effect Super bowl on stock market 2012

effect Super bowl on stock market 2012 : Legend has it that if a team from the original National Football League, such as the New York Giants, wins the Super Bowl, the stock market will end the year on a positive note. But if victory is claimed by a member of the historic American Football League, such as the New England Patriots, then the year will turn sour for the markets.

Academics also debate about how to handle expansion teams, which have no ties to the original leagues. Also upending the Indicator is the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers is an original NFL team that plays in the American Football Conference. That means when the Steelers compete in the Super Bowl, as it has eight times including last year, the Indicator predicts an up-year for the markets, no matter which team wins.

Good to know that experts are debating weighty issues such as how to best fit data to make a made up connection look better. As it stands, because three former NFL teams joined the AFC when the leagues merged (Steelers, Browns and Colts), we’ve got a better chance of a good year. Also, well, the markets tend to go up over time.

The stock market is a vast and complicated mechanism, combining hundreds of different market trends from around the globe along with thousands of different companies into a complex and unpredictable economy that’s driven by broad macro-economic factors that affect us all, right? Wrong! The really important information is the Super Bowl!

The Super Bowl Indicator Theory
Okay, so the idea that the winning league in the Super Bowl will accurately predict the direction of the market over the next year is ridiculous, right? There’s no real connection between the old AFL/NFL divide and something so important as the Dow Jones Industrial Average? Common sense would say no.

However, the idea that wins by original AFL teams winning the Super Bowl foretells a bear market while original NFL teams winning predicts a bull market persists. Why? Because, judging by the Dow Jones, the predictive powers of the Super Bowl Indicator is now 33-for-41 and went five for seven between 2002 and 2007. Whoops.

Once again, common sense would seem to indicate that this is obviously a coincidence, but when one considers that Peter Lynch once said that a success rate of six out of 10 for stock-picking is enviable, it’s hard to completely ignore data like that. Of course, one might also try to hone in even further.

This year’s match-up pits the New York Giants of the NFC against the New England Patriots of the AFC, a rematch of the 2008 Super Bowl. The Giants won the last match-up…and the stock market suffered its worst crash since the Great Depression. That would mean that 100 percent of the time that the Giants have beaten the Pats in the Super Bowl the stock market took a massive tumble. One can expand that even further when considering that the Giants won their first Super Bowl in…1987. Food for thought, folks.

Other Super Bowl Effects
In a much more concrete, real way, the Giants could hurt the markets marginally with a win. Why? Because the long odds on the team winning the Super Bowl offered by Vegas bookmakers last year got snapped up by Giants fans. As recently as last month (when the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints had to be considered prohibitive favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl) the odds of the Giants winning the Super Bowl were as high as 100-1.

While sports books like those at Wynn Resorts (WYNN), MGM Resorts (MGM), and Las Vegas Sands (LVS) try to balance bets so that the outcome of games won’t affect the bottom line, futures bets can often mean that this balance gets thrown off if major underdogs have success. Sports books took a beating in 2008 as well on the Giants unlikely run that year, and another Giants win could mean another hit.

“We’re pretty strung out on the Giants and we’re not alone,” Chris Andrews, director of race and sports for Cal Neva’s sports books, said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg. “As far as the future book goes, we certainly don’t want to see the Giants win.”

Source :
http://editorial.equities.com
http://thebiglead.com

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Can the Super Bowl impact the market?
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How to Watch Live Stream Superbowl online 2012

How to Watch Live Stream Superbowl online 2012 : Are you ready for some (online) football? The National Football League (NFL) and NBC announced back in December that they will stream the Super Bowl online for the first time. Well, the big game is right around the corner; Super Bowl XLVI begins at 6:30pm Eastern time on Sunday in a battle between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.

But for those who can't gather around their HDTVs to watch the action, the National Football League (NFL) and NBC have you covered online. Check out some of your viewing options, as well as some of PCMag's Super Bowl coverage, below.

NBCSports.com
Pre-game coverage begins at 2pm Eastern on NBCSports.com, while game coverage begins at 6pm. The NFL and NBC promise a choice of four different camera angles, the ability to pause and rewind, and connections to Twitter and Facebook.

You'll need the most recent version of Silverlight installed to watch the stream; details about supported browsers and system requirements are available on NBC's Web site. The stream will only be available in the United States and while the game is live on TV. The Super Bowl video player will be taken offline shortly after the conclusion of the game.

NFL Mobile on Verizon
The game will also be available via the NFL Mobile app, which can be found in the Apple iTunes Store and on the Android Market. You can also call **NFL (635) on your Verizon phone, or enter your phone number at the Web site above.

Verizon has been the NFL's official wireless sponsor since 2010, when the carrier signed a four-year deal with the organization. The app will provides live coverage of the Super Bowl on Sunday, but also includes access to the RedZone for key plays, live audio, a team feed, and more.

Social Media
Twitter: For a less data-intensive way to monitor the Super Bowl, Twitter will likely be ablaze with chatter during the big game. The @GiantsTweets and @NEPatriotsTweets accounts, for example, will be automatically selecting and retweeting the top tweets from official team accounts, coaches, players, owners, and local media, Twitter said. Of course, the @Giants and @Patriots, and @NFL are all on Twitter.

Foursquare: The location-based service is offering a $5 credit on your next Amex statement for anyone who spends at least $10 at Pizza Hut this Sunday and checks in to Super Swarm Sunday. To utilize, tap "check in" to find the U.S.-wide Super Swarm Sunday location and unlock the special. Then click "sync my card" or "load my card" if you're already synced. Then, order $10 or more from Pizza Hut with your Amex card and the company will add a $5 credit to your account in the following days.

Yahoo: On Saturday night, Yahoo will broadcast a pre-game concert on omg! and Yahoo Screen. The event, hosted by Bud Light, will feature 50 Cent, Lil Jon, and Pitbull and kicks off at 10pm Eastern. On game day, Yahoo Sports will have on the-the-ground coverage from Indianapolis, while Yahoo Screen will post the best commercials on its Big Game Ad Network after the game. To get you started, Nielsen put together a list of the top 10 most-liked ads from the past five years, while Hulu has some behind-the-scenes details on classic Super Bowl ads.

Google: The search giant has set up "Game Day with Google" for everything from "chili recipes to player stats." The company also suggested Google Recipe Search for the perfect snacks. On Monday at noon, meanwhile, CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell will host a Google+ Hangout on the NBC Sports page to chat about the game.

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Forbes Magazine -Top Highest-Paid Soccer Players in world 2011

Forbes Magazine -Top Highest-Paid Soccer Players in world 2011 : Forbes Magazine released it’s 2011 world’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players with David Beckham topping the list. Former Inter’s Cameroonian striker and four time African Footballer Of The Year, Samuel Eto’o, currently world’s highest-paid footballer come in 10th to be the only African footballer on the list.

