<!–

–>

Polk State Faculty might be closed on Friday, November 8, in observance of Veterans Day. Saturday lessons will happen on November 9. Courses and common operations can even happen on Monday, November 11.

Precedence registration for the Spring 2025 Semester at Polk State Faculty begins on November 11 for college kids who’ve accomplished at the least 50% of their program necessities and college students within the following packages: Honors, TRiO, Incapacity Companies, Collegiate Excessive Colleges, and Athletics.

Open registration will start on November 13 for all college students. Courses begin on January 6.

At the moment enrolled college students will register for lessons by way of the Polk Portal. Potential college students ought to submit a free software on-line at polk.edu or by clicking right here.

Faculty employees might be monitoring emails whereas campuses are closed on Friday.

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Britain’s overseas secretary mentioned Monday that reparations for the U.Okay.’s function within the slave commerce are usually not in regards to the “switch of money” and reiterated his nation’s place that leans towards specializing in the long run.

There have been calls from a few of Britain’s former colonies for a reckoning over its function within the transatlantic slave commerce, together with on the latest twenty seventh Commonwealth Heads of Authorities Assembly the place leaders referred to as for a “ significant, respectful and truthful ” dialogue of reparatory justice.

Throughout a go to to Nigeria, Britain’s International Secretary David Lammy informed the BBC that being a descendant of enslaved individuals along with his dad and mom from Guyana, he acknowledges that slavery was “horrendous” and had left “scars.”

Nevertheless, individuals need to take into consideration the long run and to not debate about reparations, Lammy mentioned.

“It’s not in regards to the switch of money, notably at a time of a cost-of-living disaster round a lot of the globe, and positively within the U.Okay.,” he mentioned.

Lammy mentioned Britain is pursuing a brand new strategy to relations with African nations that may ship on “respectful partnerships that hear relatively than inform, ship long-term progress relatively than short-term options and construct a freer, safer, extra affluent continent.”

Whereas a handful of countries have apologized for his or her function in slavery, together with the Netherlands, the U.Okay. — whose wealth was constructed with the assistance of the transatlantic slave commerce — has by no means formally accomplished so.

On the latest Commonwealth summit, King Charles III not directly acknowledged the requires reparations however added the previous couldn’t be modified. He as a substitute urged leaders to search out the “proper language” and an understanding of historical past “to information us in the direction of making the proper decisions in future the place inequality exists.”

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A presidential marketing campaign that has careened by means of a felony trial, an incumbent president being pushed off the ticket and a number of assassination makes an attempt comes right down to a closing dash throughout a handful of states on Election Day eve.

Kamala Harris is spending Monday in Pennsylvania, whose 19 electoral votes supply the biggest prize among the many states anticipated to find out the Electoral School end result. The vice chairman and Democratic nominee will go to working-class areas, together with Allentown, and finish with a late-night Philadelphia rally that features Woman Gaga and Oprah Winfrey.

Donald Trump has 4 rallies in three states, starting in Raleigh, North Carolina and stopping twice in Pennsylvania with occasions in Studying and Pittsburgh, each areas Harris can be visiting Monday. The Republican nominee and former president ends his marketing campaign the way in which he ended the primary two, with a late Monday evening occasion in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

There have been loads of empty seats on the J.S. Dorton Area, a 5,000-seat venue with further seating on the ground within the Raleigh enviornment the place Trump was kicking of his marketing campaign day. One attendee, Ebony Coots, stated she regretted voting for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 and is now backing Trump — however is nervous about Tuesday’s election.

“You recognize, really, I’d attempt to go to a different planet,” Coots, a 48-year-old supply driver, stated if Harris had been to win.

About 77 million People have already got voted early. Both outcome on Election Day will yield a historic end result.

A Trump victory would make him the primary incoming president to have been indicted and convicted of a felony, after his hush-money trial in New York. He’ll acquire the ability to finish different federal investigations pending towards him. Trump would additionally develop into the second president in historical past to win non-consecutive White Home phrases, after Grover Cleveland within the late nineteenth century.

Harris is vying to develop into the primary lady, first Black lady and first particular person of South Asian descent to achieve the Oval Workplace — 4 years after she broke the identical limitations in nationwide workplace by turning into President Joe Biden’s second in command.

The vice chairman ascended to the highest of the Democratic ticket after Biden’s disastrous efficiency in a June debate set into movement his withdrawing from the race — one in all a sequence of convulsions which have hit this 12 months’s marketing campaign.

Trump survived by millimeters a would-be murderer’s bullet at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. His Secret Service element foiled a second try in September when a gunman had arrange a rifle as Trump golfed at one in all his programs in Florida.

