WILKES-BARRE, PA – It’s a great time to be alive.
Not only is Thanksgiving a few days away, but this is probably the best time of the year as a sports fan. College basketball is underway, and we’re seeing great non-conference matchups like Duke–Kansas take place, the Division I college football season is nearing championship weekend, this weekend marks the second round of the D3 college football playoffs – shoutout to my alma mater Western New England University securing its first-ever NCAA tournament win on Saturday – and both the NBA and NHL are in their second months of play. A lot of good stuff is going on right now.
That must mean a pretty great set of hot takes, right? Right!
Here’s the latest edition of Ebs’ Hot Takes:
Wow. Dallas Cowboys, just, wow. As I sat at the local watering hole to watch the Buffalo Bills snap their slump and beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, I couldn’t help but glance over at the Dallas Cowboys game, and boy was I impressed.
Sure, Dak Prescott is doing some great things, but it isn’t without the play of his stellar offensive line and, of course, fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott.
I’m sorry New York Giants fans, but the Cowboys have a recipe for success. While their defense isn’t incredible, the efficiency of their running game is the difference. Dallas can control possession like no other.
I still like Seattle better right now, the Cowboys join the Seahawks as the two best teams in the NFC.
The Bronx Bombers are about to make some noise. After freeing up some salary cap space this past week, the New York Yankees are about to make some big moves.
Rumor has it, the Yankees are looking to sign either Edwin Encarnacion or Yoenis Cespedes, or both. If the Yankees sign both, look out! Sorry New York Mets fans, I guess you’ll always be JV.
"#Yankees are going to get either Encarnacion or Cespedes. They may get both, and that wouldn't surprise me." – @JimBowden_ESPN
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) November 20, 2016
Could you imagine a Yankees lineup that goes Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Cespedes, Encarnacion, Gary Sanchez, Starlin Castro, Greg Bird, Chase Headley and Didi Gregorius. My gosh!
If everything falls the Yankees’ way, they could be sitting on top of the AL East next September.
We’re in for some College Football Playoff fun! After the mess that happened two weekends that go, the College Football Playoff field will be up for grabs in a couple weeks.
Essentially, the No. 1 seed will be locked up with Alabama in the top spot, and I expect Clemson to take the second spot after winning the ACC.
The final two slots will be where the fun is.
Here’s how I see it playing out:
Ohio State takes down Michigan this weekend, securing a spot in the Playoff. The Buckeyes are the second-best team in the country, and while they won’t have won a championship game they deserve to have the No. 4 slot.
The last spot, and No. 3 overall, will go to either the Big Ten or Pac-12 champion.
Truthfully, it’ll be hard to put the Pac-12 champion, which will have to be Washington to even have an discussion, with the conference having a down year. Whether it’s Penn State or Wisconsin/Nebraska, the Big Ten champion deserves a spot in the Playoff even if Washington wins the Pac-12. The Big Ten had been the best conference this season and deserves to have its champion in the CFP, even if that team has two losses.
The shakedown: Alabama, Clemson, Penn State and Ohio State
Come back Tuesday for Bangin’ Ben Whitney and please follow us on Twitter at @ByDJEberle & @MeetTheMatts and like our Facebook page, Meet The Matts.
This week’s video is a mannequin challenge. The mannequin challenge has been sweeping the nation the last few weeks, and here’s the Bills’ take. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/aeKVvLOV0RA
