#Sports Columnist

In the grand scheme of things, Sunday's Saints-Panthers game is meaningless when it comes to the playoff participants. However, many think it is a very important game for the home team. Will it be a feel-good finish that could change the trajectory of the offseason for the Black and Gold? What will that mean for some of the changes Coach Dennis…

Tiz the Law is the 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's 152nd running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. The Barclay Tagg-trained multiple Grade 1 winner will break from the eight post against nine competitors in the 1-1/8 mile test around one turn. Posts were drawn Wednesday. "It could have been worse. I was hoping to get five…

The Ohio State football team is two wins away from claiming a national championship, but that is easier said than done. To win that championship, the Buckeyes would need to beat the reigning national champion, Georgia (in Atlanta), and then beat either high-powered TCU or their biggest rival, who has beaten them in their their two meetings,…

OCEANPORT - Jason Servis is confident he has Maximum Security fully cranked for the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Invitational Saturday at Monmouth Park. However, what Servis, Maximum Security's trainer, is not completely confident of is whether the horse likes the Monmouth Park racing surface. "I don't know if people have thought of this, but last…

The Cubs are getting ready to play ball and take on St. Louis and Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. The three teams have more time to enhance their rosters before the start of the 2023 season, but as it stands now the Cardinals are less likely to have an easy jog to the division title. And that's true even after their signing of…

Every day the Gazette sports staff will publish its best bets: 1. Cavaliers at Mavericks (-3, -110): It's wild that all five starters for Cavs are 26 or younger. 2. France (Over 1.5 goals, -120) vs. Morocco: As Argentina showed, goal-scorers shine now. 3. Hawks at Magic (+3.5, -110): Orlando shows four straight wins ATS. -Odds from SuperBook…

As I noted Friday, MLB Network host Greg Amsinger told St. Louis sports station 101 ESPN that he expects to see free-agent shortstop Trea Turner in a Cardinals uniform on Opening Day, 2023. To recap for those who missed it: "He's the perfect fit, the missing link, and if the Cardinals don't recognize that they're missing out," Amsinger said. "He…

Celebrated from coast to coast by sports fans, bag men, mafia kings and mathematicians, Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero is the greatest resource for college football shenanigans on the internet. This is the 13th season for Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero in its various forms. Joe is the reigning king of the picks, but we could only find a jester's cap'n'…

Celebrated from coast to coast by sports fans, bag men, mafia kings and mathematicians, Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero is the greatest resource for college football shenanigans on the internet. This is the 13th season for Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero in its various forms. Joe is the reigning king of the picks, but we could only find a jester's cap'n'…

Before Ohio State enters "Michigan week," the Buckeyes have to travel to College Park, M.D. to play a bowl-bound Terrapins squad looking to take the steam out of the Buckeyes' annual showdown with the Wolverines. The No.2-ranked Buckeyes (10-0 overall, 7-0 in Big Ten) need one more victory to enter their final game against No. 3-ranked…

It will be a different Haskell this year. The name of Monmouth Park's signature race has been changed to the Haskell Stakes from the Haskell Invitational because the coronavirus pandemic moved the Kentucky Derby from its traditional the first spot of the first Saturday in May to Sept. 5. As a result of the date change of the Kentucky Derby, the…

The TVG.com Haskell Invitational has emerged as a summer fixture at the Jersey Shore and beyond, with a $1 million purse, Grade 1 stature and a national television audience on NBC for the 52nd running on Saturday, July 20, 2019. Its namesake, Amory L. Haskell, played a prominent role in amending the state constitution after World War II to legalize…

Today the focus is on Christian Vazquez, the 32-year-old veteran free agent who is gaining in popularity with St. Louis media and fans. THE OVERVIEW: Vazquez spent seven-plus seasons with Boston before being traded to Houston last summer, and he teamed with Martin Maldonado to form a catching tandem that was part of the Astros' run to the World…

Embrace the chaos of the 2022 MLB postseason. Enjoy the upsets, the unlikely heroes, and seeing 100-win teams going down in a October inferno. Your attitude on this topic probably depends on your personal rooting interests. So I wouldn't expect much cherish-the-postseason sentiment from fans of the Dodgers, Braves, Mets and Cardinals. Their teams…

EAST LANSING, Mich. - With three games remaining, Rutgers is running out of chances to capture bowl eligibility. Perhaps a game against a Michigan State team that's had an up-and-down season could be what the Scarlet Knights need. Rutgers will take on Michigan State here at Spartan Stadium at noon (Big Ten Network), hoping to win its fifth game of…

