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Baseball's regular season concludes this weekend, with playoff spots still on the line. Also coming up over the next few days are full slates of action in the NFL, college football, and the CFL, along with races on both the Nextel Cup and Formula 1 circuits. The NL West division title and the NL Wild Card are both up for grabs this weekend, with the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies in the mix for those playoff berths. The Padres play a road series in Arizona this weekend, while the Dodgers have a set up in San Francisco, and the Phillies will be playing in Florida. The St. Louis Cardinals, meanwhile, will be trying to put the final touches on their NL Central title this weekend when they play host to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Houston Astros will be hoping to steal away first place in the NL Central by coming up strong on the road against the Atlanta Braves. Over in the AL Central, the Tigers and Twins are still fighting for first, with Detroit hosting Kansas City and Minnesota hosting Chicago. In the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts will attempt to follow up last week's big win over the Jacksonville Jaguars by picking up a road win over the New York Jets as 9-point favorites. Another unbeaten team, the New Orleans Saints, are big 7.5-point underdogs versus the Panthers in Carolina. Meanwhile, the week's biggest favorites are the Dallas Cowboys, who take their circus to Tennessee to play the Titans as 9.5-point favorites. Also on the NFL schedule for Sunday are San Diego (-2.5) at Baltimore, Minnesota at Buffalo (-1), San Francisco at Kansas City (-7), Arizona at Atlanta (-7), Miami (-3.5) at Houston, Detroit at St. Louis (-5.5), New England at Cincinnati (-6), Jacksonville (-3) at Washington, Cleveland (-2.5) at Oakland, and Seattle at Chicago (-3.5) later that night. On the college scene, top-ranked Ohio State gets a tough matchup on Saturday when they play a road game against No. 13 Iowa. The Buckeyes are currently listed as 6.5-point road favorites versus the Hawkeyes, with the game's total now sitting at 43 points. In other Top 10 action it's Sam Houston State at No. 7 Texas (no line), Mississippi State at No. 9 LSU (-32.5), Alabama at No. 5 Florida (-13.5), No. 3 USC (-17) at Washington State, No. 6 Michigan (-9.5) at Minnesota, and No. 10 Georgia (-18) at Mississippi. As well, in a battle of ranked teams, it's No. 24 Georgia Tech at No. 11 Virginia Tech (-9). Up north, four games are on the schedule in the CFL this weekend. On Friday night the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-3) play host to the Montreal Alouettes, then on Saturday it's B.C. (-9.5) at Hamilton, Calgary (-2) at Toronto, and Edmonton at Saskatchewan (-7.5). In Nextel Cup action, Jeff Burton will be looking to extend his lead atop the driver standings on Sunday when he takes to the track in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway. Burton won last weekend's Dover 400 in Delaware to move into first place in the '06 Chase for the Nextel Cup. Mark Martin is the defending Banquet 400 champion, while Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, and Jeff Gordon have also picked up wins there. And finally, the Formula 1 circuit resumes its schedule on Sunday with the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit. Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher remain neck-and-neck atop the drivers championship, with Alonso currently holding a two-point lead. Ferrari leads Renault by three points in the constructors championship. Alonso is the defending champ at the Chinese Grand Prix.

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- The Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at FedExField.

Oddsmakers currently have the Jaguars listed as 3-point favorites versus the Redskins, while the game's total is sitting at 34½.

The Jaguars lost to Indianapolis 21-14 last week as a 6.5-point underdog. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (41.5).

Byron Leftwich completed 16-of-28 passes for 107 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and he also ran in for a score. Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 103 yards on 13 carries, while also catching a touchdown pass.

The Redskins got past Houston 31-15 last week as a 4-point favorite. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (37.5).

Mark Brunell completed 24-of-27 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown. Ladell Betts rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, while Clinton Portis rushed for 86 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 16 carries.

Team records:
Jacksonville: 2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS
Washington: 1-2 SU, 1-2 ATS

Jacksonville most recently:
When playing in October are 4-6
When playing on grass are 8-2
After outgaining opponent are 6-4
When playing outside the division are 8-2

Washington most recently:
When playing in October are 3-7
When playing on grass are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 5-5
When playing outside the division are 5-5

A few trends to consider:
Jacksonville is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Jacksonville is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Jacksonville is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Jacksonville's last 8 games on the road
Washington is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Washington is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Washington is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games at home
Washington is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games at home

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The latest battle in the long-running war between the division rival Cubs and Reds goes today with Wade Miller slated to go against Bronson Arroyo. The Cubs sit at the bottom of the National League Central standings with a lame 63-93 mark, but hand the ball to Wade Miller to try to get another notch in the win column. Miller brings a 0-2 record and a 4.97 ERA into this game. Cincinnati brings a 76-79 overall mark (44-36 in the division) into this game versus a Cubs team carrying a 63-93 record. The Reds are favored, opening as 170 chalk, with an opening total of 8.5. They are 76-79 this season and 72-71-12 OU. The Cubs are 63-93 and are 83-67-6 OU.   Jerry Narron's team was busy last game winning against Chicago 3-2 as favorites. The 5 runs sent that game under the total of 10. The Reds pitching staff isn't known for keeping hitters off the basepaths. Their hits-allowed-per-game ratio is in the bottom three of the National League. Some trends to consider: Chi Cubs are 1-4-0 OU in its last 5 away Chi Cubs are 1-4-0 OU in its last 5 games Chi Cubs are 2-5-0 SU in its last 7 games after scoring 1 to 3 runs Chi Cubs are 2-4-0 OU in its last 6 games against Cincinnati Cincinnati is 4-1-0 SU in its last 5 games after scoring 1 to 3 runs Cincinnati is 9-4-0 OU in its last 13 games at home against Chi Cubs Cincinnati is 2-4-0 OU in its last 6 games against Chi Cubs Cincinnati is 2-4-1 OU in its last 7 at home Next up: Chi Cubs home to Milwaukee, Tuesday, September 26 Cincinnati at Florida, Tuesday, September 26

