Daily Sports Roundup
Sunday, January 10
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Celtics look to beat the Raptors, while the Ravens take on the Patriots, and the Packers try for a playoff win in Arizona.
Colliding on the gridiron . . .
It's Baltimore (9-7 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) at New England (10-6 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) in the first of the NFL's two Wild Card matchups on Sunday afternoon. The Ravens got into the playoffs with a 21-13 win in Oakland last week, but they were beaten 27-21 by the Patriots when those teams met in New England back in Week 4 of the season. The Patriots fell 34-27 in Houston in their regular-season finale, and they lost WR Wes Welker for the season with a knee injury. The oddsmakers have set New England as a 3-point favorite for Sunday, with the contest's total at 43 points.
The late game then has Green Bay (11-5 SU, 11-4-1 ATS) at Arizona (10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS), with the Packers looking to duplicate their 33-7 Week 7 road win against the Cardinals. Aaron Rodgers went 21-of-26 for 235 yards with a TD for Green Bay in that contest, while Kurt Warner threw just six passes for 31 yards before giving the bulk of the work to backup Matt Leinart. Many oddsmakers have listed this game as a pick'em, with the total for the matchup set high at 47.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA's six-game slate for Sunday has New Orleans at Washington, Miami at the Clippers, New Jersey at San Antonio, Cleveland at Portland, Milwaukee at the Lakers, and Boston at Toronto. The Celtics and Raptors just met in Boston back on January 2, with the home team pulling out a 103-96 win. Ray Allen led the way with 23 points for Boston, which was missing each of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo. Chris Bosh had 25 points for Toronto in that loss.
As well, top-ranked Kansas (14-0 SU, 6-5 ATS) gets a test on Sunday when they play on the road against No. 16 Tennessee (11-2 SU, 5-4-1 ATS). The Jayhawks got a scare from Cornell in their last game on Wednesday, as they trailed by three points at halftime before rallying for a 71-66 victory. Other games involving ranked teams on Sunday: No. 21 Temple at Rhode Island, South Florida at No. 7 Syracuse, No. 18 Florida State at Maryland, No. 24 Washington at Arizona, and Virginia Tech at No. 9 North Carolina. The Tar Heels are at 11-4 SU and 4-8 ATS.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, there are just three games on the National Hockey League's schedule for Sunday, with Ottawa at Carolina, Dallas at Columbus, and Anaheim at Chicago. The Ducks and Blackhawks also met last Sunday in Chicago, with Anaheim falling 5-2. Marian Hossa scored twice for the Blackhawks in that victory, while Patrick Kane picked up a pair of assists and Antti Niemi made 22 saves. Petteri Nokelainen had both goals for the Ducks, who were playing without Ryan Getzlaf.
Today's Wagering Tips
Sunday, January 10
Out of Gas-ol
The Lakers have dropped two in a row for only the second time all season and will try and halt the losing streak versus Milwaukee Sunday.
After back-to-back losses to the Nuggets and Rockets in mid-November, Los Angeles pounded the Pistons, 106-93, as 9.5-point favorites.
But the Lakers are going to have to get back to the basics on defense in order to have a chance at covering in this one. Center Pau Gasol has missed the last two games and the team has surrendered an average of 104.5 ppg while in the two games prior, both wins, L.A. gave up an average of 87.5 ppg.
"We had our opportunities, but our defense was just not good enough the whole game and we can't allow that," Lamar Odom said after Friday’s loss. "With Pau out, we're losing a 20-point scorer. (We have to) pick up the defense."
Even though the Lake Show has won four consecutive games in this series, the Bucks have covered in seven straight. Los Angeles is listed as 10-point favorites with a total of 194.5.
Bold move
If Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt decides to rally his troops without the services of Anquan Boldin, it won’t be the first time.
Despite saying he was healthy enough to play in the Divisional round game versus Carolina last year, Whisenhunt elected to go without one of his top two receivers and Boldin watched the game from the sidelines.
Arizona won the game outright as 10-point underdogs, but the team’s passing attack was not as potent. Kurt Warner only threw for 220 yards and Larry Fitzgerald had 166 of those. Boldin’s replacement, Steve Breaston, caught four balls for 28 yards in the game.
According to NFL.com, Boldin is “highly unlikely” to play against the Packers after suffering a high left ankle sprain and a sprained MCL last Sunday.
Boldin has been absent from the Cardinals lineup for six games over the past two seasons, but the team has managed to go 5-1 straight up and ATS in those contests.
Injuries galore
Before placing a bet on the North Carolina-Virginia Tech matchup tomorrow, you need to check your injury sources.
The Tar Heels’ Marcus Ginyard will likely miss his fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle. He is the team’s best perimeter defender and averages 11.0 ppg, 4.3 apg and 3.9 rpg.
UNC’s guard Will Graves is also dealing with a sprained ankle and missed the team’s loss against College of Charleston on Monday. Graves is posting 7.8 ppg and connecting at nearly a 40 percent rate from downtown.
"Marcus is still being bothered by the ankle," coach Roy Williams told the media. "Will is questionable. We tried to get him to go through one out of every four plays today. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to see where he is."
The Hokies could be without their best player on Sunday after Malcolm Delaney went down with an ankle injury a week ago against Longwood. The junior missed Va. Tech’s overtime win against Seton Hall and is questionable for the Tar Heels. Delaney leads the ACC in scoring with a 19.8 ppg average.
No spread has been set for the game because of the injuries but the total is 146.5
Ravens take flight on road
Baltimore has been a cash cow in road playoff games since 2000. The Ravens went 3-0 ATS away from home during their Super Bowl run in 2001 and are 6-2 ATS on the road overall.
The Ravens also got All-World safety Ed Reed back the final week of the regular season, but Baltimore backers might rather see him coaching from the sidelines.
The Purple and Black are 3-1-1 ATS during the last five games Reed has missed.
Oddsmakers installed the Patriots as 4-point favorites but that number was bet down to 3 and has elevated back up to 3.5. The total has not moved from its opener, currently sitting at 43, and the under is 11-2-1 in New England’s last 14 playoff games.
Vols under fire
After being arrested for unlawful firearm possession, Tennessee senior forward Tyler Smith was dismissed from the team on Friday.
Smith was the Volunteers best player, a do-it-all guy who was averaging 11.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 3.7 apg.
Smith’s absence, along with the suspensions of Cameron Tatum, Melvin Goins and Brian Williams, removes 32.4 ppg from the Tennessee lineup.
The Vols still managed to score 88 points versus Charlotte Wednesday with six players posting double-digit point totals. They also covered the 13.5-point spread, winning 88-71.
Pearl and his clan’s mettle will be tested against the top-ranked Jayhawks Sunday. Kansas boasts the No. 21 defense in the land, holding opponents to 58.6 ppg.
Tennessee is getting six points on their home court with a total of 151. These two teams combined for 177 points when they met last January, a 92-85 Kansas victory.
Notable Quotable
"That’s the biggest setup ever. You look at all the great ones, go back through the years, and every time you say they are hurt they come out and have the best games. So, forget all that.”
-- Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis in response to the media telling him Tom Brady had thrown for less than 200 yards in three of four games and had rib, shoulder and finger injuries.