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The NCAA Tournament is one of the most popular sporting events of the year, not only for the non-stop action that takes place during the first two rounds of the tournament from Thursday to Sunday, but also because of the insanity that can occur.
With millions of March Madness brackets submitted across the nation, upsets are predicted and rooted for. Sometimes those bold predictions work out, but other times we are left with blowouts that make the bold look foolish.
That's what happened this year for ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, who predicted a major upset in the second round of the tournament.
When picking the winner of Saturday's first game between No. 4 Purdue and No. 12 McNeese State, Bilas sided with the underdog.
"I'm going with McNeese," Bilas said. "I think they're going to be able to cause a lot of problems for Purdue by turning them over. Just keep the ball out of Braden Smith's hands, and go after everybody else. But they can't let them get it inside to Trey Kaufman-Renn, because he is their best player."
That prediction didn't end up panning out for Bilas or the Cowboys, who saw their tournament run come ton an end after a 76-62 final on Saturday afternoon. Kaufman-Renn ended up dominating, with a game-high 22 points and 15 rebounds.
The Boilermakers will now move on to the Sweet Sixteen, where they will face either No. 1 Houston or No. 8 Gonzaga next Thursday.
Meanwhile, it was a Cinderella story cut short for the Cowboys, who captured the attention of the nation with their "aura" and walk-outs led by student manager Amir Khan over the past couple of weeks. Khan has reportedly made six figures in NIL deals during this tournament trip, which was highlighted by McNeese State's upset win over Clemson in the first round.
Nobody can blame Bilas for going out on a limb and picking the Cowboys to continue their hot streak and beat Purdue on Saturday, that's the beauty of March Madness. Sometimes it's the teams that you least expect to make a run that capture the hearts of America as the next Cinderella.
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The 'NFL Passing YPG leaders' quiz
The Dallas Cowboys offense has been one of the most explosive units in the NFL this season, but they struggled in their 44-24 loss to the Denver Broncos in 8. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for just 188 yards – his fewest since Week 1 against Philadelphia – finishing without a touchdown and two interceptions just one week after dicing up the Washington Commanders. The good news for the inconsistent Cowboys is that they’re 2-0-1 following a loss this season and their Week 9 opponent is the 2-5 Arizona Cardinals on "Monday Night Football." They’ll also be tasked with stopping Jacoby Brissett rather than Kyler Murray, who is recovering from a foot sprain and won’t start for Arizona but could get some action according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Which brings us to today’s quiz. Prescott has been mostly brilliant for the Cowboys this season, throwing 16 touchdowns to five interceptions and 258.8 yards per game. He’s also one of 37 NFL players to average at least 230 passing yards per game through their career. With that being said, how many of those players can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
The 'Most 300-yard, 4 touchdown NFL games' quiz
Since the renaissance of Sam Darnold’s career in Minnesota last season, one of the reputational issues the veteran needed to shake was his play in primetime. Against the Washington Commanders on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ he did what he could to put that narrative to bed by completing 21-of-24 passes for 330 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in a dominant 38-14 win. Darnold was deadly accurate Sunday night, completing every pass he attempted in the first half before throwing just eight times in the second half and giving way to Drew Lock in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand. The Seahawks gave Darnold a three- year, $100.5 million contract after his career-year in Minnesota last season. So far he’s rewarded them with 2,084 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions en route to a 6-2 record through eight games. Which brings us to today’s quiz. It was the third time of Darnold’s career – and second already of the 2025 campaign – that he’s thrown for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns in the same game. With that being said, can you name every NFL quarterback in the Super Bowl Era to do that at least three times? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Five reasons why the Dodgers will three-peat as World Series champions
Game 7 of the World Series isn't even 24 hours old, and already the business of baseball has shifted to the 2026 season. Scores of players officially became free agents Sunday, while others are choosing whether to exercise or decline options for next season. But one thing is for sure: The Los Angeles Dodgers are the overwhelming favorite to win a third straight World Series. This might be obvious because the Dodgers will likely run MLB's highest payroll onto the field on Opening Day. But there is substance to go with the big bucks. Here are five reasons why the Dodgers will become the first team since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees to win three titles in a row: 1. The full Shohei Ohtani Shohei Ohtani didn't make his season debut as a pitcher until June 16, 73 games into the Dodgers' season, following his second major elbow surgery. Since it was impossible to send him out on a rehab assignment without removing him from the MLB roster, he rehabbed his way back by slowly building up. Well, that won't be necessary in 2026. Ohtani will be a full go right from Opening Day. He pitched just 47 innings over 14 regular-season starts, but was under no limits in the postseason, as we saw with the right-hander starting Game 7 on three days' rest. During the regular season, Ohtani posted a 2.87 ERA with 1.7 walks and 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings. 2. Starting rotation is stacked Ohtani probably won't even be the Dodgers' Opening Day starter, however. That honor should go to Yoshinobu Yamamoto following his World Series MVP performance. From there, the starting five will be Tyler Glasnow, two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki. As always, health will be the key for the rotation, especially with Glasnow, but there is plenty in reserve in Tony Gonsolin, Emmet Sheehan, Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone. 3. Mookie Betts is completely healthy One reason the Dodgers finished with the third-best record in the NL this season was because of the health of shortstop Mookie Betts to begin the season. Betts had an undisclosed illness that took nearly 20 pounds off his already-slight 180-pound frame. He didn't hit above .258 in any month, with a low of .208 in July, before finally getting back on track in August and September. Betts finished with a slash line of .258/.326/.406 while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at short, but still short of his career slash line of .278/.363/.505. There is nothing more dangerous than a driven Betts, so he could put up big numbers in 2026. 