In today’s newsletter…
1. Leading Off: NFL’s winningest postseason coach isn’t a first-ballot Hall of Famer
2. Game of the Day: Spurs are just 8-8 since beating Thunder twice in a row
3. Scouting Report: Mavs’ Christie is on best scoring run of career
4. By the Numbers: Bettors are backing road underdog Lakers
5. Overtime: Is Patriots’ Maye injured or not?
1. Leading Off
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes called the decision “insane,” while future NFL Hall of Famer J.J. Watt wrote, “I can’t be reading this right.” LeBron James weighed in on X as well, posting that it was “IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!” The sports world went into shock yesterday when ESPN reported that Bill Belichick, the coach who is second in NFL history in wins and first in playoff victories, wasn’t voted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Belichick won six Super Bowls as head coach of the Patriots and earned another two as the Giants’ defensive coordinator earlier in his career. The 73-year-old, who also served as New England’s general manager, needed 40 of 50 votes from the committee of NFL reporters and luminaries, but according to ESPN he was told last Friday that he didn’t make the cut.
The coach is no stranger to controversy, as the Patriots had two “gates” during his tenure: the Spygate and Deflategate cheating scandals. While his time in New England ended after 24 years with what was called a mutual parting of ways, owner Robert Kraft later said that he actually fired the coach in 2024 after he missed the playoffs in three of his final five seasons. Belichick didn’t win a playoff game after his sixth Super Bowl title with the Patriots in 2019. And of course, his campaign to resurrect his career in college at North Carolina failed pretty spectacularly in his first year with a 4-8 record.
All that aside, most pundits and fans assumed Belichick would easily make it to Canton right away. He’s just 14 wins behind legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula for the most in league history, a mark he’d almost certainly reach in his first or second year if he returns to the pros. And unlike players, who have to be out of the league for five consecutive seasons to be eligible, as a coach he’d only have to wait one year after retiring to be back on the Hall of Fame ballot.
— Abe Rakov
2. Game of the Day
Spurs Are Just .500 Since Back-to-Back Thunder Wins, Rockets Gaining Ground
Victor Wembanyama | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The Spurs are still second behind the Thunder in the West and have the third-most wins in the NBA, but it hasn’t been smooth after winning back-to-back games against Oklahoma City in late December. San Antonio is just 8-8 since, with three sets of back-to-back defeats. The Spurs are coming off a loss to the 12-37 Pelicans after scoring just 95 points. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama has increased his scoring average by two points from December to January, but his supporting cast hasn’t been as consistent as they were when the star was out with an injury.
Houston is 6-2 after an 0-3 West Coast trip, and the team’s leading scorer in five of six has put in at least 32 points. Rockets forward Kevin Durant led the way with an an average of over 29 a game, while center Alperen Sengun had three games in a row with 20 or fewer before netting 33 on Monday — his first 30+ point effort since mid-December. These teams have played twice so far this season and each won at home: San Antonio by 11 in November and Houston in a five-point victory last week.
Spurs (31-15, 14-9 Away) vs. Rockets (28-16, 16-3 Home)
9:30pm on ESPN
The Odds
Spread: SA (+3, -110), HOU (-3, -110)
72% of the money and 63% of the bets are with SA
ATS | SA (road): 11-11-1, HOU (home): 8-11
Moneyline: SA +130, HOU -154
Total (224.5): Over -106, Under -114
SA: 18-29, HOU: 20-24
Head-to-Head
Spurs | Rockets | |
|---|---|---|
Streak | L1 | W2 |
Last 10 | 6-4 | 6-4 |
Points/Game | 117.4 | 116.7 |
Opp Points/Game | 112.4 | 110.5 |
Rebounds/Game | 46.3 | 49.0 |
Opp Rebounds/Game | 43.1 | 39.0 |
Assists/Game | 25.9 | 25.0 |
Players to Watch
SA F Victor Wembanyama | Points: 22.5 (24.2 - 16, 26, 14, 33, 39), Reb: 10.5 (11.1 - 16, 14, 10, 10, 9), Ast: 2.5 (2.8 - 0, 3, 2, 1, 3)
SA G De'Aaron Fox | Points: 17.5 (20.2 - 12, 31, 14, 14, 25), Reb: 3.5 (4.1 - 2, 5, 3, 5, 3), Ast: 5.5 (6.0 - 7, 5, 5, 8, 12)
HOU F Kevin Durant | Points: 25.5 (26.4 - 33, 32, 36, 18, 18), Reb: 5.5 (5.5 - 8, 7, 7, 4, 6), Ast: 4.5 (4.5 - 2, 3, 3, 7, 8)
HOU C Alperen Sengun | Points: 18.5 (21.5 - 33, 19, 13, 20, 21), Reb: 8.5 (9.0 - 9, 1, 8, 13, 8), Ast: 6.5 (6.4 - 6, 5, 7, 9, 4)
*Player stats are shown as: Today’s total (Season average - last 5 games from most recent to oldest)
3. Scouting Report
Banchero Increased Scoring Average 5.5 Points Month Over Month
Paolo Banchero | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Magic F Paolo Banchero (at Heat)
Banchero has 23+ points in five of six games and has improved his scoring average by over 5.5 from December to January (rebounds and assists have very slightly increased). He’s coming off his best output of the season with 37 points in a blowout loss to the Cavaliers, and he also added 10 rebounds. Banchero didn’t light up the scoreboard in his last two matchups against the Heat, both both were in limited minutes — 18 in 32 minutes and nine in 20 minutes). But in his first game of the season he scored 24 points and added 11 rebounds against Miami.
