General

Alabama basketball holds off Arkansas State in physical battle, 88-79

Alabama survived a physical grind of a game on Friday night at Coleman Coliseum, holding off Arkansas State 88-79.

The teams combined for 52 fouls and 80 free throw attempts, with the second-ranked Crimson Tide (2-0) going just 28-for-44 from the line. The game was tied with 7:08 left before Mouhamed Dioubate’s tip-in put Alabama on top for good at 70-68.

All-America guard Mark Sears scored 19 points for Alabama, while forward Grant Nelson had 12 off the bench. Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi added 12 points and a team-high 9 rebounds despite being limited to 17 minutes due to foul trouble.

Officials’ whistles were the story of the game’s first 20 minutes, during which the teams combined for 31 fouls and 53 free throws. Alabama’s Jarin Stevenson picked up four fouls in the first half, and finished with just 2 points and five rebounds in 10 minutes.

Alabama led by as many as 16 in the first half before Arkansas State — the preseason favorite in the Sun Belt Conference — closed the gap to 43-40 at halftime. The Red Wolves — coached by former Alabama assistant Bryan Hodgson — never led after going up 5-4 early, but didn’t fall behind by two possessions permanently until Sears hit two free throws to make it 74-70 with 5:15 remaining.

Freshman guard Labaron Philon also scored in double figures with 12 points, while Derrion Reid had 10 and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. added 9. Alabama made only six of 31 3-point attempts, with Sears going 0-for-5 and Wrightsell 1-for-9.

Kobe Julien — the preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year — scored a game-high 20 points for Arkansas State (1-1), while Taryn Todd added 18 and Rashaud Marshall chipped in 11 points with 8 rebounds. The Red Wolves missed 13 free throws and went just 6-for-28 on 3-point attempts.

Alabama hosts McNeese at 6 p.m. Monday. That game will air on SEC Network.

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Reports: Auburn men’s basketball team’s plane diverted back to airport after altercation between players

The Auburn men‘s basketball team’s plane was forced to return to the airport shortly after taking off Friday afternoon due to an altercation between players, according to multiple reports.

AL.com has reached out to Auburn University, Auburn Police and the Auburn University Regional Airport, but has not received a response with comment.

Auburn is set to face Houston at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

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SEC top 10 for Week 11: Tennessee carrying championship credential

SEC teams will play carrying CFP rankings for the first time this season on Saturday, and two of the six league games for Week 11 will match ranked teams. No. 3 Georgia visits No. 16 Ole Miss, and No. 11 Alabama visits No. 15 LSU. Twelve teams will qualify for the CFP field this season. Here are 10 stats from SEC Football by the Numbers, along with the schedule, TV and betting lines, to get ready for Week 11:

4 Consecutive Alabama coaches have lost their first game against LSU. Kalen DeBoer will be in his first LSU game as the Crimson Tide’s coach on Saturday. The most recent Alabama coach to win in his first meeting with LSU was Gene Stallings, who guided the Tide to a 24-3 victory over the Tigers on Nov. 10, 1990. Since then, LSU defeated Mike DuBose 27-0 on Nov. 8, 1997, Dennis Franchione 35-21 on Nov. 3, 2001, Mike Shula 27-3 on Nov. 15, 2003, and Nick Saban 41-34 on Nov. 3, 2007. All those games were in Tuscaloosa. The two Alabama coaches who took the Tide to Baton Rouge in their first seasons during the SEC era won – Ray Perkins 32-26 on Nov. 5, 1983, and Bill Curry 22-10 on Nov. 7, 1987.

5 SEC teams have held their first eight opponents to fewer than 20 points in a season this century, with Tennessee joining the list in 2024. The other teams – LSU in 2003, Alabama in 2011 and 2012 and Georgia in 2021 – went on to win the national-championship game. Georgia didn’t allow its first 12 opponents to reach 20 points in 2021, LSU didn’t allow its first 11 opponents to reach 20 points in 2003 and Alabama didn’t allow its first 10 opponents to reach 20 points in 2011 or first nine in 2012. This is the first season in which the Volunteers have held their first eight opponents to fewer than 20 points apiece since 1966, when Tennessee did so in all 11 of its games. The Vols have kept their past nine opponents from reaching 20 points, including their 35-0 shutout of Iowa in the Citrus Bowl to cap the 2023 season. It’s the longest stretch of games without any of Tennessee’s opponents reaching 20 points since doing so in the final nine games of the 1985 season. Tennessee’s Saturday opponent, Mississippi State, has averaged scoring 29.1 points per game this season and has been held to fewer than 20 points twice in nine games.

