Nearly to the midseason mark in the regular season, we’re gearing up to maintain momentum after last week’s Eagles and Falcons betting victories.

This time, it’s the Battle for New Jersey between a pair of “New York” teams, the Jets and Giants.

This is also an “eye test” game, with several factors to compare as these squads’ respective seasons continue to circle the drain.

As a betting experience, this matchup provides plenty of intrigue because, by and large, you just can’t trust one of these options.

We have our pick and a couple of bonus options ready to roll.

(Odds per BetMGM.com)

THE HEADLINER

Jets at Giants, 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The line: Jets -3, total 36.5.

The lead running backs, Breece Hall of the Jets and Saquon Barkley of the Giants, are ranked No. 12 and 11, respectively, in yards per game.

Barkley has had the advantage of facing the Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals over his past three games, while Hall has shown flashes of elite talent. Metrics also credit Barkley with more than 40 percent more yards gained over expected.

Both defenses will aim to slow the ground game, and that’s where the pass rush comes in.

The Jets have one and the Giants suffer in pass protection. This isn’t good news for backup Tyrod Taylor, who is set to start in place of Daniel Jones again Sunday.

A quick nugget from Action Network:

“The Jets have played the toughest schedule of QBs in the entire NFL – Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott and Josh Allen. Despite this tough schedule, the Jets are 10th in success rate and 12th in EPA per play allowed.”

The Jets are dialed in after a week off – which followed their upset of the Philadelphia Eagles – and if they are able to stuff the run, their pass defense could have a big day.

With a top-five defensive secondary in terms of coverage stats, the Jets aren’t likely to allow much from a very average Giants receiving group.

The Jets’ eight interceptions have come off the Bills’ Josh Allen (three), Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (two) and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts (two).

The pick: Jets -3.

THEY SAID IT

“I say they have a really good front four. Call it more than a front four with the amount of times they rotate in there. Two good cover corners (Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed). … This is a challenging defense to get ready for, and it shows.”

– Giants coach Brian Daboll on Sunday’s opponent, the Jets

BONUS COMBO

Who doesn’t like a good story? Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent may be the exciting blend of good story and serviceable player.

Bears at Chargers, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday

The line: Chargers -8.5.

You didn’t think you needed to watch the “Sunday Night Football” game? With undrafted Bagent starting at quarterback for the Chicago Bears, you almost have to tune in with the World Series on a travel day.

The Bears are looking to go back-to-back after Bagent’s impressive debut last week.

Bagent, a product of Division II Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va., started in place of Justin Fields (right thumb) and completed 21 of 29 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in Chicago’s 30-12 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

With receiver DJ Moore clicking, the Bears offense could do some business against a leaky Chargers defense.

And the Chargers don’t look like a team capable of covering this wide margin. Should be fun – for a while anyway.

The pick: Bears +8.5.

PROP CORNER

The good fortune Kirk Cousins found in leading the Minnesota Vikings past the San Francisco 49ers can’t continue.

In this road contest against the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings figure to begin more conservatively as the Packers employ lessons from last Monday night’s game tape (Cousins throwing everywhere – successfully).

The number is too high for a team that relied on a stolen 60-yard TD pass last week and remains without Justin Jefferson.

Prop play: Vikings’ Cousins under 250.5 passing yards (BetMGM).

–Field Level Media

The post Week 8 NFL betting preview: Inspecting the NY-NY matchup; Cousins to crash? | Nationwide appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Arizona Cardinals (1-2) at San Francisco Giants (3-0)

Time/site: 1:25 p.m., Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.

TV: FOX. Radio: 98.7 FM, 106.7 FM.

Last time they played: The 49ers beat the Cardinals 38-13 on Jan. 13 at Levi’s Stadium. San Francisco led 14-13 midway through the second quarter before pulling away with 24 unanswered points, including two touchdown passes from Brock Purdy to tight end George Kittle. Purdy threw for three touchdowns for his sixth consecutive game with multiple TDs as the 49ers clinched the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. It was the seventh straight loss for the Cardinals, who finished 4-13.

Series history: This is the 64th meeting in a series that dates back to 1951 with the 49ers holding a 34-29-0 advantage. San Francisco won the last two meetings and the Cardinals won the two meetings previous to that. This will be the 43rd time the teams have met since becoming NFC West rivals in 2002. Sunday’s game will be the fourth in the past five between the teams to feature a different QB matchup. The Cardinals are 6-3 all-time at Levi’s Stadium.

Coaching matchup

Arizona: Jonathan Gannon picked up his first win as an NFL coach with last week’s 28-16 upset victory over the visiting Cowboys, who were previously unbeaten at 2-0 and had outscored their first two opponents 70-10. Arizona’s defense held the Cowboys to just six, second-half points after building a 21-10 halftime lead. Gannon was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator last season when Philadelphia knocked San Francisco out of the NFC Championship, 31-7.

San Francisco: Kyle Shanahan is in his seventh season as head coach and is 55-46-0 with the 49ers — 6-3 in the postseason. Shanahan’s 49ers are one of just three remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL this season, joining the 3-0 Dolphins and 3-0 Eagles. San Francisco has scored 30 points in each of its first three games. The 49ers announced last week that both Shanahan and General Manager John Lynch each were rewarded contract extensions.

Storyline: The Cardinals have put the league on notice that they better not be taken lightly after last week’s upset win over Dallas and two very winnable losses to open the season against the Commanders and Giants. But will they be trying to ride the momentum from their first win into hostile territory where they will be running into a powerhouse of a team in the 49ers, who have the league’s third-ranked defense and an offense that Gannon described as schematically, “probably the best in the world, truthfully.” Shanahan returned the compliment when he said of the Cardinals, “They’re a team that really should be 3-0 right now.” Both teams are anchored by a sturdy running game, as the 49ers rank third and the Cardinals sixth. Neither starting quarterback, Purdy nor Arizona’s Josh Dobbs, has thrown an interception.

