1) It's WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27. Scroll to previous blogpost for results of latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll. 2) Watch for our updated NFL Week 12 Pix 'n Fantasy results and Herald NFL QB rankings here later today. 3) Check out our Miami Dolphins book, 'Fins At 50,' on Amazon. 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins fall in Cleveland with DSM poll, Hot Button Top 10 & more. 5) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
Updated Herald NFL QB rankings: There's a new No. 1 and a wide-open race for the season crown as we hit the home stretch. For the latest, visit Herald NFL Week 12 QB Rankings.
FIU BEATING CANES WAS HUGE FOR PANTHERS, EVEN BIGGER FOR BUTCH DAVIS. NEW COLUMN: This was in the merry, sonic bedlam of the FIU lockerroom after the biggest win in school history had been minted Saturday night at Marlins Park. Butch Davis choked up Monday in the remembering, the retelling. "The kids were dancing, cheering, high-fiving, chest-bumping," he said of his Panthers players who had just stunned cross-county rival Miami, 30-24. "When we finally settled down..." Davis’ voice hitched, cracked. It came out closer to a whisper as he resumed. When the boisterous room quieted he looked at his players’ eyes and saw joy, saw pride, saw tears. "When we finally settled down," Davis said, "you looked into those kids’ eyes, their faces, and you saw what they had just accomplished. You saw it, knowing this night was going to stick with them for the rest of their lives." FIU had been 0-31 against Power 5 conference schools in its brief history including 0-3 against Miami before shocking college football as a three-touchdown underdog Saturday. "We had no chance. No chance," he said, of outside perceptions. "[The Hurricanes] would be playing their backups in the second half." Davis (pictured celebrating Saturday) of course coached Miami under Jimmy Johnson in in 1984-84, and was UM head coach in 1995-2000. In the latter stint he won despite inheriting Dennis Erickson’s NCAA sanctions and scholarship reductions. He left for the NFL after an 11-1 season, all but gifting Larry Coker the 2001 national championship with players Davis had drafted. Now, FIU will go to a bowl game each of Davis’ first three seasons, the streak a first for the 18-year-old program. He inherited a lot of losing but turned it around, with Saturday’s triumph a watershed. For Panthers players, this was personal. "Our kids had a chip on their shoulder," as Davis put it. "I don’t think Miami recruited any of our kids, to be honest." It was personal for Davis, too. Very. To read our full latest column, please visit Beating Canes Was Huge For FIU, But Even Bigger For Butch Davis.
NFL PIX 'N FANTASY RESULTS: WEEK 12: DECENT, LUCKY, CLINCHED: NFL picks -- Decent. We were 10-4 overall and an even 7-7 against the spread last week. OK with the first will abide the second. Missed our Upset of the Week but hit on another outright upset with Jets beating Oakland. Also had a trio of 'dogs-with-points in Giants, Bengals and Redskins. Had the Dolphins' losing margin exact at 17 points. Missed one cover (Texans) by one point on the wrong side of a half-point line. ..... LeBatard Show fantasy (18-team PPR) -- Lucky! Greg's Lobos improved to 7-5 with a low-scoring, fortunate 67.4 to 46.2 win over Dominique Foxworthy, led by Tyler Boyd's 19.1 points. We did something unheard of: Started a player on a bye wek (Patrick Mahomes), yet survived the blunder. Was rushing to the hospital to see a family friend Sunday morning; still, no excuse. Got lucky. I sit as the 6th of 8 playoff seeds entering the final week, likely needing to close with a win to clinch. ..... Friends n' family fantasy (10-team PPR) -- Clinched! Lobos fell to 7-5 with a 133-92 loss to league's top seed, despite 26 from Allen Robinson and 21 from Jared Cook. Neverthless, have clinched a playoff spot. Stand 3rd of 6 playoff teams entering final week, with final seeding to be determined. Go 'Bos!
1) It's MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25. Scroll to previous blogpost for results of latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll. They're ugly. 2) Check out our Miami Dolphins book, 'Fins At 50,' on Amazon. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Canes lose in stunning upset to FIU, with CSM postgame poll & more. 4) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
Our NFL Week 12 picks for Dolphins-Browns and all the rest: Dolphins at Browns, our Game of the Week and our Upset of the Week (which could be one and the same), and all the rest. Please visit the motherlode of prognostication that I like to call NFL Week 12 Gems.
G11: @CLEVELAND 41, DOLPHINS 24: OPTIMISM WAS A RISK FOR MIAMI FANS SUNDAY: Original post: Odell Beckham Jr. and former Dolphin Jarvis Landry both are battling injuries for Cleveland but you know they’ll play. A dead receiver would rise in his coffin for the chance to face a Miami pass defense allowing the third-highest opponent passer rating in the NFL. Then again, how much will Baker Mayfield have to throw with Nick Chubb kicking up dirt against the league’s 31st-ranked run defense? Have you gotten the idea yet that I don’t love this matchup for Miami? The 4-6 Earthtones are a big 11-point home favorite over the 2-8 Fins and I get why. Beyond the big challenge for Miami defense, Ryan Fitzpatrick is iffy with right shoulder and forearm injuries, so Josh Rosen is on call. Uh oh. Either guy will have no run support. The good news? Browns DE Myles Garrett is suspended so he won’t be swinging his helmet at anybody’s head. Tempted to fancy the Fins with an 11-point head start. The thing is, Miami is 1-10 in its past 11 roadies, and I envision a rout more than I do anything winnable late. Cote's pick: Cleveland, 30-13. See Week 12 Gems for all of our latest NFL picks.
DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER: G11: 44.9%: Results are certified in the latest of the Miami Herald’s Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame polls, and they show 44.9 percent overall approval -- the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied votes -- in the wake of Sunday's 41-24 loss at Cleveland putting Miami’s season record at 2-9. In its 12th season, the DSM is a continuous weekly gauge of how Dolfans are feeling about the team and its direction. Right after each game I invite you to share your overall degree of satisfaction. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game’s performance and caliber of opponent, season as a whole, direction the club is heading and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Online voting determines the final result, which is final the morning after one full day of voting. In this case that was around 6:30 a.m. today/Tuesday.
2019 DSM game-by-game results
G1: 18.3% following 59-10 loss vs. Baltimore.
G2: 24.6% following 43-0 loss vs. New England.
G3: 27.5% following 31-6 loss at Dallas.
G4: 35.3% following 30-10 loss vs. L.A. Chargers.
G5: 53.5% following 17-16 loss vs. Washington.
G6: 55.2% following 31-21 loss at Buffalo.
G7: 28.8% following 27-14 loss at Pittsburgh.
G8: 76.4% following 26-18 victory vs. N.Y. Jets.
G9: 70.9% following 16-12 victory at Indianapolis.
G10: 44.5% following 37-20 loss vs. Buffalo.
G11: 44.9% following 41-24 loss at Cleveland.
Next poll: Dec. 1 following game vs. Philadelphia.
HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (NOVEMBER 24-25): WHAT SOUTH FLORIDA SPORTS FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT: Our blog-exclusive Sunday-into-Monday feature is part week-in-review, part look-ahead. Hot Button means what's on our minds, locally and nationally, from a Miami perspective, as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. This week's HB10:
1. HURRICANES: FIU deals UM stunning loss at Marlins Park: It was as triumphant and historic a victory for Butch Davis and FIU as it was a stunning, epic-low defeat for Manny Diaz and the Hurricanes. For a day, the King of Miami college football was not is the five-time national champions. It was FIU.
2. HEAT: Hot Miami gets cooled in Philly: Heat is still 11-4 (and 6-0 at home) even after Saturday night's loss at Philadelphia, entering Monday's home game with Charlotte. Strong start for Miami, but 76ers reminded us it's early to start thinking "Kings of the East."
3. DOLPHINS: Early hole buries Miami at Cleveland Sunday: One team has a worse record than Miami, two have the same record, Tua is injured -- what the hell is going on! The season of calculated tanking risks running off the rails as Miami falls in Cleveland 41-24, crushed by an early 28-0 hole.
4. PANTHERS: Florida still looking solid in playoff race: Panthers are 12-12 after two straight losses but still solid in early playoff chase. Cats are second-highest scoring team in NHL. Time for the defense to catch up.