13 Victories without a loss for LSU in Saturday night games at Tiger Stadium under coach Brian Kelly. The Tigers also won their final two night home games before Kelly came aboard, so the winning streak is at 15 in a row at night at Tiger Stadium since a 16-13 overtime setback against Arkansas on Nov. 20, 2021. The wins include a 32-31 overtime victory against Alabama in 2022. Overall, LSU has a 14-game home winning streak that dates from a 40-13 loss to Tennessee on Oct. 8, 2022. That game is LSU’s only home loss in 18 games under Kelly. LSU hosts Alabama on Saturday night.

15 Consecutive victories for South Carolina against Vanderbilt entering their meeting on Saturday. The Commodores most recently defeated the Gamecocks 24-17 on Sept. 4, 2008. South Carolina leads the series 29-4. At No. 24 in this week’s Associated Press Poll, Vanderbilt is playing South Carolina as a ranked team for the first time. The Commodores’ most recently won a game while ranked in the AP Poll on Oct. 4, 2008, when No. 19 Vanderbilt defeated Auburn 14-13. The Commodores have played three games as a ranked team since then.

17 Consecutive victories have been tallied by Georgia in the game after its annual contest against Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. Georgia defeated Florida 34-20 last week and plays Ole Miss on Saturday. Since Kentucky beat the Bulldogs 24-20 after the Florida game in 2006, Georgia has defeated Kentucky five times, Missouri three, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee once apiece in SEC games and also beaten five non-conference opponents on the Saturday after playing the Gators.

RELATED: SEC TOP 10 FROM WEEK 10

20 Rushing yards are needed for Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson to become the first SEC player to reach 1,000 for the 2024 season. Sampson enters Saturday’s game against Ole Miss with 980 yards and 19 TDs on 171 rushing attempts. There have been 19 1,000-yard rushing seasons recorded by Tennessee players, with Johnnie Jones in 1983 and 1984 as the Volunteers’ only two-time 1,000-yard rusher. Sampson’s TD total for this season is a school record, and he’s run for at least one TD in every game this season. The Ole Miss defense has yielded four rushing TDs this season, tied with Tennessee for the fewest in the SEC.

25 Victories and seven losses for Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium entering Oklahoma’s visit on Saturday. Drinkwitz’s .781 home winning percentage is the best of any Missouri coach with at least four seasons with the Tigers. Missouri is 5-0 at home this season with two games left at Memorial Stadium on the 2024 schedule. The Tigers haven’t completed a season without a home loss since they went 6-0 in Columbia in 2007. Missouri has won eight consecutive home games since a 49-39 loss to LSU on Oct. 7, 2023.

36 Yards of total offense are needed by Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart in Saturday’s game against Georgia to reach the top 10 on the SEC’s career list. With 562 yards of total offense in last week’s 63-31 victory over Arkansas, Dart passed Bo Wallace as Ole Miss’ career leader with 10,805 yards of total offense – 9,548 passing yards and 1,257 rushing yards. Georgia QB Eric Zeier (1991-94) ranks 10th in SEC history with 10,841 yards of total offense (11,153 passing yards and minus-312 rushing yards). The SEC career leader in yards of total offense is Georgia QB Aaron Murray (2010-13), who had 13,562 yards (13,166 passing and 396 rushing).

