Sports

SEC TV Week 2 games ranked

Published

5 months ago

September 6, 2025

Austin Reed

TV AND THE SEC

By: Matthew Weatherby
Capital Sports Network

College Football Analyst

The way that my ranking system will work is based on the way my roommate and I watch games on any given Saturday. We have 3 TVs that share one audio output, and they all vary in size. If it is a must watch game then it’s TV 1 material, a step down from that will be TV 2 still a good game we want to pay attention to just doesn’t have enough appeal to be on TV one, lastly we have TV 3 this game falls into one of two categories a close game that doesn’t have the same brand value as TV 1 or 2 or someone has a bet on the game. So, let’s rank ‘em

MUST READS

SPORTS TALK UNITED

SPORTS TALK FLORIDA

TV 1 Games:

Michigan vs. Oklahoma

Time: 7:30 PM

Where to Watch: ABC

Breakdown: Brent Venables is a Freshman Quarterback’s Nightmare. A Brent Venables-led defense has only allowed one freshman quarterback to eclipse a 65.5 PFF grade. So, what makes Michigan believe? Bryce Underwood is not a typical freshman and is going to have to carry Michigan if they hope to win Saturday night.

Vanderbilt vs. Virginia Tech

Time: 7:30 PM

Where to Watch: ACC Network

Breakdown: Vandy is hoping to put together one of the best seasons this football program has seen. But Lane Stadium at night is what stands in their way of a fast start. Coming off a disappointing start against South Carolina, Virginia Tech is looking to bounce back at home against another SEC opponent.

Kansas vs. Missouri

Time: 3:30 PM

Where to Watch: ESPN2

Breakdown: The Border War has returned, and Mizzou now knows who their quarterback will be for the season in Beau Pribula by way of Injury to Sam Horn. I wonder if it wasn’t some gamesmanship on Eli Drinkwitz’s part with the game plan he had with his quarterback room. On the Kansas side, they are hoping they get the version of Jalon Daniels of 2022, not the turnover machine from last year. If they do get that version of Daniels, we will be on upset watch at Memorial Stadium.

TV 2 Games:

Ole Miss vs. Kentucky

Time: 3:30 PM

Where to Watch: ABC

Breakdown: This game was the biggest stain on Lane Kiffin’s 2024 Ole Miss team after being upset at home by Stoops’ Kentucky team. This is a chance for redemption on the road for Kiffin and Ole Miss. But as Kirby Smart says, no road game in the SEC is an easy game. Ole Miss is favored by more than a touchdown, but things can get sideways in Lexington if the Rebels aren’t careful.

South Florida vs. Florida

Time: 4:15 PM

Where to Watch: SEC Network

Breakdown: This one is simple for Florida. Are you focused on the now or what’s to come next week with LSU? If Florida is focused on the task at hand, this should be a comfortable victory for the Gators. If they aren’t, then a talented USF team can push them to the brink in Gainesville.

Arizona State vs. Mississippi State

Time: 7:30 PM

Where to Watch: ESPN2

Breakdown: This one may surprise some people that it’s not higher in my rankings this week. But I just don’t feel like Jeff Lebby is going to be able to compete with Arizona State after an offseason and one game. I’m a believer in Lebby in Starkville, but they just aren’t ready yet.

TV 3 Games:

Austin Peay vs. Georgia

Time: 3:30 PM

Where to Watch: ESPN+/SECN+

Breakdown: If I’m a Georgia fan watching this game, I’d be praying for no injuries. It should be just another opportunity to prep for Tennessee next weekend.

San José St. vs. Texas

Time: 12:00 PM

Where to Watch: ABC

Breakdown: What you’re looking for out of Texas this week is simple. What does the passing game look like? Does Arch look more comfortable in this game, and can he show us some touch on the football? It was something people started to talk about after that loss at Ohio State.

Utah State vs. Texas A&M

Time: 12:45 PM

Where to Watch: SEC Network

Breakdown: A&M goes to Notre Dame next weekend, so they fall into the same category as Georgia. Get better and don’t get hurt.

ETSU vs. Tennessee

Time: 3:30 PM

Where to Watch: ESPN+/ SECN+

Breakdown: Tennessee cannot afford any more injuries in the secondary this week, no matter what. If I’m a Tennessee fan, I’d also be paying attention to the way the secondary plays with the current injuries, they have.