These best players continue to pull in deals despite the economic downturn. The Forbes income figures include salaries, bonuses and endorsements earned from May 2010 to May 2011.

1 David Beckham
Net worth: £135 million or $219 million – according to 2011 Sunday Times UK Rich List
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $40 million
Current Club:Los Angeles Galaxy

His endorsement deal with Adidas is the biggest in the sport thanks to royalties from soccer apparel and cleats as well as lifestyle lines like ObyO. In May 2011 he signed a deal with Samsung to become the company’s global brand ambassador for the Games.

2 Cristiano Ronaldo
Net worth: $160 million – (estimated)
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings:$38 million
Current Club:Real Madrid

Using social media to expand his brand. With 26 million Facebook fans, twice as many as any other athlete and 3 million Twitter followers; which is part of the attraction for sponsors like Nike, Armani, Coca-Cola and Castrol.

3 Lionel Messi

Net worth: $110 million – (estimated)
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings:$32 million
Current Club:Barcelona

With annual salary of $16 million, the Argentina pro footballer has recently built up his endorsement portfolio, which now includes Adidas, PepsiCo, Konami, Audemars Piguet, Chery and AirEuropa. Messi’s status as the world’s best player has started to translate into endorsement opportunities.

4 Ricardo Kaka
Net worth: $100 million – (estimated)
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $25 million
Current Club:Real Madrid

The Brazilian midi was featured on the cover of EA Sports FIFA Soccer 11. The FIFA franchise has sold 100 million units of the popular soccer game for Electronic Arts.

5 Ronaldinho.

Net worth: $90 million – (estimated)
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $24 million
Current Club: Flamengo

Brazilian club Flamengo signed the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year with a deal that runs until 2014.

6 Thierry Henry
Net worth: $60 million – (estimated)
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $21 million
Current Club: New York Red Bulls

The 34 year-old frenchman deal with Gillette partnership wrapped up at the end of 2010. He recently bought a New York City apartment for $14.9 million after his move to MLS in 2010.

7 Wayne Rooney
Net worth: £37 million or $59 million – according to 2011 Sunday Times UK Rich List
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $20 million
Current Club: Manchester United

Rooney has gone from Xbox to X-rated over the past 12 months (2010-2011). He is back on form but swore to the cameras (again) at West Ham. It emerged soon after he had lost his £600,000-a-year contract with Coca-Cola. His five-year deal at Old Trafford, worth about £8m a year, has the potential to elevate Rooney above every English footballer other than David Beckham. Remaining sponsors include Nike and Electronic Arts.

8 (tie) Frank Lampard
Net worth: £27 million or $43 million – according to 2011 Sunday Times UK Rich List
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $17 million
Current Club: Chelsea

The Premier League midfielder earned $11 million in salary on the pitch.

8 (tie) Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Net worth: $60 million – (estimated)
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $17 million
Current Club: AC Milan

10 Samuel Eto’o
Net worth: $40 million – (estimated)
May 2010 to May 2011 Earnings: $15 million
Current Club: FC Anzhi Makhachkala

Over the past 12 months the Cameroonian striker added Puma and Ford as sponsors. He is Africa’s most decorated footballer of all time; has won the African Player of the Year award a record four times.

The former Inter Milan striker joined Russian soccer club FC Anzhi Makhachkala in a three-year deal with an annual salary of €20.5 million Euros or $28.8 million at current exchange rates. The deal made Eto’o the highest-paid player in the history of soccer. Dwarfing the earnings of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. The highest-paid player in the game was Cristiano Ronaldo who earns an estimated 13 million Euros ($19 million). Anzhi reached an agreement with Internazionale at $38.9 million transfer fee on 23 August 2011.

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Super Bowl Kickoff Time 2011 Hours Away

Super Bowl Kickoff Time 2011 Hours Away : The Super Bowl kickoff time 2011 is scheduled for 6:29 pm est. Whenever the Super Bowl kickoff time 2011 ultimately is, it will bring an end to a long wait. The Packers and Steelers have waited two weeks to take the field again, enduring hype, the media, and bad weather along the way. In the bigger picture, they have waited all year to get here, and a few more years to bring home another Lombardi Trophy - though the Packers' wait for that has been longer. But sometime around 6:30, the Super Bowl kickoff time 2011 will arrive, and the two will have to actually play the game.

For all of the insane circumstances around today's battle, it is still technically just another football game. The Packers have played 19 of them since early September, while the Steelers have played just 18. But in this one, legacies and careers will be made or broken.

Right after the Super Bowl kickoff time 2011, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Clay Matthews, Hines Ward, Donald Driver and many more will have over three hours to work with. By around 10 pm est or later, one group will be immortalized forever, while the other will suffer the worst loss of the entire season.

Pittsburgh and Green Bay are used to immortalizing their teams, since they are the biggest winners in NFL history. Yet although the Packers have more championships in the last 90 years, the Steelers have more Super Bowls. For all of Green Bay's history, they just have one title in the last four decades, while Pittsburgh is going for their seventh.

But when the Super Bowl kickoff time 2011 comes, past history won't matter. It already doesn't matter that the Packers are a sixth seed, while the Steelers are a second, and have won two titles in the last five years. For all of that, Green Bay arrives as the slight favorite, due to their five game winning streak to get here.

While no one is a true underdog in this game, the Steelers are the closest thing to it, despite their better record and experience. Yet their second half comeback against the Ravens, and their narrow escape over the Jets, proves that they always find a way to win in January - and usually in February.

Still, the Super Bowl kickoff time 2011 gives the Packers a chance to start a dynasty of their own. Rodgers can win a championship in just his third year as starter, faster than
even Brett Favre could. If he doesn't, then Roethlisberger will claim his third ring, and take his place alongside the likes of Brady, Montana, Bradshaw and Aikman.

It's been a long wait in many ways, yet after the Super Bowl kickoff time 2011 comes, it will only take 3-4 hours to change hundreds of lives and careers. It is all scheduled to begin at 6:29 pm est, give or take a few minutes. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

the richest football player in the world 2011

the richest football player in the world 2011 : The World Cup is upon us again. Players forfeit their summer holidays and, instead, spend a month serving their country on the football pitch. Well, you shouldn’t worry about these guys; In return for their admirable football skills, they get paid an astronomical amount of money.

They entertain us, frustrate us and inspire us and they are paid generously in return. They are the worlds richest footballers (or soccer players) Now a days their earnings go beyond their accomplishments on the field. With endorsements, advertising and television work they are some of the best paid entertainers in the world. We are going to look at the current 5 best paid football players in the world.