100 Years since the first Florida-Texas game and the Longhorns’ first game at what is now Darrel K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. On Oct. 25, 1924, Texas and Florida tied 7-7 in the Longhorns’ final game at Clark Field. In its next home game, Texas lost to Baylor 28-10 at Texas Memorial Stadium on Nov. 8, 1924, in a Southwest Conference game attended by 13,500 fans. The Longhorns and Gators played in Austin again on Sept. 30, 1939, with Texas taking a 12-0 victory. Saturday’s game will be the programs’ first meeting since Dec. 7, 1940, when the Longhorns defeated the Gators 26-0 in Gainesville.

1,300 Games in South Carolina history when the Gamecocks take the field against Vanderbilt on Saturday. South Carolina has a 639-616-44 record. The Gamecocks’ 1,300th game could be doubly notable for South Carolina with a victory over Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks have road victories over Kentucky and Oklahoma in 2024 and have not won three SEC games on the road in the same season since 2013, when South Carolina defeated Georgia, Mississippi State and Tennessee away from home.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE SEC, GO TO OUR SEC PAGE

This week’s SEC schedule includes (all times are CDT with point spreads from BetMGM):

Saturday

• Florida (4-4, 2-3) at No. 5 Texas (7-1, 3-1), 11 a.m. at Darrel K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas (ABC). Line: Texas by 21.5
• No. 3 Georgia (7-1, 5-1) at No. 16 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2), 2:30 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi (ABC). Line: Georgia by 2.5
• South Carolina (5-3, 3-3) at Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2), 3:15 p.m. at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee (SEC Network). Line: South Carolina by 6.5
• Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5) at No. 7 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1), 6 p.m. at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee (ESPN). Line: Tennessee by 24.5
• No. 11 Alabama (6-2, 3-2) at No. 15 LSU (6-2, 3-1), 6:30 p.m. at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (ABC). Line: Alabama by 3
• Oklahoma (5-4, 1-4) at No. 24 Missouri (6-2, 2-2), 6:45 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri (SEC Network). Line: Oklahoma by 2.5

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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Football High Live: Updates, highlights from Round 1 of the playoffs

On Thursday night, Vestavia Hills upset No. 3-ranked Mary G. Montgomery in Class 7A and Susan Moore toppled Decatur Heritage in Class 2A.

Where will the upsets happen tonight as Round 1 of the 2024 playoffs concludes? Check back frequently tonight for scores, highlights and updates from across the state.

RELATED: AL.com Round 1 picks

RELATED: This week in HS Sports

A few key games include Hewitt-Trussville at Baker, Enterprise at Austin at Guntersville at Leeds. At the end of the night, look for all the final scores and next week’s matchups.

7:50 PM, Make it 4: Omar Mabson has 4 TDs already tonight and 7A No. 1 Auburn leads Bob Jones 35-7.

St. Paul’s 17, Helena 0 (Anthony “Tank” Jones with a 23-yard TD reception from Tate Johnston, 1:08 2nd)

West Morgan 21, Fayette County 0 (6:52 2nd)

Thompson 17, Daphne 0 (Kevin Davis with a fumble return TD for the Warriors)

Highland Home 37, St. Luke’s 0

Geraldine 19, Locust Fork 0

Clay Chalkville 17, Gadsden City 3

Moody 21, Arab 7

Anniston 16, Randolph 6

Southeastern 20, Red Bay 0

Piedmont 21, Collinsville 14

Enterprise 22, Austin 0

7:45 PM, Nothing doing: Baker and Hewitt-Trussville remain scoreless into the second quarter. Baker has picked off a pair of Hewitt passes but has nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.

Clarke County 27, Zion Chapel 6 (8:35 2nd)

Clay-Chalkville 17, Gadsden City 3 (7:19 2nd)

Citronelle 7, Shelby County 0 (half)

Williamson 26, Northside 0 (7:59 2nd)

Vigor 26, Sipsey Valley 0 (Dylan Jackson 10-yard TD pass)

Spain Park 21, McGill-Toolen 21 (2nd, Caden Kelly reporting)

Andalusia 10, Elmore County 7 (2nd)

7:40 PM, Looks like a good one in Madison: James Clemens took a 14-7 lead Central-Phenix City near the end of the 1st quarter, but Daylyn Upshaw returned the kickoff for a TD. It’s 14-14.