Arizona will win if …

1. Dobbs continues to take another step forward in his handling of the offense and getting in sync with his pass catchers: There’s no doubt the play of the offensive line will be paramount in those efforts, but Dobbs will need his receivers, tight ends and running backs to aid in protection and they need to be spot on with their routes on pass plays.
2. James Conner and the run game can wear out the defense: This won’t be easy, but it can be done, and Conner and the Cardinals have proven that on occasion. The more the rushing attack can keep the chains moving and control the time of possession, the more the 49ers’ defense might start to falter. Besides, success here keeps the 49ers’ dangerous offense off the field.
3. The defense forces at least two turnovers: One won’t be enough against this opponent, but with two the Cardinals might have a real chance at scoring a second straight upset. Arizona has forced five turnovers thus far and the pass rush has generated 11 sacks, so the resources have been there. If the Cardinals bring their same intensity and bring the fight to the 49ers, they’ll have a shot.

San Francisco will win if …

1. Purdy is kept clean, and his quick timing and rhythm aren’t interrupted: That’s what Gannon says makes the Queen Creek native and former Gilbert Perry High standout so dangerous, especially in Shanahan’s array of shifts, misdirection and deceptive offensive sets. If Purdy is left free to operate, he and his playmakers will torch you.
2. Running back Christian McCaffrey goes off: The all-purpose back leads the NFL in rushing with 353 yards and is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He’s had 100 or more rushing yards in five of his last eight regular-season games, but he can also beat teams in the passing game, where he’s had 22 receiving TDs in his eight NFL seasons.
3. The defense shuts down Conner, aggravates Dobbs: San Francisco has been exceptional against the run, holding teams to just 53 yards per game. That’s not encouraging news for Conner and the Cardinals. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (2) and star edge rusher Nick Bosa (1) have just three sacks between them, but they can go off at any moment and Dobbs must protect the football, make smart decisions and play quickly.

Mr. Irrelevant to Purdy-mania:Brock Purdy’s journey through the NFL

They said it

“It’s real similar because it’s the scheme he runs, just the fronts and the coverages. He had such a sound, good scheme in Philly and that’s what it’s been so far in these three games. So, we’ll see on tendencies and stuff, how that changes up. It’s still early in the year how he’s going to use his personnel and stuff like that, but you can still see he’s doing what he does and it’s a very tough scheme.” – Shanahan on the similarities of Gannon’s defense with the Cardinals and the defense he ran for the past two seasons with the Eagles.

“You’ve got to be physically, mentally and emotionally sharp because they’re going to make their plays. They’re going to hit you in the mouth, and you’ve got to be able to respond. Alignment, assignment, key technique is one of our principles to defense and you’ve got to do that faster than they do that on offense.” – Gannon on how he’s prepared the defense for facing a difficult 49ers’ offense.

“They’re really good, man. It’s either high-paid guys or first-round draft picks over there. They’re really talented and they’ve played a lot of football together. Similar to the last three weeks, we keep getting defenses that have played a lot of football together. They play a really good scheme. They know what they’re doing. They’re fast, and they have really good players. The onus is on us as an offense to match their intensity, match their talent with our talent and execution, and go out and still play good football.” – Dobbs on San Francisco’s defense.

By the numbers

8 – Runs of 20-plus yards by the Cardinals this season. That’s the most in the NFL this season and just one shy of their total from all of 2022 (8).

10-1 – Career record of Brock Purdy as the 49ers’ starting QB, including the postseason.

73.1 – Josh Dobbs’ completion percentage in his past two games combined.

1958 – Prior to Dobbs, the last time a Cardinals player had a completion of at least 60 yards and a run of 40 yards or longer in the same game. Dobbs had a 69-yard completion to rookie Michael Wilson against the Cowboys and also had a 44-yard run vs. Dallas.

123:24 – Total game time in which the Cardinals have held a lead this season. That total ranks fourth in the NFL. Arizona has trailed for only 30:27 of game time.

469 – Rushing yards by the Cardinals this season, the most in franchise history through the first three games of a season since the team’s first year in Arizona, when they ran for 478 yards.

45 – Yards covered on Rondale Moore’s touchdown run against the Cowboys, the fourth-longest rushing TD by a Cardinals’ receiver in franchise history. J.J. Nelson (2016) and Bobby Joe Conrad (1959) are tied for the longest with 56-yard TD runs.

More Cardinals:Veteran Matt Prater keeps delivering on long, long field goals for the Cardinals

Who will win and why

49ers 27, Cardinals 20: The Cardinals have played with much more purpose and passion than they showed last season, and you’d like to assume that will continue. But the 49ers are one of the best teams in the league for a ton of reasons and all common sense moves the dial to a San Francisco victory here. Now, if Arizona can keep things close and force a turnover or two, an upset could be in the making. The Cardinals, though, will need a handful of players to step up and be game wreckers on both sides of the football.

Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. on Roc and Manuch on Fox Sports 910-AM.

The post Arizona Cardinals-San Francisco 49ers NFL sport preview, prediction appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

For the second time this season, the Colorado Rockies are set to begin a three game road series against the San Francisco Giants.

Colorado is losers of seven out of their last 10 games and recently lost a three game series to the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this week 1-2. The Giants, are currently on a six game losing streak and are quickly finding themselves falling out of contention from a playoff birth as they have a record of 70-70 and are 2.5 games out of first place.

The mindset in the Colorado clubhouse this week should be simple and that is “Play to ruin someone else’s season”.

On the mound for the Rockies today is supposed to be Denver native and former Giants LHP Ty Blach. Blach has yet to face his former team this year as he is coming off an incredible month of Aug. where he pitched with a 3.71 ERA and provided 17 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.

