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**Udog** · 12-24-2010, 09:09 AM

Daily Sports Roundup: December 24

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Warriors look for a bowl victory on their own turf when they take on Tulsa, while eight college hoops teams finish the Governor's Cup.

Colliding on the gridiron . . .

The lone pigskin action for Christmas Eve has No. 24 Hawaii vs. Tulsa in the Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The Warriors (9-3 SU, 9-2 ATS) blasted UNLV 59-21 in their last game of the regular season, while the Golden Hurricane (9-3 SU, 7-4 ATS) capped off their six-game winning streak with a 56-50 victory over Southern Miss last time out. Hawaii beat Tulsa 44-16 when the teams last met back in October 2004, and oddsmakers have them as 10-point favorites for Friday's contest with the total set at 73.

Tipping off on the hardwood . . .

As well, the only college hoops action for Friday is at the Cancun Governor's Cup at Poliforum Benito Juarez in Cancun, Mexico. The tournament wraps up with its championship round on Friday; matchups for the last day weren't set until late Thursday.

**Udog** · 12-24-2010, 09:12 AM

Bettors' best friend: Friday's wagering tips

Line moves

Hawaii opened as a 12-point favorite against Tulsa in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl but the line is now at -10.

Who’s hot

Tulsa is 4-0 ATS in its last four on the road and 8-1 ATS in its last nine overall.

Hawaii is 8-0 ATS in its last eight as a favorite, 7-0 ATS in its last seven at home, and 13-3 ATS in its last 16 overall.

The under is 4-0 in Tulsa's last four road games and 4-0 in Tulsa's last four bowl games.

Key stat

157.5 – Rushing yards per game averaged by the Oakland Raiders this season, second best in the NFL behind Kansas City. They host Indianapolis on Sunday. The Colts are getting Joseph Addai back to help their running game, but stopping the run continues to be a problem. Indy is surrendering 135.8 ground yards per contest, 28th in the league.

Injuries that shouldn’t be overlooked

Rajon Rondo attended Celtics' practice on Tuesday, still in a boot, and dribbled on the side. "I know he's walking and running pretty well and moving a lot better," said head coach Doc Rivers. "So I know he's getting pretty close." Rondo almost certainly won't play against Orlando on Christmas, but this still sounds encouraging. Jermaine O'Neal (left knee) has been out since Nov. 7, but he is expected to return on Christmas. He is listed as questionable.

Biggest games on the slate

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. Hawaii Warriors (-10, 74)

Notable quotable

"He (Eli Manning) got a couple cheers from the group because it was kind of out of his character. You could tell how much it meant to him. Just the look on his face told you how much he was kind of hurt by this game and how much he wants to come back and win on Sunday." -- Giants' defensive end Justin Tuck after Manning called a players only meeting following last week's collapse against Philadelphia. New York travels to Green Bay on Sunday.

Tips and notes

The Lakers have played 36 times on Christmas Day, second most in the NBA behind the New York Knicks (45). Phil Jackson has coached 17 times on Christmas (10 with his current team). Los Angeles lost to Miami three straight years on Dec. 25 from 2004 to 2006. Both teams are a lot different now, but those memories cannot be good ones for the Lakers. "It’s a big game in terms of excitement and anticipation and the marquee matchup in terms of the star power," noted guard Derek Fisher. "That's what makes it a big game. I don't know if it's about using it as a measuring stick. It may be different in their locker room, but in my opinion, for us, no."

According to the Atlanta Spirit, which owns the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers, the group's five-year dispute is finally over. Terms were not disclosed, although the owners said that Michael Gearon Jr. and Bruce Levenson will be managing partners of the Hawks, Thrashers, and Philips Arena. The main issue surrounded the buyout of fellow owner Steve Belkin, a highly-controversial figure. While settling this feud is easier said than done, that they are even saying it's over is a good sign. In the past, the Atlanta Spirit did even try to sugarcoat its problems. While this may not have an immediate impact, it can only be good news for the Hawks and Thrashers down the road.

Not surprisingly, Georgia star wideout A.J. Green is entering the 2011 Draft...at least according to WSB-TV in Atlanta. "There is a 100 percent chance he's gone," a pair of sources told the station. "And a possible lockout has no bearing on his decision." Green is trying to deny it on Twitter, but nobody will believe that. Assuming this is his swansong, it will come against an impressive Central Florida defense in the Liberty Bowl. The Knights were No. 1 in Conference-USA in total defense, scoring defense, and rushing defense, and No. 2 in passing defense.

