2016 wnba thread news notes picks !

[CNOTES]

MAC power Bowling Green will try to 'shock' Buckeyes
September 2, 2016


COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Bowling Green will be a four-touchdown underdog coming into Ohio Stadium on Saturday, but new Falcons coach Mike Jinks said he welcomes the chance to ''shock the world.''


If Jinks' squad can knock off the mighty Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium, it would be a monumental inaugural win for him as a college coach. A Texas Tech assistant for three seasons after a long career in Texas high school football, the 44-year-old Jinks took the helm at Bowling Green this season after Dino Babers was hired away by Syracuse.


Returning fewer than half the starters from a team that went 10-4 and won the Mid-American Conference crown last year, the Falcons have their work cut out for them. They have new starters at quarterback and tailback, a rebuilt defensive line and must compensate for the loss of two of the three best receivers from last year.


Anything can happen, right?


''I've been an underdog my whole life,'' Jinks said. ''I kind of excel in those situations.''


So does Bowling Green, it seems. The Falcons shocked two Big 10 teams last season on the road, Maryland and Purdue, and stayed competitive against Tennessee in the season opener. In 2014, they beat Indiana 45-42 at home.


''These are the games we ought to want to be in,'' Jinks said. ''These are the opportunities that don't come too often. There are 128 FBS schools in the country, and we're playing at probably one of the top five venues of all time. Not everybody gets those chances throughout a college career, so it's a trend that we hope to continue in years to come.''


Bowling Green will take home a guaranteed payout of $975,000 for the trip to Ohio Stadium.


Some other things to know as the Falcons try to pull off the upset in Columbus:


QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS


There may be as many questions about No. 6 ranked Ohio State as Bowling Green this season. The Buckeyes have the least experienced team in the nation, losing 16 starters from last year. They have new starters at tailback and wide receiver, and throughout the defense.


''I know what we're walking into, but you don't know what this '16 Ohio State team going to be, and you don't know what this '16 Bowling Green team is going to be,'' Jinks said. ''That's the exciting part of it.''


DON'T DISCOUNT THE UNDERDOGS


Ohio State players say they've learned not to look past any team. The Buckeyes needed a pick-six from linebacker Darron Lee to bail out its struggling offense and squeak by MAC power Northern Illinois 20-13 in what was intended to be a tune-up game early last season.


''Scrappy. Very, very scrappy,'' offensive guard Billy Price said of BG. ''NIU was a very good opponent. We expect the same thing. We cannot take an opponent lightly no matter what conference, whatever team it is. We're going in there respecting them just as much as we did Alabama or just as much as Oregon.''


Said linebacker Chris Worley: ''A team like Bowling Green, you can never overlook them. They're going to come here ready to play, and we know that. The team that plays the hardest will win.''


SHADES OF 2014?


Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said this year's teams reminds him of the 2014 team in terms of starting so many talented but still untested players. That team ended up winning the national championship.


''(It's) very similar,'' he said. ''And I'm real excited about them. I'm trying to hold down the excitement because I really am. I can't wait to watch them to play. This has been a good camp. Good people to work with.''


The biggest unknown, he said, is how the young players will react to being in the stadium with 100,000 of their closest, noisiest friends.


BARRETT READY TO ROLL


Meyer said quarterback J.T. Barrett, who entered a training camp for the first time as the undisputed starting quarterback, is playing as well as he ever has.


''He's on top of his game, I'm proud to say,'' Meyer said. ''He's a very good player, a very good leader. He's driving the car and he's never had that this time of year. The first time he got a start, he certainly wasn't driving the car. He was in the front seat somewhere, but he wasn't driving it. Now it's his, and he's really doing a nice job.''

 

[CNOTES]

Conner, Panthers expect emotional opener vs. Villanova
September 2, 2016


PITTSBURGH (AP) The jitters will be there. After what Pittsburgh running back James Conner has been through over the last 12 months, how could they not?


So forgive the 2014 ACC Player of the Year if he takes a moment before running out of the tunnel and onto the Heinz Field turf on Saturday when the Panthers host Villanova in the 2016 opener. A knee injury that derailed his junior season and a cancer diagnosis that threatened to derail his promising career has a way of putting things in perspective.


''I'm just going to embrace it all,'' Conner said. ''I know we will have a great audience. It will be a memorable day. My doctor will be in the building, along with some of the nurses. My family and friends will be there, along with my friends from Erie, so it's just going to be a great day.''


Yet Conner also understands the jitters will fade. They always do. Once he takes a handoff from Nate Peterman it will back to business as usual: trying to help the Panthers take another step forward one punishing yard at a time.


''I'm excited to make my return,'' he said. ''I take every game the same. There's a job that needs to be done.''


One Pitt and second-year coach Pat Narduzzi believe is far from finished even after a promising 8-5 season in 2015, one the Panthers gamely soldiered through even with Conner watching from the sideline for all but the first two quarters of the opener against Youngstown State.


Narduzzi has a better feel for the program now, one that is trying to embrace its history while forging ahead at the same time. The Pitt script logo - a symbol of the Panthers' glory years four decades go - is back in full effect, joined by a variety of uniform options that seem to be de rigueur in college football these days.