Year in Review: Wins, losses all part of the routine
The Midshipmen are starting to make winning look rather routine for a program that had more than its share of disappointments only a decade ago. But this year's 9-4 season was anything but routine. The Mids were at a crossroads, sitting at 2-2 after a bitter loss to rival Air Force in October. Senior leadership got the Mids through the meat of their schedule and the team earned another win over Notre Dame, extended the domination over archrival Army and earned an eighth-straight bowl trip that would be the envy of most college football teams. Read More...

Texas' star just got way brighter with new TV network
For those initially worried that this gives Texas the money, power and ability to go independent in football, you're way behind. Texas already is an independent in football. Wednesday made it unofficially official. Texas now has its own network and $300 million from ESPN over the next 20 years to add to the already richest athletic department in the country. You know what it has with the Big 12? A scheduling agreement. Read More...

Mark Sanchez and Tom Brady: Peers in Style, Not in Results
When Nic Screws, the fashion market editor at Esquire magazine, analyzed Tom Brady and Mark Sanchez, she saw more than two quarterbacks who will meet Sunday in the N.F.L. playoffs. From two men as at ease in suits as in shoulder pads, she saw comfort urban style (Brady) compared with fancy sunglasses and shiny ties (Sanchez), along with good hair (both). Read More...

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TOP PICK IN 2011 DRAFT PANTHERS SECURE

TOP PICK IN 2011 DRAFT PANTHERS SECURE ; It took a rare Sunday off for the Carolina Panthers to finally win something big this season -- the No. 1 overall draft pick. The Panthers are on the clock for April's draft and potentially in position to take Stanford star quarterback Andrew Luck after wins by Cincinnati and Denver allowed Carolina to clinch the league's worst record.

The Broncos (4-11) rallied with 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat Houston 24-23, while the Bengals (4-11) got four touchdown passes from Carson Palmer to beat San Diego 34-20 in the snow for their second straight win. That meant with one week left in the season, nobody can match Carolina (2-13) for futility in the NFL this season.

The only other time the Panthers have had the No. 1 pick -- before their inaugural season in 1995 -- they traded it away for more picks.

Now the question is: Will Luck leave school early?

Most draft analysts say the six-foot-four junior is the best prospect in the potential draft pool. He's completed 70.2 per cent of his passes this season for 3,051 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Luck, who will lead the Cardinal (11-1) against Virginia Tech (11-2) in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3, has not revealed his intentions.

The Panthers drafted Jimmy Clausen in the second round of this year's draft, but the former Notre Dame star has struggled to lead the NFL's worst offence. Clausen has a league-low 56.8 passer rating and has thrown just two touchdown passes and eight interceptions while getting little support from an inexperienced group of receivers after Steve Smith.

The Panthers managed 119 yards -- second-fewest in team history -- in a 27-3 loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Sunday's results mean the Panthers' season finale next week at Atlanta won't have any draft impact as John Fox likely coaches his final game. Owner Jerry Richardson has denied Fox a contract extension. Carolina's good draft positioning won't spill over into the second round.

New England, not Carolina, will pick 33rd overall. The Panthers traded their 2011 second-round pick to the Patriots last April for an extra third-round pick so they could take Armanti Edwards. The former Appalachian State quarterback was converted to receiver and has spent most of the season deactivated on game days. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

panthers draft in 2011 - Canadiens power past Panthers in OT

panthers draft in 2011 - Canadiens power past Panthers in OT ; A power outage on the power play and a some untimely Florida penalties helped Montreal salvage its road trip Friday. Newly acquired defenseman James Wisniewski scored off a rebound 3:41 into overtime as the Canadiens rallied for a 3-2 overtime win over the Panthers in front of a sellout crowd of 20,072 at the BankAtlantic Center.

Three minutes into the overtime period, Florida's Chris Higgins led a 3-on-1 rush, but his shot from the right side was turned aside by Montreal goalie Alex Auld. In transition, Wisniewski scooped up a rebound off a quick shot and fired a wrist shot past Florida netminder Tomas Vokoun, who faced 48 shots.

The Canadiens acquired Wisniewski and his booming shot from the New York Islanders on Tuesday for a second-round pick in the 2011 draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2012 draft. He also scored Montreal's first goal and assisted on the second, both on the power play and less than two minutes apart.

"Montreal came in and played a smart road game," said Florida coach Pete DeBoer, noting it was the Canadiens' third game in four nights. "They shot from everywhere. Their special teams were good."

Florida's weren't.

The Panthers (16-17-2) were 0-for-6 on the power play, while Montreal capitalized twice in its four chances. Entering its last contest on a seven-game road trip, Montreal was just 1-5.

"We knew they were going to be desperate. They haven't won in a while and there was a lot of pressure on them," DeBoer said. "I give them credit for their game, but I also think there are a lot of areas for us to improve on."

Center Stephen Weiss's 11th goal put the Panthers up 1-0 just 28 seconds into the second period after the club squandered three power-play chances in the first. Dmitry Kulikov's goal at 1:45 gave the Panthers a 2-0 edge.Devils 3, Thrashers 1: Backup goalie Johan Hedberg made 28 saves and New Jersey snapped a six-game losing streak and gave Jacques Lemaire his first victory since replacing John MacLean behind the bench. Lemaire lost his first three games after taking over for the fired MacLean on Dec. 23.Predators 4, Wild 1: Pekka Rinne made 22 saves to help Nashville end its losing streak at five games. The Predators have scored nine goals in their past six games. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

NFL playoff picture and scenarios AFC and NFC after Sunday’s games Update

Here’s the updated playoff picture for the AFC and NFC after Sunday’s games.

If the season ended right now
AFC: 1. Patriots, 2. Steelers, 6. Jets at 3. Chiefs, 5. Ravens at 4. Colts
NFC: 1. Falcons, 2. Bears, 6. Packers at 3. Eagles, 5. Saints at 4. Rams

AFC playoff picture

1. New England Patriots (13-2) – Clinched the AFC East, a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs with a win at the Bills.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) – Have clinched a playoff berth. Would clinch the AFC North and a first-round playoff bye with a win at the Browns or a Ravens loss vs. the Bengals, due to a better division record than the Ravens (5-1/4-2 to 4-2/3-3). Would be the No. 5 seed with a loss, Ravens win and Jets loss/tie vs. the Bills. Would be the No. 6 seed with a loss, Ravens win and Jets win.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-5) – Clinched the AFC West with the Chargers loss. Would clinch the No. 3 seed with a win/tie vs. the Raiders or a Colts loss/tie. Would lose tiebreakers with the Steelers/Ravens or Colts or Jets due to conference record (8-4 to 6-6/7-5).

4. Indianapolis Colts (9-6) – Would clinch the AFC South with a win/tie vs. the Titans or Jaguars loss/tie at the Texans. Would lose the tiebreaker with the Jaguars due to division record (4-2 to 3-3). Would clinch the No. 3 seed with a win and a Chiefs loss to the Raiders.

