by Big Al Staff
Thursday, Dec 17, 2020The Thursday sports card features the last NFL Thursday night game for the 2020 season, along with the final matches in the English Premier League's midweek schedule and another afternoon and evening slate in college basketball.
The college basketball tips off at 2 PM ET, with Southern Illinois hosting North Dakota as a 7-point favorite with the total set at 135 (all odds from BetOnline).
Three games are on national television for the Thursday college basketball card.
Kansas travels to Texas Tech for a 7 PM ET tip-off on ESPN in the opening Big 12 contest for both teams. The Jayhawks have rebounded from losing to Gonzaga by a 102-90 score in their opening game to win six straight games. They last played on Friday when they defeated Nebraska-Omaha by a 95-50 score as a 29.5-point favorite. Kansas ranks fifth in the nation in the Associated Press poll this week.
Texas Tech is ranked 14th in the AP poll after winning four straight games to raise their record to a 6-1 mark. The Red Raiders come off a 77-57 victory against Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday as a 27-point favorite. Their lone loss was a 64-53 setback to Houston. Texas Tech is a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 133.
Creighton visits St. John’s for a game at 7 PM ET on FS1. The Bluejays are ranked ninth in the AP poll despite losing two of their last three games. Creighton was upset at home in their game against Marquette on Monday by an 89-84 score as an 8-point favorite. They are 4-2 so far this season.
St. John’s has lost two games in a row after their 97-94 setback at Georgetown on Sunday. The Red Storm return home with a 5-3 record on the season after playing their last two games on the road. Creighton is a 7-point road favorite with the total at 160.5.
The nightcap on FS1 at 9 PM ET features Seton Hall playing at Marquette. The Pirates have won three games in a row with their 77-68 win over St. John’s on Friday as a 6-point favorite. Seton Hall brings their 4-3 record to Milwaukee to face a Golden Eagles’ team that has won three of their last four games.
Marquette raised their record to a 5-2 mark on Monday with their 89-84 upset win at Creighton as an 8-point underdog. The Golden Eagles are a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.
Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches on Thursday that will be on the NBC Sports Network. At 1 PM ET, Aston Villa hosts Burnley as a -0.75 goal line favorite with the total at 2.5. At 3 PM ET, Manchester United visits Sheffield United as a -1.25 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5.
The last Thursday night game in the NFL season involves a clash between AFC West rivals with one team still fighting for the playoffs.
Las Vegas has lost three of their last four games but remains alive in the AFC playoff hunt. With their 7-6 record, the Raiders are in ninth place in the AFC standings behind Miami and Baltimore with 8-5 records.
Las Vegas comes off a 44-27 upset loss at home to Indianapolis last week as a 2.5-point favorite. The Raiders were held back by a -3 net turnover margin with quarterback Derek Carr throwing two interceptions while fumbling another three times. Carr completed 31 of 45 passes for 316 yards, but his turnovers continue to hurt his team. He has 11 fumbles on the season, along with seven interceptions. These mistakes threaten to overshadow his 68.2% completion percentage that has resulted in 3343 passing yards with 27 touchdown passes.
Los Angeles is playing out the string with a 4-9 record, but they did win for the third time in ten contests decided by one scoring possession last week. The Chargers pulled out a 20-17 win at home over Atlanta as a 1-point favorite. Fourth-year head coach Anthony Lynn continues to face scrutiny with clock management and special teams.
Las Vegas needs to win this game to maintain their playoff hopes while the Chargers are relegated to the spoiler role and perhaps salvaging Lynn’s job for next season. The Raiders are a 3-point favorite with the total set at 53.5. NBC has the broadcast with the kickoff shortly after 8:20 PM ET.
The college basketball tips off at 2 PM ET, with Southern Illinois hosting North Dakota as a 7-point favorite with the total set at 135 (all odds from BetOnline).
Three games are on national television for the Thursday college basketball card.
Kansas travels to Texas Tech for a 7 PM ET tip-off on ESPN in the opening Big 12 contest for both teams. The Jayhawks have rebounded from losing to Gonzaga by a 102-90 score in their opening game to win six straight games. They last played on Friday when they defeated Nebraska-Omaha by a 95-50 score as a 29.5-point favorite. Kansas ranks fifth in the nation in the Associated Press poll this week.
Texas Tech is ranked 14th in the AP poll after winning four straight games to raise their record to a 6-1 mark. The Red Raiders come off a 77-57 victory against Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday as a 27-point favorite. Their lone loss was a 64-53 setback to Houston. Texas Tech is a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 133.
Creighton visits St. John’s for a game at 7 PM ET on FS1. The Bluejays are ranked ninth in the AP poll despite losing two of their last three games. Creighton was upset at home in their game against Marquette on Monday by an 89-84 score as an 8-point favorite. They are 4-2 so far this season.
St. John’s has lost two games in a row after their 97-94 setback at Georgetown on Sunday. The Red Storm return home with a 5-3 record on the season after playing their last two games on the road. Creighton is a 7-point road favorite with the total at 160.5.
The nightcap on FS1 at 9 PM ET features Seton Hall playing at Marquette. The Pirates have won three games in a row with their 77-68 win over St. John’s on Friday as a 6-point favorite. Seton Hall brings their 4-3 record to Milwaukee to face a Golden Eagles’ team that has won three of their last four games.
Marquette raised their record to a 5-2 mark on Monday with their 89-84 upset win at Creighton as an 8-point underdog. The Golden Eagles are a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 145.
Matchweek 13 in the English Premier League concludes with two matches on Thursday that will be on the NBC Sports Network. At 1 PM ET, Aston Villa hosts Burnley as a -0.75 goal line favorite with the total at 2.5. At 3 PM ET, Manchester United visits Sheffield United as a -1.25 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5.
The last Thursday night game in the NFL season involves a clash between AFC West rivals with one team still fighting for the playoffs.
Las Vegas has lost three of their last four games but remains alive in the AFC playoff hunt. With their 7-6 record, the Raiders are in ninth place in the AFC standings behind Miami and Baltimore with 8-5 records.
Las Vegas comes off a 44-27 upset loss at home to Indianapolis last week as a 2.5-point favorite. The Raiders were held back by a -3 net turnover margin with quarterback Derek Carr throwing two interceptions while fumbling another three times. Carr completed 31 of 45 passes for 316 yards, but his turnovers continue to hurt his team. He has 11 fumbles on the season, along with seven interceptions. These mistakes threaten to overshadow his 68.2% completion percentage that has resulted in 3343 passing yards with 27 touchdown passes.
Los Angeles is playing out the string with a 4-9 record, but they did win for the third time in ten contests decided by one scoring possession last week. The Chargers pulled out a 20-17 win at home over Atlanta as a 1-point favorite. Fourth-year head coach Anthony Lynn continues to face scrutiny with clock management and special teams.
Las Vegas needs to win this game to maintain their playoff hopes while the Chargers are relegated to the spoiler role and perhaps salvaging Lynn’s job for next season. The Raiders are a 3-point favorite with the total set at 53.5. NBC has the broadcast with the kickoff shortly after 8:20 PM ET.
