Nick Saban famously hated hypotheticals when he was head coach at Alabama, but once again on Friday brought up what might have happened had the Crimson Tide been in the 2022 College Football Playoff.
During his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, Saban was asked about times over the years he wasn’t sure his team was going to be included in the playoff when the final pairings were announced. Instead of mentioning times his team got in despite not winning the SEC championship (such as 2017), he veered toward his apparent continued grievance that his 2022 team was left out of the 4-team field after ending the regular season with a 10-2 record and finishing second in the SEC West behind LSU.
“It was all subjective,” Saban said. “We would have been 13-point favorites over TCU if we would have played them, and they got in the playoffs and we didn’t. I’m not criticizing TCU, it wasn’t their fault. But that is the subjective part of it.”
McAfee then asked rhetorically, “what happened to TCU during that run?”
Saban laughed and replied, “I was at that game.”
Here’s the video, via ESPN:
The Horned Frogs, for those who might not remember, beat Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl playoff semifinal before being routed 65-7 by Georgia in the national title game in Los Angeles. TCU got into the playoff as the No. 3 seed despite losing the Big 12 championship game, with unbeaten Michigan the 2-seed and Ohio State — whose only loss was to Michigan — at No. 4.
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Alabama beat Kansas State 45-20 in the Sugar Bowl to finish 11-2. No two-loss team ever made the College Football Playoff during the four-team era that spanned from 2004-23.
It’s not the first time Saban — now a full-time commentator for ESPN has brought up hypothetical point spreads involving the 2022 playoff. He also did so during an appearance on Fox at halftime of that year’s Big Ten championship game, the night before the playoff field was revealed.
“The whole goal is to get the best teams in,” Saban said at the time. “And what I would say to the committee, if we played any of these teams on the edge of getting in, would we be the underdog or would we be the favorite?”
With the RealPrize Casino promo code offer, new users are eligible to receive up to 625,000 Gold Coins, 125 Sweeps Coins, and 1,250 VIP Points. This is an extremely simple bonus to take advantage of without the need to use a real promo code at registration.
The US sweepstakes casino industry continues to grow at a rapid pace. RealPrize is now widely considered one of the best sweeps casinos on the market today. Read on as I break down the steps necessary to claim this exciting welcome bonus. I also highlight how RealPrize works, and discuss what separates it from traditional real money casino sites.
RealPrize Casino promo code: How to claim $100 in casino credits
RealPrize Casino is one of many exciting new social casinos operating throughout the US. It does most things right, including offering a world-class, modern design and UX.
This great design allows players to sign up and claim its welcome offer in just a few minutes.
The bonus offering up to 625,000 Gold Coins, 125 Sweeps Coins, and 1,250 VIP Points is not technically this platform’s welcome bonus. Rather, it is an additional bonus that users can take advantage of after signing nup.
Click the “Create Account” button on the RealPrize landing page.
Register a new account with RealPrize by providing some basic personal information.
Click the “Store” button on the RealPrize homepage.
Make a purchase of up to 625,000 Gold Coins. Receive an additional 125 Sweeps Coins and 1,250 VIP Points.
This is a somewhat unusual offer, as it requires users to make a purchase. Those who do choose to take advantage of this offer, however, will have a huge amount of Gold and Sweeps Coins at their disposal.
This is not the only offer available to new members of RealPrize. This sweeps casino will automatically reward its new players with 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins, simply for making an account.
There is never a requirement to make purchases at RealPrize. All members can play games for free, every day. Diehard fans looking for a little extra funds to wager with may want to consider claiming the RealPrize Casino promo code offer, though.
How does RealPrize Casino work?
RealPrize is a sweepstakes casino. Unlike real money online casinos, which are currently only legal in seven states, sweepstakes casinos are able to operate throughout nearly the entire country.
This is due to what are known as sweepstakes laws. Platforms like RealPrize allow their users to play games completely for free. They utilize two forms of virtual currencies – Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.
Gold Coins are awarded to players for free, every single day. This is the currency used to play online casino games and they are not worth any real money. Sweeps Coins can be earned in several ways and can be redeemed for prizes including gift cards and real money.
