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Finance Sector Leads as Bank SPDR Extends on Breakout

The Finance sector is leading the market with a new high this week and the Bank SPDR (KBE) is extending on its breakout. Today’s report will outline the lessons of the early January setup and show the mid January breakout. We then show how to set a re-evaluation level that would prove the breakout wrong.

Let’s first review the setup from mid January. The chart below shows KBE hitting a new high in late November and then falling into mid January. The new high affirms a long-term uptrend and KBE remained well above the rising 200-day SMA. Thus, this decline was viewed as a correction within a long-term uptrend. During such pullbacks, I look for Bullish Setup Zones using retracement levels, prior resistance breaks and support levels. These are zones to watch for firming and a reversal.

Three items mark the Bullish Setup Zone on the chart above (see 1, 2 and 3). First, corrections within uptrends typically retraced 1/3 to 2/3 with 1/2 (50%) being the base case. A 50% retracement represents one step backward after two steps forward. Second, a key tenet of technical analysis is that broken resistance levels turn into support. KBE broke resistance around 55 and this area turns into future support. Third, KBE held the 53 area with two bounces in late October and early November (support). Taken together, the 50% retracement, broken resistance and support mark a Bullish Setup Zone in the 53-55 area (blue shading).

The strategy at TrendInvestorPro is to find and trade pullbacks within leading uptrends. Each week we bring you setups in ETFs and stocks. Click here to take a trial and learn more.

Once prices reach the Bullish Setup Zone, it is time to start drawing patterns and marking resistance levels. KBE formed a falling wedge and established short-term resistance with the January 6th high (pink line). Note that falling wedge patterns are typical for corrections within bigger uptrends. KBE broke out with a gap-surge in mid January and extended higher into February. The indicator window shows the price-relative (KBE/RSP ratio) turning up with a relative breakout. KBE is also leading again.

With an active breakout and extension higher, it is time to mark a re-evaluation level. This is the level that negates the wedge breakout and tells us something is wrong. Strong breakouts should hold so a failed breakout shows weakness. The breakout zone in the 55-56.5 area turns into first support (blue shading). A close below 55 would negate this breakout and call for a re-evaluation.

The strategy at TrendInvestorPro is to find and trade pullbacks within leading uptrends. Each week we define the market regime (bull or bear market), identify the leading groups using ETFs and highlight tradeable setups in stocks and ETFs. This week we featured the three biotech ETFs, two biotech stocks, a Mag7 stock and an industrial stock. Click here to take a trial and gain full access.

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NHL trade targets: Who could still be moved before March 7 deadline?

The official NHL trade deadline is March 7, but an early one seems to be Monday’s break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

A flurry of trades has taken some expected names off the target list. Vancouver’s J.T. Miller was dealt to the New York Rangers. Pittsburgh pending unrestricted free agents Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor were dealt to the Canucks the same night.

Expected seller Philadelphia moved Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost, and bottom-dwelling San Jose (Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci) and Chicago (Taylor Hall) have made moves.

Add in improved play by Detroit, the Rangers and New York Islanders, plus better-than-expected performances by Columbus (which expects to add to address injuries), Montreal and Calgary, and the list gets slim.

Who could be potential trade targets with one month to go until the deadline?

Forward Trent Frederic, Boston Bruins

After two consecutive seasons with 17 or more goals, he’s at eight this season. But his gritty play is a plus in the playoffs.

Forward Brock Nelson, New York Islanders

The Islanders have surged close to a playoff spot, but now must deal with an injury to Mathew Barzal after he blocked a shot. He’s one of seven Islanders out with injuries, and the team is 1-1 without him. If the team drops in the standings before the deadline, Nelson and fellow pending UFA Kyle Palmieri would get good returns.

Seattle Kraken players

Forward Yanni Gourde will be out past the trade deadline after sports hernia surgery but he’s a two-time Stanley Cup winner. The Kraken have other potential trade targets if general manager Ron Francis goes that route. Penalty killer Brandon Tanev is a pending UFA who’s popular with fans.

Montreal Canadiens players

Right-shot and shot-blocking defenseman David Savard moved at the 2021 deadline, winning a Cup with the Lightning. The Canadiens’ acquisition of Alexandre Carrier makes Savard available. Canadiens forward Jake Evans also is a pending UFA.

