Daily Sports Roundup
Monday, November 16
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Trail Blazers take on the Hawks, Duke meets Coastal Carolina, and the Browns get a visit from the division-rival Ravens.
Colliding on the gridiron . . .
The Ravens will be looking to get back into the AFC playoff picture on Monday night when they play on the road against the Browns in the primetime matchup. Baltimore (4-4 SU, 5-3 ATS) lost 17-7 in Cincinnati last weekend, with Ray Rice scoring the team's only touchdown with a two-yard rush in the fourth quarter. Joe Flacco went 18-of-32 for 195 yards passing with no TDs and two INTs in the loss.
Cleveland (1-7 SU, 3-5 ATS) was thumped 30-6 in Chicago in their last contest, with Derek Anderson throwing for 76 yards and getting picked off twice en route to losing his starter's job. Anderson did account for the team's lone score in that contest, rushing for a TD in the third quarter. Oddsmakers have the Ravens pegged as 10.5-point favorites for Monday night, with the total listed at 40 points.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
There are just three games on the NBA's schedule for Monday, with Charlotte at Orlando, Dallas at Milwaukee, and Portland at Atlanta. The Trail Blazers picked up an 80-74 road win over the Bobcats on Saturday night, with Brandon Roy scoring 25 points and LaMarcus Aldridge chipping in with 11 points and seven boards. The Hawks rolled over the Hornets at home on Saturday night, winning 121-98. Joe Johnson had 26 points and Josh Smith had 17 boards in that victory.
As well, Kentucky, Villanova, and Duke are all in action on the college hoops slate for Monday night; it's Miami (Ohio) vs. Kentucky, Pennsylvania vs. Villanova, and Coastal Carolina vs. Duke. The Blue Devils had no trouble picking up a victory in their season opener last time out, getting past N.C. Greensboro by a final score of 96-62. Kyle Singler had a game-high 20 points in that Duke win.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, there are six games on tap in the NHL on Monday night, with the Islanders at Boston, New Jersey at Philadelphia, Edmonton at Columbus, Los Angeles at Florida, Tampa Bay at Phoenix, and Anaheim at Pittsburgh. The Ducks were blasted 7-4 by the Red Wings on Saturday night despite a four-point effort from Ryan Getzlaf. The Penguins pulled out a 6-5 OT win over the Bruins in their Saturday game; Evgeni Malkin had three points in his return to the lineup.
Today's Helpful Tips
Monday, November 16
The mighty Quinn?
The last time Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn faced the Baltimore Ravens, he was benched at halftime. Quinn probably won't get an early hook again - coach Eric Mangini just switched back to him for this game - but in the first 2 1-2 games of the season, he directed the Browns to one TD, a gimme score in the closing minutes of a 34-20 loss to Minnesota. He was 6-of-8 for 34 yards and an interception in one half vs. Baltimore, which is giving 10.5 points on the road with a total of 38.5.
Net gain
Columbus Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said Mathieu Garon will be his goalie for Monday's game vs. Edmonton. Garon stopped 32 shots plus two shootout attempts in Saturday's win over Anaheim and is 3-1 with a 2.60 GAA, better numbers than Steve Mason (7-5-0-2, 3.67 GAA), who will sit for a second straight game. Columbus is -170 with a total of 5.5.
The blue Wall
John Wall, projected by many to be the top pick in the 2010 NBA draft, will make his college debut for Kentucky vs. Miami of Ohio on Monday. Wall was suspended by the NCAA for Kentucky's season-opening 75-59 win over Morehead State in which Eric Bledsoe scored 24 points in his collegiate debut. Coach John Calipari said they will play together in the backcourt. Kentucky is giving 19.5 points to Miami and did not cover 20.5 points vs. Morehead.
Hole in the middle
The matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks features Dirk Nowitzki vs. Brandon Jennings, each of whom has scored 29 points in a quarter this season. But the key may be the absence of Mavs center Erick Dampier, who became ill in Detroit on Sunday and will remain there. Dampier is averaging 7.6 points and a team-high 9.7 rebounds. Drew Gooden started for him Sunday and had 11 points and 11 boards. Dallas is giving 1.5 points with a total of 190.
Seeing red on the road
The NHL's only unbeaten road team is the New Jersey Devils, who are 9-0 away from home and have not allowed more than two goals since their road opener. New Jersey will be looking to avenge an early season home loss to Philadelphia and is +125 with a total of 5.5.
Big problem
Philadelphia 76ers forward Marreese Speights has a partial tear of his lft MCL and will miss six to eight weeks. Speights had been Philadelphia's most effective big man, averaging 13.0 points and playing in the fourth quarter in place of starter Elton Brand, who will get most of his minutes but does not allow the Sixers to run as well. Philadelphia is 4-6 vs. the over.
Notable quotable
"Coach told me to take a knee. We knew they were going to try to let us score, then try to get the ball back so they could run their two-minute offense. They told me to get as close as I could and take a knee."
-- Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, talking about his decision to go down at the 1-yard line, allowing his team to burn the clock and kick a field goal for a 24-22 win. The play did not impact the line or total.