247Sports It was a simpler time six years ago. The lone National Signing Day for the 2017 cycle was the first Wednesday in February, but that was before everything changed 10 months later with the introduction of the early signing period in December. Since that first early signing period during the 2017-18 recruiting cycle, we've witnessed a seismic shift in the timing of when top recruits announce their college choices and sign with their schools, a timeframe that has heavily shifted to December. Though the landscape has drastically changed, there remains a few uncommitted/unsigned players who have yet to make their decisions and will do so on Wednesday, Feb. 1. So there are still plenty of storylines to follow during the traditional National Signing Day which will take center stage next week, so let's break down some of the top ones to follow as the 2023 recruiting cycle quickly comes to a close. 1. Coach Prime's time In December 2021, Deion Sanders and Travis Hunter … [Read more...] about College football recruiting: Five key storylines to follow during National Signing Day 2023
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2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games testing expanded skills competition, could be ‘bigger and better’ next season
USATSI The 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games will be the first of its kind, presenting a new spin on the league's annual all-star game. Replacing a full-contact exhibition with an expanded skills competition and flag football tournament, the February showcase could ultimately also be a stepping stone to even bigger changes down the road. When the NFL first announced details for the Pro Bowl Games in a memo to league personnel, it referred to the event as the "Replacement Event," suggesting the new format is merely a trial run. That is, in fact, the case, according to Anthony Storm, senior vice president of A. Smith & Co. Productions, which is behind this year's Pro Bowl Games. "I don't know what the NFL's future plans are," Storm tells CBS Sports, "but I know this is a great opportunity for us to grow the skills competition. And I know flag football is a big initiative over there. So I think there's a lot of room for growth. This is the first time we're expanding it into a … [Read more...] about 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games testing expanded skills competition, could be ‘bigger and better’ next season
NFL playoffs: Chiefs, Bengals, Eagles and 49ers – meet the teams battling it out to reach Super Bowl LVII in Arizona
We have our final four in the NFL playoffs! The Conference Championship games - effectively semi-finals ahead of Super Bowl LVII - take place this Sunday, live on Sky Sports NFL; here's your guide to the teams left battling for the right to make it to Arizona on February 12... AFC 1) Kansas City Chiefs AFC West division champions - 14-3 regular-season record Divisional Round result: 27-20 winners vs Jaguars (4) Head coach: Andy Reid is into his 10th season with the Chiefs, and this team has known only success since he's been there, missing out on the playoffs just once in 2014 - albeit still securing a winning record at 9-7, the only time his team failed to reach 10 wins. With victory over the Jaguars in the divisional round of the playoffs, Kansas City clinched a fifth-straight appearance in the AFC Championship game under Reid. Key man: The uber-talented Patrick Mahomes, of course. The 27-year-old is favourite to win a second league MVP title this season … [Read more...] about NFL playoffs: Chiefs, Bengals, Eagles and 49ers – meet the teams battling it out to reach Super Bowl LVII in Arizona
College basketball power rankings: Xavier slides into top 10 after win at UConn; Alabama makes move to No. 1
USATSI STORRS, Conn. — Rare is the occasion that my power rankings opens with a dateline, but I was in the building Wednesday night for Xavier's 82-79 win over UConn, a top-20 Big East affair. So this week's Hey Nineteen will start there. What began as a Xavier bombardment ended in a gripping Musketeers escape inside a bumping Gampel Pavilion, which at a few points hit ear-splitting levels after Connecticut managed to cut a 17-point second-half deficit down to a one-possession game. "That was the loudest building I've ever been in," Xavier associate head coach Adam Cohen told me outside the team locker room after the win. Xavier led wire to wire, opening the game 9-0 in the first four minutes, then bloating its lead to 15 points by halftime — a margin that would prove pivotal after UConn made a couple of second-half pushes to bring some much-needed drama to the best matchup of the night in college basketball. UConn's Jordan Hawkins had 28, the second-highest point … [Read more...] about College basketball power rankings: Xavier slides into top 10 after win at UConn; Alabama makes move to No. 1
Michigan State vs. Iowa prediction, odds: 2023 college basketball picks, Jan. 26 best bets from proven model
USATSI A Big Ten battle on Thursday night features the Iowa Hawkeyes (12-7) traveling to take on the Michigan State Spartans (13-7). The Hawkeyes look to get back on track after having their four-game win streak halted. On Saturday, Iowa fell to Ohio State 93-77. Meanwhile, Michigan State has dropped three of its past four matchups. On Jan. 22, Indiana beat the Spartans 82-69. Tipoff from the Bresil Center in East Lansing is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Spartans are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Iowa vs. Michigan State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 147.5. Before making any Michigan State vs. Iowa picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model . The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 12 of the season 45-26 on all-top rated college basketball picks , returning more … [Read more...] about Michigan State vs. Iowa prediction, odds: 2023 college basketball picks, Jan. 26 best bets from proven model
College basketball rankings: Alabama and Tennessee separating themselves from rest of SEC pack
CBS Sports graphic Alabama beat Mississippi State 66-63 on Wednesday while Tennessee blasted Georgia 70-41. That means the Crimson Tide and Volunteers remain alone in first and second, respectively, in the SEC standings and seem to be separating from the rest of the league -- at least as it pertains to national relevance and NCAA Tournament seeding. Both Alabama and Tennessee are projected top-two seeds for the NCAA Tournament , according to CBS Sports Bracketology expert Jerry Palm. I would agree with that sentiment — evidence being that I have Alabama No. 2 and Tennessee No. 8 in Thursday morning's updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings. No other SEC school is in my top 20, however, nor better than a 6-seed in Palm's latest projected bracket, all of which suggests there's a sizable gap between Alabama/Tennessee and everybody else in the conference. Does that mean the SEC is a two-team race? Not necessarily. Texas A&M won at Auburn 79-63 … [Read more...] about College basketball rankings: Alabama and Tennessee separating themselves from rest of SEC pack
LOOK: College basketball game stopped after fake delivery man walks onto court in apparent prank
A food delivery gone wrong that briefly caused a stoppage in Wednesday night's Loyola Chicago vs. Duquesne game may not have been the accidental moment of hilarity it initially appeared. A delivery man, who walked right onto the court and into the center of action almost as if he was a part of the team, nearly collided with players in the corner as he was seemingly preparing to deliver to a customer. On its face, it appeared that a delivery man had an oopsie captured on live television that briefly disrupted a Division I game in the Atlantic 10. Even the announcers were taken aback. "Somebody came on the floor on the far side," said the TV commentary team . "I think that's an Uber Eats sticker [on the bag]. Uber Eats, yes! Was he going to deliver McDonald's to someone on the court?" Multiple people inside the building in Pittsburgh on hand for the game tweeted on social media that, indeed, it was an Uber Eats delivery person. The commentary is excellent hahaha … [Read more...] about LOOK: College basketball game stopped after fake delivery man walks onto court in apparent prank
Bronny James recruitment: Ranking the best college basketball fits for LeBron James’ son
Getty Images The most famous recruit in the Class of 2023 also stands as the last uncommitted prospect. Four-star Bronny James, the eldest son of Lakers star LeBron James, is still deciding where he will take his talents next season (though, to be clear, South Beach has been ruled out). Bronny is reportedly down to a final three of Ohio State , Oregon and USC , each of which offers something unique to him and his prospects of developing into a future NBA player. Ranked No. 34 in his class, it's no sure thing he'll have a path straight to the pros, much less as a one-and-done. However, his development in recent months suggests his high IQ, selfless play and shooting ability from the guard spot has at least positioned him to join his father in the NBA. So where will he land after his high school career at Sierra Canyon comes to an end? Which finalists are in the best position to secure his commitment? Let's dive a little deeper below into his options with a look at … [Read more...] about Bronny James recruitment: Ranking the best college basketball fits for LeBron James’ son
2023 NFL playoffs: Breaking down 49ers-Eagles trench matchup for the ages ahead of NFC Championship game
Getty Images The NFC Championship game between the 49ers and Eagles will be an old-school slugfest with a new-school twist. The new school would be the 49ers' position-less football and Kyle Shanahan's motion offense, and the Eagles' RPO attack led by MVP finalist Jalen Hurts . Sure, there are superstar playmakers all over the field, but make no mistake, this game will still be one for the football purists, fought and won in the trenches. "I expect it to be a battle all the way through," 49ers linebacker Fred Warner told reporters on Wednesday . "Both the Cowboys and Eagles are physical and talented teams who are really fast and have a lot of talent. Just like it was a battle this past week [against Dallas], I'm expecting that, if not more, this week, them being in their home stadium, home crowd behind them. They're going to be juiced up, ready to go." Both teams come in highly rated up front. The Eagles have the No. 1 pass block and pass rush grades at Pro … [Read more...] about 2023 NFL playoffs: Breaking down 49ers-Eagles trench matchup for the ages ahead of NFC Championship game
Chiefs vs. Bengals odds, start time, prediction: 2023 AFC Championship Game picks by NFL expert who’s 29-16
USATSI The Cincinnati Bengals will seek their second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the 2023 AFC Championship Game. This is a rematch of last year's AFC title game in which the Bengals overcame an 18-point deficit to prevail 27-24 in overtime and advance to Super Bowl 56, where they fell 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams . Last week, Kansas City staved off the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20 in the divisional round, while Cincinnati dominated from the outset in a 27-10 road victory over the Buffalo Bills . Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET from Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs are one-point favorites in the latest Chiefs vs. Bengals odds from Caesars Sportsbook and the over/under for total points scored is 47. Before locking in any Bengals vs. Chiefs picks, make sure you check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine senior analyst Larry Hartstein . A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, … [Read more...] about Chiefs vs. Bengals odds, start time, prediction: 2023 AFC Championship Game picks by NFL expert who’s 29-16