Harris, 60, has performed down the historic nature of her candidacy, which materialized solely after the 81-year-old president ended his reelection bid after his June debate towards the 78-year-old Trump accentuated questions on Biden’s age.

As an alternative, Harris has pitched herself as a generational change, emphasised her help for abortion rights after the Supreme Court docket’s 2022 choice ending the constitutional proper to abortion companies, and frequently famous the previous president’s position within the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Assembling a coalition starting from progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York to Republican former Vice President Dick Cheney, Harris has referred to as Trump a risk to democracy and late within the marketing campaign even embraced the critique that Trump is precisely described as a “ fascist.”

Heading into Monday, Harris has largely stopped mentioning Trump. She is promising to unravel issues and search consensus, whereas sounding an nearly completely optimistic tone harking back to her marketing campaign’s opening days when she embraced “the politics of pleasure” and the marketing campaign theme “Freedom.”

“From the very begin, our marketing campaign has not been about being towards one thing, it’s about being for one thing,” Harris stated Sunday night at Michigan State College.

In Allentown, house to tens of hundreds of Puerto Ricans, Harris will maintain a rally with rapper Fats Joe earlier than visiting a Puerto Rican restaurant in Studying with Ocasio-Cortez. Each Fats Joe, whose actual title is Joseph Cartagena, and Ocasio-Cortez, are of Puerto Rican heritage. The stops come after a comic book at a latest Donald Trump rally instructed that Puerto Rico was a “floating island of rubbish.”

The previous president, renewing his “Make America Nice Once more” and “America First” slogans, has made his hard-line method to immigration and withering criticisms of Harris and Biden the anchors of his argument for a second administration. He’s hammered Democrats for an inflationary economic system, and he’s pledged to steer an financial “golden age,” finish worldwide conflicts and seal the U.S. southern border.

However Trump additionally has veered typically into grievances over being prosecuted after attempting to overturn Biden’s victory and repeatedly denigrated the nation he desires to steer once more as a “failed nation.”

As just lately as Sunday, he renewed his false claims that U.S. elections are rigged towards him, mused about violence towards journalists and stated he “ shouldn’t have left” the White Home in 2021 — darkish turns which have overshadowed one other anchor of his closing argument: “Kamala broke it. I’ll repair it.”

The election is prone to be determined throughout seven states. Trump gained Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin in 2016 solely to see them flip to Biden in 2020. North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada add the Solar Belt swath of the presidential battleground map.

Trump gained North Carolina twice and misplaced Nevada twice. He gained Arizona and Georgia in 2016 however noticed them slip to Democrats in 2020.

Harris’ group has projected confidence in latest days, pointing to a big gender hole in early voting knowledge and analysis exhibiting late-deciding voters have damaged her manner. In addition they consider within the energy of their marketing campaign infrastructure. This weekend, the Harris marketing campaign had greater than 90,000 volunteers serving to end up voters — and knocked on greater than 3 million doorways throughout the battleground states. Nonetheless, Harris aides have insisted she stays the underdog.

Trump’s group has projected confidence, as effectively, arguing that the previous president’s populist enchantment will entice youthful and working-class voters throughout racial and ethnic strains. The concept is that Trump can amass an atypical Republican coalition, at the same time as different conventional GOP blocks — notably college-educated voters — develop into extra Democratic.

___

Barrow reported from Washington. Related Press author Makiya Seminera in Raleigh, North Carolina and White Home Correspondent Zeke Miller, and reporters Will Weissert and Michelle L. Worth, contributed from Washington.

At Tennessee, they’re including a ‘expertise charge’ to the value of sports activities tickets. At Arkansas, they are going to cost 3% extra on the concessions stands. At Michigan and Michigan State, athletic administrators despatched letters alerting boosters that profitable goes to begin costing extra. And, in a primary, Clemson goes to begin including an athletic surcharge to tuition payments.

Profitable at big-time faculty sports activities has by no means been free, however in a quickly altering period by which gamers are allowed to earn cash and be paid by their very own faculties, it has by no means been clearer that followers can be choosing up an even bigger a part of the tab.

“School athletics hasn’t professionalized as a lot as I feel it was able to,” mentioned Nels Popp, a College of North Carolina sports-business professor who believes most faculties nonetheless depend on followers’ emotional, long-held faculty ties greater than bottom-line advertising and marketing methods. “And now, I feel that is forcing them in that route.”

When the NCAA reluctantly authorized funds to gamers to be used of their names, photos and likenesses (NIL) in 2021, boosters who used to present to colleges and their athletic departments began funneling cash to collectives — unbiased organizations that raised the cash and paid the athletes. These collectives have gotten increasingly intently linked to the schools.

