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01/15/2007 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida is back on top of the Associated Press college basketball poll, marking the third change at the top in as many weeks.
UCLA lost the top spot two weeks ago after a loss to Oregon ended its six-week reign and North Carolina occupied the No. 1 spot for a week before losing at Virginia Tech. The Hokies, who won at Duke two Saturdays ago and notched a 94-88 win over the Tar Heels this past Saturday, entered the poll at No. 23.
Florida (16-2), which moved up one spot, received 43 first-place votes and a total of 1,761 points from a nationwide media panel. The defending national champion Gators previously held the top spot for two weeks earlier this season.
Wisconsin (17-1) earned 21 first-place votes and 1,722 points to move up one spot to second -- the highest ranking in school history.
UCLA (15-1) garnered seven No. 1 tallies and 1,666 points to jump one spot to third, while North Carolina still picked up one first-place vote but fell three spots to fourth.
Kansas, Pittsburgh, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Oregon and Alabama completed the top 10. Oregon had the biggest jump within the poll, vaulting six spots from 15th after victories at Arizona State and Arizona.
Arizona's 79-77 setback to the Ducks on Sunday dropped the Wildcats one spot to 11th.
The remainder of the second 10 consisted of Oklahoma State, Air Force, Duke, Nevada, LSU, Memphis, Butler, Clemson and Notre Dame. Clemson became the last Division I team to lose when it dropped a 92-87 decision on Saturday at Maryland.
Texas, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Marquette and Kentucky were the last five teams ranked. Marquette and Kentucky both rejoined the rankings after stays in the poll earlier this year.
Washington State, Connecticut and West Virginia each dropped out of the poll. Washington State fell from No. 22 after losing in overtime to Stanford, while Connecticut had lost three of four before a victory Saturday against St. John's. West Virginia lost to Notre Dame and Marquette last week.
This week's matchups of ranked teams includes a Big 12 battle Tuesday between Texas and Oklahoma State in Stillwater and Wednesday's ACC showdown featuring North Carolina and Clemson. On Saturday, Arizona visits UCLA and Texas A&M hosts Oklahoma State, while a Big East battle Sunday pits Marquette at Pittsburgh.
<< Alfredsson, Kiprusoff, Jokinen earn NHL weekly honors
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ottawa Senators right wing Daniel Alfredsson,
Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff and Florida Panthers center Olli
Jokinen have been selected as the NHL's Three Stars of the Week for the period
ending
<< Lowell's David Clarkson named AHL Player of the Week
Springfield, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American Hockey League announced today
that Lowell Devils right wing David Clarkson has been named the CCM Vector/AHL
Player of the Week for the period ending January 14, 2007.
Clarkson tallied five goa
<< Pittman, Ginn leaving Ohio State for NFL
Akron, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman and wide
receiver Ted Ginn Jr. have decided to leave school and enter the NFL Draft.
Pittman made his announcement Monday during a news conference at his high
school
<< Wie nearing top 10 in women's rankings
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michelle Wie inched up another spot this
week in the Rolex World Rankings for women's golf.
After advancing to 12th last week, the 16-year-old Wie was up to 11th in the
latest rankings. Her missed cu
Big win over Maryland vaults Duke into top spot >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Not only did Duke hand Maryland its first loss
of the season on Saturday, but now it has captured the number one spot in the
latest Associated Press women's college basketball poll.
Duke (18-0) came into the
Lecavalier lifts Lightning over Isles >>
Uniondale, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vincent Lecavalier's 28th goal of the season
was the game-winner as the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the New York Islanders,
4-3 at Nassau Coliseum.
Martin St. Louis tallied his league-leading 29th goal to go
Webber says he will sign with Detroit >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Philadelphia 76ers forward Chris Webber
released a statement on Monday, saying he will sign with the Detroit Pistons.
Webber will most likely sign a deal with Detroit after he clears waivers on
Tuesd
Sooners' Peterson to enter NFL Draft >>
Norman, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson made it
official on Monday and formally announced that he will bypass his final year
of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft.
The Dallas Morning News said last week t
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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