Taking the mound for the Giants. today is rookie pitcher Kyle Harrison, who grew up in San Jose, California. Harrison, 22, is ranked as the number 20 prospect in the MLB top 100 prospects this year. He has only pitched in three games so far, with a record of 1-1 and 21 strikeouts. In 15.1 innings pitched, Harrison has a 1.24 WHIP

1. DH: Charlie Blackmon
2. SS: Ezequiel Tovar
3. 3B Ryan McMahon
4. LF: Nolan Jones
5. C: Elias Diaz
6. 1B: Elehuris Montero
7. 2B: Alan Trejo
8. RF: Hunter Goodman
9. CF: Brenton Doyle

MLB.TV, Rockies AT&T Sportsnet Rocky Mountain, NBCS-Bay Area

Game time begins at 8:15 P.M. MTD. & 7:15 P.M. PT.

3 Reasons why September will be the most exciting part of the Rockies season. dark. Next. 3 Reasons why September will be the most exciting part of the Rockies season

The post Colorado Rockies vs San Francisco Giants Preview: Lineup Predictions (09/08) appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Last updated on May 30, 2023 at 10:20 p.m. by Erwin Noguera

The NBA season is drawing to a close as at this point we have both crowned conference champions and it’s up to a final series between them to know who will be crowned champion of the season when they meet.

But before we get to the finale and dive into the details, let’s take a look at the progression of the entire season as a sneak peek of what’s to come:

NBA Regular Season Breakdown:

EASTERN Conference:

The Eastern Conference took a complete turn over the course of the season as the Boston Celtics started off pretty strong and held a significant lead most of the time.

They had the Bucks, 76ers and Cavaliers almost three-quarters of the way through regular play before something amazing happened.

The Milwaukee Bucks made a try as the Celtics slowed a bit, and managed to take the top spot and never give it back with an uninterrupted 16-game win streak.

During that time, the battle raged at the top, but the real playoff underdog was preparing to charge in.

Miami Heat made it to the playoffs at the end of the regular season in 8th place, and what would happen next was something many of us didn’t expect at all.

WESTERN Conference:

Unlike the big turnaround in the Easter Conference, the Western Conference was much more stable, with a battle at the top between the Nuggets and the Grizzlies, with the Sacramento Kings trailing close behind most of the time.

Most positions remained stable, so there were no surprises in the playoffs.

“Steady” was the word to describe the Western Conference this season.

Playoff Breakdown:

Western Conference

As already mentioned, there were big surprises at both conferences.

In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets faced the Timberwolves and there were no surprises as they advanced to the second round with 4-1 results.

The Grizzlies lost to the Lakers 4-2, which came as a surprise to everyone.

The Suns and Warriors were the second challenges for these teams, but the Nuggets managed a 4-2 win over the Suns and the Lakers managed a 4-2 win over the Warriors and made it to the conference finals.

There, the No.

Eastern Conference:

It was interesting to see the Eastern Conference going downhill as the strong teams (in our eyes) were a step ahead.

The Bucks had the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics faced the Hawks.

Watching the Celtics beat the Hawks 4-2 came as no surprise, but watching Miami 4-1 over the Bucks was completely insane.

The underdogs got the edge and another win came with a 4-2 score.

Difficult times began for the Celtics as they reached the last game of the series and scored 4-3.

Things got a lot more exciting at the Conference Finals when the dark horse of the playoffs managed to eliminate both of the top teams in the conference and earn a place in the Championship Series with a 4-3 win over the Celtics.

NBA Finals: Nuggets vs. Heat Free Bet Selection

If:

Begins Thursday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. ET at Ball Arena and FTX Arena

betting odds:

Denver Nuggets-265

Miami Heat +275

where can i see it

ESPN and NBA League Pass

Now we come to the most anticipated game of the season:

Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets begin their seven-game streak.

Therefore, both teams are diligently preparing for the crucial game 1, knowing that the way to win the trophy is still at stake.

As expected, both teams put on impressive performances in the playoffs, notching up notable victories over their opponents.

The Heat and the Nuggets both had big wins in the prelims, with the Heat completing their seven-game streak last night and the Nuggets clinching victory in a four-game game.

The Nuggets have proven their dominance all season while the resilient Heat have consistently exceeded expectations in the postseason.

–

Miami has shown what it can do many times, and this season the underdogs have done quite well. It would be shameful to consider them a light treat. However, there is one important aspect to consider.

In the GSW vs. Lakers series, we saw a tired San Francisco team take on an inspired Los Angeles team, resulting in them losing the first game at home. The rest was history.

The point is that fatigue is a key factor, the Heat already felt that against the Celtics. They’ve got a week less off and three more games ahead of them. We don’t think they’ll manage to win the first two games, but we don’t expect a win either. We see a 4:2 as the most likely outcome.

Nuggets vs. Heat Betting Tip: Denver Nuggets

The post NBA Season Roundup and Finals Preview appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

What is this?

Saitō is an ordinary handyman who is reincarnated into another world. He forms a dungeon exploring party with Raelza, a beautiful and strong warrior; Morok, a powerful magician who, due to his senility, keeps forgetting spells; and Lafanpan, a cute but miserly fairy. His handyman experience is helpful when they need to open a locked chest or fix their armor.

Handyman Saitō in Another World is based on Kazutomo Ichitomo’s manga and streams on Crunchyroll on Mondays.

How was the first episode?

Caitlin Moore

Rating:

I swear, y’all, I’m gonna go rogue and write a long and detailed article about how these isekai where burned-out adults get pulled into another world and continue to do their jobs to a much more appreciative clientele are a reflection of Marx’s theory of alienation. According to Marx, in capitalist society, workers become alienated from their labor through a variety of forces. Saitō’s client throwing a fit over 30 seconds of work represents alienation because she fails to consider the training and skill required for him to open her door and… hey, where is everyone going? This is interesting stuff and a key element to critically examining a widespread trend in popular anime!

