonte Brown to the practice squad and cut quarterback Jake Luton from the practice squad.
Carolina now has 12 players on IR this season, not including six other players who have been designated to return from IR.
–Field Level Media
NFL’s first-ever ‘MNF’ flex bumps Chiefs-Patriots for Eagles-Seahawks
The Philadelphia Eagles-Seattle Seahawks Week 15 game will be played on Monday, Dec. 18, marking the first flex in “Monday Night Football” history.
Bumped to make room for the battle of the birds, the Kansas City Chiefs and Patriots will play the day before — Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. ET — a step that prevents New England (2-9) from making three consecutive primetime appearances.
The Seattle-Philadelphia game moved to Monday was previously scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 17 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
The NFL also made official the Week 15 tripleheader on Saturday, Dec. 16.
The Minnesota Vikings are at the Cincinnati Bengals (1 p.m. ET), followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Indianapolis Colts (4:30 p.m. ET) and the primetime Saturday finale featuring the Denver Broncos at the Detroit Lions (8:15 p.m. ET).
In other Week 15 scheduling news, the Atlanta Falcons-Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears-Cleveland Browns games will be played Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. ET.
–Field Level Media
Browns OC trusts ‘elite’ arm of QB Joe Flacco ready for Rams
Joe Flacco is ready to roll if called upon by the Browns to beat the Rams this week thanks to his “elite” arm strength.
At least that’s the view shared by Cleveland offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt on Thursday with Flacco, 38, taking the majority of the first-team reps at quarterback due to Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s concussion.
“He has an elite arm. There’s no question,” Van Pelt said. “If you put it on a scale of 1-5, he’s a 5. His ball flight, velocity on the ball at every level of the field is impressive.”
A longtime Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl winner, Flacco went 18-3 in his career against the Browns. He’d be the franchise’s 39th different starter since 1999 and fourth this season.
Flacco was 1-8 in nine starts with the New York Jets the past three seasons. He was unsigned since the end of the 2022 season until the Browns rang.
That one win was Week 2 of last season over the Browns. Flacco completed 26 of 44 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-30 win.
If he starts Sunday against the Rams and Matthew Stafford (35), the matchup would pit the two oldest starters going head to head in the NFL this season.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski downplayed the loose wires involved in creating a gameplan for quarterbacks with diametrically opposed styles. Thompson-Robinson is a scrambling speedster with the athleticism of a wide receiver. Flacco is more of a throw-it-through-a-wall kind of quarterback in the mold of traditional pocket passers.
“Big, strong arm,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, he can make every throw, but he’s done a very nice job in the meeting room, getting to know his teammates, getting to know the assistants. He’s done a nice job.”
The Browns, practicing at UCLA this week, will know more by the end of the day when testing concludes for Thompson-Robinson.
–Field Level Media
TNF Week 13: Seahawks-Cowboys Preview, Props, Prediction
Usually when NFL teams play on Thanksgiving, they get a few extra days off ahead of the following game.
The Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys don’t have that luxury. They will both play for a second consecutive Thursday when they meet this week in Arlington, Texas.
QUICK PICK
These are two teams heading in opposite directions. The Cowboys have won their first five home games this season by an average of 29 points. Granted, that has come against five teams with losing records, but the Seahawks are reeling. Seattle has lost three of its past four games, is without top running back Kenneth Walker III and the Seahawks’ offensive line has been manhandled by quality defenses this season.
Prediction: Cowboys 34, Seahawks 23
TRENDING
The Cowboys opened as 7.5-point favorites at BetMGM and the line has moved to 9.5 points with Dallas backed by 72 percent of the spread-line bets and 80 percent of the money. The line has shifted even more dramatically at DraftKings, where it was Dallas -9.0 on Monday after opening at 3.5.
While the Seahawks’ +340 moneyline has drawn 61 percent of the bets at BetMGM, the Cowboys’ -450 ML has still been backed by 80 percent of the money.
The Over/Under opened at 46.5 points, but has also been on the move. It was 47.5 on Thursday morning, with the Under backed by 58 and 60 percent of the action, respectively.
PROP PICK
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Over 1.5 Passing TDs (-230 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book. Prescott has thrown multiple touchdowns in five consecutive games and a total of 17 over that span. The Seahawks enter with the NFL’s 23rd-ranked pass defense and have allowed 14 passing touchdown through 11 games.
