2022 NFL Scouting Combine: David Bell is a product of his environment
INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue standout David Bell competed in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine with the dreams of being drafted by an NFL team just a week away.
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INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue standout David Bell competed in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine with the dreams of being drafted by an NFL team just a week away.
After an unacceptable performance in Week 1, Indianapolis dominated all aspects of Sunday’s home opener against Minnesota in a 28-11 victory at a fractionally attended Lucas Oil Stadium. Rookie Jonathan Taylor rushed for 101 yards on 26 attempts in his first career start and became the first Colts rookie to rush for over 100 yards in a game since Vick Ballard in 2012. “After the first carry you break the ice and get into the mindset and focus on your task each and every play,” Taylor said. You have to have a great week of preparation. Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich said that the game plan was to feature Jonathan and compliment as needed. “When you can have rookies step up like this in game two with no preseason or OTA’s, it’s a credit to Chris (Ballard) and the scouts for getting those kinds of players,” Reich said. Minnesota scored on the first drive of the game with a 21-yard field goal made by Dan Bailey. Quarterback Kirk Cousins completed three passes to receiver Adam Theilen for 31 yards during the first possession. Indianapolis quarterback Phillip Rivers drove the offense down to the Minnesota red zone to end the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Rivers threw an interception intended for Mo Alie-Cox as Vikings safety Harrison Smith tipped the ball into the hands of linebacker Eric Wilson at the 5-yard line. The Viking offense became overwhelmed by the Indianapolis defense for the rest of the first half after being positioned deep in their territory following the Wilson interception. A four-down punt from Colquitt and was returned by Colts running back Nyheim Hines to the Minnesota 35-yard line. Jonathan Taylor scored his first career touchdown with a 5-yard rush into the end zone to give the Colts the lead. The next five drives for Minnesota ended in another four-down punt, a safety and three straight interceptions. Defensive end DeForest Buckner sacked Cousins in the Minnesota end zone to extend the Colts lead and tally his career total to 30 sacks. Khari Willis and TJ Carrie each caught their first interception as a Colt on desperate deep throws from Cousins late in the first half. Cousins threw a third interception to cornerback Kenny Moore on the Vikings first possession of the second half. “It takes 22 of us, the front side needs to set edges and the back side needs to stay alive and we did that the whole game,” Buckner said. Our rush in coverage worked in a couple situations. We were able to get a couple interceptions and get him down a couple times. The Colts defense held the Vikings to 175 total yards which is the lowest amount of yards allowed since 2014 against Cincinnati. Cousins entered the fourth quarter with a passer rating of 0.0, a career low. He finished with a passer rating of 15.9 which is the lowest rating the Colts have allowed since Alex Smith in 2005. “We did everything we needed to do on defense to stop an explosive run game,” Reich said. Tight end Mo Alie-Cox had a “heck of a day” according to Rivers as his five receptions and 111 receiving yards were both game and career highs. The Colts scored on six of their ten drives and ruled the time of possession by over a full quarter. “We made a bunch of those plays at practice and we brought that into the game,” Alie-Cox said. I try to follow Jack’s lead every day and to this point he has helped me for this opportunity. Rivers finished the game with one touchdown pass to receiver Zach Pascal and is currently one shy of 400 touchdowns for his career. Only five quarterbacks have over 60,000 career passing yards and with 152 yards next week, Rivers can become the sixth quarterback in NFL history to do so. Indianapolis hosts the New York Jets next Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time. “I think this team is built to win a lot of different ways,” Rivers said. When we are efficient, run the ball like that and we play D like that, we can win a lot of ball games. Tight end Jack Doyle, Trey Burton and veteran running back Marlon Mack were out of Sunday’s matchup against Minnesota. Mack suffered a season-ending ACL tear against Jacksonville in Week 1. Receiver Paris Campbell was carted off the field after suffering a PCL injury and Malik Hooker suffered a season-ending torn Achilles during the game. Fifteen players representing both teams met at the midfield horseshoe after the game to display unity and take a knee in prayer. Minnesota started the season 0-2 for the first time since 2013, before head coach Mike Zimmer took the realm.