Arkansas St. vs. Arkansas

Time: 5:00 PM

Where to Watch: ESPN+/ SECN+

Breakdown: Arkansas fans enjoy the wins while you’re getting them, because I’m not sure how many you’ll be able to enjoy once conference play starts.

SC State vs. South Carolina

Time: 7:00 PM

Where to Watch: ESPN+/ SECN+

Breakdown: South Carolina fans get to sit back, relax, and watch Lanorris Sellers ball this weekend for a half and then move on to next week.

Louisiana Tech vs. LSU

Time: 7:30 PM

Where to Watch: ESPN+/ SECN+

Breakdown: Brian Kelly was fired up after last week’s win at Clemson. For LSU, you want to see a little more out of the offense and no leaks from that defense in preparation for Florida.

Ball State vs. Auburn

Time: 7:30 PM

Where to Watch: ESPNU

Breakdown: Auburn, can we see something out of Jackson Arnold’s arm this weekend? He showed you he can run it, but that’s not going to beat everyone. Want to see more out of the passing offense. Also, look out for Deuce Knight in the second half of this one.

UL Monroe vs. Alabama

Time: 7:45 PM

Where to Watch: SEC Network

Breakdown: I’ve never been surer a team needs to cover than Alabama does this weekend. They have to not only beat UL Monroe but beat them to a pulp; otherwise, the boosters may be calling DeBoer in for another conversation.

Source link

Sports

MLB Owners And Players Continue To Court Public Opinion In CBA Talks

Published

9 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Austin Reed

Tony Clark

The CBA ends in December.

The sparring between Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and the Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Tony Clark continues as MLB gets ready for the 2026 season. The collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners ends in December and the central issue seems to be this. The owners want cost certainty which could mean a salary cap and the players want no part of that. There is also the question of how much the owners are really hurting financially when the Los Angeles Dodgers owners can give Kyle Tucker a $64 million signing bonus within a four-year deal reportedly worth $240 million and the owner of the New York Mets franchise Steve Cohen can hand out a three-year deal to Bo Bichette that reportedly is worth $126 million. Of course, New York and Los Angeles are the two biggest markets in the country with a lot of wealth. It is the small market owners who are going to tell Manfred that cannot compete with the Dodgers and the Mets.

Manfred is trying to put a positive spin on the negotiations. “Until I got elected commissioner, all I did was labor relations. That’s how I made my living. I’ve never been in a negotiation where, before the first piece of paper went across the table, I, or anyone I represented, was out there saying, ‘This, we absolutely will not talk about.’ I just think it’s a hard way to begin a negotiation.” The players put out a statement that contradicts Manfred. “The league and owners say they want to avoid missing games but at the same time they appear to be dead-set on trying to force players into a system that, the last time they proposed it, led to the most missed games ever and a cancelled World Series” in 1994. The sniping continues.

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

Kyle Tucker

Source link

Sports

Saudi Darts Masters: Littler triumphs as atmosphere fails to ignite

Published

11 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Austin Reed

Luke-Littler (PA)

Luke Littler 8 – 5 Michael van Gerwen (best of 15 legs)

Reigning double world champion and world number one Luke Littler bounced back from his Bahrain setback to win the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters on the eve of his 19th birthday, rounding off a sensational day by defeating Michael van Gerwen 8–5 in a high-quality final.

Littler had to come from behind in a hard-fought quarter-final against Gian van Veen, before exacting revenge on Gerwyn Price in the semi-final, having lost to the Welshman at last week’s event in Bahrain.

‘The Nuke’ then started off like a bullet train against van Gerwen, racing into a 4–0 lead in a matter of minutes while averaging a remarkable 114. ‘Mighty Mike’, to his credit, raised his level to haul it back to 4–3, only to miss three darts at double 10 to draw level.

From there, Littler regained his edge, and despite pressure from the Dutchman, got over the line with a superb 11-darter to seal the victory.

Explosive darts action in a restrained atmosphere in Riyadh

If the sport is judged purely on the competition itself, then the crowd were treated to a spectacular showcase of darts at its very best. van Gerwen illustrated that range perfectly, averaging just 87 in a laboured quarter-final win over Stephen Bunting before lifting his level dramatically to post 100-plus averages in both his semi-final and final.

