⚾️ Big Night in Baseball, Rodgers is Back + Our College Football & NFL Weekend Preview

Happy Friday, Blitzers!

Did you fall asleep early watching that Thursday Night Football game? Well, don’t worry we’ll get you caught up. Plus, we’re covering more baseball clinches, Ohtani making history in the most Ohtani way possible, and a long weekend preview! So grab your coffee or maybe a mimosa if you’re a fan of a team that clinched the playoffs last night, and let’s get right into things!

WTF Stat: Passing continues to be down through the first two weeks of the season (although Aaron Rodgers didn’t seem to have an issue last night), passing touchdowns continue to trend in the opposite direction:

2019: 105

2020: 110

2021: 110

2022: 105

2023: 86

2024: 69

Are less practices and more gimmicky offenses to blame? Or maybe it’s because QBs and WRs are demanding such big contracts now that we’re not seeing as many superstar WRs and QBs paired up any more (see: Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen) or maybe its just a weird fluke and we’ll see offenses explode here in week 3?

🏈 In his first home start since his injury, QB Aaron Rodgers led the New York Jets to a decisive 24-3 victory over the New England Patriots. Rodgers threw two touchdown completing 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards.

Jets Takeaways: Outside of some costly penalties (8-106), the Jets played pretty much the perfect game. They moved the ball at will (27 first down), Rodgers looked mobile, was deadly accurate, and made every throw in the book. The defense gave up 139 yards total, had 7 sacks and 15 QB hits. This is the team many envisioned and now with Rodgers cooking no one is going to want to face them.

Patriots Takeaways: Two positives from this game: 1) Drake Maye came in and didn’t look terrible and didn’t get injured 2) The Pats can start focusing on the 2025 draft, because this team is just not talented enough to go out and beat teams. There defense is still solid, and they can still win games when the other teams make mistakes and have turnovers, but absolutely no one fears this offense. When a team like the Jets get up by a couple of scores early, the game is over.

⚾️ Shohei Ohtani made history by becoming the first player in MLB to join the 50/50 club, 50 HRs and 50 steals in a season. He accomplished this feat in a remarkable game against the Marlins, going 6 for 6, hitting 3 HRs, a career-high 10 RBI, and stealing 2 bases. This win also secured the Dodgers' spot in the postseason, marking Ohtani's first playoff appearance after 866 games, the most for an active player without a postseason berth.

• 🔥 Take: Outrageous. That’s the only word to use. Simply outrageous. He took a curtain call in an opposing teams stadium! The call for his third home run was classic. This also happens to be the week that most fantasy baseball teams are in the championship game, can you imagine having to face Ohtani this week?

🏀 Tina Charles made history by becoming the WNBA's all-time leader in both rebounds and double-doubles during the Atlanta Dream's 78-67 victory over the New York Liberty, securing a playoff spot. She surpassed Sylvia Fowles’ record of 4,006 rebounds early in the game and later achieved her 194th double-double.

• 🔥 Take: I love it when the best rebounders are just hustle players. Not the tallest people on the court, just the person that wants to get the rebound the most. At 6’4”, Tina Charles isn’t short by any means, but there are a lot taller players in the league so her perseverance and effort are what has allowed her to claim this record. Side note - tough to be a basketball player named Fowles. Here is a look at the playoff bracket, first games are on Sunday:

Top College Football Games This Weekend

#24 Illinois (3-0) at #22 Nebraska (3-0) - Fri. 8:00 PM (FOX)

What’s At Stake: Is Nebraska back? Is Illinois for real? How this game goes could answer a lot about the status of the Big Ten this season for both teams. Freshman sensation QB Dylan Raiola will have another opportunity under the bright lights of Lincoln to prove that he’s the savior of corn town.

The Pick: Cornhuskers -7.5

#11 USC (2-0) at #18 Michigan (2-1) - Sat. 3:30 PM (CBS)

What’s At Stake: It is the Big Ten opener and debut for the USC Trojans and what better place to do it than the Big House. Both teams have had gut checks early in the season, USC rose to the challenge against LSU, while Michigan let Texas drag them in their own house. This seems to be a make or break game for the Wolverines season. On the flipside, if USC wins, they will definitely be favorites to make an appearance in the Big Ten title game with only Penn State and Nebraska left on the schedule as ranked conference foes.

The Pick: Michigan +5

#12 Utah at. #14 Oklahoma State - Sat. 4:00 PM (FOX)

What’s At Stake: The best fact of this game is that the two quarterbacks have a combined age of 49. That’s five years older than the Colts/Bears match-up on Sunday. Utah entered the season as favorites to win the Big12 with the Pokes nipping at their heels. It’s a long way until the end of the season, but, this game should have a playoff/championship type atmosphere when we kick-off in Stillwater.

The Pick: OK State -2.5

#6 Tennessee at #15 Oklahoma - Sat. 7:30 PM (ABC)

What’s At Stake: Welcome to the SEC, Oklahoma! The Volunteers have been an absolute buzzsaw so far this season, outscoring opponents 191-13. Tall task for the Sooners who have sputtered out of the gate. However, this is the first true road game for QB Nico Iamaleava and Oklahoma isn’t exactly a hospitable place to play. If the Sooners defense can make it ugly, they’ve got a chance.

