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NFL: Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens 01/15/12 1:00PM ET

2012-01-15T07:28:00.000-05:00

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens @ CBS

TED SEVRANSKY's PREDICTION: Both defenses in this matchup are a good notch or two over-rated, giving us a prime opportunity to pounce betting the Ravens-Texans Over the total on Sunday. When these two teams met during the regular season, the total was sitting at 43.5; more than a full TD higher than it is today. That game flew Over the total despite the fact that the Ravens repeatedly settled for field goals. Out of eleven Baltimore possessions, the Ravens produced seven scores while punting only twice. That makes the current total look too low for this bettor!

Houston learned their lesson in their late season loss to the Colts, a game where they did not trust rookie QB TJ Yates to throw downfield Since that defeat, the Texans have come out firing – back-2-back games in the 40’s -- taking the reigns off Yates while making finally healthy playmaker Andre Johnson a bigger part of the offense. Baltimore’s defense was strong statistically once again this year, but we’ve certainly seen cracks, particularly against balanced offenses like the one they’ll face on Sunday. And it’s surely worth noting that Baltimore only faced one Top 10 offense all year, making their overall defensive stats a tad bit misleading.

Houston’s defense, too, put up some very strong statistical numbers. But they played nearly half of their schedule against inept offensive teams – Miami with Chad Henne, Tampa Bay, two games each against Jacksonville and Indy. And when you look at Houston on the road against other playoff teams, that defense starts to look a whole lot weaker: 26 points per game allowed in three tries, leading to two Overs and a push. Expect more of the same on Sunday. Take the Over.

Pick: Over

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NBA: Phoenix Suns vs San Antonio Spurs 01/15/12 9:00PM ET

2012-01-15T07:19:00.000-05:00

Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs @ FOX SW, ESPN, ESPN3.com

Normally the San Antonio Spurs don't have an advantage injury-wise over opponents, with Manu Ginobili out until at least February due to a hand injury. This time, though, the Phoenix Suns will likely be in even worse shape on Sunday.

Both Steve Nash and Grant Hill missed Friday night's home loss to the Nets with quadriceps injuries. Nash has a contusion and Hill is dealing with a tendon strain. By the sound of things, the Suns are not going to risk bringing them back too early.

"They're kind of beat up," head coach Alvin Gentry admitted. "If it was a playoff game, yeah, (they would play). But to risk it, when we're about to go on a trip and play five games, I don't know if it makes sense. I don't know if it's worth doing. They are really hurt. To stick them out there and have something worse happen would be disastrous."

If Nash and Hill cannot go on Sunday, they will again be replaced by Ronnie Price and Shannon Brown, respectively. This is not a recipe that can be expected to end a three-game slide. Phoenix is coming off losses to the Lakers, Cavs, and Nets, and the team failed to cover the spread in all three.

Pick: Spurs

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NBA: Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets 01/15/12 8:00PM ET

2012-01-15T07:14:00.000-05:00

Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets (-10, 203.5) @ FOX ROCKY, Altitude Sports

The Nuggets may not have any superstars after dealing Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks last season, but they are a team more than ever. Denver is 8-4 after hammering the Heat on Friday night. With the win, George Karl's squad improved its home record to 6-1 (5-2 ATS).

“We have a group of unselfish players,” said guard Arron Afflalo. “That alone will allow you to have some type of camaraderie. The group that had been here was here for about four or five years. From that standpoint, there was an awareness of who you were on the court with. But from a selfish mentality to the willingness to grow and learn together, this group is very good.”

The Jazz, meanwhile, had won five in row prior to an overtime home loss to the Lakers on Wednesday.

It must be noted, though, that Utah is a different team at home than it is on the road. At home the Jazz are 5-1 overall and 4-2 ATS. On the road they are just 1-3 overall and 1-3 ATS.

Pick: Nuggets

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NCAA BB: Duke Blue Devils vs Clemson Tigers 01/15/12 6:00PM ET

2012-01-15T07:06:00.000-05:00

(6) Duke Blue Devils at Clemson Tigers (7, 134.5) @ ESPN U

Duke seems to feature a similar offense almost every year; little low-post scoring, but plenty of outside shooting.

This season's squad is no different. The Blue Devils have drained 126 treys in 16 games and they are making more than 40 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.

Austin Rivers, Seth Curry, Ryan Kelly, and Andre Dawkins have all connected on at least 20 three-pointers. Kelly is shooting 47 percent from long range, Curry 41 percent, Rivers 39 percent, and Dawkins 38 percent.

The Blue Devils are coming off a way-too-close 61-58 home win over Virginia on Thursday. However, the Cavaliers are one of the best teams in the nation at defending the perimeter (first in the ACC in scoring defense, third in defending the three-pointer). Clemson, on the other hand, is currently 10th in the ACC in three-point defense.

Pick: Duke

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NCAA BB: Georgetown Hoyas vs St. John's Red Storm 01/15/12 12:00PM ET

2012-01-15T07:02:00.000-05:00

(11) Georgetown Hoyas at St. John's Red Storm (5.5, 130.5) @ ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN3.com

Georgetown started off the season 13-1, but the opening-season surge has come to an abrupt halt. The Hoyas have dropped two in a row, both against Big East foes; 74-62 at West Virginia and 68-64 at home to Cincinnati.

Turnovers were a big issue against the Bearcats, as Georgetown coughed up the rock 17 times.

Taking care of the basketball will be a big focus for the Hoyas against St. John's. But they also will have to concern themselves with a host of talented Red Storm freshmen.

Moe Harkless, a 6'8'' forward, is averaging 15.4 points per game and 8.4 rebounds. He looks like a serious contender for Big East Freshman of the Year. D'Angelo Harrison is contributing 15.6 ppg and 4.1 rebounds per contest. Sir'Dominic Pointer (6.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Phil Greene (6.1 ppg) are also playing significant minutes in their first year at St. John's.

The Red Storm got blown out at Marquette earlier this week, but they have won three of their last four at home--including most recently against Cincinnati. Harkless scored at the buzzer to beat the Bearcats by two last Saturday.

Pick: St. John's

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NHL: Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals 01/15/12 5:00PM ET

2012-01-15T06:57:00.000-05:00

Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals @ FXSO, CSNB

BEN BURNS PREDICTION: The Capitals are surging. They won again on Friday and are within two points of first place in the Southeast. While the Caps had Friday off, the Hurricanes were busy hosting the defending champs. They'll be playing their third game in four nights here.

The Caps are now 16-6 (16-5-1) at home. On the other hand, the Canes are now a dismal 5-16 (5-12-4) away from Raleigh.

The Caps are also 7-1 the last eight games in this series; 2-0 already this season. No real reason to expect anything different here. Don't mind a larger favorite, consider laying the wood with WASHINGTON.

