⚾️ Wild Mets vs Brewers Finish, Action Packed Thursday Night Football + Our College Football and NFL Weekend Previews

Happy Friday, Blitzers!

What a wild day in sports! Want even better news? It’s Friday, we have more playoff baseball on deck tomorrow, WNBA playoffs tonight, college football, NFL and a full weekend in front of us. So start your weekend early by diving into the Morning Blitz below and take your time, you’ve earned it.

WTF Stat: Brewers closer Devin Williams has thrown 235.2 innings in his career and had only allowed 6 HR to a right-handed hitter. He had never allowed an opposite-field HR. Pete Alonso’s HR was rare on so many levels.

⚾️ Mets 4, Brewers 2: What a game! It was scoreless until the 7th inning when the Brewers got on the board with back-to-back HRs. The home Milwaukee crowd was going absolutely bananas. It looked like this one was all but over. That was until Pete Alonso stepped to the plate and delivered a 3-run HR in the 9th. The Mets now advanced to the NL Division Series for the first time since 2015.

🏈 The NFL was not to be out done by the wild MLB game. The TNF game lived up to the hype and more. Kirk Cousins went off, throwing for a career-high 509 yards and four touchdowns, leading the team to a dramatic 36-30 overtime victory over the Buccaneers. The game saw a wild fourth quarter, including a last minute drive by the Falcons where they were able to spike the ball with 1 second left in regulation. Younghoe Koo hit a 52-yard field goal to send them to overtime. The Falcons would get the ball on the first drive of overtime and ultimately win with a 45-yard touchdown to KhaDarel Hodge.

⚾️ The Cincinnati Reds are set to hire Terry Francona as their new manager, according to sources. Francona, a future Hall of Fame manager, is coming out of retirement exactly one year after stepping down from the Cleveland Guardians. At 65, he takes over a talented Reds team that finished 77-85 last season. He has 1,950 career wins as a manager, and will lead a young roster that includes standout players like Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene.

Top College Football Games This Weekend

#9 Missouri (4-0) at #25 Texas A&M (4-1) - Sat. 12:00 PM (ABC)

What’s At Stake: Missouri escaped close games with Boston College and Vanderbilt and have maintained its Top 10 status in the AP Poll (*cough* suspect *cough*). Texas A&M has won four in a row after losing its opener against Notre Dame and they have the advantage of the 12th man at Kyle Field. I don’t think Mizzou escapes “Fraud Watch” this time.

The Pick: A&M -2.5

Iowa (3-1) at #3 Ohio State (4-0) - Sat. 3:30 PM (CBS)

What’s At Stake: The first big test for the Ohio State Buckeyes (No offense, Michigan State, and that’s not a pun on their lack of offense, just a casual cliche). We can make all the jokes we want about Iowa’s offensive struggles of the past, but they have looked somewhat potent this year. So far the Buckeyes have sort of looked the part of National Champion contender. The game stinks of a trap to me. Not that the Hawkeyes go into the Shoe and win, but that the game will be closer than the spread suggests.

The Pick: Iowa +20.5

#12 Ole Miss (4-1) at South Carolina (3-1) - Sat. 3:30 PM (ESPN)

What’s At Stake: Ole Miss got exposed last week at home against Kentucky. The soft opening schedule yielded an incredibly disappointing effort and now the Rebels face the teeth of its SEC schedule. Oh by the way, the Gamecocks thrashed Kentucky in Columbia in Week 2. Lane Kiffin is good at bouncing back, though. The Rebels will get it done and this game will be a fun watch for Ole Miss fans.

The Pick: Ole Miss -9

#10 Michigan (4-1) at Washington (3-2) - Sat. 7:30 PM (NBC)

What’s At Stake: Michigan has won games against USC and Minnesota, while Washington just lost to Rutgers. Knowing this information, who would you expect to be the underdog? In the rematch of the 2023 National Championship, these two teams look very different. However, the result will be the same. The Wolverines have too much talent defensively and Mississippi State transfer, QB Will Rogers, while a nice guy (I met him), doesn’t show up in big games.

The Pick: Michigan +2.5

Other Games I’m Keeping an Eye On

Boston College at Virginia - 12:00 PM (ACC)

Rutgers at Nebraska - 4:00 PM (FS1)

Clemson at Florida State - 7:00 PM (ESPN)

Tennessee at Arkansas - 7:30 PM (ABC)

Texas Tech at Arizona - 11:00 PM (FOX)

NFL Week 5 Preview

NFL’s Most Intriguing Games

New York Jets (2-2) vs. Minnesota (4-0) - 9:30 AM (NFL NETWORK)

Spread: MIN -2.5

O/U: 40.5

The View: The Sam Darnold revenge train continues! The team that drafted him and then casted him aside will line up on the other side of him in turmoil. The Jets are coming off a 10-9 loss to the Broncos and some HC/QB drama. Maybe a little jaunt across the pond is what Mean Green needs. Unfortunately, it’s against the hottest team in the NFL right now. I’ve picked the Vikes three straight weeks, and three straight weeks they’ve made me look smart. No use stopping now.

