Big Ten expert picks; NFL predictions; Another iconic sports video game is making a comeback

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⚾ Good morning to everyone, but especially to…

“Backyard Baseball” Fans

What a year it’s been to be a sports video game fan. A month after EA Sports College Football returned after an 11-year absence, “Backyard Sports” Are Making a ComebackPlayground Productions has announced that the video game series will be rebooted and adapted into film and television.

“Backyard Sports” began in 1997 with “Backyard Baseball”, but later expanded to include “Backyard Basketball”, “Backyard Football”, “Backyard Hockey”, “Backyard Soccer”, and “Backyard Skateboarding”. These sports were last created in 2005.

“Backyard Baseball” is a game that stands out, it remains a fond memory (or a beloved tradition) for many. Pablo SanchezYou’re up to bat, and a new generation of gamers is about to discover just how awesome you are.

😁 Honorable Mention

😔 not so honorable mention

🏈 Big Ten expert picks: Blue bloods, new bloods ready to battle for top spot in 18-team conference

Big Ten Country is now … basically the whole country. It stretches from New York (errrr … Piscataway, New Jersey) to Los Angeles, goes up to Washington State and goes right outside of Washington, DC. 18 teams cover 14 states. It’s everywhere.

And yet, even with new people Washington, Oregon, UCLA And USCPreseason favorites fit right in the breadbasket: Ohio StateThe Buckeyes received all but one No. 1 vote in our poll. Big Ten Experts’ PicksAnd Richard Johnson explains why.

• Johnson: “The most complete roster in college football will clearly win the Big Ten on its way to a national championship. Chip Kelly The effect will give the Buckeyes offense an added dimension in the run game combined with Bones Ryan DayAlways led a brilliant passing attack Will HowardThe defense will not fall much from last year’s excellent unit, and Ohio will advance all the way to Indiana.”

Is this also helping? The presence of a new star Jeremiah SmithJoe would be one of Howard’s favorite targets. Will Backus named Smith one of his favorite players. First-year players will be under the most pressure in 2024,

• Backus: “It’s been a while since a freshman has garnered this much buzz. Smith has already been compared to former Alabama great Julio Joneswho finished just below the 1,000-yard receiving line in his first year with the Crimson Tide. Some believe Smith, who was the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2024, could be the greatest Buckeyes freshman receiver ever. That was before he even took a snap.”

In addition, making this list is also a Nebraska Quarterback dylan raiolaAnd both made 247Sports’ preseason true freshman All-American team. Shehan Jeyaraja has the Cornhuskers best player in the conference. The most underrated grouprelated to. Most Overrated TeamsSo the defending champion could be in trouble.

• Jayaraja: ,Michigan — The Wolverines should still have one of the best defenses in college football, but how low can the offense go for this team to stay in the Big Ten race? There’s a big question mark at quarterback and the wide receivers offer little help. New coach Sharon Moore Cut his teeth on the offensive line, but that whole unit is new. Running back Donovan Edwards and tight end colston loveland provides some building blocks, but is that enough?”

What we know for sure: The Big Ten will feature great games both inside and outside the conference, and big tests right off the bat. In Week 1, No. 23 USC is up next No. 13 LSUAnd in Week 2, No. 9 Michigan hosts No. 4 Texas and host No. 3 Oregon Boise State,

🏈 NFL MVP Predictions, Best Bets

College football is set to begin this weekend, with the NFL not far behind. In fact, we’re only 15 days away. Chiefs And Crows the start of the season. In this way, Will Brinson has his MVP Selection and Best BetsAnd for the second year in a row, he’s going with…

• Brinson: ,Josh Allen (+850) , Last year he finished fifth and received the only non-Lamar first-place vote. In 2022 he finished third and received one of two non-Lamar votes. patrick mahomes First place votes. Clearly MVP voters are willing to reward Allen if he plays at a high level. … And then there’s Narrative Street. The Bills made the trade Stefon Diggs This offseason, by removing Allen’s longtime No. 1 wideout … Allen and the Bills are getting the same treatment as Mahomes and Chiefs after his trade before 2022 Tyreek Hill… Mahomes … won the MVP award.”

Will has some long shots and some mid-range options, but I like Alan the most. I would vote him second. lamar jackson He was voted MVP last year, and I think he’s only getting better and better.

I also like seeing another quarterback get better and better: Jordan LoveIn his last seven games last year, he threw 18 touchdowns against just one interception. I’m very excited about that. PACKERS this year, and, in turn, high on Love, who is surrounded by a deep, talented receiving corps.

⚾ Favorites emerge in AL, NL Cy Young race

There are less than six weeks left in the regular season, so some players will remain in the award race until the very last minute, just as some division and wild card races do. When it comes to Cy Young awards, each league has a favorite, but things could change.

Let’s start with A.L., where Tarik Skubal has emerged from a crowded group. Tigers The ace leads MLB with a 2.49 ERA, leads MLB with 14 wins and leads the AL with 185 strikeouts. It seems like an open and shut case, right?

Not at all. Skubal has hit a career high in innings pitched, and with the Tigers out of the playoff race and less than two years out from flexor tendon surgery, he’ll start getting extra rest between starts, getting benched and out earlier than usual. Does that leave the door open? Matt Snyder reports in the latest Cy Young WatchHe listed There are many candidates who can make their place,

As far as the NL Cy Young is concerned, Chris Sale Is Eventually success is going to come,

• Snyder: “Sale leads the majors in wins, strikeouts, FIP, strikeout rate and FanGraphs WAR. He is the NL leader in ERA. If there is a slight shortcoming, it is in workload, as Sale is not in the top 10 in innings pitched and is behind. Logan Webb “Tied for the league lead in 24 innings. However, he’s been so good elsewhere, I think innings won’t move the needle much.”

📺 What we’re watching on Wednesday

brewers vs cardinals7:45 p.m. on FS1
on Lynx Ace9:30 p.m. on ESPN
Mariners vs. Dodgers10:10 p.m. on MLB Network