If I tried to explain to you what an NCAA Tournament bracket pool is, you’d look at me like I had three heads. Everybody knows the bracket drill like the back of their hand. Less common — but more fun, if you ask me — is a confidence pool during college football bowls season. Many of you know how these work, too. But for those who don’t, the rules are simple. Step 1: Pick your winners of every bowl game. Step 2: Assign a “confidence” number to each winner. Step 3: Wallow in self-doubt until you notice how much time has gone by and reach Step 4, which is saying, “What the hell am I doing with my life?” This season, there are 36 bowls outside the College Football Playoff and four first-round playoff games whose matchups we already know. Leaving the rest of the playoff — the unknowable — out of the equation, that’s 40 winners for us to pick. From there, we assign 40 points to the winner in which we’re most confident and descend in order until we’ve assigned a single point to the winner in which we’re least confident. I’ll use my first-round playoff picks as examples. I’m so sure Texas will beat Clemson, I’m putting 40 points on the Longhorns. I’m also putting 36 on Penn State to beat SMU, 32 on Notre Dame to beat Indiana and 24 on Ohio State to beat Tennessee. But the playoff games are the least complicated to consider because so many players on non-playoff teams are entering the transfer portal or opting out of bowl games to prepare for the NFL draft. Within 24 hours of the portal opening at the start of the week, more than 1,500 FBS players were in it. Some bowl teams will be unrecognizable versions of themselves. Before you risk anything on these games, you might want to do a little homework. Or — here’s a thought — you can just crib off me. Celebration: South Carolina State vs. Jackson State, Saturday The MEAC champ is 6-2 against the SWAC champ in this bowl. That’s reason enough to put 6 on SCSU. Salute to Veterans: South Alabama vs. Western Michigan, Saturday Even with its QB1’s availability in doubt, South Alabama is good for a 25 in a home-state (Montgomery) game. Frisco: No. 25 Memphis vs. West Virginia, Tuesday WVU is a snoozy 6-6 and has some key guys missing this one. Ten-win Memphis gets 23. Boca Raton: James Madison vs. Western Kentucky, Wednesday Putting 26 on JMU, which plays strong defense, leads the nation in turnover margin and — unlike its opponent — hasn’t had that much roster flux. LA: No. 24 UNLV vs. Cal, Wednesday A lucky 7 on the team from Vegas, please. New Orleans: Sam Houston vs. Georgia Southern, Thursday One team has more than 20 scholarship players in the portal, and it isn’t Georgia Southern, which gets 28. Cure: Ohio vs. Jacksonville State, Friday A 19-spot for the MAC champs, even with coach Tim Albin having left for Charlotte. Gasparilla: Florida vs. Tulane, Friday QB Darian Mensah portaled from Tulane to Duke and took the Green Wave’s chances with him — 34 on the Gators. Myrtle Beach: Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA, Dec. 23 Does Coastal even have a QB left to run out there? UTSA for 37. Potato: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State, Dec. 23 NIU’s upset of No. 5 Notre Dame can’t just be forgotten. Gimme 5, Huskies. Hawaii: South Florida vs. San Jose State, Dec. 24 U-S-F! U-S-F! For 10. GameAbove Sports: Pitt vs. Toledo, Dec. 26 Pitt fell way off after being ranked as high as 18th in the land. I’ve got 29 on a bounce-back. Rate: Rutgers vs. Kansas State, Dec. 26 Two tough-minded teams, but K-Staters know how to win — 16. 68 Ventures: Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green, Dec. 26 September score reminder: Penn State 34, BGSU 27. And it’s BGSU here for 27. Armed Forces: Navy vs. Oklahoma, Dec. 27 An upset would be fun, but 21 on the bigger, faster Sooners. Birmingham: Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt, Dec. 27 Vandy gets QB Diego Pavia’s jersey number: 2. Liberty: Arkansas vs. Texas Tech, Dec. 27 Woo! Pig! Sooie! A 3 on the Hogs. Holiday: No. 21 Syracuse vs. Washington State, Dec. 27 Rolling big — 35 — on Syracuse, which stared down Miami when Miami absolutely had to win. Las Vegas: USC vs. Texas A&M, Dec. 27 Two