Of course, the plan is to have plenty of substance to go with all that style, with Conner leading the way. Some things to look for as the Panthers begin a season with lofty expectations, against a team hoping to make a statement of its own:


CLOSE CALLS: Narduzzi's tenure began with a shaky 45-37 win over Youngstown State last September, a game that remained in doubt until the fourth quarter. The memory remains fresh, so don't expect Pitt to peek around the corner at a long-awaited visit from Penn State on Sept. 10. That's probably wise against Villanova, a longtime FCS power who is hardly a pushover. The Wildcats have been a tough out against FBS schools in each of the last three openers, all losses by 10 points or less.


SAYING GOODBYE: The 2016 season will be the 32nd and final year for Villanova coach Andy Talley, whose 249 career wins are the most by an active coach at FBS or FCS level. Talley, who led the Wildcats to the 2009 national title, will hand the program over to assistant Mark Ferrante. An upset over the Panthers would be a pretty sweet way to begin Talley's send-off.


PLENTY OF HELP: While Narduzzi said there are no limitations on Conner - who underwent six months of chemotherapy to combat lymphoma diagnosed last Thanksgiving - Pitt's depth at running back means Conner won't have to carry the load alone. Qadree Ollison was the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015 while filling in for Conner and Chris James provides a speedy yin to the powerful yang provided by Conner and Ollison.

NATE THE GREAT? The Panthers entered 2015 with Chad Voytik at quarterback before Nate Peterman quickly took over the job. There is no drama this time around. Peterman is firmly entrenched as the starter, though he'll also be working with an inexperienced group after Tyler Boyd took his school-record 254 receptions to the NFL. Senior Dontez Ford is the only returning wide receiver with more than 12 career catches.

 

[CNOTES]

On Spurrier's day, No. 25 Florida expects better offense
September 2, 2016


GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Amid all the pomp and circumstance of renaming Florida Field after Steve Spurrier, the most fitting way to honor him would be on the scoreboard Saturday.


Maybe the 25th-ranked Gators should try to ''hang half a hundred'' on UMass.


That was one of Spurrier's most memorable quotes during his dozen years in Gainesville. It came after Florida beat Southeastern Conference rival Georgia 52-17 in Athens in 1995. It also was something the Gators did with regularity during Spurrier's tenure.


And after the way Florida ended last season - scoring just two offensive touchdowns in the final three games - players and coaches probably could use a little confidence-booster to start 2016.


''Pretty miserable, wasn't it?'' Florida coach Jim McElwain recalled. ''You had to sit through it, too. I'm sorry. ... I'm still hurting. That's all I can say. That was miserable. I'll leave it at that. And I'm sorry you had to go through it, too.''


The Gators ranked 112th in total offense in 2015, ahead of only Vanderbilt and Missouri in the SEC. They struggled to run the ball consistently and were close to inept in the passing game. The line was a problem - Florida gave up a nation-leading 45 sacks - and quarterback play was an even bigger issue.


McElwain has vowed to be ''dramatically better'' on offense in his second season.


His first chance to prove it comes in the opener against the Minutemen, who are entering their first season as an independent after going 8-40 in four years since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision.


The Gators will give journeyman Luke Del Rio his first collegiate start after he transferred from Alabama and then Oregon State in search of playing time. Del Rio beat out graduate transfer Austin Appleby and two freshmen.


Del Rio, who sat out last season because of NCAA transfer rules, helplessly watched Florida stumble down the stretch.


''Anytime you finish 0-3, it's the worst taste in your mouth,'' said Del Rio, the son of Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio. ''Some teams might get hot and they lose a bowl game. `OK, we finished 5-1.' But 0-3, that's tough to swallow.''


Spurrier only had one three-game losing streak (1999) during his Florida coaching career.


Leading the Gators to six SEC titles and the 1996 national championship, Spurrier helped put the program on the college football map for good. He already has a Heisman Trophy statue from his playing days at Florida and has his name in the school's exclusive ring of honor.


On Saturday, the Gators will officially unveil Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. It's better known as The Swamp, the nickname Spurrier gave it and a place the current team would like to see scoring ''half a hundred'' become more normal than notable again.


''I hope they put some winning turf in there or something,'' McElwain joked. ''I've got to ask our grounds guy. But no, I think that's something special, and obviously for (Spurrier), I think what a fitting tribute. To have him back and be a part of that is something that's pretty neat.''


---


Here are some other things to know as Florida and UMass begin the season:


STREAKING GATORS: Florida has won 26 consecutive season openers, the longest streak in the country. The Gators are likely to extend it against UMass, but making it 28 in a row should be more challenging considering they open the 2017 season against Michigan in Arlington, Texas.

FLORIDA SUSPENSIONS: McElwain suspended five players for the opener, including one senior he declined to name. The others are cornerback Jalen Tabor, tight end C'yontai Lewis and receivers Tyrie Cleveland and Rick Wells. Tabor and Lewis were suspended one game for fighting in practice. Cleveland and Wells were suspended for firing BB guns in a residence hall in July.


