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McCutchen and Walker are teammates again Story behind 'GoldenEye 007' is one to read What I'm Watching Now: GLOW PC’s Picks: NFL Week 1 PC’s Picks: NCAA Week 2, Part 2 PC’s Picks: 2018 Parameters

[sportsbypc]

PC’S PICKS: NFL Week 1

Here are Sunday's picks as the NFL kicks into gear:

SUNDAY

Buffalo at Baltimore* (-7.5)

Pittsburgh* (-3.5) at Cleveland

Cincinnati* at Indianapolis (-2.5)

Tennessee (-1) at Miami*

San Francisco at Minnesota* (-6.5)

Houston at New England* (-6)

Tampa Bay at New Orleans* (-9.5)

Jacksonville* (-3) at New York Giants

Kansas City at Los Angeles Chargers* (-3.5)

Washington* at Arizona (-1.5)

Dallas at Carolina* (-3)

Seattle* at Denver (-3)

Chicago at Green Bay* (-7)

MONDAY

New York Jets at Detroit* (-6.5)

Los Angeles Rams* (-4) at Oakland

KEY:

*denotes pick versus the spread.

[sportsbypc]

PC’s PICKS: NCAA Week 2, Part 2

Heading into today's slate, my NCAA picks are 29-13-2 with LOCKS going 6-3.

Here's today's action:

Liberty* at Army (-9)

Arizona* at Houston (-3.5)

Mississippi State (-9) at Kansas State*

Western Michigan at Michigan* (-28)

Duke at Northwestern*+ (-2.5)

Eastern Michigan at Purdue* (-16.5)

Georgia Tech* (-3.5) at South Florida

Nevada at Vanderbilt* (-8.5)

New Mexico* at Wisconsin (-34.5)

Georgia State* at North Carolina State (-24.5)

UCLA* at Oklahoma (-30)

Air Force* at Florida Atlantic (-9.5)

Kansas* at Central Michigan (-5)

Arkansas State* at Alabama (-36.5)

North Carolina (-17) at East Carolina*

Memphis (-7) at Navy*

Colorado at Nebraska* (-3)

Ball State* at Notre Dame (-34.5)

Rutgers at Ohio State* (-35)

Georgia* (-10) at South Carolina

Buffalo* at Temple (-5)

Iowa State at Iowa* (-4)

Maryland*+ (-16) at Bowling Green

Clemson (-12) at Texas A&M*

Baylor (-15) at Texas-San Antonio*

Kentucky* at Florida (-14)

Virginia* at Indiana (-6.5)

Fresno State at Minnesota*+ (-2.5)

Utah (-10) at Northern Illinois*

Cincinnati*+ at Miami (Ohio) (-1)

South Alabama at Oklahoma State* (-32)

Penn State* (-9) at Pittsburgh

Tulsa at Texas* (-23)

Southern California at Stanford* (-5.5)

California* at Brigham Young (-3)

Connecticut at Boise State* (-31)

Michigan State*+ (-6) at Arizona State

San Jose State at Washington State* (-34)

Rice at Hawaii* (-17.5)

KEY:

*denotes pick versus the spread.

+denotes pick that is one of my LOCKS.

[sportsbypc]

PC’s PICKS: NCAA Week 2, Part 1

We didn't learn much in a 55-7 pounding last week of Southern, but Texas Christian is a work in progress that will, more than likely and as for usual, be in the hunt in the Big 12.

Shawn Robinson was the highest-rated recruit in TCU history and takes the reins this season under center.

In last week's rout, Robinson thew for three touchdowns and ran for another pair. For a team with a young quarterback, getting your feet wet versus an inferior opponent is sometimes invaluable and undoubtedly good practice.

TOUCHDOWN! Shawn Robinson with the QB keeper for his first career rushing TD! TCU 10, SU 0 | 1Q, 8:46 pic.twitter.com/HGKcMmQVt2

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) September 1, 2018

SOLID SOPHOMORE: TCU sophomore quarterback Shawn Robinson passed and ran for a combined five touchdowns last week in his first start for the Horned Frogs.

Even former TCU quarterback Kenny Hill has high praise for the sophomore.

“This dude, Shawn, is unbelievable,” Hill told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. “He doesn’t even know what he’s doing yet, so just to see him each day he’s building more confidence, getting more comfortable with the offense. It’s been fun to watch, especially from last year as a freshman to now. It’s been cool.”

Tonight, the Horned Frogs visit Southern Methodist, who is coming off a 46-23 beating by North Texas which wasn't even that close.

In the loss, though, junior quarterback Ben Hicks passed for 252 yards, completing half his throws against the Mean Green defense.

TCU is a 22.5-point favorite tonight and I like them as a LOCK.

* * * * *

Here's how my picks have fared so far:

NCAA WEEK 1: 28-13-2

LOCKS: 5-3

NCAA OVERALL: 28-13-2

NFL WEEK 1: 0-1

NFL OVERALL: 0-1

OVERALL: 28-14-2 (.636)

Tonight's pick: Atlanta (PK) over Philadelphia.

— Patrick Connelly (@thatswhatPCsaid) September 6, 2018

SAD! START: My NFL picks got off on the wrong foot as Philadelphia held off a late comeback by Atlanta for an 18-12 win.

[sportsbypc]

PC’s PICKS: NCAA Week 1, Part 6

Florida State is a 7-point favorite tonight as quarterback Deondre Francois returns to the field for the Seminoles for the first time since last season's opener.

