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Missouri tries to remain in thick of SEC East race with South Carolina coming to town

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — FOR RELEASE THURS OCT 19South Carolina (2-4, 1-3 SEC) at No. 20 Missouri (6-1, 2-1), Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network). Line: Missouri by 7 1-2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Missouri leads 8-5. WHAT’S AT STAKE?Missouri needs to win to remain in the title hunt in the SEC East with top-ranked Georgia, the only team ahead of it in the standings, awaiting the following week. The Tigs are coming off an impressive, confidence-building 38-21 win at Kentucky last week. South Carolina has lost back-to-back games against Tennessee and Florida, and the loss to the Gators was especially devastating. The Gamecocks led 37-27 with less than 5 minutes left before allowing two late TDs in a 41-39 defeat.KEY MATCHUPMissouri QB Brady Cook vs. South Carolina’s pass defense. This seems like a mismatch. Cook and the Tigers are averaging more than 306 yards through the air while the Gamecocks are dead last in the SEC in allowing 321 yards passing to oppone...

Juventus expresses ‘full support’ for Nicolò Fagioli after midfielder banned for betting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

TURIN, Italy (AP) — Juventus expressed its “full support” for Nicolò Fagioli on Thursday, two days after the midfielder was banned for seven months by the Italian soccer federation for betting violations.Fagioli agreed to a plea bargain with the federation that stipulates he undergo therapy for a gambling addiction.“We are firmly convinced that Nicolò, with the support of the club, his teammates, his family and the professionals who will assist him, will face the therapeutic and training process with a great sense of responsibility and, once the disqualification has been served, will be able to return to competing with due serenity,” Juventus said in a statement.The 22-year-old Fagioli, who has already been seeing a therapist for his problem, alerted the Italian soccer federation’s prosecutor about the case and cooperated with authorities to mitigate his punishment.That allowed the minimum ban of three years for players betting on soccer matches to be greatly reduced.In a far-reachi...

The government secures a $9 million settlement with Ameris Bank over alleged redlining in Florida

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has secured a $9 million settlement with Ameris Bank over allegations that it avoided underwriting mortgages in predominately Black and Latino communities in Jacksonville, Florida, and discouraged people there from getting home loans.The bank denied violating fair lending laws and said it wanted to avoid litigation by agreeing to the deal, which does not include civil monetary penalties.It’s the latest settlement over a practice known as redlining, which the Biden administration is tackling through a new task force that earlier this year reached the largest agreement of its kind in the department’s history. Between 2016 and 2021, the Atlanta-based Ameris Bank’s home lending was focused disproportionately on mostly white areas of Jacksonville while other banks approved loans at three times the rate Ameris did, the government said.The bank has never operated a branch in a majority Black and Hispanic neighborhood, and in one-third of...

Netflix, Las Vegas Sands rise; Tesla, Alcoa fall, Thursday, 10/19/2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

Stocks that are trading heavily or have substantial price changes on Thursday: Tesla Inc. (TSLA), down $21.11 to $221.57.The electric vehicle maker’s third-quarter financial results fell short of analysts’ forecasts.Netflix Inc. (NFLX), up $54.07 to $400.26.The streaming entertainment giant reported strong third-quarter earnings and subscription results.SAP SE (SAP), up $7.77 to $135.38.The business software maker beat analysts’ third-quarter earnings forecasts.Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS), up $1.59 to $46.19.The casino operator reported encouraging third-quarter financial results and reinstated its stock buyback program.Discover Financial Services (DFS), down $7.08 to $84.77.The credit card issuer’s third-quarter earnings fell short of analysts’ forecasts.Devon Energy Corp. (DVN), down 65 cents to $49.43.The energy company is reportedly considering a buyout of Marathon Oil.Union Pacific Corp. (UNP), up $7.25 to $213.17.The railroad operator beat analyst...

The average long-term US mortgage rate surges to 7.63%, holding at highest level since 2000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The cost of financing a home surged again this week with the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate at its highest level since December 2000.The average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan rose to 7.63% from 7.57% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.94%.Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loan, also increased. The average rate rose to 6.92% from 6.89% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.23%, Freddie Mac said.As mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already out of reach for many Americans. They also discourage homeowners who locked in far low rates two years ago from selling. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now more than double what it was two years ago, when it was just 3.09%. This is the sixth consecutive week that mortgage rates have moved higher. Th...

