Smalltalk

2026 Super Bowl Betting Report: 'It's Still One-Way Traffic on Seattle'

  • Up to 80% of Super Bowl bets are expected in the final 72 hours — a huge rush of money is coming this weekend.
  • The Seahawks have held steady as a 4.5-point favorite, and surprisingly most early money has been on Seattle’s moneyline.
  • Props are stealing the show (safety, overtime, non-QB TD are popular), while sharps lean Under and sportsbooks are braced for a lower-scoring game.

Tigers' Tarik Skubal Wins Salary Arbitration Case, Will Be Paid Record $32M

  • Tarik Skubal won his salary arbitration with the Tigers and will be paid a record $32 million this year instead of the team's $19 million offer.
  • The 29-year-old lefty and two-time All-Star posted an AL-best 2.21 ERA last season (13-6, 241 K, 33 BB, 0.891 WHIP) and is eligible for free agency after the World Series.
  • Players have won the first three arbitration cases this offseason (e.g., Kyle Bradish, Yainer Díaz), and Detroit also reached a $115 million, three-year agreement with Framber Valdez pending a physical.

Get To Know a College Basketball Mid-Major: Ohio Valley Conference

  • Two OVC teams (Southern Indiana, Lindenwood) are still transitioning from Division II and ineligible for March Madness — if one wins the conference tournament the automatic NCAA bid would instead go to the runner-up.
  • UT Martin is the men's favorite: conference leader with elite rebounding and a lockdown defense, paced by forward Andrija Bukumirović (about 15 pts, 8+ rebs).
  • On the women's side Western Illinois has the star power — Mia Nicastro is fifth in D‑I scoring and a dominant inside presence — and a returning Raegan McCowan could make them even tougher for the OVC tournament.

Niners To Play Rams in First Regular-Season NFL Game in Australia in 2026

  • The San Francisco 49ers will face division rival Los Angeles Rams in the first regular-season NFL game held in Australia next season at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (about 100,000 capacity).
  • The Rams are the designated home team as part of the league’s multi-year Melbourne commitment; date and kickoff are still to be announced.
  • The NFL is expanding internationally with a record nine overseas games next season, including its first regular-season stops in Paris and Rio de Janeiro.

Super Bowl LX: How Josh McDaniels Revived Patriots’ Explosive Offense

  • Josh McDaniels returned to New England — the coach who helped Tom Brady win six Super Bowls — and has the Patriots back in the big game, credited with getting Drake Maye playing at an MVP level and chasing a potential seventh title.
  • McDaniels spent a year studying other top coaches, then brought fresh teaching, adaptable playcalling and clear communication to the offense — teammates call him a great teacher who connects with players.
  • The results show: Maye led the NFL in passer rating and completion percentage and finished near the top in TDs and yards, while the Patriots finished the season with the No. 3 offense.

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