Reason: We don't know what all these changes are going to do for the stumbling Steelers' (6-6 SU, 3-9 ATS), but we do know they have been money burners all year. We also know the weather conditions for the game are not going to help either offense: 22 degrees, 25 MPH wins, 80% chance of snow. After Sunday's stunning 27-24 loss at home to the Raiders as 14-point chalk, coach Mike Tomlin is making some sweeping changes, looking to go with new cornerbacks on a secondary that has blown too many fourth quarter leads. Rookie cornerbacks Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis will play and veteran cornerback Ike Taylor possibly could lose his starting job. WR Hines Ward will not play because of a late-game hamstring injury, so WR Limas Sweed will move up on the depth chart. They also allowed a TD on the final play in a loss to the Bengals, lost 20-17 in OT at Baltimore, and gave up an 11-yard TD pass to Oakland with nine seconds left. Losing star safety Troy Polamalu has clearly hurt. He might be gone for the season and it was the fifth time in six losses that the Steelers couldn't hold a lead in the fourth quarter. Cleveland has been moving the ball and scoring some the last two games under QB Brady Quinn (8 TD, 5 picks). Quinn threw for 4 TDs, 304 yards and no picks, in a 38-37 loss at Detroit, then had 3 TDs, no picks and 271 yards in Sunday’s 30-23 loss to San Diego. On national TV, this will be the Browns Super Bowl, so the home dog has great value. Play the Browns.
Jim Feist's 15-Star NBA TNT Game of the Month - Thursday!
NBA (505) ORLANDO MAGIC VS (506) UTAH Jazz
Take: (505) ORLANDO MAGIC
Reason: 15-Star NBA TNT Game of the Month: Magic.
Like last year, the Orlando Magic are terrific on the road, a sizzling 10-2. They are also red-hot winning 11 of 12 games. Dwight Howard scored 25 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished five assists and blocked seven shots on his 24th birthday to lead the Magic to a 97-86 victory against the Clippers on Tuesday night. The Magic improved to 17-4, tying their best-ever start after 21 games. The Magic play a back-to-back to close the road trip, taking on the Utah Jazz on Thursday and the Phoenix Suns on Friday. They catch a break here as Utah is no rested, having to play at the uptempo Lakers last night. This is a difficult week, playing the Spurs, Lakers and now the Magic, three games in four days against powerhouse teams. The Magic are 12-2-1 ATS the last 15 games against Utah and 6-0-1 ATS the last 7 at Utah. An excellent situational spot for the visitors. Play the Magic!
F.A.S.
g/l
Feist 12/10
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