Below phrases of a $2.8 billion lawsuit settlement that’s on observe to take impact subsequent 12 months, the NIL offers will stay in full drive and the colleges themselves can be coping with different multimillion-dollar adjustments to their backside strains, together with:

— Every faculty with the cash to do will probably be allowed to share as a lot as $22 million in annual income with athletes — cash they get from tickets gross sales, TV contracts and different sources. They will share much less, however high recruits can be entrance of thoughts within the arms race for expertise.

—The quantity the NCAA pays greater than 350 Division I faculties yearly goes to drop. The group is on the hook to cowl some $1.2 billion in damages underneath the settlement and the remaining can be coated by conferences that may see much less cash shared annually from the NCAA and its profitable males’s basketball event.

— Colleges can be allowed to supply extra scholarships throughout all sports activities and that prices cash. For example, a faculty might supply as much as 20 further scholarships for a complete of 105 in soccer. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel mentioned including scholarships throughout sports activities might add $29 million in training prices to the division’s backside line. And that’s on high of the income sharing.

“Sustaining a excessive stage of help for our 29 NCAA athletic packages will take an elevated dedication from everybody,” Manuel wrote to Wolverines followers final month.

One chance for Michigan may be putting promoting within Michigan Stadium, a observe the Wolverines have steadfastly prevented over the many years. The college additionally despatched out a current survey asking, amongst different questions, if followers had been prepared to pay between $3,000 and $4,000 for a brand new tranche of chairback seats, that are uncommon exterior of membership sections at The Huge Home.

Not all followers are signing on amid ‘donor fatigue’

In 2023, it value two followers an common of round $180 to attend a university soccer sport and about $340 to go to an NFL sport. In spite of everything, faculty sports activities didn’t have to fret in regards to the greatest expense on a professional group’s finances — participant salaries.

NIL began chipping away at that, and as soon as the phrases of the lawsuit settlement go into impact, that dynamic will shift much more. Michigan State AD Alan Haller informed Spartans followers his division’s ’25-26 finances will embrace between $25 million to $30 million in added bills.

“As a division, we are going to proceed to discover new alternatives for each income era and value containment,” Haller mentioned. “Nonetheless, unquestionably, your continued generosity and involvement can be paramount to our quest for excellence.”

Some followers will undoubtedly maintain writing checks to maintain the gamers — and hopefully, the wins — coming, together with retaining their “rights” to purchase a sure variety of tickets for soccer video games.

A tour across the car parking zone earlier than this season’s Michigan-Michigan State sport discovered others who sounded extra reluctant.

“The worth of the training is out of hand,” mentioned Michigan State fan Mike Bouchard, citing a greater than $55,000 value for an out-of-state undergrad to attend his alma mater. “There’s completely no method I’m going to dig into my pocket over and above that quantity. Inform them to make use of their tons of of thousands and thousands in endowments.”

“Completely not,” mentioned Ann Arbor resident Michael Ketslakh when requested if he would give extra to help Michigan athletics. “I feel it’s extreme. It’s dangerous for the sports activities.”

Rick Karcher, the college athletics consultant at Japanese Michigan, mentioned followers proceed to pay as a result of, not like professional sports activities the place everybody is aware of the income go to billionaire house owners, the financial fashions in faculty are sometimes exhausting to nail down.

“School sports activities followers, college students and boosters are prepared to proceed absorbing the operational prices whereas the group’s coaches and directors get richer as a result of they view athletics as separate from the college,” he mentioned.

Colleges search for different methods of absorbing larger prices

Earlier this fall, Texas Tech mentioned it was budgeting $14.7 million for this fiscal 12 months — about $9 million greater than the earlier 12 months — in help for the athletic program, which has a finances of almost $129 million.

“I feel if any unit on this campus was going through a 20-something-percent minimize of their income, we must take a look at how we would reply, and we are going to on this case,” faculty President Lawrence Schovanec defined.

Texas Tech is hardly alone in contributing to its athletic program, however not each faculty runs by the identical mannequin. At Florida, as an example, sports activities are run by the College Athletic Affiliation, which not solely has funded sports activities however has usually given a reimbursement to the college.

A story within the student-produced Florida Impartial Alligator mentioned UF sports activities income was eighth-highest within the nation; two of its greatest boosters have given eight-figure sums to the UAA’s fundraising arm.

Clearly, although, it’s not solely eight-figure donations that may maintain faculty sports activities working.

Tennessee was among the many first to seize headlines early within the soccer season when AD Danny White mentioned the college was including a ten% “expertise charge” for 2025 soccer ticket renewals. That was on high of a 4.5% hike in ticket costs.

