……….(College Football)…….

National Championship Game….Georgia-vs-Alabama

..Georgia….Coach Kirby Smart-longtime assistant under Nick Saban….Bulldogs led by freshman QB-Jake Fromme….heavy duty RBs-Nick Chubb-Sonny Michel and physical front 7-on defense led by LB-Roquan Smith…..Bulldogs averaging (440YPG) on offense including((267YPG) running the ball….Defense gives up (289YP)….Fromme (2383P-23TD) passing…..Chubb-Michel (2449Y) combined rushing.

..Alabama…Nick Saban goes after 6th national championship-would tie him for most in college football history…Tide offers paced by read-option QB-Jalen Hurts and RBs-Damien Harris and Bo Scarborough….Alabama defense ripped by injuries-4 LBs hurting.Tide averaging (454YPG) on offense..give up (253Y) on defense…Hurts (2910APY) run and pass….RBs Harris-Scarborough combined (1559) on ground…Bama averages (255Y) rushing per game.

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1AA-Championship Game…James Madison-vs-North Dakota State

James Madison…Has won 25-games in a row and goes for 2nd straight 1AA title…Dukes led by QB-Brian Schor and RB-Marcus Mitchell-transfer from Georgia….Dukes averaging (431YPG) on offense.

North Dakota State….Bison are (53-6) in last 3-years…led by veteran QB-Easton Stock.

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(NFL)-Wildcard Weekend

Bills-Jaguars…Jacksonville defense dominant (286YPG)..55-sacks..33-takeaways….Jaguars averaging (141YPG) rushing…and (365YPG) on offense….Bills struggle on offense (302YPG)…Buffalo only 10-turnovers from offense…RB-LeSean McCoy has ailing ankle…WR-Kelvin Benjamin-knee issues.

Titans-Chiefs…KC just 11-turnovers this season…QB-Alex Smith (4042Y-26TD) passing….RB-Kareem Hunt (1327Y) rushing…WR-Tyreek Hill (15YPC)..Travis Kelce (12YPC) receiving….Titans lost 3-of-4 still got to playoffs…QB-Marcus Mariota (3544APY)…but Titans offense just (314YPG)…won’t have RB-DeMarco Murray-knee injury….Defense does have 43QB-sacks…Andy Reid (80-53) with Chiefs…(11-12) in playoff games.

Rams-Atlanta….LA comes off (11-5) season….Hi-octane offense…RB-Todd Gurley (2093APY)…QB-Jared Goff (3804Y-28TD) passing…Big play receiver group…Sammy Watkins (15YPC)…Coopeer Krupp (14YPC)….Robert Woods (14YPC)….Gurley (12YC)…..Wade Philips defense (48-QB sacks…28-takeaways)…..Falcons…Matt Ryan (4095Y-20TD) passing…Julio Jones 14YPC…..Derense giving up just (318YPG)….has 39QB-sacks….

Saints-Carolina…Panthers went (4-4) vs playoff teams….Cam Newton (4056APY) run and pass…28TD-17-turnovers…..Panthers defense gives up just (317PYG)….has 50-sacks…21-takeawys…..Saints explosive-balanced….New Orleans average (391YPG)….QB-Drew Brees (4334Y-23TD) passing…..RBs Marc Ingram (1124Y)-Alvin Kamara (728Y) rushing.

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(NFL Notes)

ESPN…Reporting major feud in Patriots front office between Tom Brady-Bill Belicheck-Tom Brady for handling of Brady personal trainer…and Brady insistence of making key adjustments in game plan with Josh McDaniel.

Patriots…Practice indoors because of blizzard-biting cold weather in Foxboro.

Chargers..Owner Dean Spanos tours new Hollywood Park Stadium-wowed by enormity of project.

Chargers..GM-Tom Telesco says he would consider allowing HBO-Hard Knocks in camp as way to promote team….Says not ready to decide on TE-Antonio Gates-caught (31P) last year….says he takes blame for having to use 5-kickers last year…would invite Nick Novak back for FGs….wants Drew Kisor to kick off.

Steelers…Offensive coordinator Todd Haley suffered fractured pelvis and rib injury in fall outside a bar..denies he was in altercation.

Steelers…Father of LB-Ryan Shazier says his son has recovered some feeling in lower legs after spinal injury at endow season.

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(Coaching)

Broncos…Hire Sean Kugler as OL coach…worked for Bills-Steelers..was head coach at UTEP.

