Big Al's Daily Angle: EPL, NHL, NBA, NFL and NCAA Basketball Preview

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jan 16, 2021
The Saturday card features a busy day of sports headlined by the opening two NFL divisional playoff games. A full slate of college basketball complements action in the NBA, NHL, and the English Premier League.

The NFL playoffs kick off today at 4:35 PM ET with Green Bay hosting the LA Rams. The Packers come off a bye week after defeating Chicago to end the regular season by a 35-16 score as a 4.5-point favorite. The Rams upset Seattle on the road last week, 30-20, as a 3-point underdog. Green Bay is a 4.5-point favorite with the total set at 45.5 (all odds from BetOnline). Fox has the broadcast. 

The NFL nightcap takes place at 8:15 PM ET, with Baltimore traveling to Buffalo. The Ravens have won six games in a row after they defeated Tennessee on the road last week by a 20-13 score as a 3.5-point favorite. The Bills won seven in a row with their 27-24 victory against Indianapolis as a 7-point favorite last Saturday. Buffalo is a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 49.5. The game is on NBC.

Six games are on tap in the NBA. San Antonio hosts Houston at 5:05 PM ET as a 6.5-point favorite, with the total at 216.5 to tip off the card. Portland plays at home against Atlanta as a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235 to close out the schedule. None of the games are on national television.

The first Saturday of the NHL season has ten games. The puck drops at 1 PM ET, with Boston playing at New Jersey as a -185 money line favorite with the total at 5.5. Two games conclude the card at 10 PM ET. Carolina plays at home against Vancouver as a -138 money line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. Anaheim visits Vegas with the Golden Knights priced as a -220 money line favorite with an over/under of 6. 

The college basketball card tips off at noon PM ET with Florida State hosting North Carolina on ESPN as a 4-point favorite with a total of 145.5. Marquette visits St. John’s at noon on FS1 as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 154. Ole Miss plays at home against Georgia at noon on ESPN2 as an 8-point favorite with a total of 145.5.

San Diego State visits Utah State at 1:30 PM ET on the CBS with the Aggies a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 145.5.

At 2 PM ET, Michigan visits Minnesota on ESPN2 as a 6-point road favorite with the total set at 148. Creighton goes on the road to play at Butler on FS1 as an 8-point road favorite with a total of 140. Bucknell hosts Lehigh on the NBC Sports Network as a 4-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5. Auburn plays at home against Kentucky on ESPN as a 2.5-point favorite with the total at 145.

At 4 PM ET, Baylor visits Texas Tech on ESPN as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 138.5. DePaul plays at home against Valparaiso on FS1 as a 9.5-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. Florida visits Mississippi State on ESPN2 in a pick ‘em contest with the total at 136. Furman is at home against East Tennessee State on ESPNU as a 9-point favorite with an over/under of 141.5. 

The CBS Sports Network has UNLV hosting New Mexico at 5:30 PM ET as any 11-point favorite with the total at 141.5. At 6 PM ET, Clemson plays at home against Virginia on ESPN as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 116. Loyola-Illinois is at home against Northern Iowa on ESPN2 laying 10 points as the favorite with the total at 140.5. 

BYU visits San Francisco at 8 PM ET on ESPN as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 143.5. 

At 10 PM ET, Gonzaga plays at Saint Mary’s on ESPN as a 16-point road favorite with the total set at 146.5. Utah hosts California on ESPNU as a 12-point favorite with an over/under of 134.

Matchweek 19 in the English Premier League opens with five matches. Wolverhampton hosts West Bromwich Albion at 7:30 AM ET on the NBC Sports Network. At 10 AM ET, Leeds United plays at home against Brighton and Hove Albion as a -0.25 goal line favorite with the total at 2.75. Chelsea visits Fulham at 12:30 PM ET on NBC as a -1 goal line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5. 

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

© 2024 Al McMordie's BigAl.com. All Rights Reserved.