by Big Al Staff
Thursday, Oct 05, 2023The Thursday sports card features NFL and NCAAF action.
Week 5 of the NFL regular season kicks off with the Washington Commanders hosting the Chicago Bears on Amazon Prime at 8:15 PM ET. The Commanders have lost two games in a row after their 34-31 loss in overtime at Philadelphia as a 10-point underdog on Sunday. After recovering an Eagles’ fumble in the end zone in the second quarter, Washington went into halftime with a 17-10 lead. Trailing by a touchdown after A.J. Brown’s touchdown reception with just 1:43 left in the fourth quarter, Commanders’ quarterback Sam Howell orchestrated a game-tying drive culminating with a 10-yard touchdown catch by Jahan Dotson. Head coach Ron Rivera chose to kick the extra point to force overtime rather than attempt a game-winning two-point conversion. The Eagles’ Jake Elliott kicked the game-winning 54-year field goal with 3:54 left in the overtime session. Howell completed 29 of 41 passes for 290 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in the losing effort.
The Bears remained winless this season in a 31-28 loss to Denver as a 3-point underdog on Sunday. Chicago took a 28-7 lead at the 4:11 mark of the third quarter with quarterback Justin Fields' 2-yard touchdown pass to Khalil Herbert. Russell Wilson responded with two touchdown drives to pull the Broncos within seven points before forcing a Fields’ fumble on a naked bootleg that Jonathan Cooper scooped up for a game-tying 35-yard score. Fields led the Bears back down the field before head coach Matt Eberflus bypassed a short field goal attempt for a fourth-and-one opportunity, which they failed to convert. Denver went on to kick the game-winning 51-yard field goal with 1:41 left. After posting a perfect passer rating in the first half while completing 16 of 17 passes, Fields ended the game with 28 completions on 35 attempts for 335 yards with four touchdown passes and one interception.
Washington is a 6-point favorite, with the total set at 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings).
The sixth week in NCAAF college football continues with two games on national television between FBS opponents. Liberty plays at home against Sam Houston State on the CBS Sports Network at 7 PM ET. The Flames are unbeaten after four games this season after their 38-6 victory at Florida International as a 10-point favorite back on September 23rd. Quarterback Kaidon Salter completed 11 of 21 passes for 156 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding another 77 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Head coach Jamey Chadwell’s team opened with victories at home against Bowling Green and New Mexico State before winning at Buffalo and FIU.
The Bearkats are winless in their first four games after a 35-28 upset loss to Jacksonville State as a 7-point favorite last Thursday. After scoring only ten combined points in their first three games, senior quarterback Keegan Shoemaker completed 22 of 38 passes for 285 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception to lead Sam Houston State to 28 points in the losing effort. This contest is the Bearkats' fourth game away from home after losses at BYU, Air Force on a neutral field, and on the road at Houston.
Liberty is a 20-point favorite with an over/under of 45.5.
Western Kentucky travels to Louisiana Tech on ESPNU at 8 PM ET. The Hilltoppers ended a two-game losing streak with a 31-10 victory against Middle Tennessee as a 6.5-point favorite last Thursday. Senior quarterback Austin Reed completed 30 of 52 passes for 297 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception in the win. Western Kentucky opened their season with wins at home against South Florida and Houston Baptist. They went on a two-game road trip where they lost at Ohio State, 63-10, before a 27-24 loss at Middle Troy. They raised their record to 3-2 with their win last week against the Blue Raiders.
The Bulldogs ended a two-game losing streak with a 24-10 win at UTEP as a 1.5-point favorite last Friday. With Boise State transfer Hank Bachmeier out for a second-straight game with a shoulder injury, the junior quarterback completed 9 of 20 passes for 152 yards with a touchdown pass and no interceptions in the victory. Louisiana Tech began its season with a win at home against Florida International before losing on the road to SMU. They beat Northwestern State at home before losing at home to North Texans and then at Nebraska. The Bulldogs win against the Miners evened their record at 3-3.
Western Kentucky is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 60.5.
Week 5 of the NFL regular season kicks off with the Washington Commanders hosting the Chicago Bears on Amazon Prime at 8:15 PM ET. The Commanders have lost two games in a row after their 34-31 loss in overtime at Philadelphia as a 10-point underdog on Sunday. After recovering an Eagles’ fumble in the end zone in the second quarter, Washington went into halftime with a 17-10 lead. Trailing by a touchdown after A.J. Brown’s touchdown reception with just 1:43 left in the fourth quarter, Commanders’ quarterback Sam Howell orchestrated a game-tying drive culminating with a 10-yard touchdown catch by Jahan Dotson. Head coach Ron Rivera chose to kick the extra point to force overtime rather than attempt a game-winning two-point conversion. The Eagles’ Jake Elliott kicked the game-winning 54-year field goal with 3:54 left in the overtime session. Howell completed 29 of 41 passes for 290 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in the losing effort.
The Bears remained winless this season in a 31-28 loss to Denver as a 3-point underdog on Sunday. Chicago took a 28-7 lead at the 4:11 mark of the third quarter with quarterback Justin Fields' 2-yard touchdown pass to Khalil Herbert. Russell Wilson responded with two touchdown drives to pull the Broncos within seven points before forcing a Fields’ fumble on a naked bootleg that Jonathan Cooper scooped up for a game-tying 35-yard score. Fields led the Bears back down the field before head coach Matt Eberflus bypassed a short field goal attempt for a fourth-and-one opportunity, which they failed to convert. Denver went on to kick the game-winning 51-yard field goal with 1:41 left. After posting a perfect passer rating in the first half while completing 16 of 17 passes, Fields ended the game with 28 completions on 35 attempts for 335 yards with four touchdown passes and one interception.
Washington is a 6-point favorite, with the total set at 44.5 (all odds from DraftKings).
The sixth week in NCAAF college football continues with two games on national television between FBS opponents. Liberty plays at home against Sam Houston State on the CBS Sports Network at 7 PM ET. The Flames are unbeaten after four games this season after their 38-6 victory at Florida International as a 10-point favorite back on September 23rd. Quarterback Kaidon Salter completed 11 of 21 passes for 156 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding another 77 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Head coach Jamey Chadwell’s team opened with victories at home against Bowling Green and New Mexico State before winning at Buffalo and FIU.
The Bearkats are winless in their first four games after a 35-28 upset loss to Jacksonville State as a 7-point favorite last Thursday. After scoring only ten combined points in their first three games, senior quarterback Keegan Shoemaker completed 22 of 38 passes for 285 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception to lead Sam Houston State to 28 points in the losing effort. This contest is the Bearkats' fourth game away from home after losses at BYU, Air Force on a neutral field, and on the road at Houston.
Liberty is a 20-point favorite with an over/under of 45.5.
Western Kentucky travels to Louisiana Tech on ESPNU at 8 PM ET. The Hilltoppers ended a two-game losing streak with a 31-10 victory against Middle Tennessee as a 6.5-point favorite last Thursday. Senior quarterback Austin Reed completed 30 of 52 passes for 297 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception in the win. Western Kentucky opened their season with wins at home against South Florida and Houston Baptist. They went on a two-game road trip where they lost at Ohio State, 63-10, before a 27-24 loss at Middle Troy. They raised their record to 3-2 with their win last week against the Blue Raiders.
The Bulldogs ended a two-game losing streak with a 24-10 win at UTEP as a 1.5-point favorite last Friday. With Boise State transfer Hank Bachmeier out for a second-straight game with a shoulder injury, the junior quarterback completed 9 of 20 passes for 152 yards with a touchdown pass and no interceptions in the victory. Louisiana Tech began its season with a win at home against Florida International before losing on the road to SMU. They beat Northwestern State at home before losing at home to North Texans and then at Nebraska. The Bulldogs win against the Miners evened their record at 3-3.
Western Kentucky is a 6-point road favorite with a total of 60.5.