Jackson 35, Bullock County 0 (1:37 1st)

Benjamin Russell 21, Spanish Fort 14 (9:58 2nd)

Auburn 28, Bob Jones 0

Parker 21, Cullman 0 (Late 2nd)

West Morgan 14, Fayette County 0 (8:55 2nd)

7:35 PM, Warriors on top after 1: Thompson leads Daphne 10-0 in Round 1 of the 7A playoffs.

Vigor 19, Sipsey Valley 0 (Carlos Benjamin 27-yard TD run, End 1)

Cherokee County 14, Westminster Christian 7 (:53 1st)

Spanish Fort 14, Benjamin Russell 14 (End 1)

Clarke County 20, Zion Chapel 6 (1:48 1st, Robert Bradley providing updates)

Baker 0, Hewitt-Trussville 0 (End 1)

7:30 PM, Expanding the lead: Tate Johnson scores on a 65-yard QB keeper for St. Paul’s. Saints now lead Helena 10-0 with 11:47 left in the half.

Enterprise 7, Austin 0 (End 1)

Scottsboro 14, Jacksonville 0 (End 1)

West Morgan 7, Fayette County 0 (End 1)

Auburn 21, Bob Jones 0 (Omar Mabson 3 TDs)

Hartselle 7, Minor 0 (End 1)

Madison Academy 14, Hokes Bluff 0 (End 1)

Pike Road 9, Bessemer City 0 (End 1)

7:25 PM, Rolling early: Class 7A No. 1 Auburn leads Bob Jones 14-0. Omar Mabson with 2 TDs for the Tigers.

Vigor 13, Sipsey Valley 0 (Jamarion Osborne 26-yard TD run, Miguel Wilson 28-yard INT return)

St. Paul’s 3, Helena 0 (End 1)

Athens 7, Homewood 7 (End 1)

Appalachian 7, Donoho 0

Piedmont 14, Collinsville 7

Wadley 14, Valley Head 7

Moody 14, Arab 0

Spanish Fort 14, Benjamin Russell 14 (Sawyer Wilson 67-yard TD run, 2:31 1st)

7:20 PM, Over early: Looks like it’s going to be a quick night in Jackson. No. 1 Aggies already up 22-0 on Bullock County.

Clay-Chalkville 14, Gadsden City 0 (6:01 1st)

St. Paul’s 3, Helena 0 (Drew Ginsberg 37-yard FG)

Westminster Christian 7, Cherokee County 7 (5:40 1st)

James Clemens 7, Central-Phenix City 7 (Tristan Williams’ 64-yard TD run for the Red Devils)

Benjamin Russell 14, Spanish Fort 7 (4:12 1st)

Clarke County 14, Zion Chapel 6 (5:40 1st, Ethan Henson TD run)

7:15 PM, Commit watch: Auburn commit Eric Winters scores on a 1-yard run to cap a 9-play, 73-yard drive. Enterprise leads Austin 7-0 with 8:06 left in the first.

Deadlocked: TJ Wilson scores on a 65-yard TD run. Benjamin Russell evens the score at 7-7 with Spanish Fort on the Hill.

Hartselle 7, Minor 0 (10:31)

Tuscaloosa Academy 7, North Sand Mountain 0 (Preston Lancaster with a 52-yard TD pass)

West Morgan 7, Fayette County 0 (6:48 1st)

James Clemens 7, Central-Phenix City 0 (7:54 1st)

7:10 PM, Wildcats on top: Street Smith hits Dadrien Waller with a 31-yard TD pass. Guntersville leads Leeds 7-0 barely 2 minutes into the game.

Spanish Fort 7, Benjamin Russell 0: JuJu Bonner with a 27-yard TD pass to Jacob LeMoine with 9:52 left.

Clarke County 7, Zion Chapel 6

Opelika 8, Florence 0 (10:01 1st)

7:05 PM, Up early: Zion Chapel with a quick score and leads Clarke County 6-0 with less than a minute gone in the first quarter.

Clay-Chalkville 7, Gadsden City 0: Xavier Starks returns the opening kickoff 71 yards for a TD.

