Hello! Did you wake up in your fantasy playoffs? If so, congratulations on marking your ticket. Winners Club will be here for you throughout the postseason to help you finish the job and take the championship home with you. And if not, our betting and DFS content doesn’t stop here. So, you can win even with your fantasy team in the group of losers.
The Rams avenged an earlier season loss to the Cardinals on Monday night in Arizona. It was a big win for Los Angeles, which lost three in a row in early November, and a tough loss for Arizona, which fell from the No. 1 seed in the NFC to third place. That game also made the NFC West that much more interesting: LA is just one game away from Arizona after the season’s series soiree.
Exemption cable pickups: Jen Piacenti has a list of free agents you should add to your playoff fantasy roster, but they come with a caveat. Are there potential league winners available who can help your team over the next several weeks?
Rich Barnes / USA TODAY Sports
Fantasy postseason schedule strength: Eagles catchers have disappointed this year, but a friendly roster awaits them in the fantasy playoffs. How much does schedule strength influence fantasy postseason decisions? “Don’t be governed by the force of the schedule, but don’t ignore it either,” writes Craig Ellenport.
IDP players to add: Defensive wingers DeMarcus Lawrence and Dante Fowler and linebacker Kwon Alexander headline the IDP waiver wire additions recommended by Matt De Lima.
Updated Super Bowl Odds
My colleagues and I each chose a team that we would bet on to win the Super Bowl on Thanksgiving week. A lot has changed since then. The Patriots beat the Bills. The Buccaneers found their footing and also narrowly beat Buffalo. The Chiefs haven’t lost since. And the Rams scored a big win over the Cardinals on Monday night.
Here are some notable changes in Super Bowl odds for teams in the top third of the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3)
Odds on November 24: +550
Odds on December 14: +450
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs (9-4)
Odds on Nov 24: +650
Odds on December 14: +500
New England Patriots (9-4)
Odds on November 24: +1400
Odds on December 14: +700
Green Bay Packers (10-3)
Odds on Nov 24: +1000
Odds on December 14: +700
Arizona Cardinals (10-3)
Odds on November 24: +800
Odds on December 14: +900
Buffalo Bills (7-6)
Odds on November 24: +900
Odds on December 14: +1400
Shout out to Jen Piacenti and Craig Ellenport, who received great value in picking the Patriots at +1400. No one on our staff chose the Buccaneers or Chiefs, and right now you have only worse odds of betting on one of the two teams that met in the Super Bowl last season.
There are four weeks left in the longest regular season in history, and a lot can still change at the top of the standings. Not many teams are truly out of playoff contention.
NBA action
A new guest selector joins me for NBA SO / UP selections this week: SI host Robin Lundberg! We are choosing games that involve the two best teams in the West against less competition.
The Warriors face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, with Stephen Curry only two triples far from the all-time record. And in Portland, the reeling Trail Blazers host the hot Suns. Look for our picks later today at si.com/betting.
Power Ratings: The Suns stayed in first place and the Warriors stayed in No. 2. Which teams complete the top five? Michael Shapiro ranks all 30 teams.
Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports
Pair of postponed bull games: Chicago’s games Tuesday and Thursday against the Pistons and Raptors, respectively, have been postponed. The Bulls are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, affecting Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan, among others.
Williamson suffers a setback in his rehabilitation: Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson could reportedly be barred from basketball activities due to pain in his right foot. He has yet to play this season after breaking his foot over the summer.
After two big wins, Alabama is in the top 10 on the road to Memphis on Tuesday night. And growing North Carolina host Furman, who already played road spoiler against an ACC team earlier this season. Kevin Sweeney and I will pick both games later today at si.com/betting.
Baylor’s men’s team rises to the top of the AP poll: The Bears are No. 1 after previously top-ranked Purdue fell to Rutgers. See what other moves happened in the top 25.
Heisman winner Bryce Young leads all Americans: Three Alabama players were named First Team All-Americans by the AP, the most of any school.
Dale Zanine / USA TODAY Sports
Quinn Ewers will transfer to Texas: A former five-star quarterback is transferring from Ohio State to play for the Longhorns. Ewers, who is from Texas and was once engaged to UT, did not throw a pass this season.
www.si.com
Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.