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Frank Clark: Former Nottingham Forest boss praises ‘excellent’ start

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Frank Clark: Former Nottingham Forest boss praises ‘excellent’ start

Just as Forest have Chris Wood leading the way with eight goals so far, Clark had Stan Collymore and Dutchman Bryan Roy finding the net at a prolific rate back then.

Collymore scored six of his 22 league goals that season in the first 10 games, while Roy scored the next five goals in that same time en route to amassing 13 for the season.

“I didn’t expect to be second in the league after 10 games; we had a good start,” Clark said, reflecting on the 1994-95 season.

“Bryan and Stan hit it off right away, which wasn’t a given at the beginning of the season.

“Now I have to raise my hands when Chris [Wood] The first one arrived. He could have been one of the doubters, but now he has silenced everyone. “He’s a fantastic lad, I’m told, and he’s on a purple streak at the moment, so it’s great for him.”

Beyond a fit striker, Clark says Forest have the players needed to maintain their place at the top of the Premier League table.

“We look in good shape and it’s a well-balanced team,” he said.

“Those back four are probably the strongest back four we’ve had in a long time. I love the center back.” [Nikola] Serbia’s Milenkovic is a true center back. He and Murillo make a great couple.

“I have a good feeling about the team. I go to the games and I look at the team and I look at the team and I feel very comfortable with it.

“We’re not going to win every game, but we look like a real team.”

Forest have won three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in more than a quarter of a century to move up to third place, and are the only team to beat leaders Liverpool this season.

Their upcoming fixture list is demanding, starting with a home game against Newcastle on Sunday and including trips to Arsenal, champions Manchester City and Manchester United in quick succession after the international break.

“There will be some tough games, but that won’t necessarily define the season,” Clark said.

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The Hundred 2025: Ali Maiden appointed head coach of Birmingham Phoenix women

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The Hundred 2025: Ali Maiden appointed head coach of Birmingham Phoenix women
Ali Maiden has been named head coach of the Birmingham Phoenix women’s team for the 2025 Hundred season. Maiden replaces Ben Sawyer, whose contract was not renewed after four seasons at the helm.
A World Cup winner as England Women’s assistant coach in 2017, Maiden was part of London Spirit’s staff to the Women’s Hundred title over the summer. He was appointed Bears Women’s head coach in August, having previously been batting coach at Yorkshire.

“Ali comes to the Phoenix with vast experience in the women’s game, both internationally and in franchise cricket,” said Birmingham Phoenix general manager Craig Flindall. “He was selected as the new Bears Women head coach following a rigorous selection process, so we know it is a high caliber appointment.

“2025 is very much a transition year for Phoenix, with new investors expected to come on board next year, and I am sure Ali will help us during that period as we look to challenge again at the top of the table.

“I am so grateful for everything Ben has done during his five years with Phoenix Women and everyone here wishes him all the best for the future.”

Birmingham Phoenix also confirmed that Dan Vettori would continue as head coach of the men’s team until 2025.

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Steph Houghton on fighting for better pay: “I was earning £9,000 a year”

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Steph Houghton on fighting for better pay: “I was earning £9,000 a year”


“When I joined Arsenal it was never about the money,” says Steph Houghton. “Now I look at those numbers and think ‘Oh my God.'”

In 2012, Houghton was one of the best women’s centre-backs in England, for which she was paid £4,000 a year by Arsenal, the country’s most successful women’s team at the time.

Bonuses and extra work as a part-time coach and club ambassador took that figure to £9,000.

“I was living in London, although I was lucky the club paid for the apartment,” Houghton, who won 121 caps for England and captained her country from 2014 to 2021, told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

“At the same time, living off that and trying to save for a house, simple things that we all do as human beings, was pretty hard to do.”

Houghton, who retired from the game at the end of last season, is credited with helping change the course of women’s professional soccer.

In her autobiography Leading From The Back, the three-time Women’s Super League winner details the struggles she endured as she fought for better wages.

Today, some of the top WSL players are reported to earn hundreds of thousands of pounds. one year.

It was a different story 12 years ago.

“I come from the north-east. My mum and dad didn’t have a lot of money and I’m from a working-class family,” Houghton told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour on Friday.

“I come from a poor town [South Hetton]so for me money was never really a determining factor.