5. Baltimore Ravens (11-4) – Clinched a playoff berth with a win at the Browns and at worst the No. 5 seed with the Jets loss (due to a head-to-head win vs. the Jets). Would clinch the AFC North title and a first-round bye with a win next week vs. the Bengals and a Steelers loss vs. the Browns.

6. New York Jets (10-5) – Clinched a playoff berth with the Jaguars loss. Would clinch the No. 5 seed with a win vs. the Bills and Ravens win vs. the Bengals and Steelers loss at the Browns.

Still alive

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) – Would clinch the AFC South with a win at the Texans and a Colts loss to the Titans.

NFC playoff picture

1. Atlanta Falcons (12-2) – Have clinched a playoff berth. Would clinch the NFC South, a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs with a win or tie vs. the Saints (Monday).

2. Chicago Bears (11-4) – Have clinched the NFC North. Would clinch a first-round bye with an Eagles loss to the Vikings (Tuesday) due to a head-to-head win vs. the Eagles or a win at the Packers. Would clinch the No. 1 seed with a win and two Falcons losses and and a Saints loss to Buccaneers and and an Eagles loss/tie.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) – Clinched the NFC East with the Giants loss. Would win a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Falcons but lose a head-to-head tiebreaker to the Bears. Would be the No. 3 seed with loss to Vikings (Tuesday). Would clinch the No. 1 seed with two wins and two Falcons losses and a Saints loss to the Buccaneers and a Bears loss/tie at the Packers. Would be the No. 2 seed with two wins and a Bears loss/tie.

4. St. Louis Rams (7-8) – Would clinch the NFC West with a win/tie at the Seahawks. Would lose the tiebreaker to the Seahawks due to division record (4-2 to 3-3).

5. New Orleans Saints (10-4) – Would clinch a playoff berth with a win at the Falcons (Monday). Would clinch the NFC South, a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs with two wins and a Falcons loss to the Panthers.

6. Green Bay Packers (9-6) – Would clinch a playoff berth with a win vs. the Bears due to the strength-of-victory tiebreaker (and head-to-head win vs. the Giants). Would clinch the No. 5 seed with a win and two Saints losses. Would also clinch the No. 6 seed with two Saints losses and a Giants loss at the Redskins.

Still alive

7. New York Giants (9-6) – Would clinch a playoff berth with a win at the Redskins and either a Packers loss to the Bears or two Saints losses.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6) – Would clinch a playoff berth with a win at the Saints and two of the following: a Saints loss at the Falcons, Giants loss and Packers loss. Would clinch the No. 5 seed with a win and a Saints loss at the Falcons and Giants loss and Packers loss.

9. Seattle Seahawks (6-9) – Would clinch the NFC West with a win vs. the Rams due to a better division record than the Rams (4-2 to 3-3). For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

NFL Playoff Scenarios the Green Bay Packers Built for the Postseason

NFL Playoff Scenarios the Green Bay Packers Built for the Postseason : Are the Green Bay Packers Built for the Postseason? The Green Bay Packers are looking to make a statement this evening as they lead the New York Giants 31-17 in the middle of the fourth quarter.

The Packers have had to endure a substantial amount of injuries this season, and they have been fighting tooth and nail to keep up with the Chicago Bears.

This team has pulled off some very impressive wins this season, but the Pack is coming off a two straight losses to the New England Patriots...and the Detroit Lions.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers proved himself to be the best option at the helm of the Packers' offense, but multiple concussions are a cause for concern.

If the Packers can secure a Wild Card spot, they will most likely face the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the playoffs. Green Bay was able to defeat Philadelphia in the first game of the regular season. Can the Packers do it again? For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

nfl playoff outlook 2011 Packers playoff scenario

nfl playoff outlook 2011 Packers playoff scenario : It's never too early for a mock draft, even if the NFL season hasn't even ended yet! We're going to take a look at the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Draft order was determined by the NFL's current standings. There's four quarterbacks taken within the first 13 picks

NFL Playoff Scenarios: AFC West Goes Through Kansas City Chiefs: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images NFL playoff scenarios are clearing up with Week 14 winding down, including in the AFC West, where the Kansas City Chiefs remain in the lead. With Sunday’s 31-0 win over the Chiefs, the Chargers staved off

NFL Playoff Scenarios allcurrentaffairs news | It Glitters: jets-coachtrips.notlong.com The NFL will launch an investigation into the behavior of New York Jets assistant coach Sal Alosi, who apologized on Sunday for trippin.

Donovan McNabb Benching From The Perspective of a Philly Fan
So this is what has become of Donovan McNabb? After more then a decade full of accomplishments in the NFL, he has been relegated to the role of a third-string quarterback behind Rex Grossman and some guy named John Beck. The second overall pick in the 1999 draft, McNabb has six Pro Bowl selections, five NFC Championship games, and one Super Bowl appearance—a resume that very few starters in the league can compete with. Yet the 34-year old McNabb will be sitting on the bench tomorrow against a Dallas team that he won his first game in a Redskins uniform against.
Read More...

Deck the Dam: 10 Things on the 2011 Wishlist for the Oregon State Beavers
With the 2010 season coming to a close, Oregon State can't help but look forward to next season. Disappointing losses to Washington and UCLA on the road, and a shocking loss to dismal Washington State at home has already marked the season as a loss.Read More...

Concern over Metrodome not likely to impact 2011
- A Minnesota Vikings executive said Friday that the team is concerned about the safety of the Metrodome after a winter storm caused the building's roof to collapse, but he didn't rule out the team playing there next season. The Vikings have long pursued a new stadium paid for mostly by taxpayers, and next year is the final year of their lease on the Dome. Vice President Lester Bagley didn't directly address that issue in discussing the outlook for next season. Read More...
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Best Subplots of This Year's Games, BCS Bowl Games 2011

Best Subplots of This Year's Games, BCS Bowl Games 2011 ; BCS Bowl Games are sure to supply limitless subplots. In the weeks and days leading up to the kickoff of each BCS game, fans have come to expect an excess of expert prediction, breaking news and even more analysis of what's to come in each big game.

To make sure each college football fan is briefed on exactly what to expect this BCS bowl season, here are the top 10 subplots of this year's games.

10. After opening the season with two straight losses, can Virginia Tech continue its epic run with a win over Stanford in the Orange Bowl?

With their win over Florida State in the ACC Championship Game, Virginia Tech became the fourth ACC team to start the season 0-2 and bounce back to win the league championship. Tyrod Taylor and the Hokies hope that their streak of success continues.

9. Does Virginia Tech's early-season loss to FCS powerhouse James Madison make the Hokies' BCS bowl bid laughable?

When Virginia Tech laces them up in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4, it will have been nearly four months since the Hokies lost to a team from the FCS in James Madison. There's no denying that James Madison is perennially one of the top teams in the Championship Subdivision. But does the fact that Virginia Tech lost to James Madison and is now going to a BCS bowl make the Hokies' bid laughable?

8. At 8-4, is UConn a team worthy of playing in the Fiesta Bowl?

The University of Connecticut is playing in its first ever BCS Bowl Game and will do so against an Oklahoma team that has lost to Missouri and Texas A&M. On the flip side, the Huskies are 8-4 and will enter what's shaping up as the biggest mismatch of any BCS bowl game with losses against Rutgers and Temple.

7. Will TCU live up to its 12-0 record in the Rose Bowl?

TCU will become the first team from a non-automatic qualifying conference during the BCS era to play in the Rose Bowl. Entering with an unblemished record, a stout defense and an offense that racked up the fourth highest total in the nation, TCU will take on 11-1 Wisconsin.

6. Will Ohio State finally beat an SEC team in a bowl game?

With an 0-9 record in bowl games against teams from the SEC, Ohio State gets one more shot to end its putrid bowl-game run against 10-2 Arkansas. Can the Buckeyes, who have lost only to Wisconsin this season, end the SEC drought?

5. Will Oregon's defensive efficiency be enough to slow down high-flying Auburn?

The Ducks enter the Jan. 10 BCS National Championship Game with the 14th-ranked defense in the nation. In running the table with a perfect 12-0 record, Oregon has handled its schedule with relative ease and has tossed a pair of shutouts and limited two Pac-10 teams to 13 points.

Will that résumé be enough to slow down Auburn and the Tigers' offense, which last exploded for 56 points in the SEC title game and features the sixth highest-scoring offense in the nation at 42.7 points per game?

4. What new news will we learn about Cecil Newton?

By the time the National Championship Game kicks off Jan. 10, we're bound have learned something new about the investigations into Cam Newton's father's attempts at putting together a pay-to-play scenario for his son. The only question is if it will be enough to hinder Newton's play against Oregon.

3. Will quarterback play rule the BCS bowl Schedule?

Auburn has Cam Newton. Ohio State has Terrelle Pryor. Stanford boasts Andrew Luck. When looking at these quarterbacks and nearly every other playing in a BCS bowl game this year, football fans have to be smiling ear to ear with the top-notch talent we’ll see at the quarterback position.

2. Will the National Championship Game be the highest-scoring title game in history?

The numbers simply don’t lie. Auburn and Oregon can put points on the scoreboard, but can these two teams combine for the highest total in BCS title game history? We all remember the 79 points put forth by Texas and USC in the memorable 2006 Rose Bowl. Can Auburn and Oregon score 80 points?

1. How will the public view the BCS after this year’s bowl games?

There’s no doubt that the BCS dodged a bullet when Oregon and Auburn both finished the regular season with undefeated records. Still, with TCU potentially finishing the season undefeated and an 8-4 UConn team heading to the Fiesta Bowl, there are still questions about whether this system is the right one for college football. What will this year’s BCS games do to the public’s perception? For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

bcs bowl games 2011 prediction

bcs bowl games 2011 prediction ; The 2011 BCS Bowl predictions postseason brings a few interesting betting lines and point spreads. The #3 TCU Horned Frogs (12-0) earned a Rose Bowl (Saturday, January 1st at 5:30PM ET on ESPN) bid and they’ll be facing the high-flying offense of the #5 Wisconsin Badgers (11-1) in an epic offense vs defense showdown between two top 5 teams. The Horned Frogs have the top defense in the nation and will be facing a Badgers’ team that put up 70 points three times behind quarterback Scott Tolzien. The 2011 Rose Bowl odds opened up with the Horned Frogs as -3 point favorites and equal action on both teams has kept that betting line at -3, where it started. Online Sports Handicapping always offers the most accurate free sports picks and NCAA football odds from our dedicated team of NCAA predictions experts. Find our winning NCAA Picks selections below.

TCU is allowing averages of 11.4 points, 126.3 passing yards and 215.4 total yards all 1st in the FBS, and 89.2 rushing yards, third-fewest in the country. The Frogs' speedy defense, though, should receive its biggest test of the season from the Badgers who are tied with TCU for 4th in the nation with 43.3 points per game. This should be a very close game all the way to the end. The college football lines at BetUS.com have the #3 TCU Horned Frogs (-3) as the free 2011 BCS Bowl predictions selection over the #5 Wisconsin Badgers (+3).

If you’re looking for the inside edge, subscribe to our Free Sports Picks Newsletter and get the insight you need to make an informed decision from the Top NCAA Handicapping Experts before every sports wager.

The TCU offense is very strong behind senior quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton has thrown for 2,638 yards, 26 touchdowns and six interceptions while running for 481 yards and five TDs this season. Ed Wesley leads the nation's 12th-ranked rushing attack with 1,080 yards, while Matthew Tucker has tallied up 719 yards. This will probably be a high scoring game, even though both teams play great defensive football. The 2011 Rose Bowl spreads point total at BetUS Sportsbooks opened up at 56.5, but heavy action on the Over has raised it a few points and is currently listed at 59. Look for Andy Dalton to claim the 42nd victory in his collegiate career finale against the Badgers.

Search ; bcs bowl games 2011, college bowl games 2011 , bowl game announcements , college football bowl outlook , bowl game outlook , bcs bowl announcements , college bowl outlook , 2011 bowl game announcement , bcs announcements , bcs bowl games 2011 announcement , bcs bowl announcements 2010 , bowl games 2011 announcement , bcs bowl outlook , 2010 bowl matchups , bowl games outlook , bowl game announcement , NCAA bowl outlook , 2011 bowl outlook , Announcement of bowl games , bowl predictions 2011 nov 27 , bowl games 2011predictions , 2010 college bowl predictions , ncaa football bowl predictions 2011 , ncaa bcs bols , bcs bowl money , ncaa football bowl outlook , bowl outlook 2011 , college bowl bids , bcs bowl game announcement For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

Ripple Effect Of The Metrodome Roof Collapse

Ripple Effect Of The Metrodome Roof Collapse : It is hard to understand all the logistics involved in what the collapse of the Metrodome roof caused last weekend for the Giants, Vikings and Lions (the hosting team for the Giants-Vikings game). The Giants, due to the massive snowstorm in Minneapolis, were diverted to Kansas City, where they had to park themselves for four hours before eventually spending the night there.

Can you imagine the Giants travel director calling the Kansas City Airport Marriott and the Detroit Westin, where they stayed on consecutive nights, saying the following: “We are coming to your hotel now and need about 60 rooms, meals for 100, meeting rooms and tight security for our team.” Uh, ok. Giants executives have told me the efforts of these two hotels and their Continental charter personnel were above and beyond the normal level of service.

As for the Vikings, they were on a call with the league office soon after the Metrodome collapse and were wheels-up eight hours later having addressed the logistics they needed.

Some of the other issues involved with the cancellation of the game at the Metrodome are:

* the lost revenue to the Vikings for one of their eight home games, revenue not made up by the game being moved to Detroit;
* the prospect of lost revenue to the Vikings’ upcoming game against the Bears, now apparently to be played at the University of Minnesota.
* the expense of getting that stadium ready for play and clearing the snow.
* the lost revenue of two games to Metrodome vendors, concessionaires, facility staff, parking lots, security, etc.
* the loss of home-field advantage for the Vikings at one of the loudest venues in all of sports.
* the expense of the Vikings travelling for a “home game”: flights, hotel, food, meeting rooms, buses, etc.
* the expense of the Giants unscheduled hotel stays in Kansas City, Detroit and additional charter time on their Continental charter plane.
* the playing of the game a day later than scheduled for the Giants, giving them less time to prepare for the biggest game of their season, against the Eagles.

There were also rare intersections of teams. While the Giants cooled their heels in the Kansas City airport, they watched the Chiefs board their charter to San Diego. And while the rival Packers were on their way out of Detroit, the Vikings were arriving to play in the same facility the next day.

The ripple effect of the roof collapse of the Metrodome – another panel reportedly fell on Wednesday – is large, certainly larger even than what is mentioned above. Vikings ownership has another card to play with the Minnesota legislature in its drive for public funding of a new stadium. They will now certainly have more support from the Giants and the NFL. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

Metrodome roof collapse had to be a sign from above

Metrodome roof collapse had to be a sign from above : The Minneapolis Metrodome died suddenly Sunday, when its roof collapsed under the weight of too much snow. The big, ridiculous balloon/metaphor was only 28. "Frankly, I'm glad to see it go," said Santa Claus, a tackle for the Minnesota Vikings in the 1960s, when the team played outdoors. "The place stank like reindeer."

But seriously, folks, wasn't what happened Sunday just God's way of saying that real Vikings play football outdoors? I hope you saw the video of the roof collapse. It was like a scene from "Independence Day." The fabric roof shuddered then tore, and the snow poured in like so much celebratory confetti.

Mazel tov, Minnesota. Maybe you'll finally get rid of that dump.

Indeed, 30 years seems about right for modern arenas. In the old days, they built places that could last a century. Fenway. Wrigley. Boston Garden. Madison Square Garden. They were built by two guys with a hammer and a bucket for cement. There's one in Rome that's pretty old too.

Today, stadiums are built like double-wide trailers, virtually disposable. The Metrodome's crummy next-of-kin included the Seattle Kingdome, Veterans Stadium in Philly, the Pontiac Silverdome.

What a biblical end to a Vikings season, eh? First, they lose Sidney Rice, then they gain Randy Moss, then Brad Childress and Brett Favre start bickering like schoolgirls. Amid it all, there was some little controversy, about Favre's cellphone photos, maybe you heard. In a less moral world, it would've been a big story.

It finally got to be too much. What happened early Sunday was clearly divine intervention. There should've been a priest present.

You know what's good indoors? Poker. Or sleeping . . . that's good indoors too. Everything else is better outdoors — eating, shopping, sports, even showering. Ever showered outdoors? It's liberating and a little decadent. I really recommend it. You're on your own with the authorities, though.

Point is, football's grittiest he-man division — the NFC North — should be an open-stadium league that takes advantage of the lovely late-season splendor of the upper Midwest. Tell me you don't get a slight snow-gasm every time you turn on the tube to see two teams duking it out in a blizzard. Of course you do.

You might also note that the Lions haven't had a winning season since they moved indoors two stadia ago. Then again, I don't think the Lions ever had a winning season. Why they even televise a Lions game anymore is beyond me. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

Ski Dazzle Los Angeles 2010

Ski Dazzle Los Angeles 2010 ; Los Angeles - You could head to the mountains to ski and board now that winter weather has come to Southern California.

If you're not up for the trip... or are in the market for snow sports gear... there's also the Los Angeles Convention Center this weekend at the Ski Dazzle Ski Show and Snowboard Expo.Read More... For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010 Early morning rush at Orchard Road

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010 Early morning rush at Orchard Road ; Singapore - The lights were turned on especially for more than 19,000 men and women at Orchard Road yesterday morning for the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010. For the first time this year the annual marathon was flagged off at three start points - Resorts World Sentosa for the half marathon, Esplanade for the 10km and Orchard Rd for the full marathon.

The well-loved Christmas lights came on early at 4am for the runners, who were flagged off an hour later to start the 42.195km run that took in Singapore's world-famous shopping belt. The Orchard Road Business Association (Orba) also ensured the facades of buildings from the Scotts Road junction to Centrepoint were lit up. Some of the retail outlets opened earlier and Orba executive director Steven Goh, told MediaCorp: "We expect the street facing cafés and fast food outlets to benefit from the race. I predict a 20 to 30-per-cent increase from these F&B operators as reasonable."

Looking ahead, the Orba plans to have street stalls lining the pavement to add more buzz for next year's race. Organisers are looking at making more changes for the race as well. This year's race featured a record 60,000 runners, with the finish line for all three races at the Padang.

But Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Teo Ser Luck, said: "If the race grows to a certain size and there is a need to actually have different end points so that everybody gets a quality experience, we won't discount that possibility." Patwant Singh

26% of those who signed up did not complete marathon

26% of those who signed up to run 42km at the 2010 Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore did not finish the race. Organisers announced that 20,000 runners had signed up for the marathon but only 14,853 crossed the finish line, according to the results on the official website, www.marathonsingapore.com.

In the 21km category, 15,000 signed up but only 11,274 finished the race for a dropout rate of 25%. For the 10km category, there were 15,444 finishers out of a total of 20,000 who signed up. That is a 23% dropout rate.

In total, there were 41,571 runners who crossed the finishing line, not the 60,000 as widely reported in the mainstream media. The overcrowding on the course continues to be the main gripe of runners, especially when the three categories merged at the Benjamin Sheares Bridge. The same complaint was also made in previous years.

The lack of running etiquette also bugged some runners. Some runners whipped out cameras to take photos while others were walking in the right lane, forcing other runners to waste time zig-zagging.

While some complained about having to run up slopes like the Sheares Bridge, other runners saw it as part of a challenge that a marathon should bring.

What made the Sheares Bridge a particularly challenging part of the marathon was that it came at the 36km stage of the marathon, a point where most runners were struggling with cramps and the rising heat.

Some runners think it would be a better idea to have three separate end points for the 42, 21 and 10km categories. Others have also suggested a qualifying mark for the 42km, as well as running the 21 and 10km categories on Saturday, leaving the marathon for a Sunday. Those suggestions would certainly increase the complexity of the logistics involved.

Another suggestion is to make it a 42km marathon race only, leaving out the 21 and 10km categories. This would make the event a true marathon race and would certainly raise the quality. However, the organisers so far seem intent to go for mass numbers, judging by how they have focused primarily on setting a new record for registration every year. If that is the case, the overcrowding problem will probably not go away.

The event also ended on a sour note for some marathoners because organisers ran out of finisher tees in the right sizes. Only marathoners are entitled to a finisher tee but there are allegations that 21km and 10km runners were also given those tees as well. The organisers are arranging a one-for-one exchange for runners but the date has not been confirmed. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

Manchester United 1 Valencia 1 Rooney rediscovers trademark touch as United finish on top

Manchester United 1 Valencia 1 Rooney rediscovers trademark touch as United finish on top ; One of the joys of Sir Alex Ferguson is his unpredictability. It can be expressed in riding pillion on a motorbike through the streets of Paris to persuade Eric Cantona to remain at Old Trafford. Or it could be jetting off to the Middle East to argue that the World Cup should go to Qatar, a regime that would have raised more than a quizzical eyebrow if the young, football-besotted trade unionist had ever exchanged the cold waters of the Clyde for the Arabian Gulf in the 1960s.

However, when it comes to the Champions League, the Manchester United manager has a fixed mantra. Ten points will be enough to qualify and it does not matter if you finish first or second in your group.

This time it was different. Ferguson acutely wanted Manchester United to finish first and thus avoid the prospect of facing Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, all of whom were guaranteed to top their groups. This United achieved in more style than the scoreline suggests and, although Rio Ferdinand came off with a hamstring strain, he is expected to be fit to face Arsenal here on Monday night.

Ferguson selected something close to his first-choice side for what might have been considered a dead match – although with a typical twist he chose Ben Amos, aged 20 and someone with minimal first-team experience, to keep goal.

It was a gamble that was rewarded in both the result and the performance, although the perfectionist in Ferguson would have wanted the win his side deserved in terms of sheer weight of chances. Dimitar Berbatov, whose last appearance at Old Trafford had seen him score five in the humbling of Blackburn, had enough chances for at least another three.

However, perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the night was that the rebirth of Wayne Rooney, which began in the previous round at Ibrox, is now almost complete. You could see it in the way he sent a delightful chip on to the Valencia crossbar, the snap shot that whistled past the post or some driving, muscular runs. The confusion in his game, the uncertainty in his boots that clogged his game all seem to have been washed away.

"He is getting there quick," his manager reflected. "His distribution and his leading of the line were terrific. The partnership with Berbatov is starting to gel; you can see it coming through in flashes. We played well and there were a lot of chances – Berbatov could have scored another five tonight."

It was a night in which two men who are nominally their clubs' third-choice keepers shone. Vicente Guaita started through necessity – his two colleagues were injured. Amos was in goal through choice. The 20-year-old has yet to start a Premier League game for Manchester United and his brief career has seen him loaned out at Peterborough and then Molde in Norway. His manager, however, has always made it clear that the boy from Macclesfield has a long-term future on the grandest of stages and with Edwin van der Sar rested, Ferguson went for Amos ahead of Tomasz Kuszczak. It may have been a coincidence but Kuszczak had conceded four in the Carling Cup debacle at West Ham.

In no way was Amos responsible for the goal with which Valencia opened up the match with just over half an hour gone. Guaita had just made a fabulous save with his feet as Rooney delivered a deep cross that was aimed at Berbatov but was met by Park Ji-sung on the volley. The shot thundered against the keeper's track-suited legs leaving the Korean stretched out on the mist-sodden turf like a beaten boxer.

Then play switched towards the Stretford End as Michael Carrick, who is enduring a forgettable season, lost possession to Alejandro Dominguez, who hitherto had been Valencia's most threatening player. He drove forward and, although there was an obvious pass to his left, he found Pablo Hernandez to his right. Two touches later and Manchester United had conceded their first goal in the Champions League since Arjen Robben's astonishing volley gave Bayern Munich a quarter-final victory last season. A result which Ferguson seems yet to have come to terms with.

Otherwise, Amos performed admirably. With a quarter of an hour gone, he was greeted with a dipping, viciously swerving shot from Dominguez and answered with a fine save at his near post. Then Dominguez, one of a stream of Argentinian footballers to have graced the Mestalla, burst through and delivered a shot that struck the outside of the post, although Amos had it covered. As someone who had two spells playing in the foothills of the Urals with Rubin Kazan, Dominguez would have thought the cold rolling off the Pennines trifling.

Nevertheless, United recovered their balance and kept attacking, although their manager thought they eased off when they were level. It appeared a matter of time before they equalised and that time arrived in the 62nd minute.

This has been the season in which Park has emerged from comparative and undeserved shadows. In this campaign he seems overflowing with confidence and delivered a shot that Guaita punched spectacularly away only to find Anderson closing in on the rebound. Ferguson leapt to his feet, the meeting with Jose Mourinho or Barcelona postponed for now.
Manchester United (4-4-2): Amos; R Da Silva, Ferdinand (Smalling, 50), Vidic, F Da Silva; Nani (Giggs, 81), Carrick, Anderson (Fletcher, 90), Park; Rooney, Berbatov. Substitutes not used Kuszczak (gk), Hernandez, Obertan, Macheda.

Valencia (4-4-1-1): Guaita; Miguel, Ricardo Costa, Dealbert, Mathieu; Pablo (Feghouli, 81), Banega, Albedela, Alba (Mata, 67); Dominguez (Isco, 55); Arduiz. Substitutes not used Cesar Sanchez (gk), Maduro, Soldado, Tino Costa.

Booked: Man Utd Anderson. Valencia Albedela, Miguel.

Referee: P Proenca (Portugal)

Man of the match: Rooney

Attendance: 74,513

Group C

Results: Bursaspor 0-4 Valencia, Man Utd 0-0 Rangers; Rangers 1-0 Bursaspor, Valencia 0-1 Man Utd; Man Utd 1-0 Bursaspor, Rangers 1-1 Valencia; Bursaspor 0-3 Man Utd, Valencia 3-0 Rangers; Valencia 6-1 Bursaspor, Rangers 0-1 Man Utd; Bursaspor 1-1 Rangers, Man Utd 1-1 Valencia.

Bursaspor 1-1 Rangers

Kenny Miller scored his 19th goal of the season but Rangers could only end their campaign with a draw in Turkey. The striker broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when he lashed a left-footed shot from 12 yards past Yavuz Ozkan. However, Rangers were forced to defend for most of the second half and in the 79th minute Sercan Yildirim stabbed the ball past Allan McGregor. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

Oregon earns trip to BCS title game with win

Oregon earns trip to BCS title game with win ; Corvallis, OR (Sports Network) - Darron Thomas threw two touchdown passes and the top-ranked Oregon Ducks punched their ticket to the BCS title game with a 37-20 win over Oregon State in the 114th chapter of the Civil War. The national title game will now be between Oregon and Auburn, as the Tigers dominated South Carolina on Saturday. It is the first time that Oregon will be in a national title game as the contest will take place on January 10 in Glendale, Arizona.

