NFL Capsule: Minnesota at New Orleans
Football Betting Lines
09/08/2010 -
MINNESOTA (13-5) At NEW ORLEANS (16-3)
8:30 p.m. ET, NBC
OPENING LINE - Saints by 4 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Minnesota 11-6-1; New Orleans 10-9
SERIES RECORD - Vikings lead 20-8
LAST MEETING - Saints beat Vikings 31-28, Jan. 24, 2010
VIKINGS OFFENSE - OVERALL (5), RUSH (13), PASS (8)
VIKINGS DEFENSE - OVERALL (6), RUSH (2), PASS (19)
SAINTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (1), RUSH (6), PASS (4)
SAINTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (25), RUSH (21), PASS (26)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Game is rematch of the 2009 NFC championship. ... Vikings beginning their 50th NFL season; Saints beginning their 44th. ... Vikings QB Brett Favre returns for his 20th season. ... Favre needs 3 TD passes to become first ever to reach 500. ... Favre had career-high 107.2 passer rating in 2009. ... RB Adrian Peterson rushed for 1,383 yards, 18 TDs last season. ... Peterson had 122 yards rushing and 3 TDs but fumbled twice vs. Saints in NFC title game. ... Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe's 11 TD catches ranked second among TEs in 2009. ... Vikings DE Jarred Allen had 14 1/2 sacks in 2009. ... Saints won first Super Bowl in franchise history last season. ... Saints led NFL with 510 points, ninth most in single season history, and led NFL in total offense with 403.8 yards per game. ... Saints QB Drew Brees set NFL record with 70.62 completion percentage in 2009 and led NFL with career-high and franchise-high 109.6 passer rating. Was voted Super Bowl MVP. ... RB Pierre Thomas led Saints with career-high 793 yards rushing in 2009. ... RB Reggie Bush is only player in Saints history to score TDs rushing, receiving and on punt returns. ... WR Marques Colston led Saints with 70 catches for 1,074 yards in 2009, his third 1,000-yard season since joining NFL in 2006. ... Saints had 39 takeaways last season (26 INT, 13 fumble recoveries), second in NFL. ... S Roman Harper had career-high 127 tackles in 2009, second highest on Saints behind Jon Vilma's 130. ... All-Pro S Darren Sharper out six weeks after left knee surgery.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -The Big 12 is ready to run again.The pass-happy league that's been known in recent years for producing Heisman Trophy finalists at quarterback is now the home of the nation's top three rushers.Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter,
<< Alabama's Ingram likely to miss Penn State game
Tuscaloosa, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alabama junior running back Mark Ingram will
likely miss Saturday's game against Penn State as he continues to recover from
knee surgery performed last week.
Ingram was hurt during practice on August 30
<< Is the wild card hurting the division races?
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Before I get started here, let me state that I was a big
proponent of the wild card when it was implemented back in 1995, and I am still
in favor of it today. In fact, I am on the side of those who wish to expand the
playoffs
<< Star QBs dot Pac-10 landscape
PHOENIX (AP) -The Pac-10 has always been known as the quarterback conference, churning out stars such as John Elway, Troy Aikman and Drew Bledsoe.After a few down years under center, the Pac is back.Led by four potential first-round NFL draft picks,
<< In the FCS Huddle: Coaches at dropped programs regroup
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's unusual for a 59-year-old man who has
spent more than four decades in football to be calling himself an "apprentice"
at what he is doing, but Rocky Hager is joking about it today.
This time last year,
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -Notre Dame will have to buckle down on defense this weekend.Gap assignments, containment and sure tackling will all be essential when the Irish face Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson.Irish defensive back Darrin Walls says R
Red Wings bring back Maltby >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings have signed veteran
forward Kirk Maltby to a one-year, two-way contract.
No terms of the deal were announced.
The 37-year-old Maltby totaled four goals and six points over 52
Predators ink Franson >>
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nashville Predators signed
defenseman Cody Franson to a two-year contract worth $1.6 million on
Wednesday.
The 23-year-old compiled six goals and 21 points in 61 games during his
Line of Scrimmage: Week 1 - Conspicuous absences >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When confronted with a media inquiry
regarding a team member who is absent due to holdout, injury or suspension,
NFL coaches are fond of saying they'd rather talk about the "players that are
here."
It's s
Hamilton QB Glenn among CFL Players of the Week >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hamilton quarterback Kevin Glenn, Calgary
Stampeders defensive back Brandon Smith and Tiger-Cats linebacker Markeith
Knowlton were chosen as the CFL's Players of the Week.
Glenn led the Tiger-Cats t
Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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