6:59 PM, Staying Perfect? Spain Park tries to move to 11-0 against surprising McGill-Toolen tonight.

6:52 PM, More history for Alvin? Elba RB Alvin Henderson is 65 yards away from becoming the first Alabama RB to run for 10,000 yards in his career.

6:48 PM, Another coaching vacancy: Glencoe has moved on from coach Scott Martin. It’s that time of year around the state.

6:45 PM, A friendly first round: Good friends Josh Floyd (Hewitt-Trussville) and Juan Johnson (Baker) meet in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs tonight.

6:41 PM, Ready to go: Top-ranked Jackson opens at home tonight against 5-5 Bullock County.

6:40 PM, VIP on the Hill: Former AHSAA executive director Steve Savarese checking out the Spanish Fort vs. Benjamin Russell game tonight.

6:30 PM, Home sweet home: 7A power Thompson at home tonight to take on Daphne in Round 1. The two teams played in a spring game at South Alabama with the Warriors winning.

6:24 PM, The champs are here: Reigning 7A champ Central-Phenix City prepares to play its first round game at James Clemens.

THURSDAY’S SCOREBOARD

AHSAA

Class 7A

Hoover 35, Fairhope 10

Vestavia Hills 42, Mary Montgomery 21

Class 6A

Saraland 42, Chelsea 3

Class 4A

St. Michael 63, Handley 40

Class 3A

Bayside Academy 36, Hale County 6

Fyffe 66, Ohatchee 30

Southside-Selma 36, Hillcrest-Evergreen 35

Class 2A

Susan Moore 34, Decatur Heritage 27

Class 1A

Linden 63, Southern Choctaw 14

AISA Class AAA

Chambers Academy 53, Clarke Prep 13

AISA Class AA

Lowndes Academy 47, Jackson Academy 0

AISA 8-man

Macon-East 62, Lakeside 7

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Alabama U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers reportedly being considered as Trump’s Secretary of Defense

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, is reportedly on a short list of candidates being considered by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of Defense.

Efforts by AL.com to reach Rogers’ office for comment were not immediately successful Friday evening.

Rogers is being considered along with U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, R-FL, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and U.S. Sen Tom Cotton of Arkansas, according to Politico.

First elected in 2002, Rogers in 2023 became the first member of Congress from Alabama to chair the Armed Services Committee. His east Alabama district includes the Anniston Army Depot and is near Fort Moore — the Georgia military post once known as Fort Benning.

“Our nation faces unprecedented threats from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. In order to deter these threats and remain the most feared force in the world — we must ensure that our military focuses on lethality and capability,” Rogers said at the time.

“Over the next two years, the House Armed Services Committee will provide our warfighters with the resources and weapons they need to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary anywhere in the world.”

The Politico report noted that while Rogers has supported U.S. assistance for Ukraine while Trump has called for negotiating an end to it war with Russia.

“Trump and Rogers align most closely on a policy issue near and dear to both of them: space. Rogers advocated for a new military service dedicated to space and defending U.S. satellites, which became the Space Force. Trump, who pushed lawmakers hard to establish the Space Force, has called creating the first new military branch since the 1940s one of his top achievements,” Politico reported.

Rogers has in the past criticized the Biden administration for keeping the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado and said that was a political move to keep the state blue in the election.

Trump endorsed Rogers for re-election.

“As the first chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from Alabama, Mike is rebuilding our great military, fighting woke ideology, and defending our country,” Trump wrote.

Current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is a native of Mobile.

Rogers in January 2023 made national news for confronting Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL, on the House floor following the 14th vote for Speaker. Rogers was held back by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.).

Rogers has apologized to Gaetz publicly since the incident. Months later, Gaetz backed Rogers in calling for an investigation into the decision to move the Space Command headquarters.

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Derrick Henry buys winter coats for entire elementary school

The NFL Players Association has chosen Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry as its NFLPA Community MVP for Week 10 of the NFL season.

In the former Alabama All-American’s latest act of charity, Henry purchased a winter coat for each of the 425 students at Curtis Bay Elementary School, a pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade facility in Baltimore.

