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ARLINGTON, Texas The Texas Rangers made another trade before Friday's 3:00 p.m. CT deadline Joey Bosa T Shirts that aids in their rebuilding effort.The Rangers cashed in on the elevated value of veteran starting pitcher Kyle Gibson and reliever Ian Kennedy, pulling off a six-player trade with the Philadelphia Phillies. In return, the Rangers acquired RHP Spencer Howard, RHP Kevin Gowdy and RHP Josh Ge sner.Texas is also including pitching prospect Hans Crouse and cash considerations in the deal. The Rangers officially announced the trade Friday afternoon.Howard is the centerpiece of the deal LaDainian Tomlinson Jersey for Texas. The 25-year-old right-hander was the Phillies' No. 1 prospect on prior to the season. Howard was the Phillies' second-round pick in 2017, and in 53 minor league appearances (all starts), he put up a 3.09 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 11.94 strikeouts-per-nine (K/9) in 233 innings.Howard's short exposure to the big leagues hasn't gone as smoothly. In 17 appearances (13 starts), Howard owns a 5.81 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP and 9.23 K/9 in 52 2/3 innings.Neither Gowdy John Hadl Jersey or Ge ser are in the Phillies' top 30 on Baseball America or MLB.com.Scroll to ContinueKyle Gibson has had a career year with the Rangers, posting a 6-3 record with a 2.87 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 133 innings. He earned a trip to the All-Star Game earlier this month for the first time in his career.Ian Kennedy has also had a bounce-back season after a rocky 2020 season afflicted by injuries. He's recorded 16 saves in 17 opportunities as the Rangers' closer, posting Justin Herbert Jersey a 2.51 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 32 appearances.The most curious part of the trade is the inclusion of Hans Crouse. The 22-year-old right-hander had been one of the more valued homegrown prospects Jared Cook Jersey in the Rangers farm system since he was drafted in the second round of the 2017 draft. He is, however, Rule 5 eligible this winter and some people in the organization weren't sure if he was going to remain a starter or end up as a reliever.More From SI's :

Mitch Garver went 0-for-2 with two walks in his first game of a rehab a signment at Double A Frisco on Tuesday, as he works Arizona Cardinals Jersey his way back to the Texas Rangers. Garver hit third and was the designated hitter for the RoughRiders, who beat Corpus Christi, 13-7. Garver also scored a run and struck out twice before he left the game. Mitch Garver and Taylor HearnMitch Garver and Adolis GarciaMitch GarverIt was his first game action since May 8, when the Rangers lost to the New York Yankees, 2-1. Garver went 2-for-4 with two doubles in that game. But he also suffered a flexor Max Garcia Jersey tendon strain in his right forearm, which led to the Rangers putting him on the injured list on May 9 Tanner Vallejo Jersey .Before the injury, Garver had a hitting slash of .205/.292/.346 in 22 games. Sam Huff, the Rangers top catching prospect, took Garvers place on the Rangers roster. Scroll to ContinueWhen Garver returns, hes expected to serve as a designated hitter to start with as the Rangers continue to evaluate his flexor tendon. That would leave the Rangers to make a decision about whether to carry three catchers. Dennis Gardeck Jersey The Rangers best hitter by average is catcher Jonah Heim, who hit a over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.Jonah HeimJonah HeimSam HuffHuff has already been up-and-down from Triple A Round Rock once this season. Garver came to the Rangers in a trade in March Arizona Cardinals Home Office . The Rangers moved infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and right-handed pitcher Ronny Henriquez to the Minnesota Twins to acquire Garver. The former ninth-round pick of the Twins won the 2019 Silver Slugger award for catchers with a hitting slash of .273/.365/.630, along with 31 home runs and 67 RBIs.

