Iowa
Don’t trust Iowa to cover against Ohio State, plus other best bets for Thursday
Soccer simply ended, and we have nonetheless bought March Insanity to get via earlier than it begins, however I am legitimately enthusiastic about MLB this season in a approach I have not been for some time. With pitchers and catchers reporting this week, we have been handled to photographs of gamers exhibiting as much as camp and throwing, however the photographs that stood out and excited me extra had been of beat reporters huddling round bases.
Whereas the absurdity of individuals amassing to take photographs of bases to indicate the distinction in sizes is humorous, it is also thrilling. MLB is making precise adjustments this season that would change the sport. I do know the default setting of The Baseball Fan is “change is unhealthy!” it doesn’t matter what, however the reality is, even when I benefit from the sport, MLB video games have been longer than they wanted to be for some time. The pitch clock will probably be unusual at first, however we’ll all alter, and it’ll preserve issues transferring faster. As for the bigger bases, they will result in extra motion on the basepaths, and extra moments of motion and pleasure.
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For all the issues MLB has achieved improper over time, this appears like one thing that would show to be very proper, and I am unable to wait to see all of it play out. Nor can I wait any longer to learn these tales.
To tonight’s picks, which, admittedly, are going to get a bit bizarre.
All instances Jap, and all odds by way of Caesars Sportsbook
🔥 The Scorching Ticket
Ohio State at Iowa, 9 p.m. | TV: ESPN2
Newest Odds:
Ohio State Buckeyes
+7
- Key Pattern: There isn’t any development that helps this play tonight, which, as you will learn, is exactly why we should do it.
- The Choose: Ohio State +7.5 (-110)
That is a type of instances when the numbers are too tough to disregard. I am going to begin with the first precept: Ohio State is a fraud. I have been skeptical of the Buckeyes in nonconference, even when their losses to San Diego State, Duke and North Carolina had been all acceptable. Nonetheless, my numbers instructed me this staff wasn’t practically nearly as good as different standard energy scores claimed, and when the Buckeyes misplaced at dwelling to a putrid Minnesota staff, my emotions had been confirmed.
The Buckeyes are 11-14 total and 3-11 within the Massive Ten. KenPom nonetheless considers them the 51st-best staff within the nation, however KenPom is improper. This staff would not defend and solely has one constantly dependable possibility on offense in freshman Brice Sensabaugh.
However I am betting the Buckeyes tonight regardless of this, as a result of one other precept is that the Massive Ten loses its thoughts yearly round this time. Possibly you noticed Penn State’s Jalen Pickett go off for 41 factors in opposition to Illinois earlier this week or Northwestern knock off Indiana on Wednesday evening, three days after it knocked off Purdue.
That precept has me considering Ohio State covers tonight, as does Iowa’s defensive effectivity rating of twelfth within the Massive Ten, forward of solely Penn State and Minnesota. That lack of protection is the first motive Ohio State scored 93 factors in a 93-77 win over the Hawkeyes in Columbus final month. I doubt Ohio State will rating 93 factors once more tonight, as Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment is not the simplest place on the earth to play, however I do not belief the Iowa protection practically sufficient to cowl 7.5 factors right here.
This is what SportsLine is saying concerning the sport: It isn’t the heaviest lean, however the Projection Mannequin agrees with our play.
💰 The Picks
🏀 NBA
Bucks at Bulls, 7:30 p.m. | TV: TNT
Newest Odds:
Milwaukee Bucks
-8.5
The Choose: Bucks -7 (-110) — Have you ever heard of the TNT Bulls? It is a well-known phenomenon in Chicago. On Feb. 28, 2013, the Chicago Bulls beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 93-82, in a house sport broadcast on TNT. The Bulls have not misplaced a house sport on TNT since. Significantly, it has been 20 straight wins since then, and understand that there have been some unhealthy Bulls groups since then who had been solely getting nationally televised spots as a consequence of their market.
