Ascending Broncos Host Hated Raiders
Football Betting Lines
11/21/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In last Sunday's win at the Atlanta Falcons, the Denver Broncos proved that their beleaguered defense could exhibit solid play for four quarters against a quality opponent with a dangerous offensive cast.
The Broncos' task on Sunday, against an Oakland Raiders team that is neither high-quality nor boasts any semblance of offensive consistency, figures to be far less challenging.
The Raiders (2-8) come into Invesco Field at Mile High having not scored an offensive touchdown in 13 quarters dating back to a third-quarter JaMarcus Russell touchdown pass to Justin Griffith against Baltimore on Oct. 26th.
Since that time, the Silver and Black have found the end zone just once, a 93- yard punt return for a score by Johnnie Lee Higgins against Miami last Sunday. That fourth-quarter TD actually put the Raiders ahead, 15-14, until the ensuing Dolphins drive resulted in a game-winning field goal and handed Miami a 17-15 win. The result extended Oakland's losing streak to four since an overtime victory against the Jets in Week 7.
The Raiders have not scored a first-quarter touchdown this season, and have not scored a first-quarter touchdown on the road since Sept. 30, 2007, when current Detroit Lion Daunte Culpepper rushed for a touchdown against the Dolphins.
Entering Week 12, Oakland is last in the NFL in scoring offense (12.8 points per game), passing offense (136.9 yards per game), completion percentage (49.6), touchdowns (10), rushing touchdowns (3), passing touchdowns (6), and third-down percentage (22.1).
The Broncos, meanwhile, feature one of the most powerful passing attacks in the league, though as mentioned, it was the defense that was the story in last week's 24-20 win at Atlanta.
Three Falcons running backs combined for just 96 yards on 30 carries (3.2 yards per attempt), with a makeshift Denver linebacking corps consisting of rookie Spencer Larsen in the middle and Wesley Woodyard and Jamie Winborn on the outside making a number of big tackles and consistently guarding against the game-changing big play.
Against the pass, the Broncos didn't have a sack and allowed Roddy White to go over 100 yards, but also kept quarterback Matt Ryan from throwing a touchdown strike and received a big interception from cornerback Dre' Bly in the second half.
The 20 points were the fewest surrendered by the Broncos since defeating the Buccaneers, 16-13, on Oct. 5.
The victory, coupled with a Chargers loss at Pittsburgh, moved Mike Shanahan's squad two games up on second-place San Diego (4-6) in the AFC West.
SERIES HISTORY
The Raiders lead the all-time regular season series with Denver, which dates back to 1960, by a 54-40-2 count, but were a 41-14 home loser when the teams met in Week 1. Denver is now 21-6 against Oakland since the 1995 season, but had a five-game winning streak in the series snapped with a 34-20 loss in Oakland in Week 12 of last year. The Broncos were 23-20 overtime winners when the clubs met in the Mile High City in Week 2 of last year, and the Raiders are 0-3 in Denver since last winning there in 2004.
In addition to the regular season series, the teams have split a pair of postseason matchups, with Denver winning the 1977 AFC Championship, 20-17, and the then-Los Angeles Raiders prevailing in a 1993 AFC First-Round Playoff, 42-24.
Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is 21-6 against the team he coached in 1988 and part of the 1989 season before being fired. Oakland's Tom Cable will be meeting both Shanahan and the Broncos for the first time as a head coach.
WHEN THE RAIDERS HAVE THE BALL
Charged with the task of leading Oakland's first touchdown drive of the month of November will be Russell (1445 passing yards, 6 TD, 4 INT), who returned from a one-week injury absence in last week's loss to Miami. Russell was nearly made an unlikely winner after the Raiders took a late lead, though the best thing you could say about the second-year pro's performance is that he didn't make any major mistakes. Russell completed 15-of-22 passes for 156 yards without a touchdown or turnover in the loss, including six completions for 73 yards to wideout Ronald Curry (14 receptions, 1 TD), who posted his top performance of the year. The Raiders' top target for most of 2008 has been tight end Zach Miller (29 receptions, 1 TD), who caught four balls for 67 yards in the defeat. Rookie rusher Darren McFadden (354 rushing yards, 1 TD, 12 receptions) returned last week after missing three games with turf toe, but Justin Fargas (440 rushing yards, 5 receptions) continued to receive a bulk of the carries. Fargas carried 17 times for 57 yards in the game, while the first-rounder McFadden totaled just 13 yards on three rush attempts. The Raider o-line has struggled for much of the year, allowing 32 sacks, including six last week.
With injuries still wreaking havoc on defense, the Broncos are going to need previously unknown players like Larsen, Woodyard, and rookie cornerbacks Josh Bell (6 tackles) and Jack Williams (10 tackles) to continue making an impact. Larsen (15 tackles), who made headlines by starting at linebacker, fullback, and on special teams in the same game, finished with seven tackles in the Atlanta win, while running mates Woodyard (24 tackles) and Winborn (58 tackles) combined for 18 more. The Broncos improved to 26th in the league versus the run (142.1 yards per game) following last week's effort. The Broncos continue to rank just 29th in the league against the pass (243.5 yards per game), and have only four interceptions on the year, but could get cornerback Champ Bailey (28 tackles, 1 INT) back after a three-game absence on Sunday. Bailey (groin) is considered questionable for this week. Getting pressure on Russell will also be a directive for the Broncos on Sunday, after the team was shut out in that regard last week. Denver has 20 sacks on the year, including a combined seven from ends Ebenezer Ekuban (20 tackles, 4 sacks) and Elvis Dumervil (14 tackles, 3 sacks).
WHEN THE BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL
Though the Broncos have undergone numerous personnel changes since the Raiders last saw them in Week 1, what has not changed is that Denver remains essentially a pass-first group. Jay Cutler (2832 passing yards, 19 TD, 11 INT) enters Week 12 with a strong 90.7 passer rating, and was an efficient 19-of-27 for 216 yards with a touchdown and no turnovers in Atlanta last week. Brandon Marshall (63 receptions, 4 TD) and Eddie Royal (56 receptions, 4 TD) have both proven difficult for opponents to stop. Royal went for 146 yards against the Raiders in Week 1, a game in which Marshall did not appear due to a suspension. Tight end Tony Scheffler (20 receptions, 2 TD) has been mostly quiet amid injuries of late, and did not have a catch in Atlanta last Sunday. Scheffler (groin) is considered probable for Sunday. The Broncos' running game has gone to a by-committee approach, which worked well in the win over the Falcons last week. Converted rookie fullback Peyton Hillis (82 rushing yards, 11 receptions, 3 TD) scored two of the Broncos' three touchdowns and rushed for 44 yards on 10 carries, practice squad promotee P.J. Pope made his four carries count for 35 yards, and prodigal son Tatum Bell - who looked like he might never wear an NFL uniform again following a bizarre teammate-theft story after being cut from the Lions in early September - carried seven times for 34 yards just days after being re-signed to the team. The Broncos o-line has done a terrific job protecting Cutler all season, surrendering only seven sacks all year.
Denver could see fit to attack Oakland via the run game, given that the Raiders are a distant 30th in NFL rushing defense (164.5 yards per game) as Week 12 begins. The Dolphins piled up 222 yards on the ground versus the Silver and Black last week, with tackles Gerard Warren (23 tackles, 4 sacks) and Tommy Kelly (40 tackles, 3.5 sacks) again failing to make much of an impact at the point of attack. Linebackers Kirk Morrison (87 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Thomas Howard (65 tackles, 1 sack) continue to rank among team leaders in tackles, but the fact that safety Gibril Wilson (1 INT) has 86 stops on the year says much about the soft nature of the Raiders' front seven. The strength of the Oakland defense has been its coverage, particularly the work of cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (24 tackles, 1 INT) and safeties Wilson and Hiram Eugene (29 tackles). The pass rush has also been decent, generating 24 sacks including three of Chad Pennington last week. End Kalimba Edwards (36 tackles, 5 sacks) continues to lead the club in sacks, but did not manage one last Sunday. Oakland is 12th in the league against the pass (194.7 yards per game) as Week 12 commences, but has also faced the fifth-fewest pass attempts in the NFL.
FANTASY FOCUS
The Raiders have been fantasy league poison for the better part of the past month, but there's a chance someone like Fargas, McFadden, or tight end Miller could put up a surprising total against a still-shaky Denver defense. Otherwise, stay far, far away from any member of this team.
The principles of the Broncos passing game remain strong from a fantasy standpoint, with Cutler, Marshall, and Royal all serving as must-starts. Tight end Scheffler was once a solid option as well, but has been beset by injuries and did not have a catch in Atlanta. The running-back-by-committee approach is generally problematic for fantasy purposes, but given the weakness of the Raiders run defense, you might want to take a flier on Hillis or perhaps Bell. Kicker Matt Prater has been great in leagues that give bonuses for kicks of 50+. Normally you wouldn't get anywhere near the Broncos defense, but if you're looking for a group that has a favorable matchup this week, Denver is the one.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Don't expect the Broncos to underestimate the Raiders as the Dolphins apparently did last week. No matter how bad Oakland is, Shanahan and the Broncos always seem to save something special for them, and wouldn't dare let another opportunity to embarrass Al Davis slip away. Luckily for Denver, this Oakland team figures to be compliant, as the Raiders' effort and talent level have alternately competed for least-potent status. Just like in Week 1, the Broncos will control both sides of the football and walk away with a sizeable win.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Broncos 30, Raiders 10
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING
NCAA Football Betting : USC's reward: Top spot in Top 25NEW YORK (AP) -By staying away from the cupcakes, Southern California earned itself a slim new ranking.