SU: 63-93 ATS: SU: 76-79 ATS:

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More big divisional matchups highlight the National Football League schedule this week, with key games in Indy, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota. Here's a look at three top contests:

Jacksonville at Indianapolis (-7) 1:00 PM ET

Both the Jaguars and the Colts are undefeated this season. Jacksonville spoiled Terrell Owens' Cowboys debut by knocking off Dallas 24-17, and then blanked the defending-champion Steelers 9-0 in a Monday night yawner. Indy, meanwhile, won the Manning Bowl 26-21 in Week 1 over the Giants, and then pounded the Texans 43-24 last week.

Indianapolis, though, had Jacksonville's number in 2005. The Colts defeated the Jags by a score of 10-3 in September, then rolled to a 26-18 victory in December. Indy had been favored by 8.5 points in both of those contests, and failed to cover the spread both times (although just barely in December). OVER/UNDER results were split 1-1 in 2005.

Both safety Donovin Darius (questionable, back) and cornerback Rashean Mathis (probable, knee) were listed on the Jaguars' team injury report this week; their condition should be monitored, as they will be needed against the Colts' potent attack. The Colts put DE Dwight Freeney (buttock), WR Brandon Stokley (ankle), and K Adam Vinatieri (groin) on their laundry list of questionables for Sunday's game against the division rival; Stokley and Vinatieri were later ruled out versus Jacksonville.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-1.5) 1:00 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns

- The gridiron at Cleveland Browns Stadium features a divisional matchup on Sunday as the Baltimore Ravens take on the Cleveland Browns. Oddsmakers currently have the Ravens listed as 7-point favorites versus the Browns, while the game's total is sitting at 33½. The Raven defeated Oakland 28-6 as a 13-point favorite last week. The combined score caused this game to a PUSH on the posted over/under total (34). Steve McNair completed 16-of-33 passes for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Jamal Lewis rushed for 70 yards on 19 carries. The Browns were defeated by Cincinnati 34-17 as a 10-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (40.5). Charlie Frye completed 20-of-33 passes for 244 yards with two interceptions. Braylon Edwards caught four passes for 110 yards. Current streak: Baltimore has won 2 straight games. Cleveland has lost 2 straight games. Team records: Baltimore: 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS Cleveland: 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS Baltimore most recently: When playing in September are 6-4 When playing on grass are 1-9 After outgaining opponent are 4-6 When playing within the division are 4-6 Cleveland most recently: When playing in September are 3-7 When playing on grass are 4-6 After being outgained are 4-6 When playing within the division are 1-9 A few trends to consider: Baltimore is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games Baltimore is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games Baltimore is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland Baltimore is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland Cleveland is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Baltimore Cleveland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Baltimore The total has gone UNDER in 3 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing at home against Baltimore Cleveland is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games at home

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- The Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers will both be trying to pick up a win on Sunday when they battle at Monster Park.

Oddsmakers currently have the Eagles listed as 6-point favorites versus the 49ers, while the game's total is sitting at 41½.

The Eagles fell to the New York Giants 30-24 in overtime as a 3-point favorite last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42).

Donovan McNabb completed 27-of-45 passes for 350 yards with two touchdowns. Brian Westbrook rushed for 68 yards with a touchdown on 19 carries.

The 49ers defeated St. Louis 20-13 last week as a 3.5-point underdog last week. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (44).

Alex Smith completed 11-of-22 passes for 233 yards with a touchdown and Frank Gore rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.

Team records:
Philadelphia: 1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS
San Francisco: 1-1 SU, 2-0 ATS

Philadelphia most recently:
When playing in September are 7-3
When playing on grass are 2-8
After outgaining opponent are 5-5
When playing outside the division are 7-3

San Francisco most recently:
When playing in September are 2-8
When playing on grass are 3-7
After outgaining opponent are 3-7
When playing outside the division are 2-8

A few trends to consider:
Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing San Francisco
Philadelphia is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games on the road
San Francisco is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Francisco's last 7 games when playing Philadelphia
San Francisco is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 6 games

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Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions

- Ford Field will play host to a game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Oddsmakers currently have the Lions listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Packers, while the game's total is sitting at 39.

The Packers lost to New Orleans 34-27 as a 1-point underdog last week. The combined score went well OVER the posted over/under total (40.5).

Brett Favre completed 31-of-55 passes for 340 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Donald Driver hauled in eight passes for 153 yards.

The Lions got crushed 34-7 by Chicago last week as a 7-point underdog . The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (32).

Jon Kitna completed 23-of-30 passes for 230 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Kevin Jones rushed for 44 yards on 12 carries with a pair of fumbles.

Current streak:
Green Bay has lost 2 straight games.
Detroit has lost 2 straight games.