THE NEWS
The Seahawks (6-5), who were in sole possession of first place in the NFC West at the start of November, now find themselves two games behind San Francisco. The visiting 49ers pounded Seattle 31-13 last Thursday.
The Seahawks have lost two in a row and three of four. That doesn’t bode well for their playoff hopes, as they follow the game against the Cowboys (8-3) with a rematch against the 49ers (8-3) in Santa Clara, Calif., and then a home game against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles (10-1).
The Seahawks took a 17-16 road loss against the Los Angeles Rams before falling to the 49ers, and Seattle’s only touchdown vs. San Francisco came on a pick-six by linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
“I’m concerned. I’m concerned about our club. I’m concerned about everything we’re doing right now,” coach Pete Carroll said. “That (loss to San Francisco) will make you challenge everything, which is why you’re asking all the questions. There’s questions to be asked and answers to be found.”
Carroll seemed especially miffed by the team’s lack of offensive production the past two weeks.
“We have unique talents and we got to make sure we’re maximizing that and I feel like we’re not,” Carroll said. “I feel like we’re not seeing stuff.”
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have won five of six games since a 42-10 loss to the 49ers on Oct. 8.
Dak Prescott has thrown 18 touchdown passes with just two interceptions in that span, with head coach Mike McCarthy taking over as the play-caller.
“I don’t know that I could just put my finger right on it and say this is the why,” Prescott said. “As much as I’ve talked about the new system and the new play-calling, we know what we want to do. We know how we want to attack. We’re running plays that we’ve ran since the spring.”
Prescott hasn’t been sacked in the past three games, the longest streak of his career.
“I think that’s where it starts,” Prescott said of the Cowboys’ offensive line. “The way they’re protecting, giving me time to take shots down the field, allowing me to extend plays.”
KEY STATS
In a 45-10 rout of the visiting Washington Commanders last Thursday, Dallas cornerback DaRon Bland set an NFL record with his fifth interception return for a touchdown this season. Dallas extended its winning streak at A&T Stadium to 13 games, its longest run at home since an 18-game streak from 1979-81.
INJURY REPORT
Walker, who missed last week’s game, is doubtful because of an oblique injury, meaning rookie Zach Charbonnet is likely to carry the bulk of the workload. Offensive guard Phil Haynes (toe) has been ruled out, while defensive end Leonard Williams (ankle), tight end Will Dissly (hip) and wide receiver Dee Eskridge (ribs) are questionable.
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons and defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. missed practice on Tuesday with illnesses but were back as full participants Wednesday.
THEY SAID IT
“We’re right in the midst of it. It’s just turning your brain around because you feel like you’re on a different planet here. So yeah, there’s a challenge to that. But that’s why we tried to get right back into the routine so it feels the same regardless. It’s kind of like a bit of a time warp and we just go at it.” –Carroll on the Seahawks’ altered practice schedule with back-to-back Thursday night games.
–Field Level Media
Reports: Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei to transfer
Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei is entering the transfer portal again, multiple outlets reported Thursday.
He passed for 2,638 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first season with the Beavers after transferring from Clemson.
Uiagalelei will decide in the coming weeks whether to choose a third school or enter the 2024 NFL Draft, per ESPN.
He led Oregon State to an 8-4 season (5-4 Pac-12), adding 219 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
His career totals with the Beavers and Tigers (2020-22) include 8,319 passing yards, 57 TDs and 24 interceptions.
–Field Level Media
Conference championship weekend Preview, Prop and Picks
The buffet of betting options overflows with main courses with only conference championship games on the menu this weekend.
With Oregon-Washington, Alabama-Georgia and Michigan-Iowa coming up, it’s easy to be distracted by the shiny draw of big names in big games.
But a matchup not many circled could prove a massive stage for one underdog ready to flex.
It’s the Conference USA championship game – No. 24 Liberty vs. New Mexico State – and you know you’ll look to have something to follow when the TV clicks on.
We have stats, news, quotes and betting predictions for our college football (betting) game of the week.
–Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET, Friday
–Television: CBS Sports Network
–Location: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Va.
