Friday, November 17, 2006
CFB
Eastern Michigan-Kent
Record Pub
Wins in the final two games of the season would guarantee KSU just its third winning season since 1972. The Flashes (5-5, 4-2) are also still alive in both the race for the MAC East Division title and a bowl invitation. A win over Eastern combined with an Akron win at division leader Ohio would create a tie between the Flashes and Bobcats at the top of the division standings. Ohio would still own the tiebreaker with Kent State, but that scenario would set up an interesting final week with Ohio, KSU and Akron all still alive for the East title. Kent’s Julian Edelman will be back in the lineup at quarterback after sitting out last week’s game at Virginia Tech with a bruise near his chest. Michael Machen, the Flashes’ starter in 2005, started in place of Edelman, while freshman H-back Darren Rogers, a converted high school quarterback, also took a few snaps on designed run plays. KSU is expecting tight end Brian Bell to return to the lineup after a two-game absence due to an ankle injury. Running back Tony Howard will most likely sit out, however, with an injured rotator cuff. Howard also missed the Virginia Tech game. Joe Duffy’s GodsTips.com, Stevie Vincent’s BetOnSports360.com and MasterLockLine.com are all now part of the OffshoreInsiders.com Network.
Central Michigan-Northern Illinois
Press Notes
With a trip to the 2006 Mid-American Conference Championship Game secured, CMU travels to defending West Division champ Northern Illinois. CMU has won five straight, and six of its last seven overall, and is seeking its first eight win-season since the 1994 MAC champion Chippewas finished 9-3. NIU has dropped two of its last three following a four-game winning streak. CMU leads the all-time series, 21-19-1, but has dropped eight straight to the Huskies.
Daily Chronicle
Actually, the Huskies could benefit from the Chippewas winning the West last Saturday. Kelly might elect to rest some starters due to the short week, and to limit the possibility of any major injuries occurring before the Nov. 30 MAC Championship game at Ford Field. But the Huskies, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games to Toledo, own an eight-game series winning streak against the Chippewas, providing the ideal motivational tool for Kelly. “I can probably lean on them a little harder now,” Kelly said. “Obviously, they won a championship. Now, they need to finish out. Northern Illinois is a team that’s trying to play for a bowl game. They’re going to be ready. We’ve not beaten Northern Illinois going into my third season. There is plenty of things out there for me relative to getting our football team ready to play a good Northern Illinois football team.” At 5-5 and 3-3, NIU coach Joe Novak said the Huskies have more than pride on the line. The Huskies need to win their final two games to claim their seventh straight winning season and to remain in the chase for a bowl game. MasterLockLine.com has the top plays from the top sports service in their highest ranked sports.
CBB
Xavier-Virginia Commonwealth
Press Notes
Xavier is off to a 1-0 start under third-year head coach Sean Miller after winning its 17th straight season opener with the win over Coastal Carolina. XU was 21-11 overall last season, recording its ninth 20-win season in the last 10 years and its 19th 20-win season in the last 24 years. XU has appeared in five of the last six NCAA Tournaments. The Musketeers won the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championship by winning four games in four days this past March, making NCAA history by accomplishing that feat twice (having also done it in 2004). The 2006 championship was XU’s second A-10 title in three years and its fourth in the past nine years, including 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2006. All five starters are back from the team that made the late-season championship run, including seniors Justin Cage and Justin Doellman. Stevie Vincent’s BetOnSports360.com is pioneer in forensic handicapping and part of OffshoreInsiders.com Cage was the 2006 A-10 Championship MVP while Doellman has led XU in rebounding two straight seasons. Junior forward Josh Duncan, who sat out the exhibitions due to injury, returned Saturday. Virginia Commonwealth, 19-10 last season, has a new head coach in Anthony Grant, a former long-time assistant under Billy Donovan at Florida. Grant is no stranger to Xavier fans, having played at the University of Dayton from 1983-87.
Cleveland State-Buffalo
Press Notes
Cleveland State takes to the road for the first time during the 2006-07 season when the Vikings play three games in three days. Cleveland State takes to the road with an even 1-1 record after routing Notre Dame College, 88-62, on Monday night (Nov. 13) in the Wolstein Center. Buffalo comes into the contest with a 1-1 record, including a 77-61 loss at South Florida on Monday night.
Sacramento State-Denver
Press Notes
The University of Denver men’s basketball team looks to snap a two-game losing streak to the 2006-07 home season this Friday, Nov. 17 when it hosts Sacramento State (1-2). The Pioneers will be looking to avoid their first 0-3 record to begin a season since the 1970-71 season. DU has been 0-2 seven times since that season, and has won its third game seven consecutive times. Sacramento State enters Friday’s game following a home loss to San Francisco Tuesday night. USF used a 23-0 run to open the second half. Joe Duffy’s sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com
Eastern Kentucky-Ohio State
Press Notes
Thad Matta has directed the Buckeyes to a 33-3 record in Columbus in three seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes. He is 32-3 overall at Value City Arena, which includes a 19-0 record vs. non-conference foes. When ranked as a Top 10 team (No. 4 USA Today and No. 5 in AP) Ohio State has an all-time record of 198-51. As a Top 25 squad, the Buckeyes are 297-91.
Elon-Wake Forest
Press Notes
Wake Forest, 2-0 following a thrilling 86-83 overtime win at Bucknell Tuesday. Elon, 1-1, bounced back from an 83-49 season-opening loss at Georgia Tech to beat visiting Montreat, 85-72.
Centenary-Utah State
Press Notes
Utah State is 27-7 (.794) in the month of November under Morrill and has won 17 of its last 21 games during the month. Utah State (0-1) will play Centenary (1-1) in the first round of the 2006 BP Top of the World Classic. As a team, USU is averaging 71.0 points and shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from three-point range, while its opponents are averaging 88.0 points and shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from three-point range. Overall, Centenary returns three starters and five lettermen from last year’s team that went 4-23 on the season and finished in ninth-place in the Mid-Continent Conference with a 2-14 league record. The Gents, who went 1-13 away from home last year, are coached by Rob Flaska who is in his second season as a collegiate head coach. MasterLockLine.com has the top plays from the top sports service in their highest ranked sports.
Lamar-Texas A&M
Press Notes
After posting a season-opening win over Texas Southern, Lamar hits the road for three straight games at the Shelby Metcalf Classic beginning with host and No. 12-ranked Texas A&M. This will be the 15th meeting between Lamar and Texas A&M, who is ranked No. 12 in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25 poll, and the all-time series is deadlocked at 7-7. Lamar is 4-1 in games played in Beaumont, 1-6 in College Station and 2-0 on a neutral court. Texas A&M has won three of the last four meetings, including two straight. By popular request, check out our new “Bet It Trinity” full year pass! You get the top three sports services, every play in every sport for 365 days. Texas A&M won the last meeting, 77-74, on Nov. 24, 2001 in Beaumont. Lamar’s last win was 76-69 in overtime on Dec. 18, 1999 in Beaumont. This will be the second time Lamar has faced Texas A&M when the Aggies were ranked in the AP Top 25. The Cardinals won that previous meeting, defeating the No. 14-ranked Aggies 61-60 on Dec. 1, 1979 at the Great Alaska Shootout.
No comments:
Post a Comment