Anaheim Ducks players

Goalie John Gibson always seems to be on trade lists but never moves. His numbers have improved this season, albeit as a backup to Lukas Dostal. Gibson has two seasons left on his contract at a $6.4 million cap hit, plus he has a modified no-trade clause. Another Ducks player to watch is Trevor Zegras, who probably could use a change of scenery. Defenseman Brian Dumoulin is a pending UFA. You can always count on general manager Pat Verbeek moving someone at the deadline.

Nashville Predators players

The Predators are the NHL’s most disappointing team, sitting near the bottom of the league despite aggressive offseason moves. It’s hard to believe that general manager Barry Trotz would overreact and sell off after one poor season by a perennial playoff team. But Gustav Nyquist (75 points last season) is a pending UFA and Ryan O’Reilly is a former playoff MVP. Both have had a big dropoff in points this season.

Buffalo Sabres players

The Sabres’ playoff drought looks like it will hit 14 seasons. Dylan Cozens, who plays a physical game and is signed through 2027-28, has drawn interest, according to NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes. Forwards Jason Zucker and Jordan Greenway are pending UFAs. Defenseman Bowen Byram is a pending RFA.

Chicago Blackhawks players

They’re heading for another high lottery pick. Their pending UFAs include Ryan Donato and three-time Cup winner Pat Maroon. Some insider trade boards include right-shot defenseman Seth Jones. He’s signed through 2027-28 at a cap hit of $9.5 million and has a no-movement clause.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Politics

Iran’s supreme leader says nuclear talks with Trump admin would not be ‘wise’

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told air force officers in Teheran on Friday that nuclear talks with the U.S. ‘are not intelligent, wise or honorable.’

Khamenei added that ‘there should be no negotiations with such a government,’ but did not issue an order to not engage with the U.S., according to The Associated Press.

Khamenei’s remarks on Friday seem to contradict his previous indications that he was open to negotiating with the U.S. over Iran’s nuclear program. In August, Khamenei seemed to open the door to nuclear talks with the U.S., telling his country’s civilian government that there was ‘no harm’ in engaging with its ‘enemy,’ the AP reported.

President Donald Trump floated the idea of a ‘verified nuclear peace agreement’ with Teheran in a post on his Truth Social platform. In the same post, he also slammed ‘greatly exaggerated’ reports claiming that the U.S. and Israel were going to ‘blow Iran into smithereens.’

‘I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper. We should start working on it immediately, and have a big Middle East Celebration when it is signed and completed,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.

In 2018, during his first term, Trump exited the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, saying that it was not strong enough to restrain Iran’s nuclear development. At the time, President Trump argued that the deal, which was made during former President Barack Obama’s second term, was ‘one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.’

Just days before his call for a ‘verified nuclear peace agreement’ with Iran, Trump signed an executive order urging the government to put pressure on the Islamic republic. He also told reporters that if Iran were to assassinate him, they would be ‘obliterated,’ as per his alleged instructions.

According to the AP, on Friday, Khamenei slammed the U.S. because, in his eyes, ‘the Americans did not hold up their end of the deal.’ Furthermore, Iran’s supreme leader referenced Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA, saying that he ‘tore up the agreement.’

‘We negotiated, we gave concessions, we compromised— but we did not achieve the results we aimed for.’

Iran has insisted for years that its nuclear program was aimed at civilian and peaceful purposes, not weapons. However, it has enriched its uranium to up to 60% purity, which is around 90% the level that would be considered weapons grade.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi told Reuters in December 2024 that it was ‘regrettable’ that there was no ‘diplomatic process ongoing which could lead to a de-escalation, or a more stable equation.’

In addition to his remarks on Iran, President Trump made global headlines with his proposal that the US take over Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war rages on. Khamenei, according to the AP, also seemed to reference the president’s remarks on Gaza without mentioning them outright.

‘The Americans sit, redrawing the map of the world — but only on paper, as it has no basis in reality,’ Khamenei told air force officers, according to the AP. ‘They make statements about us, express opinions and issue threats. If they threaten us, we will threaten them in return. If they act on their threats, we will act on ours. If they violate the security of our nation, we will, without a doubt, respond in kind.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to House Republicans releasing their tax and spending cut plan Friday

House Republican leaders spent nearly five hours at the White House yesterday – some of it with President Donald Trump – as they tried to finalize the outline of their tax and spending cut package. 

The plan is to release a framework with some numbers today. 

Fox is told to expect north of $1 trillion in spending cuts. The bill would make permanent the 2017 Trump tax cuts. It is also likely the bill includes a provision to bar taxes on tips. 

House Republicans hoped to have a bill ready to go before the Budget Committee this week after their retreat at Mar-a-Lago. 

But no dice. 

Republicans hope to prep this bill before the House Budget Committee next week. 

Republicans need a budget framework adopted on the floor so they can use the budget reconciliation tool to bypass a Senate filibuster. No budget? No reconciliation option. 

House GOPers are feeling pressure from Senate Republicans who are pressing ahead with their own plan. Senate Republicans dine at Mar-a-Lago tonight with President Trump. 

House Republicans are worried if they stumble at moving first, they could get jammed by the Senate. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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House Democrat leaves congressional DOGE caucus, saying Musk is ‘blowing things up’

Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., said on Thursday that she is leaving the congressional Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus due to Elon Musk’s cost-cutting measures in the executive branch.

Hoyle made the announcement via a statement and said her intentions on the caucus were to serve as a good steward for her constituents’ tax dollars and to make the government more streamlined and efficient. 

However, she said Musk’s actions, which are separate from the congressional caucus, have made that impossible, and she claimed DOGE’s work is to find funds to give tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of working people.

‘I joined to be a voice for working people and their interests. But it is impossible to fix the system when Elon Musk is actively breaking it, so I have made the decision to leave,’ Hoyle wrote on X late Thursday. 

‘It is impossible for us to do that important work when unelected billionaire Elon Musk and his lackeys [insist] on burning down the government—and the law—to line his own pockets and rip off Americans across the country who depend on government services to live with dignity,’ she wrote in an accompanying statement. 

The newly minted agency, a key promise of President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, is tasked with slashing government waste and providing increased transparency when it comes to government spending. It was created via executive order and is a temporary organization within the White House that will spend 18 months until July 4, 2026, carrying out its mission.

Hoyle said she was alarmed about Musk’s team accessing sensitive Department of Treasury payment systems. She also accused his team of using intimidation tactics to ‘terrorize the hard-working public servants’ who deliver these services.

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the DOGE from obtaining access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained within the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service. On Wednesday, the Justice Department agreed in a proposed court order to limit access to the sensitive records to only two ‘special government employees’ within DOGE, who will have read-only permission. 

Hoyle said that if she thought that she, or Democrats or Republicans on the caucus had any influence, then she would stay. 

‘But, fundamentally, I don’t see how we can actually do this work when Elon Musk is blowing things up,’ she told NewsNation Thursday. ‘It’s like trying to replace your roof when someone’s throwing dynamite through the window.

‘So I’m leaving the DOGE Caucus, I will continue to do the work to find efficiencies, but right now I just don’t think it’s possible with what’s happening.’

DOGE has riled Democrats, particularly around USAID, and Hoyle’s announcement comes just days after DOGE targeted the agency, leading to the firing of 50 top officials and the organization being folded into the State Department. The actions came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio, acting on Trump’s executive order, paused all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and USAID.

The 90-day pause has halted thousands of U.S.-funded humanitarian, development and security programs worldwide and forced aid organizations to lay off hundreds of employees because they cannot make payroll.

DOGE has focused much of its initial work on canceling DEI programs, consulting contracts and lease terminations for federal buildings.

The agency wrote on Tuesday that it canceled 12 contracts with the Government Services Administration and the Department of Education, resulting in a total savings of about $30 million. It also canceled 12 underused leases for savings of $3 million. On Monday, DOGE said it canceled 36 contracts, leading to savings of about $165 million across six agencies.

DOGE posted on Jan. 28 that the group is saving the federal government around $1 billion per day, mostly by stopping the hiring of people into unnecessary positions, deletion of DEI and stopping improper payments to foreign organizations.

Fox News’ Eric Revell, Greg Norman, Anders Hagstrom, Greg Wehner, Chris Pandolfo, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Hotel Stocks Spike: Why You Should Add These Stocks to Your Portfolio

When you think travel industry, airline and cruise line stocks are usually top of mind. A lesser-known category in the industry is hotel stocks, which saw massive upside moves on Thursday.

Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT) reported strong Q4 earnings, and in sympathy, other hotel stocks also rose. Hotel stocks have had a rough time since Covid hit and it now looks like that may be in the rearview mirrort.

Here’s a synopsis of how some hotel stocks performed on Thursday, many of which have yet to report quarterly earnings:

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (HLT): +4.86%Marriott International, Inc. (MAR): +3.61%Hyatt Hotels Corp. (H): +4.91%InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG): +1.92%Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WH): +1.43%

Other travel-related stocks such as Booking Holdings, Inc. (BKNG) and Expedia, Inc. (EXPE) also rose. Expedia’s quarterly earnings, reported after Thursday’s close, beat analyst estimates and the stock climbed sharply in after-hours trading.

Although the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) didn’t reflect the sharp rise in hotel stocks, the Dow Jones US Hotels Index ($DJUSLG) had the highest StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) score in the US Industries, Top Up category in the SCTR Reports. Its closing value is at an all-time high.

FIGURE 1. US INDUSTRIES TOP UP SCTR REPORT. The Dow Jones US Hotels Index had the highest SCTR score and the Dow Jones US Travel & Tourism Index had the greater value increase. Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The New Highs Dashboard data panel showed that HLT and MAR closed at all-time highs.

So, there’s a lot to cheer for hotel stocks. Business demand has picked up, leading to higher hotel occupancy rates. This is a strong catalyst for the hospitality industry and, if the trend continues in this direction, future growth prospects are promising. Travel and tourism are also on the uptick. On Thursday, the Dow Jones US Travel & Tourism Index ($DJUSTT) saw a +25 change in its SCTR score.

A Room to Rest

With such big moves in these industries, it’s worth considering adding hotel stocks to your portfolio. With most hotel stocks already hitting all-time highs, the concern may be that they are toppy. Let’s dive into the daily chart of HLT (see chart below).

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF HILTON STOCK PRICE. The stock price moved above the upper Bollinger Band with the CCI in overbought territory. The uptrend has momentum and could take the stock price higher. Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The stock price has moved above the upper Bollinger Band®, which is generally an indication of strength. HLT has a SCTR score of 80.4, another sign of strength. When a stock or ETF hits an all-time high, strong momentum is needed to push the price even higher. Adding a momentum indicator such as the Commodity Channel Index (CCI) to the chart helps identify bullish momentum in the stock.

The CCI is showing strong bullish momentum and indicates overbought conditions. If Hilton’s stock price continues to rise higher and walks the upper Bollinger Band, along with a CCI that remains above the 100 level for an extended period, the stock price could keep rising. Remember, other hotels report earnings later this month and, if their earnings are as strong as Hilton’s, investors could continue to pile into them.

If you’re the type of investor who likes to enter a position during a pullback, wait for the stock price to move toward the middle band or 20-day simple moving average. Then look for a reversal accompanied by a rise in the CCI. This would confirm an uptrend in the stock’s price.

Closing Position

As always, be diligent in managing your positions. No stock price goes up forever, so be prepared to exit your position on any signs of weakening momentum. If you wait for a pullback to enter, make sure there’s enough follow-through in the reversal. If the stock price of Hilton or any other stock, like Marriott or Hyatt, is cost-prohibitive, consider trading options on these stocks. The OptionsPlay Explorer available in StockCharts can display optimal options strategies you can apply to these stocks.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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Ultimate Super Bowl game-wrecker? One player leaves team wowed

NEW ORLEANS – The NFC divisional-round game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 19 – the snowy affair that ended with a 28-22 Eagles victory – nearly resulted in an Eagles’ collapse. How Eagles second-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter prevented that by sacking Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who had an open receiver in the end zone, has been well-documented. 

Eagles senior defensive assistant and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt likes to talk about a different Carter moment from this postseason run, however, one that demonstrates Carter’s football intelligence but isn’t a highlight or warranted “First Take” discussion. 

It came a week earlier against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round. In the first quarter, Carter alerted teammate Nolan Smith that Green Bay had called a pass play based on how right tackle Zach Tom positioned his right foot. He was right, and Smith sacked Packers quarterback Jordan Love for a loss of 14 yards on second down. 