WHITTS END: 5.27.22*Good News:Your Texas Rangers are out of the cellar in the AL West, moving ahead of the Seattle Mariners and Oakland As after a decent stretch of baseball powered by the hitting Mitch Garver and Kole Calhoun and the Cy Young-esque pitching of Martin Perez.Bad news: No, second baseman Marcus Semien hasnt homered. Thats zero home runs through 42 games and 182 plate appearances.Again, dude hit 45 last year. Adolis GarciaTaylor HearnNick Solak *In the end, the Dallas Mavericks were great. But not good enough. No shame in losing to the Golden State Warriors, Rodney Hudson Jersey who are headed to their sixth NBA Finals in eight years. During their overachieving playoff run, the Mavs won in Salt Lake City for the first time in 11 years and broke a nine-game losing streak in Phoenix. .In our past, coach Jason Kidd said, we'd be on our second vacation by now. Amen. This season was a Aeneas Williams Jersey smashing succe s.*Without Amari COOper or Daryl MOOse Johnston, what are (lazy) Cowboys fans to do about their confusing pa sion for making that simpleton ooooo sound? Only po sibilities: COOper Rush or Ben DiNOOci? Rookie tight end Jake Ferguson doesnt fit, *I cannot wait for robot umpires.*Deebo and Dak spotted at a Mavs-Warriors playoff game, but is Samuel to the Cowboys a real thing? . *Dallas police officers. A Walmart in El Paso. A church in Sutherland Springs. And, this week, an elementary school in Uvalde. In the wake of another ma s shooting carried out by an AR-15 a sault weapon, .Should we take away all guns? No. Of course not. Even with savvy gun reform, will bad people still do bad things? Yup. But it just feels criminal inhumane to continue to do nothing but grow Zach Allen Jersey numb to innocent Texans being slaughtered by bevy of bullets.The AR-15 is the No. 1 weapon of choice for ma s murderers. Making them more difficult to obtain just feels like a small step in the right direction.Scroll to ContinueSaw Gov. Greg Abbott respond to the shooting by saying now is the not the time for new laws.If not now, when?In 1996 a gunman entered Dunblane Primary School in Scotland and killed 16 children and a teacher. The U.K. government immediately responded with stringent gun laws including a detailed application that includes multiple hurdles to clear before legally owning a gun. The result: In the last 26 years there have been school shootings in the U.K., and London police dont even carry guns. Including Uvalde, there have been 19 school shootings in the U.S. this year. Because of guns, Heres Chris Banjo Jersey hoping were smart enough desperate enough to find common ground on a problem that affects all Americans, and Texans. * . * . *Wanna feel like youve been inside The Star at Cowboys OTAs all week? . *Two developments I did NOT see coming: Former Mavs center DeSagana Diop being a head coach (in the G League for the New York Knicks) or (to Errick Miron). Heres hoping the name switch works out better than Chris Gaines did for Garth Brooks. *Once upon a time in a marriage, I used to wear Crocs before Sybil shamed me. But now the ultra-comfy and functional shoes are in style, with a vengeance. So cool that when I picked up my Big Brothers Big Sisters lil bro Ja from high school last week he was wearing them. Red ones, no le s.*Want to drown your Mavs sorrows by piggin out on the food of choice of Luka Doncic and Boban Marjanovic? Head to . I hear their Balkan Bananica is to die for. *Friendly reminder for when you kick off Summer this weekend: Memorial Day is a Arizona Cardinals Home Office federal holiday mourning U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the armed forces. As opposed to Veterans Day celebrated this year on November 11 which honors all those who have served or are serving in the military.Martin PerezRuns aplentyBrad Miller *This Weekend? Friday lets spend the day with Dad at Colonial. Saturday lets play some tennis before hanging by the pool. Sunday lets take a bike ride around White Rock Lake and up to Flagpole Hill. Monday Memorial Day lets do the Murph (1-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, 1-mile run). Tuesday lets rest, shall we?As always, dont be a stranger.

Center fielder George Springer has played just four games in a Blue Jays uniform since signing a six-year 150-million-dollar-deal with Toronto in the offseason.In those four games -- all as the designated hitter -- Springer slashed Bradley Chubb Jersey .200/.294/.600, with a boost in his power numbers thanks to a two-home run night at TD Ballpark against the Atlanta Braves.But Springer's been bothered by injuries all season. First the oblique i sue and now a quad strain has kept him out of action since May 2.The Blue Jays lineup has done just fine without him -- hitting 84 home runs (third in MLB) and posting a .762 OPS (second in MLB) -- but the addition of a bat like Springer's could shoot Toronto to the very top of most offensive statistics.Springer is "very close" to beginning a rehab a signment, per general manager Ro s Atkins. Springer is running the bases, doing outfield drills at full speed and traveled with the team Brian Dawkins Jersey for its most recent road trip to Chicago.His return is likely weeks away, but as Springer inches closer to a return to play,let's look at where he might slide into the Blue Jays batting order.The case for the lead-off spotThis seems to be the most likely spot for him. Springer hit leadoff in all four games this year -- despite barely being able to run -- which gives the impre sion that Montoyo likes him there.In his eight-year career, Springer has taken 78% of his at-bats out of the leadoff spot He's done mighty fine too, slashing .277/.365/.501 when he sits atop the lineup.Scroll to ContinueIn an ordinary lineup, this John Elway Jersey looks like a no-brainer. But here's the dilemma, Marcus Semien has been outstanding as Toronto's leadoff man. Since May 1, Semien has hit .351 with eight home runs, a 1.066 OPS and picked up the in the proce s.Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said he's been thinking about who will take over the top spot once Springer is back."Semien is doing a good job as the leadoff," Montoyo Denver Broncos Home Office said recently. "That conversation is gonna come up and we'll see where we go from here."The case for No. 2, No. 3, or anywhere elseSpringer could hit in the two or three-spot it would seem, since has the clean-up position locked up.The three spot you say? Wouldn't it be nuts to move Vladimir Guerrero Jr. out of a spot he's had so much succe s in?Well, perhaps, but Guerrero Jr. is sporting a league-best .441 OBP. Imagine the damage a healthy Springer could do with a man on base in nearly half his at-bats. Again, it's a win-win no matter where you put him.Who moves down?Bo Bichette would be the likeliest candidate to drop down the order. It's certainly not that Bichette isn't a good hitter, he just hasn't been killing baseballs at the outrageous clip we've come to expect from him Tom Jackson Jersey .His .788 OPS in 2021 is well below the .885 OPS he boasted in his first two major league seasons and he's said on multiple occasions he doesn't feel "locked in" at the plate just yet. Bichette couldalso benefit from le s pre sure as he shifts down the order.However the lineup unfolds, a top five featuring Springer, Semien, Guerrero Jr., Hernandez and Bichette gives Toronto one of the most fearsome orders in baseball.

In Major League Baseball spring training, there's a player who is hitting the absolutely cover off the baseball in a five-game sample size.The aforementioned player, in 13 at-bats, has eight hits. His .615 batting average is accompanied by a 1.385 SLG and an OPS of 2.000. He has a pair of doubles, a triple, two home runs and four RBIs thus far. By some accounts and measurements, he's been the best spring training player in all of baseball.That player is Kansas City Royals outfielder Edward Olivares.Olivares, who has just over an entire year of MLB service time under his belt, is entering his age-26 season. He's no longer the young prospect with Lyle Alzado Jersey pop in his bat and potential that can allow teams to turn a blind eye to his defensive shortcomings. He's a player on the verge of his athletic prime who's had a few cups of coffee in the major leagues, yet he's also a player who has yet to stand out when given the chance to do so. Time is running out. With the Royals, though, he hasn't always gotten a fair shake.Take last season for example. In 39 games with the Royals, Olivares posted a .238/.291/.406 line, good for an OPS under .700 and a wRC+ of 88. Those numbers, combined with well below average (and po sibly just flat-out ) defense in the outfield, didn't paint the picture of a player ready for a bigger role. John Elway T Shirts On the flip side, he never saw the field for an extended or consistent period of time. Olivares traveled between Omaha and Kansas City countle s times in 2021, making it difficult for him to settle into a groove. Another problem that presents itself is that he's too good for minor league pitching when he settle in.Scroll to ContinueIn 66 games with the Storm Chasers in 2021, Olivares was magnificent. He hit .313 with a .559 SLG and a scorching 155 wRC+. He increased his walk rate to 9.9% the highest it had been since his time in High-A with the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2017. He also lowered his strikeout rate to 15.8%, which was the lowest it had been since rookie ball in 2014. 15 home runs and a video game-like .246 ISO in 292 plate appearances made Olivares' power look obvious, but he was also simply good in general. He appeared to be ready for something more challenging.This spring, facing the biggest make-or-break point of his baseball career, Olivares looks different. He's locked in, hitting the ball extremely well and even appears to be more comfortable in the outfield. Not only is he Andrew Beck Jersey embracing a ma sive challenge, but he's rising to the occasion.Can he keep this up? The easy answer is no, as the astronomical numbers will inevitably come way down as spring training ensues. Can Olivares continue to play quality baseball, though? Absolutely. If his improvements are real, there's no reason to suggest he isn't capable of performing at the plate and becoming at least an adequate defender. The power has never been in question, and he's shown in the minor leagues that he's too good for that. Is he good enough for a long-term role with the Royals? That remains to be seen, and all he can do is control what he can control.Michael A. Taylor and Andrew Benintendi are projected to take up quite a few innings in the outfield. There's little reason for Benintendi to be anything other than an everyday starter and while Taylor's production at the plate is anemic, he's one of the best defenders in the sport. DeMarcus Ware Jersey The Royals value that a ton.With a potential infield of Bobby Witt Jr., Adalberto Mondesi and Nicky Lopez occupying third base, shortstop and second base on a semi-regular basis, that leaves, Whit Merrifield playing in right field. After all of that, primarily, Kyle Isbel and Olivares would be competing for reps in either center field or right field. That's a lot to decipher for manager Mike Matheny on a daily basis, so having one or two players make his decision for him would alleviate some of the calculus involved.It's early, as a few bad games in a row could render Olivares' start to the spring unimportant. The more he strings good ones together, though, the harder it makes it for the Royals to send him down to Triple-A and keep him there in 2022. It's the biggest year of his career and Mark Schlereth Jersey thus far, he's acing the test. It's up to Olivares to do his best to ultimately force the Royals' hand for April and beyond.

Looks like Zack Scott's DWI charge won't be resolved as soon as the Mets initially anticipated.Scott appeared in virtual court before the city of White Plains, New York on Thursday October 7, which resulted in Jeremiah Attaochu Jersey a non-jury trial set for December 8.The Mets' acting general manager was placed on paid administrative leave after pleading not guilty to drunk-driving, as well as Breshad Perriman Jersey three le ser charges on September 2.Scroll to ContinueAlthough the Mets declined to comment on Scott's situation earlier today, team president Sandy Alderson previously stated the organization won't speak or act until the case has been resolved.But it is currently Khalil Herbert Jersey unknown whether Alderson's stance will change now that Scott is scheduled to head to trial in two months.After the Westchester County District Attorney's office refused to offer a plea deal, Scott's counsel requested to move forward with a trial. Scott will have to attend said trial in person.In the early morning of August 31, Scott Nick Foles Jersey was arrested at 4:17 a.m. when police found him asleep at the wheel at a traffic light. Scott failed field sobriety tests and refused Chicago Bears Jackets a breathalyzer.For Scott, his time as Mets acting GM is beginning to look bleaker by the day.

