In today’s newsletter…

1. Leading Off: Previewing the NBA Cup as it tips off tonight with 8 games

2. Bets to Watch: 10 World Series and NBA Cup insights

3. Game of the Day: Dodgers turn to Yamamoto save season

4. Public Money: The 5 NBA matchups where bettors are heavily on one side

5. Overtime: NFL teams need cornerbacks

1. Leading Off

The NBA Cup gets a Halloween tipoff tonight with all 30 teams chasing a prize that's still trying to find its place in the league. The Lakers won the first tournament in 2023 and the Bucks took home the trophy last year. Teams play four games against opponents in their group through late November, with matchups mostly happening on Friday nights. The games count toward the regular season standings, so teams can't just mail it in (there’s also prize money involved).

The six teams that win their groups and two that grab wild card spots will compete in a knockout round in December, with the semifinals and finals in Las Vegas on December 13 and 16.

West Group C looks like the toughest: Houston added Kevin Durant, San Antonio is off to its first ever 5-0 start behind Victor Wembanyama, Golden State sits at 4-2, and Denver has gotten a triple-double from Nikola Jokic in every game so far. The team that needs it least, Oklahoma City, looks to have the easiest path, as they have Minnesota, Sacramento, Phoenix and Utah in their group.

Unsurprisingly, the Thunder are the betting favorites to win the Cup at +230, followed by the Cavaliers (+500), Knicks (+1000), Nuggets (+1100), Magic (+1700) and Rockets (+1800). You can see who is in each group, which are divided by conference, on the NBA’s website.

—Abe Rakov

2. Bets to Watch

Gausman, Yamamoto Combined to Give Up 8 Hits and 4 Runs Across 15.2 Innings in Game 2 Head-to-Head

By Todd Cordell

Dodgers P Yoshinobu Yamamoto under 2.5 earned runs (-153 at DraftKings)
Yamamoto has pitched unbelievably well for months. He has allowed just eight runs over nine starts dating back to August 31st. Only once in that span did Yamamoto…

3. Game of the Day

Dodgers Turn to Yamamoto, Coming Off 2 Straight Complete Game Wins, to Extend World Series in Toronto

The Blue Jays will try to finish off the Dodgers tonight at the Rogers Centre with a chance to win their first World Series title since 1993. Toronto leads the series 3-2 after dominating Game 5 on Wednesday, when rookie Trey Yesavage struck out 12 Dodgers batters. Los Angeles will send Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound, who threw a complete game in a Game 2 win, while Toronto counters with Kevin Gausman.

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays: Toronto up 3-2
8pm ET on FOX

• Spread: Dodgers (-1.5, +114), Blue Jays (+1.5, -134)

• Moneyline: Dodgers -142, Blue Jays +120

• Total (7.5): Over -112, Under -108

Public Money

• Spread: 65% of the money and 54% of the bets are with Los Angeles

• Moneyline: 52% of the money is with Toronto but the bets are 50/50

• Total: 65% of the money and 68% of the bets are on the over

Pitching Matchup

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers): 3-1, 1.57 ERA

  • 10/25 at TOR: 9 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 8 K, 105 pitches, 0 HR, 0 BB

  • 10/14 at MIL: 9 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 7 K, 111 pitches, 1 HR, 1 BB

  • 10/8: vs. PHI: 4 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, 2 K, 67 pitches, 1 HR, 1 BB

  • 10/1 vs. CIN: 6.2 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER (2 R), 113 pitches, 0 HR, 2 BB

• Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays): 2-2, 2.55 ERA

  • 10/25 vs. LAD: 6.2 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, 6 K, 82 pitches, 2 HR, 0 BB

  • 10/17 vs. SEA: 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 4 K, 91 pitches, 1 HR, 3 BB

  • 10/12 vs. SEA: 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 2 ER, 5 K, 76 pitches, 1 HR, 1 BB

  • 10/4 vs. NYY: 5.2 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER, 3 K, 75 pitches, 0 HR, 2 BB

Players to Watch

Dodgers

• Teoscar Hernandez: 18-63 (.328 OBP), 1 2B, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 4 BB, 34 bases, 18 SO

• Enrique Hernandez: 15-55 (.317 OBP), 4 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 22 bases, 19 SO

• Shohei Ohtani: 15-60 (.392 OBP), 2 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 14 RBI, 14 BB, 43 bases, 22 SO

Blue Jays

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 27-65 (.506 OBP), 3 2B, 8 HR, 15 RBI, 12 BB, 54 bases5 SO

• Ernie Clement: 25-64 (.391 OBP), 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 1 BB, 34 bases, 4 SO

• Addison Barger: 18-52 (.414 OBP), 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 BB, 29 bases, 10 SO

4. Public Money

There Are 5 NBA Games Where 58%+ of Spread Bettors are Behind a Team

5. Overtime

In the News 

• ESPN took a look at where the Power 4 college football coaching openings currently stand. Could Texas A&M’s Mike Elko end up at Penn State? Is Lane Kiffin to Florida all but a done deal? Is James Franklin going to get the opportunity he thinks he deserves this year or will he have to wait a season?

• The NFL’s trade deadline is on Tuesday, and there are still plenty of players who could be moved and many teams that need some help. The position most in need: cornerbacks.

• The Nationals are set to hire the youngest MLB manager since 1972, as they’re reportedly finalizing a deal with 33-year-old Blake Butera. He was the youngest manager in baseball when he took over Hudson Valley at 25, then he managed Class A Charleston for two seasons before moving on to the majors.

• The Rose Bowl and Pasadena are suing UCLA for considering moving their home football games to SoFi Stadium, where the Chargers and Rams play. UCLA has called the Rose Bowl home since 1982. The lawsuit asks for more than $1 billion in damages.

What to Watch (times are ET)

• 7pm: Celtics vs. 76ers on Prime (or No. 25 Memphis vs. Rice on ESPN2)

• 7:30pm: North Carolina vs. Syracuse on ESPN

• 8pm: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays for Game 6 on FOX

• 9:30pm: Lakers vs. Grizzlies on Prime