“But I had the opportunity to move to Arsenal. I wanted to go there and win trophies, I wanted to establish myself in the England team and play with the best players.”

Houghton, who joined Arsenal in 2010, was increasingly determined to fight back when it came to renegotiating her contract.

“Going in alone to talk about something was difficult because the guy I was talking to, Vic Akers, who is an absolute legend in women’s football, having that conversation with someone who brought you to the club was tough,” she adds.

“It was scary and discouraging. I was only 22, 23 years old then, very young in terms of not much experience.

“But I had to defend myself.”

Houghton became the first player to appear on the cover of Shoot magazine, was awarded an MBE and was awarded the Freedom of the City at Sunderland.

She also led England through a significant period of growth for the women’s game, managing increased scrutiny, expectations and media attention, as well as guiding the next generation.



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Mikel Arteta: Arsenal don’t need a ‘reset’ before Chelsea game, says Gunners boss

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Mikel Arteta: Arsenal don’t need a ‘reset’ before Chelsea game, says Gunners boss

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the club does not need a “reset” despite picking up just one point from their last three Premier League games.

The Gunners were defeated by Newcastle United last weekend, following a draw against Liverpool and a defeat against Bournemouth.

The run of form has left the club seven points behind league leaders Liverpool, while a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan on Wednesday means they currently sit 12th in the 36-team table. of the Champions League.

“I don’t think about [needing a reset]”Arteta said. “Nobody works harder than me, I guarantee you that.

“We don’t need a reset. In one particular respect we need to go from 95 [effort] to 100. I won’t tell you what that is.”

Arsenal travel to London rivals Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

Martin Odegaard, who returned from an injury absence during the defeat at San Siro on Wednesday, will be in the squad to face the Blues.

However, Declan Rice, who missed the game in Italy, remains a doubt.

“I have to be very vague about [Rice] because there is no clarity on whether he will be fit or not for the weekend,” Arteta said.

“He has not trained yet and it is not yet clear if he will be available.”

Arteta says that while Odegaard is available a decision has not yet been made on whether he is fit to start.

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EFL preview: Lions chase leading pack, Steel City derby headline act

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EFL preview: Lions chase leading pack, Steel City derby headline act

Saturday lunchtime brought us some eye-catching matches in the second division with Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers looking to recover from midweek losses, Middlesbrough and luton city looking to take advantage of the victories during the week and stoke town accommodation windmill, who have won four games in a row by the same score of 1-0 to place themselves in the top six.

Lions boss Neil Harris says his team’s defensive structure is a big part of their rise up the table, telling BBC Radio London: “For us, it’s about discipline, being as organized as possible. and structured as we can and then find a way to score at the other end. “I’m very proud of the players.”

Millwall are unbeaten in six games and looking for a fifth successive win as they head to the Bet365 Stadium and Harris added: “It just shows the boost that can give you, what a superior culture can give you and identifies what our strengths are as a team and as a club “. “.

The intrigue doesn’t end at lunchtime. At 15:00 GMT leeds They will look to recover from their defeat at The Den at home against humble QPR and leaders SunderlandEdit will be the host coventry citywho sacked Mark Robins, the EFL’s longest-serving coach, on Thursday hours after their home defeat to Derby, whose manager Paul Warne is now the longest serving manager in the division.

The Rams return home having ended their away voodoo and will welcome former coach Wayne Rooney, whose plymouth The team is the worst away traveler in the entire EFL with one point and one goal from their seven games away from Home Park.

portsmouth host Preston North End at Fratton Park in a clash between bottom and fifth bottom.

Pompey are winless at home and have taken three points from six games, while North End are winless away and have also taken three points from half a dozen away games.

Nailed in the draw or does something have to give?

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Inside the best betting month in Nevada sportsbook history

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Inside the best betting month in Nevada sportsbook history

Nevada sportsbooks have been accepting bets since 1949, but they had never experienced anything like this last September.

On Sundays in September at the Las Vegas sportsbooks, bettors shook their heads in disgust, while behind the scenes, in the risk rooms, the bookmakers looked at their computer screens and then at each other with smiles. They were timid and asked, “Is this really happening?”

By the end of September, Nevada sportsbooks had earned $80.9 million, the most in a single month in the state’s sports betting history.

“Between Weeks 2 and 3, we won almost every game,” said Jay Kornegay, longtime boss of the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas. “I don’t remember ever saying that.”