GAME-CHANGER? Florida could potentially go from having one of the worst kicking situations in the country to one of the best. Eddy Pineiro will make his collegiate debut and should get considerable attention. A high school soccer player who has never kicked in a game, Pineiro drew interest from Alabama and Florida while making 70-yard-plus kicks and posting them on YouTube.


RARE TRIP: The Minutemen last visited the Sunshine State on Dec. 12, 1964, when they lost to East Carolina 14-13 in the Tangerine Bowl. UMass is 1-1 all-time against teams from Florida.

 

[CNOTES]

Georgia begins Kirby Smart era against rising Tar Heels
September 2, 2016


ATLANTA (AP) Tired of sending countless players to the NFL but going a decade since its last Southeastern Conference championship, Georgia decided that a change in leadership was needed to get to the next level.


Exit Mark Richt.


Enter Kirby Smart.


The longtime Alabama defensive coordinator, who knows a thing or two about championships working for Nick Saban, will take the sideline as a head coach for the first time when the No. 18 Bulldogs open the season Saturday against No. 22 North Carolina in Atlanta at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.


Smart downplayed his debut and wants his players to treat it as just another game.


Good luck with that.


It's the first since 2001 that Georgia will be led by a new head coach.


''This is like kind of anti-climactic for me,'' Smart insisted. ''My focus has been on this team, getting this team better. There are a lot of things I can't control outside that, that have nothing to do with the outcome of the game.''


North Carolina is coming off an 11-win season, its most victories since 1997 and matching the school record.


Coach Larry Fedora realizes the significance of building on that success with a victory over the Bulldogs.


''It's a big game,'' he said. ''It's against a great opponent who has a great tradition. They are well known. It is a good measuring stick for where we are with this program right now.''


---


Some things to watch for Saturday at the Georgia Dome:


CHUBB'S RETURN: After a horrific knee injury midway through last season, star running back Nick Chubb made a faster-than-expected recovery for the Bulldogs. He's fully cleared for the opener and Smart said there are no limitations on how many carries Chubb might get. It will be intriguing to see if he's still the same dynamic back he was before the injury. Chubb was a Heisman-touted player who had tied Herschel Walker's school record with 13 straight 100-yard games before he went down. Sony Michel and freshman Elijah Holyfield are both nursing injuries, so Chubb figures to get plenty of carries in his first game back - especially against a North Carolina defense that ranked 121st nationally (247.4 yards per game) and surrendered nearly 1,000 yards on the ground in its last two games against high-powered offenses.

SIGNATURE WIN: Despite last year's success, which include an appearance in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, North Carolina is still seeking the sort of victory that will stamp Fedora's program as a true national powerhouse. North Carolina hasn't beaten an SEC school since a victory over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl to end the 2010 season. Beating Georgia would show North Carolina might be capable of challenging the ACC dominance of Clemson and Florida State.


EASON WATCH: Less than 72 hours before kickoff, Georgia finally confirmed that fifth-year senior Greyson Lambert remains the starting quarterback. He started 12 games a year ago and set a school record for lowest interception percentage (two picks in 256 passes). But it seems just a matter of time before the Bulldogs turn to Jacob Eason, a touted freshman who is clearly the quarterback of the future. Smart said the depth chart will remain a work in progress. ''It's never over,'' he said. ''It's continuous, just like who the right corner is. If he doesn't play good, then we have to change it.''

HOLLINS OUT: North Carolina will have to play the first half without one of its top deep threats and special team players. Receiver Mack Hollins must sit out the first two quarters after receiving a targeting penalty in a bowl loss to end last season. Hollins not only plays on four special-team units, he had 30 catches for 745 yards and eight touchdowns - leading the national with 24.8 yards per reception. Smart calls Hollins a ''dominant feature player.''


EXPLOSIVE HEELS: North Carolina set school records by averaging 40.7 points and 486.9 yards per game. The Tar Heels were especially dynamic during a two-game November run, piling on 125 points in routs of Duke and Miami. Running back Elijah Hood, an All-ACC pick last season with 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns, looks forward to matching up with Chubb. ''You definitely feel the competition,'' Hood said. ''You just want to show who you are.'' Georgia figures to have its hands full containing North Carolina, especially with four new starters at linebacker.

 

[CNOTES]

Watson, No. 2 Clemson open in SEC country against Auburn
September 2, 2016


AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Deshaun Watson and Clemson pick up where they left off last season - sort of.


The second-ranked Tigers open against another Southeastern Conference team from the state of Alabama, visiting Auburn Saturday night hoping to resume their pursuit of a national title and, perhaps, a Heisman Trophy for Watson.


They finished an otherwise unblemished season with a 45-40 loss to Alabama in the national championship game. Watson was at his playmaking best in racking up nearly 500 total yards against one of the nation's top defenses.


The task now will be to beat an Auburn team seeking redemption after a disappointing season.


''It's a big challenge out of the gate for us,'' Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.


Not so big as the one Swinney's Tigers faced to finish off last season. Auburn opens picked to finish sixth in the Southeastern Conference Western Division after flopping last season amid much higher expectations.


Auburn also lost its top three rushers from last season to a dismissal, a transfer and an early entry into the NFL draft. The receivers are mostly unknown, and Sean White won a renewed quarterback battle after throwing one touchdown pass in five starts last season.