5. INTER MIAMI: Miami thinks defense in MLS expansion draft: Inter Miami top-drafted left back Ben Sweat, 28, in the MLS expansion draft, while the other four picks were a right back, two midfielders and a goalkeeper -- the draft emphasis clearly leaning defense. Next mission for Inter Miami: Um, a coach, please?
6. UM BASKETBALL: Unbeaten Canes women await first real test: Katie Meier's squad is 4-0 and ranked No. 16 but await their first Litmus test this week (Friday the 29th) in hosting No. 7 Oregon State. Meanwhile the unranked UM men are 4-2 after splitting two games in the Charleston (S.C.) Classic.
7. MARLINS: Fish bolster scouting staff: With spring training only three months away (!), the Miami Marlins announced seven new hires to their professional, amateur and international scouting staffs, the seven bringing a combined 58 years of experience in professional baseball. That's good. Even better? How about you sign a couple of guys who can hit 30 homers!?
8. NASCAR: Homestead already planning for spring race: Kyle Busch fans are still celebrating last week's season-ending championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and already the track is transitioning from the final race to its new spot on the NASCAR calendar starting in 2020. Countdown to March 22: 88 days.
9. SOCCER: Annual conference draws throngs to Miami: The annual SoccerEx business and networking conference drew 1,800 to Aventura, where speakers included MLS commissioner Don Garber and Inter Miami principle owner Jorge Mas. Just one more indication that Miami is or is becoming a futbol hotbed.
10. LEBRON JAMES: Another NBA milestone: LeBron became the first player in NBA history to have a triple-double against all 30 teams. That requires two thins: 1) Being really good, and 2) Switching teams a fair amount.
Missing the HB10 cut: And still nobody has signed Colin Kaepernick. Or did that go without saying by now? ..... Host Spain beat Canada to win tennis' Davis Cup, and not even Davis cared ..... Dolphins cut Mark Walton after he allegedly punched a pregnant girlfriend. Not a good sign when your run-ins with the law begin to outnumber your career touchdowns ..... Former Orlando Magic executive Pat Williams trying to trying to interest MLB in an "Orlando Dreamers" expansion team. Somebody tell Pat the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins ranked 29th and 30th in attendance last year. And that there are only 30 teams ..... Former Vikings kicker Fred Cox, who later invented the Nerf football, died at 80. Cannot confirm Fred will be buried in a foam casket ..... Charles Barkley threatened a female reporter. Social media then uncovered past racist tweets by the reporter. Rinse, repeat ..... Jimmie Johnson says 2020 will be his final season in NASCAR. At 44 and coming off his worst year, the news feels a year late ..... The 107th CFL Grey Cup is Sunday, with the WInnipeg Blue Bombers facing the Hamiton Tiger-Cats in Calgary. The MVP is expected to be someone you've never heard of ..... Floyd Mayweather Jr. says he is retiring. Again. Floyd now has more retirements than boxing victories ..... Update: Countdown now 2,401 days (give or take) until Miami hosts its first match in soccer's 2026 World Cup.
1) It's SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23. Check out our Miami Dolphins book, 'Fins At 50,' on Amazon. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): NFL Week 12 picks, Le Batard's big reveal on Papi, a Hall of Fame voter (me) on Derek Jeter, the case (again) for Dolphins and Kaepernick, NFL Week 11 Pix 'n Fantasy results & more. 3) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
Our NFL Week 12 picks for Dolphins-Browns and all the rest: Dolphins at Browns, our Game of the Week and our Upset of the Week (which could be one and the same), and all the rest. Please visit the motherlode of prognostication that I like to call NFL Week 12 Gems.
G11: FIU 30, HURRICANES 24 AT MARLINS PARK: EPIC NIGHT FOR PANTHERS, NEW LOW FOR UM: For my column from the stadium, visit FIU's Historic, Magical Night A New Low For Canes. Original post: Miami at 6-4 off three straight wins is a huge three-touchdown (20 1/2 point) favorite over the 5-5 FIU Panthers in Saturday's 7 p.m. neutral-site game at Marlins Park. It is only the fourth all-time meeting of the inter-city rivals, a relationship that survived an ugly 2006 brawl. "Rivals" may not be the right word, of course. UM is 3-0 over FIU, an ACC team vs. a Conference USA squad. That former Canes coach Butch Davis now leads FIU adds another layer to the meeting. So does the venue, as Marlins Park of course was built where the old Orange Bowl once stood -- the OB, home to so much Hurricanes history. It's an FIU home game, but it will feel more like one for UM. You know Miami coach Manny Diaz is stoking that angle to his players. We've already heard cornerback Al Blades Jr. say of Marlins Park, "Protect it like its our home, because it is our home." Miami is eliminated from the ACC Coastal division race, but still has an outside chance to earn at Orange Bowl invitation. FIU needs one more win to become bowl-eligible, but ought not count on getting it here. FIU's bad run defense will be run over all night long, and the Canes' defense should dominate. Mismatch. Cote's pick: Hurricanes, 44-13.
CANESFAN SATISFACTION METER: G11: 9.6%: Results are certified in the latest of the Miami Herald’s Canes Satisfaction Meter postgame polls, and they show 9.6 percent overall approval -- the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied votes -- in the wake of Saturday night's 30-24 upset loss to FIU at Marlins Park, putting the Hurricanes' season record at 6-5 overall and still 4-3 in ACC conference play. The figure is the second-lowest of the season. The CSM is your invitation after every Hurricanes game to vote on your overall satisfaction with the team and season in a continuing weekly gauge of how UM football fans are feeling. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest you consider the most recent game’s performance and caliber of opponent, the season as a whole, the program’s direction and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Online voting determines the weekly verdict, which is final the morning after one full day of voting. In this case that was around 9 a.m. today/Monday.
Canesfan Satisfaction Meter
G1: 64.1% following 24-20 loss vs. Florida in Orlando.
G2: 15.7% following 28-25 loss at North Carolina.
G3: 83.0% following 63-0 victory vs. Bethune-Cookman.
G4: 8.5% following 17-12 victory vs. Central Michigan.
G5: 28.8% following 42-35 loss vs. Virginia Tech.
G6: 82.0% following 17-9 victory vs. Virginia.
G7: 11.3% following 28-21 OT loss vs. Georgia Tech.
G8: 61.0% following 16-12 victory at Pitt.
G9: 91.8% following 27-10 victory at Florida State.
G10: 95.2% following 52-27 victory vs. Louisville.
G11: 9.6% following 30-24 loss to FIU at Marlins Park.
Next poll: Nov. 30 following game at Duke.
Other state FBS games (all Saturday): UCF won 34-31 at Tulane; No. 18 Memphis crushed South Florida 49-10; and FAU beat Texas-San Antonio 40-26. No. 11 Florida and Florida State both were off this week.
National games involving College Football Playoff top 4: No. 1-LSU vs. Arkansas, 2-Ohio State vs. 8-Penn State, and 4-Georgia vs. Texas A&M. Note: 3-Clemson is off this week. 5-Alabama hosts Western Carolina. All the higher ranked team listed here won. But will 5-Alabama leapfrog 4-Georgia after a more lopsided victory?
1) It's FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22. Check out our Miami Dolphins book, 'Fins At 50,' on Amazon. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins fall at home to Buffalo with DSM poll, Kyle Busch wins NASCAR crown at Homestead, Hot Button Top 10 & more. 3) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
Tonight's Colts-Texans pick: Can Houston bounce back at home, on a short week, after its thorough spanking by Baltimore? Find out here: Week 12 Thursday Gem.
New No. 1 in update Herald NFL QB rankings: A new guy sits atop our Top 20 chart, but it will be temporary, because he has a bye coming up this week and also because the men who sit second and third have both played one fewer game. To see it all, visit Herald Week 11 NFL QB Rankings.
DOLPHINS-BROWNS, TOP GAMES BIG UPSETS -- OUR NFL WEEK 12 PICKS: Off our record-setting 2018 season we've had a solid first half-plus of our 29th year of NFL picks in the Miami Herald. Last week was peachy at 11-3 overall and OK at 7-7 against the spread. We hit on a mini-upset with Jets winning at Washington and had a pair of 'dogs-with-points in covers by Falcons and Cardinals. Now here are our Week 12 picks, including Dolphins at Browns, our Game of the Week and our Upset of the Week (which could be one and the same), and all the rest. Please visit the motherlode of prognostication that I like to call NFL Week 12 Gems. Tonight's separate Colts-Texans Thursday night pick is linked above; also find it here.
LE BATARD'S BIG REVEAL ON PAPI'S ABSENCE, FUTURE ON 'HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE': "Where’s Papi?" The mystery is finally solved. Fans of the Miami-based ESPN TV show Highly Questionable have wondered for the past two weeks why regular Gonzalo "Papi" Le Batard, father of main host Dan Le Batard, has not been on. The reason had been unexplained, and in the void of information concerns arose that it might be a health issue. Dan heard the question and fans’ concerns more than anyone, so he finally addressed them. "My father is in good health, he’s just been punching a clock for 50 years and doesn’t want to necessarily be working every day," Le Batard told listeners midway through Thursday’s radio show. "He had a pretty hard time telling me he didn’t want to be working every day. There was a palpable sadness when I sat down in the chair and [for the first time] he wasn’t next to me." Papi has for now at least retired from HQ as a regular fixture but may still appear occasionally "when he wants to," Dan said. For the full story, visit Le Batard Explains the Papi Mystery.
A BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER VOTER (ME) SOUNDS OFF: So I am proudly a Baseball Hall of Fame voter, and the 2020 ballot came out this week, and this happened Tuesday inside the ESPN studios on South Beach, where I was co-hosting the “Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz.” During a commercial break, I volunteered how funny it would be if I was the only elector nationwide to not vote for Derek Jeter as a first-ballot inductee. It was discussed how the ensuing controversy would be such perfect fodder for the radio show — underlined by the idea it would be a Miami Herald writer (one raised as a Red Sox fan!) besmirching the otherwise pristine ballot of the Yankees icon who now happens to be part-owner and CEO of the Miami Marlins. For the full column, please visit If Jeter Doesn't Get In With Unanimous Vote -- Don't Blame Me!
GROWING DRAFT UNCERTAINTY MEANS DOLPHINS SHOULD HEDGE BET. WHY NOT KAEPERNICK? NEW COLUMN: The phrase "hedging one’s bets" is gambling parlance that has broadened to more general use. It means doing something to offset a potential future loss. The Miami Dolphins have cause to do that right now. And the opportunity is in front of them, as obvious as a neon sign blinking in a dimly lit barroom. You may have heard the name: Colin Kaepernick. Bear with me for a second. I know the very utterance of those five syllables is an anathema to many of you. Those many evidently include 32 NFL teams, considering Kaepernick has effectively been blackballed from making a living into a third year now over the anthem-kneeling protest he started in 2016. (You know by now that the protest is over social injustice. Right? That it has zero to do with any disrespect of the flag or the military or any of that other stuff his haters put forth. You know it, and the NFL knows it, and yet illogically -- stunningly -- his ban continues). The whole idea of the weekend's group audition (Kaepernick is pictured arriving) was silly anyway, considering Kaepernick has been a free agent available to anyone for the past 2 1/2 seasons. Any team could have flown him in for a tryout, a physical, an interview — whatever. Nobody did. Will anybody now sign him after Saturday's dog-and-pony show? Who knows. But I know of at least one team that should. Nobody needs a quality quarterback more than the Dolphins. And two factors — Cincinnati being 0-10 to Miami’s 2-8, and Tua Tagovailao’s hip surgery Monday throwing his once-vaunted draft status into some doubt — means the Fins might not be in a position to get their first-choice QB in next April’s draft. They might still, yes, but signing Kaepernick would be hedging that bet in a big way. It would be a safety net for Miami. I have been on the Kaep-to-Miami bandwagon before, but Tagovailoa’s latest serious injury coupled with the Bengals’ ongoing master class in How Properly to Tank torque up the urgency and need. "I’ve been ready. I’m staying ready. And I’ll continue to be ready," Kaepernick said Saturday. "The ball’s in their court." To read my full latest column, visit Draft Uncertainty Means Dolphins Need to Hedge Bets. His Name Is Kaepernick.
NFL PIX 'N FANTASY RESULTS: WEEK 11: SOLID, STILL ALIVE, SITTIN' PRETTY:NFL picks -- Solid. We were 11-3 overall and a scrambling 7-7 against the spread last week. Love the first and will abide the second. Missed our Upset of the Week but hit on a mini-upset (Jets over Skins) and a pair of 'dogs with points ..... LeBatard Show fantasy (18-team PPR) -- Still alive. Greg's Lobos improved to 6-5 with a 95.8 to 71.7 win over ESPN news producer Jonathan Whyley. Got 21.5 from Randall Cobb to help survive off games by Patrick Mahomes and Mike Evans. With two weeks left we sit one spot out of the 8-team playoffs (on a tiebreaker). Must sweep the last two, or win one and pray ..... Friends n' family fantasy (10-team PPR) -- Sittin' pretty. Lobos improved to 7-4 with a fortunate 105-104 win -- fortunate became my opponent had Melvin Gordon on Monday night, and Mel (thankfully) fell one point short. Got a nice 24 from Michael Gallup, a last-minute start. Won despite only 3 from Deshaun Watson. Have not hyte clinched but are looking really good for the 6-team playoffs. Go 'Bos!
1) It's MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18. Check out our Miami Dolphins book, 'Fins At 50,' on Amazon. 2) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): NFL Week 11 picks, what's missing from NASCAR finale at Homestead, are Dolphins failing at failing? & more. 3) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
Our NFL Week 11 picks: Here are our Week 11 picks, including Bills at Dolphins, our Game of the Week (Texans-Ravens, a.k.a. Deshaun Watson vs. Lamar Jackson), upsets and all of the rest. To see them, visit the motherlode of prognostication that I like to call NFL Week 11 Gems.
G10: BUFFALO 37, DOLPHINS 20: AND THERE GOES THE WINNING STREAK: Original post: These teams met last month with Buffs a 17-point favorite. Now the point spread is one-third of that. Shows you what two wins in a row (and five straight weeks of competitiveness) have done for the public’s estimation of the Dolphins. Granted, wins over the Jets and a Colts team without its starting quarterback ain't so great. Still, Miami is now seen as just regular-bad, not historically inept. Hey, progress! A capable Ryan Fitzpatrick and much-improved defense give Fins a chance now, including here, at 2-7, vs. 6-3 Buffalo with Miami a reasonable 5 1/2-point underdog. The bet line sank a full point as money ran toward Miami to cover. Bills tend to fizzle away from home, dropping 12 of past 16 roadies to teams with a losing record. Inaccurate Josh Allen and that offense don’t scare you much. Then again, the Williams have won four of past five in this rivalry, and bring the NFL’s No. 3-ranked defense for both fewest points and yards allowed. Miami will likely need to be turnover-free for a shot to win, but like Fins to cover in a defensive scrum. No, I do not think winning is the new normal for Miami in 2019. But, yes, tanking season has ended. It never existed for coach Brian Flores and his guys, who want to win and now believe they can — the 2020 draft be damned. Cote’s pick: BUF 21-17. See Week 11 Gems for all of our latest picks.
DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER: G10: 44.5%: Results are certified in the latest of the Miami Herald’s Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame polls, and they show a dip to 44.5 percent overall approval -- the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied votes -- in the wake of Sunday's 37-20 home loss to Buffalo putting Miami’s season record at 2-8. In its 12th season, the DSM is a continuous weekly gauge of how Dolfans are feeling about the team and its direction. Right after each game I invite you to share your overall degree of satisfaction. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game’s performance and caliber of opponent, season as a whole, direction the club is heading and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Online voting determines the final result, which is final the morning after one full day of voting. In this case that will be around 6 a.m. today/Tuesday.
2019 DSM game-by-game results
G1: 18.3% following 59-10 loss vs. Baltimore.
G2: 24.6% following 43-0 loss vs. New England.
G3: 27.5% following 31-6 loss at Dallas.
G4: 35.3% following 30-10 loss vs. L.A. Chargers.
G5: 53.5% following 17-16 loss vs. Washington.
G6: 55.2% following 31-21 loss at Buffalo.
G7: 28.8% following 27-14 loss at Pittsburgh.
G8: 76.4% following 26-18 victory vs. N.Y. Jets.
G9: 70.9% following 16-12 victory at Indianapolis.
G10: 44.5% following 37-20 loss vs. Buffalo.
Next poll: Nov. 24 following game at Cleveland.
NASCAR'S GRAND FINALE AT HOMESTEAD: IT'S KYLE BUSCH!: My column from the track: Busch Stars In Emotional, Memorable End to Homestead's Championship Run. Original post: NASCAR's Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway wraps up Sunday with the main race for the 2019 season title among the four contending finalists Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex. (I leave the "Jr." off the latter's name because we all know by now it isn't his Dad out there). Hamlin seeks his first season championship, while the other three all have won once and recently, since 2014. There is history in this year's race. It will be the 18th and final season that Homestead has the last race and crowns the champion each year. Homestead will continue to be a NASCAR track, but starting next season its race will be held in March on the race calendar. Sunday's Championship 4 is a really good one, yet NASCAR is missing something, which I explore in my latest column. To read, please visit The Best Will Race For Title At Homestead. But Here Is What NASCAR Is Missing And Needs. Despite what I say is lacking the four contenders are all but dead-even in terms of betting odds via BetOnline, with Busch and Truex co-faves at +250 but Hamlin and Harvick in a virtual photo finish at +275. I'm more interested in who ya'll want to win. So I asked, on my Twitter feed. More than 800 race fans voted, and collectively said (your choice is pictured) you hope the one man who's never won it all wins it all:
HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (UPDATED): WHAT SOUTH FLORIDA SPORTS FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT: Our blog-exclusive Sunday-into-Monday feature is part week-in-review, part look-ahead. Hot Button means what's on our minds, locally and nationally, from a Miami perspective, as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. This week's HB10:
1. NASCAR: Homestead crowns Kyle Busch NASCAR season champion: Will the People's Choice (see above) Denny Hamlin finally win a first NASCAR season championship today? Or will Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick or Martin Truex Jr. win a second? Someone would make history as Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted its final season-ending title race before moving to March starting next spring. And it was the driver you love to hate: Busch.
2. DOLPHINS: Streaking Fins (!) lose to visiting rival Buffalo: Suddenly an 0-7 team seen as tanking was a 2-7 team in jeopardy for not getting the quarterback it wants in the 2020 NFL Draft on account of unexpected success. And poor Dolfans weren't sure how to feel in truly weird-ass season. Well, normalcy returned Sunday in a 37-20 loss.
3. HEAT: Seriously, is Miami a top four seed or what?: The Heat aren't letting up at 9-3 (5-0 at home) after Saturday's win vs. New Orleans, showing early indications of making a run at a top-four East seed. Meanwhile Dion Waiters is serving a 10-game suspension for OD'ing on cannabis-laced gummy bears. No I did not make up that last sentence.
4. HURRICANES: UM prepares for Marlins Park game vs. FIU: The Canes and FIU both are off this week as they prep to play next Saturday night at neutral site Marlins Park. It will be only the schools' fourth meeting in football. UM is 3-0 and will be favored this time in the 18-21 point range. We all still recall the ugly brawl in 2007. So play nice, fellas!
5. COLIN KAEPERNICK: Relocated workout takes place for banned out of work QB: Colin Kaepernick has been effectively banned from the NFL since leading the anthem-kneel protest in 2016, but the NFL staged a workout for him Saturday. Or tried to. The NFL called him a no-show as Kaepernick staged a relocated tryout for eight teams near Atlanta. Hmm. What, like, until this, teams had no idea he was out there and available!?
6. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Tua dislocates hip, 'Bama falls from CFP top four: Tua Tagovailoa's dislocated hip not only ends his season for Alabama but jeopardizes his 2020 draft status for QB-shopping teams like Miami. Meantime, one Alabama bounced down to fifth in the latest College Football Playoff ranking -- now on the outside looking in since only the top four make it. The top three? No problem? But Georgia leapfrogging 'Bama? Breathalyzers for the CFP voters, please.
7.MYLES GARRETT: Browns star suspended for helmet swing: Cleveland's defensive star was suspended indefinitely -- at least through the reminder of this season -- for swinging a helmet at the head of helmet-less Steelers QB Mason Rudolph Monday night. Garrett is lucky. Dudes have been arrested on the street for a lot less violence.
8. INTER MIAMI: Inaugural opener set, roster takes shape: Major League Soccer announced expansion Inter Miami would play its inaugural home opener next March 14 vs. L.A. Galaxy in the new stadium at the old Lockhart site in Fort Lauderdale. Team has eight players entering Tuesday's expansion draft and hopes to sign its two high-profile "designated players" along with a head coach before the end of the year.
9. PANTHERS: Luongo back; Cats needs more from replacement: Retired goalie Roberto Luongo is back with club as a special adviser to the GM. Meanwhile, Florida is even at 10-10 despite his replacement, Sergio Bobrovsky, entering the weekend ranked 47th in goals-against average (3.57) and 48th in saves percentage (.880). Um, there are only 31 teams in the NHL.
10. MLB: Baseball hands out the major hardware: MVPs Mike Trout of the Angels and Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers and Cy Young winners Justin Verlander of the Astros and Jacob deGrom of the Mets led MLB's trophy's parade. Shut out of all the major individual honors and settling for the World Series trophy: the Washington Nationals.
Missing the HB10 cut: Colombia, minus James Rodriguez, beat Peru 1-0 Friday before 36K at Hard Rock Stadium. Soccer and Miami = true love ..... No.1 Kentucky men lost at home to Evansville in a a huge upset. If the same results happened in March Madness, Evansville would be on a Wheaties box and have a nun ..... His network fired Canadian hockey announcing legend Don Cherry for anti-immigrant comments, and (surprise!) many in the whitest sport on Earth rose to Cherry's defense ..... The cheatin' Houston Astros should be penalized heavily for their video espionage in sign stealing. That they at least lost the World Series is proof there is a God ..... Big time in men's tennis. ATP Finals end Sunday in the U.K., then starts the Davis Cup in Spain, where Rafael Nadal leads the favored host nation ..... Tiger Woods, in an Australian radio interview, hinted he is looking at playing senior golf. Asked if he'd play into his 50s, Tiger, 44 next month, said, "The golden carrot of getting out there when you’re 50 is you get a cart, right? So that would be nice" ..... No. 17 Canes women's basketball (2-0) hosts Quinnipiac Sunday ..... The Portland Trail Blazers signed the ghost of Carmelo Anthony ..... Update: Countdown now 2,408 days (give or take) until Miami hosts its first match in soccer's 2026 World Cup.
1) It's SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16. A bout of laryngitis had me off the air Friday on the Le Batard Show. Sorry. Hope to be back Tuesday for my regular co-host slot. 2) Check out our 'Fins At 50' book at Amazon. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins earn upset win at Indy with DSM poll, Hot Button Top 10, NFL Week 10 picks, Le Batard Countdown Clock & more. 4) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
DOLPHINS-BILLS, UPSETS, WATSON VS. JACKSON AND THE REST: OUR NFL WEEK 11 PICKS: Off our record-setting 2018 season we've had a solid first half-plus of our 29th year of NFL picks in the Miami Herald. Last week was not great at 7-6 overall but not bad also at 7-6 against the spread. We bull’s-eyed yet another Upset of the Week pick (“Aawwk!”) with Seahawks winning Monday night at previously unbeaten San Fran, nailed another outright upset with Steelers over Rams, and also had a pair of ‘dogs-with-points in road covers by the Dolphins and Cardinals. Now here are our Week 11 picks, including Bills at Dolphins at, Game of the Week (Texans-Ravens a.k.a. Deshaun Watson vs. Lamar Jackson), upsets and all the rest. Please visit the motherlode of prognostication that I like to call NFL Week 11 Gems. We misfired badly last night in seeing an upset win by Steelers in Cleveland to get our week off to a bumpy start. Que sera, sera. Let's rally!