“That connection between assets and competitiveness has by no means been tighter,” White mentioned. “Solely now we’ve got the power to share these assets with our athletes.”

At Arkansas, AD Hunter Yurachek defined the three% charge on concessions in a letter to followers that famous the significance of constant to “maximize further income alternatives” At Clemson, which lengthy prided itself on not charging charges or ticket costs to college students, the plan is to boost between $7 million and $8 million by including a $150 “athletic charge” per semester to the value of tuition. The Tigers have been to 4 nationwide title video games over the previous decade and received it twice.

“I feel it’s type of ridiculous, however there comes some extent when we’ve got adequate sports activities groups that it’s type of legitimate,” pupil Sam Gault informed South Carolina’s WSPA-TV when the charge was unveiled earlier this month.

To win large, faculties must pay large, and easily fielding a aggressive group is not a given. The query hanging over faculty sports activities is the place the cash will come from.

“You’ll be able to pay extra for tickets, put a sponsor patch on the uniforms, minimize non-revenue sports activities or (begin calling) the Huge 12, the ‘Dr. Pepper Convention,’” mentioned Popp, the professor at North Carolina. “I don’t assume followers are anxious for any of these, however what may they be prepared to simply accept? I feel that’s what athletic departments have to determine.”

___

AP Sports activities Author Larry Lage in Ann Arbor, Michigan contributed

___

Get ballot alerts and updates on the AP Prime 25 all through the season. Join right here. AP faculty soccer: and

In a deeply divided nation, the election is a real toss-up between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

We all know there are seven battleground states that can resolve the result, barring a serious shock. However main questions persist in regards to the timing of the outcomes, the make-up of the voters, the inflow of misinformation — even the opportunity of political violence. On the similar time, either side are ready for a protracted authorized battle that would complicate issues additional.

Right here’s what to observe on the eve of Election Day 2024:

Historical past shall be made both approach

Given all of the twists and turns in current months, it’s simple to miss the historic significance of this election.

Harris would change into the primary feminine president in the USA’ 248-year historical past. She would even be the primary Black girl and particular person of South Asian descent to carry the workplace. Harris and her marketing campaign have largely performed down gender and race fearing that they could alienate some supporters. However the significance of a Harris win wouldn’t be misplaced on historians.

A Trump victory would characterize a special sort of historic accomplishment. He would change into the primary particular person convicted of a felony elected to the U.S. presidency, having been convicted of 34 felony counts in a New York hush-money case little greater than 5 months in the past.

Trump, who remains to be dealing with felony fees in a minimum of two separate prison circumstances, argued that he’s the sufferer of a politicized justice system. And tens of hundreds of thousands of voters apparently consider him — or they’re keen to miss his extraordinary authorized baggage.

How lengthy will it take to know the winner?

Election Day in the USA is now typically thought of election week as every state follows its personal guidelines and practices for counting ballots — to not point out the authorized challenges — that may delay the outcomes. However the fact is, no one is aware of how lengthy it can take for the winner to be introduced this time.

In 2020, The Related Press declared President Joe Biden the winner on Saturday afternoon — 4 days after polls closed. However even then, The AP referred to as North Carolina for Trump 10 days after Election Day and Georgia for Biden 16 days later after hand recounts.

4 years earlier, the 2016 election was determined simply hours after most polls closed. The AP declared Trump the winner on election night time at 2:29 a.m. (it was technically Wednesday morning on the East Coast).

This time, each campaigns consider the race is extraordinarily shut throughout the seven swing states which are anticipated to resolve the election, barring a serious shock: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The dimensions of the map and the tightness of the race make it onerous to foretell when a winner could possibly be declared.

The place can I discover early clues about how the competition may unfold?

Look to 2 East Coast battleground states, North Carolina and Georgia, the place the outcomes may are available in comparatively rapidly. That doesn’t imply we’ll get the ultimate leads to these states rapidly if the returns are shut, however they’re the primary swing states which may supply a way of what sort of night time we’re in for.

To go deeper, look to city and suburban areas within the industrial North and Southeast, the place Democrats have made good points since 2020.

In North Carolina, Harris’ margins in Wake and Mecklenburg Counties, residence to the state capital of Raleigh and the state’s largest metropolis, Charlotte, respectively, will reveal how a lot Trump might want to squeeze out of the less-populated rural areas he has dominated.

In Pennsylvania, Harris wants heavy turnout in deep blue Philadelphia, however she’s additionally seeking to enhance the Democrats’ benefit within the arc of suburban counties to the north and west of the town. She has campaigned aggressively in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, the place Biden improved on Clinton’s 2016 successful margins. The Philadelphia metro space, together with the 4 collar counties, accounts for 43 % of Pennsylvania’s vote.