It makes for a tough opening challenge for coach Gus Malzahn's team. Swinney points out that openers carry a certain amount of mystery for both sides.


''There are a lot of unknowns,'' he said. ''They have players we don't know a lot about, and we have players they don't know a lot about. You don't ever really know until you see a team for two or three games.''


---

Here are some things to watch in the Clemson-Auburn matchup:


WATSON'S ENCORE? Watson enters the season among the favorites to win the Heisman after a third-place finish. His 478-yard performance passing and rushing in the title game was nearly enough to pull off the win. ''Their quarterback is one of the best players in college football, if not the best player,'' Malzahn said.

AND AUBURN? White beat out Jeremy Johnson and junior college transfer John Franklin III to emerge as the starter. Of the three, Franklin is the biggest rushing threat and could potentially play in a Wildcat role though Malzahn has been mum on the pecking order behind White. White has impressed Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables. ''He's a quality, quality player,'' Venables said. ''He beat out Deshaun at the Elite 11 for top quarterback. He's got that `it.' He's a very good leader, all the qualities that you love. The intangibles, his toughness, his confidence, he makes everybody around him better.''


SEEING STEELE: Swinney will face one of his former defensive coordinators in Kevin Steele, now leading Auburn's defense. Steele spent three seasons under Swinney and helped the Tigers to the 2011 Atlantic Coast Conference title. But soon after Clemson was embarrassed 70-33 by West Virginia in the Orange Bowl, Swinney fired Steele and replaced him with Venables. Steele skipped his normal session with reporters this week.

TAILBACK COMPARISONS: Wayne Gallman is coming off a school record-setting season, 1,500-yard season for Clemson. Auburn is high on Kerryon Johnson but he had only 52 carries as a freshman, vaulting to the starting spot when Jovon Robinson was kicked off the team in preseason camp.


GETTING DEFENSIVE: Auburn has struggled defensively in recent seasons but Steele's side of the ball might be the team's strength. Veteran defenders Carl Lawson, Montravius Adams and Johnathan Ford are all back and joined by Illinois graduate transfer T.J. Neal at linebacker.

 

[CNOTES]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEST BETS


WLT PCT UNITS


ATS Picks 10-7-0 58.82% +1150


O/U Picks 1-1-0 50.00% -50

 

[CNOTES]

CFB POWER LINES


7:00 pm 9/2/2016
(147) ARMY @(148) TEMPLE
Play Line: TEMPLE -15
BTB PowerLine: TEMPLE -23
Edge On: TEMPLE 8


9:00 pm 9/2/2016
(151) KANSAS ST @(152) STANFORD
Play Line: STANFORD -12.5
BTB PowerLine: STANFORD -22
Edge On: STANFORD 9.5


9:00 pm 9/2/2016
(179) TOLEDO @(180) ARKANSAS ST
Play Line: TOLEDO 4
BTB PowerLine: TOLEDO -6
Edge On: TOLEDO 10

 

[CNOTES]

WNBA Capsules
September 2, 2016


UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Chiney Ogwumike and the Connecticut Sun withstood Phoenix center Brittney Griner's first dunk of the season and career-high 29 points to beat the Mercury 87-74 on Friday night.


Ogwumike scored 20 of her 22 points in the second half and had 10 rebounds, Jasmine Thomas had 18 points, and Alex Bentley added 16. The Sun (11-17) have won three of their last four games and snapped the Mercury's three-game win streak.


Griner's driving one-handed dunk, the eighth slam of her career, came off a no-look pass from Diana Taurasi to pull Phoenix (13-15) to 51-46 with 6:44 to play in the third quarter. But the Sun used a 9-0 run to help stretch their lead to 68-54 at the end the quarter.


Connecticut has won eight of its last 12 games after starting the season 3-13.


LYNX 75, MYSTICS 69


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Maya Moore scored 27 points, Sylvia Fowles had 15 points and 17 rebounds and Minnesota held on to beat Washington.


Moore was 7 of 17 from the floor and made 12 of 13 free throws. She has scored 20 or more points 13 times this season.


Western Conference-leading Minnesota (23-5) has won 10 of its last 12 games and eight straight at home. Tayler Hill had 15 points, and Leilani Mitchell 13 for the Mystics (10-17).


SPARKS 87, WINGS 79


ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Nneka Ogwumike had 28 points and 12 rebounds, Kristi Toliver added 24 points and Los Angeles Sparks pulled away to beat Dallas.


The Sparks (23-5) have won two straight to keep pace with Minnesota atop the Western Conference.


Odyssey Sims scored 26 points to lead Dallas (9-20). The Stars have dropped 10 straight, the longest current losing streak in the WNBA. Glory Johnson had 16 points and 15 rebounds.

SKY 92, STORM 88


ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) - Tamera Young scored 24 points, and Elena Delle Donne added 22 to help Chicago beat Seattle.


Chicago (14-13) has won three straight and six of seven to move into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference. Jewell Loyd had 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Seattle (11-17).

