SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2020
COLLEGE BASKETBALL RETURNS
BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A
Picking the NFL: week 12
Current Record:
87-50-1
Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images-TNS
Players from the Gonzaga Bulldogs react after
defeating the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 26, 2020,
at Fort Myers, Florida.
Gonzaga races
past Jayhawks
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Drew Timme scored 25
points, Jalen Suggs added 24 and Corey Kispert had
23 to help No. 1 Gonzaga beat No. 6 Kansas 102-90 on
Thursday in the season opener for both teams.
The Bulldogs built a double-digit lead in the fi rst
half at the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off, then
saw the Jayhawks tie it twice in the second half before
putting them away. Gonzaga went on a 22-7 run to go
up 96-78.
Suggs, who got in foul trouble in the fi rst half, scored
17 of his 24 in the second half.
Marcus Garrett led Kansas with 22 points, and
Ochai Agbaji added 17 points. Agbai picked up his
fourth foul midway through the second half, which hurt
the Jayhawks. When he left, Kansas trailed 70-67.
The Jayhawks rallied from a 14-point defi cit in the
fi rst half to tie it at 57.
NO. 3 VILLANOVA 83, NO. 18 ARIZONA STATE 74
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Jeremiah Robinson-
Earl scored a career-high 28 points to lead Villanova
over Arizona State in the championship game of the
Empire Classic.
Justin Moore added 16 points and 12 rebounds for
the Wildcats (2-0), and Caleb Daniels had 14 points —
10 in the second half.
The Wildcats dominated on the glass, outrebounding
Arizona State 43-27. Robinson-Earl fi nished with eight
boards.
NO. 8 ILLINOIS 97, CHICAGO STATE 38
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 22
points, freshman Andres Curbelo added 18 and Illinois
routed Chicago State.
The Illini (2-0) scored the fi rst nine points and led
47-17 at halftime.
NO. 15 WEST VIRGINIA 78, VCU 66
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Derek Culver had 23
points and 15 rebounds to help No. 15 West Virginia
beat VCU 78-66 in the Bad Boys Mowers Crossover
Classic semifi nals.
Culver rebounded from a seven-point game Wednes-
day night in the Mountaineers’ opening victory over
South Dakota State, fi nishing two shy of his career
high. He was 8 of 14 from the fi eld.
of the season, the Chargers
find themselves on the road
against a well-rested Bills
COREY
Baltimore Ravens
team. The Bills are definitely
KIRK
(6-4) vs. Pittsburgh
a contender for playoffs, and
Steelers (10-0)
their offense is quite entertain-
This game, originally
ing. The Chargers are just
scheduled for Thanks-
take this game, 24-21.
destined to be overwhelmed
giving night but moved to
in this game, and the Bills will
Cleveland Browns (7-3) vs. win their eighth game of the
Sunday, Nov. 29, sees the
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) year, 38-28.
undefeated Steelers hosting
Cleveland has momentum
the Ravens. Three weeks ago,
Las Vegas Raiders (6-4) vs.
the Steelers walked away with offensively, and has been con-
the win in the teams’ fi rst
sistent on defense. The Jaguars Atlanta Falcons (3-7)
After a tough loss to the
match up, and the outcome
are destined be one of the next
will be the same this time.
teams eliminated from playoff Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday
The Ravens continue to fall
contention. The Browns will
night, the Raiders are back on
apart when it counts, and the win, 27-10.
the road to take on the Falcons.
The Raiders’ offense has been
Steelers aren’t showing any
weaknesses. The Steelers will Tennessee Titans (7-3) vs. impressive even against much
Indianapolis Colts (7-3)
better defenses than the Fal-
remain undefeated, winning
Two teams that are push-
cons can muster, so I would ex-
35-24.
ing toward the playoffs will go pect Derek Carr and company
Miami Dolphins (6-4) vs.
toe-to-toe in this high-scoring
to shine here. The Raiders will
New York Jets (0-10)
game. Being at home for the
win, 28-13.
The Jets made the news
second week in a row, I am go-
this past week being the fi rst ing to give the Colts the edge on San Francisco 49ers (4-6)
team eliminated from playoff this one as they are able to fend vs. Los Angeles Rams (7-3)
After a big win against the
contention. The Dolphins
off running back Derrick Henry
Bucs on Monday night, the
generated headlines of their
with their defensive line, and
own by going back to Ryan
their offense has been strong as Rams are set to host the 49ers.
Fitzpatrick at quarterback
of late. The Colts will defeat the San Francisco is coming off its
and benching rookie Tua
bye week, but still most of their
Titans, 38-35.
Tagovailoa during their loss to
fi rst stringers will remain un-
Denver. The Dolphins’ issues New York Giants (3-7) vs. available for the rest of the sea-
Cincinnati Bengals (2-7-1) son due to injuries. Although
pale in comparison to the
The Bengals suffered a
problems the Jets are facing.
they were able to manage to
defeat the Rams back in week
The Dolphins will win, 28-14. tremendous loss with rookie
quarterback Joe Burrow
six, the 49ers are outmatched
Arizona Cardinals (6-4) vs.
suffering a devastating knee
right now. The Rams will
New England Patriots (4-6) injury that now jeopardizes his defeat the 49ers, 21-17.
Both teams are coming off
next season as well. Now they
New Orleans Saints (8-2)
losses. Although the Cardinals are set to face the Giants at
weren’t able to get past the
home, and the Bengals’ season vs. Denver Broncos (4-6)
Seahawks, Arizona’s aerial
Though Drew Brees re-
is going to look pretty grim
mains sidelined by a rib injury,
offense is arguably the most
from here on out. The Giants
exciting passing game in foot- have plenty of question marks his replacement, Taysom Hill,
ball. I just don’t see how the
themselves, but they’ll win this was stellar against the Falcons
and is a proven solid backup.
Patriots will be able to stop it. game, 14-7.
Though coming off a win
The Cardinals will defeat the
Los Angeles Chargers (3-7) against the Dolphins, I just
Patriots, 35-14.
vs. Buffalo Bills (7-3)
don’t see the Broncos being
Carolina Panthers (4-6) vs.
After securing their third win competitive. The Saints will
Minnesota Vikings (4-6)
For two teams that continue
to fl oat between contender
and pretender status, this is
a vital game. The Panthers,
though beset with injuries,
have been competitive even
in losses. The Vikings lost a
game they could have easily
won against the Cowboys last
week, and I am struggling
to back them this week. The
Panthers, with hopefully a
healthy return of star running
back Christian McCaffrey, will
Thanksgiving and football:
like pie and whipped cream
Thanksgiving was
declared a national
easily my favorite
holiday in the 19th
holiday to celebrate
century. The very
COREY
growing up. My family
fi rst game was Rut-
KIRK
and I would pile into
gers against Princ-
my mom’s Astro van,
eton in 1869. As time
drive over 90 minutes
passed, the concept
deep into the heart of
continued to evolve
the Bay Area to meet up with my dad’s side
and made its way to the National Football
of the family to celebrate in the afternoon.
League in 1934, with the Detroit Lions
With more than 20 family members in just
always playing on the holiday.
one household, some of my fondest memories
The opponents changed, and so did the
aren’t whether I gained possession of one of uniforms. It is more often rare to see teams
the turkey legs, or how many buttons were suit up in their regular uniforms, as we see
ready to burst off the seams on my shirt.
jerseys either paying homage to the his-
It was always football.
tory of their organization with throwback
After extending pleasantries with family uniforms, or recently wearing their new
members, I would join my brothers and dad “color rush” uniforms that were introduced
in the family room to catch a glimpse of
to every team back in 2016.
whoever was playing. One of my two Uncle
Thanksgiving games hit around the time
Dougs would catch us up on the game,
of the season when we start to know which
while my cousin Dave would pace around if teams are contenders and which are pre-
the team he was rooting for was losing.
tenders. The signifi cance of these holiday
As each year passed, the routine re-
games depends on the matchup, of course,
mained the same. We got to see the likes
but they can cause ripple effects through-
of Barry Sanders run for over 160 yards
out the league.
against the Chicago Bears in 1997, the
For sports fanatics like myself, these
Green Bay Packers stomping the Detroit
games are a Thanksgiving staple. This
Lions in 2010 except for Ndamukong Suh
Thanksgiving was a lot different due to the
who did his own fair share of stomping,
pandemic. We even had a last-minute CO-
and who can forget Mark Sanchez’s butt
VID-19 surprise when one of the three games
fumble? After watching football, we ate our set for the holiday — Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore
hearts out. After eating, we often found
— was moved to Sunday, Nov. 29.
ourselves heading to the local elementary
I was still in front of my television, yelling
playground to play any sport that we could. at the screen, pacing around like my cousin
Football on both the professional and col-
Dave and catching my wife up on the games
lege level are ingrained into the DNA of
as my Uncle Doug used to do. I doubt she had
this holiday.
the slightest care. But I was thankful that one
Football has been played while turkey
tradition remained somewhat the same this
has been served since Thanksgiving was
year.
win their ninth game, 35-14.
Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)
vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(7-4)
Every time the Bucca-
neers go up against one of
the league’s tougher teams,
it seems they are destined to
fold. The past three weeks, we
saw them drop games against
the Saints (8-2) and the Rams
(7-3). However, we saw them
defeat the Panthers (4-6).
Now they’re up against the
reigning Super Bowl champs
in the Chiefs, coming off a big
win against the Raiders, so
The Chiefs will break double
digits in wins this week, tak-
ing the game 31-14.
Chicago Bears (5-5) vs.
Green Bay Packers (7-3)
In this historic matchup,
the Bears head into Lambeau
Field for what I expect will be
a high-scoring game against
their division rivals. The
Packers, though coming off a
big loss against the Colts last
week, face a Chicago team
that has been in a lull. Aaron
Rodgers will lead the Packers
to their eighth win, 38-31.
Seattle Seahawks (7-3)
vs. Philadelphia Eagles
(3-6-1)
To end this eventful week
of football, we see these two
teams with avian mascots
meeting up on Monday Night
Football. The Seahawks are
coming off a big win against
the Arizona Cardinals last
week, and I see them as the
favorites in this game, as it
seems that Eagles quarter-
back Carson Wentz is strug-
gling to maintain consistency.
The Seahawks will defeat
the Eagles, 35-21.
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