By: Matthew Weatherby

This game is the one that I have the least feel on. If Miami won, then great, I picked them in my bracket prediction. If Texas A&M won, I wouldn’t be surprised either. The issue lies in the fact that I feel like we do not know these teams. They were Notre Dame’s two losses on the season. Their other common opponent is Florida. But between those two games, there isn’t much I can glean from those results that would point me in either direction. So what do we know about these teams?

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What I know about Texas A&M

They beat Notre Dame, and had they not, I’m not sure they would have been in the playoffs. But they did so; that’s moot. Aside from that, their schedule consisted of the entire bottom half of the SEC and Texas. Interestingly enough, Texas was the lone SEC team not in the bottom half of the conference. I know it’s been a couple of weeks, so people may not remember, but Texas stomped them in Austin. You have to have questions about the Aggies, based not only on their schedule but also on their recent play. They narrowly escaped South Carolina’s upset bid 2 weeks before that Texas game.

From a talent profile, Texas A&M looks the part. Marcel Reed was always a dangerous runner, but this year he has developed more as a passer. That is the part that makes me nervous about A&M, which is when I referenced their shaky play as of late; it is because Reed has not looked the same while throwing the football. But if Reed is going to right the wrongs, he has the right receivers to do so. K.C. Concepcion has been fantastic this year, and Mario Craver is one of the fastest receivers in college football. It will be interesting to see this offense, especially with the added knowledge that Offensive Coordinator Collin Klein is headed to Kansas State after this playoff run.

We know a lot more about Texas A&M’s defense. That’s actually something they have in common with Miami. Taurean York and Cassius Howell have been great this year. York earned All-SEC Third-Team honors, and Howell was named a First-Team All-American. They throw different looks at you, especially on 3rd down, as they are first in the nation in 3rd down conversion rate. They have not been a great turnover team all year, but if they can get Miami into those obvious passing situations, Carson Beck has been known to force throws. He has had an interception problem dating back to his time at Georgia.

What I know about Miami

Similar to Texas A&M, I know for certain what their defense will bring to the table. They have been consistent on that side of the ball all year. In fact, in Miami’s 2 losses, the defense was at a disadvantage due to Carson Beck throwing multiple interceptions in both games. Against Louisville, he had 4, and against SMU, he threw 2. So when they have been put on level ground, the defense does its job. It should also be of note that Miami is tied for 25th in the country in forced turnovers with 20 on the season. For comparison, Texas A&M is tied for 118th with 9 forced turnovers.

Miami’s lines of scrimmage are both really big and really physical. That has not changed throughout the year. But Miami is in a similar situation to Texas A&M in that save the Notre Dame game. They did not beat the two best teams on their conference schedule. That’s even scarier when you consider the fact that they play in the always daunting ACC. (Yes, Louisville is better than Pitt, and if you disagree, use the same logic Miami used to get into the playoffs; Head to Head) So while they “finished strong,” I have a lot more to learn about them on Saturday.

As for the offense, they have not been a great running team all year. They are ranked 77th in rushing offense. Which is surprising given the size and physicality I talked about along their offensive line. Which is important because last year at Georgia, Carson Beck also had a running game ranked in the 70’s nationally. He had an interception problem last year at Georgia, and it has carried over in Miami’s losses. But Beck has been a better quarterback overall this year. He has thrown fewer picks with a higher completion percentage. Now we see if Kyle Field will rattle him…

Final Thoughts + Prediction/Line

I am curious what kind of game we get. From everything I have found in researching the game, it looks like a defensive battle. If it were to go into a shootout, I would think that favors A&M. Kyle Field must be a factor in this game, even though it is a noon kickoff.

When I made my bracket prediction, I picked Miami to win. Literally nothing has changed between now and then, except that my knowledge of these teams has gotten a bit better. They are extremely evenly matched. But the image I have in my head is this season when Miami needed Carson Beck to come back and win them football games; he didn’t deliver. I do not trust Carson Beck to walk into that environment against that A&M pass rush and Mike Elko’s defense and win Miami this game. Give me the Aggies

Prediction: Texas A&M

Line: Texas A&M -3, Miami +130

Total: 47.5

Las Vegas is still being analyzed as an NBA expansion market.