Francois, coming off a stellar 2016 campaign with before-then high expectations for 2017, fell to the ground with a knee injury after being hit by an Alabama player. Francois exited the game in the second half and Alabama went on to win 24-7.

Deondre Francois opens up about his return as Florida State starting quarterback.https://t.co/dqUmQ94MRx pic.twitter.com/EjUekpZrbQ

— 247Sports (@247Sports) September 3, 2018

RETOUR DE DEONDRE: Deondre Francois returns under center for Florida State tonight, taking his first snap since being sidelined with a knee injury in last season's opener versus Alabama.

“Instantly I knew something was wrong,” Francois told ESPN in a piece that aired this weekend that is now on YouTube. Amidst his recovery, he had also had a spat with the law.

CATCHING UP WITH THE QB: Francois talked to ESPN about the injury, everything since then and what he's done to get back and on the road to cleaning up his personal life.

The Seminoles finished the 2017 season an ugly 7-6 – losing to North Carolina State, Miami, Louisville, Clemson and suffering a 35-3 bludgeoning by Boston College – as four quarterbacks tried to make the Florida State offense click.

After the season, head coach Jimbo Fisher received an offer he couldn't refuse to take the reins at Texas A&M. Florida State coaxed former South Florida coach to take the job after just one season at Oregon and, here we are now, with the Seminoles and Francois finally ready to exorcise some demons as they open with Virginia Tech at home in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash.

“It’ll be fun, you know,” Taggart told the Orlando Sentinel. “I told our guys, you know, everybody will be watching us. It’s Labor Day. Nothing else going on. All your life, you grow up watching Monday night football and now our guys get to play.”

Redshirt sophomore Josh Jackson (not that Josh Jackson) gets the nod at quarterback for head coach Justin Fuente's Hokies, coming off a season where he completed just about 60 percent of his passes while throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and Virginia Tech finished 9-4.

Josh Jackson has broken Michael Vick's record for most passing yards in a season by a freshman in Virginia Tech history. pic.twitter.com/Y5qgJth2Bg

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 29, 2017

MIGHTY ACCOMPLISHMENT: Josh Jackson's putting together a storied career at Virginia Tech, eclipsing former Hokies' quarterback Michael Vick's single-season passing mark a year ago.

The Hokies return just five starters on defense but do have Adonis Alexander back to anchor the secondary. Florida State, meanwhile, has only four back. It's the first meeting between the ACC schools somehow since 2012, when then-No. 10 Florida State topped Virginia Tech, 28-22.

* * * * *

Miami, obviously didn't fare so hot Sunday night, bringing my mark on the week to 28-12-2. LOCKS are now less lock-y at 5-3.

I like Jackson and Fuente to have another solid year but, tonight, given the new guys getting their footing with the Hokie defense, I'll take Florida State in Taggart's debut and the points in what I think may be a high-scoring affair.

[sportsbypc]

PC’s PICKS: NCAA Week 1, Part 5

Ed Orgeron's in a nearly impossible position.

Louisiana State wants a winner now, while Orgeron, starting what would be his second full season with the Tigers if the school lets him see it through, has his work cut out for him in making the most with a team that has holes, a cast-off from Ohio State at quarterback and, overall, is one of the most inexperienced young teams in the country.

LSU, a gracious No. 25 in the Associated Press preseason poll, opens tonight against No. 8 Miami at the Deathstar, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Will Ed Orgeron see his proverbial seat cool or get scalding hot after #LSU meets #Miami today? Get a #TopWager on #LSUvsMIA here: https://t.co/KhMo33gvQY pic.twitter.com/KFoJqvmRWS

— VegasInsider.com (@TwitVI) September 2, 2018

LOSING THEIR EDGE: If things don't go swimmingly in 2018 for the Tigers, Ed Orgeron's time at Louisiana State may be over sooner than later.

Starting at quarterback for the Tigers will be Joe Burrow, who threw just 39 passes in two years with the Buckeyes in 2016 and 2017 behind J.T. Barrett.

Orgeron and LSU finished a respectable 9-4 in 2017 with a 6-2 mark in the Southeastern Conference. This year, the schedule isn't quite as kind as the Tigers, aside from opening with Miami, LSU faces Auburn and an improved Florida on the road and get Alabama in Baton Rouge, but it's a week where the Crimson Tide come off a bye.

Upstart Miami, back with veteran coach Mark Richt now in his third year, cruised to 10-0 in 2017 before being surprised by Pittsburgh and falling to Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game.

The Hurricanes have seven starters back on each side of the ball, including senior quarterback Malik Rosier.

They’ve had growing pains together, but UM’s Mark Richt and Malik Rosier ready to roll. https://t.co/EXo5x8e8fX pic.twitter.com/IzGnayIlHw

— Miami Herald Sports (@HeraldSports) September 2, 2018

HURRICANE MALIK: Miami quarterback Malik Rosier and head coach Mark Richt are back for another season, one where expectations are high for the Hurricanes.

Through Saturday night, my picks have gone 28-11-2 in this opening week, with LOCKS going 5-2.

I'll also call this game a LOCK this evening and take Miami and the points (-3.5).

[sportsbypc]

THIS BEST STUFF I SAW THIS WEEK: McCutchen and Walker are teammates again

Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen are back together.

McCutchen was traded to the New York Yankees late Thursday evening. The sagging San Francisco Giants were looking to make a move, while the Yankees were looking to add a bat for the team's run down the stretch and likely into the postseason.

It's August 31st and Andrew McCutchen is a New York Yankee. pic.twitter.com/yuIWnZrkeo

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2018

TOGETHER AGAIN: The newest New York Yankee, Andrew McCutchen, is together again with former Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Neil Walker, this time in the Bronx as they make a run at the American League pennant.