Pick: Washington Capitals

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NHL: San Jose Sharks vs Chicago Blackhawks 01/15/12 7:00PM ET

2012-01-15T06:52:00.000-05:00

San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks (-130, 5.5) @ CSNC, WGN

The Sharks have been shutting down opponents no matter who is in goal. They have allowed more than two regulation goals just once in their last eight games.

On Saturday, backup Thomas Greiss stepped in and made 26 saves in a 2-1 road win at Columbus. Antti Niemi will likely be back in action for Sunday's contest against Chicago and he has won four of his last five starts. Niemi has given up more than two goals only once in this span.

In Niemi's latest appearance he shut out Winnipeg 2-0 on Thursday.

“It was very much a team game,” head coach Todd McLellan said after that one. “We felt like we had control basically all the way. When you’re playing that way, you’re usually doing a lot of good things.”

The Blackhawks are also doing some good things on defense. They have not allowed more than two regulation goals in any of their last four games. Chicago is coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at Detroit on Saturday.

Pick: Under

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NHL: NY Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens 01/15/12 7:00PM ET

2012-01-15T06:48:00.000-05:00

New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens (115, 5) @ TSN2, NBCSN

A 3-0 Thursday loss to Ottawa notwithstanding, the Rangers are positively on fire right now. They have won 11 of their last 13 games and as of Saturday night they lead the entire NHL with 60 points.

The way New York is going, perhaps it is understandable that head coach John Tortorella won't even accept one lost. He called out his team after the home setback against the Senators.

“I think this team takes pride in trying no matter what happens,” Tortorella explained. “I don’t think the try was there in a number of people. I’m not going to name them. I just don’t think there was.

“Effort is something that can be controlled every day. That’s what we trust in our team, and I still do. We’ve got a good team here, and I think they’ll answer the proper way, but we’re not going to take any nights off.”

The Rangers responded on Saturday by shutting out Toronto 3-0.

Montreal, meanwhile, has dropped three in a row and 10 of 13 after falling to Ottawa in a shootout on Saturday.

Pick: Rangers

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NFL: Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints 12/26/11 8:30PM ET

2011-12-24T04:16:00.000-05:00

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints @ ESPN

The New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons battle on Monday night football as two teams battle for the division.

It's an exciting battle between the top NFC South rivals on Saturday with the New Orleans Saints taking on the Atlanta Falcons at the Superdome in New Orleans. Given the Saints' 11-4 record and the Falcons' 9-5 record, it will certainly be a great game to watch. The Falcons had possibly the best season in franchise history last year, with a record of 13-3 and acquiring an important overtime win at New Orleans in the process. This year it looks like the Saints have taken their position atop the NFC South once again, and if they win this game, they will clinch a playoff berth and leave the Falcons fighting for a wildcard spot. If the Falcons win, they can hold off the Saints clinching the division and likely secure at least a wildcard spot. For all of the fantasy football fans out there, this game will prove to feature some very high scoring players.

New Orleans has become known for their less-than-perfect pass defense, meaning banking on a good defensive performance from them or from the Falcons who have to defend the deadly accurate Drew Brees is a tough bet. Expect to see the Falcons get to Drew Brees early, but once Brees gets into the flow of the game, the Falcons defense will start to reveal holes. Both teams can be susceptible to offensive shootouts of 30 or more points each, so this game will likely be high scoring.

The Saints defense has enjoyed some success against Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in the past, but Matt Ryan has been performing excellently over the past several weeks and his groove does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. If both quarterbacks will have good performances, who will be there primary targets? Drew Brees seems to have made a favorite target out of Darren Sproles this season, and if Brees can hit him along the sidelines, expect him to have some big receiving gains. Jimmy Graham has had a lot of success this year with Brees, but with the tough Curtis Lofton lingering over the middle Graham will likely not see big yards. The speedy Devery Henderson is known for producing some big receiving touchdowns along with Robert Meachem and Marques Colston, but if Brent Grimes sticks to Henderson, then he will likely not have a big game. Expect any big receiving touchdowns to come from Marques Colston and Darren Sproles out of the hand of Drew Brees.

Matt Ryan has acquired a new favorite target this season in Julio Jones. The Falcons are much more of a running team than the Saints, so expect runningback Michael Turner to be involved early in the game. Turner will run the ball early and often unless the Saints achieve an early lead. Ryan will likely start looking towards the sides for Julio Jones and Harry Douglas once the game advances into the second quarter and beyond, with Roddy White making a few big catches over the middle. White is known for shredding poor pass defenses, so with his excellent route running and physical play style he will likely have a 100 yard receiving day with a touchdown or two. Tony Gonzalez will serve as Ryan's safety net mostly, as the star tight end will have to stick to shorter routes with the other wide receivers running deep on many plays. Both teams will likely try for explosive plays in the passing game, with the Falcons aiming to exhaust the Saints' defense early with their superior running game early.

The game will be close in the end, but it is difficult to tell who will win. The Falcons and Saints have become among the dominant forces in the NFC, so their game will likely be one of the most watched on Christmas Eve. For fantasy owners, starting Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Roddy White, Marques Colston, Michael Turner and Darren Sproles all seem like good bets in the predictable offensive shootout.

The Saints have been playing exceptional football of late, but the Falcons have the players to put up a big fight in this big battle in the big easy!

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NFL: Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers 12/25/11 8:20PM ET

2011-12-24T04:09:00.000-05:00

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers @ NBC

The NFL kicks off with one lone game on Christmas night as the Green Bay Packers battle the Chicago Bears.

The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears roll into week 16 of the NFL season heading in opposite directions. Green Bay comes in looking to secure home field advantage as the NFC's #1 seed and Chicago is looking to just stay in the playoff picture. Both teams come in with major injury concerns and how they deal with those will go a long way to determining who wins.

The Green Bay Packers have assembled one of the best seasons in NFL history. Even though they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs last week, they are primed to finish the regular season with only one loss. Their steady quarterback Aaron Rodgers is poised to have one of the greatest seasons ever for a quarterback. His numbers are downright gaudy. Rodgers comes in having completed almost 70% of his passes, thrown 40 touchdowns versus only 6 interceptions, and over 4,000 yards. Rodgers, along with several other quarterbacks this season, has a legitimate chance of breaking Dan Marino's single season yardage record. However, all is not hunky dory with Green Bay.

They come into week 16 with several key injuries, especially to the offensive line. Greg Jennings, their number 1 wide receiver has a sprained knee and is out until the playoffs at the earliest. This has put more pressure on Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, and Randall Cobb to run precise routes and give Rodgers the targets that he is used to. The offensive line injuries could be a big problem for the Pack. With a tough Bears front defensive line, Rodgers could find himself running for cover under a relentless pass rush.

