USC QB Caleb Williams now the favorite to win Heisman

While you were sleeping, Caleb Williams jumped past Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud to become the Heisman favorite heading into a big Saturday for both players.

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1. USC QB Caleb Williams now the favorite to win Heisman

USC quarterback Caleb Williams is now the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, followed by Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud in what appears to be a two-man race heading into a pivotal Saturday for both players. The Sporting Tribune has the latest on Williams controlling his Heisman destiny.

Williams, who was +1100 just a week ago at some sportsbooks, is now the -125 favorite with Stroud right behind him at +110. Williams will lead USC into a rivalry game against Notre Dame at the Coliseum on Saturday while Stroud will lead Ohio State into a rivalry game against Michigan at Ohio Stadium. The race is so close that player with the most impressive performance in a win on Saturday will likely be the favorite to win this year’s Heisman Trophy.

2. TST’s NBA Power Rankings Week 6

The Clippers are trending in the right direction with Kawhi Leonard back, Luka Doncic could run away with the MVP, and the Boston Celtics continue to dominate teams. What about the Lakers? The Sporting Tribune’s Brandon Deutsch has you covered in the latest TST NBA Power Rankings.

The Lakers went 2-0 last week defeating the Pistons on Friday and the Spurs on Sunday to continue their now 3-game win streak. Anthony Davis (25.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game with a TS% of 61.5 and a PER of 29.65, 4th in the NBA) is playing like a league MVP without LeBron James as he’s led the Lakers to three straight victories averaging 35 points, 17.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game over that span.

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3. Kurt Suzuki: Surf, Sand & Synchronicity

An exclusive interview with Hawaii native and former Los Angeles Angels catcher Kurt Suzuki, The Sporting Tribune’s Deborah Lew reveals what made him a champion and what his plans are after baseball.

As a kid, Kurt Suzuki hated baseball. No need to read that again. The World Series champion, College World Series champion, and MLB All-Star will be the first to tell you that soccer was his first love and that he was in a soccer club while growing up in Wailuku, Hawaii a city of about 18,000 people located on the island of Maui. “I played baseball because my friends played baseball. I was good at baseball, I just wasn’t in love with it,” says the newly-retired Suzuki.

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4. Dodgers rumors: Justin Verlander, Aaron Judge and a whole lot more

The rumors are starting to heat up as the offseason is in full swing and The Sporting Tribune’s Blake Harris has the latest on the Dodgers, once being attached to a number of big names on the free agent market.

This is a rumor that multiple MLB insiders have reported over the last few weeks. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal first reported the Dodgers’ potential interest last week, saying they could pursue Justin Verlander whether or not the club brings back Tyler Anderson. Well, Anderson isn’t back and the Dodgers have a starting rotation spot to fill out. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi has also been saying Verlander to the Dodgers is a possibility as of late.

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5. Ducks trade rumors, Ducks vs Blues recap and possible changes

Felix Sicard and Jake Rudolph have been doing a podcast about the Ducks since the 2017-2018 Anaheim Ducks season and they will continue to share their insights at The Sporting Tribune.

On this episode of the Crash The Pond Podcast they discuss the latest reports from Elliotte Friedman that the Ducks could soon be active on the trade market, recap the Monday night tilt in St. Louis, and potential changes the Ducks could make to right the ship. Click here to listen.

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6. Powered by Anthony Davis, hot Lakers visit Suns

Anthony Davis is enjoying his best stretch of the season and the Los Angeles Lakers aim to extend their season-long winning streak to four games Tuesday night when they visit the Phoenix Suns. The Sporting Tribune has the latest on the suddenly streaking Lakers.

Davis hadn’t reached the 30-point mark prior to his current run but he is averaging 35 points a game during the span after outings of 37, 38 and 30 points. Davis also is averaging 17.3 rebounds during a stretch in which the Lakers are playing without LeBron James (adductor), who is listed as questionable for Tuesday and could miss his fifth consecutive game. Lakers coach Darvin Ham said the club will continue to be cautious with James. He sees no reason to rush things with the season not even 20 percent over.

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7. Odds and Ends presented by Circa Sports

Here are some odds at Circa Sports if you’re thinking about placing a wager today:

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8. Ticket Time presented by TickPick  

Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today:

New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings: $40

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9. On the Air presented by Pirnia Law

Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region:

7:00 p.m. – Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns – TNT

7:30 p.m. – New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings – Bally Sports West    

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10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune 

On Monday’s show, the crew talked to The Sporting Tribune’s Alysha Del Valle and Fernando Ramirez about the World Cup, Rams, Chargers and streaking Lakers.

Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Fan in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher.

Thank you for reading. Please click below to subscribe to The Morning Column presented by The Sporting Tribune. It’s totally free and will be delivered to your inbox every morning.

That’s it for today. Talk to you all tomorrow!