This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. Barring any miraculous surprises, we're destined for a dramatic baseball offseason filled with questions about the future of the sport. It is basically a foregone conclusion that MLB will face a work stoppage at 11:59 p.m.
The real uncertainty surrounds how long it will last. That is the absolute biggest question that we hope will be answered sooner rather than later. Collective bargaining negotiations will likely bring fundamental changes to the Major Leagues, whether it's the landmark institution of a salary cap, a shorter regular season, or numerous other proposed moves.
Surely, we will get tired of CBA talk before long. So what about the actual baseball? We have questions about free agency and the trade market, too, as Hot Stove season heats up.
Our Dayn Perry explained why one of the weakest free agent classes in modern history could still go down as a groundbreaking one. Get ready for the biggest weekend of the college football season to date. Now that the selection committee has weighed in with its first rankings of the year, we know which games it will have its eyes on the closest and how those marquee contests will reshape the resumes of the teams involved.
There is not a bigger game on the slate than No. 1 Miami at No. 11 Notre Dame. Although the Malachi Toney injury shook up the Heisman Trophy race and will undoubtedly play a role in determining whether the Hurricanes can stay unbeaten and perhaps knock the Fighting Irish out of the postseason race, Miami still has the edge at the offensive skill positions. That's why our Brandon Marcello picked the nation's top team to beat a 5.5-point spread.
Speaking of 5.5-point spreads, Tom Fornelli's Six Pack of picks includes another one with a prediction for No. 5 Alabama at No. 14 LSU. We put No. 2 Georgia on upset alert, and the Bulldogs' trip to face No. 10 Ole Miss is among the other games we picked ahead of this colossal Saturday of football. Here are our predictions: This week's international game is among the five biggest matchups on Sunday, mostly because it is a dangerous spot for the Bengals against a Falcons team that is similarly in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
