I expect the Cleveland Browns to cover the spread in a loss to the New York Giants in NFL Week 12.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers will be among NFL Week 12 winners against the spread.

At least that is how I see it -- for entertainment purposes only, of course.

I am picking NFL ATS for the second straight year. In 2015, I went 122-127-7 in the regular season and 4-6-1 in the postseason. I did manage to win the Super Bowl (Denver +5 1/2).

In this space, I decline to take the easy route when picking ATS. I pick all of the games, not a select few "hot ones'' each week. Leave that to a video. At the same time, I am realistic. I think batting .500 is an accomplishment, and I make no guarantees. (And don't yell at me too loudly when I have a bad week(s) because this is, after all, for entertainment purposes only.)

I have researched each team/matchup, but I plan on relying more on gut than anything else this season. 

For continuity's sake, each week I will use the MGM Mirage lines from vegasinsider.com as of Wednesday afternoon unless noted. Games are listed as I came upon them, not by order of certainty. I do not adjust picks even if injuries occur and/or lines change between Wednesday afternoon and Sunday.

• Week 1: 9-6-1
• Week 2: 8-8
• Week 3: 7-9
• Week 4: 8-7
• Week 5: 7-6-1
• Week 6: 5-10
• Week 7: 10-5
• Week 8: 6-6-1
• Week 9: 6-6-1
• Week 10: 5-9
• Week 11: 11-1-2

Week 11 recap: Believe it.

Actually, I still can't. I haven't stopped floating.

In one sense, I wish Week 11 could be a "walkoff'' because I never had approached that level of accuracy and probably never will again.

The loss: Green Bay (+3) over @ Washington. It was the Sunday night game, which meant I had been unbeaten Thursday and all day Sunday.

The Redskins won, 42-24. It happened primarily because Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins was fantastic (21-of-30 for 375 yards, three touchdowns). Therefore, I don't regret the pick. Tip of the helmet to Cousins.

Week 12 predictions: I thought pressure was picking games after a bad week. Now I know the truth: Real pressure is picking after 11-1-2. My fingers are shaking -- and, to make matters worse, I don't like a lot of the spreads.

Winner (against spread, not always outright) listed first:

Thanksgiving Day

@ Detroit (-2 1/2) over Minnesota

Skinny: Lions QB Matthew Stafford once again orchestrates a fourth-quarter comeback. Lions, 24-21.

Washington (+7) over @ Dallas

Skinny: I really, really like Dak, Dez, Zeke and the sizzling Cowboys (9-1; nine straight victories). And I realize the Redskins are on the road in a short week after a Sunday night game. Regardless, Cousins finds a way to keep it just close enough. Cowboys, 30-24.

Steelers (-8 1/2) over @ Indianapolis

Skinny: Colts QB Andrew Luck (concussion) is out. Steelers, already feeling good after drilling the Browns in Week 11, get to use their offense in climate-controlled conditions. Steelers, 27-17.

Sunday afternoon

San Diego (-1) over @ Houston

Skinny: Chargers are coming off a bye; Texans, off a controversial and difficult loss to the Raiders on Monday night in Mexico City. Chargers use the rest to their advantage. Chargers, 22-19.

Tennessee (-4 1/2) over @ Chicago

Skinny: Bears can't be taken seriously. Titans and QB Marcus Mariota can. Titans, 23-10.

@ Buffalo (-7) over Jacksonville

Skinny: Bills are much better than 5-5, they are at home, and the Jaguars are bad. Bills, 26-13.

@ Baltimore (-4 1/2) over Cincinnati

Skinny: I am buying Ravens QB Joe Flacco's disgust after a loss in Dallas in Week 11. Flacco will have his guys ready, and the Bengals will feel the pain of no WR A.J. Green (hamstring). Ravens, 19-13.

@ Atlanta (-4 1/2) over Arizona

Skinny: Falcons owe me for home loss to Chargers in Week 7. Falcons, 23-17.

@ Miami (-8) over San Francisco

Skinny: Dolphins have won five straight, they are at home, and the 49ers are bad. Dolphins, 24-10.

@ New Orleans (-7) over Los Angeles

Skinny: Saints getting seven seems dangerous -- except against the Rams at home. Saints, 27-18.

@ Cleveland (+7) over N.Y. Giants

Skinny: Yes, it's true. Giants control game but Browns cover with garbage-time touchdown. Giants, 26-20. 

Seattle (-6) over @ Tampa Bay

Skinny: Buccaneers are riding high after a victory in Kansas City in Week 11. Duplicating the feat against the locked-in Seahawks proves too difficult. Seahawks, 24-17. 

@ Oakland (-3 1/2) over Carolina

Skinny: I'm (extremely) worried about getting hooked. Raiders, 24-20.

New England (-8) over @ N.Y. Jets

Skinny: Jets make it interesting for a while, then Patriots and QB Tom Brady do what they do. Patriots, 26-16.

Sunday night

@ Denver (-3 1/2) over Kansas City

Skinny: See Oakland-Carolina. Broncos, 23-19.

Monday night

Green Bay (+3 1/2) over @ Philadelphia

Skinny: I continue to fall for the cheesy banana in the tailpipe. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers does enough to cover. Eagles, 23-20.

Both teams have plenty to be thankful for this week. What are those? Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State and Michigan are two football teams who have only suffered one loss each and still have their national championship hopes alive on this Thanksgiving Day. 

Of course, one team will lose it all on Saturday when the two face in Ohio Stadium, but for this happy day, life is still good for Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh. 

There's plenty of reasons to be thankful. But for what should these teams be most appreciative this week? 

Watch the video above where Ari Wasserman, Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises discuss. 

Just a year removed a district championship and regional appearance, Holy Name suffered a disappointing encore last boys basketball season.

PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio — Just a year removed a district championship and regional appearance, Holy Name suffered a disappointing encore last boys basketball season.

All five starters return with some help, as the Green Wave hope to recapture their 2014-15 run. Watch the video above and read the preview capsule below on Holy Name entering the 2016-17 season.

Division-by-division season previews begin Monday, Nov. 28. See below for more details. Until then, check back for more peeks into practices and scrimmages as teams prepare for the season.

HOLY NAME GREEN WAVE

Coach: Jeff Huber (seventh season)

2015-16 record: 8-16 (4-8 Great Lakes Conference), North Ridgeville district quarterfinalist

Returning starters: Dwayne Cohill (6-2, Jr., G, 26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds), Sean Hickey (5-11, Sr., G, 14.5 points, 46 percent 3-point shooting), Ralph Vance (5-10, Sr., G, 5.0 points), Brandon Styers (5-10, Jr., G, 7.1 points, 47 percent 3-point shooting), Nick Opincar (6-3, Sr., F, 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds).

In the rotation: Malique Burton (6-9, Sr., C), Joe Petrilla (5-8, Jr., G, 3.1 points), Colin Gray (6-0, Sr., F), Jon Minnich (6-2, Jr., F).

Outlook: Colleges from Ohio State to Northwestern have offered scholarships to Cohill, who helped the Green Wave to a regional run as a freshman. He has help in the form of four other returning starters and the addition of Burton, who transferred last season from St. Ignatius. Burton was not eligible to play because of the mid-year move but is available to start this season. Cohill, a 1,000-point scorer, has a chance to break the school’s all-time record of 1,570. Hickey is on the verge of breaking 1,000. They will initiate an offense that can stretch defenses with four shooters. After having only one senior last season, Holy Name is poised for a bounce-back performance.

BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEWS COMING SOON

Monday, Nov. 28: Division IV

Tuesday, Nov. 29: Division III

Wednesday, Nov. 30: Division II

Thursday, Dec. 1: Division I

Friday, Dec. 2: Top 25

You have to go back more than 20 years to find the last 10 teams ranked in the top 10 to visit Columbus. No. 3 Michigan will be the next one Saturday.

The Ohio State and Michigan coaches have nothing in common except The Game. They don't need more. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- You can search for ways in which Ohio State's Urban Meyer and Michigan's Jim Harbaugh are alike, but they aren't.

Put them in a room of coaches, and they won't gravitate toward each other. They were born in the same Toledo hospital seven months apart, Harbaugh in December of 1963, Meyer in July of 1964, but there's nothing about them that would have brought them together, even while rising to the top of the same profession.

Just this.

This rivalry.

They do both possess two qualities vital to rivalries: appreciation and confidence. They own the ability to understand and value this single game, and the guts to allow it to mean so much. Page through the coaches who have failed in this game, and you'll find them lacking in one or the other, if not both.

That Harbaugh was hired at Michigan in December of 2014 in the midst of Meyer's preparation for what would be his first national championship at Ohio State fit perfectly. Meyer was prepping for Alabama and Nick Saban and asked about Michigan and Harbaugh, because a national title is one thing, but this, after all, is the rivalry.  

"I know his brother," Meyer said in that news conference in New Orleans on Dec. 30, 2014, to the first Harbaugh question of his OSU career. "And I actually met his father at the Super Bowl. Very good football family. When I became special teams coordinator at Notre Dame years ago, one of the first people I was in contact with was John Harbaugh. Spent some time with him at the Eagles and became good friends. We stayed in contact.

"I don't know Jim."

From 2015: The weirdness in the Meyer-Harbaugh dynamic

The desire to compare Meyer vs. Harbaugh, entering year two with Saturday's kickoff at Ohio Stadium, to Woody Hayes vs. Bo Schembechler and their 10-Year War can be overwhelming.

Two great programs. Two great coaches. But that's where it ends. Schembechler, as everyone knows, played for Hayes at Miami (Ohio), then coached under him both at Miami and Ohio State. 

Their prior relationship enhanced, inflamed and, in many ways, helped create the modern Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. Woody and Bo were Woody and Bo before Ohio State and Michigan. 

The respect and competition of Woody vs. Bo added to Ohio State vs. Michigan.

There is no Urban and Jim.

"I don't know Jim," told us that.

If there is going to be Urban vs. Jim, for year two, for year five, for year 10, that exists only because of the rivalry.

The respect and competition of Ohio State vs. Michigan will create Urban vs. Jim.

Thanks to 112 previous years of this, thanks to Big Ten championships and ruined perfect seasons and thanks to Woody and Bo, the rivalry is enough.

The rivalry is more than enough to create Urban vs. Jim.

"I appreciate rivalries probably more than most," Meyer said Monday. "That's just the way I've always been.

"I think that came from Coach Hayes and Bo Schembechler. I just think that was the classiest ... both programs had a tremendous respect for each other, both coaches did, and they played so damn hard. So I just remember that. So I have a great appreciation for rivalries."

Harbaugh's answer to reporters in Ann Arbor about why he loves the Michigan-Ohio State game was, of course, different.

"Competition," Harbaugh said "That's the best part of it."

Saturday, Harbaugh will be back in Ohio Stadium for the first time since he backed up his guarantee of a victory as a senior quarterback with a 26-24 win in Columbus in 1986.

That's 30 years. It's 38 years since the last Woody-Bo showdown in 1978.

Before the game, Meyer and Harbaugh may meet for some awkward small talk, and the end of the game will bring a quick handshake. 

They'll never be Woody and Bo. But they don't have to be. They love the rivalry, and that's enough.

Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh don't go head-to-head for recruits often, but here are a few battles Ohio State and Michigan are having off the field.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State and Michigan both have national recruiting presences, so there are far less head-to-head recruiting battles between Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer than you'd think. 

But there are a few. 

Ohio State still in the midst of putting together what could be its deepest recruiting class in program history, but whether it gets a few remaining prospects will determine whether it's possible. And the Buckeyes will have to beat the Wolverines to accomplish that. 

So let's look at some of those battles: 

* Five-star WR Donovan Peoples-Jones of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech: Rated the No. 1 receiver in the country, Peoples-Jones is considered a Michigan lean. Peoples-Jones, who has a top five that consists of Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, Florida State and Michigan State, insists he doesn't know where he's going to school.

He took an official visit to Ohio State in October. To catch up on his recruitment, read the two links below: 

1. Donovan Peoples-Jones got Ohio State's royal treatment during official visit: A peek inside

2. Donovan Peoples-Jones really has no idea where he's going: He and his coach have proof

* Four-star DT Jay Tufele of South Jordan (Utah) Bingham: Rated the No. 3 defensive tackle in the 2017 class, Tufele once named Ohio State the leader in his recruitment. Tufele is most closely considering Michigan, Ohio State and Utah and the Wolverines have gained some momentum after the 6-foot-3, 297-pounder took an official visit to Ann Arbor. 

Tufele is taking an official visit to Ohio State this weekend for the Michigan game. 

Can't wait to be in Columbus Ohio! pic.twitter.com/XzMYNGS5PA

-- Jay Tufele (@tufele123) November 24, 2016

* Five-star LB Baron Browning of Kennedale, Texas: Rated the No. 2 outside linebacker in the 2017 class, Browning is taking an official visit to Ohio State this weekend and is expected to make a decision next week. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has taken officials to Michigan, Alabama, Florida State and UCLA, but Ohio State is reportedly in really good position with the linebacker. 

* Five-star CB Darnay Holmes of Calabasas, Calif.: Though Holmes is taking an official visit to Ohio State on Saturday, the Buckeyes have seemingly fallen behind in his recruitment. Holmes is also considering Michigan, Nebraska, UCLA and Washington. The Buckeyes may be ahead of Michigan, though, because Holmes has never taken an official to Ann Arbor. 

* Five-star RB Najee Harris of Antioch, Calif.: Harris unofficially visited Ohio State in the spring, but the Buckeyes have been a non-factor in the pursuit of the No. 1-rated running back in the country. Harris is committed to Alabama, but Michigan is making a late push for the 6-foot-3, 226-pounder. Harris will officially visit Michigan on Dec. 10. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cavs forward/center Channing Frye's dad died on Thursday, he said, not quite a month after Frye lost his mother to cancer. In an Instagram post, Frye said: "Be thankful for the person next to you. My father passed away today. Y'all better love on your family." Frye missed two games when his mother, Karen Mulzac-Frye, died after...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cavs forward/center Channing Frye's dad died on Thursday, he said, not quite a month after Frye lost his mother to cancer.

In an Instagram post, Frye said: "Be thankful for the person next to you. My father passed away today. Y'all better love on your family."

Frye missed two games when his mother, Karen Mulzac-Frye, died after a long battle with cancer on Oct. 28.

The Cavs play Dallas Friday at The Q. It is not immediately known whether Frye will be available for the game.

The extent to which Kevin Love was either misused by David Blatt, or, let's say, re-purposed by Tyronn Lue, was perhaps understated until now. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kevin Love has no family in town.

Seriously. Love's Thanksgiving is going to consist of him, James Jones, a few members of the Cavs' training staff, and probably his girlfriend at his house for, presumably, turkey and beer and football.

It's like Love, the $113 million man, is all alone in Cleveland.

Check that. He was alone. On the perimeter. Not anymore.

His 40-point, record-setting outburst in the Cavs' 137-125 shootout over Portland Wednesday night is proof.

"I was way out there," Love told cleveland.com, gesturing with his right arm to illustrate being cast out of the lane by Cavs former coach David Blatt.

Love has a theory that his 40-point game -- 34 in the first quarter, with eight 3s -- would not have been possible at this time last year or the year before. He thinks the same thing about a prediction he's made for this season, that he's going to have a few games of 20 or more rebounds.

Read about Love (and LeBron's) historic game

Summed up, Blatt wanted him out on the 3-point line. Period. The former Cavs coach would come into the locker room and ask, sometimes yell, wondering why Love wasn't out there more.

It's not news to say that current coach Tyronn Lue uses Love differently than Blatt. It's been well documented -- after taking over in January, Lue move Love closer to the hoop, getting him touches on the block and the elbow, demanding he, meaning Love, be more assertive.

The results are obvious, Love looks more involved in the offense, like he has a place among LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. He seems more active on defense, more comfortable in the locker room. His stats -- 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds per game, all highs for his two-plus seasons in Cleveland -- bear that out.

But the extent to which Love was either misused by Blatt, or, let's say, re-purposed by Lue, was perhaps understated until now.

For instance, Lue said Wednesday night the first play Cleveland runs at the start of each and every game is for Love. Some kind of post-up for the 6-10 forward. Love admitted later that it wasn't the same when Blatt was coach.

"EVERY GAME," Lue said emphatically, when the writers who cover the team expressed a mild incredulousness that this in fact happens at the start of, yes, every game.

"We didn't want the other teams to know that," Love said. "But I guess Ty put that out there."

Kevin Love's shot chart from Wednesday.NBA.com 

Blatt wasn't all wrong by wanting Love to stretch the floor by staying on the perimeter. He obviously shoots 3s in a way that can be dangerous to opponents. And the Cavs did make it a point the last two seasons to go to Love early in games.

But the inside-out, the positioning of Love closer to the lane, the pick-and-pops with him that become 3s, all of that is so much more prevalent now with Lue at the helm.

"He's a great player already. I didn't do anything magical," Lue said. "He's just, he's playing great, he's being aggressive when he catches the ball in the post, getting to the free-throw line, a big post threat for us."

What Lue seemed most pleased about from Love's big game (and the Cavs' win in general) was the way teammates kept feeding Love in that historic first quarter when it was obvious he was hot. Six of LeBron James' 13 assists went to Love in the first quarter, all on 3s. Two of Kyrie Irving's six assists were to Love in those first 12 minutes.

Love's 34 points were the most in NBA history in the first quarter, second-most in any quarter in league history. He drilled his first seven shots, including six 3s.

"I've always loved seeing my teammates catch one of those moments right there and just try to keep him in that zone as much as possible," said James, who only posted a triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and those 13 assists. "I went over and told him just, whatever you're doing, wherever you're at right now, just stay right there. Stay even keel. Whatever you're thinking about right there, just stay there because we're going to keep coming to you."

Lue said some in-bounds plays out of timeouts were drawn up for James during Love's hot stretch, and James declined and asked that they be re-designed for Love.

It would've been hard to imagine this day say, two seasons ago, when Love was out for the playoffs with a busted shoulder and James was telling reporters he "scratched" Blatt's idea for a late-game play so he (James) could take the last shot.

Back then, James wasn't comfortable with much of what Blatt had to say, and preferred virtually everything fall on his shoulders. Love, for most of that season, was almost an afterthought for James.

Now, Love's zipping up and down the court, recognizing his career high of 51 is in reach. He's demanding the ball and getting it from James, who's enjoying feeding the hot hand.

No, Love is certainly not alone.

Don’t miss this week’s episode of Friday Night Huddle, our live, real-time highlights show that simulcasts on cleveland.com and Time Warner SportsChannel.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You've come to the right place for everything you need for the Ohio high school football state semifinals.

Above, you can watch Friday Night Huddle, our live, real-time television highlights show simulcast on cleveland.com and Time Warner Cable SportsChannel statewide.

The show, running from 7 until 11 p.m., is hosted by Time Warner Cable SportsChannel's David Bacon, and cleveland.com's Dan Labbe. FNH features highlights from dozens of games across the state with video provided by cleveland.com reporters, Time Warner cameras and student videographers.

Friday Night Huddle can be seen on both cleveland.com and Time Warner Cable channel HD 1311 and regular channels 99 and 311.

Tonight marks the last of the show's 10 weeks.

Also, you can get updates from across the state in the chat below, featuring pictures, videos and scoreboards on all the games across Northeast Ohio and beyond. And check out these live scoreboards our staffers are updating all night from the high school sports command center early and often.

To join the conversation and see your Tweets featured below, include the hashtag #fridayhuddle in your Tweets. Or you can comment through your cleveland.com community account.

Here is tonight's schedule, including where we have reporters stationed:

Get the latest updates and analysis from the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 14 against the Dallas Mavericks.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to another win on Friday night, crushing the Dallas Mavericks, 128-90. 

Kevin Love scored 27 points to go with 10 rebounds. Kyrie Irving added 25 points while LeBron James chipped in with 19. 

Game 14: Cavs (11-2) vs. Mavericks (2-12)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena.

TV/radio: Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM 1100 AM; 87.7 FM (ESP)

Cavs probable starting lineup: LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Kyrie Irving.

Mavericks probable starting lineup: Seth Curry, Wes Matthews, Harrison Barnes, Dirk Nowitzki and Andrew Bogut.

FREQUENTLY REFRESH this page to get the latest updates. If you're viewing this on a mobile app, click here

Ray Horton says Joe Haden, who's battled a groin injury all season, is having an average year by his Pro Bowl standards. Haden agrees, but still feels 'I'm the best corner in the game.' Watch video

BEREA, Ohio - Joe Haden agrees with Ray Horton that he's having an average year by his Pro Bowl standards, but Haden knows he's no average Joe.

"I'd say for him average just because we expect so much more out of him,'' said the Browns defensive coordinator. "I'm sure he does, too. He knows he can play at a very high level. He's done it - the accolades and the respect that people have for him.

"Obviously, when you go against the Antonio Browns, the Odell Beckham Jr.'s, the A.J. Greens and all of the guys that he's been against, they're going to catch some of theirs but we and he expects a lot more out of him, meaning he expects himself to be one of the top players in the league."

Haden, who's played with groin injuries most of the season, couldn't argue with Horton despite the fact he's kept some of the top wideouts in the league out of the end zone this season and that he's two shy of the most INTs in the league with three.

"To my standards, yes,'' said Haden. "I feel like I shouldn't really let people catch the ball at all. I'm not trying to make any excuses, but I'm not 100 percent out there. So I've got to do what I've got to do, try to play top down, keep the receivers in front of me. I'm battling through. Definitely from my standards I don't feel like I'm playing up to the best of my ability, but I'm giving it all I've got.''

Haden, who will take on the Giants' two-time Pro Bowler Beckham Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium, has no problem with Horton's ranking of his season.

"Not at all,'' he said. "I'd expect him to want me to be a corner type guy that they don't catch any passes,'' he said. "That's what I feel like when I'm locked down, when I do my thing. So not like I'm having a bad year, but to my standard, I just feel like I should be the best corner in the league, and I don't feel like I've been playing like the best corner in the league this year."

Like other players on this 0-11 team, Haden is playing hurt to help the team try to get a victory.

"I'm fighting through it for a lot of reasons,'' he said. "This is not the way I expected it. This is my first time being a captain, so I've got to lead by example and show these dudes if they're going to be out there playing, fighting through it, just battling, I want to do it for them. I'm trying to get us a win. I want to do it for the city. So you've got to suck it up. You've got to do what you've got to do. Just trying to get this thing turned around."

