Favorite ‘Dogs: Back ‘New-look’ Louisville To Make Statement Against Ole Miss

College football kicked off last weekend with Bill Belichick and North Carolina surprising TCU as 9-point underdogs, winning in Ireland in the first game of the 2026 season. With the focus of this column once a week being on dangerous underdogs who have a chance to defy the odds and get a win, perhaps another ACC team can follow suit and surprise their favored opponent this weekend. On Sunday night, No. 24 Louisville is a 7-point underdog for its opener, as the Cardinals take on No. 9 Ole Miss in Nashville, Tennessee. Let’s get into my pick. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Ole Miss returns star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy from last year’s College Football Playoff semifinals, as the Rebs eye a return to the CFP. However, playing into January once again will not be an easy task for Ole Miss. A rigorous 2026 schedule awaits the team, starting with this clash against a Louisville team that has a chance to possibly flirt with a trip of its own to the Playoff. Louisville will turn to Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz at quarterback, a dual-threat player who finally gets an opportunity to start after throwing just 36 passes in his career so far. The former four-star recruit getting his chance provides some reason for optimism for Louisville, but it’s Kienholz’s coach that points me to the underdog here. Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm is 37-15 against the spread (ATS) in his career when his team is an underdog, as it will be Sunday night. He will also have the experience edge over his counterpart on the opposing sidelines, as Ole Miss’ coach Pete Golding took over for Lane Kiffin just last December after Kiffin left to coach LSU. Louisville has a solid running back in Isaac Brown, who topped 1,000 yards as a freshman in 2024 and likely would have eclipsed that mark in 2025 if not for injuries. The Cardinals also scooped up some offensive line help in the transfer portal. It’s a new group that brings with it 142 combined career starts. Overall, it’s a new-look Louisville roster, but with the players the Cardinals added and a coach who thrives as an underdog, I like Louisville to make an early statement Sunday night against a very talented Ole Miss squad.

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Rams Are Super Bowl Favorites, But Historical Betting Trend Says Beware

The Los Angeles Rams have had just about the perfect offseason. After coming up just short in a heartbreaking NFC Championship Game loss to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks, the Rams have gone all in once again. Los Angeles acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade that sent Jared Verse and three draft picks to Cleveland. The Rams then acquired Super Bowl-winning cornerback Trent McDuffie for their 2026 first-round pick, before capping off the offseason by bringing franchise sack leader Aaron Donald back from retirement. Sheesh. And it’s not like the Rams were far away before those additions. Los Angeles was arguably the second-best team in the NFL last season, losing twice in Seattle by a combined five points. The Rams also had one of the league’s most dominant offenses, leading the NFL in scoring (30.5 PPG), total offense (394.6 YPG), net passing offense (268.1 YPG), passing touchdowns (46), total first downs (396) and fewest sacks allowed (23). They also ranked seventh in rushing offense (126.6 YPG, 4.63 YPC) and fourth in fewest giveaways (15). Now, that team adds arguably the best defensive player in football in Garrett, one of the league’s top cornerbacks in McDuffie, and one of the greatest defensive players of the past decade in Donald, who helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl title four years ago. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. With a loaded roster comes massive expectations, and the betting market has taken notice. Heading into Week 1, the Rams are clear favorites at +500 to lift the Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium in February. The Seahawks and Bills have the next-best odds at +1100, a remarkably wide gap considering the regular season hasn’t even begun. That should be a great sign for a Los Angeles team that has gone all in, right? Well, history tells a much different story. According to senior sports betting analyst Ben Fawkes, over the past 30 years, the preseason Super Bowl favorite has entered the season at +500 or shorter odds 20 times. Those teams went 0-for-20. According to Sports Odds History, here’s the full list: 2024: KC +5002021: KC +4502020: KC +4502019: NE +4002017: NE +2752015: SEA +4502014: SEA +4502011: NE +5002009: NE +4502008: NE +3502007: NE +2502005: IND/NE/PHI +5002004: PHI +5002002: STL +3502001: STL +4002000: STL +3001999: MIN +4501998: GB +2501997: GB +2501996: SF +250 The Rams certainly look like a Super Bowl favorite on paper, but if they are going to finish the job in 2026, they’ll have to buck a betting trend that has held up for three decades. So, can Los Angeles finally break the curse? Let’s check out the Rams’ full 2026 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Sept. 1.

