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      2010 NFL Week 7 Odds

      October 21, 2010 /
      Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Brett Favre (L) celebrates with receiver Randy Moss after Moss caught a touchdown from Favre in the second half of their NFL football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, October 11, 2010. The touchdown pass was the 500th of Favre's career. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)

      Eagles (4-2) @ Titans (4-2), 1:00PM ET
      One of these four-win teams will have the opportunity to make a statement with a victory this Sunday. Both teams are playoff contenders in their respective conferences, but both also have unanswered questions at the moment. Will Michael Vick regain his starting duties once he’s healthy again or will a hot Kevin Kolb retain the job? Can the Titans play with consistency? Is Vince Young’s knee fine after he was twisted like a pretzel in Monday night’s win over Jacksonville? Whichever team wins this game will look under-the-radar dangerous at 5-2.
      CURRENT ODDS: TITANS -3

      Steelers (4-1) @ Dolphins (3-2), 1:00PM ET
      Big Ben shook off the rust in the first half last Sunday and wound up throwing for three touchdowns against the Browns in his return to the field. He’ll get a stiffer challenge this weekend in Miami against a Dolphin defense that has flustered quarterbacks at times this season. It’ll be interesting to see if Pittsburgh starts to slowly reduce Rashard Mendenhall’s carries seeing as how he’s on pace for 370-plus. This game will also be a great challenge for Chad Henne, who must be more consistent if the Dolphins are going to push for a playoff spot this year. What better way to prove yourself then against the best defense in the league?
      CURRENT ODDS: STEELERS –3

      Vikings (2-3) @ Packers (3-3), 8:20PM ET
      This is an enormous game for the Packers. The Vikings are on the verge of getting back into the NFC North race and you know Lord Favre would love to make a statement in Green Bay. The Pack are incredibly banged up, but there’s no sense using injuries as a crutch anymore. The players that are in there now have to step up and beat a divisional foe that is looking to get on a run. The Packers certainly have the tools in the secondary to slow Randy Moss and Percy Harvin, but the front seven needs to control Adrian Peterson or else they’ll create passing windows for Favre. If the Packers lose and drop to 3-4, their season may continue to spiral downward. They need to make a statement.
      CURRENT ODDS: PACKERS –2.5

      Giants (4-2) @ Cowboys (1-4), 8:30PM ET, Monday
      We’ll find out quickly what kind of stones the Cowboys have when they take on a surging G-Men team on Monday Night Football. This is a Dallas team that has beaten itself in every game outside of their win against the Texans in Houston. If they can’t cut down on the mental mistakes and penalties, then they’ll continue to unravel. On the other side, the Giants obviously want to keep pace with the Eagles in the NFC East, but more importantly they need to beat a divisional opponent on the road. Teams usually don’t make the playoffs when they can’t win within their division, so this is another big test for New York. The last time they went on the road to play on national television, the Colts embarrassed them in Week 2. They can all but erase that loss with a win in Big D.
      CURRENT ODDS: COWBOYS -3

      2010 NFL Week 7 Point Spreads & Over/Under Totals:

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      External Sports, NFL

      Charlie Manuel’s handling of the pitching staff in Game 4 backfires

      October 21, 2010 /
      Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel watches his team play the Cincinnati Reds in Game 3 of the MLB National League Division Series baseball playoffs in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 10, 2010. REUTERS/John Sommers II (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      There were a plenty of Philly faith that wanted to see Roy Halladay take the mound in Game 4 of the NLCS, despite the fact that he would have been pitching on short rest. Instead, manager Charlie Manuel decided to hand the ball to Joe Blanton, who hadn’t started a game in over a month.

      But even though the Giants beat the Phillies 6-5 in Game 4, the decision to start Blanton wasn’t Manuel’s costliest mistake on Wednesday night.

      He’s no Halladay, Oswalt or Hamels, but Blanton is a fine starting pitcher who happens to have postseason experience. He’s not going to throw a perfect game, a no-hitter or even a shutout. But he’s more than serviceable and if you take a step back, you can understand Manuel’s thought process.

      If Blanton limits the Giants to only a couple of runs..the offense eventually gets to rookie Madison Bumgarner…Phillies steal a win and then have Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels pitch on regular rest…everyone Wang Chung tonight.