VROOOM! NASCAR AT HOMESTEAD: GREAT FINAL RACE. BUT HERE IS WHAT'S MISSING: NASCAR's Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway has the year's top four drivers competing for the 2019 season championship in Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex. (I leave the "Jr." off the latter's name because we all know by now it isn't his Dad out there). Hamlin seeks his first season championship, while the other three all have won once and recently, since 2014. There is history in this year's race. It will be the 18th and final season that Homestead has the final race and crowns the champion each year. Homestead will continue to be a NASCAR track, but starting next season its race will be held in March on the schedule. Sunday's Championship 4 is a really good one, yet NASCAR is missing something. I explore in my latest column. To read, please visit The Best Will Race For Title At Homestead. But Here Is What NASCAR Is Missing And Needs.
AFTER 20 YEARS OF NOT WINNING, THE MIAMI DOLPHINS ARE SUDDENLY FAILING AT FAILING, TOO?: Nineteen consecutive seasons without an NFL playoff victory establishes beyond reasonable debate that the Miami Dolphins have been averse to winning for, well, for pretty much the entire 21st Century. Now here comes the scary part. After two decades of not winning anything, the Fins are now even failing at failing. Here is the franchise that boldly and strategically decimated its roster — swapping talent for future draft picks — to be bad enough to select high enough to get its magic quarterback. To abide pain and embarrassment now in exchange for big winning down the road. And what do they do at the midsection of the season? They suddenly forget to fail. They win their way out of the top of the draft. And the Weirdest Season gets weirder as Dolphins fans who rationalized seeing the good in being 0-7 now wring hands nervously at 2-7 after Miami stacked Sunday’s 16-12 victory at Indianapolis on top of the previous week’s win over the rival Jets. This is the genesis of my latest column, in which I explore how the Dolphins now stand in the race for the overall 2020 No. 1 draft pick and their choice of quarterbacks. To read that column in full, please visit After Not Winning Enough, Are The Dolphins Now Failing At Failing?
WITH MIAMI, FIU OFF, A LIGHT SATURDAY SLATE FOR STATE FBS TEAMS: The Hurricanes and FIU are off this week, awaiting next Saturday's neutral site meeting at Marlins Park. FAU and UCF also are off, meaning only three of seven state FBS teams are in action: No. 10 Florida at Missouri, noon; Alabama State at Florida State, noon; and No. 20 Cincinnati at South Florida, 7. (Gators are modest 6 1/2-point favorites).
1) It's MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11. It is Veterans Day. Thank you, all who have served! 2) Scroll to our previous blogpost for results of latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll. They're a season high! 2) Check out our 'Fins At 50' book at Amazon. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Canes wallop Louisville with CSM postgame poll, our UM football column, Shula Bowl, LSU-'Bama, NFL Week 10 picks, Le Batard Countdown Clock & more. 4) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
Newest column: Canes football program's pedigree, quantified: A new ESPN list has the Hurricanes having played in 11 of the greatest 150 games in college football history -- including four of the top six. That is the bar set by five national championships. That is the mountain Manny Daz and the current Canes are trying to climb. We caught up with the player who kicked open the door to the dynasty. To read that full column, visit The Player Who Started the Glory Days for Canes Football.
G9: DOLPHINS AT INDIANAPOLIS: WILL RED-HOT MIAMI TAKE COLTS LIGHTLY? (JUST KIDDING!): Original post: The Dolphins surf a one-game winning streak into Indianapolis for Sunday's 4:05 kickoff, and I am concerned the cocky 1-7 Fins risk overconfidence against the 5-3 Colts. Actually I hope to live to see the day when Miami might be so good again as to have any such concerns. Back to reality: Imagine going on a long car trip with a constipated dog that won’t stop barking. OK, the Dolphins travel about as successfully as that. Miami has lost 10 consecutive away games and 15 of the past 16, and it looks like more road-kill on Sunday. The Colts, 10 1/2-point favorites, have treated Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement like a mere bump in the road, with Jacoby Brissett seeming likely to play despite spraining a knee last week. Even if not, Brian Hoyer is an experienced, seen-everything veteran in the Ryan Fitzpatrick mold. No matter who’s pitching for the Nags, Marlon Mack could put up big numbers vs. Fins’ generous run defense. Nevertheless, I like Miami getting double-digit points. After an embarrassing string of blowout losses to start the season, the Dolphins have been increasingly competitive the past month-plus culminating with last week’s handling of the Jets. And Indy doesn’t blow anybody out. The Colts’ eight games have been decided by 35 total points, with no margin greater than seven, or one score. If Fitzpatrick plays as well as he did last week and Miami’s D forces a couple of turnovers, I could even see an outright upset here. But let’s not go crazy. Settle for close. Cote’s pick: IND 27-18. Visit Week 10 Gems for all of our latest picks. And watch for the new Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll online soon after Sundays game ends.
DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER: G9: 70.9%: Results are certified in the latest of the Miami Herald’s Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame polls, and they show 70.9 percent overall approval -- the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied votes -- in the wake of Sunday's 16-12 victory at Indianapolis putting Miami’s season record at 2-7. In its 12th season, the DSM is a continuous weekly gauge of how Dolfans are feeling about the team and its direction. Right after each game I invite you to share your overall degree of satisfaction. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game’s performance and caliber of opponent, season as a whole, direction the club is heading and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Online voting determines the final result, which is final the morning after one full day of voting. In this case that was around 11 a.m. today/Tuesday.
2019 DSM game-by-game results
G1: 18.3% following 59-10 loss vs. Baltimore.
G2: 24.6% following 43-0 loss vs. New England.
G3: 27.5% following 31-6 loss at Dallas.
G4: 35.3% following 30-10 loss vs. L.A. Chargers.
G5: 53.5% following 17-16 loss vs. Washington.
G6: 55.2% following 31-21 loss at Buffalo.
G7: 28.8% following 27-14 loss at Pittsburgh.
G8: 76.4% following 26-18 victory vs. N.Y. Jets.
G9: 70.9% following 16-12 victory at Indianapolis.
Next poll: Nov. 17 following game vs. Buffalo.
HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (UPDATED): WHAT SOUTH FLORIDA SPORTS FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT: Our blog-exclusive weekend-into-Monday feature is part week-in-review, part look-ahead. Hot Button means what's on our minds, locally and nationally, from a Miami perspective, as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. This week's HB10:
1. HURRICANES: UM rides Williams' arm past Louisville: Miami clobbered Louisville 52-27 Saturday at The Rock to get bowl-eligible at 6-4 -- with Jarren Williams scorching the Cardinals for a UM-record six touchdown passes. Canes have FIU next week at Marlins Park then close with Duke, a must-win for any shot at the ACC Coastal crown. The Georgia Tech loss still haunts, but UM will have shed that 0-2 start pretty nicely of it wins out.
2. DOLPHINS: Hot Fins (!) win at Indianapolis for second straight: The Dolphins are surfing a two-game winning streak with Sunday's 16-12 triumph at Indianapolis today, self esteem climbing while draft standing slips. Three teams now have worse records. Don't give up though. Long season. Lots of losing left to do.
3. HEAT: Waiters gummies drama clouds early season: Miami is 6-3 after losing at LeBron's Lakers Friday and is back in action vs. Detroit here Tuesday. But it isn't the games fans are talking about. It's Dion Waiters needing medical attention on the recent road trip after reportedly ingesting THC-infused edible gummies and having a panic attack. Waiters faces team and/or league discipline. There is Heat Culture ... and then there's Dion.
4. NASCAR: Homestead's Championship Four is set!: Sunday's race in Phoenix determine the Championship Four drivers who will race for the NASCAR season title next Sunday at Homestead. Martin Truex and Kevin Harvick were already in, and Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin join them -- Hamlin pushing out Joey Logano. Vrooom.
5. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: LSU, Minnesota top major weekend: No. 2 LSU's 46-41 thriller over No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa and No. 17 Minnesota's 21-26 home upsets of No. 4 Penn State shook up the College Football Playoff picture on Saturday. As America enjoyed its favorite sight: Nick Saban, sad. And if that isn't enough upheaval, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, a likely top-five draft pick, was suspended indefinitely over suspected 2018 NCAA rules violations.
