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Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal expects Detroit homecoming against former teammates will test his emotions

ATLANTA — Tarik Skubal knows he will feel emotions when he makes his return to Detroit on Friday night to pitch against the Tigers only four weeks after he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Skubal says he hopes to focus on representing the Dodgers instead of dwelling on his memories with the Tigers at Comerica Park. He acknowledged it may not be easy to keep his emotions in check.

“We’ll see, right?” Skubal told SI.com on Wednesday. “The whole process was emotional. I have a lot of respect for those guys over there. I’m just going to go play baseball.”

Overall this season, Skubal is 8-7 with a 2.91 ERA. In four starts for the Dodgers since the Aug. 1 trade, Skubal is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA. He is coming off his first win for the Dodgers. The left-hander had 11 strikeouts in seven innings in a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Skubal, 29, made his major league debut with Detroit in 2020 and had played for no other team before the trade. The deal sent the two-time defending AL Cy Young winner to the two-time defending World Series champions.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he believes Skubal has the right temperament to handle the emotions which will come with his Detroit homecoming.

“I think, you know, that whole ‘be where your feet are’ adage, I think that’s just who he is,” Roberts said Wednesday. “Some people have a hard time letting go, but I think that Tarik is a guy that, wherever he’s at, he’s all in.”

Roberts said he expects Skubal “is going to try to engage guys and immerse himself with coaches, with his teammates, the best he can. That’s a good trait. Like I said, I’ve only known him a short time, but I’m really, really fortunate we got him on our club. Not even just for the pitching, just beyond.”

Skubal said he is “sure it will be emotional there just because of the history.” The emotions will be fresh because he has had less than one month to adjust to his new Los Angeles home before making his return to Detroit.

“But at the end of the day, I’ve got to go play baseball,” Skubal said. “I’ve got to compete and do what I do well, what makes me a good pitcher. I’ll probably handle the emotions after.”

The Tigers are expected to have right-hander Drew Anderson (4-5, 4.09 ERA) face Skubal in the opener of the three-game series.

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Liberty's six-game home winning streak ends after 79-60 loss to Valkyries

NEW YORK (AP) — Cecilia Zandalasini scored 14 of her 20 points in the first half, Gabby Williams added 16 points and the Golden State Valkyries beat the New York Liberty 79-60 on Thursday night.

Golden State (28-11) improved to 3-0 against New York this season — the only team the Liberty have not beaten this season. The Valkyries held the Liberty to 70, 67 and 60 points in three games, the three lowest-scoring games of the season for New York.

New York (23-16) had scored 80-plus points in 16 straight games — the longest streak in franchise history.

Veronica Burton had a season-high 13 assists to go with eight points for Golden State, which was coming off an 89-64 victory over Connecticut on Wednesday. Tiffany Hayes had 12 points off the bench.

Jonquel Jones scored 18 points for New York, which had a six-game home winning streak halted. Breanna Stewart added 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting.

Zandalasini made four 3-pointers in the first half to help Golden State build a 42-30 lead. The Valkyries started the third quarter on an 11-6 run to go ahead by 17 points, and scored the opening six points of the fourth to go ahead 65-47.

Up next

Valkyries: At Portland on Sunday.

Liberty: Host Chicago on Saturday.

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Fernando Mendoza shaky in preseason finale: Instant analysis, grade

Fernando Mendoza was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the expectation is he will begin his career as the backup to veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.

As a result, the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason Week 3 game against the San Francisco 49ers represented a key opportunity for Mendoza to get playing time before the start of the 2026 NFL season.

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak opted to play Cousins the first two drives of the Thursday, Aug. 27, preseason clash. But after that, Mendoza played until the start of the fourth quarter, when Aidan O'Connell entered.

After a strong preseason debut and a less impressive second effort, Mendoza's outing in the Raiders' preseason finale showed off even more of his limitations at this early stage of his career. If nothing else, it showcased why Las Vegas was wise to bring in a veteran in Cousins to help bridge the gap.

How did Mendoza perform in his all-important final preseason game? Here's a full breakdown of his outing, as well as a grade for it.

Fernando Mendoza grade for Raiders vs. 49ers preseason game

Mendoza didn't have much to write home about in his final preseason outing.

Throughout two quarters – and a bit of a third – the rookie quarterback leaned heavily on checkdown passes, overthrew his targets multiple times, was late on some throws, took a couple of sacks and threw an interception. In other words, Mendoza looked the part of a rookie quarterback still adjusting to NFL game speed.

