by Big Al Staff
Thursday, Jan 02, 2025The Thursday New Year’s Day sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.
The college football postseason continues with the two bowl games on ESPN. Notre Dame plays Georgia in the rescheduled Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the final game in the college football playoff quarterfinals on ESPN at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Fighting Irish are on an 11-game winning streak after their 27-17 victory against Indiana as a 6.5-point favorite in the first round of the college football playoffs on December 20th. The Bulldogs are on a four-game winning streak after a 22-19 upset victory against Texas as a 3-point underdog in the SEC championship game on December 7th. Notre Dame is a 1-point favorite with the total set at 45.5 (all odds from DraftKings).
Mississippi battles Duke in the Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Rebels won for the fourth time in their last five games with a 26-14 victory against Mississippi State as a 26-point favorite on November 29th. The Blue Devils are on a three-game winning streak after a 23-17 victory at Wake Forest as a 3.5-point favorite on November 30th. Ole Miss is a 17-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5.
The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics travel to Minnesota to play the Timberwolves on TNT as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 219.5. The Miami Heat host the Indiana Pacers as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 224.
Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 219. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 219.
The Golden State Warriors host the Philadelphia 76ers on TNT at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:40 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 225.
The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers are at home against the Calgary Flames as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins play in New York against the Rangers as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Washington Capitals host the Minnesota Wild as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in New York against the Islanders at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.
Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -290 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars are at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games begin at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Buffalo Sabres as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Utah Hockey Club as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.
Two NHL games begin at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Seattle Kraken are home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Philadelphia Flyers as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the San Jose Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -270 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5.
The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 66 games between Division I opponents. Three NCAAB games are on major national television. Memphis plays at Florida Atlantic on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 160. Purdue is at Minnesota on FS1 at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 136.5. Oregon plays at home against Illinois on FS1 at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 156.5.
The college football postseason continues with the two bowl games on ESPN. Notre Dame plays Georgia in the rescheduled Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the final game in the college football playoff quarterfinals on ESPN at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Fighting Irish are on an 11-game winning streak after their 27-17 victory against Indiana as a 6.5-point favorite in the first round of the college football playoffs on December 20th. The Bulldogs are on a four-game winning streak after a 22-19 upset victory against Texas as a 3-point underdog in the SEC championship game on December 7th. Notre Dame is a 1-point favorite with the total set at 45.5 (all odds from DraftKings).
Mississippi battles Duke in the Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Rebels won for the fourth time in their last five games with a 26-14 victory against Mississippi State as a 26-point favorite on November 29th. The Blue Devils are on a three-game winning streak after a 23-17 victory at Wake Forest as a 3.5-point favorite on November 30th. Ole Miss is a 17-point favorite with an over/under of 51.5.
The National Basketball Association has six games on its docket. Two NBA games tip off at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Boston Celtics travel to Minnesota to play the Timberwolves on TNT as a 4-point road favorite with a total of 219.5. The Miami Heat host the Indiana Pacers as a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 224.
Two NBA games start at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Milwaukee Bucks play at home against the Brooklyn Nets as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 219. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers as a 9.5-point favorite with a total of 219.
The Golden State Warriors host the Philadelphia 76ers on TNT at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 218. The Los Angeles Lakers host the Portland Trail Blazers at 10:40 p.m. ET as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 225.
The National Hockey League has 12 games on its slate. Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Columbus Blue Jackets play at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -118 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Florida Panthers are at home against the Calgary Flames as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Boston Bruins play in New York against the Rangers as a -118 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Washington Capitals host the Minnesota Wild as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in New York against the Islanders at 7:37 p.m. ET as a -115 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 5.5.
Two NHL games start at 8:07 p.m. ET. The Winnipeg Jets play at home against the Anaheim Ducks as a -290 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Dallas Stars are at home against the Ottawa Senators as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. Two more NHL games begin at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Buffalo Sabres as a -225 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Calgary Flames play at home against the Utah Hockey Club as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.
Two NHL games begin at 10:07 p.m. ET. The Seattle Kraken are home against the Vancouver Canucks as a -125 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Vegas Golden Knights host the Philadelphia Flyers as a -205 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the San Jose Sharks at 10:37 p.m. ET as a -270 money-line road favorite with a total of 6.5.
The NCAAB college basketball schedule has 66 games between Division I opponents. Three NCAAB games are on major national television. Memphis plays at Florida Atlantic on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 160. Purdue is at Minnesota on FS1 at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with a total of 136.5. Oregon plays at home against Illinois on FS1 at 10:00 p.m. ET as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 156.5.