Points: 21.6 (37, 27, 23, 16, 26), Reb: 8.7 (10, 5, 7, 8, 13), Ast: 4.9 (4, 2, 5, 9, 4)
MIA - W2 (5-5 L10) | Points Allowed: 118.0 (23rd), Reb Allowed: 47.4 (30th), Ast Allowed: 27.1 (20th)
Mavericks G Max Christie (vs. Timberwolves)
Christie is on the best scoring run of his career with four games in a row with over 20 points. Prior to this streak, he only had four 20+ point games in his three-plus years in the NBA — just one came before this season. After not attempting double-digit threes all season, Christie has done it in three straight, going a combined 17-32. He’s averaging 18.2 points this month after just 10.7 in December. In an example of how much his season has turned around in 2026, when he played the Timberwolves in November he scored one point after going 0-1 from the field and 1-2 from the free-throw line in just 19 minutes of action.
Points: 13.3 (24, 21, 26, 22, 10), Reb: 3.5 (2, 4, 6, 2, 5), Ast: 2.2 (3, 2, 2, 4, 2)
MIN - W1 (4-6 L10) | Points Allowed: 114.3 (11th), Reb Allowed: 43.2 (9th), Ast Allowed: 26.0 (10th)
Real Madrid F Kylian Mbappé (at Benfica)
Mbappé is in the midst of an historic campaign, especially in Champions League play. The Real Madrid star has 11 goals in seven UCL appearances, but it’s been all or nothing. He’s scored 2, 4, 3 and 2 goals in his four games with goals and zero in the three others. He’s averaged 2.7 shots in his goalless games and 7.0 when he’s found the back of the net. Benfica has been a solid defensive team in UCL play, giving up just 1.7 goals per game with two shutouts, but is just 2-5.
Anytime Goal: -170 (1.8 - 2, 0, 4, 0, 0), 5+ Shots: -135 (6.0 - 4, 0, 6, 3, 5)
BEN - L1 (2-5 UCL) | Goals Allowed: 1.4 (10), Shots Allowed: 10.3 (72)
*Player stats are shown as: Season average (Last 5 games from most recent to oldest). Today’s soccer stats are Champions League only.
4. By the Numbers
Bettors’ Money is With Road Underdog Lakers, Gators Are 3-1 ATS on Road
LeBron James | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
NBA
Lakers (28-17, 16-9 Away) vs. Cavaliers (28-20, 16-11 Home)
LAL (+3, -112), CLE (-3, -108): 55% of the money and 51% of the bets are with LAL
ATS | LAL (road): 14-11, CLE (home): 8-19
Total (234.5) | LAL: 26-19 (116.3 ppg), CLE: 22-26 (119.0 ppg)
Bulls (23-23, 8-13 Away) vs. Pacers (11-36, 8-16 Home)
CHI (-2, -106), IND (+2, -114): 69% of the money and 67% of the bets are with CHI
ATS | CHI (road): 10-11, IND (home): 14-10
Total (237.5) | CHI: 21-25 (117.9 ppg), IND: 18-29 (110.2 ppg)
Hawks (23-25, 14-12 Away) vs. Celtics (29-17, 14-7 Home)
ATL (+6.5, -106), BOS (-6.5, -114): 53% of the money is with ATL but 54% of the bets are with BOS
ATS | ATL (road): 15-11, BOS (home): 10-11
Total (231.5) | ATL: 25-23 (117.8 ppg), BOS: 19-27 (116.6 ppg)
Magic (23-22, 9-12 Away) vs. Heat (25-22, 15-7 Home)
ORL (+3, -110), MIA (-3, -110): 80% of the money and 59% of the bets are with MIA
ATS | ORL (road): 7-14, MIA (home): 13-9
Total (229.5) | ORL: 22-23 (115.0 ppg), MIA: 24-23 (119.7 ppg)
Hornets (19-28, 10-15 Away) vs. Grizzlies (18-26, 9-13 Home)
CHA (-1.5, -112), MEM (+1.5, -108): 83% of the money and 72% of the bets are with CHA
ATS | CHA (road): 15-10, MEM (home): 9-13
Total (230.5) | CHA: 19-28 (116.3 ppg), MEM: 19-25 (115.2 ppg)
Timberwolves (28-19, 12-11 Away) vs. Mavericks (19-27, 14-12 Home)
MIN (-7, -110), DAL (+7, -110): 60% of the money and 64% of the bets are with DAL
ATS | MIN (road): 10-13, DAL (home): 15-11
Total (232.5) | MIN: 22-25 (119.0 ppg), DAL: 20-26 (114.3 ppg)
MCBB
No. 10 Houston (17-2, 5-1 Big 12) vs. TCU (13-7, 3-4 Big 12)
HOU (-8.5, -102), TCU (+8.5, -120): 93% of the money and 79% of the bets are with HOU
ATS | HOU (road): 2-1, TCU (home): 5-8
Total (137.5) | HOU: 9-10 (79.1 ppg), TCU: 9-11 (80.0 ppg)
No. 19 Florida (14-6, 5-2 SEC) vs. South Carolina (11-9, 2-5 SEC)
UF (-10.5, -102), USC (+10.5, -120): 51% of the money is with USC but 67% of the bets are with UF
ATS | UF (road): 3-1, USC (home): 5-8
Total (151.5) | UF: 8-12 (85.2 ppg), USC: 12-8 (78.4 ppg)
Champions League Soccer
Napoli (2-2-3) vs. Chelsea (4-1-2)
NAP +230, CHE +115, Tie +260
Both Teams to Score: Yes -160, No +126
2.5 Total Goals: Over -134, Under +110
Team Total (1.5) | NAP: Over +164, Under -215 (1.0 gpg), CHE: Over -104, Under -122 (2.0 gpg)
Paris Saint-Germain (4-1-2) vs. Newcastle United (4-1-2)
PSG -200, NEW +500, Tie +370,
Both Teams to Score: Yes -180, No +140
3.5 Total Goals: Over +118, Under -144
Team Totals | PSG (2.5): Over +138, Under -178 (2.9 gpg), NEW (0.5): Over -245, Under +186 (2.3 gpg)
5. Overtime
In the News
After multiple post-game reports of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye injuring his shoulder in the win over the Broncos, New England coach Mike Vrabel strategically chose not to clear up the situation yesterday. “There’s not a player on our team that's 100% healthy. I would imagine we’ll go through the injury report, and whenever we have to turn that in, we’ll turn it in,” Vrabel said on WEEI.
In one of the most puzzling NFL head coaching hires of late, the Bills promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to lead the team after firing his boss Sean McDermott. There wasn’t a lack of interest in what could have been the best coaching opening this offseason, but it also comes with the highest expectations since Buffalo just fired a coach that only missed the playoffs once in nine seasons (back in 2018). One has to assume that Bills quarterback Josh Allen was influential in the decision.
College football officials will be “having a discussion on targeting” this offseason, according to a report in Yahoo Sports, as “aspects of the targeting penalty structure are under the proverbial microscope, such as the disqualification punishment.” While the rule has undoubtedly improved player safety, the implementation and added penalties were scrutinized after star Miami cornerback Xavier Lucas was suspended for the first half of the title game because of a targeting call in the Hurricanes’ semifinal win.
The Big Ten isn’t giving national champion Indiana an easy path to defend its title, as the conference scheduled the Hoosiers back-to-back against Ohio State and Michigan in October — the Buckeyes visit Bloomington while Michigan gets the champs at home. Those teams are the last three College Football Playoff champions. Oregon also gets the two traditional Big Ten powers two weeks in a row, with the opposite home field advantage as Indiana.
Brooks Koepka will play in his first non-major tournament on the PGA Tour since he left for LIV Golf nearly four years ago at this weekend’s Farmers Insurance Open. “Obviously this week is a little bit different. Would just like to get this week over and just feel like I can start playing golf again,” Koepka said. The 35-year-old former world No. 1 has won five majors in his career, the last coming in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
What to Watch (times ET)
3pm: Napoli vs. Chelsea on Paramount+
7pm: Lakers vs. Cavaliers on ESPN
7:30pm: Flyers vs. Blue Jackets on TNT
9pm: No. 10 Houston vs. TCU [MCBB] on ESPN2
9:30pm: Spurs vs. Rockets on ESPN
11pm: UCLA vs. Oregon [MCBB] on Big Ten Network
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