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RATINGS: 11 - Exceptional, 10 - Strong, 9 - Above Average

11 *RUTGERS over West Virginia Late Score Forecast: *RUTGERS 30 - West Virginia 17
Rutgers got caught napping on the road two weeks ago at Syracuse. Now, the Scarlet Knights are looking to snag the Mountaineers emerging from their own party mode after the Mounties’ satisfying victory over bitter rival Pittsburgh in Morgantown. WV has lost three of its last four road games (losses at Auburn, South Florida and Cincy) while winning only at Syracuse. Contrariwise, Rutgers is happy to be closing the season at home after playing four of its previous five games on the road! The penetrating Scarlet Knight defense is tough vs. the run (16th in the nation) and hassles opposing QBs (Rutgers is 16th in sacks). HC Greg Schiano deserves credit for his steady development of talented true frosh QB Tom Savage (only four ints.!) and for augmenting his ground game with Wildcat plays for big (6-3, 215) WR Mohamed Sanu.

10 FLORIDA over Alabama Late Score Forecast: FLORIDA 31 - Alabama 13 SEC Championship in Atlanta, Georgia
Alabama mentor Nick Saban has reportedly been preparing for this inevitable rematch ever since bitter, come-from- ahead 31-20 loss vs. Florida in LY’s SEC title game, but still strongly support a special Gator squad, led by the winningest senior class in SEC history (47 victories!). Now that Florida’s superb orchestrator Tim Tebow (17 of 21 for 221 yds., 90 YR vs. Florida State) is making more downfield strikes to veteran targets TE Hernandez (5 catches for 83 yds. vs. ‘Noles) & WR Cooper (5 TDC last 5 games), balanced Gator attack (236 ypg rushing, 215 passing) effectively stretches the aggressive Tide defense, unable to contain UF on 2 long TD drives in crucial 4th Q year ago. Even if Bama’s star RB Ingram (only 30 YR vs. Auburn) unfazed by hip pointer, doubt unfinished, pressured QB McElroy (Gators have SEC-best 34 sacks) effectively works play-action vs. ball-hawking Gator 2ndary (51%, 20 ints., just 6 TDs), featuring lock-down CB Haden (4 “picks”). And keep in mind, Urban Meyer’s squad has won by 6 pts.-or-more in 38 of past 39 triumphs.

10 TEXAS over Nebraska Late Score Forecast: TEXAS 35 - Nebraska 10 Big XII Championship in Arlington, Texas
Nebraska has one of the toughest defenses (only 11.1 ppg) in the country, and its defensive front—led by disruptive DTs Ndamukong Suh (71⁄2 sacks) & Jared Crick (9 sacks)—is arguably the best. However, the Cornhusker offense (92nd in total offense; 93rd in passing) is limited, and the NU ground game doesn’t provide many long gainers. This raises the very relevant question: What happens if prolific Texas QB Colt McCoy gets the Longhorns off to a fast start? Or, what if Texas’ own hard-charging defense (fifth in the nation overall, first vs. the rush, third in sacks) gets off to its own fast start? The Horns defense and STs have collected 11 return TDs TY. Six of the last seven Big XII title games have been decided by three TDs or more. So it’s no big surprise if that scenario repeats.

NINE-RATED GAMES: BOISE STATE (-461⁄2) vs. New Mexico State—Broncos looking to lock up a 13-0 regular season; need “beauty points” for BCS purposes

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Basketball

10 *SAN ANTONIO 109 - Denver 96
*SAN ANTONIO over Denver (NBA)...San Antonio gaining momentum after an injury-plagued start. Spurs have won 5 straight, covering 4, and Manu Ginobili’s return to action puts the San Antonio trio of all-stars back on the court together. Denver appears to have been overachieving early, but Nuggets have dropped 5 of last 6 against the points on the road. Although Carmelo Anthony proved to be a real force in November, things won’t come as easily as his Nuggets are required to visit tough venues such as the AT&T Center.