Tonight, the 20-game win streak will come to an finish. The 2022-23 Bulls are nice at blowing issues of 20+. They’ve blown two 20+ level results in the Indiana Pacers within the final three weeks, together with Wednesday evening. Now they’re turning round for the second of a back-to-back in opposition to a Bucks staff that is far superior and had yesterday off. Oh, and the Bulls are banged up. DeMar DeRozan did not play final evening, and there is a first rate probability he is out once more tonight. Even when he does play, the Bulls cannot rating sufficient factors to maintain up with Milwaukee.
🏀 Faculty Basketball
UCF at Memphis, 8 p.m. | TV: ESPN+
Newest Odds:
Beneath 149.5
The Choose: Beneath 150.5 (-110) — To be blunt, I do not know why this complete is so excessive. This sport may change into a back-and-forth tennis match if Memphis forces UCF to play at its tempo, however even when it does, the sport possible ends as a blowout, and the over finishes out of attain.
What I believe is extra prone to occur is Memphis wins however can’t dictate the tempo as a result of UCF is just too robust defensively — it has an amazing dimension benefit over the Tigers. UCF is a terrific offensive-rebounding staff, and Memphis is terrible on the defensive glass. That can result in further possessions for the Knights, who’re by no means in a rush to attain. That occurred within the first assembly (UCF gained 107-104 in double OT) when the Knights grabbed 17 offensive rebounds. UCF solely missed 42 photographs, in order that’s an offensive rebound fee of 40.5%.
After all, the opposite factor that occurred in that sport was UCF hit 16 threes. I do not see them being practically as scorching from deep tonight, which is one more reason this beneath looks like a implausible play.
🔒 SportsLine Choose of the Day: The XFL season begins this weekend, and SportsLine’s R.J. White has a play on the league’s season opener between the Renegades and Vipers.
Iowa
Grinnell window manufacturer announces plans to lay off 152 workers in November
JELD-WEN, a manufacturer of windows and doors in Grinnell, has announced it will be laying off 152 workers effective Nov. 7.
The announcement was made on Iowa’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) site.
The company, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, was founded in 1960 and has 18,000 employees, with operating facilities in 16 countries in North America and Europe with 2023 sales of $4.3 billion, according to the company’s website.
JELD-WEN did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, JELD-WEN announced the closing of its Hawkins, Wisconsin facility, affecting 338 employees, and in Vista, California, resulting in the loss of 110 jobs.
Iowa
Iowa Coach Fires Brutal Quote at Players Leaving Via Transfer
The Iowa Hawkeyes lost two players from their football team this week.
Both running back Leshon Williams and wide receiver Kaleb Brown have announced that they will redshirt for the rest of the season and enter the transfer portal at the end of the year.
Despite the two players opting to leave the program, it hasn’t phased head coach Kirk Ferentz. He isn’t worried about the decisions that they made at all.
When asked about Williams and Brown transferring, Ferentz offered a short and brutal quote.
“Not to be callous, but if a player isn’t playing, you don’t lose much.”
Williams had been dealing with an injury throughout the season thus far. Before the injury, he had shown flashes of being a player that could end up making an impact. Unfortunately, those flashes were never able to come to light on the field.
As for Brown, there were big plans for him coming into the season. But, he was suspended for the first game of the year and was never able to earn his role back.
Clearly, Ferentz is not worried about how his team will respond to the news. Basically, he doesn’t think the losses of them will impact the team at all.
Ferentz isn’t necessarily wrong with what he stated. Neither player had a role that will change how the team has been operating. However, it was the way he said it that was a bit out of line.
Regardless of the role that they players had, handling the situation with a bit more grace would have been a better look.
All of that being said, Iowa is not a program that needs to be graceful necessarily. The Hawkeyes want to win football games and neither Williams or Brown was contributing to that goal so far this year.
Looking ahead to the future, we wish the best to both Williams and Brown. Hopefully, they find success in their future endeavors.