Then there was Littler, who had to produce his best to overcome three opponents in high-quality encounters, while surprise quarter-finalist Man Lok Leung impressed by pushing Nathan Aspinall all the way. From a purely sporting perspective, it was the kind of day any darts fan would happily lap up.

But Riyadh had never hosted a PDC event before, and it showed. Without the usual fancy dress, constant noise and crowd-led momentum that darts thrives on, the atmosphere was noticeably muted from start to finish.

Culturally, that is understandable and works well enough for many sports, but darts is different. The gap in understanding was evident when the crowd greeted an early sub-50 checkout with the same muted enthusiasm as a ton-plus finish later on, flattening moments that would normally lift the room.

The players would have felt it too. Darts players feed off the crowd in different ways, and there was little coming back at them to draw energy from. Most are media-trained to not criticise openly, although Nathan Aspinall did suggest that the crowd were still finding their way with the finer details of the sport, and some may even have been ringers.

As a first staging of the event, lessons will inevitably be learned and things may improve when darts returns to the Kingdom. One thing is certain – Saudi Arabia rarely loosens its grip once it has a sport in its grasp, and it is unlikely to be content in the long term with hosting a solitary, minor tournament while the game itself is still shaking off the afterglow of the World Championship.

But if the sport is to truly thrive here long term, a balance will need to be found between local traditions and the atmosphere that has long been part of what makes darts what it is.

Results round-up

Quarter-finals (best of 11 legs)

Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Man Lok Lueng
Luke Littler 6-4 Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Luke Humphies

Semi-finals (best of 13 legs)

Michael van Gerwen 7-5 Nathan Aspinall
Luke Littler 7-5 Gerwyn Price

Final (best of 15 legs)

Luke Littler 8-5 Michael van Gerwen

Source link

Sports

Tampa Bay Downs special: Let ’em Run live from Florida

Published

15 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Austin Reed

Tune în Wednesday for a special show from Tampa Bay Downs

Let ‘em Run Special Wednesday Podcast LIVE from Tampa Bay Downs

Midweek racing brings fresh opportunity, sharper opinions, and real-time insight from the track. This Wednesday, Let ‘em Run takes the show on the road with live analysis straight from Tampa Bay Downs. With strong angles, value-driven plays, and boots on the ground, this special edition delivers the kind of edge horseplayers look for during the week.

Be sure to tune in on Wednesday at 12:30 PM EST for our special “Boots on the Ground” segment. John Kostin will be live from Tampa Bay Downs and joined by guest handicapper Wadie Khalaf. Together, they will break down the card with a sharp focus on the Late P5 and key spot plays, including the always-popular Bro’s BRISnet Play of the Day. You can catch the show live on Sports Talk Media Network, along with multiple streaming apps and social channels. Let’s take a closer look at a few races that stand out.

Tampa Bay Downs | Wednesday 1/21/26

Race 2 | 12:20 PM EST

This race offers a strong opinion with limited value, but there is still a way to make it pay. The #5 Uncashed sits at 2-1 on the morning line and owns a +10 BRISnet Prime Power advantage over the rest of the field. That edge pushes the projected win percentage to around 55%. He also profiles as the lone “E” type in the race, which strengthens the pace advantage. Trainer numbers support the play as well, with a 31% win rate when sending out runners who won last time out.

Since the price will likely drop, the value shifts to a double play. The suggested approach is a $50 double using 5 with 9 and 10 in Race 3. The outside posts win often in that race, and the odds should offer a better return.

Race 8 | 3:55 PM EST

This race sets up nicely for another BRISnet-based angle and should provide a fairer price at post time. The #1 Paynter’s Prodigy sits at 3-1 and checks several important boxes. He is an “E” type, owns the highest last-race speed figure, and also tops the field in early TimeformUS Pace.

The only other true speed appears to be #12 Chico Charlie at 6-1, but that runner draws a tough, ground-losing outside post. The price on the #1 may drift up, as jockey Wesley Ho remains capable but does not draw heavy public support. That scenario could create solid betting value.

All three of us will share insights and opinions on the full Late P5 during the live podcast. Be sure to tune in. Bet smart, cheer hard, fast horses equal serious fun, and as always, Let ‘em Run.

Source link