“His intelligence level … people don’t understand how sharp this guy is. Really, really sharp,” Hurtt said Wednesday before the Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. “And not just book smart. But on the field, the ability to juggle and adjust within the game. But even just common-sense stuff.

“He’s a pleasure to coach from that aspect of it.” 

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Carter battled an illness the week of the Super Bowl but practiced in full Thursday, according to the participation report. By providing interior pressure on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes come Sunday, he could be one of the biggest difference-makers in the Super Bowl. 

His journey to football’s grandest stage was anything but smooth. 

From uncertain NFL start to potential stardom

On March 1, 2023, the same day he was supposed to address reporters at the 2023 NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Carter instead turned himself in to Athens (Georgia) police after authorities charged him for his role in a crash that killed a teammate and a recruiting staffer, who was driving with more than twice the legal blood-alcohol content. Carter pleaded no contest to two reckless driving charges – the crash followed driving patterns consistent with racing, per authorities – and avoided jail time, although he served 12 months probation, paid a $1,000 fine and performed 80 hours of community service. 

Suddenly, Carter went from potential top pick to massive question mark. His motivation and commitment to conditioning came up as question marks during the lead-up to the draft. 

Franchises with locker rooms that had veteran leadership became viewed as a necessity regarding Carter’s landing spot. 

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman knew he had that, along with a top-10 pick and an unquenchable thirst for talent (and Georgia Bulldogs, apparently, as six Eagles on the 2024 team played collegiately there). 

“That’s the beauty of the Eagles,” Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat told USA TODAY Sports. “You’re always an addition. It’s good when you were good before, but when you can add to it and actually make us better, that’s the thing about the Eagles, man. They only select you when they think you can help.

“We know how much he loves football. We can tell how passionate he is when he’s playing and stuff.” 

Philadelphia traded up from No. 10 overall to ninth with the Chicago Bears and turned in the draft card with Carter’s name on it. 

Even though he wasn’t yet coaching with the Eagles, Hurtt actually spent plenty of time with Carter during the pre-draft process. As the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator, he had a good idea the team would be going defense at the fifth overall pick, ultimately taking cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Hurtt observed a reserved prospect, and that’s the type of person Carter is in his position coach’s eye. 

“You get to realize, OK, he’s actually a really quiet and shy kid,” Hurtt said. “He’s not this outbursty (sic) kind of flamboyant personality. That’s not who Jalen is. He’s very quiet, very shy, kind of (keeps) to himself. But a great kid.”

Despite playing 50.6% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps his rookie season, Carter still finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting (the Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. won the award). 

A 6-foot-3, 315-pound behemoth from Apopka, Florida, Carter played much more in 2024 and earned second-team All-Pro honors with 16 quarterback hits and 12 tackles for loss.

The strides this year were more noticeable “just taking it to the next level in everything he’s been doing,” defensive end Brandon Graham said. That includes working out and embracing that he’ll be on the field for the overwhelming majority of snaps, and that he has the potential to dominate with each play. 

“I think as he’s been making plays, that’s been making him grow every week, because now he sees that he can be a terror in this league,” Graham said. “But it’s going to come at a price. Because now you got a target (on your back). So you got to keep your body right, keep eating right, keep being a good dude. He’s checking all of those boxes, and I’m proud of him on that.” 

After the divisional-round win, Sirianni said Carter has done the right things to be a successful pro “ in and out of the building from his conditioning to his weight to his style of play.” 

“Jalen Carter,” Sirianni said, “he’s special.

“I can’t say enough good things about his development as a player. That just doesn’t happen because of talent. He’s talented as – you guys see it. He’s so talented. But, in this league there are a lot of guys that are talented. It takes more than talent to reach your potential, and he’s continuing to rise. That speaks a lot to Jalen Carter.”

NFL’s next elite defensive player?

Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo, part of the Bulldog-Eagle contingent at the Super Bowl, doesn’t remember when this particular practice at Georgia occurred or much of the details. But the memory is a perfect encapsulation of how Carter plays.

“One time, he just got off the ball and he just literally grabbed the dude’s shoulder pad and just threw him with one arm, and the dude went flying,” Ringo told USA TODAY Sports. 

That sounds a lot like Carter’s “club move,” a move that functions as a haymaker to interior offensive linemen and immediately puts him in the quarterback’s lap. 

“He just keeps linemen off guard,” defensive lineman Milton Williams told USA TODAY Sports. “They don’t know what he’s going to do.

“I’ve seen him club a couple dudes and just get clean to the quarterback. … Once he first got here, it was like, ‘He’s gonna be a special player.’” 

In his second season, Carter has been exposed to more blocking schemes and has a better understanding of how teams will try to neutralize it. 

But good luck trying. Going forward, Hurtt expects Carter to insert himself into Defensive Player of the Year conversations. 

“I don’t like to put timetables on that stuff,” said Hurtt, who did so anyway. “I’d be disappointed if it didn’t happen starting next year. He has all the ability. He’s shown to put in the work.” 

And all of the natural ability in the world. 

“I tell people all the time: I feel like he was born to play football. He was born to play football,” Williams said. “I don’t know if I was born to play football. I just worked my butt off to be able to do that. I feel like he can wake up and just put a helmet on, he’s ready to go.”

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Bracketology: Texas A&M, St. John’s surging in tournament projection

Four wins in five games has Texas A&M climbing the bracket all the way onto the No. 2 line, giving the SEC five of the eight top seeds in our updated tournament picture.

Two of the wins during this five-game span have come against projected tournament teams in Mississippi and Oklahoma. Things will only get more difficult from here for the Aggies, beginning with Saturday’s road trip to Missouri. That’s the first of four games still to come against teams ranked in this week’s USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll.

A&M is up to No. 13 in the NET rankings thanks to seven Quad 1 wins, tied for the second-most in the country behind top-seeded Auburn.

Another team on the move is St. John’s. In his latest rebuild, coach Rick Pitino has the Red Storm up to a No. 4 at 20-3 overall and a Big East-leading 11-1 in conference play. The team’s three losses (Baylor, Georgia and Creighton) have come by a combined five points.

The Red Storm still have two games to play against two-time defending national champion Connecticut — one in Storrs, the other at Madison Square Garden — and a road trip to Marquette. St. John’s beat the Golden Eagles 70-64 on Tuesday night.

STARTING FIVE: Top-10 showdown in SEC leads best games of weekend

Bracketology: NCAA Tournament bracket projection

Last four in

Georgia, Nebraska, Brigham Young, Wake Forest.

First four out

Virginia Commonwealth, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Arkansas.

NCAA Tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues: SEC (13), Big Ten (10), Big 12 (8), ACC (4), Big East (4), Mountain West (3), West Coast (2).

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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West Point is guaranteed a Super Bowl champion Sunday – who knew?

NEW ORLEANS – Sometimes, the best stories walk right up and shake your hand. Literally.

For instance, did you know there’s no guarantee that traditional college football powers such as Ohio State or USC or LSU or Tennessee or Nebraska or Miami will see a Super Bowl champion crowned from their ranks this Sunday?

But one noted juggernaut (from the 1940s, anyway), the United States Military Academy – West Point – will.

Let me rewind to the opening paragraph.

When covering a Super Bowl, it’s easy – and also incumbent, to some degree – to get bogged down with narratives surrounding quarterbacks, coaches, other superstars, dynasties, the controversy du jour, etc. I’m writing about luminaries like Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce this week, among other topics, and will surely devote further thought to what could be a historic Super Bowl three-peat by K.C.

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Yet focusing on the people and subplots that take up so much oxygen can make it easy to lose sight of a given game’s more unique nuggets.

So it was a pleasant surprise Wednesday morning when Eagles offensive lineman Brett Toth (USMA class of 2018), strolled up, shook my hand and started asking me questions in a rare Super Bowl role reversal. Toth spied my West Point cap (my father is a graduate) and didn’t seem the least bit disappointed to learn I’d taken the ROTC route into the Army when I served. We talked for a few minutes, swapped stories about our military experiences, and then he was off to team meetings ahead of Super Bowl 59.

