ESPN college football expert Paul Finebaum answers The Daily Memphian’s questions going into the College Football Playoff and bowl seasons.

Times are good for a team now up to second place in the West. How good? Chris Herrington tackles that in this mailbag’s first question. 

Standouts from Arlington, Briarcrest, Harding and Houston up for consideration. 

Standouts from Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Fayette-Ware and White Station up for consideration. 

Meanwhile, Democrats have a race for leader of the state party. And the Republican sponsor of the state’s ban on transgender care takes a victory lap starting in Germantown after a Supreme Court hearing on the matter.

This week’s puzzle features a photo from the St. Jude Memphis Marathon taken by The Daily Memphian photographer Patrick Lantrip. 

Hampline Brewing Co. has added a state-of-the-art Forno Piombo oven to the taproom. The wood-fired pizzas pair perfectly with the craft brewery’s beers.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins said she may seek community input as decisions are made following a $2 million assessment of each of the district’s 200 buildings 

Are you ready for today’s puzzles? 

Memphis lost to Arkansas State of the Sun Belt, but Penny Hardaway’s faith in the Tigers remains strong. Red Wolves coach Bryan Hodgson’s does too.

Fans had flashbacks to last season as a Memphis team that had notched wins over then-No. 2 UConn and Michigan State in Maui less than two weeks ago led for only 38 seconds against Arkansas State.

Related content:

Box score: Arkansas State 85, Memphis 72

Memphis can’t dig out of early hole in double-digit loss to Arkansas State

The Grizzlies handled their business against the Washington Wizards on Sunday night, leaning into their bench. 

Related content:

Box score: Grizzlies 140, Wizards 112

NBA box score for the Memphis Grizzlies game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, Dec. 8 in Washington.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders, who won three of their last four games to end the regular season, will face an Arkansas team that is making its second Liberty Bowl appearance in three years. The Razorbacks have won three Liberty Bowls since 2010. 

A 13-point halftime deficit ballooned to 18 just minutes into the second half. And, even when Memphis tried to respond, it wasn’t enough. Nope, there was no late-game switch the Tigers could flip this time.

NCAA men’s basketball box score for Sunday’s game between the Memphis Tigers and Arkansas State Red Wolves played at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.

The University of Memphis women’s basketball team lost to the Southern Miss Lady Eagles, on Sunday Dec. 8 at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Also happening this week: The Cooper-Young sober home is in court, and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris presents Frayser high school funding to the County Commission.

The 66th AutoZone Liberty Bowl has its two teams for a Dec. 27 date at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

Related content:

AutoZone Liberty Bowl snapshot: Texas Tech vs. Arkansas

The Mountain West Conference claimed the Group of Five spot in the first 12-team format of the College Football Playoff.

The Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl will be the first game played between Memphis and West Virginia. Here’s a look at the two teams.

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How a tiny Texas bowl came up big with the No. 25 Memphis Tigers

Memphis gynecologist Dr. Susan Lacy has been treating the transgender community for the past eight years. When Tennessee passed a law banning transgender care for minors, she decided to become a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

ServisFirst Bank’s full-service branch in East Memphis will open this month with a team of 12, including several veteran Memphis bankers. The bank entered the local market earlier this year by establishing a loan-production office.

A new flow of funds to Lakeland will be used to build an early childhood center at the proposed community center, providing a much-needed service to the city.

“It seems ridiculous to feel sad over a chain restaurant leaving town. But for me, it’s as much about the memories as it is the chicken tenders. Because when it comes to meals regularly eaten in community, it’s hard to tell where food ends and friendship begins.”