Giants 27, Ravens 17
This WILL be a matchup problem for the Ravens; but they will not be consistently beat the way the Colts beat them. Plaxico Burress will ultimately make some big catches, which I imagine will be the difference. The Ravens have a chance to outscore the Giants (did I really just say that?), but doing so on the road will not be easy.
Maryland 23, North Carolina 13
The Terps will come out and get the lead early in this one; and will be able to put the pressure on the Heels’ offense. I think they can maintain that lead throughout and hold on.
Notre Dame 38, Navy 31
Relax Navy fans, they can’t take away last year’s win from you. But Niumatalolo isn’t quite ready to get his first win over the Irish.
Villanova 34, Towson 17
Sean Schaeffer’s stats will look allright though.
Let’s see what everyone else has to say…..
Best of Thursday’s WNST Blogs:
Joe Flacco says he went with O-Line to see Bond flick last night
Drew Forrester thinks Angelos ‘deserves credit’ for return of Baltimore
Nestor Aparicio celebrating return of Blast tonight in Dundalk
Casey Willett says H. Jackson has followed Flacco since pre-combine
Boy Haynie offers to EAT Maryland hat if Terps make Final Four like Vasquez eludes
Alex Thomas picks Giants 23-20
Chris Pika says Birds still reaching out to other areas in state despite returning Baltimore to uniforms
RAVENS:
The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Ravens-Giants will be ‘backyard brawl’
The Official Site’s Dan Wilcox (yep) says Ravens will be ‘ready’ for Giants
The Official Site says Rex Ryan sees Giants’ running attack as ‘great challenge’
The Official Site announces community event Monday night
Giants Official Site’s Michael Eisen scouts Ravens-Giants
Giants Official Site’s Michael Eisen says Flacco ‘no ordinary rookie’
The Sun’s Ken Murray says Ravens ‘could be up’ for NFC East test
7 of 7 Sun writers pick Giants
The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Ravens need to dominate on ground, force turnovers, and get production from receiver not named Mason
The Sun’s Edward Lee says Figurs ‘filling void’ (like 1370!)
The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Ravens hope to be more successful vs. Eli than they were vs. Peyton
The Sun’s Kevin Van Valkenburg thinks Eli > Flacco, Bill Ordine thinks Flacco > Eli
The Sun’s Mike Preston says H. Jackson getting reputation for developing QB’s
The Sun’s Ray Frager says CBS giving Ravens love this weekend
The Sun’s Edward Lee says Reed had limited participation
The Sun’s Edward Lee says Giants’ Webster missed practice again
The Sun’s Mike Preston says FB Hedgecock important to Giants’ ability to run
The Examiner’s Ron Snyder says 3 Giants combine for more sacks than all of Ravens’ roster
The Examiner’s Steve DeClue credits Heap for tough blocking this season
Aaron Wilson says 52 knows only way to stop Jacobs is to ‘hit him full speed’
Aaron Wilson says ‘matchup problems’ caused by Giants’ Burress
New York Post’s Mike Puma says Butler ‘expects to play’ vs. Ravens
The AP’s Joe LaPointe says Giants have had secondary issues in recent weeks
New York Daily News’ Kristie Ackert says Giants’ ‘wary’ of Flacco
New York Daily News’ Vic Ziegel says Giants regularly coming up ‘big’ this season
Newsday’s Tom Rock says Burress ready to ‘break out’ again
Newsday’s Tom Rock says Blackburn versatile for Giants
Newark Star-Ledger’s Jenny Vrentas says focus on Burress has allowed Giants’ run game to open up
Newark Star-Ledger’s Mike Garafolo says Giants want to get pressure on Flacco
5 of 5 ESPN Sunday Countdown analysts pick Giants
8 of 8 ESPN Analysts pick Giants
ESPN.com’s John Clayton says Ravens-Giants will be one of ‘more physical’ games this weekend
ESPN.com’s James Walker says Ravens have history with Burress
ESPN.com’s James Walker says Cameron ‘bigger pickup’ than Flacco for Ravens
ESPN.com’s James Walker says Ravens know they must give Giants ‘credit’
6 of 6 Fox Sports analysts pick Giants
SI.com’s “Dr. Z” takes Giants and points
SI’s Peter King picks Giants 16-13
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer picks Giants 20-10
TERRAPINS FOOTBALL:
North Carolina Official Site’s Lauren Brownlow previews Heels-Terps
The Sun’s Jeff Barker says some fans find Byrd ‘outdated and small’
The Sun’s Jeff Barker says today’s practice open to students
The Sun’s Jeff Barker says ‘trends’ favor Terps tomorrow
The Sun’s Jeff Barker says Da’Rel still wearing ‘no-contact’ jersey