Iowa
Iowa High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams – Oct. 8
The Iowa On3 Massey Ratings top 25 list as of Oct. 8 underwent some changes compared to last week’s rankings. These updates highlight the competitiveness of Iowa high school football, especially when you consider that only three of the top ten teams remain unscathed.
Meanwhile, two teams ranked 11 to 25 swapped spots. Here’s how the state’s top teams fared after the 2024 Iowa high school football season has reached its halfway point.
The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.
CLICK HERE to watch your high school’s games on NFHS Network now!
After losing to Dowling Catholic, the Tigers have secured victories against ranked teams. Their latest conquest was against 23rd-ranked Waukee Northwest, wherein Drake DeGroote completed three touchdown passes to Zay Robinson. Valley can extend their winning streak to five games against Waterloo West.
The Maroons survived the fierce opposition ushered in by fifth-ranked Ankeny Centennial in a match that needed three overtime periods to be settled. Dowling Catholic showed resilience despite a 21-3 halftime deficit and scoring their first touchdown with six minutes left in the third quarter. Overcoming that test of character should give the Maroons confidence in their upcoming match against Urbandale.
The Dragons are flying again after clinching their third consecutive victory against ranked opponents. This time, they’ve shut out eighth-ranked Southeast Polk, thanks to their defense, ranked fourth in Iowa high school football. After limiting Ankeny, Waukee, and Southeast Polk to 14 points, Johnston should have no problems defeating Urbandale on the road.
The Bulldogs remain undefeated after five games and haven’t allowed 20 points to an opponent since their season opener against sixth-ranked Pleasant Valley. Bettendorf’s latest result was a 33-14 masterpiece over Kennedy, a game practically over by halftime when the Bulldogs established a 27-6 lead. Bettendorf can improve to 6-0 by defeating Davenport Central this week.
The Jaguars could not translate their fantastic start against Dowling Catholic into a victory. Failing to close out the Maroons after three overtimes handed them their second consecutive defeat. However, they remain in the top ten and could bounce back with easier matchups against Roosevelt and Waukee Northwest over the next two weeks.
In their last match, the Spartans surrendered 28 points to Cedar Falls. While that’s a concern, the second-best offense in Iowa high school football scored a season-high 52 points. Pleasant Valley is on a groove, scoring 101 points in their two previous games. In that case, they should have no problems maintaining the momentum against Muscatine.
After starting the season at 1-3, the Hawks have won two consecutive games, beating Iowa City West and Prairie by a combined score of 73-38. However, their schedule gets more challenging as they face 11th-ranked Liberty and top-ranked Valley in their following two assignments.
The Rams’ shutout loss to Johnston halted their winning streak. That result also brings their record against the top ten teams to 2-2. It’s also a total contrast to their 48-3 win over Sioux City East the week before. Southeast Polk should make a better effort in the next two weeks to defeat No. 13 Waukee and second-ranked Dowling Catholic. Those games are perfect for the Rams’ defense to prove why they are Iowa high school football’s top-ranked defense.
The Titans have scored over 50 points in back-to-back games, defeating Jefferson 56-6. The week before, they scored 55 on Glenwood. Lewis Central can keep their hopes for a perfect season intact by defeating Winterset, Norwalk, and Dallas Center-Grimes in their next three games.
The Comets flew to the top ten after a 29-8 victory over Ballard Community. North Polk’s defense has intensified, allowing only 33 points in its last three games. Before that run, they gave up 68 points to Bondurant-Farrar and Carlisle combined. On deck for the Comets are Indianola this week and Boone on the 18th.
11. Liberty
12. Pella
13. Waukee
14. Linn-Mar (+1)
15. West Lyon (-1)
16. Decorah
17. Xavier
18. Iowa City High
19. Cedar Falls
20. Humboldt
21. Grundy Center
22. Williamsburg
23. Waukee Northwest
24. ADM
25. Western Dubuque
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