When healthy in week two against the Ravens, Haden had two picks and locked down his side of the field. Would he be Pro Bowl-bound again if healthy?

"For sure. 1,000 percent,'' he said. "I still feel like I still can go to the Pro Bowl with a medium year.''

Haden, 27, was asked if he ever gets concerned about the Browns not wanting to pay his big salary. Signed through 2019, he's the highest paid player on the team with an average of $13.5 million a year, and is due to average almost $11 million a year over the next three seasons.

"Not at all,'' he said. "They can do what they do. I feel like with my ability, I get paid wherever I play."

This season, Haden has held Brandon Marshall to four catches for 68 yards and no TDs, Dez Bryant to 1 catch for 19 yards and no TDs, and Brown to eight catches for 76 yards and no TDs. For comparison's sake, Brown caught three TD in his next game, Thursday night against the Colts.

"If I wasn't guarding A.J. and Antonio, I think my numbers might be a little better, but I look forward to it,'' said Haden. "That's why I got the contract. That's what I do. I play corner and I feel like I'm the best corner in the game and I wouldn't want them to put anybody on the No. 1 guy but me.''

Pryor on snubs by Giants' Jenkins and Collins

He'll get another crack at one of the best in the league Sunday when faces Beckham, the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. This season, Beckham is ninth in the NFL with 59 catches, and seventh with 819 yards. He also has six TDs.

"He's very, very quick, judges the ball very well, once he gets the ball in his hands, he's incredible with yards after the catch, making people miss, stiff arm,'' said Haden. "He's one of the best in the game. I probably saw him drop about one pass on film. If it's in his vicinity, he pretty much makes a play on anything.''

The respect is mutual.

"Joe is a phenomenal corner,'' Beckham told Giants reporters this week. "He's a great corner, someone who I've watched for a long time even when he was at Florida. We're friends in a sense. I'm sure when we get out there it's going to be all competition but at the end, it's all love. I'm excited about the opportunity to go against one of the premier corners in this league.''

Hue Jackson has appreciated Haden's effort, especially with the sore groin.

"We're playing against some of the best in the world at their position and we have another one coming in here this week,'' said Jackson. "He'll rise up and go attack it just like he has every time we've asked him to do that, and I expect great things from Joe."

The Cavs are flying as a team Saturday to Columbus for Ohio State-Michigan.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's not just LeBron James and a few teammates slipping down to Columbus Saturday for No. 2 Ohio State against No. 3 Michigan.

All the Cavs are going, on the team plane. And it sounds like it was coach Tyronn Lue's idea.

"It's something I've been working on for like two weeks," Lue said Friday, before Cleveland hosted the Dallas Mavericks. Cleveland.com reported this was possible earlier in the day.

"Myself, Cobra (Cavs equipment manager/travel secretary Mark Cashman) and Griff (general manager David Griffin). Just thought it'd be nice for the guys. It's always good to throw your guys a bone through this long season, all the things we have to do and being together, I just thought it'd be something good for us to do and to enjoy."

James, of course, is a huge Buckeyes football fan. And several of the players -- if not all of them -- will be wearing the Nike football cleat he had made for them that resembles his Soldier 10 signature basketball shoe. James mentioned Wednesday that he and several teammates were going to the game.

Buckeyes to wear LeBron football shoes

Lue said he got to know Ohio State coach Urban Meyer when the Cavs were in Columbus for a preseason game at Ohio State.

"Being around the Ohio State campus and seeing everything and all the tradition, it was great," Lue said. "He's invited us back, so it's great to go back and be there, be a part of 2 vs. 3, a big game for the state of Ohio. We want to be there to support and enjoy the game."

The high school sports staff at cleveland.com wants your videos of the best football plays you record.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The high school sports staff at cleveland.com wants your videos of the best plays you record for possible inclusion in the Top Play of the Week contest for the OHSAA football state semifinals.

Top Play of the Week is a video contest to showcase the best runs, catches, defensive plays -- you name it -- from across Northeast Ohio. The contest began last season and featured about a dozen plays each week. Check out cleveland.com's high school sports video page on YouTube.

We welcome video nominations sent from fans, parents, coaches off your official game tape, administrators -- anyone. Email them to us at hssports@cleveland.com.

Get video of a long kick return for a touchdown? Capture footage of a pass caught between two defenders? Please email it to us at hssports@cleveland.com.

The deadline to submit videos from Friday games is Saturday at noon; while Saturday games have until 10 p.m.

Check back Monday to see if your play is featured in the latest Top Play of the Week contest. Readers will then have an opportunity to vote for their favorite highlight through Thursday at noon.

Check out the video at the top of this post, our highlight compilation from the region finals of the OHSAA playoffs.

Ray Horton doesn't operate out of fear that he could lose his job. He's focusing on the improvement of his young defense.

BEREA, Ohio -  Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton says he's not worried about his job security in the wake of a report that he could be the fall guy for this 0-11 season.

"I don't live that way, I don't want my kids to live that way and I don't want my players to live that way,'' said Horton. "I would think, 'man, what an awful life if you have to worry all the time about stuff.' You do the best job you can in life with what you have, meaning personally. Do I worry that way? I think you guys know me very well. I try to be very honest and very fair. I don't live that way.''

The report came from CBS Sports' Jason LaCanfora, who wrote on Nov. 13, according to sources, that Horton "is facing a very uncertain future, with his unit allowing more than 30 points per game, and changes could be far more sweeping. Horton is a very unpopular pick in various quadrants of the organization to return as defensive coordinator but is supported staunchly by Jackson.''

LaCanfora went on to report that "it was (Jimmy) Haslam who ultimately decided to hire Jackson and sign off on Horton as coordinator, despite strong reservations expressed by others.''

But Horton, who has eight rookies on his defense this season and some that aren't producing much, isn't concerned about the report. He's more focused on the improvement of his young defense, which held the Steelers to 17 points last week in a 24-9 loss (one TD was a fumble recovery in the end zone).   

"The old 'unnamed sources,'' said Horton. "That's why I love talking to you guys and using my name on things because I don't hide from anything.''

Horton, whose defense is 31st heading into Sunday's game against the 7-3 Giants, including 31st against the run, cited the early records of coaches who went on to be great in the NFL such as Tom Landry, Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson.

"I'm not comparing myself to them, please do not think I am - but you go through things in this business,'' he said. "Locally, you look at the Cleveland Cavaliers. They had LeBron, LeBron left and LeBron came back. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle, and to answer your question very bluntly, I don't live that way. I never have, and hopefully, I never will."

Horton sees progress in his young defense despite the numbers. Last week, it held the Steelers to field goals on three long drives with big third-down plays. Rookies such as safety Derrick Kindred and cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun are making impact plays. 

Joe Haden agrees with Ray Horton on 'average season' but still thinks he's the best

"It's hard to see maybe from the score and the record, but we are getting better,'' said Horton. "Our guys are getting better, and we're going to put this together. I'm encouraged every day because our guys are getting better. They're understanding more. They're seeing more. They're getting live action out there.

Horton cited the improvement in players such as Danny Shelton, who's establishing himself as a solid nosetackle this year.

"When you talk to coaches on other teams, they see it,'' he said. "A lot of times, it is hard to see the forest through the trees, but we have some guys that are playing very well that are going to be the foundation of our team. They're going to be the ones that help us get over the top.''

Lawrence Timmons not fined for contact with Cody Kessler

The Steelers linebacker wasn't fine for his unnecessary roughness call against Cody Kessler, which resulted in a concussion. Timmons maintained that he sailed over Kessler and didn't hit him.  Joe Thomas said such a hit doesn't belong in the game, with Kessler already going down when Timmons flew in.

But defensive tackle Daniel McCullers was fined $18,231 for hitting Josh McCown in the head in the fourth quarter. He was flagged 15 yards for roughing the passer.  

Ohio State moved to 6-0 with a 111-70 win over Marshall on Friday night. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- If that was supposed to be a test, then the Ohio State basketball team should feel pretty good about the way it just capped its three-game, five-day stretch.

The Buckeyes routed Marshall on Friday night, 111-70, winning their sixth game in a row to start the season and physically dominating an opponent from start to finish really for the first time this year.

The 111 points tied the most the Buckeyes have ever scored under Thad Matta.

"This has been a good week for this team. We've gotten better on both sides of the ball," Matt said coming off a week in which the Buckeyes beat North Carolina Central, Jackson State and Marshall -- and seemingly got better each game as the competition got a little tougher.

"Are we there yet? No. But from what we've done percentage-wise defensively, it's been a good thing for us. We've done a better job taking care of the basketball. Hopefully we get a little more confident."

Marshall (4-1), which came into Friday unbeaten, has the potential to be a pretty solid mid-major team this year. The Thundering Herd were picked to finish fourth in Conference-USA in the preseason. In the KenPom ratings, Marshall was the second-best team the Buckeyes have faced so far this season.

Ohio State (6-0) ran them off the floor.

And it was over early.

The Buckeyes scored 60 points in the first half, the first time they've scored that many points in a half since 1991. A quick 11-0 run midway through the first half created the separation Ohio State needed, and the Buckeyes built from there.

Aside from a brief stretch where Marshall cut it to 15 in the second half, Ohio State led more than comfortably for most of the night.

Jae'Sean Tate and Marc Loving each scored 20 points to lead six Ohio State players in double-figures. Loving added 14 rebounds. C.J. Jackson had six points and seven assists.

Sophomore guard JaQuan Lyle went scoreless in the first half, but finished with 12 points and six assists. Ohio State had 22 assists on 45 made field goals, and out-rebounded Marshall 61-32.

"Offense was something we really wanted to polish up on," Loving said. "Throughout the season so far, we really created our identity on the defensive end. Picking up the pace and moving the ball opened up the court today."

What it means

Another nice win. Ohio State didn't just beat Duke, but this was the most impressive the Buckeyes have looked. It came against a decent team, and it came at a good time with the next game on the schedule being a road test next Wednesday night at No. 7 Virginia.

Simply carrying momentum from game-to-game was a struggle for the Buckeyes last season. With an unblemished nonconference record to this point, and some nice wins over Providence and Marshall, this at least feels vastly different than they way last season started.

"I think our guys have great respect for Virginia," Matta said. "A team that we played pretty well last year, but I think from the standpoint of where we are in the season, I like our positioning going into the game. We're going to have to play a heck of a lot better."

Does that guarantee a win over Virginia? Of course not.

But it does mean Ohio State is a different team than the one that was 1-3 when it lost to Virginia a year ago in Columbus to extended a rare nonconference losing streak to four games.

Loving reaches 1,000

Loving needed six points coming into to Friday night to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career. He stepped into a 3-pointer midway through the first half to become the 53rd Buckeye to reach the milestone.

"I think that's a tremendous feat at this university," Matta said. "Marc has kinda kicked it into gear a little bit. I hope he can continue to not just make shots, but he's playing better defense and that's a good thing for us."

After struggling through the first four games of the season with foul trouble and a lack of production, Loving has scored 19 and 20 points in the last two games and notched his first double-double of the season on Friday night.

Stitches for Potter

Freshman center Micah Potter, who made his sixth consecutive start on Friday, left early in the game to get three stitches in a cut under his right eye. He returned later in the half. Potter finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds in 21 minutes.

Bates-Diop sits again

Buckeyes junior forward Keita Bates-Diop missed his third straight game with an ankle sprain. He suffered the injury last week in a win over Providence, and is officially day-to-day.

Matta said he hopes to get Bates-Diop back to practice in the lead up to Virginia.

What's next?

Ohio State is back on the road for its stiffest test of the nonconference slate next Wednesday when it plays No. 7 Virginia in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. Tip from Charlottesville, Va., is set for 9 p.m. on ESPN2.

Kevin Love tossed one of his signature full-court "touchdown" passes to LeBron James in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers, who will be heading to Columbus on Saturday afternoon for Ohio State's college football showdown against Michigan, didn't want to wait until then to get their football fix. 

During the third quarter of Cleveland's rout against the Dallas Mavericks, Kevin Love tossed one of his signature full-court "touchdown" passes to LeBron James.

James, wearing scarlet and grey sneakers in support of the Buckeyes, hauled in the pass and dunked as the crowd went crazy. 

You can never have too many touchdowns. #DefendTheLand pic.twitter.com/tfOr1102RE

-- Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 26, 2016

Both James and Love held up the touchdown signal. It's the NBA. Not the NFL. Therefore, they didn't get flagged for a synchronized celebration.

Michigan and Ohio State kick off Saturday at noon at Ohio Stadium. Here's a preview with everything you need to know for this year's edition of "The Game." Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State and Michigan renew their football rivalry Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The game kicks off at noon and will shown on ABC. ESPN will air its weekly GameDay program for five hours before The Game, starting at 7 a.m, live from campus.

There's a lot to know heading into The Game, and we've got you covered. Here is a summary of everything you need to know, with all the cleveland.com coverage from the last two weeks:

PREDICTIONS

5 reasons Ohio State will win 

5 reasons Michigan will win 

Doug Lesmerises' pick

Bill Landis' pick

Ari Wasserman's pick

Bill Livingston's pick

Are national experts picking OSU or Michigan?

PLAYER MATCHUPS

Curtis Samuel vs. Jabrill Peppers

Nick Bosa vs. Rashan Gary

Mike Weber vs. De'Veon Smith

Gareon Conley vs. Jourdan Lewis

Marcus Baugh vs. Jake Butt

ANALYSIS AND PREVIEWS

Could Jabril Peppers beat the Buckeyes but save the Browns?

Peppers and the best 24 OSU opponents of the last decade

Cavs are flying to Columbus for The Game

OSU's 11 star underclassmen who may play their last home game

Could fewer Ohioans on both sides ever change the rivalry?

Washington St. can take some guesswork out of OSU's playoff path

Michigan the best team to visit Columbus in a decade

Which team is more talented on paper?

What time and channel is The Game on?

OSU depth chart

OSU players talking about the matchup

Have Wolverines closed the talent gap?

5 Michigan plays that OSU would never run

5 OSU plays that Michigan would never run

Podcast: Why this year's game could change the rivalry

Does the playoff committee see OSU and PSU as comparable?

Curtis Samuel a decoy?

Why Gareon Conley could be OSU's most important player

5 questions that could decide the game

RECRUITING

OSU vs. Michigan: Which players are being pursued by both schools?

Which blue-chip OSU prospects are visiting

Will Sam Johnson, from Michigan, be OSU's next great QB?

How Michigan's rise is changing OSU's chances at Detroit's Cass Tech

Jim Harbaugh's absence at Ann Arbor Pioneer helped OSU land a recruit

FEATURES

An appreciation of OSU center Pat Elflein

Harbaugh, Meyer love The Game, and that's enough

Remember, this was supposed to be Senior Day for Elliott, Bosa too

How Detroit native Mike Weber found a home at MSU

How OSU kept Jamarco Jones and built an OL mainstay

FANS, FUN AND TRADITION

2006: The day the Big Ten owned college football

9 moments you shouldn't forget from the 2006 game

Ohio Gov. John Kasich's annual proclamation cracks on Harbaugh

'It must be The Shoe'

What did Michigan, OSU have to be thankful for?

The Shoe will be shaking: Seismographs will measure how much

Buckeyes will wear special LeBron shoes

Remembering why Mirror Lake tradition is gone

See the Buckeyes' official game video

Where ESPN GameDay will be set up

What if Michigan wiped away the O's for this clash?

The Grand Rapids Griffins scored five goals in the third period to defeat the Cleveland Monsters, 5-3.

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan -- The Grand Rapids Griffins rallied with a team-record five goals in the third period to defeat the Cleveland Monsters, 5-3, in an American Hockey League game at Van Andel Arena on Friday.

Tomas Nosek scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound of a Ben Street shot with the Griffins on a power play. Nosek recovered the bouncing puck and went between the pads of Anton Forsberg for a 4-3 lead with 2:42 remaining.

Mitch Callahan then added an empty netter with 57 seconds remaining.

The Monsters fell to 6-9-1-1, while Grand Rapids is now 10-6-0-0.

• Game summary
• AHL standings

After a scoreless first period, the Monsters exploded for three goals in the second, the last two by Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Brett Gallant got them on the board with his first goal of the season at 7:20. Bjorkstrand scored at 14:12 off an assist from Jordan Maletta, then got his second at 17:24, assisted by Sonny Milano.

Brian Lashoff got Grand Rapids on the board at 3:08 of the third period and less than two minutes later Martin Frk made it 3-2 with his fifth goal of the season.

The Griffins then tied it at 10:28 on a power-play goal by Kyle Criscuolo, setting the stage for the late-game heroics.

Anton Forsberg stopped 27 of 32 shots to fall to 5-5-1. The Griffins' Eddie Pasquale stopped 18 of just 21 Monsters shots.

On the move: The NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets recalled rookie center Justin Scott for the first time in his professional career. Scott signed with Columbus as a free agent in April and has 3-3-6 with eight penalty minutes and a -5 rating to his credit in 16 appearances for the Monsters this season. The Blue Jackets put left wing Matt Calvert on the injured list Friday with an upper body injury.

Up next: The Monsters and Griffins will play the middle game of their three-pack Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Game time is 7. ... The two teams return to Grand Rapids on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ... The Monsters will be home to the Milwaukee Admirals next Friday and Saturday.

Western Michigan earned a spot in the MAC Championship game by beating Toledo on Friday, 55-35, to clinch the West Division title.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Corey Davis and No. 14 Western Michigan wrapped up an undefeated regular season in style, routing Toledo 55-35 on Friday night to secure a berth next week in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

Davis became the career FBS leader in yards receiving, and the Broncos (12-0, 8-0, No. 21 CFP) never trailed, scoring a defensive touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and eventually breaking it open in the third quarter. WMU will face Ohio in the MAC title game in Detroit next Friday night, and it's looking more and more like the Broncos will be playing for a spot in a major bowl.

Kareem Hunt ran for 200 yards and a touchdown for Toledo, but there was only so much he could do after the Rockets (9-3, 6-2) fell way behind in the second half.

WMU went 1-11 in 2013 in coach P.J. Fleck's first season, but he has turned the Broncos into a force. Zach Terrell went 19 of 25 for 196 yards and three touchdowns, and Davis caught eight passes for 81 yards and a TD. Davis broke the career mark of 5,005 yards receiving set by Trevor Insley of Nevada from 1996-99.

Jamauri Bogan also had a big day for WMU, rushing for 198 yards and a TD.

Toledo received the opening kickoff, but Logan Woodside's pass on the first play from scrimmage was intercepted by Asantay Brown, whose 21-yard return gave the Broncos a 7-0 lead.

WMU led 24-14 at halftime, then outscored the Rockets 21-0 in the third quarter.

THE TAKEAWAY

Toledo: The Rockets have been one of the MAC's most consistently solid teams in recent years, but they haven't made the league title game since 2004. Northern Illinois represented the West Division the past six years, and this season WMU has been dominant, leaving Toledo again on the outside looking in.

WMU: If there was any pressure on the Broncos because of their undefeated record, it didn't show Friday. Against a tough opponent, WMU was simply terrific, winning by the kind of one-sided score that could certainly catch the attention of the playoff committee. The Broncos could go to a New Year's Six bowl if they end up as the top league champion from the Group of Five conferences.

UP NEXT

Toledo: The Rockets will certainly have a chance to go to a bowl. Hunt is now 24 yards shy of the school's career rushing record. Chester Taylor holds the mark of 4,849 yards.

WMU: Somebody is going to win the MAC for the first time in quite a while. The Broncos haven't done it since 1988, and Ohio's last conference title was back in 1968.

Perry never rallied from an early deficit and could not keep up with Steubenville in their Division IV state semifinal.

BOARDMAN, Ohio — Perry did not have much of an answer for Steubenville’s physical offense as the Pirates fell, 51-27, on Friday in the Division IV football state semifinals at Boardman.

Perry (13-1) struggled to hold up against Steubenville’s strong offensive line and six of the Big Red’s seven touchdowns came on the ground.

“They were very physical and we had a hard time trying to slow them down,” Perry coach Matt Rosati said. “They’ve got a lot of very good football players. If we had any type of weakness, they found it.”

Steubenville (13-1) never trailed after Jacob Bernard’s 1-yard touchdown run less than three minutes into the game.

Led by junior QB Kolston Brewster, Perry and its no-huddle offense did its best to stay close with the Big Red throughout the first half. He threw for 173 yards and a touchdown in the first half after coming into Friday’s game with more than 900 yards passing in the playoffs.

“Kolston did a tremendous job,” Rosati said. “He played really, really well the entire year. Our receiving corps is outstanding. But Kolston had a great year and we’re looking big things from him for next year as well.”

Senior Andy Foley had two touchdowns, including 25-yard touchdown late in the first quarter to get the Pirates on the board. Josh Petruccelli added a rushing touchdown in the second quarter, keeping Perry within one possession.

Andy Foley with a leaping 25-yard TD catch puts Perry on the board. Pirates trail, 13-7, 4:31 1Q. #neovarsity #fridayhuddle pic.twitter.com/uNIt7oemZl

— Tim Bielik (@bielik_tim) November 26, 2016

But Steubenville had too much offense, scoring the next 30 consecutive points to turn a 21-13 lead early in the second quarter into a 51-13 edge at the end of the third quarter. Jalen McGhee had three touchdowns to lead the Big Red offense on the ground and QB Javon Davis made several big plays through the air against the Perry secondary.

“That was the story of the night. If we could’ve gotten some stops, I thought offensively, we would counter,” Rosati said. “I don’t think we played that poorly offensively.”

The loss ends the best season in Perry history which saw the Pirates win their first 13 games and reach the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

Perry has only eight seniors on its roster. Among them are Petruccelli and Foley who each played major roles on both sides of the football, especially in the secondary where they combined for 18 interceptions this season.

“They’ll be remembered for that forever,” Rosati said about his senior class. “Hats off to them. That’s something no one can take away from them.”

Josh Petruccelli scores on an 8-yard run. Pirates' deficit down to 21-13, 9:09 2Q. #neovarsity #fridayhuddle pic.twitter.com/plEABapQ3U

— Tim Bielik (@bielik_tim) November 26, 2016

Steubenville will face Columbus Bishop Hartley (11-2) in the Division IV state championship game on Friday. The game is a rematch of last year’s title game, which Hartley won, 31-28.