Sameer's Six Selections: Halloween 2025 edition
The Friday morning edition of "Six things to know before 6 a.m." is live!
This weekend is SpOoKiEsT of all weekends - and we have had some spooktacular moments in the NHL, NBA and MLB over the past week.
On Monday night, the second longest World Series game in MLB history happened. The visiting Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers fought tooth-and-nail for eighteen innings - yes, that’s two games’ worth of play in just one game - and neither team scored even one run between the 8th and 17th innings. The Dodgers prevailed, thanks to a Freddie Freeman solo blast off a 92-mph sinker from reliever Brendon Little in the bottom of the 18th inning. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, they did not capitalize off that win, losing games 4 and 5 in 6-2 and 6-1 scores, and now trail in the seven-game series, 3-2, with an elimination game tonight.
In the NBA… With both LeBron James (mid-Nov.) and Luka Doncic (early Nov.) out for at least a week, forgettable Los Angeles Lakers’ third option Austin Reaves scored 51 points in Sacramento on Sunday (one assist away from a triple-double), and followed that up with a 41-4-5-3 game at home against the Trail Blazers on Monday and a 28-point, 16- assist game at Minnesota on Wednesday.
In ice hockey, the former Arizona Coyotes (now Utah Mammoth) have taken the NHL by the horns, surprisingly tied for first in the Western Conference with an 8-3-0 record heading into this weekend. The Mammoth saw their seven-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday to the Edmonton Oilers, but their top players in forwards Logan Cooley (team-high 8 goals and 4 assists) and Nick Schmaltz (7 goals and a team-high 10 assists), along with defensemen Mikhail Sergachev (2 goals and 6 assists) have led the way offensively. The young 21-year old Cooley on Wednesday signed an eight-year, $80 million extension with the Mammoth - which shows how much Utah believes in the third-year pro.
Last Week’s record: 5-3
Total Record: 30-14
Terrible past week for my predictions, despite sweeping all of the first three games of the World Series. The Missouri/Vandy football game was a coin flip (Vandy won, 17-10, avoiding a last-second Hail Mary), LSU fired their head coach after losing at home to undefeated Texas A&M, and I incorrectly thought the Steelers-Packers SNF game would be close for Pittsburgh and Aaron Rodgers (it was not, as Green Bay pulled away in the second half, 35-25).
Just like last week, no nationally televised NBA games are worth watching, and yet again no premier NHL games on the TV screens for a nationwide audience. In addition, great college football games originally circled on this weekend back in August look like lopsided affairs, like 3-4 Penn State at no. 1 Ohio State (7-0), or no. 5 Georgia (6-1) at 3-4 Florida.
But let us see what else is there - especially the most important baseball game of the season!
1. MLB World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays (Blue Jays lead series, 3-2)
Game 6: Friday, 8:00 p.m. ET, FOX | FanDuel odds: Dodgers -1.5 | O/U: 7.5
Game 6 Starting Pitchers: LAD Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-1, 1.57 ERA, 0.73 WHIP) vs. TOR Kevin Gausman (2-2, 2.55 ERA, 0.93 WHIP)
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, 8:00 p.m., FOX
FanDuel Odds and Game 7 Starting Pitchers TBD
What a wild World Series, and we could crown a winner tonight in Toronto! The Blue Jays were down 2-1 in the series after a draining eighteen inning game 3, then somehow, someway, rattled off back-to-back wins in Los Angeles, nullifying the Dodger bats in the process.
The Blue Jays will have their biggest test yet, against lights-out pitcher Yamamoto. The 27-year old right-handed pitcher was the first one to throw consecutive complete games (in game 2 of the NLDS and game 2 of the World Series) since Curt Schilling had three straight in 2001. Yamamoto retired the last 20 Blue Jays’ batters in game 2, striking out 8 in the 5-1 win.
However, the Jays have scored 6 runs in consecutive World Series games, and who is to say that they cannot do it again, this time in their Rogers Centre home confines? In addition, centerfielder George Springer, the Blue Jays’ second-best hitter, will return after not playing in game 5 due to injury. Another reason why the Jays’ offense should continue to surge in game 6.
But my big question: Will the real Mookie Betts please stand up? In 23 at-bats in the World Series, the 12-year vet has been a shell of himself, logging only three hits, all singles, with three walks and five strikeouts. Betts is batting an anemic .130, and has not logged a single extra-base hit; his last was a double in game 3 of the NLCS.
My prediction: Blue Jays 3, Dodgers 1
2. NCAA Football: #9 Vanderbilt (7-1) at #30 Texas (6-2)
Time: Saturday, Noon ET, ABC | FanDuel odds: Texas -2.5 | O/U: 46.5
If you have been living in a cave avoiding college football content this month, you may be shocked to know that Vanderbilt - an SEC laughingstock for decades - is now a top-10 program under fifth-year head coach Clark Lea and senior QB Diego Pavia.
The Commodores survived in a low-scoring 17-10 affair at home against 6-2 Missouri last week. Pavia, despite a so-so game (10-of-19 for a mere 129 yards and one interception), scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:52 left in regulation. For the season, Pavia has 15 TDs to 5 interceptions and has rushed for a team-best 458 yards and 5 rushing TDs.
But the Commodores are more than just their QB - their senior defensive end, Miles Capers, leads Vandy with 9 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks. In addition, this veteran-laden roster is composed of 73 players who are juniors or older.
On the other side, there’s ballyhooed sophomore QB Arch Manning and Texas. The Longhorns dropped their season opener to now-no. 1 Ohio State 14-7, but have since won six of seven, including a narrow 45-38 OT shootout against 4-4 Mississippi State last Saturday.
In Saturday’s win, Texas rallied from a 31-14 third quarter deficit to score 24 unanswered fourth quarter points to avoid the major upset. The catalyst was sophomore punt returner Ryan Niblett, who had a 79-yard punt return for a TD to tie the game at 38-all with 1:47 left. The Longhorns’ defense then had a strip sack and fumble recovery in overtime to earn their sixth win of the season.
As for Manning, who is the nephew of both Peyton and Eli Manning, he has since fallen off as a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate (not even among the top-25 favorites on FanDuel). His stats best Pavia’s in several categories, but Arch has more sub-200 yard passing games (4) and more games with an interception thrown (5) than 3+ touchdown games (3). However, Manning is questionable for Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury.
Outside of the QB, Texas’s defense is one not to be reckoned with this season. The Longhorns have allowed more than 14 points only twice - the 29-21 loss to Florida in early Oct. and last week’s OT win over Mississippi State.
However, give me the Commodores to steal this win over Texas on the road, especially if the Longhorns go to backup senior QB Matthew Caldwell.
My prediction: Commodores 24, Texas 13
3. NCAA Football: #23 USC (5-2) at Nebraska (6-2)
Time: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC | FanDuel odds: USC -6.5 | O/U: 58.5
The best passing offense in the country (USC) faces off against the second-best pass defense in the nation (Nebraska) in this B1G showdown.
USC junior QB Jayden Maiava has been spectacular to start the season (9 TD and 0 Int through the first four games), but has thrown at least one pick in each of the last three ranked B1G matches, including a two-interception game in a 34-24 defeat to then-no. 13 Notre Dame (5-2). Maiava has thrown multiple TD in all but one game this season, and has thrown for over 280-plus yards in four of seven games so far. His 311.4 passing yards/game rank third in the nation. His go-to receiver is fellow junior Makai Lemon, who has 758 yards and 6 TD - his best game was a 151-yard, 2 TD performance in a 34-32 loss to Illinois a month ago.
For Nebraska’s pass defense - the Cornhuskers allow only 127.5 passing yards/game, including just 159 yards to Northwestern in a 28-21 win last weekend. Their passing yardage in B1G action has been: 105, 156, 249, 153 and 159.
As for Nebraska’s offense - they rely on a more ground-and-pound approach with dynamic RB Emmett Johnson (837 yards and 9 TD - good for 104.6 yards/game). The junior has four 100-plus rushing games, including a season-best 176 yards against Maryland two weeks ago.
I expect the Trojans to find a way to expose one of the toughest pass defenses in the nation in what should be a shootout in Nebraska
My prediction: USC 37, Nebraska 31
4. NFL: Denver Broncos (6-2) at Houston Texans (3-4)
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX | FanDuel odds: Texans -1.5 | O/U: 40.5
Yes, we have a divisional rivalry between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings and a great match between the 7-1 Indianapoolis Colts and the 4-3 Pittsburgh Steelers in Pennsylvania in the early afternoon slate, but I love when two elite defensive teams square off like in this AFC game in Houston.
Do not let the Texans’ record alter how you think of Houston. Their offense has been hit-or-miss, but Houston has the no. 1 total defense, allowing only 266.86 yards/game and the third-best pass defense with 178.43 yards/game. Their key defense players have been defensive ends Will Anderson (team-high 5 sacks) and Danielle Hunter (4 sacks), and they have arguably one of the best shutdown cornerbacks in Derek Stingley Jr. (2 int.).
The Texans’ defense will have their hands full with Broncos’ QB Bo Nix, who has been on a heater the past couple of games. The Broncos are winners of five straight, and Nix has thrown for 6 TDs to just one interception in the 33-32 comeback win over the Giants two weeks ago and in the 44-24 demolition of Dallas last Sunday.
The Broncos’ defense ranks 5th overall (281 yards/game) and seventh-best against the pass (186.3 yards/game). They will look to contain QB C.J. Stroud, who passed for a season-high 318 yards last week in a ball-controlled game against the 49ers in a 26-15 win. Stroud should have all of his weapons available, as star WR Nico Collins missed the 49ers game with a concussion suffered two weeks ago.
Even though this game is in Houston, I can see the Broncos extending their season-long winning streak to six games on Sunday.
My prediction: Broncos 21, Texans 20
5. NFL: Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) at Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Time: Sunday, 4:35 p.m., ET, CBS | FanDuel odds: Chiefs -1.5 | O/U: 52.5
THE NFL GAME OF THE WEEK (and potentially the season!)
The rivalry returns between QBs Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen in Buffalo in a nationally televised CBS game from east to west coasts.
All-time, Mahomes has the head-to-head advantage, 5-4; however, the h2h matchup depends whether the game is in the regular season or playoffs, as Mahomes is 1-4 against Allen, while undefeated (4-0) in the postseason versus Allen.
The Chiefs have won five of their last six games, defeating cellar dwellers in the Las Vegas Raiders and the Washington Commanders a combined 59-7 over the course of the past two weeks. Mahomes has found his MVP mojo, pulling away in the season-long MVP race with an NFL-best 17 TDs and second to Justin Herbert with 2,099 passing yards. On the other side, the Chiefs’ defense has allowed more than 21 points just once all season; they have the fourth-best defense and third-best passing defense in the NFL.
For Buffalo, the Bills have dropped two of their last three games - none more shocking than the 24-14 loss to the 3-4 Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football two weeks ago. But the offense - specifically, the rushing offense - got their act together in a 40-9 blowout win at Carolina. QB Josh Allen has not been his MVP self over the past month, throwing four interceptions over the past four games, and accruing sub-200 yard passing games against the Falcons (180 yards) and Panthers (163). However, RB James Cook ran for a season-high 216 yards and 2 TDs in the blowout win over the Panthers last week.
The Bills’ strength, aside from their top-ranked rush offense, is the NFL’s second-best pass defense, allowing just 161.9 yards/game. The secondary of CBs Tre’Davious White, Christian Benford and safeties Taylor Rapp and Jordan Poyer need to step up to shut down the MVP favorite on Sunday late afternoon.
This AFC heavyweight match will (I feel) come down to a controversial play/moment late in the fourth quarter, as Kansas City wins in a nailbiter.
My prediction: Chiefs 27, Bills 26
6. NFL: Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Washington Commanders (3-5)
Time: Sunday night, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC | FanDuel odds: Seahawks -3 | O/U: 47.5
Well, well, well.
A Washington-based team faces Washington in Maryland on Sunday Night Football this week. However, the Commanders are walking wounded, with star wide receiver Terry McLaurin missing his fifth game of the season; he re-injured his quad muscle in last week’s 28-7 loss to the Chiefs. In addition, second-year defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton has not played in two straight practices, and nose tackle Javon Kinlaw was limited in Thursday’s practice. The Commanders are already without their leader in sacks, as Dorance Armstrong was ruled out for the season two weeks ago.
What makes matters worse for Washington is that they face NFL’s top rush defense; the Seahawks have allowed a paltry 75.7 rushing yards/game and an NFL-best two rushing TDs. As it is, the Commanders have had tough sledding moving the ball on the ground with their running backs, as most of the rushing yards have come off of quarterback scrambles from Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota. Speaking of Daniels, he will return after a one-game absence (hamstring).
Look for Seattle QB Sam Darnold to light up the Maryland sky against the seventh-worst pass defense. His go-to target in wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is arguably the best WR in the NFL, with five 100-plus yards games, and three straight 8-reception, 123-plus yard and 1 TD performances. JSN has an NFL-high 819 receiving yards to pace the Seahawks.
Even though the Seahawks are favored by just a field goal, this game could get very ugly very quickly.
My prediction: Seahawks 31, Commanders 13