Happy Tuesday, friends and fans!
It’s a well-known fact that the giant panda is the smartest animal on planet Earth. The secret is in their diet. You see, the nutrients in bamboo fibers give the big, cuddly floof monsters the ability to correctly prognosticate the outcome of College Football Playoff games, and unlike Jim Mora, they don’t even need to watch hundreds of games a week. Don’t believe me? See for yourself. Yang Yang, the stage is all yours, my two-toned friend.
.@ZooATL's Yang Yang is back with another #CFAPeachBowl pick. This year he makes his #CFBPlayoff prediction.
— Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (@CFAPeachBowl) December 16, 2019
Who's he got, @OU_Football or @LSUfootball? pic.twitter.com/irt4fpi65e
First of all, for those of you who are less cultured than my boy Yang Yang, the song you hear playing in the video is called ‘Panda’ by rapper Desiigner. I just wanted that to be mentioned because it’s a terribly smart move.
In the song, there’s a line: “I got broads in Atlanta.” Well, Mr. Desiigner, we’ve also got a game to play in Atlanta on Dec. 28, and this prescient panda is picking the Oklahoma Sooners to defeat the No. 1 LSU Tigers. And yes, this pick is straight up, not just the points. Whether or not he’s taking the suspension rumors into account is a mystery, as he’s unfortunately unable to talk.
Now on to today’s Hot Links! Lon Kruger’s men take on Creighton, Lincoln Riley’s passion for recruiting hasn’t waned with transfers, Drew Brees is not a bust and more!
OU Links
- Junior WR CeeDee Lamb was named a Sporting News First Team All-American on Tuesday. Also, senior QB Jalen Hurts and redshirt sophomore C Creed Humphrey were named to the Second Team.
All-American@SportingNews 1️⃣st Teamhttps://t.co/tyd36ZbpFv | #OUDNA#BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/H26a2fV4Ur
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) December 17, 2019
- Speaking of Lamb and Hurts, the WR-QB duo are both finalists for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award — an honor for the nation’s top collegiate player with a connection to the state of Texas. Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray each won the award in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Vote for who you think should win!
Finalists for the @CampbellAward.
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) December 17, 2019
Release ➡️ https://t.co/roAFC5ojF0
Vote ☑️ https://t.co/UhpyjERosg#OUDNA #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/qETVT9v1Q7
- The OU men’s basketball team will be in Omaha tonight to take on the Creighton Bluejays as part of the Big 12-Big East Battle. This marquee non-conference contest tips-off at 7:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on FS1.
Gameday for the inagural Big East-Big 12 Battle.
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) December 17, 2019
Creighton
CHI Health Center
⏰ 7:30 pm CT
FS1
https://t.co/Fpdlcwr9xc pic.twitter.com/dxTV5pctB4
- OU Daily’s Vic Reynolds wrote about Lincoln Riley keeping his foot on the pedal when it comes to recruiting quarterbacks out of high school despite benefitting from transfer QBs during his head coaching tenure.
- Speaking of Riley, now going into his third consecutive CFP semifinal as the Sooners’ head coach, his team is playing a slower, steadier brand of football. Perhaps that could be the difference between finally advancing to the national championship game and more of the same, writes the Tulsa World’s Guerin Emig.
- Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World took a look back on some of Oklahoma’s recent recruiting classes. Which signees panned out as expected, or exceeded expectations altogether? On the other side, which recruits didn’t or quite live up to expectations?
- Four-star DE commit Reggie Grimes is not expected to sign a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period. The No. 2 player in Tennessee made his verbal pledge to OU on Nov. 28.
Around the Sports World
- The New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees now stands alone at the top of the NFL’s all-time career passing touchdowns list with 541. Check out No. 540 — the one that gave him the record. What a legend.
. .
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 17, 2019
Yards leader. Touchdowns leader. RECORD-SLAYER. pic.twitter.com/inFCArqQtV
- The USC Trojans signed offensive coordinator Graham Harrell to a three-year contract extension for $1.2 million. The former Texas Tech QB was one of the hotter names on the coaching market before choosing to stand pat in L.A.
- Seattle Seahawks WR Josh Gordon has been suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL’s substance abuse and PED policies. After missing full seasons for similar issues, a permanent ban from the league for the 28-year-old is not out of the question.
- A Utah Jazz fan who received a lifetime ban from attending games after a confrontation with Russell Westbrook in 2018 has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the team and the former MVP.
- The New York Knicks have played in four straight ‘Star Wars Night’ games during this current road trip. Sounds to me like these teams need to get some new material, because the same theme is tired.
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