Riding a four-game winning streak topped off by an offensive fireworks show, Old Dominion is a 14½-point favorite at Marshall on Saturday. A focused Monarchs team can cover that. But possibly not if it’s caught looking ahead to James Madison.
Chaotic: Whatever comes of this controversy belching out from Bill Belichick’s football program — described in some circles as “an unstructured mess” — anyone at North Carolina who threw Belichick a gold-plated lifeline when no other pro or college team wanted him should never be trusted with another serious decision.
The Crew: Of all the MLB playoff aspirants, the Brewers are the most balanced and fundamentally sound. Also, the most overlooked. You can make the case that even without a Judge or an Ohtani, the Brewers are baseball’s best team. Doesn’t mean they’ll go all the way. The best team often doesn’t.
Dry spell: If you’re keeping track, it’s been 16 years since the Yankees last won the World Series.
Quick hit: To increase the potential for playoff drama, MLB division rounds should be best-of-seven games.
Falling in place: Americans have been conditioned to believe March is our best, most exciting sports month. But October has plenty to say about that.
Idle thought: I know that I’m supposed to venerate ivy-covered Wrigley Field, but those baskets atop the outfield wall are so silly.
Such a rush: Bowing not even to political pundits in their ability to get things wrong, America’s college football insiders mucked up the preseason rankings that had Texas No. 1, Penn State No. 2 and Clemson No. 4. This week, those teams are a combined 8-7.
Add rankings: Naturally, the mass exodus and influx of talent through the football portals make preseason guesswork more challenging. So take that into consideration by holding back the first poll until the start of October. It could save pundits further embarrassment.
In passing: Last week, the Eagles showed that they may also have a knack for losing ugly.
Reborn: Mark down the season Giants castoff Daniel Jones is enjoying with the 4-1 Colts — third in the NFL in passing yards, first in QB rating — to the difference better coaching makes. In Shane Steichen, he’s working for a head coach who brings the best out of a quarterback.
Idle thought: Speaking of the Colts, they’ve still got the best-looking helmets.
Cockeyed optimists: It’s amusing to read that Ravens coaches and players think their defense just needs a tweak and better health for a couple players to get back on track. Even at 1-4, if you’re a Raven, you gotta believe. But they’re giving up 35 points a game. For now, that is their track.
At the top: A’ja Wilson, who led the Las Vegas Aces to the doorstep of the team’s third championship Wednesday with a 34-point, 14-rebound game, is showing again — in the season’s biggest moments — that she’s far and away the WNBA’s most dominant player. Her fourth league MVP this year won’t be her last.
Open season: The NCAA will now allow college athletes to bet on pro sports because widespread gambling on campuses overwhelmed college vice squads.
Touchy subject: It’s reassuring to know that D.C. politicians of a particular stripe have everything running so well that they can take time to criticize the NFL’s choice for the Super Bowl halftime show.
Bob Molinaro is a former Virginian-Pilot sports columnist. His Weekly Briefing runs Fridays in The Pilot and Daily Press. He can be reached at bob5molinaro@gmail.com and via Twitter@BobMolinaro.
