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🏈 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE DETROIT LIONS

By no means change, Dan Campbell. By no means change, Detroit Lions. I like watching your soccer group. The NFC leaders topped the Packers, 34-31, on Jake Bates‘ walk-off 35-yard discipline objective in probably the greatest and most entertaining video games of the season. The victory retains the 12-1 Lions atop the NFC, they usually’ve additionally secured a playoff berth.

• Detroit led 17-7 at halftime, however Inexperienced Bay went touchdown-forced interception-touchdown throughout the first 4 minutes of the second half to take a 21-17 lead.
• The Lions took the lead again, 24-21, however later failed on a fourth-and-1 at their very own 31-yard line. 4 performs later, the Packers have been again in entrance, 28-24.
• Then got here an exciting end. The Lions marched proper down the sphere for a landing. The Packers practically answered again, however an offensive move interference led to them settling for a discipline objective. 31-31.
• Detroit’s offensive machine got here proper again, and, going through fourth-and-1 with 43 seconds left on the Inexperienced Bay 21, may have simply kicked a discipline objective. As a substitute, Campbell went uber-aggressive, and Jared Goff made a dramatic, falling-down handoff to David Montgomery, who picked up seven yards. Bates break up the uprights two performs later.

I like it. Man, what a enjoyable, enjoyable group that by no means compromises in its strategy. Even the fourth-down try deep in its personal territory was the “proper” choice utilizing win chance added. The one on the finish wasn’t, however it’s precisely what the Lions embody, and guess what? It labored. Detroit transformed 4 of 5 fourth downs, together with two for touchdowns.

It is a bummer somebody needed to lose, and the Packers will definitely be pissed off by yet one more shut name towards one of many league’s greatest. Jordan Love was glorious. You can not ask for extra out of a soccer recreation, and I hope that units the tone of this weekend.

👍 Honorable mentions

• Invoice Belichick interviewed for the North Carolina teaching job. And even when it was only a publicity stunt, it labored, Will Brinson writes.
• Nikola Jokic handed Magic Johnson for third-most triple-doubles in NBA historical past.
• Khris Middleton will make his season debut tonight.
• Unhealthy information: The 76ers stink. Excellent news: You possibly can watch them for simply $5!
• Listed below are the Walter Payton Man of the 12 months nominees.
• Luis Severino and the Athletics agreed to a three-year, $67 million deal, the biggest in franchise historical past.
• Utah State is hiring Bronco Mendenhall.
• Jake Retzlaff, the primary Jewish beginning quarterback in BYU historical past, landed an NIL deal with Jewish meals/drink firm Manischewitz.
• Listed below are the 9 greatest flips from Nationwide Signing Day.
• Our switch portal tracker is up and operating.
• Manny Pacquiao headlines the 2025 Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame class.
• Hannah Hidalgo dropped 30 factors, and No. 10 Notre Dame handed No. 4 Texas its first loss this season, 80-70, in time beyond regulation.
• Flau’jae Johnson is partnering with Unequalled.
• The WNBA growth draft to assist the Golden State Valkyries construct their roster is tonight! This is easy methods to watch, the way it works, which groups have essentially the most to lose and how GMs are getting ready.
• The WNBA is coming to Toronto! The Tempo will start play in 2026.
• Matt Snyder broke down the Corridor of Fame possibilities for the Traditional Baseball Period candidates, together with Dick Allen, Dave Parker and Luis Tiant.
• This is the Membership World Cup draw.

😕 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Previewing convention championship weekend, potential Faculty Soccer Playoff influence

Welcome to a traditionally thrilling faculty soccer convention championship weekend. Not solely are there large Faculty Soccer Playoff ramifications, however these video games must be superior, too. All 9 video games have a variety of six factors or fewer, the primary time there’s not a single convention championship recreation with not less than a landing unfold since 2006 … which solely featured 5 video games.

Concerning the CFP, this is the place issues stand:

• Tonight’s Mountain West Championship Recreation — No. 20 UNLV vs. No. 10 Boise State — is basically a play-in recreation.
• Tomorrow’s Huge 12 Championship Recreation — No. 16 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Arizona State — is basically a play-in recreation.
• Tomorrow’s SEC Championship Recreation — No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 2 Texas — is a rematch of the Bulldogs’ October blowout win. The winner will get a bye.
• Tomorrow’s Huge Ten Championship Recreation — No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 1 Oregon — options the Geese attempting to stay the game’s lone undefeated group and lock up the No. 1 general seed. Tom Fornelli has a deep-dive preview.

However the greatest one is the ACC Championship Recreation. No. 17 Clemson faces No. 8 SMU, and the Tigers can “steal” a bid, as they’re presently effectively outdoors the bracket however would be part of with a win as ACC champions. And if that occurs, choice committee chair Warde Manuel stated it is “potential” SMU could be knocked out, solely including to the ACC’s angst after Miami fell out of the image. Nevertheless, if Clemson wins and SMU stays in, Alabama could possibly be bumped out. Drama!

Tom’s Six Pack has greatest bets for this weekend’s motion, and the ACC Championship Recreation is his “Lock of the Week.”

• Fornelli: “So far, the perfect protection the Mustangs have confronted is Duke, and — shock! — they’d their worst efficiency of the season that day. They turned the ball over six instances however one way or the other received by a degree, thanks partly to 2 missed Duke discipline targets. It is uncertain we’ll see six turnovers right here, however we must always see SMU battle to maneuver the ball. … I do know Clemson misplaced to South Carolina final week, nevertheless it’s not as if the Tigers have been overmatched. They merely got here up brief in a rivalry recreation. Toss in the truth that this ‘impartial’ web site is rather more of a house recreation for the Tigers, and since they completely should have it, I am going with Dabo Swinney and the boys. The Choose: Clemson +2.5 (-110)“

Lastly, talking of CFP angst, the Huge Ten and SEC have considerations with the present committee and are pushing for change.

🏈 NFL Week 14 picks: Essential battles in NFC, AFC West

Week 14 could also be stuffed with byes (Fantasy homeowners, I hope you’ve got already clinched a playoff spot!), however there are many glorious video games.

Let’s begin with a key NFC West battle, when the 7-5 Seahawks face the 6-6 Cardinals. Seattle acquired a bodily, sloppy 17-7 win on this matchup two weeks in the past. This time round, Tyler Sullivan says …

• Sullivan: “I imagine that we’ll look again on this recreation and say that that is the place the NFC West was received. … Presently, I like the way in which that Seattle is taking part in, significantly on protection. During the last three video games, they’re holding opponents to simply 14.7 factors per recreation. In the meantime, Geno Smith has by no means misplaced towards the Cardinals in his profession (5-0). Projected rating: Seahawks 27, Cardinals 24 | The choose: Seahawks +2.5“

Shifting from the NFC West to the AFC West, the Chiefs cannot maintain getting away with this, proper? Proper?!?! Kansas Metropolis has 5 walk-off wins this yr, and final week, the Raiders botched a game-winning alternative. Now right here come the Chargers. Can Los Angeles break no matter curse the Chiefs have on their opponents?

This is what our consultants say on that and extra:

Pete Prisco | Will Brinson | John Breech | Tyler Sullivan | Jordan Dajani

We right here on the CBS Sports activities HQ AM publication went four-for-four final week, hopefully supplying you with one thing to be glad about on Thanksgiving weekend. We’re 24-10 on the season. This weekend, we like …

• Vikings over Falcons in Kirk Cousins‘ return to Minnesota
• Titans over Jaguars
• 49ers over Bears

🏀 Western Convention first-quarter grades

After protecting the Japanese Convention yesterday, we’re shifting to Western Convention first-quarter grades.

The East solely put two groups within the “A” vary. The West has 4, which is sensible contemplating the West additionally has 9 of the highest 13 groups in Colin Ward-Henninger’s newest NBA Energy Rankings. These 4 on the prime of the category are:

• Rockets: A
• Grizzlies: A
• Thunder: A
• Warriors: A-

The Warriors are the Warriors, although what’s been most encouraging is the blokes round Stephen Curry … and a protection that has reworked into one of many league’s greatest. The Thunder look superior, as anticipated. The Grizzlies, lastly (principally) wholesome, are additionally again on monitor after a bevy of accidents over the previous few seasons. However the Rockets? Houston has arrived early. Brad Botkin writes on one of many league’s early surprises.

• Botkin: “Any criticism you’ve got of the Rockets is splitting hairs. … The choice to signal vets like Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet to assist the younger weapons appears sensible, as does the hiring of Ime Udoka, who has created possibly the clearest defensive identification within the league. Tari Eason and Amen Thompson are a spectacular defensive duo, they usually each do extra offensively than you hear about. To that time, although Houston’s offense does not look nice on paper, it does not lack punch. Jalen Inexperienced, although he is all gasoline and no brake, and Alperen Sengun can dominate video games offensively, and VanVleet is a rock.”

Now if solely they are often a bit of nicer to the refs. 😉

📺 What we’re watching this weekend

Friday

🏀 WNBA growth draft, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Convention USA Championship: Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State, 7 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
🏀 Bucks at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Mountain West Championship: No. 20 UNLV at No. 10 Boise State, 8 p.m. on Fox
🏈 American Athletic Championship: Tulane at No. 24 Military, 8 p.m. on ABC
🏀 No. 19 Illinois at Northwestern (M), 9 p.m. on BTN
🏀 Timberwolves at Warriors, 10 p.m. on ESPN

Saturday

🏈 Huge 12 Championship: No. 16 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Arizona State, midday on ABC
🏈 MAC Championship: Ohio vs. Miami (OH), midday on ESPN
🏀 No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 5 Marquette (M), 1:30 p.m. on Fox
🏈 SEC Championship: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 2 Texas, 4 p.m. on ABC
🏀 No. 6 USC at Oregon (W), 4 p.m. on BTN
🏀 Tennessee vs. No. 17 Iowa (W), 7 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Solar Belt Championship: Marshall at Louisiana, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Huge Ten Championship: No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 1 Oregon, 8 p.m. on CBS
🏈 ACC Championship: No. 17 Clemson vs. No. 8 SMU, 8 p.m. on ABC
🏀 No. 22 Louisville vs. No. 2 UConn (W), 9 p.m. on Fox
🏀 No. 4 Kentucky at No. 7 Gonzaga (M), 10 p.m. on ESPN2

Sunday

🏀 Maryland at No. 8 Purdue (M), midday on BTN
🏈 Browns at Steelers, 1 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Falcons at Vikings, 1 p.m. on Fox
🏀 No. 1 Kansas at Missouri (M), 1 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Virginia Tech at No. 8 Duke (W), 4 p.m. on ACC Community
🏀 No. 21 Illinois at No. 12 Ohio State (W), 4 p.m. on BTN
🏈 Seahawks at Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Payments at Rams, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Bears at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
🏀 No. 25 UConn at Texas (M), 5 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 9 Duke at Louisville (M), 6 p.m. on ACC Community
🏀 UCLA at No. 12 Oregon (M), 6 p.m. on BTN
🏀 No. 3 South Carolina at No. 9 TCU (W), 7 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 Chargers at Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. on NBC