Vikings at Packers (-2½)
Former Green Bay standout Aaron Jones faces his old team for the first time, and the Minnesota running back said he plans to do a Lambeau Leap if he scores a touchdown. He’ll likely get a warm reception, as Cheeseheads usually reserve their venom for former Packers narcissists.
Pick: Packers by 3

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 29: Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers and Alexander Mattison #2 of the Minnesota Vikings swap jerseys after a game at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Jaguars at Texans (-6½)
Jacksonville was embarrassed last Monday night in Buffalo in losing for the eighth time in its past nine games. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is so upset by his recent play that he’s going to cut down by half his pregame shampoo time.
Pick: Texans by 7

Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars arrives at the stadium prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 23, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Commanders at Cardinals (-3½)
Jayden Daniels and the Commanders pulled off a big upset in Cincinnati and have now gone two consecutive weeks without punting. It’s easily the most impressive streak for the franchise since former owner Daniel Snyder managed to go two straight weeks without being accused of sexual harassment.
Pick: Cardinals by 3

Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after throwing a 27 yard touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium on Sept. 23, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Saints at Falcons (-1½)
Falcons owner Arthur Blank last Sunday was inducted into the Falcons’ Ring of Honor. The Home Depot founder hasn’t managed to win a championship in his 22 years owning the club, but he was voted in by a committee of one headed by Arthur Blank
Pick: Falcons by 3

Atlanta Falcons owner, Arthur Blank, is inducted into the Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor during halftime of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Bengals at Panthers (+4½)
The Red Rifle, veteran QB Andy Dalton, led the previously winless Panthers to a surprising upset of the Raiders last Sunday in Las Vegas. Dalton’s play was so impressive that owner David Tepper is expected to fire him.
Pick: Bengals by 3

Andy Dalton #14 of the Carolina Panthers looks on prior to a game s Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 22, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

Chiefs at Chargers (+7½)
Kareem Hunt is back with Kansas City six years after being exiled over domestic violence allegations. The reunion results from the fact that the Chiefs are significantly more desperate for running backs than they were six years ago,
Pick: Chiefs by 11

Kareem Hunt #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs avoids a tackle by E.J. Gaines #28 of the Cleveland Browns to score a 50 yard touchdown during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on Nov. 4, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Titans at Dolphins (even)
The Dolphins, already missing Tua Tagovailoa, lost backup Skylar Thompson to a rib injury in their loss in Seattle. This could mean that for the first time in NFL history, and the last time in NFL history, the best quarterback on the field Sunday will be Will Levis.
Pick: Titans by 7

Liam Eichenberg #74 looks on as Skylar Thompson #19 of the Miami Dolphins lies on the ground injured during the third quarter at Lumen Field on Sept. 22, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Bills at Ravens (-2½)
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen is denying that he intended to slam former teammate Stefon Diggs when he praised his current mates who “don’t care about the stats.” This shows that Allen is also fibbing at a Pro Bowl level.
Pick: Ravens by 3

Stefon Diggs #14 and Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills plays look on during a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 22, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

Seahawks at Lions (-4½)
QB Geno Smith has led Seattle to a 3-0 start thanks, in large part, to a soft early schedule. Analysts say it’s the most unimpressive winning streak since Joe Biden swept the 2024 Democratic primaries.
Pick: Lions by 7

Quarterback Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks passes against the Miami Dolphins at Lumen Field on Sept. 22, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Eagles at Buccaneers (+2½)
Philadelphia hung on to win in New Orleans despite a foolish strategy of trying a 60-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Eagles watchers said it was the dumbest decision by coach Nick Sirianni in at least one week.
Pick: Buccaneers by 3

Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles calls a timeout during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Arena Corinthians on Sept. 06, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

Patriots at 49ers (-9½)
San Francisco fans were stunned when the 49ers blew a late 14-point lead in their loss to their arch-rival Rams. The setback came as quite a shock for folks who believed that the Niners only choke in Super Bowls.
Pick: 49ers by 11

Kicker Joshua Karty #16 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates a game-winning field goal against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 22, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Other games

Rams at Bears (-2½):
Pick: Bears by 3

Steelers at Colts (+1½):
Pick: Steelers by 3

Broncos at Jets (-6½):
Pick: Jets by 7

Browns at Raiders (-1½):
Pick: Raiders by 3

Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears warms up before a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Field on Aug. 17, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Record

Week 3
6-10 straight up
7-9 vs. spread

Season
26-22 straight up
24-24 vs. spread

All-time (2003-24)
3657-2042-14 straight up (.642)
2784-2785-144 vs spread (.500)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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By TODD RICHMOND

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to revoke the tenure of a former campus chancellor who was fired after making pornographic films, rejecting his wish to remain a communications professor.