No. 1 always seems to fit USC.
Southern California jumped two spots to No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 on Tuesday, rewarded by voters for opening the season with a dominant performance on the road against a BCS conference opponent.
Georgia and Ohio State, the preseason Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, started their seasons with glorified scrimmages at home against FCS (formerly I-AA) teams. USC, however, traveled across country to face Virginia and could not have been more impressive in a 52-7 victory.
Georgia fell to No. 2 and Ohio State to No 3.
"We realize that rankings so early in a season are certainly fluid. But rankings do help establish a pecking order for things later in the season," USC coach Pete Carroll said in a statement. "As for moving into the No. 1 spot, it's nice to know that people think highly of our team."
Since reaching No. 1 on Dec. 7, 2003, the final-regular season AP poll of that season, USC has been No. 1 in 39 polls, by far the most of any team during that time.
"Some have said the voters are taking our schedule into consideration," Carroll said. "Our philosophy has always been to schedule outstanding opponents. We need to play challenging games like we just did, traveling across the country to open the season at Virginia. Games like that bring out our best and make us stronger as a team."
The latest voting was close. USC received 21 first-place votes and 1,539 points from the 65-member media panel. Georgia had 20 first-place votes and 1,506 points. Ohio State got 15 first-place votes and 1,497 points.
"I'd say we've evolved as pollsters," said Stewart Mandel of SI.com, who moved USC up to No. 1. "In the past, voters just kind of automatically moved teams up and kept teams where they were if they won."
Georgia beat Georgia Southern 45-21 on Saturday and Ohio State opened with a 43-0 win over Youngstown State.
"There's a bit of a growing backlash for the amount of teams that open with I-AA cupcakes," said Mandel, whose book "Bowls, Polls and Tattered Souls" chronicles college football's controversies. "To see a team [USC] go on the road and play a New Year's Day bowl team from last season, and not only play them but destroy them, how could you not reward that team?"
USC also jumped past Georgia to No. 1 in the USA Today coaches' poll, which has the same top five as the AP poll.
"It's definitely a privilege to be No. 1. But it's not heartbreaking to me if we drop," Georgia offensive lineman Josh Davis said. "It doesn't matter right now what we're ranked. What matters is our next game and right now, that's Central Michigan. The only time the polls matter is in December. That's when the polls matter."
While the Bulldogs opened easy, their schedule ultimately should be as difficult as any team's. Georgia's big nonconference test is at No. 15 Arizona State on Sept. 20. The Bulldogs also face six Southeastern Conference rivals that've been ranked in the first two polls.
As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes play at USC on Sept. 13 before getting into the Big Ten schedule.
But of the teams in this week's top 10, USC and Texas are the only ones that don't play an FCS opponent, and the Trojans are the only team that doesn't play a team from a non-BCS conference.
Get the latest 2009 BCS Championship odds at MySportsbook.com.
The last team to drop from No. 1 after a victory was USC last season. LSU jumped from No. 2 to No. 1 when it beat Tulane 34-9, the same week the Trojans edged Washington 27-24 on the road.
The last preseason No. 1 team to lose the top spot after winning its opening game was Florida in 2001. The Gators beat Marshall 49-14, but preseason No. 2 Miami opened with a 33-7 victory over Penn State and the Hurricanes jumped to No. 1 with Florida slipping to second.
The next four teams in the new Top 25 stayed the same: No. 4 Oklahoma (two first-place votes), No. 5 Florida (five first-place votes), No. 6 Missouri (one first-place vote), No. 7 LSU (one first-place vote) and No. 8 West Virginia.
No. 9 Auburn and No. 10 Texas each moved up a spot, taking advantage of Clemson's big drop. Clemson, ninth in the preseason, fell out after losing 34-10 to Alabama on Saturday.
Also falling out after losses were Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.
Moving into the rankings were No. 21 Fresno State, No. 22 Utah, No. 23 UCLA and No. 24 South Carolina.
Alabama moved up 11 spots after its big victory over Clemson.
The second 10 started with No. 11 Wisconsin, followed by Texas Tech, Alabama and Kansas. BYU and Arizona State were tied for 15th. Rivals BYU and Utah are both ranked for the first time since 1996.
South Florida was No. 17, ahead of Oregon, Penn State and Wake Forest at No. 20.
The final five were all the teams to move into the ranking, except for Illinois, which dropped four spots and tied South Carolina for No. 24.
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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."
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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