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?
College Football Chaos
Fred, Art, Laura, and Mark question the Big Ten’s scheduling priorities after USC’s 45-31 victory over Michigan State didn’t end until 2:50 a.m. Eastern. Could Cleveland Browns coordinator Tommy Rees, whose father coached at UCLA for years, be the answer to revive the struggling Bruins program? Can Dolphins’ coach Mike McDaniel survive a 0-3 record, or will Monday’s Jets matchup seal his fate? Is the Giants’ decision to start rookie Jaxson Dart against the undefeated Chargers bold leadership or premature? And does Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh’s unprecedented season of 60 home runs while catching 150 games deserve MVP recognition over Aaron Judge’s consistent excellence?
UCLA Football Crisis Deepens with Firing of Foster
Fred, Art, and Laura wonder if UCLA’s DeShaun Foster was at a disadvantage going into the Big Ten, resulting in his firing. Who should the Bruins bring in to help turn around the floundering team? Why hasn’t Eric Bieniemy gotten a shot at a major program after decades of success as an NFL coordinator? With NFL officials unable to properly referee Jalen Hurts’ nearly unstoppable “tush-push” play, should the league ban this rugby-like formation? And could Jake Retzlaff, who left BYU for Tulane after honor code violations, upset Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss squad amid disappearing traditional rivalries?
MLB Pitchers Look to Make History
Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura marvel as Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes emerges as baseball’s newest phenom, 65 years after Sandy Koufax’s perfect game against the Cubs. Can he sustain his Koufax-like dominance? Is Aroldis Chapman’s streak of retiring 50 consecutive batters, which finally ended when Oakland’s Shea Langeliers connected for a double, one for the history books? Will Pete Carroll’s proven turnaround magic work in the Raiders’ matchup against the Chargers, despite Las Vegas being three-point underdogs? And as UCLA faces New Mexico at the Rose Bowl, is this game a critical test for coach DeShaun Foster?
Global Expansion vs Friday Night Lights
Fred, Art, Laura, and Matthew join the debate over the NFL’s scheduling conflicts with high school football as the league expands globally with Friday’s Chiefs-Chargers game in São Paulo, Brazil. Should international growth override traditional Friday night protections? LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer faces potential sanctions for allegedly circumventing salary cap rules to pay Kawhi Leonard an extra $28 million through a sham sponsorship deal. Will there be serious penalties? And as Buffalo’s Sean McDermott enters Sunday’s Ravens matchup carrying seven playoff losses, while UCLA’s DeShaun Foster is under scrutiny after a 43-10 defeat, can either coach overcome their recent struggles?
It’s That Time Again!
Fred, Art, and Laura are concerned about college football’s future as the sport returns with a packed weekend. Has the transfer portal and NIL fundamentally changed the emotional connection between fans and constantly shifting players? Will expanding the College Football Playoff from 12 to potentially 28 teams destroy the traditional bowl system and regular season significance? Can Ohio State overcome its inexperienced defense and untested quarterback Julian Sayin against Texas and Arch Manning in Saturday’s marquee Columbus showdown? And should players receive direct compensation from the $4 million schools earn per playoff victory, as Nick Saban suggests?