At times, the Raiders' lack of good depth on their offensive line made it hard to evaluate Mendoza. Was he taking sacks and facing pressure because he couldn't get the ball out fast, or because the line was letting guys go unblocked? Sometimes the answer was the former, sometimes the latter, occasionally both.

The No. 1 overall pick was late on his throws on multiple occasions, which led to some of the overthrows and incompletions. But there were plenty of blown blocking assignments from the line in front of him as well.

After Mendoza's interception, which he threw on his second snap of the game, it also seemed like he lost a bit of confidence in his ability to push the ball. There appeared to be an extra emphasis on progressing through his reads, and he ended up throwing to his final, checkdown option often – but in the third quarter especially. That meant fewer intermediate and deep targets as the game progressed; Mendoza hesitated to pull the trigger on his earlier reads in his progression. By the end of the night, the most net yards the Raiders got on a single Mendoza-led play was a 19-yard pass interference call that was questionable at best.

A full analysis won't be possible until we see some of the all-22 film from the matchup against the 49ers. Perhaps the 49ers were actually just really good in coverage and checkdowns were really the only available option.

For now, the main takeaway from Mendoza's showing in the Raiders' preseason finale is that he still has a ways to go before he's ready to swipe the starting job from Cousins.

Fernando Mendoza grade vs. 49ers: C-

Fernando Mendoza stats vs. 49ers

  • Completions/Attempts (%): 7-for-14 (50%)
  • Passing yards: 57
  • Passing touchdowns: 0
  • Interceptions: 1
  • Passer rating: 31.0
  • Rushing yards: 9 (on two attempts)
  • Sacks: 2 (20 yards lost)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fernando Mendoza shaky in preseason finale: Instant analysis, grade

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Marquette Men’s Basketball Signs Transfer Guard Colin Porter

LYNCHBURG, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Colin Porter #0 of the Liberty Flames dribbles by Koree Cotton #3 of the Jacksonville State Gamecocks during a college basketball game at Liberty Arena on February 27, 2025 in Lynchburg, Virginia.
A floppy haired sawed off white boy guard, eh? Intriguing…. | Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Right as the school year is about to start, Marquette men’s basketball has adjusted their roster for the 2026-27 season. On Thursday, Marquette and head coach Shaka Smart announced the signing of fifth year transfer guard Colin Porter. The 5’10”, 170 pound guard spent the last four seasons at Liberty.

Shaka Smart on his new player:

“We’re thrilled to be adding the person and player that Colin is,” Smart said. “He’s a strong cultural fit who possesses excellent basketball IQ, poise and maturity. Colin’s shooting, ballhandling and passing will bolster our backcourt immediately.”

Colin Porter started every single game he played for Liberty for the past four seasons, and yes, that is all 135 games that the Flames played in that time period. He averaged at least 27 minutes a game in each of his four seasons, and capped off his time there with 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Porter is a career 38% three-point shooter with his senior year mark of 35.8% going in the books as his worst output. Seeing as that was also his career high in attempts per game, I’m going to guess that if he gets a little bit more choosy, he’ll go back towards the 40% from freshman year or 43% from junior year.

His assist rate trailed off this past year after three straight seasons in the top 400 in the country according to KenPom.com. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about with Porter not even making into the top 500 in 2025-26, as Zach Cleveland was a top 25 assist rate guy for Liberty last season. That’s gonna make a dent in Porter’s ability to be the guy who makes the pass that leads to the bucket, y’know? Elsewhere in Analytics Town, Porter had a slightly questionable turnover rate as a freshman, coming in at 20.4% on KenPom, but he’s been under 18% in each of the last three seasons, including just 13.1% this past year for the Flames.

One thing that’s slightly bothersome? It’s not his shooting in general. As mentioned, his three-point shooting is fine to great. Porter is a career 49.5% shooter on two-point attempts, and he was north of 50% each of the past two seasons as well. It’s his shooting in specific circumstances. In 27 career games against what KenPom.com calls Tier A+B opponents — top 100 teams, adjusted for home/road situations — Porter is shooting 39-for-94 on two-pointers. That’s just 41.5%. Last year, 15 of Marquette’s 20 Big East games were A+B games, and they played five more in non-conference play, and the Big East tournament game against Xavier counted, too. That’s 21, and we can roughly presume that the 2026-27 schedule will land somewhere in that vicinity. 3.5 two-point attempts per game is more than Porter averaged in any of his four seasons at Liberty, so he was shooting more than average in those contests and coming up with more misses than his career or season averages.