But then again, it’s really only interesting when considered as a larger trend. Most of the “doing my job, but in a fantasy world” leave me snoring in this world, but Handyman Saitō in Another World at the very least kept my attention for most of 20 minutes. The pacing is brisk and then some, moving swiftly through three-minute sketches that rarely connect to each other. The main thrust is that while Saitō rarely found satisfaction in his work in Japan, his party of Dungeons & Dragons-style misfits in the new world appreciate his knowledge base of practical skills that are much rarer there. He does a lot of lockpicking in dungeons and little odd jobs like making a backpack for the party fairy to carry her hoard of gold. There is a simple pleasure to not just the fantasy of living in a world where your skills are acknowledged as valuable, but watching Saitō work with tools to create something. It’s wonderfully tactile.

It is, however, only moderately funny. There aren’t jokes so much as bits and character beats. The party consists of Saitō, an elderly wizard suffering from dementia, a miserly fairy with healing magic, and an awkward lady knight who spends most of her time in full plate. A few gags made me chuckle, but the focus was more on displaying Saitou’s competency and creating a warm fuzzy feeling about his bond with his party. I only laughed out loud a couple times in the whole episode. The color palette is also oddly somber for a comedy, muted and washed out even when the animation is fluid and detailed.

Handyman Saitō in Another World is a second-monitor anime. It’s pleasant and mildly funny and pretty well animated, but it’s not especially engaging and the sketch format means you can kind of zone in and out. Too bad I only have one monitor.

Rebecca Silverman

Rating:

Of all the jobs that could easily make the transition between our world and the fantasy world of your choice, one I must vote for to star in an isekai show is a psychologist. But barring that, a handyman is a pretty great one to use. In the case of this show, “handyman” appears to be shorthand for “Jack of all trades;” Saitou can do just about anything, from leatherworking to lock picking to basic armor smithing. While his skill set seems a bit broader than I might have expected, there is no denying that it helps him fit in in this fantasy world he has somehow managed to land in. After all, adventurers have new things fixed and unlocked just as much as anyone else does. The bonus is that the life-or-death situations they might find themselves in make them more grateful than cheap housewives.

The bite-sized storylines within this first episode suggest that it may have worked better as a short; it goes through many mini plots within a short space of time. It doesn’t really drag, but there were moments when I wondered how much longer the episode had to run. This is partly because things seem to be skipping around through time; we have yet to learn exactly how Saitou ended up in the fantasy world, nor how he fell in with his present party of adventurers. We know that somehow he is now going on adventures with a lady tank, a geriatric mage, and the healer fairy with a thirst for gold. He fits in with them great, but the entire episode could be more cohesive.

On the plus side, the episode does a nice job with some little details. The way that the swordswoman is uncomfortable with the scar on her cheek is never overtly stated, but we can piece it together from the way that she does not want to take her helmet off in front of Saitou, and when she does, she keeps her scarred cheek turned away from him or in the shadows. Towards the end of the episode, when Saitou falls down a hole in a cave to several levels below, we immediately get a sense of how badly he is injured by the fact that we can see blood slowly coloring the water from his submerged leg; long before he says that the leg is broken, we have the visual cues to pick up on. There are also a lot of quite funny moments, from the dwarf to Morlock’s tenuous grasp on his present; there are some very entertaining little jabs at fantasy norms. I would have liked this to feel a little more linear, but overall, there’s something very nearly wholesome about the episode, and it makes a good case for more professionals to take up adventuring in another world.

Richard Eisenbeis

Rating:

Handyman Saitō in Another World is a different kind of isekai story—and I mean that in the best possible way. There’s no power fantasy here—no overpowered skill that makes Saitou invincible. The world and its dangers are played entirely straight. He’s just a guy who worked as a locksmith/handyman for a home improvement store—and luckily had his work jumpsuit and tools on him when he arrived in the fantasy world. Speaking of which, it’s funny, but we don’t know how or why Saitou came to the fantasy world in the first place. But here’s what’s even more amusing: that information is in no way needed or even vaguely important to the story being told. While this episode comprises a series of vignettes—some that don’t even feature our titular hero—there is one single theme that connects them all: the human desire to feel needed and appreciated. In our world, Saitou was good at his job—perhaps too good. He was that kind of competent that makes even hard things look easy. Thus even his boss saw him as a dime a dozen. This has given him an inferiority complex. He feels the need to work harder and be more beneficial to his party.

But here’s the thing: his party knows how amazing he is, unlike the random lady who was locked out of her house. They can’t pick a locked door or chest—they have neither the tools nor the talent—but the fact that he can makes him invaluable in their kind of work. They’d be happy with him even if he did nothing but come forward and pick locks when asked. The fact that he wants to do more makes him a treasure more important than the gold in any chest—and by the end, they’re finally able to make him see that.

Of course, the episode isn’t solely about Saitou. Morlock has come out of retirement because he wants to feel useful—even in a party far below his level. To Lafanpan, money is proof that her healing skills are valuable. For the magic warrior dwarf, having a small dog rely on him gives him the meaning he needs to continue his solitary adventuring life. Even the seemingly mismatched pair of the burly mage and the tiny great axe-wielding girl have found affirmation in the fact that they’ve found someone else who knows not to judge a book by its cover.

All in all, this episode is simply fantastic. It manages to hit just the right balance of light comedy—like the origin of the fantasy world’s measurement system—and everyday life tragedy—like the scenes that show that Morlock is suffering from rapidly progressing dementia. It even has a solid theme that is explored subtly yet thoroughly—and in a way that teaches us more about the human condition. Or, to put it another way, if the rest of the episodes in the series are even half as good as this one, this series will be on more than a few best of season lists when the winter season comes to a close.

Nicholas Dupree

Rating:

It took me a while to get a read on this one. This premiere may have a basic-ass isekai premise, but it isn’t a traditional narrative. Instead, it’s a collection of disconnected comedic skits primarily based on the premise of a regular handyman winding up in the world of tabletop fantasy RPGs. That’s a mildly amusing idea and is utilized to mildly amusing comedy in what’s less a show, and more a series of very nerdy Family Circus comic strips.