While slightly annoyed with myself for not having Toth on my list of assignments, the encounter with him also got my wheels spinning. Former United States Naval Academy star and 1963 Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach is a two-time Super Bowl champion (in addition to being a Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys legend). Air Force Academy grad Chad Hennings won three rings with the Cowboys’ dynasty in the 1990s.

So, I thought, how cool that Toth might finally affiliate West Point with a Lombardi Trophy.

Just one problem: It’s already happened.

Linebacker Cole Christiansen (USMA class of 2020) has been a member of the Chiefs since 2022. He made his Super Bowl debut a year ago, playing 23 snaps on special teams in Kansas City’s overtime win against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58.

So, naturally, I tracked Christiansen down Thursday morning to playfully let him know how I was going to profile Toth’s chance to be the first Black Knight with a Super Bowl ring.

Christiansen, a former team captain for Army who bears a striking resemblance to actor Channing Tatum, gave me a wry smile to inform me of what I already knew.

“Might’ve beaten him to the punch there,” chuckled Christiansen, a teammate of Toth’s at West Point.

“It’s been incredible, and I’ve been very, very fortunate,” continued Christiansen, who broke into the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 after the Department of Defense allowed him to defer his service until his NFL career concludes. The DoD’s policy for allowing service academy players to join the NFL has been fluid in recent years, but he believes he’ll eventually serve for five years, probably as a field artilleryman.

“We’ve all been in this a little longer than anyone expected us to be, which I’m very grateful for,” said Christiansen, who played in nine games this season but won’t suit up Sunday unless he’s promoted from the practice squad.

Toth didn’t play at all during the 2024 regular season, which isn’t hugely surprising given the talent and depth of Philadelphia’s forbidding offensive line. However he has appeared in all three of the Eagles’ playoff wins, primarily on special teams, but did take some offensive snaps in the team’s dominant NFC championship game defeat of the Washington Commanders.

But don’t make the assumption his role is minor.

“Brett’s probably one of my favorite people on this team. If you want to talk about people who are underrated on this team, he’s one of them,” said Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata.

“He’s so smart. I mean, the guy can talk about football all day. I keep telling him that he should be a coach. I said, ‘Man, screw playing – when you’re done, you’re gonna be a great coach.’ When it comes to reading defenses, knowing the scheme, knowing the tendencies of that defense? He’s a true asset to this team.”

Mailata said Toth “debugs” issues in the game plan, and Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson credits him as an invaluable source of feedback for players and coaches.

“Brett’s a tremendous teammate, extremely high football IQ – really understands the game,” said Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson. “He’s a guy that’s always looking to do what he can to help others.”

Naturally a center, Toth can play all five O-line spots and will be on the end Sunday for field-goal and extra-point attempts – potentially a key spot given the Chiefs’ propensity for blocking kicks.

But he’s thrilled for whatever role comes his way having already fulfilled his military obligation – Toth was an engineer, loosely equivalent to an offensive lineman from an Army perspective given both occupations can call for blowing holes into enemy lines – while overcoming his share of obstacles.

“Unique. Unorthodox,” he said of his journey, which has included three stints with the Eagles plus time spent with the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.

Toth has done his own time on the practice squad and also had to overcome a torn ACL. All of that after serving as a lieutenant and trying to balance his football ambitions with the Army’s requirements, which had him down to 265 pounds when Philadelphia first signed him in 2019. Toth, who stands 6-6, is currently listed at 304 pounds.

“Didn’t know if I was ever gonna get the chance to play football again,” he said of his journey, which he’s nonetheless very appreciative of. He met his wife, who also served as an engineer officer, when both were stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Toth brings big-game experience into Super Bowl 59 – after all, he was 2-0 against Navy when he was a starter for the Cadets. (Christiansen was 3-1.) Toth said he’ll speak to his former teammate after the game, but his focus is currently on the Chiefs.

“I’m grateful for the journey,” he said. “Lots of adversity, and it hasn’t been the smoothest ride, but I still made it.”

Christiansen wishes he was playing Sunday but maintains a healthy perspective regarding his situation.

“I probably shouldn’t even be in the NFL based on my circumstances – I never thought I would be. Truthfully, it wasn’t even a goal of mine. My only goal coming out of high school was to get free college. And then, obviously, when I got to West Point – my only goal was to be a soldier, and I was totally hellbent on that,” he said.

