Thursday, December 24, 2015

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals, Week 16

Green+Bay+Packers+Arizona+CardinalsPackers travel to Arizona to play the Cardinals

The 12-2  Arizona Cardinals have already laid claim to the NFC West title and one more win would earn them a first round bye. A win for the 10-4 Green Bay Packers would keep their hopes for the No. 2 playoff seed alive entering the final weekend of the regular season. This should be a great matchup between two teams that could easily face one another again in the postseason. The matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals is scheduled for Sunday, December 27, 2015, at 4:25 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.
While Green Bay Packers offense isn’t as high-octane as it has been in past seasons, it has been getting the job done and the defense is playing well recently, allowing only 16.4 points per game over the team’s last six games. The Packers rank 26th in the league in average yards allowed per rush at 4.45 and have given up at least 100 yards on the ground in four straight. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers ranks No. 2 in the NFL with seven games this season with two-plus touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Cornerback Sam Shields, who likely would be assigned to cover Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald on Sunday, may miss his second straight game. Shields has yet to clear the concussion protocol and is in danger of missing his second straight game.
The Arizona Cardinals remains one of the most complete teams in the NFL this season behind a high-powered offense that is ranked No. 2  in the league with 31.8 points and a  defense that is allowing only 19.2 points a game. Last Sunday against the Eagles, rookie running back David Johnson went off with 187 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 29 carries to add more to the Cardinals offensive attack. The game showed what strength Arizona has on both sides of the ball. They scored over 30 points for the fourth time in the last seven weeks and holding their opponent to under 21 points for the fourth straight game. The team that wins the ground battle will probably win this game, and that team is more likely to be Arizona.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Clemson Tigers in Orange Bowl

Oklahoma-sooners_Clemson-tigersThe Sooners and Tigers are squaring off in the Orange Bowl for a shot at the title.

The No. 1 Clemson Tigers are the only  team in the nation in 2015 that haven’t lost a single game this year at 13-0. The Tigers have only one national title in their 114-season history and are opening as a 3.5-point underdog. The No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners are known for being a successful football program and have won seven national titles in their 107-year history. The Sooners secured a spot in this season’s College Football Playoff by winning the Big 12 title with an 11-1 record. Two of the best quarterbacks in the country will square off in Florida against two very good defenses. The game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Clemson Tigers is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 31, 2015, at 4 p.m. ET at Sun Life Stadium, in Miami Gardens, Florida. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield elevated his team into national championship contention with his stellar play. Mayfield passed for 3,512 yards and 30 touchdowns with  just 5 interceptions, and rushed for 420 yards and seven scores. The Sooners are balanced on the offensive side of the football with receiver Sterling Shepard and running back Samaje Perine adding to the Sooners talent. The trio helped the Sooners average 52 points during their seven-game winning streak. Shepard is the main threat in the passing game with 79 receptions for over 1,200 yards and 11 scores. Perine has 1,291 rushing yards out of the backfield and 15 touchdowns.  Perine is running behind a big offensive line, and that may allow the Sooners to take control in the second half.
The Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson is also one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, throwing for over 3,500 yards on the year to go along with 30 touchdowns against just 11 picks. He’s also been an efficient passer, completing nearly 70% of his throws. Watson is a dual-threat player, rushing for 887 yards and an additional 11 scores in the regular season. Clemson has the high-powered offense and aggressive defense to make up for most mistakes, but turnovers are an issue. The Clemson defense is better but not by much. The Tigers defense rank fifth in the nation with 38 sacks, 13th in total defense, and 18th in points allowed per game. They are excellent against the pass and are fifth in the nation in yards per game, and they always rise to the challenge when it is needed.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Michigan State Spartans vs. Alabama Crimson Tide in Cotton Bowl

Spartans vs Crimson TideCan the underdog Spartans upset of the Crimson Tide?