Elsewhere within the Blue Wall, Trump must blunt Democratic progress in Michigan’s key suburban counties exterior of Detroit, particularly Oakland County. He faces the identical problem in Wisconsin’s Waukesha County exterior of Milwaukee.

The place are the candidates?

Trump will possible spend the very early hours of Election Day in Michigan, the place he’s scheduled to carry a last late-night rally in Grand Rapids as has change into his custom.

The Republican candidate plans to spend the remainder of the day in Florida, the place he’s anticipated to vote in particular person — regardless of beforehand saying he would vote early. He’s scheduled to carry a marketing campaign watch occasion in Palm Seaside Tuesday night time.

Harris plans to attend an Election Night time occasion at Howard College in Washington, a traditionally Black college the place she graduated with a level in economics and political science in 1986 and was an energetic member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Except for Howard, she has no public schedule introduced for Election Day.

Harris mentioned Sunday that she had “simply crammed out” her mail-in poll and it was “on its method to California.”

Who’s left to point out up on Election Day?

On the eve of Election Day, it’s unclear which voters will present as much as solid ballots on Tuesday.

Greater than 77 million folks participated in early voting — both in particular person or by the mail. So many individuals already solid ballots that some officers say the polls in states like Georgia may be a “ghost city” on Election Day.

One main cause for the surge is that that Trump has typically inspired his supporters to vote early this time, a reversal from 2020 when he referred to as on Republicans to vote solely in-person on Election Day. The early vote numbers verify that hundreds of thousands of Republicans have heeded Trump’s name in current weeks.

The important thing query, nevertheless, is whether or not the surge of Republicans who voted early this time will in the end cannibalize the variety of Republicans who present up on Tuesday.

There are additionally shifts on the Democratic aspect. 4 years in the past, because the pandemic lingered, Democrats overwhelmingly solid their ballots early. However this time round, with out the general public well being danger, it’s possible that extra Democrats will present up in particular person on Election Day.

That steadiness on either side is essential as we attempt to perceive the early returns. And it’s on the campaigns to know which voters they nonetheless must end up on Tuesday. On that entrance, Democrats could have a bonus.

Trump’s marketing campaign and the Republican Nationwide Committee have outsourced a lot of their get-out-the-vote operation operation to exterior teams, together with one funded largely by billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk that’s dealing with new questions about its practices. Harris’ marketing campaign, in contrast, is operating a extra conventional operation that options greater than 2,500 paid staffers and 357 places of work in battleground states alone.

May there be unrest?

Trump has been aggressively selling baseless claims in current days questioning the integrity of the election. He falsely insists that he can lose provided that Democrats cheat, at the same time as polls present that present the race is a real toss-up.

Trump may once more declare victory on election night time whatever the outcomes, simply as he did in 2020.

Such rhetoric can have severe penalties because the nation noticed when Trump loyalists stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in one of many darkest days in fashionable American historical past. And sadly, there may be nonetheless a possible of additional violence this election season.

The Republican Nationwide Committee can have 1000’s of “election integrity” ballot screens in place on Tuesday looking for any indicators of fraud, which critics worry may result in harassment of voters or election staff. In some key voting locations, officers have requested the presence of sheriff deputies along with bulletproof glass and panic buttons that join ballot managers to a neighborhood 911 dispatcher.

On the similar time, Trump allies word that he has confronted two assassination makes an attempt in current months that increase the opportunity of additional threats in opposition to him. And police in Washington and different cities are making ready for the opportunity of severe Election Day unrest.

As all the time, it’s value noting {that a} broad coalition of prime authorities and trade officers, lots of them Republicans, discovered that the 2020 election was the “most safe” in American historical past.”

LaLiga leaders Barcelona beat Espanyol 3-1 within the Catalan derby on Sunday because of a first-half double from Dani Olmo and a purpose from Raphinha to increase their unbeaten run over their native rivals to 27 video games.

The victory moved Barça 9 factors away from Actual Madrid, who didn’t play at Valencia this weekend after their match was postponed because of the devastating floods within the area. Espanyol are seventeenth, a degree above the relegation zone.

Barça, who thrashed Actual Madrid 4-0 final weekend, may have stored one other clear sheet however Javi Puado scored for Espanyol, who had been unfortunate to have two objectives chalked off by VAR for marginal offsides.

“We’re going little by little, it is crucial to maintain profitable. We have come off a great week. Espanyol weren’t going to come back right here and provides us something however we obtained the three factors, so it is mission achieved,” Olmo mentioned.