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NASCAR Contender Rankings: Which Driver Takes Top Spot Ahead Of The Chase?

Who has the best chance to win the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series title? Welcome to the FOX Sports Contender Rankings. Now that the regular season is over, the focus is on the 16 drivers in The Chase. I have ranked the top-10 contenders based on what I believe their chances are to win the title and will update each week with a short outlook to the upcoming track. On The Verge (Alphabetical Order): Chris Buescher (RFK Racing No. 17 Ford, -70 points behind leader): He’s too inconsistent. He nearly won at Darlington in 2024 but has just one top five there in Next Gen era. William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet, -85): He just hasn’t had the pace this year. Maybe Darlington, where he won in May 2023, will be the place he finds it. Austin Cindric (Team Penske 2 Ford, -95): His fifth place at Darlington earlier this year was his first top 10, so if he can get off to a good start, maybe he can be a factor. Ryan Preece (RFK Racing No. 60 Ford, -100): He vaulted himself into The Chase but does that make him a contender? He has never had a top 10 in Darlington. Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevy, -75): He only has seven top 10s this year and will need more than that over the next 10 races to win the title (and has just two career top 10s at Darlington). Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing No. 23 Toyota, -90): He has been so up and down, so who knows? He has potential at Darlington with five top 10s. Contender Rankings Hocevar could just as easily finish in the top five in the standings as he could 16th. He has speed and an aggressive attitude, which pays dividends but can also be costly. He has a ninth and a fourth in his last two Darlington starts. Logano is a three-time Cup champion and knows how to handle the pressure. The question is whether he has enough speed. He won the first Next Gen race at Darlington in 2022 but has only one top 10 in his last eight starts there and was awful there in April. Elliott has led laps in just three of the last nine races, and that likely won’t be enough to be a threat. He doesn’t have a top five in Darlington in his last eight starts, so getting off to a good start in the Chase could be a challenge. Larson’s winless streak has reached 50 races. What’s wild is he has led 659 laps this year without a victory. He will likely need some fortune and others to have some misfortune to have a shot at the title, but his resume includes wins at eight of the 10 Chase tracks. He won at Darlington in 2023, but it’s also a place where he’s visited the medical center a little more than he would like. Gibbs just probably needs a little more experience and a little more polish to challenge for The Chase title. He was second at Darlington in May 2024 and was sixth in April, so if he can start off strong, he could be more of a factor. Briscoe tends to hang around to give himself a chance, and this JGR No. 19 team is well tested in the postseason. He has won the last two Southern 500s, although he was 12th at this track in the spring. Reddick is a two-time O’Reilly Series champion, so he is used to performing under pressure. The question is can he regain the momentum he had when he won the first three races of 2026 and then added two more to give him five wins in the first nine events. One of those was Darlington, so he has to feel good with The Chase starting there. The 2023 Cup champion has consistently been the best Ford this year with three victories. He was third at Darlington in the spring for his best finish ever at the track. His pit crew has not always performed to a championship level, and that could be the key. He also needs to keep earning stage points, as he has earned the most of any driver in the regular season. Bell doesn’t have a win this year but he already has a career-best 11 top-five finishes — including seven second-place finishes this year. He has been more consistent in racking up the stage points as of late, and he will need to continue to do that in The Chase. He has mixed results at Darlington, where he finished third in the 2024 Southern 500. Hamlin saw his 89-point regular-season lead on Ryan Blaney cut to 25 as part of The Chase reset and that was after having at least a 250-point gap on all but Blaney, Reddick and Gibbs. So he is the favorite going into The Chase. Hamlin has a win and three top fives in the Next Gen era at Darlington. He has won at all of The Chase tracks in his career.