Michigan State Spartans (12-1) is an underdog to SEC powerhouse Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) and Heisman Trophy tailback Derrick Henry in the College Football Playoff semifinal game. The Michigan State Spartans surprised a lot of people and only a one-point loss to Nebraska prevented them from entering the playoffs undefeated. They also had a few bounces go their way to help with their lofty record. The No. 3-ranked Spartans are as much as a 10-point underdog against the No. 2 Crimson Tide headed into the game in Arlington, Texas. The matchup between the Michigan State Spartans and Alabama Crimson Tide is scheduled for Thursday, December 31, 2015, at 8 p.m. ET at ATT Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Alabama Crimson Tide has one of the best offensive lines in the country and tailback Derrick Henry is the difference maker.  Henry has ran for 100 yards nine times and 200 yards four times while rushing for an SEC record 1,986 yards and 23 touchdowns.  Henry has carried the football a combined 90 times over the Tide’s last two games. The Tide will use Henry and its bid offensive line to try and wear down a pretty good Spartans Defense.
The Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook had time to heal his injured shoulder and the Spartans will try to move the ball through the air. The Spartans will find it difficult to move the football on the ground against the Alabama defense. Cook will be pressured by a relentless Alabama front and the short passing game should work. There won’t be many yards after the catch because the Tide doesn’t miss many tackles. The Spartans has won the last seven of eight games in matchups of top 10 teams. Alabama will wear down the Spartans in the late stages, but the Spartans are here because they are a gritty team.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 15

ben-broncosDenver Broncos invade Heinz Field to play the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers with their top tier offense is going against the 8-5 Denver Broncos with their number one defense in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers has been on a roll going 4-1 thanks to an offense that’s produced 35.2 points per game. The Denver Broncos had their first loss with Brock Osweiler at quarterback last week. Denver has the best defense and has not allowed an opponent to score 30 points or throw for 300 yards all season. The game between the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers is scheduled for Sunday, December 20, 2015, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Heinz Field. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) has scored at least 30 points in five straight games, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has averaged 363 passing yards during the streak.  Ben Roethlisberger, is playing as well as he ever has and has a fantastic trio of wideouts to support him. Pittsburgh’s trio has 170 catches for 2,658 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Steelers offense has the second most yards per game at 404.8, just 13 yards per game behind the Arizona Cardinals. With 404.8 yards per game, the Steelers are fifth best in passing with more than 284 yards per game and ninth best in rushing with more than 120 yards per game. The Broncos might slow Roethlisberger and his crew, but they won’t stop him.
The Denver Broncos have the best unit in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense, and they are third in rush defense. The Denver defense  Denver has silenced the best aerial attacks in the game with excellent secondary play and a strong pass rush. Denver has allowed 17.3 points per game this season. The Denver defense lead the NFL with 44 sacks and have surrendered just 22 pass plays of at least 25 yards and just nine pass plays of more than 30 yards.  The Denver offense struggled against the Raiders last week and need to work things out before their game with Pittsburgh. Last week the Denver quarterback Brock Osweiler took a safety and got sacked five times. The run game was non-existent without C.J. Anderson and the protection was poor.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles, Week 15

Larry+Fitzgerald+Arizona+Cardinals+v+Philadelphia+EaglesEagles In For Big Challenge Against Cardinals Sunday Night

The Arizona Cardinals will roll into Philadelphia with the best record in the NFC. The Cardinals are 11-2 and looking to lock in a first-round bye week in the upcoming NFC Playoffs. With the last two wins over New England and Buffalo, Philadelphia is still battling for the NFC East crown. The matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles is scheduled for Sunday, December 20, 2015, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be televised on NBC.
The Philadelphia Eagles have a difficult matchup in the Cardinals, the only team ranked in the top four on both offense and defense. The Eagles would like to build on their back-to-back victories and prove they can compete with the class of the NFC. Quarterback Sam Bradford returns to the lineup and the Eagles rattle of wins over the Patriots and Bills. Sam Bradford has played well recently, but he hasn’t been nearly as good as Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. The Eagles top two outside receivers Riley Cooper and Josh Huff, have combined for 41 catches and 557 yards this year. The Eagles special teams and defense has come up big in assisting their recent victories.
The Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season. Palmer ranks 12th in completion percentage, first in yards per attempt, second in touchdowns, and second overall in passer rating. The Cardinals are the No. 1 offense in the league and are the only team in the NFL to have three receivers with 40-plus catches and 650-plus yards. The Cardinals have three good receivers who are very different. Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, was one of the best outside receivers in the league, and now has become one of the league’s best slot receivers. Through 12 games, Fitzgerald  has 96 catches for 1,088 yards and seven touchdowns. The Cardinals two outside receivers have been very good too. Michael Floyd has 69 catches for 652 yards and six touchdowns. Floyd at 6-3, 225 pounds, is a big-bodied, physical target. Also, John Brown is a deep threat and has 55 catches for 895 yards and five touchdowns. The Cardinals outside receivers have different styles and because of that the Eagles cornerbacks will have their hands full.

