The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday announced it had set up an independent cricket regulator after a damning report revealed racism, sexism, classism and elitism in the sport.
The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) published its findings in June, revealing “widespread” discrimination in the game and making 44 recommendations.
The ICEC was established in 2021 following a racism scandal centred around the treatment of Pakistan-born bowler Azeem Rafiq at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
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The new regulator will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the game’s regulations, safeguarding, anti-corruption, anti-doping and anti-discrimination.
The body will be headed by former police officer Dave Lewis, taking the role of interim director, and will be overseen by an independent cricket regulatory board.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould welcomed the changes, stating: “It is important that the game has the best processes in place in order to enforce regulations.
“The ICEC report recommended that we introduce further independence to the game’s regulatory process and the cricket regulator overseen by an independent cricket regulatory board will do that.
“The cricket regulator is ring-fenced from the ECB, and that separation will ensure that their work is distinct from our work as the game’s promoter.”
In the world of online gaming, the intersection of sports fandom and casino entertainment is creating a unique and thrilling experience for enthusiasts. One such fusion that has gained immense popularity is the targeting of the “Book of Dead” slot game – with its special offerings of Book of Dead free spins – to draw in audiences from the passionate fanbase of the National Hockey League (NHL).
This unlikely pairing is proving to be a winning combination, offering hockey fans a new way to engage with their favorite sport and potentially make some good wins in the process.
About the Slot
The “Book of Dead” slot, developed by Play’n GO, has become a household name in the online casino world. Known for its captivating graphics, immersive gameplay and the potential for good winnings, it has attracted players from various backgrounds.
However, it’s the recent surge in popularity among NHL fans that has given this slot game a new dimension.
The Connection With the League
The connection between a slot game and a sports league may seem unconventional at first, but the Book of Dead’s theme lends itself well to the excitement and intensity of NHL matches. The game is set in ancient Egypt, following the adventures of an explorer searching for hidden treasures. This theme resonates with hockey enthusiasts who are used to the thrill of the game and the pursuit of victory.
What sets this fusion apart is the introduction of “Book of Dead Free Spins for NHL Fans.” Online casinos are now offering special promotions that cater specifically to hockey lovers, allowing them to enjoy their favorite slot game with added benefits. Free spins on the Book of Dead slot are being given away as part of these promotions, providing fans with an extra layer of excitement as they spin the reels in anticipation of uncovering hidden treasures.
The synergy between the slot game and NHL fandom goes beyond the thematic connection. The fast-paced nature of hockey mirrors the adrenaline rush experienced during a spin on the Book of Dead slot. Both activities demand quick thinking, strategic decision-making and a bit of luck to achieve a favorable outcome. For NHL fans who already relish the unpredictability of the game, trying their luck on the slot reels adds an extra layer of entertainment.
Immersive Experience
To make the experience even more immersive, some online casinos are incorporating hockey-themed elements into the Book of Dead slot interface. Players may find themselves surrounded by hockey jerseys, ice rinks and cheering crowds as they embark on their quest for wins. These additions enhance the connection between the slot game and the beloved sport, creating a seamless blend of casino entertainment and NHL enthusiasm.
The Wrap-Up
For hockey fans looking to take their love for the sport to the next level, the Book of Dead Free Spins promotions offer a golden opportunity. Not only can they revel in the excitement of spinning the reels, but they also stand a chance to win real prizes while celebrating their passion for the NHL. As this trend continues to gain momentum, the marriage of slots and sports fandom is likely to become a staple in the online gaming landscape, providing a thrilling experience for fans across the globe.
With the emergence of the Saudi Pro League this summer and the huge spending spree their clubs went on in order to bring in high profile and incredibly well known European footballing talent, many in the wider world of the sport are expecting another big splash when the transfer window opens again in the New Year, and given all the rumour mill speculation that surrounded the future of Liverpool and Egyptian wizard Mohamed Salah, his name will undoubtedly continue to do the rounds over the next few months.