The Bears come into Week 16 a mess on offense. When starting QB Jay Cutler was sidelined with a broken thumb, the Bears really had no one who was capable of stepping in. Caleb Hanie has filled in for Cutler and looked very bad doing it. Haine has thrown 3 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He has routinely looked lost, and the Bears have had to simplify their play calling to accommodate Hanie's lack of experience. Because of all of this, the Bears are now turning to QB Josh McCown to try and get them back into the win column.

Last week, McCown was coaching high school football, and now this week he is starting an NFL game at Lambeau Field. It is hard to say how McCown will look facing a relentless Packers rush attack, but he is mobile and has NFL starting experience. Losing Cutler was bad enough, but when star RB Matt Forte went down with a regular season-ending knee injury, the offense was mortally wounded. Backup Marion Barber has filled in but Forte, who led the NFL in yards from scrimmage, was a huge loss for a team that had already lost its starting quarterback.

Even though the game looks like the Packers should be heavy favored, the stats do not matter. This is a bitter divisional rivalry game against two foes who do not like each other. The Bears are still mathematically alive for an NFC wild-card birth, and must win against the Packers to keep that dream alive. The Packers would have already clinched home field throughout the playoffs, but Kansas City detoured them last week. This sets up a hard-hitting and bitter game on the turf at Lambeau Field.

The team that can pressure the quarterback is most likely going to win. Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji for the Packers and Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije for the Bears will look to chase the opposing quarterback all game long. Whichever team wins will most likely have forced the opposing quarterback into several mistakes, and that gives the Packers a definite advantage at home with Rodgers.

The Packers need one more game to basically seal up home-field advantage. The Bears have some young infusion into the lineup and they will go all out to try and get the upset, but the Packers will be unbeatable at home.

NFL: San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks 12/24/11 4:15PM ET

2011-12-24T04:03:00.000-05:00

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks @ FOX

The 49ers are off a big win against the Steelers, but will need to rebound on a short week against the Seahawks if they hope to keep winning.

This week the San Francisco 49ers will be flying north to Washington where they will face the Seattle Seahawks. It will be a great game that surely no one expected just a few short weeks ago. These two teams were simply headed in opposite directions. With the Seahawks winning five of their last six games and the 49ers coming off a huge win against the Steelers, Saturday will undoubtedly be huge.

Saturday's game will carry important playoff implications for both teams. While the 49ers have taken the NFC West title, they will have to stay ahead of the New Orleans Saints if the want to secure the number two seed in the playoffs. For Seattle, the playoffs have already started. Unfortunately, they put themselves in a huge hole early on in the season. After clawing back in the second half of the year they find themselves at 7-7 and in the hunt for a wild card spot. There is no better way to make a statement then to beat the 11-3 49ers.

The quarterbacks for both teams are definitely not on par with Tom Brady, Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers, but they are doing what is being asked of them. They are playing mistake-free football. Alex Smith's career leading up to this year had been littered with mistakes, losses and ridicule. Since Jim Harbaugh took over, Smith has had a complete turnaround. He's only thrown five interceptions this season and that's a big reason for the 49ers success. Yes, Tarvaris Jackson had a rough start to the season throwing nine picks in his first seven starts. But, ever since the Seahawks started their midseason push, Jackson has only thrown three interceptions. That is a far cry from the first half of the year.

For both the 49ers and the Seahawks, the running game has been the engine that's driven their offenses. San Francisco's Frank Gore has been a workhorse over the course of the entire season and rookie Kendall Hunter is a great compliment for the running game. On the other hand, outside of Seattle, Marshawn Lynch is quietly have a great year. He has been carrying this team on his shoulders all season and his success is flying under the radar. That's exactly where head coach Pete Carroll wants him to be.

When it comes to defense, the 49ers are scary good. They are ranked number one in takeaways and points allowed. Two huge statistics. But let's not forget they have not allowed a rushing touchdown all season and they have held all opponents to under 100 yards rushing in every game. Who wants to run against this stellar defense even if they could? Seattle's defense has been a tremendous reason for their late season winning. Ranked 11th in the league in overall yards, this defense is keeping the team in games. While statistics may not be a strong point for the Seahawks they are getting hot late in the season. In the last three games they have outscored their opponents 99 to 41. Their is no denying that the Seahawks are rolling right now.

A win on Saturday is essential for both teams, however, only one will walk away happy. For San Francisco, it's all about getting a first round bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. Both of these are crucial benefits that any team wants heading into the postseason. For Seattle, this is strictly do or die.

The playoffs have officially started for them and if they continue to grind, scrape and claw deep into the post season, then watch out because they will be a force to reckon with. Both of these teams are good and they have developed a formula to win late in the season with good defense, a solid running game and mistake-free football. Expect either of these teams, if not both, to be a burden to opponents in the coming weeks.

The 49ers defense is among one of the best this year, but they have to mindful to avoid the upset against Seattle this week.

NFL: San Diego Chargers vs Detroit Lions 12/24/11 4:05PM ET

2011-12-24T03:59:00.000-05:00

San Diego Chargers at Detroit Lions @ CBS

The San Diego Chargers are on the usual late season run to try and make the playoffs, but they have to beat the Detroit Lions to keep it up.

It must be absolutely maddening being a San Diego Chargers fan. Year after year, your team is dead in the water only to magically resurrect them late in the season and sneak into the playoffs. If the Chargers are somehow able to make the playoffs this season it may be their biggest trick in recent memory. A month ago the Chargers were absolutely dead in the water. After a 4-1 start (which was a lot less impressive if you actually watched the games they won) they lost six games straight.

Even more maddening for Chargers fans, most of these games were ones that the Chargers should have won. Who can forget that botched snap which led to the loss in Kansas City, or "Tebow Time" in San Diego when the Chargers seemingly gave the game away to the Broncos. Heck, even the Green Bay loss was a game that they probably should of won. So what has happened the last three weeks? They suddenly look like a team that deserves to be in the playoffs.

Of course, whether or not they get into the playoffs is another factor. No matter how well Phillip Rivers has played (now that he actually has a passing core back), or how spectacular Antonio Gates and Malcolm Floyd have looked, they have a pretty deep hole to climb out of. To make the playoffs, the Chargers don't just have to win their last two games, they also have to have the Broncos and the Raiders lose at least one of their two last games. It helps that they play Oakland in Week 17, but they need an awful lot of help to just get to the post season.

Of course, before playing Oakland in Week 17 the Chargers have to first take on Detroit in Week 16. Detroit is in a much better position to make the playoffs, though they aren't exactly comfortable. Detroit is currently 9-5 and in control of a Wild Card spot in the NFC. If the Lions win one of their final two games, or if none of the five current 7-7 teams win out, they will be in the playoffs for the first time in, umm, forever.

You could say that there is more urgency for the Chargers in this week's matchup than the Lions. The Chargers, after all, need to win or they are out. With that said, though, the Lions would much rather take the first wild card spot than the second, meaning that they would be able to skip New Orleans or San Francisco in the first round and instead take on a NFC East team (which is a mess right now as well). Both teams have a lot to play for, though you can argue that the Chargers have the more "do or die" scenario going.

So what can we expect to see Saturday afternoon? The Chargers will more than likely keep up their aerial attack now that Rivers finally looks like the quarterback we all thought that he was. When Rivers is on he is darn near untouchable. With Gates and Jackson completely healthy now, he now has his targets to connect with, which makes him even more dangerous. The key for San Diego is to not turn the ball over. The Chargers have been at their best when they don't turn the ball over, which is something they need to focus on Saturday.

For the Lions, offensively it's going to be mostly about Stafford throwing the ball. When Stafford is on he's darn near unstoppable, so expect them to pass early in the game to test the Charger defense. On the other side of the ball, the Lions are going to try and use the pass rush to disrupt Rivers passing game. If Suh can get to Rivers early and drive him to the ground, expect the Lions to really pounce on the Chargers psyche.

The Chargers will have their toughest game yet, but this will need to beat teams like this if they hope to make the NFL post season.

NFL: St. Louis Rams vs Pittsburgh Steelers 12/24/11 1:00PM ET

2011-12-24T03:55:00.000-05:00

St. Louis Rams at Pittsburgh Steelers @ FOX

The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the St. Louis Rams as they try and rebound from the Monday night football loss to the 49ers.

It's week 16 and the 10-4 Pittsburg Steelers will host the 2-12 St. Louis Rams at Hines Field this Christmas Eve day at 1pm EST. This will be a contest between two teams in very different situations, with the Steelers still alive to win their division and the Rams holding the worst record in theirs.

While the Rams are looking for another surprise upset, like their win over the New Orleans Saints in week 8, to finish the season on a positive note. They may have to do without the services of Sam Bradford again this week, as he is still nursing a high ankle sprain. Despite rumors that he would be shut down for the season, the Rams starting QB is still listed as day to day and has been vocal lately about his desire to be back on the field. Backup A.J. Feely is still unavailable due his broken thumb, suffered while replacing Bradford after his initial injury, so newly acquired Kellen Clemens will be under center for the Rams.

Clemens has spent most of his career with the New York Jets, but signed with the Redskins this July and was released in early September only to sign with the Texans only to be waived so they could sign Jeff Garcia. Clemens is in his 6th NFL season and has gone 25 of 36 for 229 yards with 1 touchdown and no interceptions. Also on the injury front DE Chris Long was listed as questionable and CB Josh Gordy was listed as probable.

The Pittsburg Steelers are still in the hunt to win their division, but they will need help. Coming off a 20-3 shellacking at the hands of the 49ers the Steelers may also be without their starting QB; Ben Roethlisberger did not look good at Candlestick Monday night. Multiple rumors at of the Pittsburg camp say veteran Charlie Batch will most likely get the start. The 37 year old Batch is in his 14th NFL season and an aging pocket passer whose mobility has declined greatly over the years. If Batch gets knocked around early, or is ineffective, we may see number 3 Dennis Dixon.

Dixon is a highly mobile quarter back who would be a much better fit for Bruce Arians offensive schemes, which were built around the mobile and difficult to bring down Roethlisberger. On the defensive side of the ball this will be the first game back for LB James Harrison after serving a one game suspension for his helmet to helmet hit on the Cleveland Browns Colt McCoy. It would be a good time for Harrison to step up since Lamarr Woodly is still bothered by a hamstring that pulled him from the Monday night contest with San Francisco early for the second straight game. As of Wednesday Woodly still did not practice.

The St. Louis Rams secondary matching up well with the speed of the young Pittsburg Steelers receivers will be difficult for the Rams. Even though Rashard Mendenhall has been inconsistent this season, look for him to be a major factor in the Steelers offense because the Rams are soft against the run. This game may look for all intents and purposes like a miss match, but you can never look past any team in this league. And the St. Louis Rams will be playing for pride as they reach what will most likely be the end of Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo tenure in St. Louis, and like anybody else would like to win out. The weather should not be a major factor for the Rams, who are a dome team; the forecast is for 46 and sunny.

NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers 12/24/11 1:00PM ET

2011-12-24T03:51:00.001-05:00

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers @ FOX

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to have given up on the season and that could spell trouble when they play the Carolina Panthers.

Heading into Week 16 of the NFL season, many teams across the league will be jockeying for either a playoff spot or for a higher place in their division. This year, Week 16 will feature many different divisional rivalries, which could have playoff implications or affect the final standing of each team in the league. One of the most tightly contested games of the week will take place in Charlotte as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Carolina Panthers.

Unlike many other games taking place this week, the game between the Buccaneers and Panthers will not have any factor on the playoffs as each team has been statistically eliminated. It will, however, feature two teams that are fighting for respect as this game could decide who finishes third in the NFC South division. This game will feature two teams that are coming from opposite ends of the NFL spectrum.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the season as a favorite to make the playoffs. After having a very good season in 2010 and the youngest roster in the NFL, Tampa Bay looked as if they could fight for both the division and conference championship. However, things have not worked out the way that they had hoped. After starting the current season off with a record of 4-2, Tampa Bay has lost 8 straight games to bring their record all the way down to 4-10. Not only has their current streak been bad, but they have lost their last three games by 16 points or more. This includes a home game against Carolina in Week 13 in which they lost 38 to 19. While Tampa Bay has had a rough season so far, they do have plenty of talent that could make this game an interesting one to watch. Their offense is led by young rookie quarterback Josh Freeman. While he has not had as much success as he did last year, Freeman has already thrown for over 3,000 yards passing and 13 touchdowns.

Beyond that, Freeman has rushed for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite targets continue to be young wide receiver Mike Williams and tight end Kellen Winslow, each of which have 60 or more receptions and over 600 yards receiving. When they are not throwing the ball, Tampa Bay likes to rely on their running back LeGarrette Blount, who could pass the 1,000 yard mark if he ends the year with a couple of productive games. Blount will likely have a strong game against Carolina as the Panthers have allowed 130 rushing yards per game and their top defensive end, Charles Johnson, is questionable. While the Buccaneers have struggled significantly this season, the Carolina Panthers have suddenly found some success. Due to their very poor season last year, the Panthers were lucky enough to grab quarterback Cam Newton number one overall in the 2011 NFL draft.

Since then, the Panthers have turned things around quite a bit. While they started the season off with a record of 2-8, the Panthers have won three of their last four games, which brought their record up to 5-9. The vast majority of the success for the Panthers has to be attributed to rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Newton has dominated the league this year as he has thrown for 3,722 yards and 17 touchdowns and also ran for 609 yards and 13 touchdowns, which is a single season record for a quarterback. Newton has made good use out of Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith, who has about 1,300 yards and 6 touchdown receptions this year.

Newton’s dominance is widely expected to continue this season as Tampa Bay has the 30th ranked defense in the NFL. Also, Newton was practically unstoppable when the two teams met up in Week 13. In that game, Newton threw for one touchdown and ran for another three. The game may not be that interesting if the Bucs continue to lay down in every game they play week after week, but one thing for sure changes need to happen in Tampa Bay.

NFL: Cleveland Browns vs Baltimore Ravens 12/24/11 1:00PM ET

2011-12-24T03:46:00.000-05:00

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens @ CBS

The Baltimore Ravens are a good team, but they need to start beating bad teams, like the Cleveland Browns if they want to be taken seriously.

When the Cleveland Browns head to Baltimore to play the Ravens on December 24 the baggage of a terrible season will travel with them, and while many of the minor team issues have been resolved new problems appear almost weekly. So far, the Browns have had last season's stud running back Peyton Hillis reduced to a mediocre player due to injuries, a quarterback controversy on whether they have their "quarterback of the future" in Colt McCoy, a total lack of a "playmaker" on offense, a wide receivers group that is much better known for drops that catches, and on and on...

Lest we not forget first year head coach Pat Shurmur, an allegedly gifted offensive mind who has instilled an offense in Cleveland that has surpassed anemic and is currently on life support. Cleveland has managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on several occasions this year, and shows no signs of breaking old habits. All of these problems could not possibly have occurred on the watch of formerly successful team President Mike Holmgren - but they did, and even Holmgren has not provided the Browns faithful with anything close to resembling a plan to turn things around. In Cleveland, fans show their support for the team these days by appearing at Browns games in the form of empty seats, as the "why bother" mentality has infected some of the best fans in football with fatal apathy. No one can blame Browns fans following a 4-10 team - after a certain point you have to turn away from the train wreck.

The Baltimore Ravens on the other hand are a perennial winner, and this season is no exception with a 10-4 record and a playoff spot already clinched. Baltimore largely has their destiny in their own hands and can possibly win the AFC North, get a first round bye and gain home field advantage for much if not all of the post season with two more wins. The only issues Baltimore has had to contend with this season is the loss of Ray Lewis for four games and a penchant for losing to bad teams....like....maybe, Cleveland.

As far as what the keys are to winning this game are, it all comes down to whether or not the real Baltimore Ravens show up or the version of the team that just goes through the motions against horrible opponents. At this critical point in the season odds are that the Ravens will be highly motivated to destroy the Browns in Baltimore, so they can acquire the aforementioned advantages in the post season.

But wait, this is the NFL and on any given Sunday...

Highly doubtful in the mind of anyone that is an objective football fan. The Browns only average 13.9 points per game this season, a statistic that will likely be reduced somewhat by a stellar Baltimore defense. Cleveland also averages 294 yards of total offense per game, and 96 of those yards come from the running game. Even when Cleveland throws the ball nearly every pass is of the short variety (very short). So in essence, fans can expect to see the Ravens defense stuffing the box with the likes of Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed. As a result sacks, fumbles, interceptions and many 3rd down and tens will be in the Browns future. It is unclear if Colt McCoy or Seneca Wallace will start at quarterback, but given the previous points it really won't matter much.

On offense the Browns simply cannot stop a good running game, and in Cleveland's previous 24-10 loss to Baltimore this season running back Ray Rice rambled for 204 yards. Add to this Joe Flacco throwing to deep threat Torey Smith and the experienced Anquan Bolden and Cleveland looks to have a sore and sorry Christmas.

The Browns were trounced by the Ravens once and there is no reason to believe that this will not happen again this week.

NFL: Arizona Cardinals vs Cincinnati Bengals 12/24/11 1:00PM ET

2011-12-24T03:42:00.000-05:00

Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals @ FOX

The Cincinnati Bengals need to win to get into the playoffs, but they may have a tough time when they go up against the red-hot Cardinals.

If someone would have penciled in the Week 16 Cardinals vs. Bengals matchup as one of the most intriguing matchups of the weekend at the beginning of the season you would have laughed them out the door. Heck, if someone told you that the Cardinals would be playing meaningful football games in late December just four weeks ago you would have been laughed out as well. But here we are a couple days before Christmas and both the Cardinals and the Bengals are fighting for their playoff lives.

For the Bengals, it's all about a breakout year for Andy Dalton. After a off-season of strife with Carson Palmer, Dalton has, out of nowhere, suddenly become one of the biggest success stories of the year. Last year's second round pick has led the Bengals to a surprising 8-6 record, which is impressive for a team that was expected to win between two and four games at the beginning of the season. And while being a surprise team is all well and good, the Bengals want to make the playoffs, something that is still doable going into this weekend. If the Bengals win their final two games and the Jets lose one game, the Bengals are in. There are other scenarios too that favor the Bengals, but they are plentiful and complex.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, have come out of nowhere to be a playoff contender going into Week 16. Of course, thanks to a 1-6 start, the Cardinals playoff chances are slim, but they are there. Essentially their playoff fate rests on the Falcons and Lions losing their final two games and the Cardinals winning out, which makes it a long shot, but something to keep an eye on. Frankly, if the Cardinals are able to finish above .500 for the season you have to call this a major success.

The Bengals vs. Cardinals Week 16 matchup is essentially going to come down to whether Arizona quarterback John Skelton can stay hot, as well as whether the Bengals D can get their groove back. The Bengals have had a top notch pass defense all season, though the last couple of weeks have shown that there are some holes that can be exploited. If Fitzgerald can continue to play out of his mind, Arizona should be able to put up a lot of points on the board.

While Andy Dalton is arguably the Rookie of the Year for the NFL, he can look human at sometimes. If a good defense get's a hold of him, he will only produce 135 yards per game passing, like he did against the Steelers a couple of weeks ago. Of course, he could also pass for 370 yards per game like he did last week, which means that you can never really sleep on him. While the Cardinals can give up a lot of yards per game, they don't give up a lot of points. In fact, they haven't given up more than 23 since week eight.

When it comes down to it, the Bengals are coming off of their hardest stretch of the season. While they are only 2-4 in their last six games, those losses came against Pittsburgh (twice), Houston and Baltimore. It's going to be interesting to see whether Arizona plays like the hot team they have been lately, or if the Bengals can beat a team that they, at least on paper, should be able to beat. This is the kind of game that is hard to call, especially due to the fact that you are dealing with two teams with young quarterbacks.

NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans 12/24/11 1:00PM ET

2011-12-24T03:37:00.000-05:00

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans @ CBS

The Tennessee Titans were on the fast-road to the NFL playoffs before getting derailed in the last outing and now they need to win out to get in.

Two weeks ago the Tennessee Titans were 7-5, right in the thick of not only the AFC Wild Card race, but also the AFC South race as well. The Titans were coming off two consecutive victories when they hosted the New Orleans Saints in Week 14, a game which they came within a couple of plays of winning. Going into Week 15 the Titans were 7-6 and still had a decent shot of making the playoffs as a Wild Card. Luckily for them, they were going on the road to play a 0-13 Indianapolis Colts team who had about as much life in them as a dead fish.

Unfortunately for the Titans, the Colts woke up in Week 15, decimating a suddenly listless looking Tennessee team. Suddenly, the Titans are in red alert mode, with their playoff chances currently hanging by the skin of their teeth. While the Titans are technically only one game out of the sixth AFC Wild Card spot, they are also behind Cincinnati who is tied with the Jets at 8-6, and tied with three other 7-7 teams. For the Titans to make the playoffs the Bengals lose out, the Jets need to lose at least once more and the Raiders need to lose at least one game. While all of this can happen, it's not exactly controlling your own destiny this late in the season.

The good news for the Titans is that they take on a Jacksonville Jaguars time in Week 16 (Tennessee takes on the Texans in Week 17, who could be vying for a bye and conference championship, so it's best to take this one week at a time for them) that has looked absolutely terrible the last month or so. The Jaguars have had a forgettable season, and outside of beating the lowly Buccaneers two weeks ago, haven't had much to cheer for in a good long time. Of course, the fact that the Titans lost to the Colts last week makes this matchup a lot harder to predict.

It wasn't just that the Titans lost in Indianapolis (any given Sunday, right?), it's how they lost. Matt Hassleback didn't just have the worst game of the year, he had the worst game in years. He was so bad that he got benched in the third quarter after his second interception for Jake Locker, who did play much better, even throwing a touchdown pass. While you could say that the Colts played good enough to win, the Titans looked listless on both offense and defense, which is always a concern this late in the season. Instead of fighting hard and pulling out a victory, the Titans seemed lost.

There hasn't been a decision yet on who will start at quarterback for the Titans Saturday afternoon, though rumor has it that Locker may get the nod. Even if Hassleback does start, if he shows any shades of how he played last weekend expect him to be yanked. Hassleback arguably has the shortest chain of anyone quarterback playing this weekend.

The good news for Tennessee is that Jacksonville has been a mess all season, save for Maurice Jones-Drew, who again win's the "Best Player on the Worst Team" award for like the fifth straight season. If the Titans defense is caught napping like it did last week, Drew may have one of his biggest games of the season (the Titans run defense isn't very good either). In other words, if you have Drew on your fantasy team this week, you are going to want to start him.

Offensively for the Jaguars, expect Blaine Gabbert to have another sub-200 yard passing game. While he can be dangerous, you can expect Drew to either beat the Titans single-highhandedly, or for the Titans to be able to stay alive in the AFC playoff race.

After laying an egg last week against the Colts, the Titans need to win and avoid another letdown this week against Jacksonville.

NFL: Oakland Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs 12/24/11 1:00PM ET

2011-12-24T03:32:00.000-05:00

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs @ CBS

The Oakland Raiders are on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs and they will have to win a road game against the Chiefs this week.

As the 2011 NFL season heads into Week 16, several key matchups across the league could have an effect on the overall NFL Playoff picture. Of all of the games in Week 16, one that will prove to be one of the most significant will take place in Kansas City as the Oakland Raiders visit the Chiefs.

Heading into Week 16, both the Raiders and the Chiefs have outside hopes of making the playoffs, but both teams will need a win in order to make it. Through 14 games of the NFL season, the Oakland Raiders have a record of 7-7 while the Chiefs have a record of 6-8. Both teams could still technically make the playoffs, but they trail the Denver Broncos, who have a record of 8-6. Both the Raiders and the Chiefs have had an up and down year so far. After starting the season with a record of 7-4, the Oakland Raiders have dropped three straight games, which have brought their record back down to .500. During that span, the Raiders lost two blowouts to the Miami Dolphins and the Green Bay Packers. Last week they suffered a heart breaking loss to the Detroit Lions, who managed to make a 98 yard drive within the last minutes of the game to score a game winning touchdown.

Entering the season, many people expected that the Raiders would have a significant amount of success. However, a large amount of injuries on their offensive side of the ball have prevented the team from coming together. Their starting quarterback to start the year, Jason Campbell, was lost for the year in Week 6 of the season. However, the Raiders were able to trade for veteran quarterback Carson Palmer, who has been inconsistent so far this year. Due to their shaky quarterback play, the Raiders have relied on their offensive running attack, which has been led by Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. In just 7 games this year, McFadden has been dominant as he has ran for 614 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. While he has been set back by injuries, most experts expect him to get a decent amount of carries against the Chiefs this week.

Filling in for McFadden in the meantime has been Michael Bush, who has amassed over 800 yards and has gotten into the end zone eight times this year. The Raider should have a pretty easy time running the ball against KC as the Chiefs have the 24th ranked running defense. Of all the teams in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs may have been the most inconsistent. The Chiefs started the season off 0-3, then won four straight, which was then followed by three straight losses. In that four game winning streak earlier in the year, the Chiefs were extremely dominant against the Raiders as they beat them by a score of 28-0 in Week 7. Part of the inconsistency has been due to significant injuries all season long. Earlier in the year the Chiefs lost their star running back, Jamaal Charles, and quarterback Matt Cassel to season ending injuries.

However, the Chiefs have been able to recover due to the successes of backup running backs Jackie Battle, Dexter McCluster, and Thomas Jones. The Chiefs also were able to sign quarterback Kyle Orton after he was placed on waivers by Denver. The Raiders appear to have not had a worse time to head into Kansas City. The Chiefs have appeared very good ever since acquiring veteran quarterback Kyle Orton a few weeks ago.

In fact, last week the Chiefs beat the Green Bay Packers by a score of 19-14, which was Green Bays first loss of the season. The Raiders weak overall defense, which is ranked 27th in the NFL, should help the Kansas City offense continue to excel. The Chiefs may have gotten lucky last week and will have to prove they can be consistent and keep their playoff hopes alive with a win over Oakland.

NBA: Chicago Bulls vs LA Lakers 12/25/11 5:00PM ET

2011-12-24T03:25:00.000-05:00

Chicago Bulls at LA Lakers @ ABC

The LA Lakers are not getting the same attention they have in the past, but will be out to prove that they can make another run at a title when they tip-off against the Chicago Bulls.