Friday, December 11, 2015

New York Giants at Miami Dolphins, Week 14

New+York+Giants+v+Miami+Dolphins

Giants try to snap a three-game skid against Miami Dolphins

Even though both the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants are 5-7 heading into the final quarter of the season, they are still both alive in their respective conference playoff races. The game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants is scheduled to take place on Monday, December 14, 2015, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Sun Life Stadium. The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN.
The New York Giants that don’t have a particularly good offense, have arguably the best receiver in the league right now.  Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr.makes catches that just shouldn’t be humanly possible. He has five straight 100+ yard games and at least one touchdown in four of the five. So far Beckham has 78 catches, 1,154 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns, and he leads the world in one-handed catches. The real variable though, is how bad the Giants are on defense. They’ve allowed a ton of passing touchdowns this year to seemingly every opponent.
The Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is likely going to throw a pick in this game and he’s probably throwing a touchdown as well. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry will make some plays, but the rest of the passing game is likely to be pretty dull. The Miami Dolphinsdefense pretty much can’t stop much on offense. They rank No. 22 in the league against the pass and No. 30 against the rush. They give up an average of 25.0 points per game, a number which includes giving up at least 33 points three times since the start of November. Miami’s pass defense is woeful at 255.6 yards per game, so it’s clear that Eli Manning is going to have another one of these games where he puts the ball in the air at least 35-40 times. That’s all good news for Beckham.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Buffalo Bills at Philadelphia Eagles, Week 14

Eagles-vs-Buffalo_1

The Philadelphia Eagles are flying high after defeating New England last week.

The Buffalo Bills win over Houston put them back in the AFC race, and the Philadelphia Eagles upset win over New England put them back in the NFC East race. This is making for a critical game in terms of playoff positioning in both conferences. The matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles is scheduled for Sunday, December 13, 2015, at 1 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
The Bufallo Bills have the NFL’s fourth-best rushing offense this season, averaging 140.9 yards per game. Their passing game is ranked 29th and among the worst in the NFL with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback this season. Running back LeSean McCoy ran for 112 yards last week, the third time in five games he’s had that exact total. He has also rushed for just three touchdowns this season. McCoy spent six seasons in Philadelphia before the offseason trade that sent him to Buffalo in exchange for Kiko Alonso. McCoy isn’t putting up the big numbers he may like but at least he’s having a more productive season than the man who replaced him in Philadelphia, DeMarco Murray.  The Bills could be in a good position if McCoy can continue his current hot streak. The Bills defense are 14th in the NFL against the run, allowing 104 rushing yards per game. With the way the Eagles have been running the football, it could be hit-or-miss against the Bills on Sunday afternoon. The Bills pass defense sacked opposing quarterbacks 31 times this season, but they also only have seven interceptions this season, so the Bills will be more likely to bring Bradford down than they will be picking him off. One thing Buffalo does particularly well is force fumbles. The Bills lead the NFL in 18 forced fumbles, but have recovered just seven of those loose footballs.
The Philadelphia Eagles upset the Patriots last week, using two special teams and one defensive touchdown and they did it against a team that doesn’t get beat by special teams. Najee Goode picked up a blocked punt and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Malcolm Jenkins returned the first-ever interception of Tom Brady by an Eagles player 99-yards for a score and a 21-14 lead. Three minutes later, Darren Sproles raced 83-yards with a punt return. The Eagles managed three touchdowns on 206 yards worth of returns. The Eagles were once again shorthanded in their backfield, as Ryan Mathews remains sidelined with a concussion. Many expected Murray’s opportunities to increase with Mathews out of the lineup, but Murray’s carries went in the opposite direction against the Patriots. The leading running back for the Eagles instead was Darren Sproles, who was on the field for 35 plays and tallied 66 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Kenjon Barner also out-rushed Murray, finishing with 39 yards on nine carries. The Eagles should feel good about what they accomplished in New England, and building on that will help them knock off the Bills at home.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Florida Gators vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