As it happened, the SPL transfer deadline closed a week after the European one did, but no move for Salah was finalised even though it has been claimed that the Anfield outfit rejected a late offer of around £150 million from Al-Ittihad for the 31 year old, sticking to their line that he was not for sale this summer. There was no fun88 in a deal being done.
SPL chief and director of football, Michael Emenalo, was recently discussing the league’s business with Sky Sports given they spent over £700 million to bring in the players that they did, and he would not rule out further attempts to lure the attacker to them in the future.
“First and foremost, Mohamed Salah is one of the best players on the planet. I’ve said before, privately and publicly that we welcome anybody that wants to come and that includes Salah. But we have to do things in a very professional and respectful manner. That’s what we’re there for, it’s what the SPL has been refined to do – bring professionalism, respect of efficiencies, and to do things in a competent way.”
“If it didn’t happen, it’s not because we no longer fancy the player, or because we have a problem with Liverpool. It’s because certain things that need to align for all the parties involved in the process didn’t align. Nobody is angry, we move on, but we absolutely close no doors and if the opportunity is there to do things and do it well – and it brings Mohamed Salah to the Saudi Pro League we will all be very grateful.”
With Salah scoring against Aston Villa ahead of the international break, it takes his Liverpool tally to 188 goals in 309 games, and it is patently obvious why the SPL would like to see him make the move there and play his own part in helping to boost their profile, in the way their captures of the likes of Neymar, Roberto Firmino, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo have in more recent weeks.
They are far from alone in having made the move as well as plenty of former Premier League stars have made the switch this summer, and as you at least listen to Emenalo, he keeps referencing a long term project for the league so few will think this was a one off splurge and that speculation will not be rife again come the next window.
Whether or not that does mean further interest in Salah is open for debate, but Liverpool fans will be hoping that his contract length keeps him safe for the next season or two at least.
Two of the early schools to offer Blake Cherry played last weekend and the 2025 offensive lineman from Owasso, Okla., was there to see Kansas State take on Kansas.Despite the outcome, Cherry loved …
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Australian Formula 1 prodigy Oscar Piastri will start the Las Vegas Grand Prix 19th after having a terrible qualifying run on Saturday night (AEDT).
The McLaren young gun was second on the timesheets in practice three but flopped in qualifying one, failing to advance after only managing a fastest lap of 1:35.068.
The overwhelming consensus is Ferrari was robbed of a front-row lock-out after Charles Leclerc took pole and Carlos Sainz clocked the second-quickest lap. Despite doing that, Sainz will start 12th on Sunday night (AEDT) due to the 10-place grid penalty he automatically triggered after being cruelled by a loose drain cover on the opening night.
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Three-time world champion Max Verstappen will start second in his Red Bull, while Mercedes’ George Russell snagged third on the grid.
It was a sorrowful night for both Australians as Daniel Ricciardo only managed to qualify 15th in his newly adopted AlphaTauri.
Oscar Piastri in Las Vegas. (John Locher/AP)
Piastri was clearly frustrated as he spoke with Formula 1 TV after his qualifying run.
“Earlier tonight the pace in P3 [practice three] was good. The tyres were in a good place. The pace at the start of qualifying was good,” Piastri said.
“I don’t know if we were one of the only ones to not use two sets of tyres. If we were I think that probably explains it a lot, because [over] the first few laps we were in the top five more or less. So I don’t think it was really an issue with pace; just [the] run plan maybe wasn’t what it should have been.”
The 22-year-old laughed about avoiding the Las Vegas nightlife while preparing to start a long way back on the grid.
“Well, I’m not going to go to the casino and hopefully all the luck comes out tomorrow,” Piastri said with a grin.
“There’s a lot of long straights, tight corners. The tyres are very difficult to get in the window, so maybe that’ll catch some people out.
Through the first quarter-and-a-half of action in the Boston Celtics’ Monday night win over the New York Knicks, the shots weren’t falling. Sam Hauser jumped out to a 3-of-4 start from distance, but outside of him, the Celtics shot 2-for-12 to open the game.