After abruptly getting knocked out of the conference semifinals to the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers were supposed to reload this offseason and make a charge for the title once again, however many feel they have taken a major step backwards in their quest to do so. With legend coach Phil Jackson finally calling it quits, the keys to one of the most sought after jobs in the business were handed to former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, who has a tougher task ahead of him than he originally anticipated.

This time last week, the Lakers thought they had won out in the Chris Paul sweepstakes, however the league stepped in and rejected the proposed three team trade between Los Angeles, New Orleans and Houston, which left the Lakers reeling. Instead, they shipped the reigning sixth man of the year in Lamar Odom off to Dallas for virtually nothing in return, which has left several Lakers players unhappy, and rightly so. It’s looking pretty grim for the Lakers as their two biggest signing’s this offseason have come in the form of little used backup forwards in Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy.

It’s been a much quieter offseason for the Chicago Bulls who are coming off one of their most successful seasons since Michael Jordan was wearing the famous number 23. The Bulls won a league best 62 games last regular season, which earned them the number one seed heading into the postseason. Chicago then proceeded to cruise past Indiana and then Atlanta, before bowing out to the Miami Heat in the conference finals.

Injuries aside, the only glaring weakness for the Bulls in the last couple of seasons has been the shooting guard position. As a result, Chicago waived Keith Bogans, who started all 82 games last season, and replaced him with former Piston Rip Hamilton, who should be a major upgrade over Bogans if he can stay healthy. If Hamilton, Boozer and Noah can all get through the regular season relatively unscathed, the Bulls should be a major force not just in the East, but the whole league.

Kobe will attempt to lead the Lakers to a win in the opener against the Bulls, but a loss could signify a changing of the guard in the NBA landscape.

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NBA: LA Clippers vs Golden State Warriors 12/25/11 10:30PM ET

2011-12-24T03:20:00.000-05:00

LA Clippers at Golden State Warriors @ ESPN, ESPN3.com

The game between the Golden State Warriors and the LA Clippers looked like a bad game on paper, but that changed with one trade.

Apart from the hiring of new coach Mark Jackson, it’s been a relatively quiet summer for the Warriors who are coming off one of their better regular seasons in a while. The Warriors won 36 games last season, which was a 10 game improvement from the season before. With the addition of David Lee, and the improvement of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, Golden State were a tough out at home, winning 26 of a possible 41 games. As always, the Warriors were among the highest scoring teams in the entire league, finishing the season seventh in points per game with 103.4. However, on the flip side, they were among the worst defensive teams in the league, as they allowed 105.7 points per game, which is something Jackson wants to change going forward.

In other moves, the Warriors drafted Klay Thompson for some extra backcourt depth, while signing veteran Kwame Brown to back up the center position. Golden State briefly flirted with signing Tyson Chandler to a big contract, but that fell through.

The Clippers were the big winners this offseason after winning out in the ‘Chris Paul Sweepstakes’. Although he didn’t come cheap as the Clippers shipped out Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and an unprotected pick from Minnesota (which is likely going to be high) in exchange to the rights for one of the best points guards in the league. Paul will now team up with the high flying Blake Griffin as the Clippers immediately become one of the hottest tickets around. Los Angeles didn’t stop their however, as they signed Caron Butler to a three year deal to shore up the small forward position, while claiming veteran Chauncey Billups off waivers after he was let go by New York via the new amnesty rule.

With Paul now at the helm for at least two seasons, the Clippers have two legitimate franchise players going forward. In fact, with all the off season troubles the Lakers are having, the Clippers could well become the number one team in town, sooner rather than later.

The Warriors will look for the upset, but Chris Paul is out to prove that the Clippers should be taken seriously this year as contenders.

NBA: Boston Celtics vs NY Knicks 12/25/11 12:00PM ET

2011-12-24T03:15:00.000-05:00

Boston Celtics at New York Knicks @ TNT

The Boston Celtics are getting older and the New York Knicks are expected to compete for a title in the east.

It’s been a long time coming, but New York fans can finally look forward to their beloved Knicks contending in the Eastern Conference once again. It seems like a lifetime ago since the Knicks were among the East’s elite, back in the Patrick Ewing era to be exact. However, it’s 2011 and a pair of forwards in Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudamire are here to bring New York basketball back to where it should be.

Even though New York failed to win a playoff game in their series with Boston last season, just making the playoffs was an achievement for a New York team that had gone nearly decade without reaching the postseason. However, with Carmelo Anthony now fully settled in, plus the addition of championship center Tyson Chandler, a lot more than just making the playoff is expected of this team. In other notable transactions, veteran point guard Chauncey Billups was waived under the NBA's new amnesty clause, which paved the way to sign Chandler. The Knicks likely replacement to start will be Mike Bibby, who just recently signed a one year deal for the veteran’s minimum.

(On a side note, I think Iman Shumpert will be starting for the Knicks soon enough. I never said anything, but Shumpert was my by big sleeper on draft night and I thought whoever got him was getting a steal. I think he will be fan favourite in New York and a Rajon Rondo type player in three or so years. You heard it here first)

Although the Celtics didn’t really lose anyone this summer, their offseason has been a disappointing to say the least, due to the fact that they didn’t really add any youth to an already aging roster. The Celtics flirted with a potential Chris Paul for Rajon Rondo swap and tried to sign power forward David West, but instead lost out on both. What’s worse, the little depth they did have will be even thinner now that Jeff Green, who just signed a one year deal, will have to undergo heart surgery next month and will miss the entire season.

This game could be the start of a serious rivalry renewed by the Boston and New York fans as they get excited to see this tip-off.

NBA: Orlando Magic vs Oklahoma City Thunder 12/25/11 8:00PM ET

2011-12-24T03:10:00.000-05:00

Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder @ FSOKHD, ESPN, ESPN3.com

The NBA season tips off on Christmas day with five great games including the one between the Orlando Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Coming off one of their best seasons in franchise history, the Thunder look to build on that momentum in hopes of bringing home the ultimate goal, an NBA championship. Led by scoring champion Kevin Durant and young superstar Russell Westbrook, the Thunder won 55 games last season and made it all the way to the Western Conference finals, where they were knocked out by the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks.

Although the Thunder brings back virtually the same roster for this shortened season, they didn’t really need to make any drastic changes to one of the best young teams in the entire league. One of the reasons OKC is one of the favourites to take out the whole thing this season is because they are deep and they have a young roster, which is essential to survive in a season where multiple games will be played with no days rest in-between. With the improvement of Serge Ibaka and a slimmed down Kenrick Perkins, the Thunder is in good shape to make some serious noise this season.

Apart from New Orleans and Los Angeles, no other team has been in the news more this offseason than Orlando, and for all the wrong reasons. It had been confirmed that All-Star big man Dwight Howard had requested to be traded to either Los Angles, Dallas or New Jersey. For a time there it looked like the Magic were going to part ways with Howard, much like the Hornets did with Chris Paul, however Orlando pulled the plug in hopes of convincing the Howard to stay on board.

