🏈 Cowboys Win on TNF, The A's Play Their Last Game in Oakland + Our College Football & NFL Weekend Preview

Happy Friday, Blitzers!

Start that pot of coffee, because we have a bunch to cover. Lots of news in the sporting world, plus a big upcoming weekend. Feel Good Friday is in full swing! We got a lot to cover, let’s giddy up.

WTF Stat: Another low scoring game Giants football game. Does it feel like the Giants are always in low scoring games? Well that is because they are. You would be 0-4 if you bet the over for any Giants game this year. Going back to 2020, you would be 22-48 if you bet the over in Giants games.

🏈 Dak Prescott led the Cowboys to a 20-15 victory over the New York Giants, marking their seventh consecutive win against them. Prescott threw two TD passes, including a 55-yarder to WR CeeDee Lamb. The Giants' Daniel Jones completed 29 of 40 passes for 281 yards but couldn't find the end zone, suffering an interception on their final drive.

• Cowboys Takeaways: At this point the Cowboys are automa-Dak against the Giants (it’s Friday, we’re having fun). This game was much much closer than Cowboys fans' wanted, but they did seem to fix a lot of issues they had. Coming into the game the Cowboys defense allowed the most rushing yards by any team, but they only allowed 26 yards last night on 24 carries (1.1 YPC). They got Lamb going early and often and Dak looked comfortable in the pocket all night.

• Giants Takeaways: Great field goal kicking right… right? That and Malik Nabers being the real deal (12 receptions, 115 yards). Nabers did unfortunately get diagnosed with a concussion. Overall, it wasn’t a terrible game, the Giants controlled the ball on offense (35 min+ of possession), had more first downs, and more total yards. They just needed a bit more from the run game and a nose for the end zone.

🏀 Derrick Rose, the former NBA MVP, is retiring after a 16-year career. He announced his decision on social media and expressed confidence in stepping away from the game to focus on his family. Rose, 35, thanked fans from each of the six NBA cities he played in by taking out full-page ads in local newspapers.

• 🔥 Take: I could watch Derrick Rose highlights all day. Probably the quickest most athletic player in the NBA when he was in his prime. Side note, when I retire from the Morning Blitz, I will also be taking a picture in front of a chess board (ok, checkers board), in my study in front of my huge collection of books (my small bedroom with my 7 Harry Potter books), looking super smart (not smart).

⚾️ The Oakland Athletics played their final game at the Oakland Coliseum, after 57 seasons, in front of a sellout crowd of 46,889. The A’s are planning a controversial move to Las Vegas. The game ended with the A's winning 3-2 against the Texas Rangers, marking a bittersweet conclusion to their Oakland legacy.

• 🔥 Take: A lot of local Oakland reporters have covered this story really well, but here is pretty much all you need to know about Oakland ownership:

Top College Football Games This Weekend

THE MARQUEE

#2 Georgia (3-0) at #4 Alabama (3-0) - Sat. 7:30 PM (ABC)

What’s At Stake: What a treat that we get this game this early in the season. Last time we saw Georgia, they should have lost to Kentucky. Alabama hasn’t had to sweat all season long. Advantage: Georgia. If the Bulldogs waltzed into this game without a test, Bama would have an edge at home…however the Dawgs’ near loss has simmered for two weeks and nobody rallies the troops like Kirby Smart.

The Pick: Georgia -1

#20 Oklahoma State (3-1) at #23 Kansas State (3-1) - Sat. 12:00 PM (ESPN)

What’s At Stake: Both teams are coming off devastating conference openers. The Pokes laid an egg at home against Utah and the Wildcats went into the mountains of Utah and got waxed by unranked BYU. If either team wants to make a run at the conference championship game, this is a must win.

The Pick: OK State +6

#15 Louisville (3-0) at. #16 Notre Dame (3-1) - Sat. 3:30 PM (PEACOCKED)

What’s At Stake: Notre Dame gave their fans another scare last week, starting incredibly slow against Miami (Ohio). The Irish can’t afford another slow start against an undefeated Louisville squad, especially since this same team beat ND by double digits last season in Louisville. Notre Dame is favored by 7, based on the offensive output we’ve seen so far in South Bend…I don’t see it.

The Pick: L’Ville +7

21 Oklahoma (3-1) at Auburn (2-2) - Sat. 3:30 PM (ABC)

What’s At Stake: Both teams had poor showings in conference openers, Oklahoma losing at home to Tennessee, Auburn losing on the road to Arkansas. Neither offense has shown any kind of life through the first four weeks, so this will be big indicator of how the season will go for each side. Jordan-Hare is a tough place to get it done on the road, especially with a new QB.

The Pick: Auburn +2.5

19 Illinois (4-0) at 9 Penn State (3-0) - Sat. 7:30 PM (NBC)

What’s At Stake: Alrighty, Bret Bielema, how many tricks do you have left up your sleeve? 2-0 in ranked games so far this season, can they extend the hot streak into Happy Valley? The Nittany Lions haven’t had a true test so far this season. This will come down to who can make the least mistakes, Illinois’ Luke Altmyer or Penn State’s Drew Allar. Vegas is giving PSU 19.5 points in this game, that’s too rich for my blood against a scrappy Illinois team. Penn State wins, Illinois covers.

The Pick: Illinois +19.5

Other Games I’m Keeping an Eye On

Kentucky at 6 Ole Miss - 12:00 PM (ABC)

Colorado at UCF - 3:30 PM (FOX)

3 Ohio State at Michigan State - 7:00 PM (PEACOCKED)

Arizona at 10 Utah - 10:15 PM (ESPN)

NFL Week 4 Preview

Sunday’s Most Intriguing

New Orleans (2-1) at Atlanta (1-2) - 1:00 PM FOX

Spread: ATL -2.5

O/U: 42.5

The View: The Falcons almost pulled off another unlikely upset against the Chiefs, but alas they were foiled by KC’s 12th man. Back-to-back weeks of QB Kirk Cousins looking a little more comfortable and the Falcons defense has some teeth. Similarly, the Saints lost a hard fought battle with the Eagles. The offense came back down to earth after back-to-back 40-point games. Now it’s up to Derek Carr and Co. to prove that the first two weeks weren’t a fluke.

Pick: Saints +2.5

Minnesota (3-0) at Green Bay (2-1) - 1:00 PM CBS

Spread: GB -3

O/U: 43.5

The View: A tale of two unlikely heroes. QB Sam Darnold has the Vikings 3-0 after stomping the Texans in Week 3 (called it) and QB Malik Willis has led the Pack to two straight wins after his revenge game against the Titans. As of now, I don’t think Green Bay will rush QB Jordan Love back and instead will give Willis the reins at home against the rival Vikings. We have another revenge game, this time RB Aaron Jones going back into Lambeau doing his best Brett Favre impression. Hard to pick against the Vikes, even if a hobbled Love plays.

Pick: Vikes +3

Philadelphia (2-1) at Tampa Bay (2-1) - 1:00 PM FOX

Spread: PHI -2

O/U: 43.5

The View: Baker Magic fizzled last week in an atrocious showing against the Denver Broncos. The Eagles wide receiver room has been decimated, both WR Devonta Smith and WR AJ Brown are questionable to play in this game. Big problem, since the Bucs lean on a stout run defense to make teams one-dimensional. It is nice to have RB Saquon Barkley as the running back other teams need to stop. Tough to bet on a team whose number 1 wideout could be Jahan Dotson.

Pick: Bucs +2

Buffalo (3-0) at Baltimore (1-2) - Sunday 8:30 PM (NBC)

Spread: BAL -2.5

O/U: 46.5

The View: Buffalo has been a buzzsaw the last two weeks and the Ravens, even though they won, are kind of limping into this game. They went up 28-6 in the 2nd half and they gave up 19 unanswered points in the 4th quarter. One team: great vibes. Other team: not great vibes. However, the Bills have benefitted from an easy opening schedule and the Ravens will play desperate not to drop to 1-3 in front of a home crowd.

Pick: Ravens -2.5

Seattle (3-0) at Detroit (2-1) - Monday 8:15 PM (ABC)

Spread: DET -3.5

O/U: 45.5

The View: It’s been a real auspicious start to the season for the kneecap eaters. Dan Campbell’s Lions have been solid on defense, but the offense is still figuring it out. Luckily for them, a Seahawks team comes into Ford Field at 3-0, but are the biggest paper tigers in the league with two narrow wins over the Broncos and Patriots, and a blowout against the Skylar Thompson led Dolphins. Couldn’t hammer the Lions hard enough.

The Pick: Lions -3.5

D-Man’s (2-1) Gambling Corner

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, never fool me again. Ok, so we missed last week with The Chargers. I have to give QB Justin Fields his flowers. He played well (within the system), and QB Justin Herbert just couldn’t play through his injury. Now the Steelers are 3-0 straight up and ATS. This week they’re headed on the road to Indy and laying points.

This is a classic Mike Tomlin letdown spot. Happens every single season. Tale as old as time. There are countless trends to back Indy here, so if you’re a trend better look em up. Steelers have yet to face a mobile QB this season or been forced to play from behind. The Colts got back to pounding the rock last week with JT so look for that to continue to slow down this Steelers defense. Colts +1.5.

NFL Gambling Record:

D-Man: 2-1

Jean Machine: 9-5

Full NFL Schedule click here

MLB - Top Games

• Yankees 10, Orioles 1: The Yankees clinched the AL East and Aaron Judge is back to hitting bombs, smashing his 58th HR and he has now hit a HR the last 5 games. After two tough losses to the Orioles, the blowout win was a good way for the Yankees to win the East.

• Dodgers 7, Padres 2: The Dodgers were scoreless through 6, but exploded in the 7th driving in 5 runs en route to NL West clinching win. Only negative was Freddie Freeman left the game with an apparent ankle injury.

• Royals 7, Nationals 4: The Nationals finally got on the board in this series, but the Royals offense was too much. With the Twins losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Marlins (in 13 innings), as long as the Royals don’t get swept by the Braves they should have a spot in the playoffs.

• Tigers 4, Rays 3: The Tigers won their 5th game in a row and remain the hottest team in baseball. They also hold a 3 game lead over the Twins in the Wild Card and have all but locked up their spot with a final series against the White Sox coming up.

See the full MLB scoreboard here and the current standings here

On this day in 1973, Nolan Ryan strikes out 16 in 11 innings, recording his record setting 383rd strikeout of the season. Ryan still holds the modern day record for most strikeouts in a season (although Matt Kilroy had 513 strikeouts in a season in 1886).

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which MLB player holds the record for most bunt base hits?

B. Brett Butler - The total of bunts for hits is debated, but Brett Butler who played for 5 different teams over 17 years had 245 bunt hits. Here is the master at work teaching the techniques of bunting:

Check back on Monday for today’s trivia answer and more info!