“We’re a facet which have a whole lot of objectives, up prime and from gamers in midfield. We determined to play immediately and we create a whole lot of probabilities in each recreation.”

Barça dominated possession from the outset and practically scored an early purpose with a neat passing transfer however Olmo’s header from the centre of the field went over to present Espanyol a reprieve.

Moments later 17-year-old Lamine Yamal performed him by means of with a luxurious move utilizing the surface of his left boot and Olmo fired it house first time to open the scoring.

Barça’s second purpose got here from one other elegant help from close to the centre circle when Marc Casadó’s lob over the defence discovered Raphinha who chipped his shot over the onrushing keeper to make it 2-0.

Espanyol thought that they had halved the lead when Jofre Carreras discovered the web from a counter-attack however his strike was dominated out by VAR as proper again Omar El Hilali had strayed offside.

Barça then rubbed salt into the wound when an unmarked Olmo discovered area exterior the field and he pulled the set off, beating the outstretched arm of keeper Joan García to seek out the again of the web for his fifth LaLiga purpose in 5 video games this season.

Olmo had no alternative to seize a hat trick when Hansi Flick withdrew him 10 minutes into the second half, whereas Espanyol had one more purpose dominated out as Barca’s well-oiled offside lure got here to their rescue as soon as once more.

Espanyol lastly beat the lure and Carlos Romero discovered Puado, who managed to attain previous Iñaki Peña in Barça’s purpose.

Barça weren’t as efficient in assault within the second half, particularly after Olmo’s withdrawal, however Flick’s facet did sufficient to assert the three factors.

“Within the first half they had been discovering one another simply within the center they usually had a shot from exterior the field, we modified that and rectified it within the second half,” Puado mentioned.

“Towards these sides it’s essential to have an ideal recreation. In any other case it is troublesome to win, particularly when it is 3-0; it is troublesome to come back again.”

Twelve video games. Eleven wins. Forty objectives. FC Barcelona have continued their relentless kind by extending their unbeaten run within the Barcelona derby to an astonishing 27 video games.

As in so many matches this season, Barça bought the job accomplished rapidly. Three objectives up after half an hour of play, there was by no means actually any doubt how this one was going to finish, however to their credit score Espanyol did their greatest to forestall the inevitable.

Barça eased off within the second half. With good purpose, for the job was already nearly as good as accomplished. However that did permit Espanyol possibilities to get again within the recreation, and the blue-and-whites really scored 4 instances. Luckily, solely one of many 4 handed the VAR take a look at, and though the victory wasn’t fairly as comfy as one may need suspected early on, the three factors have been by no means in any actual doubt.

Poignant minute’s silence

In fact, that is the sport that members of each groups insisted maybe mustn’t have been performed in any respect. Given the tragic occasions of the previous couple of days, soccer is much from individuals’s minds in Spain proper now. However these issues are past the membership’s management, and an impeccably noticed minute’s silence earlier than the sport confirmed simply how a lot the blaugrana neighborhood stands with the victims of the disaster. 

Olmo on the double

However on with the sport, and Barça made their superiority inform from the very begin. The derby was nearly as good as determined earlier than the half-time whistle had blown.

The house facet already led 3-0, with two of the objectives coming from Dani Olmo, bvack within the beginning line-up right now and as insatiable as he was earlier than his damage.

He solely wanted 12 minutes to get the primary. Lamine Yamal flicked the ball exquisitely by the Espanyol defence and Olmo was faster then everybody to pop it at the back of the online.

And the 26-year-old was on course once more simply previous the half hour mark, gathering the ball on the sting of the realm and neatly delivering probably the most excellent of finishes. His fifth purpose of the season, at that time averaging one each 49 minutes.

In between, Raphinha had moved as much as joint second within the Liga goalscoring charts together with his seventh purpose of the season. For this one it was Marc Casadó supplying the by ball, and the Brazilian deftly met the ball to flip it over Espanyol keeper Joan García.

Espanyol maintain battling

Regardless of the seeming inevitability of a humiliating defeat, Espanyol refused to go down with out a combat. Iñaki Peña was actually no bystander, and never solely Jofe Carreras but in addition Alvaro Tejedo really scored, solely to be denied in each circumstances by the narrowest of offside calls.

Moments after the guests has been scuppered by VAR for the second time, Javi Puado had the ball within the Barça internet but once more. It was one other shut name, however this time there was no let-off and Espanyol had one thing on the board.

What had began to appear to be a stroll within the park was now not fairly such a mild stroll. Espanyol then struck as soon as extra, however replays clearly confirmed that ball had gone out of play within the build-up.

