Once more . . . if the Fins beat the Jets, they also need 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 five over the Jets; the Bengals are favored by six over the Ravens, and the Chargers are favored by 9 over the Chiefs. Keep your fingers crossed.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Tight end Charles Clay has a chance to break the Dolphins team record for receptions and yards in a season by a tight end. Who holds the tight end single-season receiving record for the Dolphins? The answer comes later, alligator.
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
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. Last week, I finished 3-3-1, and my record for the year is 58-48-6 against the spread, and 67-45 overall.
SUNDAY
Jets @ Dolphins -5 1:00 pm CBS
Which Dolphin team is going to show up on Sunday? Will it be the team that beat the Jets 23-3 a few weeks ago? Will it be the stinkers that lost last week to the Bills 19-0? Who knows? I sure don’t. Miami has won six out of the last nine games against the Jets. Go Dolphins.
Baltimore @ Cincinnati -6 1:00 pm CBS
The Bengals are playing to possibly earn a first-round bye, and they are undefeated this season at home. The Ravens are playing for their playoff lives, and have a 2-5 record this season away from home. Go Bengals.
Kansas City @ San Diego -9 4:25 pm CBS
This is a virtually meaningless game for the Chiefs, and head coach Andy Reid is debating whether to play his starters or rest them for this game. Meanwhile, the Chargers will already know their fate when they take the field, needing both Miami and Baltimore to lose in the early games. Not going to happen. This is a crappy game to bet. Too many points. Go San Diego.
Green Bay @ Chicago +2 ½ 4:25 pm FOX
Winner-takes-all. After missing seven games with a shoulder injury, Aaron Rodgers will start for the Packers, and that swung the spread to Green Bay’s favor. Jay Cutler owns a 1-8 career record against Green Bay. The Bears can stop the run if their lives depended on it. With trepidation, go Packers.
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans -13 4:25 pm FOX
The Saints will go to the playoffs if they beat the Bucs. If they win, and Carolina loses, they win the division and earn a first-round bye. They will be ready. Go Saints.
San Francisco @ Arizona +3 4:25 pm FOX
The Cardinals need to win and they will need help to advance to the playoffs, as they need a win from the Bucs over the Saints. The 49ers are in the playoffs, but can improve with help in other games. The Cardinals may become only the second 11-win team to miss the playoffs since the new format was started in 2002. Go Cardinals.
Philadelphia @ Dallas +6 ½ 8:30 pm NBC
Another winner-take-all match. Dallas QB Tony Romo may not dress for the game, but it may not have made a difference anyway. Romo is 0-3 in season finales with the division title at stake, and he is 1-6 in elimination games. It will probably be up to backup QB Kyle Orton. Philadelphia is clicking on all cylinders at the right time, behind second-year QB Nick Foles. Go Eagles.
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.
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 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.
If the Canes are going to beat Louisville in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando 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 are in Sacramento tonight to take on Kings. The road trip continues on Saturday in Portland against a very good Trailblazers team, the team with the best record in the NBA at 24-5. The Heat’s upcoming games:
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. The Cats are 7-3 in their last ten games. 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: Tight end Charles Clay has a chance to break the Dolphins team record for receptions and yards in a season by a tight end. Who holds the tight end single-season receiving record for the Dolphins?
Clay has 65 catches for 716 yards so far this year. He needs 9 catches and 76 yards on Sunday to pass Randy McMichael, who caught 73 passes for 791 yards back in 2004.
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
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