Forever Young
Vince Young has made a difference in the win column for both the Tennessee Titans and their backers. The Titans were 1-5 against the spread with five straight losses with Kerry Collins at quarterback. With Young calling the signals, they are 3-0 straight up and ATS, averaging 35 points per game. Young is 4-0 SU and ATS in his career vs. Houston. The Titans are getting four points from the host Texans with a total of 48.5
Total recall
Ball State and Western Michigan have played to the over in four of their last five meetings, with at least one team scoring at least 41 points in all but one of those games. No total has yet been posted for Tuesday's nationally televised game, but the number has averaged 55.8 in the last five matchups.
It's not Miller time
The Portland Trail Blazers were 7-2 straight up and 6-3 against the spread with Andre Miller in the starting lineup. They are 3-3 SU and ATS with Martell Webster as a starter, including Saturday's 106-78 home romp over Minnesota. Webster will start when Portland hosts Chicago, giving 8.5 points with a total of 180.
Nothing special
The New York Rangers have lost four of their last five games, primarily due to poor special teams play. In that stretch, the Rangers have just 10 goals and are 2-of-16 on the power play. They have allowed 16 goals, including five when down a man. New York is hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are 7-of-20 on the power play in their last five games. The Rangers are -135 with a total of 5.5.
King and his court?
There is no line on the Sacramento-Memphis game because of the questionable status of Kings rookie guard Tyreke Evans, who is averaging 18.2 points and 4.8 assists, has a finger inury that forced him to miss Saturday's loss to Houston. Evans scored just three points in the teams' first meeting Nov. 2, when Kevin Martin - also out with an injury - scored 48.
Staying close to home
When UCLA hosts Pepperdine, it may be without forward Nikola Dragovic, who is questionable due to a suspension for his arrest on felony assault. The team's lone returning starter, Dragovic averaged 9.4 points last season. The Bruins are favored by 14.5 points.
Running out of running backs
If you liked Rock Cartwright's performance in Washington's cover at Dallas on Sunday, you probably will see it again. After the 7-6 loss, coach Jim Zorn said Clinton Portis (concussion) has been ruled out for next week vs. Philadelphia and backup Ladell Betts suffered a torn MCL. No line has been established; the Redskins are 4-6 against the over.
Notable quotable
"If our whole focus is not on trying to win and turn this thing around, then it's not right and it's not something we want to do, and it's just one incident and we'll go on."
-- New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, talking about guard Nate Robinson shooting at the wrong basket a split second after the first-quarter buzzer in Saturday's win at New Jersey. D'Antoni yelled at Robinson when he came to the bench.