 

[CNOTES]

Standings

EASTERN CONFERENCE


Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak


New York Liberty 19 9 0.679 0 8-5 11-4 10-3 7-3 L-1


Atlanta Dream 14 13 0.519 4 9-4 5-9 8-7 6-4 W-1


Chicago Sky 13 13 0.500 5 7-6 6-7 6-6 6-4 W-2


Indiana Fever 13 14 0.481 5 6-8 7-6 6-7 6-4 W-1


Washington Mystics 10 16 0.385 8 4-9 6-7 6-5 2-8 L-1


Connecticut Sun 10 17 0.370 8 5-8 5-9 2-10 6-4 W-1



WESTERN CONFERENCE


Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak


Los Angeles Sparks 22 5 0.815 0 11-1 11-4 8-3 6-4 W-1


Minnesota Lynx 22 5 0.815 0 12-2 10-3 13-1 8-2 W-1


Phoenix Mercury 13 14 0.481 9 9-6 4-8 4-9 6-4 W-3


Seattle Storm 11 16 0.407 11 8-7 3-9 6-8 5-5 W-1


Dallas Wings 9 19 0.321 13 5-9 4-10 7-7 1-9 L-9


San Antonio Stars 6 21 0.222 16 4-9 2-12 1-11 2-8 L-2

Updated Fri Sep 2 11:38 PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack


— Fort Wayne Tin Caps of the Midwest League averaged 6,084 fans per game this summer; minor league baseball is a good investment.


— Guy found Washington Redskins’ defensive playbooks in a dumpster; apparently someone they cut tossed them on his way out of town.


— Colorado Buffaloes put in a no-huddle offense which will be fun to track, seeing as Boulder is obviously in high altitude.


— Tom Brady played a half, took 39 snaps in the Patriots’ last preseason game; his next game action is October 9 in Cleveland.


— Albany 22, Buffalo 16– It is stupid to play I-AA teams; nothing to gain. Buffalo paid the Great Danes $275K to visit, then lost to them. Oy.


— Baseball rosters expanding on September 1 mean more pitching changes late in game; the pace-of-game zealots won’t like that.


**********


Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: College football knowledge…….


13) Of all the college football teams in the country, the teams with the most returning starts on the offensive line:


140- Bowling Green
131- Western Kentucky, North Carolina, USC
123- Eastern Michigan
109- Arkansas State


12) New Mexico, BYU have 16 senior starters, most in the country. Ohio State has only two senior starters, Texas 3.


11) According to Phil Steele’s great magazine, the five toughest schedules in the country: USC-Ole Miss-Alabama-Cal-Auburn


10) Army lost seven games by a TD or less last season; no one else lost more than five.


9) TCU/Michigan State both won six games by a TD or less LY; Georgia, Florida and Northwestern all won five.


8) Best turnover ratios LY: San Diego State +22, Houston +21, Navy +19. No one else had a turnover ratio better than +14.


7) Worst turnover ratios LY: Hawai’i -23, Central Florida -20, Cincinnati -19.


6) Last three years, Houston is +54 in turnovers; they covered seven of last eight as a road favorite, beat ACC teams in last two bowls.


5) NC State was 0-6 vs bowl eligible teams LY, 7-0 vs everyone else. Wolfpack is 5-1 as road favorites under Doeren; they were 0-7 in the seven years prior to Doeren coming to Raleigh.


4) Average total in Texas Tech’s last five bowl games: 72.6. Since 2007, Tech is 14-5-1 as a road favorite.


3) Penn State is 7-17 vs spread in its last 24 Big 14 games; since 2013, they’re 0-5 as road favorites- under James Franklin, they’re 2-9 vs spread coming off a loss. Nittany Lions have 9 starters back on offense, but break in a new quarterback this year.


2) Kentucky is 1-9-2 as a home underdog under Mike Stoops. Wildcats have their top 4 rushers back, their top 10 receivers, but the QB bolted for Boston College. Kentucky is 1-8 SU in last 9 games that were decided by less than 7 points.


1) Boise State scored 40 ppg in winning four of last five bowl games; three of those wins were against Pac-12 teams- they’re 9-3 vs spread coming off a loss. Since 2008, Broncos are 29-13 as road favorites.

 

[CNOTES]

WNBA
Long Sheet


Saturday, September 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX (13 - 14) at NEW YORK (19 - 9) - 9/3/2016, 6:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 26-37 ATS (-14.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 97-64 ATS (+26.6 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more since 1997.
NEW YORK is 3-10 ATS (-8.0 Units) in home games this season.
NEW YORK is 3-10 ATS (-8.0 Units) in a home game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 this season.
NEW YORK is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more this season.
NEW YORK is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 3-3 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 3-3 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------








WNBA


Saturday, September 3


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


6:00 PM
PHOENIX vs. NEW YORK
Phoenix is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games when playing New York
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Phoenix's last 13 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New York's last 6 games
New York is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games

 

[CNOTES]

WNBA BEST BETS:


WLT PCT UNITS


ATS Picks 71-74-3 48.97% -5200


O/U Picks 73-75-0 49.32% -4750




SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


PHO at NY 06:00 PM


NY -2.5


U 160.0

 

[CNOTES]

Charles, Liberty beat Mercury 92-70
September 3, 2016


NEW YORK (AP) Bill Laimbeer wasn't surprised his star center reached another milestone so early in her career.