If Marquette’s offensive system is still going to be predicated on getting open layups — offensive guru Nevada Smith is the head coach at Siena now, after all — and that’s going to lead to Porter taking more shots near the rim, then maybe this is all okay. It all comes down to how he’s going to be used, and to be very clear: There is zero reason that Shaka Smart is taking a transfer under these circumstances if Porter isn’t going to play some kind of a role on the 2026-27 team.

The circumstances in question? Colin Porter is only technically legally eligible right now. He just finished four years at Liberty, and if this was a year ago, that would be that. However, the NCAA approved five years/five seasons rules over the summer, and Porter is part of a lawsuit in North Carolina that contests the NCAA’s rule that the seniors from 2025-26 don’t get the fifth year. I want to be 100% clear about this: I think Porter should be eligible, because I am shocked that the NCAA was stupid enough to not anticipate the mountain of lawsuits like this that they are facing and thus just grandfather the Class of 2026 in for a fifth year. However, the lawsuits on this topic are far from being completely settled. As such, there remains a chance that Colin Porter will never suit up for Marquette. Early indications from all the courts involved seem to point towards the players seeking a fifth year will end up victorious, but Billable Hours remains undefeated, so who can say for certain?

I can say for certain that we didn’t see Nash Walker at all when Marquette went on their Canadian trip as he continues to rehab from shoulder surgery in the spring. I can also say that Colton Crowdis played a total of 2:34 in the entire three game trip, and that was also the final 2:34 of a 102-65 victory. There’s a need for a point guard option behind Nigel James on this roster. Porter being available means that maybe Nolan Minessale doesn’t have to slide over to point guard duties here and there, and maybe that means that Shaka Smart is 1) making sure he has point guard options and/or 2) sending a message to everyone on the roster that playing time is precious. If he’d rather bring Porter in during August when that could mean Minessale absorbing minutes that maybe we thought would go to Damarius Owens or Michael Porter? You see the message being sent here.

There’s another slightly more interesting message here. Shaka Smart has gone from “nah, we’ll just improve the guys we have here” to “well, this has gone poorly” to “I have added two of the best transfer fits in the country” to “hey, I can make my roster better in November thanks to legal goofiness that has opened a loophole? Cool, let’s do it.” I know what I said about Smart’s future as the Marquette head coach back in mid-March, and I stand by it. The fact of the matter is that Smart has acted like he believes it ever since then. We’ll have to wait to see what the results look like, but the process, the path taken? These are the actions of a coach who is driven to not just win, but put the horrors of last season very far in the rear view mirror.

Let’s get you a brand new scholarship chart and get out of here, eh?

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Dillon Gabriel put together the Browns' best preseason QB performance

Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders received the bulk of the playing time at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns as they battled for the starting job across the team's first two preseason games.

In preseason Week 3, it was Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green's team to run the show after Todd Monken named Watson Cleveland's starter.

Gabriel, a third-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, was granted the chance to start. It was a critical opportunity for the 25-year-old, who had struggled in mop-up duty across his first two preseason contests.

Gabriel capitalized on the chance afforded to him. He led the Browns offense to 27 points while demonstrating great rhythm and accuracy across one half of action. Entering Thursday's action, Cleveland had only scored 17 total points across its previous two preseason games.

Here's more to know about Gabriel's outing against the Patriots, including a grade for his performance.

Dillon Gabriel grade for preseason start in Browns vs. Patriots

Gabriel put together a strong performance against the Patriots, one that will likely help him lock down the Browns' third-string quarterback job ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

Gabriel looked much more comfortable in the pocket than he did across his first two preseason outings. He was in rhythm throughout the evening, routinely finding open receivers and hitting them with accurate passes at all levels of the field.

Gabriel was particularly impressive when throwing to the intermediate portion of the field. On one occasion, the lefty was able to hang in the pocket amid pressure and hit Ben Patterson breaking open over the middle of the field.

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49ers GM John Lynch calls Jed York arrest 'a real personal situation'

San Francisco 49ersowner Jed York was arrested in Ohio last weekend for allegedly making an arrangement "to have sexual activity" with a woman "in exchange for $140."

San Francisco general manager John Lynch addressed York's situation during an in-game interview with CBS during the 49ers' final preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada.

"Obviously a difficult situation. You know, I have so much love and respect for the York family, for Jed, for Danielle, John, and Denise and Jenna and Mara − they've just been tremendous to me and my family," Lynch said. "I thought Kyle said it well. It's a real personal situation. We're going to leave it as such."

Lynch echoed head coach Kyle Shanahan, who also told reporters it was "personal" after San Francisco's Aug. 25 practice.

York reached a plea deal that saw his charges of "engaging in prostitution" – a misdemeanor – reduced to disorderly conduct misdemeanor charges. Additionally, he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of possessing criminal tools.

