By Marc Lawrence — The SEC canceled all nonconference games last season amid the pandemic, with each team playing a 10-game regular season against league opponents. ESPN reports that the 2021 schedule features the return of nonconference games and an opening-day slate on Sept. 4 that includes Power 5 matchups LSU at UCLA, Georgia vs. Clemson, North Carolina and Miami vs. Alabama (Atlanta). Texas A&M, which narrowly missed making the College Football Playoff last season, will travel to Colorado in Week 2, re-creating a matchup of former Big 12 programs. Auburn, which will be led by new coach Bryan Harsin, will play at Penn State in Week 3. Defending champion Alabama will begin conference play that Saturday with a trip to Florida, setting up a rematch of last season’s SEC championship game, which the Crimson Tide won 52-46. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey went on to say, “Circumstances around the COVID-19 virus will continue to guide our decision-making should any adjustments need to be made.” To read more on the 2021 SEC football schedule ahead click here.
Trending Today
David Purdum of ESPN reports that the largest reported bet on Super Bowl LV so far is on the underdog Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A bettor in Nevada placed a $2.3 million wager on the Bucs +3.5 (-115) with sportsbook BetMGM. If Tampa Bay covers the spread against the Kansas City Chiefs, the bettor would win a net $2 million. According to company spokesperson Elisa Richardson, the bet was placed on BetMGM’s mobile app and is the largest Super Bowl wager any U.S. sportsbook had reported as of Friday morning. BetMGM welcomed the bet. “This was a bet we were very happy to receive,” Jason Scott, vice president of trading for BetMGM, told ESPN. “We had previously written several other six-figure bets, all on Kansas City, and the public is certainly behind Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
Grinding Out The Profits
From the Playbook Basketball Newsletter: The Portland Trail Blazers are 8-1 SU and ATS at Chicago, including 5-0 SU and ATS the last five games. Chicago is 5-18 at home versus Western Conference foes seeking same season loss revenge, including 1-17 ATS when the Bulls sports a .315 or greater win percentage. After becoming the first team in the NBA to lose multiple games after blowing 20-point leads, it’s time to re-connect the dots and back the Blazers.