However irrespective of how arduous Espanyol tried, the three factors at all times appeared secure, and on a day of disallowed objectives, there was time for another earlier than the ultimate whistle, and this time for Barça as substitute Ansu Fati was flagged for offside within the closing minutes.

With Actual Madrid not enjoying this weekend, the win a minimum of quickly leaves Barça an immense 9 factors clear on the prime of the desk. Subsequent up it’s a visit to Serbia and a midweek Champions League date with Crvena Zvezda, AKA Purple Star Begrade.

The Tennessee Titans host the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in a matchup of groups which have struggled in 2024. Tennessee (1-6) enters off a 52-14 blowout loss in Detroit, whereas New England (2-6) upset the New York Jets, 25-22 in Week 8. The Patriots received the groups’ final matchup, 36-13 in November 2021. The Titans are 1-6 towards the unfold, whereas the Patriots are 2-5-1 ATS in 2024.

Kickoff from Nissan Stadium is about for 1 p.m. ET. Tennessee is a 3-point favourite within the newest Titans vs. Patriots odds by way of SportsLine consensus, whereas the over/beneath for whole factors is 38.5. Earlier than making any Patriots vs. Titans picks, you could see the NFL predictions and betting recommendation from the confirmed laptop mannequin at SportsLine.

The mannequin, which simulates each NFL recreation 10,000 instances, is up nicely over $7,000 for $100 gamers on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The mannequin enters Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season on an unbelievable 13-5 betting sizzling streak on top-rated NFL picks this 12 months. Long term, it’s on a 194-134 roll on top-rated NFL picks that dates again to the 2017 season and a 48-27 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of 2022.

The mannequin additionally ranked within the prime 10 on NFLPickWatch 4 of the previous six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat greater than 94% of CBS Sports activities Soccer Decide’em gamers 4 instances throughout that span. Anybody following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen sturdy returns.

Now, the mannequin has set its sights on Patriots vs. Titans and simply locked in its picks and NFL Week 9 predictions. You possibly can head to SportsLine now to see the mannequin’s picks. Listed below are a number of NFL odds and betting strains for Titans vs. Patriots:

• Titans vs. Patriots unfold: Titans -3
• Titans vs. Patriots over/beneath: 38.5 factors
• Titans vs. Patriots cash line: Titans -167, Patriots +141
• Titans vs. Patriots picks: See picks at SportsLine
• Titans vs. Patriots streaming: FuboTV (Attempt without cost)

Why the Patriots can cowl

Regardless of solely totaling 248 yards, the Patriots managed to sneak by the Jets as a landing underdog final week. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye, nevertheless, was knocked out early with a concussion. He’s questionable for Week 9, but when Maye cannot go, New England will depend on veteran Jacoby Brissett, who rallied the workforce from behind vs. New York. 

Operating again Rhamondre Stevenson was held to 48 yards dashing on 20 carries, however scored two touchdowns and caught a two-point conversion. In seven video games this season, the Patriots’ prime offensive playmaker has scored 5 instances. Tight finish Hunter Henry is the workforce’s main go catcher with 358 yards and a landing on 32 receptions. See which workforce to choose right here.

Why the Titans can cowl

With uncertainty at quarterback for Tennessee resulting from Will Levis’ multi-week harm, Mason Rudolph would possibly get one other alternative to begin on Sunday. Levis is formally listed as questionable with a shoulder harm. Whether or not it is Levis or Rudolph on the helm, the Titans have viable playmakers on offense regardless of buying and selling away vast receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Kansas Metropolis previous to Week 8. Operating again Tony Pollard has been a hit in his first 12 months in Tennessee, dashing for 494 yards and three scores whereas including 109 yards receiving, although he’s questionable as nicely with a foot harm.

Although he has solely caught one landing, vast receiver Calvin Ridley has 326 yards on 22 catches, regardless of being focused 51 instances. With Hopkins out of the combo, Ridley is the alpha WR within the offense and will put up some notable stat strains within the coming weeks. Regardless of final week’s shellacking in Detroit, Tennessee’s protection leads the league, surrendering solely 265.4 yards per recreation. See which workforce to choose right here.

Easy methods to make Patriots vs. Titans picks

The mannequin has simulated New England vs. Tennessee 10,000 instances and the outcomes are in. It’s leaning Below on the purpose whole, and it additionally says one aspect of the unfold hits greater than 50% of the time. You possibly can solely see the mannequin’s Titans vs. Patriots decide at SportsLine.