Boston’s offense process looked good. They were moving the ball, hitting their spots, and generating open looks. However, a bad result can lead to hanging heads, especially when the approach is sound.
But in head coach Joe Mazzulla’s mind, the threes weren’t the issue.
“Can I ask you a question?” Mazzulla said when asked about the cold shooting start. “Do you know how any missed layups we had in the first half? How come no one notices those? We had four missed layups for shots at the other end. I thought we played with great balance, and I think a missed layup can hurt you more than a missed three because it’s usually a five-on-four situation.”
Derrick White missed two, Kristaps Porzingis missed one, and Jaylen Brown did as well. For the Celtics, those missed opportunities led to clean looks for the Knicks on the other end of the court.
“I mean, if I could come up with another shot besides a three or a layup, I’ll do it,” Mazzulla said with a laugh. “You can’t kick it in. I mean, we couldn’t throw it in the ocean.”
Missing layups may be more costly on the court, but NBA players are confident in their ability to make shots at the rim. Missing a bunch of threes, on the other hand, could lead to hesitation.
Jayson Tatum started the game 0-for-6 from distance, but that didn’t slow him down.
“You put the work in,” Tatum said of his confidence level to keep shooting. “I’ve played enough games, had enough tough shooting nights. I mean, Game 6 last year was the prime example against Philly. I couldn’t hit a shot.
“But all good really, really good scorers know it just takes one to change your momentum, change how you feel about yourself shooting the ball. And once you see one go in you just feel a lot better about yourself.”
His cold start quickly turned into a red-hot scoring night, as he shot 5-of-6 from deep following his 0-of-6 opening. Tatum finished the night with 35 points on 13-of-23 shooting, and the interlude between his three-point slump and three-point barrage was full of new-look offense.
Tatum started the game 3-of-3 from the field, and then he took the ball beyond the arc.
Nothing. Three misses in a row from distance.
After three straight missed triples, he took the ball back inside. Tatum posted up, got in deep, and sunk a tough and-one just inside the paint.
Then he went back out behind the arc.
Nothing once again.
He followed that up with a dunk in transition and another post-up against Hart from which he nailed a turnaround jumper.
Then, after a few more misses, Tatum finally nailed a three at the 4:19 mark of the third quarter. From there, the floodgates were open. He shot 4-of-5 from deep the rest of the game and made his last four attempts.
Despite a rough stretch from deep, Tatum was able to find a rhythm by getting inside and working the post, something he’s been collaborating with assistant coach Sam Cassell on. And he’s not the only player getting to those spots.
“I think this year, what we have that we didn’t last year is we go to our post-up,” Mazzulla explained. “That kind of settles us down a little bit. It gets to a different spacing. It allows guys to give them a comfort level, and it helps us get to the free throw line a little bit. They beat us at the free-throw line.
“So I think when you’re going through those [cold spells], it’s something that we didn’t go to as much last year. This year, it’s like, ‘Okay when you want to settle it down, can we get JB JT Jrue into a post situation to create something? But you got to make the shot at some point.”
The Celtics shot 7-of-19 from three in the first half. A respectable 36.8%. But they were getting clean looks. And with a little work inside, they transferred their interior dominance to the outside.
In the second half, they went 12-of-24 from distance. A healthy process is the key to a successful offense, but having multiple spots to attack helps smooth out the kinks when shots aren’t falling. For the Celtics, the post-up is their newest weapon.
Mohamed Salah now has more Premier League Player of the Month awards than anyone else currently playing in the English top flight after his October 2023 win.
The Liverpool forward scooped the prize with the five goals he scored last month, with the Egypt international delivering excellent performances that fans have become so used to seeing.
Salah has slipped into that realm where less noise is made about his triumphs because he has been doing it for so long in the top flight. That said, he’s still caught the eye enough to bag his fifth POTM award since joining Liverpool.