**Udog** · 12-24-2010, 09:15 AM

Friday's six-pack

NFL statistical leaders, through 14 games.......

-- Rushing yards: Foster 1,345, Jones-Drew 1,324, Charles 1,303

-- Passing yards: PManning 4,257, Rivers 4,141, Brees 4,122

-- Receiving Yards: White 1,284, Lloyd 1,264, Wayne 1,247

-- Receptions: White 106, Wayne 99, AJohnson 86.

-- Sacks: Wake 14, Matthews 12.5, Abraham 12, Babin 12.

-- Scoring: Akers 134, Janikowski 121, Bryant 119

***************************************

Friday's List of 13: Nobody asked me, but.........

13) The college football bowl system is so incredibly corrupt; they're not suspending Terrelle Pryor for the Sugar Bowl because it would kill TV ratings for the game; Buckeyes would be lost without Pryor. So, he gets suspended for the first five games next year. Problem is, if the kid goes pro, he never gets punished. Same goes for the other four players.

12) Ohio State opens next year with Akron-Toledo-@ Miami-Colorado, then the Big (11+1) opener vs Michigan State; three of those first four teams will have new coaches 2011, so this news makes them smarter.

11) My first thought was, if a kid has a possession, he's not allowed to sell it? The Big 11 championship ring belongs to him; he earned it, so if he wants to sell it, so be it. If a normal college student sells one of his textbooks, is that illegal? These rules make no sense to me, but its been a while since anyone accused me of being smart.

10) Looks like the college basketball career of Renardo Sidney might be over after two games; the highly recruited, oft-suspended big man got into a fracas with a teammate in stands at the Stan Sheriff Center after Mississippi State's win Thursday. Seeing as he was suspended for the first game of the tournament for an outburst in practice, this is probably the last straw for coach Rick Stansbury. It ain't worth the trouble.

9) Another Thursday, another dreadful NFL game; someone in the NFL office thought Carolina was going to be good this year, so they put them on national TV (well, everywhere but in my house) on December 23. As it turns out, Carolina is the worst team in the NFL; the game sucked, so I'm not as annoyed as usual that NFL Network isn't carried by cable.

8) ESPN.com has an interesting article on a kid named Anatoly Bose who is scoring 25 ppg playing for Nicholls State; Young man lived all over the place as a kid, moving from Kazakhstan to Brooklyn to Australia. Now he is seen as a potential NBA player.

7) Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy coached his Rebels while wearing jeans Tuesday night; last night, he dressed less casually, since the game was on TV. Going to Cancun for Christmas is a good thing.

6) Colorado State-Southern Mississippi is final of the Cancun tourney Christmas Eve at 9pm. I think USM was hoping to get a rematch with Ole Miss, who beat them by 5 in Oxford last month.

5) Butler-Washington State will be the final of Diamond Head tourney out in Hawai'i, but that final is Christmas Day, not Friday night.

4) Driving in **** parking lots is a living hell at this time of year; people forget/ignore how to driv. Its amazing there aren't more accidents when people just ignore common courtesy like they do in December.

3) You go into the stores this week every year and you can see fatigue in the workers' eyes; I'm not kidding. You tell them its only a couple days until Christmas and their faces light up, like an inmate ready to get out of prison. Working in retail can't be a whole lot of fun.

2) As far as NBA guys complaining about playing on Christmas, I'll say this: they make a ton of money for a job that anyone would love to have. If there are one or two things about the job that are a little inconvenient, well, too bad. Deal with it. When you make the cash some of these guys are making, any freakin' day can be Christmas.

1) It does merit a mention that the NHL doesn't play on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, for what its worth.

**Udog** · 12-24-2010, 09:20 AM

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Friday, December 24

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E TENN ST (4 - 7) vs. APPALACHIAN ST (4 - 6) - 12/24/2010, 1:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
E TENN ST is 2-0 straight up against APPALACHIAN ST over the last 3 seasons

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NORTHEASTERN (3 - 6) vs. TEXAS ST (3 - 8) - 12/24/2010, 3:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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SAINT LOUIS (5 - 6) vs. OLE MISS (9 - 3) - 12/24/2010, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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SOUTHERN MISS (9 - 1) vs. COLORADO ST (7 - 3) - 12/24/2010, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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Well, this is really helpful!

