How do we know? Because the over/unders for NFL win totals have hit the board at the Las Vegas Hilton, the world's largest sports book, and the Broncos are listed at 7.5.

That's it. Mike Shanahan was shown the door after an 8-8 season, and Vegas doesn't envision things getting any better in his absence. And just so you know ? the man responsible for that number is Hilton sports-book director Jay Kornegay, a Denver native who bleeds orange and blue.

"The number not only represents the changes they made, but their schedule is just plain brutal," Kornegay said. "From Week 4 through Week 12, it's very ugly, unless you're a Chargers fan. They might even lose during that bye week.

"They better get off to a fast start or fans will be calling for Carmelo & Co. by early October. Never thought I'd say that." ?

So much for the Bronx. The Nuggets opened at 30-1 at the Hilton to win the NBA championship. The odds moved as high as 75-1 before dropping in recent days to as low as 9-1. Which reminds me. Buddy o' mine has a $100 ticket on the Melo Fellows at 30-1. I know because he told me during Thursday night's candlelight vigil at his house. ?

Denver vs. Orlando in the Finals? Just a thought, Mrs. Stern, but you might want to start hiding the sharp objects. ?

Even if you were around for the glory days of the Joe Kopicki Era, you'd have to admit that Game 2 was the greatest 48 minutes in Nuggets history. Or should I say the grittiest? ?

And to think, I all but flipped over to HGTV after seeing Dick Bavetta on the court. Not that, you know, officials ever impact how NBA playoff games unfold. ?

Since it's a free country and all, I'd hereby like to change my prediction of Lakers in seven. At the risk of having Vince McMahon whack my kneecaps, make it Nuggets , Ink. over Lakers, Inc. in six. ?

Back in the day, when we ate blackberries instead of talked into them, there was Bucky Dent and Jim Leyritz and Timmie Smith. Now comes Linas Kleiza, emerging out of nowhere to carry his team on the big stage. Objective, shmobjective, I'm happy for the kid. ?

What were the odds, by the way, that the Nuggets' Game 2 hero would be the guy with no tats? ?

Let the record show that Our Town's own Brad Lidge has landed firmly back on earth after last year's otherworldly season. Numbers? You want numbers? He had a buck-95 ERA and .198 batting average allowed in '08. This year? As of Thursday night, he was at 7.89 and .312. ?

David Ortiz has lost his home run stroke, but not his sense of humor. Big Papi to Boston reporters after his first jack of the season, "I was about to hit right-handed." ?

Next stop on the Don't Call Me Big Floppy Tour? Catching Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo, who has one more homer than Ortiz in 120-plus fewer at-bats. ?

News: Garrett Atkins, straining his eyes to see the Mendoza Line. Views: Football may be the most violent game, but make no doubt, baseball is the cruelest. ?

They need to take more pitches. They need to catch the ball and throw strikes and hold on runners and yada, yada, yada. Either that or the Rox, sans Jeff Francis, Brian Fuentes, Taylor Buchholz and Matt Holliday, don't have enough left to win. ?

The Yogi Berra Museum has opened in New Jersey. Let me guess. Nobody goes there because it's too crowded. ...

Devin Hester on Jay Cutler after Jay-C's first day of minicamping in Chicago, "His athleticism, the way he moves ? it's like he's been playing quarterback since he was 3 years old." Really, he isn't 3 anymore? Wouldn't have known. ?

They say it's your birthday: Dick Monfort's buddy, Buck Showalter (53); cornerback/scapegoat Dr? Bly (32 on Friday); Cavs Witness Drew Carey (51), and the greatest name in toy-department history, ex-Browns wideout Fair Hooker (62 on Friday). ------------------------------------------------------------------- Five fearless predictions

It's on now. The Nuggets have officially turned the Western Conference finals into compelling theater. Here are five predictions of what will go down as the series progresses:

5. Just to show that we have A-listers, too, Jack Nicholson's cousin's neighbor's barber will show up at courtside for Game 3.

4. Charles Barkley will offer a scouting report on Sasha Vujacic: "Dude, if you're gonna play in this league, you've got to shoot my weight."

3. Shaq will blow into town to give Chauncey Billups, below, a quickie lesson on free-throw shooting.

2. Pau Gasol and Kenyon Martin will give WWE fans their money's worth on Monday night.

1. Nene, in an effort to get a call from the officials, will have the name ``Bryant'' sewn on the back of his jersey. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pigskin preview

The Las Vegas Hilton has posted its 2009 NFL win total over/unders. Here's a look at where some the league's 32 teams rank in the eyes of the wise guys, with bettors guessing on whether a team will win more games, or fewer, than the posted totals.

AFC WEST

Chargers....9.5

Broncos....7.5

Chiefs....6

Raiders....5.5

NFL OVERALL

10 or more

Patriots....11.5

Steelers....10.5

Colts, Giants....10

Six or fewer

Bengals, Chiefs....6

Raiders, Rams....5.5

Lions....5