Following a strong showing at the Crimson Tide’s annual Pro Day, scouts and draft experts alike began to move Simpson up their boards, and ESPN’s Matt Miller supported that notion in his recent seven-round mock draft.

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Miller didn’t quite have Simpson going in the first round, but he made the Alabama signal-caller the very first selection in the second round. He foresees the New York Jets picking up Simpson and believes the organization would likely opt to let the QB develop for a season and reevaluate from that point.

There could be calls for the Jets to trade up into Round 1 to secure a fifth-year option on Simpson, but trading away picks in the 2027 draft, which is expected to be the most talent-rich in recent history, wouldn’t be smart. New York can take him here, allow him a year to develop behind Geno Smith, then evaluate his future. Simpson is a talented distributor who is accurate in a clean pocket but struggled down the stretch. His questionable decision-making could drop him to Round 2.

Simpson’s issues in the closing moments of the season are well-documented, but it’s also tough to discredit his production while working within one of the toughest leagues in the country. He threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns while only tossing 5 interceptions last year, which occurred after biding his time in the Alabama program for 3 seasons.

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Kalshi

Arizona

53%

New York J

15%

Los Angeles R

13%

Miami

12%

Pittsburgh

6%

Cleveland

5%

Philadelphia

3%

Minnesota

2%

Indianapolis

1%

Las Vegas

1%

Predict

The post ESPN’s Matt Miller predicts when Ty Simpson will be picked in NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Down South.

UGA has lost a handful of players already, and that trend continued Wednesday when redshirt freshman Jackson McVey opted to enter the portal after just one season in Athens.

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The Elijay, Georgia product stands at 7-foot-1, 240 pounds and was recruited out of the prestigious Overtime Elite program in Atlanta.

McVey briefly appeared in an exhibition game for the Bulldogs but otherwise had been developing in practice before opting to leave the program.

According to reporting from the Athens Banner-Herald, Jackson’s agent Cedrick Love explained: “We felt it would be beneficial for Jackson,” and that it was a “basketball decision” and an “opportunity to help lead a team.”

McVey’s departure comes after a plethora of Biulldogs had already opted to enter the portal. Forward Dylan James, guard Jeremiah Wilkinson and center Somto Cyril are all already looking for other homes.

The departures are made especially brutal for the program to endure considering how its season ended. UGA was upset by Ole Miss in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament and drubbed by Saint Louis in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the second straight early exit for White’s squad in the bracket.

The post Georgia freshman big to transfer after redshirt season with Bulldogs appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With all but 4 teams already preparing for next November, the portal has been hot with activity as of late, and Missouri became the latest school to be featured in headlines regarding it Wednesday.

Junior guard Sebastian Mack, who had already transferred once following two seasons at UCLA, announced his intentions to leave the Tigers, according to On3’s Joe Tipton.

A native of Chicago, Mack has experienced a downtick in his averages following each collegiate season. His freshman campaign at UCLA saw him post 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals for Mick Cronin’s Bruins.

But after starting in 30 games during the 2023-2024 campaign, Mack registered just one start the following year before heading to Columbia.

The pastures weren’t necessarily greener in COMO however, as Mack didn’t appear in a game post-January after he saw a decrease in minutes as SEC play progressed. He averaged 7.0 points and 1.3 rebounds for Mizzou in just 18 appearances.

Despite all of that, Mack still has plenty of potential as a former touted recruit out of high school, and his experience in playing at the Power 5 level should make him a fairly attractive portal target.

The post Mizzou guard opts for transfer portal after spending 2025-26 with Tigers appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Alabama and Kalen DeBoer in particular needed to hit home runs in the portal, and the Crimson Tide’s head coach believes that he may received the best bang for his buck back in January.

DeBoer & Co. lost 22 players to the transfer portal while pulling in 20, but despite the unbalanced figures, the third-year head coach emphasized that he believes the team upgraded at various spots while spending less money.

“A lot of the guys we added are better than what we had, and we got them for a lot less money,” DeBoer said.

Linebacker Caleb Woodson (Virginia Tech), wide receiver Noah Rogers (NC State), defensive lineman Devan Thompkins (USC) and offensive lineman Ethan Fields (Ole Miss) are some of the headliners of Alabama’s 2026 portal haul, a group that will be counted upon to right the ship with pressure mounting on the program.

And to DeBoer’s point, the majority of the players that the Tide lost to the portal this offseason weren’t frequent contributors. If this quality-over-quantity strategy pays off for Alabama in 2026, teams across the nation will likely take note.

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Notre Dame

88%

Ohio St.

79%

Oregon

76%

Georgia

70%

Texas Tech

70%

Texas

69%

Indiana

67%

Miami (FL)

65%

LSU

45%

Ole Miss

40%

Predict

The post Kalen DeBoer says Alabama upgraded roster, spent less via transfer portal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

New NC State basketball coach Justin Gainey was being introduced in Raleigh on Wednesday, and AD Boo Corrigan took to the podium to say a few words and introduce the Wolfpack’s next head man.

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Unfortunately, Corrigan temporarily misled the audience, addressing Gainey by his son’s name, Jason, twice during his address:

As a former point guard, Jason knows what it takes to manage a team,” Corrigan said. “As a former captain, he knows what it takes to be a strong leader and what we need to do to take the next step. And as a two-time NC State graduate, he understands the love we all have for this university. To quote [football coach Dave Doeren], Jason’s blood is in the bricks.

The mistake seems to be an honest one and not much to write home about, but some NC State fans may be extra incensed considering Gainey played at the school from 1996-2000 before spending time in the professional ranks overseas.

The former point guard will be taking on his first head-coaching gig after spending over a decade in various assistant roles. He’s worked with programs such as Santa Clara, Arizona and Marquette before becoming a staple of Rick Barnes’ coaching staff at Tennessee over the past 4 seasons.

The post NC State AD calls new HC Justin Gainey by wrong name twice in introductory press conference appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Self took to social media to announce his return, citing his ‘renewed clarity’ and ‘ongoing support from our administration’ as the primary reasons why he feels confident in coming back.

Jayhawk Nation, With renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration, I remain focused and committed to Kansas Basketball competing for a National Championship.

I look at forward seeing and hearing the best fans in college basketball next season at Allen Fieldhouse.

Self has enjoyed a wildly successful run as head coach in Lawrence, a stint that extends all the way back to 2003.

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The Hall of Famer’s résumé is extensive, headlined by having won just under 80% of the games (634-167) he’s coached in while at Kansas. Self also boasts a 52-23 career record in the NCAA Tournament, a pair of national titles, over 10 conference tournament crowns and 20-plus regular-season championships.

Self originally began his coaching career in Lawrence as an assistant in 1985 before working his way up to being head coach at Illinois from 2000-2003.

The post Kansas coach Bill Self releases statement announcing return for 2026-27 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But in Raleigh, the Wolfpack may be having to wait longer than most when it comes to settling on a new head coach to lead the program.

With rivals North Carolina already conducting a high-level coaching search just down the road, NC State has had to shockingly begin one of its own after Will Wade opted to depart for LSU earlier this week.

The Wolfpack’s head brass were rumored to be heavily pursuing current Saint Louis head coach Josh Schertz, but according to reports from ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello, Schertrz has withdrawn his name from consideration as of Sunday.

Schertz has been a hot name this coaching cycle for good reason, as after he guided Indiana State to a 32-7 overall record in 2023-2024, the Brooklyn native earned the job in St. Louis.

And after setting the foundation with a 19-15 campaign last year, Schertz’ Billikens were one of the stories of the season in 2025-2026. Saint Louis racked up 29 wins on its way to reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament as an at-large participant, prompting many to consider Schertz a prime candidate to move up in the coaching ranks.

Now, NC State will have to shift its attention towards other candidates as it continues to deal with the fallout of Wade’s departure.

Who will lead the Wolfpack? Predict the hire on Kalshi!

The post NC State coaching search: A-10 coach withdraws, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With redshirt-sophomore catcher Stone Lawless at the plate for the Volunteers, he was struck in the face by a pitch. After being taken off the field, Lawless was brought to a nearby hospital for further examination.

And according to an official statement from the University, Lawless has now been reported to be ‘alert and coherent’ while he’s been being evaluated.

Lawless is a native of Huntsville, Alabama, and redshirted during the 2023-2024 campaign before becoming a rotational contributor the following season.

But now with first-year head coach Josh Elander at the helm, Lawless has taken on a greater role within the Volunteers’ program as both a catcher and designated hitter.

Lawless has also notably been named to the SEC’s Academy Honor Roll as a first-year athlete in 2023-2024 and in 2025. Tennessee dropped the first two games of its series against Vanderbilt, losing 3-2 on Friday and 6-5 in a 16-inning marathon on Saturday.

The Vols currently lead the Commodores 12-10 in the fifth inning.

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UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post Tennessee offers update for Stone Lawless after being struck in the face by pitch appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With the Crimson Tide having already claimed a a commanding 11-1 win during Friday night’s opener in Tuscaloosa, the second contest was much more of a nail-biter.

The game stood tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Alabama had already put a player on second base with no outs on the board. Redshirt-senior outfielder Bryce Fowler stepped to the plate, and he crushed a ball to deep left-field.

A Tigers outfielder attempted to undercut the hit, but the ball landed safely on the grass to give the Crimson Tide another win over their hated rivals.

The walk-off hit was Alabama’s first of the season, and it secured another win over fifth-ranked Auburn to move the home side to 21-7 overall and 5-3 in the SEC. This result dropped the Tigers to 20-6 and 4-4 in league play.

Fowler & Co. will go for the series sweep when they host Auburn for the third bout of the series at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post Alabama secures series win over Auburn thanks to Bryce Fowler walk-off appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With both squads ranking amongst the best in the nation when it comes to free-throw attempts and makes per game, Calipari emphasized how evenly matched this clash should be in that regard.

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“This is one of those games where we do some things better than them, they do some things better than us,” Calipari said. “Tommy [Lloyd’s] done a great job. They play to their strengths just like we do, they shoot about the same amount of free throws per game we do…they do it different: they pound it big and we slash.”

In a physical game like this one figures to be, the activity of the referee’s whistle–or lack thereof–could be a pivotal aspect. Calipari explained that he just hopes the game is called the same on both ends of the floor.

“If they let it go and we’re beating each other, I’m fine with that,” Calipari said. “And if you wanna call a lot of fouls, they’re gonna be called both ways cause we plays the same way.”

And in the end, the legendary head coach believes that a spot in the Elite Eight will come down to which team can gut out a victory when both sides are fatigued. Due to this, Calipari hinted at expanding Arkansas‘s rotation.

“They do it one way, we do it another, but the final result has been the same. That’s what makes this an interesting game,” Calipari concluded. “It’s their will against our will, and who’s going to hold out the longest. And that’s why I need a couple more guys playing.”

The Razorbacks and Wildcats will tip-off at 9:45 p.m. ET on Thursday, with the game being broadcast by CBS.

Will Arkansas or Arizona advance to the Elite 8? Predict the game on Kalshi!

The post John Calipari on Arkansas vs. Arizona: ‘It’s their will against our will’ appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has been suggested as a potential target for the Tar Heels’ head brass, but the two-time national champion refuses to direct any public attention towards the open gig.

As The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported, Donovan spoke about the North Carolina job prior to the Bulls’ matchup with the 76ers on Wednesday night, and he largely shrugged off the rumors.

My main focus is on these guys and this new team,” Donovan said before the Bulls faced the Philadelphia 76ers. “I understand that there’s stuff out there, and I understand that there is going to be certain speculation. But, I have to concentrate on this group, and really, my focus is on what we’re doing here in Chicago and having a game tonight, and traveling to go and play in a back-to-back.

Donovan went on to reveal that he’s had plenty of collegiate contacts come calling in recent years while also delving into how the state of the college game has changed.

Over the years, I’ve had a lot of college guys reach out to talk to me,” Donovan said. “It’s different in dealing with players who are being paid now. I also think the cycle of the NBA today is totally different than the cycle of college. I’m focused on what I have to do right now. Like anything else, things are always changing in the game of basketball.

Donovan is amidst his sixth season in Chicago, but he only has one playoff appearance to show for in his time with the Bulls.

Playoff appearances weren’t a struggle for him in Oklahoma City however, as Donovan led the Thunder to postseason trips in all 5 of his seasons at the helm. But, he only managed to advance past the first round during his rookie campaign (2015-2016).

Of course, Donovan is perhaps best-known for his stint as head coach at Florida, a 19-year reign that saw him secure back-to-back national titles and win a whopping 467 games.

Who will be the next Carolina head coach? Predict it on Kalshi!

The post Billy Donovan speaks on future amid North Carolina speculation appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Star guard Aden Holloway was notably arrested under charges regarding marijuana possession and intent to distribute last week, which caused the junior to miss both of the Crimson Tide’s opening-weekend games in the NCAA Tournament.

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According to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Oats revealed Wednesday that Holloway did not travel with the team to Chicago as investigations and other legal actions surrounding his case are ongoing.

The loss of Holloway’s services is no small bullet point, as the former Auburn guard has averaged a career-high 16.8 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds this season while starting in 27 games.

However, with Holloway sidelined last weekend, the Crimson Tide didn’t seem too fazed. After overcoming an early push from Hostra, Oats’ squad beat the Pride and ensuing Texas Tech Red Raiders by 20+ points each, sending it to a fourth straight Sweet 16.

A native of Charlotte, Holloway began his career with the aforementioned Tigers in 2023, when he started in 26 games for Bruce Pearl’s club while emerging as one of the top freshmen in the SEC.

Alabama will again have to overcome the absence of Holloway when it battles Michigan at 7:35 p.m. ET on Friday, with the game being broadcast by TBS.

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The post Nate Oats addresses Aden Holloway’s status ahead of Sweet 16 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

After the former highly touted recruit starred as a freshman in 2024, Coleman-Williams produced a more pedestrian 2025 campaign while only reaching the end zone 4 times.

But according to Coleman-Williams’ former quarterback, nobody will be talking about that sophomore slump by the time the 2026 season has concluded.

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With Ty Simpson working out at Alabama‘s Pro Day ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, he threw routes to Coleman-Williams and spoke with the media about what he expects from the Mobile native this fall.

Coleman-Williams has notably put on plenty of muscle this offseason, and that was something Simpson pointed at immediately according to Bama247’s Mike Rodak.

“Y’all see him? You see how big he is? He’s gained so much weight. He’s grown up. He’s a big guy in the room now. I’m so happy for him and so proud of him because I know how much he loves Alabama football,” Simpson said. “Y’all can write it down: Ryan’s gonna have a really big year.”

