Although they’re going to need a little help, the scenario is pretty clear for the Dolphins this Sunday . . . If the Fins beat the Jets, then they need for the Cincinnati Bengals to beat the Baltimore Ravens OR the San Diego Chargers to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. The Las Vegas oddsmakers like Miami’s chances - the Fins are favored by six over the Jets; the Bengals are favored by six over the Ravens, and the Chargers are favored by 10 over the Chiefs. Keep your fingers crossed.
Here’s more on the Dolphins from Armando Salguero:
MY TAKE: Just as a reminder and a memory jog, this is what I wrote in my preseason analysis of the Dolphins back before the season started:
Miami Dolphins 9-7
I really look for Ryan Tannehill to improve from last year’s rookie season. A second year of working with Mike Sherman and Coach Philbin will help, as will the new toys he has at his disposal. Gotta hope that the running game is able to run behind that suspect offensive line, although it seems that they are getting comfortable with their new zone blocking scheme. The defense will be better, especially against the pass, where they were 27th in the NFL last year. Here’s another Dolphins prediction: If the Fins do not make it to the playoffs this season, say goodbye to GM Jeff Ireland.
AFC WILD CARD 1 AFC WILD CARD 2
Indianapolis Colts Miami Dolphins
The last week of the regular season is here, although for some teams this could be considered the first week of the playoffs, as a few teams are in a position or win or go home. In my picks last week, I finished 3-3-1, and my record for the year is 58-48-6 against the spread, and 67-45 overall. Let’s try and finish the season with a bang. Here are this week’s games, and I’ll have my picks tomorrow for the games with the biggest playoff implications:
SUNDAY
Jets @ Dolphins -6 1:00 pm CBS
Baltimore @ Cincinnati -6 1:00 pm CBS
Kansas City @ San Diego -10 4:25 pm CBS
Green Bay @ Chicago -7 4:25 pm FOX
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans -13 4:25 pm FOX
San Francisco @ Arizona -1 4:25 pm FOX
Philadelphia @ Dallas +6 ½ 8:30 pm NBC
Carolina @ Atlanta +6 1:00 pm FOX
Detroit @ Minnesota -3 1:00 pm FOX
Washington @ NY Giants -4 1:00 pm FOX
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh -7 1:00 pm CBS
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis -12 1:00 pm CBS
Houston @ Tennessee -7 1:00 pm CBS
Buffalo @ New England -9 4:25 pm CBS
Denver @ Oakland +12 4:25 pm CBS
St. Louis @ Seattle -11 4:25 pm FOX
Check out the links below, for the complete playoff picture and the conference standings.
Here’s ESPN’s NFL Nation Blog, with more news from all around the league:
Of course, we can all continue to sleep at night, knowing full well that Aaron Hernandez remains in jail, where he belongs.
Here’s the latest around MLB baseball:
MY TAKE: The Yankees really want this guy. Look out for the Dodgers and the Braves.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: We all remember that Jose Canseco was the first player to hit forty homers and steal forty bases in a season back in 1988, when he blasted 42 homers and stole 40 bases. Three more players since then have joined him. Who are they? The answer comes later, alligator.
Marlins’ pitchers and catchers report February 16th, position players arrive February 20th, and the spring training games begin February 26th, when the Fish play the University of Miami Hurricanes. They will then play the FIU Panthers on the 27th. Both of those games will be in Jupiter.
Here is the complete preseason schedule for the Fish:
In college football,
The College Bowl season is in full swing, with two games tonight.
THURSDAY, December 26
LITTLE CAESARS BOWL
6:00 pm ESPN
6:00 pm ESPN
Pittsburgh vs Bowling Green
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL
9:30 pm ESPN
9:30 pm ESPN
Utah State vs Northern Illinois
The BCS National Championship game will have the Florida State Seminoles squaring off against the Auburn Tigers in Pasadena on January 6th. The rest of the bowl schedule is here, including a good one in the Orange Bowl Classic, where we will see the Clemson Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes do battle at the Seven Names Stadium.
The University of Miami Hurricanes take on the Louisville Cardinals in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando on Saturday. Game time is at 6:45 pm, and you can catch the game on ESPN.
If the Canes are going to beat Louisville on Saturday, they need to make life difficult for QB Teddy Bridgewater:
Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have the latest from Coral Gables.
Here’s the latest from FIU. David J. Neal of the Herald has the details:
Here’s the latest from Tallahassee and #1-ranked FSU:
From Gainesville and the University of Florida:
Moving to the hardwood:
The Miami Heat continue on a roll, as they beat the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, and yesterday, they kicked off their west coast road trip in their Christmas Day contest against the Lakers, defeating them 101-96. Miami has now won six games in a row. Next game for the Heat is tomorrow in Sacramento against the Kings. The road trip continues on Saturday in Portland against a very good Trailblazers team, that is tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers with the best record in the NBA at 23-5. Miami is just behind them at 22-6. The Heat’s upcoming schedule:
Heat @ Kings Fri 12/27 10:00 pm Sun Sports
Heat @ Trailblazers Sat 12/28 10:00 pm Sun Sports
Heat @ Nuggets Mon 12/30 9:00 pm Sun Sports
Warriors @ Heat Thu 1/02 7:30 pm Sun Sports
Heat @ Magic Sat 1/04 7:00 pm Sun Sports
Raptors @ Heat Sun 1/05 6:00 pm Sun Sports
More Heat coverage:
Here is the Heat’s complete regular season schedule:
On the NHL ice, big weekend for the Panthers as they host the Detroit Red Wings at the BB&T Center on Saturday night, and then host the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. Game time on Saturday is 7:00 pm, and on Sunday at 6:00 pm. You can catch all the action on Fox Sports Florida.
In boxing news,
Here is Santos Perez’ weekly boxing spotlight column from the Miami Herald:
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I’m selling three lots totaling a little over five acres in the beautiful North Carolina mountains, overlooking the New River, a quick 35-minute drive from Boone and Blowing Rock. Click here to see some photos and feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
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THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: We all remember that Jose Canseco was the first player to hit forty homers and steal forty bases in a season back in 1988, when he blasted 42 homers and stole 40 bases. Three more players since then have joined him. Who are they?
Barry Bonds did it in 1996 (42 HR, 40 SB). Alex Rodriguez in 1998 (42 HR, 46 SB) and Alfonso Soriano in 2006 (46 HR and 41 SB).
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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