Anchor Drop, June 14, 2019: 78 Days to Kickoff

Good morning.

We are 78 days away from Vanderbilt football’s season opener against Georgia. #78 is offensive lineman Bryce Bailey. The 6’5”, 305-pound redshirt sophomore from Newburgh, Indiana, saw his first action in 2018, appearing in 10 games and getting his first career start against Kentucky. In addition to playing offensive tackle, he also appeared as a tight end in jumbo packages. With Justin Skule and Bruno Reagan graduated, Bailey should see an opportunity to move into the starting lineup this season.

And in news of “why do we schedule college football games way out in the future,” Vanderbilt announced a three-game series against SMU. The Commodores and Mustangs will play in Nashville in 2024 and 2028, with a return game in Dallas set for 2029. Let’s not talk about the last time Vanderbilt played SMU in football, though.

Also from vucommodores.com, a preview of the soccer team’s defenders.

The Hustler has your guide to Omaha.

Off the West End

From our sister blogs: Roll Bama Roll suggests you get your popcorn with the NCAA hammer coming ... Alligator Army posits that Florida could get better or worse (big, if true) ... details come out on John Calipari’s contract extension ... And the Valley Shook podcasts ... so does Red Cup Rebellion ... Rock M Nation is concerned about the disappearance of Mizzou’s D-line (we know, we know, they’re not in the SEC) ... Rocky Top Talk updates the status of top OL Trey Smith ... Good Bull Hunting celebrates beer sales coming to Kyle Field.

Kevin Durant will reportedly miss the entire 2019-20 season. Seems like a good reason not to repeatedly sign one-year contracts.

Zion Williamson is involved in a lawsuit over a marketing agreement.

Barrett Sallee ranks the SEC football coaches. Derek Mason ranks 12th, just behind Jeremy Pruitt. Uh, okay?

Scoreboard

NBA Playoffs: The Toronto Raptors are your NBA Champions.

MLB: Braves 6, Pirates 5 ... Twins 10, Mariners 5 ... Blue Jays 12, Orioles 3 ... Diamondbacks 5, Nationals 0 ... Angels 5, Rays 3 ... Cardinals 4, Mets 4 (suspended) ... Red Sox 7, Rangers 6 ... Royals 7, Tigers 3 ... White Sox 5, Yankees 4 ... Rockies 9, Padres 6 ... Dodgers 7, Cubs 3.

U.S. Open: Justin Rose shot a first-round 65 to take the lead by one stroke at Pebble Beach.

FIFA World Cup: Australia 3-2 Brazil ... South Africa 0-1 China.

Today: Three more matches in the women’s World Cup: Japan-Scotland (8:00 AM CT, FS1), Jamaica-Italy (11:00 AM CT, FOX), and England-Argentina (2:00 PM CT, FOX.)

The second round of the U.S. Open (TV coverage starts at 11:30 AM CT on FS1; streaming on usopen.com starts at 10:00 AM CT.)

The first match of Copa America! Brazil-Bolivia tonight at 7:30 PM CT (ESPN+.)

And, of course, it’s summer, so there’s your usual MLB action. No day games today, though, but you have golf and the World Cup for that.