NCAA College Football Playoffs

 The NCAA has expanded the College Football Playoffs. The previous format consisted of  the top 4 teams based on the rankings of the College Football Playoffs selection committee. The CFP will adjust the process and award the top spots to the power 4 conference champions. After those teams are desinated one thru 5,7 more teams will be selected and ranked from 6 to 12.

The higher seed will host the lower seed and have home field advantage.The top 4 teams will recieve a bye as the remaining 8 will be matched with the higher seed playing the lowest. If the team that is slotted at 5 did not finish in the top 12 final ranking of the season,they will drop to the 12 seed. The next round the yop 4 seeds will be asign to a bowl game that there is a historic connection. For example,the Big Ten confrence champion would be designated to the Rose Bowl.After this quarterfinal round,a final four will remain with the winners meeting for the National Championship  on January 20,2025.

If this format were in place in 2023,Florida State would have the 5th seed and played Oklahoma.Georgia would have a home game against Penn State. Ohio State would have played Ole Miss. Oregon would have squared off against Missouri. Nased on how each of these teams performed in bowl games I have the following teams advancing. Oklahoma and Georgia would advance easily. Oregon would move on while the Ole Miss and Buckeyes would be a toss up.The Big Ten would have 5 teams in the playoffs. The Big 12 would have 3 while the SEC would 4. Noticeably absent is the ACC. With the restructuring of several conferences and the dismantling of the Pac 12,expect the power teams to get the top players via recruiting and the transfer portal. 

While the new playoff format will create excitement and generate revenue,there are some consequences.The departures of USC, UCLA,Oregon and Washington, has essentially ended the Pac-12 as a power conference. The NCAA by laws allows the Pac-12 a two year grace period to have at least 8team based on the departures. The mid major conferences  must go undefeated to merit consideration for the playoffs. teams.As a result,the power conferences will be reluctant to play against mid major schools. This will hamper the mid major programs from landing the best recruits. The playoffs will allow more exposure to the NCAA College football players.More exposure and opportunities to have Names,Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.

Enjoy this clip about the new format.

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers: Operators Mid-Term

 

After seeing the reports that Penn Entertainment had a round of layoff wirh members of their ESPNBet team,I decided to look at the mid year numbers for the top operators. Let's see where everyone is positioned as the NFL returns this fall.  These are the market shares of the top operators.                           DraftKings :38%

  FanDuel 36.5%

   BetMGM:7%

   Caesars:5.9%

   ESPNBet 3.2%

   Rush Street Interactive 3%

Comparing these numbers to the 1st quarter of 2024,DraftKings increased by 2.7%.FanDuel decreased by 1.3%.FanDuel'sDraft market share shifted slightly toward DraftKings and Rush Interactive.BetMGM decreased by.3%despite some impressive partnerships. Caesars decreased .6% and ESPNBet dropped 1.5%.

Let's look at the stock prices to see if investors are still confident over the last month of activity. DraftKings fell -6.07% but close today up 0,26%. FanDuel is down -0.6% over the last 30 days but closed today up 0.6%. Public confidence is unchanged.BetMGM was up 8.80% in the last month and closed yesterday up ,15%. The public opinion of the stock is unwavered. Caesars Entertainment was down 5% 30 days ago but closed yesterday up .82%/.Caesars was down $9 6 months ago and $2 a month ago. While the market share declined, the price is going up.Rush Interactive's stock price was in the low teens 6 months ago but has dropped to just under $10 yesterday. The shift in market share did not translate to increasing the stock value. Penn Entertainment and ESPNBet are not trending in the anticipated direction. A stock price that was high as $25 a year ago is now at $18.52 and down .27% yesterday. 

The Outlook: Expect the two market leaders to jockey for the top position as the NFL and NCAA Football returns in September. BetMGM's partnership with Twitter and the expansion of their sports betting service in Washington, D.C.,will  help recoup the .3% loss of the 2nd quarter, I see Rush as a possible acquisition based on a fvorable price. ESPNBet has the advantage of starting this football season off at the inception. By not launching until after week 7 in 2023,they acqiured multiple downloads but were not able to grow the market.A correction is imperative or this media and gaming merger will be short lived.

I encourage you to practice smart responsible gaming and do your homework as you look to invest in the stock market.

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Metro Report: NFL NFC East Draft Grades

I just finished watching the top 3 rounds of the NFL Draft 2021. I will give my grade of how each team in the NFC East fared with their first three selections. My grades are based on the team and their needs going into the Draft.

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles started out by moving up in the draft to 10 and selecting Devonta Smith. Smith was the Heisman Trophy Winner and the top reciever in college. His weight of 166 pounds did not scare the Eagles. It should be noted that Ja'Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle were selected before Smith. The Eagles went after another Alabama standout in Landon Dickerson. He is a beast but has a history of injuries. He tore his ACL during the SEC championship game in December. In the 3rd round,Philly aded depth to the defensive line with the addition of Milton Williams, defensive tackle from Louisiana Tech. The selection of Dickerson and Williams were perplexing because the o line is relatively young with the exception of Jason Kelce. Birds had a glaring need to add to the secondary and they did not do it.  Grade B-.

Dallas Cowboys: Dallas traded with their rival,the Eagles and selected Micah Parsons from Penn State.Parson was thought to be the best defensive player in the draft. He did not play in 2020 because he opted out to prepare for the NFL. The Cowboys added more defensive help with their 2nd and 3rd round selections of  Kelvin Joseph and Osa Odighizuwa. The Cowboys addressed their abysmal defense with each of these selections. They should improve immediately if two of these picks become starters.Grade A.

New York Giants: The Giants traded back and gain a number one pick in next years's NFL Draft. They selected Kadarius Toney,a wide reciever from Florida. He is a play maker but the Giants appear to have address that need during free agency when they signed Kenny Galladay. Georgia's Azeez Ojulari  will bring immediate help to the outside linebacker position by being selected 2nd. Ojulari was projected as a late first round pick. Adoree Robinson is a CB from Central Florida. He was selected in the 3rd round. While cornerback was also a position that free agent Adoree Jackson was signed to fill, you can always use additional coverage personnel.  By adding more picks, the Giants made this draft and 2022 look very good. Grade A+

Washington Football: Washington improved the team by adding Jamin Davis an inside linebacker from Kentucky. The defense was already elite so adding speed to the linebacker position fits. There is a concern at QB that would have require Washington to move up to go after Justin Fields, The 2nd selection was Samuel Cosmi, OT from Texas. Benjamin St-Juste and Dyami Brown were both taken in the 3rd round. Justus will help in coverage and Brown give Washington another weapon at WR.  Brown can compliment Terry McLaurin. Grade B.

Check out this week's poll on my website and tell me which NFL NFC East team did the best job in the 1st three rounds of the Draft?

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