      And that’s exactly what happened. Sort of.

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      External Sports, MLB

      The legend of Buster Posey grows as the Giants build a 3-1 lead in NLCS

      October 21, 2010 /
      San Francisco Giants Buster Posey (R) tags out Philadelphia Phillies Carlos Ruiz at home in the fifth inning of game four of the NLCS at AT&T Park in San Francisco Park on October 20, 2010. UPI/Terry Schmitt Photo via Newscom

      It was Juan Uribe’s sacrifice fly that scored Aubrey Huff in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Giants a 6-5 win over the Phillies in Game 4 of the NCLS, as well as a commanding 3-1 series lead.

      But while Uribe may have played the role of hero Wednesday night, rookie Buster Posey was the true star.

      Posey went 27 at-bats before getting the first postseason RBI of his young career. But he picked up two ribbies in Game 4 while going 4-for-5 at the plate and becoming the fifth rookie in baseball history to record at least four hits and two RBI in a playoff game. His single down the right field line in the bottom of the ninth moved Huff (who had singled to start the inning) over to third to set up Uribe’s sac fly. Without that hit (which came after Posey fell behind Roy Oswalt 0-2 in the count), who knows how that game would have ended.

      Perhaps what’s most remarkable is that Posey’s hits came off of a fastball, a curveball, a slider and a changeup, which speaks to his maturity as a hitter. He also made a sensational play at the plate to haul in a short-hop by Aaron Rowand and tag out a sliding Carlos Ruiz to save a run in the 4th inning. The Phillies went on to score four runs that inning anyway, but considering the Giants won by one, that could be viewed as the play of the game.

      He’s only 23, but Posey already carries himself like a seasoned veteran. He always stays within himself and he never loses his composure, which must be hard given that he’s the Giants’ best offensive player (not to mention the fact that he also calls balls and strikes for one of the best pitching staffs in baseball).

      Thanks to Posey, Uribe, Huff, Pablo Sandoval (who had a huge two-run double in the sixth to give the Giants a 5-4 lead after they had trailed 4-3 heading into the inning) and about nine tons of resiliency, San Fran is now one win away from reaching the World Series for the first time since 2002.

      Of course, securing that final victory won’t be an easy task. I texted our college football writer Paul Costanzo following the game and asked, “How focused do you think Roy Halladay is going to be tomorrow night? Dear, Lord…”

      His response: “He may not throw a ball.”

      The Giants will counter with ace Tim Lincecum, but there’s no question that they’re going to see the absolute best that Halladay has to offer. They’ve beaten him twice this year (once in the regular season and once in Game 1 of this series), but to the Giants’ hitters, it may look like he’s throwing marbles out there.

      I don’t know how you can call yourself a baseball fan if you don’t tune into Halladay vs. Lincecum Thursday night. This is what October baseball is all about.

      External Sports, MLB

      Sabathia tagged for 11 hits but Yankees survive in Game 5

      October 21, 2010 /
      CC Sabathia of the New York Yankee pitches to the Texas Rangers in the first inning during game five of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium on October 20, 2010 in New York. UPI/Monika Graff Photo via Newscom

      It wasn’t a picture perfect outing for CC Sabathia but the Yankees don’t mind.

      The Yankees’ ace allowed 11 hits over six innings on Wednesday, but the Bombers managed to beat the Rangers 7-2 to stave off elimination in the ALCS. The series now shifts to Texas for two games, as the Rangers currently own a 3-2 lead.

      Sabathia worked himself in and out of jams the entire game, as the Rangers stranded a total of eight batters on the night. He struck out seven and somehow managed to not issue a walk while throwing 112 pitches to pick up his first win of the ALCS (he got a no-decision in the Yankees’ come-from-behind victory in Game 1 of the series).

      Offensively, Curtis Granderson finished with three hits and drove in two runs, while Nick Swisher scored twice and drove in a run as well. The Yankees built a 5-0 lead before catcher Matt Treanor hit a solo shot in the fifth off Sabathia to give the Rangers’ their first run of the game. They would add tack on another run in the sixth but that’s all they could muster as Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect 8th and 9th, respectively.

      Game 6 will start at 8:07PM ET and will feature Phil Hughes vs. Colby Lewis. The Rangers are just 1-3 at home this postseason.

      External Sports, MLB

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