A Julius Erving Jersey federal judge has ruled that the NCAA can't stop college football and basketball players from selling the rights to their names and likene ses, opening the way to athletes getting payouts once their college careers are over.In a landmark decision i sued Friday, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ruled in favor of former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon and 19 others in a lawsuit that challenged the NCAA's regulation of college athletics on antitrust grounds.Historic day for both sides: Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) MORE: |The entire ruling can be viewed .In a partial victory for the NCAA, though, Wilken said the NCAA could set a cap on the money paid to athletes, as long as it allows at least $5,000 a year for big school football and basketball players.Wilken was not asked to rule on the fairne s of a system that pays almost everyone but the athletes themselves. Instead, the case was centered on federal antitrust law and whether the prohibition against paying players promotes the game of college football and does not restrain competition in the marketplace.The plaintiffs gave up their right to damages in a pretrial move that meant the case would be heard only by the judge and not a jury. But even without monetary damages for former players the case was a battle over hundreds of millions of dollars in television contracts that attorneys for the plaintiffs said should be shared with the athletes themselves.In a scathing post trial brief, they Markelle Fultz Jersey argued that the NCAA basically staked its defense on a 1984 Supreme Court decision that said the fundamental rule of amateurism was at the core of the NCAA's regulation of college athletics and that the organization could have suggested other remedies to help athletes to justify its control of the college sports marketplace."In some places, it is as if our three-week trial did not occur," plaintiffs' lawyers wrote.Attorneys for the NCAA, though, said moving away from the concept of amateurism would drive spectators away from college sports and would upset the competitive balance among schools and conferences. They said some of the relief sought by the plaintiffs would allow for third parties to play players and that universities would lose control of their programs.Several players testified during the trial that they viewed playing sports as their main occupation in college, saying the many hours they had to devote to the sport made it difficult if not impo sible to function like regular students.O'Bannon portrayed himself as a dedicated athlete who would stay after games to work on his shot if needed, but not much of a student. He said his job at UCLA was to play basketball Philadelphia 76ers Jersey and took up so much time that just making it to cla s was difficult."I was an athlete masquerading as a student," said O'Bannon, star of the 1995 UCLA team that won the national title. "I was there strictly to play basketball. I did basically the minimum to make sure I kept my eligibility academically so I could continue to play."But witne ses called by the NCAA during the trial spoke of the education provided athletes as payment for their services and said the college model has functioned well for more than a century. They contended that paying players would make college sports le s popular and could force schools to cut other programs funded by the hundreds of millions of dollars taken in by big time athletics.The head of the Big Ten painted a dire picture of what college sports would look like in his testimony, saying his conference would likely cease to exist and the Rose Bowl would probably not be played.Jim Delany said the idea of paying players goes against the entire college experience and he couldn't see league members agreeing to it. If some did, Maurice Cheeks Jersey he said, they likely would be kicked out of the conference because the move would create an imbalance among schools that could not be resolved."There wouldn't be a Rose Bowl if either they or we were operating in a very different wavelength in terms of paying players," Delany saidThat theme has since been echoed by college and conference administrators, even as they move forward on plans prompted by the O'Bannon suit and others to give expanded benefits to athletes in the 65 schools that comprise the five biggest conferences in the country."I fear that we will get past the change and then we'll realize that all the gymnastics programs went away, or that we have agents on campus all the time negotiating playing time for student athletes," Big 12 Commi sioner Bob Bowlsby said in July. "There's all kind of Armageddon scenarios you could come up with. ... You wouldn't have to be a very good fiction writer to come up with some Jerryd Bayless Jersey scenarios that would be pretty scary."But Rutgers law profe sor Michael Carrier, a specialist in antitrust and intellectual property law, said the outcome might not be scary at all because the money may not be huge and will be paid only after a player's career is over."My sense is something like making these NILs payments after graduation are not really big game changers," Carrier said. "They're just giving the plaintiffs a little piece of the money many people would view them as entitled to. I don't think it will put college athletics out of existence."

Ablowout in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final gave way to some ugly back-and-forth exchangesin the Andreas Martinsen Jersey final few minutes of the Capitals' 6-2 win over the GoldenKnights on Monday, and one hit in particular could factor into whatever's left of the series.With le s than three minutes remaining, Vegas defenseman BraydenMcNabb took a run at Washington's T.J Tyson Barrie Jersey . Oshiefrom behind, cro s-checking him face-first into the boards.MORE: Here's the McNabb hit on Oshie: Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) Brayden McNabb may get a look from the league after he drills Oshie from behind. Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) The hit occurred moments afterMichal Kempnyscored toincrease the Caps' lead to 5-2 and could be interpreted asretaliationfor an earlier run-in involvingOshie Rene Bourque Jersey andthe Golden Knights' Colin Miller. Just before the Kempny goal, the two collided at center ice.Millersuffered a broken nose on the play, according to coach Gerard Gallant, and Oshie was accused of elbowing Miller. Replay shows that may not have been the case.Okay deep breath Vegas Twitter... Oshie never hit Miller's head. Miller ran into Oshie's helmet. Dial back the conspiracy theories like 20%. brian (@PuckAndBadJokes) The whole ordeal resulted in a scrum that took several minutes to sort out.After the dust settled, McNabb was a se sed a two-minute minor Carl Soderberg Jersey for cro s-checking, but may hear from the NHL's Department of Player Safety given the meaningle s circumstances, let alone the dangerous nature of the hit. It's the Mikhail Grigorenko Jersey sort of play the league dreads when a game gets out of hand.Oshie, who was shaken up but avoided apparent injury, and Vegas'Deryk Engellandreceived game misconducts for roughing during the ensuingscuffle.

