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No. 11 Tennessee is trying to end decades of futility in the Swamp against Florida

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

No. 11 Tennessee (2-0) at Florida (1-1), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN).Line: Tennessee by 6 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Florida leads 31-21, having won 16 of the last 18.WHAT’S AT STAKE?The Volunteers are trying to end two decades of futility in Gainesville. They last won at Florida Field in 2003. The nine-game skid in the Swamp includes late collapses in 2015 and 2017 on 63-yard touchdown passes — one with a little more than a minute to play and the second on the final snap. Florida’s Billy Napier is 0-4 in rivalry games, becoming the first coach in school history to lose to Tennessee, LSU, Georgia and Florida State in the same season.KEY MATCHUPFlorida’s defense versus Tennessee’s ground game. The Vols lead the Southeastern Conference in rushing, averaging 257.5 yards a game and ranking fourth in major college football. The Gators have allowed 151 yards on the ground in two outings.PLAYERS TO WATCHTennessee: LB Aaron Beasley is coming off the best game by a Vols defender ...

No. 14 LSU visits unbeaten Mississippi State to kick off SEC play. Tigers begin West title defense

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

No. 14 LSU (1-1) at Mississippi State (2-0), Saturday, Noon ET (ESPN)Line: LSU by 9 1/2 according to FanDuel.com Sportsbook.Series: LSU leads 77-36-3.WHAT’S AT STAKELSU rebounded strongly from its opening-game loss to Florida State with a 72-10 shellacking of Grambling and begins defense of its West Division title. After surviving Arizona 31-24 in overtime, Mississippi State begins its quest to be in the division title hunt with a daunting league stretch that includes a visit to South Carolina and home game against No. 10 Alabama in the coming weeks. Topping the Tigers will be tough, considering they have won 20 of 23 matchups this century.KEY MATCHUPLSU’s offense vs. Mississippi State’s defense. The Tigers rolled up 627 yards against Grambling and scored touchdowns on their first 10 possessions – five each rushing and passing. They lead the SEC at 540.5 yards per game and are second in rushing at 207.5. MSU ranks in the middle of several SEC defensive categories but held Ariz...

No. 12 Utah seeks to extend unbeaten start vs. Weber State

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Weber State at Utah, 2 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Networks)Line: N/A according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Utah leads 6-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Utah is looking to put together a complete game on offense after relying on stifling defense to earn consecutive victories over Florida and Baylor. Weber State is seeking a win over an instate FBS opponent for a second straight season after dismantling Utah State 35-7 a year ago.KEY MATCHUPWeber State’s explosive run-first offense will face a Utah defense that’s has yielded 134 total yards on the ground this season. The Wildcats are averaging 200 rushing yards and 34.5 points per game while Utah has allowed only two touchdowns through its first two games.PLAYERS TO WATCHWeber State: RB Damon Bankston ranks second in the FCS with 131.5 rushing yards per game. Bankston tallied a season-high 144 yards on the ground in a 34-17 victory over Northern Iowa and is averaging 7.5 yards per carry through his first two contests. He has 1,0...

Woman who killed 3-year-old daughter and left burned corpse on ballfield is sentenced to 30 years

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware woman who pleaded guilty to killing her 3-year-old daughter and dumping her burned remains on a softball field was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison.Kristie Haas, 31, pleaded guilty earlier this year to murder by abuse or neglect and abuse of a corpse in the death of Emma Grace Cole, who prosecutors say endured a life of starvation and torture before she was killed.“I’m sorry for all the hurt that I inflicted and the pain that I caused,” said Haas, who also pleaded guilty to three counts of endangering the welfare of a child for her mistreatment of Emma’s half-siblings.Haas faced a minimum mandatory prison term of 15 years, and a possible life sentence, but Superior Court Judge Noel Primos imposed the 30-year sentence that was recommended by prosecutors and defense attorneys.“I cannot presume to comprehend the grief and the anguish that Emma’s family members here today have been put through because of Ms. Haas’ actions,” Primos said. The judge a...

Indy’s Steichen gets crash course in combining veteran moves with learning lessons as new head coach

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — First-time head coach Shane Steichen already is making some veteran moves.He blames himself for the Indianapolis Colts’ miscues in Week 1, wants more efficiency on third and fourth downs and prods his young team to keep the focus on making steady improvement. Heck, he’s even savvy enough to keep injury updates boring.Yes, after just one official game, Steichen seems tailor-made to excel at his dream job.“I think you’ve got to take accountability for everything,” he said Wednesday. “As a head coach, you’ve got to hold yourself accountable and then it’s the players holding the players accountable. Everyone’s got to be on the same page and don’t take anything personal. Praise them when they do it right and when it’s not right, we’ve got to get you to correct what you do.”Make no mistake — the Colts have plenty to fix following a 31-21 loss to Jacksonville that extended their opening day winless streak to 10.Steic...

Oklahoma State looks to figure out its three-headed quarterback carousel vs. South Alabama

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

South Alabama (1-1) at Oklahoma State (2-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (Big 12 Now on ESPN+)Line: Oklahoma State by 7 1/2, according to  FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Oklahoma State leads 2-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Oklahoma State looks to start the season 3-0 for the seventh straight year. The Cowboys have won their first two games while trying to sort out their quarterback battle between Alan Bowman, Gunnar Gundy and Garret Rangel. All three have earned significant playing time so far. Coach Mike Gundy said all three graded well last week in a 27-15 win over Arizona State. South Alabama is coming off a win over Southeastern Louisiana, but the Sun Belt Conference program is 1-14 all-time against Power Five foes.KEY MATCHUPOklahoma State WR Brennan Presley vs. South Alabama secondary. Presley led Oklahoma State with 67 catches for 813 yards last season. He has two touchdowns this season, but hasn’t had a breakout game yet. South Alabama ranks 131st out of 132 FBS programs in pass effici...

Cincinnati to host in-state rival Miami (Ohio)

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

Miami (Ohio) (1-1) at Cincinnati (2-0), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (Big 12 Now on ESPN+)Line: Cincinnati favored by 14 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Cincinnati leads 60-59-7.WHAT’S AT STAKE?In-state foes Cincinnati and Miami (Ohio) will renew college football’s oldest non-conference rivalry on Saturday in the 127th Battle for the Victory Bell. Cincinnati has won 16 straight meetings against Miami, its neighbor from nearby Oxford, Ohio. A mere 37 miles separate the two campuses. The RedHawks haven’t beaten the Bearcats since 2005 (44-16 at Miami). Cincinnati defeated Miami 38-17 last season at Paycor Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. The win marked the Bearcats’ first lead (60-59-7) in the rivalry series since 1915. Cincinnati and first-year coach Scott Satterfield look to go undefeated in non-conference play before opening their first-ever Big 12 slate against No. 19 Oklahoma.KEY MATCHUPMiami QB Brett Gabbert, the younger brother of Kansas City Chiefs...

Hunter Biden indicted on three federal gun charges

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

Prosecutors in Delaware brought three gun-related charges against Hunter Biden Thursday, indicting the president’s son after special counsel David Weiss said he would pursue charges following the evaporation of a plea deal.The court filings detail charges Hunter Biden would have entered a diversion program for under the failed plea agreement, charging him both with failing to disclose drug use when seeking to buy a weapon, resulting in two separate charges, as well as for unlawful possession of a firearm while addicted to a controlled substance. The indictment does not list any tax crimes – a matter that also would have been covered by the prior plea agreement that had Biden plead guilty on two charges of willful failure to pay taxes.Weiss was elevated to special counsel status in August shortly after discussion around the plea agreement broke down, signaling he may instead seek to bring charges outside the state.In later filings, Weiss indicated he would bring an indictment ag...

Hunter Biden indicted on federal firearms charges in long-running probe weeks after plea deal failed

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest and weightiest step yet in a long-running investigation into the president’s son.Biden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction to crack cocaine, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware.President Joe Biden’s son has also been under investigation for his business dealings. The special counsel overseeing the case has indicated that charges of failure to pay taxes on time could be filed in Washington or in California, where he lives.The indictment comes as congressional Republicans pursue an impeachment inquiry into the Democratic president, in large part over Hunter Biden’s business dealings. Republicans have obtained testimony about how Hunter used the “Biden brand” to drum up work overseas, but have not produced hard evidence of wrongd...

A 4-year-old police dog named Yoda detained fugitive Danilo Cavalcante, bringing an end to the exhaustive, nearly 2 week-long manhunt

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 06:00:54 GMT

(CNN) — Moments after law enforcement officials spotted convicted murderer Danilo Cavalcante’s head peeking through the underbrush, they released a police dog who bit and subdued Cavalcante, leading to his apprehension nearly two weeks after he escaped prison, officials said.The dog, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois male named Yoda, was from one of two tactical teams that moved in on Cavalcante at around 8 a.m. in a wooded Pennsylvania area, ending an intensive manhunt that drew hundreds of law enforcement officials to the area without any shots fired during the arrest.Yoda was a significant force in the takedown, preventing Cavalcante from using a stolen rifle in his possession that lay within arms-reach, said Lt. Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police during a news conference Wednesday.“He was just essential as far as the tracking and searching, as were numerous other K-9s that were here,” Robert Clark, supervisory deputy US Marshal for Pennsylvania’s eastern dis...