Wednesday Trends and Indexes 01/16

[Udog]

Wire Alerts


NBA

01/16/08
09:43 AM Injuries
NBA
Celtics G Rajon Rondo (9 ppg; back) has been upgraded to probable for tonight's game on the injury report.

01/16/08
09:39 AM Boxscore
NBA
Cavs F LeBron James scored a season-high 51 points in a tough win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday.

01/16/08
09:37 AM Boxscore
NBA
Clippers C Chris Kaman played through a sprained ankle Tuesday and struggled with his shooting, but grabbed 18 rebounds.

01/15/08
07:05 PM Lineup Alert
NBA
Kings F Ron Artest is now saying that he, along with G Mike Bibby, will return to action Wednesday night against the Raptors.

01/15/08
07:03 PM Lineups
NBA
Knicks G Stephon Marbury (ankle) is not expected not to play on Wednesday.

01/15/08
06:59 PM Lineups
NBA
Hornets F Peja Stojakovic (14 ppg; back) is expected to start Wednesday's game against the Sonics.

01/15/08
06:58 PM Coach's Call
NBA
Celtics G Rajon Rondo (9 ppg; back) has a 50/50 shot at playing on Wednesday per coach Doc Rivers.


NCAAB

01/15/08
07:17 PM Injuries
CBB
Auburn's leading scorers G Rasheem Barrett (14 ppg; ankle) and G Quan Prowell (14 ppg; knee) are questionable for Wednesday.

01/15/08
07:13 PM Lineups
CBB
Arkansas G Patrick Beverley (12 ppg; dislocated jaw) is expected to play on Wednesday night.

01/15/08
07:10 PM Injuries
CBB
Alabama's leading scorer F Richard Hendrix (19 ppg; ankle) is listed as probable for Wendesday's game.

01/15/08
07:17 PM Injuries
CBB
Auburn's leading scorers G Rasheem Barrett (14 ppg; ankle) and G Quan Prowell (14 ppg; knee) are questionable for Wednesday.

01/15/08
07:13 PM Lineups
CBB
Arkansas G Patrick Beverley (12 ppg; dislocated jaw) is expected to play on Wednesday night.

01/15/08
07:10 PM Injuries
CBB
Alabama's leading scorer F Richard Hendrix (19 ppg; ankle) is listed as probable for Wendesday's game.

[Udog]

Wire Alerts


NBA

01/16/08
02:15 PM Injuries
NBA
Bulls F Andres Nocioni (14 ppg; hip) is listed as questionable for tonight's game.

01/16/08
02:11 PM Injuries
NBA
Pacers G Jamaal Tinsley (13 ppg; knee) and C Jermaine O'Neal (16 ppg; knee) are both are listed as questionable for tonight.

01/16/08
01:56 PM Lineups
NBA
Bulls G Kirk Hinrich (back spasms) is a long-shot to return to the lineup for tonight's game against the Heat

01/16/08
01:53 PM Injuries
NBA
Spurs G Tony Parker is still slightly limited by his heel injury sustained on November 30th.

01/16/08
01:52 PM Lineups
NBA
Dorell Wright could be the Heat's starting small forward on Wednesday, shifting Ricky Davis to the bench.


NCAAB

01/16/08
04:20 PM Lineup Alert
CBB
Auburn's leading scorers G Rasheem Barrett (14 ppg; ankle) and G Quan Prowell (14 ppg; knee) are IN tonight's probable lineup.

01/16/08
04:19 PM Lineup Alert
CBB
Arkansas G Patrick Beverley (12 ppg; dislocated jaw) is IN tonight's probable starting lineup.

01/16/08
04:18 PM Lineup Alert
CBB
Alabama's leading scorer F Richard Hendrix (19 ppg; ankle) is IN tonight's probable starting lineup.

01/16/08
04:12 PM Lineup Alert
CBB
Drake's leading scorer G Josh Young (16 ppg; ankle) is NOT in tonight's probable starting lineup.

[Udog]

NFL


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What bettors need to know: Chargers at Patriots
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San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots (-14.5, 49)
Sunday Jan. 20, 3:00 p.m. ET

Terrific Tom

It's hard to imagine that there are many more records left for Tom Brady to break, but in Saturday's 31-20 win over the Jaguars he struck another off the list. Brady completed 26 of 28 passes - an NFL postseason record with a completion percentage of 92.9.

After the game coach Bill Belichick smiled and made his best attempt at a joke when asked about Brady. "It was a little disappointing, the two he missed," he said.

In truth, Brady could have been perfect. He made his first 16 passes, before tight end Ben Watson missed a catchable one at Jacksonville's 26-yard line in the third quarter. He then converted his next nine, before Wes Welker dropped what should have been an easy catch in the fourth.

Brady, as usual, gave all the credit for his remarkable performance to his teammates. "It's easy," he told USA Today, "when you have receivers who are open all the time and an offensive line that never lets anyone touch you. It makes it fun to play."

Big guns questionable

The Chargers' 29-24 win over Indianapolis on Sunday could have come at a heavy price. Running back LaDanian Tomlinson and quarterback Philip Rivers both picked up injuries and sat out the end of the game.

L.T picked up a knock in the second quarter and was replaced by Michael Turner, who went on to rush for 71 yards. Tomlinson was seen rubbing the inside of his left knee on the sideline, but later said he felt like he could have returned to the game.

Rivers' injury came on a seemingly innocuous play. He fell back awkwardly after throwing a 56-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, aggravating a previous injury to his left knee. Rivers was replaced by Bill Volek, who orchestrasted the winning touchdown drive.

Coach Norv Turner said both players will be listed as questionable for next week's game in New England.
Belichick wary
Some would say that the Patriots have dodged a bullet. Instead of facing Peyton Manning and the Colts in a rematch of last season's AFC championship game, they will instead play San Diego.

But Bill Belichick, who is not renowned for being positive, believes this could be tougher matchup for his team.

"They're physical," Belichick told the Nashua Telegraph shortly after the Chargers upset the Colts. "Going out on the road and winning in Indianapolis, I think shows what kind of mental toughness they have.

"We know we're going to have to play our best game of the year, so we're on that."

In their only other meeting this season, the traveling Pats hammered San Diego. They recorded a 38-14 win on Sept. 16, but Belichick insists that this is a much improved Chargers outfit.

"Well, a lot's happened since then," he said. "We'll definitely start all over on the preparation, just almost like it's a new team, then look back at some of the things we had from back in September.

"But, that was such a long time ago, and I think the most important thing for us to focus on is what the Chargers have done in the last couple of months."

Bad blood

Sunday's contest is a rematch of last season's AFC playoff game, and that did not end well for the Chargers. They blew a fourth quarter lead, allowing the Pats to kick the winning field goals with four minutes left.

At the end of the game, a few New England players decided to celebrate by doing Shawn Merriman's 'lights out' dance on the Chargers logo at the 50-yard line.

San Diego took major offense to the celebration, with Tomlinson calling the Pats classless, while Philip Rivers branded cornerback Ellis Hobbs as the "the sorriest corner in the league."

The Chargers vowed revenge ahead of their embarrasing loss to the Pats in September, but now they get a second chance on the biggest possible stage.

Head to head

The Patriots have won and covered in two straight and six of their last eight meetings with San Diego. They easily covered a 3.5-point spread in the only meeting between the teams this season, winning by a remarkable 24-point margin on Sept. 16.

New England comes into this game with a perfect 17-0 straight up record, as well as a 10-7 ATS mark. The Chargers are on an eight-game unbeaten streak during which they've covered on every occasion.