Walker and McCutchen, long-time teammates in Pittsburgh who helped end the Pirates epic losing run as a franchise with a wild-card berth in the 2013 postseason and a 94-68 record, last played together in 2015.

That year capped off a three-season run by the Pirates that saw the team make the playoffs during each campaign. The Pirates finished in second place each of those three seasons in the National League Central Division, behind the St. Louis Cardinals each time. In the seemingly surreal 2013 season when Pittsburgh snapped a streak of 20-straight losing seasons as a franchise, the Pirates edged Cincinnati in the then-inaugural “Wild Card Game” at PNC Park, which MLB had introduced just that year. They advanced to face St. Louis in the NL Divisional Series, falling 3-2.

Again in the Wild Card Game the subsequent two seasons, the Pirates fell to the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, respectively.

It was after that loss to the Cubs, the Pirates began dismantling the nucleus that had ushered in the sea change needed to move past the ineptness the franchise had seen for the two decades since 1992's loss in the postseason to the Atlanta Braves. Walker, with one year remaining on his contract with his hometown Pirates, was traded to the New York Mets for Jon Niese, a middling pitcher who, in August 2016, would be traded back to the Mets. Walker was again traded in 2017 as the Mets had fallen on hard times. This time, he was sent to Milwaukee. Walker signed with the Yankees for 2018.

This past offseason, after missing the playoffs in 2016 and 2017 and with his contract expiring in 2018, the Pirates dealt McCutchen to the Giants.

Walker's happy to have “Cutch” in his Yankee clubhouse.

"I talked to him (Friday) morning, and he's super excited," Walker said, according to the Yankees' website. "He's a guy who holds himself to a very high standard. He's always accountable and he thrives in big situations and the spotlight. He proved that in Pittsburgh. I think it's going to carry over into this stretch for us (here in New York)."

Manager Aaron Boone's happy with the acquisition, as well.

"This is as high character a person as we have in our game and I know he'll fit well in our room," he said.

McCutchen is expected to be in uniform today when the Yankees host the Detroit Tigers.

For me, it's been tough to be a bystander in what the Pirates have done as a franchise from the Walker trade forward. Things were set up well before then for the Pirates -- the franchise just needed to spend more money to keep thing intact. They chose otherwise. I've chosen not to watch.

Having Walker and McCutchen back on the same team, regardless of where it is, brings some solace to that in a roundabout way and I hope they, together, win a World Series.

MORE SPORTS

Johnny Manziel on joining the Browns: 'Can I go back to college?'

Since beginning his self-rebuild in the Canadian Football League, Johnny Manziel's seemed honest and contemplative – a stark contrast to the person he became in his whirlwind of a life since winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012 while the quarterback at Texas A&M and, later, in his short-lived first professional career with the NFL's Cleveland Browns.

In an interview on a web show hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, Manziel opened up a bit more.

"After that first year (at Texas A&M) and fame started to come, I couldn't help but eat it up," Manziel told Hart.

One of the funniest things I’ve ever been a part of coming out tomorrow. Appreciate the invite and the great talk @KevinHart4real @ratty @LOLNetwork @OBB #ColdAsBalls pic.twitter.com/2QlhIpJ9Gb

— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) August 27, 2018

LESSONS LEARNED: Johnny Manziel and comedian Kevin Hart got together for a bit to talk about Manziel's past and what he's learned moving forward.

"I don't expect people to look at my story and feel bad for me, Manziel added. “A lot of what I did was self-inflicted. I'm at a point now where I can look back, I can reflect and realize that I was one way. That was wrong. What can I do moving forward because I can't change how I was."

READ MORE

Chris Bosh is still considering an NBA comeback, but maybe not for much longer

Forced out of the NBA due to blood-clotting issues, former Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat star Chris Bosh is giving things one last shot in an effort to get back.

Bosh last played in 2016. Now 34, he sees this as his last opportunity and is working hard to find a team where he can fit in and play a role.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Bosh told Yahoo Sports. “I know I can still play some ball and be a 3-and-D guy for somebody out there.”

READ MORE

College football gambling manifesto

Still looking for some tips on teams to take a flier on in 2018 in NCAA Football? Chalk's David Purdum has a great guide.

READ MORE

Ed Oliver, Will Grier strike a pose with creative Heisman Trophy campaigns

ESPN takes a look inside what West Virginia quarterback Will Grier and others are doing to raise their Heisman profiles in our digital age.

READ MORE

ENTERTAINMENT

Riz Ahmed acts his way out of every cultural pigeonhole

Up-and-coming actor Riz Ahmed, of British-Pakastani descent, steals the show in just about everything he's in.

The New York Times profiled the 35-year-old actor for a piece leading up to the release of his next film, “Venom.”

THIS WEEK'S COVER: Riz Ahmed does not want to do away with categories; he wants them to be big enough to include reality. He wants them to encompass No Man’s Land. https://t.co/2CjEn7idxD pic.twitter.com/3QMCzzHyT2

— NYT Magazine (@NYTmag) August 29, 2018

ON THE RISE: Actor Riz Ahmed, who shined in 2016's "The Night Of" on HBO, stars in the upcoming film Venom.

If you have not yet watched HBO's 2016 miniseries, “The Night Of,” I cannot recommend it enough. Ahmed is outstanding alongside John Turturro and Michael K. Williams.

READ MORE

DIGITAL MARKETING

As domino’s expands its pothole paving to all 50 states, here’s how to bring it to your town

Yes, it really is an actual thing. AdWeek takes a look inside Domino's odd but innovative “Paving for Pizza” campaign.

READ MORE

.@Dominos is expanding its pothole paving to all 50 states. Here’s how to bring it to your town: https://t.co/z8hQUSvwWp pic.twitter.com/MDXrcDvkUj

— Adweek (@Adweek) August 31, 2018

PAVING FOR PIZZA: AdWeek takes a look inside the creative Domino's advertising campaign.

MISCELLANEOUS

Wikipedia's “Tale Spin” article

Remember the 90s cartoon on the “Disney Afternoon?” Wikipedia's in-depth article has so much documented that I had no idea were part of the show.

READ MORE

Someone who works at our local opshop/thrift shop just put Goldblums in every single photo frame in the store

This recent Tumblr post from Kiara in Australia is as creepy as it is cool.

CHECK IT OUT

[sportsbypc]

PC’s PICKS: NCAA Week 1, Part 4

At long last, we finally have a full slate of NCAA Football games on our hands.

The season, too, already kicks into high gear with some big match-ups around the country.

Through Friday' games, picks have gone 10-1-1 with LOCKS finishing 4-0.

Here's Saturday's board:

Kent State at Illinois* (-16.5)

Texas* (-13.5) vs. Maryland

Oregon State at Ohio State* (-38)

Florida Atlantic at Oklahoma* (-21)

Houston*+ (-25) at Rice

Texas State at Rutgers* (-16.5)

Coastal Carolina at South Carolina* (-29.5)

Mississippi* vs. Texas Tech (-2.5)

Massachusetts at Boston College* (-17.5)

Washington* vs. Auburn (-1.5)

Northern Illinois* at Iowa (-10.5)

Central Michigan at Kentucky* (-17)

Marshall* (-1) at Miami (Ohio)

Appalachian State at Penn State* (-23.5)

West Virginia* (-10) vs. Tennessee

Washington State* (-1) at Wyoming

UNLV at Southern California* (-26)

North Carolina* at California (-7)

Boise State*+ (-10.5) at Troy

Indiana (-10.5) at Florida International*

Cincinnati at UCLA*+ (-15)

Southern Methodist at North Texas* (-4.5)

Michigan at Notre Dame* (-1)

Middle Tennessee at Vanderbilt* (-2.5)

Louisville* vs. Alabama (-24.5)

Akron at Nebraska* (-24.5)

Bowling Green at Oregon* (-32)

Texas-San Antonio at Arizona State* (-18.5)

Brigham Young* at Arizona (-11.5)

Navy (-11.5) at Hawaii*

KEY:

*denotes pick versus the spread.

+denotes pick that is one of my LOCKS.

[sportsbypc]

PC’s PICKS: NCAA Week 1, Part 3

In a Week 3 tilt in 2017, San Diego State edged Stanford at home in a thriller, scoring a late touchdown for a 20-17 win after a delay for a power outage.

The win propelled San Diego State to a 10-3 season, falling only to Boise State, Fresno State, and upstart Army in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Hanging out with Coach Rocky Long at the Del Mar Fair!❤️🏈 • • •#GoAztecs#InRockyWeTrust#SDSUfootball#delmarfair pic.twitter.com/YUHulBIuoB

— SDSU Dance Team (@SDSUDanceTeam) June 23, 2018

PROGRAM TO WATCH: Already in his eighth year at San Diego State, head coach Rocky Long has made the Aztecs one of the most consistently-underrated programs on the west coast.

The Aztecs lost star running back Rashaad Penny, a first-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks, but return a third-year starter at quarterback in senior Christian Chapman, a strong, veteran offensive line and seven starters on defense.

San Diego State is poised to fight for the Mountain West crown again, but head coach Rocky Long's squad may not have enough firepower to upset Stanford this time around in a fair fight, particularly when the Cardinal have had all of the offseason to prepare for the Aztecs' troublesome 3-3-5 defense.

Stanford senior running back Bryce Love, the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2017, returns to lead the Cardinal.

Many around the program haven't been happy with the way David Shaw's Stanford teams have finished the past few years and the San Jose Mercury News believes he's on the hot seat.

I'm not sure that's accurate – the administration at Stanford's typically as conservative as its offense when it comes to coaches and allows a longer leash in all its sports in favor of consistent relative success. The Cardinal have only won fewer than nine games once (8 in 2014) since Shaw took the helm from Jim Harbaugh in 2011 and Shaw keeps Stanford in the national conversation time and time again.

To me, it's not hard to see Shaw's an elite coach and should honestly be in the NFL.

Sophomore K.J. Costello gets the call as Shaw's quarterback this season, coming off a campaign with a 59 percent completion percentage to go with his 14 touchdowns and 1,573 passing yards. He had split time Keller Chryst, a graduate transfer to Tennessee this past offseason who had come back from a knee injury sustained the season before.

Costello gets Stanford's top four receivers from a year ago all back to couple with Love coming out of the backfield behind Phil Steele's No. 4-rated offensive line. Pairing that with Stanford's systematic defense which returns six starters, the Cardinal and Love are expecting big things as they rightfully should in a winnable Pac-14.

In his own words. Why Wake Forest’s Bryce Love skipped the NFL draft to stay at #Stanford.https://t.co/beEGwIsfL8 pic.twitter.com/cyGseJzDY1

— Jessaca Giglio (@jessacagiglio) August 30, 2018

BACK AGAIN: North Carolina native Bryce Love is still hanging out at Stanford after the Heisman Trophy runner-up stuck around for another year rather than heading to the NFL.

“The sky’s the limit this year,” Love told the Associated Press. “We definitely have some experience. We have the weapons. It should be fun.”

Fourteen points tonight, however, is a lot for Stanford to cover in a game where Costello will be gaining his footing as the full-fledged starter and where he'll be limited due to the stingy 3-3-5 configuration of the Aztecs. That puts the onus on Love, and while he's undoubtedly capable, it's the opener and there's a lot riding on where Stanford could be long-term.

I'm not saying Love will be limited, but with Southern California already on the docket in Week 2, I don't anticipate he'll see more than 17 or 18 carries.

This is a roundabout way of saying San Diego State will keep it tight. Look for a Stanford win, but something along the lines of 24-17 or 33-23.

*****

Through last night, my picks have not yet posted a loss (Wake Forest and Tulane was a push after the Demon Deacons prevailed in overtime).

Overall, I'm 5-0-1 with LOCKS so far going 2-0.

Here's tonight's board for Week 1, Part 3.:

Syracuse*+ (-5.5) at Western Michigan

Army at Duke* (-13.5)

Utah State* at Michigan State (-23.5)

San Diego State at Stanford* (-14)

Western Kentucky* at Wisconsin (-35.5)

Colorado*+ (-7.5) at Colorado State

KEY:

*denotes pick versus the spread.

+denotes pick that is one of my LOCKS.

[sportsbypc]

PC’s PICKS: NCAA Week 1, Part 2

Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall turned 60 this week.

Edsall is back for Year 2 of his second tour of duty with the Huskies, trying to rebuild the program he originally built before heading to what he thought would be greener pastures in Maryland in 2011.

It's finally here. IT'S GAMEDAY! 7PM | ESPNU | #RiseAsOne pic.twitter.com/juHidHxdLJ

— UConn Football (@UConnFootball) August 30, 2018

REBUILDING A WINNER: Head coach Randy Edsall and Connecticut look to rebound from a 3-9 campaign in 2017 and get the program back to where it was before his departure to Maryland.

The Terrapins parted ways with Edsall after four seasons and change and a 22-34 mark in the span where Maryland had spurned the Atlantic Coast Conference to join the Big Ten.

In his first stint at UConn, Edsall had guided the Huskies to a 74-70 record over the course of 12 seasons during which he transitioned the program from I-AA to big-time college football and turned the team into a perennial Big East contender.

In his absence, UConn ran through two coaches and deteriorated as time went, despite it seeming as though the program had been set up well to compete in the very navigable American Athletic Conference.

Edsall, now, seems to be more pragmatic about Connecticut’s place in the pantheon of college ball.

“It’s a totally different situation this time around [compared to the heyday of the late 2000s], but that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful,” Edsall told the Hartford Courant.

By the same token, though, he believes the Huskies can get to a place where they are, at least consistent winners.

“This can be a successful program,” he said. “It’s like if you go and start a business and you move on and sell the business, and then you see that business going downhill and then you have an opportunity to buy it back. You want to buy that business and build it back up. I’ve seen what having a successful program can do not only for this institution, but for the people of this state. So we’ll do everything we can to get it back to where it was. ”

Read the Courants’s UConn preview here and the Associated Press’ here.

The Huskies are 2-3 all-time versus Central Florida and they won’t be evening that number tonight. In fact, it likely won’t be close as UCF looks to blow off some steam from an offseason that saw the school’s fantastic 2017 campaign become a punchline.

Josh Heupel, the former Heisman Trophy finalist while a quarterback at Oklahoma, takes over at UCF after Scott Frost’s departure for his alma mater Nebraska.

McKenzie Milton, now a junior, returns at quarterback for the Knights and is coming off a 4,000-yard 2017 that saw him complete 67 percent of his passes. He and Heupel are already bros.

UCF-UConn kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. How UCF's McKenzie Milton became perhaps the best QB in the country: https://t.co/hQ0grsVAw1 Why Randy Edsall isn't afraid to say college players should get more money: https://t.co/btTBNUUqih pic.twitter.com/SizWjV7h2m

— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) August 30, 2018

HEISMAN WORTHY?: Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton, a Hawaii native, is back for another year as the Knights aim to continue their winning ways following head coach Scott Frost's exodus to Nebraska.

“I was excited when they announced him as head coach,” Milton told the Orlando Sentinel. “I heard about his résumé and who he worked with and what he did as a player … I think it’s big having some advice from a guy like that.”

Aside from Milton, who may be in the Heisman conversation himself, the Kinghts’ offensive line returns a bevy of hefties who have a combined 79 starts between them. Running back Adrian Killins, Jr., averages a staggering 6.4 yards a carry.

For more on UCF, see this preview over at SB Nation.

UConn, meanwhile, has just 10 seniors and a pair of returning starters on defense. Under center will be David Pindell who started four times a year ago while the Huskies finished 3-9.

Expect the Knights to win and win big – possibly even very, very big on the road in Storrs.

*****

Thanks to Hawaii and Wyoming, I’m perfect on the NCAA season so far.

Here are tonight’s picks for a pretty light Opening Night, Part 2:

Central Florida*+ (-23) at Connecticut

New Mexico State at Minnesota* (-20.5)

Northwestern* at Purdue (-1.5)

Wake Forest (-6) at Tulane*

KEY:

*denotes pick versus the spread.

+denotes pick that is one of my LOCKS.

[sportsbypc]

PC’s Picks: NCAA Week 1, Part 1 results

It's only two games, but I'm off to a good start and I'll take it.