Lions..Interview Winston Moss-Packers for head job.
Lions..Interview Pat Shurmtur-Vikings

Raiders..Interview Greg Olson-Rams for possible Off Coor job
Raiders..Will talk to Rich Gannon about QB-coaching job

Bears..Interview George Edwards-Vikings for head job
Miami..Hire Dowell Loggains-as Off Coor
Miami..Hire Jeremiah Washburn-OL coach-ex Bears

Broncos..Hire Mike Sullivan-QB coach-e Giants
Broncos..Hire Curt Bodkins-RB coach-ex Bears

Ravens…Will retain Off Coor Marty Mornhinweg
Bengals..Interview Terul Austin-ex Lions for Def Coor

CFL..Saskatchewan…Release QB-Kevin Glenn after trading for Hamilton Ti-Cats QB-Zach Collaros

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(College Football)

Yale..Mourns passing of Carmen Cozza (87)..won 10-Ivy League titles with Elis…(179-119-5) record..cosched from 1965-1996)

UCLA…WR-Jordan Lasley files for NFL draft…(69R-18YPC)
UCLA..LT-Kolton Miller files for draft.

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…….(Baseball)……….

Padres….To be paid 50M this weekend as their share of the sale of MLB-Media.

Padres..Mourn passing of longtime coach-minor league manager Rob Piccolo-passed away (64) from heart problems on Wednesday…Spent 20Y with organaiziton…played 9-years in majors after being 1st round pick of Oakland A’s….Coached under Greg Riddoch-Jim Riggleman-Bruce Bochy.

Dodgers-Royals-White Sox…engineer 6-player trade..
..Dodgers-acquire relief P-Scott Alexander-KC (2.48-ERA)..Jake Peters-2B-White Sox
..White Sox-pickup P-Luis Avilan-LA (2.93)…P-Joakim Soria-KC
..Royals..Land OF-Eric Mejia-Dodgers (.278)…P-Trevor Oaks (2.67) Dogers

Angels..Sign FA-OF-Eric Young
Angels..Sign FA-2B-Jose Fernandez…hit (.306) in Dodgers system-but released.

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(Roster Moves)

Giants-Pirates..Reopen trade talks for OF-Andrew Mccutcheon…Pittsburgh wants OF-Heliot Ramos and P-Tyler Beede in deal.

Miami-Washington..Open trade talks for Christian Yelich…Marlins want young OFs-Juan Soto-Victor Robels in deal.

Minnesota..Sign FA-OF-Nick Buss-ex Padres..hit (.348-El Paso)
Texas..Sign FA-P-Steve Delabar-ex Reds
Texas..Sign FA-OF-Destin Hood-ex Miami
Reds..Sign FA-PDylan Floro-ex Dodgers
Washington..Sign FA-P-Roman Mendez-Hanshin Tigers
Pirates..Sign FA-P-Shane Carle-ex Rockies
Indians..Sign FA-P-Robert Zarate-ex Tampa Bay

Texas..Open contract talks with FA-OF-Lorenzo Cain-royals

Red Sox..P-Daniel Bard retires because of control problems.

Twins..Sell contract P-Dillon Gee to Chunichi Dragons-Japan

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…….(Basketball)…………

Lakers-Charlotte….Friday night matchup….Lakers lost 8-in row and 10-of-11

Lakers..F-Kyle Kouzma critical of players giving up in giving up 133P in loss to Oklahoma City.

Lakers..NBA clears team of any tampering charge involving Brian Shaw conversation with Paul George this summer before Pacers traded him to Oklahoma City.

Clippers-Oklahoma City

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(College)

USD-W-Portland (81-74)….Toreros miss 4FTs in final 2-minutes…allow Portland to get back in game and then go to OT before winning…Isiah Wright 30-points…Ollin Carter hit key 3 point shot in OT…Juwan Gray basket-free throw and big rebound at end of game….in..WCC action on Thursday night

USD-at-St Mary’s…Sasturday night game

LiAngelo-LaMelo Ball…Brothers arrive in Lithuania …will go thru first practice with team on Friday.

Aztecs…Off weekend…play vs San Jose State next Thursday

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……..(Hockey)…………

Ducks-L-Edmonton….Mike Cammillari scores key goal on overtime shootout…Cam Talbot makes 2-big glove saves vs Ducks in shooting…Both goalies made 33-saves in Oilers (2-1) win.

Kings-L-Calgary…Flames come from behind win…erupted for 4-goals in 2nd period and hung on for (4-3) win.

San Diego Gulls…Open 3-game homestead vs San Jose Barracudas tonight at Sports Arena.

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………(General)…………

Farmers Insurance Open…Tiger Woods commits to play in late January tourney…has played just 1-tourney since last February…coming off 4th back surgery.

PGA…Kapalua Open-Hawaii…1st round….Marc Leishman (-6-67) opening round…Brian Harman (68)…Ricky Fowler (69)

Soccer…English Premier League
..Tottenham Hot Spur-Tie-West Ha…Spurs score in 94th minute.

..Manchester City-vs-Burnley-Saturday…City is (20-0-1)

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