Buckeyes & Gators set to battle for #1

By: Chance Harper | 1/8/2007 8:00 PM

Finally, after all the moaning and campaigning about who should play the Buckeyes in college football's national championship game, the time has finally arrived. The Florida Gators, champions of the Southeastern Conference, will pitch camp on the sideline opposite Ohio State from the Big Ten in the first BCS title game Monday night (8 p.m. Eastern, FOX).

Saturday Gameday

By: Chance Harper | 1/8/2007 12:00 AM

The UCLA/Oregon State showdown on Saturday was supposed to be a battle between undefeated teams for first place in the Pac-10. The dream was washed away when the Ducks lost to USC 84-82 on Thursday night.

Working for the weekend

By: Chance Harper | 1/7/2007 8:00 PM

Question: What two bowl games are nestled between last night's Sugar Bowl and next Monday's BCS title tilt? Don't feel bad if you don't know the answers since it's likely only the fans of Western Michigan, Cincinnati, Ohio and Southern Miss are aware of the International and GMAC Bowls being played this Saturday and Sunday.

NFL closes out strange regular season

By: Chance Harper | 1/5/2007 12:00 AM

In another unpredictable season that saw the defending Super Bowl champs miss the playoffs and a 4-12 team from last year make the postseason, why would we think the final week of action would be anything except strange? So it was over the weekend as all the postseason parts fell into place, setting up what looks to be a wide-open playoff tournament.

The Scoring Wizard

By: Chance Harper | 1/3/2007 12:00 AM

Carmelo Anthony's suspension has opened the door for a few others to challenge the NBA's leading scorer for the top spot on the totem pole. Anthony's new teammate in Denver, Allen Iverson, is one of those players. And Washington's Gilbert Arenas is quickly moving in on Anthony after a red hot month of December.

From Peaches to Chick-Fil-A: Georgia vs Va Tech

By: Chance Harper | 12/30/2006 8:00 PM

The Virginia Tech Hokies and their top-ranked defense travel to Dixie to battle the Georgia Bulldogs in the Chick-fil-A Bowl (formerly called the Peach Bowl) Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Kickoff is 8 p.m. Eastern, with ESPN carrying the telecast.

Who's tanking?

By: Chance Harper | 1/2/2007 12:00 AM

Several NFL teams - - Jaguars, Titans, Chiefs and Giants to name a few - - are still jockeying for the remaining playoff slots. Meanwhile, the forgotten race for the #1 pick in next year's draft is also full of teams vying for position with the Lions and Raiders well out in front and both hoping to prove that sometimes you can win by losing.

Terps & Boilermakers meet in Champs Sports Bowl

By: Chance Harper | 12/29/2006 8:00 PM

It’s the Big Ten versus the Atlantic Coast Conference when the Purdue Boilermakers battle the Maryland Terrapins in the Champs Sports Bowl Friday night at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. ESPN will carry the game with the kickoff slated for 8 p.m. Eastern.

Puckin' around for the holidays

By: Chance Harper | 1/3/2007 1:00 PM

Just like everyone else, the NHL reflects on itself during the holidays and makes New Year's resolutions as they look to improve the inner self for the coming year. Unfortunately, like everyone else, most of the resolutions are forgotten before we ever reach February.

NFL Week 16 in Review

By: Chance Harper | 12/30/2006 12:00 AM

What a mess! Sure, several NFL teams have clinched division titles and playoff spots going into the last week of the regular season. But a bunch of teams in both conferences still have a chance to earn wild-card berths, and just who will play who and where on the first weekend of the playoffs has yet to be settled.

Rutgers, K-State set to clash in Texas Bowl

By: Chance Harper | 12/28/2006 8:00 PM

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights cap off one of the great seasons in the program’s history when they take on the Kansas State Wildcats in the inaugural Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium in Houston Thursday, Dec. 28 (8 p.m. Eastern, NFL Network).

Rating the ramifications

By: Chance Harper | 12/27/2006 12:00 AM

The suspension of Carmelo Anthony sent Denver scrambling to replace the league's top scorer, acquiring the leagues #2 scoring threat Allen Iverson in a big trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. How the two interact once they're both on the court together is on everyone's mind now, especially bettors who will be watching the lines.

College Hoops Weekend Preview

By: Chance Harper | 12/24/2006 12:00 AM

Several interesting contests take place Friday and Saturday on the college hardwood. But the biggest game of all is undoubtedly the Ohio State-Florida matchup on the back end of a CBS doubleheader on Saturday. The Buckeyes and Gators tip off at 4:00 PM with a Michigan-UCLA match leading into that contest.

Ball's out for Ramblin' Wreck

By: Chance Harper | 1/1/2007 1:00 PM

Georgia Tech will have to play the Gator Bowl without QB Reggie Ball and DB Kenny Scott after both were ruled academically ineligible this week. Already 7-point underdogs after dropping their final two games of 2006 to fall from the BCS, could things get any worse for the Yellow Jackets going up against West Virginia in the New Year's Day contest?

Flyers down in the dumps

By: Chance Harper | 12/26/2006 12:00 AM

These are tough times for Philly phans right now. Except for a recent surprising surge by the McNabb-less Eagles, there's little to cheer in the City of Brotherly Love. With so little holiday joy among Philadelphia's hockey and hoops teams, it's easy to understand why Santa Claus would get booed.

Another crazy week in the NFL

By: Chance Harper | 12/23/2006 12:00 AM

Week 15 was just another crazy week at the window in the NFL. Teams given up for dead one week keep bouncing back and teams that seem to be a lock are falling flat. With only half of the playoff slots claimed, and 11 teams with 7-7 or 6-8 records still in the hunt, it should make for a wild ride the final two weeks on the slate.

Bengals & Colts ready to rumble

By: Chance Harper | 12/18/2006 8:30 PM

The scoreboard operators might want to stay on their toes when the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Indianapolis Colts on ESPN’s Monday Night Football tonight at the RCA Dome as the Colts bring in the #4 scoring offense (26.3) and the Bengals are #7 (24.4). A total that opened around 51 has been pushed up to 55 at some books.

Jaguars tackle the Titans

By: Chance Harper | 12/17/2006 1:00 PM

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be looking to solidify their playoff chances when they visit the surging Tennessee Titans in an AFC South Division duel Sunday afternoon in Music City. Kickoff at LP Field is set for one o'clock Eastern and the home crowd will be looking for another miracle finish from rookie QB Vince Young.

Bang for your buck

By: Chance Harper | 12/21/2006 12:00 AM

With the season at its quarter point, some fans are already looking at who will be in the playoffs and who will be in the draft lottery. But bettors want to know which teams are profitable, regardless of postseason or draft position status. The answer might surprise you.

Strange days at Boston College

By: Chance Harper | 12/20/2006 12:00 AM

It's a difficult time at Boston College after a good season on the gridiron. As if being relegated to the Meineke Car Care Bowl wasn't enough, the Eagles also saw their coach Tom O'Brien accept a new job at Navy, the very team BC will face in the bowl contest on Dec 30. Can they muster enough enthusiasm to continue their 6-game bowl winning streak?

Panthers playing like pussycats

By: Chance Harper | 12/19/2006 12:00 AM

Four NHL head coaches have been given their pink slips so far during the current NHL season as Ken Hitchcock, Gerard Gallant, Trent Yawney, and Mike Kitchen have all been relieved of their duties on the bench. Could Jacques Martin of the Florida Panthers be next on the list?

Chargers, Ravens highlight Week 14

By: Chance Harper | 12/16/2006 12:00 AM

The two best teams in the AFC proved their mettle and their money-making ability by winning and covering, in very different situations, during Week 14 NFL betting action. But two other teams, one from each conference, thought to be among the cream of the crop both took sound beatings.

Bears & Rams Cap NFL Week 14

By: Chance Harper | 12/11/2006 8:30 PM

One team looking to secure home-field advantage in the playoffs meets up with another team trying to keep their playoff hopes alive when the Chicago Bears take on the St. Louis Rams on ESPN’s Monday Night Football tonight at the Edward Jones Dome in the Gateway City.