Here is a breakdown of how my picks fared in the pre-opening teaser week of the 2018 NCAA football season:

.tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{padding:10px 5px;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;overflow:hidden;word-break:normal;border-color:black;} .tg th{font-weight:normal;padding:10px 5px;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;overflow:hidden;word-break:normal;border-color:black;} .tg .tg-abx8{font-weight:bold;background-color:#c0c0c0;text-align:center;vertical-align:top} .tg .tg-baqh{text-align:center;vertical-align:top} .tg .tg-0lax{text-align:left;vertical-align:top}

GAME FINAL SCORE PICK RESULT Colorado State over Hawaii (+14) 34-43 W Wyoming (-6) over New Mexico State* 29-7 W

* - denotes LOCKS

NCAA Week 1, Part 1 record: 2-0

NCAA record: 2-0

LOCKS record: 1-0

Overall record: 2-0

[sportsbypc]

PC’s Picks: 2018 Parameters and NCAA Week 1, Part 1

Yes, of course, I'm back for another year with football picks against the spread. What's new this year -- which I'm very happy to report -- is that you won't have to worry about them clogging your Twitter feed.

After a hiatus for a few years, Sports by PC is back, revamped and ready to roll for football season.

Picks will be here on the site, but I'll make a point to link to them from Twitter for anyone interested.

What's also cool is this is my 10th year of football picks. I started prognosticating in 2009 in this column while the sports editor at Allied News. Late in October 2011 when I was laid off by the newspaper's struggling parent company, it felt natural to keep the picks going and I did on Twitter as the medium continued to grow.

Making picks also gave me some peace of mind. Between these and assembling my NCAA Football weekly Top 25 for the fake poll at Sportsjournalists.com (an online forum for sports writers), it felt like I was still in the game while working other jobs outside the industry. If it annoyed you on Twitter, I apologize, but it gave me some solace and I thank you for being patient and sticking through the madness.

Through the decade, I'm typically and annually between a .530 and .560 picker, which is solid in betting circles. For college football, I do a lot of research each summer leading up to the season, reading Phil Steele's preview magazine cover to cover, and by I keep an eye on local newspapers around the country and what they report to get deeper into the programs themselves and the various mindsets of coaches. I also -- and yes, still --- watch a lot of ESPN and I watch a lot of games throughout the year, which helps me get a good grip on how teams progress and grow as the season goes and how players develop and handle themselves in wins and losses.

Each year, I pick all the NFL games and a selection of NCAA games. I started out in 2009 doing just games involving the teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 and by picking straight winners in other local college games of interest.

The following year, for college picks, I exanded beyond just the Top 25 to games involving all the teams in a conference for the schools more or less in our coverage area -- the old Big East (Pittsburgh and West Virginia), the Big Ten (Penn State) and the Mid-American (Akron and Kent State), as well as Notre Dame and the service academies.

As the conferences affiliations changed, I expanded, too. West Virginia moved to the Big 12 and Pitt to the Atlantic Coast Conference. I added both conferences to the board. I kept the Nuevo Big East (my personal slang for the American Athletic Conference) in the loop, too.

Later, I added Notre Dame games and all service academy games. I threw Brigham Young into the mix and added Hawaii to give me a reason to watch football into the wee hours of Sunday morning.

A few friends of mine joined in the fun for a contest between us and we added the Pac-14 to accommodate one of my old college friends on the west coast.

And, just like that, now 10 years have passed and I find myself enamored with evaluating teams all over the country.

The full rundown of what I'll make picks for in 2018 is as follows:

All games involving Associated Press Top 25 teams.

All games involving American Athletic Conference teams.

All games involving Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

All games involving Big 12 Conference teams.

All games involving Big Ten Conference teams.

All games involving Mid-American Conference teams.

All games involving Pac-14 Conference teams.

Brigham Young games.

Hawaii games.

Notre Dame games.

Service academy games.

“BONUS” games (at my discretion).

All NFL games.

Off the board entirely, however, will be games where an NCAA Bowl Subdivision team plays a Championship Subdivision squad. These games shouldn't exist and I won't wager on them on principle.

Lastly, all lines will be compiled from what's currently available on The Score's scoreboard when I'm putting everything together.

Before conference play in college football begins, my weekly board is pretty big. A few years back, to separate what I believed to be sure winner from the pack, I started picking “LOCKS” each week. The total number of LOCKS in a week varies based on the lines of a given week, but these are picks I feel better about than the bevy of others and the winning percentage shows. Any “BONUS” picks will be considered LOCKS, as well.

Each week, I'll post everything here on Sports by PC and try to keep up with a roundup of how I fared on Tuesdays posted here to keep things honest.

Here are my picks for tonight's opening few games:

Colorado State over Hawaii (+14)

BONUS PICK: Wyoming (-6) over New Mexico State

How a team fares versus the line is what I'm keeping track of. To clarify, let's say for instance Hawaii beats Colorado State straight up. The Warriors will have still covered and, as such, that's a win.

I do dabble in real life betting, but, no, I am not physically wagering on all these games each and every week. However, if I could, I would – particularly the LOCKS. That's how confident I am in the picks overall and in how far I've come since 2009. You can take them to the bank, too, and buy me a beer later.

Enjoy the 2018-19 season and may the winners be yours.

[sportsbypc]

THIS BEST STUFF I SAW THIS WEEK: Story behind 'GoldenEye 007' is one to read

Oral histories have become a fixture online and, I must admit, they are among my favorite pieces to read for all the behind-the-scenes insight they offer up on a particular subject.

