🏈 Friday Night Lights

It's Finally FRIDAY! So why not celebrate with some refreshing Friday Beers! Football fans are in heaven this weekend with college conference championships starting tonight followed by a beautiful slate of Sunday football, including an NFC Championship 2023 rematch and likely 2024 preview. To kick things off for Football lovers, Thursday Night Football gave us a good 'ole classic western shootout between the Cowboys and Seahawks. The bad girl of college hoops Angel Reese returned to the court, the Pistons are historically bad, and we had a goalie goal in the NHL! Thanks for starting your weekend with us... Blitz country, LET'S RIDE!

If you missed our College Football Championship Weekend Preview in yesterday's newsletter. Tune in here, lots to digest.

WTF Stat: Falcons and Saints are tied for 1st place in the NFC South both with losing records at 5-6.

Share the Friday energy with your co-worker who is also counting down the seconds until you can log off... hit the button!

🏈 Bills DE Von Miller turned himself into police yesterday after there was a warrant out for his arrest for allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman

🏈 Oregon St QB DJ Uiagalelei will re-enter the transfer portal one year after leaving Clemson or will choose to go to the NFL - 55% of starting QBs this season were transfers, it's a new age in college ball

🏈 Arizona Cardinals and veteran TE Zach Ertz have mutually parted ways as Ertz hopes to sign with a contender to finish the season - move over Schefter, this news was reported by 3x DPOY JJ Watt

🏌️‍♂️ Tiger Woods returned to competitive golf for the first time in seven months shooting a 75 at the Hero World Challenge, which is an unofficial PGA event he hosts at his home course in the Bahamas

🏈 Thursday Night + Week 13 Preview

NFL - Thursday Night Football

• Dallas Cowboys 41, Seattle Seahawks 35: Geno Smith (334 YDS, 3 TDs, 1 INT) and DK Metcalf (134 YDS, 3 TDs) put up a hell of a fight against a Cowboys squad that has won their last three games by 20+ points, but Dak Prescott (299 YDS, 3 TDs) proved why he should be in the MVP conversation with CeeDee Lamb (12 REC, 116 YDS, 1 TD) looking like the best WR in football, thus supporting his claims. Although, that was the only win against a team with a winning record this year for the 'Boys - Seahawks were 36-0 when scoring 35+ points under HC Pete Carroll

• Fun fact: There were no punts in this game, making it just the 6th time in NFL history that's ever happened, including playoffs - our lock of SEA spread hit... keep coming back for more winners

See the full box here.

Week 13 - Top Game

• San Franciso 49ers (8-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (10-1) Sunday 4:25pm ET, FOX: This is a rematch of last year's NFC Championship game, but you must put an asterisk on that one as QB Brock Purdy was forced to leave the game early due to injury and the Eagles flew away with that one. Currently, Philly is riding a five-game win streak that includes wins over the Dolphins, Cowboys, Chiefs and Bills (critics, like us, will say they got lucky in couple of those games). The Niners hit a three-game skid mid-way through the season but have since righted the ship owning a three-game win streak blowing out playoff caliber teams. The health of MVP odds-on favorite QB Jalen Hurts knee is concerning, as he's been hobbling all over the field and the way Eagles are just sneaking by teams makes me nervous heading into Sunday afternoon against a clicking Niners offense with a revamped defense led by newcomer DE Chase Young

• Pick: SF -3

The Rest of Sunday's Slate

• Indianapolis Colts (6-5) @ Tennessee Titans (4-7) 1:00pm ET, CBS

• Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots (2-9) 1:00pm ET, CBS

• Detroit Lions (8-3) @ New Orleans Saints (5-6) 1:00pm ET, FOX

• Atlanta Falcons (5-6) @ New York Jets (4-7) 1:00pm ET, FOX

• Arizona Cardinals (2-10) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) 1:00pm ET, CBS

• Miami Dolphins (8-3) @ Washington Commanders (4-8) 1:00pm ET, FOX

• Denver Broncos (6-5) @ Houston Texans (6-5) 1:00pm ET, CBS

• Carolina Panthers (1-10) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) 4:05pm ET, FOX

• Cleveland Browns (7-4) @ Los Angeles Rams (5-6) 4:25pm ET, FOX

• Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) @ Green Bay Packers (5-6) 8:20pm ET, NBC 

See the current NFL standings here.

College Basketball - Top Games

• NCAAW | #7 LSU 82, #9 Virginia Tech 64: After four games away from the team for "unknown reasons" (we all know the reasons), superstar Angel Reese (19 PTS, 9 REB) returned to action for the defending champs as the Tigers rolled the Hokies with help from Aneesah Morrow (19 PTS, 15 REB) and freshman Mikaylah Willliams (20 PTS, 5 AST)

• NCAAW | #1 South Carolina 65, #24 North Carolina 58: The Gamecocks trailed by double-digits in the first half, but three threes from Te-Hina Paopao (14 PTS) in the second half was just enough for the top team in the country to stay undefeated in a tough road test - SC had a 51-point margin of victory entering the game

• NCAAM | #15 Crieghton 79, Oklahoma State 65: A balanced attack with four players over 16 points gave the Bluejays an easy win in the Big East-Big 12 Battle

See the full men's scoreboard here and the full women's scoreboard here.

NBA - All Games

• New York Knicks 118, Detroit Pistons 112: Jalen Brunson (42 PTS, 8 AST) and Julius Randle (29 PTS, 10 REB) combined for 71 points to hold onto the W at MSG - after a HOT 2-1 season start, the Pistons have lost a franchise record 16 straight successfully completing a winless November

• Chicago Bulls 120, Milwaukee Bucks 113 (OT): A Bulls team without superstars Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan on the court, took a title contender to OT and sealed the win behind a big night from center Nikola Vucevic (29 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST) - why aren't the Bulls good (6-14)? I love their roster

• Miami Heat 142, Indiana Pacers 132: All-Star Tyrese Haliburton (44 PTS, 10 AST) had a career-high in points and held a nine-point halftime lead, but the Pacers couldn't hang on as Himmy Butler (36 PTS, 10 REB) and Duncan "I Read The Blitz" Robinson (16 PTS) decided to heat up with a team total of 45 points in the 4th - it's official, never take the under in a Pacers game, they don't teach defense in Indiana

See the full box scores here and the current standings here.

NHL - Top Games

• Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2: Goalie Tristan Jarry had 39 saves but will be more excited about his empty netter goal he shot the length of the ice to secure the win - Jarry is only the 17th goalie to score a goal!

• Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Seattle Kraken 3 (SO): The Kraken scored two third period goals to force OT, where no one scored, and then were blanked again in the shootout by Toronto keeper Joseph Woll

• New Jersey Devils 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT): There was more free hockey in Philly as the Flyers also scored two late goals to force the extra period, but in the City of Brotherly Love, older bro Jack Hughes found younger bro Luke Hughes for the game-winner

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

In partnership with Friday Beers

🍻 TIME TO COMMENCE SUCKDOWN 🍻

Introducing the beverage that's about to revolutionize your sports-watching experience: Friday Beers! Launching for the first time ever in Boston.

Picture this: You and your crew (including a Fringe Guy), are heading to Gillette for a Pats game, and you need to stock up the tailgate cooler to properly endure the performance Mac Jones is about to unfortunately deliver to your eyes. There's only one option... Friday Beers.

We've taste-tested the product and can assure you that it's the perfect brew for sports-watchin', tailgate rippin', and couch chillin'. Find the nearest liquor store carrying Friday Beers and have a day – just remember to be 21 years old, please!

So, don't just survive the week – celebrate the end of it with Friday Beers! It's not just a drink; it's a lifestyle. Of all the light beers we’ve guzzled, these things just hit different.

If Washington beats Oregon tonight in the Pac-12 Championship, they will hold the second most titles in conference history with 18 breaking a tie with what school?

A. UCLA

B. USC

C. Oregon

D. Stanford

On December 1, 1996, Wayne Gretzky tallied his 3,000th career point, inclusive of playoffs and regular season, with an assist as a member of the NY Rangers. To this day, 'The Great One' is the only NHL player to eclipse the 3K mark and sits a full 1,000+ points ahead of Mark Messier on that all-time list. Many of Gretzky's records are untouchable, but we should see Alexander Ovechkin break his most regular season goals scored record before Ovi retires.

In partnership with Vivid Seats

Friday

• Pac-12 | #3 Washington vs. #5 Oregon Friday 8:00pm ET, ABC

• CUSA | New Mexico State @ #24 Liberty Friday 7:00pm ET, CBSSN

• NBA: Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics 7:30pm ET, ESPN

• NBA: Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns 10:00pm ET, ESPN

• NCAAM: #6 Houston @ Xaiver 6:30pm ET, FSI

• NCAAM: #4 UConn @ #5 Kansas 9:00pm ET, ESPN 2

• NHL: San Jose Sharks @ New Jersey Devils 7:00pm ET, NHL Net

Saturday

• Big 12 | #7 Texas vs. #18 Oklahoma State 12:00pm ET, ABC

• SEC | #1 Georgia vs. #8 Alabama 4:00pm ET, CBS

• Ten | #2 Michigan vs. #16 Iowa 8:00pm ET, FOX

• ACC | #4 Florida State vs. #14 Louisville 8:00pm ET, ABC

• CFB: Full Conference Champ Schedule

• NBA: Denver Nuggets @ Sacramento Kings 8:00pm ET, NBA TV

• NCAAM: #3 Marquette @ Wisconsin 12:30pm ET, FOX

• NCAAM: USC @ #11 Gonzaga 10:00pm ET, ESPN

• NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Dallas Stars 2:00pm ET, NHL Net

• NHL: Boston Bruins @ Toronto Maple Leafs 7:00pm ET, NHL Net

Sunday

• College Football Playoff Selection Show 12:00pm ET, ESPN

• NFL: Full Schedule

• NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets @ Boston Bruins 7:00pm ET, NHL Net

Grab $20 off tickets to your favorite games, concerts and events using code TORCH20 at Vivid Seats - Promo is for first-time buyers and orders over $200!

Trivia Time Answer

A. UCLA. The Bruins are currently tied for second place on the Pac-12 titles list with 17 and will keep that tie with a Washington loss tonight. USC sits in first place with 33 conference titles - sad this conference is evaporating next season with all the realignment!

"Lock" of the Day

In partnership with FanDuel

Pac-12 Championship

• Oregon vs. Washington: Under 65.5 total points

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Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLERTrivia Time Answer

Monday is going to be a very informative letter breaking down all the chaos that is about to ensue. Enjoy yourselves and go cheers some Friday Beers!