GAME INFO
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers
8:30 PM EST
ESPN
Bank of America Stadium

 

FOR THE RECORD
The Tampa Bay Bucaneers are 9-3, 3-3 on the road, 3-1 in the NFC South and 8-2 in the National Football Conference. They are tied with the Carolina Panthers for first place in the NFC South.  The Bucs have scored 280 points this year while giving up 200.

The Carolina Panthers are also 9-3 but are 6-0 at home.  They are 2-2 in the NFC South and 6-3 in the NFC.  They have score 285 points and given up 231.

THE LINE
Panthers are favored by 3 points Under/Over is 38 points (subject to change)

PREVIEW
Tonight’s matchup is a huge game for both teams. They are tied for first place in the NFC South. It seems that both teams are headed to the postseason, but the division winner will likely get the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye, so there is plenty at stake — the division champion would likely not have to face the Giants until the NFC Championship Game. These teams have a lot of similarities, and while neither is overly dynamic or exciting, both are well coached and fundamentally sound and find ways to win. In a division that will go down to the wire, every game becomes critical, and this may be the most important remaining game for both teams. We may not see a high-scoring, offensive-oriented contest, but this game will be close and physical.

TAMPA BAY FACTS
Jeff Garcia, the starting QB for Tampa Bay, took over the reins in October against Carolina in their earlier meeting.  He seems to be at his best the Panthers.
Jeff has thrown for 1902 yards and thrown 8 TDs. His QB rating is 92.5.

The Bucs running is lead by Warrick Dunn who has 640 yards on 145 carries with 2 TDS and Earnest. Graham who has 563 yards on 132 carries with 4 TDs.

Offensive Tackle J. haye is out. Wide ReceiverMichael Clayton, Defensive End Kevin Carter and Defensive End Gaines Adams are questionable for tonights game.

Jake Delhomme will be at QB for the Carolina Panters.  He has a QB rating of 81.7 in 2008 throwing for 2,427 yards with 12 TD passes. Running BackDeAngelo Williams leads the Panthers in the backfield with 955 yards in 193 attempts, scoring 11 TDs

Offensive Tackle Jeremy Bridges is Questionable for the game and Running Back Johnathan Stewart is listed as Probable.

PREVIOUS MEETING
 In the earlier meeting on October 12, 2008, the Bucs devastated the Panthers in Tampa Bay 28-3. This was the first game Jeff Garcia started for the Bucs.

OTHER NOTES
Two of the Carolina Panthers Defensive Ends are questionable for tonights game.  Even if they play, expect the Bucs to exploit them both.

PREDICTION
Considering the implications for both teams and the bump and grind style of both teams – expect it to a low scoring affair with the Carolina Panthers using the home field advantage to get revenge from their first meeting.

Carolina Panthers 21     Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, has been put on administrative leave by West Texas A&M. He has been the quarterback coach and the men’s golf coach for the Division II school in Canyon, Texas.

Just a couple of months again, portfolio.com did a feature on the former NFL players life after the NFL as a coach at the west texas school. Although he played only 4 NFL games, he made millions on endorsements.

ESPN is reporting that he has taken a leave of absence from the west texas school.  According to unnamed sources, a person briefed on the situation said that Leaf acknowledged he had asked a player for a pill to help him deal with pain in his wrist that goes back to his playing days in

Director Michael McBroom says he met with Leaf on Sunday and they agreed that a leave is the best option. McBroom would not comment on what prompted the decision.

West Texas A&M is 9-1 heading into its final regular season game.

Leaf, a Heisman Trophy finalist at Washington State, was taken second in the 1998 draft.

He retired after four dismal seasons — and was known for his profane off-field outbursts toward fans, coaches and reporters. He broke into the league with San Diego
Chargers and had short stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahaws between 1998 and 2002.

Leaf finished with 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

TEAMS
Dallas Cowboys (5-3) at New York Giants (6-1)

GAME INFO
November 2, 2008
Time: 4:15
TV: Fox
Surface: Field Turf – Giants Stadium
Weather: More sun than clouds. Cool. 55° F. 6mph wind

SPREAD
N.T Giants (-9)  Under/Over 41 Points

TEAM STANDINGS
The Dallas Cowboys are in jeopardy of falling out of the NFC East playoff race with half the season to go. They trail the New York Giants (6-1) and Washington Redskins (6-2). The Philadelphia Eagles are right behind them at 4-3.

The New York Giants, on the other hand, have reeled off two consecutive wins and are in first place in the NFC East.

MOMENTUM
The Dallas Cowboys started the season strong, winning their first 3 games. Since then, they are 2-3. The Cowboys are 2-2 on the road and 3-3 against NFC teams. They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Home last week by a score of 13-9. The Cowboys are averaging a little over 25 points a game while giving up, on average, 24 points a game.

The New York Giants are 4-0 at home and 4-0 against NFC teams. They have won 2 straight going into Sunday’s game.  They have won two in a row, are 4-0 at home, and 1-2 on the road.  They are averaging 27 points a game while giving up only 16.  In the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s game they held the Pittsburgh Steelers to -18 yards total offense – just an outstanding feat, considering the Steelers offense is led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

KEY INJURIES
Cowboys: OG Kyle Kosier (foot sprain), RB Felix Jones (hamstring), CB Terence Newman (sports hernia) and QB Tony Romo (broken right pinkie) are out; TE Jason Witten (broken rib) said he wants to find a way to play if possible. Giants: OLB Gerris Wilkinson (knee) is out.

KEYS TO THE GAME
According to NFl.com, QB Brad Johnson will start, but if he struggles early the Cowboys won’t hesitate to turn to Brooks Bollinger, who took practice snaps with the first team this week. The 40-year-old Johnson lacks arm strength and mobility, making it difficult for him to get out of the way of the Giants’ ferocious pass rush or hurt New York vertically. Either quarterback will need a massive game from RB Marion Barber to alleviate the pressure. … If CB Anthony Henry isn’t ready to play, the Cowboys will start a pair of rookies in Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick. Even when healthy, Dallas would have a difficult time matching up with all of the Giants’ options downfield, so the Cowboys desperately need an effective pass rush. Giants QB Eli Manning is still prone to critical errors when forced to unload the ball before he wants to.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the 92nd regular-season meeting between the two. The Cowboys lead the series 54-35-2. The Cowboys won the two regular-season games last year, but the Giants beat the Cowboys in the playoffs en route to winning the Super Bowl title. A Cowboys win would be their fourth straight regular-season win against the Giants.

PICK PREDICTION

Giants 27-13
Take the Giants even though they are giving nine points to the ‘Boys.

• The Giants defense is just too good
• Brad Johnson lack of mobility
• Giants are playing at home
• The weather will not hamper Eli Manning