This week, we got another good one: an oral history of the video game that changed everything, “GoldenEye 007.”

An outlet I admittedly had not heard of until this week, Mel Magazine, which is apparently a property of – wait for it – yes, Dollar Shave Club, compiled a must-read oral history of the classic Nintendo 64 game created by Rare in celebration of the 21st anniversary of its release.

The first-person shooter game that ushered the term “multi-player” into the lexicon was first envisioned as a 2-D vehicle similar to another Rare classic “Donkey Kong Country” before the creative teams pushed the boundaries of ingenuity and technology of the era to develop “GoldenEye 007.”

Upon its release, it became the must-have game on the platform and for middle schoolers all over the country like my friends and I who spent countless hours trying to best one another and be “Most Deadly.” I can still tell you the best way to navigate “The Facility,” where to grab body armor before your friends snag it and where to hide so you can pick up the most kills.

The game was also laced with “cheats” where you could unlock special characters, weapons, boards and much more.

In turn, the video game also made a relatively run-of-the-mill James Bond film, 1995's “GoldenEye” starring then-Bond Pierce Brosnan, into a cult classic and created a new generation of Bond movie enthusiasts that more than likely paved the way for the much-needed reboot of the franchise with the Daniel Craig instalments.

The oral history of “GoldenEye 007” reads like a cross between similar narratives like the Steve Jobs or Facebook histories that pushed the limits of technology to create something beautiful.

Oral histories aren't quite as innovative as what “GoldenEye 007” was in 1997 when it hit video game aisles, but, again, I love to read them for the insight into people's minds and to get a feel for both what people were dealing with through a particular ordeal and how they remember it now that time has passed.

Among my favorites in the oral history sector for reasons you can likely figure out on your own is a long but outstanding read in the 2011 book “Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN” compiled by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales. The duo spoke in-depth with a plethora of personalities who were insturmental in ESPN's founding and rise and those on and off the screen who made sports on TV cable's most profitable business.

A film based on “Those Guys ...” has been in talks for years. According to Variety, there's currently a script being rewritten by “Halt and Catch Fire” co-creator Christopher C. Rogers with James Franco in negotiations to direct. We shall see what becomes of it this time around.

While we're on the subject, here are some more of my favorite oral histories from recent years floating around the internet:

Altered State Police: An Oral History of ‘Super Troopers’

The Amazing Oral History Of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’

‘Dream, Try, Do Good’: The Oral History Of ‘Boy Meets World’

Hard to Kill (Oral history of how Gucci Mane became Gucci Mane

How the Web Was Won: An Oral History of the Internet

An Oral History of 'Jackass: The Movie'

An oral history of 'The League'

Oral History: From Green Day to Operation Ivy, a Look Back at Lookout Records

So Money: An oral history of Swingers

‘You Try Driving In Platforms’: How ‘Clueless’ Created The Style That Made It A Pop Culture Icon

We’re In This Together: An Oral History of Nine Inch Nails

For many more, check out this link at Thrillist.

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Chris Myers shares take on sports media

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Steady? Boring? Kirk Ferentz does it his way

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It's put the team in the playoff conversation and, more importantly, in the conversation of if pitching as we currently know it is the most effective way to win in Major League Baseball.

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[sportsbypc]

THIS BEST STUFF I SAW THIS WEEK: Spread of sportsbooks changing journalism

What a time to be alive. Sportsbooks are slowly opening in cities around the U.S. and the times, well, they are a-changing.

As newly-legal sports betting opens (see links here, here, here, here and here for a glimpse at how a few different facets of this are beginning to unfold), Sports Illustrated -- which is, decidedly, attempting to no longer be your grandfather’s Sports Illustrated -- has unveiled a “Gambling” section on its main page directly below its lead section of content.

CHANGING TIMES: Sports Illustrated now features stories to aid sports bettors on its main page.

The SI stories are good reads, too -- like this one on what NCAA Football bettors should keep an eye on in the Big 12 and this one on NFL win-total overs worth a flier. For everything SI has on sports betting, bookmark this.

It’s cool to see more and more writing about what used to be a fairly uncouth topic come into prominence on the national spectrum. It’s reminiscent of the burgeoning popularity of poker in the early-to-mid 2000s (which is so important to human history that the movement, yes, has its own Wikipedia page).

SI isn’t alone, either, in lending gamblers and their need for more information more credence. The New York Post, on its website, has a sidebar on stories with odds that seems new as nearby Atlantic City, N.J., aims to cement itself as the East Coast’s betting mecca. These were just quick items I noticed this week without really seeking anything out that are now part of your friendly neighborhood internet.

ESPN’s been in on the action, but buries things a bit deeper, likely for some separation between the metaphorical church and state that are its relationships and TV deals with the various leagues.

Personalities at ESPN like our boy Scott Van Pelt and College Gameday’s Chris Falica have for quite some time shed some light on sports betting, but all gambling coverage on ESPN.com is somewhat under lock and key behind the “Chalk” moniker. Exactly where you can find it on the website isn’t all that easy to navigate to, either.

ESPN.com’s index page is much improved from the gong show it became circa 2012. But, even after trying for a few minutes today, I couldn’t easily find a link to get to main Chalk hub (espn.com/chalk). Nonetheless, Chalk does have quality content and personalities (David Purdum is among my personal favorites) and it's certainly worth bookmarking and perusing at your leisure in your internet travels. A good place to start is this article by Purdum on how we got to where we are now in America with sports betting.