Charles scored 23 points, including her 4000th, to help New York beat Phoenix 92-70 on Saturday night.


''We talk about inside that she's the best post player in the world, men or women.'' the Liberty coach said. ''She's that consistent and that dominant. There's more to her that we're waiting to see.''


Charles, who also had 15 rebounds, became the sixth fastest player in WNBA history to reach that milestone and moved the Liberty closer to clinching at least the third seed in the playoffs. One more victory will assure New York of a bye in the first round and a home game in the second.


New York (20-9) got off to a slow start missing its first seven shots. The Liberty led 13-12 with just over 4 minutes left in the first quarter before outscoring Phoenix 16-2 the rest of the period. Charles had nine of the team's points during that burst.


Phoenix (13-16), which lost in Connecticut on Friday night, was down 26 points in the third quarter before rallying within 11 early in the fourth quarter. The Mercury could get no closer.


''They played better, bottom line,'' Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi said. ''Not tired, no nothing. They were better than us today.''


New York led by 14 at the half and blew the game open early in the third as frustration was setting in for the Mercury. After Diana Taurasi drew contact on a play, but no foul was called, assistant coach Todd Troxel was ejected for arguing with the officials. That seemed to spark Phoenix, which trailed 68-42 at that point. The Mercury scored 13 of the next 16 to close within 71-55 after three.


Phoenix got within 73-62 early in the final period, but Charles hit a basket and then a three-point play by Brittany Boyd sealed the win. Boyd finished with a season-high 19 points, starting in place of Tanisha Wright (knee). New York, which has won 20 games in consecutive seasons, also was without Shoni Schimmel (concussion) and Kiah Stokes (hip).


Laimbeer said that he didn't expect Stokes to play the rest of the regular season, but was hopefully to have at Wright back at some point soon. He wasn't sure about Schimmel's status since concussions are trickier to predict.


Marta Xargay led the Mercury with 16 points and DeWanna Bonner added 15.


Charles reached 4,000 points on a three-point play late in the second quarter. She's the 29th player to achieve that mark and is the third youngest according to Elias Sports Bureau. The Liberty honored Charles, Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner before the game for helping the U.S. win a gold medal at the Rio Olympics. New York also honored Penny Taylor, who is retiring at the end of the season.


''It was nice,'' Taylor said. ''I try not to think about it and just play the games we have left.''

 

[CNOTES]

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2016


Time (ET) Away Home Site


4:30 PM Washington Mystics Dallas Wings College Park Center


6:00 PM San Antonio Stars Chicago Sky Allstate Arena


6:00 PM Seattle Storm Atlanta Dream Philips Arena


7:00 PM Connecticut Sun Minnesota Lynx Target Center


7:00 PM Indiana Fever Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Mystics (10-16) at Wings (9-19)
Date: September 04, 2016 4:30 PM EDT

In a season in which both teams have struggled, the Dallas Wings and Washington Mystics have a few things in common as the 2016 WNBA season winds down.


With pride on the line, both teams could impact the playoff race as a spoiler. Just ask the Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx, the teams tied for the best record at 23-5 in the league.


But on Friday, neither the Wings nor the Mystics played like teams that had just one win combined in their past 20 games.


Dallas, which has lost 10 straight games, put a scare into the Sparks on Friday when they jumped out to a 21-9 first-quarter lead. Odyssey Sims sparked the outburst and finished with a season high 26 points in a game that Washington eventually lost, 87-79.


Similarly, Washington, which is 1-9 over its past 10 games, had upset on its mind when the Mystics entered the fourth period on Friday with a 55-51 lead over the Lynx.


But like the Wings, the Mystics fell short and lost 75-69 to the Lynx.


So, there will be a lot of pride on the line when the Mystics and Wings collide at 4:30 p.m. EDT Sunday at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.


Besides Sims, the Mystics will have to find a way to stop Dallas' Glory Johnson, who recorded her seventh double-double (16 points, 15 rebounds) of the season in the loss to the Sparks.


"Each day she gets better and gets in floor," Wings coach Fred Williams told reporters after Sims' game. "I thought she got real physical for the first time in a few games."


While the Wings will rely on Sims and Johnson, the Mystics one-two punch of Tayler Hill and Emma Meesseman are expected to carry Washington.


Both average 15.3 points per game; Meesseman leads the team at 5.6 rebounds per game.


The two teams have met twice this season, splitting the two games.


On May 18, Sims scored 22 points in an 87-77 win. Karima Christmas chipped in with a double-double.


Meesseman and Hill combined for 39 points but the Mystics shot a woeful 16.7 percent from beyond the arc in the loss.


On June 8, Washington gained some revenge with an 87-79 behind Meesseman's 23 points.


Sims was held to five points in that game.




WNBA HEAD TO HEAD


Jun 8, 2016 Score ATS Results
WAS « 87 Cover: 12.5
DAL 79 Over: 166
Tools: Recaps


May 18, 2016 Score ATS Results
DAL « 87 Cover: 13
WAS 77 Over: 164
Tools: Recaps

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Stars (6-21) at Sky (13-13)
Date: September 04, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

The Chicago Sky are playing good basketball at the right time. They will try to stay hot Sunday, when the reeling San Antonio Stars visit Allstate Arena.