Coleman-Williams clearly has his sights set on bouncing back in a major way this season, but he’ll have to do so with a new quarterback under center. Currently, redshirt junior Austin Mack and redshirt freshman Keelon Russell are battling for the starting gig.

Can Alabama make it back to the CFP? Make a prediction on Kalshi!

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Notre Dame

88%

Ohio St.

79%

Oregon

76%

Georgia

70%

Texas Tech

70%

Texas

69%

Indiana

67%

Miami (FL)

65%

LSU

45%

Ole Miss

40%

Predict

The post Ty Simpson predicts ‘really big year’ for Ryan Coleman-Williams appeared first on Saturday Down South.

T.J. Otzelberger and Iowa State are hoping they don’t become the next victim.

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The Cyclones largely cruised through their pair of opening-weekend games in the NCAA Tournament, but accomplishing that feat came at a steep cost. Star forward Joshua Jefferson exited the team’s first contest against Tennessee State in the early moments, and he was ruled out for the Sunday bout with Kentucky due to an ankle injury.

With Iowa State set to face Tennessee in the Sweet 16 on Friday night, Otzelberger met with the media and provided an update on Jefferson’s status Wednesday, explaining that the senior will be a true game-time decision.

A former Saint Mary’s Gael, Jefferson transferred to join Iowa State prior to the 2024 campaign and has been a wildly productive member of the program ever since.

After starting in every game last season, Jefferson has posted career-best marks of 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while leading ISU to a 29-7 overall record.

The Cyclones and Volunteers will tip-off at 10:10 p.m. ET on Friday, with the game being broadcast by TBS.

Predict Friday’s game at Kalshi!

The post Iowa State coach shares latest on Joshua Jefferson ahead of Sweet 16 showdown with Tennessee appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Such was the case Sunday in Tuscaloosa, as Alabama and Florida were concluding a weekend series.

The Crimson Tide held a 5-4 lead during the bottom of the sixth inning when senior Brady Neal stepped to the plate and launched a grand slam over the left-field wall.

But while Alabama’s plethora of runners were rounding the bases, a player behind the third-base line appeared to get into a verbal altercation with a pair of Gators.

The discussion was quickly broken up by teammates and umpires, and Neal finished rounding the bases to a chorus of cheers and hugs at home plate.

Florida is likely feeling some frustration on the backend of this series due to how it’s gone thus far. Friday night’s opener between these teams saw Alabama shut out the visitors by a score of 6-0, while the Crimson Tide again emerged victorious on Saturday, winning 8-4.

With Alabama just a game back of UF in the SEC standings, this matchup is key for both as they look to emerge from the middle of the league.

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UCLA

14%

Georgia Tech

12%

Texas

11%

North Carolina

6%

Georgia

6%

Mississippi St.

5%

Arkansas

4%

Auburn

4%

LSU

3%

Tennessee

2%

Predict

The post Alabama, Florida players get heated after dramatic grand slam appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Having won games over No. 11 NC State, No. 6 BYU and No. 3 Gonzaga all within the past week, UT will look to carry its momentum into a date with No. 2 Purdue on Thursday.

The Boilermakers also reached the Sweet 16 after they outlasted Miami for a 79-69 win on Sunday, setting up a No. 11 seed vs. a No. 2 seed in the West Region.

The Longhorns’ gutsy run has been made even more impressive by the fact that they lost their final 3 games of the season, including a disappointing SEC Tournament Quarterfinal loss to Ole Miss. But a First Four victory over NC State gave the team some life, and Miller & Co. found a rhythm on little rest over the weekend despite playing far away in Portland.

The top half of the West region still features fourth-seeded Arkansas, who awaits the winner of top-seeded Arizona vs. No. 9 Utah State in the Sweet 16 as well.

With the time for tip-off still to be determined, the Longhorns and Boilermakers will clash Thursday in San Jose.

The post Texas to face off against 2-seed Purdue in Sweet 16 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

According to reports from On3’s Joe Tipton, the Orange are expected to hire Siena head coach Gerry McNamara to lead the program, as the former Syracuse guard will return to spearhead his alma mater.

McNamara suited up for Boeheim from 2002-2006, earning All-Big East First Team honors in 2005 and 2006 while also having secured a national championship ring in 2003.

With his No. 3 jersey hanging in the rafters, McNamara went on to become a graduate assistant with the Orange from 2009-2011 before he was a full-time assistant within the program from 2011-2023.

Of course, McNamara is known best nowadays for the performance his Siena Saints put on during the NCAA Tournament’s opening round. Facing top-seeded Duke, McNamara’s squad held a double-digit lead over the Blue Devils in the first half before the favorites had to rally for a win.

Having led the Saints to the MAAC Tournament title in 2026, McNamara has produced a 37-30 overall record since taking over the Siena program prior to the 2024-2025 campaign. His teams saw an increase in wins from 14 to 23 in his second season.

The post Syracuse basketball expected to hire Siena coach as next HC, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Not even five minutes into the Cyclones’ contest with Tennessee State, All-American forward Joshua Jefferson exited with what would later be deemed an ankle sprain.

There was speculation about the severity of the former Saint Mary’s transfer’s injury, but it was officially revealed just hours before Sunday’s tip-off that Jefferson would not be suiting up for Iowa State when they take on Kentucky at roughly 2:45 p.m. ET in St. Louis.

Jefferson’s absence is a large one for a variety of reasons. The senior acts as a do-it-all player for the Cyclones, averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 47.1% from the floor.

But even with its star player going down, second-seeded Iowa State kept its foot on the gas against No. 15 Tennessee State, cruising to a 108-74 victory. With Jefferson sidelined, T.J. Otzelberger’s team opted for a more perimeter-oriented approach, attempting 24 three-pointers and assisting on 24 of 38 made field goals.

In Jefferson’s absence, the likes of senior Nate Heise (22 points), freshman Dominykas Pleta (9 points, 3 rebounds) and junior Blake Buchanan (11 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists) stepped up.

But Kentucky will be a strong step up in competition, presenting a tough challenge for the now short-handed Cyclones. Here’s a look at the latest odds to win tonight’s game, via Kalshi:

The post Joshua Jefferson officially listed out for Round of 32 matchup vs. Kentucky appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Ahead of the action, ESPN’s College GameDay crew revealed its selections for 4 of the day’s top games, and to little surprise, the trio agreed on none of the picks.

Beginning with the ongoing clash between No. 7 Miami and No. 2 Purdue in the West region, Seth Greenberg and Jay Bilas both saw the Boilermakers coming out on top, while Jay Williams believes Miami is primed to spring the upset. Miami and Purdue are currently squaring off with the Hurricanes leading by a score of 40-38 at halftime, making Williams look like the early leader.

And in the second game from St. Louis, both Bilas and Williams selected second-seeded Iowa State to emerge victorious in the Midwest region, while Greenberg opted to side with No. 7 Kentucky.

This begun a string of contrarian behavior from Greenberg, as he went on to select third-seeded Virginia and fourth-seeded Alabama in the final 2 matchups. Meanwhile, Williams and Bilas opted for No. 6 Tennessee and No. 5 Texas Tech respectively from the Midwest region.

Here’s a full look at each expert’s picks for Sunday’s action:

The post College GameDay crew picks winners for Sunday Round of 32 games appeared first on Saturday Down South.