Team records:
Green Bay: 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS
Detroit: 0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS

Green Bay most recently:
When playing in September are 2-8
When playing on turf are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing within the division are 3-7

Detroit most recently:
When playing in September are 3-7
When playing on turf are 2-8
After being outgained are 2-8
When playing within the division are 2-8

A few trends to consider:
Green Bay is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Green Bay's last 6 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Green Bay is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Green Bay's last 6 games on the road
Detroit is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Green Bay
Detroit is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Green Bay
Detroit is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Green Bay
Detroit is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games

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Here we go again. The Pittsburgh Steelers' loss on Monday night opened the door for the Indianapolis Colts to take over the top spot in this week's edition of the NFL Power Rankings. The Colts have ultimately burned us in the end in years past, but we can't deny their dominance in the regular season. The Steelers, meanwhile, get knocked down to No. 5 on the list this week. They'll get a chance to show that Monday night's performance was just an aberration before they tumble further down the list - scoring a few points next time out would probably be a good beginning.

The Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, and Chicago Bears round out the Top 5 this week, while the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and New York Giants make up the rest of the Top 10. Falling out of the Top 10 this week are the Carolina Panthers, who are now 0-2 on the season, and the Philadelphia Eagles, who blew a lead versus the New York Giants. And at the bottom the San Francisco 49ers vacated the rankings' basement with their Week 2 victory, while the Houston Texans now sit in spot No. 32.

Here is the Week 3 edition of the NFL Power Rankings.

01 - Indianapolis Colts 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 02)

Peyton Manning against the Texans: 26-of-38 for 400 yards passing and three touchdowns. Oh, and they won.

02 - Seattle Seahawks 2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 03)

Matt Hasselbeck wasn't great on Sunday, but the Seahawks still had no trouble defeating the visiting Cards.

03 - Cincinnati Bengals 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 04)

Rudi Johnson ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals' easy Week 2 victory over the lowly Browns.

04 - Chicago Bears 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 05)

Not only are they preventing points (as expected), but they're scoring them as well. Have they put it all together?

05 - Pittsburgh Steelers 1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 01)

Ben Roethlisberger was not effective in his return to the team on Monday: 17-of-32 for 141 yards and two INTs.

06 - New England Patriots 2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 06)

Had to come back in their opener, had to hold on last week. Next play on Sunday night against the Broncos.

07 - Jacksonville Jaguars 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 09)

Only managed to score nine points on Monday night, but their defense completely shut down the Steelers.

08 - San Diego Chargers 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 12)

Philip Rivers seems to be settling in nicely, and Michael Turner ran for 138 yards in their rout versus the Titans.

09 - Baltimore Ravens 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 14)

Serving notice that the AFC North will be a three-team race. They play the fourth team (Cleveland) this week.

10 - New York Giants 1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 08)

Eli Manning tossed a TD strike in overtime on Sunday to give the Giants the win, and prevent an annoying tie.

11 - Minnesota Vikings 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 16)

Topped the Panthers in OT on Sunday to keep their record unblemished. Tough game against Chicago coming up.

12 - Atlanta Falcons 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 17)

Michael Vick only threw for 92 yards last week, but he rushed for 127. Also had both a TD pass and a TD run.

13 - Denver Broncos 1-1 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 13)

Jason Elam's three field goals gave them a win over the Chiefs last week - with Jake Plummer struggling again.

14 - Dallas Cowboys 1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 15)

They picked up a win over the Redskins on Sunday night, but they also lost Terrell Owens to a broken finger.

15 - Carolina Panthers 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 07)

Jake Delhomme completed only 17-of-33 passes for 181 yards against the Vikings, as Carolina fell to 0-2.

16 - Philadelphia Eagles 1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 10)

Donovan McNabb threw for 350 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants, but the Eagles blew a late lead.

17 - Miami Dolphins 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 11)

Now 0-2 after losing to the Bills last week. Real rankings decline will begin next week if they lose to Tennessee.

18 - St. Louis Rams 1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 18)

Fell to the 49ers on the road in Week 2, despite Steven Jackson's 103-yard performance. Cardinals up next.

19 - Kansas City Chiefs 0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 19)

Damon Huard is no Trent Green. Chiefs managed only a pair of field goals in their Week 2 loss to the Broncos.

20 - New Orleans Saints 2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 23)

They haven't beaten anyone good yet, but 2-0 is 2-0. Return to the Superdome to play Atlanta on Monday night.

21 - Washington Redskins 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 20)

Couldn't get much going on offense with Clinton Portis not playing. At least they battle the Texans in Week 3.

22 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 21)

Might as well start Phil Simms. Young Chris completed 28-of-53 pass attempts in Week 2 loss, with three INTs.

23 - Arizona Cardinals 1-1 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 22)

So much for the undefeated season. Get another divisional opponent this week when the Rams come to town.

24 - Buffalo Bills 1-1 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 30)

J.P. Losman completed 11 passes for only 83 yards against the Dolphins, but somehow the Bills won anyway.

25 - New York Jets 1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 24)

Scored 17 unanswered points to end last week's game with the Patriots, but fell short in their comeback bid.

26 - San Francisco 49ers 1-1 SU, 2-0 ATS (Last Week 32)

Get to jump up in the rankings after they topped the Rams last week. Alex Smith went 11-of-22 for 233 yards.

27 - Oakland Raiders 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 25)

Andrew Walter certainly wasn't the answer at quarterback last week: 10-of-27 for 162 yards, with three INTs.

28 - Cleveland Browns 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 26)

The Charlie Frye era hasn't started smoothly - QB went 20-of-33 for 244 yards, zero TDs, two INTs last week.

