Index favors UCF over UF to reach playoffs

UCF has a better chance of making the College Football Playoff than the Florida Gators, at least according to analytical projections ESPN posted Friday.

The Knights are No. 14 in Football Power Index (FPI), one of ESPN’s comprehensive advanced metrics. That’s the highest FPI has ever ranked UCF in the preseason, and it results in the Knights having a 10 percent chance of making the playoff, according to

ESPN’s numbers.

The Gators are higher in the FPI ranking at No. 12, but are only projected to have an 8 percent chance of making the final four.

Clemson, unsurprisingly, is the favorite with an 81 percent chance of advancing to the semifinals or beyond. Ohio State (64 percent), Alabama (59 percent), Wisconsin (33 percent) and Georgia (26 percent) are next. The defending national champion, LSU, is at 24 percent.

The Gators have a projected record of 9.7-2.7. Florida State is 26th in FPI with a projected finish of 7.6-4.4. Miami is No. 51 with a projected 6.6 wins.

ETC.

Major League Baseball and its umpires have reached a deal to cover a 2020 pay structure during the coronavirus pandemic, including a 50 percent cut in May and nothing more this year if no games are played. As part of the deal, MLB has the right not to use instant replays of umpires’ decisions during the 2020 season.

The major leagues are considering playing regular-season games at spring training ballparks that are not wired for replay. If even one regularseason game is played this season, the umps are guaranteed about one-third of their salaries. … While the 2020 baseball season remains, Washington Nationals manager

feels confident of this: His team will wait to properly mark its World Series championship with spectators in the seats. “When? We don’t know. How? We don’t know. But we want them to be involved,” Martinez said from his farm in Tennessee during a video call with reporters.

The draft lottery and NBA draft combine, both scheduled for later this month in Chicago, have been postponed. With the lottery scheduled for May 19, the combine to follow from May 21-24 and still no decision on resuming the season, the decision was a formality.

The Jaguars are not picking up the fifthyear option on running back rookie contract, a league source said. By declining Fournette’s option, he will be in the final year of his rookie four-year, $27.1 million contract this upcoming season. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2021. …The Chicago Bears signed veteran safety to a one-year contract.

Major League Soccer is allowing players to return to outdoor team training fields for individual workouts starting Wednesday. The leaguewide moratorium on group and team training remains in effect through May 15.