While the Jazz fell to the 76ers by a score of 126-116, Chandler shined in the first game of his 10-day contract with the team. The former Volunteer tallied 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 37 minutes of action. The appearance was Chandler’s first in the NBA since he played for the Memphis Grizzlies as a rookie during the 2022-2023 campaign.

Following the game, Chandler spoke on his mindset amidst this 10-day opportunity and what this performance meant to him.

“I’ve got 6 games out of this 10-day. So I don’t want to do good just this one game,” Chandler said. “I need to finish out strong in all the games, play as hard as I can, watch film, learn, and go from there…”

Utah head coach Will Hardy expressed his praise for Chandler’s performance as well, stating: “I thought he moved the ball great… It’s not easy to do what he just did.”

While with the Delaware Blue Coats in the G-League this season, Chandler has averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game, the latter of which leads that association.

Tennessee basketball faces off against Virginia on Sunday night. Here’s a look at the odds, via Kalshi:

The post Kennedy Chandler impresses in season debut with Utah Jazz appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With the Razorbacks having taken down Vanderbilt by a score of 86-75 in Sunday’s SEC Tournament Championship Game, Calipari secured his first crowning achievement in 2 years at the helm in Fayetteville.

And the result also meant that Calipari has now won SEC Tournament titles at 2 different schools, making him the first coach to ever accomplish such a feat.

While notably leading Kentucky from 2009-2024, Calipari won the league’s tournament championship in 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, a dominant stretch in which UK largely controlled the conference.

And in addition, Calipari also claims a plethora of tournament crowns from his other stints as a coach. He won 5 straight A-10 titles while with UMass in the 1990s and secured another 4 with Memphis in the late 2000s.

It remains to be seen if the 2015 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee will be able to claim as many SEC tournament titles with Arkansas as he did while with Kentucky. Similarly to how his tenure in Lexington began, Calipari has won the league’s tourney during his second season in charge.

The post John Calipari becomes first coach to win SEC Tournament title at 2 different schools appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But while the final margin of victory is double-figures, this game was far closer than that indicates.

Mary Byington’s Commodores trailed by as much as 7 in the first half but hung around before eventually claiming a 6-point advantage in the second.

But the Razorbacks’ dynamic backcourt took over down the stretch, and Calipari’s team was able to claim the tournament crown as a result.

Freshman phenom Darius Acuff Jr. paced the Hogs with 30 points on 9-for-20 shooting to go along with 11 assists. Sophomore Billy Richmond tacked on 18 points while senior Trevon Brazile rounded out the leaders with 16 points and 9 rebounds.

For Vanderbilt, the trio of Tyler Nickel, Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles combined for 53 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists, but the ‘Dores ultimately ran out of gas in the end.

A 52% shooting mark from the floor, a 60% clip from behind the arc and 21 assists on 30 made baskets defined the Razorbacks’ wildly efficient offensive performance.

The tournament championship officially punches Arkansas’ ticket to March Madness and was the program’s first tournament title since it won in 2000.

Both these teams will hear their names called during Selection Sunday’s festivities, with each figuring to reside within the top 5 seed lines.

The post Arkansas outlasts Vandy in SEC Tournament title thanks to Acuff’s 30 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

In the case of Penn’s TJ Power, he’s taking full advantage of his third opportunity in college, as he became a March legend with a 44-point performance in his team’s Ivy League Championship win over Yale on Sunday.

The underdog Quakers upended the top-seeded Bulldogs thanks to Power’s heroics, as he nailed a 3-pointer as time expired in regulation to send the game to overtime at 75.

From there, Power & Co. rode that momentum to an 88-84 win that sent Penn to the NCAA Tournament in Fran McCaffery’s first season at the helm.

Power’s success is also made notable by the fact that the 6-foot-9 forward was rated a 5-star recruit by 247Sports in the Class of 2023, which originally landed him at Duke.

But after playing sparingly with the Blue Devils, the Massachusetts native transferred to Virginia in hopes to carving out a role in the ACC. Instead, another year of limited action saw Power opt to join McCaffrey in the head’s coach first season at Penn.

Power averages 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, and he tallied the 44 points on 14-for-26 shooting.

The forward even tacked on 14 rebounds, which as ESPN Insights reported, makes Power the 2nd player in the last 20 season to record 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in a conference tournament title game.

The post Former Duke player hits crazy buzzer beater to send Ivy League title game to OT appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Fourth-seeded Vanderbilt is facing third-seeded Arkansas in Sunday’s title bout, and the two sides have traded haymakers throughout the afternoon to make the score read 41-39 at halftime.

Here are the live odds on Kalshi:

John Calipari has received his normal contributions from his star-studded backcourt, headlined by 14 points from sophomore Billy Richmond. Freshman phenom Darius Acuff Jr. has tacked on a dozen points while fellow freshman Meleek Thomas added seven.

But the Commodores have countered with senior Tyler Nickel’s 13 points on 3-for-5 shooting from behind the arc, while senior Duke Miles has maintained momentum from his 30-point performance on Saturday by pouring in a dozen.

The Razorbacks led for the majority of the first half but never by more than 7, and Vandy made a strong push late to make this a tight game heading into the break. The ‘Dores have used 5 steals and 9 fast-break points to stay in this one.

Acuff notably gave the Razorbacks the lead with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer as the half came to a close, capping a flurry of back-and-forth scoring down the stretch.

The post Arkansas holds halftime lead over Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament title game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The minute-long video included clips from a variety of games that were played at Bridgestone Arena from Wednesday-Saturday, with the slogan “March means more” being emphasized throughout.

The 2026 edition of the SEC Tournament has certainly not lacked for intrigue.

Ole Miss became the biggest storyline of the tournament when the No. 15 Rebels upset Texas, Georgia and Alabama on their way to reaching the semifinal round. Chris Beard’s squad was outlasted by Arkansas on Saturday, but his team’s fight caused SEC fans to get behind the men of Oxford.

Elsewhere, Oklahoma went on a smaller Cinderella run of its own, as the Sooners upended South Carolina and Texas A&M before falling to the aforementioned Razorbacks in the quarterfinals.

Of course, bubble talk was a major theme of the week, with teams like Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and Auburn entering the week looking to bolster their résumés. ‘

Ironically, with all of those teams losing key games outside of the Sooners, the SEC appears in no better shape on Selection Sunday that it did a week ago. And with OU failing to take down Arkansas, it is largely assumed that Porter Moser’s side didn’t even do enough to reach the dance.

The post SEC drops highlight reel from 2026 SEC Tournament: ‘March means more’ appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Up first is Team USA squaring off with the red-hot Dominican Republic, and the Americans will utilize a familiar face in an attempt to cool off the visitors.

LSU alum Paul Skenes will be taking to the mound for Team USA, as the former Bayou Bengal is arguably the best pitcher left in the bracket and thus the field’s best chance at slowing down the Dominicans.

In 5 games thus far, the Dominican Republic has ripped off 14 homers and 51 runs in total, allowing them to largely cruise the group stage and dominate Korea in a 10-0 quarterfinal victory.

But Skenes has already picked up a win in this tournament, allowing just 1 hit in 4 innings pitched to go along with 7 strikeouts. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace will be charged with producing one of the best performances of his career in arguably the biggest game he’s ever played in.

The Americans will face the Dominicans at 8 p.m. ET in Miami, with the game being broadcast by FOX.

Here are the latest odds on Kalshi for the World Baseball Classic

The post Former LSU star Paul Skenes to pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic semifinal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The SEC features plenty of such squads, as a host of league teams are sweating it out as Selection Sunday looms just a week away.

Missouri is one of such teams, with the Tigers hovering around the bubble after dropping their final two regular season games. An 88-84 defeat at the hands of Arkansas–Mizzou’s second of the year to the Hogs–was a missed opportunity and means that Dennis Gates’ group still has work to do at the SEC Tournament in Nashville.

When it comes to how much the Tigers will need to do, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi is a good source of knowledge to answer that question, and he updated his bracketology predictions on Sunday.

Following Mizzou’s loss to Arkansas, Lunardi has the Tigers featured in his ‘Last Four Byes’ category just behind NC State and ahead of Texas and UCF.

At 10-8 in the SEC, eighth-seeded Missouri has earned a bye in the league’s tournament and will await the winner of No. 16 LSU vs. No. 9 Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.

What will be Mizzou’s NCAA Tournament fate? Kalshi is taking action on predictions!

The post ESPN’s Joe Lunardi shares where Mizzou stands after dropping regular-season finale appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Some believe that the Tigers’ difficult schedule and notable victories over the likes of Florida, St. John’s, Kentucky and NC State should be enough to get them into the NCAA Tournament.

Others would argue that hovering around .500 overall, going 7-11 in league play and losing 8 of the final 10 games on the schedule should prove to be disqualifying notes.

Amidst all of the noise, first-year head coach Steve Pearl is trying to advocate for his guys and the grueling slate they’ve faced, but he also acknowledges that his team has plenty of work to do when it begins its stay at the SEC Tournament in Nashville this week.

“We have enough quality wins to be deserving to be in this tournament but we understand that we’ve got to go to Nashville and we’ve got to make a run,” Pearl said.

To that point, the No. 12 Tigers have plenty of opportunities to bolster their résumé this week. An opening game against No. 13 Mississippi State at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday is a must-win, which would set up a Quad 1 date with No. 5 Tennessee.

A victory there is likely imperative to sure up Auburn’s tournament status, and a positive result in the quarterfinals against No. 4 Vanderbilt could make Pearl & Co. a lock for the big dance.

Top-seeded Florida also looms in the upper half of the bracket.

What will be Auburn’s fate? Kalshi is taking action on predictions!

The post Steven Pearl says Auburn deserves to make NCAA Tournament appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Georgia Tech parted ways with head coach Damon Stoudamire earlier in the morning, and a second ACC school made a change soon after.

Per reports from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Boston College has fired head coach Earl Grant, who went 72-92 overall and 31-67 in ACC play through 5 years with the program.

Grant originally arrived to Chestnut Hill prior to the 2021-2022 campaign following a successful six-year stint with Charleston that saw him compile a 127-89 overall record.

And it appeared that Grant was building a similarly strong program at Boston College early in his tenure. The Eagles raised their win total from 13 to 16 to 20 in Grant’s first three seasons at the helm, the latter of which resulted in an NIT berth.

But the program fell back down to Earth with a 12-win campaign last year, making this a make-or-break season for Grant. 11 wins and no ACC Tournament berth later, and it appears that the Boston College head brass have become ready to move on.

The post Second ACC coach fired after missing 2026 conference tournament appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Crimson Tide picked up a dominant 96-84 win over Iron Bowl rivals Auburn to close their campaign Saturday, and bracketologists are taking notice of their recent surge.

Having not lost back-to-back games since early January and winning nine of its last 10, Alabama is rising up seed lines, and ESPN’s Joe Lunardi reflected that in his Sunday update.

At 23-8 overall, Alabama jumped into the third-seed line of Lunardi’s latest bracketology as the 10th overall team in the field. The Crimson Tide currently sit behind Iowa State in that group, while Nebraska and Purdue are the squads behind Nate Oats’ group.

Gonzaga was the team that fell in place of the Crimson Tide, with the Bulldogs dropping to the No. 4 line.

After falling to 14-7 at the start of February, Alabama has largely cruised through its remaining SEC slate to secure a double-bye in the upcoming SEC Tournament.

The Crimson Tide will play a quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. ET, with it being broadcast by the SEC Network. No. 7 Georgia, No. 10 Texas or No. 15 Ole Miss could be the opponent in that contest.

Can Alabama win an SEC Tournament title? Kalshi is taking action on predictions!

The post Alabama moves up in Joe Lunardi’s updated bracketology following win over Auburn appeared first on Saturday Down South.

And on Saturday, Brent Venables‘ program received some good news regarding the future of that goal.

According to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett, Class of 2027 tight end Seneca Driver announced his commitment to join the Sooners, giving OU a keystone target to build around down the line.

A 6-foot-6 tight end, Driver chose Oklahoma over the likes of Notre Dame, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

According to 247Sports, the Danville, Kentucky native is rated as the No. 3 tight end prospect in the Class of 2027 and the top recruit in the state.

Driver becomes just the latest member of Oklahoma’s highly touted 2027 class, which currently tops the 247Sports’ Composite. The group is made up of 18 commits, with Driver becoming the first tight end in the class and the only recruit from Kentucky.

Venables’ 2026 class ranked 16th overall in the nation, but with a renewed focus in the school’s NIL and recruiting departments, Oklahoma appears to be going all-in on the trail in the future.

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College Football Playoff Qualifiers 2026

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Kalshi

Notre Dame

88%

Ohio St.

79%

Oregon

76%

Georgia

70%

Texas Tech

70%

Texas

69%

Indiana

67%

Miami (FL)

65%

LSU

45%

Ole Miss

40%

Predict

The post Oklahoma beats out Notre Dame, Kentucky for elite 2027 TE appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Many years later, that reality still stands true, and Saturday provided just the latest example.

According to On3’s HayesFawcett, Drinkwitz & Co. landed a commitment from Class of 2027 safety Jabari Lofton, with the 6-foot-3 prospect stating: “Locked in. 100% committed to the University of Missouri.”

Lofton is a product of East St. Louis High School in Illinois, the same program that produced current Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden as well as a host of other star athletes in the past.

Prior to playing for East St. Louis, Lofton played at Hazelwood in Missouri, where he played both quarterback and safety.

The rangy safety chose Mizzou over offers from the likes of nearby Illinois, Purdue, Kansas State, Florida State, Miami and Kansas.

Lofton becomes the second member of the Tigers’ 2027 recruiting class. According to 247Sports, the 3-star safety joins fellow 3-star quarterback Braylen Warren in the group.

Mizzou’s 2026 class ranked 26th overall in the nation and only included one safety prospect. The program did bring in a trio of safeties via the transfer portal.

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Kalshi

Texas

24%

Georgia

23%

LSU

15%

Texas A&M

12%

Alabama

11%

Florida

11%

Missouri

10%

Oklahoma

10%

Arkansas

6%

Vanderbilt

3%

Predict

The post Mizzou beats out Illinois, others for commitment from 2027 East St. Louis DB appeared first on Saturday Down South.

And in unfortunate cases, you’re paying respect to the opposition.

Texas’ Sean Miller found himself in this situation Wednesday night, as the first-year coach of the Longhorns had nothing but praise for Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. after the Razorbacks won 105-85.

Continuing his incredible freshman campaign, Acuff finished with 28 points, 13 assists and 3 rebounds in the 20-point victory, his 5th double-double of the season.

Following the game, Miller met with the media and discussed Acuff’s performance, raving about the point guard’s ability while commenting on his NBA status.

According to reporting from HawgSports.com’s Connor Goodson, Miller praised Acuff’s “greatness” and emphasized that he’s one of the best points guard he’s seen at the college level. The former Xavier coach added that he doesn’t understand why Acuff isn’t being seriously talked about as a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Here’s a look at Acuff’s odds to be selected in the top 10, per Kalshi:

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Kalshi

Darryn Peterson

99%

AJ Dybantsa

99%

Caleb Wilson

99%

Cameron Boozer

96%

Darius Acuff Jr.

95%

Keaton Wagler

93%

Mikel Brown Jr.

69%

Nate Ament

40%

Labaron Philon Jr.

25%

Jayden Quaintance

19%

Predict

With Acuff averaging 22 points, 6.2 assists and 3 rebounds per game while shooting just under 50% from the floor, it’s safe to say that Miller’s applause is validated.

But of course, legends at the college level are truly made in March, and Acuff will have plenty of opportunities to bolster his draft stock during both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

The post Sean Miller claims Darius Acuff is one of the best college PGs he’s ever seen: ‘Greatness’ appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Razorbacks celebrated Senior Sight by eclipsing the century mark for the 7th time this season, as John Calipari’s club put on an offensive clinic for much of the game.

The Longhorns came into this one looking to spring an upset that could fixate them in the NCAA Tournament field, but they never led after the opening minutes. Between senior Trevon Brazile’s 28 points and 7 rebounds and freshman Darius Acuff Jr.’s mirroring 28 points and 13 assists, the Hogs received contributions from those young and old in the win.

Arkansas made 58% of its shots from the floor, but perhaps more impressive was the team’s 58% clip from behind the arc. Those numbers, combined with 21 assists on 35 made buckets and 38 fast-break points, tell the tale of how the Razorbacks were able to dismantle Sean Miller’s defense.

The 20-point victory serves as a get-right game for an Arkansas team that will now face another SEC bubble squad in Missouri on Saturday.

Arkansas has a 48% chance to reach the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Here’s a look at the latest odds to do so, via Kalshi:

The post Arkansas thumps Texas, clinches SEC Tournament double-bye with 20-point win appeared first on Saturday Down South.

During halftime of the game, Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek joined former head coach Nolan Richardson at the center of the floor. Yurachek then revealed to the crowd that the school has plans in the works to construct a statue of Richardson in front of Bud Walton Arena.

Richardson was stunned and grinning ear-to-ear upon hearing the news, with the home crowd bursting into a cacophony of noise as well. After glancing at the video board to see the rendering, Richardson then ‘called the Hogs’ along with the fans.

Given Richardson’s history with the Arkansas program, the news of a statue being built should come as little surprise. The former Texas Western forward coached the Razorbacks from 1985-2002 and notably led the 1994 squad to a national title.

Across stints in the Southwest Conference and the SEC, Richardson led the Razorbacks to a 389-169 overall record during his years on campus. He was perhaps best-known for his trademark “40 minutes of Hell” playing style that his teams employed, which was defined by the Hogs’ intense ball pressure and unmatched conditioning. Richardson has already been inducted into both the College Basketball and Basketball Hall of Fames.

Arkansas has a 48% chance to reach the Sweet 16 per Kalshi. Here’s a look at some of the top odds:

The post Nolan Richardson has priceless reaction to news he’ll receive a statue at Bud Walton Arena appeared first on Saturday Down South.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey was one of such people, and he shared his thoughts on Holtz’ passing:

Lou Holtz was a giant of college football whose influence on the game is matched only the impact he had on people…

Sankey then delved into his earliest memories of Holtz, stemming from when the current Commissioner was just starting out with the conference.

…When I was a new member of the SEC office staff, Coach Holtz was incredibly kind and supportive of me. I visited with him last year when he was in Fayetteville, and I thanked him for his help and encouragement….

Sankey wrapped his statement by applauding Holtz for his impact on college football as a whole, as well as the two SEC schools in Arkansas (1977-1983) and South Carolina (1999-2004) that he coached.

…As head football coach at two current SEC Universities, Coach Holtz left lasting legacies by elevating programs and inspiring communities. College football is better because of Lou Holtz, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, his former players, and the legions of fans who enjoyed his victories and his unforgettable personality.

The post Greg Sankey releases statement on passing of Lou Holtz appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Tuttle joined Washington via waivers during the 2025 season and appeared in 2 games, tallying 4 tackles. Amidst plenty of speculation that Tuttle’s time with the Commanders would be short-lived, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Tuttle and Washington reached an agreement on a one-year extension that will keep the former Volunteer off the free agent market.

Through 7 seasons in the NFL, Tuttle has suited up for 4 teams, including 3 within the past 2 years.

Tuttle was originally drafted to New Orleans and played for the Saints from 2019-2022. After his stats progressively improved with each year, Tuttle signed a 3-year deal with Carolina in March of 2023 and was fairly productive for the Panthers for 2 seasons.

But after the team released him during 2025’s offseason, Tuttle landed with the Titans and appeared in 10 games before ultimately making his way to Washington. Tuttle currently has 247 total tackles and 4.5 sacks to his name in his career.

The Commanders currently hold a 15% chance to win the NFC East next season. Here’s full look at the odds:

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NFC East Winner?

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Kalshi

Philadelphia

41%

Dallas

32%

New York Giants

17%

Washington

15%

Predict

The post Shy Tuttle receives 1-year extension from Washington Commanders appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With the SEC and Big Ten’s public rivalry growing as both leagues attempt to wrestle control over the future of the sport, coaches and players are bouncing between the conferences that are widely accepted the best in the nation.

And another example of that occurred Sunday, as CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported that Maryland is expected to hire Mississippi State’s Matt Barnes to come be the program’s special teams coordinator. Barnes previously worked with the Terrapins from 2016-2018 and acted as co-defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs this past season.

Also focusing on safeties while in Starkville, Barnes has stints with Memphis and Ohio State on his résumé as well.

Barnes joins a Maryland program that is looking to break through in Mike Locksley’s seventh year at the helm. The Terrapins have recruited well in recent years and boast a strong young core to build around, but the team’s ability to win games after the month of September will be key.

Meanwhile, Jeff Lebby will now have to search for another coach to fill an opening with his team already being among the most targeted for coaches and players in the SEC.

Mississippi State’s odds to win the SEC next season are… not great at 8%. Here’s a look at the top contenders for the SEC title according to Kalshi.

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Kalshi

Texas

24%

Georgia

23%

LSU

15%

Texas A&M

12%

Alabama

11%

Florida

11%

Missouri

10%

Oklahoma

10%

Arkansas

6%

Vanderbilt

3%

Predict

The post Mississippi State assistant expected to leave for Big Ten program, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Alabama‘s Ty Simpson is a prime candidate, and while meeting with the media, he delved into which destinations would suit him best.

According to reporting from cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Simpson would be thrilled to join Todd Monken and the Browns given the connection his father has with the newly hired head coach.

“He’d be very excited,” Simpson told cleveland.com at the NFL Combine on Friday. “My dad and coach Monken go way back. They talk often. He texted him when he got the job and they’ve texted a little bit (since), so if I had the opportunity to play for the Browns, it would be a dream come true.”

Simpson then talked about the offensive schemes that Monken employs and why he believes his development could take off in Cleveland.

“I think I’d be in great hands with the team that they have and the organization, and then coach Monken, what he does with the quarterbacks and the offense is super quarterback-friendly and I think he’s going to coach me hard if I’m able to go there and I know he’s going to do it the right way,” Simpson said. “So I’m super-excited.”

Monken was asked about his opinions on Simpson earlier in the week, and the head coach elaborated on his history with attempting to recruit Ty and his past relations with the Simpsons.

“I like Ty,” Monken said Wednesday at the NFL Combine. “I liked Ty when he was coming out. When I first got to Georgia, they hadn’t offered him and I went up there and talked to his dad. In fact, his dad, Jason, is a Southern Miss alum and I was the head coach at Southern Miss. So we got to know them really well. Really fond of Ty, obviously really good football player. Fired up for him because in today’s day and age, for him to stay as long as he did at Alabama and then get a chance to be the starting quarterback’s pretty cool.”

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Kalshi

Fernando Mendoza

99%

Arvell Reese

98%

David Bailey

97%

Jeremiyah Love

96%

Sonny Styles

92%

Carnell Tate

80%

Caleb Downs

80%

Rueben Bain Jr.

63%

Francis Mauigoa

62%

Mansoor Delane

53%

Predict

The post Ty Simpson says playing for one NFL team, coach would be ‘dream come true’ appeared first on Saturday Down South.

And of course, few are as ready for the month’s madness as legendary ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale, who is wrapping up another season on the microphone covering the sport he’s been a part of for so many years.

With Champ Week looming and Selection Sunday not far behind, Vitale took to Twitter/X to share his thoughts on who the sport’s hottest teams are entering the month.

And to little surprise, Vitale pointed at Jon Scheyer‘s Duke side and Todd Golden‘s Florida as the two squads that are peaking at just the right time.

Vitale’s picks are certainly well-founded, as the 2 teams have combined to lose just 3 conference games and have largely dominated their in-league competition.

Florida is fresh off a 111-77 statement win over Arkansas that separated the Gators as the class of the SEC, something Vitale certainly took note of. Golden & Co. will close their season at home against Mississippi State on Wednesday and at Kentucky on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Duke just eviscerated a similarly red-hot Virginia squad on Saturday morning, ensuring that the Blue Devils will be a heavy favorite to come out on top in the upcoming ACC Tournament. But first, Scheyer’s squad will look to take down a pair of in-state rivals in NC State (road) and North Carolina (home) this week.

Think Duke or Florida has what it takes to win the NCAA Tournament? Put money on it at prediction market Kalshi!

The post Dick Vitale names 2 hottest teams entering March appeared first on Saturday Down South.

How brief? Just under 3 minutes.

Pearl discussed a handful of key points following the 85-79 loss to the Rebels, a result that will certainly follow his team all the way to Selection Sunday.

The first-year head coach opened by apologizing to the Auburn fan base for his team’s play before delving into the game itself. Pearl emphasized that Ole Miss’ usual struggles from the three-point line didn’t translate to this game, with the visitors knocking down 10 from deep.

Pearl also provided some clarification on why forward KeShawn Murphy didn’t start, explaining that the Mississippi State transfer was late to a film session during the week.

After trading blows with the Rebels for much of the night, the Tigers faltered late and couldn’t overcome 14 turnovers and 8 missed free throws in the end.

With a 15-14 overall record and immense struggles through the past month, Auburn can ill-afford to take a loss in its final 2 games, although neither will be easy outs. A similarly desperate LSU squad, which just beat Ole Miss last week, will visit Tuesday before the Tigers make their annual trip to Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

Will Auburn make the NCAA Tournament in Steven Pearl’s first season? The Tigers are on the bubble and Kalshi is taking action on predictions.

The post Steven Pearl apologizes to Auburn fans after Ole Miss loss appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But for Nate Oats and Alabama on Saturday night, that wasn’t necessarily the case.

Star guard Labaron Philon came off the bench for the first time this season in the Crimson Tide’s miraculous 71-69 road win over Tennessee, a move that surprised many.

As the end result alluded to, the strategy paid dividends for Philon & Co. The sophomore played 28 minutes and led the team with 23 rebounds to go along with a rebound and pair of assists.

And following the win, Philon explained what went into the lineup change, revealing that it actually wasn’t an idea that came from the coaching staff.

“It was my decision. Coach Oats, we kind of talked about it. It’s basketball. I just saw Payton Pritchard come off the bench and have 30 points against the Lakers. It really is a mindset thing. Most guys can’t do it. It doesn’t mean much to get your name called, so if I have to come off the bench from now on then I will.”

As Philon alluded to, it’s possible that the guard may have found a new scheme that can push his team to the next level.

A road date with Georgia on Tuesday and a home bout with rivals Auburn on Saturday will provide two more chances for Philon to prove that his sixth-man role could work in the postseason.

Can Labaron Philon lead Alabama back to the Sweet 16? Kalshi is taking action on predictions.

The post Labaron Philon explains coming off the bench against Tennessee appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The six-year quarterback for the Dolphins has experienced his fair share of ups and downs with the organization, and following another postseason-less campaign, it has become clear that Miami is ready to move on.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, “The Dolphins are almost certain to designate Tua Tagovailoa as a post-June 1 release to help defray some of the $99.2 million in dead money it will cost to release him.”

If the Dolphins are to move on, it would bring a close to a rollercoaster ride of a career that Tagovailoa had with the team. The former Alabama quarterback threw for over 18,000 yards and 120 touchdowns through his six seasons, but a myriad of injuries and 86 total turnovers have caused the organization to fail to truly contend in the AFC.

Still, Tagovailoa showcased his high ceiling in 2023, throwing for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns that year, suggesting that he still has plenty to give in the NFL.

It remains to be seen if Miami will look into drafting a quarterback from the college ranks or pursue a veteran in free agency. Kyler Murray, Geno Smith and Kirk Cousins are popular signal-callers floating on the market currently.

What’s ahead for Tua Tagovailoa? Predict his next move at Kalshi!

The post ESPN NFL insider shares latest on Tua Tagovailoa’s future appeared first on Saturday Down South.

And while the lopsided result was certainly notable, there were also plenty of other headlines that came out of this game. Todd Golden and John Calipari each received technicals at one point after jawing at each other on the sideline, and if that wasn’t enough, former Razorbacks guard Boogie Fland was also a point of heavy discussion.

Having transferred to join the Gators prior to this season, Fland was matched up with his former school for the first time.

ESPN displayed a graphic during the game that allegedly quoted a recent YouTube video that Fland posted to his channel, @TheBoogieFland. The quote centered around Fland suffering a hand injury while in Fayetteville, with the guard apparently stating that he received little to no contact while off the court.

“It taught me one minute they love you, the next minute they hate you…As soon as I got hurt…Nobody checked in, nobody texted me like, ‘You good, how’s your hand?’ It just goes to show the love wasn’t real,” the graphic read.

This prompted Arkansas fans to dig up an old Twitter/X post that referenced Fland FaceTiming the Razorbacks while he was out before he was finally able to be reunited with them in the attached video.

And to wrap things up, Fland provided some clarity after the game when he posted the full YouTube clip on his Twitter/X, dismissing any talk of negative remarks towards the Arkansas program.

Fland finished with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists against his former team.

Fland has helped Florida secure at least a share of the regular-season SEC title. Can the Gators win the national title? Kalshi is offering fans the opportunity to put money on predicting the NCAA Tournament champion.

The post Boogie Fland clarifies comments about season at Arkansas, dealing with injury appeared first on Saturday Down South.

A plethora of SEC teams find themselves on or around the bubble according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, and two of them battled head-to-head on Saturday.