29 - Green Bay Packers 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 27)

A couple of fourth-quarter TD passes from Brett Favre couldn't prevent a loss to the Saints. At Detroit in Week 3.

30 - Detroit Lions 0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS (Last Week 28)

Jon Kitna was an efficient 23-of-30 for 230 yards last week, and ran for a score. The Lions, though, got thumped.

31 - Tennessee Titans 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 29)

Vince Young saw more action in their blowout loss to the Chargers last week. His time might be coming soon.

32 - Houston Texans 0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS (Last Week 31)

David Carr had good numbers against the Colts: 22-of-26 for 219 yards, three TDs. But their defense really stunk.

The Top 25 saw very few changes this week, but that definitely won’t be the case seven days from now. All 25 ranked teams see action this weekend and that includes six matchups between Top 25 schools.

On top of the rankings again this week is Ohio State after knocking off former No. 2 Texas. Notre Dame regained the No. 2 spot, while the Auburn, USC and West Virginia rounded out the rest of the Top 5.

The biggest loser of the week was Penn State. The Nittany Lions got bombed by Notre Dame and fell six spots to the bottom of the rankings.

There was one new team in the Top 25 this week as Boston College rode a 34-33 upset over Clemson to grab the No. 23 position. Fittingly, Clemson exited the rankings to make room for the Eagles.

1. Ohio State (1) 2-0 – The Buckeyes proved they deserved the No. 1 spot by knocking off Texas 24-7 last week. Ohio Sate gets a much easier opponent in 1-1 Cincinnati at home this weekend.

2. Notre Dame (4) 2-0 – The Fighting Irish got their offense going last week and torched Penn State 41-17 to move back into the No. 2 slot. Notre Dame gets another Top 25 school this week when they take on No. 11 Michigan on Saturday.

3. Auburn (4) 2-0 – The Tigers completely destroyed Mississippi State 34-0 last week. Auburn gets their biggest test of the season so far versus No. 6 LSU this weekend.

4. USC (3) 1-0 – The Trojans were idle last week after ripping Arkansas 50-14 back on September 2. USC gets their first ranked opponent of the season this weekend when they host No. 19 Nebraska.

5. West Virginia (6) 2-0 – The Mountaineers rolled over Eastern Washington 52-3 last week. West Virginia has an early game this week on Thursday night versus 2-0 Maryland. Running back Steve Slaton and QB Pat White are both expected to start despite nagging injuries.

6. LSU (8) 2-0 – The Tigers posted their second straight 45-3 victory of the season last week over Arizona. LSU could be in tough this week versus No. 3 Auburn on the road.

7. Florida (7) 2-0 – The Gators flattened UCF 42-0 last week. Florida has their first conference game of the season this weekend versus No. 13 Tennessee on the road.
 
8. Texas (2) 1-1 – The Longhorns plummeted six spots down the rankings after a 24-7 loss to Ohio State last week. Texas needs a big win over 0-2 Rice this week to stop the slide.

9. Florida State (9) 2-0 – The Seminoles weren’t as dominant as many expected them to be last week in their 24-17 win over Troy. Florida State will need a better performance this weekend if they hope to get past 1-1 Clemson. 

10. Georgia (12) 2-0 – The Bulldogs moved into the Top 10 after knocking off South Carolina 18-0. Georgia gets 1-1 UAB at home this week. Freshman Matthew Stafford will start at quarterback for Georgia this week, as starter Joe Tereshinski is out four to six weeks with an ankle injury.

11. Michigan (10) 2-0 – The Wolverines beat up on Central Michigan 41-17 last week, but still slipped out of the Top 10. Michigan could easily move back into the Top 10 if they can get past No. 2 Notre Dame on the road this weekend.

12. Louisville (13) 2-0 – The Cardinals cruised past Temple last week in a 62-0 rout. Louisville should have a bigger challenge this weekend versus No. 17 Miami (FL) at home.

13. Tennessee (11) 2-0 – The Volunteers barely defeated Air Force 31-30 last week. Tennessee will need to pick things up if they hope to remain perfect when No. 7 Florida comes to town this weekend. Running back Arian Foster is listed as questionable after leaving last week’s game with a sprained ankle.

14. Virginia Tech (16) 2-0 – The Hokies defeated Virginia Tech 35-10 last week to move up two spots. Virginia Tech has what looks like a cakewalk this weekend at home versus 0-2 Duke.

15. Oklahoma (15) 2-0 – The Sooners held on to the No. 15 spot after downing Washington 37-20 last week. Oklahoma heads to No. 18 Oregon this weekend.

16. Iowa (14) 2-0 – The Hawkeyes took a two-spot hit in the rankings after a close 20-13 win over Syracuse last week. Iowa needs to rebound this weekend versus 2-0 Iowa State to start moving back up. Iowa QB Drew Tate is expected to start versus Iowa State despite missing last week’s game with an abdominal strain.

17. Miami (FL) (17) 1-1 – The Hurricanes blew away Florida A&M 51-10 last week. Miami needs a win versus No. 12 Louisville this week to keep their slim national championship hopes alive.

18. Oregon (20) 2-0 – The Ducks moved up a pair of spots despite a closer-than-expected 31-24 win over Fresno State last week. Oregon gets their biggest test of the season this week versus No. 15 Oklahoma.

19. Nebraska (21) 2-0 – The Cornhuskers shredded Nicholls State 56-7 last week. Nebraska is in tough this weekend versus No. 4 USC on the road.