Florida vs Alabama

2015 SEC Championship: Crimson Tide betting favorite vs. Gators

It’s never a dull moment when the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida Gators meet at the Iron Bowl. This is arguably the most important rivalry game in college football, although this year, the Gators (10-2) haven’t been keeping up with No. 2 Alabama (11-1). The Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide is scheduled to meet on Saturday, December 5, 2015, at 4 p.m. ET at the Georgia Dome. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
Alabama is a 16 point favorite in a virtual must-win for the Tide to enter this year’s College Football Playoff. Alabama is coming off a 29-13 victory laying 14.5 points at Auburn last week, its ninth consecutive SU win since a stunning home loss to Mississippi. It was also the fourth straight week that the Tide cashed for bettors. On the flip side, Florida is coming off its worst performance of the year. The Gators have been downright dismal on offense in recent weeks, averaging a little more than 12 points in regulation against Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Florida Atlantic and Florida State. TheFlorida Gators, 2.5-point home underdogs to rival Florida State, mustered only a safety in a 27-2 loss. That knocked them entirely out of the playoff picture, even if they somehow stun Alabama this week at the Georgia Dome.
Alabama has relied on running back Derrick Henry to carry the load and he has delivered. Look for much of the same against the Florida Gators that has looked tired and beat up as the they limped through November. Henry carried the ball for a school record of 46 times and 271 yards against Auburn, his fourth 200-yard effort of the season against a SEC defense. Alabama just beats teams up  on both sides of the ball. The Offensive line wears opposing defenses down clearing the way for Henry while the defensive front gets after the quarterback with relentless abandon. The Gators could hang for a half with their stingy defense, but a lack of production from Harris and the offense won’t give them time to catch a breather. The Tide will roll in the second half, opening this game up for a cover win.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

NCAAB: Tar Heels Host the Terriers on Wednesday

north-carolina-tar-heels

NCAAB: No. 1 Tar Heels Host Upset-Minded Wofford

North Carolina Tar Heels won their home opener against Fairfield. North Carolina is ranked No. 1 in the country after opening their campaign with two straight wins. They have scored 183 points in their first two games. However, the Wofford Terriers have a lot of fight in them; UNC will have to pick up their game in this early-season contest. They welcome the Wofford Terriers to Chapel Hill on Wednesday night.
The Terriers hail from the Southern Conference and are coming off an 83-74 loss at Missouri to open their season. Fletcher Magee came off the bench to drop 22 points for the Terriers while Justin Gordon added 19 points and six boards for Wofford, who shot just 38.2% from the field.
After routing Temple, the Tar Heels romped to a 92-65 win over Fairfield in their home opener. Nate Britt was the high man with 17 points off the bench while Brice Johnson had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels. Even without injured star guard Marcus Paige, the Tar Heels have scored 183 points in two wins over Temple and Fairfield. Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson have averaged double-doubles while Nate Britt is picking up the scoring slack in the absence of Paige. Wofford fell to Missouri in their season opener and have a very tough schedule to open the season. They won’t be afraid of North Carolina, even on the road. UNC, who are without injured guard Marcus Paige, forced 19 turnovers while shooting 50% from the field. Britt was one of five Tar Heels in double figures, but UNC shot 18-of-32 from the foul line, so that needs to be improved.
This is the first time that these two schools have met in men’s basketball since 1926.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

NCAAF: No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners at No. 6 Baylor Bears

baylor bears-oklahoma sooners

NCAAF: Oklahoma Sooners-Baylor Bears in Big 12 Showdown

The top two teams on ESPN’s Football Power Index will meet this Saturday in a critical Big 12 matchup. The Sooners are 3-point road dogs for this contest. Baylor will be starting freshman and blue-chip quarterback Jarrett Stidham for just the second time in place of the injured Seth Russell, who’s out for the year with a fractured neck.  Stidham played well last week against the Kansas State Wildcats in a 31-24 victory. Oklahoma, meanwhile, ranks No. 1 on ESPN’s Football Power Index, one spot ahead of Baylor. Since their loss to the Texas Longhorns in the Red River, the Sooners have pummeled their last four opponents by a combined score of 232-50. The matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and Baylor Bears will start at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 14, 2015, at McLane Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
The Oklahoma Sooners and quarterback Baker Mayfield have showed they aren’t afraid of a shootout. The Sooners are tied for second in the country with 46 points per game and Mayfield’s completing 70.2 percent of his passes for 2,812 yards and 28 touchdowns, most recently torching Iowa State for his fifth 300-yard game of the season. Watch for the Sooners to unleash Samaje Perine early. He’s totaled 185 yards and three scores in the past two games and lit up Texas Tech for 201 yards before that. Oklahoma is No. 16 overall in points allowed at 18.1 per game, and the Sooners have played a tougher schedule than the Bears going into Week 11.
The Baylor Bears is undefeated and right in the running for a playoff berth, but had its share of doubters even before starting quarterback Seth Russell was lost for the year with a neck injury. It appears freshman Jarrett Stidham could be a solid replacement. He threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns in his first start last week, but the Kansas State defense is one thing, the Oklahoma defense another. The Bears embarrassed Oklahoma in Norman last season 48-14. Baylor’s secondary is led by Big 12 interception leader Xavien Howard and is second in the conference in pass defense allowing just 223.8 yards per game.

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks, Week 10

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jerraud Powers, top, breaks up a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Arizona Cardinals in control but Seahawks have chance to catch up

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a bye and enter a very critical matchup against the NFC West leading Arizona Cardinals, who are 6-2. Their key offensive players will have to be at the top of their games after some time off. Seattle may be just 4-4, but can win the NFC West by winning out. The matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks is scheduled for Sunday, November 15, 2015, at 8:30 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field. The game will be televised on NBC.
The Arizona Cardinals offense is very good and may be the most well-rounded in the NFL. The Cardinals rank in the Top 10 in the rush and in the pass, and they’re doing all of this with a running back Chris Johnson and the quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer can be hot or cold though. Palmer’s history working with head coach Bruce Arians is excellent, as he now has 33 TDs against just nine picks in 14 games under center in this offense The raw numbers for Palmer are better across the board and he’s doing all of this thanks to the his  outstanding receivers headlined by future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald and an oncoming Michael Floyd.
The Seattle Seahawks have had a full bye week to try to draw up schemes to allow Russell Wilson plenty of time to throw the football. This year, the lack of time Wilson has had in the pocket has forced him into more bad throws than he usually makes. This ground game looks merely above average with Marshawn Lynch this year, and Wilson has been sacked 31 times this year. The Seahawks passing game ranks just No. 28 in the league this year. The good news for Seattle is that the Arizona’s pass rushers aren’t particularly great. If the Seahawks didn’t fix their offensive line problems in their bye week, they may have some trouble against a Arizona defense, which is keeping teams down to 312.8 yards and 19.1 points per game.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

NCAAF: No. 2 LSU at No. 4 Alabama in SEC Showdown

alabama-louisiana-LSU

NCAAF: LSU Tigers Burning Bright, But Bama Favored by Six

The LSU Tigers (7-0) have their hands full this Saturday against the Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1). Alabama will have home-field advantage at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is a 6-point home favorite with an outstanding run defense to counter LSU’s Heisman favorite, running back Leonard Fournette.
The college football season is full of important games during this upcoming week 10.  None more important than Saturday’s SEC showdown between the No. 2 LSU Tigers and the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide.  The showdown is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM ET and broadcast on CBS.
The LSU Tigers go into this game undefeated at (7-0), but while the AP poll has them two spots ahead of the Crimson Tide (7-1), the advanced stats suggest that Alabama is the better team, both on offense and defense. LSU might also be missing cornerback Tre’Davious White on Saturday. White hurt his knee two weeks ago and is not quite all the way there yet during Wednesday’s practice. Alabama’s outstanding run defense which allowed just 2.6 yards per carry this year could prove problematic for Tigers running back Leonard Fournette.
Both teams had the bye week to prepare for this Saturday’s game. The LSU Tigers haven’t played on the road since Week 4 with a 34-24 victory over the Syracuse Orange. Four of the last six games between Alabama and LSU have been decided by a touchdown or less. On paper, this figures to be another close one. Alabama doesn’t blow many teams out, and LSU’s running game should keep the Tigers in the game until the end.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Tennis: Djokovic Seeks Paris Masters Three-peat

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland during their quarter final match, at the Paris Masters tennis at Bercy Arena in Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Tennis: Djokovic on the Prowl at Paris Masters