Granted, that format can be pretty jarring going in. This episode never even explains how Saitou was isekai’d in the first place, nor how he fell in with his quirky party of adventurers. We join them in the middle of a dungeon crawl and then slingshot between random skits, some of which don’t even involve our central cast and seem to only exist for a single visual gag. That makes the episode pretty disjointed – especially when it dips its toes into drama towards the end – but there’s a certain charm to it all too. Gags like the senile wizard selling off his dead companions’ equipment to resurrect them, or the Dwarf magician who acts as both Tank and DPS, are the kind of goofy stories and build ideas you come up with when playing D&D with your friends. It’s nothing extraordinary, and I doubt it’ll resonate with many people. Still, I got some sensible chuckles out of the deal – mainly, to my shame, when they revealed this world’s measuring system is based on a king’s enormous schlong.

The art style is also likely to put people off, and that I can absolutely agree with. Everything looks so washed out and brown, seemingly as a deliberate stylistic choice, but it’s distracting even at the best of times. That’s a shame since some excellent animation cuts work well to punctuate or escalate various jokes throughout the episode. Designs are plain but work well enough, and I appreciate that Raelza wears an actual, practical suit of armor when she’s fighting monsters. It all leads to a distinct look, if not always an appealing one, that’s carried by solid comedic timing.

That said, I can’t kick the feeling this would all work better as shorts rather than a semi-random compilation of semi-related jokes. At full-length, the comedy started to get repetitive and lose steam by the end, and all of these characters needed to be more complex to carry an actual narrative. That doesn’t make this premiere bad, but it also means I’m not hankering for more anytime soon.

James Beckett

Rating:

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: isekai anime can be good! All it needs to do is not suck. And friends, let me tell you, Handyman Saitō in Another World doesn’t suck. It is good! It is, in fact, better than a show about an isekai’d handyman has any right to be. The best parts of Preview Guide are always the premieres that take you completely by surprise with how much you end up liking them, and that’s exactly what Handyman Saitou did for me.

This show checks every box of what the platonic ideal of an isekai comedy anime would be for me, specifically, a person who does not generally enjoy these kinds of shows. Does Handyman Saitou have a likable cast of characters who are more than just cardboard cutout clichés? Despite working within a fairly standard sitcom mold, Handyman Saitou still makes its cast charming and loveable with their funny and sweet interactions. Does Handyman Saitou actually use its fantasy setting in an interesting way? Absolutely! With its specific jokes and creative allusions to familiar video game tropes, it’s proof that a show can still carve out its own identity within the tried-and-true confines of the typical fantasy RPG setting; it just has to, you know, be written well. Does the show look good? Once again, Handyman Saitou delivers, providing some shockingly lush and pleasing animation for a show that honestly didn’t have to try nearly as hard.

Here’s the most critical question, though: Is Handyman Saitou funny? It is a comedy, after all, and all of the production values and heartwarming character writing won’t account for much if the show doesn’t make you laugh. I’m happy to report that Handyman Saitou is probably the funniest thing I’ve seen all week. I’ll leave you to judge whether that is a sign of Handyman Saitou’s quality or an indictment of this season’s slate of comedies; all I know is that when the senile old wizard Morlock dragged his dead party members to the nearest church and sold everything by Raelza’s bikini armor to revive them, I laughed my ass off. I laughed even harder when he excitedly educated Saitou on the phallic origins of their universe’s unit (heheh) of measurement. When the gruff dwarf tank slaughtered his enemies as a solo warrior, only to reveal the cute little puppy that lives in his helmet, I laughed again, and then I said “Awwwwwwww” out loud for a minute or two straight.

I did not expect a show called Handyman Saitou to be one of my favorite premieres of the season, but that’s what makes this time of year so fun (and exhausting). When you’re covering literally dozens of new shows over the span of just a few days, it can be difficult to slog through all of the mediocre pablum that comes your way, but that’s also what makes such pleasant surprises as this one so much more enjoyable to experience.

Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.

The post Handyman Saitō in One other World – The Winter 2023 Anime Preview Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Two California teams are looking to return to the Super Bowl for the second time in five years, although some may not have predicted they’d be there when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams have had ups and downs on offense throughout the regular season, but they came back last Sunday to play the defending Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw through the air for two touchdowns for a total of 366 yards. The Rams almost screwed it up, losing a 27-3 lead to Tom Brady. However, a 44-yard pass to Cooper Kupp in the dying seconds set up Matt Gay’s game-winning field goal to set off the upset.

The Rams are looking to make it to their fifth Super Bowl and their first in three years. Overall, LA sits 4-9 in appearances in conference titles.

• Watch the NFL on FuboTV (Free Trial)

San Francisco didn’t have nearly the same amount of offense when it faced the NFL’s best team in the regular season, as they held the Green Bay Packers to just 263 yards of offense at snowy Lambeau Field in their divisional matchup. The Niners were unable to get a touchdown until they hit a blocked punt in the fourth quarter to level the game at 10. After regaining the ball a few minutes from time, Jimmy Garoppolo led a slow drive down the field. enough to field Robbie Gould’s 45-yard game winner to send the Niners to the conference championship.

This is the 49ers’ second NFC Championship game in three seasons as they attempt to return to the Super Bowl for the eighth time in franchise history after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs years ago.

Although the Rams come as the higher seeds, the 49ers could be the favorite in this one. San Francisco has swept the season series over the Rams, including a win in the regular-season finale, and has beaten its division rivals from the 2018 season six straight seasons.

Sunday marks only the second time these two franchises have met in the playoffs as Joe Montana and Jerry Rice led the Niners in the 1989 NFC title game en route to a Super Bowl victory over the Rams.

What: NFC Conference Championship Game

Who: (6) San Francisco 49ers vs. (4) Los Angeles Rams

When: Sunday 30 January

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Where: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)

Channel: FOX

Stream: FuboTV (free trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream

Check out the NFL standings and results on NFL.com

The post San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams – NFC Championship Recreation Preview | Kickoff, Easy methods to Watch appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The Houston Texans want to extend their winning streak to three and play their penultimate game of the season this Sunday in the playoffs of the San Francisco 49ers.

