SCORES and SPORTS INFO for 12 15 2010

HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO ALL FROM GLOBAL SPORTS!



NFL - Champs on charge-The Saints' staggering start bottomed out in an Oct. 24 home loss to the Browns, but since then they've looked like champs. Gophers' stadium to be home for Vikes next game. T.O. blames owners, coaches for lackluster season. Vikings hope Favre can return for next game. Union's concussion committee talks 18 games. Report: 'Skins could start Grossman over McNabb. Chiefs' Cassel (appendix) trying to prep for Sunday. Bucs lose DT McCoy, linebacker Black to IR.Dolphins lose durable OT Carey to IR, sign Curtis. Nine teams officially out of playoffs, three close. Out of the running are Washington, Dallas, Minnesota, Detroit and Carolina in the NFC. Gone from the AFC are Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver. On the verge of elimination are Houston (5-8), Tennessee (5-8) and Arizona (4-9). Although San Francisco also is 5-8, it trails first-place St. Louis and Seattle by only one game in the NFC West with three remaining. New England (11-2) has secured a playoff berth.


SEE THURSDAY NFL Odds 49'ERS at CHARGERS



NCAA FOOTBALL - Newton, James lead All-America team. Iowa to review drug-testing policies. No. 2 Oregon wraps up trio of practices. Gators give Muschamp 5-year, $13.5M deal. Buckeyes tired of SEC bowl domination. Vandy talking to Maryland's Franklin. 3 Fresno St. players won't play in bowl.



Check out NCAA FOOTBALL Odds for BOWL GAMES that start this SATURDAY 12/18/2010



NCAA BASKETBALL - Keith Benson scored 26 points and Oakland finally broke through and knocked off No. 7 Tennessee 89-82 with a late 13-0 run. Drexel deals Louisville first lossPuerto Rico wants Pitino for qualifying. UConn adds 7-foot-1 C Wolf to rosterJohnson helps No. 22 Texas coast.



Check out TODAYS TWENTY FOUR (24) NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES and Odds




NBA - Nets trading Williams in multiteam deal. Bulls G Rose day-to-day with injuries. Anthony helps Nuggets beat Magic. Bynum back, Lakers top Wizards. Pistons rebound from meltdown. Scola, Rockets roll past Kings. Shaq optimistic he'll play Wednesday.


Check out TODAYS ELEVEN (11) NBA GAMES and Odds



NHL - Scott Hartnell and the host Flyers put an end to the Penguins' 12-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory on Tuesday. Phaneuf helps surging Leafs beat Oilers. Ducks extend Carlyle through 2011-12. Capitals struggling through 6-game skid.



Check out TODAYS TWO (2) NHL GAMES and Odds



MLB - Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee create a rotation for the ages. Could it be the best in history? Reds announce Bruce's $51M, 6-year deal. A's, slugger Matsui finalize $4.25M deal. Pirates sign 1B Overbay, OF Diaz.
C Navarro gets $1M deal with Dodgers. Yanks agree to sign C Martin, RHP Prior. C Laird, Cardinals agree on 1-year deal.



NASCAR - What do Kevin Conway and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have to do with each other? They both won postseason awards without winning a race, and that's not uncommon.



GOLF - Moving on-The former Mrs. Tiger Woods may have a new love in her life. Caddies come and go, but Jim Mackay has been a constant for Phil Mickelson.



UFC - Jake Shields is next in line for a shot at Georges St. Pierre's title. But Jon Fitch says the match should be his instead.


BOXING - Marcos Maidana couldn't defeat Amir Khan, but his resiliency should produce at least one positive result.



TENNIS - Nadal, Wozniacki win ITF World Champion awards. U.S. Open men's tuneup moves to Winston-Salem. Duesseldorf to stop hosting World Team Cup.



HORSE RACING - Ultra Blend wins Cat's Cradle at Hollywood. Quiet Giant wins Big A's Cheap Seats Stakes. Grant Jack, hot jockey Berry win Springboard…



POKER - Esfandiari wins second WPT title!