Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Mike Evans

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have dug themselves quite a hole. After heading into their bye week with their heads held high, they have now dropped four out of their five games since then after embarrassingly losing to one of the league’s worst teams in the New Orleans Saints.

The Buccaneers are now 7-6 and tied with the Carolina Panthers for the NFC South lead, with two of their final four games against them.

It will be a tall task for the Bucs to get out of their current funk and make the playoffs in 2025, given how they have played. Still, they could be receiving help to turn things around, as it’s reported that star wide receiver Mike Evans is pushing to make his return to the field in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football.

Evans pushing to return vs. Falcons on TNF

Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images | Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

Evans has missed significant time this season due to injury. Early in the season, he missed three weeks with a hamstring injury, only for him to return in Week 7 and suffer a broken clavicle that landed him on injured reserve (IR).

His 21-day practice window was opened just about a week ago, and he is gradually working himself back to return to the field, but it appears that his efforts and work ethic are paying off, as he believes he is ready to put the pads back on.

 Shedeur Sanders

The Cleveland Browns have decided to stick with Shedeur Sanders as their starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, but many fans are still hoping the team will make a different significant change in the coming weeks.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Monday that Sanders will start against the Chicago Bears in Week 15 and remain the team’s starting QB going forward. Stefanski said Sanders has “constantly and consistently gotten better” in recent weeks and has earned the job.

Most fans would agree with Stefanski, but many of them feel the same cannot be said for the coach. There seems to be a consensus that Sanders should keep his job while Stefanski is shown the door.

2025-26 College Football Playoff Schedule

• First round (Dec. 19-20)
  • Friday, Dec. 19
    • 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama, 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
  • Saturday, Dec. 20:
    • 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.), 12 p.m. on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
    • 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane, 3:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
    • 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison, 7:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
  • Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
    • Wednesday, Dec. 31
      • 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami (Fla.) winner | Cotton Bowl | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
    • Thursday, Jan. 1
      • 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison winner | Orange Bowl | 12 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
      • 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama winner | Rose Bowl | 4 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
      • 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane winner | Sugar Bowl | 8 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
    • Semifinals (Jan. 8-9)
      • Thursday, Jan. 8
        • Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
      • Friday, Jan. 9
        • Peach Bowl (Atlanta) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
      • College Football Playoff National Championship Game

Ohio State

There are 12 teams with a chance to win the College Football Playoff national championship heading into the first round of the CFP.

But the odds for those 12 teams are very different.

BetMGM Sportsbook has listed its odds to win the College Football Playoff and the favorite, No. 2 seed Ohio State, is at +225.

No. 11 seed Tulane and No. 12 seed James Madison are the longshots, with the Group of 5 champions in the field both at +50000.

Take a look at the odds to win the national championship for the 12 teams in the College Football Playoff.

Expert MLB daily picks: Unique MLB betting insights only at USA TODAY

College Football Playoff National Championship odds

• Ohio State: +225
• Indiana: +275
• Georgia: +500
• Oregon: +900
• Texas Tech: +900
• Texas A&M: +1700
• Alabama: +2000