Big surprises in the NFL were behind the record-breaking month. Twenty-six NFL favorites lost outright in September, the most in the first month of the season since 2002. The biggest seed on the board was defeated in each of the first three weeks, and teams that were favored by six or more points finished 9 -13 direct and a dismal 3-19 against the spread for the month. The touchdown favorites had never had a consecutive losing record for a month in the Super Bowl era, until September 2024.

“Between Weeks 2 and 3, we won almost every game. I don’t remember ever saying that.”

Jay Kornegay, director of the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas

Football, both the NFL and NCAA, accounted for $55.8 million of September’s record victory. It was the second most lucrative month for football, behind only November 2020 ($56.0 million). Sportsbooks said that while they had a good start to the college football season, the NFL was the catalyst for the record-breaking month.

NFL favorites went 27-37 against the spread for the month, their worst coverage performance since September 2022, but outright upsets did the most damage to the betting public. The Cincinnati Bengals lost to the New England Patriots as 7.5-point favorites in Week 1. The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Las Vegas Raiders as 8.5-point favorites in Week 2. The Bengals lost to the Washington Commanders as favorites by 6.5 points in Week 3, and the New York Jets lost to the Denver Broncos as 8-point favorites in Week 4.

“When you start seeing the favorites lose outright, it compounds the losses for recreational players,” Kornegay said, “because not only do they love playing against the perceived best team, but they also love to make fun of them and take advantage of them. And when Eliminating them directly is beneficial for the bookmaker.”

Surprises also took their toll in survivor contests that require players to pick an outright winner each week. The Las Vegas Circa casino survivor contest attracted 14,266 entries at $1,000 each, producing a grand prize of $14.2 million. At the end of September, only 460 entries remained alive.

“I wish everyone would still be in this,” Derek Stevens, owner of Circa, told ESPN. “I want people to get value, feel like they’ve had a lot of fun and satisfaction out of it. When you get knocked out in Week 1 or 2, your emotion is bitterness. That’s not really optimal for us.”

A lot of cash exchanged hands at Nevada sportsbooks in September, and the houses won big. Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

However, football was only part of the September story for Nevada sportsbooks.

Nevada Gaming Control tracks monthly revenue from sports betting on football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. Professional and college sports are included in each category. Bets on the remaining sports, including football, boxing, mixed martial arts, auto racing, golf and tennis, are grouped into a category called “Other.”

In September, bookmakers earned $10.4 million in the Other category. It’s the second-most in any month for the category, trailing only August 2017, when the fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather on the Las Vegas Strip fueled a record $20 million win in the Other category.

When asked what produced September’s big win in the Other category, Nevada bookmakers and gaming industry analysts pointed to UFC 306, which took place before Mexican Independence Day at the Sphere in Las Vegas and featured a surprise in the main event.

“The volume that day was tremendous,” Stevens said. “That was the biggest weekend of the entire month.”

As big winning weekends continued into September, some sportsbooks worried they were winning too much, too early in the season and wondered if the strong start would temper betting action later in the season.

“Every report that came out on Sunday nights and Mondays we said, ‘Oh my gosh, what a great weekend we had,'” Stevens said. “What happened in the first four weeks of the football seasons is not sustainable. No one would bet anymore.”

October would calm those concerns, as NFL bettors recovered. Only 15 NFL favorites lost outright in October. Favorites covered the spread in 61.7% of games during the month.

Nevada sportsbooks have not posted a statewide net loss in a month since April 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the sports world. October reports are typically not released until after Thanksgiving.

“It’s weird being underwater,” said Kornegay, who has been a bookie for more than 30 years in Nevada. “I can probably count on one hand how many times it has happened to us in the last 30 years that we actually lost during the month. [October] It’s one of those of the months. “It’s been very tough, especially in the NFL.”

Through September, Nevada sportsbooks were up $370.7 million, on track for the most lucrative year in state history.

“When you have these big wins, if you’re a bookie, you can’t take those things too seriously and when you take these big losses, you have to continue to execute the process,” Stevens said. “I just think it was disproportionate the way it fell at the beginning of the year. October has been a pretty good month for the players. November, I guess we’ll see how things play out.”

