automaker said in a statement confirming the layoffs

Cincinnati Playoff Predictions Pittsburgh over Cincinnati San Diego over Denver San Diego over New England Pittsburgh over Indianapolis San Diego over Pittsburgh AFC Champion: San Diego Chargers NFC East: New York Giants (10-6), Dallas (10-6), Philadelphia (9-7), Washington (3-13) West: Arizona (11-5), San Francisco (7-9), Seattle (6-10), St. Louis (2-14) North: Minnesota (12-4), Chicago (8-8), Green Bay (8-8), Detroit (2-14) South: New Orleans (13-3), Atlanta (10-6), Carolina (9-7), Tampa Bay (1-15) Playoff Seeds 1 New Orleans 2 Minnesota 3 Arizona 4 New York Giants 5 Dallas 6. Atlanta Playoff Predictions Atlanta over Arizona NY Giants over Dallas New Orleans over Atlanta Minnesota over NY Giants Minnesota over New Orleans NFC Champion: Minnesota Super Bowl: San Diego 27, Minnesota 23 (MVP: Rivers). SAO PAULO (Reuters) - General Motors Corp said on Monday it cut 744 jobs at one of its plants in Brazil to adjust for slumping demand, prompting the local metalworkers union to threaten to strike.GM is one of several automakers in Brazil that are either placing factory workers on paid leave or cutting jobs in the face of an economic slowdown and credit crunch that have hit the auto industry especially hard.The job cuts will take place at GM's plant in Sao Jose dos Campos, where it employs about 8,900 workers and produces the Corsa subcompact model, the Meriva and Zafira minivans and the Montana pickup truck."As a result of shrinking industrial activity in general, particularly in the automotive industry, forecasts for vehicle sales in the domestic market for the first quarter of 2009 are being revised," the U.S.

automaker said in a statement confirming the layoffs.The local metalworkers union said it would hold an assembly on Tuesday to vote on whether to strike in protest."Striking against layoffs is a necessity. It's a tool that we intend to use," Luiz Carlos Prates, the union's secretary-general, told a news conference that was transmitted via Web cast.Another union leader, Vivaldo Moreira Araujo, was less categorical. "It could be a strike but it could also be a protest march."GM's vehicle sales fell 1.3 percent in December from November to 29,310 units, contrasting with the 9.4 percent rise in sales for Brazil's automobile industry as a whole.The country's automakers association said last week that vehicle output plunged 47.1 percent in December from November as companies idled factories to cope with a drop in demand.(Reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr and Vanessa Stelzer; Writing by Todd Benson; Editing by Tim Dobbyn). Evan Turner once again impressed the Buckeye faithful in a 72-44 rout of James Madison last night in Columbus. Turner had 24 points and 17 rebounds, leading the Buckeyes in both categories. David Lighty had 14 points and William Buford added 12 points as the Buckeyes pulled away late in the first half. The Buckeyes shot 45 percent from the field, but cooled off considerably from their last performance behind the arc managing a measly 23 percent. Dallas Lauderdale made his season debut with a lackluster performance of four rebounds, two blocks, and two points.

The Buckeye big men combined to add only seven points and eight rebounds in a game they should have dominated. Pierre Curtis led the Dukes with nine points and eight rebounds. The Dukes had an abysmal shooting performance going 30 percent from the field and a costly 18 percent from behind the arc. The last meeting between the two schools was won by UNC 66-55 on November 28, 2007.. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc, which is slashing 15,000 jobs, halving capital spending and selling four businesses, on Monday reported a fourth-quarter loss as the global economic crisis sent revenue plummeting on lower metal prices.