The Sky have won their first three games since returning from the month-long Olympic break, including a hard-fought 92-88 victory over the Seattle Storm on Friday.


Chicago has won six of seven overall to climb into fifth place in the league standings, heading into the final seven games of the regular season. The top eight teams, regardless of conference, qualify for the postseason.


The Stars, although not mathematically eliminated, will likely not be headed to the playoffs. At 6-21, they have the worst record in the league and have struggled mightily since leading scorer Kayla McBride was lost for the season in early July.


Chicago and San Antonio split the two previous meetings this season, with each team winning close games on their home court. Elena Delle Donne scored 19 of her 23 points in the second half of the Sky's 81-75 win on June 21.


McBride scored 14 points for San Antonio in the loss to Chicago. Two weeks later, the Notre Dame product suffered a right foot fracture in a loss at Minnesota and was ruled out for the season. The Stars have gone 1-8 without McBride, with their only win during that stretch coming last week against the Washington Mystics.


While San Antonio is struggling, Chicago is surging. The Sky built an early lead and fought off every Seattle challenge in Friday's win. Forward Tamera Young had a big night for the Sky, hitting 10 of 15 shots and finishing with 24 points. Delle Donne had 22 points in the win, continuing her quest to win back-to-back league MVPs.


Delle Donne leads in the WNBA in scoring at 21.6 points per game and fuels the Sky's high-scoring offense Chicago is third in the WNBA in scoring, averaging 85.0 points per game. San Antonio is last in the league in scoring, averaging 72.1 points per game.


After Sunday's game, the Sky head out on a three-game road trip.




WNBA HEAD TO HEAD


Jun 21, 2016 Score ATS Results
SA 75 Cover: 7.5
CHI « 81 Under: 156
Tools: Recaps


May 27, 2016 Score ATS Results
CHI 78 Over: 157
SA « 79 Cover: 9
Tools: Recaps

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Storm (11-16) at Dream (14-13)
Date: September 04, 2016 6:00 PM EDT

After missing the playoffs last year, the Atlanta Dream are posed to return to the postseason.


The Dream hope to continue their playoff push Sunday, when the Seattle Storm visit Philips Arena.


"This is a time to focus back on the team and the WNBA," Atlanta forward Angel McCoughtry told the team's website. "We've definitely have to work on some things to be ready for the playoffs with only seven or so games left."


With seven games remaining in the regular season, Atlanta (14-13) sits in fourth place in the league standings. The top eight teams, regardless of conference, qualify for the postseason.


The Dream returned from the month-long Olympic break with a loss at Chicago, but bounced back with an 87-73 home win over the Connecticut Sun on Aug. 28. They have had a full week off, while the Storm played Friday and are in the middle of a four-game road trip.


Seattle (11-17) is in a tie for the eighth and final spot in the playoffs, but has a daunting finish with five of its last seven games on the road, starting in Atlanta on Sunday. The Storm have alternated wins and losses for their last 11 games, including a 92-88 loss at Chicago on Friday.


Seattle guard Jewell Loyd flirted with a triple-double in the loss, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Rookie of the Year candidate Breanna Stewart added 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Storm.


It has been an up-and-down season for the Storm, despite the addition and emergence of Stewart, the No. 1 overall pick. Stewart leads the Storm in scoring (18.1 points) and rebounds (9.4). But Seattle just has not been able to establish any consistency. Seattle is last in the league in rebounding and 10th in scoring.


Atlanta is second in the league in rebounding and has won five straight home games. McCoughtry and Layshia Clarendon each scored 19 points to lead the Dream in last week's win over the Connecticut Sun.


"A lot of the things that we did to get ourselves beat in Chicago we didn't do tonight's game," Dream coach Michael Cooper said after the Connecticut win. "I was very and proud and honored that the ladies played this well."




WNBA HEAD TO HEAD


Jul 5, 2016 Score ATS Results
SEA 64 Under: 141
ATL « 77 Cover: 7
Tools: Recaps


Jun 28, 2016 Score ATS Results
ATL 81 Cover: 2.5
SEA « 84 Push: 165
Tools:

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Fever (13-14) at Sparks (22-5)
Date: September 04, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Sparks have already locked up a playoff berth. The Indiana Fever have not.


The teams collide Sunday, when the Fever travel to Los Angeles to take on the Sparks at Staples Center.


With seven games remaining, Los Angeles (23-5) is in a first place tie with the Minnesota Lynx in the league standings. The Sparks host the Lynx on Tuesday.


But first they must deal with an Indiana team coming off an impressive bounce-back win over the New York Liberty on Thursday.


The Fever (13-14) suffered back-to-back home losses after returning from the Olympic break that left coaches and players scratching their heads.


The consecutive losses, both by double digits, dropped Indiana back into a pack of six teams vying for the final five playoff spots.


But the Fever exploded out of gates against the Liberty on Thursday, scoring 40 points in the first quarter and cruising to a 98-77 win. Shenise Johnson scored a career-high 21 points off the bench, and Marissa Coleman finished with 19 points versus the Liberty.


