With the preseason out of the way the National Football League finally gets to some games that count with their opener on Thursday. Here’s your Daily Sports Roundup . . .
Event of the day . . .
The New York Giants aren’t the Vegas favorites to win the Super Bowl this season, but of course they weren’t considered the team to beat last season either yet they finished the campaign with a big trophy. Eli Manning and company will begin their title defense on Thursday night by playing host to the Washington Redskins (7:00pm ET, NBC).
New York has been pegged as a 4-point home favorite in this contest, with the game’s total sitting at 41 points. However, the Giants will be without two key defensive players from their Super Bowl-winning team, as DL Michael Strahan retired during the offseason and DL Osi Umenyiora is out for the season after suffering a major knee injury.
The Redskins could also be without a top defensive player, as DL Jason Taylor has been limited in practice this week because of a bruised knee. WR Antwaan Randle El has a broken bone in his hand but is still expected to play for Washington on Thursday night. QB Jason Campbell has recovered from his hamstring injury and will start.
Non-event of the day . . .
The Pirates and Reds just keeping sending starting pitchers out to the mound that make OVER bettors salivate. In the finale of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon the Reds are scheduled to start Josh Fogg (2-7, 7.29 ERA), while the Pirates will hand the ball to Tom Gorzelanny (6-9, 6.61 ERA). Neither pitcher got a victory in August.
Also on the schedule . . .
There are only two other NL contests on a light Thursday schedule: Washington at Atlanta, and San Diego at Milwaukee. Over in the AL there’s a little more action, with four games on tap. Scott Kazmir (10-6, 3.13 ERA) will look to pitch the Rays past the Yankees in the most notable game in the Junior Circuit. As well, it’ll be the Angels at Detroit, Minnesota at Toronto, and Oakland at Kansas City.
The PGA Tour stages its third of four FedExCup playoff tournaments starting on Thursday, with the red-hot Vijay Singh pegged as the 6/1 favorite to win the BMW Championship. Sergio Garcia is next on the list at 7/1, followed by Phil Mickelson at 8/1, Jim Furyk at 12/1, and each of Ernie Els, Mike Weir, and Padraig Harrington at 15/1.
Rounding out the Thursday schedule are stand-alone games in both college football and the WNBA. On the gridiron it’ll be South Carolina at Vanderbilt. On the hardwood the Chicago Sky (winners of three in a row) will get a visit from the Seattle Storm.
News from the wire . . .
The Dodgers activated outfielder Andruw Jones from the disabled list, but it’s unlikely that he’ll see much time on the field in September . . . the Yankees activated pitcher Joba Chamberlain from the DL as well, and he’ll work out of the team’s bullpen for the rest of the season . . . embattled defenseman Bryan McCabe was finally dealt from the Leafs to the Panthers along with a draft pick for defenseman Mike Van Ryn.
Peek at the future . . .
The Phillies and the Mets begin a series in New York on Friday night, with Brett Myers (8-10, 4.40 ERA) taking on Mike Pelfrey (13-8, 3.66 ERA) . . . there is a single college football game on the Friday schedule as well, with Navy taking on Ball State (-7.5) . . . Kyle Busch is the 9/2 Vegas favorite to win the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, with Jimmie Johnson just behind at 6/1 odds.