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Shoppers Say Walmart’s Steel Carport Offers ‘Protection From the Elements’ — And It’s 45% Off

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In This Story

A carport is basically a cheat that allows you to shelter your car from the elements and use your garage as something else — workshop, home gym, storage space, or the like — at the same time. A carport is an easy way to transform a car-sized patch of your yard or driveway into a covered parking spot, and Walmart is doing its part to make sure it’s also quite inexpensive.

The Walsunny 12-Foot by 15-Foot Steel Carport is on sale for $437 at Walmart, 45% off its normal $800 price tag. This deal reflects both the hefty on-page discount and the on-page coupon that knocks another $23 off the price. It’s good on the 12-foot by 15-foot option, though both the 12-foot by 20-foot and 20-foot by 20-foot models also have big price cuts. We think the smaller version is a fine choice for anyone without an oversized car (or oversized storage needs). Crucially, this carport also ships for free, as commonly tacked-on shipping fees can reach into the hundreds and negate much of the savings on an on-sale carport.

Walsunny 12-Foot by 15-Foot Steel Carport, $437 (was $800) at Walmart

The Walsunny 12-Foot by 15-Foot Steel Carport.

Courtesy of Walmart

This carport has a frame made of high-quality, powder-coated square steel tubing that’s reinforced at key connection points for added structural integrity and compressive strength. It’s covered with a galvanized steel roof that’s rust-resistant and durable. The base features a metal anchor system that’s a thicker upgrade from a previous model, and the waterproofing is top-notch. High-grade waterproof sealing tape on the roof seams ensures there will be no leaks, and flexible rubber strips along the roof edges cover sharp corners to keep water out of the frame and roof.

Related: Adding a Carport to Your Home Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive. Walmart Has One for Under $500

One shopper wrote that this carport offers “very good quality for the price,” starting with easy assembly.” Once complete, the carport is a “good size and very sturdy.”

Another reviewer wrote, “Protection from the elements. If you have anything that you want to protect from the elements, this is for you.”

Other customers variously described this carport as “well worth the money,” “very strong,” and “perfect.”

Deals We’re Loving

The Walsunny 12-Foot by 15-Foot Steel Carport is easy to set up, durable, and effective. For $437, it’s also quite inexpensive for something that can protect your car from the elements and allow you to use your garage for something other than car storage.

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Author: Cameron LeBlanc

USA World Cup Star Folarin Balogun’s Premier League Return Reportedly In Jeopardy

Folarin Balogun’s return to the English Premier League could have to wait until 2027. According to multiple reports in Europe, the U.S. men’s World Cup striker’s widely expected $50 million-plus move from French Ligue 1 team Monaco to Prem mainstay Everton is in danger of collapsing in the final hours of European soccer’s summer transfer window. The two clubs had agreed on the fee and Balogun to what was surely a significant salary bump. Balogun had been given permission by Monaco to travel to the blue side of Liverpool on Tuesday to complete his “medical” — the routine but nonetheless required physical examination that is almost always a formality for some of the world’s best conditioned athletes. The 25-year-old New York-born, London-raised 25-year-old sat out much of Monaco’s preseason with what was thought to be a minor injury he first sustained at the World Cup. Balogun scored three goals in four games — including the winner in a knockout stage victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina before the Americans were eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16. He also found himself at the center of an international controversy after President Trump asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino for global soccer’s governing body to review the red card that would’ve kept him out of the co-hosts round of 16 match against Belgium. FIFA suspended the suspension, allowing Balogun to play, though the U.S. lost 4-1. Another report, from the highly respected French daily sports newspaper L’Equipe, said that the holdup was caused by Everton needing to first finalize the sale of Senegalese forward Iliman Ndiaye’s to Manchester City. With the deadline looming at 11 p.m. in England (6 p.m. ET), they’re running out of time. Staying at Monaco until the January transfer window opens wouldn’t be the worst thing for Balogun or the U.S. national team if that’s how this shakes out, though the club will miss out on the UEFA Champions League this season after finishing seventh in France’s top flight last term. Balogun was a hot commodity this summer after his breakout performance for the Stars and Stripes, having also drawn interest from Champions League participants Aston Villa and Spanish champions Barcelona, per reports. Everton, which was suddenly left shorthanded up top after sending veteran forward Beto to Italian side Fiorentina on Tuesday, could also circle back on Balogun in the new year. The American would be an ideal supplement to 6-foot-5 target man Thierno Barry under Toffees manager David Moyes. The Gunners product shouldn’t need much time to adapt to life on the blue side of Liverpool, or to the physicality of the Prem, as Balogun made 10 first team appearances for Arsenal over parts of two seasons. In his three years in Monaco, Balogun has scored 31 goals, including 29 in 85 Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League matches. If healthy, Balogun is expected to be included on USA coach Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for home exhibition games later this month against Chile and Peru and in early October vs. regional foes Canada and Mexico.

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Dodgers Activate Will Smith, Justin Wrobleski And Dalton Rushing From IL

The Los Angeles Dodgers are slowly getting back to full strength. The Dodgers announced on Tuesday afternoon that they’ve activated catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing and left-hander Justin Wrobleski from the injured list. They also added infielder Alex Freeland to the MLB roster. To make room on the roster for the aforementioned returnees, the Dodgers sent outfielder Alek Thomas and catcher Ben Rortvedt — whom they acquired from the New York Mets before the MLB trade deadline — to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Smith, an All-Star in each of the last three complete seasons (2023-25), hasn’t played for the Dodgers since June 5 due to a neck injury. Over the 52 games Smith has appeared in this season, he has totaled six home runs, 23 RBIs and a 101 OPS+, while sporting a .249/.338/.382 slash line. Rushing, who took Smith’s place as the team’s everyday catcher in the wake of his neck injury, hasn’t played since Aug. 1 due to an arm injury. Across 74 games, Rushing has logged 12 home runs, 36 RBIs, a 123 OPS+ and 1.4 wins above replacement, while possessing a .253/.335/.475 slash line. Wrobleski hasn’t made a start for the Dodgers since Aug. 15, as he dealt with a forearm injury. The left-hander was an All-Star this year and boasted a 2.62 ERA entering his July 28 outing before posting a combined 8.69 ERA over his ensuing four starts, with a stint on the 15-day injured list following. In all, Wrobleski has recorded a 3.56 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, a 114 ERA+ and two wins above replacement across 126 ⅓ innings pitched (20 starts/21 appearances). The Dodgers could soon have their full starting rotation. Fellow left-hander Blake Snell is four starts back from elbow surgery, and right-hander Tyler Glasnow was activated last week after back spasms kept him off the mound for manager Dave Roberts for roughly 15 weeks. The next piece in the puzzle for the Dodgers’ rotation could be Shohei Ohtani, as the two-way superstar hasn’t pitched since July 3 due to knee inflammation and is also dealing with a biceps issue. Granted, Ohtani has continued to be the team’s primary designated hitter. Los Angeles is the No. 2 seed in the National League at 82-55, good for a half-game lead on the Atlanta Braves (82-56) for the second wild-card round bye and good for being 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers (85-53) for the best record in the NL. The Dodgers also hold a 9.5-game lead on the San Diego Padres (73-65) for first place in the NL West. Los Angeles opens a three-game series at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

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Kofi Reveals the Massive Pay Cut He and Austin Creed Rejected From WWE

Kofi confirmed reports that he and Austin Creed were asked to take giant pay cuts to stay with WWE before their stunning departures.

Creed and Kofi performed in WWE as Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston, respectively, forming the legendary New Day stable with Big E in 2014. The group stayed together for 12 years, even after Big E retired following a career-ending neck injury in 2022.

After months of speculation, Kofi and Creed debuted for AEW at Sunday’s All In pay-per-view. Now performing as “The New Level”, they teamed up with Swerve Strickland to win the World Trios Championship in the Trios Roulette Royal match.

During an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show” (h/t F4WOnline.com), Kofi stated that WWE requested they accept pay cuts of over 50 percent to stick around.

“I don’t know exactly what’s out there. I will say, it was more than 50 percent, which a lot of people don’t know,” Kofi told Helwani.

During the interview, Creed added that WWE never sent a farewell message or thanked him after his departure.

It was previously reported that WWE asked New Day to take 50 percent pay cuts. The legendary duo was reportedly under contract through 2030.

WWE Has Parted Ways With Plenty of Notable Stars in 2026

Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston during WWE ‘Raw’.

(Photo by Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images)

As stunning as the exits of Woods and Kingston were, they’re only among the handful of notable stars to leave WWE this year.

WWE also moved on from future Hall of Famer Sheamus and other household names like Apollo Crews, Kairi Sane, Aleister Black, Zelina Vega and the Wyatt Sicks stable. With Bayley’s contract reportedly expiring soon, it remains to be seen if she’ll stick with WWE as well.

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Author: Alex Hoegler

Air Jordan 3 Retro OG ‘Rare Air’: Current Prices & Buying Guide

The Air Jordan 3 Retro OG ‘Rare Air’ (IB8967-004) was one of those releases that seemed to fly under the radar, and that’s perfect because it puts a stylish retro within arm’s reach. It’s also one of my favorite Air Jordan 3s. The details are niche without becoming corny, giving Tinker Hatfield’s classic just enough personality to separate it from the countless AJ3s already in rotation.

Key Facts At A Glance

Key Detail

Information

Sneaker

Air Jordan 3 Retro OG ‘Rare Air’

Style Code

IB8967-004

Colorway

Black/Chile Red/Neutral Grey/Military Blue/Coconut Milk

Release Date

May 30, 2025

Retail Price

$210

Where to Buy

StockX, GOAT and select retailers

Where Can You Buy the Air Jordan 3 ‘Rare Air’?

The resale market is where the ‘Rare Air’ gets interesting. As of August 31, 2026, StockX asks across many popular men’s sizes sit below the original $210 retail price. Sizes 8.5 through 12 are mostly between $135 and $185. More importantly, StockX reports a $151 average sale price across 1,031 sales over the previous three months, giving that value argument some real weight.

GOAT is competitive too. Sizes 9 through 11 currently range from $149 to $189, while size 13 is $234 and size 14 is $229. Those are asking prices, so use the offer feature when available. There’s no reason to rush.

What Makes the Air Jordan 3 ‘Rare Air’ Stand Out?

Air Jordan 3 Rare Air

GOAT h/t Shoe Sagas

Nike built the ‘Rare Air’ concept around the quirks and imperfections associated with early Jordan samples, and that inspiration shows up without making the shoe feel gimmicky. The Nike Air heel branding is mirrored, with one side reversed.

Grey suede replaces the Air Jordan 3’s traditional elephant print, and I love the decision. It works with the muted black tumbled leather while Military Blue hits on the midsole and collar add energy. Coconut Milk around the heel and Chile Red branding finish a color palette that has plenty going on without becoming difficult to wear.

Why Does the Air Jordan 3 ‘Rare Air’ Matter?

Jordan Brand spread its ‘Rare Air’ theme across several major silhouettes in 2025, including the Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 3, Air Jordan 4 and Air Jordan 11. The AJ11 may have been the headliner for me, but for everyday wear, give me the 3 hands down.

I’ve worn Air Jordan 3s for decades, and this is exactly how you update the silhouette without losing what makes it work. The materials hold their shape well, the cushioning remains comfortable for casual wear, and the altered details reward sneakerheads who actually look closely.

Should You Buy the Air Jordan 3 ‘Rare Air’?

Absolutely, especially below retail. I bought mine for the full $210 and don’t regret it at all, so seeing pairs available around $150 makes this an easy recommendation.