The Sparks also have gotten off to an uneven start after the Olympic break. Los Angeles returned from a month off with back-to-back losses. They've since responded with consecutive wins, but didn't perform well in victories over the San Antonio Stars and Dallas Wings, the two teams with the worst records in the WNBA.


Nneka Ogwumike had 28 points and 12 rebounds against the Wings, but Los Angeles didn't pull away from Dallas, which has lost 10 straight games, until late in the fourth quarter.


Ogwumike is having an MVP-caliber season and leads the Sparks in scoring (19.8 points per game) and rebounding (9.2 rebounds per game).


Forward Candace Parker is averaging 15.9 points and 7.6 rebounds, but is coming off a tough shooting night. Parker hit only 1-of-11 shots and finished only four points against Dallas.


Indiana and Los Angeles have split their two previous meetings, with each team winning on their home court. The Fever beat the Sparks 92-82 on July 19, behind 23 points from veteran Tamika Catchings. Catchings has announced that this is her final season of her illustrious career.




WNBA HEAD TO HEAD


Jul 19, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS 82 Over: 174
IND « 92 Cover: 15
Tools: Recaps


Jul 6, 2016 Score ATS Results
IND 88 Cover: 5.5
LOS « 94 Over: 182
Tools: Recaps

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Sun (10-17) at Lynx (22-5)
Date: September 04, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

What seemed like a pipe dream two months ago is now a distinct possibility and a testament to never giving up.


The Connecticut Sun were buried as the losses mounted early in the season. But now a late push, Connecticut has won five of six games, and the Sun have a little pep to their step.


The Sun went 2-8 in their first 10 games and heading into the Olympics Games break they were 8-16 with a two-game winning streak.


Since returning from the Rio break, the Sun have continued to win and what was unthinkable in the heat of the summer is now a golden opportunity for Alex Bentley and Chiney Ogwumike.


Connecticut is tied for the eighth and final playoff spot with Seattle. On Sunday, the Sun can make a statement that they are for real, but standing directly in their way is the Minnesota Lynx with the league's best record (tied with Los Angeles) at 23-5.


Two of those losses came at the hands of the Sun, so Connecticut won't be intimidated when the two collide at 7 p.m. EDT at the Target Center in Minneapolis.


Back on July 7, the Sun overcame Lynx star Maya Moore's 40 points to post an overtime win. Then on Aug. 26, Moore was held to eight points as the Sun defeated the Lynx again.


That game seemed to give the Sun a shot of confidence heading into the season's homestretch.


In Friday's win, Ogwumike scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Phoenix Mercury. Jasmine Thomas notched 18 points and Bentley added 16 points as the Sun were playing their first game since rookie Morgan Tuck, the third overall pick, was lost for the season because of a knee injury.


Tuck was the top reserve coming off the bench, averaging just under 17 minutes and 7.0 points per game.


Her loss will be felt, but Jonquel Jones and Courtney Williams picked up the slack and combined for 15 points and seven rebounds in the win over the Mercury.


As usual, Moore paced the Lynx against the pesky Mystics in a win on Friday. Moore scored 27, including 12 from the free-throw line.


But if it weren't for Sylvia Fowles, the Lynx might be trying to recover from an upset instead of trying to maintain hold on the best record in the league.


Fowles recorded 15 points and 17 rebounds, while piloting the defense that held Connecticut to less than 40 percent shooting from the field.


The Lynx won't take the Sun lightly, in fact, they will have revenge on their minds.




WNBA HEAD TO HEAD


Aug 26, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN 80 Over: 164
CONN « 84 Cover: 12
Tools: Recaps


Jul 7, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN 89 Over: 182
CONN « 93 Cover: 15.5
Tools: Recaps

 

[CNOTES]

Standings

EASTERN CONFERENCE


Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak


New York Liberty 20 9 0.690 0 9-5 11-4 10-3 7-3 W-1


Atlanta Dream 14 13 0.519 5 9-4 5-9 8-7 6-4 W-1


Chicago Sky 14 13 0.519 5 8-6 6-7 6-6 7-3 W-3


Indiana Fever 13 14 0.481 6 6-8 7-6 6-7 6-4 W-1


Connecticut Sun 11 17 0.393 8 6-8 5-9 2-10 6-4 W-2


Washington Mystics 10 17 0.370 9 4-9 6-8 6-5 1-9 L-2



WESTERN CONFERENCE


Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak


Los Angeles Sparks 23 5 0.821 0 11-1 12-4 9-3 6-4 W-2


Minnesota Lynx 23 5 0.821 0 13-2 10-3 13-1 8-2 W-2


Phoenix Mercury 13 16 0.448 10 9-6 4-10 4-9 5-5 L-2


Seattle Storm 11 17 0.393 12 8-7 3-10 6-8 5-5 L-1


Dallas Wings 9 20 0.310 14 5-10 4-10 7-8 0-10 L-10


San Antonio Stars 6 21 0.222 16 4-9 2-12 1-11 2-8 L-2



Updated Sun Sep 4 2:07 AM EDT