NBA Update, MLB Free Agency, 2019 Peach Bowl, NHL Update, College Basketball Review

The Dallas Mavericks ended the Milwaukee Bucks winning streak, a big shakeup in the 2020 World Series odds, and the Korean Zombie beat a UFC legend in front of his home nation fans. Check out what happened this past week in the sports world!

Weekly Sports Update – Dec. 23rd Edition

Weekly Sports Update – Dec. 23rd Edition

NBA: Mavericks End Milwaukee’s Streak, But Giannis Beats Lakers

Milwaukee’s winning streak was up to 18. Most thought they’d get by the Dallas Mavericks no problem. After all, the Mavs had to play without Luka Doncic. Where would Doncic’s 29.3 points and 8.9 assists per come from?

But surprises reign in the NBA this season. Even without Doncic, the Mavs managed a 120-116 win over the Bucks. Kristaps Porzingis scored 29 points. He grabbed 12 boards. Point guard Jalen Brunson had 11 assists.

What does the win say about the Mavericks? As of December 22, the Dallas Mavericks are 19-9. They’re 4 ½ games behind the L.A. Lakers for the best record in the Western Conference. They’ve won without Luka Doncic, who won’t be back until late January.

Since Doncic took to the bench, the Mavericks beat the Bucks, lost to the Celtics, and dominated the 76ers 117-98. They played the Raptors tough in a close 107-108 loss on Sunday. Once Doncic returns, the Mavericks should be better. They can hang with both Los Angeles teams and the Houston Rockets in the West.

As for Milwaukee, the loss didn’t hamper them at all. Two days later, the Bucks bounced back with a huge 111-104 win over the Lakers. Milwaukee then put a 123-102 beating onto the Knicks. The Bucks remain the most feared squad in the NBA while Dallas fans have a lot to look forward to.  

MLB: Post Free Agency Shakes Up 2020 World Series Odds

After World Series Game 7, odds makers set Houston as the 2020 Fall Classic favorite. The Astros might lose Gerrit Cole, the odds makers reasoned, but they still had the top rotation in baseball.

Not anymore. The New York Yankees signed Cole a couple of weeks ago. The signing caused odds makers to scramble because Cole heads up the new best rotation in baseball. The New York Yankees have 4 starters that can throw. Cole, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and James Paxton.

More importantly for the Yankees, they had one of the top bullpens in MLB this season. Oh, yes, the Yankees can also hit. New York averaged 5.82 runs per game. That was the best in Major League Baseball.

In 2020, the Yankees have the top starting rotation, the top batting line-up, and the ninth ranked bullpen based on ERA. No wonder the new World Series odds has the Yankees at +300.

The Yankees are such huge favorites to win the World Series that the next 2 choices are double their odds. Both the Astros and L.A. Dodgers are at +600. Following the Stros and Dodgers are 4 NL teams: the Atlanta Braves at +1000, the Washington Nationals at +1200, Philadelphia Phillies at +1300, and St. Louis Cardinals at +1500.

The next choice from the American League after the Yankees and Astros are the Boston Red Sox and L.A. Angels both at +1800.

Can anyone beat the Yankees? Not according to the early odds. This is baseball, though. Anything can happen, including injuries to key players. Then again, the Yankees almost grabbed the best regular season record with Luis Severino on the bench almost the entire season. So, yes, if any team is worth backing at low odds, it’s the 2020 New York Yankees.

NHL: St. Louis Blues Not Playing Like a Satisfied Team

After championships, many teams rest on their laurels. Not the St. Louis Blues. St. Louis won the 2019 Stanley Cup a big underdog. They weren’t supposed to win the Western Conference. Boston was supposed to beat them in the championship series.

Maybe, that’s why the Blues are playing as if they have something to prove. As of Dec. 22, St. Louis has a 23-8-3-3 record. They’ve got 52 points. That’s 5 points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche in the Central Division. Not only that, but their record makes the Blues the top team in the Western Conference.

St. Louis has shown no signs of slowing down. It’s rare for a defending Stanley Cup Champion to repeat. The Pittsburgh Penguins won it in 2016 and 2017. But the last team to win back-to-back before the Pens were the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.

St. Louis believes it can pull off the back-to-back. Right now, St. Louis is fourth choice at +1200. Colorado, Boston, and Washington offer lower odds. If you believe in the Blues, jump on them at those sweet odds.

UFC: Korean Zombie Beats Frankie Edgar

The Korean Zombie took care of business this past Saturday night.Fighting in front of his countrymen, Chan Sung Jung dropped the great Frankie Edgar with a sharp left early in the fight. He got the TKO win against Frankie at the 3 minutes, 18 seconds mark in the first round.

With the win, the Zombie put himself into a position for a title fight. Edgar was ranked fourth heading into the bout. Sung Jung should at least climb to that position, head of Yair Rodriguez.

For Frankie, the fight showed that it might be time for the legend to hang them up. For over a decade Edgar has fought at UFC. Up until facing the Korean Zombie he managed to put on a good show. Frankie showed nothing on Saturday night.

If Frankie Edgar does retire, he retires with his head held high.  

College Basketball: Zags Look Like a Sure 1-Seed

After the first month in college basketball, a single thing seems for sure. The Gonzaga Bulldogs should grab the 1-seed in the West. The Zags beat Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and North Carolina this season. The only team they struggled against was Michigan.

Also, the Zags play nobody of note from now until the end of the regular season. With 4 big wins already on their belt, who figures to beat Gonzaga for the 1-seed? Not Arizona and Zona might be the only team that can hang with Zags out west.

Write Gonzaga in for the top seed in the West. Unless they suffer a big injury or two they should run the table.

College Football: Oklahoma Suspends 3 for Playoff Battle Against LSU

Oklahoma Sooners football coach Lincoln Riley has suspended 3 players for the College Football Playoff Semifinal Peach Bowl battle against LSU. The 3 players are DE Ronnie Perkins, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, and WR Trejan Bridges.

Suspending  Stevenson and Bridges won’t sting much. Suspending Perkins might. Perkins had 38 tackles, 6 sacks, and 6 quarterback hurries. 13 of his tackles went for a loss.

Without Perkins, Oklahoma will have trouble containing Joe Burrow. Then again, this game won’t come down to defense. Oklahoma won’t stop Burrow. LSU won’t stop Sooner quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The Peach Bowl could be one of those “who has the final possession” football games. That should make it super exciting if you like scoring. Have a great week!

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