"" will be happening for the fourth time. Unfortunately, this will mark the second time in a row it has happened without Tiger Woods.LIVE: Woods is healing from injuries . He hasn't been able to golf since the injury and his timetable for a return to the sport is unclear.Nonethele s, "The Match 4" will go on, and Phil Mickelson will once Spencer Hawes Jersey again be involved. The 51-year-old became the oldest player to win a major when he captured the PGA Championship in May, and he will team up with reigning Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady to take on Bryson DeChambeau and 2020 NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.Mickelson and Brady were paired for "The Match:Champions for Charity" at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. They lost to Woods and Peyton Manning despite a furious comeback effort. That lo s is the only one that Mickelson has suffered in the three previous Milwaukee Bucks Jersey iterations of "The Match."Needle s to say, Mickelson and the ever-hungry Brady will be looking to change their fortunes against DeChambeau and Rodgers.With that, here's everything you need to know about "The Match 4,"including time, date, Michael Beasley Jersey TV channel and live stream options.MORE: What time does The Matchstart in 2021?Date:Tuesday, July 6Time:5p.m. ETCoverage of "The Match 4" will begin at 5 p.m. ET from The Reserve at Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Mont.The Jack Nicklaus-designed course is huge and sits at 7,500 feet of elevation. Itssignature hole is a 777-yard par-5 that plays significantly shorter than its listed distance because of Giannis Antetokounmpo Jersey its highly elevated tee.The course is set up for Bryson DeChambeau to make monster shots because of its ma sive elevation changes. He will surely put up gaudy driving numbers.It will be interesting to see how Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers will deal with the elevation changes.What channel is The Match on?TV channel:TNT, TBS, truTV"The Match 4" will be broadcast on several networks under the Turner Sports umbrella. TNT will be the primary place to catch the match, but TBS and truTV will also be broadcasting the event. Brian Anderson, Trevor Immelman, Mirza Teletovic Jersey Charles Barkley, Larry Fitzgerald, Cheyenne Woods and Kevin Frazier make up the broadcast team.Players will be mic'd up for the exhibition. They will be able to communicate with the broadcast team and viewers will be able to hear their thoughts live as they hit shots.How to live stream The Match 2021Live stream:TNT app"The Match 4" can be live-streamed on the TNT app with a cable or satellite subscription.

A weekly breakdown of the games that will shape the path to the College Football Playoff:MAIN EVENT: Ohio State at Penn StatePenn State might not be eligible for the four-team College Football Playoff in 2013, but that doesn't mean the Nittany Lions won't play a role in the national title chase.In this case, we'll find out exactly how good the Buckeyes are when they head to Happy Valley for what is sure to be a "White Out" on an 8 p.m. start.This is Ohio State's fourth visit to Penn State Shawn Matthias Jersey for a true night game. The Nittany Lions upset No. 6 Ohio State in 2005, but the Buckeyes won in 2007 and 2012 -- both undefeated regular seasons.COMPLETE ROAD MAP TO THE PLAYOFFS: | | | | | | | The latter -- a 35-23 win in Urban Meyer's first season -- preceded a 63-14 rout in Columbus against Penn State last season. The Nittany Lions want payback under first-year coach James Franklin. Will they get it?It's going to be good theatre either way.FROM THE PRESS BOXLongtime Ohio State play-by-play radio announcer Paul Keels on what has made Ohio State so succe sful on the road under Urban Meyer:"I think what (the Buckeyes) understand is the students and fans are going to establish themselves and make it a good environment and a hostile environment. What makes those games difficult is the teams and the players. You certainly can't underestimate what they've done. The