The Ducks (12-0, 9-0 Pac-10) took the Pac-10 outright with the win while the Beavers (5-7, 4-5) came into the contest needing to win to become bowl eligible and avoid its first losing season since 2005. LaMichael James had 28 carries for 134 yards and two scores and Kenjon Barner added 133 yards with a score on 15 carries and also caught a touchdown pass for Oregon, which now has a 58-46-10 advantage in the Civil War series. Thomas finished 14-for-24 with 145 yards. Ryan Katz totaled 224 yards on 23-of-40 passing with two scores and three interceptions for Oregon State, which dropped four of its final five games of the season.

Final Score: (2) Auburn 56, (18) South Carolina 17

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Auburn didn't need a comeback in the SEC Championship Game, convincingly rolling over South Carolina, 56-17, to all but guarantee a shot at the national title. Cam Newton was once again the catalyst behind the blowout, throwing for four touchdowns and running in two more to solidify his Heisman Trophy campaign. Newton, ruled eligible earlier this week despite the NCAA finding his father at fault for rules violations during his recruitment, connected on 17-of-28 passes for a career-high 335 yards while adding 73 yards on the ground, carrying No. 2 Auburn (13-0) to its seventh SEC title.

Waiting for the Tigers in the BCS title game in Glendale, Arizona on January 10 is top-ranked Oregon, which wrapped up its undefeated regular season with a 37-20 win over Oregon State earlier in the day. Stephen Garcia was unable to pull off an upset for a South Carolina (9-4) squad appearing in its first SEC title game, throwing for 170 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, one of which T'Sharvan Bell returned for a score. The 18th-ranked Gamecocks were outgained, 589-349.

Final Score: (9) Boise State 50, Utah State 14

Boise, ID (Sports Network) - Kellen Moore passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for another as No. 9 Boise State dispatched Utah State, 50-14, at Bronco Stadium. Moore, who only played the first three quarters, completed 24-of-34 passes and connected with Kyle Efaw twice and Austin Pettis once for the Broncos (11-1, 7-1 WAC), who recovered from last week's crushing loss at Nevada and clinched a share of the conference crown. Hawaii and the Wolf Pack will also finish with 7-1 records. Diondre Borel struggled mightily to post 39 yards and two interceptions on just 4- of-16 passing for the Aggies (4-8, 2-6), who dropped two in a row and four of six to end their season.

Final Score: (10) Oklahoma 23, (13) Nebraska 20

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Jimmy Stevens kicked a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to lift No. 10 Oklahoma to its fourth Big 12 championship in five years with a 23-20 victory over 13th-ranked Nebraska. The Sooners (11-2) overcame a 17-point first-half deficit and held the Cornhuskers (10-3) scoreless in the second half, earning a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. In a hard-fought game, Oklahoma converted a Rex Burkhead fumble into the go-ahead field goal with 8:28 left.

Final Score: (12) Virginia Tech 44, (20) Florida State 33

Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Tyrod Taylor threw three touchdown passes and added another score on the ground to lead 12th-ranked Virginia Tech to a 44-33 victory over No. 20 Florida State in the ACC Championship Game. Taylor finished with 263 yards on 18-of-28 efficiency for the Hokies (11-2), who clinched their third conference title in the last four years and secured a berth in the Orange Bowl. Virginia Tech has rattled off 11 consecutive victories after opening the season with losses to Boise State and FCS foe James Madison. E.J. Manuel, starting behind center for Florida State in place of Christian Ponder, completed 23-of-31 passes for 288 yards but was picked off twice, one of which was returned by Jeron Gouveia-Winslow for a touchdown. Ty Jones had three rushing touchdowns for the Seminoles (9-4), who had won 13 of the previous 14 meetings between the schools.

Final Score: (14) Nevada 35, Louisiana Tech 17

Ruston, LA (Sports Network) - Colin Kaepernick completed 13-of-17 throws for 159 yards and carried 20 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns to finish off another record-setting performance in 14th-ranked Nevada's 35-17 win over Louisiana Tech at Joe Aillet Stadium. The senior signal-caller tied Nebraska's Eric Crouch for the most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NCAA history with 59. Vai Taua carried 29 times for 162 yards and two scores for the Wolfpack (12-1, 7-1 WAC), who pulled even with Boise State and Hawaii for a share of the conference crown and matched a school record set in 1991 with their 12th win. Ross Jenkins threw for 188 yards and a touchdown on 14-of-23 efficiency while Lennon Creer carried 18 times for 49 yards for the Bulldogs (5-7, 4-4), who ended the season with losses in three of their last five games.

Final Score: (23) West Virginia 35, Rutgers 14

Morgantown, WV (Sports Network) - Geno Smith passed for a career-high 352 yards and a touchdown, as 23rd-ranked West Virginia claimed a 35-14 victory over Rutgers in the regular-season finale for both teams. The Mountaineers did their part in trying to take the Big East title. They entered the game tied with Pittsburgh and Connecticut atop the standings, but need the Huskies to lose to South Florida later Saturday to win the conference.

Tavon Austin had a spectacular day, catching six passes for 121 yards and a score, while running for a 46-yard touchdown. Ryan Clarke totaled three rushing scores for West Virginia (9-3, 5-2 Big East), which overcame a spate of turnovers to win its fourth consecutive game. West Virginia limited Rutgers quarterback Chas Dodd to 139 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-19 efficiency, while sacking him six times. The Scarlet Knights (4-8, 1-6) lost their 16th consecutive game against WVU and ended their season on a six-game slide. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

News Info ; World Cup replica made of cocaine found in Colombia

World Cup replica made of cocaine found in Colombia : A replica World Cup trophy seized by anti-drugs police in Colombia is made out of cocaine, lab tests have confirmed. The 36cm (14in) statue was found in a delivery crate at Bogota airport.

The crate was in an airmail warehouse waiting to be sent to an address in Spain, airport anti-drug chief Jose Piedrahita said. In another development, a submarine built by drug-traffickers was found in Ecuador before its maiden voyage.

The World Cup replica was made up of 11kg (24 lb) of the drug, mixed with acetone or gasoline to make it mouldable. The gold-painted statue was found on a routine sweep of the airport on Friday, authorities said.

The Ecuadorian submarine, capable of carrying tonnes of cocaine, was discovered in a river near the border with Colombia, the US Drug Enforcement Agency said. The camouflaged 31m- (100 ft-) long vessel has a conning tower, periscope and air-conditioning system. One man was arrested. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today