11/28/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans Saints may have saved their season with a big win this past Monday night. However, if recent trends are any indication, they may have a hard time sustaining that momentum in this Sunday's crucial divisional clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
Although New Orleans still resides at the bottom of the standings in the competitive NFC South, the team has revived its flickering postseason hopes with a two-game win streak highlighted by Monday's impressive 51-29 home rout of the Green Bay Packers at the Superdome. Now 6-5 on the season, the Saints are two games out of first place in the division, but only one off the pace of a three-team logjam for the conference's second Wild Card berth.
A victory over the playoff-hopeful and similarly 8-3 Buccaneers, who currently own a share of the top spot in the NFC South with Carolina, would go a long way towards boosting New Orleans' hopes for playing in January. But that may be a task easier said than done.
Home teams have reigned supreme in the NFC South throughout this 2008 campaign, as the division sports a stellar 21-2 record as the host entering this week's play. Tampa Bay has been particularly tough in those situations, having won all five of its home tests so far this year and compiling an 11-2 ledger at Raymond James Stadium in regular-season games since the start of last season.
The Bucs are on a roll of their own as well with three consecutive wins, albeit against a somewhat suspect cast of opponents. Two of those triumphs have come against league doormats Kansas City and Detroit, with a more validating 19-13 home verdict over NFC North co-leader Minnesota sandwiched in between.
Tampa Bay spotted the still-winless Lions an early 17-point lead in its most recent matchup, before arising from its slumber to post a 38-20 decision. Veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia sparked the rally with two touchdown passes late in the first half, then the Buccaneers put the game away by scoring on a punt return and cornerback Ronde Barber's interception runback during the third quarter.
The Saints also broke open a close contest last week with a flurry of points in the second half. New Orleans put up touchdowns on four of their first five possessions after intermission against the Packers, and matched a franchise record for the highest scoring total in a single game.
As usual, Drew Brees was the driving force behind the Saints' offensive eruption. The prolific quarterback shredded a well-regarded Green Bay pass defense for 323 yards and a season-high four touchdown strikes while completing 20 of his 26 throws.
Brees directs an explosive New Orleans offense that leads the NFL in passing yards and total yards, while the Bucs counter with a defense that ranks second overall against the pass and has yielded the third-fewest points in the league. The normally airtight unit did have its struggles containing the Saints earlier this season, however, with Brees amassing 343 yards and a trio of scoring passes to lift the Saints to a 24-20 victory over Tampa Bay at the Superdome in Week 1.
SERIES HISTORY
New Orleans has a 20-13 lead in its all-time series with Tampa Bay, including the above-mentioned 24-20 victory when the teams met at the Superdome in Week 1. The Buccaneers swept a home-and-home with its division rival in 2007, including a 31-14 win at Raymond James Stadium in Week 2, and a 27-23 decision in New Orleans in Week 13. The Saints last won in Tampa in 2006.
Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden has a 7-7 career record against the Saints, including 6-7 since taking over in Tampa prior to the 2002 season. New Orleans' Sean Payton is 3-2 against both Gruden and the Bucs as a head coach.
WHEN THE SAINTS HAVE THE BALL
The Saints weren't shy about airing it out against Tampa Bay in their previous meeting, so expect Brees' (3574 passing yards, 22 TD, 11 INT) deadly-accurate right arm to get plenty of work again on Sunday. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback has endured his share of humbling moments on the road this year, however, having thrown seven interceptions and only five touchdowns in the team's five away games. With usual go-to receiver Marques Colston's (16 receptions, 1 TD) production dipping due to injuries, the unheralded Lance Moore (57 receptions, 724 yards, 7 TD) has emerged as the top target in New Orleans' aerial assault. The one-time practice-squad member burned the Packers for a career-best 115 yards and two touchdowns on Monday, including a 70-yard scoring connection with Brees in the opening quarter. Tight end Jeremy Shockey (35 receptions) has started to make an impact recently as well. Now fully recovered from hernia surgery that forced him to miss three games earlier on, the boisterous ex-Giant has garnered 11 catches over the past two weeks. Brees almost always receives terrific protection from a strong offensive line that has allowed just nine sacks this year, a startling number for a team that passes so much.
New Orleans' already-potent passing offense may get another dangerous weapon back on Sunday, as versatile running back Reggie Bush (294 rushing yards, 42 receptions, 8 total TD) appears to close to returning from a knee procedure that has rendered him inactive for the past three games. The former Heisman Trophy winner was a handful for the Bucs back in Week 1, racking up 112 receiving yards and a go-ahead touchdown on a game-high eight catches. If he plays on Sunday, Bush will likely be worked in slowly with Pierre Thomas (325 rushing yards, 6 TD, 19 receptions) performing well as of late. The sophomore back is coming off an 88-yard, two-touchdown rushing effort against Green Bay and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry over the last two weeks, providing a nice boost to the Saints' 27th-ranked running game (92.4 ypg). Thomas' development has left mainstay Deuce McAllister (304 rushing yards, 11 receptions, 5 total TD), the club's all-time leading rusher and touchdown scorer, fighting for scraps in a now-crowded backfield.
Although the Buccaneers are allowing just 174.6 passing yards per week (2nd overall), Brees showed that the Tampa secondary isn't bulletproof by throwing for three long touchdowns in the season opener. Games like that are generally an anomaly, however, for a defense that has been able to compensate for the declining skills of perennial Pro Bowlers Barber (46 tackles, 2 INT, 2 sacks) and weakside linebacker Derrick Brooks (49 tackles, 1 INT) with an influx of talented young players and the savvy leadership of the two veteran stalwarts. One of those rising stars is second-year end Gaines Adams (30 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 INT), the team's leading sacker who will need to be in Brees' face on Sunday if the Bucs are to slow down New Orleans' high-powered offense. Reserve lineman Jimmy Wilkerson (17 tackles, 4 sacks), who had two sacks in the Detroit game, will be counted on in that area as well. Tampa Bay only took down Brees once when these teams met in September.
The Buccaneers are tough to run on as well, with opponents averaging only 100.1 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per attempt against a defense that's also surrendered a league-low one touchdown on the ground. Tampa held Minnesota's Adrian Peterson to a respectable 85 yards on 19 carries two weeks ago, ending a string of four straight 100-yard outings for the superstar back, despite physical strong safety Jermaine Phillips (33 tackles, 1 INT) sitting out the contest with a fractured forearm. The team is hopeful he'll be available for Sunday's key test and provide support for a sturdy front seven anchored by speedy middle linebacker and top tackler Barrett Ruud (85 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT).
WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL
Tampa Bay has displayed pretty good balance on offense throughout the year, but a season-ending injury to running back Earnest Graham in the Minnesota game may force Gruden to place a heavier emphasis on the short-armed but crafty Garcia (1783 passing yards, 7 TD, 3 INT). The 38-year-old quarterback is putting together another efficient season under center, having overcome an early-year benching to complete nearly 70 percent of his throws, many of which have landed in the hands of rejuvenated wide receiver Antonio Bryant (54 receptions, 2 TD). The Bucs' 11th-ranked passing game (227.4 ypg) can't match the Saints in terms of production or big-play ability, but Garcia has been effective at spreading the ball around to his pass-catchers, with reliable wideout Ike Hilliard (36 receptions, 4 TD), running back Warrick Dunn (31 receptions) and tight end Jerramy Stevens (23 receptions, 2 TD) all making steady contributions. Tampa Bay will have to shore up its protection after permitting six sacks to the defensively-challenged Lions last Sunday, with Garcia losing fumbles on two of those hits.
Luckily for Garcia, the Saints haven't generated much in the way of pressure this season, a contributing factor to the team's No. 24 rating in pass defense (235.1 ypg). New Orleans has totaled a mediocre 20 sacks in 11 games, with ends Will Smith (38 tackles, 3 sacks) and Bobby McCray (20 tackles, 4 sacks) going through inconsistent years. A maligned and injury-plagued secondary did intercept the Packers' Aaron Rodgers three times on Monday, with cornerback Jason David (15 tackles, 3 INT) emerging from Payton's doghouse to snare two of those picks. Fellow corner Randall Gay (35 tackles, 1 sack, 13 PD) had a strong night as well, as the ex-Patriot amassed three pass breakups along with a sack.
New Orleans hasn't exactly been a stone wall against the run either, having given up an average of 110.8 rushing yards per game (18th overall) for the year. A season-ending triceps tear to end Charles Grant last month has weakened the team up front, where rookie tackle Sedrick Ellis (19 tackles, 2 sacks) hasn't had quite the impact expected of a top-10 draft choice. One bright spot for the Saints has been the play of offseason pickup Jonathan Vilma (87 tackles, 1 INT), who has remained injury-free and given the defense a rangy presence at middle linebacker.
Tampa Bay had success moving the ball on the ground in its Week 1 encounter with the Saints, but the loss of Graham (563 rushing yards, 4 TD, 23 receptions), who had 91 of the team's 146 rushing yards in that game, is a blow to the backfield's depth. The Bucs did get former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Carnell Williams back in action last week following a 14-month absence due to a severe knee injury, but his rust was evident in a 16-carry, 27-yard showing against the porous Lions. The 33-year-old Dunn (566 rushing yards, 2 TD) has enjoyed a nice resurgence in his second tour of duty with the club, but the smallish back isn't the type to wear down a defense by grinding out yards up the middle. Still, he's delivered back-to-back games of over 118 yards from scrimmage since being inserted into a featured role.
FANTASY FOCUS
It goes without saying to start Brees this and every week, but Garcia's a quarterback with whom fantasy players usually have to pick and choose their spots. In a game that could turn out to be more of a shootout affair than one normally associated with the Buccaneers, this could be one of those times. Dunn's stock is clearly on the rise and draws a favorable matchup that makes the veteran a worthy play, but Bush owners should continue to use caution with the gimpy running back. Thomas has been a factor with increased duty over the past few games and may be the best New Orleans option at the position. Moore has quickly gone from intriguing waiver-wire pickup into starting material, and there's little reason not to continue riding the hot hand for another week. Colston owners shouldn't give up on the one-time must-start, although he's more of a wild-card type at the moment, while Shockey's finally beginning to deliver on the promise that made the tight end a trendy target of draftniks prior to the season. Bryant is the lone Tampa receiver who offers steady production on his team, with the remainder of the lot a week-to-week crapshoot.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Was last week's outburst a sign that the Saints are ready to surge back into the fray in a wide-open NFC South? The answer is a definite maybe. If New Orleans is as precise and explosive offensively as it showed against the Packers, it's obviously going to be awfully hard for the Buccaneers to keep up. Whether New Orleans can perform at that level for a second straight week is another matter, however. The Saints have not been a good road team this year, and the costly mistakes that plagued the club in some previous outings could very well creep up against a Tampa squad that has shown a knack for coming up with game-changing plays in these types of situations many times in the past. With critical road tests at division-rivals Carolina and Atlanta over the next two weeks, it's imperative that the Bucs hold serve on their home grounds on Sunday. By getting a key turnover or two on the defensive end and a few clutch field goals from kicker Matt Bryant, they just might be able to do so.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Buccaneers 26, Saints 24
<< Prolific Cassel Leads Patriots Into Steelers Tilt
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - First, folks weren't sure if New England Patriots Matt
Cassel was suited to be the backup to Tom Brady.
Then, when Brady was knocked out for the year with a knee injury in Week 1 of
the 2008 season, they were skeptical abo
<< Bills Seek to Keep Rolling vs. Niners
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After struggling during a four-game losing streak, the
Buffalo Bills' offense broke out in a big way last weekend. The team will hope
for more of the same this Sunday, when it hosts the San Francisco 49ers at
Ralph Wilson Sta
<< Peaking at just the right time
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If we have learned anything during the BCS
era in college football, it is that it isn't so much how you lose, but when
you lose that matters most.
While everyone is waiting on the edge of their seats for t
<< Bayern sets Podolski's price at $19.3 million
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer
has confirmed his club will allow Germany striker Lukas Podolski to move on for
a fee of $19.3 million.
