⚾️ Wild Yankees vs Guardians Game, TNF Blowout, NHL, + College Football & NFL Weekend Preview

Happy Friday, Blitzers!

Hope your morning is off to a great start! We’ve got a great Friday and weekend on tap so grab yourself a donut (or two), grab a large coffee and dive right into the Morning Blitz. You deserve it!

WTF Stat: Guardians Closer Emmanuel Clase pitched 74.1 innings in the regular season giving up 5 total runs (0.61 ERA). In the playoffs he has pitched 6 innings and given up 6 runs (9.00 ERA).

🏈 In Sean Payton's return to New Orleans, the Broncos dominated the Saints with a 33-10 victory. RB Javonte Williams scored two rushing touchdowns, and QB Bo Nix threw for 164 yards while adding 75 rushing yards. The Broncos outgained the Saints 389 to 271, marking New Orleans' fifth consecutive loss.

• Broncos Takeaways: That defense is looking pretty good, pretty, pretty, good. Granted it was against a second-string lineup, but the defense had 6 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 11 QB hits and 2 forced fumbles, with one of them going for a TD. Can’t ask for much more than that. Congrats to those that started the Broncos defense in fantasy football. A good rushing attack (225 yards last night) and good defense can win you a lot of games in the NFL.

• Saints Takeaways: Let’s face it, this wasn’t all that surprising. Outside of the Alvin Kamara (who had a very quiet night), it was hard to name a skill player on the Saints team for last nights game. QB Spencer Rattler was dealt a pretty tough hand. They need to get their guys back from injury (unfortunately WR Rashid Shaheed is done for the season) and need to establish some sort of identity or it’s going to be a very long season.

🏀 Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will be sidelined indefinitely at the start of the NBA season as he rehabilitates inflammation in his right knee, according to head coach Ty Lue. Leonard has not participated in any preseason games or training camp activities involving contact, and Lue confirmed there is no specific timeline for his return. Leonard has struggled with knee issues, missing significant games since joining the Clippers in 2019, including the entire 2021-22 season due to a torn ACL. The Clippers' first regular-season game is scheduled against the Phoenix Suns on October 23.

MLB Playoffs

Guardians 7, Yankees 5: In crucial Game 3, already down 2-0 in the series this was pretty much a must win for the Guardians. They certainly didn’t make it easy, but they delivered. First Jhonkensy Noel hit a two-run pinch-hit homer in the ninth to tie the game (see above for one of the most clutch hits + best bat tosses you’ll ever see). Then David Fry played hero once again hitting a two-run homer in the tenth that secured the win (see below). What a game!

Dodgers 10, Mets 2: Unfortunately this game was not as exciting as the Dodgers continue to mash. It was close for about 3 inning and then the Dodgers pulled away and never looked back. Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer and scored four runs, while Mookie Betts hit a two-run homer and four RBIs. Game 5 is set for tomorrow, with the Dodgers, who are up 3-1 in the series, aiming for their 25th pennant, while the Mets look to bounce back after two consecutive blowout losses at home.

⚾️ Weekend Games

Top College Football Games This Weekend

#7 Alabama (5-1) at #11 Tennessee (5-1) - Sat. 3:30 PM (ABC)

What’s At Stake: That dominating half against Georgia seems like a distant memory for the Tide after back-to-back disappointing performances. After winning their SEC opener at Oklahoma, the Vols have followed that up with back-to-back disappointing performances as well. Will the real SEC contender please stand up? Two years ago, QB Hendon Hooker sent Knoxville into euphoria, beating the Tide for the first time since 2006. If Alabama still had Nick Saban on the sideline, I’d call the bounce back, but they don’t, so I won’t. Vols throw another upright into the river.

The Pick: Tennessee +3

#12 Notre Dame (5-1) at Georgia Tech (5-2) - Sat. 3:30 PM (ESPN)

What’s At Stake: The Irish have looked the part since losing to Northern Illinois. Four straight wins. However, this game screams letdown to me. Georgia Tech is a pretty good football team with a good quarterback and a decent defense. While Notre Dame will likely win this game, I think Georgia Tech is good enough to keep with the Irish and cover.

The Pick: Georgia Tech +9.5

#24 Michigan (4-2) at #22 Illinois (5-1) - Sat. 3:30 PM (CBS)

What’s At Stake: Michigan’s season is what’s at stake. The Wolverines performance against Washington was gross to put it lightly. Illinois definitely has some juice, but got exposed against Penn State and then should have lost to lowly Purdue. Hopefully Michigan used the bye week to figure out what they’re doing at QB and the offense can do just enough to let their defense take care of business.

The Pick: Michigan -3.5

#5 Georgia (5-1) at #1 Texas (6-0) - Sat. 7:30 PM (ABC)

What’s At Stake: Texas has passed every test it has faced with flying colors. At Michigan? Child’s play. Red River Shootout? More like, Red River Massacre amiright? They haven’t sniffed adversity so far this season. You know what that says to me? False. Sense. Of. Security. Georgia hasn’t looked like the world beaters like they have in the past, but they are the best team the Longhorns have faced by far. Dawgs go into Austin, beat Texas, and bathe in Matthew McConaughey’s tears.