The Pick: Oklahoma +6.5

Other Games I’m Keeping an Eye On

Georgia Tech at #19 Louisville - 3:30 PM (ESPN2)

Arkansas at Auburn - 3:30 PM (ESPN)

Baylor at Colorado - 8:00 PM (FOX)

NFL Week 3 Preview

Sunday’s Most Intriguing

Houston (2-0) at Minnesota (2-0) - 1:00 PM CBS

Spread: HOU -2

O/U: 46.5

The View: The Vikings shocked everyone last week by taking down the San Francisco 49ers and they get another playoff contender at home in the Houston Texans. If the Vikes manage to get another quality victory, the QB Sam Darnold ‘Misunderstood Tour’ is fully underway. The Texans are a little banged up in the backfield with RB Joe Mixon likely to miss the game, hard to bet against them but I do love a redemption story.

Pick: Vikings +2

Philadelphia (1-1) at New Orleans (2-0) - 1:00 PM FOX

Spread: NO -2.5

O/U: 49.5

The View: Speaking of shocks, the Saints spanked the Cowboys, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak seems to have unlocked (or found the keys to) QB Derek Carr, RB Alvin Kamara, and the offense. They’ve scored over 40 points in the first two games. The Eagles should be 2-0 entering this game if it wasn’t for a RB Saquon Barkley drop and a QB Kirk Cousins out of body experience. I don’t think the Saints are hanging a 40-burger on the Eagles…or winning.

Pick: Eagles +2.5

Los Angeles Chargers (2-0) at Pittsburgh (2-0) - 1:00 PM CBS

Spread: PIT -1.5

O/U: 35.5

The View: O/U 35.5?! Sheeeesh. Jim Harbaugh will have his khakis pressed and pleated for this game. Should be a slugfest between two run-heavy offenses and two strong defenses. QB Justin Herbert is nursing an ankle injury, which isn’t ideal when he will likely need to be mobile running away from EDGE TJ Watt. Still, I’d rather have Herbert than QB Justin Fields.

Pick: Chargers +1.5

Baltimore (0-2) at Dallas (1-1) - 4:25 PM FOX

Spread: BAL -1

O/U: 47.5

The View: The Ravens lost a heartbreaker in Week 1, then clearly wasn’t over the shellshock in Week 2 losing to the Minshew Mania and the Raiders at home. 0-3 for the Super Bowl hopefuls would be a devastating blow. They’re facing a team with its own hang-ups in the Cowboys after getting absolutely annihilated by the Saints. It’s like super cliche to say this is a must-win for both teams, but like, I’ll be cliche. Must-win.

Pick: Ravens -1

Washington (1-1) at Cincinnati (0-2) - Monday 8:15 PM (ABC)

Spread: CIN -7

O/U: 47.5

The View: The Bengals actually showed a pulse last week against the Chiefs in another Burrow vs. Mahomes classic. However, they still lost. The Commanders, I said this from the beginning, are a sneaky good team and if the Bengals waltz into Paycor Stadium thinking this will be a cakewalk, an upset and 0-3 could be in the cards.

The Pick: Commanders +7

D-Man’s (2-0) Gambling Corner

The NFL season moves so fast that we often get trapped in recency bias. It’s the nature of the beast. That in mind let’s look at The Steelers.

After an off-season preparing us for QB Russell Wilson, he sustained an injury before week 1 and in comes QB Justin Fields. What has been the word on Fields since week 1? Nothing, nada, zilch. The Steelers and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith (FedEx billionaire) have done a great job limiting Fields and with that, limiting his ability to make mistakes. Because let’s not forget, that’s what he does. Last year he had as many turnovers as touchdowns. His career record as a QB is 12-28.

The Steelers have been winning this year capitalizing on other teams mistakes and playing on a tilted field off of turnovers. I don’t see that happening this week against the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh’s squad want to play the same way as The Steelers, but they have a better run scheme and a better QB at the helm. Plus, we love a squad that treats back-to-back cross country road games as a business trip and doesn’t go home. Harbaugh will have his team ready to go so this week we’re taking the Chargers +1.5. 

NFL Gambling Record:

D-Man: 2-0

Jean Machine: 5-4

Full NFL Schedule click here

MLB - Top Games

• Guardians 3, Twins 2: Guardians clinched an AL playoff berth with Andrés Giménez walk-off single in the 10th. Also, Tigers fans 👀:

• Braves 15, Reds 3: Matt Olson hit two of Atlanta's six home runs, and Chris Sale earned his MLB-best 18th win. Sale also leads the majors in ERA (2.38) and K’s (225). Unfortunately, the Braves did not gain any ground in the Wild Card as both the Mets and Diamondbacks won (and remain 2 games up).

• Mariners 3, Yankees 2: After losing the first two games of the series, the Mariners pulled out the win and still are only 2 games out of the AL Wild Card race. Logan Gilbert got the win and eclipsed the 200 strikeout mark for the season.

• Mets 10, Phillies 6: The Mets stayed hot scoring exactly 10 runs for the third game in a row, and have won the last four. The Mets have 9 games left in the season, (they’re up 2 games in the Wild Card currently) against the Phillies, Braves, and Brewers, so let’s see if they can continue the strong play.

See the full MLB scoreboard here and the current standings here

On this day in 1973, Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes tennis match. She won in straight sets 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. There was a recent movie inspired by this match. Timely as we just mentioned that King will be receiving the Congressional Gold Medal.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which active MLB pitcher has the most wins?

C.  Justin Verlander - Verlander Leads the way with 261 wins, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw are the only other pitchers with over 200 wins.

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