TWO TEAMS ON LIFE SUPPORT TRYING TO GET A HUGE WIN!
This game definitely didn’t pan out as hoped when the schedule was made but every year we see some teams with lofty expectations simply fail to live up to them. Both teams–Miami and Baltimore–have endured soul-crushing injuries and in turn both come in bottom feeders in most key stats. It’s hard to win even with your entire roster, it’s much harder when you lose your best players. Tonight the Ravens get their MVP quarterback back on the field after missing 3 weeks. As bad as this start has been for the Ravens they are still in striking distance of the Steelers, only 2 games back. The Ravens have the easiest schedule one could hope for with only 2 winning teams left ahead and both Steelers games still to go.
Miami of course lost stud WR T. Hill and really no HC in the league has been worse with a roster that should never come into this game (2-6). They finally pitched a perfect game by both sides of the ball with a blowout win over the Falcons, leaving a glimmer of hope for Fins fans. The problem for the Dolphins is they have a very tough schedule ahead, and being 4 games back of both the Patriots and Bills means unless the greatest miracle ever comes, they aren’t going to any playoffs this season.
RAVENS “D” A MASH UNIT THAT HAS GOTTEN RUN OVER ON ROAD!
We are at the halfway point of this 2025 season and somehow the Ravens waltz in having played only 2 road games all year. They allowed 41 and 37 points in losses to KC and Buffalo. Injuries have been their #1 problem, but running 50 plays or less in 5 games so far is a disaster. They have won the time of possession battle once all season and that has put the Ravens’ mash unit of defense on the field way too much. At times, the Ravens have been down 5 starters on the defensive side of the ball. When this is the case, it’s no shock you are ranked (#28) — tired legs and inexperienced players are a brutal pairing.
This is a turnover league and most games the team that wins that battle wins the game. Sadly for Ravens fans, they have just 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery in the last 5 games combined. Tough to win when your offense is a bakery with 6 turnovers the past 3 games. The bad news for the Black and Purple gang is that they allow an atrocious (409) total yards per game. The good news is the past 2 games that number has dropped dramatically by over 100 yards per game (306).
In these types of games I always chuckle thinking of the movie where the young kid says, “So you’re saying I have a chance?” The Ravens’ playoff hopes ride on this defense being in the range of the last 2 weeks — not the first 5 weeks.
MIAMI DEFENSE WENT FROM #5 LAST YEAR TO #23 THIS SEASON!
Look folks, there is blame to go around with this team and coaching staff. But when your defense allows the most rushes of (10+) yards, then an almost unimaginable dead last (74%) pass completion rate, and then the most receiving 3rd down plays — second worst overall yards allowed to wide receivers — and then have half your games where the “D” has allowed (400) yards or more of total offense, you almost assuredly will be a losing team.
Tonight they will face the best running QB in the league in Lamar Jackson and of course the beast RB D. Henry. This year they have allowed Panthers RB R. Dowdle (206) rushing yards, the Bills J. Cook (108), and the Chargers K. Vidal (124), so if they allow this type of woodshed tonight, they have almost no chance to win. Like the Ravens, the Fins defense simply can’t get the big turnovers to swing games — they have only 1 interception all season.
BOTH OFFENSES SHOWED SOME SIGNS OF LIFE IN LAST WEEK’S WINS!
The Dolphins offense is bottom 9 in both rushing and passing, and in their 6 losses Tua has thrown 10 interceptions. In the 2 Dolphins wins, he threw zero. For the Dolphins to leave with a victory, Tua must have a zero again. When I watch live games I look closely to see how coaches make adjustments. When I watch game tapes on Monday-Tuesday nights, I look to see if teams made new and proper adjustments or did they lose because they didn’t make any.
The Dolphins last week came out with a completely new offense — they used 6 offensive linemen which opened up big gap runs and went to a quicker pass attack with more involvement passing the ball and giving receivers room to make big splash plays. It worked like a charm and completely stunned the Falcons defensive coaching staff that simply never could stop the Fins offense.
The Ravens offense with Jackson in there has produced 30 points or more in 7 of his last 8 starts. He’s gotta be licking his chops knowing Miami has allowed 27 points or more in 6 of their 8 games. The road has actually been very kind to the Ravens as they have averaged a whopping (422) yards per game in their last 10 road games. The big stats though have only produced a (5-5) record in those 10 games. The Ravens have lost 3 straight on the road including the late collapse to the Bills in the season opener.
TOP TRENDS FOR THIS “PRIME TV” GAME OF WEEK!
(1). BALTY RAVENS: Last 14 regular season or playoff wins were by an average of (16.3) points per game. This is huge as they are over a TD favorite tonight. (2). MIAMI DOLPHINS: Have gone “OVER” the total their last 9 home games. (3). BALTY RAVENS: Have gone “OVER” the total 19 times in their last 24 overall games (6 of 7 this season). (4). RAVENS QB JACKSON: Last 4 games he played, the total points per game averaged (57). (5). THURSDAY PRIME TV GAMES: Last 4 all went “OVER” the total.
GARY’S FINAL PASS
When you bet for a living like me, I can tell you that you will never be a long-term winner betting on bad teams. Can you trust either team’s defense to come in and stop the other offense? I have to say I am very impressed (okay, stunned) the past two weeks we saw the Dolphins defense look like the top 5 defense of 2024 as they allowed only (423) total yards the past 2 weeks combined. The Ravens defense out of nowhere held the Rams to just (241) total yards 2 weeks ago.
Even though both defenses played a little better the past two weeks, this game comes on a short week and it’s not shocking the last 4 Thursday night prime games went “OVER” the total. When I get a matchup of two bottom-feeder defenses that rarely turn the ball over (Ravens D has 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries all year and the Fins D has 6 games with 1 turnover forced or less) I expect no loss of scoring chances.
The Ravens will get some much-needed “juice” tonight with Jackson returning, and with the Dolphins finding no trouble lighting up the scoreboard at home (*minimum 27 points scored last 8 home games and exactly 27 in each of their 3 home games this season) we will take the “OVER 50 ½” in what we feel will be a high-scoring game with both QBs having huge games.
We have had a nice season and come off the nice 10-point Packers win Sunday night (we passed Monday night affair). Let’s see lots of big plays and lots of TOUCHDOWNS tonight!
Bears’ ownership wants to build a stadium in Arlington Heights.
It is wait until next year for the National Football League Chicago Bears ownership in its quest to get public money for a planned stadium-village in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The Bears ownership failed twice to get money from the Illinois state lawmakers in 2025 but next year isn’t very far away. The Illinois General Assembly starts on January 16th, 2026. Bears’ ownership has decided that Arlington Heights, a Chicago suburb is the right place for its stadium-village after running into opposition in Chicago over its plan to build a stadium-village in a Solider Field parking lot.
The Bears ownership’s stadium-village plan was first revealed in 2023. The Bears’ ownership bought the Arlington Park racetrack property in the Chicago suburb in Arlington Heights in February 2023 for $197 million. Bears’ ownership was set to build a stadium-village in town but then came the property tax bill. Bears’ ownership was alarmed with the tab and decided Chicago was a better option. In April 2024, Bears’ ownership unveiled a plan to build a domed lakefront stadium and surround the structure with a residential and retail zone. The McCaskey family, the owners of the football business, claimed they were willing to throw in about $2 billion to help finance the venture but they also said they needed public support. The McCaskeys claimed they would put up $2.025 billion and would get a $300 million loan from the NFL. The McCaskeys wanted at least $900 million in bonds from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. That funding would include extending bonds of an existing 2% hotel tax. That means people using hotels and motels would be paying for a football stadium that more than likely the hotel and motel users would never step foot in. The Bears ownership’s stadium-village saga continues.
The Bulls charge into Conference Play rested and ready for the Friday night lights.
South Florida (9-3; 6-2 American) faces Old Dominion (9-3; 6-2 Sun Belt) in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl on Dec. 17 at Camping World Stadium, Orlando. The Bulls pursue a third straight bowl win and a historic 10-win season.
South Florida (9-3; 6-2 American) will look to capture a third straight bowl victory for just the second time in program history when it faces Old Dominion (9-3; 6-2 Sun Belt) in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl on December 17 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The game, presented by Coca-Cola, will kick off at 5 p.m. and air nationally on ESPN.
Cure Bowl Supports Cancer Research
The Cure Bowl is more than just football—it’s a fundraising event hosted by the Orlando Sports Foundation to support cancer research. Since its inception in 2015, the event has raised over $6.35 million for the cause. Tickets start at $25 plus fees, and fans are encouraged to secure seats for this meaningful matchup.
Bulls Nation Ready for Orlando
USF Athletics CEO Rob Higgins emphasized the importance of the game: “The Cure Bowl supports a tremendous cause that we are excited to champion, and we look forward to our Bulls taking on a very talented Old Dominion team on Dec. 17. It’s a short drive for Bulls Nation to Camping World Stadium, and I look forward to a great turnout in Green and Gold as we pursue a third straight bowl win for just the second time in program history.”
Program Milestones for South Florida
This marks South Florida’s 13th bowl appearance, tied for the third-most in the first 25 seasons of bowl eligibility. The Bulls’ 8-4 bowl record ranks fourth nationally in winning percentage among programs with 10 or more appearances. Interim Head Coach Kevin Patrick noted the team’s focus on finishing strong and chasing a rare 10-win season.
Pursuit of a 10-Win Season
The Bulls aim to reach 10 wins for only the third time in program history, last achieved in 2017. They also seek a third consecutive bowl win, following victories in the 2023 Boca Bowl (45-0 vs. Syracuse) and 2024 Hawaii Bowl (41-39 in 5OT vs. San Jose State). The only other three-bowl streak came between 2008–2010.
Old Dominion’s Strong Season
Old Dominion enters the Cure Bowl with a 9-3 record, finishing second in the Sun Belt East Division. The Monarchs closed the regular season with five straight wins, including victories over Virginia Tech, Liberty, and Coastal Carolina. They boast the nation’s No. 7 rushing offense (236.9 ypg), No. 16 total offense (460.8 ypg), and No. 20 scoring defense (19.3 ppg).
Cure Bowl Legacy
Now in its 11th season, the Cure Bowl has become a staple of postseason college football. Last year, Ohio defeated Jacksonville State, while Tulane remains the only American Conference team to win the Cure Bowl (2018).
USF Offensive Firepower
South Florida’s offense ranks No. 2 nationally in total yards (501.7 per game) and No. 4 in scoring (43.0 points per game). The Bulls set a program record with five games scoring 50+ points this season. Eleven players earned all-conference honors, including First Team selections Mac Harris and De’Shawn Rucker.
Looking Ahead
USF will formally introduce Brian Hartline as the seventh head coach in program history on December 8 at the Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center in Tampa. The event is open to the public and marks a new era for Bulls football.
college championship weekend The 2025 college football season kicks off with one of the most electrifying Week 1 slates in recent memory. With playoff contenders
By: Matthew Weatherby
White smoke has risen from the Nittany Lion atop Beaver Stadium. Penn State has its new Head Coach in Matt Campbell. It was 54 long days since the Nittany Lions fired now Virginia Tech Head Coach James Franklin. They got turned down, people paid, and honestly publicly humiliated throughout the process. Now Campbell from Iowa State is set to take over in Happy Valley. Hoping to calm the mobs coming for Pat Kraft and his job.
This report came a few minutes ago from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who said Penn State was finalizing a deal for Matt Campbell to become the head coach.
Penn State has finally found its guy, and funny enough, it is a similar route they took when they hired James Franklin in 2014. Franklin’s pedigree was that of a guy who appeared to do more with less. He was the most successful Vanderbilt Head coach until Clark Lea.
Campbell is the same. He won at his first stop, being Toledo’s Head Coach, where he went 35-15, good for a .700 winning percentage. Since he took the job at Iowa State, he has enjoyed some similar success, going 72-55 from 2016-25.
Now to the doing more with less portion. Over the 11 recruiting classes that he brought in at Iowa State, the average ranking was 55.8 in the national standings. Not exactly that of a top-tier program. He has developed that talent, however, with guys like Brock Purdy and Breece Hall being stars in the NFL now.
He also won Coach of the Year 3 times in the BIG 12, receiving the award in 2017, ’18, and ’20. Campbell was also the 2015 MAC Coach of the Year.
With the influx of cash I expect Campbell to receive, in terms of NIL money for the roster, it is not unreasonable to think of this as a great hire. With his coaching pedigree, you would expect the results he was able to give at Iowa State to only be magnified with a bigger brand and budget at Penn State.
What Campbell means for Penn State
It means that Pat Kraft might actually be able to sleep peacefully tonight. He has been contacting seemingly everyone, trying to get them to come to Happy Valley. None of those came to fruition; instead, he was getting them paid at the places they were already employed.
Here, the question that reigns supreme: will it be enough?
This search was an unmitigated disaster, from the inability to get anyone to take their money, all of the negative press, and the rumors of Jimmy Sexton freezing Penn State out for the way they handled Franklin. It could not have been worse for Penn State. You pair that with a group of Paterno people who wanted Terry Smith to be the Head Coach. I wonder if this hire is enough to calm the waters in Happy Valley.
One thing I do know for sure is that winning cures all. Matt Campbell might just be the guy to save Pat Kraft.
Politics8 years ago