Pick: Vikes -2.5

Baltimore (2-2) at Cincinnati (1-3) - 1:00 PM CBS

Spread: BAL -2.5

O/U: 48.5

The View: The Ravens responded from an 0-2 start with two wins and the Bengals finally put a 1 in the win column, albeit against the Panthers. The Bengals offense is healthy, the passing and running games look dialed in, and much like the Ravens against the Bills last week, they’ve got that ‘We desperately need a win’ vibe with them this week. While the passing game is still a bit of a mystery for Baltimore, the running game looks unstoppable. The Bengals defense will have to bow up to make this game competitive. I don’t see it, and I don’t see a 48.5 line. Hammer the under.

Pick: BAL -2.5

Buffalo (3-1) at Houston (3-1) - 1:00 PM CBS

Spread: BUF -1

O/U: 47.5

The View: Who is the contender and who is the pretender? Based on current performances, it is looking likely that these two teams will wear their prospective division crowns. The Bills got a taste of humility last week against the Ravens, while the Texans bounced back against the Jaguars. Added drama: we’ve got a revenge game for former Bills WR Stefon Diggs (or a Bills revenge game depending on how you look at it). On paper, the Texans have better weapons, especially if RB Joe Mixon plays, but the Bills defense has something to prove after getting waxed by King Henry and the Ravens. I like a Bills bounce back.

Pick: BUF -1

Green Bay (2-2) at LA Rams (1-3) - Sunday 4:25 PM (CBS)

Spread: GB -3

O/U: 48.5

The View: QB Jordan Love’s return from injury didn’t go as planned last week…at least until the 4th quarter. Backup QB Malik Willis is 2-0, Jordan Love is 0-2, just not the script that the cheeseheads were hoping for. Meanwhile, the Rams were shouting, “WE’RE BACK” from the rooftops after beating San Francisco, only to lose to the Bears. Both teams are in need of a win, both teams are a little banged up, both teams are a bit suspect on both sides of the ball. Alright, I’ve been saying ‘both’ too much. Packers win.

Pick: Pack -3

New Orleans (2-2) at Kansas City (4-0) - Monday 8:15 PM (ABC)

Spread: KC -5.5

O/U: 43.5

The View: Ugh, when is the shoe going to drop on the Kansas City Chiefs? Every game has been decided by one score or fewer and three of the games were decided by suspect calls from the referees. On the other side, the Saints could easily be 4-0 as well with their two losses decided by a field goal or less. Arrowhead is a tough place to play, but the skill player injuries are piling up for the Chiefs and the Saints are healthy. Take the points.

The Pick: Saints +5.5

D-Man’s (3-1) Gambling Corner

The Chiefs in September are different than the Chiefs in December. Yes, they are 4-0, but not only have they been lucky in this stretch, but they continue to show that they cannot win by margin. The last regular season game they have won by more than one score was in December of 2023.

They are now down their #1 and #2 playmakers on offense (RB Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice), leaving them with an aged tight end and a rookie speedster. It’s a simple handicap really. Chiefs -3 or better…hammer chiefs. Chiefs -3.5 or longer…hammer the other side. Yes, I’m concerned about Coach Steve Spagnuolo dialing up the pressure against QB Derek Carr and an injured Saints O-line, but it’s a pure spot play. So we’re taking Saints +5.5. Let’s keep this money train going!

NFL Gambling Record:

D-Man: 3-1

Jean Machine: 14-5 (5-0 last week!!)

Full NFL Schedule click here

On this day in 2018, Tom Brady became only 3rd NFL quarterback to record 500 career touchdown passes as he connects with Josh Gordon in Patriots' 38-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Foxborough. Brady currently sits first on the career passing TD list with 649 TD passes. QB Aaron Rodgers is the closest to joining the club, he has 480 currently. Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre are the other QBs that have thrown for over 500.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which MLB player has the most career playoff HRs?

B) Manny Ramírez - Ramirez has the most with 29 HRs. 13 with Cleveland, 11 with Boston, and 5 with Los Angeles. Jose Altuve is second with 27 and Bernie Williams is third with 22. This is probably Ramírez’s most famous:

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