Joe Gow, who had served as chancellor of UW-La Crosse for nearly 17 years, argued last week that he should be allowed to retain a teaching position on campus. But university attorneys argued he was unethical, violated terms of his employment contact, damaged the reputation of the university and interfered with its mission.

The regents met in closed session Friday morning before voting in public to fire Gow. There was no discussion in open session before the board voted. Gow has said he is considering filing a lawsuit to retain his teaching job. He didn’t immediately return a message Friday morning.

Gow has been on paid leave from his faculty position since the regents fired him as chancellor in 2023, shortly after university leaders became aware of the videos, which were posted on pornographic websites.

The case has garnered national attention both for the salaciousness of a high-profile university official making pornographic movies and publicly talking about it, and the questions it raises about free speech rights.

Gow argued that his videos and two e-books he and his wife, Carmen, have published about their experiences in adult films are protected by the First Amendment.

The university’s attorney argued that Gow’s videos themselves are legal, but that they are not protected speech under his employment contract.

Gow’s hope to return to teaching in the classroom is opposed by his department chair, Linda Dickmeyer. She said that because Gow has not taught for 20 years, he would be assigned general education courses, but she opposes allowing him to return to teaching in any role.

Gow was criticized in 2018 for inviting porn actor Nina Hartley to speak on campus. She was paid $5,000 out of student fees to appear. He developed the idea of bringing her to campus after shooting a pornographic video with her, the university said.

Gow and his wife’s e-books were written under pseudonyms: “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship” and “Married with Benefits — Our Real-Life Adult Industry Adventures.” But they also star in a YouTube channel called “Sexy Healthy Cooking,” in which the couple cooks meals with porn actors.

It was supposed to be better than this.

The Gophers football team had four straight home games to start the 2024 season — a first since 1987 — and all four were winnable.

Instead, Minnesota sits at 2-2, 0-1 in Big Ten play, heading into arguably its toughest game of the season: at 12th-ranked Michigan in the Little Brown Jug game at 11 a.m. Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Gophers roster is filled with veterans who should have raised their record to at least 3-1, if not 4-0, at the one-third mark of the season. Among the top 15 players in snap counts on offense and defense, a total of 14 are in either their last year of eligibility or are expected to be NFL Draft picks next spring.

On offense, that includes starting quarterback Max Brosmer, top two wideouts Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spencer and the team’s best three linemen in Aireontae Ersery, Tyler Cooper and Quinn Carroll.

On defense, that elder group includes its top two defensive ends in Jah Joyner and Danny Striggow, its clear-cut best linebacker in Cody Lindenberg and a trio of its foremost defensive backs in Justin Walley, Jack Henderson and Ethan Robinson.

Going into the season, eighth-year head coach P.J. Fleck rightfully touted how all eligible returning starters were, in fact, coming back (besides quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis). This was an offseason victory for the U and its name, image and likeness (NIL) collective, Dinkytown Athletes.

But that group — including what might be the Gophers’ deepest draft class ever — has not produced enough fruit through four games, and the depth of Fleck’s team still has holes.

Given Las Vegas’ over/under win total set for the U at 5 1/2 wins, victories through this point in September appear crucial to reach bowl eligibility with six wins come December.

This is most concerning along the offensive and defensive lines, which were widely viewed in preseason the team’s best two positions groups. But the U’s inability to run the ball on offense or consistently stop it on defense are why they lost to North Carolina 19-17 in the season opener and fell 31-14 to rival Iowa last Saturday.

The right side of the U offensive line rotated from veteran Martes Lewis to redshirt sophomore Ashton Beers at guard and sophomore center Greg Johnson is still getting his bearings at a new position. Meanwhile, the interior of the U defensive line misses departed tackle Kyler Baugh in the middle and Joyner hasn’t been as disruptive as expected off the edge.

Minnesota brought in 12 transfers before the season and not enough have been contributors. Brosmer, Robinson and running back Marcus Major have been assets, but others haven’t produced or are proving more developmental. Leading the wanting-more list are receiver Cristian Driver and nickleback Jai’Onte’ McMillan. Notably, the Gophers did not bring in a defensive tackle via the transfer portal.

The Gophers’ safeties might have been the most concerning position group going into the season. They played well for the most part in the nonconference slate, producing a handful of interceptions, but their lack of execution was a hinge point in the Hawkeyes loss.

Darius Green, the U’s most-experienced safety, had a particularly rough outing against Iowa. He was supposed to be a steadying veteran in the back end of the U secondary. Instead, he serves as a contributing anecdote of what can happen when the U’s best players don’t play their best.