The Cardinals are in the market for a catcher. Hopefully they'll be smart about this and view the opening as an opportunity to upgrade their offense. Defense must be a consideration, which doesn't really need to be stated. But in this case the defensive requirement has been overstated, with too much attention being paid to the standard established…

The Ohio State Buckeyes return to Ohio Stadium this week after a 21-7 win over Northwestern in blustery conditions. And once again, the Buckeyes are facing a team at the bottom of the Big Ten standings. While the Buckeyes are No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings and undefeated at 9-0, Indiana, which was appearing to be a rising program…

Dolphins (6-3) vs. Browns (3-5), Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS Latest line: Dolphins are favored by 3 1/2 points. Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 6-3): Dolphins 30, Browns 27 Two offenses in the top 10 in scoring. Two defenses tied for 24th in points allowed per game (24.6). The heat isn't around to help the Dolphins much by now, but figure…

The Ohio State Buckeyes enter a new a month that just may feel like a new season now that Tuesday's first batch of College Football Playoff rankings were revealed. The Buckeyes will enter the final stretch of the regular season ranked No. 2 in the CFP poll, right behind Tennessee (with whom they are tied with at No. 2 in the AP rankings) and in…

For baseball fans, "the most wonderful time of year" happens long before Christmas. It's the end of October, when the nearly 120-year-old World Series, Major League Baseball's championship showdown, takes place. Just in time for its return, Tyler Kepner, baseball columnist for The New York Times and author of "K: A History of Baseball in Ten…

It will be a different Haskell this year. The $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park has been changed from an invitational and will serve as a Kentucky Derby prep race, with the Run for the Roses shifted from May 2 to Sept 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic. There will be 170 qualifying points available toward the Derby in the Haskell…

Who in the world would have envisioned this? One full week-plus into October there were still two managers with "interim" tags who awoke on Friday not fearing the guillotine. Rather, the two were as frisky as fillies and as happy as larks. Or should we say more precisely, they were as frisky as Phillies, and their fans, as Philadelphia's own Rob…

The Buffalo Bills have a faithful, far-flung fan base, a community that stretches across the globe. In fact, the Bills Mafia would be heartened to know that they have an avid fan contingent in a most unlikely place - at the Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Catie Benson, a Buffalo native and Iroquois High grad, is the elder stateswoman for…

Dolphins (3-1) at N.Y. Jets (2-2), Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS Latest line: Dolphins are favored by 3 points; over/under is 42. Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 3-1): Dolphins 24, Jets 20 Teddy Bridgewater as the insurance policy at quarterback pays off with a win on the road against a Jets team with young talent that plays young right now.…

Dolphins (3-0) at Bengals (1-2), Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime and WSFL, Paycor Stadium Latest line: Bengals are favored by 4 points; over/under is 42. Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 2-1): Bengals 27, Dolphins 24 The Dolphins just had a heavyweight fight against Buffalo, with Miami's defense on the field for 90 plays. With…

Three weeks of the NFL season has left us with just two undefeated teams: the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles. Months ago, few had high expectations for either team. Now, especially for the Eagles, that has changed drastically. A few different sportsbooks had the Eagles as favorites Tuesday morning to win the NFC and reach the Super Bowl…

Dolphins (2-0) vs. Bills (2-0), Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS, Hard Rock Stadium Latest line: Bills are favored by 5 1/2 points; over/under is 45. Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 1-1): Dolphins 27, Bills 24 Buffalo has the better roster and best player on the field in Josh Allen, but Miami is capable of pulling off the upset. For the last two…

It appears that Astros owner Jim Crane has some decisions, really one, to make. Manager Dusty Baker's contract is up at the end of this season. So is general manager James Click's contract. Baker and Click don't seem to see eye to eye on how this team is supposed to run. Baker is old school and flies by the seat of his pants. He trusts his gut.…

Dolphins (1-0) at Ravens (1-0), Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS, M&T Bank Stadium Latest line: Ravens are favored by 3 1/2 points; over/under is 43. Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 1-0): Baltimore 26, Miami 24 The Dolphins meet a different Baltimore team than the injured one they beat at Hard Rock Stadium last November. It's better than the New…

Celebrated from coast to coast by sports fans, bag men, mafia kings and mathematicians, Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero is the greatest resource for college football shenanigans on the internet. This is the 13th season for Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero in its various forms. Joe is the reigning king of the picks, but we could only find a jester's cap'n'…

Dolphins (0-0) vs. Patriots (0-0), Sunday, Hard Rock Stadium, 1 p.m., CBS Latest line: Dolphins are favored by 3 1/2 points; over/under is 40. Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 0-0): Dolphins 24, Patriots 20 The Dolphins playing at home in the September heat is the best home field advantage in sports. Throw in the fact they've added good…