And despite the fact that they just play out of pride, according to Texan’s security Justin Reid, the motivation is as strong as ever: “We’re trying to be the Grinch who goes there and will steal San Francisco’s Christmas”.

RECORDS: Texans (4-11), 49ers (8-7)

OPPORTUNITIES: Ouch. The Texans are 12.5 points underdog, the over / under is 43.5 (Pro SI Sportsbook).

STAT: The Texans faced fewer opponents than the 49ers. San Francisco currently leads the series 3-1. Houston’s only win came back in 2009 when Matt Schaub passed for 264 yards and two touchdowns while Steve Slaton and Owen Daniels led the Texans in rushing and receiving, respectively.

This is the first duel between these teams since 2017, when the 49ers won 26-16.

SIDE FACT: The Texans have returned to near full strength since last week’s 41-29 win over the LA Chargers. Sixteen players have been activated from the COVID-19 / reserve list this week, including star wide receiver Brandin Cooks, starting center Justin Britt and defensive end Jonathan Greenard, who sacks Houston at the top.

Left guard Lane Taylor, defensive linemen Roy Lopez, Maliek Collins, Derek Rivers, Jaleel Johnson, Jordan Jenkins, linebackers Kamu Grugier-Hill, Eric Wilson and Neville Hewitt, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn and security guards Eric Murray and AJ Moore were also there activated. Cre’Von LeBlanc, cornerback of the training team, also returned.

Houston, however, has lost wide receivers Danny Amendola, Chris Moore and defensive end Ron’Dell Carter to the COVID protocol.

In the meantime, Receiver Phillip Dorsett and Center Cole Toner have been placed in the injured reserve.

Keep an eye out: With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo struggling with an injury, Trey Lance is likely to start for San Francisco. If so, it will be the battle of the rookie quarterbacks: Lance (third overall pick) vs. Davis Mills (third round pick).

Lance has only played five times and started only once this season. He lost 25 of 48 for 354 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Lance hasn’t played since Week 11 and hasn’t started since losing to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.

Mills has played 11 games, starting nine and 219 out of 329 for 2,200 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. As Houston’s starter in the last three games, Mills went 2-1, passing for 794 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

HOUSTON’S KEY TO VICTORY: More of the same.

Last week’s surprise win wasn’t particularly groundbreaking. The Texans simply implemented the basics more effectively. Rex Burkhead was able to get the running game going thanks to consistent blocking from a makeshift offensive line. Combine that with Mills’ efficiency in passing and the offense finally clicks.

The hope is that there won’t be a hangover from last week and that they can hold the momentum through the end of the season and finish at a high.

PLAY TIME: 3:05 PM CT, Sunday January 2

POSITION: Levi’s Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

TV / RADIO: CBS, KHOU, Sports Radio 610, 100.3 The Bull, Mega 101 FM

THE LAST WORD: Win or lose when the Texans can see another solid performance from their rookies then fans have reason to be optimistic. Mills along with receiver Nico Collins, tight end Brevin Jordan, defensive tackle Roy Lopez and linebacker Garret Wallow have all impressed this year and look like building blocks that move forward.

The post NFL Week 17 Preview: Can Davis Mills’ Houston Texans Defy Odds vs San Francisco 49ers? appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

the Indianapolis Colts (2-4) face San Francisco 49ers (2-3) on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium for Week 7 of the NFL. The 49ers started the week as a 4.0 point favorite, but the spread has increased to 4.5 since then. The total dotted line is set to 44.0.

• The Colts have a 4-2-0 ATS record this season while the 49ers hold a 1-4-0 record.
• The Colts have a 3-3-0 O / U record this season (meaning three games exceeded total points and three went under). The 49ers have a 2-3-0 O / U record.

Points on the blackboard

• The Colts averaged 23.2 points per game this season (19th in the league). In comparison, the 49ers averaged 23.4 (17th).
• Defensively, the Colts forego 21.8 points per game (11th in the league) this season, while the 49ers give up an average of 23.8 points (15th).

Move chains

• With an average of 367.5, the Colts rank 15th in the league for total yards per game. In comparison, the 49ers ranked 14th with 368.2 yards per game.
• In terms of yards allowed, the Colts are giving up 366.5 per game (20th in the league) this season, outnumbered the 49ers, who give up an average of 329.8 (6th).

Rise in the air?

• The Colts have recorded 243.3 pass yards per game this season (16th in the league). By comparison, the 49ers’ defense gave up 216.6 pass yards per game (7th).
• Meanwhile, the 49ers have posted 246.2 yards per game this season (14th in the league) while the Colts defenses have given up 255.5 yards per game (20th).

Advantage on site?

• Looking at the ground game, the Colts have recorded 124.2 yards per game this season (11th in the league). The 49ers rank slightly worse in defense of the run, ranking 18th, while allowing 113.2 per game.
• On the flip side, the 49ers have recorded 122.0 rushing yards per game (# 12 in the league) this season. The Colts performed on a similar level in defending the run, conceding 111.0 per game (14th).

Protect ball

• Looking at their ability to force sales, the Colts have posted a total of 12 takeaways this season (4th in the league) while the 49ers have posted 2 (T31.)
• On the offensive, the Colts have recorded a total of 5 giveaways (T3 in the league) this season, surpassing the 49ers’ number of 7 (T14.).

First goalscorer

The Colts are +115 to score first while the 49ers are -145.

• The Colts have scored the first goal in three of their six games this season.
• The 49ers have scored the first goal in two of their five games this season.

Which team will score the first touchdown?

• The Colts have scored the first touchdown in three of their six games this season.
• The 49ers have scored the first touchdown in three of their five games.

