Steelers secure another comeback victory; expert picks for loaded NFL, college football weekend

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Good morning to everybody however particularly …

THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS

No one encapsulates “timing is everything” higher than Kenny Pickett. His newest aptitude for the dramatic has the Steelers again within the win column. Pickett delivered a game-winning landing cross to Diontae Johnson with simply over 4 mins final, lifting Pittsburgh to a 20-16 win over the Titans.

• It’s Pickett’s fourth profession go-ahead landing cross inside the ultimate 5 mins of law. That’s the maximum within the NFL since he entered the league in 2022. Remember, he simplest has 13 profession landing passes.
• As for Johnson, it was once his first landing because the 2021 season. That cross was once thrown by means of Ben Roethlisberger. So, yeah, it have been some time.
• Will Levis drove Tennessee to the Pittsburgh 19-yard line past due, however Kwon Alexander picked off Levis’ cross into the top zone to seal it.
• It’s Pittsburgh’s 8th directly win in a one-possession recreation, the longest such streak in staff historical past.
• Meanwhile, Tennessee has misplaced seven directly highway video games relationship again to remaining season.

The Steelers simply to find tactics to get it performed. It’s no longer at all times beautiful. In reality, it is most often unsightly. They’re the simplest staff within the Super Bowl technology (since 1966) to have a successful report thru 8 video games regardless of being outgained each recreation. But it is a victory, and 5-3 is definitely beautiful sufficient for now because the latter part of the season looms.

😁 Honorable mentions

😔 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL Week 9 picks for loaded Sunday slate

The NFL agenda makers delivered a masterpiece for Week 9: exceptional video games at each unmarried time slot Sunday. Yes, each unmarried one. You’ll wish to get started your day with some espresso … or simply have Dolphins-Chiefs supply you all of the power you want from Frankfurt.

It’s the 2nd NFL recreation ever in Germany. If you might be questioning how this recreation ended up there, now we have the solution with storylines abound. Patrick Mahomes hasn’t misplaced consecutive video games in over two years, however the Chiefs have not appeared themselves on offense. Tyreek Hill faces his former staff for the primary time. The Dolphins are but to overcome a staff with a successful report. Pete Prisco’s select is in …

• Prisco: “The Chiefs are coming off a loss at Denver, one where the offense didn’t look that good. Miami impressed in beating New England, but the Dolphins haven’t beaten a team with a winning record yet. This is a big chance. I just don’t think it will happen. Patrick Mahomes will get the best of the Dolphins defense as he gets back going right after his flu game last week. Pick: Chiefs 30, Dolphins 26“

The early video games characteristic numerous intrigue, none extra so than Seahawks-Ravens. Moving to the late-afternoon window, we get a Cowboys-Eagles headliner that includes two of the league’s absolute best. Dak Prescott was once terrific remaining week and has been terrific in opposition to the Eagles his complete profession, however Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and corporate have the league’s absolute best report. John Breech says …

• Breech: “In his last three starts against the Eagles, not only has Prescott gone 3-0, but the Cowboys have averaged 44 points per game. In those three wins, Prescott threw 11 touchdowns compared to just one interception. … On the Eagles’ end, Hurts is still hobbling around, and I’m not sure how he’s going to handle the Cowboys’ pass-rush. The pick: Cowboys 30-23 over Eagles“

We’ve had some true primetime stinkers this 12 months, however Sunday night time may not be one: The Bengals host the Bills, and Will Brinson goes with …

• Brinson: “Bengals (-2) vs. Bills — The Bengals are laying less than a field goal against a banged-up rival in the AFC just as Joe Burrow is getting completely healthy, Tee Higgins is coming back, the defense is really starting to mesh and everything is going right for Cincy? … A mobile Joey Burrrrr is gonna be locked in and carve up this injury-riddled unit.”

Here are all of our expert picks:

Pete Prisco | Will Brinson | John Breech | Jordan Dajani | Tyler Sullivan

🏈 College football picks for Separation Saturday

Not to be outdone by means of the NFL, college football has a bevy of blockbusters at the Week 10 agenda. The theme to me is do-or-die: a number of one-loss groups with bold checks to cross to stay their College Football Playoff hopes alive for all intents and functions. Among the largest …

• No. 23 Kansas State at No. 7 Texas (preview)
• No. 12 Missouri at No. 2 Georgia (preview)
• No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 22 Oklahoma State (preview)
• No. 14 LSU at No. 8 Alabama (preview)

It’s arduous for anything else to most sensible the Tigers and the Crimson Tide, without reference to how just right they could also be. This time round, each are beautiful darn just right. Also beautiful darn just right? Tom Fornelli’s picks in The Six Pack.

