The San Francisco Giants are a win away from their third World Series championship in five years after Sunday night’s 5-0 triumph over the Kansas City Royals. The Giants lead the Series three games to two, with Game 6 on Tuesday night in Kansas City.

The left-handed Madison Bumgarner, nicknamed MadBum, threw a complete-game shutout, allowing only four hits. He walked none and struck out eight in his second shutout of the postseason.

Also: St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras, 22, and his girlfriend, died in an automobile accident in the Dominican Republic on Sunday. He was the Cardinals’ top outfield prospect and made his major league debut last season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The first College Football Playoff Poll will be unveiled on Tuesday. The top four teams will be front-runners for the first-ever major college football playoff. Actual selections and pairings won’t be made until Dec. 7. In the Associated Press poll, Mississippi State and Florida State continue to run 1-2. Alabama moved up to third and Auburn to fourth; Ole Miss, formerly No. 3, is now seventh after losing to LSU. Oregon is No. 5.

NFL

The New York Jets lost their seventh straight game and pulled quarterback Geno Smith after he threw three interceptions in the first quarter of a 43-23 home loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Jets’ only win came against the Oakland Raiders, who lost to the Cleveland Browns and are now 0-7. … The New Orleans Saints drubbed the Green Bay Packers 44-23. … A field goal on the final play gave the Detroit Lions a 22-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons in London. The Lions came back from a 21-0 deficit. … The Washington Redskins play the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

Today’s question

Can the Cowboys win their seventh consecutive game and continue their hot streak?

Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .