Sports category, Page 979
2024 women’s basketball national title odds: See where LSU stands in quest to repeat
By ZACH EWING | Home Field Sports The odds to win the 2024 women’s college basketball national title are out, and the favorites to win the NCAA championship next year are familiar. That includes reigning champion LSU, which is the second-favorite at +700, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Tigers likely...
2024 men’s college basketball NCAA tournament odds: Another national title for UConn?
By ZACH EWING | Home Field Sports If you still don’t consider the UConn men’s basketball team to be a “blue blood” after its dominant run in this year’s NCAA tournament, next year may give you another data point in that direction. The Huskies are favored to win the national...
Former Minnesota running back Trey Potts commits to Penn State
Ahead of last year’s Penn State-Minnesota game, there were a noticeable number of Golden Gophers fans outside Beaver Stadium wearing customized “POTTS” jerseys. Those friends and family members will have to get new gear this year. Trey Potts, a Williamsport native and Minnesota running back, is transferring to Penn State...
Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta expected to return against Wild
Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta has been labeled as a “game-time decision” for Thursday’s home game against the Minnesota Wild at PPG Paints Arena. Coach Mike Sullivan announced the right-hander’s status following an optional morning skate. Such a designation is typically a strong indicator that a player will be in the...
‘This is where I needed to be’: Andrew McCutchen revels in PNC Park return as a Pirate
Andrew McCutchen leaned back into his chair and imagined hearing “No. 22” and his name announced while wearing black and gold again before his first at-bat with the Pittsburgh Pirates back at PNC Park. McCutchen allowed his mind to wander with anticipation about the emotions and energy the ovations will...
On Sports: ‘Blackout’ momentum grows for Pirates’ home opener; Fleury could play spoiler vs. Penguins
Hey, if Andrew McCutchen and A.J. Burnett are back at PNC Park, why not just go all the way in making it feel like 2013 all over again? A movement is afoot for a “blackout” for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener Friday. The most prominent baseball game played in the...
Draft prep 101: Deep group of tight ends, shallow pool of wide receivers may influence Steelers’ strategy
Each day this week, “Breakfast With Benz” will get you ready for this month’s NFL Draft by posting daily “Draft 101” podcasts. Former NFL and college scout and current Steelers Nation Radio host, Matt Williamson, joins Tim Benz for daily podcasts breaking down draft-eligible players in different position groups. Thursday’s...
Minor league report: Penguins eliminated from playoff contentionVideo
Goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 27 saves on 32 shots for the Wilkes_Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-0 home loss to the Chrlotte Checkers at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. The defeat extended a losing streak to six games and with the Hartford Wolf Pack claiming a 2-1 home overtime...
Report: Duquesne gets commitments from La Salle twin forwards Hassan, Fousseyni Drame
Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot has returned to the NCAA transfer portal to restock his team for the 2023-2024 season. The Dukes have received verbal commitments from twin 6-foot-7 forwards Hassan and Fousseyni Drame, The Athletic reported. The twins helped lead Saint Peter’s to the 2022 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight before...
FanDuel Sportsbook promo gives up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets for The Masters
BY GABE HENDERSON | Home Field Sports It’s almost time for The 2023 Masters Tournament to tee off at Augusta National. Golf gives bettors a whole other opportunity to make money daily with the biggest tournament of the year being played over the next few days in Georgia. Whether you’re...
LIV golfers add betting dynamic to Masters
LAS VEGAS — The addition of LIV golfers to this week’s Masters field has created betting options for those wanting to wager on golf’s first major of the year. Westgate SuperBook golf oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said his company’s properties have taken quite a bit of money on whether one of...
Plum grad McGough works way back to MLB after finding his footing in Japan
What’s longer: 6,585 miles, or 2,749 days? For Plum’s Scott McGough, it took (repeatedly) traveling the former to take a meandering route in figuratively navigating the latter. A four-year trip to Japan ultimately led McGough back to the major leagues, a level he hadn’t pitched at since Sept. 20, 2015....
Penguins No. 1 pick Pickering getting first pro experience in AHL
Owen Pickering didn’t want to be in Wilkes-Barre by April. To be certain, he doesn’t have any kind of objection to Northeast Pennsylvania in the spring. He just wanted to be back in southwest Saskatchewan playing games that mean a bit more with his junior team, the Swift Current Broncos...
Penguins sign goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist to entry-level contract
Goaltender Joel Blomqvist, one of the top prospects in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization, has signed a three-year entry-level contract. Cap Friendly was the first to report the transaction. The contract is slated to begin next season and carries a salary cap hit of $886,667. For the 2023-24 season, the contract...
Masters Tournament Tee Times
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tee times for Thursday’s first round of the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club 8 a.m. — Kevin Na, Mike Weir 8:12 a.m. — Matthew McClean, Vijay Singh, Scott Stallings 8:24 a.m. — Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak, Sandy Lyle 8:36 a.m. — Fred Couples, Russell...
With Pat Narduzzi pushing him, Pitt LB Bangally Kamara seeks perfection
If Bangally Kamara has discovered anything about spring football — and playing for Pat Narduzzi — it’s that he can always do better than what he shows in practice. With time and patience, Kamara might finally reach a point by the start of the 2023 season that satisfies him and...
Behind Carlos Santana’s homer, Mitch Keller’s strong start, Pirates beat Red Sox for sweep
Carlos Santana was making solid contact, so the Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman believed he was close to making an offensive impact. Santana, who hit .105 (2 for 19) in his first five games, went 2 for 4 with his first home run as a Pirate and an RBI double to...
Masters T20 value play; weird line in Pelicans-Grizzlies: Best Bets for April 5
By JIM DERRY | Home Field Sports Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer. Here are...
Mark Madden: NCAA women’s basketball final will be remembered, but at what cost?
Women’s sports too often can’t get out of their own way, not least when the spotlight shines brightest. The U.S. women’s soccer team fell off its perch as America’s sweethearts via too much politicizing. What did that accomplish? Now a women’s basketball Final Four that started out sizzling thanks to...
2023 Masters Preview: Best bets, odds, gloomy weather forecast, TV and course info
BY JIM DERRY | Home Field Sports If you’re a golf enthusiast who loves weather delays, water hazards in the middle of the fairway, rain jackets and a whole mess of a plan, we have a major treat for you. As in, the soon-to-be weather-plagued first major tournament of the...
Top guard O’Cyrus Torrence among 4 prospects to visit with Steelers in pre-draft process
Continuing their emphasis on evaluating college football’s top prospects in the trenches, the Steelers held pre-draft visits with two offensive lineman and one defensive lineman Wednesday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence, Oklahoma tackle Anton Harrison and Baylor nose tackle Siaki Ika visited with the Steelers as...
Pirates will have highest slot value ever with No. 1 overall draft pick, 3rd-highest bonus pool
The Pittsburgh Pirates will have the highest slot value ever for the No. 1 overall pick and the third-highest bonus pool to use for the 2023 MLB Draft, per a report by MLB.com. After winning the inaugural draft lottery, the Pirates learned Tuesday that the slot value for the first...
Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. is a projected 1st-round pick. Is Kalen King next?
STATE COLLEGE — Joey Porter Jr. believes he’s the top cornerback in the NFL Draft. At the very least, the former Penn State star is locked in as a projected first-round pick. Whether you listen to analysts or skim mock drafts, that’s the consensus. Kalen King has been among the...
On Sports: Pirates payroll is NL’s smallest; Penguins push for .500 as Kraken surpass it with familiar faces
Now that the MLB season has opened we know where the Pittsburgh Pirates rank in regards to payroll. (Spoiler: not high). The Penguins resort to striving to achieve true mediocrity, while the neophyte Seattle Kraken blow past them — with the help of some old friends. But at least people...
Scottie Scheffler looks primed for rare Masters double
AUGUSTA, Ga. — There are plenty of perks that come from being the reigning Masters champion. You have a year to don that cherished green jacket wherever you want. You can nab a tee time at Augusta National without any hassles. You get to select the menu for the champions...