The black and grey foundation works with jeans, cargos and joggers, while the Military Blue, Chile Red and mismatched Nike Air branding provide just enough flair. For someone who wants an Air Jordan 3 that feels different without looking like a novelty release, the ‘Rare Air’ may be one of the better values hiding on today’s resale market.

Related: Air Jordan September 2026: The Complete Guide to Every Release

Related: Air Jordan 3 ‘Khaki’ Navy Elephant Print, Khaki Suede, Gum Sole: 2027 Release Details

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Author: Kenneth Brown

Inside Frances Tiafoe’s Gritty U.S. Open Comeback and the Mental Trick Behind His Success

The U.S. Open is officially underway, and tennis fanatics are holding their breath to see how the chaos unfolds in Flushing Meadows. Late last night under the bright lights of Louis Armstrong Stadium, Frances Tiafoe was the last man standing, battling back in a grueling five-set thriller against fellow American Martin Damm to lock in his spot in the second round.

It was a gritty performance, coming just weeks after his massive run to the finals at the Cincinnati Open and shortly after having a cyst removed from his right hand. When we caught up with the world number 11 just last week, he admitted the hand was finally feeling good again, but recovery was as much of a mental battle as a physical one.

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Battling Back From Injury

“It’s one of those deals where you don’t want to rush it, but you also can’t let it mess with your mind,” he says. “Once I got into matches, I felt like I could trust it and just play my game. Making that run in Cincinnati gave me a lot of confidence. I didn’t have a ton of matches under my belt, but I was able to compete with some really good guys and put myself in a position to win.”

That is the biggest takeaway from runs like that, he explains. It isn’t about getting lucky, it’s about finding a way to push through the discomfort. You don’t always have to feel 100 percent to finish strong, and finding a way to compete while your body is still healing is a great sign that you’re doing something right.

Still, dealing with a lingering physical issue forces a player to be far more strategic on the court. It means constantly adapting your approach and subtle stroke mechanics to protect your body without sacrificing power.

CLIFF

“I’ve definitely had to be smart with it,” he says. “The biggest thing was not trying to do too much too soon and really trusting what my body was telling me. I’m still trying to play aggressive and use my forehand and serve the way I normally do, but there are moments where you have to pick your spots and not make every ball a war.”

For him, playing smart means refusing to overthink. He relies heavily on his instincts and the endless hours of practice he’s put in over the years, knowing that playing scared is the ultimate distraction on a big stage.

Feeding Off New York Energy

And there is no stage quite like New York. Any top player will tell you that stepping out in front of more than 23,000 screaming fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium is a completely different beast. The energy is electric, the crowd is wild, and Tiafoe says the atmosphere feels like it’s buzzing before you even step foot on the hard court.

His goal is to lock in immediately, transforming that raw stadium energy into sharp focus rather than letting it turn into nerves.

“I try to remind myself: it’s the same sport, same job, just bigger lights,” he says. “I channel the emotion into tactics. Like, okay, how do I create time? How do I make them move? Where do I want the ball? If I’m locked into my plan, the crowd becomes part of the background instead of something that takes over my head. And honestly, that’s when I play my best, when I’ve got a plan, and I let the energy fuel me, not distract me.”

Keeping his physical energy up is just as crucial. Even with adrenaline coursing through his veins, the notoriously unpredictable Open schedule and marathon three-hour matches in the humid late-summer heat can drain anyone fast.

“I really try to focus on a balanced diet and giving my body the right fuel to maintain energy levels,” he says. “That’s why I fuel with CLIF Bars for a combo of carbs and protein to keep me going through hard workouts and matches, especially where there can be rain delays or times where your match ends up later or longer than you anticipate.”

Whether he’s reaching for a CLIF White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bar or grabbing a bag of Cookies & Creme Energy Bites, quick nutrition keeps mid-match lulls at bay and ensures he never runs on empty when the pressure heats up.

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Author: Madison Freeman