Big Deals in NFL & NBA 🏈🏀, A Major Tennis Upset 🎾+ College Football's Big Weekend

Happy Friday Blitzers!

Feel Good Friday has commenced. We have a long weekend ahead and are hitting the peak sports window. What a time to be alive!

Just a heads up, we’ll be off Monday enjoying the Labor Day holiday, but don’t worry, we’ll be bringing you the Blitz bright and early on Tuesday morning.

Let's all have a great weekend! But before we get into it, how about we talk about some top stories and what to look forward to this weekend?

WTF Stat: LSU has been playing college football since 1893. The most touchdown passes in a single season before 2018 (125 previous seasons) was 28 by Matt Mauck and JaMarcus Russell. In 2019, QB Joe Burrow (a former 3-star recruit and transfer) shattered that record on the way to a National Championship, by passing for 60 TDs in a single season. Last year QB Jayden Daniels put up a modest 40 TDs for the Tigers. This is all to say that your team’s luck can change pretty quickly, this is the year for your team!

🎾 Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 3 seed and pre-tournament favorite, was upset in the second round of the US Open by 74th-ranked Botic Van De Zandschulp. Alcaraz lost in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4, marking his earliest exit from a Grand Slam since 2021. Van De Zandschulp played an aggressive match, winning 28 of 35 net points. This loss ended Alcaraz's 15-match Grand Slam winning streak and made him the first top-three men's seed to lose in the first two rounds at the US Open since 2006.

•  🔥 Take: This is a bit baffling and disappointing to see one of the young stars of the sport out this early in the tournament. Hopefully this is a minor setback, and Alcaraz comes back even stronger. Or he could reach out to Jannik Sinner to get help with that…

🏈 The San Francisco 49ers have secured wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with a four-year, $120 million extension, making him one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers. This deal follows months of tense negotiations, including a trade request from Aiyuk before training camp. Despite interest from other teams, Aiyuk remains with the 49ers. Aiyuk had a standout 2023 season, leading the team in receiving yards and earning second-team All-Pro honors.

• 🔥 Take: Well the drama is over at least. Adam Schefter is reporting that his holdout didn’t earn him any additional cash; it’s the same deal that has been on the table since August 12th. However, there were numerous reports that the initial offer was for $26 million/year, so the holdout may have earned him an extra $16 million.

🏀 Speaking of small amounts of money… Stephen Curry has agreed to a one-year, $62.6 million extension with the Golden State Warriors, keeping him under contract through the 2026-27 season. This deal pushes Curry's career earnings past $500 million, making him the fourth NBA player to reach this milestone. Curry, who has expressed a desire to retire as a Warrior, averaged 26.4 points last season.

• 🔥 Take: In an era where it’s rare to see an NBA star stick it out with the same team, I’m glad the 36-year old Curry can retire a Warrior. He is my 🐐 (of this era).

🏌️ Scottie Scheffler shot a 6-under 65 in the first round of the Tour Championship, extending his lead to seven shots. Starting with a two-shot advantage due to his dominant season, Scheffler finished the day at 16-under par, putting him in a strong position for the FedEx Cup title and its $25 million bonus.

• 🔥Take: Scheffler is on another planet right now. How come when I get pulled out of my car and arrested, I don’t go on to win everything in sight and make $25 million?

Top College Football Games This Weekend

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson (in Atlanta, 12 EST on ABC)

• What’s at Stake: How lucky are we that we get to kick off college football early in the afternoon watching two perennial playoff contenders? Clemson and Dabo Swinney need to prove they’re still a legitimate threat after a couple of down years. Georgia comes in as heavy favorites and are looking to send a message to all of college football.

• The Pick: Clemson +13.5. Clemson’s defense is still elite, they may not win this but 13.5+ on a neutral field seems like a tad too much.

No. 19 Miami at Florida (3:30 EST on ABC)

• What’s at Stake: Miami and Mario Cristobal continue to recruit well and continue to start each year with high expectations. This game could set the tone for their season. Win and fans may start believing, lose and it will be the ‘same old Miami’. For Florida, Billy Napier’s, seat is looking pretty hot, he needs this win before starting their SEC conference schedule.

• The Pick: Florida +2.5, Florida at home as underdogs? Seems like pretty good value.

No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M (7:30 EST on ABC)

• What’s at Stake: Our first look at new Notre Dame QB and Duke transfer Riley Leonard. Notre Dame had similar high hopes about last years transfer QB Sam Hartman. Has ND finally found the QB that can take them to the promised land? Texas A&M at home, for a night game… It should be an absolutely wild atmosphere, the Aggies are banking on their “12th man” to unsettle ND and get the W.

• The Pick: Texas A&M -3, I’m buying the 12th man hype.

No. 13 LSU vs. No. 23 USC (in Las Vegas, 7:30 EST Sunday on ABC)

• What’s at Stake: USC lost a lot of weapons on their offense (including #1 overall pick QB Caleb Williams), can coach Lincoln Riley continue his streak of dominant offenses regardless of QB? Brian Kelly has lost the last two season openers, so this game is crucial for his team’s momentum and potentially his job security.

• The Pick: USC +4.5, Riley has coached QBs Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and Caleb Williams. I trust he’ll turn QB Miller Moss into a stud in no time.

Boston College at No. 10 Florida State (7:30 p.m. ET Monday on ESPN)

• What’s at Stake: BC has a talented team this year, and should surprise some teams in the ACC, unfortunately for them Florida State is coming off a major upset. This is a statement game for FSU, if they lose this one their playoff hopes and redemption season are pretty much shot.

• The Pick: FSU -16.5, I would usually take the points, but this has to be a statement win for Florida State, I could see them trying to keep their foot on the gas no matter the score.

🔒️ Jean Machine's Mortal Lock of the Week: Florida ML vs. Miami

Other Picks:

West Virginia +8.5

Vanderbilt +13.5

Arizona State -6.5

College Football

• North Carolina 19, Minnesota 17: The Tar Heels escape with a victory after Minnesota misses a last second 47 yard field goal. Starting Tar Heels QB Max Johnson was carted off the field with what appeared to be a right knee injury in the 3rd quarter.

• Colorado 31, North Dakota St 26: WR/CB Travis Hunter and QB Shedeur Sanders were too much for the Bisons.

MLB

• Phillies 5, Braves 4: Nick Castellanos puts the Phillies on top with a 2-run jack and ultimately the game winning runs.

• Mets 3, Diamondbacks 2: A clutch hit by Jose Iglesias in the 9th delivers the win. Bonus, anything that reminds me of Pudge Rodriguez has to be shared, check out Luis Torren cannon and ball placement.

• Astros 6, Royals 3: A strong outing by Hunter Brown and errors help Houston pull out the win. Another bonus catcher laser beam, courtesy of Yainer Diaz!

• Dodgers 6, Orioles 3: A few unsung stepped up for the Dodgers: Austin Barnes, Chris Taylor, Tommy Edman all had great games, and Blake Treinen got the Orioles out of a key jam.

See the full MLB scoreboard here and the current standings here.

On this day in 2012, tennis star Andy Roddick retires. Roddick won the 2003 US open, and reached the four other major finals but lost to Roger Federer each time. He ranks 7th all-time in fastest tennis servers, topping out at 155 MPH.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which NFC South team has the worst franchise winning percentage in the NFL, yet has two super bowl wins?

B. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - They have a .406 regular season winning percentage in their history, but were super bowl champions in 2002 and 2020.

Check back on Tuesday for today’s trivia answer and more info!