World’s No. 1 is looking for his fourth career title and his third in three years at this week’s Paris Masters which is an indoor hard-court tournament. He claimed his ninth trophy of the season at last month’s Shanghai Masters.  Djokovic has already advanced to the third round, where he’ll meet No. 14 Gilles Simon on Thursday at 4:00 AM ET. Novak Djokovic is the undisputed King of Tennis, and he’s back in action this week at the Paris Masters . The three-time and defending champion had a bye into the second round, then advanced to the third with Tuesday’s straight-sets win over Thomaz Bellucci.
Djokovic is a heavy favorite to get past Simon and into the quarterfinals. They’ve met 10 times in men’s singles action, with Djokovic winning each of their last nine matches after losing on the indoor courts of Marseilles back in 2008. It is the players themselves who are making this year’s Paris Masters rather special. The Paris Masters is only the third of the nine ATP1000 tournaments this year to feature the top eight men.  Also, it is the first time since 2008 that the only indoor Masters of the year has boasted all eight of the top players in its draw. Among the other players advancing to the third round are No. 4 Stan Wawrinka, plus 2012 champion and No. 8 seed David Ferrer. All the top men’s seeds are present for this prestigious Masters 1000 event, including No. 2 Andy Murray, No. 3 Roger Federer and No. 7 Rafael Nadal. Federer is the only member of that threesome to win the Paris Masters in 2011.  Nadal fell to David Nalbandian in the 2007 finals.
Many eyes will be on Djokovic, in a year of recurrent highs, of title after title, of dominating the rankings, the Masters and the Grand Slams. This year, he has already reached the final of 13 tournaments in a row, won nine titles, including three Grand Slams and 73 of 78 matches.
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Monday, November 2, 2015

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9

cleveland-browns-vs-cincinnati-bengals

Browns return to Cincinnati after losing three straight

The start of Week 9 for the NFL we’ve got an AFC North battle between the Browns and the Bengals. Cleveland (2-6) lost to the Cardinals in their last game, while Cincinnati (7-0) came away with a win over the Steelers in Week 8. The Bengals keep finding ways to win and remained unbeaten while increasing their lead in the AFC North with a comeback win at Pittsburgh. The Browns keep on losing, falling for a third straight time this last Sunday. The game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2015, at 8:25 p.m. ET at Paul Brown Stadium. The game will be broadcasted on the NFL Network.
The Cincinnati Bengals improved to 7-0 for the first time in team history thanks to another comeback drive by quarterback Andy Dalton. After throwing two interceptions early in the second half, Dalton tossed a nine-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green with just under three minutes left that gave Cincinnati its first lead of the game. The Bengals used a balance of runs and passes on their final drive to spark the comeback. The Bengals running back Giovani Bernard had a big gain out of the backfield to put the offense in position for the go-ahead score. Fourth quarter comeback drives are starting to become the norm for Dalton, who now has three game-winning drives this season.  Cincinnati opened as a 10.5-point favorite and that line looks manageable against a team that has no identity.
The Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown got roughed up again in the second half against Arizona. McCown had a great first half throwing three touchdown passes in the first 30 minutes for the first time in his career. McCown took another shot in the second half against the Cardinals and was not effective after Kevin Minter hit him. The Browns coaching staff is showing no confidence in Manziel and McCown just doesn’t have enough to carry them. The Browns are 2-6 and relying on  McCown who is a 36 year old quarterback. McCown has put up good numbers, but he also has gone 2-15 in the past two years as a starter.
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Friday, October 30, 2015