The Pick: Georgia +5

Other Games I’m Keeping an Eye On

Nebraska at Indiana (12:00 PM FOX)

Miami at Louisville (12:00 PM ABC)

Virginia at Clemson (12:00 PM ACC Network)

Colorado at Arizona (4:00 PM FOX)

LSU at Arkansas (7:00 PM ESPN)

NFL Week 7 Preview

NFL’s Most Intriguing Games

Seattle (3-3) at Atlanta (4-2) - 1:00 PM (FOX)

The View: One team in this match-up is on an upwards trajectory and the other is on a bit of a slide. Seattle has lost three straight after winning its first three. Atlanta is on a three game winning streak, after a 1-2 start. Every week QB Kirk Cousins seems to get more and more comfortable with his achilles recovery and with the Falcons offense. Additionally, the Falcons strength on defense is their secondary. Seahawks QB Geno Smith has been a bit shaky this season, if Kirk and the Falcons start fast, this could get ugly.

Pick: Falcons -3

Houston (5-1) at Green Bay (4-2) - 1:00 PM (CBS)

The View: Many people thought that the Texans offense would be affected by the loss of WR Nico Collins (me included), but oh yeah, WR Tank Dell is good at football, oh yeah, WR Stefon Diggs exists, oh yeah, RB Joe Mixon is a really good running back. The Texans are just fine, and they have a pass rushing duo that is emerging as the best in football (DE Will Anderson Jr. and DE Danielle Hunter). The Packers have yet to beat a team above .500 this season. The Lambeau effect doesn’t get to full force until November. Roll with the Texans.

Pick: Texans +2.5

Detroit (4-1) at Minnesota (5-0) - 1:00 PM CBS

The View: How is this game not SNF or MNF? I have to watch Jets Steelers instead? Puke. Anyways, the undefeated Vikings are the biggest surprise of the season thus far. Top 5 in both points for and points against. They also have the advantages of being at home and coming off a bye. As Lee Corso famously said, “Not so fast…” I mean, “Not so fast my friend!” Sometimes if you’re on a heater the worst thing you can do is take a break. Meanwhile, the Lions have been an absolute buzzsaw the last two weeks. Welcome back down to Earth, Minnesota.

Pick: Lions +1.5

Kansas City (5-0) at San Francisco (3-3) - Sunday 4:25 PM (FOX)

The View: Why, Vegas? Why?! I can’t in good conscience pick the Chiefs to lose as underdogs. Have they won ugly? Yes. But they are undefeated and they are the defending Super Bowl champs and last I checked they still have Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes. The Niners are on a bit of a roller coaster, especially on offense, where their running back room is completely banged up and WR Brandon Aiyuk hasn’t come close to living up to his contract he held teams hostage for this offseason. That shouts chaos to me and when you’re playing a disciplined team on both sides of the ball, I don’t see a W in your future.

The Pick: KC +2

D-Man’s (3-3) Gambling Corner

I’m on the Lions this week. I feel terrible I didn’t make it my #1 last week when they bullied Dallas. I did believe in the Patriots, but my emotions got into it as a lifelong Pats fan. Hand up. On me. I still feel like the books have not caught up to this Lions team. The Vikings have been playing great on defense, but primarily when they get pressure on the QB. Without pressure they are just average. And the Lions are coming to town with one of the best offensive lines in the league. On the other side QB Sam Darnold needs some regression, no? Lions offense put up a 50 burger last week and probably left another 8 points on the field trying to force a touchdown or 2 to an offensive lineman. Bottom line, Lions shouldn’t be a dog here, and a dogs gotta eat. Lions +1.5

NFL Gambling Record:

D-Man: 3-3

Jean Machine: 21-8

Full NFL Schedule click here

NHL Top Games

Canucks 3, Panthers 2: J.T. Miller scored the overtime winner for the Canucks and securing their first win of the season. Teddy Blueger and Quinn Hughes also scored for Vancouver, while Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves.

Lighting 4, Golden Knights 3: Nikita Kucherov scored the decisive goal with just 55 seconds left, leading Tampa Bay to a 4-3 comeback win. Kucherov's second goal of the game came shortly after Brandon Hagel tied the game at 3 with 2:22 remaining in the third period. Jack Eichel recorded two assists, reaching 10 points in just five games, the fastest in Golden Knights history.

Capitals 3, Stars 2: Washington ended Dallas’ four-game winning streak with help from Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, and Taylor Raddysh who all scored for the Capitals. Despite the loss, the Stars celebrated signing goalie Jake Oettinger to a long-term extension (8-year, $66 million).

Blackhawks 4, Sharks 2: Chicago defeated the San Jose 4-2 in their home opener, with Tyler Bertuzzi and Nick Foligno scoring power-play goals. Taylor Hall and Jason Dickinson also contributed, with Hall's goal marking his return after knee surgery.

Rangers 5, Red Wings 2: Big difference in this one was Detroit going 1-for-5 on the power play, while the New York capitalized on their opportunities, scoring 3-for-4. Artemi Panarin opened the scoring for New York and completed a hat trick by the end of the second period. Panarin leads the NHL in points so far:

See full scoreboard here and standings here.

On this day in 1974, Chicago Bulls Nate Thurmond, in his debut with the team, becomes 1st in NBA player to complete a quadruple double: 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks. He is one of only four players to ever accomplish the feat. Alvin Robertson (1986), Hakeem Olajuwon (1990) and a 4th player which is part of the trivia question above.

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Two weeks ago when Kirk Cousins threw for 509 yards on Thursday Night Football, he became the first QB to throw for over 500+ yards since 2021, who accomplished the feat last?

C) Joe Burrow - Against the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 the day after Christmas, Burrow went 37/46, passed for 525 yards and 4 TDs (and rushed for 1) in a 41-21 win.

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