was at the game but he was not available to the media. Silver is facing a storm of controversy

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - There are not many matchups in which the betting line is affected by a single game, but that is what has taken place in the Outback Bowl between Wisconsin and Auburn. Wisconsin met Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 6 and the Badgers were favored by four points due to Cardale Jones starting at quarterback for the Buckeyes in place of the injured J.T. Barrett. The Badgers came into the contest on a seven-game winning streak, but the Buckeyes dominated from start to finish in a 59-0 rout. Now, instead of getting around a field goal from Auburn, the Badgers are underdogs by a touchdown. Another reason the line is higher than it should be comes from what has taken place on the sidelines as Wisconsin is without head coach Gary Andersen, who moved on to Oregon State. Barry Alvarez will be the interim coach for the second time in three years. However, Auburn has coaching issues as well due to the firing of defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. Charlie Harbison takes over on an interim basis for Will Muschamp, who cant be added to the coaching staff for this contest. Wisconsin is somewhat used to playing teams from the SEC as the Badgers have done so twice in the last 365 days. In the first game of this season, they held a 24-7 lead over LSU early in the third quarter only to lose 28-24 with Tanner McEvoy throwing an interception leading to the winning score. The previous game was in last years bowl game against South Carolina. Wisconsin, trailing by 10 points in the fourth quarter, had plenty of chances to cut the deficit to three, but three turnovers, including two inside the red zone, thwarted all attempts. Outside of that contest, the Badgers have lost by more than a touchdown against non-conference opponents just one time in over 10 years. Auburn is 0-3 ATS in its last three FBS games and just 2-7 ATS in its last nine contests. The Tigers are 0-3 ATS when favored between six and eight points against a non-conference Power 5 squad. Furthermore, they have not won an FBS game by more than seven since Oct. 4. Gus Malzahns crew should put up points against Wisconsins defense, but not having Dhaquille Williams in the lineup will hurt as the junior led the Tigers in receptions. Williams caught seven passes for 121 yards in Auburns last game against Alabama. Wisconsin also will score against a suspect Auburn defense, one which allowed just as many points in its last game as the Badgers did. In fact, the Tigers have given up 30 points or more in six consecutive FBS games. Expect a close contest in the Outback Bowl as Auburn should be favored by less than a field goal. Take Wisconsin plus seven points in this weeks lone five-star play. ANOTHER BIG TEN TEAM TO COVER ON NEW YEARS DAY Missouri takes on Minnesota in another SEC-Big Ten battle. The Tigers are similar to Wisconsin in that they came into their conference title game on a huge winning streak but were obliterated by their opponent. Still, even though Missouri had won six straight before losing to Alabama, most of the victories were not that impressive. The Tigers began the streak with what looked on paper as a huge win over Florida. The final score was 42-13, but they gained only 119 total yards in the win and Maty Mauk threw for just 20 yards on 6-for-18 passing with one interception. That was followed by five wins over five of the six teams with losing conference records. They recorded 10-point home wins over 0-8 Vanderbilt and 2-6 Kentucky. The next three games were seven-, eight- and seven-point victories over Texas A&M, Tennessee and Arkansas, respectively. Meanwhile, Minnesota played just one poor game since beating San Jose State, 24-7, on Sept. 20, and that was a four-point loss at Illinois a month later. Not only did the Golden Gophers give Ohio State and Wisconsin tough battles, but they knocked off Nebraska on the road and crushed Iowa by 37 points at home. The Golden Gophers already have matched up against quality defenses, so taking on Missouris unit will not be a major deterrent. Furthermore, their run-based offense should neutralize the Tigers fearsome defense, which accumulated 42 sacks. Minnesota has been an excellent team to wager on as an underdog. In fact, Jerry Kills squad is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games when getting points. The Golden Gophers are getting 4.5 points on New Years Day so grab them even though an outright victory is not out of the question. Take Minnesota plus 4.5 points in the first of three three-star plays. Oregon and Florida State clash in the first-ever College Football Playoff game. The Ducks have scored 193 points over their last four games and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota has been on fire with 12 touchdown passes and no interceptions since Nov. 8. Oregons defense also has put it together, allowing just 17 points per game over its last five contests after giving up 28 points per game in its first seven FBS matchups. The Ducks need their defense to stay on course against an explosive Florida State offense, including the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston. The sophomore has had an off season, but hes still thrown for 3,559 yards - ninth-best in the FBS. The key to this matchup is not at quarterback or even at running back, where both teams possess tremendous freshmen (Royce Freeman at Oregon and Dalvin Cook at Florida State). The game will be won by the team with the better defense. It is difficult to judge which team that is, especially because Oregon plays in a more offensive-minded conference which skews the numbers in Florida States favor. To wit, the Seminoles have allowed fewer yards, fewer yards per play and fewer yards per carry. However, Oregon has given up fewer yards per pass attempt and, surprisingly, the Ducks have allowed fewer points even with seven of their 13 games against top-50 offenses. Florida State played just three contests against top-50 offenses. Unfortunately for Oregon, its star cornerback, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, is out with a knee injury, which is a crucial blow to the secondary. This should be a very close game, so it is best to go with the underdog. Take Florida State plus nine points. Finally, Washington and Oklahoma State get together in the Cactus Bowl on Jan. 2. The Huskies usually are a tremendous home team with a shaky record on the road. They went 16-3 at home and 