–Point Spread, Total: Liberty -10.5; 55.5 (DraftKings)
QUICK PICK
It’s a home game for Liberty, with 25,000-plus fans aiming to help the unbeaten Flames (12-0) roll past New Mexico State in Lynchburg, Va., Friday.
The Aggies (10-3) are not intimidated, however, and the venue won’t be a surprise. Liberty stopped New Mexico State 33-17 earlier this season at home.
Bettors who witnessed New Mexico State’s upset at Auburn two weeks ago know about the Aggies’ size and speed. This improving team could be eye-opening for Liberty, a double-digit favorite given the spotlight thanks to a place in the College Football Playoff rankings.
The trends are smiling on Aggies backers. New Mexico State has an 11-2 mark against the spread – 6-1 as the underdog – and following that loss to Liberty has covered 10 consecutive games.
Coming off a 20-17 win over Jacksonville State, in which New Mexico State put two early touchdowns on the board and then became somewhat disinterested, the Aggies have all the inspiration they need in an “us against the world” matchup.
Liberty could be conservative early, and New Mexico State would welcome a slower pace. The Aggies are 9-4 to the “under” this season.
The bet, a plus-money New Mexico State teaser parlay: Aggies +14.5 with the under 60.5 points (+124 at DraftKings).
THE NEWS
The Flames are trying to stay in play for the Group of 5 spot in the upper tier of bowls when the College Football Playoff committee reveals its final rankings Sunday.
“To say we’re 12-0, I would’ve said you’re crazy,” Liberty’s first-year coach Jamey Chadwell said. “But this team bought in to each other, and just what a tremendous season.”
The Aggies will arrive with an eight-game winning streak that includes a 31-10 handling of host Auburn on Nov. 18 and Saturday’s 20-17 home escape versus Jacksonville State. Ethan Albertson’s 52-yard field goal as time expired won it for New Mexico State.
Liberty trails only No. 22 Tulane among Group of 5 teams.
“I told them before the season started, you have an opportunity to make history (in the) FBS,” Chadwell said.
“Certain things haven’t happened here. For us to be 12-0, there’s not an FBS program that has ever won 12 games in a season in the state of Virginia.”
BONUS BET
It’s almost impossible to quantify the number of what-if scenarios that could be hatched if Alabama beats Georgia in the SEC title game.
That’s been a common discussion point among college football fans and media. No. 1 Georgia wants nothing to do with it.
Would the Bulldogs remain among the College Football Playoff top four when the committee reveals its rankings Sunday at noon ET? That would depend on several other outcomes.
The Bulldogs, unbeaten and improving, know their roles and have taken the elite coaching from Kirby Smart and his staff to heart.
Quarterback Carson Beck is on a nice upward trend in performance. He’s completing 72.4 percent of his attempts – which would easily break the school mark – for 3,495 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. His yardage total is fourth most in Bulldogs’ history.
No doubt, Tide QB Jalen Milroe has been exceptional, capping his run of success with a dart of a touchdown throw on fourth-and-goal from the Auburn 31-yard line to Isaiah Bond to win last Saturday’s Iron Bowl.
Our take? It was an incredibly lucky throw to beat a clearly inferior opponent.
The bet: Georgia -5.5.
THEY SAID IT
“Definitely, we have to embrace the challenge that’s ahead of us. They’re coming off of a (29)-game winning streak, so it’s definitely a challenge for the guys in the locker room.” — Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
–Field Level Media
Reports: Indiana to hire James Madison’s Curt Cignetti as coach
Indiana is finalizing a deal to make James Madison’s Curt Cignetti the school’s next coach, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.
Cignetti, 62, was named the Sun Belt coach of the Year on Thursday after guiding the Dukes to an 11-1 record in their second season at the FBS level.
He will replace Tom Allen, who was fired on Sunday after posting a 33-49 record over seven seasons as coach of the Hoosiers. Indiana had dropped a 35-31 decision to Purdue the previous day to finish the campaign with a 3-9 overall record and a 1-8 mark in the Big Ten.
Cignetti owns a 52-9 record and 31-4 mark in conference play at JMU between the Sun Belt and Colonial Athletic Association. He reached the 2019 FCS national championship game and the FCS semifinals in both 2020 and 2021.
His father, Frank, was a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
–Field Level Media