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James Tavernier: Rangers fans divided over captain’s future

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James Tavernier: Rangers fans divided over captain’s future

Mastiff: James Tavernier has been a great asset for the Rangers for many years. He has been an exceptional captain and an inspiration for the club. He obviously doesn’t have the legs to get up and down the sideline like he has done for years now.

Then: One of the best Rangers players since he signed. He carried the team for much of his 10 years. The so-called fans abusing him off the field are simply stupid and indicative of modern society. Have some respect for what he achieved and for being Great Britain’s all-time scoring defender. He greatly deserves his testimony.

Dave: Tavernier has often been criticized for his defensive weaknesses, but his offensive impact has kept him as the first choice. I think he’s a weak captain and probably should have been replaced with a real leader a long time ago. However, his contribution to the team during a long and difficult time has been immense. Unfortunately, however, he ran out of time.

Matthew: I have always been quick to defend Tav but the demands of leading our club for nine years would take their toll on anyone criticized so frequently. It’s time for a successor to come forward. Our finishes are terrible, but Tav has been covering up the cracks for a long time. We have often asked ourselves “where would we be without your goals?” Now we are discovering it.

Andrew: Clemente is deceived. It’s not about the Tavaners’ current form, but simply finding someone who can score a goal.

Liam: Of course, his attacking influence has been less effective, but is that because the coach has told him to stop making overlapping forward runs? You don’t stop making these runs just as an attack-minded player. The Rangers have struggled without his offensive presence and need it now more than ever due to a lack of edge up front.

Ronnie: If Tav doesn’t score goals or provide assists, then he is literally not worthy of a starting position.

Then: Tavernier should have been transferred two years ago. His ego and arrogance far exceed his ability. He always got his way because he was a great goal threat. Those days are long gone and even his crossing ability has become a case of success and hope rather than the precision of yesteryear. Furthermore, he has never ever been a leader.

Alasdair: Clement finally realized that despite his match-winning performances, he is not a good defender and is a weak link in the team that rival teams target. His forward play and probing crosses have dropped significantly this season, so I think it’s time to put someone else in the right-back position.

Stephen: Tavernier may be suspect defensively, but his goals scored and assists are amazing. What other player has contributed so much? However, Rangers fans consistently support Tavernier. If it weren’t for his goals and assists, where would Rangers be? If I were Tavernier, I would have left in the summer to start over.

Gary: Tavernier has given a lot to Rangers over the last nine years, but his time at the club is over unless he can be prepared to be just a squad player from now on and help the younger players in the team. With age, you decline and that has been evident over the last season.

Then: Tav should have been phased out 16 months ago. That’s why we brought in Dujon Sterling. A combination of Sterling’s versatility, the team’s weakness in other positions, injuries, Tavernier’s captaincy and Sterling’s “fitness” have all contributed to Tav being exposed in his testimonial year when, in reality, we should have left him go.

blue eck: Tav has proven over the years that he knows what it takes to be a Ranger and especially a Ranger captain. I would ask that he be respected, but he himself maintains his dignity and does everything for the team. Remember, he has almost single-handedly gotten this team out of tough situations. I respect!

Then: Tav has never been a good defender and should have played further forward in the past. However, since the beginning of the year he has seemed a shadow of himself. Sterling looked like a much better option against Olympiakos.

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Biggest need for each NFL team ahead of Week 10: Injuries testing Dolphins secondary, Bucs pass catchers

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Biggest need for each NFL team ahead of Week 10: Injuries testing Dolphins secondary, Bucs pass catchers

The NFL trade deadline passed this week, which means that teams have one fewer method to address points of weakness on their respective rosters. In total, there were 18 trades made in the months of October and November. Some of the team needs discussed here in recent weeks were addressed in those moves, such as the Lions acquiring Browns edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and the Vikings acquiring offensive tackle Cam Robinson from Jacksonville.

Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk, Bears cornerback Jaylon Jones and Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah were some of the notable names placed on injured reserve this week.

Here is the most pressing need for each team entering Week 10:

AFC North

Bengals: Wide receiver

Tee Higgins and Charlie Jones did not practice this week and were unavailable for Thursday night’s game against the Ravens. Jermaine Burton was a topic of conversation in Ohio’s Queen City this week. He has not been reliable midway through his rookie campaign, so the franchise is left with Ja’Marr Chase and Andrei Iosivas. Chase had an incredible game, but it wasn’t enough as the Bengals fell 35-34.

Browns: Linebacker

The Browns are on a bye this week. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was placed on the injured reserve and Jordan Hicks was unavailable last week.

The pass-catchers need to be better as well. The Browns had the most drops in the league last year with 39 and already have the second-most drops (22) through nine games in 2024.

Ravens: Cornerback

Cornerbacks Trayvon Mullen and T.J. Tampa are on the injured reserve. Neither Jalyn Armour-Davis nor newly acquired Tre’Davious White were available for Thursday night’s game against the Bengals. Arthur Maulet, Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins were all limited by injury last week. The secondary has been susceptible to explosive plays this season, as evidenced by the two long touchdown receptions by Chase on Thursday.

Baltimore is applying pressure on 30.2% of opponent’s dropback attempts — a bottom-10 rate in the league, according to TruMedia.

Steelers: Offensive line

Pittsburgh is coming off the bye week. Russell Wilson has given the offense a bit of life, but the offensive line has taken a few hits as Troy Fautanu, James Daniels and Nate Herbig are dealing with injuries. The Steelers’ pressure rate has improved but remains the fourth-worst in the league, according to TruMedia.

Leadership made a move at the trade deadline to acquire wide receiver Mike Williams from the Jets. They desperately needed a competent pass catcher to pair with George Pickens.

AFC South

Colts: Cornerback

The most pressing need is cornerback. The situation was exacerbated when second-year starter Julius Brents found his way onto injured reserve Sept. 10. They have turned the position over in recent weeks, but it remains a point of concern. Indianapolis is allowing one of the 10 highest opposing passer ratings in the NFL this season, according to TruMedia.

Jaguars: Cornerback

Cornerback is also an issue elsewhere in the division. Darious Williams was a casualty of the franchise’s search for salary cap health. He was replaced by 30-year-old Ronald Darby. The team has the highest passer rating allowed (113.4), according to TruMedia. Tyson Campbell did return to the lineup recently so the hope is that the unit can gain some upward mobility during the second half of the season.

Texans: Wide receiver

There is definitely a disconnect on offense this year that was not present a year ago. Wide receivers Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs are now companions on injured reserve. The interior offensive line has been leaky and that is why they were linked to the position at the trade deadline.

Titans: Edge rusher

The new-look Tennessee defense leaves a lot to be desired in Brian Callahan’s first season as head coach. A lot has been put on the plates of Harold Landry III and Arden Key. The unit needs to find a more consistent way to generate pressure after finishing in the bottom five in team pressure rate a year ago, per TruMedia. Depth is even more concerning. The operation is currently third-worst in the NFL in terms of pressure applied (28.7%).

AFC East

Bills: Wide receiver

Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman did not practice Thursday. Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins and Amari Cooper were all limited participants at Thursday’s practice. Buffalo is missing a few key players down the spine of its defense with defensive tackle DeWayne Carter and linebacker Matt Milano on the injured reserve.

Dolphins: Secondary

Cornerbacks Storm Duck and Kader Kohou and safety Jevon Holland were inactive last week. Neither Jordan Poyer nor Holland practiced Thursday ahead of Monday night’s game against the Rams.

Miami signed multiple veteran defensive linemen to pair with Zach Sieler in an effort to rebuild a defensive line that lost Christian Wilkins this offseason. Benito Jones and Calais Campbell are the two who made it through the offseason. Campbell turned 38 years old not long ago. Miami has the lowest yards before contact rate in the league, but the worst yards after contact rate, according to TruMedia.

Jaelan Phillips was added to injured reserve and Bradley Chubb has not yet made his 2024 debut.

Jets: Safety

Safety Chuck Clark was added to injured reserve and Tony Adams and Ashtyn Davis are on the injury report this week. The bright side is that the cornerback room is finally starting to get healthy and edge rusher Haason Reddick finally elected to be a part of the team.

Patriots: Offensive tackle

Drake Maye has arrived in New England, but the supporting cast does him zero favors. It all starts up front with the offensive line. If that is not solidified, then the rest hardly matters. The team is allowing pressure on 41.2% of dropbacks, which is the second-highest rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. The longest-tenured lineman, center David Andrews, was added to injured reserve. Recent draft picks Jake Andrews and Caedan Wallace are also on the list.

