This is The VSiN Daily newsletter for Saturday, November 0. Sign up for this free email and get picks and insights delivered to your in-box every morning.
The Texas-Texas A&M rivalry returns after a 12-year hiatus with a spot in the SEC Championship vs. Georgia at stake.
So let’s see what our experts have to say about the game of the day (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) with the Longhorns favored by 5 or 5.5 points as of Friday night.
Matt Youmans: Texas A&M coach Mike Elko is set to throw everything he’s got at the Longhorns, who are clearly more talented yet will be walking into a beehive at Kyle Field. Elko’s offense has been better in recent weeks behind freshman quarterback Marcel Reed and running back Amari Daniels. The Longhorns have played only two SEC road games, winning by three at Vanderbilt and by 10 at Arkansas, leaving coach Steve Sarkisian 1-4 ATS in his past five as a road favorite in league play. Texas is getting its toughest road test, so laying more than a field goal is asking a lot. The winner will face Georgia in the SEC title game, and I’ll predict the Longhorns win this by three.
Wes Reynolds:Texas has not impressed against upper-level defenses, and now QB Quinn Ewers is battling an ankle injury. Meanwhile, A&M put up 41 points and 464 yards on a highly-ranked Auburn defense. This week, the Aggies step up in class, facing Texas’s No. 2 defense. However, Texas has faced several weak offenses in the SEC, such as Kentucky, Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The Aggies offense is also a step up in class for the Longhorns. Gig’ Em.
You can find all of our Best Bets columns listed here. Tyler Shoemaker does something a little different, offering four wagers for the Ohio State-Michigan game.
On Friday night, Matt announced the 119 selections from the remaining 17 handicappers competing in the Circa Friday Football Invitational, so let’s see what the contestants did with the Texas-Texas A&M game:
xxxxxxxxx
VSiN Pro subscribers have access to all the contest picks.
FYI: We’re also running a Average Joe Contest to determine next year’s Average Joe in the Friday Football Invitational. >Standings. (Picks are posted at 10:15 a.m. ET today and are open to all.)
More CFB resources
Check later this morning for Josh Appelbaum‘s Sharp Report.
>DraftKings and Circa Betting Splits
Everything we have posted on Week 14 is here.
Thanksgiving comes a day late in Chicago
The Bears fired coach Matt Eberflus, a day after the team’s sixth loss in a row. For Eberflus, the last straw was the clock mismanagement at the end of the 23-20 loss to the Lions on Thursday. Thomas Brown, who was promoted from passing coordinator to offensive coordinator a few weeks ago, will be the interim coach.
>>Michael Lombardi has some parting words for Eberflus.
Thanks to a Bear-like meltdown in the final seconds, the Raiders let the Chiefs off the hook in the Black Friday game. KC (-13.5) prevailed 19-17 when the Raiders botched the snap before they presumably would try a winning field goal.
Contest Corner: The Chiefs made 29 Circa Survivors sweat it out, but all 54 Survivors move on to Week 13b, consisting of the 12 remaining games this weekend.
QB Update: 49ers QB Brock Purdy (shoulder) practiced on Friday and is expected to play Sunday night at Buffalo.
Everything we do on Week 13 is posted here, including our experts’ Best Bets columns.
Today in college basketball
Greg Peterson has posted his Best Bets for today’s menu.
Here are other resources for you . . .
>Adam Burke‘s top plays will be up later today.
>Makinen’s daily power ratings (posted mid-morning).
>Greg’s Coast to Coast Hoops podcast on which he handicaps every game every day.
Quick Hits
NBA: Zach Cohen will post his Best Bets later today on our NBA page.
NHL: Look for Jonathan Davis‘ picks by mid-morning on our NHL page.
Soccer: VSiN analyst Nigel Seeley has three plays in the EPL.