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 8


Steelers confirm Roethlisberger set to start against Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that Roethlisberger is preparing to play against the Bengals after missing four games with a sprained knee and bruised leg. The AFC North clash got a little more exciting with the expected return of Ben Roethlisberger to the Steelers lineup. The game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers is scheduled to start on Sunday, November 1, 2015, at 1 p.m. ET at Heinz Field. The game will be broadcasted on CBS.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should get a boost with their starting quarterback under center and could mount a challenge to the undefeated Bengals.  The Steelers are 4-3 overall and 2.5 games behind the Bengals for the top spot in the AFC North. The Steelers have one of the league’s best offenses, but history hasn’t been kind to Big Ben in his return to the field. In 11 seasons, Roethlisberger has come back from injury on six occasions, and the Steelers are 2-4 in those games.  Roethlisberger should not be expected to immediately perform to his top quarterback performance level prior to his injury. There may be a rust factor involved, but the Steelers are just happy to see their franchise quarterback return for this key division game. The Steelers defense has improved under coordinator Keith Butler, creating more turnovers and applying more pressure on quarterbacks. The Steelers rank seventh in the league in points per game allowed at 18.7. There have been some coverage issues involving tight ends.
The Cincinnati Bengals has a chance to do what no other team in franchise history has done, and that’s start a season 7-0. The team is coming off a bye week as one of the healthiest in the league. In their last game, they beat the Buffalo Bills 34-21 on Oct. 18 in New York. The Bengals are 3-0 against AFC opponents on the road this year. The Bengals offense are third in the NFL but also have the best balance in the conference, where they rank fourth in rushing and fourth in passing. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is having a fantastic season through six games. His completion percentage, yards, yards per attempt and passer rating are at their highest points through this many games. His two interceptions are the fewest he’s thrown across a similar span. Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert might be Andy Dalton’s favorite target right now. He will be bursting through the middle of the Pittsburgh defense, daring the Steelers to cover him.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

NCAAF: Georgia at No. 11 Florida in Pivotal SEC East Clash

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NCAAF: Who Will Kick for the Gators Versus Georgia?

The No. 11 Florida Gators (6-1) have nearly clinched the SEC East Division for the first time since 2009. A win this Saturday against the rival Georgia Bulldogs (5-2) would put Florida two games up with two games left in the season.The Gators are a 3 point favorite at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM ET and will be broadcast on CBS.
Florida has made quick progress in its first year under head coach Jim McElwain. The Gators had their undefeated season spoiled two weeks ago by the LSU Tigers, who prevailed 35-28 at home. McElwain used the bye week to prepare for Saturday, as did Mark Richt and the Bulldogs after scraping past the Missouri Tigers 9-6. The Gators need a new kicker after Jorge Powell suffered a season-ending knee injury in their Week 7 loss to the LSU Tigers. Redshirt junior PK Austin Hardin hasn’t been healthy or consistent enough and time is running out for Florida. If Saturday’s game turns into a similar kicking duel, the Gators could be in trouble. They held open tryouts after PK Jorge Powell was forced out of the LSU game with a season-ending knee injury. Redshirt junior PK Austin Hardin has been injured and ineffective, leaving the identity of Saturday’s kicker unresolved.
The Georgia Bulldogs is reeling from the loss of running back Nick Chubb and didn’t score a touchdown in its first game without him, beating Missouri 9-6 in a boring game. Florida may be the favorite in the game, but because we’ve seen it many times before in this series, anything can and will happen.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Tennis: Federer Seeks Seventh Title in Basel

Swiss+Indoors+Basel+Federer

Tennis: Federer Favored at Home in Basel 

Top seed Roger Federer began his quest for a seventh title at the Swiss Indoors Basel on Tuesday by beating Mikhail Kukushkin 6-1, 6-2 in 55 minutes. He returns to his birthplace of Basel as the favorite to win his seventh Swiss Indoors title.  World’s No. 3 Roger Federer has won the Swiss Indoors title six times, and has been to the finals every year since 2006. He went into this week’s event as the top seed and the favorite. He’s well on his way to defending his title.
Federer is at age 34 now and the Basel native remains one of the best hard-court players in men’s singles. Grass remains his specialty, but he’s 27-4 this year on hard courts, winning tournaments in Cincinnati, Dubai and Brisbane.  Federer did lose to Albert Ramos-Vinolas last week in the Round of 32 at the Shanghai Masters.
Federer will play Kohlschreiber in round two. Federer is looking to extend his 10-match winning streak against the 32nd ranked German, who beat qualifier Jerzy Janowicz 6-4 3-6 6-3. The upcoming match marks the third time this season that Federer and Kohlschreiber clash on tour. Their most recent meeting took place in a hardcourt surface in the third round of the 2015 US Open. Federer had only dropped one set against Kohlschreiber, which happened during their third round match at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships.
There are seven other players from the ATP Top 16 participating in Basel. Federer’s toughest competition should come from fellow Swiss and World’s No. 4 Stan Wawrinka, and No. 6 Rafael Nadal. Wawrinka and Nadal are in the bottom half of the bracket, so they’d have to play one another before getting a shot at Federer in the finals. No. 12 Kevin Anderson is the second highest-ranked player in Federer’s half of the draw.