AFC West

Broncos: Center

Last year’s seventh-round pick, Alex Forsyth, is starting for the Broncos with Luke Wattenberg on the injured reserve. The offensive line around him is finally starting to get healthy, which should help as rookie quarterback Bo Nix continues his development.

Chargers: Edge rusher

Los Angeles has a below average pass rush statistically, according to TruMedia. Khalil Mack has not practiced this week and Bud Dupree could be forced to take on a larger role if Mack is out. One thing learned from the Jim Harbaugh-led Chargers is that it is next man up and they will probably show up and play hard regardless of who is available.

Chiefs: Wide receiver

Outside of the wide receiver position, Kansas City is in pretty good health. Hollywood Brown, Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice are all on injured reserve. Juju Smith-Schuster has still not practiced this month and Mecole Hardman is limited. Newly-acquired DeAndre Hopkins was a revelation last week and that takes pressure off Xavier Worthy to do what he does best.

They also acquired pass rusher Josh Uche from the Patriots before the deadline.

Raiders: Wide receiver

Las Vegas is on a bye this week. Once Davante Adams was traded to the Jets, the Raiders were thin at receiver and Jakobi Meyers has been limited in practice last week, which would leave Tre Tucker, DJ Turner, Alex Bachman and Tyreik McAllister as the only other receivers on the roster.

Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was added to injured reserve.

NFC North

Bears: Offensive line

Left tackle Braxton Jones missed some time last week, which forced rookie Kiran Amegadjie into the game. Jones was a limited participant in practice Thursday while Amegadjie and right tackle Darnell Wright have yet to practice. There had already been protection issues before the injuries. Interior offensive lineman Ryan Bates is on the injured reserve.

Lions: Edge rusher

Marcus Davenport, Derrick Barnes, Aidan Hutchinson and John Cominsky are on injured reserve. Detroit did acquire Za’Darius Smith via trade this week, but it is unclear if he will be available against the Texans. The Lions have invested a second-round pick in Josh Paschal and need him to rise to the occasion. James Houston and Isaiah Thomas, the latter of whom was signed off the Bengals practice squad, are the other notable names at that spot.

Packers: Linebacker

Green Bay is entering its bye week. Youthful is an accurate description of the Packers roster as it is currently constructed. Linebacker has some question marks with De’Vondre Campbell absent. Rookie Edgerrin Cooper has shown improvement and Quay Walker made his return. Isaiah McDuffie is a part of the conversation as well. Green Bay is allowing 3.25 yards after contact, according to TruMedia, which is the fourth-worst rate in the league.

Two running backs, AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd, are on injured reserve, so there is a lot of pressure on Josh Jacobs to stay healthy and produce.

Vikings: Offensive line

Minnesota is allowing pressure on 38.3% of dropbacks, which is the sixth-worst rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. Starting offensive guard Dalton Risner has been activated off injured reserve and trade acquisition Cam Robinson has replaced the injured Christian Darrisaw. As the unit plays together more, they may be able to work through their protection issues.

NFC South

Buccaneers: Wide receiver

Chris Godwin’s season came to an end in Week 7 against the Ravens. Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard were held out of practice Thursday with varying injuries. Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett and Ryan Miller are the only three other receivers on the roster.

Falcons: Edge rusher

Atlanta has the second-lowest pressure rate this season (27.6%), according to TruMedia. Matthew Judon was brought in to be the solution, but it is actually Arnold Ebiketie leading the team in pass-rush win rate (11.4%) at No. 57 in the league among players with at least 100 pass-rush snaps.

Panthers: Edge rusher

Pass rusher Brian Burns was traded away at a discount this offseason, so the burden falls on Jadeveon Clowney. It was thought that Clowney may be available at the trade deadline. They have applied pressure on 22.6% of opponent’s dropbacks through nine games, according to TruMedia, which is the worst rate in the league by 5%. For perspective, the top of the league (Cleveland) sits at 43.3%.

Cornerback, other than Jaycee Horn, is a weakness.

Saints: Cornerback

All-Pro cornerback Marshon Lattimore was traded away and Paulson Adebo remains on the injured reserve. Second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry has not practiced this week as he nurses a hamstring injury. In addition to McKinstry, Alontae Taylor and Ugo Amadi are in position to start.