Lightning get Stamkos back; Vasilevskiy on schedule for return in late November or early December

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is set to rejoin the lineup and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy remains on target to be back in late November or early December.Stamkos took part in the morning skate and will play in Thursday night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks after missing two games with an undisclosed lower body injury, according to coach Jon Cooper.Stamkos enters Thursday’s game 40th on the NHL career goal list with 517.Vasilevskiy had a microdiscectomy to address a lumbar disk herniation three weeks ago. “The schedule hasn’t changed,” Cooper said. “He’s a workaholic in how he prepares and how he looks after his body. So, sometimes you have to pull the reins back a little on him and just let nature take its course and your body takes its course. Everything is going according to plan.”Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy in 2019 as the league’s top netminder and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021 as playoff MVP.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHLSource

No. 11 Alabama hosts 17th-ranked Tennessee with both still chasing division titles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

No. 17 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 11 Alabama (6-1, 4-0), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS). Line: Alabama by 8 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Alabama leads 59-39-7.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Alabama sits atop the Southeastern Conference West as the division’s only undefeated team in league play. The Crimson Tide had a 15-game streak in this rivalry snapped with a 52-49 loss in Knoxville. Tennessee controls its own destiny in the SEC East if the Volunteers can win out, but the Volunteers are starting a stretch with three SEC road games over the next month before they host top-ranked Georgia on Nov. 18. KEY MATCHUPAlabama’s run defense against Tennessee’s rushing offense. The Crimson Tide rank 18th nationally giving up just 104.2 yards rushing per game, two spots ahead of Tennessee’s run defense. The Volunteers lead the SEC and rank sixth nationally averaging 231.3 yards rushing using a trio of running backs led by Jaylen Wright. They just ran for 232 yards in last week’s wi...

Live updates | Israel bombards Gaza with airstrikes and readies troops for a ground assault

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

Palestinian looks from his house damaged by Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)(AP/Hatem Ali) Palestinian looks from his house damaged by Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)(AP/Hatem Ali) The Israeli military is keeping up its airstrikes on Gaza and Israel’s defense minister has told troops to be ready for a ground assault on the Palestinian territory, although he has not said when that will begin.More than 1 million Palestinians, roughly half of Gaza’s population, have fled homes in the north and Gaza City after Israel told them to evacuate. The airstrikes early Thursday continued across...

A Dillon Gabriel reunion: Star QB leads No. 6 Oklahoma against former school and Big 12 newbie UCF

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gaibriel is looking forward to facing his former school.Gabriel passed for more than 8,000 yards at UCF, then transferred well before the announcement that the Knights would leave the American Athletic Conference for the Big 12. UCF is playing its first Big 12 season now, creating the matchup between Gabriel’s past and present teams.“I think it’s interesting how college football brings it all full circle,” Gabriel said. “I’m excited for it. I’m excited for every opportunity. Grateful that I get to run out with these guys. It’ll be a great time.”Gabriel’s decision has worked out. He’s a Heisman Trophy hopeful and the sixth-ranked Sooners (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) have a clear path to a spot in the Big 12 title game. He got the nation’s attention when he passed for 285 yards and ran for 113 to lead the Sooners in a 34-30 win over Texas.UCF coach Gus Malzahn, who briefly coached Gabriel before the transfer, is impressed with Gabriel’s deve...

No. 25 UCLA looks to get back on track in visit to Stanford

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:32 GMT

No. 25 UCLA (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) at Stanford (2-4, 1-3), Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)Line: UCLA by 17 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: UCLA leads 48–43–3.WHAT’S AT STAKE?UCLA looks to bounce back from a loss at Oregon State and get a win to help the Bruins stay in the AP poll. Stanford is coming off the biggest comeback in school history after rallying from 29 points down to beat Colorado 46-43 in double overtime last week. The Cardinal haven’t won back-to-back Pac-12 games in a season since winning the final four games in 2020.KEY MATCHUPUCLA QB Dante Moore vs. Stanford pass D. Moore has struggled mightily of late. He went 13 for 31 for 138 yards and three INTs last week and has thrown a pick-6 in three straight games. Moore faces a Cardinal defense that has the second fewest INTs in the Pac-12 with three and has allowed the second most yards passing this season. PLAYERS TO WATCHUCLA: RB Carson Steele had 22 carries for 110 yards and a TD last week. Steele has ...