Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet  The Yankees are staring down a World Series sweep at...

<p><em>Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet</em></p><p>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/teams/3" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/teams/3">Yankees</a> are staring down a World Series sweep at the hands of the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/teams/26" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/teams/26">Dodgers</a> after losing a third straight game Tuesday night.</p><p>The Bronx Bombers face an improbable task, but not an impossible one. Their odds of winning the World Series are +1100 (8.3% implied probability) - but they'll have to pull off a feat accomplished by just one team in MLB history.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Only the 2004 Red Sox have erased a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. The Astros nearly did it in 2020 but fell short in Game 7 in the ALCS. No team has ever done it in a World Series.</p><p>There's a chance New York pulls off the improbable. There's also a chance the series goes to seven games - those odds sit at +600 (14.3% implied probability).</p><p>If there's any shot of a comeback, the Yankees' bats must wake up. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4773" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4773">Aaron Judge</a> has an abysmal .140 average in the postseason and only has one hit in the World Series. New York has scored just seven runs as a team in three contests against Los Angeles.</p><p>The Dodgers go for the sweep Wednesday at 8:08 p.m. ET. They're +125 underdogs and have yet to name a starting pitcher to face the Yankees and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/11752" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/11752">Luis Gil</a>.</p>

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What the odds say: Can the Yankees come back from 3-0 deficit?

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet  The Commanders' last-second Hail Mary against the Be...

<p><em>Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet</em></p><p>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/20" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/20">Commanders</a>' last-second Hail Mary against the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/25" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/25">Bears</a> - one of the most improbable plays you'll witness on a football field - drastically changed both teams' chances of making the playoffs. </p><p>The stunning victory moved the Commanders to 6-2 and kept them atop the NFC East. They're now -340 to make the playoffs (77.3% implied probability) and +130 (43.5% implied probability) to win their division.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Had <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/188187" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/188187">Tyrique Stevenson</a> not perfectly tipped <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199756" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199756">Jayden Daniels</a>' pass to an uncovered <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/87880" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/87880">Noah Brown</a>, oddsmakers would have priced the Commanders to be -130 to make the playoffs and +225 to win their division.</p><p>One miraculous play increased Washington's chances of making the playoffs by 20.8%.</p><p>The play also helped Daniels fly up the MVP oddsboard. He was +3500 before Sunday's game, as it was uncertain whether he would play. The Commanders rookie is now +1000 to win MVP and the clear-cut favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year at -450 (81.8% implied probability).</p><p>For the Bears, their crushing loss dropped them to 4-3 and put them in the basement of a stout NFC North division. The Bears' win probability was over 95% in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss, according to <a href="https://x.com/AdamHoge/status/1850744016918229476">Adam Hoge of CHGO Sports</a>, but they gave it all away with zeroes on the clock.</p><p>Chicago is now +300 to make the playoffs (25% implied probability) and +2000 to win its division. Had the Bears won, oddsmakers would have priced them to make the playoffs at +115 and +1000 to win the NFC North.</p><p>Their loss hurt their playoff chances by 21.5%.</p><p>The Commanders will look to keep the momentum going in Week 9 against the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/18" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/18">Giants</a>, while the Bears stay on the road to take on the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/22" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/22">Cardinals</a> in Arizona.</p>

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Hail Mary drastically changes playoff chances of Commanders, Bears

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet  Injuries continue to mount across the NFL, knocking ...

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NFL Week 8 betting primer: How will teams perform as injuries pile up?

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet  A World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers is a ...

<p><em>Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet</em></p><p>A World Series between the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/teams/3" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/teams/3">Yankees</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/teams/26" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/teams/26">Dodgers</a> is a dream scenario for everyone with a vested interest in baseball. </p><p>The league, its partners, and now sportsbooks are set to benefit from a clash between two of the sport's most iconic franchises featuring some of the league's brightest stars, most notably <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9519" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9519">Shohei Ohtani</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4773" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4773">Aaron Judge</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"These are two of the biggest and most well-supported teams not only in the MLB, but all of sports," said David Barnes, senior risk and trading manager at ESPN Bet and theScore Bet. "We really couldn't have asked for a more explosive matchup."</p><p>The Yankees and Dodgers were the two most bet-on teams this season. Combined, games including one of the two teams accumulated 14% of all the money wagered on MLB this year.</p><p>"The Dodgers and Yankees have been favored to win their respective pennants since the markets opened, and their games always attract the highest handle," Barnes said.<br><br>"We’re expecting this to be a high-action World Series with the highest handle in our history."</p><p>Betting data for this year's playoffs highlights the popularity of the Yankees and Dodgers, as well as bettors' excitement for the World Series. </p><p>And compared to last year's final between the Rangers and Diamondbacks - the sixth and 14th most bet-on teams, respectively, last year - it's easy to understand why sportsbooks expect record-setting action.</p><p>For this year's postseason games, the average per-game handle is up 47% and the average bet count is 2.32 times higher compared to last year's World Series games. </p><p>Bettors have already made four times as many wagers for 22% more handle in the off days leading up to Game 1 of this year's World Series compared to 2023. The majority of the World Series action is expected to come in Friday before Game 1.</p><p>Despite this dream matchup between two of the largest sports markets in the world, Barnes said a Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets may have been bigger, especially with ESPN Bet's recent launch in New York.</p><p>Had the Yankees faced the Mets, the Pinstripes would have been favored. Instead, the Dodgers are slight favorites at -125 odds (55.6% implied probability) to win the franchise's eighth World Series title.</p><p>Bettors are split on who's going to win it all. As of Thursday, 45% of the bets and 51% of the handle has been on the Yankees, despite ESPN Bet's presence in New York. </p><p>It's worth noting that sports betting is not yet legal in California. </p><p>Those in New York, though, are backing their Yankees. For bets placed in New York for Game 1, 95% of the handle and 76% of the bets are on the Bronx Bombers. </p><p>The Dodgers are sending Jack Flaherty to the mound Friday and are -130 favorites to take the early series lead over the Yankees, who are answering by starting Gerrit Cole.</p><p>Game 1 starts Friday at 8:08 p.m. ET from Dodger Stadium.</p>

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Record-setting betting action expected on Yankees-Dodgers World Series

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet  Lamar Jackson became the favorite to win the MVP awa...

<p><em>Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet</em></p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/97162" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/97162">Lamar Jackson</a> became the favorite to win the MVP award after his explosive Monday night performance against the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/31" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/31">Buccaneers</a>.</p><p>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/12" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/12">Ravens</a> quarterback jumped ahead of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/89514" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/89514">Patrick Mahomes</a> on the betting board and is currently the +250 favorite (28.6% implied probability). </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Mahomes had held the position of MVP favorite since the start of the season.</p><p>Jackson, who is looking to win his third MVP award, threw for 281 yards and five touchdowns in his team's 41-31 win in Tampa Bay. He added 52 yards on the ground and sits 11th in the NFL in rushing yards.</p><p>Bettors liked what they saw and rushed to get their money on Jackson to win a second consecutive MVP award. Since kickoff on Monday night, he has received 68% of the handle (money wagered) and 34.9% of the bets placed on the MVP market.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/71572" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/71572">Jared Goff</a> is the next closest at 11% of the handle and 19.5% of the bets. </p><h3>MVP odds</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Odds</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Lamar Jackson</td>
<td>+250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Patrick Mahomes</td>
<td>+475</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jared Goff</td>
<td>+650</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Josh Allen</td>
<td>+650</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jordan Love</td>
<td>+1400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C.J. Stroud</td>
<td>+1500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joe Burrow</td>
<td>+1600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sam Darnold</td>
<td>+2000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brock Purdy</td>
<td>+2500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jayden Daniels</td>
<td>+2500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jalen Hurts</td>
<td>+3000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Derrick Henry</td>
<td>+4000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Caleb Williams</td>
<td>+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kyler Murray</td>
<td>+5000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Jackson's teammate, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/72385" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/72385">Derrick Henry</a>, has the shortest odds of any non-quarterback in the MVP market at +4000. Henry's received the third-most handle (8.4%) and bets (19.1%) since the start of Monday night's game. He's the +105 favorite (48.8% implied probability) to win Offensive Player of the Year.</p><p>Jackson is looking to become only the seventh player in NFL history to win three MVP awards (Mahomes has won two). It's worth noting that every three-time MVP has won at least one Super Bowl (or NFL Championship).</p>

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Jackson vaults Mahomes as MVP favorite after Monday night performance

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet  The Week 7 slate is loaded with intriguing games, in...

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NFL betting primer: Super Bowl rematch highlights best of Week 7

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet  The Jets made a splash Tuesday by reportedly acquiri...

<p><em>Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet</em></p><p>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/4" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/4">Jets</a> made a splash Tuesday by reportedly <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3071957" href="https://thescore.com/news/3071957">acquiring</a> star wide receiver <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/57482" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/57482">Davante Adams</a> from the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/7" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/7">Raiders</a> to reunite <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/747" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/747">Aaron Rodgers</a> with this former teammate, a duo that dominated for years in Green Bay.</p><p>While the sports world as a whole is buzzing about the big trade, the betting market barely reacted. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Jets' futures odds shortened slightly after the news broke. New York's Super Bowl odds moved from +4000 to +3500, meaning its implied probability improved by only 0.4%.</p><h3>Jets' futures odds</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Market</th>
<th>Before Adams</th>
<th>After Adams</th>
<th>Implied Prob. Change</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Super Bowl</td>
<td>+4000</td>
<td>+3500</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFC Champ</td>
<td>+2000</td>
<td>+1800</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AFC East</td>
<td>+650</td>
<td>+500</td>
<td>3.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>To Make Playoffs</td>
<td>+155</td>
<td>+145</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Jets are 2-4 and sit two games back of the AFC East-leading <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/1" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/1">Bills</a>, who they lost to on Monday night. Their 23-20 defeat at the hands of Buffalo was their first game after firing head coach Robert Saleh. </p><p>No team has won the Super Bowl in the same season it fired its head coach. </p><p>New York entered the season with +2000 odds to win the Super Bowl, the 11th-shortest in the league. It was also +165 (37.7% implied probability) to win the AFC East and -165 (62.3% implied probability) to make the playoffs.</p><p>The addition of Adams will hopefully turn things around for Rodgers &amp; Co. The six-time Pro Bowler will get inserted into an offense that already has plenty of talent but doesn't have the results to show for it.</p><p>Despite having <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/173982" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/173982">Garrett Wilson</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/174033" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/174033">Breece Hall</a> as weapons for Rodgers, the Jets rank 22nd in yards per game (324.3), 16th in passing yards per game (217.2), and 30th in rushing yards per game (87.2).</p><p>Adams will be ready for the Jets' Week 7 contest Sunday night against the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/11" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/11">Steelers</a> and it shouldn't take long for him to get up to speed. He has plenty of history with Rodgers from his eight seasons with the Packers, as well as with current Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who was his OC from 2019-21.</p><p>The Jets are currently 1.5-point favorites over the Steelers. </p>

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Adams trade sparks minor change to Jets' Super Bowl, playoff odds

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet  Here, we'll make the case why each team will cover t...

<p><em>Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet</em></p><p>Here, we'll make the case why each team will cover the spread for the marquee games, provide the X-factors (how teams match up, as well as who to watch and potentially target in the player prop markets) that will ultimately decide the outcome, and dish out our best bets. </p><p>Let's dive in. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Sunday 9:30 a.m. (London game)</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Game 12" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-9u7nl" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/9u7nl/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="108" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>% OF BETS</th>
<th>% OF HANDLE</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jaguars +2.5</td>
<td>34.6%</td>
<td>60.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bears -2.5</td>
<td>65.4%</td>
<td>39.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Case for the Jaguars</strong></p><ul>
<li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/161653" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/161653">Trevor Lawrence</a> is 3-1 straight up in London games.</li>
<li>The Jaguars are 2-1 ATS as underdogs this season.</li>
<li>This spread suggests the Bears would be 4.5-point favorites if the game were played in Chicago, which feels high.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Case for the Bears</strong></p><ul>
<li>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/25" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/25">Bears</a> are 3-1-1 ATS this season and 3-0 as favorites.</li>
<li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199760" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199760">Caleb Williams</a>' passer rating has improved each game. There's a chance the market hasn't yet adjusted to the first overall pick's improved play.</li>
</ul><p><strong>X-factors</strong></p><ul>
<li>The Jaguars have the league's worst defense based on DVOA. Chicago's offense will have its way with Jacksonville if it can sustain the same level of performance it had against the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/32" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/32">Panthers</a>.</li>
<li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/188127" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/188127">Tank Bigsby</a> is emerging as the Jaguars' lead back. He rushed for 101 yards on 13 carries (seven more than Travis Etienne) against the Colts. The Bears allow 120.8 rush yards per game (18th in the NFL).</li>
<li>Williams has either passed for over 300 yards (twice) or under 175 (three times) to start his career. Jacksonville's defense gives up the most passing yards per game in the league (287.8). Williams' passing prop for Week 6 is set at 224.5.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Best bet - Jaguars +2.5 (-110)</strong></p><p>While Chicago looks to have turned a corner, a trip to London can easily derail a team's momentum. The Jaguars have plenty of experience with overseas games, while this will be Williams' first. Take the points with the more experienced Jags in what should be a tight contest.</p><p><strong>Best prop - Caleb Williams over 249.5 passing yards (+110)</strong></p><p>It may take a quarter to get acclimated to the London environment, but this total is too low for Williams. He's thrown for over 300 yards in two of his past three games and is facing a Jaguars defense that allows a league-worst 287.8 passing yards per contest.</p><h3>Sunday 1 p.m. ET slate</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Game 8" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-VdzRn" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/VdzRn/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="108" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>% OF BETS</th>
<th>% OF HANDLE</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Commanders +6.5</td>
<td>82.7%</td>
<td>84.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ravens -6.5</td>
<td>17.3%</td>
<td>15.8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Case for the Commanders</strong></p><ul>
<li>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/20" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/20">Commanders</a> are the league's hottest team, leading the NFL in points per game with 31.</li>
<li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199756" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199756">Jayden Daniels</a> has emerged as an MVP candidate while leading Washington to a 4-1 ATS record.</li>
<li>The Commanders may be the only team that can keep up with the high-powered <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/12" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/12">Ravens</a>' offense.</li>
<li>Washington is 2-0 on the road while scoring a combined 80 points.</li>
<li>Underdogs of six-plus points are 16-2-2 <a href="https://www.actionnetwork.com/education/point-spread">ATS</a> and 11-8 straight up.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Case for the Ravens</strong></p><ul>
<li>The Commanders have had a weak schedule. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/97162" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/97162">Lamar Jackson</a> and the Ravens are better than any team Washington has faced so far.</li>
<li>The Ravens are the league's second-best team based on DVOA. The Commanders are 10th.</li>
<li>Baltimore has covered three straight games after being embarrassed at home by the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/7" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/7">Raiders</a>.</li>
</ul><p><strong>X-factors</strong></p><ul>
<li>Both teams rank within the top three in third-down conversion rate (Commanders are first, Ravens are third). Their defenses rank outside the top 20 in third-down conversions allowed.</li>
<li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/72385" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/72385">Derrick Henry</a> leads the NFL in rushing yards (572) and averages six per carry. The Commanders rank 31st in opponents' yards per rush (5.1).</li>
<li>Daniels' passing prop is 226.5 yards, a number he's surpassed in three straight contests. His rushing prop is 51.5, which he's gone over only twice in five games.</li>
<li>Jackson has very similar props, with his passing-yard total at 223.5 and rushing prop at 56.5. He went over that passing yardage in three of five games this season and over his rushing number twice.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Best bet - Commanders +6.5 (-110)</strong></p><p>The Commanders have the firepower to keep it close with the Ravens. Daniels proved himself against a solid Browns defense last week. The Rookie of the Year favorite can turn this game into a shootout even if Washington's defense isn't up for the test Jackson presents.</p><p><strong>Best prop - Jayden Daniels over 224.5 passing yards (-130)</strong></p><p>The Ravens are conceding the second-most passing yards per game (280.2), and teams pass on Baltimore 67.22% of the time (second highest in the league). Daniels has gone over 224.5 in four straight contests and should do so again in a game with a total of 51.5.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Game 10" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-uBASH" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/uBASH/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="108" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>% OF BETS</th>
<th>% OF HANDLE</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cardinals +5.5</td>
<td>48.3%</td>
<td>64.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Packers -5.5</td>
<td>51.7%</td>
<td>35.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Case for the Cardinals</strong></p><ul>
<li>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/22" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/22">Cardinals</a> rely on a top-four rushing attack, averaging 156 yards per game.</li>
<li>Arizona's defense came alive in its comeback win over the 49ers after some early-season struggles, holding San Francisco to zero second-half points.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Case for the Packers</strong></p><ul>
<li>Arizona allows the fifth-most rushing yards per game (147). That's a good sign for the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/27" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/27">Packers</a>, who have the NFL's third-best rushing attack (164 yards per contest).</li>
<li>Even without <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/104659" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/104659">Jordan Love</a> for two weeks, Green Bay is 3-2 and averages the fourth-most yards per game (392).</li>
</ul><p><strong>X-factors</strong></p><ul>
<li>In a tough road game where the Cardinals must control the time of possession, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/74593" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/74593">James Conner</a>'s rushing prop is 70.5. He's gone over that mark in three of the last four contests.</li>
<li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/110848" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/110848">Josh Jacobs</a> has the league's fourth-most rushing yards (402). His rushing yards prop against Arizona's porous run defense is 69.5, which he's gone over in three of his five games.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Best bet - Cardinals +5.5 (-110)</strong></p><p>Aside from a blowout loss to Washington, the Cardinals have been competitive in every game while relying on a steady rushing attack. They're getting too many points against Love, who's thrown four interceptions and has a completion percentage below 60% since he returned from injury two weeks ago.</p><p><strong>Best prop - Jordan Love over 0.5 interceptions (-135)</strong></p><p>As mentioned, Love has been a turnover machine since returning from injury. The Cardinals have four picks in five games. Even at this long of a price, it's worth a wager on Love tossing it to an Arizona defender. </p><h3>Sunday 4 p.m. ET slate</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Game 13" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-SRSJ8" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/SRSJ8/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="108" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>% OF BETS</th>
<th>% OF HANDLE</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Chargers -3</td>
<td>44%</td>
<td>62.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Broncos +3</td>
<td>56%</td>
<td>37.8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Case for the Chargers</strong></p><ul>
<li>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/8" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/8">Chargers</a> are coming off a bye, which means <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/104207" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/104207">Justin Herbert</a> had extra time to rest an ankle injury that hampered him in his last two games.</li>
<li>Los Angeles' defense has held opponents to 12 points per game, the NFL's best mark.</li>
<li>The under has hit in all four of the Chargers' contests, while the under is 3-2 in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/5" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/5">Broncos</a> games.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Case for the Broncos</strong></p><ul>
<li>The Broncos are 4-1 ATS, covering and winning their last three games.</li>
<li>Denver has the NFL's second-best scoring defense (allowing 14.6 points per game) and fifth-worst total offense (270 yards per contest). As a result, this game has the lowest total of the weekend at 35.5.</li>
<li>The Chargers are one of the few teams with a worse scoring offense than the Broncos. Los Angeles is second to last in yards per game (263).</li>
</ul><p><strong>X-factors</strong></p><ul>
<li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199735" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199735">Bo Nix</a> has had some impressive highs followed by ugly lows. However, he hasn't thrown a pick in the last three weeks.</li>
<li>Nix threw for 60 yards and completed less than 50% of his passes the last time he played a defense as tough as the Chargers' (Week 4 against the Jets). His passing total for this week is 199.5, and he's -135 to throw a pick.</li>
<li>The Chargers' offensive line hasn't properly protected Herbert, who hasn't thrown for over 200 yards once. The Broncos have the third-most sacks (19) in the NFL.</li>
<li>With limited playmakers on the perimeter, Herbert's top target is rookie wideout <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199769" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199769">Ladd McConkey</a>. His receiving prop is 49.5, which he's exceeded just once.<strong> </strong>McConkey has two touchdowns on the year and is +250 to find the end zone Sunday.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Best bet - Chargers -3 (-110)</strong></p><p>The bye week arrived at the perfect time to allow the Chargers' coaching staff to find solutions for the team's offensive line and receiving corps. Plus, Herbert's had time to recover from an ankle injury. Nix has had his moments, but we've seen him struggle against defenses as dominant as the Chargers'.</p><p><strong>Best prop - Justin Herbert over 199.5 passing yards (+115)</strong></p><p>Herbert hasn't thrown for 200 yards once this season, and he's playing one of the league's best passing defenses. So why are we targeting the over? Los Angeles needs Herbert to throw the ball a ton to carry the offense. He hasn't attempted 30 passing attempts, but expect that to change after a bye week.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Game 5" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-6Ydh0" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6Ydh0/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="108" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>% OF BETS</th>
<th>% OF HANDLE</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Lions -3</td>
<td>73.3%</td>
<td>55.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cowboys +3</td>
<td>26.7%</td>
<td>44.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><strong>Case for the Lions</strong></p><ul>
<li>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/26" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/26">Lions</a> are 3-1 ATS.</li>
<li>Detroit is coming off a bye, while the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/17" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/17">Cowboys</a> escaped Pittsburgh with a narrow win Sunday night. The Lions are 10-2 ATS with a rest advantage since <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/71572" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/71572">Jared Goff</a> arrived in 2021, the NFL's best mark.</li>
<li>Detroit averages the third-most yards per game (397) and seventh-most points per contest (26). The Lions have a top-six rushing attack (151 yards per game) and are facing a bottom-tier rushing defense.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Case for the Cowboys</strong></p><ul>
<li>The Cowboys are 8-4-1 ATS as a home underdog since <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/50470" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/50470">Dak Prescott</a> was drafted in 2016, with seven outright wins.</li>
<li>Dallas was 8-0 straight up at home and 6-3 ATS in 2023. The team is 0-2 straight up and ATS at home this season.</li>
<li>The Cowboys average the second-most passing yards per game (271), while the Lions allow the sixth most (258).</li>
</ul><p><strong>X-factors</strong></p><ul>
<li>A 52.5 total is tied for the highest for Week 6's slate. The over has hit in just one of Detroit's four games and is 0-3 in Lions games when the total is at least 50.</li>
<li>It's not hard to see why the total is so high. The Lions rank seventh in points per game (26), while the largely underachieving Cowboys offense is 15th (23.4).</li>
<li>The Lions have a funnel defense. Teams throw against them 67.06% of the time (third-highest rate in the league) and call running plays only 32.94% of the time (third-lowest rate).</li>
<li>That fits perfectly for what the Cowboys do on offense. Dallas calls the fourth-most passing plays (63.98%) and fourth-fewest running plays (36.02%).</li>
<li>
<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/50470" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/50470">Dak Prescott</a>'s passing prop is set for 274.5 (he's gone over this number in three of five games). The Lions give up 258.3 yards through the air per game, which ranks 27th in the league.</li>
</ul><p><strong>Best bet - Lions -3 (-110)</strong></p><p>The Lions are the more talented team and have a claim as the NFL's best offense. The Cowboys allowed 28 points to the Ravens and 44 to the Saints. They won't keep pace with Detroit in another home loss.</p><p><strong>Best prop - Dak Prescott over 37.5 pass attempts (-105)</strong></p><p>Dallas loves to throw the ball. Prescott averages 38.2 pass attempts per game and has gone over this number in three of his five contests. Assuming the Cowboys are trailing, Prescott will have to drop back frequently.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/28620848/related

NFL betting primer: Can Commanders stay hot against Ravens?

Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet  The 2024-25 season is already underway - the Devils ...

<p><em>Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet</em></p><p>The 2024-25 season is already underway - the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/teams/6" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/teams/6">Devils</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/teams/2" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/teams/2">Sabres</a> participated in the NHL Global Series - but regular-season action in North America begins Tuesday.</p><p>A new season brings renewed hope, especially for franchises with Stanley Cup aspirations that either came close in recent years or continually fail to live up to high expectations.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here, we'll look at each team's betting odds to win the Stanley Cup and highlight the favorites to win each of the NHL's major awards. </p><h3>Stanley Cup odds</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Odds</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Oilers</td>
<td>+750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stars</td>
<td>+1000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Panthers</td>
<td>+1000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Devils</td>
<td>+1000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Avalanche</td>
<td>+1100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Maple Leafs</td>
<td>+1200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hurricanes</td>
<td>+1400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rangers</td>
<td>+1400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Predators</td>
<td>+1600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Golden Knights</td>
<td>+1600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bruins</td>
<td>+2000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canucks</td>
<td>+2000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lightning</td>
<td>+2500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kings</td>
<td>+3000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jets</td>
<td>+3000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Red Wings</td>
<td>+4000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wild</td>
<td>+4000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Senators</td>
<td>+4000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Islanders</td>
<td>+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Penguins</td>
<td>+5000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sabres</td>
<td>+6000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Flyers</td>
<td>+6000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kraken</td>
<td>+7000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Blues</td>
<td>+7500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Capitals</td>
<td>+7500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Flames</td>
<td>+10000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Utah HC</td>
<td>+10000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Blackhawks</td>
<td>+10000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canadiens</td>
<td>+20000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ducks</td>
<td>+30000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Blue Jackets</td>
<td>+30000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sharks</td>
<td>+40000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/teams/28" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/teams/28">Oilers</a> are the preseason favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Last season's finalists are +750 (11.8% implied probability) to win it all and +350 to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for a second consecutive year.</p><p>Many of the members from last year's team are returning to provide support for the best player in the world, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4560" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4560">Connor McDavid</a>.</p><p>McDavid led the NHL in points in five of the past eight seasons (he's the -170 favorite to lead the league in points this season) and led the Oilers to their second Stanley Cup Finals berth since 1990, which they lost to the Panthers in Game 7.</p><p>Bettors like the Oilers' chances of making another deep run this season. They're receiving 13% of the bets - second most - to hoist the Cup behind the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/teams/5" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/teams/5">Maple Leafs</a>, who are receiving 15% of the bets.</p><p>Speaking of the Leafs, they're +1200 to win their first Stanley Cup since 1967. They made very few offseason moves of note but brought in Craig Berube as their new head coach and named <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5586" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5586">Auston Matthews</a> as their new captain.</p><p>The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/teams/22" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/teams/22">Stars</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/teams/13" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/teams/13">Panthers</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/teams/6" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/teams/6">Devils</a> are all +1000, the second-shortest odds on the board. Florida is looking to join its in-state rival, the Lightning, as the only teams to win back-to-back championships since the 2016-17 Penguins. </p><p>The Predators' offseason moves propelled them up the betting board. Their odds ahead of last season were over +5000 and were +3000 after the 2024 finals. However, following the signings of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1152" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1152">Steven Stamkos</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2870" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2870">Jonathan Marchessault</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4511" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4511">Brady Skjei</a>, Nashville is down to +1600 and considered one of the league's favorites.</p><p>Bettors agree. While it's unknown when the majority of these bets were placed, the Predators are receiving more bets (7% of the total) than all but two teams to win the Stanley Cup.</p><h3>Hart Trophy odds</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Odds</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Connor McDavid</td>
<td>+140</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nathan MacKinnon</td>
<td>+500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Auston Matthews</td>
<td>+850</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jack Hughes</td>
<td>+1200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nikita Kucherov</td>
<td>+1800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Pastrnak</td>
<td>+2500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kirill Kaprizov</td>
<td>+2500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Leon Draisaitl</td>
<td>+2500</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>McDavid's the heavy favorite to win the league's MVP award. His +140 odds imply a win probability of 41.7%. However, he's only won it three times since 2017, so there may be value elsewhere on the oddsboard.</p><p>Last year's winner, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3002" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3002">Nathan MacKinnon</a>, is +500 to repeat. Alex Ovechkin and Dominik Hasek are the only repeat winners since Wayne Gretzky won eight straight from 1980-1987.</p><h3>"Rocket" Richard Trophy odds</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Odds</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Auston Matthews</td>
<td>-110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Pastrnak</td>
<td>+600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Leon Draisaitl</td>
<td>+800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Connor McDavid</td>
<td>+900</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kirill Kaprizov</td>
<td>+1100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nathan MacKinnon</td>
<td>+1800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Filip Forsberg</td>
<td>+2000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jack Hughes</td>
<td>+2500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zach Hyman</td>
<td>+2500</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Matthews is already the odds-on favorite to lead the NHL in goals, a feat he accomplished in three of the past four seasons. The new Leafs captain netted a career-high 69 goals last year, 12 clear of runner-up <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3945" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3945">Sam Reinhart</a>.</p><p>McDavid, meanwhile, is +900 to top the league in goals. He's the only player not named Matthews to score at least 60 goals in a season since Stamkos did so in 2011-12, as he potted 64 to win the "Rocket" two seasons ago.</p><h3>Norris Trophy odds</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Odds</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cale Makar</td>
<td>+225</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adam Fox</td>
<td>+650</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Evan Bouchard</td>
<td>+700</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Quinn Hughes</td>
<td>+750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Roman Josi</td>
<td>+900</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Miro Heiskanen</td>
<td>+1200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rasmus Dahlin</td>
<td>+1600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Noah Dobson</td>
<td>+2000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/8539" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/8539">Cale Makar</a> is the +225 favorite to earn the league's top defenseman honors. He won the Norris Trophy in 2022, when he recorded 86 points and was plus-48.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/7960" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/7960">Quinn Hughes</a> earned the award last season and is looking to become the first defenseman to go back-to-back since Nicklas Lidstrom won three straight from 2006 to 2008.</p><h3>Vezina Trophy odds</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Odds</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jeremy Swayman</td>
<td>+550</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Igor Shesterkin</td>
<td>+600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Connor Hellebuyck</td>
<td>+700</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jacob Markstrom</td>
<td>+900</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Juuse Saros</td>
<td>+900</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrei Vasilevskiy</td>
<td>+1200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ilya Sorokin</td>
<td>+1200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jake Oettinger</td>
<td>+1200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sergai Bobrovsky</td>
<td>+1200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thatcher Demko</td>
<td>+1200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Linus Ullmark</td>
<td>+1600</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Vezina Trophy is by far the most wide open of the awards based on the odds, with 11 goalies priced below +2000.</p><p>Jets netminder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3997" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3997">Connor Hellebuyck</a> is the reigning winner, but newly signed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9893" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9893">Jeremy Swayman</a> is the +550 favorite.</p><p>No goalie has won the award back-to-back since Martin Brodeur in 2007 and 2008.</p><h3>Calder Trophy odds</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Odds</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Matvei Michkov</td>
<td>+210</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Macklin Celebrini</td>
<td>+500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cutter Gauthier</td>
<td>+550</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lane Hutson</td>
<td>+550</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Logan Stankoven</td>
<td>+600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Will Smith</td>
<td>+900</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Flyers' <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13822" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13822">Matvei Michkov</a> is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy over the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/15142" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/15142">Macklin Celebrini</a>. Michkov was selected seventh overall in 2023 but played last season in the KHL.</p><p>Celebrini is trying to become the fourth first overall pick to win the Calder trophy in the past 10 years, following Matthews, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/13829" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/13829">Connor Bedard</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3946" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3946">Aaron Ekblad</a>.</p>

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<p><em>Odds and data via theScore Bet and ESPN Bet</em></p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199756" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199756">Jayden Daniels</a> is the odds-on favorite to earn Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and has the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/20" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/20">Commanders</a> moving toward a postseason berth.</p><p>The No. 2 pick's career is off to a tremendous start, and the shift in his OROY odds reflects that. Daniels opened at +800 (11.1% implied probability) to win the award, behind <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199760" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199760">Caleb Williams</a> (+250) and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/199753" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/199753">Marvin Harrison Jr.</a> (+600).</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>But amid a 3-1 start and an 82.1% completion percentage - the highest of any QB, rookie or not, through four games in NFL history - Daniels is now -140 (58.3% implied probability) to win.</p><p>He's thrown for 897 yards, three touchdowns, and only one interception this season. The Commanders' offense is rolling with Daniels under center, averaging 30.25 points per game and with only one punt in the last three contests.</p><p>The Commanders currently lead the NFC East, and their odds of making the playoffs have shortened with each win. Washington was +320 (23.8% implied probability) to reach the playoffs before the season started, +425 after it lost in Week 1, and is now down to +135 (42.6% implied probability) after three straight victories.</p><p>Daniels and Co. were +900 to win the division before Week 1, odds that have now shortened to +275. However, they remain a long shot to win the Super Bowl at +6000.</p><p>The Commanders face the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/teams/10" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/teams/10">Browns</a> in Week 5 and are favored by three points at home.</p>

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<p>Ignore the scoreboard. You don't need it to realize the Presidents Cup delivered.</p><p>It offered everything from memorable shots and intense emotions to high drama and controversy. But, perhaps most importantly, the battle from Royal Montreal offered a reminder that golf needs more match play, not less.</p><p>Most people won't remember a single moment from last month's Tour Championship or this year's Player Championship. That's a big issue for the PGA TOUR, which considers those two events its crown jewels. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>We aren't petitioning for The Players Championship to change its format, but the Tour Championship definitely should. A match-play tournament to decide the FedEx Cup champion is a no-brainer.</p><p>The PGA TOUR removed the only head-to-head competition from its schedule in 2024 and doesn't seem to have a plan for its return.</p><p>That remains a huge mistake. </p><p>Match play heightens the importance of every hole, which thereby heightens the importance of every shot. But professionals rarely compete in match play.</p><p>The PGA TOUR and its broadcast partners will tell you it's difficult to predict. There's no guarantee matches are 18 holes, making TV windows tougher to fill and on-course hospitality more complicated to build.</p><p>For example, there wasn't a grandstand constructed on the 18th hole at Royal Montreal. That would <em>never</em> happen at a regular PGA TOUR stop, which would have paying sponsors galore.</p><p>Also, lopsided matches don't make for the best entertainment- which is a sponsor's worst nightmare.</p><p>But from a golf perspective, the upside of match play outweighs the downside. Team or individual, a match-play tournament often delivers something pro golf lacks: compelling storylines.</p><p>Let's use this week as an example. </p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1377" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1377">Si Woo Kim</a> became a star. The shots he hit, the putts he made, and his celebrations - sensical or otherwise - created lasting memories. But most people who tuned into the Presidents Cup this week likely don't remember his 2017 Players Championship win.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!<br> <br>Si Woo Kim chips in from an impossible lie to win the hole! <a href="https://t.co/8fxKNig54a">pic.twitter.com/8fxKNig54a</a></p>— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) <a href="https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1840159780670730551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5772" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5772">Tom Kim</a> laid down his putter in protest for not having a putt conceded and called out the American team for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3086465" href="https://thescore.com/news/3086465">cursing at him</a> and said they showed a lack of sportsmanship.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/4453" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/4453">Wyndham Clark</a> became an antagonist - he mocked Si Woo's celebration after <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1451" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1451">Patrick Cantlay</a> made a match-clinching putt and then <a href="https://x.com/Golficity/status/1840450108502200632">took a jab</a> at <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/800" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/800">Byeong Hun An</a> on social media for not having a Saturday tee time.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAg0JV7vxcI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAg0JV7vxcI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
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</div></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></figure><p>There's speculation that Clark, who followed the Kims' match versus <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1451" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1451">Patrick Cantlay</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1213" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1213">Xander Schauffele</a>, was the one Tom Kim was talking about when accusing Americans of swearing at him, spurring An's now-deleted tweet.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1213" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1213">Xander Schauffele</a> became a leader without Team USA stalwarts like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth on the roster. And he stepped up in a big way, continuing his sensational 2024 season by going 4-1, including a 4-and-3 drumming of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1177" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1177">Jason Day</a> in Sunday singles.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1700" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1700">Russell Henley</a>, a Presidents Cup rookie, played alongside <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1540" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1540">Scottie Scheffler</a> and outperformed the World No. 1 en route to a 3-1 record.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/796" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/796">Keegan Bradley</a> redeemed himself after not playing on an American team for a decade when he clinched the winning point for his side.</p><p>Yes, past Presidents Cups and Ryder Cups have also delivered big storylines. Emotions at those events are heightened because of national pride, but the former WGC Match Play used to bring the drama as well.</p><p>There was the Garica-Matt Kuchar "gimme" controversy in 2019. There was the putt-concession situation between Dustin Johnson and Kevin Na in 2021. And, of course, there was the 2015 incident when Bradley <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_eCQ7DmEdQ">got in the face</a> of Miguel Angel Jimenez.</p><p>The term "Amesed" was born out of the WGC Match Play after Stephen Ames lost 9-and-8 to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1637" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1637">Tiger Woods</a> in the biggest beatdown in match-play history.</p><p>Year after year, event after event, match play always delivers storylines.</p><p>While men's professional golf is in turmoil, the Presidents Cup provided a reminder that non-major championship golf can attract even casual fans, provide memorable moments, and create new stars for the PGA TOUR to promote.</p><p>We're not asking for every tournament to be match play. But more than one team event a year on the men's side doesn't feel like a lot to ask for.</p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 29: Keegan Bradley of the U.S. Team shakes hands with Si Woo Kim of South Korea and the International Team after Bradley defeated Kim 1 UP during Sunday Singles on day four of the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 29, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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<p>MONTREAL - <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5772" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5772">Tom Kim</a> called out the American team's sportsmanship following his and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1377" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1377">Si Woo Kim</a>'s loss to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1451" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1451">Patrick Cantlay</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1213" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1213">Xander Schauffele</a> on Saturday, saying members from the opposing side took the competitive banter too far.</p><p>"I could hear some players cursing at us," Tom <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148704.pdf">said</a>. "... I don't think there was good sportsmanship there. But it's all part of the fun. I understand it. So the U.S. team definitely motivated us to go out there."</p><p>He later clarified these comments, saying the cursing came from the "American Team" and confirmed they did not come from Cantlay, Schauffele, nor their caddies, according to <a href="https://x.com/golfcentral/status/1840192337403597039?s=46">Golf Channel's Todd Lewis</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Kims' match versus Cantlay and Schauffele was heated to say the least. It was a back-and-forth battle filled with incredible shots and emphatic celebrations that went down to the 18th hole.</p><p>The first sign of tension came on the seventh hole when Tom was forced to putt from 2 feet, 7 inches. He laid down his putter twice after he had made the putt, a gesture that signals the putt should have been conceded, which is a common occurrence on short putts in match play. </p><p>Later, Si Woo holed a remarkable chip from a severe lie on the 16th hole to level the match with two holes remaining. Si Woo did Steph Curry's "Goodnight" celebration while running across the green. </p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!<br> <br>Si Woo Kim chips in from an impossible lie to win the hole! <a href="https://t.co/8fxKNig54a">pic.twitter.com/8fxKNig54a</a></p>— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) <a href="https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1840159780670730551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Cantlay and Schauffele said they were unbothered by Si Woo's reaction to the chip-in while denying they were swearing at either Kim.</p><p>"I felt like Pat and I treated the Kims with the utmost respect," Schauffele <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148705.pdf">said</a>. "... I have no clue if anyone was doing any of that. I don't believe any of our guys would do something like that. So I'm not sure what he was hearing."</p><p>Tom added he can understand why emotions get high during matches, but believes the Americans crossed the line.<br><br>"You see me out there throwing fist pumps and jumping on the green. It's all part of it, I get it," Tom said. "I just don't think there's a need to look at someone and curse at them. I just don't think there's a need for it."</p><p>Cantlay sealed the 1-up victory over the Kims with a 16-foot birdie putt to give the Americans an 11-7 lead ahead of Sunday.</p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 28: Tom Kim of South Korea and the International Team looks on after a putt on the first green during Saturday Afternoon Foursomes on day three of the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 28, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1540" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1540">Scottie Scheffler</a> versus <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1977" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1977">Hideki Matsuyama</a> headlines Sunday's singles matches that will cap the 2024 Presidents Cup.</p><p>Scheffler and Matsuyama will be the third match at 12:26 p.m. ET. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1213" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1213">Xander Schauffele</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1177" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1177">Jason Day</a> will get the action underway at 12:02 p.m. </p><p>The Americans hold an 11-7 lead going into the final day after winning both sessions on Saturday 3-1. Each team needs to earn at least 15.5 points to win the competition. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here's the full set of matches:</p><p><strong>Match 1 (12:02 p.m. ET):</strong> Xander Schauffele (USA) vs. Jason Day (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 2 (12:14 p.m.):</strong> Sam Burns (USA) vs. Tom Kim (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 3 (12:26 p.m):</strong> Scottie Scheffler (USA) vs. Hideki Matsuyama (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 4 (12:38 p.m): </strong>Russell Henley (USA) vs. Sungjae Im (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 5 (12:50 p.m.): </strong>Patrick Cantlay (USA) vs. Taylor Pendrith (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 6 (1:02 p.m.): </strong>Keegan Bradley (USA) vs. Si Woo Kim (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 7 (1:19 p.m.): </strong>Tony Finau (USA) vs. Corey Conners (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 8 (1:31 p.m.): </strong>Wyndham Clark (USA) vs. Min Woo Lee (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 9 (1:43 p.m.):</strong> Sahith Theegala (USA) vs. Byeong Hun An (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 10 (1:55 p.m.):</strong> Collin Morikawa (USA) vs. Adam Scott (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 11 (2:07 p.m.):</strong> Brian Harman (USA) vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (INT)</p><p><strong>Match 12 (2:19 p.m.): </strong>Max Homa (USA) vs. Mackenzie Hughes (INT)</p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 28: Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. Team reacts after making a putt on the ninth hole during Saturday Foursomes matches on day three of the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 28, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec.

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Scheffler vs. Matsuyama headlines Sunday's Presidents Cup singles matches

Friday's word of the day from the Presidents Cup: Unbelievable.   You can use it to describe near...

<p>Friday's word of the day from the Presidents Cup: Unbelievable. </p><p>You can use it to describe nearly everything that transpired on Day 2 at Royal Montreal - the shots, the crowds, the energy, and, most importantly for the International team, the results.</p><p>Before play started, the atmosphere on the grounds felt completely different from Day 1. Royal Montreal was noticeably busier, likely due to the later start time, and fans were much louder in their support of the Internationals despite the 5-0 deficit the home team faced after Thursday's session.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Perhaps all it took was a couple of International team members to call out the far more subdued Thursday crowd for the Canadian fans to respond. </p><p>"(The crowds) were unbelievable today," Tom Kim <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148661.pdf">said</a> after calling the crowd quiet one day earlier. "They definitely brought it. Obviously, these guys had to go out and play. I sat out, but the crowd, I think, plays a huge role."</p><p>"Today the fans really brought it," Mackenzie Hughes <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148661.pdf">said</a>. "We felt that from the get-go. Corey (Conners) mentioned that the first tee felt a lot different today than it did yesterday. Just electric all day."</p><p>The Canadian duo was welcomed to "O Canada" on the first tee, which set the scene for the remainder of the day. </p><p>Hughes added: "I joked to Corey on the No. 2 tee - I said how many times will we hear 'O Canada' today? Just an unbelievable day. The atmosphere was buzzing from the get-go."</p><p>The crowd's energy propelled Mike Weir's group to a stunning 5-0 result in the alternate-shot matches just a day after the team suffered the first sweep of an opening Presidents Cup session since 2000.</p><p>And it wasn't particularly close. </p><p>Three of the five matches ended before the 15th hole. The Americans led for only one of the combined 58 holes played on Friday between the two teams.</p><p>The International team, meanwhile, rostered seven of the top 10 players based on strokes-gained metrics, according to <a href="https://x.com/DataGolf/status/1839785269576221162">DataGolf</a>. It was a complete reversal from Thursday's data.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1907" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1907">Conners</a> was the Internationals' best player on Friday. Playing alongside longtime friend Hughes, the Canadian duo beat <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/2172" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/2172">Tony Finau</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/4453" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/4453">Wyndham Clark</a> 6&amp;5, and Conners' incredible shot on the par-3 13th was the nail in the coffin for his American competitors.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Foot on the gas 😤<a href="https://twitter.com/coreconn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoreConn</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/MacHughesGolf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MacHughesGolf</a> make it three straight wins for the <a href="https://twitter.com/IntlTeam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IntlTeam</a>. <a href="https://t.co/oTUbrLkiPN">pic.twitter.com/oTUbrLkiPN</a></p>— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) <a href="https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1839767218352947529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>While Conners and Hughes were taking care of business, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1977" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1977">Hideki Matsuyama</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5171" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5171">Sungjae Im</a> were delivering blow after blow in the day's first match against the powerhouse duo of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1451" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1451">Patrick Cantlay</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1213" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1213">Xander Schauffele</a>. </p><p>Matsuyama and Im shook hands on the 12th green with a 7&amp;6 win, the largest margin of victory in Presidents Cup history.</p><p>Elsewhere, Canadian <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1850" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1850">Taylor Pendrith</a> partnered with 11-time Presidents Cup veteran <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/2124" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/2124">Adam Scott</a> for a 5&amp;4 win over <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/3135" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/3135">Collin Morikawa</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/4240" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/4240">Sahith Theegala</a>.</p><p>It wasn't complete dominance from the Internationals, however. Two matches came down to the 18th hole, including the one involving <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1177" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1177">Jason Day</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/427" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/427">Christiaan Bezuidenhout</a>, who narrowly edged <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/2071" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/2071">Max Homa</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1171" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1171">Brian Harman</a>.</p><p>If it weren't for Day's short game, the Americans would have the lead going into the weekend.</p><p>Bezuidenhout put his partner in a difficult spot on the 18th hole, leaving him with a tricky pitch off a downhill lie and little green to work with. But Day, as he's done throughout his career, pulled off a shot that <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/2124" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/2124">Adam Scott</a> called "unbelievable" to secure the Internationals' fourth point of the day.</p><p>The Internationals' five points on Day 2 marked the first time in the history of the Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup, or Solhiem Cup that there were back-to-back sweeps of sessions, according to the <a href="https://x.com/JustinRayGolf/status/1839782551658860933">Twenty First Group's Justin Ray</a>.</p><p>The Internationals' historic foursomes session injected competition into an event that looked like it could be a runaway.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/2172" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/2172">Finau</a> was noticeably energized during his post-round press conference despite his team's forgettable day on the course.</p><p>"You learn from today, but we've got three sessions left." Finau <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148662.pdf">said</a>. "That's the message to our guys. We know there's a lot of golf to be played. We played great yesterday, and they played great today. Now we're back to square one, where it's a tie moving forward. So it's a dogfight, and I like my 11 guys in a dogfight over the next three rounds."</p><p>As <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1377" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1377">Si Woo Kim</a> <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148665.pdf">said</a> said after securing the sweep-clinching putt on the final hole of the day, it's "game on."</p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 27: Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners of the International Team react to the crowd on the first tee during Friday's Foursomes matches on day two of the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 27, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec.

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'Unbelievable': Canadians spark stunning Presidents Cup turnaround 

Yikes.   You couldn't draw up a worse opening session for the International team. What should be ...

<p>Yikes. </p><p>You couldn't draw up a worse opening session for the International team. What should be a story recapping a competitive first round from Royal Montreal feels more like an obituary for Mike Weir's side, which faces a 5-0 deficit heading into Friday.</p><p>The Americans' sweep of Thursday's four-ball matches is the third by Team USA in an opening Presidents Cup session. The Americans won the competition by at least eight points in the two previous instances.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>So what went wrong for the black and gold? Well, everything.</p><p>Let's start with the players. Of the 24 golfers who teed it up Thursday, the Internationals rostered the five worst performers based on strokes-gained data and nine of the bottom 12. </p><p>To make matters worse, the Internationals' best players failed to show up. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/2124" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/2124">Adam Scott</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1977" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1977">Hideki Matsuyama</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5171" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5171">Sungjae Im</a> were three of the day's five worst performers, each losing over 1.5 strokes to the field. Im was the second worst with minus-3.9 strokes gained.</p><p>The International team faced an uphill battle from the jump against an American team loaded with talent, but it has next to no chance of ending its nine-event losing streak without its best players earning important points.</p><p>What's even more frustrating for the International team is that the matches were far closer than the final scoreboard indicates. Three matches ended on 18, and the fifth match - <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1319" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1319">Sam Burns</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1451" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1451">Patrick Cantlay</a> versus <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1907" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1907">Corey Conners</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1977" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1977">Hideki Matsuyama</a> - was a 9-foot birdie putt away from also going to the last hole.</p><p>Perhaps that's the day's lone bright spot for the team, but coming up empty-handed while being competitive in all five matches can only increase the pain.</p><p>"I have a feeling the matches were closer than what the score indicates," Scott <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148630.pdf">said</a>. "Our guys are just going to have to lift a little bit. We're going to have to find another gear to beat a tough American team."</p><p>The Canadian crowd will also have to find another gear if it's hoping to see meaningful golf on Sunday.</p><p>It falls on the players to hit shots that make the home crowd get loud and turn heads across the property, but the fans on the grounds did not provide the lift the International team needs to be competitive. Home-course advantage is crucial in these team competitions, and that advantage was non-existent on Thursday. When caddies and players' wives are visibly trying to pump the fans up after their team hits it close, there's a big issue.</p><p>"We need to get louder, I think, the next few days here and really feel the home support," Canadian Taylor Pendrith <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148630.pdf">said</a>. </p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5772" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5772">Tom Kim</a>, one of the few International players who provided any energy on Thursday, agreed.<br><br>"I think it was a little too quiet today being on home soil," Kim said. "I wish they would have helped us out a bit more, especially being in Canada. I know how much they love golf."</p><p>The reality of a 5-0 deficit set in while Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark secured the final point on 18. The Americans hung around on the final green for an extended time, acting as if they had won the cup, while the Internationals vanished from the course as quickly as they could.</p><p>Dejected fans left the property wondering what they had just witnessed, and one fan was overheard saying that "today was supposed to be the close session."</p><p>That fan is right. The Americans have a plus-1 point differential in four-ball sessions dating back to 2007, according the <a href="https://x.com/JustinRayGolf/status/1838698518971609303">Twenty First Group's Justin Ray</a>, and a plus-33 point differential in foursomes (alternate shot), the format for Friday's matches.</p><p>What's even more concerning for the International side is what appears to be an inability to react to Thursday's disaster. </p><p>Weir and Co. decided to leave Kim off Friday's tee sheet. The young Korean provided two memorable moments on the front nine Thursday despite losing 3-and-2 to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1540" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1540">Scottie Scheffler</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1700" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1700">Russell Henley</a>. Kim was also the International team's second-best performer on a strokes-gained basis.</p><p>"Tom wasn't in the plans for (Friday), but doesn't mean he might not be down the road," Weir, the captain, said when questioned why Kim was sitting Friday's session. "We're sticking with the plan."</p><p>Poor performances, zero home-course advantage, and a plan that doesn't seem adaptable is a recipe for disaster.</p><p>"We're now in a really tough spot," Scott said. "But thankfully there's tomorrow."</p><p>We'll have to wait and see if Scott's still thankful for tomorrow once Friday's results are in. </p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 26: Min Woo Lee of Australia, Adam Scott of Australia, and Tom Kim of South Korea and the International Team look on during Thursday's Four-ball matches on day one of the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 26, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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Everything went wrong for Internationals on Day 1

The prep is done and the practice is over. It's time for the Presidents Cup to start.  But first,...

<p>The prep is done and the practice is over. It's time for the Presidents Cup to start.</p><p>But first, here's a random assortment of sights and sounds from the grounds at Royal Montreal ahead of Thursday's opening tee shot. </p><h3>Royal Montreal</h3><p>It's tough to gauge how players feel about Royal Montreal as a venue. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/4240" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/4240">Sahith Theegala</a> <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148555.pdf">called</a> it "boring in a good way," and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1540" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1540">Scottie Scheffler</a> said, "It's a pretty simple golf course for the most part."</p><p>Those aren't exactly rave reviews. </p><p>However, there were some positives said about the course. </p><p>"I really like it," <a href="https://asaptext.com/orgs/presidentscupen/transcripts/148585.pdf">said</a> <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/2071" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/2071">Max Homa</a>. "It's very interesting. The front nine is incredibly different from the back. The greens are interesting."</p><p>We'll have to wait and see how it plays throughout the week. All that really matters in a match-play setting is whether or not the course provides drama, which it should since the finishing stretch starting from No. 14 has plenty of risk-reward shots that could be match-deciders. </p><h3>This is fun</h3><p>One of the biggest takeaways from two days of practice is how much the players seem to be enjoying themselves. </p><p>Does <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/5171" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/5171">Sungjae Im</a> look concerned about which player may leave the PGA TOUR next or how the current state of men's professional golf will repair itself? Not at all. </p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="in" dir="ltr">Gangnam Style Sungjae is the best Sungjae.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IntlTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IntlTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/D7RRpdFHij">pic.twitter.com/D7RRpdFHij</a></p>— Presidents Cup International Team (@IntlTeam) <a href="https://twitter.com/IntlTeam/status/1839019484717396217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The vibe on the American side is no different. According to several different American team members, the team room is full of non-stop laughs, and the class clowns of the team are perhaps the least suspecting players.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1213" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1213">Xander Schauffele</a> and Scheffler - the two best players in the world - are apparently the ones loosening the mood in the American team room, not someone like Homa, whose reputation on social media would lead you to believe he's the one with all the jokes. </p><p>In a time when tournaments are usually riddled with dialogue about money, rival tours, a divided game, etc., this week is providing a cleanse from all the outside noise.</p><h3>Presidents Cup's place</h3><p>The Presidents Cup is often considered a Ryder Cup rip-off created from thin air. While the first part may be true (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), nothing about this event feels manufactured.</p><p>There's no denying the Presidents Cup's history doesn't run as deep as the Ryder Cup's, but the passion and focus that are so obvious to see in the players and captains suggest it means equally as much. The Americans don't want to be the first team since 1998 to lose, and the Internationals so badly want their losing streak to end.</p><p>As a longtime Presidents Cup critic, always looking for ways to tweak the event to make it better, attending the event has been eye-opening. Nothing about this tournament needs to change.</p><h3>Palpable buzz</h3><p>The Canadian crowds are already showing out despite the rainy weather and cold temperatures. There were head-turning cheers from the galleries surrounding a couple of holes, mainly when a Canadian player hit a close shot or made their way to the green. </p><p>If two days of practice-round action are indicative of what's to come, the fans in Montreal are ready to support their fellow countrymen and the International team.</p><h3>The International shield</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746931/cropped_GettyImages-2174227995.jpg?ts=1727309006" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746931/w220xh124_GettyImages-2174227995.jpg?ts=1727309006 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746931/w320xh180_GettyImages-2174227995.jpg?ts=1727309006 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746931/w640xh360_GettyImages-2174227995.jpg?ts=1727309006 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746931/w768xh432_GettyImages-2174227995.jpg?ts=1727309006 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/746931/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2174227995.jpg?ts=1727309006 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>It's hard to envision the International team competing without a logo, but they did so for 12 editions of the Presidents Cup. Yes, it's just a made-up logo created in 2019, but the International team would still be searching for an identity without it.</p><p>It's been proven difficult to bring a group of players from different countries together, but now in its third event, the shield Ernie Els developed does exactly that. Watching the Internationals enter the practice area as a unit, donning the shield while wearing all black with hints of yellow, solidified the fact that the International team logo is helping to unify this group. </p><h3>Is NBC calling the shots?</h3><p>It was discovered while speaking to a volunteer at the 14th hole - a short par 4 at a pivotal section on the course - that NBC, the broadcaster of this year's Presidents Cup, is trying to put its thumb on the scale by requesting the hole be drivable.</p><p>There's a tee deck available that would make the hole roughly 300 yards and reachable by everyone in the event. The PGA TOUR has the final say in course setup, but if its media partner requests the hole be shortened to increase drama down the stretch, the TOUR may have no choice but to oblige.</p><h3>Instilling knowledge</h3><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1056" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1056">Mackenzie Hughes</a> was third on the PGA TOUR in strokes gained: around the greens in 2024, yet he spent several minutes with Els in a greenside bunker on the 14th hole discussing how to play a certain shot.</p><p>On the same hole, International assistant captain Camilo Villegas shared his knowledge on how to judge a lie in the rough with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///pga/players/1377" href="https://thescore.com/pga/players/1377">Si Woo Kim</a>. The two discussed the slight differences between a couple of lies after Kim's approach shot into the green didn't react how he intended.</p><p>This is only a tiny sample of the knowledge sharing occurring during team competition weeks. Players - especially rookies like Hughes - are soaking up everything they can learn from their teammates and captains. Witnessing knowledge get handed down to a younger generation of pros is fun to watch.</p><h3>Expos love</h3><p>You wouldn't know Montreal lost its MLB team 20 years ago based on the number of Expos logos on the property at Royal Montreal. Hats, jerseys, shirts - you name it. The beloved Expos are clearly missed.</p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 25: Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. Team laugh prior to the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 25, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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From the grounds: Sights and sounds from 2 days of Presidents Cup prep

Pairing announcements is one of the most intriguing parts of golf's team competitions. It provide...

<p>Pairing announcements is one of the most intriguing parts of golf's team competitions. It provides insights into how each captain feels about their players and how they think their team is best suited to win coveted points. </p><p>Wednesday's announcements provided exactly that. Mike Weir and Jim Furyk revealed their cards after months of planning to create five opening matches for the 2024 Presidents Cup. </p><p>Let's dive in. </p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>Jason Day-Byeong-Hun An vs. Xander Schauffele-Tony Finau</strong></p><p>Weir threw out Day and An first in what seems like a strange opening tandem. The Canadian crowd will be eager to see the first tee ball hit, but failing to include a Canadian in the first group removes a potentially electrifying moment.</p><p>What makes this opening match worse for the Internationals is the fact that Day and An will be up against Schauffele and Finau. Schauffele, arguably the world's best player at the moment, is ranked fourth in birdie-or-better percentage this season on the PGA TOUR, while Finau makes a boatload of birdies.</p><p>Making birdies is extremely important in a four-ball session, giving the edge to the Americans in the day's opening match.</p><p><strong>Adam Scott-Min Woo Lee vs. Collin Morikawa-Sahith Theegala</strong></p><p>Furyk opted for Morikawa and Theegala to go out second for his American side, while Weir answered with the Australian duo of Scott and Lee.</p><p>The American pair features two players with widely different styles of play. It's rare to see Morikawa playing from the rough, and it's also rare to see Theegala hitting approach shots from anything other than the rough. The beauty of four balls is that contrasting styles can work very well. Morikawa's steady presence may free up Theegala - a rookie in team competitions - and allow him to play his game without much pressure.</p><p>This may be the most fascinating matchup since the International pairing of Scott and Lee also features two contrasting playing styles. Scott will be unfazed by the moment in his 11th Presidents Cup, whereas Lee might be a little sporadic out of the gates as an excitable rookie.</p><p>This could go either direction, which would likely please Weir considering Morikawa should be a big favorite in any match he's partaking in.</p><p><strong>Tom Kim-Sungjae Im vs. Scottie Scheffler-Russell Henley</strong></p><p>This battle has to be the marquee match of the day. It features World No. 1 Scheffler and a pair of Koreans who the Internationals need to perform to have any hope of winning. </p><p>Scheffler was held winless in the last Presidents Cup, but he's a far different player than he was two years ago. Pairing him with the steady, accurate Henley makes sense, but they seem like a better foursome (alternate shot) pairing than four-ball. Perhaps Furyk will run this duo out in all four team sessions.</p><p>After witnessing Kim and Im interact with each other during two days of practice rounds, this will be an extremely comfortable pairing for both players. Both Koreans also finished the 2023-24 season playing great golf.</p><p>Although the betting odds may not reflect it, this match feels closer to a coin flip than Furyk would've liked considering it features his biggest weapon - Scheffler.</p><p><strong>Taylor Pendrith-Christiaan Bezuidenhout vs. Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark</strong></p><p>Weir buried his first Canadian of the day in the fourth match. There's likely a reason for it, but it's still bizarre given the event's location.</p><p>This may be a surprise, but Pendrith and Bezuidenhout pose a problem for the Americans. They possess very different games off the tee - Pendrith is a power player and Bezuidenhout relies more on accuracy - but they can both putt the ball extremely well, which can be very frustrating for the opposing side.</p><p>Bradley and Clark are another American pair with differing playing styles. Bradley is much more accuracy-based, whereas Clark takes more of a bomb-and-gouge approach, a mixture that Furyk seemed to rely on for his Day 1 pairings.</p><p><strong>Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners vs. Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns</strong></p><p>It may be a bit shocking not seeing Cantlay and Schauffele paired together in a team event, but the duo that's historically dominated in multiple team events didn't play together in last year's Ryder Cup four-ball sessions. However, Cantlay and Schauffele did play alternate shot together in Rome, which Furyk may opt for Friday.</p><p>Once again, Cantlay and Burns are another pairing consisting of a steady player (Cantlay) and one who can be a bit more erratic (Burns).</p><p>For the Internationals, Matsuyama and Conners may be their best pairing. Both are elite ball-strikers and will have plenty of birdie opportunities between them, but whether or not they win or lose will come down to how many putts they can make.</p><p><strong>On the bench</strong></p><p>Furyk is sitting Max Homa and Brian Harman, a pair that played and performed well together at last year's Ryder Cup. However, Homa's been searching for his game for the last few months. Sitting him in the first session means he'll likely play in Friday's alternate-shot format, which exposes players who are struggling to find their games.</p><p>Mackenzie Hughes and Si Woo Kim are taking Thursday off for the Internationals. Hughes could've been the spark plug the Internationals badly need and should've been considered to be the first pairing out, but Weir elected to sit him instead.</p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 24: International Team Captain Mike Weir shakes hands with U.S. Team Captain Jim Furyk during a press conference prior to the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 24, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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Presidents Cup pairings: Dissecting each captain's Day 1 decisions

Captains Jim Furyk and Mike Weir released their Day 1 pairings Wednesday, setting up the Presiden...

<p>Captains Jim Furyk and Mike Weir released their Day 1 pairings Wednesday, setting up the Presidents Cup's opening four-ball matches.</p><p>Weir sent out the first pairing and opted for the duo of Jason Day and Byeong Hun An. Furyk, who deferred selecting first to Weir, answered with Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau. </p><p>The key difference between Presidents Cup pairings and those at the Ryder Cup is that the teams go back and forth in the former, drafting their order this week. In contrast, in the Ryder Cup, the pairings are done blindly.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here are the five four-ball matchups for Thursday:</p><p><strong>Match 1 (11:35 a.m ET):</strong> Jason Day and Byeong-Hun An (INT) vs. Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau (USA)</p><p><strong>Match 2 (11:53 a.m. ET)</strong>: Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee (INT) vs. Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala (USA)</p><p><strong>Match 3 (12:11 p.m.)</strong>: Tom Kim and Sungjae Im (INT) vs. Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley (USA)</p><p><strong>Match 4 (12:29 p.m.)</strong>: Taylor Pendrith and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (INT) vs. Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark (USA)</p><p><strong>Match 5 (12:47 p.m.)</strong>: Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners (INT) vs. Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns (USA)</p><p>The first session of the Presidents Cup begins Thursday at 11:35 a.m. ET. </p>

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - SEPTEMBER 25: Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley of the U.S. Team look on from the 18th tee during a practice round prior to the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 25, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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Scheffler-Henley vs. Kim-Im headlines Presidents Cup Day 1 matchups

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Eric Patterson

Betting Supervisor

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