First scoring game

• Indianapolis Touchdown 2/6 +320
• Indianapolis Field Goal 1/6 +330
• Indianapolis Security 0/6 +5000
• San Francisco Touchdown 2/5 +175
• San Francisco Field Goal 0/5 +300
• San Francisco Security 0/5 +5500

Which team has a quick start?

The Colts are +150 and the first team to score 10 points while the 49ers are -177.

• The Colts were the first to score 10 points in three of their six games that season.
• The 49ers were the first to score 10 points in two of their five games this season.

Money line for the first quarter

• The 49ers are preferred in the Q1 moneyline market, currently at -159, while the Colts are at +140.
• The Colts have a 2-4-0 W / L / T record in the first quarter this season, while the 49ers hold a 2-3-0 record.

The last time they met

The Colts posted a 26-23 overtime win over the 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium the last time these teams clashed in Week 5, 2017.

The post Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers Week 7 betting preview appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

With the 49ers starting their training camp tomorrow, now is the time to wrap up our look at the 49ers roster for 2021 with a look at secondary school.

Jason Verrett

When Richard Sherman’s injuries forced Jason Verrett into the starting XI, the veteran used his full potential. While Verrett struggled with injuries throughout his career, none of it showed in 2020 as he was able to play 802 defensive snapshots of his career.

Verrett’s ability to be a lockdown man corner was enormous for a 49ers defense who struggled all season to generate a pass rush with Nick Bosa and Dee Ford off the line-up. These injuries forced Robert Saleh to use the Blitz more frequently than ever before in his tenure with the 49ers, necessitating the need for man-marking in secondary school.

Verrett would end 2020 with 60 tackles – a career high – and 2 interceptions, while allowing a quarterback rating of just 76.2 on throws in his coverage.

San Francisco was able to bring Verrett back on a one-year contract for $ 3.6 million.

Emmanuel Moseley

Moseley originally came to the 49ers in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, worked his way into the starting line-up for nine games in 2019 and started 2020 as one of the two best cornerbacks of the 49ers.

Injuries would put Moseley out of the starting XI in the middle of the 2020 season, and his substitute’s game would keep him on the sidelines for all but 175 snaps in the second half of the year.

The concern at Moseley is its ability to stay healthy. He was injured on his NFL debut against the Oakland Raiders in 2018 and struggled with injuries again in 2020. In three NFL seasons, Moseley has a high of just 576 snapshots in one season.

The 49ers re-sign Moseley for a 2-year contract for $ 9.384 million. While the numbers look impressive, Moseley’s cap hit for 2021 is very low and the dead cap for 2022, should it be released, is below $ 2 million.

K’Waun Williams

San Francisco was able to re-sign Williams for 1 year for $ 2,377,500 during the vacancy.

Williams was one of the first free agents to be signed by the 49ers after being taken over by John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, and has been one of the top secondary players for the past four years.

Braced by injuries in 2020, Williams was limited to a career low of 284 snaps and allowed a quarterback rating of 81.9

Dontae Johnson

Johnson has been primarily an outside cornerback throughout his career and was moved inside after injuries to Williams and Jamar Taylor. Johnson had zone coverage issues on his first start at Nickel Corner against Buffalo. Johnson would hold up much better against Washington over the next week.

Ambry Thomas

Playing for Michigan as a true freshman, Thomas was named Wolverines’ Skill Position Player of the Year in 2019. Under the coordination of Dan Brown, the Michigan defense was very heavy with man marking and Thomas excelled in showing the ability to line up effectively both outside and in the slot. In addition to his duties as cornerback, Thomas returned with kickoffs and even played some offensive for Michigan, counting two receptions for five yards and one rush for eleven yards in 2018.

Demomodore Lenoir

Lenoir was a three year old starter for the Oregon Ducks, his most productive season coming in his sophomore year when he finished with the best three interceptions and 12 passes of his career. Much like his 49ers draft pick Ambry Thomas, Lenoir was rarely challenged for showing the ability to take down the best receivers in the Pac 12, including current New England Patriots receiver N’Keal Harry.

Jimmie Ward

After the 2019 season, the 49ers gave Ward a new $ 28.5 million 3-year deal to return. Even if he doesn’t make a lot of big plays, he’s great at stopping opponents from making them too, and that’s his main job.

While Ward would miss a chance at an interception that could have changed the result against New Orleans, a few weeks later he would come up with two major forced fumbles in a jaw-dropping win over the Los Angeles Rams.

The 849 snaps Ward played in 2020 were the most the seven-year-old veteran has played in his career, and he finished third best with the 49ers with 73 tackles overall. Ward’s ability to slide down from its normal safety position and cover a slot receiver or tight end in nickel or dime situations offers a lot of flexibility and allows DeMeco Ryans to disguise the covers.

Jaquiski Tartt

Tartt is one of the best collateral in the NFL when she’s healthy. Unfortunately for the 49ers, the six-year veteran has missed 24 games in the past four seasons and never played a full 16-game schedule.

The veteran played a career low of 373 Snaps in 2020. The highlight of his season was the season opener against Arizona when he intercepted a pass from Kyler Murray, Murray’s first turnover in his young career against the 49ers.

In 2020, Tartt completed 30 tackles, one interception and four passes defended

Marcell Harris

Harris made four starts in 2021, finishing them with 37 tackles, three passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two restored fumbles

The 2018 round six draft pick had problems with missed tackles early in his career as he was a bit over-aggressive, but showed a huge improvement in that area, reducing his missed tackles to the top 9.8 percent of his career.

Tony Jefferson

Jefferson broke into the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals in 2013 after signing as an undrafted free agent. James Bettcher, the 49ers’ new Senior Defensive Advisor, was the coach of the Outside Linebackers at Arizona at the time before being promoted to Defensive Coordinator. This gives the 49ers additional information about the type of player and the person who Jefferson is.

The veteran has not played a game at the Baltimore Ravens since his cruciate ligament rupture in Week 5 of the 2019 season. He will almost certainly fight for the squad spot.