“This wasn’t even in my sights. And then when it happened, I was like, ‘Well I gotta try and see how much I can make of this, because this is a pretty rare opportunity.’ And I have so much gratitude, I’m just very lucky to even have the chance to do it – and have the possibility of getting three in a row.

‘It’s awesome.’

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Top 10 clash in the SEC leads college basketball weekend games to watch

We here at Starting Five HQ recognize that there’s a certain upcoming event this weekend that is getting most of the sports world’s attention. But there’s plenty of action on the collegiate hardwood worthy of notice leading up to those few hours on Sunday.

Our list of the top five games in men’s college basketball in fact actually begins on Friday evening. After that, there are marquee contests in each of the other four major conferences spread out through a busy Saturday, so there’s no need to be bored until the big party in the Big Easy kicks off on Sunday. Enjoy.

No. 6 Florida at No. 1 Auburn

Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN

We begin with this week’s game of the century in the SEC, where given the sheer numbers you’re pretty much guaranteed to see at least one top-10 showdown in the conference every week. The Tigers could absorb a loss or two in the coming month and still be comfortably placed at the head of an NCAA regional. But the fact that they haven’t taken any ‘L’s yet in the nation’s deepest conference means they’ll probably be a popular pick to cut down the nets even if that happens. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, however, as there will be a lot of physically taxing games ahead starting with this one. The Gators, very much in the mix for a top seed, as well, could solidify that case by taking down No. 1 on the road. Florida hopes to regain the services of Walter Clayton Jr., who sat out the win against Vanderbilt earlier this week with a bad ankle. Regardless, handling Auburn’s constant ball pressure that generates 7.5 steals a game will be a major priority for the Gators. Tigers big man Johni Broome, meanwhile, is back to putting up double doubles after missing a couple of games. He’s hard to stop near the rim, but Florida’s Alex Condon will do his best.

No. 10 St. John’s at No. 18 Connecticut

Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox

We move to the Big East for the Friday headliner as the red-hot Red Storm put their nine-game winning streak on the line, and two-time defending NCAA champion UConn looks for a springboard to a strong finish. The Huskies are hopeful this will be the return game for standout freshman Liam McNeeley, though his effectiveness against a physically tough team like St. John’s after an eight-game absence remains to be seen. The Red Storm have surged to the conference lead with a combination of stout defense, holding opponents under 40% shooting, and dominance on the boards. They don’t shoot particularly well themselves, but they generate a slew of second-chance opportunities led by Zuby Ejiofor.

BRACKETOLOGY: Texas A&M, St. John’s surging up NCAA tournament projection

No. 2 Duke at No. 21 Clemson

Time/TV: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Blue Devils head to Littlejohn Coliseum for what might just be their last obstacle to a perfect run through the ACC. The Tigers could use a good result here on their home court to offset the damaging loss to Georgia Tech sustained earlier this week. While Cooper Flagg has rightly gotten most of the accolades for Duke, the contributions of his freshman classmates Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach shouldn’t be overlooked. Clemson has some experienced hands but is going to need a good shooting day from Chase Hunter to keep pace with the Blue Devils.

No. 12 Texas Tech at No. 20 Arizona

Time/TV: Saturday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN

You’ll want to stay up for this one as the two hottest teams in the Big 12 convene at the McKale Center. The Red Raiders have won seven in a row, following their scrappy victory at Houston with a solid effort at home against Baylor. The Wildcats have rattled off five consecutive wins since dropping their first meeting with Texas Tech in Lubbock on Jan. 18. Arizona had few answers for JT Toppin in that encounter, but a hot streak from high-volume shooter Caleb Love can erase a Wildcats’ deficit quickly.

Oregon at No. 9 Michigan State

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, Fox

Life in the bigger Big Ten has been different in 2025. This isn’t exactly the ideal time for the Ducks, in the throes of a four-game skid, to make their first visit to the Breslin Center as league members. The Spartans are likely to be a little salty themselves in their first action since dropping a pair on their Los Angeles road swing. Oregon was at least within shouting distance in its last outing at Michigan, but the Ducks would undoubtedly like to get more close-in opportunities for Nate Bittle this time. Michigan State has a long bench and spreads out its minutes, but with the game on the line the ball usually finds its way to Jaden Akins.

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