“It’s an honor to be named Community MVP,” Henry said in statement released by the NFLPA. “It’s a blessing to be a blessing to others and I’m thankful for the opportunity to help level the playing field for today’s youth.”

When school started at Curtis Bay, Henry had supplied 200 students with backpacks and supplies.

Henry didn’t forget about Nashville after playing eight season with the Tennessee Titans before signing with the Ravens oin March. He provided 60 students from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee with $100 gift cards for back-to-school shopping.

Henry’s summer activities included his annual bike giveaway in his hometown of Yulee, Florida, where 200 youngsters received bicycles and school supplies and were treated to the Two All Carnival.

The Two All Foundation is Henry’s outreach group, which the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner founded in honor of his grandmother, Gladys Henry, “to level the playing field for today’s youth so that their future success is not limited by the circumstances of their upbringing, background, disability or influence.”

As this week’s award winner, Henry will receive a $10,000 donation for the Two All Foundation from the NFLPA .

Henry and the other Community MVP winners are eligible for the Alan Page Community Award. The NFLPA’s highest annual player honor includes an additional $100,000 donation.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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Caesars Sportsbook promo code ALCOM1000: $1K first-bet bonus for North Carolina vs. Kansas

The first weekend of college basketball kicks off with a top-10 showdown between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks. To celebrate the mayhem, take advantage of our Caesars Sportsbook promo code ALCOM1000 to earn a first-bet bonus up to $1,000.

Caesars Sportsbook promo code ALCOM1000 at a glance

Caesars Sportsbook promo code ALCOM1000: How to claim the $1K first-bet bonus

By depositing at least $10, you’ll activate the Caesars Sportsbook promo code ALCOM1000, a top-of-the-line deal in the industry. Getting to operate stress-free on your first wager, with a chance to win big.

Get started today by following this sign-up guide:

1. Press on one of our Caesars Sportsbook promo code ALCOM1000 banners on this page, and you’ll be redirected to the Caesars signup page, where you will enter Caesars Sportsbook promo code ALCOM1000.
2. Once you choose a deposit option, make a minimum $5 deposit.
3. Place a bet on UNC vs. Kansas contest or any other market on Caesars’ odds board. Caesars will award you a bonus bet in the amount of the original stake, up to $1,000, if your first wager loses
4. The bonus bet token will be credited two business days after your first bet is graded a loss
5. The bonus bet has no cash value and expires 14 days after it’s been credited

Caesars Sportsbook existing user promos

This welcome offer is a great way to intrigue new users, but the perks don’t end here. Caesars sportsbook constantly offers great promos for existing users to take advantage of throughout the basketball season.

• 100% SGP Live boosts: Get special odds boosts for their same-game parlay (SGP) markets on select Week NFL 9 matchups on the Caesars Sportsbook odds screen.
• 10% Deposit Match: Get 10% of your deposit up to $1010 matched, paid out in Caesars bonus bets.

How to use the Caesars Sportsbook promo code ALCOM1000 for North Carolina vs. Kansas

The North Carolina Tar Heels are +7.5 (-110) road underdogs when they meet the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday, November 8, at Allen Fieldhouse.

Both teams sit inside of the top 10 in the latest AP Poll, and have championship aspirations. A win here early in the regular season would be a major building block for building confident on their road to March Madness.

The Caesars Sportsbook promo code ALCOM1000 only returns a bonus bet if your first wager loses. But winning is never a bad thing, so I believe you should roll with the Jayhawks to handle business and cover the 7.5-point spread.

Last season Kansas was dominant in out of conference play with just one loss to Marquette. With North Carolina’s lack of presence down low, I can’t see them having an answer for Hunter Dickinson.

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‘New, exotic’ freshwater jellyfish spotted in Alabama lake: What are they?

Several Alabama residents have reported finding freshwater jellyfish in a local lake — raising questions about the origin of the unusual creatures.

“Every year when the water starts to drop we hear of people seeing these cool little freshwater jellies at the lake,” said Lake Martin Life in an Oct. 22 Facebook post.