The NFL is looking into potential punishment for York, reviewing the matter under terms of its personal conduct policy, which states a "higher standard" for owners.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 49ers GM John Lynch calls Jed York arrest 'a real personal situation'

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Al Michaels cracks Lake Ontario joke amid ongoing name controversy

It only took one possession for veteran play-by-play man Al Michaels to get into midseason form during Amazon Prime Video's preseason "Thursday Night Football" broadcast.

The broadcast was coming back from a commercial after the Browns opened the game with a touchdown from Dillon Gabriel to Luke Floriea. It showed an aerial shot of Huntington Bank Field, which abuts Lake Erie.

Michaels used that opportunity to crack a joke about U.S. president Donald Trump's order to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America" amid an ongoing trade dispute with Canada.

"That is Lake Erie. We think it is still called Lake Erie – we're not quite sure at this point," Michaels said. "But we'll be by Lake something like Ontario or whatever it's going to be called by the time we get to Buffalo. Anyway, you know what I'm talking about, some of you do. Read the news."

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NFL Moneyline Picks for Every Week 3 Preseason Game

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With a full slate of NFL football on deck, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 27, here are my NFL moneyline picks for Week 3 of the preseason.

Let's navigate these murky waters together, break down the quarterback battles, and find our edges in my this week's NFL picks.

Week 3 preseason NFL moneyline picks

MatchupPickResult
SteelersPIT
vs.
BillsBUF		Bills 58%
PatriotsNE
vs.
BrownsCLE		Patriots 57%
49ersSF
vs.
RaidersLV		Raiders 60%
RamsLAR
vs.
ChargersLAC		Rams 40%
CommandersWAS
vs.
RavensBAL		Ravens 59%
FalconsATL
vs.
DolphinsMIA		Falcons 65%
TexansHOU
vs.
PanthersCAR		Panthers 45%
BuccaneersTB
vs.
JaguarsJAX		Buccaneers 58%
GiantsNYG
vs.
JetsNYJ		Giants 60%
BengalsCIN
vs.
EaglesPHI		Eagles 56%
CardinalsARI
vs.
PackersGB		Cardinals 55%
SeahawksSEA
vs.
ChiefsKC		Seahawks 48%
SaintsNO
vs.
CowboysDAL		Cowboys 58%
VikingsMIN
vs.
BroncosDEN		Broncos 71%
LionsDET
vs.
ColtsIND		Colts 63%
BearsCHI
vs.
TitansTEN		Titans 57%

Lines courtesy of Kalshi as of 8-27.

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Expert Week 3 preseason NFL moneyline picks

Steelers vs Bills: Bills (58%)

Buffalo Bills' Kyle Allen will likely get significant run in the final week of the preseason after he went 10 of 12 for 128 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Will Howard and Drew Allar will go for the Pittsburgh Steelers; those two totaled 144 yards with two interceptions and four sacks against the New York Jets. I'm placing my money on the vet.

  • It was all Shane Buechele in this one, as Allen - despite reports saying the contrary - sealed up QB2 duties last week. Regardless, the pick was sound, as he outplayed Howard and Allar. His two-point conversion was the cherry on top.

Grade: B

Patriots vs Browns: Patriots (57%)

Neither Deshaun Watson nor Shedeur Sanders will play in this game, leaving me to side with Tommy DeVito, who's thrown for 289 yards and two touchdowns across two weeks of the preseason. Easy money here.

49ers vs Raiders: Raiders (60%)

Chalk me up as one of the guys who got killed by Aidan O'Connell's final drive against the Houston Texans a week ago — I won't make that mistake again, especially when the San Francisco 49ers will likely remain cautious with their starters before the season.

Rams vs Chargers: Rams (40%)

Stetson Bennett IV has the inside track on Ty Simpson to win the QB2 battle, but both will get their final chance to make a name for themselves in Week 3. On the other side, don't expect many starters to play for the Los Angeles Chargers, and I'll take the Los Angeles Rams' depth every time. 

Commanders vs Ravens: Ravens (59%)

Dan Quinn said Jayden Daniels will get his reps during joint practices, leaving me to believe he won't be seeing the field in Week 3. With Lamar Jackson sidelined before the regular season, Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano will be getting the reps, and I trust them more than Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis.

Falcons vs Dolphins: Falcons (65%)

Kevin Stefanski said Atlanta Falcons starters will be seeing some reps as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. However, Tua Tagovailoa will be behind center in the first quarter. Jeff Hafley confirmed Quinn Ewers will get a ton of work, but the lack of depth for the Miami Dolphins is concerning, so we'll ride with the Falcons.

