Franzen's OT goal sinks Wild

Johan Franzen scored a power-play goal with 48.5 seconds left in overtime, rallying the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

Ian White and Jiri Hudler also scored for Detroit, which trailed 2-0 in the second period.

After a scramble in front of the Wild net, Holmstrom backhanded a pass a couple of feet, and Franzen, fought off a check and poked it in. The play was upheld by video review. It was Detroit's first power-play goal in 19 chances this season.

Detroit is off to its first 4-0 start since 1997-98, a season that ended with the Red Wings hoisting the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings won a team-best six in a row to begin the 1972-73 season.

Greg Zanon and Cal Clutterbuck scored for Minnesota, which was outshot 41-14.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/franzens_ot_goal_sinks_wild/7445206

Los Angeles Lakers San Francisco 49ers

Ferrer to play in Shanghai final

David Ferrer rallied to beat fellow Spanish player Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday to reach the Shanghai Masters final.

The fifth-ranked Ferrer, who clinched a spot in the ATP World Tour Finals this week, lost the first set for the third match in a row. Ferrer saved three match points in his third-round victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero and beat Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals in a third-set tiebreaker.

Ferrer, attempting to win his first Masters-level tournament, will face second-seeded Andy Murray or Japan's Kei Nishikori in the final.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/ferrer_to_play_in_shanghai_final/7433212

Utah Jazz Tampa Bay Buccaneers

BCS Rankings 2011: Boise State Will Face Impossible Climb Once Again

Let me start by saying that no one has wanted to see the likes of Boise State crashing the BCS Championship Game more than me.

Yet on Sunday night, the Broncos will come under the harsh realization that it will likely never happen when they begin ranked somewhere between No.4 and No.6 in the initial BCS standings.

That doesn't sound too difficult, moving up a couple spots to finish in the top two teams in the standings, but in reality it is next to impossible for the Broncos.

Yet while in most seasons Boise State would have a valid complaint that I would listen to, this year I'm not listening.

Currently, there are just way too many quality teams that have yet to suffer a defeat. By the quality of their wins alone to this point in the season, LSU and Alabama both deserve to sit at the top of the standings.

Throw Oklahoma in there as well. The Sooners victories over Florida State and Texas looks less impressive on paper than it would have before the season began, but they are certainly worthy of being in the Top 3 when the standings come out.

Also all three of the projected Top 3 teams will face a tough schedule the rest of the way. Much tougher than Boise State, who really won't have an opportunity to get another signature win. Certainly nothing worth moving up the standings.

That argument also doesn't include the likes of Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, Stanford and others who are projected to be clustered in the middle of Sunday's rankings. All will face multiple opponents, who if they beat, should help their respective teams climb up the ladder.

The same simply can't be said for the Broncos.

While Boise State could certainly line up and compete, and possibly beat every team mentioned, this year they likely don't belong in the conversation.

Once teams start losing, which will happen, the Boise State argument will heat up, but quite frankly a one-loss LSU or Alabama has a much better case.

It's a broken system, but it is the current system and once again, Boise State really has nothing to play for the remainder of the season.

Matt Shetler

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/894772-bcs-rankings-2011-predicting-and-projecting-the-new-week-8-poll/entry/139793-bcs-rankings-2011-boise-state-will-face-impossible-climb-once-again

Washington Wizards New Jersey Nets

Red Auerbach Wins His 9th Title

	Red Auerbach Wins His 9th Title In 1966, Red Auerbach won his then-record 9th NBA championship as coach of the Boston Celtics in his last season.	From: NBA Views: 2631 160 ratings
	Time: 00:41	More in Sports

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aef8j_Mauj0&feature=youtube_gdata

Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys

BCS Rankings 2011: Oregon Ducks and Top 10 Teams Destined to Be Overrated

When the 2011 BCS rankings are released in the coming weeks there are sure to be some teams boosted by reputation rather than on-field performance.

