by Zak Drapeau and Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 10/2/2026 Photo by Greg McCabe/AP The wait is over. A new NBA season is on the horizon, and all 30 teams enter the year with a clean slate and something to prove. Some teams are seemingly playoff bound. Others are trying to force their way into contender conversation and prove everyone wrong. But before the season actually starts and everything we think we know gets thrown out the window, it's the perfect time to take an actual l

By Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 10/20/2026 Photo Credits to via Sportsnet 10Mike Malott vs 7Belal Muhammad Zak Drapeau - Malott has now won 5 in a row and won by knockout in 3 of his last 4 and BOY what a knockout knee that was this weekend. So now, Malott is deserving of a real test and Belal Muhammad is a pretty perfect fit for him. Similarly to Malott, Muhammad is a striker who uses his grappling to keep the fight standing and to be used as a last resort. Dif

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/20/2026 Photo Credits to Ed Zurga via Associated Press 1. Kansas City Chiefs 5-0 /\ 1 Last Week: 22-6 Win vs LAC The Chiefs have are back and even though the Chargers teamk they beat has been awful this week, that's still a very good, divisional roster they completely dominated. 2. San Francisco 49ers 6-0 \/ 1 Last Week: 24-17 Win vs WAS The 49ers remain undefeated even though they were outscored 14-3 in the second half. This team keeps on

Photo: Rich Storry-Getty Size matters more than ever before, but being a good center in today's NBA means you need to be exceptional at least one skill. Being seven-feet tall doesn't automatically make you a force to be reckoned with anymore. As we glance over the preseason results, it's clear that best centers the NBA has to offer right now are the guys who would've been unheard of at their position just two decades ago. Some are walking double-doubles, some are defensive ni

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/19/2026 Photo Credits to Tyler Tate via Associated Press 1. Ohio State /\1 2. Miami /\1 3. BYU /\5 4. Indiana /\2 5. Ole Miss /\9 6. Texas Tech /\5 7. Notre Dame \/3 8. Georgia \/7 9. Tennessee /\6 10. Utah \/1 11. Kentucky /\2 12. UCLA -- 13. Iowa /\3 14. Alabama \/9 15. USC /\2 16. LSU /\4 17. Texas \/10 18. Houston /\4 19. Missouri \/9 20. Boise State /\1 21. Arizona /\2 22. Oregon /\3 23. W

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 10/16/2026 In our Fight Night Allen vs Duncan Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 3-3 in picks with 1 methods for 4 points. Matt went 2-4 in picks with 0 methos for 3 points. Points To Date: Zak: 202 (134-80) Matt: 177 (118-90) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 10/16 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Photo Credits to UFC via sports.yahoo.com 10Joaquin Buckley vs 13Mike Malott (Malott -125) Zak D

by Zak Drapeau and Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 10/16/2026 (Photo by Nathan Kelsey/AP) It's time to ruffle some feathers. After an offseason filled with polarizing moves, blockbuster trades, questionable decisions, and enough controversy to keep the basketball world arguing for months, the stage is set for what could be the most unforgettable season in NBA history. With the regular season upon us, nobody is safe, no team is untouchable, and absolutely NOTHING is off the table.

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 10/15/2026 Quarterbacks Start 'Em Photo Credits to David Dermer via Associated Press Jordan Love vs DAL Jordan Love was finally back to what he had hoped he would be last week, posting 367 yards and 2 TDS. Granted, the Bears defense is a lot to be desired, but so is the Cowboys defense who will face off against Love this week. Love has thrived when he has been able to let it rip downfield, which he should have no problem doing aga

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/15/2026 Photo Credits to Aaron Baker via Imagn Images Matchup of the Week College Gameday will be in Bloomington this week for the HUGE Ohio State-Indiana game but my attention will also be in Utah this week for the other Top-10 showdown between the Fighting Irish and the Cougars of BYU. Ranking 2nd in the latest AP Poll (4th in my ranking), the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will be on the road in what will be BY FAR their toughest test of the

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/13/2026 Elite Teams Photo Credits to Olivia Vanni via Getty Images 1. San Francisco 49ers 5-0 /\ 1 Last Week: 32-29 Win at SEA The 49ers are not only the best team in the NFL right now but they're doing so with one of the most injured teams as well. As a 3-point underdog this week in Seattle, against reigning champions in the noisiest stadium in the league in a divisional rivalry, the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy just win and can bea

