by Big Al Staff
Thursday, Jan 01, 2026The Thursday sports card features NCAAF, NBA, NHL, NCAAB, and EPL action.
The college football bowl season continues with the final three games in the college football playoff quarterfinals on ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPN News. Oregon plays Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, at noon ET. The Ducks are on a seven-game winning streak after their 51-34 win against James Madison as a 20.5-point favorite in the first round of the playoffs on December 20th. The Red Raiders are on a six-game winning streak after their 34-7 victory against BYU as a 13.5-point favorite in the Big 12 championship game on December 6th. Oregon is a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings).
Indiana battles Alabama in the Rose Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Hoosiers extended their unbeaten season to 13 games with their 13-10 upset victory against Ohio State as a 3-point underdog in the Big Ten championship game on December 6th. The Crimson Tide won for the third time in their last four games in a 34-24 upset victory at Oklahoma as a 2.5-point underdog in the first round of the playoffs on December 19th. Indiana is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5.
Georgia takes on Mississippi in the Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs have won nine games in a row after their 28-7 victory against Alabama as a 1-point favorite in the SEC championship game on December 6th. The Rebels advanced to the quarterfinals of the college football playoff with their 41-0 victory against Tulane as a 16.5-point favorite on December 20th. Georgia is a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 55.5.
The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Houston Rockets travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 222.5. The Detroit Pistons host the Miami Heat at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The Philadelphia 76ers play in Dallas against the Mavericks at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5.
The Boston Celtics are on the road against the Sacramento Kings at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Utah Jazz at 10:40 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5.
The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. The Ottawa Senators are home against the Washington Capitals at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line with a total of 5.5. The New York Islanders host the Utah Mammoth as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.
Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Winnipeg Jets as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.
The Dallas Stars visit the Chicago Blackhawks at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Seattle Kraken are home against the Nashville Predators as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.
The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at noon ET with 39 games involving Division I opponents. None of these NCAAB games are on major national television.
Matchweek 19 in the English Premier League concludes with four matches. Two EPL matches start at 12:30 p.m. ET. Crystal Palace hosts Fulham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool plays at home against Leeds United on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.
Two more matches conclude the EPL card at 3:00 p.m. ET. Brentford is home against Tottenham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City plays at Sunderland on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.
The college football bowl season continues with the final three games in the college football playoff quarterfinals on ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPN News. Oregon plays Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, at noon ET. The Ducks are on a seven-game winning streak after their 51-34 win against James Madison as a 20.5-point favorite in the first round of the playoffs on December 20th. The Red Raiders are on a six-game winning streak after their 34-7 victory against BYU as a 13.5-point favorite in the Big 12 championship game on December 6th. Oregon is a 2.5-point favorite with the total set at 50.5 (all odds from DraftKings).
Indiana battles Alabama in the Rose Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Hoosiers extended their unbeaten season to 13 games with their 13-10 upset victory against Ohio State as a 3-point underdog in the Big Ten championship game on December 6th. The Crimson Tide won for the third time in their last four games in a 34-24 upset victory at Oklahoma as a 2.5-point underdog in the first round of the playoffs on December 19th. Indiana is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 48.5.
Georgia takes on Mississippi in the Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs have won nine games in a row after their 28-7 victory against Alabama as a 1-point favorite in the SEC championship game on December 6th. The Rebels advanced to the quarterfinals of the college football playoff with their 41-0 victory against Tulane as a 16.5-point favorite on December 20th. Georgia is a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 55.5.
The National Basketball Association has five games on its docket. The Houston Rockets travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets at 6:10 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 222.5. The Detroit Pistons host the Miami Heat at 7:10 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 239.5. The Philadelphia 76ers play in Dallas against the Mavericks at 8:40 p.m. ET as a 1.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 231.5.
The Boston Celtics are on the road against the Sacramento Kings at 10:10 p.m. ET as a 9.5-point road favorite with a total of 227.5. The Los Angeles Clippers play at home against the Utah Jazz at 10:40 p.m. ET as an 11.5-point favorite with an over/under of 235.5.
The National Hockey League has eight games on its slate. The Ottawa Senators are home against the Washington Capitals at 1:07 p.m. ET as a -142 money-line with a total of 5.5. The New York Islanders host the Utah Mammoth as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.
Four NHL games drop the puck at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings play at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning as a -130 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Carolina Hurricanes are home against the Montreal Canadiens as a -198 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Winnipeg Jets as a -148 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Pittsburgh Penguins play at home against the Detroit Red Wings as a -130 money-line favorite with an over/under of 6.5.
The Dallas Stars visit the Chicago Blackhawks at 8:37 p.m. ET as a -192 money-line favorite with a total of 5.5. The Seattle Kraken are home against the Nashville Predators as a -115 money-line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.
The NCAAB college basketball schedule tips off at noon ET with 39 games involving Division I opponents. None of these NCAAB games are on major national television.
Matchweek 19 in the English Premier League concludes with four matches. Two EPL matches start at 12:30 p.m. ET. Crystal Palace hosts Fulham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Liverpool plays at home against Leeds United on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5.
Two more matches conclude the EPL card at 3:00 p.m. ET. Brentford is home against Tottenham as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Manchester City plays at Sunderland on the USA Network as a -1.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5.