Here are a few more folks to follow on Twitter:

Josh “Action” Appelbaum

Todd Fuhrman

Montreal Max

Tommy Lorenzo

Teddy Sevransky

Patrick Everson

Brian Blessing

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Happy birthday, SI

Sports Illustrated celebrated its 64th birthday on Aug. 16. Here's a look back at the first issue:

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A changing ESPN is working on bringing back Chris Berman

Chris Berman and ESPN have both had it tough since the network seemingly forced him into retirement so it could cut its biggest salary.

Berman’s wife, Katherine, was killed in a 2017 car accident and ESPN’s showcase NFL programming has seen a huge drop-off in viewership since his exodus. ESPN and Berman already had plans to keep him on in sporadic spots, but this week it was revealed they’re looking ahead to see what more they can do after this season.

The Swamy’s an easy guy to ridicule (and he has been endlessly), but he’s the godfather of TV sports highlights and the most notable elder statesman in a proud profession that exists today because of his charisma that had helped to establish the discipline.

Berman should name the time and place he makes his exit from ESPN. The shoddy way ESPN went about it before to rush him out the door just didn't seem right. Here’s to hoping this ensures that while also beginning the conversation of a Sunday night NFL Primetime reboot reuniting him with Tom Jackson where they both can sail into the sunset like Red and Andy.

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DJ KHALED

Ohio State Football Received a Pretty Amazing Surprise After Practice

DJ KHALED! DJ Khaled is everywhere these days and that’s OK with me.

Buckeyes ➕ @djkhaled We the best. 🔑#GoBucks #OTRII pic.twitter.com/ky9D0Jfk51

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 17, 2018

BUCK YEAH: DJ Khaled brought the Ohio State football team something to smile about in a meet-and-greet before a concert in Columbus.

He’s opening all summer for Beyonce and his old friend Jay-Z (including a stop tonight at New Era Field here on the outskirts of Buffalo). The new jam, “No Brainer,” with Chance The Rapper and Justin Bieber ain’t too shabby, either. Earlier this week, DJ Khaled gave Ohio State football players something to actually smile about and, last weekend, he debuted on a bobblehead in a giveaway at a Miami Marlins game.

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Tomorrow’s giveaway is certifiably the *best* of the summer 🔑🔑 DJ Khaled bobblehead day at @MarlinsPark on Sunday #Marlins #WeTheBest pic.twitter.com/ixPweVOv4G

— Max Goodman (@Max_Goodman97) August 11, 2018

MIAMI'S BEST: DJ Khaled made his bobblehead debut as part of a giveaway at a Miami Marlins game.

[sportsbypc]

THIS BEST STUFF I SAW THIS WEEK: Postcards from camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers are back in Latrobe and everything's just sunshine and lollipops so far.

After a rough (and shocking) loss last January to Jacksonville, the Steelers were ousted from the NFL playoffs, sent home and left to spend the rest of winter thinking about just what could have been had they earned that highly-anticipated rematch with New England.

Postcard from Latrobe: Ben Roethlisberger throwing in the picturesque setting that is Saint Vincent College. pic.twitter.com/k5hRWZcIYg

— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) July 27, 2018

Postcard from Latrobe: The necessary transportation for the trip to Memorial Stadium and “Friday Night Lights.” pic.twitter.com/wNo65rJTJi

— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) August 4, 2018

Snapshots from Saint Vincent: Maurkice Pouncey was all smiles before Ramon Foster’s injury. pic.twitter.com/wHCyKTBC3Z

— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) July 28, 2018

Snapshots from Saint Vincent: Tom Moore, a former offensive coordinator under Chuck Noll, attended the last two practices. pic.twitter.com/WoHSBAVYHl

— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) July 31, 2018

CAMP UNCONFIDENTIAL: The Pittsburgh Steelers, looking to rebound after an unexpected playoff loss in January to the Jacksonville Jaguars, this week opened training camp in Latrobe. WDVE-Radio's Mike Prisuta's awesome "postcards" from camp on Twitter, as seen above, provide an inside look at what's going on each day at St. Vincent College as the team prepares for the season. Follow Prisuta on Twitter here.

Ben Roethlisberger, after contemplating retirement, seems to be in good spirits and good shape. We're only a few days in and there's already a Ben-Hates-Todd-Haley story back in the news, which is par for the course. Elsewhere in Westmoreland County, Antonio Brown arrived at St. Vincent College by helicopter. On Friday, he and fellow wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had a really special moment with a young man who needed one. Even with running back Le'Veon Bell still holding out, everyone's having fun and it's good to see.

This was beyond special when Troy told @AB84 ‘You made my life.’ And then @TeamJuJu put a massive smile on Reed’s face. Love these moments that just come naturally. pic.twitter.com/JcP91lqosI

— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) July 27, 2018

GOOD FUN: Steelers wide receivers Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster take a time out from practice for a special moment with a youngster.

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How Bob Ley became ESPN’s most important broadcaster

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Vince Young-led Texas the best team of the past 20 years

ESPN used analytics to rank NCAA football's "champions" from when the BCS began two decades ago. It's hard to believe the 2002 Ohio State team -- led my freshmen phenom Maurice Clarett -- would be so low but, then again, statistically speaking, that seems to make perfect sense as the Buckeyes had always done just enough to squeak by.

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President Trump's Hollywood Walk of Fame star was smashed to pieces

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SMASHED TO PIECES: Vandals this week destroyed Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Betsy DeVos' $40 million yacht set adrift by vandals at Ohio dock

It's been a banner week for vandalism.

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