Special Saturday on tap

By: Chance Harper | 12/10/2006 8:00 PM

It may still be very early in the season, and we’re still not done digging through the mess that is the BCS, but college basketball has a wonderful Saturday planned for handicappers to play with this weekend with 21 of the top 25 teams slated for action.

Navy running to the bank

By: Chance Harper | 12/12/2006 12:00 AM

Coach Paul Johnson has turned Navy's gridiron program completely around since arriving on board in 2002. His 'flexbone' offense chews up yards on the ground and the Midshipmen will be going for their third straight bowl win. But will it be Johnson's final game at the academy as bigger programs come calling?

Tigers take on Vols

By: Chance Harper | 12/6/2006 9:00 PM

The fight for college basketball bragging rights in the state of Tennessee takes place Wednesday night in Knoxville when John Calipari's Memphis Tigers visit Bruce Pearl’s Tennessee Volunteers at UT's Thompson-Boling Arena. ESPN2's cameras will be rolling for the 9:00 p.m. (ET) tipoff.

Underachieving Canucks can’t score

By: Chance Harper | 12/11/2006 12:00 AM

The Canucks are just 13-14-1 after losing to the Oilers on Monday, but that record is almost impressive when you consider how poorly their offense has performed. Vancouver ranks dead-last in the league at 2.1 goals per game, well below the league average of 3.0.

Cowboys & Titans cook up wins

By: Chance Harper | 12/9/2006 12:00 AM

Vince Young continues to grow as a QB in the NFL, helping to lead the Tennessee Titans to their second straight exciting win. Meanwhile Tony Romo and the Cowboys continued their turnaround after a slow start, and Dallas now appears to be on a collision course with the Chicago Bears for supremacy in the NFC this season.

MNF: Panthers at Eagles

By: Chance Harper | 12/4/2006 8:30 PM

A couple of NFC teams looking to position themselves for a run at the playoffs hook up when the Carolina Panthers take on the Philadelphia Eagles on ESPN’s Monday Night Football tonight in the ironically-monikered City of Brotherly Love.

Gators grab date with Buckeyes

By: Chance Harper | 12/9/2006 12:00 AM

College football once again enters the bowl season amid controversy surrounding the Bowl Championship Series.

Championship Saturday

By: Chance Harper | 12/2/2006 8:00 PM

It’s almost time for the college football bowl season. But first, there’s the little matter of conference titles to take care of as the Atlantic Coast Conference, SouthEast Conference and Big 12 settle once and for all who's the best among them for the 2006 season.

Bulls ready to run?

By: Chance Harper | 12/4/2006 12:00 AM

The Chicago Bulls have been on quite a roller-coaster ride during the first month of the season. The Bulls started off higher than anyone could have imagined after destroying Miami on opening night. But it didn’t take long for that win to fade from memory.

Stars on the sidelines

By: Chance Harper | 12/2/2006 12:00 AM

Some of the league's top scoring threats have been shelved with an assortment of injuries in the early going. Getting those players healthy and back on the ice as soon as possible is at the top of many NHL Christmas lists as the second month of the season draws to a close.

ACC up to the Challenge

By: Chance Harper | 11/29/2006 9:00 PM

The Atlantic Coast Conference is off to a good start as it seeks to win its eighth straight ACC/Big 10 Challenge, which continues with five games Tuesday night and concludes with five more matches Wednesday, including the huge Ohio State-North Carolina contest that has March preview written all over it.

ACC up to the Challenge

By: Chance Harper | 11/29/2006 9:00 PM

The Atlantic Coast Conference is off to a good start as it seeks to win its eighth straight ACC/Big 10 Challenge, which continues with five games Tuesday night and concludes with five more Wednesday.

Home dogs continue to confound and cover

By: Chance Harper | 12/1/2006 12:00 AM

Home dogs continued their season-long trend of cashing winning tickets, the under kept up its recent trend of profit, and a couple of teams picked as favorites prior to the season, the Steelers and Giants, continued to watch their seasons evaporate right before their eyes. Such was life in the NFL for Week 12.