The Colts secured the two most talented and NFL-ready draft picks in the second round in USC receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor. Indianapolis traded the No. 13 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for Pro Bowl defensive end DeForest Buckner. After the Cincinnati Bengals chose Clemson’s Tee Higgins, with the first pick of the second round, the Colts made their first selection of the draft on a first round receiver talent. Grade: B+ ROUND 2: #34 - WR Michael Pittman Jr. (USC) At 6-4 and 223 pounds, Pittman can make excellent contested catches in traffic and run the entire route tree. The son of former NFL running back Michael Pittman caught 101 passes for the Trojans for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is the most complete receiver drafted on day two and will make an immediate impact as a red zone threat in the Colts offense with veteran T.Y. Hilton and newly-signed quarterback Philip Rivers. Indianapolis made acquiring receivers during the draft a necessity to expand the depth from a depleted skill group last season. Now knowing the results of the draft, Indianapolis spent the first round pick to sign Buckner then drafted two first-round prospects. Their second round included adding a No. 1 receiver and a top-three ranked running back according to Pro Football Focus. #44 - RB Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) The Colts traded up three spots and added a fifth round pick for the Cleveland Browns to draft Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor in the second round with the No. 41 overall pick. The two-time All-American rushed for 6,174 career yards, ranking sixth all-time in Division-I history,including two straight 2,000 yard campaigns. Indianapolis has one of the finest offensive lines in the league with 1,000 yard rusher Marlon Mack still on the roster as clear evidence. There were not 40 better choices than the former Badger and his burst, athleticism and workload endurance make the backfield duo in Indianapolis dangerous. ROUND 3: #85 - Safety Julian Blackmon (Utah) The Colts traded back ten spots with the Detroit Lions in the third round and selected Utah safety Julian Blackmon with the No. 85 overall draft pick. The former Ute has experience playing corner and fits in as a nickel with the Colts defensive scheme. Blackmon will join the defensive back group of Malik Hooker and Khari Willis, possibly getting rotational plays in a backup role with starter potential throughout the season.
One victor after the first night of the 2020 NFL draft was Dallas Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones. His awareness to select the best player available while making the phone call from a $250 million yacht was a major flex, even without regard to the team’s vulnerability defensively in the secondary. Speculation that divisional rival Philadelphia (No. 21 draft pick) also had their eyes on CeeDee Lamb forced an executive decision. If the defensive back group is the liability defensively in Dallas, why allow the Eagles to draft Lamb and torment rookies that will get playing time? Grade: A ROUND 1: #17 - WR Ceedee Lamb (Oklahoma) Consensus All-American receiver CeeDee Lamb fell to the Cowboys at No. 17 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Louisiana native moved near Houston after Hurricane Katrina and played high school football in Texas for the Foster Falcons. After a senior season of 98 receptions for 2,032 yards and 33 touchdowns, the 4-star recruit committed to the University of Oklahoma over twenty other schools, including Alabama and Texas. In three seasons and 40 games for the Sooners, Lamb caught 173 passes for 3,292 yards and 33 touchdowns, including one rushing score. Lamb averaged 19 yards per catch in Lincoln Riley’s offensive scheme and will be an addition to the elite Dallas offense already loaded with two 1,000-yard receivers in Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. Pro Football Focus listed Lamb as the No. 6 overall prospect in this year’s draft. The first round home-run threat has incredible playmaking ability after the catch and elite awareness on deep throws. A major move, especially considering the following two days would be focused on addressing the young defensive back group. ROUND 2: #51 - CB Trevon Diggs (Alabama) Brother of Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon Diggs is a life-long Cowboys fan. Dallas was able to land the Alabama defensive back with the No. 51 overall pick in the second round. Diggs ranked third last season in completion percentage among cornerbacks in the FBS. A team-leading three interceptions, eight pass deflections and two fumble recoveries, including a 100-yard scoop and score at the goal line, earned the Nick Saban product Second-Team All-SEC honors. The Cowboys were in desperate need of defensive back depth after the departure of former starters Byron Jones and Jeff Heath. Several draft boards projected Diggs as a potential first round pick. On March 1, I left the combine with Diggs as the No. 3 cornerback prospect and was initially hopeful that Florida corner CJ Henderson would fall to Dallas in the first round. A second round steal by being listed as a press-zone corner, Diggs fits in with the Cowboys Cover-3 defensive scheme. Pro Football Focus listed Diggs as the No. 31 prospect and would have won the approval of nearly every NFL fan base. Diggs offers immense depth to the secondary and is not afraid to press the receiver. The Third-Team All American only allowed nine catches in 224 snaps while in press coverage last season. With second-to-none coaching at the collegiate level and the ability to drill with a professional receiver prior to summer camp gives Diggs an advantage over his peers. Diggs will certainly be competing for a starting role among the young cornerback group consisting of Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis. ROUND 3: #82 - DT Neville Gallimore (Oklahoma) Dallas was able to unite two former Sooners together in the same rookie draft class. With their third round pick, No. 82 overall, the Cowboys selected Canada native Neville Gallimore out of Oklahoma. After earning Third-Team All-American honors, the 305-pound interior lineman shocked scouts at the combine, running the fastest 40-time in two decades at his position, clocked at 4.79 seconds. Draft experts thought that a possible replacement for recently retired center Travis Frederick was the appropriate move. The starting center for the reigning national champion LSU Tigers, Lloyd Cushenberry, was also available. Instead, the team decided to wait until round four to land Wisconsin Badger Tyler Biadasz. My draft grade would have been an A+ if Texas safety Brandon Jones would have fallen to Dallas, but unfortunately he was selected early in the third round at No. 70 overall by the Miami Dolphins. Pro Football Focus listed Gallimore as the No. 51 overall prospect so the Cowboys were able to draft three players drastically later than each rookie was originally projected. An evolved pass-rushing grade from 75.0 to 82.4 was updated after he dropped 30 pounds and improved his range each year of his career. Gallimore will be joining a defensive front that includes DeMarcus Lawrence, Dontari Poe, Tyrone Crawford and recently signed former Sooner Gerald McCoy. Through three rounds, America’s Team drafted a top-ten prospect, a first round defensive back talent late in the second round and the fifth-ranked interior lineman late in the third round.
An international outbreak of the coronavirus has caused numerous professional and amateur sports leagues to suspend operations and ban large crowds due to safety concerns. On Saturday, UFC Fight Night was performed without an audience in Brasilia, Brazil. UFC President Dana White was reportedly encouraged by both President Trump and Vice President Pence to continue with the scheduled events. Mixed martial artscol, whether utilized in a sold-out arena or an empty alley, is one-on-one warfare. Knockout of the Night The Co-Main Event of the evening finished with a mauling TKO by Gilbert Burns (18-3) over veteran Demian Maia (28-10). The referee stopped the bout at 2:34 in the first round. A left hook from Burns dropped the Brazilian and a rage of quick head strikes ended the contest. Burns, 33, called out former welterweight title contender Colby Covington after the fight. Submission of the Night Charles Oliveira (29-8) locked in a guillotine choke while defending a takedown in the main event against Kevin Lee (18-6). Referee Mike Beltran stopped the fight at 28 seconds in the third round. Oliveira has finished seven straight bouts and tied Daniel “Cowboy” Cerrone with 16 career finishes for the most in UFC history. Lee missed weight (156 pounds) by over two pounds at Monday’s weigh-ins and protested the submission. The favored martial artist (-150) had ground control for over five minutes of the fight, but Oliveira displayed impressive striking that left Lee dazed prior to the choke. Six of Oliveira’s last nine contests have been finished with a victorious submission. The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced during the main card that all combative sporting events would be suspended indefinitely through March 25 due to COVID-19. UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards is still scheduled for Saturday, March 21, but the main event has been scratched off the card as Edwards opted not to fly to the United States amid the international crisis.
On Sunday, the deep defensive back class of 2020 completed their workouts and drills at the scouting combine. With an earpiece connected to the NFL Network broadcast and a completely private workspace, I was able to watch and analyze 30 of the best available cornerbacks. The following article displays ten coverage defenders that have the potential to immediately impact the franchise that will make a tough decision in late April. Jeff Okudah – Ohio State The highest rated cornerback in the 2020 draft class played in Lucas Oil Stadium for the Big Ten Championship back in December. Okudah was named to First Team All-Big Ten after leading the Buckeyes with three interceptions and nine pass deflections in 2019. Ohio State certainly has a case for the self-proclaimed “DBU” as the Buckeyes have had ten cornerbacks (most in FBS) drafted in the first round in the last twenty NFL drafts. The first team AP All-American’s six-foot stature, elite quickness and brick wall press coverage have him projected as a top-five draft pick. His shocking 41” vertical was tied for best amongst the cornerback class. Do not be surprised to see Okudah be the second defensive player taken after college teammate Chase Young. C.J. Henderson – Florida The Miami native posted the second fastest 40-yard dash time amongst the cornerback group at 4.39 seconds. Henderson made First Team All-SEC in 2019 after leading the Gators with 11 pass deflections. During his freshman season, Henderson gained notoriety by tying for second in the nation with two touchdown returns and four picks in 2017. His sophomore year displayed incredible versatility with three sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Elite footwork was put on full display as Henderson looked like the quickest athlete participating in drills. Twenty repetitions on the bench press as a defensive back is also impressive. With the ability to jump routes and perfectly time blitzes, Henderson is projected as a mid-first round prospect. Trevon Diggs – Alabama The younger brother of Minnesota Vikings receiver, Stefon, played all four years for the Crimson Tide. He began his collegiate career as a receiver like his brother, yet transitioned to defense full-time in his sophomore season. Diggs earned Third Team AP All-American and Second Team All-SEC in 2019 after leading the team with eight pass deflections. His three interceptions, two fumble recoveries including a 100-yard scoop and score have Diggs projected as a late first round pick. His family background and former receiver abilities give Diggs an instinctive advantage than traditional defensive backs. His six-foot size and play making abilities are pros for the Saban product. A broken foot cost Diggs half of his junior season and not participating in the 40-yard dash could be a red flag to teams. Kristian Fulton – LSU A New Orleans native, Fulton finished his college career as a national champion for the Tigers. Fulton delivered six tackles, including a pass deflection against the 2018 national champion, Clemson Tigers. The collegiate career for Fulton became controversial after Fulton was suspended for two seasons in 2017 by the NCAA for using fake urine sample during a PED test. He was reinstated in 2018 after the NCAA reviewed his case. In his final two seasons for LSU, Fulton tallied 63 tackles, 2 interceptions and 25 pass deflections. A sub-4.5 dash time has raised Fulton’s draft stock and depending on team necessities, the former Tiger could be a day one or two steal. Jeff Gladney – TCU The competitive nature of Gladney is an aspect that cannot be overlooked by NFL scouts. Despite a 5’10” 190 pound frame, Gladney reportedly can bench press 400 pounds and squat 600 pounds. The Texas native allowed the lowest passer rating in the conference in 2018 and was tied for fifth in the FBS with 14 pass deflections in 2019. The sub 4.5 speed of Gladney makes him a dependable man coverage corner. Not many other athletes in this class have the mirror footwork or the ability to stay on the hip of a receiver like Gladney. An absolute shutdown corner and screen annihilator as the tape against West Virginia displays his best work allowing zero receptions. As a slot cornerback, this prospect is extremely underrated in a deep draft class and could quite honestly be the most polished senior defensive back available. Cameron Dantzler – Miss State At 6’2” Dantzler was an irritant to vertical receivers in the SEC during his time at Mississippi State. The former high school quarterback caught his first interception in a bowl game against NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. His 4.64 dash time was second to worst among the cornerback group just above Nebraska cornerback, Lamar Jackson. His athletic ability is not undermined, however, his tackling skills are not up to par with other players at his position. The pros of Dantzler are of his tape against the two highest rated quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, national champions Joe Burrow of LSU and Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama. The cons are avoiding pass interference calls and adjusting to NFL vertical threats. Dantzler is projected to be a starter within his first few seasons. Damon Arnette – Ohio State On the opposite side of the field as Okudah, the Florida native had an opportunity to shine in several games this season as quarterbacks stayed away from throwing to his counterpart. Arnette had draft ambitions last off-season but decided to stay for his senior campaign. A Second Team All-Big Ten honor along with a Big Ten title was completely worth the stay. Arnette played in all four seasons for the Buckeyes producing 140 tackles, 22 pass deflections, five interceptions, and a forced fumble along with a fumble recovery. He scored his first college touchdown in 2019 against Indiana. His 4.57 dash time makes him best fit for zone coverage, however, the best aspect of this prospect could be his ability to step up as a team’s no. 2 corner. With implausible experience, the former Buckeye heads into the draft as the biggest sleeper with a teammate projected