5-11 on the road between 2011 and 2013. However, they proved they can win away from home this season, going 4-2 with the only two losses coming against Oregon and Arizona. Running back Dwayne Washington came alive in Washingtons last three games rushing for 383 yards (on just 49 carries) and five touchdowns. Given the fact Oklahoma State allows over four yards per carry, look for Washington to have a field day. The Cowboys also rank 110th nationally versus the pass, which means the Huskies could easily score well into the 40s. It is doubtful the Cowboys will even reach 30 points given they have done so just once in their last seven games. This one should be a double-digit deficit for Oklahoma State, and since the Huskies are giving less than a touchdown, they are the choice in the Cactus Bowl. Take Washington minus six points. TWO-STAR SELECTIONS Take Michigan State +3 (Baylor) and Kansas State +1.5 (UCLA) in the Alamo Bowl. ONE-STAR PLAY Take Boise State +3 (Arizona) in the Fiesta Bowl. Custom Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . DeGrom outpitched Jake Peavy in a tantalizing hitless duel that carried into the seventh inning Saturday night before the New York Mets broke loose and beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2. Chase Edmonds Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.officialauthenticcardinalsshop.com/authentic-benson-mayowa-jersey.html . Serves hit by her surgically repaired shoulder often missed the mark, resulting in 12 double-faults. Mason Cole Jersey . The team made the announcement after Saturdays 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. RHP Kenny Giles will be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill Adams spot on the roster. Andre Smith Jersey . - Mark Sanchez found out the New York Jets had acquired Tim Tebow on a conference call with team management.PORTLAND, Ore. -- There was some shouting going on in the Trail Blazers locker room after they fell behind by 10 points at halftime to the Rockets. Up 2-1 in their first playoff series since 2011, the Blazers didnt want to mess up Game 4, especially in front of their hometown fans. "In the words of Chuck -- Charles Barkley -- we were playing like wussies," Portland guard Wesley Matthews said. "That was the message to each other." Whatever was said, the Trail Blazers pulled out of their funk and went on to defeat the Rockets 123-120 in overtime Sunday night to take a 3-1 advantage in the series that moves to Houston on Wednesday. LaMarcus Aldridge had 29 points and 10 rebounds in the first win for the home team in the series, while Nicolas Batum added 25 points. It was the third game in the series decided in overtime. The Blazers havent advanced out of the first round since 2000. Portland also hasnt held a 3-1 advantage in a series since the 2000 Western Conference semifinals against Utah, which the Blazers won 4-1. James Harden had 28 points and Dwight Howard added 25 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets. "The playoffs are a grind," Houston coach Kevin McHale said. "Its a different game than the regular season. Youve got to be built for the grind." Portland trailed by as many as 11 points, but rallied in the fourth quarter. Mo Williams 3-pointer put the Blazers in front 105-104 with 18.9 seconds left. Dorell Wright missed the first of two free throws, making it 106-104 with 8.3 seconds to go. Howard dunked off a feed from Harden with 3.6 seconds left to tie it and Williams missed a 3 at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. Chandler Parsons was hit with a flagrant foul on Aldridge, who made both free throws to give the Blazers the lead to start off OT. Batum scooped up a layup before adding a 3-pointer and Damian Lillard made a layup to put Portland ahead 117-110. Houston rookie Troy Daniels nailed a 3 and Harden landed a jumper to narrow it to 119-117, but Lillard made free throws to extend the lead to four points with 17 seconds left. Aldridge missed a pair of free throws and Daniels was fouled by Wright on a 3-point attempt and made all three shots to narrow it to 121-120 with 8.9 seconds left. After a Portland timeout, Mo Williams made free throws for the final margin.dddddddddddd "It was tough," Aldridge said. "I thought it was a gut-check by everybody. I thought our guys took on the challenge." Aldridge opened Portlands return to the playoffs with a franchise post-season-best 46 points in the Blazers 122-120 overtime victory in Game 1, then followed it up with 43 points in the 112-105 win. The Rockets won the third, 121-116 in overtime on Friday night at the Moda Center. McHale again started Omer Asik in place of Terrence Jones. Asik had success against Aldridge in Game 3, helping to hold Portlands All-Star to 23 points. The two teams played closely for most of the first quarter, but the Rockets took a 29-22 lead after an 11-4 run highlighted by two straight 3-pointers from Daniels. Daniels, who spent time in the D-League this season and only made his NBA debut on March. 5, was the unlikely hero of Game 3 when he drained a 3 with 11.9 seconds to go in OT that proved to be the winner. Houston led 61-51 at the half, led by Parsons with 19 points. The Rockets maintained the lead through the third quarter and Hardens jumper from the top of the key stretched it to 92-84 with 8:31 left. Portland got within 94-91 on Batums layup with 6:35 left. Lillards 3-pointer tied it at 94, but Harden answered with his 3 for the Rockets. Aldridge made a layup to put Portland up 102-97, but Howard made three of four free throws to narrow it before making two big blocks. Harden hit free throws to tie it at 102 with 1:11 left. Aldridge missed a layup and Harden hit another two foul shots to give the Rockets back the lead. Parsons finished with 26 points for the Rockets. "Everything you do is magnified and all the little things that were not doing cost you ... and were down 1-3 because of it," Parsons said. NOTES: Houston guard Patrick Beverly did not participate in the shootaround because he wasnt feeling well, but he started the game. .... NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was at the game but he was not available to the media. Silver is facing a storm of controversy surrounding racist comments purportedly made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling. ... The Blazers all wore black socks in solidarity with the Clippers. "I wanted to do something to support our brothers," Aldridge said. ... It was the Blazers 100th overall playoff victory. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '