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THE WEEK'S 5 BEST BETS PREP FOOTBALL HOCKEY

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2008

MLB PLAYOFFS

Rays In ALDS

Game 1: Thursday

2:30 p.m., TBS

From perennial laughingstock to division champion, the Rays are taking a couple of well-deserved days to prepare for their first postseason series.

Here's a look inside the numbers of this magical season that will have the Rays face either the White Sox or the Twins in the division series:

.399

The Rays' combined winning percentage during their first 10 seasons of existence

.599

The Rays' winning percentage this season in winning their first AL East championship

27

Come-from-behind wins after trailing by two or more runs, the most in the majors

34

The number of games, on average, the Rays finished behind the AL East champ from 1998 to 2007

57-24

The Rays' record at Tropicana Field this season, including seven three-game sweeps

200-1

The odds the Rays would win the World Series when betting lines opened last October

5-1

The odds the Rays will win the World Series in the most recent betting lines

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Pittsburgh at USF

7:30 p.m.; Thursday

ESPN

Three weeks after their thrilling 37-34 victory against Kansas, the Bulls again have a weeknight spotlight to themselves as they host the Panthers in their Big East Conference opener.

This is the second of four non-Saturday games for Coach Jim Leavitt's squad that will be played in prime time on either ESPN or ESPN2, providing the rising program with tremendous national exposure.

Pitt will arrive at Raymond James Stadium having won three straight, including its conference opener against Syracuse, following a stunning season-opening setback against Bowling Green.

Other State Games

The new-look Bolts complete their 10-day European trip with a pair of games against the Blue Shirts in Prague, Czech Republic, to open the regular season.

With new ownership, Coach Barry Melrose behind the bench during a regular-season game for the first time since 1995 and overall No. 1 pick Steven Stamkos making his debut, the Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis-led Lightning are eager to erase the memories of last season's disappointing performance.

NASCAR

Because of Talladega Superspeedway's unpredictable nature, this week's Sprint Cup race - the fourth in the 10-race Chase for the Championship - is considered by most drivers to be the postseason's wild card.

Most drivers feel the 2.66-mile, restrictor-plate race is nothing more than a crapshoot. And for those 12 championship contenders, those feelings are only exacerbated.

Of those 12 drivers in the Chase, four - Jeff Gordon (six times), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (five), Jimmie Johnson (one) and Kyle Busch (one) - have visited Victory Lane at Talladega.

For the fourth straight year, the revived rivalry that is Blake-Middleton will be played at Ray Jay.

Including last season's 40-0 victory, Middleton has won five of the six meetings since the rivalry was renewed in 2002, following a 31-year hiatus.

Before integration, Blake-Middleton was among the state's biggest rivalries, until the once all-black schools were closed by court order in 1971.

The series was dormant until 2002 before being revived, and the annual matchup was played before capacity crowds at Chamberlain High for three years before moving to Raymond James Stadium in 2005.

PREP FOOTBALL

HOCKEY
MLB PLAYOFFS
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NASCAR

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