The 23-year-old has struggled to hold down a regular sta
Barry will not leave Aston Villa this winter >>
Birmingham, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has
revealed that midfielder Gareth Barry will definitely not be leaving the club
in the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old England international was expec
Marseille faces more punishment from UEFA >>
Marseille, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marseille has been charged by UEFA after
an object was thrown by one of its fans toward Liverpool's Steven Gerrard on
Wednesday in a Champions League clash.
The incident happened in the first half
Real Madrid planning to make big moves >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has
promised the club's fans that he will sign at least two big-name players next
summer.
Calderon has also said there will be two newcomers in January and has giv
Newcastle's Viduka available against Middlesbrough >>
Newcastle, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Australia international Mark Viduka has
won his race to return to action for Newcastle United in this weekend's Tyne-
Tees derby with Middlesbrough.
The 33-year-old former Boro striker will start
Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your VISA Sportsbook needs.
MySportsbook.com Favors Fighting Irish to win College Football betting odds
According to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, on January 8, the Fighting Irish faithful may be toasting their 14th national title in Arizona – Notre Dame’s first national championship in close to 20 years.
Although MySportsbook.com has listed Notre Dame as the 5-1 favorite to win thecollege football College Football betting, fans in Columbus do not need to cancel their tickets to Glendale just yet. The Ohio State Buckeyes, listed right behind the Irish at 7-1, are also heavy favorites to win college football’s most coveted prize, while West Virginia, USC and the 2007 National Champion Texas Longhorns - all listed at 8-1 – are strong contenders as well.
MySportsbook.com has also posted gambling odds on the conference championships for the ACC, Big 12 and SEC. In the ACC – it could be anyone’s title, particularly for the two schools from the Sunshine State. Florida State and Miami, both listed at 2-1, are favored to win the ACC Championship Game odds, with the ‘Noles hoping to finish in the nation’s top 10 for the first time in five years, and the ‘Canes looking to avenge their 10-7 loss against FSU in last year’s ACC Championship betting.
Moving west to the Big 12, MySportsbook.com has betting lines listing Texas as 7-5 favorites to repeat as conference champions, even though the Longhorns lost their national championship-winning quarterback Vince Young to the NFL. In the south, the Auburn Tigers – led by Heisman-hopeful senior running back Kenny Irons – have been given the best odds to win the SEC Championship odds at 5-2.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.
| Notre Dame Ohio State West Virginia Texas USC Florida California Auburn Oklahoma Iowa Louisville Florida State Michigan Miami (FL) LSU Penn State Virginia Tech Nebraska Tennessee Georgia Arizona State Oregon Clemson Texas A&M Texas Tech Alabama Arkansas Boston College Michigan State Maryland South Carolina Colorado Purdue Georgia Tech TCU UCLA Arizona Pittsburgh Iowa State Wisconsin North Carolina State Virginia North Carolina Fresno State Hawaii Northwestern BYU Oregon State UNLV Field (Any Other Team) |
5-1 7-1 8-1 8-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 18-1 20-1 20-1 20-1 20-1 20-1 25-1 40-1 40-1 50-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 70-1 70-1 100-1 100-1 100-1 100-1 100-1 150-1 200-1 200-1 200-1 200-1 200-1 250-1 250-1 300-1 300-1 300-1 300-1 300-1 300-1 400-1 500-1 500-1 500-1 500-1 1000-1 1000-1 40-1 |
| Miami (FL) Florida State Virginia Tech Clemson Georgia Tech Boston College Maryland Virginia North Carolina State North Carolina Wake Forest Duke |
2-1 2-1 3-1 7-1 15-1 15-1 15-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 500-1 |
| Texas Oklahoma Nebraska Texas Tech Colorado Iowa State Texas A&M Kansas State Missouri Kansas Baylor Oklahoma State |
7-5 9-5 9-2 12-1 14-1 15-1 15-1 30-1 30-1 35-1 100-1 100-1 |
| Auburn Florida LSU Georgia Tennessee Arkansas Alabama Mississippi South Carolina Mississippi State Kentucky Vanderbilt |
5-2 11-4 4-1 6-1 7-1 7-1 9-1 20-1 28-1 75-1 100-1 300-1 |
For complete NCAA football odds please visit Mysportsbook.com.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting