HOW IS YOUR TEAM DOING?

:Report card:  

Yahoo Sports Experts handed out eight A grades, five B grades,
eight C grades, seven D grades

and four F grades (including an F- for the

dumpster fire that is the Chargers).

HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

Three months ago, Mauricio Pochettino signed on to lead the U.S. men through the 2030 World Cup. Now Manchester United has fired Michael Carrick, and Pochettino appears poised to take the job.

So much for a quiet four-year runway.

Many saw this coming. Pochettino got his start at Espanyol in 2009, then ran the show at Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea.

The USMNT was his first national-team job, and even after taking it, he continued to live overseas and fly stateside as needed. Tottenham and AC Milan reportedly showed interest while he was preparing for the World Cup. United had already talked to him about the job three times in a decade.

Now the seat is open again.

For all the turmoil on the pitch and in the boardroom, this is still Manchester United. Think of a big-league manager getting a call from the Yankees. You take the call.

And if Pochettino takes the job, U.S. Soccer would reportedly collect $10 million because he’s under contract. Had he walked when his original deal expired after the World Cup, the federation would have collected zero.

Who’s next? Steve Cherundolo, the former LAFC boss now preparing the U.S. under-23s for the 2028 Olympics, is one name to watch. So is former U.S. assistant B.J. Callaghan, fresh off a historic regular season with Nashville SC.

And if the federation wants to swing for the fences, there’s Pep Guardiola. Ten million dollars would soften the blow. It still leaves U.S. Soccer with a coach to hire and a World Cup to plan for.

FROM THIS WEEK’S PLAYBOOK FOOTBALL NEWSLETTER - Available now to download now. Click here.

Saturday, Nov 14
Wisconsin over MARYLAND by 12

A matchup featuring two teams heading in opposite directions. The Badgers rebounded from a 30-0 shellacking at Iowa two weeks ago to rout Rutgers, 31-10, keeping their slim Big Ten championship game hopes alive. Wisconsin closes out the regular season against three beatable foes in Maryland, Purdue, and Minnesota, and a sweep of those games could enable Luke Fickell’s resurgent squad to be a major spoiler down the stretch. Despite last week’s upset of Purdue, Maryland is going nowhere, currently 3-6 / 1-5, and will wrap up their season with USC and Penn State after the smoke clears today. Maryland has an offense capable of producing explosive passing plays, but its defense has surrendered 415 total yards per game against fellow FBS opponents. Wisconsin’s defense is the real story. The Badgers allow just 286.4 total yards per game, ranking 14th nationally, and allow just 16.3 points per contest. In addition, Bucky takes up residence in this week’s INCREDIBLE STAT OF THE WEEK, which reminds us thatthe Badgers are 27-0 SU / 223 ATS during the regular season when they core at least 34 points. Unlike Aesop’s timeless fable about The Tortoise and the Hare, where the turtle emerges victorious, it’s the Terrapins who end up taking a long nap today.

* The game write-up above comes from this week’s PLAYBOOK Football Newsletter. Download the complete newsletter after 12 Noon ET today at PlaybookSports.com *

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