One-loss teams like Oregon and Arkansas currently find themselves above undefeated programs like Michigan and Georgia Tech because of their conference affiliation and largely because of what they have done in the past.

It's not guaranteed, but it's likely the BCS standings will reflect the current AP Top 25 rankings, meaning there will be several overrated teams ranked in the top 10.

Here are three teams sure to be overrated in the season's first BCS rankings:

No. 9 Oregon Ducks (4-1)

The Ducks have a difficult test this week as they host 5-1 Arizona State. Oregon is the favorite in this one and should be the favorite in every matchup on the rest of their schedule outside of the Stanford game on Nov. 12.

The Ducks offense has and will continue to be dominant, but the nation's 45th-ranked scoring defense was exposed against LSU in the opener and will likely continue to be downplayed as the Ducks find themselves in the top 10 of the BCS rankings despite having underperformed thus far in 2011.

No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1)

Unfortunately for college football fans outside the state of Arkansas, the Razorbacks win over Auburn last Saturday night is sure to have them overrated in the first BCS standings.

Before their 24-point blowout of the defending national champions, the Razorbacks had allowed far too many points by their opponents.

Arkansas allowed 28, 38 and 38 points to Troy, Alabama and Texas A&M respectively, and currently boast the nation's 36th-ranked scoring defense.

No. 11 Michigan Wolverines (6-0)

Michigan is ranked No. 11 in the nation largely because of its perfect record, but just how much will the Wolverines reputation play into their position in the season's first BCS standings.

Michigan has played a rather easy schedule this season, and nearly lost at home to Notre Dame in Week 2, a potential loss that would have them eliminated them from any BCS consideration given their talent.

The Wolverines will face some much stiffer tests going forward, but a win over Michigan State will set the hype train in motion.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter @_Pat_Clarke

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/894095-bcs-rankings-2011-oregon-ducks-and-top-10-teams-destined-to-be-overrated

Indiana Pacers St. Louis Rams

Liverpool Boss Dalglish: Gerrard, Carragher Still Have Plenty Of Years Left

Jamie Carragher Liverpool Manchester United Kenny Dalglish Steven GerrardLiverpool boss Kenny Dalglish feels Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have plenty of years ahead of them in the game.Gerrard, 31, and 33 year-old Carragher are expected to start against Manchester United this weekend. ?Carra and Steven have been fantastic for this football club, whether they have been playing or not,? said Dalglish. ?Anybody who is an asset to the football club I am sure we will look forward to keeping. ?I don?t have a figure in my mind and Damien (Comolli) has never told me a figure they have in mind that when they get to 30 they only get a one-year contract. You judge a player on what they are doing on the pitch. It doesn?t matter what their age is. ?I got a long contract when I was 33, which I couldn?t believe. If you are 20 and not making a contribution you are not going to get a contract. If you are 30 and making a contribution you have more...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/liverpool_boss_dalglish_gerrard_carragher_still_have_plenty_of_years_left/7411132

Cincinnati Bengals Indiana Pacers

49ers offensive line faces a huge test with Lions

Just when San Francisco's offensive line seems back on track carrying a little swagger, here comes the ferocious Ndamukong Suh and Detroit's punishing pass rush.

He's big. He talks a big game. He backs it up, too. And Suh isn't the only one. The Lions are loaded on their front line.

Ask Suh, and Alex Smith better watch out if his O-line doesn't bring its best stuff Sunday. He will hit the quarterback, and not just once. This Lions' unit is competitive, with one mantra: ''meet you at the quarterback.''

The 49ers (4-1) didn't allow a sack in their 48-3 rout of Tampa Bay on Sunday, while the unbeaten Lions (5-0) had three sacks of Jay Cutler on Monday night - but that number just hints at the amount of constant pressure Cutler faced.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/49ers_offensive_line_faces_a_huge_test_with_lions/7399135

Dallas Cowboys Denver Nuggets