It’s been a tough couple of years for the Magic, who looked like they were on their way to becoming a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference just a couple of seasons ago. However, after a couple of cost cutting trades and a first round exit at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks last season, things look bleak for Orlando now.

Dwight Howard will start the season with the Magic and he will have to put on a good show if he hopes to be traded for high value. It all starts with this game against the Thunder.

NBA: Miami Heat vs Dallas Mavericks 12/25/11 2:30PM ET

2011-12-24T03:04:00.000-05:00

Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks @ ABC

In a rematch of the championship series, the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat will start the season off against one another.

Last season began with Miami celebrating the signings of Lebron James and Chris Bosh, however it finished with the Dallas Mavericks hoisting their first ever NBA championship on the very same floor. It was bitter sweet for Dallas fans who witnessed their Mavericks take down a star studded Heat team in six games, led by finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki. Even though it was three All-Stars compared to one, Dallas’ supporting cast showed up in a big way as they scored 75 points on 52% shooting in their four NBA finals series wins.

Not content with bringing back the same cast of players from there title winning team, the Mavs have been one of the most active teams in this short offseason. Gone is starting center Tyson Chandler, super sub J.J. Barea and the injured Caron Butler, who will be replaced by Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Delonte West. There is no doubt the Mavs will miss the defence that Chandler brought and Barea was huge for them in the finals series last season. However, you can make the case that they got even deeper this season, considering Caron Butler played sparingly last season. Those three will join the core of Nowitzki, Kidd, Terry and Marion as they start their assault for back to back titles, starting on opening night.

In all of the major sports, no team was followed more closely than the Heat last season. From the moment that Lebron James and Chris Bosh announced they were joining the Heat, until they walked off the Mavericks floor in game six of the finals series, their every step was documented, and this season looks to be no different. Dwayne Wade, Lebron James and Chris Both are all back again this season, however the Heat look to be a much deeper team this time around. If Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem can stay injury free, add in the key free agent signing of Shane Battier, the Heat will be tough out on a nightly basis. Miami still has their weaknesses, but that’s going to come when you have three of the top players in the league all playing on the same team.

The Mavericks would love to start off with a win, but the Miami Heat will be looking for revenge and a chance to start a winning campaign.

NCAA FB: Missouri vs North Carolina 12/26/11 5:00PM ET

2011-12-24T02:54:00.000-05:00

Missouri vs. North Carolina AdvoCare V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL @ ESPN2, ESPN3.com

The Independence Bowl features the Missouri Tigers against the North Carolina Tar Heels, two teams that are in state of shock after difficult seasons.

The 7-5, 5-4 Missouri Tigers and 7-5, 3-5 North Carolina Tar Heels hope to leave the distractions behind them on Monday, Dec. 26 at the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl.

A week before Missou's last game, head coach Gary Pinkel was arrested for driving under the influence and was subsequently suspended from coaching against 5-7, 2-7 Texas Tech before returning at 2-10, 0-9 Kansas. As it would turn out the Tigers needed him, but for a half it looked like they were asleep at the wheel trailing 10-3 at the break. It was actually 10-0 after a pick six with 10:36 left during the second quarter. Junior placekicker Trey Barrow booted through the first points for Missouri from 23 yards away later in the period. Then during the third quarter junior running back Kendial Lawrence tied it up and sophomore quarterback James Franklin threw a 25-yard touchdown to senior WR Wes Kemp. Eight seconds into the fourth period Franklin found sophomore WR Marcus Lucas on a 53-yard scoring play for a 24-10 win.

UNC didn't have the same distractions before their game with 3-9, 1-7 Duke although Everett Withers may have coached his final regular-season game at the school. Withers, the Heels' defensive coordinator, was elevated to head coach after Butch Davis was fired stemming from an NCAA investigation concerning improper benefits. North Carolina began well on offense scoring first, but 16 seconds after sophomore QB Bryn Renner found senior WR Dwight Jones for six, the Blue Devils evened the score. Freshman PK Thomas Moore then booted through two field goals in a row before freshman RB Giovani Bernard's 48-yard run to the house made it 20-7 Tar Heels. Moore would add one more FG to push the lead to two scores while Renner hooked up with Jones twice more to give UNC a 37-21 win.

Both teams realize that this season could be salvaged with a win that could propel the team to have a good recruiting off-season and a chance at a better season next year.

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NCAA FB: Nevada vs Southern Miss 12/24/11 8:00PM ET

2011-12-24T02:47:00.000-05:00

Nevada vs. No. 21 Southern Miss SHERATON HAWAII BOWL @ ESPN, ESPN3.com

The Hawaii Bowl offers one of the best destinations in college football, but more often than naught, teams would rather go to a bigger bowl game.

The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl features the 7-5, 5-2 Nevada Wolf Pack and the BCS' No. 21 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.

Nevada didn't have high expectations, but having the eighth rushing offense and 30th passing offense per game helped get them a number of wins. After starting the year 1-3 the Pack won five straight. However losses to 8-4, 6-1 Louisiana Tech and at 7-5, 5-2 Utah State stung before drubbing 2-10, 1-6 Idaho 56-3 in their regular-season finale.

Nevada beat 6-7, 3-4 Hawaii before falling to a pair of Western Athletic Conference foes in a row. The Wolf Pack didn't visit the island on Nov. 12, but get to now to face 11-2, 7-2 Southern Miss. Although Nevada was at home to outgain the Warriors 528-307 is still impressive. It helped that Hawaii had two more turnovers than the Pack who held the Warriors' high-potent offense to two field goals on their first two scoring drives. Senior running back Lampford Mark raced in before freshman quarterback Cody Fajardo found senior wide receiver Rishard Matthews for a 13-yard touchdown to pass on Nevada's first two scoring drives.

As good as the Pack's offense is, the Eagles' offense is right on par scoring even more per game courtesy of being 31st in the nation in passing, 23rd in the nation in rushing and having a 29th scoring defense certainly helps too. Southern Mississippi hasn't been west of Texas beating 5-7, 2-6 Texas El Paso 31-13 on Oct. 29 along with winning 49-28 at No. 19 Houston during the Conference-USA Championship Game on Dec. 3.

The Golden Eagles held the No. 1 scoring offense the 12-1, 8-1 Cougars to four offensive TDs. On the flip side Southern Miss scored five offensive TDs and scored once each on special teams and defense. Freshman defensive back Furious Bradley returned a blocked Cougar punt 11 yards while senior linebacker Ronnie Thornton drove the nail in the coffin with a 26-yard pick six.

The Golden Eagles seem upset to make the trek out to this game, and Nevada is pleased and that could make a big difference in the outcome of this game.