In a rematch of an earlier Aggie win, it was Texas that emerged victorious on the road this time, taking down rivals Texas A&M by a score of 76-70.

Following a game in which the Longhorns rarely trailed, Lunardi updated his Bracketology outlook, and it created a slight shift in the bubble picture.

In the ‘Last Four Byes’ category, Texas jumped above Texas A&M as the second-safest team within the group. Still, the Aggies reside just behind, meaning that neither side would have to compete in a play-in game according to Lunardi.

Of course, with the bubble being ever-fluid and plenty of other schools looking to surpass them, Texas and Texas A&M need to finish strong through the end of the regular season.

The former will pay a visit to Arkansas on Wednesday for a Quad 1A opportunity, with a home date against fellow bubble rival Oklahoma looming Saturday.

Meanwhile, the latter welcomes Kentucky to College Station on Tuesday before visiting LSU on Saturday.

March is here, which means it’s almost time for the Big Dance! Fans can place money on which SEC bubble teams will make the NCAA Tournament at prediction market Kalshi.

The post ESPN’s Joe Lunardi shares latest bracketology projections for Texas, Texas A&M after Saturday’s rivalry clash appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Longtime Sunday Night Football network and rotating Super Bowl broadcaster NBC is reportedly looking to revamp its “Football Night in America” show, and according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, parting ways with Tony Dungy may be part of the plans.

The NFL Hall of Famer has been with NBC since he was hired in 2009, and he’s been a mainstay of the network’s Sunday night broadcasts while also making various appearances in the broadcast booth at both the professional and collegiate levels.

Last season, Football Night in America featured Maria Taylor hosting with Dungy joining the likes of Chris Simms, Rodney Harrison, Devin McCourty and Jason Garrett as analysts.

Dungy played with 3 teams in the NFL from 1977-1980, but he is best remembered for his lengthy head-coaching run. Dungy worked his way up through the professional ranks to eventually lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996-2001.

Then, Dungy took over the Indianapolis Colts from 2002-2008, a stint that was highlighted by a victory in Super Bowl XLI alongside Peyton Manning.

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Kalshi

Los Angeles R

80%

Baltimore

75%

Detroit

73%

Kansas City

70%

Los Angeles C

68%

Seattle

67%

Green Bay

62%

San Francisco

62%

Chicago

56%

Dallas

54%

Predict

The post NBC expected to part with NFL analyst Tony Dungy, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

And while the players and lead coaches receive much of the public praise, there are a myriad of moving pieces within a football program that push a team to success.

Aggies’ Strength and Conditioning Coach Tommy Moffitt is a prime example of this, and he was given the Power 4 Strength Coach of the Year award as a result.

Moffitt has enjoyed a legendary career as a S/C coach at a handful of programs, with his 21-year run at LSU being his most notable. The longtime leader helped 3 Tigers head coach win national championships (Nick Saban, Les Miles, Ed Orgeron) and won a plethora of awards during that time.

Moffitt also served stints with Miami (19998-1999) and Tennessee (1994-1997). He joined the Aggies’ program in 2024 after testing the private-business waters in 2021.

Texas A&M finished with an 11-2 overall record and a 7-1 mark in SEC play in 2025, and the program also boasts the most players at this year’s NFL Combine with a school record of 13.

Can Texas A&M get back to the College Football Playoff? Check out the market now at Kalshi!

Prediction Markets

College Football Playoff Qualifiers 2026

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Kalshi

Notre Dame

88%

Ohio St.

79%

Oregon

76%

Georgia

70%

Texas Tech

70%

Texas

69%

Indiana

67%

Miami (FL)

65%

LSU

45%

Ole Miss

40%

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The post Texas A&M’s Tommy Moffitt named Power 4 Strength Coach of the Year appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Commodores led 37-17 at the six-minute mark of the first half, but the Bulldogs gradually chipped away until they were able to tie the game at 62 with just under 10 minutes left.

But thanks to a whopping 6 different players scoring in double figures, Mark Byington’s team was able to regain control of the lead down the stretch to secure the wire-to-wire result.

Vandy shot 30-for-61 from the floor and assisted on 16 of those makes in a highly efficient offensive performance. In addition, 21 made free throws and a 44-26 points-in-the-paint advantage helped the ‘Dores earn the win.

Senior Devon McGlockton led the way for the home side with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Georgia’s Jeremiah Wilkinson exploded for 28 points as he tried to keep his team on the right side of the proverbial NCAA ‘bubble.’

Due to Vanderbilt having to originally swap its home-and-home with Ole Miss this season, the Commodores will now be on the road for their final 3 regular season games. The first in the trio will be a trip to face Kentucky on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Georgia will look to keep its head above water when it hosts South Carolina on Saturday.

It’s almost March, and the NCAA Tournament starts soon! Prediction market Kalshi is taking action on which bubble teams will make the Big Dance.

The post Vanderbilt holds off Georgia, snaps losing skid appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Owning a 13-14 overall record and a 5-9 mark in SEC play, the Bulldogs have endured through a rollercoaster ride of a season as the team approaches the SEC Tournament.

With college basketball’s season regular season coming to an end shortly, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello delved into the upcoming coaching carousel and the many movies pieces within it.

Jans was one of the names listed under the ‘High-profile candidates to keep an eye on’ category, with Borzello explaining that Jans could be searching for a lateral move that provides a better personal fit.

After going to the NCAA tournament in each of his first three seasons in Starkville, Jans and the Bulldogs are limping toward a sub-.500 finish this season. Mississippi State is considered one of the worst jobs in the SEC, so it’s conceivable he could look to jump to another high-major program with the right fit.

After initially arriving from New Mexico State, Jans has produced a 76-54 overall record since taking over the Mississippi State program.

He’s led the Bulldogs to 21 wins and NCAA Tournament berths in all three of his campaigns in Starkville, but the 2025-2026 season has left much to be desired. The current squad appeared to manufacture some positive momentum with back-to-back wins over Auburn and Ole Miss in recent weeks, but Saturday’s road loss to South Carolina has again put a damper on things.

Jans’ Bulldogs have a tough game at No. 17 Alabama on Wednesday night. Prediction market Kalshi is taking action on the game.

The post ESPN insider weighs in on Chris Jans’ future after 2025-26 season appeared first on Saturday Down South.

After being awarded a temporary restraining order from the NCAA and appearing in five games through late January and early February, Bediako had again been ruled ineligible to play. Since Feb. 7, the center had been part of the Crimson Tide program but had not appeared in games.

But according to AL.com’s Nick Kelly, Bediako is again looking to become eligible, as he’s asked the Alabama Supreme Court to make a ruling on his emergency motion for immediately eligibility by Friday.

That would make Bediako able to play in Alabama‘s game against Tennessee on Saturday, ironically the same team in which he made his season debut against back on Jan. 24.

In 5 games Bediako appeared in, the Crimson Tide went 3-2, beating Missouri, Texas A&M and Auburn while losing to the aforementioned Volunteers and Florida. In those contests, Bediako averaged 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

Since Bediako ceased playing for Nate Oats in early February, Alabama has gone 4-0, albeit while facing the bottom of the SEC’s standings.

With or without Bediako, Alabama is looking to make some noise in March. Can the Crimson Tide make it to the Sweet 16? Get in on the wager action at prediction market Kalshi:

The post Charles Bediako targets Saturday for requested return via injunction appeared first on Saturday Down South.