Will the Rays continue to struggle at Yankee Stadium? Plus, NFL and CFB picks for the weekend

It’s the first official Football Friday of the year. We’ve had college football going on the last few weeks, but now the NFL has returned to grace us with its presence and commercial breaks. There are just so many of them! You tend to forget that when you’re dying for it to return during the offseason, then that first game of the season comes. Unlike Sunday when multiple games are happening and you have NFL Redzone, that opener is the only game going. When it goes to commercial, you go with it.

And it goes, and it goes, and it goes again.

As annoying as it can be, it’s a price I’m willing to pay. I only wish the game last night had been better. Or at least as good as the following stories you’re about to read. They are all fantastic.

Now, before we get to the football, let’s bet on a baseball game.

All times Eastern, and all odds via Caesars Sportsbook

🔥 The Hot Ticket

Rays at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. | TV: ESPN+

• Key Trend: The Yankees have won five of the last seven meetings in New York.
• The Pick: Yankees (-110)

It feels like months since I included a baseball game in the newsletter! Things have changed so much since…