**Udog** · 12-24-2010, 09:25 AM

NCAAB
Write-Up

Friday, December 24

Ole Miss star G Warren is having tough time in Cancun, going 6-30 from floor, 3-15 from arc; Rebels lost to Colorado State last night, their third loss of year- one of other two losses was to Dayton, which is in same Atlantic 14 at Saint Louis. Majerus' squad is young/thin (best two guys are suspended); they led Southern Miss for most of game before losing by 7 yesterday, in a game where Billekens made 10-20 behind the arc. The four teams playing here are playing for third consecutive day.

You wonder if Southern Mississippi was looking forward to rematch with Ole Miss in Cancun final, after losing by 5 to Rebels in Oxford last month; Golden Eagles won their first two games in Cancun by 4-7 over East Tennesseee/Saint Louis. Colorado State allowed 92-90-76 points in its three losses this year; they got second straight double-double from Ole Miss transfer Ogide. Before beating #62 Ole Miss last night, highest ranked team Rams beat was #157 Appalchian State on Wednesday.

**Udog** · 12-24-2010, 09:32 AM

NCAAB

Friday, December 24

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Trend Report
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1:00 PM
EAST TENNESSEE STATE vs. APPALACHIAN STATE
No trends available
Appalachian State is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
Appalachian State is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games when playing East Tennessee State

7:00 PM
SAINT LOUIS vs. MISSISSIPPI
No trends available
Mississippi is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

9:30 PM
SOUTHERN MISS vs. COLORADO STATE
No trends available
Colorado State is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games

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**Udog** · 12-24-2010, 10:21 AM

NCAAB
Short Sheet

Friday, 12/24/2010

Cancun Governor's Cup - Final Round - Cancun, Mexico
E TENN ST vs. APPALACHIAN ST, 1:00 PM ET
E TENN ST: 8-2 ATS off 3+ SU losses
APPALACHIAN ST: 5-1 Under off 3+ non-conf games

NORTHEASTERN vs. TEXAS ST, 3:30 PM ET
NORTHEASTERN: 4-1 Over if underdog last game
TEXAS ST: 6-1 ATS in all games

SAINT LOUIS vs. OLE MISS, 7:00 PM ET ESPN2
SAINT LOUIS: 9-21 ATS vs. non-conference
OLE MISS: 12-4 ATS after a game with 9 or less assists

SOUTHERN MISS vs. COLORADO ST, 9:30 PM ET ESPN2
SOUTHERN MISS: 37-19 ATS off 3+ SU wins
COLORADO ST: 0-4 ATS off 3+ SU wins

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

**Udog** · 12-24-2010, 11:04 AM

NCAAB
Dunkel

Northeastern vs. Texas State
The Bobcats look to take advantage of a Northeastern team that is coming off a 77-67 win over East Tennessee State and is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games following a SU win. Texas State is the pick (+9) according to Dunkel, which has Northeastern favored by only 5 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Texas State (+9). Here are all of today's games.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24

Game 501-502: East Tennessee State vs. Appalachian State (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: East Tennessee State 52.773; Appalachian State 55.794
Dunkel Line: Appalachian State by 3
Vegas Line: Appalachian State by 1
Dunkel Pick: Appalachian State (-1)

Game 503-504: Northeastern vs. Texas State (3:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Northeastern 52.155; Texas State 46.445
Dunkel Line: Northeastern by 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Northeastern by 9
Dunkel Pick: Texas State (+9)

Game 505-506: St. Louis vs. Mississippi (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis 57.031; Mississippi 64.212
Dunkel Line: Mississippi by 7
Vegas Line: Mississippi by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Mississippi (-5 1/2)

Game 507-508: Southern Mississippi at Colorado State (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Southern Mississippi 62.019; Colorado State 57.809
Dunkel Line: Southern Mississippi by 4
Vegas Line: Southern Mississippi by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado State (+5 1/2)

Announcement

Friday's Trends and Indexes - 12/24 (NCAAB, Misc.)

Friday's Trends and Indexes - 12/24 (NCAAB, Misc.)

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