etched their lead to 21-7 after an Isaiah McKenzie touchdown catch from Jacob Eason. That score held until less than two minutes left, when South Carolinas Rico Dowdle punched it in from one yard

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez will be suspended today, likely through the 2014 season, as part of Major League Baseballs latest drug investigation but can play while he appeals, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. Major League Baseball informed the New York Yankees on Sunday that A-Rod will be suspended for his links to a clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statement was authorized. The Yankees werent told the exact length of the suspension, though they were under the impression it will be through the 2014 season, the person said. The Yankees star could get a shorter penalty if he agrees to give up the right to file a grievance and force the case before an arbitrator, the person added. A suspension from Monday through 2014 would add to 214 games, and an unsuccessful appeal could stretch serving the penalty into 2015. In the era before players and owners agreed to a drug plan in late 2002, arbitrators often shortened drug suspensions -- in the case of Yankees pitcher Steve Howe, his penalty was cut from a lifetime ban to 119 days. MLB planned an announcement for noon EDT Monday, a second person familiar with the deliberations said, also on condition of anonymity. Rodriguez is the most famous player linked to the now-closed Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic in Florida, and the Yankees expect him to be charged with interfering with MLBs investigation, resulting in a harsher penalty than the other 13 players facing discipline. Barring an agreement, Rodriguezs appeal would be heard by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. Adding to the drama: The 38-year-old Rodriguez, a three-time AL MVP, was due to return to the major leagues Monday night when the Yankees play at Chicago White Sox, his first big league appearance since hip surgery in January. "Hes in there, and Im going to play him," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Sunday after New Yorks 6-3 loss at San Diego. Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson was excited A-Rod could play during an appeal. "I want him back with us. This is arguably one of the best hitters of all-time," he said. "Having him in the lineup is obviously going to be very positive for us." New York is a season-high 9 1/2 games out of first place in the AL East and 4 1/2 out in the race for the second wild-card spot. "Were going to be happy to see him back in the lineup, especially the way weve been playing," second baseman Robinson Cano said. "He can come up and help us win some games." All-Stars Nelson Cruz of Texas, Jhonny Peralta of Detroit and Everth Cabrera of San Diego were among those who could get 50-game suspensions from the probe, sparked in January when Miami New Times published documents linking many players to the closed clinic in Coral Gables, Fla. Many players were expected to agree to penalties and start serving them immediately, but an appeal by a first-offender under the drug agreement would postpone his suspension until after a decision by an arbitrator. Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun, the 2011 NL MVP, agreed July 22 to a 65-game ban through the rest of the 2013 season for his role with Biogenesis. Braun was given a 50-game suspension for elevated testosterone that was overturned last year by arbitrator Shyam Das because of issues with the handing of the urine sample, Since spring training, the union has said it will consider stiffer penalties starting in 2014. "The home runs that are hit because a guys on performance-enhancing substances, those ruin somebodys ERA, which ruins their arbitration case, which ruins their salary," Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson said. "So its a whole domino effect." Rodriguezs return from hip surgery was slowed by a quadriceps injury. He completed his second minor league injury rehabilitation assignment on Saturday night, a two-day stay at Double-A Trenton. Rodriguez walked in all four plate appearances, a day after hitting a two-run homer. Following Friday nights game, Rodriguez all but said he thought MLB and the Yankees were conspiring to keep him from getting back to the big leagues. "There is more than one party that benefits from me not ever stepping back on the field. And thats not my teammates and its not the Yankee fans," said, adding: "When all this stuff is going on in the background and people are finding creative ways to cancel your contract and stuff like that, I think thats concerning for me." He last played in October, going 3 for 25 (.120) with no RBIs in the playoffs. Rodriguez is owed $8,568,306 of his $28 million salary from Monday through the rest of the season and $86 million for the final four years of his contract with the Yankees. Girardi didnt think A-Rods arrival would create more turmoil than the Yankees already are used to. "I dont suspect itll be awkward. Most of these guys know him as a teammate and have laughed a lot with Alex and been around Alex a lot," he said. "I think itll be business as usual. Im sure there will be more media there, obviously, tomorrow, but I think thats probably more for Alex to deal with than the rest of the guys. I dont think itll be a big deal." Lawyers involved in the drug cases have been trying to reach agreements that would avoid grievances. Deal or no deal, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig was prepared to announce discipline. Peralta didnt think the possibility of a suspension made it harder to focus on the field. "Nothing to worry about," he said. "Play the game how I play every day, and try to enjoy every day." Asked what action he would take if penalized, Cruz said: "I havent decided what Im going to do." There have been 43 suspensions under the major league drug agreement since testing with penalties for first offences started in 2005. The longest penalty served has been a 100-game suspension by San Francisco pitcher Guillermo Mota for a positive test for Clenbuterol, his second drug offence. In addition, Tampa Bay outfielder Manny Ramirez retired two years ago rather than face a 100-game suspension. When he decided to return for 2012 the penalty was cut to 50 games because he already had sat out almost an entire season. Colorado catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was suspended for 100 games in September 2011, but the penalty was rescinded the following May because of handling issues similar to the ones involving Brauns urine sample. Emmanuel Mudiay Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Wholesale Knicks Jerseys . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. http://www.cheapknicksjerseyschina.com/kristaps-porzingis-jersey/ . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Authentic Knicks Jerseys . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Womens Knicks Jerseys . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Rob Nelson of ESPN Stats & Information revisits the worst bad beats from the weekends gambling action.?Closing lines are courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, and pick percentages are via Wunderdog Sports.ThursdayTemple Owls at Memphis TigersClosing over/under:?57.5It was a tale of two halves in Memphis on Thursday night. Those on the under had to love the ugly first half that Temple led 13-3, but the second half was a different story.Memphis outscored the Owls 17-0 in the third quarter to take a 20-13 lead. That score held until less than nine minutes left in the game. Bettors on the under had a nice 24.5-point cushion, but then touchdowns started coming left and right. Within a 4 minute and 25 second span, each team scored two touchdowns -- and just like that, it was over for those on the under.Final score:?Memphis 34, Temple 27 (Game goes over)SaturdayBowling Green Falcons at Ohio BobcatsClosing line:?Ohio -12An overwhelming 81 percent of the action was on Ohio to cover against Bowling Green. So for those who took the Bobcats, at least know you werent alone on the wrong side of this bad beat.Ohio led 30-10 late in third quarter before Bowling Greens Teo Redding caught a 13-yard touchdown from James Morgan to cut the deficit to 13. That score held until less than two minutes remained in the game. Bowling Green faced a fourth-and-27 from the Ohio 37-yard line. A stop would have meant those on the Bobcats could cash their tickets. But those tickets would be ripped up when?Scott Miller caught a Hail Mary pass that deflected off a group of players in the end zone and scored for the Falcons.Final score: Ohio 30, Bowling Green 24 (Bowling Green covers)Colorado Buffaloes at USC TrojansClosing line:?USC -5Colorado was playing its first game as a ranked team since 2005, but closed as a 5-point underdog at USC, who entered with a sub-.500 record. The Trojans dominated for stretches in the game, out-gaining the Buffaloes by 168 yards. But four USC turnovers -- including three fumbles in Colorado territory -- kept the margin close.Trailing 21-14 with less than five minutes left, Colorado elected to kick a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-nine from the USC 24-yard line, cutting the deficit to four. The outcome of the game and the spread would come down to one play on USCs next possession.On third-and-7 from the Collorado 39-yard line, Sam Darnold hooked up with JuJu Smith-Schuster in what looked like a walk-in touchdown -- but, unfortunately for the 48 percent of bettors on USC, Smith-Schuster purposely went down instead of scoring the touchdown, and the Trojans ran out the clock.ddddddddddddFinal score:?USC 21, Colorado 17 (Colorado covers)Washington State Cougars at Stanford CardinalClosing over/under:?56.5This was yet another Pac-12 After Dark game that kept bettors up late into the night. The actual game was far from competitive, as Washington State led from start to finish, improving to 9-1 against the spread, including its sixth outright win as an underdog since the start of last season.The Cougars led 14-3 at halftime, as the 25 percent who took the under just needed to avoid a 40-point second half. While Stanfords offense couldnt get going, Washington State continued to move up and down the field and led 42-10 late.On the final drive of the game, the Cardinal finally showed some life offensively and drove down to the Cougars one-yard line. In what was the final play of the game, Stanford scored its only offensive touchdown when Ryan Burns connected with JJ Arcega-Whiteside, crushing those who took the under.Final score:?Washington State 42, Stanford 16 (Game goes over)SundayGeorgia Bulldogs at South Carolina GamecocksClosing over/under:?41.5The 54 percent of bettors who took the under in this rare Sunday college football game probably wish they had used that money on some NFL action.The teams combined for 21 points in the first three quarters, as Georgia led 14-7 entering the fourth. Just a few minutes into the final quarter, the Bulldogs stretched their lead to 21-7 after an Isaiah McKenzie touchdown catch from Jacob Eason. That score held until less than two minutes left, when South Carolinas Rico Dowdle punched it in from one yard out to make the score 21-14.At this point, all those on the under needed was for Georgia to recover the onside kick and run out the clock. While the Bulldogs recovered it, Terry Godwin did more than that, as he returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. Rodrigo Blakenships PAT pushed the total over by half a point.Final score:?Georgia 28, South Carolina 14 (Game goes over) ' ' '