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By JILL LAWLESS

LONDON (AP) — Maggie Smith, the masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969 and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Friday. She was 89.

Smith’s sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, said in a statement that Smith died early Friday in a London hospital.

“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” they said in a statement issued through publicist Clair Dobbs.

Smith was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench, with a clutch of Academy Award nominations and a shelf full of acting trophies.

She remained in demand even in her later years, despite her lament that “when you get into the granny era, you’re lucky to get anything.”

Smith drily summarized her later roles as “a gallery of grotesques,” including Professor McGonagall. Asked why she took the role, she quipped: “Harry Potter is my pension.”

Richard Eyre, who directed Smith in a television production of “Suddenly Last Summer,” said she was “intellectually the smartest actress I’ve ever worked with. You have to get up very, very early in the morning to outwit Maggie Smith.”

“Jean Brodie,” in which she played a dangerously charismatic Edinburgh schoolteacher, brought her the Academy Award for best actress, and the British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) as well in 1969.

Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite” in 1978, Golden Globes for “California Suite” and “Room with a View,” and BAFTAs for lead actress in “A Private Function” in 1984, “A Room with a View” in 1986, and “The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne” in 1988.

She also received Academy Award nominations as a supporting actress in “Othello,” “Travels with My Aunt,” “Room with a View” and “Gosford Park,” and a BAFTA award for supporting actress in “Tea with Mussolini.” On stage, she won a Tony in 1990 for “Lettice and Lovage.”

Her work in 2012 netted three Golden Globe nominations for the globally successful “Downton Abbey” TV series and the films “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “Quartet.”

Smith had a reputation for being difficult, and sometimes upstaging others.

Richard Burton remarked that Smith didn’t just take over a scene in “The VIPs” with him: “She commits grand larceny.” However, the director Peter Hall found that Smith wasn’t “remotely difficult unless she’s among idiots. She’s very hard on herself, and I don’t think she sees any reason why she shouldn’t be hard on other people, too.”

Smith conceded that she could be impatient at times.

“It’s true I don’t tolerate fools, but then they don’t tolerate me, so I am spiky,” Smith said. “Maybe that’s why I’m quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies.”

Critic Frank Rich, in a New York Times review of “Lettice and Lovage,” praised Smith as “the stylized classicist who can italicize a line as prosaic as ‘Have you no marmalade?’ until it sounds like a freshly minted epigram by Coward or Wilde.”

Smith famously drew laughs from a prosaic line — “This haddock is disgusting” — in a 1964 revival of Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever.”

“But unfortunately the critics mentioned it, and after that it never got a laugh,” she recalled. “The moment you say something is funny it’s gossamer. It’s gone, really.”

Margaret Natalie Smith was born in Ilford, on the eastern edge of London, on Dec. 28, 1934. She summed up her life briefly: “One went to school, one wanted to act, one started to act, one’s still acting.”

Her father was assigned in 1939 to wartime duty in Oxford, where her theater studies at the Oxford Playhouse School led to a busy apprenticeship.

“I did so many things, you know, round the universities there. … If you were kind of clever enough and I suppose quick enough, you could almost do weekly rep because all the colleges were doing different productions at different times,” she said in a BBC interview.

She took Maggie as her stage name because another Margaret Smith was active in the theater.

Laurence Olivier spotted her talent, invited her to be part of his original National Theatre company and cast her as his co-star in a 1965 film adaptation of “Othello.”

Smith said two directors, Ingmar Bergman and William Gaskill, both in National Theatre productions, were important influences.

Alan Bennett, preparing to film the monologue “A Bed Among the Lentils,” said he was wary of Smith’s reputation for becoming bored. As the actor Jeremy Brett put it, “she starts divinely and then goes off, rather like a cheese.”

“So the fact that we only just had enough time to do it was an absolute blessing really because she was so fresh and just so into it,” said Bennett, who also wrote a starring role for Smith in “The Lady in the Van.”

However extravagant she may have been on stage or before the cameras, Smith was known to be intensely private.

Simon Callow, who acted with her in “A Room with a View,” said he ruined their first meeting by spouting compliments.

“I blurted out various kinds of rubbish about her and she kind of withdrew. She doesn’t like that sort of thing very much at all,” Callow said in a film portrait of the actress. “She never wanted to talk about acting. Acting was something she was terrified to talk about because if she did, it would disappear.”

Smith was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the equivalent of a knight, in 1990.

She married fellow actor Robert Stephens in 1967. They had two sons, Christopher and Toby, and divorced in 1975. The same year she married the writer Beverley Cross, who died in 1998.

___

Associated Press writer Robert Barr contributed biographical material to this obituary before his death in 2018.

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