The Sun’s Jeff Barker says Terps looking to ‘rebound’ again
The Sun’s Jeff Barker says Portis experiment still not over
The Examiner’s Sean Welsh says Terps need win over Carolina to stay alive in ACC title race
ESPN.com’s Bruce Feldman picks Terps 17-13
Terrapin Times’ Keith Cavanaugh says Ralph keeping Terps ‘on point’ (must subscribe)
Terrapin Times’ Mike Ashley says Terps, Heels ‘similar’ (must subscribe)
TERRAPINS BASKETBALL:
The Official Site previews tonight’s season tip with Bucknell
The Official Site says J. Williams officially inks with Terps
Bucknell Official Site previews Bison-Terps
Bucknell Official Site offers complete Bucknell-Maryland release (pdf)
The Sun’s Don Markus says Terps trying to avoid looking past early season non-conference foes
The Sun’s Don Markus says Greivis thinks Terps look like ‘Final Four team’
The Sun’s Matt Bracken says most think Terps’ recruiting class ‘solid’
The Examiner’s Sean Welsh says Booth thinks Mosley working ‘tail off’ to improve with Terps
The Examiner’s Dylan Waugh says Mosley WILL return from injury tonight
The AP says Terps have chance to ‘overachieve’
TERRAPINS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:
ESPN.com names Toliver, Coleman All-American
NAVY FOOTBALL:
The Official Site says tomorrow’s game at M&T Bank Stadium sold out
The Sun’s Don Markus says Irish trying to ‘erase memory’ of last year’s loss to Navy
The Examiner’s Dave Carey says Notre Dame players taking emotions of last year’s loss into tomorrow’s Navy game
Annapolis Capital’s Bill Wagner says Dobbs better on Saturdays than during practice
Annapolis Capital’s Bill Wagner says when Doyle has ball, good things happen
Go Mids’ David Ausiello says Dobbs ‘could see playing time’ tomorrow
Go Mids’ Chris Rohe breaks down Notre Dame
NAVY BASKETBALL:
The Official Site says CBS College Sports to broadcast Navy-American
Annapolis Capital’s Bill Wagner says Mids to be without Garcia due to hamstring injury
TOWSON BASKETBALL:
The Official Site says Tigers ink Philmore, Gumbs
UMBC BASKETBALL:
The Official Site previews UMBC-Stevenson
COPPIN BASKETBALL:
The Official Site previews exhibition contest with Cheyney
MT. ST. MARY’S BASKETBALL:
Carroll County Times’ Bob Blubaugh says Eers trying to maintain position at top of NEC
ORIOLES:
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Huff honored with Silver Slugger
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Birds expect to be ‘active’ in free agency
The Sun’s Dan Connolly says MacPhail will be ‘kicking tires’ of available superstars
The Sun offers list of free agents Orioles might have interest in
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Birds still undecided on Spring Training home
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Mets’ Heilman ‘makes sense’ for Birds
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Birds denying interest in Ramirez
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec thought Birds would have signed Markakis by now
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec still thinks Roberts will be traded
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says players like new uniforms
ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark says Birds will be throwing dollars around
Sporting News’ Cal Ripken Jr. (same one) says Nicaraguan media provides strong turnout for press conference
BLAST:
The Examiner’s Sean Welsh says Wakefield still views Blast as ‘defending champs’ in new league
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL:
The Sun’s Stephen Kiehl says charges against St. Frances’ Karcher dropped
HORSE RACING:
The Sun’s Bill Ordine says no other horses in Laurel barn show signs of virus
Thoroughbred Times’ John Scheinman says Laurel horse tests positive for equine herpes
SOME QUICK THOUGHTS:
-Congratulations to SunTrust Athlete of the Morning Jaime Ramirez; who clinched the first state title for Tuscarora’s boys soccer team with his penalty kick. This was just the 5th year for Tuscarora soccer.
-I’ll say Maryland 82, Bucknell 68-but it will be closer than that. I’ll also say UMBC 106, Stevenson 62; Towson 68, Navy 64; LaSalle 77, Morgan State 71; and Mt. St. Mary’s 74, Loyola 72. But what do I know?
-It would be pretty special to see a picture of Mark Teixeira with Baltimore written across his chest.
Talk to you tonight at Maryland-Bucknell.
-G
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