• Fornelli: “Any time you can put points up like this LSU squad does, you can beat anybody. Will LSU beat Alabama? That I’m not nearly as sure of. … We’ve seen this LSU secondary ripped to shreds by quite a few teams this year. It ranks No. 105 nationally in explosive pass rate allowed, and Alabama loves taking deep shots. Pick: Over 60.5 (-110)“

Still, that one may take a backseat to Mizzou at Georgia. Those Tigers are no strangers to big-time upsets, Dennis Dodd notes, and that recreation, paired with LSU-Alabama, may just make the SEC Championship Game race very transparent … or very difficult. Better but? Both are on CBS this Saturday with Mizzou-Georgia at 3:30 p.m. ET and LSU-Alabama serving because the nightcap in an instant succeeding it.

Here’s extra:

🏀 NBA In-Season Tournament starts this night

Tonight opens a brand new technology for the NBA. It contains new courts! (We ranked them.) It contains new jerseys! (We ranked the ones, too.) The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament starts this night, and if you want a snappy refresher/explainer, now we have one.

• The 30 groups are damaged up into six teams (3 Eastern, 3 Western) of 5 groups. Sam Quinn ranked the six teams from hardest to best.
• Each staff performs 4 crew degree video games (one in opposition to each different staff of their crew).
• The crew winners and two “wild card” groups (the staff in each and every convention with the most efficient report within the crew degree that did not win its crew) advance to the single-elimination knockout rounds.
• All video games excluding the championship depend against groups’ regular-season report.
• The prizes are the brand-new NBA Cup and fiscal awards for gamers on groups that advance previous the gang degree.

Tonight is the primary night time of crew play, which runs till Nov. 28. I do not know if it’s going to be an enormous luck, however I admire the NBA making an attempt one thing new. Here’s extra:

⚾ MLB most sensible 50 loose brokers: Shohei leads the way in which

The World Series could also be over, however the Hot Stove will warmth up quickly. All eligible gamers was loose brokers Wednesday, which means they are able to now negotiate/signal with their earlier staff. Free brokers can signal with new groups beginning Nov. 6. Here are the entire key dates for this offseason, and this is our loose company tracker.

Our baseball writers were magnificent all postseason, and they are no longer slowing down. R.J. Anderson ranked the highest 50 loose brokers, and No. 1 is the perfect name of all.

• Anderson: “1. Shohei Ohtani, two-way player — Welcome to the most anticipated free agency in league history. Ohtani will not pitch next year after undergoing elbow surgery to correct a torn ulnar collateral ligament, yet he’s expected to be in someone’s lineup as a DH come Opening Day. Ohtani is certain to receive a mammoth, record-breaking payday in the interim.”

R.J. lists the Dodgers, Padres and Giants as doable suitors, however he simply can have written “everyone.”

His No. 2 loose agent hasn’t ever performed an MLB recreation. You’ll need to take a look at the listing to peer who holds that difference.

📺 What we are observing this weekend

Friday

🏀 Knicks at Bucks, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Boston College at Syracuse, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 Colorado State at Wyoming, 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
🏀 Mavericks at Nuggets, 10 p.m. on ESPN

Saturday

🏀 Bulls at Nuggets, 9 p.m. on NBA TV
🏈 No. 1 Ohio State at Rutgers, Noon on CBS, Paramount+
🏈 No. 23 Kansas State at No. 7 Texas, Noon on Fox
🏈 No. 15 Notre Dame at Clemson, Noon on ABC
🏈 No. 12 Missouri at No. 2 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. on CBS, Paramount+
🏈 No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 22 Oklahoma State, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
🏈 No. 5 Washington at No. 20 USC, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
🏈 No. 14 LSU at No. 8 Alabama, 7:45 p.m. on CBS, Paramount+
🏈 No. 16 Oregon State at Colorado, 10 p.m. on ESPN

Sunday

🏈 Dolphins at Chiefs, 9:30 a.m. on NFL Network
🏈 Seahawks at Ravens, 1 p.m. on CBS, Paramount+
🏈 Cowboys at Eagles, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Bills at Bengals, 8:20 p.m. on NBC