Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, NHL and NCAAB Previews and Odds - 12/20/2023

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023
The Wednesday sports card features NBA, NHL, and NCAAB action.

The National Basketball Association has ten games on its docket. Four NBA games tip off at 7:10 PM ET. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Utah Jazz as a 7-point favorite, with the total set at 227.5 (all odds from DraftKings). The Indiana Pacers play at home against the Charlotte Hornets as a 10-point favorite with an over/under of 249. The Orlando Magic are at home against the Miami Heat as a 5-point favorite with a total of 219. The Philadelphia 76ers host the Minnesota Timberwolves as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 226.5. 

Two NBA games start at 7:40 PM ET. The New York Knicks travel to Brooklyn to play the Nets as a 1-point road favorite with a total of 233. The Denver Nuggets play in Toronto against the Raptors as a 5-point road favorite with an over/under of 228.5.  

Two NBA games begin at 8:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Lakers are in Chicago to play the Bulls as a 4.5-point road favorite with a total of 224.5. The Houston Rockets play at home against the Atlanta Hawks as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 233.5. 

The Los Angeles Clippers visit Dallas to play the Mavericks at 8:40 PM ET as a 3-point road favorite with a total of 238.5. The Sacramento Kings are at home against the Boston Celtics at 10:10 PM ET as a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5. 

The National Hockey League has three games on its slate. Two NHL games drop the puck at 7:37 PM ET. The Winnipeg Jets host the Detroit Red Wings as a -155 money-line favorite with a total of 6.5. The Washington Capitals play at home against the New York Islanders on TNT as a -125 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5. The Los Angeles Kings are at home against the Seattle Kraken on TNT at 10:07 PM ET as a -175 money-line favorite with a total of 6. 

The college basketball schedule has seven games on national television. Three NCAAB games tip off at 7 PM ET. Connecticut plays at Seton Hall on the CBS Sports Network as an 8-point road favorite with an over/under of 140.5. Duke goes against Baylor on ESPN in the Garden Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, as a 2-point favorite with a total of 154.5. St. John’s hosts Xavier on FS1 as a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 157. 

Northwestern battles Arizona State on ESPN2 at 8:30 PM ET in the Hall of Fame Series at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 136.5. Two more NCAAB games start at 9 PM ET. North Carolina faces Oklahoma on ESPN at 9 PM ET in the Jumpman Invitational at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 155.5. Creighton is at home against Villanova on FS1 as a 7.5-point favorite with a total of 141. Arizona plays Alabama on ESPN at 11 PM ET in the Hall of Fame Series in Phoenix as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 173.5. 

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

© 2025 Al McMordie's BigAl.com. All Rights Reserved.