Casino fans will be pleased to find that RealPrize offers nearly all of the same types of games as real money online casinos. That includes a huge variety of slots and several table games.
Best game to play with the RealPrize Casino promo code
RealPrize has a great selection of games to choose from. While some social casinos provide more titles, I was more than satisfied with the number of games to choose from. One slot game took most of my attention and I ended up playing for more than an hour.
Panda Fortune
A screenshot of the Panda Fortune slot game.Pragmatic Play
Slot games are notoriously unpredictable. When playing with real money, it can be a stressful experience to make multiple spins without a single win. Social casinos take that stress away, as there is no real money on the line when playing.
I spent a considerable amount of time playing Panda Fortune at RealPrize. This is a five-reel online slot game from Pragmatic Play.
This game offers up to 25 jackpots to players. It features 25 paylines and has an average RTP of 96.17%. It is a progressive jackpot slot, offering 3 different jackpot prizes to winners.
The graphics of Panda Fortune are excellent. It is set in a tranquil bamboo forest and features symbols such as frogs, koi fish, lions, and pandas. Users will find several fun features like free spins and wild symbols to help boost their odds of winning.
I tested this game using both my computer and my smartphone. It ran extremely smoothly on both devices. It’s a great game that can offer users some huge jackpots.
Using the Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code ALCOM2500, new members become eligible to receive a first deposit match bonus of up to $2,500, plus 2,500 Reward Credits. This is one of the largest online casino welcome bonuses being offered right now and can be claimed in just a few minutes.
Caesars Palace Online Casino has quickly grown into one of the biggest and most popular online casinos in the US. Read on as I provide information on this platform’s unique welcome offer.
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Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code ALCOM2500: How to claim this offer
Caesars Palace Online Casino has continued to expand over the years and can now be played in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. For those located in any of these states, claiming this platform’s welcome offer is extremely simple.
The entire process to claim this offer should take just a few minutes. Below, I break down the steps necessary to sign up and receive this bonus.
Begin the registration process by providing your email and choosing a username and password.
Complete the registration by providing your full name, home address, phone number, social security number, etc…
Provide a valid government ID to verify your identity.
Make a deposit of $10 or more using an accepted banking method.
Receive a 100% first deposit match bonus of up to $2,500 in casino credits.
Receive 2,500 Rewards Credits after wagering at least $25 within 7 days of joining.
As I already mentioned, this is one of the largest online casino welcome bonuses being offered in 2024. As the steps above demonstrate, however, it is a very simple offer to claim.
Keep in mind that you do not need to live in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia to take advantage of this offer. Caesars Palace Online Casino only requires that its users are physically located in one of these states.
Be sure to allow this online casino to geo-target your location. Don’t bother attempting to use a VPN to get around this, as Caesars Palace Online Casino utilizes sophisticated location software to ensure its users are actually located in one of the four states it operates in.
Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code key terms and conditions
Online casinos never simply give money away for no reason. Welcome bonuses always come with clear terms and conditions that help to ensure that these casino platforms can remain profitable.
The Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code offer is huge and can help to immediately boost players’ bankrolls. Below, I highlight some of the most important terms and conditions connected to this generous bonus.
This bonus is only available to new users located in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
All new users must be aged 21+.
A minimum $10 deposit must be made to claim this offer.
First deposit match bonus funds are credited immediately.
2,500 Reward Credits are awarded immediately after wagering $25 on any game (within 7 days after signing up).
The playthrough requirement for this bonus varies depending on the game being played: 15x for slot games, 30x for video poker games, and 75x for all other games.
Users have 30 days after registration to meet the playthrough requirement.
In some ways, the terms and conditions connected to this bonus are great. A minimum deposit of just $10 is required for players to claim this offer. While that is higher than some competing online casinos, it is still low enough for most players.
I was also happy to see that the bonus funds earned from this bonus are credited immediately. The 2,500 Reward Credits will be credited to players immediately after they wager $25 or more, as long as it is within seven days of signing up.