According to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Outdoor Alabama), the jellyfish are sometimes seen in “high quality static waters” in the state.

The post had over 600 comments, with many people perplexed about not having previously seen the jellyfish.

“Did freshwater jellyfish just come into existence,” one person asked on the post.

“I was shocked. I didn’t know we had jellyfish,” commented another person. “They are mesmerizing.”

What are freshwater jellyfish?

Craspedacusta sowerbii are the only known species of freshwater jellyfish, according to the National Park Service.

The small jellies — no bigger than a quarter — originated in the Yangtze River in China but have been seen in North America since the 1900s, experts said. However, not much is known about the species.

“Some are important indicators of water quality, and their presence, abundance, and diversity reflect the overall condition of the water body,” the NPS said.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the jellyfish can be found across the United States, especially in the Northeast region. They were first observed in Alabama in 1995, records show.

Claire Kozal, a graduate student at Eastern Michigan University who studies freshwater jellyfish, told McClatchy News the creatures have populated quickly. In Michigan, freshwater jellies were first spotted in 1933, and now they’re in 236 bodies of water throughout the state, she said.

“That’s kind of a crazy number, if you think about it,” Kozal said. “Even in just less than 100 years, they’re in just so many freshwater bodies.”

Researchers aren’t exactly sure how the creatures are being transported, but they think a primary reason is through aquatic plant spread.

In the state, freshwater jellyfish can be observed in both the medusa, or moving, stage and the polyp or hydroid, or fixed, stage, according to Outdoor Alabama.

The medusa stage happens in the late summer through fall, the agency said.

“The only time where you’re going to see the actual Medusas of the jellyfish, or the jellyfish that people usually think of, is going to be from usually around late August through November,” Kozal said. “Usually by that point, people aren’t really looking in the water or swimming at that point.”

Are they dangerous?

While most jellyfish stings are not dangerous, there are some species of jellyfish that can be deadly.

According to Outdoor Alabama, freshwater jellyfish are not one of those species.

Though the jellyfish do sting, it is not strong enough to impact — or be felt by — humans, the agency said.

At this time researchers aren’t concerned with how quickly the jellyfish are spreading, Kozal said.

“It’s just kind of a new, exotic species, but there’s not an exact harm that can be measured at this point,” she said.

©2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Popular brunch restaurant First Watch bringing another location to Alabama

Breakfast and lunch concept First Watch is bringing another location to Alabama – this time in Alabaster.

Developer Alumni Properties has entered into a lease for a 4,400-square-foot First Watch location at the Shoppes at District 31 development, to be located at the northwest quadrant of U.S. 31 and Interstate 65. It will bring roughly 600,000 square feet of new retail, restaurant, and hotel space to Alabaster.

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Dear Annie: Estranged from my narcissistic sister

Dear Annie: I’ve made the decision to distance myself from my sister, who exhibits narcissistic, dramatic, needy and demanding behavior.

For years, I offered her help, advice and support, only to have the relationship follow a repetitive and unhealthy cycle. I would set boundaries and shut her out after being hurt but eventually let her back into my life.

Unfortunately, she simply cannot respect my boundaries. She would be kind and polite when she wanted something, but her response would quickly turn into anger, abuse and manipulation when things didn’t go her way.

After enduring years of emotional manipulation, constant demands and hurtful accusations, I finally chose to prioritize my own well-being. Her lies, theft and damaging behavior became too much to bear.

Although I love my sister and miss the good times we shared, I can no longer tolerate her toxic behavior. It’s a difficult decision, but ultimately, it’s what’s healthiest for me.

Have others experienced similar situations with family members, and how have they coped with the decision to walk away? Did I make the right decision? — Estranged Sibling

Dear Estranged Sibling: It sounds like you’ve done everything you could to maintain a relationship with your sister, but unfortunately, she hasn’t been able to respect your boundaries.

Prioritizing your well-being is important, and it seems like stepping away was the right choice for you at this time.

That said, don’t forget that people can change. It might be worth checking in with her periodically to see if her behavior has shifted and if the relationship can be rekindled in a healthier way. Wishing you the best as you navigate this challenging situation.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].

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