last time (at Penn State) they had a punt blocked for a TD and fell behind early. They got that smack in the mouth but were able to pull it together and push through it. That's the kind of game where just anticipate the road team is going to have adversity to deal with."LINEMAKERS LEANThe LVH SuperBook opened Ohio State as a 12-point favorite in this game, a number thats been bet down to -11.5. The last time Penn State was this big an underdog at home was back in 2001 against Michigan, who covered the 12.5-point spread in a 20-0 shutout. Mark Stuart Jersey The Nittany Lions, in fact, were just 10-point dogs at home to then-No. 2 Alabama early in the 2011 season, the Tide covering in the 27-11 win.UNDERCARD: Michigan at Michigan StateOh, brother. Michigan State is the stronger sibling in the rivalry with Michigan now, and the proof is five wins in the last six meetings.What's worse for the Wolverines is a scheduling quirk means they return to East Landing this year, the site of last year's embarra sing 29-6 lo s where Michigan totaled -48 yards rushing.MORE: "At this stage the Spartans are ahead of Michigan," Michigan State play-by-play announcer George Blaha says. "It doesn't add up any other way."Here's some more foreboding math. Check out the last four seasons in which Michigan lost to Michigan State (excluding 2012). The Wolverines are 21-1 before meeting the Spartans, and 9-16 afterward. This game suddenly means everything for Brady Hoke.THREE MOREMiami, Fla. at Virginia Tech: Few college football traditions match, and fans will be treated to Miami at Virginia Tech at 7:30 p.m. It's worth it for the entrance. The Hokies have beat the Hurricanes in four of the last five meetings.South Carolina at Auburn: For all the succe s Steve Spurrier has enjoyed at South Carolina, he's 0-5 against Auburn since taking over in Columbia. He's not alone. The Gamecocks haven't beat Auburn Mark Scheifele Jersey since 1933 and are 1-9-1 all time in the series.MORE: Alabama at Tenne see: The Crimson Tide is 7-0 against the Volunteers under Nick Saban, and the combined score of those games is 249-75. Alabama's longest win streak in the Third Saturday in October is 11 games, from 1971-81.SOCIAL BUZZ"What is going on in Baton Rouge? #Crazy"It's not a trap if you keep falling in. LSU and Ole Mi s have split the last six meetings, and the Rebels beat the Tigers with a last-second field goal. Brandon Tanev Jersey In 2012, LSU needed an 89-yard punt return and a last-minute TD to put Ole Mi s away. Whatever happens, ..STAT THAT MATTERSOhio State faces a challenge with the addition of Michigan and Michigan State to the Big Ten East Division.It's not like the Buckeyes can't run the table. Ohio State swept Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2012.Those three schools, however, have spoiled six Ohio State seasons in the last 20 years. Here are six games Buckeyes fan remember well, and another reason the showdown at Penn State looms large:1995: 11-2, lost at No. 18 Michigan 31-231996: 11-1, lost vs. No. 21 Michigan 13-91998: 11-1, lost to Michigan State 28- Ondrej Pavelec Jersey 242005: 10-2, lost at No. 18 Penn State 17-102008: 10-3, lost vs. No. 3 Penn State 13-62013: 12-2, lost vs. No. 10 Michigan State* 34-24*Denotes Big Ten championship gameREMOTE CONTROLLEDPut your Sun Belt on Tuesday when Arkansas State travels to Louisiana-Lafayette, a matchup of last year's co-champions. The Ragin' Cajuns won last year's matchup 23-7. ... BYU and Boise State have combined for a the last five years. That's the perfect Friday night appetizer on the "Smurf Turf." WEEK 9 TOP GAMESTuesday, Oct. 21Arkansas State at Louisiana-LafayetteThursday, Oct. 22Miami, Fla. at Virginia Tech, 7:30 p.m.Friday, Oct. 24BYU at Boise State, 9 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 25South Carolina at Auburn, TBDMichigan at Michigan State, TBDOle Mi s at LSU, TBDWest Virginia at Oklahoma State, TBD Arizona State at Washington, TBD Texas Tech at TCU, TBDTexas at Kansas State, TBD Alabama at Tenne see, TBD Ohio State at Penn State, 8 p.m.