Thursday Flakes: Basketball picked 12th, Playoff Baseball, and More

Last I understood how life worked, usually when the calendar turns to October, baseball postseason starts, football is in full swing, and basketball and hockey are about to begin. The weather turns decent, the leaves change color and fall off trees, and people are contemplating turning their heat on at night. SO WHY IN THE HELL IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE 95 ON SATURDAY?!!!! When did Lincoln end up in Arizona for crying out loud? Upper 80s-mid 90s during the day and upper 40s at night? Go home summer, it’s fall now. I want my winter storm warning in the panhandle while the eastern part of the state deals with tornado watches. That is the REAL early October we Nebraskans deserve, not whatever Dante’s Inferno we’ve descended into. I went to Nebraska originally for meteorology and I’m baffled. The seasons have shifted over almost a full month now.

Anyway, before the heat causes more chaos than the Huskers field goal unit, here’s your flakes.

NEBRASKA:

Nebraska basketball picked 12th in preseason Big Ten poll
See how Big Ten writers see the season shaking out in the annual preseason poll.

Nebraska Volleyball Preview: Illinois
The No. 2 Huskers play in their first conference road match of the season against a former John Cook assistant.

Rutgers vs. Nebraska prediction: Odds, expert picks, player news, betting trends, and stats for October 5 – NBC Sports
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Game Preview

Life in the Big Ten could change drastically again for Nebraska football
The Big Ten is looking to make big changes again and it’s unclear right now whether that’s good or bad for Nebraska football

PLAYOFF BASEBALL:

Royals sweep Orioles in AL Wild Card Series to reach ALDS – ESPN
Bobby Witt Jr. drove in the go-ahead run to send the Royals into the AL Division Series with a 2-1 victory over the Orioles on Wednesday for a two-game sweep of their AL Wild Card Series.

Tigers sweep Astros in AL wild card, face Guardians next – ESPN
Andy Ibanez hit a tiebreaking three-run double in Detroit’s four-run eighth inning, and the Tigers swept the Astros 5-2 in the AL Wild Card Series. They play the Guardians next.

Mitchell’s tiebreaking HR lifts Brewers by Mets in NL wild card – ESPN
Jackson Chourio tied the game in the eighth with his second homer of the night and Garrett Mitchell delivered a two-run shot later in the inning to give the Brewers a 5-3 victory over the Mets on Wednesday night that evened their wild card series.

OTHER NEWS:

Tyreek Hill committed to Dolphins amid frustrating season – ESPN
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill wants to remain with the team, he reaffirmed Wednesday, despite a frustrating start to the season.

Deuce Knight, No. 2 dual-threat passer for ’25, flips from ND to Auburn – ESPN
Four-star quarterback Deuce Knight, ESPN’s No. 2 dual-threat passer in the 2025 cycle, flipped his pledge from Notre Dame to Auburn Wednesday night.

Arne Slot has Liverpool evolving into Champions League and Premier League contenders – CBSSports.com
The Dutch manager has his team headed in the right direction, and silverware could be on the horizon come season’s end

Champions League: Madrid rocked by Lille, 10-man Juventus roar back to win | Champions League | The Guardian
Jonathan David scored a first-half penalty to rock Real Madrid, while Francisco Conceição hit an 83rd-minute winner for Juventus

John Amos: Roots, Good Times and The West Wing actor remembered
John Amos starred in landmark drama Roots and was fired from sitcom Good Times after rows over scripts.

JOKE OF THE WEEK:

I own the world’s worst Thesaurus. Not only is it awful, it’s also awful.