McGinty says she gets things done

Cumberland Valley wins 4A girls crown

First Posted: 9/17/2014 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were supposed to be vastly improved this year. The standings show a big, fat zero in the win column.
Yes, the talent base looks good on both sides of the ball. New coach Lovie Smith was a winner in Chicago and has brought a freshness to the environment in Tampa.
Yet his team lost two straight at home, both in close calls, but still defeats. Next up is Thursday night&#8217;s trip to Atlanta.
&#8220;That wasn&#8217;t a part of the master plan,&#8221; Smith said. &#8220;As much as anything for us, if we can just get to 1-2, get that first win. We weren&#8217;t able to get it done at home and that&#8217;s disappointing.&#8221;
Getting the victory could be made tougher by star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy&#8217;s broken left hand. He&#8217;ll be a game-time decision.
Atlanta fell flat in Cincinnati one week after a rousing comeback win against the Saints. Whether or not McCoy plays, the Falcons must find a way to better protect quarterback Matt Ryan, who comes off a bad performance.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s any doubt that Matt is going to bounce back,&#8221; said the other coaching Smith in this matchup, Atlanta&#8217;s Mike. &#8220;I know we&#8217;ve got to take care of the football. That&#8217;s the most important thing.&#8221;
The Falcons, tied for 17th in the AP Pro32 with, oddly, the archrival Saints, are 6 1/2-point favorites over No. 30 Tampa Bay. That spread is too big.
FALCONS, 23-20
&#8226; No. 32 Oakland (plus 14) at No. 7 New England
Raiders get routed before heading across Atlantic.
BEST BET: PATRIOTS, 33-10
&#8226; No. 12 Chicago (plus 2 1/2) at No. 19 New York Jets, Monday night
Did the guys who set the line not see the second half last weekend for both teams?
UPSET SPECIAL: BEARS, 27-20
&#8226; No. 1 Denver (plus 4 1/2) at No. 2 Seattle
How much did Broncos learn from Super Bowl beating &#8212; and Chargers&#8217; upset over Seahawks last week? Enough to cover, if not win.
SEAHAWKS, 27-26
&#8226; No. 27 Kansas City (plus 4 1/2) at No. 21 Miami
Battered Chiefs must feel like it is Week 13, not Week 3.
DOLPHINS, 20-10
&#8226; No. 13 Indianapolis (minus 7) at No. 31 Jacksonville
Time for Colts to wake up in Jaguars&#8217; home opener.
COLTS, 23-13
&#8226; No. 6 San Francisco (minus 3) at No. 8 Arizona
Cardinals can prove they are THE team in tough NFC West. Not quite &#8230;
49ERS, 19-14
&#8226; No. 20 Pittsburgh (plus 3 1/2) at No. 5 Carolina
Panthers&#8217; defense what the Steelers wish they still had.
PANTHERS, 22-13
&#8226; No. 9 San Diego (plus 2) at No. 11 Buffalo
If Buffalo goes to 3-0, we&#8217;ll start believing.
CHARGERS, 27-21
&#8226; No. 14 Baltimore (minus 1) at No. 25 Cleveland
If Cleveland goes to 2-1, we&#8217;ll start believing.
RAVENS, 19-17
&#8226; No. 24 Washington (plus 6 1/2) at No. 4 Philadelphia
How far can Eagles fall behind this week and still win?
EAGLES, 30-20
&#8226; No. 23 Tennessee (plus 7) at No. 3 Cincinnati
Slew of injuries for Bengals could slow them down here.
BENGALS, 23-20
&#8226; No. 22 Dallas (minus 1) at No. 28 St. Louis
We now know DeMarco Murray is most important Cowboy.
RAMS, 26-24
&#8226; No. 10 Green Bay (plus 1 1/2) at No. 16 Detroit
Packers ride momentum from comeback vs. Jets.
PACKERS, 33-31
&#8226; No. 15 Houston (minus 2 1/2) at No. 29 New York Giants
Giants fall halfway to last year&#8217;s 0-6 in a squeaker.
TEXANS, 17-16
&#8226; No. 26 Minnesota (plus 9 1/2) at No. 17 (tie) New Orleans
Saints come home limping, but this is a good matchup for them.
SAINTS, 34-20

Best bets for Week 3 NFL games