Tavon Wilson

Originally a second-round draft pick for the New England Patriots, Wilson would only make four starts with the club before joining the Detroit Lions for four seasons and then joining the Indianapolis Colts for 2020.

Wilson was primarily a rotation game throughout his career, starting only 45 of the 125 games played in his career. There was much like it last season with Indianapolis as he only made two starts while playing 422 snaps, 203 of which were in special teams.

Hufanga’s story

Hufanga was named Consensus First-Team All-American and Pac 12 Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020. Hufanga suffered two broken collarbones, a split shoulder and had concussions while at USC. While his talent would have lifted him much higher in the design order, those injuries dropped him. Despite the injury history, this was the perfect place to take a risk for a player who has shown that he can be a very strong player with health issues.

In just six games in 2020, Hufanga proved to be a playmaker with 62 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 pass breakup and 2 forced fumbles.

Tarvarius Moore

The 2018 third-round draft pick entered the final year of his rookie contract. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles tendon in the last OTA training session of the offseason and will miss the season.

Outlook for 2021

Verrett, Moseley and Williams are said to be the starters on the outside, Tartt and Ward are safe.

The planned secondary school starters’ injury history means the depth of this group could be tested throughout the season. Up to this point in his career, Verrett could only play at least 13 games twice in one season, as a member of the Chargers in 2015 and last season.

It is similar with Williams, Moseley and Tartt. Williams has never played a full season; the 15 games in 2019 are a career high. The same goes for Moseley, who only played 175 snaps in the second half of 2020, and Tartt, who only played 36 games in the last four seasons.

Thomas may be able to push Moseley for the starting role against Verrett during the training camp. Lenoir and Johnson will also ensure good depth outside and in the slot.

In the security positions, Harris, Hufanga and Jefferson will fight for the backup role behind Tartt. Meanwhile, Wilson appears to be the main contender behind Ward on free security.

It will be particularly interesting to see how the 49ers use Hufanga during training camp and the preseason. The rookie spent time in college as a single high safety but was also sometimes used in a linebacker role, much like the 49ers used Marcell Harris from time to time last season and Eric Reid in 2017.

The post San Francisco 49ers 2021 Roster Preview: Secondary appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

With training camp starting in less than two weeks, this is the perfect time to take a look at each player in the San Francisco 49ers roster and see how they fit in with the team going into training camp. So far we’ve covered the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. Today we take a look at the interior offensive line.

Alex Mack

The 49ers signed the 12-year-old veteran to the free agency early on. Despite his age, Mack is still playing at a high level and has only missed two games in the last six seasons. This is one of the most important qualities that Mack brings.

Last season there were music chairs in the center and right guard positions, and with that came a lack of communication and missed calls. Mack has experience under Kyle Shanahan, and his presence should give the offensive the signal caller it missed in 2020.

Aaron Banks

Despite weighing 338 pounds and being 6’5 tall, Banks demonstrates the ability to move well in space. Banks is a punitive run blocker who can get defenders off the scrimmage line at the point of attack while having the athleticism to reach linebackers on the second level.

However, the most impressive aspect of his game, and where he is likely to help Mike McGlinchey the most, is his passport protection. Banks was a dominant pass blocker while at Notre Dame.

Tomlinson sheet

In 2020, if anyone benefits from the fighting on the right side of the 49ers offensive line, it is Laken Tomlinson. While the majority of the attention around the porous offensive line was focused on McGlinchey, many don’t remember that it was a missed block from Tomlinson that resulted in the strike in week two at Jimmy Garoppolo, who was the quarterback for most of the season would incapacitate with high ankle sprain.

The overall game of the seven-year-old veteran definitely went back a step last season. Although only three sacks were allowed in a year, there were a number of missed duties in both running game and pass protection that hampered the offense’s performance.

Tomlinson is entering the final year of the contract extension he signed following his acquisition from the Detroit Lions in 2017. Tomlinson will only be 29 years old next year and play for a new contract.

Daniel Brunskill

In his second season with the 49ers, Brunskill once again showed the versatility that earned him a place in the squad in 2019. Originally planned as the Right Guard, injuries to Weston Richburg and Ben Garland forced Brunskill to do most of the training at the center camp. When the season finally started, Brunskill was sent back to right guard where he would start the first eight games of the season before being relocated back to the center for the final eight games.

Despite all the hopping between positions, Brunskill held up pretty well. 2021 looks similar for Brunskill. While his main focus will likely be on supporting Mack at the center, Brunskill will also be there as a backup on the right watch and tackle.

Jaylon Moore

The 6’4 “, 311-pound offensive lineman was originally recruited to West Michigan as a tight end. He spent some time on the defensive line before moving to the offensive line, where he started every game in 2018. While Moore one Tackle was for the Broncos, he has the option to play either as a guard or tackle in the NFL, make sure Moore is a swing tackle who can fill in anywhere along the offensive line outside of center.

Other: Isaiah Williams, Senior Kelemete, Jake Brendel, Dakoda Shepley, Tom Compton, Corbin Kaufusi

Outlook for 2021:

The newcomers from Mack and Banks could prove to be the key to turning the 49ers offensive. Mack should provide stability and leadership for the entire offensive line. Having an experienced “quarterback” shouting the signals for this group will make everyone better.

The one question mark in the middle of the offensive is Banks. As a rookie, there is no guarantee how your game will carry over to the NFL. If Banks can step in and become the dominant force against the pass rush he had at Notre Dame, the 49ers quarterbacks should be able to stay upright much more often than they were in 2020.

With Tomlinson in his final year of his contract, the 49ers may be seeing the best the veteran has to offer. Last season was a bit of a struggle for the veteran, but the competition for a new contract along with Moore brought in to give a boost could be just what San Francisco needs to get the most out of Tomlinson.

The post San Francisco 49ers 2021 Roster Preview: Inside Offensive Line appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.