At 7-0 and with the country’s second longest active winning streak, Navy gets another chance to break into the AP Top 25 with a victory at North Texas … just in time for next week’s trip to Notre Dame. The Middies, who lead in “others receiving votes,” are due.
Future watch: Websites that trade in guesswork report that deposed Penn State coach James Franklin is a serious candidate for a “top ACC program.” Which is said to include Virginia Tech. A top program? It’s been a while.
Bottom line: The multi-zillion dollar payouts to Franklin, Brian Kelly and Jimbo Fisher should make everybody question why a university would be so reckless as to sign anyone to a 10-year contract.
On the brink: Earl Weaver’s axiom that momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher provides some hope for the Dodgers as the series moves back to Toronto. But L.A. has looked completely flummoxed by what the Blue Jays are throwing at them.
TV timeout: Not for the first time, here’s a suggestion for Fox talker and pitch pathologist John Smoltz — take a breath.
Oh!: I wonder how many Americans are rooting for the Blue Jays … more precisely, for Canada.
Party crashers: Los Angeles residents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were seated in the front row at Dodger Stadium for Game 4 of the World Series, while genuine L.A. royalty — Sandy Koufax — sat behind them.
A cynical business: The commissioners and team owners of our major sports that went all in on legal gambling knew it would lead to problems. They just didn’t care.
The right thing: In the wake of the NBA gambling story, the NCAA has pushed back the start of its new policy allowing college athletes to bet on pro sports to Nov. 22. During the interim, officials need to apply some common sense and squash a rule that invites suspicion and scandal.
Bottom line: Get rid of prop bets and most avenues of chicanery would be closed. But prop bets, which clear the way for players to manipulate individual stats without throwing the game, make sportsbooks the most money. They’re here to stay.
Future watch: The online gambling parlors are playing a long game. It starts with hooking teenagers.
Quick hit: Ten FBS schools firing their coaches before November exemplifies the insanity of big-time football.
Fat chance: Because some colleges can’t control their spending, U.S. Representative Michael Baumgartner has introduced a bill aimed at capping coaches’ salaries. Sounds un-American. And unworkable. Sure, Congress will fix this. Like it fixes everything.
The trio: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. What separates the Packers from other NFL franchises is that Love, this week’s NFC Offensive Player of the Week, is only Green Bay’s third No. 1 quarterback in the last 33 years.
In passing: The 7-1 Colts are the biggest surprise of the NFL season’s first half.
Closing: As slight underdogs, the Bills are in good position to beat the Chiefs in Buffalo on Sunday. After all, it’s not a playoff game.
Bob Molinaro is a former Virginian-Pilot sports columnist. His Weekly Briefing runs Fridays in The Pilot and Daily Press. He can be reached at bob5molinaro@gmail.com and via Twitter@BobMolinaro.
