Football Betting

No shortage of storylines for this Super Bowl

Football Betting Lines

01/19/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sibling rivalries have always made for great tales. Think Cain versus Abel. Romulus and Remus. Marcia and Jan.

So the prospect of brotherly warfare as the backdrop for Super Bowl XLVI should bring some additional appeal to a game that never needs any extra buildup, but could always use a spicy subject or two to further develop the plot.

And it's hard to imagine a more made-to-order riveting central theme than the potential sequel of the Harbaugh Bowl, unless maybe it involves a member of the NFL's first family of quarterbacks having the chance to one-up his more heralded relative in the very same city where the latter carved out his legendary and Canton-bound career.

Just think of the irony that would come out of the New York Giants, perhaps this year's version of the 2010 Green Bay Packers after dethroning the reigning world champions in a stunningly sweatless fashion last weekend, completing a run to a Lombardi Trophy that would have been viewed as virtually unfathomable a month ago on the turf of Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium. The thought of Eli Manning owning one more Super Bowl title than big brother Peyton is strange enough in itself, but having the coronation of his stepping out of the four- time league MVP's immense shadow take place on Peyton Manning's home field would follow a script more akin to Hollywood than Central Indiana.

And who knows, it may just be the last time a Manning is playing in Indianapolis for a while. At least Rob Lowe thinks so.

Of course, the soaring Giants still have to survive the challenge of both a cross-country trip and a pumped-up San Francisco team that handed Big Blue a 27-20 defeat in Candlestick Park back in November to create such a scene. A 49ers victory, on the other hand, could keep open the possibility of the little brother revenge angle playing out.

And this time, those without the NFL Network on their cable systems won't be left out in the cold if Jim Harbaugh's fast-rising 49ers and John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens go at it with a bit more than Thanksgiving bragging rights on the line. A reprisal of that memorable Turkey Day encounter in Baltimore, won by the Ravens in a 16-6 slugfest, would also serve as reinforcement to the notion that stout and stifling defense still does win championships in a league that's blatantly catered to the offensive side in the current era.

It's a perfect scenario, and Indianapolis would be the perfect place to hold Harbaugh v. Harbaugh II. The family already carries considerable clout in the Hoosier State, since John and Jim's brother-in-law just happens to be Indiana men's basketball coach Tom Crean.

Then again, a Harbaugh-less Super Bowl would set the stage for a rematch of one of the most massive upsets in the history of the NFL's title game, when Manning's Giants spoiled the New England Patriots' quest for an undefeated 2007 season with a shocking 17-14 win at Arizona's University of Phoenix Stadium in Super Bowl XLII. With two of the league's marquee franchises and premier quarterbacks in Manning and Tom Brady involved, this matchup would obviously qualify as a home run as well.

A showdown between the Giants and Ravens, teams that squared off 11 years ago in Tampa during Super Bowl XXXV, would also hold plenty of cachet as long as the final outcome -- a 34-7 Baltimore wire-to-wire rout -- isn't duplicated.

Even a Patriots-49ers billing, seemingly the least attractive of the four possibilities, brings its share of intrigue from a historical perspective. That game would pit the team of the '80's against the one that dominated the 2000's and feature two opponents with a combined eight Super Bowl wins.

And for those who love tear-jerkers, the sight of New England patriarch Robert Kraft -- one of the NFL's most beloved owners and a instrumental figure in the resolution of this past summer's now-forgotten labor dispute -- hoisting the championship trophy if New England manages to prevail would make for an incredibly poignant moment after he lost his wife Myra to cancer in July.

With that in mind, enjoy the games on Championship Sunday. And be thankful that such an exciting and entertaining day will indeed be taking place.

NFL POWER POLL

The Sportsbook Betting Lines's updated NFL Power Poll, which ranks all 32 league teams, can be found at:

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/misc/nfl- poll.htm

THE GAMES

Hit on three of the four outright playoff winners for the second straight week but couldn't quite sustain my success against the spread from the Wild Card Round, drawing even in the four games after producing a sweep to start out the postseason. My overall records for the season now stand at 162-102 (.614) in straight-up selections and 125-130-9 (.491) with the line in play.

While there's been no advantage between favorites and underdogs so far in this year's playoffs, it should be noted that six of the eight contests over the past two weekends have gone over the projected total, with all but two of the winning teams scoring at least 29 points.