In doing so, he has moved ahead of two Manchester United players in the all-time standings, with neither looking likely to pick up their fifth any time soon.
While Mohamed Salah still needs two more Premier League POTM awards to match all-time leaders Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane, he is certainly worthy of five and no one would begrudge him more in the future.
November 2017
Salah was unstoppable / James Baylis – AMA/GettyImages
Salah’s first POTM award came in November 2017, only five months after he joined the club from AS Roma.
It was a truly incredible month in which he started to prove so many people wrong. The Egyptian could not stop scoring and racked up seven goals in one month. He became the first ever Egyptian player to win the award, having found the net against West Ham, Southampton, Stoke City and Chelsea.
He beat players like Burnley’s Robbie Brady, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, and Man Utd’s Ashley Young to the prize.
February 2018
Salah was in full flow / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages
Everyone remembers just how frightening and unstoppable Mo Salah was during the 2017/18 season when Liverpool suddenly became one of the best teams in the Premier League again.
A few months after his first award, Salah’s four goals and two assists in the Premier League meant he secured his second POTM. Liverpool got two wins and a draw and started to look like a safe bet for a top-four spot.
“The players make it easier and the boss also makes it easier for me,” Salah said. “It’s nice to win it again especially because it’s the Player of the Month of the Premier League, so that’s something good. I say always try to help reach the three points and to be in a better position.”
March 2018
Salah made it back-to-back POTM wins / Chloe Knott – Danehouse/GettyImages
In the following month, Salah’s form did not slow down. If anything, it just increased and Liverpool were marching towards Champions League qualification again. Salah grabbed six goals in the month of March to make it successive awards.
A big part of his success was the four goals he scored in one game when Liverpool battered Watford 5-0 at Anfield. He also scored a really important winner at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.
October 2021
Salah was the key to one of Liverpool’s best ever wins / Michael Regan/GettyImages
Incredibly, Salah then went three and a half years without winning the award, despite Liverpool remaining in and around the title race and the top four. The initial excitement around his form subsided and he was soon just a consistently really good player.
He got an incredible five goals and four assists October 2021, showing his creative spark on top of his clinical edge. The goals included a great solo effort against Manchester City for which he won Goal of the Month and a hat-trick in a 5-0 win away at Manchester United.
October 2023
Salah secures his fifth POTM award / MB Media/GettyImages
Exactly two years later, Salah bagged the award again.
Liverpool took seven points from a possible nine in October in the Premier League and in the only game they didn’t win – a 2-2 draw away at Brighton – Salah scored twice. He also netted a brace in the 2-0 win over Everton at Anfield before his October ended with a goal in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
It was a month that restored Liverpool’s place in the Premier League title race and with Salah getting so many of their goals, a huge part of that achievement can be attributed to him.
By winning his fifth POTM award, Salah has moved ahead of three current Premier League players. The Egyptian is now level with Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, while Steven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo are one further up the road.
He has now moved ahead of Manchester United duo Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, neither of whom are showing the kind of form that suggests they will be changing that in the coming months.
He has also moved beyond Tottenham’s Son Heung-min. Son only got his fourth POTM award in September 2023 and has been playing really well this season, so he could feasibly join Salah on five soon. That being said, James Maddison’s injury could limit the number of chances he gets to score in the foreseeable future.
Rank
Player
POTM wins
1.
Sergio Aguero
7
1.
Harry Kane
7
3.
Steven Gerrard
6
3.
Cristiano Ronaldo
6
5.
Robin van Persie
5
5.
Wayne Rooney
5
5.
Mohamed Salah
5
7.
Dennis Bergkamp
4
7.
Bruno Fernandes
4
7.
Thierry Henry
4
7.
Frank Lampard
4
7.
Marcus Rashford
4
7.
Son Heung-min
4
7.
Paul Scholes
4
7.
Alan Shearer
4
7.
Jamie Vardy
4
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“It’s the Year of the Big Man in men’s college basketball!”
That was the phrase being uttered ahead of last year’s college hoops season, and for good reason. Heading into last year, with reigning national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe returning to lead a cast that included Drew Timme, Zach Edey, Adama Sanogo, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Armando Bacot, Hunter Dickinson, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Azuolas Tubelis, the momentum surrounding the center position was clearly the headline across the country.
As a result, five of the 10 players named to the first and second AP All-America teams last year played the center position (Edey, Jackson-Davis, Timme, Tshiebwe and Tubelis).
But big men headlining college basketball is not a one-hit wonder, instead, it will be a theme in the sport this season and for many to come. While calling last year “The Year of the Big Man” was understandable, this trend is going to continue because as it stands right now for traditional post players, or most centers for that matter, it is more beneficial to stay in college than attempt a jump to the NBA.
Why?
Name, image and likeness.
The ability of a traditional big man to profit off his success and brand outweighs the benefits of going pro and either spending time between the G League and maybe the NBA, or playing overseas. Big men who are dominant at the college level can certainly get paid in both avenues, but the latter options are always going to be there. College eligibility is precious for players like Bacot, who told FOX Sports that he will “easily” make seven figures in NIL dollars in his fifth and final season at North Carolina.
It’s not a coincidence that Edey is the second straight reigning national player of the year who chose to return for another season. Before Tshiebwe did it last year, that had not occurred since Tyler Hansbrough did so in 2008, leading North Carolina to a national championship and cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in college basketball history. That’s now the task for Edey, who looks to lead Purdue from an all-time low in the NCAA Tournament to redemption and that elusive Final Four run in the Matt Painter era.
So, not only are the big men across college basketball talented, but they are also featured in some of the very best storylines that the sport has to offer again this season.
[10 burning questions for the 2023-24 college basketball season]
With that in mind, we at FOX Sports present …
THE BIG MAN LADDER.
This series will be rolled out monthly throughout the season to update you on the sport’s best big men, featuring interesting numbers, exclusive interviews and more.
The criteria for our featured big men are as follows: We are zoning in on players who stand 6-foot-10 or taller and are making significant contributions for ranked teams across the country. This list can be adjusted as the year goes on. As Edey showed last season, you could go from being a notable big man entering the season to the best player in the sport. If someone’s impact calls for attention, we’ll add another rung to the ladder!
Edey’s numbers last season were simply incredible. When you combine those figures with the fact that he’s entering only his seventh year of playing the sport after not picking up a basketball until his sophomore year of high school, that makes his whole story even more unbelievable.
The Boilermakers’ star big man enters his senior year of college already in a class of his own, as he is the only player in the history of the sport to record 750 points, 400 rebounds, 70 blocks and 50 assists in a single season. Last year, Edey joined Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant as the only high-major players in the last 20 years to rank in the top 10 nationally in both scoring and rebounding in the same season.
Edey was a dominant force every time he stepped onto the court last season. He doesn’t have a perimeter game — that’s up to Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer — but the fact that he could somehow be better this year, something Matt Painter said at Big Ten media day, is wild to think about. How he handles ball screens defensively is a big key to Purdue’s season because teams will try to exploit Edey on that end of the floor with spacing. But overall, we should appreciate the fact that we get to watch the reigning national player of the year for another season in West Lafayette.
Bacot passed Hansbrough last year as UNC’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,335 and counting. Add that to the fact that he also owns the program record for double-doubles with 68, and it becomes quite clear that his career numbers are up there with the best to ever wear Carolina blue. But for Bacot, this upcoming season isn’t about what he does individually. All of those records are great, but as he told me in an exclusive conversation, it’s about charging North Carolina to a second Final Four in the last three years and shedding away the bad taste the Tar Heels had in their mouths last season.
When North Carolina reached the national championship game in 2022, Bacot became the first player in college basketball history to notch six double-doubles in one NCAA Tournament. He is made for the March stage. This upcoming season, his fifth in Chapel Hill, is about getting there again.