Texans vs Panthers: Panthers (45%)

Kenny Pickett was 15 of 25 last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars and will likely get the most run with Bryce Young and Haynes King sidelined before the regular season. C.J. Stroud will play a series but leave most of the work to Davis Mills, who couldn't move the ball whatsoever a week ago. I'll throw my belief in Pickett to give us a cushion.

Buccaneers vs Jaguars: Buccaneers (58%)

We won't be seeing Baker Mayfield in this one; it feels like Jake Browning might be playing for his job against Jalon Daniels, who was getting snaps ahead of Browning in Tuesday's joint practice. That competition should bear fruit this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars' backups.

Giants vs Jets: Giants (60%)

John Harbaugh didn't say whether or not Jaxson Dart will play, but in Jameis Winston we trust, nonetheless. The three-quarterback rotation for the New York Jets didn't do much of anything behind Geno Smith last week, so I'll give the New York Giants the benefit of the doubt here.

Bengals vs Eagles: Eagles (56%)

I'm in the business of fading Josh Johnson as well as the Cincinnati Bengals' bench (Zac Taylor confirmed starters won't play), and will do so this week against Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cardinals vs Packers: Cardinals (55%)

With the Green Bay Packers likely sitting their starters here, I'm relying on Gardner Minshew for the Arizona Cardinals, who's been throwing the ball pretty damn well in the preseason. He's thrown just six incomplete passes on 39 attempts alongside two touchdowns and a pick. We'll ride with him against the Packers' bench.

Seahawks vs Chiefs: Seahawks (48%)

With Patrick Mahomes unlikely to play and the combo of Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe throwing virtually every pass for the Seahawks in the preseason, I'm all over Seattle in this spot. Lock has been solid over two weeks, too, completing 21 of 27 passes for 134 yards. Don't overthink this one.

Saints vs Cowboys: Cowboys (58%)

If it ain't broke, don't fix it - the Cowboys have been a cash cow for us in the preseason with Joe Milton at the helm. With him looking to lock up QB2 duties, I'm sticking with Dallas.

Vikings vs Broncos: Broncos (71%)

It'll be Sam Ehlinger vs. Jarrett Stidham in a QB2 battle in Week 3, which usually bodes well for our wallet. I'll fade J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings as a result.

Lions vs Colts: Lions (37%)

We won't see many starters for the Detroit Lions or Indianapolis Colts in Week 3; it'll be Josh Dobbs against Anthony Richardson Sr. After the latter did next to nothing against the Falcons last week, I'll lean on Dobbs and Co. to get the job done.

Bears vs Titans: Titans (57%)

Head coach Robert Saleh has trotted Cam Ward out there each week so far in the preseason, and we'll likely see him one more time against the Chicago Bears. With serviceable quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Will Levis waiting in the wings, I'll take that depth one more time.

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Rams vs Chargers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NFL Preseason Game

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The Rams and Chargers wrap up their respective preseasons at SoFi Stadium tonight, with the Chargers sitting as 59% favorites at Kalshi.

Rams coach Sean McVay never plays his starters in preseason, and that won’t change here. The Chargers starters, meanwhile, will see six to nine plays.  

My Rams vs. Chargers predictions and NFL picks believe a drive and change with the regulars isn’t going to be enough to tilt things the Chargers' way on August 27, so look the Rams' offense to lead the way to a win and an Over.

Rams vs Chargers prediction

PickKalshi
Probability
Rams moneyline41%
Over 37.552%

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps.

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Who will win Rams vs Chargers: Rams

Kalshi probability: 41%

Prediction markets seem to be putting a great deal of weight on the news about the starters playing for the Chargers.

This will be the first time their entire offensive line has played together this preseason. That probably isn’t enough to change what we’ve seen on the field through the first two exhibition games, however.  

The Los Angeles Rams have posted the highest point differential through two games, +42, without a single starter seeing the field this preseason. Only the Bills have scored more than their 54 points on offense, and only the Ravens have allowed fewer than their 12. 

The Los Angeles Chargers have been outscored through two preseason games, including a 41-17 beatdown at the hands of the 49ers. 

 TOP PICK
Rams vs Chargers Over/Under pick: Over 37.5

Kalshi probability: 52%

Neither team has had trouble scoring.

Rams rookie Ty Simpson will likely get the start and go most of the way. The first-round draft pick appears to have lost the backup job to veteran Stetson Bennett, and McVay has hinted that Bennett may not play at all. 

That’s no problem for the Rams offense, as Simpson has had the better passer rating in both games so far. He had two touchdowns and 190 yards on 21 of 25 passing in the first game, and was 8 of 12 for 73 in the second. 

The Chargers have gotten 476 passing yards and 44 points from the quarterback tandem of DJ Uiagalelei and Trey Lance.

That, coupled with a defense that's allowed 48 points in two games, should help this game reach the Over.  

Rams vs Chargers live odds

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Rams vs Chargers weather

Dome.

How to watch Rams vs Chargers

LocationSoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
DateThursday, Aug. 27, 2026
Kickoff10 p.m. ET
TVKCAL, KCBS

Rams vs Chargers latest injuries

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Illinois adds guard Quentin McCoy to roster

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois men’s basketball team is adding a new face to the fold, as transfer guard Quentin McCoy joins the roster as a late addition.

McCoy’s an in-state add, as he grew up in Chicago and played his high school basketball at Lindblom Math and Science Academy.

The latest in Illinois head coach Brad Underwood’s group of “Everyday Guys,” McCoy spent his first two seasons of college hoops with the Arizona State Sun Devils, yet only played in nine total games for the team.

In his college career, the young guard only attempted one shot, so he’s coming to Champaign as a bit of a fresh canvas.

As for his measurables, he comes in at 6’3” and 175 pounds according to Illinois men’s basketball’s announcement.

McCoy joins a pretty stacked group of guards on the Illini’s roster, including Andrej Stojakovic, Quentin Coleman, Stefan Vaaks, Lincoln Williams, Blake Fagbemi, Lucas Morillo and Ethan Brown.

Based on the social media graphic put out by the team, it appears as though McCoy will wear No. 5, last worn by guard AJ Redd last season.

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Tony Romo faces three new citations from last month's OWI arrest in Milwaukee

More than a month after former Cowboys quarterback and CBS broadcaster Tony Romo was arrested for suspicion of operating while intoxicated in Milwaukee, the authorities have filed three new citations against him.

Via TMZ, the district attorney has charged Romo with first-offense operating while intoxicated, unsafe passing on the right side, and possessing open intoxicants in his vehicle.

Romo was placed on leave by CBS eight days after the arrest, which created multiple bodycam videos that created a general bad look for Romo. CBS has elevated J.J. Watt to replace Romo on the network's top broadcast team, and it seems to be a move that will cover the entire season.

Romo has four years left on his CBS contract, at a total payout of $72 million. CBS could try to terminate the deal for cause, owing him nothing. Romo would surely fight such a move. A settlement for something less than the full amount is always possible.

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Rams vs Chargers score, highlights, live updates, how to watch preseason game

The Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers meet in their shared home Thursday night in the final preseason game for both teams.

Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers will serve as the home team against coach Sean McVay and the Rams.

The Chargers are looking to bounce back from a 41-17 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 20.

The Rams enter the final preseason game with momentum, having beaten the New Orleans Saints 34-0 on Aug. 22.

USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live coverage with updates, highlights and analysis for Thursday's preseason finale between the Rams and Chargers.

Rams vs Chargers TV channel

09:12 PM ET, August 27 2026

The game will be televised nationally on NFL Network. Fans local to the Los Angeles area can also watch on KCAL 9.

  • TV: NFL Network, KCAL 9 (KCAL)

What time is Rams vs Chargers today?

09:11 PM ET, August 27 2026

Kickoff between both Los Angeles teams is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT), on Thursday, Aug. 27.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rams vs Chargers score, highlights, live updates, how to watch preseason game

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Winnipeg Jets Name Cole Kehler Emergency Backup Goaltender

The Winnipeg Jets will have a familiar Manitoba face serving as their emergency backup goaltender for the 2026-27 season.

Altona product Cole Kehler has been selected by the Jets to serve as the team's emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) for the 2026-27 season, according to an announcement Thursday from the Altona Maroons.

The 28-year-old has most recently been involved with his hometown Maroons as the club's goaltending coach. The team says his new role will keep him busy for the next 10 months as he trains, practices and travels with the Jets.

Photo by Jonathan Kozub
Photo by Jonathan Kozub

“We couldn’t be happier for Cole as he takes advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the Maroons wrote in announcing the news.

The move represents something of a homecoming for Kehler, who has already spent time within the Jets organization.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound netminder attended Jets training camp ahead of the shortened 2020-21 season before signing a one-year contract with the Manitoba Moose. He appeared in three games for the Moose that season, going 2-1-0 with a 2.52 goals against average. 

Amid COVID regulations, Kehler was signed by the Jets for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, providing the organization with additional goaltending depth. He did not appear in an NHL game.

Born and raised in Altona, Kehler played his junior hockey with the Kamloops Blazers and Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League before signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings as an undrafted free agent in December 2017. 

His professional career included stops with the Manchester Monarchs, Fort Wayne Komets, Rapid City Rush, Cincinnati Cyclones and Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, along with AHL appearances for the Ontario Reign and Moose. 

Kehler eventually returned home to Altona, where he played for the Maroons before moving behind the bench as the team's goaltending coach.

His new position means the Maroons will need to find a replacement goaltending coach for the 2026-27 season, but the club says Kehler intends to return once his time with Winnipeg is complete.

“Cole has committed to returning to the Maroons when his time with the Jets organization is finished,” the team wrote, adding that he will return with additional “knowledge and experience gained from his time working alongside an NHL organization.”

As Winnipeg's EBUG, Kehler will be available in the event that circumstances leave the Jets or their opponent without two healthy goaltenders during a home game. And should that unlikely call ever come, the former Moose netminder would suddenly find himself one step away from making his NHL debut - in his home province.

Rules surrounding EBUGs pertain to jersey numbers (No. 00 strictly) and cannot have suited up in any NHL games while maintaining fewer than 80 professional games under their belts. 

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Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: "No Power" In Leg Could Point To Retirement

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When the Dolphins released All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill this past February following a catastrophic knee injury, the NFL world assumed a long, quiet rehabilitation.

Instead, Hill has turned his free agency into a public spectacle. From cryptic social media posts at Hard Rock Stadium to highly publicized meet-and-greets in Missouri, the rumors are flying.

Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: Top Contenders

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“Tyreek Hill's Next Team” prediction markets are reacting to every single hint, creating a wildly volatile trading environment.

This market isn’t simply pricing in medical clearance; it’s pricing in narrative momentum, quarterback fits, and active player recruitment.

Right now, traders at Kalshi are trying to separate legitimate front-office smoke from pure online hype.

Key Takeaways

  • The Favorite: Retirement/stays with Miami was the favorite at 30 cents two weeks ago, but it has since dipped. to 26 cents. Hill back to the Chiefs is again the favorite.
  • The Momentum: Hill back to the Chiefs surged from 10 cents to 35 cents over the past two weeks, likely because of encouraging workout videos that Hill posted on social media.
  • Retirement A Growing Option: 'Staying with Miami or retiring' is a serious option as Hill said in July that he has "no power" in his injured left leg.

Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: Where The Smart Money Is Moving

Prediction markets aren’t just about picking the eventual winner. The sharpest traders find value where the public has overreacted or underpriced a highly probable outcome.

Kansas City Kansas City | “Yes” 35¢ | 29% Chance

Value is about catching the pendulum when it swings too far.

The public saw Hill in Missouri and aggressively bought KC up to near 50%. Patrick Mahomes needs a proven deep threat, and Hill clearly wants a reunion.

This was bad value at 43 cents but has since reset down to 35¢: this is a market to watch very closely and consider trading into.

Miami Stays with Miami or Retires | “Yes” 26¢ | 26% Chance

"Stays with Miami or retires" is priced at 26% for 'Yes' right now, but this may grow and grow over time with unfortunate news shared by Adam Schefter on Hill's progress in his return from injury:

One thing to bear in mind with this market is the closing date: if Hill doesn't have full mobility yet and must complete his rehab before returning to the field...could he miss the closing date for this market of December 31, 2026?

It's looking more and more unlikely we'll see the Cheetah on the field in 2026.

Baltimore BUY: Baltimore | “Yes” 2¢ | 1% Chance

If you want a logical scheme-fit sleeper, Baltimore at 1% is a prime value play.

The Ravens are consistently discussed as the perfect spot for a speed-dependent receiver alongside Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers.

Buying in at 2¢ gives you leverage if real contract talks leak.

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Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: What’s Driving the Volatility?

The Kalshi board for Tyreek Hill's next team is a masterclass in narrative whiplash.

In June: “Stays with Miami or Retires,” was sitting at 29%. While the Dolphins return chatter was basically nonexistent, the retirement angle is starting to gather pace with reports coming out about his rehab from serious injury proving much slower than expected.

Vegas' Rise and Fall

The most compelling story is Las Vegas. The Raiders exploded from the basement to a 25% implied probability in June, jumping 23¢ almost overnight.

What changed?

Defensive superstar Maxx Crosby. He has used his platform to pitch Vegas as a premier landing spot, and prediction markets always respect a star-driven recruitment drive.

It was a fleeting moment on the Kalshi board, though, as all has been quiet on the Vegas front. Vegas is now at just 6 cents.

Expert Context: Why the Markets are Shifting

The defining gravitational force is medical clearance. Tyreek Hill suffered a devastating dislocated knee with torn ligaments, including the ACL, last season. This isn’t a standard free-agency negotiation; it’s a tense waiting game.

General managers are holding out for medical green lights, which creates a vacuum of hard news. In prediction markets, when there’s no hard news, social media fills the void.

That’s why a Snapchat post can spike the Miami price, or why Maxx Crosby’s online commentary can launch the Raiders up 23¢.

Right now, traders are betting on where Hill wants to go, not necessarily where the medicals and contracts align.

Eventually, an aging speedster coming off a catastrophic injury signs where guaranteed money and contender status meet—often leaving fan-driven rumors behind.

Strategic Considerations for Traders

  • Watch the medical cycle: This market stays speculative until Hill passes a physical. Track concrete rehab timeline reports before taking heavy positions.
  • The flip strategy: You don’t have to hold until Hill signs. If you buy the Chiefs at 16¢ and a rumor spikes them to 40¢, you can sell “Yes” shares for a quick profit.
  • Fade PR stunts: Hill is an elite showman who understands leverage. Don’t overreact to every video. Use hype spikes to buy “No” shares on temporarily overvalued teams.

How to Trade Tyreek Hill on Kalshi

Trading NFL futures on prediction markets like Kalshi is a different analytical experience than traditional sportsbooks.

  • Account setup: Fund your Kalshi account via bank transfer or wire so you have capital ready for breaking news.
  • Navigate: Go to Sports → Pro Football and locate the “Tyreek Hill's Next Team” market.
  • Execute: Buy “Yes” shares on a team or buy “No” shares to fade the public narrative.
  • Monitor: Markets are fluid. You can sell your position at any time before Hill signs.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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D-backs @ Giants Discussion

American musician Dolly Parton peforms on the Oprah Winfrey television show, Chicago, Illinois, February 11, 1992. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today’s Lineups

DIAMONDBACKSGIANTS
Lars Nootbaar – DHDrew Gilbert – RF
Corbin Carroll – RFRafael Devers – 1B
Gabriel Moreno – CBryce Eldridge – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SSJonah Cox – CF
Max Kepler – LFTurner Hill – LF
Nolan Arenado – 3BShay Whitcomb – 3B
Tim Tawa – 1BDrew Cavanaugh – C
Ildemaro Vargas – 2BChristian Koss – SS
Ryan Waldschmidt – CFNate Furman – 2B
Jose Cabrera – RHPLanden Roupp – RHP

Roster moves

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 39.

  • Recalled from Triple-A Reno: RHP José Cabrera
  • Optioned to Triple-A Reno following yesterday’s game: RHP Drey Jameson

The first of an expected flurry of moves for this series, what with the sudden double-header on Saturday, and the need for further starting pitchers. First up is Cabrera, who made four starts for Arizona leading up to the All-Star break. They were… just about okay, I suppose. A 5.60 ERA, but that was suppressed by throwing five shutout innings in his major-league debut. Once word got around, the three which followed were considerably less effective, allowing 11 ER over 12.2 innings. A big factor was a K:BB there of just 9:7, as major-league hitters simply laid off his pitches. Doing a better job there will be key tonight in San Francisco.

The series with the Cubs is in the books, and it went well for the D-backs in their wild-card race, combined with results elsewhere. Both the Phillies and Padres lost their series to teams below them in the standings, while Arizona beat a team above them. That closed the gaps to three and one games respectively, and also put a significant dent in the strength of schedule remaining. Now, the Phillies have far and away the toughest stretch run: ranked #3 with a .525 average opponent’s record. The Padres are about even, #16 at .499. But with the Cubs now crossed off, the D-backs have dropped to 24th, at just .485.

Of Arizona’s 28 remaining games, only 9 are against teams above them in the standings (series against the Yankees, Phillies and Padres). They also face the Marlins, who are above .500, at 68-66. But the remaining sixteen games are against sides with losing records. Those start with the four-game series here against San Francisco, while they won’t get to start Eduardo Rodriguez, I’d love for Arizona to take three of the four contests. Meanwhile, the Phillies have today off, before starting a series on the road against the Angeles tomorrow. And the Padres are similarly traveling, but face a tough set against the AL best Rays in Tampa. It’s a good chance for the D-backs to close ground there.

[Dollywood Day #3, for as long as the D-backs keep winning. Dolly Parton peforms on the Oprah Winfrey television show, Chicago, Illinois, February 11, 1992.]