over him. AJ Terrell – Clemson The Dabo Swinney product showed out in the 40-yard dash on Sunday running in just over 4.4 seconds. The junior is coming off a horrific game as he was targeted by Joe Burrow and the LSU offense. The five-star recruit out of Atlanta played all three seasons for the Tigers and played a major role in the 2018 national championship run. In the title game, Terrell picked off Jalen Hurts for a 44-yard touchdown. Terrell earned First Team All-ACC this past season as a national runner-up recording two interceptions and six pass deflections for Clemson. Terrell stayed lower than most participants in Sunday’s drills and impressed with a few diving catches and matching his anticipated dash time. The pros for Terrell are experience and catching ability whereas the major con is the national title tape where Terrell was punished by the LSU receiving core. His draft stock remains questionable to where he will land but teams needing a cornerback would not pass up the chance to select the former Tiger if available. Jaylon Johnson – Utah The Fresno native participated in all of the drills on Sunday and performed extremely well to raise his declining draft stock. The former Ute ran a 4.5 flat in the 40-yard dash and caught each deep ball thrown his way. Johnson also tied for third amongst the cornerback group for his 4.13 second twenty yard shuttle sprint. First Team All-12 as a sophomore wasn’t enough for Johnson as he repeated all-conference in 2019 and earned AP Second Team All-American by leading the Utes with 11 pass deflections and two interceptions. The four star recruit will unfortunately undergo surgery after the combine for a torn labrum. His draft stock declined solely through injury but the six-foot prospect’s athletic ability could get his name called earlier than expected in such a deep class. Bryce Hall – Virginia The Pennsylvania native did not participate in Sunday’s combine activities and only achieved eleven repetitions on the bench press. He led the FBS with 22 pass deflections in 2018, earning First Team All-ACC honors. Hall recorded 62 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles that season. His senior year campaign was unfortunately cut short due to requiring surgery on his left ankle. His long 32” arms assist him on short routes but his injury particularly makes him a zone corner. Hall could use some help from NFL safeties against deep balls and covering professional receivers while recovering from his ankle injury. Not participating in the scouting combine decreased his chances of being taken in the first round. A major concern is his catching ability as the former Cavalier dropped several interceptions during his collegiate career. When healthy, Hall has an opportunity to become a pro-style defensive back that can play early because of his instinct to make a play on the ball rather than the receiver.
Indianapolis –Thursday evening initiated the on-field workout for skill position players participating in the 2020 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Quarterbacks, tight ends and a stacked class of receivers aimed to separate themselves from their competitors. Big names delivered and exceeded expectations in the workout evaluation as others found their way onto draft boards. First NFL Combine Experience February 27 was my first opportunity to cover the NFL scouting combine. I would have never envisioned my first exchange at the combine being with Chris Ballard, GM of the Colts. In the aisle seat of the first row directly in front of the 40-yard dash station was my view for the evening. Same Tradition, New Route Each year at the scouting combine, a lottery is held for the team seating near the finish line of the 40-yard dash. NFL teams are assigned a row (1-32) as scouts accurately time the sprinters. In the section near the starting point were representatives from the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints. A new drill that was introduced in this year’s combine was the “end zone fade route” in which receivers were to maintain their positioning in bounds, while catching the football at its highest point. Fastest 40 Times By Position Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri, made his draft stock rise on Thursday after running a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash. Among tight ends at least 6’5” and 250 pounds, the former Tiger ran the second fastest time recorded at the combine since 2003. The Illinois native led the SEC in receiving touchdowns as a freshman (11 in 2017) and caught 23 total in 3 years for MIZZOU. Cole McDonald, Hawaii, recorded the fastest time amongst the quarterbacks with 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. The California native earned second team All-Mountain West in his junior season throwing for 4, 135 passing yards (3rd in FBS). Heisman finalist Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma, finished just behind McDonald at 4.59 seconds. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama, left numerous scouts with stopwatches asking around to confirm his combine-halting, 4.27, 40-yard dash time. His 42” vertical leap is the highest of the six other draft prospects that have run sub-4.3 since official combine data tracking began in 2003. The six-foot receiver scored 25 total touchdowns in 3 years and exactly 100 plays from scrimmage for the Crimson Tide. https://twitter.com/nfl/status/1233217073901395968?s=21
