11/19/2008 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill, New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross and Arizona Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers have been selected as the NFC's top players for Week 11 of the NFL season.
Hill completed 15-of-20 passes for 213 yards with two touchdowns and ran for a score in San Francisco's 35-16 win over St. Louis. Hill racked up a career- high 142.3 passer rating while leading the Niners to a 35-3 halftime lead, the most first-half points scored by the club since 1992. San Francisco's 28 points in the second quarter tied the franchise mark for most scored in any quarter.
Ross had two interceptions, one he returned 50 yards for a touchdown, and added six solo tackles in the Giants' 30-10 win over Baltimore. It was Ross' second career two-interception game, and his second career touchdown. His second pick was a backbreaker, as it came with the Giants holding a 20-10 lead in the third quarter and Baltimore driving.
Rackers made 4-of-4 field goals and added two PATs in Arizona's 26-20 victory over Seattle. He was successful on field goals of 38, 48, 54 and 26 yards and has now made 13 straight.
Other players considered for the awards included Carolina running backs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for 130 and 120 yards, respectively, in the Panthers' 31-22 win over Detroit; Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, who had 16 tackles in a 19-13 loss to Tampa Bay; and Lions kicker Jason Hanson, who tied a franchise-record for longest field goal with his 56- yarder on Sunday.
<< Wolf Pack loan Murray to Charlotte
Hartford, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Hartford Wolf Pack loaned defenseman Chris
Murray to its ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, the American Hockey
League club announced.
A second-year pro out of the University of New Hampshire, Mu
<< NCAA announces future Final Four sites
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA Division I men's basketball
committee has announced five selections as hosts for the Final Four starting
in 2012 and running through 2016.
New Orleans, Atlanta, Dallas-Arlington-Fort Wo
<< Mariners pick A's bench coach Wakamatsu as manager
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners named former Oakland
Athletics bench coach Don Wakamatsu their new manager on Wednesday.
The hiring was the first major decision for new Mariners general manager Jack
Zduriencik, th
<< LPGA announces 2009 schedule
West Palm Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2009 LPGA Tour schedule was
released by tour commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens on Wednesday and there is
plenty of change coming next year.
The tour released the dates of 31 official eve
Bengals WR Chatman done for season with cervical injury >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals placed wide receiver
Antonio Chatman on injured reserve on Wednesday, ending his season. Chatman,
who also returned punts, suffered a cervical injury in Sunday's 13-13 tie with
the Phi
Skrtel eyes Liverpool return by Christmas >>
Liverpool, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin Skrtel is confident he will be
ready to return to the Liverpool team before the busy festive program.
The Slovakia international, who has been sidelined since early October when he
damaged a p
Steelers TE Miller could return Thursday >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Steelers may get tight end
Heath Miller back for Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Miller has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. The fourth-year
tight end has
Crespo ponders Real move >>
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Inter Milan's veteran Argentinian striker
Hernan Crespo is a reported transfer target for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Real are desperate to bring in a new frontman after losing Ruud van Nistelrooy
for th
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 SPORTS TRASH TALK
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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