6. UM BASKETBALL: Canes men drop opener, women win: UM men fell at home to No. 5-ranked Louisville to open the season before handling FAU Friday night to get to 1-1. Meanwhile the higher-regarded, No. 18-ranked Canes women opened at home Sunday with an 83-68 cruise past Jackson State.
7. PANTHERS: Cats win at Rangers: Florida were at the New York Rangers Sunday trying to shed a two-game losing streak, and did, 6-5. Joel Quenneville's guys are now 8-9 around the season's one-fifth mark, once again lolling around the far edge of playoff contention and looking for a run.
8. SOCCER: Seattle wins MLS Cup!: It was Toronto at Seattle Sunday for the Major League Soccer (MLS Cup) championship, and a record crowd of 69,274 left happy with a 3-1 Sounders win for Seattle's second title in four years. We expect you in that game in one year, Inter Miami. No pressure.
9. MLB: Free agency on, GM meetings next: Nationals just won the Series, but baseball ain't done. Free agency is underway, and the GM meetings are Nov. 11-14. If your team is a spender, be excited. If you're a Marlins fan, chill out.
10. UFC: Loss sending Diaz into retirement?: Days after losing to Miami's Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz hinted in an Instagram post that he may be done fighting. Those who believe he actually is could meet in a Waffle House booth and have plenty of elbow room.
Missing the HB10 cut: Forget the tree falling in the forest. If the Chargers moved to London, would anybody miss them? ..... Update: Countdown now 2,415 days (give or take) until Miami hosts its first match in soccer's 2026 World Cup.
DOLPHINS-COLTS, GAME OF THE WEEK, BIG UPSETS: OUR NFL WEEK 10 PICKS: Off our record-setting 2018 season we've had a solid first half of our 29th year of NFL picks in the Miami Herald, including an 11-3 mark straight-up last week and 8-5-1 against the spread (led by Dolphins over Jets in our Upset of the Week; "Aawwk!"). Now here are our Week 10 picks, including Dolphins at Colts, Game of the Week (Seahawks-49ers), two sizable upsets and the rest. Please visit the motherlode of prognostication that I like to call NFL Week 10 Gems. Our week got off to a losing start Thursday. Already past it. Let's rally!
LE BATARD RETURNS TO AIR COUNTDOWN CLOCK: Because I think it has the potential to at least mildly annoy Dan (always a noble goal), we present our "Le Batard Returns To Air!" countdown clock. After an extended absence Dan is to finally rejoin the Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz on ESPN Radio this coming Monday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. Here's the time remaining until the national appetite is sated by the long-awaited return of Dan's dulcet tones:
1) It's FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8. Happy 90th birthday, Bobby Bowden! He hit the milestone Friday, and here's to many more for the FSU Seminoles living legend! 2) Check out our 'Fins At 50' book at Amazon. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Canes lose basketball opener, Dolphins in great draft shape despite win, NFL Pix 'n Fantasy Week 9 results, Canes football among top 150 games & more. 4) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
Latest column: Canes football program's pedigree, quantified: In a new list the Hurricanes have played in 11 of the greatest 150 games in college football history -- including four of the top six. That is the bar set by five national championships. That is the mountain Manny Daz and the current Canes are trying to climb. We caught up with the player who kicked open the door to the dynasty. To read the full column, visit The Player Who Started the Glory Days for Canes Football.
G10: @HURRICANES 52, LOUISVILLE 27: NO LETDOWN FOR CANES: Original post: Back home after the exhilarating 27-10 win over Florida State in Tallahassee, the Canes are at risk of a letdown in Saturday's 3:30 ACC meeting with Louisville at The Rock. Aside to Canes: At 5-4 you aren't good enough to take anybody lightly, especially a 5-3 Cardinals team against whom you are a somewhat modest 7-point home favorite. L'ville brings one of the most potent offenses Miami has yet faced, so Gregory Rousseau, Shaq Quarterman and friends better bring it on Senior Day, with bowl eligibility the reward for the winner. Two UM injuries of concern: Bubba Bolden lost for the season with a dumb ankle injury suffered celebrating an interception, and top tight end Brevin Jordan iffy to play. Miami's clear edges: The U's defense (at its best) is good enough to limit a good Cards attack, and, mostly, Louisville's defense is quite bad. Jarren Williams and crew should have a chance to go north of 30. Miami must win out and get some luck to still win the ACC Coastal. That starts here. Cote's pick: Hurricanes, 31-23. Watch for the latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll online right after today's game ends.
CANESFAN SATISFACTION METER: G10. 95.2%: Results are certified in the latest of the Miami Herald’s Canes Satisfaction Meter postgame polls, and they show a season-high 95.2 percent overall approval -- the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied votes -- in the wake of Saturday's 52-27 home victory vs. Louisville putting the Hurricanes' season record at 6-4 overall and 4-3 in ACC conference play. The CSM is your invitation after every Hurricanes game to vote on your overall satisfaction with the team and season in a continuing weekly gauge of how UM football fans are feeling. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest you consider the most recent game’s performance and caliber of opponent, the season as a whole, the program’s direction and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Online voting determines the weekly verdict, which is final the morning after one full day of voting. In this case that was around 9:15 a.m. today/Monday.
Canesfan Satisfaction Meter
G1: 64.1% following 24-20 loss vs. Florida in Orlando.
G2: 15.7% following 28-25 loss at North Carolina.
G3: 83.0% following 63-0 victory vs. Bethune-Cookman.
G4: 8.5% following 17-12 victory vs. Central Michigan.
G5: 28.8% following 42-35 loss vs. Virginia Tech.
G6: 82.0% following 17-9 victory vs. Virginia.
G7: 11.3% following 28-21 OT loss vs. Georgia Tech.
G8: 61.0% following 16-12 victory at Pitt.
G9: 91.8% following 27-10 victory at Florida State.
G10: 95.2% following 52-27 victory vs. Louisville.
Next poll: Nov. 23 following game vs. FIU.
Shula Bowl: @FAU 37, FIU 7: Davis vs. Kiffin in C-USA rivalry:Original post: Butch Davis' 5-4 Panthers and Lane Kiffin's 6-3 Owls renew their rivalry with FAU 4-1 in league play and still angling to reach the Conference USA title game. Owls are big 10 1/2-point favorites and should raise the 18th annual Shula Bowl trophy for the third year in a row, but I like the Butchers to keep it inside the fat bet-line. Cote's pick: FAU, 27-23.
Other state FBS games: South Florida lost 17-7 to Temple on Thursday, and UCF lost 34-31 to Tulsa on Friday. Today/Saturday, No. 10 Florida whipped Vanderbilt 56-0, and Florida State won at Boston College 38-31.
Bonus national pick: No. 2 LSU 46, @No. 3 Alabama 41:Original post: The Game of the Year (so far) is Saturday at 3:30 in Tuscaloosa. Both teams are 8-0, and the College Football Playoff and national championship picture sway with the result. (By the way, Trump is supposed to be at the game in a continuing effort to find a crowd that won't boo him). Crimson Tide are favored by 5 1/2, fueled by the home field edge and the sense 'Bama is just a little better beyond that. I agree. The wild card: Tide (and future Dolphins?) QB Tua Tagovailao, who is questionable with an ankle injury. Nick Saban calls it a game-time decision. My bet: Tua plays, but isn't 100 percent. On that basis: Cote's pick: Alabama, 31-27.
DOLPHINS-COLTS, GAME OF THE WEEK, BIG UPSETS: OUR NFL WEEK 10 PICKS: Off our record-setting 2018 season we've had a solid first half of our 29th year of NFL picks in the Miami Herald, including an 11-3 mark straight-up last week and 8-5-1 against the spread (led by Dolphins over Jets in our Upset of the Week; "Aawwk!"). Now we offer our Week 10 picks,including Dolphins at Colts, our Game of the Week (Seahawks-49ers), two sizable upsets and all the rest. So please visit the motherlode of prognostication that I like to call our NFL Week 10 Gems. Unfortunately our week got off to a disappointing start last night. We had the Chargers (-1) winning in Oakland 23-10. And they were winning, 24-10, very late, visions of a near perfect-score win dancing in my head. Then the Raiders scored with a minute left. Damn. Already past it. Let's rally!
LE BATARD RETURNS TO AIR COUNTDOWN CLOCK: Because I think it has the potential to at least mildly annoy Dan (always a noble goal), we present our "Le Batard Returns To Air!" countdown clock. After an extended absence Dan is to finally rejoin the Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz on ESPN Radio this coming Monday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. Here's the time remaining until the national appetite is sated by the long-awaited return of Dan's dulcet tones:
1) It's THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7. Scroll to our previous blogpost for results of the latest Dolfan and Canesfan postgame polls -- both season highs. 2) Watch for the NFL Week 9 Pix 'n Fantasy results and updated Herald NFL QB rankings right here later this afternoon. 3) Check out our 'Fins At 50' book at Amazon. 4) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): Dolphins beat Jets with DSM poll, Canes beat FSU with CSM poll, Hot Button Top 10, Le Batard's return to air & more. 5) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
Tonight's Chargers-Raiders pick: This is something rare. A true tossup game. But, for me, it turns on one factor. Visit Week 10 Thursday Gem to find out what that is, and who wins.
Canes basketball loses opener, but it's the crowd that disappoints: Miami opened its 2019-20 men's basketball season last night with an 87-74 home loss to No. 5-ranked Louisville. It wasn't that close. Cardinals led by as many as 32 before a bunch of garbage time Canes points. But the UM team didn't disappoint. Its fans did. For my full column from the arena, please visit Canes Lose Hoops Opener, But It's Fans Who Disappoint.
CHILLAX, DOLFANS: MIAMI IN GREAT DRAFT SHAPE DESPITE 'COSTLY' WIN. NEWEST COLUMN: Miami as a sports town can be an easy target for derision, so when we get a weekend the like the one just past, it is worth savoring by a collective fan base that deserves the respite, the feel-good. Hurricanes crush Florida State 27-10 in Tallahassee, running Noles coach Willie Taggert straight outta town. Panthers blank Detroit 4-0 for a first Florida shutout by new goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Heat dominate a strong Houston team 129-100 behind a record-setting 46-14 first quarter. And Dolphins turn back bitter-rival New York Jets 26-18 for their first win of the season. It had been more than two years, since Oct. 21-22, 2017, since a Saturday and Sunday delivered wins by all four South Florida teams. The notable difference in those wins? Canes, Panthers and Heat fans are purely happy today. Dolphins fans — at least a good portion of them — are wondering if this will prove to be a win too costly. It is perfectly fitting for the snake-bit Fins: At midseason they finally win a game to shed the specter of 0-16, and half of their fans are wringing hands, caught between pumping fists and wondering, "Oh what have we done?" So let us recalibrate the Race to the 2020 NFL Draft. It is the dubious race for the No. 1 overall pick (worst team wins), but not every team is eyeing a quarterback, a distinction that works in Miami’s strong favor. We size up the five teams best-positioned for No. 1 at midseason in our recent column. To read in full, please visit Enjoy The Win, Miami. Here's Why Fins Still in Great Shape For Top Pick.
NFL PIX 'N FANTASY RESULTS: WEEK 9: SOLID, SOLID II, OUCH:NFL picks-- Solid. We went 11-3 overall and 8-5-1 against the spread last week. We'll take both. Especially pleased to nail another Upset of the Week pick ("Aawwk!") with Dolphins beating Jets. ..... LeBatard Show fantasy (18-team PPR) -- Solid II. Greg's Lobos improved to 5-4 with a 89.9 to 63.6 triumph over Papi. All that went right was 36 points from Mike (Money) Evans but that was enough this week. We're tied for sixth place and playoff-hopeful. ..... Friends n' family fantasy (10-team PPR) -- Ouch. Lobos fell to 5-4 with a 128-89 loss to snuff a four-game win streak. Deshaun Watson led us with 19 points, while big producers Saquon Barkley, Dalvin Cook and Stefon Diggs all underperformed. Still in fourth place and looking good for the playoffs. Go 'Bos!
THE LIST: CANES FOOTBALL GAMES AMONG ALL-TIME TOP 150: ESPN named the top 150 college football games of all time as a part of celebrating the sport's 150th anniversary, and Miami turned up 11 times -- including four of the top six. Complete list here. The 11 UM games to make it:
1) It's MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4. Happy new month, all! 2) Check out our 'Fins At 50' book at Amazon. 3) In The Previous Blogpost (ITPB): NFL Week 9 picks, Dolphins/Tua and Tim Donaghy columns & more. 4) Join us on Twitter.com/gregcote. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
Our complete NFL Week 9 picks: We went a perfect 15-0 straight-up last week. Can we approach that again? Will the still-winless Dolphins win at home vs. the equally bad Stinkin' Jets and be one of our three upset picks? Answers to that and more, here: NFL Week 9 Gems.
G8: STINKIN' JETS AT DOLPHINS: UPSET! FINS WIN, FINS WIN! OMG!! (AND I CALLED IT...): Go to After Mocking And Tank-Talk, Dolphins And Flores Deserved This Day for my column from game. Original post: We can all agree, I hope, that the Dolphins have risen from being historically embarrassing in the first few games to being merely regular-bad lately. We can also agree, I hope, that the Stinkin’ Jets are hardly any better, and that Adam Gase looks about as happy as an inmate whose final stay of execution has just been denied by the governor. There is negligible difference between the 0-7 Fins and 1-6 Jets -- not enough for NYJ to be a 3-point road favorite. Overshadowing this matchup, of course: The jockeying for the overall No. 1 draft pick, as the winless, bye-week Bengals watch keenly. Why the upset pick? 1) Sam Darnold (who sees ghosts, by the way) has seven interceptions in the past two games. Darnold bad is worse than Ryan Fitzpatrick bad. 2) Fins players and coaches are beyond-tired of the accusation they are intentionally trying to lose games. The franchise is tanking; the lockerroom is not. That is an important distinction. It gives Miami the greater incentive here, in addition to the home field. Am I nervous about the pick? Oh hell yeah. I just picked Miami to win! Let's see. Cote’s pick:MIA 24-21. Vote in the new Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll directly below.
DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER: G8: 76.4%: Results are certified in the latest of the Miami Herald’s Dolfan Satisfaction Meter postgame polls, and they show 76.4 percent overall approval -- the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied votes -- a season high -- in the wake of Sunday afternoon's 26-18 home victory over the New York Jets putting Miami’s season record at 1-7. In its 12th season, the DSM is a continuous weekly gauge of how Dolfans are feeling about the team and its direction. Right after each game I invite you to share your overall degree of satisfaction. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest fans consider the most recent game’s performance and caliber of opponent, season as a whole, direction the club is heading and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Online voting determines the final result, which is final the morning after one full day of voting. In this case that was around 1 p.m. today/Tuesday.
2019 DSM game-by-game results
G1: 18.3% following 59-10 loss vs. Baltimore.
G2: 24.6% following 43-0 loss vs. New England.
G3: 27.5% following 31-6 loss at Dallas.
G4: 35.3% following 30-10 loss vs. L.A. Chargers.
G5: 53.5% following 17-16 loss vs. Washington.
G6: 55.2% following 31-21 loss at Buffalo.
G7: 28.8% following 27-14 loss at Pittsburgh.
G8: 76.4% following 26-18 victory vs. N.Y. Jets.
Next poll: Nov. 10 following game at Indianapolis.
HOT BUTTON TOP 10 (UPDATED): WHAT SOUTH FLORIDA SPORTS FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT: Our blog-exclusive weekend-into-Monday feature is part week-in-review, part look-ahead. Hot Button means what's on our minds, locally and nationally, from a Miami perspective, as the sports week just past pivots to the week ahead. This week's HB10:
1. HURRICANES: Miami with nifty win over 'Noles in Tally: Florida State was favored at home in the battle of two once-proud rivals both coming in 4-4, but it was Miami going home with the big 27-10 win -- and renewed hope. At 5-4 off two straight wins UM is now looking good for a bowl game and still has an outside shot at the ACC Coastal title. Canes must win out vs. Louisville and FIU and at Duke.
2. DOLPHINS: Fins win! Fins win!, beat Stinkin' Jets: I tell ya, Sunday's matchup in Miami had everything ... but a good team in it. The 1-6 Jets at 0-7 Dolphins with the overall No. 1 draft pick among the possible stakes ... what could be worse? Actually, it was a pretty compelling game. Ryan Fitzpatrick was great and the Dolphins (finally) won, 26-18.
3. HEAT: Miami swamps Houston in big early test: Miami is an impressive 5-1 early this season after Sunday measuring-stick triumph here over Houston, 1290-100 led by a surreal 46-14 first quarter. James Harden and Russell Westbrook were only 9-for-25 between them. Can the Heat really be this good?
4. MLB: Nationals top Astros in World Series: Had to feel good about Washington celebrating its first MLB title since 1924. Well, unless you're a Houston fan. But seven games and the home team didn't win a single one. Had never been done before. In any sport. Weird Series is more like it.
5. UM BASKETBALL: Opening Week! Canes men host mighty Louisville: So much for soft openings. Jim Larranaga's unranked UM men's team opens by hosting No. 5 Louisville Tuesday night. Can they shock the world? More is expected from Katie Meier's No. 18-ranked Canes women, who open at home next Sunday vs. Jackson State.
6. PANTHERS: Hot Cats rounding into form: With last night's 4-0 home win over Detroit, Florida has now shed a rough 1-4 start to go level at 7-7 in this still-young NHL season. Cats can score, but now new goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky are tightening up on defense. Good signs.
7. UFC: Masvidal bloodies, beats Diaz: Miami's Jorge Masvidal bloodied and beat Nate Diaz in UFC 244 last night at Madison Square Garden, with a doctor stopping the fight in the third round. Masvidal later partied with The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. Hopefully, Stugotz crashed the party. Oh, and Donald Trump attended and got loudly booed. Or, did that go without saying?
8. NBA: Reeling Warriors lose Curry: Golden State is 1-5 and now Steph Curry will be lost at least three months with a broken hand. if you didn't think the Warriors' dynasty was done, you sure as hell do now. Call 'em the Golden State Worriers.
9. SOCCER: It's Seattle-Toronto for MLS title: Seattle hosts Toronto next Sunday in a sold-out Major League Soccer Cup championship final. No Cinderellas here. Seattle won the league title in 2016 and Toronto in '17. A year from now ... Inter Miami?
10. HORSE RACING: More tragedy at Santa Anita as Breeders' Cup runs: Vino Rosso won the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Saturday at Santa Anita, but tragedy struck as Mongolian Groom injured a hind leg and later was euthanized. It was the 37th horse death at Santa Anita Park since last December. Am I sending my horse to that place? Oh hell naw!
Missing the HB10 cut: World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg opted out of his deal with Nationals and will be a free agent. Teams needing an ace with tons of money, start your bidding! ..... Tiger Woods won a record-tying 82nd PGA Tour event last week, a reminder that all anybody cares about with him is major wins, not "regular" titles ..... South Africa stunned England to win the Rugby World Cup as America mostly yawned ..... Only two more races starting today at Texas before NASCAR's Nov. 17 championship finale at Homestead ..... Thousands more will unnecessarily run 26.2 miles when the New York City Marathon goes off Sunday ..... Update: Countdown now 2,422 days (give or take) until Miami hosts its first match in soccer's 2026 World Cup.
G9: HURRICANES 27, @FLORIDA STATE 10: TWO OLD RIVALS MEET AGAIN -- BOTH TRYING TO GET BACK TO GREAT: Jarren Williams and defense were great in Saturday's 27-10 Miami win in Tally, and I got the upset pick right! Original post: There were plenty of years when Canes-Noles was a national game of the week with championship implications. But that was plenty of years ago. Now, Saturday's Miami at Florida State meeting at 3:30 p.m. is just a pair of .500 teams trying to rediscover the mojo and get back to where they once were. "I think we’re both kind of waiting for that kick-start to get things going," as Miami coach Manny Diaz put it. Still, "It’s one of those games that you come to Miami to play in, to coach in," Diaz said. "It’s a legacy game." Both old rivals are 4-4, with FSU 3-3 in ACC play and UM 2-3. The Seminoles are stuck in their division behind Clemson. At least if UM wins it still has a shot at the division title in the weaker Coastal, if it wins out and gets some help/luck. FSU was favored by as many as 5 points but that whittled down to 3 as money poured in on Miami. Noles have won their past four home games but Miami has won past two in this rivalry including 28-27 last year at Hard Rock after the Canes trailed 20-7 at the half. These teams' past five meetings all have been decided by 5 points or fewer, so the safest bet is a close game. FSU is better on offense although that draws closer with Jarren Williams back starting at QB for Miami (as he should) and RB DeeJay Dallas expected back from injury. The difference for me is that Miami clearly is better on defense. I do not trust the Seminoles without the ball. Cote's pick: Upset! Hurricanes, 27-23. See latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter postgame poll results below.
CANESFAN SATISFACTION METER: G9: 91.8%:Results are certified in the latest of the Miami Herald’s Canesfan Satisfaction Meter postgame polls, and they show 91.8% approval, the combination of "very" and "somewhat" satisfied votes -- a season high -- in the wake of Saturday's 27-10 Hurricanes victory at Florida State putting the Hurricanes' season record at 5-4 overall and 3-3 in ACC conference play. The CSM is your invitation after every Hurricanes game to vote on your overall satisfaction with the team and season in a continuing weekly gauge of how UM football fans are feeling. Criteria for voting is your own, but I suggest you consider the most recent game’s performance and caliber of opponent, the season as a whole, the program’s direction and your overall degree of optimism -- all in the context of reasonable expectations. Online voting determines the weekly verdict, which is final the morning after one full day of voting. In this case that was around 8:30 a.m. today/Monday.
Canesfan Satisfaction Meter
G1: 64.1% following 24-20 loss vs. Florida in Orlando.
G2: 15.7% following 28-25 loss at North Carolina.
G3: 83.0% following 63-0 victory vs. Bethune-Cookman.
G4: 8.5% following 17-12 victory vs. Central Michigan.
G5: 28.8% following 42-35 loss vs. Virginia Tech.
G6: 82.0% following 17-9 victory vs. Virginia.
G7: 11.3% following 28-21 OT loss vs. Georgia Tech.
G8: 61.0% following 16-12 victory at Pitt.
G9: 91.8% following 27-10 victory at Florida State.
Next poll: Nov. 9 following game vs. Louisville.
Other state FBS games (all Saturday):
No. 8 Georgia 24, No. 6 Florida 17: A Cocktail Party worth attending: Original post: Annual neutral-site game in Jacksonville kicks at 3:30 Saturday with, well, everything in play. This is for the SEC East lead, and the winner only also maintains at least a prayer of a shot at the College Football Playoff. It's the Game of the Week in collball. Gators 7-1 to Dawgs' 6-1 but Georgia is a 5 1/2-point favorite. I get that. See UGA with slightly more offensive pop and every bit as good defensively. Cote's pick: Georgia 23-20.
Also: UCF beat Houston 44-29, FIU beat Old Dominion 24-17, and FAU beat Western Kentucky 35-24. South Florida was off this week.
LE BATARD'S RETURN TO AIR, NEW 'MAS MIAMI.' DETAILS HERE: Fans who have missed Dan Le Batard during his extended on-air absence from ESPN have gotten some welcome news — on two fronts. The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz announced Friday that Dan would return to the show on ESPN Radio and ESPNews on Nov. 11, a week from Monday. The Miami-based show emanates from ESPN studios on South Beach. Le Batard also is to return to his ESPN television show, Highly Questionable, that day, the network confirmed Friday. Le Batard has been off the air for several weeks, first for a long-planned pre-wedding honeymoon and more recently to attend to what the show called "personal matters." Both shows have continued with various guest hosts in his absence. Also Friday, details on Le Batard’s latest "Mas Miami" event were revealed. It is set for Saturday, Dec. 14 at Wynwood Factory, a nightclub at 55 Northeast 24th Street in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami. Tickets to the event are $25 and available at MasLeBatard.com. For the full story: Le Batard On Return To Air, Latest Event.
