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It’s always interesting to pay attention to all of the developing storylines surrounding the game each season. The history of the game, teams, and players comes into the spotlight as the big game builds for two weeks before it eventually kicks off. One of the angles that has become particularly intriguing is looking at the different colleges and universities that Super Bowl participants represent. Super Bowl 57 features the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles....

Line: LSU -7 Total: 144.5 MORE: College hoops live odds | ATS standings Trends: Georgia 11-6 SU, 9-8 ATS, 9-8 O/U. LSU 12-7 SU, 5-13 ATS, 7-11 O/U KenPom efficiency ratings: Georgia 83 (overall), 185 (offense), 21 (defense). LSU 60, 57, 80 Effective FG percentage: Georgia 49.4, LSU 51.9 EFG% against: Georgia 43.7, LSU 49.5 Analysis: LSU is in a brutal sandwich spot coming off a thrilling victory at Alabama before hosting No....

South Carolina, considered an early challenger to Georgia in the East this year, played the role of upstart well heading into the game. There was former Gamecock Tori Gurley guaranteeing a victory over the Bulldogs. Then there was Deebo Samuel, who seemingly didn’t know who Georgia defensive back Deandre Baker was (he’s the player who helped limit him to six catches for 33 yards). All that would have been fine if the Gamecocks had backed it up with their on-field play, but it was Georgia, which was happy to let South Carolina do all the talking beforehand, that delivered the loudest message Saturday....

Gurley missed last week's overtime win against Tennessee while recovering from an ankle injury against LSU. MORE: Top 10 rivalries | 17 unbeaten teams | Bowl projections "I would say it's doubtful. He could," Georgia coach Mark Richt told reporters. "In life, adversity happens. You can panic or you can look at what you have and find a way to win." Making matters worse, sophomore Keith Marshall is out for the season after tearing his ACL against Tennessee....

The last step is for Governor Brian Kemp to sign Senate Bill 2EX into law. The Associated Press reported that the 96-68 state House vote fell largely along party lines. The redistricting follows President Joe Biden’s narrow win in the state during the 2020 presidential election and the state’s election of two Democratic U.S. senators in January. With the new district lines, Republicans are projected to win 64 percent of 14 congressional seats, 59 percent of 56 state Senate seats and 54 percent of 180 state House seats....

A total of 169 student-athletes were nominated for their contributions in their respective communities and volunteer efforts. The Allstate AFCA Good Works team will be composed of 11 players from the FBS and 11 more players from the FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA. That team will be unveiled in September. “This year is another really strong representation from this conference,” ESPN analyst Matt Stinchcomb told Sporting News. “I think one of the highest honors you can receive as a college football player and student because it represents the type of person and the type of kid they are....

Freshman wide receiver Terry Godwin threw a 44-yard bomb for a touchdown to Malcolm Mitchell on a trick play and later caught a short touchdown pass from Greyson Lambert for the second touchdown of the game. MORE: 2015-16 bowl roundup | College football 1 to 100 Penn State lost starting QB Christian Hackenberg in the second quarter with a right shoulder injury that kept him out the rest of the game....

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s Bundesliga soccer club Darmstadt 98 and its midfielder Aenis Ben-Hatira have agreed to end his contract over his support of an organisation that authorities say is close to hardline Islamists. The Berlin-born midfielder, who has dual German and Tunisian citizenship and has played for the Tunisia national team and German national youth teams, joined Darmstadt this season. He previously played for Hamburg SV and Hertha Berlin....

Bender, who has scored 4 goals in 17 appearances for the German national team, has been ruled after suffering a combined muscle and tendon injury in his right thigh during training. German coach Joachim Low confirmed his absence saying “When a player is ruled out so close before a tournament then it is very disappointing for everyone. I feel personally very sorry for Lars because I know how much he wanted to be in Brazil....

Discovery last year won the European broadcast rights for the Olympics from 2018 to 2024 for 1.3 billion euros ($1.38 billion), beating out national public broadcasters like the BBC or France Television. But Discovery had been expected to pass on some lucrative rights. German monthly Manager Magazin reported in June that talks between Discovery and ARD and ZDF had stalled over the price of a sub-license. According to the magazine, ARD and ZDF wanted to pay no more than 100 million euros for the broadcast rights in Germany, while Discovery was demanding at least 150 million....

A goal from Gabriel Jesus gave the South Americans a narrow victory in Berlin that amounts to some form of revenge after they were thumped 7-1 by Germany as the Europeans won the 2014 World Cup. With the 2018 competition now just weeks away, the Germans are once again considered one of the favourites but Real Madrid midfielder Kroos believes that they cannot let the hype get to them after their latest setback....

England were placed with Germany, Finland and Spain in the group stages, and they managed to top their group without a loss. Then, they won against an overachieving Sweden to reach the finals against Germany. In the final though, the English hopes dried off as the German squad routed England 4-0. That German squad had players, players who are dominating world football today, players who form the core of the German National Football team today....

The decision — which caught many by surprise — represents a calculated gamble by Loew, who is counting on younger players to fill the void the three Bayern Munich players will leave. Mueller scored 38 goals in 100 appearances for Germany and has been a mainstay since finishing joint-top scorer at the 2010 World Cup. Hummels and fellow central defender Boateng have 70 and 74 appearances, respectively, and formed the backbone of the team’s defense for years....

The flooding, which occurred in western parts of Germany with the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia the worst hit, also struck areas of Belgium and the Netherlands where river banks burst after heavy rain equivalent to around two months’ worth hit parts of Europe on Thursday. Around 1,300 people are still missing in the Ahrweiler district south of Cologne in Germany, as family members are unable to call their loved ones reportedly due to mobile phone networks collapsing during the flooding....

Belgium moved up to 3rd in the rankings, thanks to their wins over Israel and Cyprus, pushing Colombia to 4th in the process. The biggest jump in terms of points was made by Wales, who added 153 points to rise by 15 spots to 22nd. European giants Italy and France both fell by 3 ranks each and are currently 13th and 11th in the table while Spain moved up a slot to climb back into the top 10....

NADA tells the Rheinischen Post that doping has benefits for players. The agency says “it’s about speeding up recovery in football, treating injuries faster and more effectively, and reducing convalescence. If prohibited substances and methods are used, then that’s also doping.” NADA says there is more to doping than use of anabolic steroids or stimulants, “therefore doping in football cannot be excluded from NADA’s point of view.” Mueller-Wohlfahrt had told Der Zeit newspaper that doping would have a detrimental effect on players and could therefore be ruled out....

The 20-year-old forward steps up from 2.Bundesliga to Germany’s top flight and has penned a three-and-a-half-year contract. Teuchert has represented Germany at every age group from Under-15 upwards and scored six times in 15 league outings for Nurnberg during the first half of the season. “Cedric is a young, talented player who has a bold style of play and a good nose for goal,” said Schalke head coach Domenico Tedesco....

Key names Timo Werner and Marco Reus saw their chances of heading to Qatar wrecked by injury, with rising star Florian Wirtz also ruled out. Those absences have impacted Flick’s selection in his final 26-man squad, which was announced on November 10, with veteran midfielder Mario Gotze the big surprise call up. Gotze’s extra-time winner in the 2014 World Cup final is one of the most iconic moments in German football history, but the forward has been left out in the cold for the national side since 2017, but now he is back....

During a 17-year playing career at Anfield, Gerrard made 710 appearances, scored 186 goals and lifted 10 trophies – including the Champions League in 2004-05 and two FA Cups. After a stint in MLS with the Los Angeles Galaxy, the 36-year-old returned to Liverpool as an academy coach in February, despite being linked with top job at MK Dons. ‘Liverpool better than City title winners’ Rush is confident Gerrard made the right decision and will play a pivotal role in the club’s future from the first-team dugout - potentially alongside former team-mate Jamie Carragher....

Rangers have made the former England captain their No.1 target for the manager’s position at Ibrox, with interim boss Graeme Murty unlikely to be given the job on a full-time basis. Gerrard has impressed since being appointed Under 18s boss at Liverpool last summer, but his lack of first-team managerial experience is a concern for former Rangers skipper McCulloch. “Yes, Gerrard is an Under-18s coach, a phenomenally talented player for club and country, and won the Champions League and UEFA Cup," McCulloch told BBC Sportsound....