Bruce's Picks (7 Live)
Considering Matt LaFleur has only lost once to the Bears in seven seasons, getting any points with the Pack on Saturday night at Soldier Field looks too good to bypass. Though there are injury concerns, with Micah Parsons now out, while Josh Jacobs and Christian Watson are both likely gametime decisions, series history is rather one-sided here, and Green Bay did take out the Bears two weeks ago at Lambeau Field, 28-21, when Jordan Love (3 TD passes) outplayed Caleb Williams. Though Chicago does own a win at Philly, the schedule has been mostly favorable, and within the NFC North, the Bears are only 1-3. Play Packers
No Ja Morant might even be a plus for the Grizzlies, who won again minus Ja on Wednesday at Minnesota. That's now 8-2 for Memphis in its last ten minus Morant, who has already been ruled out due to a bad ankle for tonight's game vs. the Wizards. The Griz has been extending margins lately, too, with recent wins by 23 over the Blazers and 18 over the Clippers. As for a go-to scorer, Jaren Jackson is now filling the role nicely after his 28-point effort vs. the T-wolves. Meanwhile, the Wiz look a bit more competent lately, but that usually doesn't last, following up a win at Indiana with a 25-point loss at San Antonio on Thursday, dropping to 4-21 this season. Play Grizzlies
Does JMU stand any better chance tonight than Liberty did against Oregon two years ago at Fiesta Bowl? We're hardly sure, as that game ended 45-6 in the Webfoots' favor. Moreover, the Dukes, for all of their accomplishments, are in a transitionary period as HC Bob Chesney will be off to UCLA as soon as the season ends, and JMU took a good while before finally pulling clear from big underdog Troy in the Sun Belt title game two weeks ago. Oregon has KO power with QB Dante Moore, loads of weapons, and a 38 ppg offense, not to mention having nearly a year to stew over a poor playoff effort in the Rose Bowl vs. Ohio State last January 1. Play Oregon
Facing Iowa looks a bad idea for Bucknell, which has sorely missed last year's Patriot MVP 7-0 Noah Williamson, now at Alabama. The 3-9 Bison have taken some real lumps , as their very-subpar 40% FG shooting has left them stranded more than once this season. A recent nine-game skid, halted only by an unsightly 51-38 win over punchless Rider, included heavy defeats by 34 (vs Pitt), 48 (vs St. John's), and 29 (vs. Cornell). Ben McCollum's Hawkeyes can be merciless vs. this category of foe, as Western Michigan found out in a 91-51 blowout loss last Sunday when McCollum cleared his bench early. A chance to showcase for the fans in Des Moines should help charge Iowa as well. Play Iowa (at Des Moines)
Having had a chance to get used to the rims and shooting background at home-neutral Santa Cruz (at the Warriors' G-League Kaiser Permanente Arena) in the midweek win over North Texas, expect a better offensive showing from the Broncos, who can shoot 3s much better than the 7 for 25 vs. the Mean Green, when top scorer G Christian Hammond also had an off-night (just 2 for 9 FGs). Slashing wing Elijah Mahi, however, is off back-to-back 17-point efforts. The other attraction here is to go against a struggling 3-9 Ramblers side that ever after welcoming 6-9 Wisconsin transfer Xavier Amos (17.5 ppg) two games ago, has continued to lose, with Loyola bowing to Chicago State and USF. Play Santa Clara (at Santa Cruz)
The hot team in the NHL at the moment? We could give a worse answer than Minnesota! It's six wins on the trot for the Wild, who are gathering even more momentum since stealing Quinn Hughes from the Canucks last week. One of the best puck-moving defenders in the league, Hughes adds just what John Hynes needed for Minnesota to better challenge heavyweights like Colorado and Dallas in the Central Division. Meanwhile, though Edmonton has won four of five, it is scrambling in goal again and back to Cal Pickard (3.91 GAA) this afternoon after Tristan Jarry, recently added from the Pens in exchange for Stuart Skinner, was just put on the IR with a lower-body injury. Play Wild on Money Line
It's been results in three straight for Leeds, as Daniel Farke has removed the handbrake and had the All-Whites playing on the front foot. That style, supposes Farke, is what can keep Leeds out of the drop zone, and efforts like two weeks ago vs. Liverpool, fighting back from a 2-0 deficit, suggest Farke is onto something. No arguments, we're sure, from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, a scorer of some repute not long ago at Everton and now having converted in four straight matches for Farke. Meanwhile, Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace will welcome any uptempo tactics by Leeds, suggesting a good chance this scoreline clears 2.5 at Elland Road. Play Leeds-Crystal Palace Over
It's old-school, "Moyes-ian" football at Everton as preferred by the sage David Moyes, who still prefers his tried-and-true 4-4-2 sets for his sometimes-plodding but usually resolute side, which has elevated to the top half of a crowded EPL table entering this weekend. Everton might be catching Arsenal at the right time, too, as recent efforts suggest something of a rut (but Gunners standards) after fortunate to escape with 3 points vs. Wolves and a loss at Aston Villa. One issue: key offseason add Viktor Gyokeres, yet to settle as Mikel Arteta envisioned. If Beto and others up front can convert chances from the wings by Jack Grealish & Company, Everton has a chance. Play Everton on Spread