Daily Sports Roundup
Sunday, January 24
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Colts play host to the Jets in the AFC Championship, while the Vikings play in New Orleans in the NFC Championship.
Colliding on the gridiron . . .
It's the Jets versus the Colts in the AFC Championship Game in Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon (3pm ET), with the oddsmakers setting Peyton Manning and company as 8-point home favorites. The Colts had no trouble with the Ravens in the Divisional Round, cruising to a 20-3 home win behind a pair of Manning TD strikes. The Jets knocked off the Chargers in San Diego last week, winning 17-14. Shonn Greene rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown for New York that day.
The NFC Championship Game then has Minnesota at New Orleans (6:40pm ET). The oddsmakers have the Saints pegged as the 3.5-point home favorites for the matchup, with the total set high at 53 points. New Orleans crushed the Cardinals 45-14 in their Divisional Round matchup last week, as Drew Brees connected on three touchdown passes. The Vikings beat the Cowboys 34-3 last week, as Brett Favre went 15-of-24 for 234 yards passing with four touchdowns.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA has just three games on the schedule for Sunday, with Dallas at New York, the Lakers at Toronto, and the Clippers at Washington. The Clippers were trounced 105-85 in Denver in their last game on Thursday night, with Craig Smith scoring a team-high 21 points off the bench for Los Angeles in that contest. Chris Kaman added 18 points and five rebounds in that losing cause for the Clippers, who were without guard Eric Gordon (toe) and guard Sebastian Telfair (groin).
As well, there are four games involving ranked teams on the college basketball schedule for Sunday, with No. 19 Georgia Tech at Florida State, No. 20 Northern Iowa at Indiana State, Penn State at No. 18 Wisconsin, and No. 9 Pittsburgh at Seton Hall. The Panthers (15-3 SU, 8-6-2 ATS) were defeated 74-66 by Georgetown in their last game on Wednesday night, with Gilbert Brown scoring 20 points in that loss. The Pirates topped Louisville 80-77 in their last matchup.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, there are just three games on the NHL schedule for Sunday, with Boston at Carolina, Dallas at Colorado, and Pittsburgh at Philadelphia. The Penguins will be looking to bounce back from a 6-3 loss to the Capitals on Thursday night, with Sidney Crosby picking up his 33rd goal of the season in that defeat. The Pens and Flyers last met on January 7, with Philadelphia rolling to a 7-4 road win. Jeff Carter and James van Riemsdyk each scored twice for the Flyers in that contest.
Today's Wagering Tips
Sunday, January 24
Lines off the board
Los Angeles Clippers at Washington Wizards – Eric Gordon (toe) missed Friday’s game and is questionable.
Los Angeles Lakers at Toronto Raptors – Andrea Bargnani (back) missed Friday’s game and is questionable.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers - Pascal Dupuis (face) and Maxime Talbot (undisclosed) both left Tuesday’s game and are probable.
Lines to keep an eye on
The total in the Vikings-Saints game incurred a lot of movement Saturday. Most offshore books that were still offering 52.5 on the game have moved to 53 and some shops have even gone to 53.5.
The Colts spread was also on the move Saturday. Most sportsbooks were working with 7.5 in the morning but plenty of 8’s began to appear throughout the day with a few spots holding the spread as high as 9 or 9.5.
Weather to watch
The conference championship games will not be affected by weather as both are being played in a dome.
Nothing but sunny skies and mid-70 temperatures outline the Melbourne, Australia forecast for Sunday play at the Aussie Open.
Who’s hot
Sidney Rice – Hauled in 18 catches for 309 yards and six scores in last three games.
L.A. Clippers – Won two of their last three games and are 10-3 ATS during their last 13.
Craig Anderson – Winning goalie in five straight games with a 1.33 GAA in that span.
Northern Iowa Huskies – Won nine of last 10, going 7-2 ATS in those games.
Who’s not
Adrian Peterson – Has not rushed for more than 100 yards in eight straight and is averaging 3.4 yards per carry during that stretch.
East Carolina Pirates – Lost five straight by an average margin of 16.0 ppg.
Dallas Mavericks – Dropped four of last seven games while going 1-6 ATS during that span.
Key stat
1,294 – Rushing yards gained from scrimmage by the Colts during the 2009 regular season – the smallest total in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals were the last team to reach the Super Bowl after ranking last in the league in rushing, posting 1,178 rushing yards in 2008.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Minnesota wideout Percy Harvin missed two days of practice this week with migraine headaches. The AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year sat out the Vikings Week 14 game because of his lingering illness. Harvin participated in the team’s final practice on Saturday and traveled on the plane to New Orleans, but is still listed as questionable for Sunday. The former Florida Gator caught 60 passes for 790 yards and six scores this season and also returned 42 kicks for 1,156 yards and two touchdowns. It looks as if Harvin will be a game-time decision Sunday and expect the line to move immediately once his playing status is determined.
Games of the Day
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts (-7.5, 40)
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (-3.5, 53)
Notable quotables
“Our offense is not built to run the ball 35 times. That’s not what we are. I know whose hand I want it in if the game’s on the line. It’s No. 18. So we do what we do to win the game.”
-- Colts’ center Jeff Saturday on the team ranking last in the league in rushing during the regular season.
"This will be as loose a team as you'll ever see going into an AFC Championship Game.”
-- Jets head coach Rex Ryan told the media in regards to Sunday’s game.
Tips and notes
- Despite the Colts win over Baltimore last Sunday, the Indianapolis offense has not fared well against the 3-4 defense in postseason play. In 2003 and 2004, the Colts lost in the AFC Championship game to the Patriots who ran the 3-4. The Chargers have always preferred the three down linemen and four linebacker scheme and defeated Indianapolis in the Divisional round and Wild Card round in ’07 and ’08. Dick LeBeau’s vaunted 3-4 set in Pittsburgh took down Peyton Manning and the Colts in the 2005 Divisional round. Indy only managed to score nine touchdowns in those five playoff losses against the 3-4 defense and went 0-5 ATS.
- Both the Saints and the Colts scored inside of two minutes in their victories last Sunday. These two teams ranked first and second in the league in points scored inside of two minutes in the first half. New Orleans posted 79 points in that scenario while Indianapolis scored 72 points running the two-minute drill.
- The Raptors installed a 2-3 zone defense versus the Bucks Friday night. The second-half adjustment by coach Jay Triano kept Milwaukee’s offense in check, holding them to a total of 39 points in the third and fourth stanzas. The primary reason for the switch was the ineffectiveness of Toronto’s defense against big man Andrew Bogut in the first half. Bogut dropped in 17 points in the first half but was held to five points after the Raptors went to the zone. It will be interesting to see if Triano utilizes the same defense versus the Lakers Sunday.