Baltimore (13-4) at New England (14-3), Sunday, 3:00 (New England -7)

Storylines: Top-seeded Patriots in AFC Championship for first time since 2007 and recorded first playoff win since besting San Diego in that year's conference title game with 45-10 rout of Denver last weekend...No. 2 seed Ravens making third overall AFC Championship appearance and first since 23-14 loss at Pittsburgh in 2008 edition, and bidding to become conference's first Super Bowl representative other than Patriots, Steelers and Colts since 2002...Baltimore advanced with hard-fought 20-13 home decision over Houston last Sunday in which team scored 17 points off four Texans turnovers...Ravens 7-4 all-time on the road in postseason and handed New England a 33-14 defeat at Gillette Stadium in 2009 AFC First-Round clash, with running back Ray Rice leading offense with 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns and defense forcing four turnovers (3 interceptions, 1 fumble) from Pats quarterback Tom Brady...New England owns 6-1 overall record against Baltimore, however, as well as 6-1 mark in AFC Championship since 1970 merger...Patriots on nine-game winning streak and have scored 31 or more points eight times during that stretch, and club piled up 509 total yards against Broncos...Brady threw for 363 yards and tied NFL postseason record with six touchdown passes in Divisional Round triumph, with All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski accounting for three of those scores while amassing 145 yards on 10 catches...Ravens managed just 227 total yards and 11 first downs against Houston, but face New England defense ranked 31st (411.1 ypg) during regular season...Baltimore safety Ed Reed notched eighth interception in 10th playoff game last week and probable for Sunday's tilt despite twisting ankle in contest...Tight end Aaron Hernandez (concussion) slated to play for Patriots, but offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back, foot) questionable...Brady can tie Hall of Famer Joe Montana (16) for most postseason victories by a quarterback with a win.

Fast Fact: Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has now recorded five playoff wins, tied with Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner for the second-most by a signal- caller over his first four NFL seasons. Brady had six during his initial four years in the league.

Prediction: Brady and his mates will have to work for their points against Baltimore's stingy defense, but the Ravens won't be able to feast off mistakes like they did last week. Patriots 23, Ravens 17.

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N.Y. Giants (11-7) at San Francisco (14-3), Sunday, 6:30 (San Francisco -2.5)

Storylines: Second-seeded 49ers aiming for first Super Bowl berth since 1994 season and reached NFC Championship for first time since 1997 after posting thrilling 36-32 triumph over New Orleans last weekend, with deciding points coming on 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alex Smith to tight end Vernon Davis with just nine seconds left...No. 4 seed Giants came through with first playoff win since 2007 with 37-20 road upset of conference front-runner Green Bay this past Sunday and last advanced to both NFC title game and Super Bowl that same season...Quarterback Eli Manning led way for New York with 330- yard, three-score performance and has registered 10-to-2 touchdown-to- interception ratio over club's current run of four consecutive wins...Giants and Niners have squared off seven times previously in postseason, with home team prevailing in six of those matchups...New York did earn 15-13 decision over San Francisco at Candlestick Park in 1990 NFC Championship, but 49ers rallied from 24-point second-half deficit for memorable 39-38 home win in last postseason encounter with Giants, during 2002 NFC Divisional Playoffs...San Francisco also topped New York by 27-20 count at Candlestick Park back on Nov. 13 of this season, with Niners scoring two touchdowns within one-minute span early in fourth quarter...San Francisco 8-1 at home in 2011 following last week's result...Wide receiver/return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. questionable for 49ers with knee injury, while tight end Delanie Walker (broken jaw) uncertain to return from two-game absence...Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz probable despite sustaining thigh bruise against Packers...49ers led NFL with plus-28 turnover ratio during regular season and had five takeaways versus Saints...New York wideout Hakeem Nicks has racked up 280 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 13 catches in team's two playoff wins, while Davis set new league postseason record for tight end with 180 yard, two-touchdown effort in last week's outing...Giants own 4-0 all-time record in NFC Championship.

Fast Fact: Manning and Smith will become only the second pair of former No. 1 draft picks to start against one another at quarterback in a conference title game, joining John Elway and Vinny Testaverde in the 1998 AFC Championship between Denver and the New York Jets.

Prediction: At some point, the 49ers' heavy reliance on turnovers and struggles to score touchdowns in the red zone is going to hurt them, and rejuvenated Giants are a more complete and dangerous team than when they last visited San Francisco. Giants 27, 49ers 23.


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<< SDSU escapes The Pit, snaps Lobos' win streak
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<< UNLV dominates TCU
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Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt

Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.

The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.

Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.

"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.

The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.

But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.

The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.

Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.

The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.

The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.

The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.

Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."

Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.

"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."

Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.

It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.

"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."

Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.

"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."

At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.

According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.

Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.

Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.

When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.

He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.

Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.

Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.

While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.

"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.

Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.

Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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