So who wins Patriots vs. Titans on Sunday, and which aspect of the unfold hits greater than 50% of the time? Go to SportsLine proper now to see which aspect of the Titans vs. Patriots unfold try to be throughout Sunday, all from the mannequin on a 194-134 roll on its top-rated NFL picks, and discover out.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Wherever this robust begin to the season winds up main the Minnesota Vikings, it’s clear that perception and resilience will likely be chargeable for a big measure of their success.

Sam Darnold overcame 4 sacks and three turnovers by throwing three second-half landing passes, and the Minnesota protection made Indianapolis quarterback Joe Flacco’s return to the beginning function a tough one because the Vikings beat the Colts 21-13 on Sunday evening.

“I’m positive Sam will likely be onerous on himself for these two interceptions, however I’m going to remain aggressive with him due to my confidence in him,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell stated.

Justin Jefferson had 137 receiving yards, Jordan Addison made a one-handed diving seize within the again nook of the top zone to get Minnesota on the board after a sloppy and scoreless first half, and Jalen Nailor had the tiebreaking landing reception to assist the Vikings (6-2) cease a two-game skid.

“The turnovers are nothing. These are simply little minor errors that we will repair simply,” Jefferson stated. “We’ve simply obtained to guard the ball, simply not attempt to make that huge play. Sam is an outstanding quarterback.”

Kenny Moore II had a 38-yard fumble return within the second quarter, the one landing for the Colts (4-5) of their first sport all season that wasn’t determined by six factors or fewer.

“It positively exhibits that if we might have made this one play right here or this one play right here, issues might be completely different,” vast receiver Alec Pierce stated.

Flacco changed Anthony Richardson, with the 2023 fourth general NFL draft choose struggling badly and turning into the self-created topic of per week of scorching takes after taking himself out for a play final week as a result of he was drained.

The AP NFL Comeback Participant of the Yr award winner with Cleveland final season after he got here off his sofa to assist the Browns make the playoffs, Flacco went 16 for 27 for 179 yards and one interception.

“Coming in right here towards a group like that is going to be troublesome,” Flacco stated, “however I don’t suppose you ever anticipate one thing like that.”

He moved the Colts to the Minnesota 40 halfway by the fourth quarter going through a 14-10 deficit, however Harrison Smith, who recovered an opening-drive fumble by Jonathan Taylor, broke up consecutive passes to power a turnover on downs.

“Generally going by sure conditions may also help you develop. There’s no development in consolation,” Smith stated. “I feel we took a step in the appropriate course.”

Darnold, who completed 28 for 34 for 290 yards, hit Josh Oliver for the game-sealing rating with 2:05 left.

“That’s not the way you draw it up, for positive, however we’ve battled by adversity all through this 12 months and we do it in video games as nicely,” Darnold stated. “We’ve obtained a extremely resilient group.”

A a lot much less dramatic comeback

The Vikings set an NFL document two years in the past by rallying from a 33-0 halftime deficit to beat the Colts 39-36 in time beyond regulation, and their first half was eerily just like that sport. The handy distinction was they solely trailed by a landing, after limiting the Colts to 92 yards on 20 performs.

Will Reichard, who began his rookie season by making his first 34 kicks, grew to become the final common within the league to overlook by pulling a 53-yard area aim attempt proper. Then his 31-yarder bounced off the appropriate upright.

Darnold spoiled a promising first possession for the Vikings with an on-the-run, across-his-body throw to T.J. Hockenson in double protection that was intercepted ultimately zone by Zaire Franklin.

After Byron Murphy picked off Flacco within the fourth quarter, Darnold gave it proper again on the following play when Nick Cross undercut an overeager throw to Jefferson.

Hassle up entrance

The Vikings welcomed their two-time Professional Bowl tight finish Hockenson again from the knee harm that ended his 2023 season prematurely. His third-down catch that will’ve moved the chains was erased by a holding penalty on left deal with Cam Robinson, who was unexpectedly acquired this week after a season-ending knee harm to standout Christian Darrisaw.

The Colts have a harmful defensive position, regardless of who’s blocking, and their strain up the center was an issue for Darnold. Grover Stewart steamrolled middle Garrett Bradbury on a dropback close to midfield and dislodged the ball as he slammed Darnold to the turf for Moore to scoop up for the rating.

Stewart, whose forearm grazed Darnold’s facemask with a lot power that it knocked him down, was initially flagged for the hit. The penalty was waved off.

Accidents

Colts: LT Bernhard Raimann (concussion) was held out and changed by rookie Matt Goncalves.

Vikings: LB Blake Cashman (toe) was sidelined for the third straight sport.

Up subsequent

Colts: Host Buffalo subsequent Sunday.

Vikings: Go to Jacksonville subsequent Sunday.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL