As we enter September, Labor Day is behind us, kids are returning to school, and the sports world is heating up.
The US Open is in full swing, college football began over the weekend, this Thursday brings us the NFL kickoff, and the MLB playoffs are around the corner. Sports fans are all in as Summer fades away.
Enjoy this Back to Work edition of TINK Sports.
College Football
Class is back in session, and along with it comes Saturday tailgating. Players and fans alike are geared up for a fresh college football season, right down to the uniforms. (No white after Labor Day).
We just had the best opening weekend in college football history. The competition was fast and furious with seven of the top-25 teams losing.
The shockers:
- Unranked Wisconsin beat #3 LSU 16-14 in the first ever college game played at Lambeau field, home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers
- Trying to impress and get invited to a major conference, #15 Houston defeated #3 Oklahoma 33-23
- In a Texas-sized shootout in front of 102,000 fans, unranked Texas beat #10 Notre Dame 50-47, avenging last season’s 38-3 drubbing
The blowouts:
- Revenge game. Defending champions #1 Alabama crushed #20 USC 52-6. Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin, who was fired as USC head coach in 2013, was smiling all game.
- Aloha…#7 Michigan trounced Hawaii 63-3 at the Big House in Ann Arbor. At least the Hawaii squad gets to return home to fabulous Honolulu.
The marquee games that did not disappoint:
- #18 Georgia dropped #22 North Carolina 33-24. Top Dog? Georgia Bulldog running back Nick Chubb, making a strong comeback like vinyl records, showed why he is a legitimate Heisman Trophy (awarded to nation’s top college football player) candidate, running for 222 yards and two touchdowns Saturday.
- In a record-setting performance, #3 Florida State overcame a 22-point deficit to defeat #11 Ole Miss 45-34
National Football League
Before the real work of the NFL regular season begins this week, a few high profile quarterbacks were on the move. The Denver Broncos cut Mark Sanchez but he quickly found new work signing with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Philadelphia Eagles traded Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for two draft picks. Fitting as the 2017 NFL Draft is headed to the City of Brotherly Love.
Thursday’s NFL kickoff is a Super Bowl rematch with the Carolina Panthers facing the defending champion Denver Broncos (NBC at 8:00pm ET).
Plan your party now…The Super Bowl is Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston.
Major League Baseball (MLB)
The spotlight is back on baseball with the playoffs just four weeks away.
How the mighty have fallen…Last year’s World Series teams, the New York Mets (one game out) and Kansas City Royals (four games out) are both struggling simply to make it back into the playoffs.
The Chicago Cubs remain the toast of the town with the best record in baseball. Many around the country are hoping to see them end their 108-year World Series drought.
Back to work. The Los Angeles Dodgers, trying to pull away from the San Francisco Giants, welcome back their best player Clayton Kershaw on Friday. Kershaw will have to shake off some rust as he hasn’t pitched since June.
Tennis
Hard day’s work…In the US Open Men’s draw, after a four-hour-and-seven-minute, five-set battle Sunday, 22-year-old Frenchman Lucas Pouille defeated #4 seed Spaniard Rafael Nadal, the 14-time Major champion. Vive la France! With Pouille’s win, there are three Frenchmen in a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time since 1947.
Baguettes and Bordeaux aside, #1 Novak Djokovic from Serbia remains the favorite despite nursing an elbow injury, and is on a collision course with #2 Andy Murray, who is his Scotland’s top celebrity over the likes of Ewan McGregor and Sir Sean Connery.
Business as usual thus far for the women. #1 Serena Williams and #2 Angelique Kerber of Germany are advancing toward their third Grand Slam Finals matchup this year. Season recap: Kerber won the Australian Open and Williams got her revenge at Wimbledon. Third time’s the charm?
Remember at TINK Sports we watch the games so you don’t have to.
See you next time…
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