The agony of defeat stormed through Indianapolis this past weekend as prideful fanatics witnessed the favored Colts fall to the Oakland Raiders. Dozens were standing in line outside in the unsettling rain to donate their money to the sports book, deciding to bet like a fan. Winners Circle Pub is a sports book located downtown within a half mile of IUPUI’s campus. An astounding lounge with a great amount of television screens, comfy sofas, slapped strangers and responsive employees. This past Sunday was the day of the visitors; 10 of the 13 away teams in Week 4 left victorious. This weekend in college football, the Oklahoma Sooners visit Lawrence, Kansas to face the Jayhawks. Last year when the two teams met, they combined for nearly 100 points in a 55-40 victory for the Sooners. Oklahoma (-33) has averaged over 55 points per game this season, lighting up the NCAA right before conference play. The over/under is a fearsome 68 points for this Big 12 game on Saturday. The spread is appealing in favor of the Sooners, but never doubt the over in a Big 12 contest. Accept the fear and enjoy the fireworks in Kansas sparked by early Heisman Trophy candidate Jalen Hurts. On Sunday, the Chicago Bears and the Oakland Raiders visit London to sell out Tottenham Stadium. This is the first of four NFL regular season games in London this season; this specific game will be the twenty-fifth time a non-exhibition game has been played in London. The Bears (-6) are favored in the matchup despite the recent injury to starting Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (dislocated shoulder) in this past Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. The over/under has dropped from an opening line of 41 (total points) to 40. Never been sold on the Raiders offense, the Colts had three key defensive starters out in Week 4. Chicago gives up the second least amount of points (11.3) in the NFL. With an idle Trubisky, this game should still stay under the total of 40 points. Lock. In. The. Bet. The undefeated New England Patriots come to the nation’s capital as they visit the troubled and winless Redskins. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have not only dominated the AFC for the past two decades; the Patriots have outscored the Redskins 113-44 in their last three meetings. Washington is going through a rough phase in rebuilding, losing their last ten out of eleven games dating back to last Thanksgiving. Quarterback Case Keenum just suffered an injury in their loss to the Giants in Week 4. The Patriots defense gives up the least amount of points (6.8) and yards (243) per game in the NFL. It’s an easy cover for the defending champs at -15.5 points. The Redskins face the winless Miami Dolphins in the Tank Bowl next weekend. The final FLEXFIVE NFL game this weekend is the Sunday Night matchup between the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, who are coming off a valiant victory last weekend against a tough team in Detroit. The Chiefs (-11) are favored over the wounded Colts. Another easy decision before the line gets up to 13 by Sunday. As this spread rises, don’t sleep on the earlier AFC North matchup in Pittsburgh as the Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) look to make a statement coming off of back-to-back losses. FLEXFIVE analyzes thousands of possible spreads, probabilities and outcomes in a weekly column with assistance from a clique of devoted journalists and responsible risk-takers. The legalization of sports betting consents beneficial interaction with all sports. Bi-weekly podcast to be directed and available for upcoming subscription. Please. Remember. To. Gamble. Responsibly. FLEXFIVE: Oklahoma (-33) | Kansas Over 68 London Game (CHI | OAK) Under 40 New England (-15.5) @ Washington Indianapolis @ (-11) Kansas City Baltimore (-3.5) @ Pittsburgh
An additional zero is guaranteed at every sports book. A possible outcome is flipping $20 to over $2,000 within three hours; another is watching thousands of dollars blown on what seemed like a sure bet. Gambling is a form of wagering money, goods or anything of relevant value towards an event that has no predetermined outcome. Sport books use basic probability, chance and analytics to place the spread, money line, over or under when finalizing a bet. Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, a Houston native, recently placed a $3 million futures bet on the Astros to win the World Series, a possible payout of over $7.2 million by early November. The stake of a bet is the treasured item being wagered. An agreement will be made that one will be risking something of value, such as currency, in order to receive back a prize of greater value. Virtually any competitive event can be wagered on. Certain games are quick-paced and take seconds to play, while others can be seasonal and take months to finish. Examples of fast-paced bets include rolling dice, playing blackjack or horse racing. Betting on sporting events usually takes longer, from the outcome of a game to the prediction of an entire season for a specific team. The point spread, by definition, is a prediction of the number of points by which a stronger sports team is expected to defeat another team by. The spread moves constantly and live in-game bets can always be placed online. Typically, the spread would be on a -110 point balanced scale, meaning you would have to risk $1.10 to win back $1, or risk $110 to win back $100. Although the point spread is fairly common, there are several diverse forms of sports bets. Spreads are easier with sports like basketball or football because of the higher amount of points that are given by scoring a basket (2 to 3) or touchdown (6 to 7). With all sports, however, betting the total score is another popular form of wagering. The over/under total score in a sport such as football would be betting the overall points combined by both teams in the game. Even professionals might not feel secure about making one straight bet at times. Making a few or several smaller bets for a larger prize is a parlay. A collection of two or more straight bets or totals combined into one bet. All of the individual games bet on the parlay need to be correct in order to win. In the modern age of gambling, there are several unique services to assist fresh gamblers to the basic terms, principles and law guidelines of a wager. Although it may be unwise for a novice gambler to invest money into online betting sites, there is no waiting in long lines at a sportsbook and having to understand some of the lingo that comes with risking money. The legalization of sports betting is one of the most imminent methods that allows fans to become more interactive with the games, especially now that they no longer just have to be watched.
