Ness Notes (Jan 27)
Billy Crystal's one-man show is titled "700 Sundays." NFL
underdog bettors in 2005 may have felt this past season lasted
700 Sundays, as favorites 'covered' at a record rate. However,
the current NFL season has totaled just 20 Sundays (including
Christmas and New Year's Day).
My free play for Friday is in the NBA. Take the Cle Cavaliers
over the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET. I'm traveling on Friday and will
take a rare 'pass'. Check back on Saturday, as my games will be
available by 9:00 ET.
January 29 will mark the first Sunday in the last 21 with no NFL
football, as everyone awaits Super Bowl XL in Detroit on
February 5. The Steelers are either a 3 1/2 or four-point
favorite with the total hovering around 47 or 47 1/2. Look for a
week-long countdown to the Super Bowl beginning Monday.
In college hoops last night, No. 2 Duke had little trouble with
Va Tech a second time around (no 40-foot final-second shot
needed this time), winning 80-67 (game wasn't as close as the
score). No. 3 Memphis ended UAB's 10-game winning streak by
winning at home, 73-66.
In some late Pac-10 action, No. 10 Washington lost at Cal 71-69
and No. 17 UCLA won at Oregon, 56-49. Washington will travel to
Maples Pavilion on Sunday, where the Huskies have lost 12
straight to the Cardinal.
There's a light six-game schedule in Friday's college hoops but
loads of action on Saturday. ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to
televise eight games on Saturday, beginning with Cincinnati at
Georgetown (ESPN2) and Kansas at Iowa State (ESPN) at noon ET.
Saturday's coverage ends with Texas at Oklahoma on ESPN2 at 9:00
ET.
CBS features Arizona at North Carolina at 1:00 ET on Saturday
and regional coverage at 1:00 ET on Sunday (either Arkansas at
Kentucky or Indiana at Minnesota).
Southern Illinois owns the nation's longest current home winning
streak (33 straight) but the Salukis play at Illinois State on
Saturday. However, both Gonzaga and Illinois (each with 32
straight home wins) play home games on Saturday, Gonzaga hosting
Portland (8-12) and Illinois hosting Purdue (7-11).
The NBA weekend tips off with a busy 12-game schedule Friday
night.The ESPN doubleheader has Cleveland at Indiana (7:05 ET)
and the LA Clippers at Denver (9:35 ET).
The Pacers are finally rid of Ron Artest but just yesterday
announced that Jermaine O'Neal will be out for at least eight
weeks with a torn groin (OUCH!). Peja, acquired from the Kings
for Artest, is not expected to play tonight. Indiana just lost
at Cleveland this past Tuesday (96-66) and is currently a
four-point home 'dog' (and climbing!) to the Cavs with a total
of 181 1/2.
The Nuggets put their seven-game winning streak on the line
tonight when the Clippers come to town (teams play again
Saturday night in LA). Denver, after a disappointing 14-17 start
(remember the Nuggets closed last year on a 25-4 run!), have
gone 11-2 in January. Camby could be back in the lineup tonight
and Denver is currently a six-point choice with a total of 196.
Other games to keep an eye on Friday night are Memphis at
Detroit (Pistons are an eight-point choice with a total of 175
1/2), Sacramento at Boston (Celtics are favored by four with a
total of 200) and Golden State at the LA Lakers (Lakers are a
seven-point choice with a total of 207 1/2).
The Pistons are off to a 35-5 start, tying for the fourth-best
40-game start in NBA history. Memphis is the league's top
defensive team and beat the Psitons both times last year, before
losing in double-OT earlier this year.
Artest will make his King debut in Boston tonight (has been out
since December 6) and if history is any indicator, it may be a
winning debut. The Kings have beaten the Celtics four straight
times and in 10 of their last 11 meetings.
In the Stalpes Center, Kobe returns to the court for the first
time since his 81-point effort last Sunday against the Raptors,
when the Lakers host the Warriors.
Ness Notes will be available at 7:00 ET on Saturday and Sunday.