(Tim Hubbard / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 10-4 (.714); season 45-33 (.577). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 8-6 (.571); season 40-37-1 (.520). Times Pacific. Off: …

Ezekiel Elliott’s NFL career has come full circle. The former Ohio State running back was selected fourth overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 NFL draft. He spent seven years there before joining the New England Patriots for a season and returned to Dallas in April as a free agent. Over that time, he’s recorded 9,002 rushing yards and …

Greg Wyshynski, ESPNOct 10, 2024, 07:00 AM ET CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. Coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs can change a person. Decades of playoff futility keep expectations excruciatingly unmet. The constant scrutiny from media and fans is enough to unnerve the confident and harden the affable. “I don’t know if ‘harden’ is the right word, but it’s …

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will remain the starter this week, and coach Kevin Stefanski said he gave no consideration to benching him. “I know you can take out plays and look at that and there’s obviously plays that Deshaun wants back,” Stefanski said, via Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan. “There’s calls that I want back. That happens in the …

As we just learned during what was expected to be a relatively mundane week of college football games, some results are impossible to see coming even for the so-called experts. Your intrepid panel presses on, however, to a Week 7 slate featuring three Top 25 showdowns. Headlining the weekend is the first major test in its new conference for No. …

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens may be hit with a fine in the coming days. The NFL is investigating the explicit message that Pickens wrote on his eye black during their 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. Pickens had the phrase “Open F***ing Always” written in silver across his eye black …

Sep 21, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; James Madison Dukes quarterback Alonza Barnett III (14) reacts in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Get ready for an exciting week 7 of the college football season, continuing on Thursday with three thrilling matchups. Coastal Carolina ignites the night’s action against James Madison and UTEP …

The Bengals have designated cornerback DJ Ivey to return from the reserve/physically unable to perform list, the team announced Wednesday. It opens Ivey’s 21-day window, though the Bengals can activate Ivey at any time in that period. Ivey, a seventh-round pick in 2023, went on the reserve list Aug. 27 with a knee injury. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament …

When projecting whether teams possess the goods to make the College Football Playoff, we examine factors including schedule strength, quality of a depth chart, transfer haul, program pedigree and coaching momentum. Every element matters, but we tend to overcomplicate this. LSU’s Brian Kelly cut through the clutter when he boiled down the difference between college football’s haves and the have …

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said at his Wednesday press conference that wide receiver Malik Nabers is making progress in the concussion protocol, but there’s still a bit more he has to do before he’s cleared to play again. Nabers was a non-participant in practice on Wednesday. He can still be cleared in time to play the Bengals on Sunday …

When the team returns to its normal schedule next week, there might be hurt feelings around the Texas Tech football coaching staff. Head coach Joey McGuire said Wednesday that while the Red Raiders (5-1, 3-0) are atop the Big 12 standings, have won four straight games and had its best defensive performance of the season in Saturday’s 28-22 win over …

The Colts had quarterback Anthony Richardson on the practice field Wednesday, but other key offensive players were not taking part in the session. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) both sat out the practice session. Taylor did not play in last Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, but Pittman has not missed any games this …

PISCATAWAY – After suffering its first loss of the season on the road at Nebraska, Rutgers football will be back at home on Saturday for another Big Ten test. The Scarlet Knights will host Wisconsin at SHI Stadium looking to earn their fifth win of the season and beat the Badgers for the first time in program history. While Wisconsin, …

The Seahawks won’t have at least three of their starters as they host the 49ers on Thursday night. Seattle has ruled out cornerback Riq Woolen (ankle), defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (hamstring), and edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu (thigh). Nwosu is set to be placed on injured reserve after he just returned from a knee injury. Three more players are listed …

When you think of the Manning family and quarterbacks, that’s a pretty good combination. Army’s Bryson Daily may not have that ESPN and commercial appeal of brothers Peyton and Eli just yet, but he can claim a tie to their namesake. On Wednesday, Daily was named the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Daily …