30, 2006
Joe Duffy is CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com,
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NFL
Baltimore-Cincinnati
Associated Press
With a victory over Lewis’ Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday
night, the Ravens (9-2) would become the first team to clinch a division
championship this season. A victory in
would snatch the AFC North title away from the Bengals (6-5) and put the Ravens
on course for greater things. Some Ravens are miffed by the way receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh talked down to them the first time they
met this season. The Ravens won 26-20 on Nov. 5, but Houshmandzadeh wasn’t
about to give them any credit afterward. “Deep down, we know we’re better than
and they know it,” Houshmandzadeh said. “We’ve got better players than they do.”
Houshmandzadeh isn’t backing down. “I think we’re better than them,” he said
Tuesday. “We’ll find out.”
That jarring loss in
became a turning point for
The offense finally got on a roll, with Carson Palmer throwing for nine
touchdowns in the last three games. For the first time in his career, he has
put up passer ratings above 120 for three games in a row.
CFB
Ohio-Central Michigan
Sports Network
Two teams making their first-ever appearance in the
Mid-American Conference championship game will clash this Thursday night at
Ford Field, as the Ohio Bobcats battle the Central Michigan Chippewas. The
Chippewas are coming off their best season since 1994 when the team finished
with a 9-2 ledger and claimed the MAC title. CMU’s season got off to a rough
start, as the team lost three of its first five games. Fortunately the
Chippewas were able to right the ship and closed out the season winning five of
their last six matchups, with the lone loss coming
against
one of the most dangerous offensive units in the MAC in 2006, mainly because of
the team’s potent passing attack, which produced 247.2 ypg.
The success of the aerial assault has led to 29.2 ppg, which ranked the team
first in the MAC in scoring. Quarterback Dan LeFevour
is the biggest reason for the success, as the redshirt freshman had a
sensational season, completing 63 percent of his passes for 2,555 yards. Defensively, the Chippewas were not dominant by any
stretch of the imagination, however the unit did
enough to help produce victories. Overall the team surrendered 24 ppg, while
allowing the opposition to collect 353.2 total ypg.
The unit had some success against the run, permitting just 135.2 ypg, but the team’s weak spot came against the pass, as
opponents threw for 217.9 ypg.
CBB
Louisiana
Press Notes
The Warhawk men’s basketball
team fell at the hands of the No. 6-ranked Crimson Tide of Alabama, 75-61, in
ranked No. 6 in the AP poll and 7 in the ESPN Coaches Poll,
opponents from the Southeastern Conference on the road.
is led by third-year head coach Jeff Lebo, who guided the Tigers to a 12-16
overall record last season, 4-12 in the Southeastern Conference’s West
division.
on the year after a 92-87, come-from-behind overtime victory over
four starters and seven letterwinners from their
2005-06 squad, including guard Frank Tolbert who is third on the team in
scoring with a 14.0 per game average. Joe Duffy’s sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com
NBA
Pistons-Heat
Detroit
all of its key players from last year’s championship season. But a lot has
changed. The Heat is 6-8, with five losses by 15 points or more. Shaquille O’Neal
is out for another month after a knee operation. Guard Jason Williams is still
limited after off-season knee surgery. Dwyane Wade is
still scoring, but playing too many minutes after entering the season already
exhausted from playing for Team
in the World Championships. Gary Payton, 38, and Antoine Walker have struggled;
both have been benched at times by coach Pat Riley.
The Heat’s offense has struggled most. It ranks second-to-last in points scored
per game. MasterLockLine.com
has the top plays from the top sports service in their highest ranked
sports.
Jazz-Lakers
Salt Lake Tribune
About the Jazz: They are 5-2 on the road. They are 3-1 on
the second night of back-to-back games. They are 7-2 at home. They are in the middle of a stretch of 12 out
of 13 games in the
They have yet to travel east of
and won’t until Dec. 12.