MNF: Favre vs. Holmgren

By: Chance Harper | 11/27/2006 8:30 PM

An old coach and one of his former players go up against each other when Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers visit Mike Holmgren and his Seattle Seahawks on ESPN’s Monday Night Football tonight at Qwest Field.

Trojans a win away from date with Buckeyes

By: Chance Harper | 12/1/2006 12:00 AM

The USC Trojans are now just one win away from playing in their fourth consecutive college football national championship game after knocking off Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish 44-24 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night.

Upsets mark early action

By: Chance Harper | 11/29/2006 12:00 AM

The college basketball season might just be a few weeks old, but top-ranked teams have been dropping like flies. And another one is sure to go down on Saturday night, when two of the best teams in the country hook up in Las Vegas.

Irish take on Trojans

By: Chance Harper | 11/25/2006 8:00 PM

One of the biggest games of the college football season takes place Saturday night in the form of an old and storied rival as Notre Dame travels west to meet USC. In addition to the pageantry and tradition any Irish-Trojans game brings to the table, the outcome this time will decide who meets Ohio State in the BCS title game.

Mavs on the rebound

By: Chance Harper | 11/29/2006 12:00 AM

After stumbling out of the starting gate this season, the Dallas Mavericks seem to have found their stride. And they get a chance to make up some early ground in the NBA’s Southwest Division race when they visit in-state rival San Antonio Friday night and then host New Orleans/OK City on Saturday.

Preds pass the Red Wings

By: Chance Harper | 11/29/2006 12:00 AM

With an offense that includes 11 players already reaching double digits in points this season, the Nashville Predators are off to a solid start in hopes of winning the NHL's Central Division. But it won't be easy to pry that title from the collective hands of the Detroit Red Wings.

A Thanksgiving Feast

By: Chance Harper | 11/23/2006 9:00 PM

For NFL football fans Thanksgiving means watching the Lions lose around lunchtime, bellying up to the table for a feedbag session, and napping through a good part of the Cowboys game. But then the action was over, and players were left wanting for something to watch while going at a big plate of leftovers.

Peace Pipe Preview

By: Chance Harper | 11/21/2006 7:00 PM

A couple of teams that have struggled through disappointing seasons meet Tuesday night (7:00 PM, ESPN) when the Bowling Green Falcons battle the Toledo Rockets for the Peace Pipe in the season finale for both squads.

Cowboys & The Under Top Week 11 News

By: Chance Harper | 11/25/2006 12:00 AM

Unders proved a good bet again last week, further balancing a trend to keep an eye on as the season starts to separate contenders from pretenders.

MNF - Giants at Jaguars

By: Chance Harper | 11/20/2006 8:30 PM

Two teams coming off sorry losses a week ago hook up when the New York Giants visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in an NFL interconference matchup on ESPN’s Monday Night Football tonight in North Florida.

Buckeyes in, but who will they face?

By: Chance Harper | 11/25/2006 12:00 AM

The Ohio State Buckeyes claimed a slot in the national championship game. Now it's up to USC, Florida, Notre Dame and a few others to see who gets the other slot.

College Hoops Weekend Preview

By: Chance Harper | 11/21/2006 12:00 AM

The college basketball season, Bobby Knight aside, is off to a relatively quiet start, at least in most places. But two ranked teams have been beaten already, and more are sure to fall as this season heads into its second weekend of play.

Not so sunny in Phoenix

By: Chance Harper | 11/24/2006 12:00 AM

The season hasn’t gone quite as planned so far in Phoenix. The Suns had dropped four straight before finally pulling out a win versus Memphis last Saturday. Phoenix had more to celebrate than just the win on Saturday night, as Amare Stoudemire finally looked like his old self, but it wasn’t all positive.

Ducks flying high

By: Chance Harper | 11/24/2006 12:00 AM

With the NHL season closing in on its quarter-point, one of the best stories has been the Anaheim Ducks. Though 'mighty' is no longer part of their official name, the term fits the way they're playing after getting off to a 13-1-4 start to the campaign.

Chance Harper

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