disappointing teams belong together, but the pick is Trojans for 8. Fenway: UConn vs. North Carolina, Dec. 28 Putting Ted Williams’ number — 9 — on UConn at Fenway Park. Pinstripe: Boston College vs. Nebraska, Dec. 28 Is cheering for Boston at Yankee Stadium wrong? BC for 4. New Mexico: TCU vs. Louisiana, Dec. 28 TCU’s excellent second half of the season demands a big ol’ 33. Pop-Tarts: No. 13 Miami vs. No. 18 Iowa State, Dec. 28 Is Miami’s morale shot? A fairly confident 18 on ISU. Arizona: Colorado State vs. Miami (Ohio), Dec. 28 The other Miami too often struggles to score — 14 on CSU. Military: NC State vs. East Carolina, Dec. 28 NC State for 13 because there’s no rolling over allowed against another team with “Carolina” in its name. Alamo: No. 17 BYU vs. No. 23 Colorado, Dec. 28 Deion Sanders insists his stars are playing. OK, then, 12 on the Buffs. Independence: No. 22 Army vs. Marshall, Dec. 28 There’s no stopping Army in this one. Going huge — 39 — with zero hesitation. Music City: No. 19 Missouri vs. Iowa, Dec. 30 Dueling black-and-golds? Love it. Iowa for 11. ReliaQuest: No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan, Dec. 31 Michigan was on my mind until its best two defensive players opted out. Instead, 30 on Bama. Sun: Louisville vs. Washington, Dec. 31 Next season starts now for Washington, an underdog that gets a 15 from me. Citrus: No. 15 South Carolina vs. No. 20 Illinois, Dec. 31 Some 9-3s are better than others — 20 on the Gamecocks. Texas: LSU vs. Baylor, Dec. 31 LSU has loads of talent but no mojo. Another upset — 17 on Baylor. Gator: No. 14 Ole Miss vs. Duke, Jan. 2 QB Jaxson Dart is a go, and that means 38 easy-breezy points on Ole Miss. First Responder: North Texas vs. Texas State, Jan. 3 Texas State is a 31-point play against a team forced into starting a true freshman QB with almost no game reps. Mayo: Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech, Jan. 3 I’ve got 22 points on P.J. Fleck running his bowl record at Minnesota to 6-0. Bahamas: Liberty vs. Buffalo, Jan. 4 What do you want from me? I flipped a coin and it came up Buffalo for 1.
Satellite Phone Store Steps in to Support Malibu Wildfire Recovery with Lifesaving Communication ToolsSan Jose mayor challenges Newsom’s vision for stateAmazon invests another $4 bn in AI firm Anthropic
Dundee boss Tony Docherty has floated the prospect that Vaclav Cerny was "maybe offside" before netting Rangers winner. But the Sportscene panel have backed up the VAR team over their call at Ibrox - noting that the only error in the build-up was a mistimed moment from Dee defender Antonio Portales. It was a narrow win for Philippe Clement's men after a week that had been dominated by conversations about the use of video technology following the penalty howler in the Premier Sports Cup defeat to Celtic. Cerny - who was hauled down by Liam Scales during the Hampden incident - was at the centre of the talking points again. He looked to have beaten the offside trap at Ibrox before rounding Trevor Carson to net the decisive goal on Saturday and move Rangers second in the Scottish Premiership . Nick Walsh in the VAR room checked the goal against last man Portales before awarding the strike. Looking back on the call, Docherty told Sky Sports: “Second half I’d asked the boys to be a wee bit braver in possession and I think we did that and I think we really gave Rangers a game. I’m really disappointed with the goal that we lose. ”I’ve not seen it back. I thought it was maybe offside. I don’t know. They’ve obviously checked it and it is obviously is onside going with the VAR decision." But the Sportscene panel were not having the case made by the boss. James McFadden said when looking back on the VAR check and Cerny strike: "When you commit so many bodies forward you leave yourself exposed at the back. Cerny is starting to really hit top form.” Neil McCann interjected: “Should Portales drop off here?” McFadden responded: ‘When you look at how deep they were in the first half then you are asking to get more bodies forward.” Stephen Thompson chimed in on the move from the defender: ‘You can see what he is trying to do, he just mistimes it horribly.” McFadden rounded off: ‘He does. That is the split second decisions that you make.” Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football.MALIBU, Calif., Dec. 13, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — As the Franklin Fire nears containment, having scorched over 4,000 acres and displaced thousands of residents, the Satellite Phone Store ( satellitephonestore.com ) is stepping up to provide critical communication solutions to assist recovery efforts and prepare communities for future emergencies. The Franklin Fire, which destroyed six homes and damaged others, left many areas without reliable communication infrastructure. Satellite communication devices such as sat phones & starlink terminals , which function independently of damaged cell networks, are proving essential for both emergency responders and returning residents. IN RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS, THE SATELLITE PHONE STORE IS OFFERING: Emergency rentals starting at $35.99 per week. Same-day delivery options for urgent needs. Free consultations to help families and organizations find the right tools. 24/7 customer support to ensure seamless setup and troubleshooting. “A WAKE-UP CALL FOR PREPAREDNESS” “Disasters like the Franklin Fire remind us how essential reliable communication is during and after an emergency,” said Tina Blanco, CEO of Satellite Phone Store. “We’re here to help Malibu recover, but we also want to encourage everyone to think ahead. It’s never too late to prepare for the unexpected, and having the right tools can make all the difference.” SATELLITE COMMUNICATION: A LIFELINE DURING AND AFTER A CRISIS As displaced residents begin returning home, satellite communication tools are helping: First responders coordinate firefighting operations in remote, rugged terrain. Residents stay in touch with loved ones, access updates, and communicate with insurance providers. Relief volunteers organize recovery efforts efficiently. With the wildfire starting to be under control, attention now shifts to the importance of emergency preparedness. Wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters can happen at any time, and satellite communication ensures connectivity when traditional networks fail. WHY PREPAREDNESS MATTERS The Satellite Phone Store emphasizes the importance of readiness for future emergencies: 100% Connectivity: Satellite devices work independently of damaged or overloaded cell towers. Emergency Updates: Stay informed about evacuation routes and critical developments. Peace of Mind: Reliable communication ensures you’re never out of touch when it matters most. PREPARE TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S EMERGENCIES As Malibu rebuilds, the Satellite Phone Store urges individuals and communities to take action now to prepare for what’s next. Reliable communication tools aren’t just for disasters—they’re a safeguard for the unexpected challenges of the future. About Satellite Phone Store: The Satellite Phone Store, a division of Connecta Satellite Solutions LLC , is a global leader in satellite communication technology. Specializing in satellite phones, portable internet hotspots, GPS trackers, and emergency equipment, the company equips families, businesses, and governments with tools to stay connected in extreme conditions. For more information, visit https://SatellitePhoneStore.com/ or call 1-877-324-6913. MEDIA CONTACT: Lacey Moore Website: SatellitePhoneStore.com Email: Care@SatellitePhoneStore.com Phone: 1-877-324-6913 Locations: California, Florida, Alaska NEWS SOURCE: Satellite Phone Store Keywords: Telecom and VoIP, Emergency, Telecom, Technology, Internet, Natural Disasters, malibu wildfires, portable internet, satellite internet, sat phones, franklin fires, emergency response, california, MALIBU, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Satellite Phone Store) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122844 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/satellite-phone-store-steps-in-to-support-malibu-wildfire-recovery-with-lifesaving-communication-tools/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. 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