NFC East

Commanders: Cornerback

Any unit on this defense, with the exception of the interior defenders, is open for discussion even with Jonathan Allen now on injured reserve. Opposing passers have had a 103.9 rating against Washington this season, which is the fifth-highest in the league, according to TruMedia. They did acquire cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline, but he was unavailable for Wednesday’s practice due to a hamstring injury. Former first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes has made little impact, and the team also recently parted with former first-round linebacker Jamin Davis.

Cowboys: Edge rusher

Edge rushers Demarcus Lawrence and Marshawn Kneeland remain on injured reserve but Micah Parsons is expected to make his anticipated return from an ankle injury. Dallas’ defense has been neither effective nor disciplined as many had expected in Mike Zimmer’s first season as defensive coordinator. As that group finally starts to regain health, perhaps the light will flicker on in the second half of the season.

Eagles: Interior offensive line

The loss of center Jason Kelce to retirement has taken a toll on the Philadelphia offensive line. It has the highest pressure rate allowed (41.5%), according to TruMedia. Landon Dickerson and Mekhi Becton are starting at guard with Cam Jurgens sandwiched between them. Left tackle Jordan Mailata is on the injured reserve.

Giants: Offensive tackle

New York has allowed pressure on 37.8% of dropbacks this season, which is a bottom-10 rate in the league, according to TruMedia. Left tackle Andrew Thomas is on injured reserve and journeyman Chris Hubbard has been positioned to start in his absence, but Hubbard missed Thursday’s practice with an illness.

NFC West

49ers: Wide receiver

The 49ers are coming off a much-needed bye week. The idea of San Francisco being deficient at wide receiver would have been crazy in May after it drafted Ricky Pearsall in the first round. Brandon Aiyuk, who signed a lucrative contract extension this offseason, is done for the year. Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel were limited in practice Wednesday. Chris Conley did not practice.

Cardinals: Edge rusher

The Cardinals have the fourth-lowest team pressure rate applied (29.4%), according to TruMedia. Rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson did not practice Thursday. Defensive tackles Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones are on the injured reserve. Baron Browning was acquired from Denver this week, but time will tell what kind of an impact he makes on the roster.

Rams: Offensive line

Interior offensive linemen Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila are still on injured reserve but will soon return. Offensive guard Kevin Dotson and offensive tackle Rob Havenstein have not practiced this week. The Rams continue to trend upward as they hold their ground in the NFC West while getting healthier with each passing week.

Seahawks: Offensive tackle

Seattle is one of the healthier teams in the league entering the Bye week. Starters Abe Lucas and Charles Cross have been dealing with injuries and Stone Forsythe is on the injured reserve.

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Odds, Line, Score Prediction, Time: 2024 NBA Picks, Nov. 8 Best Bets from a Proven Model

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Odds, Line, Score Prediction, Time: 2024 NBA Picks, Nov. 8 Best Bets from a Proven Model

The Phoenix Suns (7-1) and the Dallas Mavericks (5-3) play in a Western Conference showdown on Friday night. The Suns come into this game on a six-game winning streak. On Wednesday, Phoenix beat the Miami Heat 115-112. Meanwhile, the Mavs have won two of their last three games. On November 6, Dallas dominated the Chicago Bulls en route to a 119-99 victory. Bradley Beal (elbow) is probable for the Suns. The Mavs have ruled out Dante Exum (wrist), Dereck Lively II (shoulder) and PJ Washington (knee), while Maxi Kleber (hamstring) is doubtful.

The announcement from the American Airlines Center in Dallas is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Dallas is a 3-point favorite in the latest Suns vs. Dallas odds. Mavericks via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 230.5. Dallas is a -116 favorite on the money line (risk $116 to win $100). Before setting any Suns vs. Mavericks, make sure Check out NBA predictions and betting tips from the SportsLine Projection Model..

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has generated over $10,000 in winnings from $100 player bets on its top-rated site. NBA selections for the last six seasons. The model enters Week 3 of the 2024-25 season NBA season with a 101-64 streak on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone who follows sports betting and betting apps has made huge profits.