Not every part of an online casino welcome bonus can be excellent, though. The playthrough requirements attached to this offer are fairly high. The requirements vary, depending on the game being played. Slots offer the quickest way to turn bonus funds into withdrawable cash, with just a 15x playthrough requirement attached.
Overall, the Caesars Palace Online Casino promo code bonus stands as one of the best welcome offers available today.
Best game to play with the Caesars Online Casino promo code offer
Caesars Palace Online Casino provides a massive variety of games to its players. I enjoyed spending time playing all types of games available through this platform. I was focused on completing the playthrough requirement attached to my casino credits, however, and chose to focus primarily on slots.
Lightning Gorilla
A screenshot of the Lightning Gorilla slot game.Caesars Palace Online Casino
Looking for a modern, exciting five-reel slot offering massive payouts? Consider playing Lightning Gorilla.
This game, created by Lightning Box, offers a huge number of features including Free Spins, Bonus Rounds, and Wild Symbols. With an average RTP of 96.18%, players have a great opportunity to win big playing this online slot.
Lightning Gorilla is set in a unique jungle theme. Players will find symbols featuring all of the most popular animals in the jungle including leopards, gorillas, sloths, toucans, and more.
The goal, like in nearly all other slot games, is to land matching symbols on a payline. The Gorilla symbol represents the highest-paying one, offering up to 300x your wager with five of a kind.
Trigger the Lightning Round for the opportunity to win jackpots. Four jackpots are available: Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand jackpots. These are won when any of the respective jackpot symbols land on an active reel.
I loved the modern graphics and massive jackpot opportunities with Gorilla Lightning. It looks excellent using both a desktop computer and a mobile device. I spent several hours playing this game and was able to nearly complete the entire playthrough requirement attached to my casino credits.
Online casino fans located in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia can now claim the Fanatics Casino promo code offer to earn $50 in casino credits. This bonus can be earned with a first deposit of just $5 or more, with no real promo code required at registration.
Fanatics stands as one of the top online casinos in the country. Here, I explain how exactly this platform’s welcome bonus works, and highlight some of the most important terms and conditions associated with this offer.
Fanatics Casino promo code: How to claim $50 in casino credits
The signup promo at Fanatics Casino is extremely easy to claim. Unlike many other online casinos, however, Fanatics Casino is only accessible using its mobile app. Keep that in mind when preparing to join this platform and claim its welcome bonus.
The steps below walk you through exactly how to claim this offer and begin playing.
Download the Fanatics Casino mobile app (Apple Store or Google Play Store).
Begin the registration process by providing your email address and choosing a username and password.
Continue the registration process by providing Fanatics with the requested personal information. No promo code is required.
Provide Fanatics Casino with a valid government ID.
Make a deposit of $5 or more ($10 in WV and MI).
Instantly receive $50 in casino credits.
Use these casino credits to play any available game at Fanatics Casino.
In just a few minutes, casino fans can join this online casino, claim its welcome bonus, and begin playing games. It’s worth mentioning that you do not need to be a resident of MI, NJ, PA, or WV to claim this offer. The only requirement is to be physically located within one of these states.Like every other online casino bonus, this one from Fanatics Casino comes with some clear terms and conditions.
Fanatics Casino promo code key terms and conditions
The Fanatics Casino promo code offer is one of the best, and most simplistic, online welcome bonuses currently being offered. It comes with some very clear terms and conditions that even novice online casino players should have no trouble understanding. Some of the most important rules attached to this offer include:
Only available to players in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
All players must be at least 21+ to join
A minimum deposit of $5 ($10 in WV and MI) must be made to claim this offer
Casino credits are granted immediately after your first deposit of $5 or more
All casino credits come with a 1x playthrough requirement
Users have 7 days to meet the playthrough requirement
These are all standard terms and conditions. In fact, some of these rules are far more generous than the terms connected to other, similar online casino welcome bonuses. I personally enjoy that this bonus can be claimed with just a $5 minimum deposit. Interestingly, those located in West Virginia and Michigan will need to deposit $10 to claim this offer.
It’s also great to see just a 1x playthrough requirement attached to this offer. Users will only need to play through their casino credits once in order to turn their bonus funds into real cash that can be withdrawn.