Hubert Davis has star guard RJ Davis back to charge the backcourt, while he and his staff crushed it in the transfer portal with Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram coming in from Notre Dame and Stanford, respectively. If five-star freshman Elliot Cadeau comes in and makes an immediate impact as a ball handler, watch out. This UNC team could get to Arizona in April.
In my opinion, Hunter Dickinson is the biggest name to enter the transfer portal in its history. The fact that a former All-American and three-time All-Big Ten selection, who has averaged over 18 points and nine rebounds per game in the last two seasons, left Michigan to go to another program instead of the pro ranks, is really something.
The fact that Dickinson is now pairing up with Hall of Fame head coach Bill Self, who is an offensive mastermind, is scary for the rest of the Big 12 and college basketball. Dickinson joins a Jayhawks program that is setting aim on a second national championship in the last three years. He joins a group that has Dajuan Harris Jr. back at point guard and fellow returnees Kevin McCullar Jr. and KJ Adams in the fold as well.
This feels like a match made in heaven between Dickinson and Self, who called the big man the best offensive post player he’s ever worked with.
[40 players, coaches who will shape the 2023-24 men’s college basketball season]
Filipowski was the third-highest-ranked recruit in Jon Scheyer’s 2022 class, but he quickly established himself as the alpha of that group, going off for 17 points and 14 rebounds in his third college game against Kansas. Filipowski’s versatility and length make him a tough cover for opposing defenses, which led to him recording 16 double-doubles last season. He could have been a top-20 NBA Draft pick had he left after his stellar freshman campaign. Instead, the Duke sensation is back with classmates Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell on a Blue Devils team that ranks No. 2 in the FOX Sports Preseason Top 25.
Filipowski could go from a middle first-round pick in the draft to a top-10 selection if his jumper can evolve. As a freshman, he shot 28% from 3-point range. But more than anything, he’s back at Duke to lead the Blue Devils in their quest to win their first national championship since 2015.
Last season, Kalkbrenner joined Allen Iverson, Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo and seven others as one of only 11 players in the history of the Big East to be named the conference’s defensive player of the year twice. The 7-1 senior is an invaluable rim protector that has totaled 161 rejections over the last two seasons. Being a part of six NCAA Tournament wins at Creighton, more than any player in program history, he averaged 20 points and six rebounds per game during the Jays’ first Elite Eight run in modern tournament history this past year. Not only is he a force on defense, but what stands out about Kalkbrenner is his efficiency. He is adding a 3-pointer, but the way he can play above the rim and execute in screen-and-roll situations is tremendous.
Kalkbrenner led the Big East in field goal percentage in each of the last two seasons, and his 67% clip would be sixth all time in NCAA history for a career. He will be at the forefront of a Creighton team that is ranked No. 6 in the FOX Sports Preseason Top 25. When you combine the guard play of Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander and Steven Ashworth with Kalkbrenner, that’s a lethal formula. His presence means everything to what Greg McDermott wants to do.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, who has gone 61-11 in his first two seasons on the job, unlocked something out of his frontcourt duo of Tubelis and Ballo last year. They combined for 34 points and 17.7 rebounds per game, with Tubelis being named a second-team All-American and becoming one of the best players in the country. This year, Ballo goes from Robin to Batman in Tucson, and the Mali native will look to form a new dynamic pair with San Diego State transfer Keshad Johnson, who was a starter on the national runner-up Aztecs team last season.
[FOX 2023-24 college basketball schedule: 10 dates to circle, how to watch]
Ballo’s evolution has already been really impressive, having more than doubled his numbers from the 2021-22 season when he averaged 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, which led to him being named Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year. Possessing a 7-6 wingspan, Ballo is also an NBA Academy Latin America alum who led Mali to its best finish in the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup. His athletic ability and strength has always been present, but it’s the different ways he can impact the game offensively that is a direct reflection of what Lloyd and his staff are able to do with talent. The Wildcats will have a backcourt filled with options featuring North Carolina transfer Caleb Love, rising star Kylan Boswell, Alabama transfer Jaden Bradley, and returnee Pelle Larsson. Ballo won’t have to fight with Tubelis for touches this year. It’s his show on the interior, and that’s why he is a FOX Sports preseason third-team All-American.
Those numbers don’t look gaudy, but Clingan did that while playing 13.1 minutes per game, serving in a critical role to back up Sanogo on the national championship Huskies team last season. By every account in Storrs and beyond, the sophomore from nearby Bristol, Connecticut is poised for an All-American type season for the Huskies.
Clingan returned to practice this past week after missing the previous four weeks with a right foot strain. His strength, finishing ability around the rim and an emerging 3-point shot make him a really scary player for opposing teams this year. Is he going to be the next great UConn big man? All signs point to that happening, provided the foot doesn’t cause any injury flare-ups.
John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him on Twitter @John_Fanta.
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The No. 7 Texas Longhorns (7-1) and the 15th-ranked scoring defense will host the No. 25 Kansas State Wildcats (6-2) and the 13th-ranked scoring offense on Saturday, November 4. The Wildcats are 4-point underdogs.
The Longhorns’ last game was against the BYU Cougars, and they won by a score of 35-6. In their last contest, the Wildcats won versus the Houston Cougars, 41-0.
Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup between Kansas State and Texas — the point spread, moneyline, total Over/Under and a pick from our betting analyst Geoff Schwartz.
Texas vs. Kansas State Game Information & Odds
When: Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 12:00 PM ET
Location: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas
TV: FOX
Live boxscore on FOX Sports
Texas vs Kansas State Betting Information updated as of November 2, 2023, 8:45 AM ET.
Favorite
Spread (Odds)
Favorite Moneyline
Underdog Moneyline
Total
Over Moneyline
Under Moneyline
Texas
-4 (-110)
-192
+160
49.5
-110
-110
Texas vs. Kansas State Prediction
Pick ATS: Kansas State (+4)
Pick OU: Over (49.5)
Prediction: Texas 27, Kansas State 26
Pick via FOX Sports Betting Expert Geoff Schwartz
I don’t like to be on the side of the public ‘dog when I’m not getting the best of the number, but I do believe Kansas State is going to keep this game close.
The Wildcats are playing outstanding football lately, especially on defense, where they have not allowed a touchdown in nine quarters. Their defense is seventh in points per drive and 23rd in explosive play rate.
Texas is without Quinn Ewers, so Maalik Murphy will make his second start. Murphy has talent, but he’s not Ewers and the Wildcat defense should be able to slow him down. The Longhorns are also struggling to convert on red zone opportunities, and without their starting quarterback — against this defense — that task is even more difficult.
Kansas State’s offense is roaring right now behind Will Howard, running back DJ Giddens and a solid offensive line. KSU is playing a formidable Texas defense, one that is ranked 14th in points per drive and has a havoc rate in the mid-30s. It will be a cage fight between the KSU offense and Texas defense.
This game is evenly matched, with both teams able to do multiple things well. Because Texas has a backup quarterback, the edge goes to Kansas State for me.
I’m taking the Wildcats to cover.
PICK: Kansas State (+4.5) to lose by fewer than 4.5 points (or win outright)
Will Kansas State vs. Texas determine the Big-12 race?
Texas vs. Kansas State Betting Insights
Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the tilt is Longhorns 27, Wildcats 23.
The Longhorns have a 65.8% chance to win this contest based on the moneyline’s implied probability. The Wildcats hold a 38.5% implied probability.
Texas has compiled a 4-4-0 record against the spread this season.
Kansas State has won six games against the spread this year, failing to cover twice.
Texas vs. Kansas State: Head-to-Head
Over their last two meetings, Texas has tallied two wins against Kansas State.
The Longhorns carry a 2-0 record ATS in those games, while the two teams have gone over the point total on one occasion.
Over their last two head-to-head contests, Texas has scored 56 points, while Kansas State has compiled 44.