Now, the model has simulated Suns against Mavs 10,000 times and he just revealed his coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. Can Head over to SportsLine now to check out model picks.. Here are several NBA Odds and NBA betting lines for Mavs vs. Suns:

  • Difference between Suns and Mavericks: Dallas -3
  • Suns vs Mavericks plus/minus: 230.5 points
  • Suns vs. Mavericks money line: Dallas -116, Phoenix +114
  • PHO: Suns are 7-1 ATS this season
  • DAL: Mavericks are 5-3 ATS this season
  • Suns vs. Mavericks Picks: See selections on SportsLine
  • Suns vs. Mavericks Stream: fubo tv (Try it for free)

Why the Mavericks can cover

Point guard Luka Doncic is one of the best playmakers in the NBA. Doncic plays at a calm pace and uses his court vision to involve his teammates. The five-time All-Star ranks fifth in the NBA in points (28.6) and sixth in assists (8.1) with 8.1 rebounds. He scored more than 30 points in two of his last three games. On November 4 against the Pacers, Doncic scored 34 points, 15 assists and four 3-pointers.

Guard Kyrie Irving is a skilled ball handler and shot creator on the court. Irving can get a bucket from all three levels with ease. The Duke product records 23 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. He has scored at least 20 points in five of his last seven games. On November 4 against the Pacers, Irving had 27 points, five rebounds and four assists. See who to back at SportsLine.

Why suns can cover

Forward Kevin Durant is an effortless scorer for the Suns. Durant’s offensive arsenal is diverse and is not compatible with any defender. The Texas product is seventh in the NBA in scoring (27.8) with 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Durant has totaled more than 30 points in five of his last seven games. In Wednesday’s win over the Heat, the 36-year-old had 32 points and eight rebounds.

Guard Devin Booker is another three-level scorer. Booker has great footwork and thrives in the mid-range area. The 28-year-old averages 24.4 points, four rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. The four-time All-Star has also dished out at least six assists in four consecutive games. On November 2 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Booker had 28 points, nine rebounds and .

How to make selections between Suns and Mavericks

SportsLine’s model is leaning under the total, projecting a combined 229 points. The model also says that one side of the differential affects almost 60% of the time. You can head over to SportsLine to see model picks.

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Sony on the failure of Concord: “With the new IP, you don’t know the result until you try it”

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Sony on the failure of Concord: “With the new IP, you don’t know the result until you try it”

Sony leadership has discussed some of the factors behind the failure of the Concord live shooting service.

VGC reported that investors asked management multiple questions about the game‘s collapse during the earnings call that followed Sony’s most recent financial statements.

Sony President, COO and CFO Hiroki Totoki said, through an interpreter, that the platform owner is “still in the learning process” when it comes to live service games, but that several areas of improvement have already been identified for future titles.

“When it comes to new intellectual property, of course, you don’t know the outcome until you try it,” he said.

“We probably need to have a lot of gates, including user testing or internal evaluations, and the timing of those gates. And then we need to bring them forward, and we should have done those gates much earlier than we did.

“Also, we have a siled organization, so going beyond the boundaries of those organizations in terms of development and also sales, I think could have been a lot easier.

“And then in the future, in our own titles and in third-party titles, we have many different windows. And we want to be able to select the right and optimal window so that we can implement them on our own platform without cannibalization. so that we can maximize our performance in terms of title releases”.

Concord launched on August 23 and was pulled offline 11 days later due to poor sales. Players were offered a full refund, while Sony said it would work with developer Firewalk Studios to “determine the best path forward.”

Last week, Sony revealed that the path forward meant closing Firewalk Studios and permanently closing Concord.

Elsewhere on the earnings call, VGC reported that Sadahiko Hayakawa, Sony’s senior vice president of finance and investor relations, emphasized that while Concord failed, the company has been successful with live service launches in 2024.

“This year we launched two live service games,” he said. “Helldivers 2 was a huge success, while Concord ended up being closed. We gained a lot of experience and learned a lot from both of them.

“We intend to share lessons learned from our successes and failures across all of our studios, including the areas of title development management, as well as the process of continually adding expanded content and scaling the service after its launch to strengthen our system. of development management.

“We intend to leverage an optimal portfolio of titles during the current mid-range plan period that combines single-player games, which are our strengths and which have a higher predictability of becoming hits due to our proven IP, with live service games that seek advantages while assuming a certain amount of risk upon release.”

Hayakawa’s comments affirm that Sony will continue to venture into the live service space, with the company announcing around this time last year that it would release six such titles by the end of March 2026.

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