20. TCU (23) 2-0 – The Horned Frogs leaped up three spots after dropping California-Davis 46-13 last week. TCU gets No. 24 Texas-Tech next week.

21. California (22) 1-1 – The Golden Bears rebounded from their opening-week loss with a 42-17 win over Minnesota last week. California has what appears to be an easy game versus 2-0 Portland State this week.

22. Arizona State (25) 2-0 – The Sun Devils moved out of the Top 25 basement after defeating Nevada 52-21 last week. Arizona State heads to 0-2 Colorado this week.

23. Boston College (32) 2-0 – The Eagles flew into the top 25 after edging formerly ranked Clemson 34-33 last week. Boston College should have no trouble staying in the rankings with a game against 1-1 BYU this week. Eagles’ QB Matt Ryan is questionable for this week’s game due to an ankle injury.

24. Texas Tech (24) 2-0 – The Red Raiders held on to the No. 24 spot after a 38-35 OT win over UTEP last week. Texas Tech needs a win over No. 20 TCU this week to hold onto their spot in the rankings.

25. Penn State (19) 1-1 – The Nittany Lions got hammered by Notre Dame 41-17 last week to fall to the bottom of the rankings. Penn State should be able to rebound this week versus 2-0 Youngstown State.

Out: Clemson (18)

Meanwhile, the Power Rankings get reduced this week as the true non-contenders get dumped from the list. As much as we like to drum up interesting tidbits about the Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles each week, those types of teams have no business being associated with the word 'power' at this point in the season. Also, with a doubleheader of Monday Night Football during our key writing time we were simply looking for a way to cut corners. Left on the list this week are all teams above the .500 mark, and everyone else within sight of a postseason berth.

Here is the Week 24 edition of the MLB Power Rankings.

01 - New York Mets (Last Week 01)

A strong result in Florida this week could clinch them the NL East title. Expect to have Pedro Martinez back soon.

02 - New York Yankees (Last Week 02)

Have another series with the BoSox coming up this weekend. Needless to say, there is not too much riding on it.

03 - Oakland Athletics (Last Week 03)

Would like to get Rich Harden back in the rotation for the playoffs; it's still possible he could return in September.

04 - Minnesota Twins (Last Week 05)

Francisco Liriano is scheduled to return to the rotation this week; if he's healthy and dominant again, watch out.

05 - St. Louis Cardinals (Last Week 07)

Have they just been toying with the other NL Central teams all season? Look to be in control of things right now.

06 - Chicago White Sox (Last Week 04)

Lost four of their seven games last week, and now head out on a rough road trip versus the Angels and Athletics.

07 - Detroit Tigers (Last Week 06)

Is there enough time left in the season for the Tigers to fall out of both the AL Central and the AL Wild Card race?

08 - Los Angeles Dodgers (Last Week 08)

Slipping back to the pack in the NL West. Play a set versus the Cubs before hosting the Padres on the weekend.

09 - San Diego Padres (Last Week 09)

They were the favorite to win the NL West at the start of the season, and they might just yet get into first place.

10 - San Francisco Giants (Last Week 12)

Barry Bonds has been pretty much out of the spotlight for a couple months. A playoff berth changes all of that.

11 - Florida Marlins (Last Week 10)

Get the division rival Mets and Braves this week, so they'll need to come up big to stay near the top of the race.

12 - Philadelphia Phillies (Last Week 11)

Ryan Howard has a good shot at being named NL MVP - but the Phillies making the playoffs seals that deal.

13 - Los Angeles Angels (Last Week 15)

Looking to claim the title of 'best team to miss the 2006 playoffs.' We don't think there's a trophy for that honour.

14 - Houston Astros (Last Week 14)

Creeping up a bit in the NL Central, but they're still under the .500 mark. Roger Clemens being hurt doesn't help.

15 - Cincinnati Reds (Last Week 13)

No one expected them to be in contention, so their fading ways of late are not a shock. Look like they're done.

16 - Boston Red Sox (Last Week 16)

Not only have they ruined their own playoff chances, but they've seriously damaged Big Papi's MVP chances.

17 - Toronto Blue Jays (Last Week 18)

Getting a big boost to their payroll for next season - they'll be able to grab another big value like A.J. Burnett.

18 - Texas Rangers (Last Week 17)

Barely qualified to remain in the rankings this week, so don't get too attached to the Rangers being on this list.

19 - Atlanta Braves (Last Week 19)

The dream is pretty much dead in Atlanta, but it's not like any of the NL Wild Card contenders are stellar teams.

20 - Everyone Else (Last Week --)

Sure, the D-Backs and the Rockies might have a real outside shot in the NL West, but 20 is a nice round number.

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It's the opening weekend for the National Football League, and we're too excited to just pick only four games to highlight. Here's a look at all 13 NFL contests on tap for Sunday, with their times, their spreads, and a word or two about the Week 1 matchup:

Baltimore at Tampa Bay (-3) 1:00 PM

Tampa Bay was a pretty quiet 11-5 last season, and they're under the radar again in 2006 thanks to all the Carolina Panthers buzz. The Ravens will be starting the Steve McNair era in this matchup, and they'll be hoping he has something left in the tank. If not, they will have to go back to Kyle Boller as their top QB after they shoved him aside.

Atlanta at Carolina (-5) 1:00 PM

A Super Bowl pick by many, the Panthers are favored by 5 points to handle the Falcons in their Week 1 contest. However, if Steve Smith does indeed sit out this game, the Panthers' offense could struggle. The star wide receiver is officially listed as questionable with his hamstring injury, but watch for updates as the kickoff approaches.

Denver (-3.5) at St. Louis 1:00 PM

Jake Plummer is the starting quarterback in Denver, but Jay Cutler was so good in the preseason that the veteran can't be feeling too comfortable about the job. The Rams don't have a QB controversy, but they do have the Seahawks and maybe even the Cardinals to worry about in the NFC West. They need a strong start to the 2006 season.

Buffalo at New England (-10) 1:00 PM

Was last year's good-but-not-great record for the Patriots an aberration or the start of the decline? We probably won't find out this week, as the Pats are expected to walk all over the Bills in their opener (favored by 10 points). No Deion Branch could cause some trouble for New England though; they'll find out very quickly if they can live without him.

Philadelphia (-5.5) at Houston 1:00 PM

The Eagles should be the most improved team in the league this year, at least as far as their record goes. They fell to 6-10 last season thanks to injuries and squabblings, but look to be healthier and happier now. Regardless, though, their opponent might not be much of a challenge, with Domanick Davis not playing, and Reggie Bush not drafted.

New Orleans at Cleveland (-3) 1:00 PM

Two franchises with a chance to get back on track this season - or, really, with a chance to get on track period. Both were poor last year, both made many offseason changes. The Saints with Brees and Bush should have a much better offense in 2006, while the Browns are hoping Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards will take them to a new level.

Seattle (-6) at Detroit 1:00 PM

The Super Bowl loser hasn't done well the following season for many years, but Seattle is still a big road favorite against sad-sack Detroit on Sunday. Wide receiver Darrell Jackson (knee) is expected to be in the lineup on Sunday for the Seahawks, which is good. Jon Kitna will be the starting QB for the Lions on Sunday, which is not as good.

NY Jets at Tennessee (-3) 1:00 PM

Kerry Collins is the favorite to start for the Titans at quarterback on Sunday, with Vince Young as the No. 2 guy, and Billy Volek doing squat. Unless of course Volek starts. For the Jets, it'll be Chad Pennington leading the offense, at least until he gets hurt. Then it'll be Patrick Ramsey's job. Let's face it though - Young is the only one we care about.

Cincinnati at Kansas City (-2) 1:00 PM

This matchup got a lot more intriguing when Carson Palmer proved to be healthy. He'll start at QB for the Bengals as they begin their quest to repeat as AFC North champs. The Chiefs fell just short of the playoffs in the AFC last season, but they're counting on Larry Johnson to continue putting up huge numbers and carry them to a berth this year.

Chicago (-3.5) at Green Bay 4:15 PM

Brett Favre and the Packers are listed as 3.5-point underdogs at Lambeau Field in their home opener. Let's have that fact sink in for a minute. The Bears' strong defense will be looking to smother Favre and company on Sunday, and they'll then hope their offense (or special teams, or anyone) can put up a couple of points. Might not be a barnburner.

Dallas at Jacksonville (-1.5) 4:15 PM

If Terrell Owens has a good game on Sunday we might get to stop reading T.O. controversy stories for awhile (until the next incident at least). If he stinks, though, there'll be headlines galore on Monday morning. The Jags get to play host to this sideshow as they start another campaign in the shadow of the Colts in the AFC South.

San Francisco at Arizona (-7.5) 4:15 PM

No, that's not a typo - the Cardinals are favored by 7.5 points over another team. And it's an NFL team to boot - they're not playing an exhibition contest against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Are the Cards overrated? Are the Niners underrated? We'll find out Sunday when the two teams battle in the brand new stadium down in Arizona.

Indianapolis (-3) at NY Giants 8:15 PM

The Manning vs. Manning angle has been played to death, and has overshadowed some of Indy's lingering injuries and the fact that they've lost their starting RB from last season. However, the elder Manning is still the favorite in the Sunday nighter; if young Eli can pull off an upset, though, it might be him we start seeing in every commercial.

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Coming off a 5-0 loss in their last game, New York assigns the task of getting back on the winning track to Orlando Hernandez on Saturday at home. The Dodgers start Greg Maddux, 12-12, 4.61 ERA. His last trip was a loss, a 6-3 team loss against the Brewers, when he threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing 6 runs on 10 hits. Los Angeles brings a 75-66 overall mark (33-28 in the division) into this game versus a New York team carrying an 87-53 record. Oddsmakers like the Mets in this one, opening the line at 125 in favor of New York. They are 87-53 this season, while the Dodgers are 75-66. The total, which is 74-62-4 to the OVER in Mets games and 77-60-4 in Dodgers games, opened at 9.   Grady Little's team was busy last game winning against the Mets 5-0 as underdogs. The 5 runs sent that game under the total of 9. It's usually a safe bet that Los Angeles will get men on base as they rank top three in the league with 9.6 hits per game on the season. New York's pitchers need to keep this group in check to have a chance today. Some trends to consider: Los Angeles is 1-6-0 OU in its last 7 away Los Angeles is 1-4-0 OU in its last 5 games Los Angeles is 2-5-0 OU in its last 7 games against New York Los Angeles is 4-7-1 OU in its last 12 games away against New York New York is 4-7-1 OU in its last 12 games at home against Los Angeles New York is 2-5-0 OU in its last 7 games against Los Angeles Next up: LA Dodgers at NY Mets, Sunday, September 10 NY Mets home to LA Dodgers, Sunday, September 10

SU: 75-66 ATS: SU: 87-53 ATS:

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The New York Mets hold onto the top spot in the MLB Power Rankings this week, as they continue to reduce their magic number and expand the size of their lead in the National League East division. The Mets will easily cruise to the best record in the Senior Circuit over the next month, so their only concern now is getting star starters Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine back and healthy. If those two can't be effective at the top of their rotation when the playoffs begin next month, the Mets could end up falling victim to a lower-ranked team in a short division series.

For this week's edition of the MLB Power Rankings let's take a look at how we had the teams listed back in Week 1. Who was on top to start out the season? The Chicago White Sox, who were coming off a World Series title and looking like a strong candidate to repeat. At No. 2 back in April were the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Cleveland Indians. Four of those teams are sitting in the Top 7 this week. Another is at No. 20, so we'd like to thank the Tribe for making us look a bit foolish for placing them near the top.

Here is the Week 23 edition of the MLB Power Rankings.

01 - New York Mets (Last Week 01)

Week 1 Rank - 08. Playing against mostly Triple-A calibre teams in the National League has helped their record.

02 - New York Yankees (Last Week 02)

Week 1 Rank - 03. The worst part for Yankee haters is that they don't even have all their players healthy yet.

03 - Oakland Athletics (Last Week 03)

Week 1 Rank - 04. They dipped in the middle of the season, but they're now back higher than where they started.

04 - Chicago White Sox (Last Week 06)

Week 1 Rank - 01. Still have a chance to get back to the top, at the start of next season if they repeat as champs.

05 - Minnesota Twins (Last Week 04)

Week 1 Rank - 12. Big rise for the Twins, who weren't expected to be this good in a tough AL Central division.

06 - Detroit Tigers (Last Week 05)

Week 1 Rank - 21. Huge rise for the Tigers, who weren't expected to be good at all in a tough AL Central division.

07 - St. Louis Cardinals (Last Week 07)

Week 1 Rank - 02. Have built their division lead back up, but overall it hasn't been a great season for the Cardinals.

08 - Los Angeles Dodgers (Last Week 08)

Week 1 Rank - 17. Everything has come together for the Dodgers since the break, and they've bolted up the list.

09 - San Diego Padres (Last Week 11)

Week 1 Rank - 15. Have improved on their original ranking, and are making a late play for an NL postseason berth.

10 - Florida Marlins (Last Week 17)

Week 1 Rank - 29. Hot stretch has them in contention for the NL Wild Card, and no one would've expected that.

11 - Philadelphia Phillies (Last Week 14)

Week 1 Rank - 13. Outclassed by the Mets in the NL East by a big margin, but are still a contender for the Wild Card.

12 - San Francisco Giants (Last Week 12)

Week 1 Rank - 11. Behind both the Dodgers and the Padres in the NL West, but still not out of the playoff picture.

13 - Cincinnati Reds (Last Week 13)

Week 1 Rank - 27. Big leap from their Week 1 ranking, but poor play of late has really hurt them in the standings.

14 - Houston Astros (Last Week 19)

Week 1 Rank - 14. Finally nailed one. Would a full season of Clemens have made them a better playoff contender?

15 - Los Angeles Angels (Last Week 09)

Week 1 Rank - 09. Falling well behind the A's in both the standings and the rankings. Need to retool for next year.

16 - Boston Red Sox (Last Week 10)

Week 1 Rank - 06. One of the biggest drops on the list, both since Week 1 and since the last edition of the rankings.

17 - Texas Rangers (Last Week 15)

Week 1 Rank - 16. Flirted with contender status earlier in the season, but ultimately didn't have the roster to compete.

18 - Toronto Blue Jays (Last Week 16)

Week 1 Rank - 10. Overall, a disappointing campaign for the Blue Jays, who aren't too far above the .500 mark.

19 - Atlanta Braves (Last Week 18)

Week 1 Rank - 07. The Braves' playoff run had to end sometime, and that sometime is going to be the 2006 season.

20 - Cleveland Indians (Last Week 21)

Week 1 Rank - 05. Were 15 spots higher on the list back in Week 1. Probably the year's biggest flop of a team.

21 - Seattle Mariners (Last Week 22)

Week 1 Rank - 25. Weren't too far out of the AL West lead a couple months ago, but now firmly in the basement.

22 - Baltimore Orioles (Last Week 23)

Week 1 Rank - 20. Another 'wait until next year' year for the Orioles. At least they'll stay ahead of the Devil Rays.

23 - Colorado Rockies (Last Week 25)

Week 1 Rank - 28. Have moved up a bit from their initial ranking, but there's still time for them to fall back again.

24 - Arizona Diamondbacks (Last Week 20)

Week 1 Rank - 26. Recent skid has them dropping down the list, and getting closer to the NL West basement.

25 - Milwaukee Brewers (Last Week 24)

Week 1 Rank - 18. Ugly stretch has them dropping sharply down the list, and tainting what had been a decent year.

26 - Washington Nationals (Last Week 26)

Week 1 Rank - 22. The second season of baseball in Washington hasn't been nearly as good as the first season.

27 - Pittsburgh Pirates (Last Week 28)

Week 1 Rank - 24. Not sure why they were ranked No. 24 back in Week 1. Were we bribed by the franchise?

28 - Chicago Cubs (Last Week 27)

Week 1 Rank - 19. Injuries have doomed the Cubs to a low ranking, with next year not looking much brighter.

29 - Tampa Bay Devil Rays (Last Week 29)

Week 1 Rank - 23. Still no progress for the Devil Rays franchise, who again linger with the league's worst teams.

30 - Kansas City Royals (Last Week 30)

Week 1 Rank - 30. We won't be patting ourselves on the back about predicting this one. Ok, maybe just a little.

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 A couple of the National League's best pitchers take to the mound on Sunday, as does new Senior Circuit hurler David Wells. Here's a look at four of the day's top matchups:

Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals
Brandon Webb (14-5) vs. Tony Armas Jr. (8-10)

Webb continues his quest for the National League Cy Young award in Washington on Sunday afternoon. The righthander has gone 3-1 with a no-decision over his last five starts, but his ERA has increased to 3.02 on the season. Last time out, against the San Diego Padres, Webb allowed three earned runs on six hits over 7 1-3 innings in a victory. On the year the D-Backs' ace has struck out 140 batters and walked a mere 44.

Armas has picked up a loss in each of his last two outings, getting rocked both times. Against Florida on August 23 the righthander allowed five earned runs on 10 hits in just 1 2-3 innings of work. Against Philadelphia on August 29 Armas gave up five earned runs on eight hits over 3 1-3 innings. On the season the Nats starter is now 8-10, and his ERA sits at 5.28. Armas has fanned 80 batters and walked 44 in 121 innings thrown.

New York Mets at Houston Astros
Orlando Hernandez (9-9) vs. Roy Oswalt (10-8)

El Duque continues to be hit-and-miss on the mound this season. Last time out, against Colorado back on August 20, Hernandez tossed six scoreless innings, giving up just five hits and fanning eight in a victory. However, in his previous outing against Philadelphia the righthander was knocked around for 11 earned runs on 10 hits in just four innings of work. On the year Hernandez is 9-9 with a 5.29 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 131 innings.

Oswalt might've been an NL Cy Young contender this year if his team could've helped him out in the wins department. Over his last four outings the righthander is 2-1 with a no-decision, but he allowed only eight earned runs on 20 hits over 26 innings of work in that stretch. On the season Oswalt is a pedestrian 10-8, but boasts a solid 3.25 ERA. As well, he's managed to strike out 127 batters and walk only 30 in 177 innings pitched.

Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Padres
Eric Milton (8-7) vs. David Wells (2-3)

Milton hasn't won since August 8, but he also hasn't lost since then. The lefthander allowed a single earned run on five hits over six innings to beat the Cardinals on August 8, and since then he's picked up four no-decisions. Three of those no-decisions were decent outings - three earned runs or less over at least five innings. However, Milton was knocked around for six earned runs on nine hits over four innings in the other one.

The newly-acquired Wells starts Sunday for the Padres, and the team is hoping he can provide the spark that'll get them into the playoffs. Although he has a 4.98 ERA on the season, Boomer was excellent in August. In his last five outings the lefthander has allowed just 10 earned runs over 34 innings pitched, compiling a 2-2 record (with one no-decision) over that stretch. Toss out the four earned runs he gave up in an outing versus the Tigers back in mid-August and Wells' recent performance looks even better.

Los Angeles Angels at Detroit Tigers
Kelvim Escobar (9-12) vs. Wilfredo Ledezma (2-1)

Escobar is just 1-3 over his past four starts, although he only deserved to pick up a loss in two of those outings. The righthander allowed five earned runs in starts against both the Yankees and the Red Sox over that stretch, but also was tagged with a loss last time out after holding the Mariners to two earned runs on seven hits over eight innings (and fanning nine). On the year Escobar sits with a 9-12 record and a solid 3.79 ERA.

The Tigers' probable starter for Sunday is Ledezma, who has served mostly as a reliever to this point in the season. In a start against the Yankees earlier in the week, however, the lefthander allowed just two earned runs on two hits over 5 1-3 innings of work. On the season Ledezma has a 2-1 record with a 2.27 ERA, and he's managed to fan 27 batters (and walk 14) in 35.2 innings pitched. He has started just twice this year.

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The Yankees can build on their win against the Twins on Saturday when they send 1-0 Jeff Karstens against the Twins at Yankee Stadium. The Twins start Baker, 3-7, 6.93 ERA. His last trip was a loss, a 9-0 team loss against the Rangers, when he threw 3 1/3 innings, allowing 8 runs on 7 hits. New York brings an 80-53 overall mark (32-18 in the division) into this game versus a Minnesota team carrying a 77-56 record. The Yankees are favored, opening as 155 chalk, with an opening total of 11. They are 80-53 this season and 66-64-3 OU. The Twins are 77-56 and are 61-68-4 OU.   Ron Gardenhire's team was busy last game losing to the Yankees 8-1 as underdogs. The 9 runs sent that game under the total of 11. Expect Minnesota to be tough at the plate and not sink themselves by striking out a lot. The Twins batters are in the top three in the league, fanning just 5.4 times per game. Some trends to consider: Minnesota is 2-7-0 OU in its last 9 away Minnesota is 4-9-0 OU in its last 13 games away against New York Minnesota is 4-2-0 SU in its last 6 games after scoring 1 to 3 runs New York is 8-2-0 SU in its last 10 games after scoring 7 to 9 runs New York is 11-5-0 OU in its last 16 games New York is 4-9-0 OU in its last 13 games at home against Minnesota New York is 4-16-1 OU in its last 21 at home Next up: Minnesota at NY Yankees, Sunday, September 3 NY Yankees home to Minnesota, Sunday, September 3

SU: 77-56 ATS: SU: 80-53 ATS:

Here is a summary of games happening today or soon

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