College Football Championship Weekend Promises Epic Showdowns
Fred, Art, and Laura are looking forward to the Big Ten Championship featuring top-ranked Indiana against second-ranked Ohio State. Can Indiana’s undefeated season survive the nation’s deepest roster, led by Buckeyes’ sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin and coordinator Matt Patricia’s dominant defense? Will Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff continue his redemption story with a conference win? And are NFL coaches too reliant on analytics over game management, as Eagles coach Nick Sirianni’s controversial late-game two-point attempt suggests?
A Veritable Feast for Sports Fans
Fred, Art, Laura, and Mark are excited about football’s compelling matchups for Thanksgiving weekend. Will Joe Burrow’s lingering injury concerns be an issue as Cincinnati faces Baltimore? With the Rams’ continuing upward trajectory, due in great part to Matthew Stafford’s streak of 27 consecutive touchdowns without an interception, is Sean McVay cementing his legacy as an all-time great coach? In college football, USC enters Rivalry Week as massive 27-point favorites over UCLA at the Coliseum. Could the struggling Bruins channel past upset magic? And what new revelations will we learn about A-Rod in HBO’s three-part baseball documentary?
UCLA Athletics Struggles in SoCal
Fred, Art, and Laura highlight a troubling divide in the SoCal sports scene as UCLA Athletics continues its descent from prominence. The Bruins’ program, once holder of 24 national championships, now finds relevance only in two sports. As Athletic Director Martin Jarmond faces mounting criticism for questionable hires, including basketball coach Mick Cronin, who controversially benched four starters as punishment following the Arizona loss, can UCLA’s storied tradition be salvaged? Will Cody Bellinger return to the Dodgers over a pricier Kyle Tucker? And could the proposed 2027 labor negotiations finally establish spending minimums for competitive balance in the MLB?
Surprising Performances in the NFL
Fred, Art, and Laura are less than enthusiastic about the New England Patriots’ latest jersey color, but marvel at their NFL lead, powered by rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s impressive development. Can they sustain this unexpected surge? Is Matt Stafford the MVP favorite, having thrown 20 touchdowns without an interception over six games and positioning the Rams atop the power rankings before Sunday’s Seattle showdown? Does Lincoln Riley’s deceptive play against Northwestern, which drew Big Ten sanctions for USC, cross ethical lines? And as fifth-ranked Arizona visits undefeated UCLA in college basketball, will Mick Cronin’s volatile coaching style help or hurt the Bruins?
Performance vs Character for MLB Hall of Fame
Fred, Art, Laura, and Matthew weigh in on the latest Baseball Hall of Fame candidates, including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, and Fernando Valenzuela. Will steroid-era controversies prevent Bonds and Clemens from reaching the required 75%, while clean candidates like Mattingly and Murphy gain induction? Is Don Mattingly’s rumored new position with Philadelphia as bench coach a trial run before replacing Rob Thomson? As the Cowboys struggle following Micah Parsons’ trade, has management’s decision poisoned team morale? And will the 49ers stick with hot hand Mac Jones or honor Brock Purdy’s $300 million contract?
Dodgers Face Halloween Elimination in Toronto
Fred, Art, Mark, Laura, and Matthew contemplate the scary possibility of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ elimination in Game 6 on Halloween against the Toronto Blue Jays, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound as their last hope. Despite baseball’s most expensive roster, the Dodgers’ bats are cold, and Mookie Betts’ struggles at shortstop have raised questions about management decisions. Can L.A. overcome fatigue and Toronto’s momentum to become the first National League repeat champions since the Reds? Who will be found responsible for the accidental death of Angels’ pitcher Tyler Skaggs? And has Baker Mayfield emerged as the NFL MVP frontrunner?
A True Blue World Series
Fred, Art, Mark, Laura, and Matthew handicap the 2025 World Series as heavy 2-to-1 favorites Los Angeles Dodgers face the Toronto Blue Jays. Has Dave Roberts’ strategic deployment of his roster in the postseason laid the foundation for a World Series win? Will Shohei Ohtani’s spectacular power surge continue as the Blue Jays counter with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? Could the frigid 40-degree Toronto weather slow the dominance of L.A.’s finest? Can UCLA keep up the winning streak against Indiana? And is Aaron Rodgers ready to conquer his former division rivals as the Packers battle the Steelers in Pittsburgh?
Are Traditional College Football Rivalries a Thing of the Past?
Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are uneasy about the future of historic college football rivalries in the constant reshuffling of the major conferences. Will the upcoming USC-Notre Dame game, which has featured legends like Howard Jones, be the last of its kind? Can the UCLA Bruins gain bowl eligibility under the guidance of Jerry Neuheisel after a rocky start to the season? Should quarterbacks call out teammates for a poor performance as Tua Tagovailoa did? Is Baker Mayfield’s remarkable transformation worthy of an MVP title? And are the Dodgers a shoo-in for the World Series?
A Bumpy Road for College Football
Fred, Art, Mark, Laura, and Matthew speculate on the future of various high-profile college football programs as surprises continue to occur. Can Lincoln Riley’s top-level Trojan recruiting class live up to expectations, or will the Wolverines prove too much to handle? How did Jerry Neuheisel emerge as a possible head coaching candidate at UCLA? Will Arch Manning overcome recent struggles and silence critics in the Red River rivalry? Is an overhaul on the horizon for the New York Yankees? And should LeBron James be on basketball’s all-time top five list?
The Struggle is Real
Fred, Art, Mark, and Matthew DiBiase fear that UCLA football has hit rock bottom, entering their Penn State matchup as 24-point underdogs, with most Rose Bowl fans expected to show up for the Nittany Lions. Could Tim Skipper be what the Bruins need to start winning again? In the Dodgers-Phillies NLDS, can Philadelphia’s rotation overcome a five-day layoff against L.A.’s star-studded pitching staff that includes closer Roki Sasaki? Does Rob Thomson need a deep playoff run to save his Phillies’ job? And in the NFL, will Jaxson Dart prove himself as the Giants’ long-term answer against New Orleans?