This certainly is not the largest online casino welcome offering that is available today. Caesars Online Casino, for example, is providing its users with a 100% first deposit match of up to $2,500.
Unsurprisingly, the terms and conditions attached to that bonus are far more restrictive. After claiming this bonus, users will have access to all of the games that Fanatics Casino offers. So, which one should users play with using the casino credits they’ve earned?
Best game to play with the Fanatics Casino promo code offer
Fanatics Casino is still a fairly new platform and does not offer quite as large of a game selection as some other, competing online casinos. With that being said, there are still many great game titles available. Below is one that I personally love to play through this platform.
Jumanji
Jumanji slotCatena Media
As a fan of slot games, I enjoyed playing many of the different online slots available through Fanatics Casino. There are many to choose from, all of which come from top developers such as NetEnt and Pragmatic Play.
Jumanji stands as one of the best available through this casino app. This is a five-reel slot game from NetEnt. It was launched in 2018 and has quickly become one of the most beloved slot titles with players across the country.
Unlike most other five-reel slots, Jumanji is set in a unique 3-4-5-4-3 row layout with 36 different paylines. The goal is to land matching symbols on a payline. Different matching symbols will result in different payouts.
In addition to the great graphics and special grid layout, this game offers players several fun features. I enjoyed the “Board Game Feature,” which is triggered at random and can offer players free spins and additional bonuses.
Users will also find Scatter Symbols, Free Spins, Multipliers, and more. Jumanji is a classic film and NetEnt has done a fantastic job taking this theme and turning it into a fun online slot game. I played this for hours on my phone using the Fanatics Casino app and was able to walk away with some winnings. With an average RTP of 96.33%, there is a great chance of other players doing the same.
The No. 12 Duke Blue Devils play against the No. 17 Arizona Wildcats in a college basketball game tonight. The matchup will begin at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN 2. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The Blue Devils enter this matchup with a 3-1 record coming off an 86-35 win against Wofford. During the victory, four Duke players scored double-digit points: Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster, Khaman Maluach, and Isaiah Evans.
Proctor led the Duke offense scoring15 points and shooting 4-7 from three-point range.
The Wildcats enter the matchup with a 2-1 record coming off a 103-88 loss against Wisconsin.
During the loss, Arizona struggled to shoot from long range. The team only shot 4-23 from three-point range, which impacted their offensive success. Notably, Arizona’s star guard Caleb Love shot 2-13 from the field and 0-6 from beyond the arc.
Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers play against the No. 13 Baylor Bears in a college basketball game tonight. The matchup will begin at 8:30 p.m. CT on CBSSN. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV.
The Volunteers enter this matchup with a 5-0 record, and they are coming off a 64-42 win against Virginia. During the victory, Chaz Lanier led the Tennessee offense. He scored 26 points and shot 6-12 from three-point range. Lanier is currently averaging more than 16 points per game, so he will be a key player to watch tonight.
Notably, the Volunteers also played well defensively against Virginia, as they forced 18 turnovers.
The Bears enter this matchup with a 4-1 record, and they have won four games in a row. In their most recent game, the Bears defeated St. John’s 99-98 in double overtime.
During the victory, Norchad Omier recorded a double-double. He ended the game with 24 points and 10 rebounds, so he will try to perform similarly tonight. Notably, Omier currently leads the team in points and rebounds.
Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV.
Yeismin Ramirez, 18, of Albertville was booked into the Marshall County jail Thursday night on charges of vehicular homicide and two counts of first-degree assault, records showed.
Ramirez remains held in the jail Friday on $500,000 bond.
Marshall County Assistant District Attorney Adam Culbert told WAFF that Ramirez was driving the 2015 Nissan Altima that left the road and struck a tree stump, a sign post and then a fence around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday on Blessing Road near Arley Lacey Road, approximately two miles north of Boaz, in Marshall County.
Alcohol was involved in the fatal wreck, Culbert told the station.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said a 13-year-old passenger in the vehicle was killed and two other teens — a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old — were injured and taken to a hospital. They were not wearing seat belts.
Ramirez, who was initially only identified as the 18-year-old driver of the vehicle, was also injured and taken to a hospital.
She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Yaxel Lendeborg’s 18-point, 10-rebound double-double was for naught, as the UAB Blazers’ 3-of-17 three-point shooting performance dragged them to an 89-81 loss against Longwood in the opening game of the Paradise Jam tournament.
The Blazers dropped to 3-3 on the season, and will face the loser of McNeese vs. Illinois State Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.
Birmingham’s frontcourt continues to find themselves in foul trouble as Lendeborg only saw nine minutes in the first half, eventually fouling out with seconds left in the game and Christian Coleman, who had 14 points and four rebounds, fouled out with under three minutes left in the game.
Forward Bradley Ezewiro was ejected early in the second half, leaving Andy Kennedy to rely on sophomore Will Shaver getting some surprise minutes.
Lendeborg continues to thrive in the second half of games this season, scoring 15 of his 18 points in the final 20 minutes of the game, and was nearly the Blazers’ lone source of consistency on offense down the stretch.
Guard Ja’Borri McGhee has heated up as of late for Kennedy’s squad and came up big again today, adding 16 points and four assists on 7-of-9 shooting in 35 minutes on the floor.
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The Blazers’ other backcourt transfer, Greg Gordon, was unable to make the trip to the Virgin Islands for the tournament due to I.D. issues and will be unavailable for the remaining two games.
Longwood extended their win streak and is now 6-0 on the season, as they look to return to the NCAA Tournament for a second year in a row.
The Lancers were led in scoring by Michael Christmas, whose three-pointer to put them up five with under a minute to go all but putting the game out of reach for UAB. Christmas finished with 15 points.
The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning at 2:44 p.m. on Friday valid for Saturday between midnight and 8 a.m. for Choctaw, Washington, Clarke, Wilcox, Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Crenshaw and Covington counties.
The weather service describes, “Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 31 degrees expected.”
“Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” explains the weather service. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”
What to do if there is a freeze watch or warning
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Freeze warnings are issued from May to October (but can be extended if necessary), when low temperatures are expected to be 29-32 degrees. If there is a potential for temperatures to fall into these thresholds, a freeze watch may be issued a few days ahead of time.
According to the weather service, if a freeze warning or watch is issued for your area, there is little you can do to protect plants. If you can move your sensitive plants inside, do so because the freeze will likely kill them, depending on the severity of conditions.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
Rick Ross is listed as a “special guest” at the show, which also includes Ray J, Sammie, Bobby V, Pleasure P and Nivea.
Tickets are now on sale via Ticketmaster for the 8 p.m. show, priced at $69.75-$419.75, plus service charges. Legacy Arena, 1898 Ninth Ave. North, seats about 15,000 people and is part of the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex downtown.
Twenty-four dates for the “Millennium Tour” have been announced by the Black Promoters Collective, starting on March 7 in Louisville, Kentucky, and ending on April 27 in Los Angeles. Birmingham is the only Alabama city on the tour right now, but the agenda includes Southern cities such as New Orleans (March 29, Smoothie King Center); Atlanta (April 4, State Farm Arena); Memphis, Tennessee (April 6, FedEx Forum); and Charlotte, North Carolina (April 10, Spectrum Center).
The tour promises “musical performances that defined a generation” and touts “chart-topping hits and unmatched energy,” according to a press release. Trey Songz, Omarion and Bow Wow — all of whom have performed in Birmingham before — appear to be the headliners at each show, closely followed by Plies, Boosie and Ying Yang Twins.
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Omarion poses at the premiere of the film “Bob Marley: One Love,” Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. He’s set to appear in Birmingham in 2025 on the “Millennium Tour.”(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
“The ‘Millennium Tour 2025′ solidifies (the promoters’) commitment to delivering culturally resonant entertainment that celebrates the best in music and artistry and rekindles memories of an era that shaped modern R&B and Hip Hop,” a press release says. “Fans can expect unforgettable performances from acts whose music, from hip-hop to R&B, defined the 2000s and continues to resonate today. … This is not just a tour, it’s a cultural movement.”