Are National Basketball Association owners souring on Las Vegas? There is a chance that the city has hosted its last NBA Cup final game for a while. The owners have seen empty seats at some games and a lack of enthusiasm in the crowds. Commissioner Adam Silver’s remarks did not sound promising when it came to the NBA Cup final game returning to Las Vegas. “Maybe go to some unique locations for the final game,” he said. “(Amazon) suggested, for example, some storied college arenas. We’re looking for other ways we could do this.” Las Vegas may not be cutting it anymore.

The NBA has been doing business in Las Vegas for years but has not taken the final step and put a franchise in the city. There is the NBA Summer League, there is an annual pre-season game and there have been some regular season games in the city going back decades. “I don’t have any doubt that Las Vegas, despite all of the other major league teams that are here now, the other entertainment properties, that this city could support an NBA team,” Silver said. “I think now we’re in the process of working with our teams and gauging the level of interest and having a better understanding of what the economics would be on the ground for those particular teams and what a pro forma would look like for them, and then sometime in 2026 we’ll make a determination.” The NBA has lost ground in terms of available money to buy suites and premier seats for its product. The National Hockey League and the National Football League have franchises in the market. Las Vegas attracted less tourists in 2025 thanks to tariffs and regulations that are making it tougher for foreign tourists to enter America. The Las Vegas market may have lost some of its glitter.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

With the NCAA football regular season wrapped up, the NFL is reclaiming Saturday broadcasts this week, delivering fans a doubleheader of divisional drama. Saturday’s slate features two back-to-back matchups that could reshape the playoff picture in both the NFC East and NFC North.

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Eagles vs. Commanders: NFC East Title on the Line

The Philadelphia Eagles head to the nation’s capital to face the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. ET on Fox.

Philadelphia, looking to win its second straight after a midseason skid, can clinch the NFC East title with a victory. The Commanders, meanwhile, are limping to the finish line without quarterback Jayden Daniels, enduring a campaign they’d prefer to forget. For Washington, the focus is already shifting toward 2026, but for the Eagles, this game represents a chance to solidify their playoff positioning and regain momentum heading into January.

Packers vs. Bears: NFC North Heavyweight Clash

At 8:20 p.m. ET on Fox, the spotlight shifts to Chicago, where the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears collide in a battle atop the NFC North.

Green Bay enters at 9–4–1, coming off a disappointing loss to the Broncos and reeling from the season-ending injury to defensive star Micah Parsons. The Bears, on the other hand, are surging at 10–4, winners of six of their last seven, and aiming to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Soldier Field will be buzzing as Chicago looks to cement its division lead against its oldest rival.

Sunday Slate: Packed with Key Matchups

Following Thursday and Saturday’s divisional-heavy schedule, Sunday offers just one in-division contest: the Carolina Panthers visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The day features a full lineup with seven 1:00 p.m. ET kickoffs, two games at 4:05 p.m., and two more at 4:25 p.m.

Marquee contests include the Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Chargers, the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Denver Broncos, and the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions.

Sunday Night Football: Ravens Host Patriots

Week 16 concludes under the lights in Baltimore, where the Ravens host the New England Patriots on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. With playoff implications across the AFC, this primetime matchup caps off a weekend packed with divisional intrigue and postseason stakes.

National Broadcast Information

• Saturday Doubleheader: Eagles vs. Commanders (5:00 p.m. ET, Fox), Packers vs. Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Sunday Night Football: Ravens vs. Patriots (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
• Radio Coverage: Westwood One and ESPN Radio will carry national broadcasts, with local affiliates providing team-specific coverage.

The NFL’s return to Saturday broadcasts ensures fans won’t miss a beat as the playoff race intensifies. With divisional titles and postseason berths on the line, Week 16 promises drama from Saturday afternoon through Sunday night.