Being featured on the several IUPUI social media sites was the highlight for the Student Veterans Organization as they placed 50th out of the 82 co-ed teams competing in the 11thannual Regatta. The four-person team was composed of two males and two females, Garrett Banning and Miriam Sandoval, along with Frank Wintin and team captain Brandon Stumph. The Regatta had timed trial waves of racers instead of head-to-head races for the first time in the history of the event. This was an attempt to shorten the first few rounds to get to the six-team final. As the countdown from the viewing audience began from five, the inebriated veterans prepared to race. “5, 4, 3, 2, 1… the swimmers launched us through under the bridge,” Stumph said. “As soon as we crossed the bridge we tipped and fell over.” The teams’ specific spill was video recorded and included in IUPUI’s highlight video. This was not the only fall into the water for the organization. They fell again trying to return back to the starting position. Different strategies to keep the canoe afloat were attempted by the team captain, however, they still fell once again. “The material the canoes were made of felt like steel. I tried to spread my legs to keep the balance but that didn’t help,” Stumph said. The group gathered after competing and set up shop to enjoy a day grilling burgers, throwing a football, playing corn hole and, of course, emptying of beer cans. The Student Veteran Organization was allowed to participate in the event by having their office fund the registration fee. The final time for the Student Veteran Organization was just over 8 minutes and 42 seconds, about three minutes slower than the time of the fastest canoe through the first trial but exactly eleven minutes faster than the dead last co-ed canoe timed at 19 minutes and 42 seconds. Preparation for the event was not an easy task as none of the members could make it to the practice day a week before the event. All four members, including two replacement student veterans, had drill the weekend before the competition. “It was definitely an experience I would like to do again. We didn’t spend much time prior to Saturday and had to make a late adjustment replacing one of the team members that couldn’t make it,” Stumph said. The eleventh annual Regatta was a success even with the new format. This was the first time any of the members of the Student Veteran Organization team participated in the Regatta. The members that contributed all agreed that this won’t be their last experience. “It was a blast. I did not get to take photos of the [transition] of the four rowers but I enjoyed it,” photographer Monica Sodek said.
The HBCU day kick-off party brought the bats to life at Wrigley Field last Friday as there were a total of nine first inning runs scored by the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs posted a season-best 17 runs, defeating the Pirates in a contest that included home runs from, Nicholas Castellanos, Willson Contreras, Nico Hoerner (first career HR) and Anthony Rizzo. Castellanos, traded to the Cubs from the Detroit Tigers and Hoerner, brought up from Double-A, have both made an immediate impact on the lineup. The offense stayed locked in for game two on Saturday with 14 hits and dominated the Pirates by a score of 14-1. With his family present, Hoerner had himself a day with three hits, including a home run, scoring three times and driving in three runs of his own. With the wind blowing out an average 14 mph between the first two games, three other Cubs sent souvenirs into the bleachers: Kris Bryant, Victor Caratini, and 2016 World Series MVP Ben Zobrist. Hoerner’s bomb in the sixth inning set a new franchise record for most homers in a season. The final game ended with adolescent brooms dashing across the diamond. On Sundays at Wrigley Field, children are allowed to run the bases after the game. During the game, history was being made with nearly 40,000 fans in attendance. The battle scarred Cubs lit up the record books in a 16-6 victory for the series sweep over the Pirates. Anthony Rizzo exited the game after rolling his ankle early in the third inning. He led off the game with a walk, followed by an MLB-best 54th double by Nicholas Castellanos. Kris Bryant then got fans hyped up early with a three-run blast to give the Cubs the lead. Starting pitcher Jose Quintana gave up five runs in the third following the Rizzo exit. Bryant hit his second home run of the game in the bottom half of the third. The Cubs answered back by scoring five runs, including a near inside-the-park home run in unusual fashion. After a sacrifice-fly run driven in by Victor Caratini, Tony Kemp scored Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward with a pinch-hit triple. Pirates’ pitcher Michael Feliz then attempted to appeal by throwing to third base (implying that either Zobrist or Heyward did not step on the base). Tony Kemp was safe at home within the next few seconds. Feliz had overthrown the ball toward the crowd at Wrigley before the next pitch was thrown. Kemp easily jogged in to put the Cubs up 8-5 in the third. Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber, and Jonathan Lucroy also sent souvenir shots to the bleachers in the victory. The 47 runs the Cubs scored in the three-game set with the Pirates set a new franchise record (second all-time for any MLB team since 1901). The 33 run differential is also a new franchise record in a three game set. Kris Bryant’s two HR game puts his career total to 138, the most for any Cubs player within the first five seasons of their career.
The chills of contribution are prized when one has prepared to perform. Whether an exam, a competition or a project, the fulfillment of an expectation is what provides satisfaction. Study sessions, practice and devotion to an art are revealed when an opponent is involved. The 22nd Annual Chicago Football Classic unleashed a battle of the bands performance featuring Hampton University and Howard University. Both Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) schools began their performance with a pep rally at the Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. The drum lines, dance teams and supportive fans enticed around 5,000 people that surrounded the entire square. Chicago radio personality “DJ Nehpets” (WPWX Power 92.3) hosted the event. “They get a chance to in-act their pride and praise for football,” said Nehpets. The co-founders of the Classic, Larry Huggins and twins Everett and Tim Rand, originally began the event in 1997 to encourage the black youth in the city “to achieve their personal best in school and beyond.” The two university bands crowded a square at the entrance of the plaza and were each given seven minutes to perform after warming up. The next round involved such an electrifying drumline competition that the audience was giving an ovation before the percussionists could even finish. [fvplayer id="14"] “These kids come to support football, watch the drumline (competition), and learn about college and leave with a scholarship and a chance for education,” Nehpets explained. Around noon, the two schools were police-escorted north to Gallagher Way, the backyard town square tourist attraction of Wrigley Field. The grassy area outside of left field with sprinklers, restaurant bars, an enormous video board and post-game musical entertainment brings the entire community to Wrigley for Cubs games. The pre-game kick-off party presented thrilling performances from both schools that again drew thousands of people to Gallagher Way. Even fans inside the ballpark were attracted to the music, observing from as high as the rooftops to witness the show. Friday night baseball with collegiate bands performing is an uncommon theme for baseball fans. It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity as each band received an ovation from a sea of fanatics in Cubby pinstripes. The 22nd Annual Classic game between Hampton and Howard was held at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, on Saturday. The Bears Care foundation sponsored 1,000 students to attend the game. Chicago natives and newly acquired Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose and Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis, promised to sponsor 4,000 students from the Englewood area of Chicago. Former NBA players Isiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre paid for the cost of transportation for students. The Hampton Pirates (2-1) defeated the Howard Bison (0-3) on Saturday by a final score of 41-20. Hampton Quarterback Deandre Francois led the Pirates as he threw for 4 touchdowns surpassing 200 yards. Two of his touchdowns were a 68 yard pass to sophomore Jadakis Bonds and a 70 yard score from freshman Darran Butts. The Bison led 3-0 at the end of the first but the Pirates of Hampton outscored Howard 34-10 over the next two quarters. A 44-yard touchdown run by Bonds late in the third quarter blew the game wide-open and virtually sealed the deal for the Pirates.