(Photo: Alonzo Adams/ImagnImages) How important is it to have a good bench? More than ever before. An All-Star caliber starting five doesn't feel like enough anymore. In a league overflowing with talent, having a dependable second unit can be the difference between a championship contender and an early playoff exit. And as the 2026-27 NBA regular season approaches, several teams have assembled second units that could give opposing starters a run for their money. And throughou

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 10/13/2026 Photo Credits to Mike Kirschbaum/ Zuffa LLC via Getty Images 4Brendan Allen vs Middleweight Champion Matt Hylen - The middleweight division is in a bit of a standstill currently, so it’s tough to tell who will fight for the belt next. The assumption is that Sean Strickland will defend his title against Nassourdine Imavov, but who knows if that happens anymore with the latest comments from Strickland about the UFC and la

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation 10/12/2026 Photo Credits to Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images * (Number in parenthesis) is current AP Poll ranking Top-25 1. Georgia (1) 2. Ohio State (4) 3. Miami (3) 4. Notre Dame (2) 5. Alabama (6) 6. Indiana (5) 7. Texas (7) 8. BYU (8) 9. Utah (11) 10. Mizzou (13) 11. Texas Tech (10) 12. UCLA (12) 13. Kentucky (15) 14. Ole Miss (9) 15. Tennessee (14) 16. Iowa (17) 17. USC (19) 18. Mississippi State (16) 19. Oklahoma State (18) 20. LSU (22) 21. Boi

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 10/9/2026 In our UFC 32 Predictions, which you can find here, Zak went 3-3 in picks with 1 methods for 4 points. Matt went 3-3 in picks with 2 methos for 5 points. Points To Date: Zak: 194 (131-77) Matt: 169 (116-86) *All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 10/10 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Graphic Credit to UFC via UFC.com 4Brendan Allen vs 10Christian Leroy Duncan (Allen -115) Zak Drapeau - This could be a real dog f

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/9/2026 Photo Credits to Timothy T. Ludwig via Getty Images Pats v Bills Recap Last week I was very critical of the Patriots and more specifically Drake Maye and they really showed everyone that they are still capable of living up to their Super Bowl run last season. Maye was much better even if he still wasn't elite but the Patriots' defense definitely played their best game. Coming into the game, the Bills had the 4th most rushing yards per

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen Sportz Nation - 10/8/2026 Quarterbacks Start Em Photo Credits to Junfu Han/ USA Today Network via Reuters Co. Jared Goff at ARI He may already be viewed as a weekly starter, but I think Jared Goff has the potential to be the overall QB1 of Week 5. Despite the loss, Goff still threw for 412 yards and a TD, which managers should be encouraged about. Arizona is among the bottom in most fantasy points allowed as well as allowing a league high 9.1 yar

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/6/2026 Quarterbacks Photo Credits to David Richard via Associated Press Deshaun Watson Cleveland Browns Never did I imagine Deshaun Watson would be one of the top waiver wire pickups at any point in the season. Not only hs he averaged 16+ fantasy points this season but he actually looks the part especially in the 1st half against Pittsburgh. Part of Watson's allure is his pair of rookie receivers Boston and Concepcion and their YAC and TD pot

Photo: AP/Nate Billings The NBA has never been more loaded at point guard. From perennial MVP candidates and championship-tested superstars to rising young stars ready to take the league by storm, nearly every team has someone capable of taking over a game with the ball in their hands. But not all starting point guards are created equal. And with another NBA season upon us, the hierarchy at the position is as competitive (and controversial) as ever. So, taking into account pr

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/6/2026 Photo Credits to Nhat V. Meyer via Bay Area News Group Super Bowl or Bust 1. Kansas City Chiefs 4-0 /\ 1 The distance between #1 and #2 on this list is very short but I have the Chiefs in my top spot. Mahomes is looking elite again after his 3-year hiatus and the leadership and veterans on the roster assure that they can win any game. 2. San Francisco 49ers 4-0 /\ 1 The 49ers just keep on winning even despite their injuries. Brock Pu

by Zak Drapeau Sportz Nation - 10/5/2026 Photo Credits to Jeff Bottari via Getty Images Natalia Silva vs Alexa Grasso Woman's Flyweight Championship Zak Drapeau - With Valentina out until reportedly Q3 of 2027, Natalia Silva will likely defend her belt sometime in Summer of next year and Alexa Grasso is absolutely up next. Silva had a closer fight with Wang Cong than she would've liked especially for a #8 contender but nonetheless she earned her title this weekend and now mov