Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Lefty wins his 40th PGA Tour event with his never-ending supply of tricks up his sleeve. What We Learned this week at Pebble Beach.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
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What would college football be without rankings, arguments and the occasional in flagrante delicto moment in a bathroom stall? We cannot do much to accommodate that third quality at the moment, but we will proceed with a ranking of all 34 bowl games. And beware of women in Iowa jerseys who wander into the men's room.
34. Independence Bowl (Dec. 28)
Louisiana Tech (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (6-6), Shreveport, La.
The Huskies were shut out by Navy, at home, in their final game of the season. The Techsters lost at Army. Call this the Disarmed Forces Bowl.
*NIU is 5th in the nation in pass defense.
33. EagleBank Bowl (Dec. 20)
Navy (8-4) vs. Wake Forest (7-5), Washington, D.C.
“EagleBank…we know a thing or two about nest eggs.” The Middies beat the Demon Deacons 24-17 on Sept. 27. Once was enough.
*The Midshipmen lead the nation in rushing offense.
32. New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 20)
Colorado State (6-6) vs. Fresno State (7-5), Albuquerque
One of four bowls where the teams’ combined number of victories is only 13. Three of the six teams whom the Rams beat this season have fired their coaches. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, enter on the heels of a 51-point pummeling at Boise State.
*Rams are last in the nation in sacks and next-to-last in tackles for loss.
31. magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl (Dec. 20)
South Florida (7-5) vs. Memphis (6-6), St. Petersburg
Voted “The Bowl Most Likely To Remind You of a Song by The Who.” Memphis has yet to beat anyone with a winning record. The Bulls have lost four of their past five. And they’re playing inside the Tropicana Dome. Hung around St. Petersburg/When I saw it was time for a change. Wait, wrong legendary band.
*Matt Grothe leads the Bulls in both passing and rushing.
30. New Orleans (Dec. 21)
Troy (8-4) vs. Southern Mississippi (6-6), New Orleans
Troy led LSU 31-3 late in the third quarter in Death Valley last month before absolutely freaking out and allowing 37 points in the final 16:26. I like that their quarterback is “Bad, Bad” Levi Brown.
*The Trojans are fourth in the nation in sacks, with 38.
29. Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 31)
Air Force (8-4) vs. Houston (7-5), Fort Worth, Tex.
When these two met in September — in Dallas due to a hurricane — the Falcons won 31-28 without completing a pass. Houston QB Case Keenum, meanwhile, is the nation’s second-most prolific passer behind Graham Harrell of Texas Tech.
*Houston averages nearly 28 first downs per game, tops in the country.
28. Liberty Bowl (Jan. 2)
East Carolina (9-4) vs. Kentucky (6-6), Memphis
All things considered, give me death. The Wildcats went 0-5 in their own division, the SEC East. How will the Pirates cope with their coach, Skip Holtz, skipping off to Syracuse after this is done?
*Pirates have had three different 3-game win streaks this season.
27. International Bowl (Jan. 3)
Connecticut (7-5) vs. Buffalo (8-5), Toronto
You’re going to listen to so much broadcaster butt-kissing of the two upward-bound head coaches, Randy Edsall (Huskies) and Turner Gill (Bulls), that you’ll think Dickie V is doing the game. These two ex-QBs do have extremely bright futures ahead of them, though.
*Huskies’ Donald Brown is the nation’s leading rusher (151.83 ypg).
26. Motor City Bowl (Dec. 26)
Central Michigan (8-4) vs. Florida Atlantic (6-6), Detroit
Both quarterbacks, the Chippewas’ Dan LeFevour and the Owls’ Rusty Smith, were sleeper darlings entering 2008. Both had seasons that failed to equal their 2007 campaigns.
*Punt, Owls! You’re last in the nation in 4th-down conversions (2 for 12)
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
Paul Pierce has been around long enough to know what Rajon Rondo's performance can mean for the aging Boston Celtics.