4. Room for more players While some pending free agents — think Enrique Hernandez and Miguel Rojas — will return, the Dodgers may be making free-agent additions and even a trade or two as they shed some contracts this offseason. A big outfield bat would be the biggest priority, likely a left fielder. A wild card in the outfield scenario would be whether the Dodgers opt to play Ohtani in the outfield on occasion. Ohtani had played in just seven games in the outfield, all coming in 2021, when he was in right field for six games and left for one. This could allow Ohtani to DH on the day before and after he pitches and give the other veterans a chance to just hit when he plays the outfield. 5. Dave Roberts at the helm Managing a superstar-studded roster like the Dodgers takes a unique skillset, one that Dave Roberts has navigated pretty well in recent years. He now has three World Series rings in six years. Roberts has shown the ability to adjust to circumstances, like last year with a bullpen-centric pitching staff, to this year with the bullpen a liability and the rotation a strength. Also, his feel for the game was on display with the insertion of Rojas into the lineup for Games 6 and 7 and putting Andy Pages in for defense in the ninth inning of Game 7 before his amazing catch.
Injuries to monitor after Week 9: Tucker Kraft update could be huge blow to Packers' Super Bowl hopes
Each week of the NFL season, Yardbarker will be monitoring players who have suffered notable injuries. Here are five we're tracking after Week 9: Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft In the third quarter of Green Bay's 16-13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers, Kraft suffered a knee injury after colliding with guard Sean Rhyan on a run play. The Athletic's Michael Silver reported the Packers fear he tore his ACL. In a postgame news conference, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur didn't confirm that Kraft had torn his ACL, but admitted, "It doesn't look good." "Tuck means a lot," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "I think his leadership role, and then, obviously, his play on the field. We'll see what the injury is, but not having him for the rest of the game was huge." Love — who posted a below-average 80.1 passer rating against Carolina — relies heavily on Kraft, who led the team in receiving yards (469) entering Sunday. The TE missing time would place more responsibility on wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who recorded 350 receiving yards in his first seven games. Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud In Houston's 18-15 home loss to the Denver Broncos, Stroud exited in the second quarter after taking a brutal hit from cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine. He was subsequently placed into concussion protocol and ruled out for the rest of the game. Stroud must clear concussion protocol (a five-step program, which includes a clean bill of health from an independent neurologist) to play in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If he can't, expect the Texans to turn to backup QB Davis Mills. Mills, a 2021 third-round pick out of Stanford, has a 5-19-1 starting record in the regular season. Against Denver, he completed 17-of-30 passes for 137 yards, logging a subpar 68.3 passer rating. Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua Nacua — who has already missed one game because of an ankle issue — left in the third quarter of the Rams' 34-10 home win over the New Orleans Saints. L.A. head coach Sean McVay doesn't seem too concerned about it. "He got his ribs," McVay said postgame. "He could've come back in the game, but we kind of had command, felt like it was the smart thing [to rest him]. He could've come back in, but we kind of erred on the side of caution. Other guys stepped up and did a really nice job." Exercising caution was wise. Nacua — who led the team in receiving yards (616) entering Sunday — is the Rams' No. 1 option in the passing game. Rams QB Matthew Stafford didn't need much from him against the Saints, either. He completed 24-of-32 passes for 281 yards and four TDs in the home blowout. Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt Alt already suffered a high right ankle sprain in a Week 4 loss to the New York Giants. He was spotted holding the same ankle while being carted off the field in the second quarter of the Chargers' 27-20 win over the Tennessee Titans. A source told ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter that Alt's reinjured ankle may need a procedure to repair it (h/t ESPN's Kris Rhim). In a postgame news conference, Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh said he feels "bad" for the second-year O-lineman, who has already missed three games this season. Alt missing time would be costly for the Chargers' injury-riddled O-line. Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending knee injury in August. Offensive tackle Bobby Hart, meanwhile, injured his groin against the Titans and didn't return to the game. A depleted O-line would make life even more challenging for Chargers QB Justin Herbert. Through nine games, he has taken 28 sacks. San Francisco 49ers DE Mykel Williams Williams — pick No. 11 of the 2025 NFL Draft — departed with a knee injury late in the fourth quarter of San Francisco's 34-24 win over the New York Giants. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't sound optimistic about his prognosis. "We're worried it's an ACL, but you never know until tomorrow," the coach said in a postgame news conference, via David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone. A season-ending injury for Williams — who was tied for second on the team in tackles for loss (four in eight games) entering Sunday — would hinder the 49ers' D-line. The Georgia product was in line for a bigger role after star DE Nick Bosa suffered a season-ending ACL tear in a 16-15 Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
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